Brief and plain discovery of the Labourers in mystery, BABYLON Generally called by the name of QUAKERS With a description how the subtle Serpent deceived them, and made them become proud boasters, calling the tower of Babel which they are building in their imaginations Mount Zion. With a desire of their return to him that hath confounded their language with a few words in Love and new sincerity to the People, which they in scorn call Egyptians; from her that hath seen a Thief in the right Hand, and another in the left, and now desires to embrace Christ the truth, that suffered between them, and remain a well wisher to all People.  
Elizabeth Atkinson.  
Printed by P. L. in the Year. 1669.   

COurteous Reader, if those few lines shall happen into thy hand, who art yet a stranger to our proceedings, and should question why I walked so long amongst them as nine years, and now declare against their principles and practice, I shall endeavour to satisfy thee with this brief account: after the Lord began to work upon my soul, and encouraged me in the hope of my redemption, than did I desire to walk with those that I thought were nearest unto the Lord, and hearing of this people to cry out against all others that were not of their persuasion, that they were all out of the way, and likewise hearing them speak of high attainments in themselves, that they were come to the new Jerusalem, the City of the living God.  
Then did I think these were the fittest people to direct me thither, wherefore I was resolved to follow their directions and examples, than they preached that we had a light within us, that showed us good and evil, and that I knew was in me: then they said if we would mind that, it would lead us out of all evil, thus they set us to feed upon the Tree of knowledge, which indeed was good, but not for food: but the subtle twining Serpent called it the Tree of life: thus by harkening unto them was I deluded and blinded to forsake my first love, which was already espoused unto me by promise, though I had not present enjoyment, and I with many others have ignorantly followed a stranger, and if the Lord called unto us at any time to show us where we were; and we began to hearken and stand still a little, then did they tell us than we were grown slothful, because we would not go along with them, than we complained that we saw little difference between them and the world, except in outward show; for one would overreach another, and others were envious and backbiters, and many others things I might name that ought not to be so much as thought of amongst Saints, than would they slight it over, saying, that we had let in prejudice, that made us look out at others, we must mind our own condition, thus did they many times draw us in again, call good evil, and evil good, saying, it was the Enemy that would lead us back into Egypt, when it was the Lord that in his mercy followed us seeking our return, whom I now trust will preserve us.  
That we return no more unto folly, now the Lord at last having discovered unto me the wiles of this old Serpent, I am constrained by his love in my heart to publish it for the good of others, for when the snare is discovered it is the better avoided, and though we cannot add any thing to our Maker, because in him all fullness dwells, yet it is his will that we should improve our talon for the benefit of our fellow servants, and in obedience to my Lord that hath commanded us to serve one another, in love have I written this desiring the welf are of all the creation of God, thy friend to serve thee in the love of God.  
Elizabeth Atkinson.   

THe Lord called the children of Israel out of Egypt, and bid them borrow the Jewels of the Egyptians: and not long after, of their ornaments they made them an Image, and called it God, ye people called Quakers, of a truth God hath called you out of the broad way of wickedness, and many Jewels were you adorned with, but you went not far before you committed Idolatry with them, concluding yourselves to be saved by your works: which were but your ornaments in your journey, slighting the Lord that had called you to a habitation of rest, wherefore the Lord that commanded there Jewels to be taken from them and ground to powder, hath taken yours from you, and now your nakedness begins to appear: for though you have gotten counterfeit ones, they are so thin that we begin to see through them  
For those that for a time practised honesty in their callings, are now turned deceivers: and those that for a time were content with their own wives, are now turned Adulterers: lusting after other men's, yet these retain your form, though they are out of the power of Godliness, and though for a time you may content yourselves with the works of your own imaginations, yet God will not be robbed of his honour, for because of your provocations he is discovering you to the view of all people, and if the Lord should call me out of this Tabernacle of clay, yet he will double the portion of his spirit upon others to testify the truth. For he that worketh will work until he that letteth be taken out of the way the will of my God be done in Earth, as it is in Heaven, the Scribes and Pharisees trusted in their righteousness as well as you, yet they remained condemned, because they would not believe in the Son of God, yet these would be guides, though Christ calls them blind ones, but there was and is some humble beggars that lie at the feet of Jesus for the opening of their eyes, but these will be cast out of the Assembly, yet he will be glorified whether you will or no,  
I could wish you were sensible how the pride of your imagined knowledge hath puffed you up, thinking to climb up into heaven by your building, which is seen to be but Mystery Babylon, though you have raised it very high, for it is not built upon the rock Christ.  
