AS I was muſing, I thought there was one asked me, what the Quakers were, or from whence they came, and of whom they had their know­ledge and learning? I told him, I could give him no certain anſwer as yet, but I would con­ſult the Scriptures, and then return an Anſwer to his Queſtion.

Our Saviour Jeſus Chriſt tels us, Math. 24 11. That many falſe Prophets ſhall riſe, and ſhall deceive many: And St. John ſaith, Rev. 9.1, 2, 3. I ſaw a ſtar fall from heaven unto the earth; and to him was given the key of the bottomleſs Pit: And he opened the bottomleſs Pit, and there aroſe a ſmoak out of the Pit, as the ſmoak of a great fornace, and the ſun and the air were darkned, by reaſon of the ſmoak of the pit. And there came out of the ſmoak locuſts up­on the earth, and unto them was given power as the Scorpions of the earth have power.

The Pope hath the key of hell gate, and carrieth it on his arme, as he acknowledgeth; he can with his falſe doctrines ſend men to hell, but can ſend none to heaven: under the Pope are his Imps, viz. Abbots, Monks, Friers, Jeſuites, Quakers, who are compared to Locuſts, becauſe as Locuſts deſtroy the fruits of the earth, ſo the Quakers deſtroy the Church. And I do verily believe, there are many of them in this Land, who, like the Locuſts, begin to eat up all the green things they can in our Churches. Theſe Ca­terpillars were bred of Ignorance, Errour and Hereſie, and came out of the ſmoak of the bottomleſs pit; and by them the Go­ſpel is much wronged, hindred and abuſed. The Quakers we may call Spirits, which come out of the mouth of the Dragon, and out of the mouth of the Beaſt, and out of the mouth of the falſe Prophet: and St. John ſaith, theſe Spirits are like frogs: by frogs the holy Ghoſt meaneth Ieſuites and Seminary Prieſts: now ſuch are the Quakers, who are of the ſame brood, and they may fitly be com­pared to frogs for two reaſons.

1. As frogs delight in filthy lakes and puddles, ſo the Quakers delight in their falſe Doctrines, teaching the Traditions of men,2 and ſo walk on in their wickedneſs, according to St. Iohns ſaying, Rev. 22.11. He that is unjuſt let him be unjuſt ſtill, and he that is fil­thy; let him be filthy ſtill.

2. As frogs make a great croking in mariſh grounds, ſo the Ieſuites, Seminary Prieſts and Quakers, by their ſweet and fair words, get themſelves favour in ſuch Gentlemens houſes, where they can have entertainment.

The Quakers alſo are like unto Scorpions, for as Scorpions ſting the body, ſo do they ſting the ſoul, and with their•air words and falſe doctrines do corrupt as many as they can, ſpeaking lies in hypocriſie having their conſciences ſeared with a hot iron, 1 Tim. 4.2. And therefore God ſhall ſend them ſtrong deluſion, that they ſhould believe a lie; that they all might be damned, who believed not the truth, 2 Theſ. 2.11, 12.

The Quakers have ſtung and poyſoned many in this Land by their fair words and falſe doctrines: Behold, I am againſt the Pro­phets ſaith the Lord, that uſe their tongues, and ſay. He ſaith, Behold, I am againſt them that propheſie falſe dreams, ſaith the Lord, and do tell them, and cauſe my people to erre by their lies, Jer. 23.31, 32. The Quakers walk after their Maſter, the Prince of the power of the air, the ſpirit that now worketh in the children of diſobedience, Eph. 2.2.

But I hope and verily believe, that God will keep and maintain his Church, and the Goſpel of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt in this Land, ſo that neither the Pope, nor Quakers ſhall ever be able to ſet up Popery again in the ſame. And the reaſon of my belief is this, becauſe the everlaſting Goſpel, which was carried by the Angel that did flie in the midſt of heaven, ſhall ſpread ſtill more and more, as appeareth Rev. 14.6. And our Saviour Jeſus Chriſt hath promiſed, that the gates of hell ſhall not prevail againſt his Church and Goſpel, Math. 16.18. Wherefore our onely wiſdom is, to ſeparate our ſelves from the Quakers, and avoid their falſe doctrine, and to joyn our ſelves to the true Church of God, whereas thoſe that do not ſhall periſh, for God is juſt, and there­fore he will recompence tribulation to all thoſe that trouble the Church, 2 Theſ. 1.6.

We of this Land and Nation, may juſtly fear, that as God here­tofore had a controverſie with the children of Iſrael, becauſe there was no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the Land; ſo he will have a controverſie with us, becauſe we are guilty of the ſame ſins.

