Answer to George Keiths Libel, Postscript
A Brief Narrative of a Late Difference among Quakers begun at Philadelphia.
HAving in August 1692. Satisfied my Longing Deſire, in viſiting Penſilvania, I no ſooner Arrived in that Government, but perceived a Remarkable Difference between the Geſtures, & Behaviour of Quakers there, & all others I have been acquainted with elſewhere, Males, and Females; uſing that Maſculine way of Bowing the Body: and Alarmed with a Rent and Diviſion between the Quakers in Philadelphia, who are divided into two Factions, and Partys; and ſoon meeting with two Pamphlets Puliſhed to acquaint the World therewith, and that by G. Keith who is the Head, and Ringleader, or Publick Mouth of one Party. And Thomas Lloyd, Preſident, and Deputy Governour, head of the other Party; the matter in Difference was occaſioned by G. Keith, his urging them to Publiſh their Fundamental Truths and Principles, as a Confeſſion of their Faith; and Unanimouſly agreed upon, which he ſaith has never been yet done; and from what rent and ſeperation has already ariſen upon the firſt motion of ſuch a deſign is no difficulty to determine, what ſhall Unqueſtionably happen before its accompliſhment; the points already mentioned where in the Difference Lies; are weighty, Fundamental and Saving, abſolutely neceſſary to Salvation. As,
1. Concerning the only Object of Saving Faith, even Chriſt Jeſus, God-man, Saviour and Mediator, 2. Concerning the Sufficiency of the Light in all men to Salvation; which Light they Call Chriſt our Saviour; and that I may give a Narrative to the Word, I ſhall give a Relation from their own VVritings, & alſo from their own Teſtimonies, and the open and publick Diſcourſes of both Parties I Converſt with while at Philadelphia. 1. I ſhall give an Account of what G. K. has Publiſhed in a Book, called, The Plea of the Innocent, being a Vindication of G. K. and his Followers, from the falſe Informations, Judgments and Defamations of Thomas Lloyd, Samuel Ginnings, John Simcock and others, to the number of Twenty Eight. It happened many Months ago that Thomas Lloyd and his Party had ſigned an Epiſtle to the Monthly and Quarterly Meetings in Penſilvania, Eaſt and VVeſt Jarſey: Informing them of the tedious Exerciſe and vexatious Perplexity they met with in their Late Friend G K for ſeveral months paſt, from whence the Reader may warrantably conclude two things: 1 That there hath been much Diviſion, Contention, Jangling and Difference among themſelves, ere it broke forth to publick view; and no private meaſures of Inſpired Judges could prove effectual for reconciling thoſe divided Parties, who uſed to take away either juſtly or unjuſtly all thoſe Differences a… mong themſelves about Civil and VVorldly Matters which gives to believe it was a Matter in Debate amongthem of another Nature, & of greater weight, & of a conſiderable continuance; ſome ſay for fifteen Months, e're that Fire of contenton broke forth into a Flame.
2 That theſe Twenty Eight pretended Preachers at this time look on George Keith and conſequently all his Party, none of their preſent but late Friend, and conſequently now their Enemy; and ſo the name Friend muſt no longer be a general Epithite or univerſal title peculiar to that Party, or George Keith muſt be only a Late Quaker.
