AN ANSWER TO THE Switches for the Snake.  
A Book so called.  
Discovering the Weakness of the Switches, which the Leading Quakers (of the Second Days Meeting in LONDON for Government) have lately (as I am told,) given into the Hands of each Parliament Man.  
Vice is Nourished, and gets Life by Covering it, saith a Heathen Author; even so it is with Errors in Religion.  
Humbly showing, that it is Impossible, that the Pens now in controversy, against us Quakers, should be put a stop to, before there's an O●der given forth, (from the second Days Meeting) for the Reformation of our Numerous Preachers in the Country.  
And also a Book of Retractions of all the Errors in our Friends Printed Books, be Published, with an Appendix and Postscript.  
By William Mather, a lover of (the well meaning Persons, especially among) that People.  Prov. XXVII. 6. Faithful are the Wounds of a Friend: But the Kisses of an Enemy are deceitful. 
Printed in the Year 1700.   

AN ANSWER TO THE Switches for the Snake, etc.  
Note that the Figures on the left Hand Margin, Direct to the Book, called the SWITCHES.  
IS not the Soul without beginning, 
C. Fox, Great Mystery, P. 90. 229. P. 273  comimg from God, infinite in itself?  
It is not horrid Blasphemy, to say the Soul is Part of God is a Part of God.  
Answer, If the Soul is without beginning, and is a Part of God, than not Created, contrary to Gen, 1.  
Are not ye [the Ministers] in the Presumption, and usurped Authority, to Preach, or Teach, that have not the immediate Revelation, as the Apostles had?  
Answer, To be sure it is great Presumption, in too many Ignorant Preachers, (in this Age) that pretend they have the same immediate Revelation, as the Apostles had; Yea, even the same degree; for saith G. Fox, (in the same Book, P. 213. to his opposer) Thou canst not know Scripture, but by the same degree of the Spirit the Prophets and the Apostles had.  
And saith he, They are Conjurers and Diviners, and their teaching is from Conjuration, which is not spoken from the Mouth of the Lord; and that he that hath the same Spirit, that raised Jesus Christ, is equal with God. See P. 7. and 8. in saul's Errand, etc.  
Answer, by this Doctrine, every Man is equal with God, for do not you, J. W. and G. W. hold, that every Man hath a measure of that Spirit.  
But, if all Preachers are Conjurers, that Preach not from the Mouth of the Lord, than that Name must needs belong to G. Fox, in the first place, (as above) is manifest, because his Doctrines differ from Scripture.  
Next, Joseph Clark, mentioned in or about, P. 81. in the defence of the Snake, (a Book so called,) but I do not reckon him a real Conjurer (tho' he is one, according to G. Fox's Sense) because he was so very much mistaken, by his vision, that so much strengthened him, to bear his Testimony against Tyths, for he told me, he saw the Priest that sued him, and those belonging to him, Melt in his sight to nothing, adding, I care not, if the Jailor or the Bailiff get my Money, but for the Priest he shall never have any thing of mine, for John Field, one of the second days meeting in LONDON, told me, he could put me in a way, the Priest should never get any of my Goods.  
In Brief, a little before the Assizes (at Bedford) Joseph expecting a Trial for Tyths, John sent him down a Copy of the Bill that the Priest had put in against him, with a Letter from John (which Joseph got me to Read) wherein he named joseph's Counsellor to Plead for him, and that he had paid him 10 s. and advised Joseph to give him 10 s. more at the Assizes, and also Joseph went up to London, to take Advice of John about it.  
About two Days before the Assize, Joseph came to my House, and desired me to make him a Writing, to secure his Goods from the Priest; if upon Trial, the Priest should cast him.  
My answer was, (I very well remember,) viz. What dost thou come to me, to secure thy Goods, did not John Field promise to do that for thee? Well, saith he, it's now too late, I would have thee do it for me: then I told him, it could not be done, except he did quit himself of the possession of his Goods, and Assign his right to some Person or other.  
This he would not believe, until he got me to go with him to a Lawyer, and there he agreed to bring the Lease of his Farm, to the Lawyer, (which was one day before the Assizes) but his Lease he left at home, and did ride to one of his Brothers to be an Arbitrator on his side to agree it, and then it was given out, that Joseph did not agree with the Priest, it was his Brother. And I being with him after the agreement, he said to me, he could now pay Tyths as well as other Taxes: the Priest (who being reputed a very moderate Man, and well spoken of by some Quakers) sent his Son to School to me some time after this agreement, and the Young Man said to me, That Joseph was as good a Man as they had in the Town, for the Payment of Tyths.  
But since these things, Joseph went to a Monthly Meeting, to Ampthel, to Answer for himself upon suspicion, of being a long Practiser of a very foul Sin, I am ashamed to name it; the divers Witnesses, were very free to tell it in private, and somewhat became public, viz. To the Elders of that meeting, that when he went from home, he must have a Man lie in Bed with him, and that he used to Kiss, and get upon such Men as he lay with, and made them Sweat; and I heard two Men say, that with him, they had such a Night's Lodging as they never had in their Lives, adding, they would never Lie with him more.  
