A LOOKING-GLASS FOR THE QUAKERS OR SHAKERS'. And their FOLLOWERS, Wherein they may behold their Errors, acknowledge their false Doctrines, and be converted.  
Written for the comfort of all true PROTESTANTS, and daunting of the QUAKERS, JESUITS, SEMINARY PRIESTS, and all their cursed Crew, who do oppose the Church and Gospel of our Lord jesus Christ.  
By SAM. MORRIS of Bristol, a Wellwisher to the Truth and Gospel of jesus Christ.  
1 john 4.1. Dear beloved believe not every Spirit, but try the Spirits, whether they are of God; because many false Prophets are gone out into the world.  
Math. 24.11. Many false Prophets shall rise, and deceive many.  
LONDON, Printed for Edward Thomas in Green Arbour, 1655.   

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 tells 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 smoke out of the Pit, as the smoke of a great furnace, and the sun and the air were darkened, by reason of the smoke of the pit. And there came out of the smoke 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 arm, 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, Friars, Jesuits, 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, Error and Heresy, and came out of the smoke of the bottomless pit; and by them the Gospel is much wronged, hindered 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 jesuits' 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, and so walk on in their wickedness, according to St. john's 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 croaking in marish grounds, so the jesuites, Seminary Priests and Quakers, by their sweet and fair words, get themselves favour in such gentlemen's 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 hypocrisy 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 poisoned 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 prophesy false dreams, saith the Lord, and do tell them, and cause my people to err 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 fly 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 only wisdom is, to separate ourselves from the Quakers, and avoid their false doctrine, and to join ourselves to the true Church of God, whereas those that do not shall perish, for God is just, and therefore he will recompense 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 controversy with the children of Israel, because there was no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the Land; so he will have a controversy with us, because we are guilty of the same sins.  
As concerning the knowledge and learning of the jesuites, Quakers, Anabaptists, Libertines, etc. I do believe, that their knowledge and learning came from their old Master the Devil, 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 Psalms, 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 only 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 compel none in matters of Religion, but must tolerate all.  
6. That Heaven and Hell are not 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 blood, 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 baptised, until they come to perfect age, and are able to make a Confession of their faith. That Infant-baptism came from the Pope or Devil.  
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 souls of men are but terrestrial 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 mere man, not having any other nature beside the humane nature.  
17. That the Holy Ghost is not God, but only the chief of the ministering 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 civil Government is to be acknowledged by the Government of the Law.  
21. That the civil 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 civil 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, Heresy, Error 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 errors and heresies, which bring swift destruction, both upon false teachers themselves, and upon those that are deceived by them.  
I do earnestly entreat all those that fear God, to take these things into their serious consideration, and meditation, both in public and private, and lay to heart, how dangerous and pernicious these errors and heresies are, for if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world, through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour jesus Christ, they are again entangled 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 entered 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 destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways, by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil 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, prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us flattering things prophesy errors, Isai. 30.10. And we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil 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, Harken not unto the words of the Prophets that prophesy 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 prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart. Behold I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the Lord, and do tell them, and cause my people to err 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. jerem. 23.16, 26, 32.  
We read in the Book of Numbers, chap. 16.1, 2, 3. That Korah, Dathan and Abiram risen 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, etc. 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, etc. So that it is evident, no private person ought to take upon him to expound and interpret the Scripture in public, for this is the ready way to breed disorder, error and confusion in the Church: If every Soldier, 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 execute the same without a lawful Call; or if a Lawyer, ●●●ing the gifts of a Judge, should step up into the Judge's seat, and censure men without a lawful Call: then farewell Generals, Magistrates, Judges, which would breed disorder and confusion in the Commonwealth.  
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 practice, lest the same judgement befall you, which did befall Vzzah, for putting forth his hand to stay the Ark of God, the anger of the Lord was kindled against Vzzah, and God smore him for his error, and he died 2 Sam. 6.6, 7.  
Let me conclude all with these scriptural exhortations to my Countrymen, 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, jude 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 Lion walketh about, seeking whom he may devour; whom resist steadfast 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:) Herald 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  
FINIS.