The Querers and Quakers cause at the second hearing. Or, The Quakers antiquering advocate examined: his pleadings found light and weake, his language lewd and railing, his prinicples loose and large. The quaking and entransed faction discovered to be a new branch of an old root, revivied by Satan; some of their strange ungospel-like tenents, unchristian practises, and opinions fathered upon the spirit, to be abhorred, and avoided by all holy soules, are also discovered, and truly laid open.

QƲAERE VI.

Whether they have not the word of God as a shadow, when they make it stand by at their pleasure? As when the man will leave the Wife, or Wife the Husband to follow their Circumcellion walkes and roving about.

The Antiquaerie.

Whether doth Christ plainly put his servants sometimes upon for∣saking all for his sake, Houses, Brethren, Sisters, Father, Mother, Wife, Children, Lands? Mat. 19.29.— And for the word Cir∣cumcellion, why dost thou use a dark word so improperly? which of them are Alehouse or Taverne-hanters?

The Reply to the Antiquaery.

Two things I have to say to the first part of forsaking all for Christs sake. First, that it is possible there may be a forsaking of all for Christ, without any locall secession, or breaking from the soci∣ety of Husband, Wife, Children, &c. The excellentest part of forsa∣king is in the heart, and acted about the affections & will, wholly given up to Christ, though outward callings and actions be still used. Secondly, that this new kinde of forsaking all hath no

more likenesse of doing it for Christ, then London is like Constan∣tinople, or your Towne is like Mexico. For this you call a for∣saking all for Christ, is but a changing of the objects of your pleasures, and changing for a fancies sake, not for faiths sake. If you be a Seeker, you may seeke long enough, ere you can make their practises agree with Christs Rule. (I passe by your generall charge against the Querer, you being 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, an evill speaker and slanderer in it, and there being no appearance of any thing but unlearned passions) then you come to the word Circumcellion, and aske the Querer why he uses such a darke word so im∣properly? which of these he blames are Ale-house or Taverne-haunters?

For this word Circumcellion, which you call a darke word, I shall inlighten the darknesse of it to you; I pitty your Scholler∣sh p is so dimme and duskie, that you know not what it meanes; I dare not tell you, that had you stept but a litle into Austin, one of the learnedst and most considerable African Christians, you might easily have plowed with his heifer, and knowne it. Circum∣cellions were a branch of the sect of the Donatists, but that may be a darke word to you also. The Donatists were a sect in Africa like your Perfectists and Quakers, that held the Church was no where but among them, they were pure without spot and wrinkle, the best must be Baptized againe, that joyne with them; all were sinners and unclean but they. They slandered, and to their power persecuted all that went not their way; you know who doth so. They held none were to be urged by any authority and power to live well, but to use their owne liberty or licence rather: Magistrates with them were not to meddle with Hereticks by any acts of coercion, & divers other deliriums they maintained. Among them were some called Circumcelliones, the busiest, boldest, and the seditiousest sort of them, running about and watching opportuni∣ties, where they were strong enough, to speak all evill, and deale blowes and wounds to them were not of their cut. And be∣cause as in a winters night, you crie hang out a light, by the sound of the word Circumcellions, presently dreaming of a dark Wine-cellar, or some blinde Ale-house; I shall quit you of that suspicion. They were so called from certaine Cells and little Cottages they had in the fields, in which they would give appea∣rance

of their living an austere, rigid, and solitarie life, though thence they runne out, and meeting those that bowed not to their imaginations; they beat, robb'd, wounded and killed some. Sir, Circumcellions I called yours, for running far from home, roving about, and interrupting Ministers, and Assemblies of people, orderly abiding in the worship of God, threatning, cur∣sing, and giving bitter language. You may read enough of these other in Austins Epistles; and in Optatus you shall finde that these roaring Sectaries running about, called their Ringleaders, the Leaders and Captaines of the Saints. I know your Clients thinke the Leaders of them taller then any we count Saints, by the head and shoulders. I shall leave this Antiquerie with this, though they be not Taverne and Ale-house haunters, yet they may be as bad, being drunke and quite typsie in Satans cellar with pride, conceit of perfection, censuring and damning all others, busie-bodies, turbulent, so as that may be applyed to them. They are drunke, but not with wine: Since Circumcellion so stumble you, I am sure our Antiquerer is no Antiquarie, unlesse it be in defending old errours, and yet he thinkes it new light.

Notes

• Genus homi∣num agreate & famofissimae au∣daeiae. Aug. de Haeres. ad Quod vult deum. c. 99.
• Circumeellic∣num insani du∣ces nominabant se Sanctorum Duces. Optat. contra. Parme∣nian. lib. 3.
• Esay 29.9.