Now Joseph being Examined, of some of these Actions, could give no better Answer than this, (as I am told) It was only love to the Creature,) so the Meeting could do no less than bid him give over Preaching in Meetings, his Answer was, I must obey God rather than Man. This Joseph continues to Preach in his own House (and People come to hear him) every other first Day, as I am told.  
Reader, bare with me (for I desire a Reformation,) and I am the Larger upon this, because the Ruling Elders and Preachers, have Written Laws, which they call Prescriptions, which some held are to keep all out of miscarriages, or to that purpose; when Alas! They have lost their Power (if ever they had any) to silence the Young Nonsensical Preachers, yet such Elders will sometimes in private to others, call them half handed Preachers, and wish they would be silent.  
Now a little more of the said Joseph, once before, he was to Dine at my House, and had sat down, said, amongst other words, O God thou hast Written thy Law, in our Hearts, as with the point of a Diadem, (i. e. a King's Crown.) And when 〈◊〉 gins to Preach, he saith, this and this springs, or arises in my Heart; (that is) what comes next to his Tongue's end; and because he Thunders out his Words so fast, the Ignorant hearers conclude it comes from the Life and Power of God; (this is darkness itself.)  
Thus too many well meaning Souls have been strongly deluded, by heaping up unto themselves such Ignorant Preachers (having Itching Ears, as the Apostle saith, (2 Tim. 4.3.) that they cannot endure sound Doctrine, when they (o● some of 〈◊〉) hear G. Keith Preach it, as lately near Bedford, and to manifest their drink of 〈◊〉, Doctrine, one of them, a Woman Preacher, stood up, reflecting against George, amongst other Words, as near as I and others present could remember, she Preached against the Wisdom of the World, and Priests and Professors Knowledge, that profits not, And that it was not needful that Christ should Live in Heaven, or Dye on Earth, but that he should Live and Rule in us, etc. Likewise she that reflected lately, said t● one of her Neighbours (as I am credibly informed,) that what she spoke in Meetings, was only that which did arise from within, and that she had not read a Chapter in the Bible this three Years.  
Therefore such Ignorant Preachers have got such a way of tuning out the words that comes next to their Tongue's end, that so Charms the fancies of some of the hearers, that they conclude the words that so spring out of their Mouths, are 〈◊〉 good News from Heaven, agreeable to G. Fox, who saith, viz. The●● 〈◊〉 none 〈…〉 Glory and a Heaven, but within them, Gre. Mist. p. 214.  
But who so blind, as to believe that their singing Preach come immediately from Heaven, or Gods Holy Spirit, when they so seldom mind, or meditate in the Holy Scriptures, which were given forth from God's Spirit.  
Therefore it is my Faith, that if such Preachers, as are Ignorant of the F●●●●mental Doctrines of Christianity, were silenced, and that in Country M●eeting 〈◊〉 Religious Worship, (a sound preacher being absent,) One in the Meeting, after 〈◊〉 time of silently waiting upon God to grow in Grace, did read a Chapter or two in the Bible to Meditate upon; or a Sermon and Prayer (in the fear of God) in the Family Devotions of that honest Man Theophilus Dorrington, the People would soon shake off their Ignorance, by the help of Grace and Holy Scriptures.  
Object. But if some conceited Ignorant Preachers should say to me, thus: Th●● wouldst bring us back again into Egypt to the Priests, we will not so much as look into their Writings, their Babylonish Ware, for one of our Teachers has told us, they are Merchants of Babylon, successors of Simon and E●●mas the Sorcerers, Acts 8. and 13. And further, he Prophesied about 40 Years ag●●, that their downfall was near, for saith he in P. 19 The Wrath of God Almighty, is 〈◊〉 to be trod, in which you are to be cast, for the Lord hath spoken it, and he will not repent, a treble Portion of the Plagues of God Almighty, are you to have above all others, etc. R. Crane's strict account of the Merchants of Babylon, Printed in 1660.  
Answer, By the false Prophecy of R. C. we may learn, that blind Zeal and Malice doth excite some to Curse in the Name of the Lord, as G. W. has done G. K. These dreadful Curses were to de●●r us Ignorant Quakers from so much as opening to read a Priest's Book, fearing ●●●i● Cheats would be discovered.  
But notwithstanding our Teachers fiery Zeal against the Priests (as they call them in derision,) the soundest Doctrine of Christianity had been lost in this Nation (th●● too many of them do not Live up to their Doctrine,) had not some of the best of them, explained them according to the Holy Scriptures, (which is so little minded by too many;) Witness Dr. Fowler's Design of Christianity, Dr. scott's Works, but more especially his Fifth and last Vol. of the Christians Life, which I recommend to my Reader to buy them, if he can spare Money.  
I say, the Family Devotions above mentioned, may be very useful, (to unprejudiced minds) to be used, in our Religious Meetings in the Country.  
And also in Families, every Evening, where the Master of the Family has not the Gift of utterance (as many have not.) Heart Prayer is in use at all times, which 〈…〉 our own Souls; but Prayers read in the Families, in Words suitable to the Divine Majesty ought to be in such Words, as may excite the Hearers to stand in awe of their Creator, by fearing to Sin against so good a God, that gives us all good things.  
