HTBTL Preface

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A PREFACE

Christian Religion having in the Process of time, been greatly corrupted and depraved to serve the ambitious and covetous designs of those that had attain’d to be chief Leaders and Rulers in the Church: It came at length to that degree of notoriousness that even common People, that had honest minds, became wiser than their Teachers, by applying themselves to evident Truths, and the Reading of the Holy Scriptures, without the Brass of carnal Interests or Passions. Hereupon ensued that Reformation, which has been so violently opposed by the Pope of Rome, and the Princes and Bishops his Adherents. And among the Reformists themselves have arisen many Divisions and Contentions about the matters of Christian Doctrine and Discipline, all laying this for a ground, that their Leaders might erre, and deceive them in the matters of the Salvation as the Romish Leaders have done, and therefore it was necessary for every one to see with his own Eyes, and judge for himself, lest following the blind, he with him fall into the Ditch of Perdition. Now although one man as well as another, all are subject to erre, yet there is this difference between following ones own judgement, or anothers, that every man is bound to use his own understanding in discerning his duty to his God, and as he may be secure of his own integrity, which he cannot of anothers; for every man knows or may know his own heart but cannot another mans. And he that is single hearted and sincere cannot erre dangerously. But he that is insincere, and led away with any carnal Interest or Passion, Ambition, Singularity, Self-conceitedness, desire of Glory, Dominion, or Riches, and the like. This man is as subject to erre dangerously, as any man from whom he dissents. Now Geo. Fox has attain’d a great reputation among the Quakers, and is become of an inconsiderable Shoe-Maker or mean Servant, a great Teacher and Leader of a numerous company of Men and Women, who all profess to be guided by the Light within them, which they say errs not, but leads every one of them, (and every man that is obedient to it) into all Truth, Righteousness, Love, and Goodness, insomuch that all men (especially if they be aquatinted with their Doctrine and Practice) that joyn not with them, are condemned by them, as of a false Religion. Hence it is manifest that according to their Doctrine, every man who knows himself to be sincere and obedient to his Light, and sees not absolute Truth and Goodness in Geo. Fox and the Quakers principles and practices, is a full evidence against them, that they are notoriously defective both in Truth and Goodness. And not only all sincere person that neither say nor do as Geo. Fox and the Quakers, but more especially those persons who in the simplicity of their hearts have sometime consented with him both in Doctrine and Practice, bear an undeniable Testimony against him, that he is highly injurious to Christians, seeks an unjust and oppressive dominion over their Consciences, contradicts by his practice his own principles, and is become a Ring-leader of censoriousness, pride, envy, reproach, and slander. For Whilst they are sincerely obedient to the Light in themselves, it is certain, that according to Geo. Fox’s principles they are justified before God: and then if G. F. and the Quakers condemns them, he condemns whom God justifies, he casts out whom God receives. Neither can he pretend against these as against others; That they were never obedient to their measure, for as to appearance they were as obedient as himself; and therefore he can have no ground upon which to condemn them, but meerly his pride, censoriousness or the like exorbitant Passion. G.F. and the Quakershave in this case no other argument to fly to but their Number. They are the Body, and therefore the Light in them must over-rule that of particular persons. Behold here! how they have openly betrayed their great principle, of the Light in every man his unerring guide, and even the principle of Protestantisme and all the reformation, which requires every man to judge for himself, and follow his own judgement against any number whatsoever: and have betaken themselves to the fortress of the injurious Papists, the Argument of Number, The Church, The Body, which they had before deserted. XR7615. And if I should reckon up the Catalogue of those that have been Quakers, and afterwards upon experience dissented from them, I am assured they would appear more considerable for Integrity and Parts, then the Number of Ministers and private persons that adhered to Geo. Fox like Against whom in particular I may oppose John Perrot, a man who once drew a great Number of Quakers after him, and who far excell’d Geo Fox both in natural and acquired parts, but especially in the vertues of meekness, patience, humility, universal love and Brotherly kindness, which made him an object of * Geo. Fox’s envy and persecution; of which these Papers are a clear Evidence. Hereby it will appear how barbarously Geo. Fox and his Ministers dealt with him, and for what reasons: and on the other hand it will appear by J.P. and his favourers, that a man may for a time be an honest and Zealous Quaker, and afterwards must as honestly and more knowingly depart from them; that he may not with them be guilty of Hypocrisie, injustice, and uncharitablenss.*