As concerning the knowledge and learning of the Ieſuites, Quakers, Anabaptiſts, Libertines, &c. I do believe, that their know­ledge and learning came from their old Maſter the Devill, other­wiſe they would not maintain and defend theſe errors and blaſ­phemies. viz.

1. That there is no need of preaching, reading, praying, the Sacraments, ſinging of Pſalmes, and all other Ordinances, the Spi­rit is all (as they ſay:)

2. That all gifted perſons may preach without ordination.

3. That God revealeth his will, not onely by the written word, but alſo by Dreams and Viſions, which they believe more than the Word of God.

4. They deny all Conſequences drawn from the Scripture, though never ſo clear.

5. That the Magiſtrate muſt compell none in matters of Reli­gion, but muſt tolerate all.

6. That Heaven and Hell are no where, but within a man.

7. That they may diſſemble their Religion, deny Chriſt before men, ſo that they keep the Truth in their hearts: God delighteth not in our bloud, nor requireth that we ſhould die for the Truth.

8. That Infant Baptiſm is a childiſh needleſs thing, and that no Infants ought to be baptized, untill they come to perfect age, and are able to make a Confeſſion of their faith. That Infant-baptiſm came from the Pope or Devill.

9. That the Saints are freed by Chriſt, from all Laws, Cove­nants, Vows, paying of Tithes, or Debts.

10. That after Baptiſm they cannot ſin.

11. That the ſoul ſleepeth when it departeth from the body, and neither goeth to heaven or hell till the day of Judgement; and that the ſoules of men are but terreſtial vapours, like Beaſts, periſhing with the body.

12. That a Chriſtian cannot with a ſafe Conſcience poſſeſs any thing proper to himſelf, but he muſt let all be common.

13. That the Sacraments in uſe amongſt us, are not appointed by God in the Scriptures.

14. That the righteous enter into life for their good works.

15. That no opinion is damnable, and that a man may be ſa­ved in any Religion.

16. That Chriſt is a meer man, not having any other nature be­ſide the humane nature.

17. That the Holy Ghoſt is not God, but onely the chief of the miniſtring Spirits.

18. That man is a right Rule, yea, the Rule of all things.

19. That God neither doth, nor poſſibly can hurt us, and there­fore is not to be feared.

20. That no civill Government is to be acknowledged by the Government of the Law.

21. That the civill Magiſtrate hath not any coercive power to puniſh any man, or to reſtrain any for their Judgement, Conſci­ence, Opinion, or way of worſhip, if they act or ſpeak nothing that is deſtructive to the civill Power, or tending to the breach of the peace, or to the injury of another, and the reaſon they give is this, becauſe the Magiſtrate he is natural, and knoweth not what is Blaſphemy, Hereſie, Errour and Idolatry, they are fooliſhneſs to him, neither can he diſcern them.

22. That the Magiſtrate ought not to have the Title of Wor­ſhipful or Right Worſhipful given unto them.

23. That none are Miniſters of God, and called by him, who are ſent forth by Authority of men.

24. That the worſhip which is performed by the people of Eng­land, in fellowſhip with the Miniſters thereof, is heatheniſh worſhip.

By all which we may ſee how neceſſary it is, that both Magi­ſtrates and Miniſters, with united hearts and hands, endeavour to oppoſe and ſuppreſs theſe errours and hereſies, which bring ſwift deſtruction, both upon falſe teachers themſelves, and upon thoſe that are deceived by them.

I do earneſtly intreat all thoſe that fear God, to take theſe things into their ſerious conſideration, and meditation, both in publick and private, and lay to heart, how dangerous and pernici­ous theſe errours and hereſies are, for if after they have eſcaped the pollutions of the world, through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Ieſus Chriſt, they are again intangled therein and overcome, the later end is worſe with them than the beginning, 2 Pet. 2 20. And let all men that have any care of their ſalvation, follow the counſel of the Holy Ghoſt, ſaying, come out from among them, and be not parta­kers of their ſins; for many deceivers are entred into the world (and certainly into this Land) 2 John 7. who privily ſhall (and do) bring in damnable hereſies (even amongſt us) denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themſelves ſwift diſtruction. And many ſhall follow their pernitious wayes, by reaſon of whom the way of truth5 ſhall be evill ſpoken of, 2. Pet. 2.1, 2. The time will come, when they will not endure ſound doctrine, but after their own luſts ſhall they heap to themſelves teachers, having itching ears, who ſhall ſay to their new Lights, propheſie not unto us right things, ſpeak unto us flattering things propheſie errours, Iſai. 30.10. And we will walk after our own de­vices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evill heart. Jer. 18.12. Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant ſtone, leſt they ſhould hear the Law, and the wordt which the Lord of Hoſts hath ſent in his Spirit by the former Prophets, Zech. 7.12. Thus ſaith the Lord of Hoſts, Hearken not unto the words of the Prophets that propheſie unto you, they make you vain, they ſpeak a viſion out of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord. How long ſhall this be in the heart of the Prophets that propheſie lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart. Behold I am againſt them that propheſie falſe dreames, ſaith the Lord, and do tell them, and cauſe my people to erre by their lies, and by their lightneſs, yet I ſent them not, nor commanded them; there­fore they ſhall not profit this people at all, ſaith the Lord. Ierem. 23.16, 26, 32.