But the Prayers as we Quakers use to hear (it's said) comes immediately from God's Spirit, which is impossible, for if they did, there would be a begging of God Pardon for their Sins, and the Sins of the Members of the Meeting.  
That we should so long be Enemies to Forms of Prayer, (is to be wondered at) when our dear Saviour made one for us, When you Pray, saith he, say, Our Father which art in Heaven, etc. Luke 11.2. and this we never use in our Meetings, nor in Families, and indeed most of us use no Prayer in their Families, that Wrath we must expect, without Repentance, according to Jere. 10 25. Pour out thy fury upon the Heathen, and the Families that call not on thy Name.  
But that the outward Person, that suffered, 
Will. Pens 〈◊〉 Apology. P. 146.  was properly the Son of God, we utterly deny.  
Answer, If this be true, Nathaniel was mistaken, who said, Thou art the Son of God, John 1.49. Also Simon Peter, who said, Thou art Christ, the Son of the l●●ing God, Matt. 16.16. as likewise was the voice out of the Cloud, which said, This i● my Beloved Son, Matt. 17.5.  
Your Imagined God beyond the Stars, 
C. At●inso●● Sword of the Lord draws P. 5.  and your Carnal Christ (which you would make appear through your Heathenish Philosophy) is utterly denied. That Christ is God and Man, in one Person, is a Lye.  
Answer, Did you ever hear that any Minister professing Christianity, did go about to make Christ appear thro' Heathenish Philosophy? and to your denying that Christ is God and Man, Read Isa. 9.6. Jo. 1.14. and 20.28. Heb. 2.14, 〈…〉 8.3. 1 Tim. 3.16. Ph. 2.5, 6, 7. Rom. 9.5. 1. Jo. 5.20. with many others, that prove he is.  
Doth not the Name of Christ, belong to the whole Body, and to every Member? 
Isaac Penington to Professors, P. 27.  Christ is not ashamed to call them Brethren, Heb. 12 10. nor is he ashamed, to give them the Name Christ, together with him, Heb. 2.11.  
Answer, I do not yet read in the Scriptures that Jesus called any of his followers Christ.  
Question, 
Ed. Burrows Works, P. 149.  (to a Quaker) Is that very Man [Jesus] with that very Body within you, Yea or N●y? Answer, the very Christ of God, is within us, we dare not deny him.  
The Sufferings of the People of God (Quakers) in this Age, is greater sufferings, and more unjust than in the Days of Christ, or the Apostles, 
F. B. 273.  what was done to Christ, or the Apostles, was chief done by a Law, and in great part, by the due executing of a Law.  
Answer, Surely, this must be a great mistake in Ed. Burrows, for 〈◊〉 Quak●● 〈◊〉 I can hear of) had his Hands and Feet N●●●● to a Tree o● a Cross, and there hang till Death, as the hard Hearted Romans did, by the Jews procurement (of ha●der Hearts) Crucify our ever Blessed Saviour; and also we read, that three of his followers suffered so, as Philip, Andrew and Simon, and that John was thrown into a T●n of Scalding Oil, and by the Power of Jesus Christ, took no hurt; and likewise Mark the Evangelist (it's said) had a Rope tied about his Neck, and was drawn through the Streets of Alexandria until his Flesh was re●● in 〈◊〉.  
They that are false, Preach Christ without, 
William smith's Primer, P. 8.  and bid People believe in him, as he is in Heaven above.  
But if we make but a small amendment, (say you in P. 220) of the word, only and then read it thus;  
They that are false, Preach Christ without, and bid People believe in him [only] as he is in Heaven: (very good.)  
Then George Whitehead, now that you have found out the way of amendments, thou mayest do well to follow on to the end, that none may Write more against it.  
As First, begin in P. 65. in thy Truth defending the Quakers, and there use the word (only) as,  
That Faith in Christ without Men, is contrary to the Apostles Doctrine.  
And so it greatly behoves th●● to do, ●●●ing thou hast given such a large Testimony to Christ without us, in P. 544 in the Switches, contrary to what thou hast formerly Printed, and yet in all thy large Confession, thou dost not own him now to be in Heaven without us, in the true nature of Man, and in the true and re●● Body wherein he suffered, that he will come again in that Body without us, to Judge the Quick and the Dead at the last Day.  
And if thou wilt (by the help of Divine Grace) make a Book of Retractions, of all things that's contrary to the Doctrines of Christ Jesus in Holy Scripture, in thi●● and other Friends Books, (and get the Members of the second Days Meeting in London to sign it,) it will (as I may say) take the Weapons out of the Hands of all those tha● say, The Quakers hold damnable Errors.  
I am not without hope, but that thou mayest be an Instrument in this good work, which if thou lives to see it accomplished, thou wilt leave a 〈…〉 behind thee; for thou m●●t needs acknowledge thou art subject to 〈…〉 w●ll as Samuel, Eliab and Elijah, who, you say, in P. 497. were, viz. Good Men 〈◊〉 s●nne true Prophets, also have been mistaken in some things, and have had their weakness and failings, Sam. 16.16. 1 Kings 18.18. Rom. 11.3, 4.  