If you were not so heady and high minded, you would be willing to learn as well as to teach, 
Job. 34. 32.  Job the servant of the Lord said, what I see not teach thou me, but ye say we see and desire to know no more, but except you come down in Humility from the high Tower of Mystery Babylon, you will not see your mistake at the root, which is the cause of all these bad fruits that are growing amongst you, In the beginng God made the world, by Christ the word, and the bright shining of his life was the light of men, this was by creation, and this Christ is indeed the true light that enlightens every one that comes into the world: and by this light man knew the will of his Maker, but being disobedient thereunto he fell into the wrath of God, it being the just reward of his rebellion but the Lord being full of compassion towards the work of his hands, sendeth his beloved Son out of his bosom to tread the wine-press of his wrath, and redeem poor miserable man again out of it, and herein is the rich mercy, and admired loving kindness of the Lord, unto the Sons and Daughters of men, but what will become of those that tread this mercy under foot, it was by faith in the promise of this Redeemer, that all the Saints were saved under the dispensation of the Law, for they believed he that had promised was faithful, therefore their belief was the ground of their obedience, and not their obedience the ground of their belief, and when the fullness of time was come, that the promise came to be fulfilled, many would not believe that he was the Saviour, for had they believed him, they would have received his doctrine, for those that truly believe in the Lord Jesus, will have good works spring up in them as the fruits of their faith if they abide in it.  
As the fruits of unbelief is crucyfying the Lord of glory, wherefore when his Disciples were convinced, they laboured withal diligence to convince them that he was the Christ, John in his testimony bears record to the people that he was the very Christ, by whom the world and all things therein was made, whose light shined in them to know the will of their maker, but we have all disobeyed him, and become children of wrath, wherefore Christ came to be a sacrifice for sin for the whole world, if they will believe in him, these things by the light within are showed to us, but for this doctrine you have broached, to mind only the light within, saying it is the Saviour, you have erred not knowing the Scripture, nor the power of God, for the light within is but the manifestation of him who is the Saviour, it doth indeed show and discover to man how he lies condemned for his disobedience▪ but this is not the satisfaction for thy sins O man, but it is Christ that hath satisfied the Father's justice, for he trod the wine press alone, without us, though he manifesteth it in us, for though we see ourselves fallen into the wrath, yet it is he whose light shineth in all places, that must lift us up out of the horrible pit, if this glance only which shineth in our hearts had been sufficient, God would not have sent his son to shed his blood for our transgressions: but he was the sacrifice that all the Types and Figures under the Law pointed at, and those that looked for salvation waited for, and desired to see, these died in the faith, having seen the promise afar off, but not obtained it, but what will remain for those that neglect so great salvation.  
But a certain fearful looking for of judgement, do you not tread the blood of the Covenant under feet, that scoffingly say, if that were it that washed at Jerusalem, there had need have been abundance of it, to sprinkle so many consciences, which doth sufficiently show your sensual earthly spirits, that knows not the mystery of faith, by which the woman was healed that had the bloody issue, touching the hem of his garment, and yet the spirit of Lucifer hath so far exalted some of you to say you are equal with God, which is contrary to the testimony in Scripture, that saith, when we have done all we are unprofitable servants, for we have done, but that which was our duty to do. What can we add to God, in whom all fullness dwells, we are to be obedient unto him who can kill and make alive, which I am sure you cannot do, God is light, and in him no darkness at all, but the light in you may be darkened, and great is that darkness, why are ye so foolish to deny the fountain because you have had a little taste from the stream, shall the plant say because it was refreshed by the beams of the Sun, I am equal with the Sun, surely no, this would not be right, for though Christ who was equal with God came in the form of a servant, and in the likeness of sinful flesh calling his Disciples brethren, yet it was not testified of any of them, that the Godhead dwelled in them bodily, neither did they call themselves the seed, but they acknowledged themselves bought with a price: by him who is the seed in whom the God-bead dwelled, but the Serpent thinketh to cover himself with bringing Scripture though he preverteth it to a wrong sense, for though they comforted one another in the hope of the enjoyment of what he had purchased for them, if they did abide in the faith to the end, saying as he was, so are we in this present world, knowing that as he endured the contradictions of wicked men, and trials, and tribulations amongst unbeleivers, so they contented themselves to be used like unto their Lord, seeing and knowing right well, that all those unbeleivers lay in wickedness, and they by faith in their hearts had the earnest of a better possession, which the first born of God that could not sin, because the seed remained in him, purchased for them, but Satan hath crept in amongst you, being transformed like to an Angel of light.  
