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.

Antiquer.

Whether the thousands of Believers spoken of in the Acts of the Apostles, did not abide in that calling wherewith they were called of God, although they sold up what they had, and lived together? And if these should doe so, whether doth this man know they doe not abide in that calling to which they are called of God?

Replie to Antiquerie.

First I will give you answer to this part of your plea. Those in the Acts did abide in their callings, did not run away from wives and children, did not leave their debts unpaid to betake them∣selves to that holy way of living together for a while, did not cease living in some honest exercise; prove you the contrary if you can. For that they sold up what they had and lived together,

when we know what you will make of this, I shall thinke you worthy an answer. If you drive at community, that place of the Acts will not serve you. Yours selling up their goods to that purpose we see not, but some we see very willing to live upon others. At length you come to an If, if these should do so, whether doth this man know, &c. Good Sir, stop there, for this Man might tell you he knowes two things. 1. He knowes these do not so, nay they are far from doing like to the primitive Christians as yet. 2. He knowes againe that they now walke ir∣regularly, and out of their callings.

First, they do not so as the former did, for besides communi∣cating [ 1] of their goods and supplies to their brethrens necessities, they continued daily with one accord in the Temple, these neither can endure the place of Gods publique worship, nor those that use it. They praised God, and had favour with all the people, and did eate their bread with gladnesse and singlenesse of heart. We heare nothing of your mens strange prankes among them. I know your minde, you would have all common. But you are deceived in that point, for those rare Saints at first entertaining of the Go∣spell, though they had large charity to relieve the wanting, yet might keepe propriety and distribute as they would, they might sell a part, and keepe a part for themselves, unlesse they pub∣likely promised and devoted all they had that way, as may be seene in the case of Ananias. Ours need not to doe so, the Apo∣stles gave no such Doctrine to the Churches of the Gentiles, but to love, relieve, and succour one another. If without this Com∣munion you would have no Apostolicall Church, then the Apo∣stles rightly planted no Churches, for they planted none as you meane in this Community of goods, when the Church and Gospel spread after the first beginnings, but Christians possessed houses, and goods, and servants of their owne, or else what need Paul tell of collections? we heare of Tabitha, she had an house, riches, and gave great Almes. We heare of the Saints at Antioch, ma∣king large contributions, to the beleevers at want in Jerusalem and Judea.

Secondly, he knowes yours walke irregularly. For whereas one [ 2] should live in the East, he neglects Wife, Children, calling, and roaving in the West. Others of the West are roaving in the East:

and whereas they are fitted by God for some mechannick cal∣lings, they must needs turne preachers, for they are learned in two great bookes, Ignorance and Impudence. God never calls these thus.—The rest that you talke and write, is like a man in a dreame, of some denying themselves riches, pleasures, honours, and of others that wrest the Scriptures; shew us yours denying riches, pleasures, honours wholly and holily, they doe neither this way. Shew us who wrest Scriptures more then your selfe and yours. Shew us one Scripture wrested, and you shall have either satisfaction, or confession, or both.

Notes

• Acts 2.46, 47.
• 1 Cor. 16. Acts 9.