And further, in P. 229. That we have always readily offered, and submitted our words and writings, to the Testimony of Holy Scripture, etc.  
If this you really intent, then do you choose three or four of the learned'st Quakers, to meet with such a number of the soberest Ministers of the Church of England seeing you acknowledge their Creed is Orthodox) to help to make a Book of Retractions.  
But, if you still hold, that none can rightly judge of Doctrines, whether they are according to Scripture, or no, without the same degree of God's Spirit, as the Prophets and the Apostles had, the Controversy will not end, except you will acknowledge you have it in that degree.  
The good Physician (saith one) will try the Apothecary's Drugs, ere he make use of them for his Patient's Body: And shall we not try the ingredients of that Religion (by the Holy Scriptures) which is accounted the Physic of our Souls? If the Gold be pure, why fears it the Touchstone?  
Therefore be not backward to come to the Test, and for your Assistance take (those above) and if you see some failings in them, judge not, that they are not accepted of God, for small failings, not be so uncharitable, as E. B. seems to be, in P. 32. of his works, and P. 73. in the Switches, viz. That God doth not accept of any, where there is any failing, etc.  
I have more Charity for our Ancient friend Isaac Pennington (above mentioned) that he was accepted of God tho' he had failings; for after he had Writ Queries that strengthened some Men in the keeping on their Hats in Prayer time, retracted it, saying, viz. God knows (saith he) I did not willingly mistake: Nay, truly the Power was upon me, when I wrote those Queries, but I did not understand the signification thereof; Jud. and the Jews, P. 69.  
Therefore we have no need to boast, that we have a Spirit given us, beyond all our forefathers, Gre. Mist. P. 89.  
In Brief, a Man that does but once tell you, G. W. etc. of your mistakes, that they might be amended, had need have the same Armour of Grace in his Heart, as little David had, when he encountered Great Goliath, yea, as bold as David's Worthies were, who ventured their Lives, to fetch Water from the Philistians Camp; to be sure you will scoff at him at a high rate, Wound or Kill him, as you account that Crisp, Bug, Keith, etc. are Dead to the Life of Truth, for opposing your Errors: Wounded them, it's true you have, for which God will Judge you; for every one of them at first only desired, that you might bring your deeds to the Light, viz. to be tried by Scriptures; but instead of Answering their Christian desires (for your good) you fall upon them, and wound them and made them grieve.  
By this it further appears, you are no followers of the good Samaritan, he did heal where he had not wounded, you wound, and seek to make the wound bigger: the Blessed Jesus, you take not for an example, he went about doing good to his very Enemies, being Reviled, Reviled not again, 1 Pet. 2.23. Oh! How did his Lamb like Nature Weep, when he turned his Face towards hard hearted Jerusalem, and thought of the miseries that were coming upon those his fierce Enemies.  
But you seek not to bind up the Wounds you have made in your Brethren, seek not to win them in a Spirit of meekness, but like rough Esau, contend with them fiercely, and rejoice if any ill befalls them, doing what in you lies to starve them, by hindering their Trading. Your own Consciences will tell you (if not feared) this is truth.  
You are not come into the Patience of a Christian, as David was in, when Shimei cursed him bitterly. Oh! how patiently David bore it, being sensible there was some Cause in himself, that God did permit Shimei to curse him so often before his mighty Warriors.  
Consider this, you fierce despisers of all those who desire your Reformation in Doctrine and Practice. You know where this cursed thing is, that causeth all this disturbance; you still hid it; but out it must come, and be beaten to powder.  
What! do you think people are blind? Do not you say, They all have Light from the same Fountain of Light with you? Did not God give them this Light to know Truth from Error by?  
Your making New Creeds, or Articles of Faith (according as your Opposers desire you) will not do; they cannot believe you are sincere until you retract those Errors in your Books, printed before your late Creeds.  
And if some of the Authors are dead, what then? you that have recommended their Works, by Epistles to them, must retract them; It's no shame to do it, it hath been often done for good men after death, by the Survivers in Christianity. It's a Princely thing (saith a Worthy Author) to acknowledge an Error, and to forsake it. And this I have been a Quaker above 40 years, I took it well when any one saw a fault in me, and told me of it.  
Is it not a fault in the Members of Two Meetings in Wickham in Buckinghamshire, not to love one another? and is it not a great Fault that the Preachers in both Meetings, in pretending they both preach from the utterance of God●s Spirit, yet preach contrary to one another.  
To conclude, As to this my Loving Testimony to the Truth, I am sure that thou George Whitehead will not hate and scoff me (as thou hast done thy Opposer, in the Switches) if God's Grace is thy Guide. Oh! therefore George, Arise in the Authority of the Divine Grace, (that thy Name may be had in worthy Remembrance, when thy Body is in a Grave:)  
And like good Josiah, labour to get every thing removed (out of our Spiritual Israel, so called) that in any thing is contrary to Christ's inward and Spiritual Grace, and his Divine Precepts, in holy Scripture; that Jeremiah's Prophecy may be fulfilled in us, viz. All that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the Seed which the Lord hath blessed, Isa. 61. ●9. Men seeing our Innocent, Patient, Meek, Quiet, Humble, Blameless and Inoffensive Lives and Conversation, to the Glory of God for ever.  