The Occaſion of all this Clamour, & Heat, is given by K. pag 2. To be an Accuſation of K by W. Stockdale, an ancient Quaker Teacher, For Preaching two Chriſts; becauſe he Preached Faith in Chriſt within them, & Faith in Chriſt without; and if this was a new thing from K. his frequent Teaching before, muſt have been void of Chriſt, and ſo Chriſtleſs Sermons; or if he did, it was ſo obſcurely delivered, that he was never plainly underſtood till now: But K having dealt privately with the ſaid Stockdale, but unſucceſsfully, laid his complaint before twelve of their Miniſtry, in a meeting at Rt. Ewers houſe, who rather defended and excuſed Stockdale, then Condemned him; whereby ten of theſe able Doctors, two only diffenting, became as Guilty of Ignorance & Errors as Stockdale himſelf. And next the Yearly Meeting at Philadelphia, and ſo at length, ſix ſeveral Meetings had this matter in debate, and under their determination; who gave ſo ſlender a determination at laſt, that they all appeared rather at a ſtand and demurr about it; & K. Juſtly accuſes them of partiality, Ignorance, & Unbelief pag. 4. Reader, all may eaſily perceive from the unchriſtian Labyrinth, in which theſe men have involved themſelves about ſoweighty and ſo plain a Fundamental, how great Strangers they are to the True knowledge of the Goſpel Myſtery of Chriſt Jeſus; that of ſix ſeveral Meetings of their greateſt Dons, in the three forementioned Governments, they are in confuſion about the Chriſt to be Believed in, for our Salvation; and underſtand not Chriſt as he is Revealed in the Scriptures, God Man, Suffering and Dying for us; whence it is evident, what Chriſt the generality of Quakers have been hitherto believing in; which is clear from the Prayer of Thomas Fittz-Watter, at a Meeting, ſaying, O God that Dyed in us, and Laid down thy Life in us, and took it up again. &c. Which G. K. juſtly called Blaſphemy: if this Spiritual Man, ſuppoſe Chriſt as God Mortal, is moſt inconſiſtant with Scripture, which affairms; that to him belongs Immortatity, and abſolute Eternity; both a parte ante & post: and by this prayer, directs it to ſomething within himſelf, and not according to Divine Pattern, to Our Father in Heaven; and Rt. Young one of their pretended Teachers ſaid, that he did not find Chriſt without in all the Scriptures; and further, that Chriſt, when he aſcended into the Cloud, was ſeperated from his Body; and Arthur Cook, accuſed G. K. for ſaying, that Chriſts Body that was Crucified, and Buried, is gone into Heaven, and was, and is in heaven; even the very ſame Body; which Cook and others called a Novelty, impoſed upon his Ancient Brethren. And John Simtock asked G. K. Did Chriſts Bones, Ariſe; and Thomas Lloyd did object againſt G. K. his impoſing Unſcriptural Faith on his Bretheren: further, that Faith in Chriſt without us, as he Dyed for our ſins and roſe again, was not neceſsary to Salvation; and further, that Christ within did all. Can any Repeat ſuch Blaſphemous expreſſions withouthorrour, when they conſider the deplorable caſe of ſuch, as are Lead, and Taught by theſe men; who openly, publickly, and avowedly, profeſs their Ignorance of the true Chriſt, which is but One, and can be no other; even, He that was Born of the Virgin Mary, Suffered in the World, was Crucified without the Gates of Jeruſalem; was Buried, & Roſe again, with the ſame Body, having his wounds upon him, as he ſhewed to Thomas the Apoſtle; & after ſome time of Converſe in the World, proving thereby the Reality of his Reſurrection, was received Bodily into a Cloud, in the open view of his Apoſtles, and Aſcended into Heaven, & now Sits at the Right Hand of God the Father, making continual interceſſion for ſinners; & the ſame Man-Chriſt, that Liveth for Ever, & Ever, ſhall come in his Glory, with all his Holy Angels, to Judge the World in Righteouſneſs at the Laſt Day: All which is abundantly teſtified in the Holy Scriptures. And now whoſoever Believes not in Chriſt, nor receives him as deſcribed in the Word of God; ſeeing he himſelf ſays, John 5.39. They are they that teſtify of him; it may warrantably be concluded, they believe not in him at all; & therefore I leave it to others to determine, what ſort of Christians Quakers muſt needs be; and alſo what we muſt judge of their Sufficient, & Saving, & Divine Light, of which they have been boaſting univerſally; and magnifying them ſelves from above all others in the world; and what do they now think of their immediate Call, and Apoſtolick Miſſion, ſeeing they diſcover themſelves ſo groſly Ignorant, and ſo much in the dark about the Foundation of our Salvation, even Chriſt Jeſus, who is ſo fully deſcribed in the very Letter of the Scriptures.