And now being deceived, you labour to deceive others: calling yourselves Saints, and your imaginations truth, and teling people they must be perfect, though I know many of you to be grievous Hypocrites, not walking in the fear of the Lord; with a perfect heart: for though you speak high swelling words, as though you were inspired with an infallible Spirit, calling the light that showeth good and evil Salvation, which is but a glance from him who came to be Salvation. For all that would believe in him, we may refresh our thirsty Souls by the way in the stream but if we will be cleansed, to go up into the City of God, we must go unto the fountain, we see that you subtly persuade us to rest under a Covenant of works, which neither you nor your Fathers ever kept, and so to set down short of the Fountain of our mercies.  
If a man that is forewarned by the Master of the house; will out of curiosity meddle with an Instrument that will wound him, he must apply then himself to the Physician if he will be cured; for the knowing that he should not have done it, will not cure him, but augment his pain to think of his folly, that he would not be ruled by him that knew the danger, neither will the light or knowledge of our duty save us from the punishment of our disobedience, but man must go to the Physician of our Souls for cure, and if we believe and follow his directions we shall be certainly cured.  
I have not written this to strengthen the hands of evil doers that say they believe and do not but that people might not build upon a wrong foundation as this people hath done: and though I expect no other but hatred for telling you the truth, yet I remain a Lover of your Souls, and desire your return to him that first called you  
Elizabeth Atkinson.   

IN the love of God that he hath shed abroad in our hearts, do I come to give you a visit, who profess nothing but the common belief, that is, that ye shall be saved by the Merits of Jesus Christ, I beseech you to consider your condition while it is called to day, before the night come upon you, and let not the Devil deceive your souls, persuading you that you have faith when you have not: how shall we believe you have faith, when we see not the fruits of it brought forth, for all things are known by their fruits: and this we know that the fruit of faith is righteousness, and to do as we would be done unto, but truly Friends, ●●ear that many of you are so far from having this experience of the work of God: that you have not yet considered it.  
Therefore for your sakes, am I willing to declare something of he loving kindness of my God towards my soul: I in times past as well as others have hearkened to the enticements of this subtle Serpent; and disobeyed my maker until the cool of the Evening, that my God was pleased to call unto me, and then was I ashamed: and when I came to be sensible how I was fallen into the wrath of God by my disobedience, than did my God appear with a comfortable promise of redemption, which caused a great joy to spring upon me, that the Lord that I had provoked by my disobedience, should mercifully offer a Covenant of peace, and reconciliation: but this condition was joined to the Covennat, that I should hearken diligently to the voice of Christ, the Mediator of the Covenant, and this was the Doctrine, he that will be my Disciple must follow me in the regeneration.  
Now Friends this know, that since the Lord was mercifully pleased to call unto me, I have found the Law made manifest in me, which made me see sin to be exceeding sinful: and though under this schoolmaster, I have remained in hope, yet I do acknowledge I have many times deserved the rod, though I can truly say, I have not stubbornly or wilfully offended, but by the subtlety of the Enemy have been drawn into snares, which hath caused my Soul to lament, for this was often set before me, they that sin wilfully after they have received the knowledge of the truth, their remains no more sacrifice for sin.  
Now Friends if any of you have heard the call of God, and desire to make your election sure, wait upon him that hath called us, with earnest Prayers and supplications, for our God that hath promised deliverance to the Captives, saith, He will be sought unto, and he will cut the work short in righteousness for the Elect sake. Acquaint yourselves with the Scriptures, and slight them not, as the manner of some is, saying, they had known as much if they had had no Scripture, which is a plain Demonstration of their slighting the giver, for all Scripture is given forth by inspiration, and was profitable for instruction, which the wise man loves, though the fool hate it, and through faith in Jesus Christ are able to make us wise to Salvation: for though Life and Salvation be not in the Scripture, yet they truly testify of him▪ who is the Life and Salvation of all them that believe, and abide in the faith to the end; they were given for our learning, (and we know that the gifts of God are not in vain, but to be received with thanksgiving, we have the comfort to find ourselves companions with the Saints of old.  