This in Truth is the real desire of my heart, for the People called Quakers in general: God knows I lie not, because so many of them are come so far out of the Wilderness (of this wicked World's Vanities) even to the very borders of Canaan (a resting place in God's Grace).  
It pi●ies my Soul. that any such Innocent Souls should fall short of that rest, by harkening to the Preach of the Lifeless Preachers () who are Taught to preach neither by Grace nor Holy Scriptures, but what comes next into their Imaginations (which is a Rock) that many Souls have been split upon.  
Bedford, Nou. 25. 1699. I am a Lover of the Souls of all Men, W. M.   

An Appendix.  
BY way of Appeal to the most serious amongst the People called Quakers (that by Grace and Holy Scriptures) they may consider (in the fear of the Lord) Whether some of our confident Teachers, were not the cause of the many Imprisonments, etc. we endured (I cannot number mine) in the time of K. C. II. who in the first year of that King's Reign, viz. 1660, the suffering Clergy of the Church of England, being just coming out of the suffering they endured in oliver's time, etc. that one of our Teachers should Salute them in the following manner, in his Book called, A strict account of Babylon's Merchants, etc. By Richard Crane, Printed for Thomas Simons at the Bull and Mouth, etc.  
Go to (saith R. Crane) ye Merchants of Babylon, who are now in this day bringing forth, and exposing to sale your old Cankered, Rusty, and Motheaten Ware. Rage's not, neither be angry, if you be brought to your Rule which you say is the Scripture.  
And tho' you gather some heat from the Sun, [K. C. II.] that is newly arisen, and from it receive some small Vigour, and like the Infects, and the Reptilia of the Earth, who creep out of their holes at the Sun's warmth, by which they are vivified yet know such are not Permanent, but the withdrawing of the Sun's heat from them, soon return to their holes, and some Perish; you may take this as a Figure.  
For there is a cup prepared for you, being mixed with Plagues, Woes, Miseries, Sorrows, Torments, and Eternal Burn, which you shall not pass, for you are found from the Lord God worthy, and a treble portion is to be given unto you.  
Being Ignorant of the Soul, or what it is, your Cure, is you know not what, or to what, and so truly Physicians worth nothing.— Your Medicine, which you pretend to cure Souls with, I would ask whether it be a Simple, or a Compound, being made up of so many Fragments of divers sorts, therefore a Compound.  
As the first Ingredient in your Composition, so much cried up, is your Prayer, called Common; 
* 
Which W. Tomlingson the same year 1660. in his word of Information, compares to the Whore● cup, mentioned in the Revelations.  
R. Farnsworth, 2 years after that, in his Plea to the Bishops, Labours to prove out of the Common Prayer, that the Quakers agree with it in Principle, Doctrine and Practice.  
Also Fra. Lea, in his Looking Glass for Episcopal People, 1674. writes ten approved Prayers out of the Common Prayer Book, to show how the Quakers agree with it, so deserve Liberty of Conscience, that all may come out of Error, the Quakers have long prayed for, (saith he) Even so do now the opposers of the Quakers Error, and that J. ●ield (above named) will prove they are all of one mind and heart; as be used to say they were, then let him Reconcile his Brother Preachers sayings above.   and indeed so it is, I hardly know any thing more Common, except Cursing and Swearing.  
In some things you parallel Simon and Elimas' the Sorcerer, Act. 13.8, 23— you are even discovered and known to be as you are, viz. Antichrists, Deceivers, Sorcerers, and Ravening Wolves— Flames, Flames, Flames of Fire, is prepared by the Lord to consume you as dry stubble. In the Light of the Eternal God I have beheld you, and all your Actions, and take them altogether, and Rake the Pit of confusion, and bind up yourself in a bundle.— If I should parallel you with Savage Beasts, I could not truly do it, I think, be they never so fierce— but Men of Prey, such as you are, is quite out of kind, and not to be paralleled by any thing that draweth breath.  
— Oh! Full of all Subtly, Children generated of the seed of deceit, brought forth out of the Womb of Wickedness, and nourished up at the Breasts of Witchcraft, 
The true Light certainly did not move this Man to Rage at this rate.  and rocked in the Cradle of Idleness, Woe is me, for the day which I see is coming upon you from the Lord, and all them that you have made drunk, by putting your bottle of Poison to their Noses, who have drunk deep, and so are become one in Nature with you, it had been better 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 never been born, it had been better for you, that you had been strangled in your Mother's Wombs, and still births had been presented to them, than Living Children into their Arms. Oh! What shall I say concerning you? God's everlasting decree is sealed against you, burn, burn, burn, with unquenchable fire, is your portion from the Lord God of Heaven and Earth.  
Your Organs, your Singing-Men, and Boys with Surplice, Tippits, Sc●●●●● Long Garments and Girdles, with your invented Prayer called Common, with your Preaching, and the best of your Sacrifices, enters into the ears of the Eternal God— (Nay) you are highly mistaken, a pure God must have pure praise, God praises God 
* Mark this well. ; his praise and worship for ever and ever, is from thee to thee: now if you cannot read this let your Mouths forever be stopped; Cease your Invented Instruments for Worship, for an Evil Savour doth your Sacrifices send forth, even a loathing to the Lord God of Heaven and Earth.  
