The Quakers Throne of Truth Satans Seat of Lies, Floating text 1
The humble Remonſtrance and Petition of the Mayor, Aldermen, and Common-Councel, of the City of Briſtol, together with the Miniſters of the Goſpel, and other chief Inhabitants, who deſire to fear God, and love our Lord Jeſus, in ſincerity, in the ſame City.
Sheweth,
THat wee (eſpecially the Magiſtrates) have with much regret and ſadneſs of ſpirit) lien long under much reproach and ignominie, occaſioned by the increaſe of a generation of ſeduced and ſeducing perſons among us, called Quakers, who at firſt were ſupported and upheld by ſome Souldiers, then in chief Command, in the abſence of the Governour of the Garriſon; the wickedneſs of which ſort of men, hath not in our Nation, as wee know of, been formerlie heard of, and ſo deſtitute of a Law to puniſh, and reſtrain; and therefore have not been able to ſuppreſs.
And whereas wee have waited long for ſome directions to that purpoſe, (being unwilling to run upon unknown precipices) theſe people have ſtrengthened, and incouraged themſelves in their iniquities, upon ſome pretended countenance from thence, where wee cannot ſuppoſe it. So that although we could, and did (yet with ſome difficultie) puniſh, and thereby (in ſome meaſure) hinder their open and frequent diſturbances of our publique worſhip; wee had not power to ſilence their blaſphemies, nor reſtrain their confuſed and tumultuous meetings, although they tended to the high diſhonour of God, in their unchriſtian principles, and practiſes (too well known) and in prophaning the Sabbath, by multitude of their Proſelites, flocking from all parts of the Country round about us, upon that day.
But now, ſo it is, that one James Naylor (a moſt eminent Ring-leader, and head of that Faction) hath lately appeared here among us, more high than ever, in horrid and open blaſphemies, expreſly avowed and owned by his neereſt followers, as that hee is the onelyonly begotten Son of God; and that there is no other than hee; that hee is the everlaſting Son of righteouſneſs, and that in him the hopes of Iſrael ſtands; that hee is the King of Iſrael, and Prince of Peace; and calling him, Lord and Maſter, ſaying, his name ſhall bee no more called James, but Jeſus. All which, are no other, than the natural iſſue of their Scripture-denying principles. And now wee, deſiring to follow the Ductures of Divine Providence, which hath brought their iniquitie to a height, at ſuch a time as this is, when the Legiſlative power of the Nation is fitting, in whom it is, to provide wholeſome and good lawes againſt the growing evils of the times, wherein the Lord eminentlie (in our apprehenſions) calls for your zeal for his glory: Wee humbly make our applications to your Honours, and with profeſſion of our abhorrency, and utter deteſtation of the damnable and blaſphemous Doctrines of the Quakers, which tend, in their own nature, to the utter ruine of the true Chriſtian Religion, and civil Government, both in Cities, families, and all relations; (as would too ſoon appear, had they power in their hands) and who now, (not as heretofore, tacitly, and by way of implication, but) openly and expreſly diſhonour that ſacred Name, by which wee are called, and trample upon that blood, by which wee are juſtified, by making others ſharers with him, in his incommunicable excellencies.
And do therefore humbly pray, that your Honours would now take up the reines of Government into your hands, (which have too long lain looſe) in this particular; and to curb the inſolencies of all ungodly perſons, who in this, (or any other way) do, or may eclipſe the glory of our Chriſtian Profeſſion, by their unbridled and licentious liberties, that ſo the reproach, not only of this City, but of the whole Nation and Government, may bee rolled away: And the glory of this work (being acted by your hands) might render your names worthy to bee enrolled amongſt the number of thoſe faithful Confeſſours, to whom the honour of our deareſt Lord hath been more precious, than their lives, and all worldly enjoyments:
And wee ſhall daily pray, &c.
So that here you ſee, George can make, and feign an occaſion, to uſher in his friendlie Letter in Naylors behalf, and yet would not ſeem to own him; this is not the firſt of Georges colluſions and packing in this kinde: I'le but minde him of the like practiſe, and that was about our Burgeſſes choſen for the Parliament, 54. where having fram'd a Petition againſt the Election, putting to the hands of ſeveral perſons that knew not of it, (in a baſe and wicked way) as was proved to the Lords of the Councel. Beſides this piece of knavery, (which was moſt groſs) their Petition preſented to his Highneſs, and his Councel, with their Narrative of the proceedings in that Election, petitioned, that the parties nominated by them, might bee approved and eſtabliſhed: And who were they, but George himſelf for one? as by their Narrative, Art. 5. appeareth.
Now when they thought to have ſurpriz'd us, by ſhort ſummons, to appear before the Councel, (as one of their own party acknowledged afterwards) and ſuppoſed wee would not appear, or not provided, which contrary to their expectation, wee were, (having gotten Copies of their Petition and Narrative before hand, and ſo were fitted accordingly) when wee came to the hearing, they had foiſted in another Petition, not that which was preſented with their Narrative: And in this ſecond, there was no Petition to confirm himſelf, as the former: (with reference to the Narrative as aforeſaid, prayed) And then George; very finely, with his guilt ſword, did not appear there (as hee ſaid) for himſelf, but for thoſe honeſt men that were with him. Seriouſly you would have ſmiled (knowing of him) how demurely, and how ſimply honeſt hee did look. Now this trick George wee took notice of; but never told you of it till now▪ (having enough elſe to lay you then) But now wee tell you of it, that you may ſee wee know you better than you are aware of. And that the world may know further, what a one you are, I'le acquaint them with one thing more: Do not you know who it was, that a little before that Election, ſaid, that wee muſt chuſe ſuch Parliament men, as ſhould hold my Lord Protectors noſe to the grinde-ſtone. And yet ſee how this lamentable creature doth gloſe and glaver, and cog, and fawn, and flatter, ſpeaking againſt the very light within him. And this is in their ſaid Petitions, which that you may ſee that baſe practiſe, and the high conceits of himſelf, and his party, as the only Saints, and fit for Quakers, I'le lay before you.