And this Breach is Riſen to ſuch a height, that the Railings, Revilings, bitter & uncharitable Accuſations,they were wont to vomit maliciouſly, againſt all the Reformed Churches, are now juſtly turned againſt one another; for Lloyd and his Party fly out againſt Keith, calling him a Reviler of the Brethren, Brat of Babylon, Accuſer of the Brethren; one that alwayes endeavoureth to keep down the power of Truth; drawing from the Gift of God; calling him alſo Pope, Primate of Penſilvania, Father Confeſſor, accuſing him of Envy, extream Paſſion, a turbulent & unſubdued Spirit: Let the Authors of theſe make good their Charge, or let them take what follows. Shall ever ſuch a man be followed by ſuch as have given him ſuch a monſtrous Character, as none but the greateſt of Impoſtors deſerve; and it is obſervable, that in all which K has Publiſhed, for he has carried the day in his Prints; that he has not fairly, nor fully Explained himſelf, for it wants to be determined, when Chriſt is ſaid to be in all men, by the name Light; whether he and his Party, who ſay with all Quakers, He is ſubſtantially in them, believe him to be in them as Mediator and Saviour, as K. ſeems to aſſert in his Grounds of Separation. pag. 32 & William Pen, in Reaſon againſt Railing, aſſerts the true Light with which every man is Enlightned, to be ſufficient for Salvation; and how Pen, G. K. and his Adverſaries can jump again into a Knot, after ſo plain and palpable Difference about their great Fundamental of the Sufficiency of the Light within; I Leave it to other Judges to determine; and it deſerves obſervation, that in their Epiſtle to their Brethren, and their Commendation, what high, lofty, and proud Titles of Commendation, ſcarce applicable to men, they gave to G K. as, That he Walked in the Counſel of God, was Lovely in that Day, When the Beauty of the Lord was upon him, and his Comelineſs covered him; and immediately with the ſame Breath, they throw him down, and look upon him as Faſſen from the high Places of Iſrael, as a man Slain in his High Places; & as they fix hard names upon him as formerly; ſo he payes them home again in the ſame Coin; & calls Lloyd and his Party, which are ſome thouſands, Fools, Ignorant Heathens, Infidels, Silly Souls, Lyars, Hereticks, Rotten Ranters, Mugg letonians, &c So that if we were inclinable to give them Names, we have no Room, for they have done it to our hands themſelves: And I muſt confeſs, they are better able than we; for they are better acquainted with one another, and privy to their Errors, Hereſies, and other Hidden Works of Darkneſs, which they have hitherto been aſhamed to Publiſh to the World: and yet it is admirable to think, where theſe men find ſuch a ſtock of Confidence, as to wipe their mouths, and ſay they have not Railed all this while, but all they have ſaid on both ſides, is in the uprightneſs of their hearts, & all theſe Names given are Truth, I ſhall leave them ſo, diſproving neither; one of Lloyds Party, William Gabitas deſired K to forbear Preaching Chriſt without, ſeeing it gave Offeence to his Brethren, as Paul did concerning Eating of Fleſh: an able Doctor indeed, and very probable to have Chriſt in him, who valued the Preaching of Chriſt Crucified no more than the Eating of Fleſh; and muſt not ſuch Brethren as take Offence as ſuch Doctrine be acted by a Diabolical Spirit? Thomas Lloyd, in a Publick Meeting affirmed, no man could differ with G. K. but he was in danger of the Life of his Soul by him; and farther, that he had bin … more vexatious Adverſary to Friends, then Hicks, or Scanderet, or the greateſt Enemies; ſure ſuch Untharitableneſs and Ranchor muſt have great provocations, & flow from no good Spirit: another proud and ſelf conceited expreſſion of a plain Quaker, Muſt, I truckle under thee; indeed it was not fit a Governour ſhould; and further, G. K. affirmed, That no ſuch Damnable Hereſies, and Doctrines of Devis were Tolerated in any Proteſtant Society, as among Quakers, at Philadelphia; if this Charge is true, I am perſwaded it will extend to moſt Quakers in the World, or they muſt yet be in Confuſion and Undetermined about their Principles. Many other moſt dangerous Poſitions were urged and diſputed among them, ſavouring of nothing but Blindneſs and Error, as one that owned no man Chriſt Jeſus as Mediator in Heaven without him, but the Grace of God within; and alſo that Chriſt was only a Spirit in Heaven, and had nothing of the Body; and many of the… denying the Day of Judgment, and any Reſurrection, but what they have already attained; & John Wil… ford ſaid, Chriſt was a Mediator for no Drunkards … wicked perſons, but for his own Diſciples; many … them denied Gods Preſence in all his Creatures, Arguing moſt