But the God which you Imagine, let him be Worshipped according to your Imaginations and Inventions, and think not to mock the Eternal God, by your Devices— the Jews knew him not, who came in the Figure or Flesh.— Oh! I have seen Eternity, I have seen Eternity, and a dreadful day is VERY NEAR at hand to be revealed; Oh! The overflowing scourge; Oh! The Bosom of Destruction. Oh! The Plagues and Vengeance that is to be poured upon the Wicked in this Nation, both Priest and People; Howl, Howl, Hireling Priests of all orders, for the Wine-press of the wrath of God Almighty is EVEN NEAR to be trod, into which you are to be cast; for the Lord God hath spoken it, and he will not repent, a treble portion, a treble portion of the Plagues of God Almighty, you are to have above all others, [Thus far R. Crane.]  
☞ Observe, Christian Reader, what Astonishing things are these, which this man pretends came through him from God Almighty. Oh, Blasphemous! to father all their Malice upon the Merciful God.  
But we Poor Ignorant Quakers were made so blind to believe, because of their sufferings, that such were true Prophets sent of God, in this Age, pretending they spoke from the mouth of the Lord, need not study or meditate what to preach (as Paul advised Timothy, 1 Tim. 4.15.) As if they were Conjurers that took a Text of Sctipture to begin a Sermon, See p. 7. in G. Fox saul's Errand.  
And that they needed neither Scriptures nor Books, as a means to help their Preachers, and that they may be good Ministers without the help of the Scripture, (as the above named Joseph Clark, pleaded with G. Keith in my house) for they had all revealed in them, that they were to preach and declare, and by the same Spirit Young Boys and Girls Preach now, and have a long time from the Imaginations of their Brains, or what comes next to the Tongues end, for if this Spirit was of God, it would allow the Holy Scriptures to be sometimes read in their Religious Meetings, because we are certain the Scriptures were given forth by God's Spirit.  
Indeed, their first Preach won many of us to become good moral Heathens, expecting Salvation only by obeying the Light within us: 
And John Bunyan, art thou finding fault (saith G.F.) because Men wear no Hatbands, and eat and drink Bread and Water, & cast by their Pride? G. Mist. p. 211. And since have taken up Pride again.  when alas! Salvation comes by a Saving Faith in Jesus of Nazareth, as he died for our sins, (now at God's Right Hand) making Intercession for sinners, that all men might have a day to repent in; for from him comes all the Grace, that all men have, to teach them to deny ungodliness, Titus 2.11.  
This Erring Spirit taught us not to make Christ Jesus (as he is in Heaven) the object of our faith; but hath taught us that Jesus of Nazareth appeared in the World for a short time, called a Figure (by R. C. as above) and when he disappeared in the World, is no more.  
But know, ye Neglecters of Meditating, or Reading the Scriptures in your Meetings, 1 Tim. 4.15. That all Men shall be Judged at the Last Day, by that MAN Christ Jesus, Acts 17.31.  
Object. If some Quakers say, That I highly commend the Prayers made by some of the Church of England; and do not their Books want Retractions (in some things) as well as our Books?  
Ans. It's true, I do commend their Prayers, and so doth Fr. Lee, one of your Teachers, in his Looking-Glass. More thereof will follow.  
And what in their Books is needful to be retracted, they will not be so hardly brought to do it as you are, nor cover them so long as you have done, and as the Preaching Elders have done near me, who now confess, They knew there were Errors in our Friends Books before their Controversy with G. K. The more is their shame to cover Transgressions so long (from us Hearers) to keep in favour with those that cover Errors by Sophistry in their New Books.  
Dr. Scott (that excellent Penman) did commit an Error in a book written in his younger years, called, The Christian Life, 1st Vol. which I hope will be retracted, viz. in p. 282, etc. He seems to encourage Christians in their Warfare, to Mirth, Festivities and Raileries of Fancy, etc. which Christ condemns, Mat. 12.36. But for his 5th Vol. of the Christian Life, I know not many better books, except the Bible.  
And likewise it's to be hoped (now that God has given more Light) the Church of England will by the help of the Inward and Spiritual Grace, remove those Offences that have kept out so many Dissenters from coming in into them; for if they do not come in (as one) into the Truth as it is in Jesus, O then, good God, when will the Kingdoms of this World become our Lord Christ's?  
Luther, and other our first Reformers from Popery, had more Light from God than the Papists had or have: B. Latimer, Martyr, had more Light from God a little before he died, than he had when he thought he could not be damned if he had been in a Friar's Coul, Act. and Mon. p. 1325. So that I trust in God he will be pleased to illuminate many of the Church of England's Ministers, that they will see very great need to win all people to come to them; which no doubt will soon be accomplished, after once their Lives and Conversation agree with their Doctrines. For it is a worthy saying of a Son of that Church, viz When we have used all the Arguments, and the best Vindication of ourselves, and of our Church, it is Holiness of Life is the best and most prevalent Apology.  