In our spiritual travel's and our experiences since we set our faces Zion ward, and as we come to be experienced in the Mystery, we find it to agree with the history, which addeth strength to our hope above all things, let us pray earhestly that we may be endued with a right spirit, for there is many spirits gone forth into the world secretly, working strange delusions▪ but the Lord is discovering this old Serpent though he transform himself into several shapes: appearing in some like sheep in their behaviours, but come to try them, and you shall find them full of all subtleties far from the real innocency of sheep, and these are strong builders in Mystery Babylon: for though they slight the Scriptures, yet to shelter themselves they will many times bring Scripture, though in a confused manner, only to maintain their opinions and imaginations: and when they are confuted by plain Scripture, they will put it off by evations, either turning it into an Allegory, or telling you, you have nothing to do with that Scripture, but the time hastens apace that all secret things shall be revealed upon the house top, some others this old Serpent hath deluded after another manner, lulling them asleep in security, persuading themselves all is well, because Christ died for sinners, and this the Devils know, for they believe and tremble, but friends be not so deceived, to think you are come to the end of the warfare, before you have begun to fight under Christ's banner, retire thyself in stillness into thy quiet chamber, and see if thou art not takeing part with the Enemy and doing him service, and if thou findest it so then thou art not a servant of Christ, for no man can serve two Masters, as the Spirit of the wicked one worketh in the children of disobedience to do evil, so doth the Spirit of Christ work in the believer to do well, for he worketh the will and the deed, and if thou findest not thy will to be changed and regenerated, that whereas formerly thou didst obey the Tempter, now it is thy whole delight to obey thy Maker, if it be not so with thee thou art not come to the beginning of the work viz. to fight under Christ's banner, for though he be the Captain of our Salvation, yet we as good Soldiers must fight under him, being armed with that Armour he gives us, which is the shield of Faith, and the breast plate of Righteousness, now seeing the time draweth near that we must all appear before the Tribunal seat of the righteous Judge, who will reward every one according to their deeds, not their words, those that have been faithful to their Captain, though never so little were committed to their trust, shall enter into the possession he hath purchased, but those that are found under the banner of the Enemy, though they may cry Lord, Lord, and say they have prophysied in his name, and cast out Devils, yet they shall not enter, many have been called, but they are not all chosen, for by the subtlety of the Enemy transforming himself, they have been deceived and this hath been by not keeping humble and low, to follow the Lord, as he would gently lead, exerciseing them under what dispensation he pleaseth but they would come before, elimbing in their heart, and this hath wearied them, and caused them to slumber, and then did this painted guide step before them and now they are following him and will not see their mistake, for he blinds them with a seeming righteousness, because they should not look under his vizard, and this puffs them up with pride, saying they are the people and none besides them, it will be hard for these to be renewed, and brought down again to the acknowledgement of the truth. Except they harken to the voice of the Lord behind them, which calleth them back again, saying this is the way walk in it, now you that have not yet heard the voice calling you out of the broad way, stand still and hearken until thou hear him call unto thy soul, and when thou hast his mercy tendered unto thee, proffering thee the Covenant of peace, and reconciliation believe him, but run not before him, for he is faithful that promiseth, and mind the condition of the Covenaut, and follow wim with thy eye fixed upon him, and if he will have thee under a School master for a while be content and learn thy lesson, for as thou comest forward, thou growest nearer to the Mark of the high calling, for he is the end of the law, therefore let us press forward in faith and patience that we may come to the end of our race with joy. O that we may never forget to wait upon the fountain of wisdom, for our Enemy, is subtle but praises be to the Lord for ever that doth discover his devices, and as he hath discovered the mystery of iniquity, so I trust he will water us with the dew of Heaven, that we may grow in ahe mystery of Godliness, and this is my desire who am a lover of the souls of all people, though not of the Sectarian contention.  
Elizabeth Atkinson.   
FINIS.