ignorantly, and blaſphemouſly: if God be in Herbs and Graſs, then who tramples on the… tramples on God; and this occaſioned a new Diſput… whether God be preſent in Lice? Some denyin… they were any part of the Creation; another Preaches, that Chriſt Cureth mens Souls perfectly at once and makes them free of all ſin; and when we … perfect, we are Kings, and are not to Beg or Pr… to God for our ſelves: another ſays Whether … Body that was Crucified, be in Heaven, Let … Church determine? one Samuel Ginnings declared … a Meeting, That to do Gods Buſineſs we needed Go… Wiſdom, but to do our own Buſineſs as men, … needed it not! another affirmed, That a man migſpeakunſound Words in the Life; and at another Meeting the ſame man bids us wait, That the Scepter might depart from Judah, that Shiloh might come. Is it not evident from theſe groſs, impertinent, and abominable Ignorances, and Blaſphemous Hereſies, That God has juſtly given them over to a Spirit of Deluſion, …o believe the groſſeſt Lyes that ever was hatcht; …nd that for their ambitious and deceiving pretences …o unwarrantable Inſpirations. Another Quarrel was, G. K's Objecting againſt their Diſcipline, as too Looſe; but for my part, I never knew, nor heard …y they had that was purely Eccleſiaſtick; & what they pretended to was moſt abſolute and arbitrary: …ho' I underſtand of late G. K. had Compoſed a new Draught in many particulars, which tho' not allowed … Reading at their Yearly Meeting, yet was ſent to the Yearly Meeting at London, for their Approbation … Sanction: of which I ſhall give my Reader a ſmall …aſt in theſe following particulars: 1. That all faith…l Friends ſhall give in a few words leſs or more a …ure Confeſſion unto the Truth generally Received … Friends. 2. If Friends be ſatisfied with this Con…ſſion, they are to expreſs their Chriſtian Love, and …gnifie their owning them, by taking them by the …nd, or giving the hand unto them. 3 That all friends who have Children come to years of Diſcre…on, whom they have Inſtructed in the Principles of Truth, that they further Labour with their Children … be willing to be Received into the Number of friends, in the manner above mentioned. 4. Whe…er there ſhould not be Elders and Deacons Choſen, …d Appointed, and Named by the Conſent of the hole Church, for the Help and Aſſiſtance of the …iends of the Miniſtry. 5. That no raw and unſea…ed perſons do preſume to ſpeak or pray in the Meetings, until they give proof of their ſound Knowledge, Experience, and Spiritual Abilities to their Elder Brethren, the Elders and the Church. 6. That no Friends joyn in Marriage with any, but ſuch as are Received into the Society of Fiends, by a ſolemn Confeſſion of their Faith, and Profeſſion of Truth in the manner aforeſaid.
Theſe are but a few of many Articles of the like nature, which had a very cold Reception, that tho… they did not allow it a publick Reading, yet cry'd it down as downright Popery; but ſure if this take place, Quakers will look with another Face then ever they have yet done; and many of their ſilly, ignorant and impertinent, and blaſpemous Teachers, ſhall be laid aſide as uſeleſs. And the Breach was ſo great, that the two Emiſſaryes from London, T. W. and J. D. was ſo far from accompliſhing a Reconcileation, that they Condemned him for the Separation, and pronounced Woes againſt him; and J. D. compared the Difference there, to Childrens falling out about trifles; ſure theſe men ſo much admired at Barbadoes, and elſewhere, diſcover both their ignorance and weakneſs in joyning with the ſtrongeſt Party, the Magiſtrates; and looking upon the Doctrine of Christ Crucifyed, and the Sufficiency of the Light within to be but Trifles.
Laſtly, G. K. is blamed for calling W. Stockdal, and a whole Meeting, ignorant Heathens; but ſays Keith, it there is Light ſufficient to Salvation in all men without the man Chriſt, then an honeſt Heathen is a true Chriſtian; hence every man may Learn, That honeſt Heathens are good Quakers, o… Quakers are good Heathens.
George Keith having his Sentence, Lay under Charges and no poſſibility of obtaining (as he ſays … any redreſs or Goſpel Order; but it is ſtrange that any man of Senſe, ſhould expect order from I gnorance; Diſtraction, and Confuſion, as the whole Scheme of this Controverſy appears to be to every Rational and conſidering Man; he at Length breaks off, & ſeparates from their Society, and ſets up for himſelf. Firſt at his own Houſe, and generally ſince, at the Barbado's Houſe in Philade phia; and as he endeavours to Juſtify himſelf from all former Imputations, ſo he eſſays a Vindication of the Late Separation which he does by a Pamphlet, called the, Reaſons and Cauſes thereof; which I ſhall give my Reader as Followeth.