Now follows the Ten approved Prayers (the  Fr. Lee) collected out of the Common Prayer, I hope for a good End.  

Almighty God, which showest to all Men that be in Error, the Light of thy Truth, to the Intent that they may return into the way of Righteousness, etc.  
Lord, from whom all good things do come, grant us thy humble Servants, that by th● holy Inspiration we may think those things that be good, etc.  
Almighty God, unto whom all Hearts be open, all desires known, and from whom no Secrets are hid, cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the Inspiration of thy holy Spirit, etc.  
That it may please thee to bless and keep the Magistrates, giving them Grace to execute Justice, and to maintain Truth.  
That it may please thee to give to all thy people increase of Grace to hear meekly thy Word and to receive it with pure Affection, and to bring forth the Fruits of the Spirit.  
That it may please thee to bring into the way of Truth all such as have erred and are deceived.  
That it may please thee to defend and provide for the Fatherless Children and Widows, and all that be desolate and oppressed.  
That it may please thee to forgive our Enemies, Persecutors and Slanderers, and to turn their Hearts.  
Grant us, O Lord, to learn to love our Enemies, by the Example of thy Martyr St. Stephen, who prayed for his Persecutors, etc.  
Almighty God, by whose Providence thy Servant John Baptist was wonderfully b●rn, and sent to prepare the way of thy Son our Saviour, by preaching Repentance; make us so to follow his Doctrine and holy Life, that we may truly repent, according to his preaching, and after his Example, constantly speak the Truth, boldly rebuke VICE, and patiently suffer for the Truth, etc.   
Since it hath pleased God, by his Grace to convince me, That Baptism with Water and the Lords Supper are to continue in the Church until Christ's coming again in the same Body in which he ascended, to Judge the World; by which I was stirred in Spirit to search the holy Scriptures, and therein came to understand and believe, That the Holy Ghost was (if I may so speak) scattered, or poured upon the Apostles, Acts 2. 3. seeming to the Eye like Cloven Tongues, or as flames of fire will so seem by the like figure, I do believe Water was sprinkled, or cast upon those 3000 (young and old) that were converted by Peter's Sermon, and so baptised the same day, and not plunged over Head and Ears in Water (as some think) ver. 41. The same may be understood of the Jailor and his Family, who were converted, and baptised with Water at midnight, Ch. 16.33.  
And also since it hath pleased God to further enlighten me thro' consenting unto his Commands in H. Scripture, I am enabled to make a full discovery, how Satan has beguiled such a number of our young Preachers, which was by harkening to those Ancient Preachers, that made them believe there is but one ●ight in all Men.  
As First, They mistaking that Text, John 1.9. That was the true Light which enlighteneth every Man that cometh into the World. From thence supposing, That all Men were enlightened with a Light of Christ Jesus, from their Mother's Wombs, sufficient to Salvation, as particularly G. Fox, in p. 20. Gr. Mist. saith,— Where there is Life in an Infant, there is Light. And in p. 42. disapproves his Adversary for saying, That no Man by that Native Light inherent in him, had power to believe, etc. And to the same purpose see p. 15. in W. Pen's Primitive Christianity.  
2. Thus it appears they own but one Light that we were born with. This Light, or Understanding, though it be called, The Candle of the Lord, Prov. 20.27. which reproves for some sins, yet is but a dim Light to see spiritual things by; but when it shall please God to Lighten this Candle by the Influence of his Divine Grace, and H. Scriptures, than the Soul is Light in the Lord.  
3. So that our young Preachers (laying aside the Light of the H. Scriptures) and Preaching only this common Light in Mankind, must needs Preach false Doctrine, and other confused stuff; so that it has led too many of them to think the H. Scriptures are no help to make a Minister, and has so exalted them, that they think they have the same Degree of Immediate Revelation as the Apostles had; see p. 213. Gr. Mist. But they may wait long enough before they attain to that Degree of God's Spirit the Apostles had: For those Discoveries the Apostles had, were to confirm a belief in people's hearts of the miraculous Birth, Sufferings, etc. of our blessed Redeemer. And Mortal Man (whose heart is deceitful) must no more expect that God will so far trust them with such a large measure of heavenly Treasure as he did the Apostles, the Prophecy of Joel being fulfiled in them. Yet God in mercy now gives (to all the sincere believers in his only Son Jesus of Nazareth) such a measure of his Divine Grace, as will both deliver and preserve them from the evil of the World, and bring them to eternal Life and Salvation, Titus 2.11.  
4. We the hearers of such Preachers, that have so long preached from their own Spirit (without the H. Scriptures) over whom Satan can get advantage to Transform Himself as an Angel of Light, by which way he gets the Name, of an Angel of Light; we must needs, I say, by hearing such Preachers be enticed not to endure sound Doctrine. But if I should write of the divers Confusions, this Spirit hath led us to this 40 Years past, it would make a large Book: and this I know by Experience, that where this Spitit Rules, they cannot with any Love read any of the Good Doctrines written in the Books of any Minister of the Church of England, tho' it be Dr. Goodman's Penitent Pardoned— or Dr. Scots Christian Life. Vol. 5th. but for this my Book, they will warn as many as they can, not to read it, for fear of Infection. O Lord open their Eyes, etc. for thou knowest I have Love for them; For one of them hath given this Good Council to them all, viz. The best way to recover the deceived is to discover the deceiver.  