We read in the Book of Numbers, chap. 16.1, 2, 3. That Korah, Dathan and Abiram roſe up before Moſes with two hundred and fifty Princes of the Aſſembly, and they gathered themſelves together againſt Moſes, and againſt Aaron, and ſaid unto them, ye take too much upon you, ſeeing all the Congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them, &c. So the Quakers gather themſelves toge­ther againſt the Godly learned Miniſters of the Goſpel, ſaying unto them, the people are holy, and the Lord is among them, and therefore why may not they preach as well as you Black-coats:

But they conſider not, that none ought to preach except they be called, according to that of the Apoſtle, Heb. 5.4. No man taketh this honour unto himſelf, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. And how ſhall they preach, except they be ſent? Rom. 10.15. It is a note of falſe Prophets, to run and come without a call and ſend­ing, as our Saviour Chriſt affirmeth, Math. 7.15. Beware of falſe Prophets, which come unto you, &c. So that it is evident, no private perſon ought to take upon him to expound and interpret the Scri­pture in publick, for this is the ready way to breed diſorder, errour and confuſion in the Church: If every Souldier, that hath the gifts of a Commander, ſhould take upon him the Office of a Ge­neral, without a lawful Call; or he that hath the gift of a Magi­ſtrate ſhould take upon him the Office of a Magiſtrate, and exe­cute6 the ſame without a lawful Call; or if a Lawyer,•••ing the gifts of a Judge, ſhould ſtep up into the Judges ſeat, and cenſure men without a lawful Call: then farewell Generals, Magiſtrates, Judges, which would breed diſorder and confuſion in the Com­mon-wealth.

Be admoniſhed all you that take upon you to preach (or ra­ther prate) in houſes, gardens, and elſewhere, without a lawful Call, to deſiſt from this your ungodly practiſe, leſt the ſame judgement befal you, which did befal Ʋzzah, for putting forth his hand to ſtay the Ark of God, the anger of the Lord was kindled againſt Ʋzzah, and God ſmore him for his errour, and he died 2 Sam. 6.6, 7.

Let me conclude all with theſe ſcriptural exhortations to my Country-men, for whoſe ſakes I have compiled this ſhort diſ­courſe.

Beloved, remember ye the words which were ſpoken before of the Apoſtles of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt: How that they told you, there ſhould be mockers in the laſt time, who ſhould walk after their own ungodly luſts: theſe be they, who ſeparate themſelves ſenſual, having not the Spirit, Iude 17, 18, 19. Who ſhall be puniſhed with everlaſting de­ſtruction from the preſence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power, 2 Theſ. 1.9. Watch ye, ſtand faſt in the faith, quit you like men, be ſtrong, 1 Cor. 16.13. Be ſober, be vigilant, becauſe your Adver­ſary the Devil, as a roaring Lyon walketh about, ſeeking whom he may devour; whom reſiſt ſtedfaſt in the faith, 1 Pet. 5.8, 9. Be not ſoon ſhaken in minds, or be troubled, neither by ſpirit, nor by word, nor by let­ter, 2 Theſ. 2.2. That we henceforth be no more children, toſſed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the ſleight of men, and cunning craftineſs, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, Eph. 4.14. Let us draw near with a true heart, in full aſſurance of faith, having our hearts ſprinkled from an evil conſcience, and our bodies waſhed with pure water. Let us hold faſt the profeſſion of our faith without wa­vering (for he is faithful that promiſed:) He. 10.22, 23. Finally, my bre­thren, be ſtrong in the Lord, & in the power of his might: put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to ſtand againſt the wiles of the Devil. Eph. 6.10, 11. There be ſome that trouble you, and would per­vert the Goſpel of Chriſt. If any man preach any other Goſpel unto you, than that ye have received, let him be accurſed, Gal. 1.7, 9.