1. Becauſe Thomas Lloyd, ſo far failed in Proving his Charge againſt G. K. For denying the ſufficiency of the Light within; and after Judgment was paſſed, by a Monthly Meeting at Philadelphia, the 22d of the 12th Month 1691. Would not give forth a Paper of Condemnation of his Falſe Charge: but any may perceive K's cunning, who not only eſcaped the Juſt Judgment of this Meeting, according to …uakers Principles, but by denying the charge with a Reſervation, made his accuſer guilty; for as he declared before, and ſince ſaying, the Light within is not ſuf… ficient without the Man Chriſt Without us.
2. Reaſon for his Seperation, becauſe K's Antagoniſts kept a Publick Meeting, in the Afternoon at the Bank, without the conſent of the whole Body of Friends there; which K ſays ſhould be univerſal, & Unanimous, and not by any Plurality of Votes: and ſo G. K. and his party kept a Meeting for that Day in the Afternoon at his own Houſe, which he called Private, and finding as they ſay, they reſolved to continue the Seperation, which is ſtill done. I would Amimadvert the Reader, that the Second Reaſon isFrivolous, ariſing from a Nicety and circumſtance of Place, which as carryed by a Plurality of Votes, tho' K would not ſubmit to it, without the Unanimous Conſent of all; which he ſays is the allowed method of Friends; but it is not to be doubted if the Plurality had determined for him, he would never have gone about to invalidate the determination; and if the Unanimous conſent of all be requiſite in ſuch triflles, we expect K will do nothing in greater Matters without it. 3. Reaſon: becauſe moſt Groſs, and Uuchriſtian Errors, againſt the Fundamental Doctrines of the Chriſtian Faith, are held by divers of them that are Publick Teachers, & many are Unqualified for the Miniſtry; this is a weighty Ground indeed, and a juſt Cauſe; and it is not to be doubted, but applicable to both Partys; ſo that a ſeperation from them both is Warrantable, which all good Chriſtians are to pray that God may accompliſh to the Glory of his own Name, and the Honour of Truth as the Iſſue of the begun Controverſy and Confuſions; and alaſs! it muſt be ſtrange, that all theſe things have been concealed ſo long ſince the Riſe of Quakers in Europe, and none found Faithful or Zealou s…or Truth among them, to bring them to Light until this very Prejudice, Paſſion, and Malice, or envy among them; for it is not to be doubted, but K in his Travels over the World, could not meet with as many Inſufficient Teachers as are now among them, in the Government of Penſilvania, Eaſt and Weſt Jerſys; and alſo Innumerable impertinencys, Inconſiſtencys, Errors, and Falſhoods, as he has been ſenſible of, of late, abounds among them; ſo that it is to be feared, he has been moved from Prejudice, Paſſion, and other Quarrels, whereby he has taken this time and place, for aſſuming the Honour of New Reformer; for what he charges them with, is no New thing, but known by all who have converſt with that Party, to have been their Conſtant Sentiments, as much known to K, as any now in being, for the Time he has followed that Novelty. And according to the Preſent State of Affairs, and Notable Alterations in a Place, ſo the Diſcourſes of all Regulated, and Directed, for moſt places of this Province; this Diviſion has given all Partys a Theme of Diſcourſe, and Subject of Debate, and K in his Poſtſcript to his Reaſons, gives a Brief account of the matters Controverſed, both at Meeting and other Places, we ſuppoſe for the Information of Inſpired Men. As,
1 Whether we are only to believe in Chriſt Within or in him without alſo, and in Heaven Our Advocate with the Father.
2 Whether to Preach Faith in Chriſt within, and Faith in Chriſt without, be to Preach two Chriſts? 3. Whether it be a Doctrine neceſſary to be Preacht, to Believe in Chriſt without? 4 Whether Chriſt's Body that was Nailed to the Croſs, and was Buried, and Aroſe again, be with him in Heaven? Some of them ſaying, as Keith told me at his Houſe, it never Roſe, but Evaniſhed, or Remained in the Grave: others ſaying, it aroſe, but after it Aſcended in the Cloud, was ſeparated from it: others ſay, it is a Nicety, and to be ignorant of it, does not hinder a man from being a true Chriſtian, and a Miniſter of Chriſt: Others ſaying, it is a dividing of Chriſt. Others accuſing of ſome, for Denying the Sufficiency of the Light within; from all which it is evident, notwithſtanding of all their high pretences to Immediate inſpirations, and Extraordinary Illuminations from he Spirit of God, what great Error, Ignorance, and …lindneſs, they diſcover to the World. 1. TheirIgnorance of Chriſt Jeſus our Saviour, whom to Know is Eternal Life; and whom Quakers ſay, is, & dwells ſubſtantially in all of them; and if ſo, could it be poſſible to Remain ſo I gnorant of him, as they proclaim themſelves to be; and who in their right wits, but muſt look upon them as deluded Souls, rather than Inſpired from Heaven. 2. They know not how neceſſary the Faith and Knowledge of the true Chriſt as Mediator, is, to make a true Chriſtian, & real Miniſter; hence they plainly tell us, what Chriſtians and Miniſters will paſs among Quakers, even ſuch as neither know Chriſt aright, nor believe the true Knowledge of him neceſſary; ſeeing they call Chriſt-man, Aſcended and Glorified in Heaven, a Nicety; conclude all ſuch, Chriſtleſs Chriſtians, and Chriſtleſs Miniſters.