5. Now to get clear out of Babylonish Confusion, I do advise all amongst them that fear the Lord, to whom this may come, yea and all Dissenters, (so called) to come and hear sound Doctrine, from such as have studied, or thoroughly meditated in the H. Scriptures, for too many dissenters want Christian Love to each other, and it is apparent that some of their Preachers strive more to increase the Number of their Hearers (for outward gain) than to excel one another in a Christian Life.  
Now, I appeal to every honest Impartial Reader, whether the Preachers of the Church of England have not more Christian Charity to the Dissenters in General, than they have to one another, for too many of the Dissenters are for the straightening each others Liberties in many things, while the Church of England grants them all Liberty of Conscience, yea, and most Christianly invites them to come into Communion with them for a Reformation of manners, and to help them to rebuke Vices boldly, and help each other in their Christian Warfare, which to do would be the Joy of Christendom, stop the mouths of Atheists, yea, and it would be to the Honour and Glory of Him, whom we call our Lord and Master, from whom we take the Name Christian, He who Died, Rose, and Ascended, to win us to Love him and one another: How doth the Church of England entreat you to be Reconciled, to come and Worship God together, to hear the foundest Doctrine Preached, to pay nothing therefore, but what our Kings and Parliament Established by Law before we were born; and their Condescending Love to us is so much, that they will not impose any thing upon us against Good Conscience, and that, if you do not think good to be with them at their Fasts, or Feasts, etc. you may stay at home at such times, they most Christianly concluding thus, viz.  
God direct you, and us all. To his Grace I Commend you, and the Inffuences of his Blessed Spirit, to show you what great things it is to do in your Power for him and his Church, and give you a Heart to do them, that it be not laid to your Charge.  
Ob. But, if some Pharisaical Quaker should object, saying, This man would have us meet with such sinners, as from 7. to 70; Cry Lord have Mercy upon us miserable sinners, when he knows, he cannot say that he ever heard us this 40 Years, Pray in our Meetings to God for Pardon of sin, but has often heard us, thank God for his presence in Meettings.  
Answer, The more are you like to the Pharisees who was not for Meeting, Eating or Drinking with sinners, they thought themselves so Holy, but our Blessed Saviour chose rather to meet with them, than the most Zealous Pharisee— Then drew near unto him, all the Publicans and sinners for to hear him, and the Scribes and Pharisees Murmured, saying, This Man receiveth sinners, etc. Mat. 9.10, 11,  
Ob. But if you further object: That such poor and insufficient Ministers are placed in many Churches (so called, tho' they mean the People to be the Church) which rather drive Men, than give them Tolerable Encouragement to attend their Ministry on hopes of Improvement.  
Answer, The same may be objected against the greatest number of the Preaching Quakers, being much more insufficient: The Bishops cannot hinder their Institution, (in many places) but some are sensible of the great easiness of some in their Admission into Orders, by Simony, etc. which the Laws are very strict against, when known. Therefore until things be so amended that none shall be admitted to Preach, whose Lives and Conversation becomes not Christianity, You have Liberty to hear what Minister you please, tho' not of your Parish, that there may be no separation wholly.  
Oh! Let our Prayers be as david's, viz. to understand our Errors. Psa. 19.20.  
The Testimony of J. W. an Eminent Quaker in Bedfordshire, (having perused the Switches for the Snake, which he put into my hand, December 9 1699.) not doubting but that J. R. another Eminent Quaker there, is of the same mind, viz.  
Books of Controversy about Religion, written by the Dictates of selfish Wisdom, that lead to Envy and Evading Quibbles, of which England now too much abounds, are or as little benefit for the Promotion of True Religion, and building up that Holy Faith in People's Hearts 〈◊〉 works by Love; as the confounding of Languages helped forward the Building of Babel's Tower, as may be seen in Gen. 11. Upon which I have seen this following Observation made, (viz.)  
Bring me (quoth he) a Trowel Quickly quick,  
One brings him up a Hammer, hue this Brick;  
Another bids, and th●● they cleave a Tree,  
Make fast this Rope, and then they let it flee;  
One calls for Planks another Mortar lacks,  
They bring the first a ●●●ne; the last an Axe;  
One would have 〈◊〉, and him a spade they give;  
Another asks a 〈◊〉, and gets a Sieve;  
Thus Crosly Crossed, they p●●●e and rail in vain,  
What one hath made, another spoils again;  
This makes them leave their work, and like mad fools,  
Scatter their stuff, and tumble down their tools.  
Even so, O Lord, if it stands with thy blessed will, hasten the day of scattering all envious stuff of Contention, that the Instruments thereof may cast down their Tools, and the People that fear thee, and desire to live at Peace, may say as thy Holy Prophet Isaiah, in his 46. Chap. 1, 2. ver. saith, and hear thy voice, as in the third and fourth verses thereof.  
J. W.  
FINIS.