As an Appendix to the reaſons, we have an Account of the Faith of Quakers, publiſhed by Keith, and called in its Frontiſpiece, the Faith of ſome Quakers in Penſilvania, which is an Argument of their difference in Principles, and Fundamentals; but this will not do, being ſo far from being Quakers Principles every where, that they are not even the Principles of all in Penſilvania, and for any thing I know, but of a very few; for tho' itis the Ambition of both Parties, to Increaſe their Numbers, & Engroſs Followers, yet to this Account of Faith, he has procured but five Subſcribers, beſide himſelf; and as I am Informed, men of mean Parts, and Account; but that I may briefly animadvert all Lovers of Truth, concerning this Account of Faith, which ſhould be Fundamentals chiefly; I ſhall deliver ſomething in general, and ſomething particularly: And in general 1. It is more guilty of Deficiency and Omiſſion, then a Catechiſm lately Cenſured by him, to which he has an Anſwer; for there are none acquainted with Quakers Principles, can conclude this Account to be Faithfu or Full 2 Their Faith is here ſo obſcurely delivered in Scripture Language in controverſy, as to the Expoſition of them, between them and the Reformed Churches, that, except in ſome few things, that are not Fundamentals, they are the Faith of others, as well as of Quakers; and ſo not fairly done. But particularly; 1 In page 29. He owns a particular Election of all that ſhall be Saved, before the Foundations of the World: which he muſt never recede from. 2 Page 30. He is lame in deſcribing the Corruption conveyed from Adam to his Poſterity; and ſays, It is not Imputed to Damnation; but if there be any Sin not Damnable with Quakers, Death muſt not be the Wages of Sin with them; neither muſt the Loſs of our Original Righteouſneſs, or the Image of God be Damnable: Strange flattering Doctrine to Natural Sinners 3. He ſays, Page 31. That the common Miniſtration, which they ſay is in all, even in their meer Gentile State, is of a Saving Nature, & tendency…in a general way; ſo that any may ſee what a Change is in this mans mind, from all Quakers, who ſtill have aſſerted the Sufficiency of this Univerſal Grace, for Salvation; for here he neither calls it Sufficient, nor Saving; but only it is of a Saving Nature and tendency; and yet Page 32. He contradicted by ſaying, it is ſufficient to Save every man. 4 He omits wholly any thing concerning the Covenants of Works, and Grace, which are undoubtedly main points of Faith; ſeeing it is according to the Tenour of the Covenant of Grace, every Sinner muſt be Saved, and Chriſt is Mediator of the New Covenant. 5. He tells us nothing of Women Teachers at all in his Section concerning, but perhaps he dare not tell hismind yet in that point, as he ſays of other things. 6. He Tranſiently runs over the Ten Commandments. 7. He continues to cry down Swearing, in Witneſſing to Truth; while they decry the name, they really maintain and practice the thing in all Courts in Penſilvania. 8. He fills up a whole Section of their Faith, with Baptiſm, and the Lords Supper; but ſeeing it is known to all, they deny the uſe of both, they ſhould be aſhamed ever to Treat of them at all; eſpecially among their Fundamentals; for he might as well have filled up a Section with Circumciſion, and the Paſsover: if it be only to deceive, this is no ingenuous dealing. 9. If plain Language and plain Habits be Fundamentals with Quakers, what need is there of any other mark to know a Quaker by: and why the Language of others, are not as plain as Quakers, I know not; eſpecially, as Jacob Tilman, when Preaching & Praying in Dutch, to an Engliſh Congregation. Laſtly, I fear, …ording to his Deſcription of the Church of Chriſty who ought, as he ſayes, to manifeſt their Faith, to one another, by the Confeſſion of the mouth; there will no ſuch be found among Quakers, who never had any publick, and unanimous Confeſſion of their Faith, yet extant; otherwiſe there would be no room for the preſent Diviſion, about the greateſt of Fundamentals. In the next place, I proceed to take notice of G.K's Appeal from the twenty eight Judges, and it has a cunning and ambiguous Title, viz. To the Spirit of Truth & true Judgment, in all Faithful Friends called Quakers; that meet at the Yearly Meeting at Burlington; whereby any man may perceive, if they judge and determine againſt him, he has a back Door to fly out at, and will not ſtand to their judgment; therefore his Appeal is moſt idle, andan empty Bravado; for either he looks on them, as Competent Judges, or not; if competent Judges, why does he not ſubmit himſelf to their Judgmen, without ſuch a Reſervation; or thus, if he believes them to have the Spirit of Truth, why does he ſcruple a ſubmiſſion to the judgment of Friends, as Quakers are commonly called, if they have not the Spirit of Truth, whether it were not ſafer to wave the Appeal which has the ambiguity of a dubious Oracle, for ſtill it muſt terminate here; if the whole Meeting ſhould not be of K's Judgment, he ſhall declare them deſtitute of the Spirit of Truth, and void of true judgment; for he has diſapproved the plurality of Votes in another caſe. And in the Appeal, there is firſt by way of Preamble, the Grounds thereof laid down; and next, twelve particulars by way of Query propoſed, to be Debated at the ſaid Yearly Meeting, which highly offended the Governour, with the reſt of the Magiſtracy that were Quakers; and particularly charges them, tho' it is all along by way of Queſtion, with giving a Commiſſion to, and hiring me… to …ight, by recovering a Sloop from Privateers, contrary to the Principles of Quakers, who are againſt be uſe of the Carnal Weapon, which they tranſgreſs alſo …y providing the Indians with Powder, and Lead, to fight …gainſt other Indians; and alſo that one of thoſe pretend… Ministers Taught, not to take an Eye for an Eye; & … a ſhort time, by paſſing Sentence on Malefactors, takes …ife for Life; and finally enquires, whether there is any …xample for it in Scripture, or in all Chriſtendom, …hat Miniſters ſhould Ingroſs the Worldly Government, … they do in Philadelphia, which hath proved of very …il tendency. Now the laſt particular proves ſo of…ſive, Governour Lloyd after ſome Conſultation,ſends for a Taylor, who had Nail'd up the Appeal on a Board at his Shop Window, to publick view; and after ſome Examination, he told them, he was not a ſhamed, to look Perſecutors in the Face, but being Required to give Securities, to anſwer the Quarter Seſſions; they gave him till to morrow morning, to provide them; but from what ſharp Retorting Anſwers, he gave them, he was diſmiſſed without any further noiſe: but immediately ſent for the Printer, and Requiring Securities of him, which he denied; his Shop was Searched, and all the ſaid Papers, and his Printing Letters, to the value of Ten Pounds Sterling, as K. ſays, were taken away; and the ſaid Printer, William Bradford was Committed to the Sheriffs Houſe as a Priſon. And another John Mackomb, ſent for, and Committed, for Selling ſome of the ſaid Papers at his Houſe, all which was done in a Legal Mittimus, charging the Printer, and Seller as Publiſhers; which was a miſtake, for properly the Author is the Publiſher; & this makes a great noiſe, bo… in City and Countrey, that Quakers begin to Impriſon and Perſecute one another, proving what they would do to others if they had power, opportunity, and provocation; but to wipe off all ſuſpicio… of Perſecution, they make uſe of the ſame plea as a… other Perſecutors do, even the Diſturbance of the Peace, and Subverſion of the Government: but th… Salve will not Cure the Sore: The next meaſure taken, is, to Conſult how to puniſh G. K. the known Author; and as many of the Subſcribers as were under their Goverment: and next day being the 26… of Auguſt a Conclave was appointed; but two o… the Commiſſioners being no Quakers, Diſſenting, they could not bring it to bear, to Sign a Mittimus, fo… Committing K; therefore next day, reſolves to publiſ… … him, or his Abetters from publiſhing any ſuch Seditious Papers for the future; but it is Obſervable, that in the Proclamation there is not any mention made of Their Majeſties Names; which every Loyal Subject muſt Reſent; but of the Late K. twice, notwithſtanding they had Caution given, to mention what King they meant, Verbum ſe… Sapienti But the former Priſoners continue ſtill in Confinement; which is palpable and moſt evident Partiality, to puniſh the Printer & Seller, and ſuffer the known Author, and Subſcribers to eſcape. But on the Monday following, the Appeal, with the Mittimus, and a Poſtſcript is Reprinted; and in the Poſtſcript, as is very Remarkable, that it is Aſſerted by K that it is contrary to Quakers principles, to make uſe of the Carnal Weapon; but they found in their Experience, it was impoſſible to maintain Magiſtracy without it, that is, the Carnal Sword; who can but ſmile to ſee theſe men overthrowing their own Principles, by aſſerting the Inconſiſtency of them with Magiſtracy, which is an Ordinance of God; and conſequently no Government ſhould be put into Quakers Hands: But great things were expected from the Yearly Meeting at Burlington, which was to begin within few days; tho' little expectation of a Friendly Accommodation; for G. K. kept out of Town, leſt he ſhould by a Priſon, be prevented to attend that Meeting; but K came off there with Flying Colours; for the other Party being Summoned again and again to Appear, but declined it: Whether they diſowned the Authority of that Meeting, or ſuſpected the badneſs of their Cauſe, which they had reaſon to do, or feared G. K. his Party to be too ſtrong, they can beſt anſwer for themſelves … …t that Meeting juſtify…d G. K. and condemned Lloyd and his Party, diſcharging them to Teach or Pray in publick Meetings, till they had condemned their former Judgment, by a publick Writing; and how this Order was ſlighted, is too palpable to be denied; both Parties are diſcharged from Railing, which ſuppoſes both were guilty; but while the Meeting at Burlington clears K. the Yearly Meeting at Maryland, condemns him, and juſtifies the other Party, whereby that Infallible Diſcerning Spirit Quakers boaſt of, & lay is in every true Quaker, is overthrown; for great Meetings of their greateſt Dons, can be miſtaken, & make contrary and contradictory Orders. I am Informed, the Diviſion has Reached England; for in London, one Party who were againſt Keith, bought up all his Pamphlets, to prevent the Spreading of the Difference: Another Party Orders a new Impreſſion of all his Books, relating to that Controverſy; this I had lately of one of themſelves. I ſhall conclude with ſome paſſages from undoubted Information … One affirmed the Difference at preſent concerning Chriſt, was an empty Barrel; from whence it is evident, what mean thoughts this Zealote had of Chriſt, as Man 2. Another ſaid, he did not believe to be Saved by that which Dyed at Jeruſalem; What a poor caſe muſt ſuch a Soul be in? 3. John Delaval hath expreſt his fear that Cotton Mather's Propheſie of G.K is now accompliſhing. Laſtly, there is among Quakers in Penſilvania, one Jacob, a Dutchman, who takes upon him to Preach and Pray in the Dutch Language, to an Engliſh Congregation, pretending an Immediate Call thereunto, which John Delaval, and the Teachers Son in law, uſed to Interpret, for the underſtanding of the people, but ſome time after, the Hearers deſired the In… …eters to forbear, for they were more Edified …ithout Interpretation, then with it; though they …nderſtood not a word he ſaid; would any have …ppoſed there was ſuch blind implicite Faith out of Rome, and that theſe Spiritual Profeſſors ſhould lay open their Deluſions to the VVorld, at ſo plain … …ate.
But what impreſſion the Loſs of their Governmen… …ay have, and what Alterations it may make amon… …hem, I leave to Further Information. And whoev… would have more of this Nature, even the Spirit… War among Quakers, chiefly promoted by the Car… Weapon of the Tongue; I recommend them to Phi… …elphia, for an enlargement of this Narrative Wh… …s all their own, excepting ſome Obſervations, a… Animadverſions on both Sides.
FINIS.
Advertiſement.
THere is now in the Preſs, & will quickly be Publiſhed: A new book, Entituled, A Preſent to be given to Teeming Women, by their Husbands or Friends. Containing Directions for Women with Child. How to Prepare for the Hour of TRAVAIL. Written firſt for the Private Uſe of a Gentlewoman of Quality: and now Publiſhed for the common good. …y John Oliver. Firſt Printed at London, and Received with great Commendation, and general Acceptation: And … Re…printed and Sold at Boston in New-England, by Benjamin Harris, at the Sign of the BIBLE, over-againſt the Blew-Anchor.
End of the text · Francis Makemie, Answer to George Keiths Libel (1694)