Villany

1st. As it is no leſs then Villany in them to cry out against our uſing the ſame Pleas againſt Imposers amongſt our ſelves, we have uſed againſt others; under pretence, of its not being the leaſt Evil this Spirit of Strife, (as they call it) is guilty of, that it uſes the Words, Liberty of Conscience, and Imposition, againſt their Brethren, amonſt us, in the ſame manner our ancient, Friends have been always accuſtomed to intend them, againſt the perſecuting Prieſts and Powers of the Earth; as if that which is a Crime in the Prieſts, &c. is a Duty when aćted by the Quakers.1

2dly. What greater Villany than for them to Excommunicate thoſe their Chriſtian Monitors for leaving their Society, through a Senſe if the!r Corruptions: Whilſt they are ſo conſcious of the Juſtice of their Separation, as thét they have ſometimes refuſed to give them a Copy of their Papers of Exclusion; leſt they ſhould be expoſed by the {Page 162} Excluded according to their Demerits, for their Abuses contain'd in them. In purſuance whereof,2

3rdly. What greater Villany than for them to expoſe thoſe the Conſcientious Diſſenters to ruin to Ruin in their Outward Estates, by printing their Corruptions upon their own Bottom, in order to reclaim them; by abridging them of their Privilege in printing and publishing their Books amongſt them, at a publick Charge, fir that Righteous purpose; and as ſoon as they have thereby obtained their End in their impoverishment, to juſt Reward of their Opposition, to the aggravation of thoſe their diſtrſt Monitors Misfoirtunes,and greater haedening of their depraved Proſelytes in their Corruptions. In purſuance of which Villanous Enormity,3

4thly. What greater Villany than for them to add Affliction to the Afflictions of thoſe their afflicted Friends, by hindring, as much as possible, all amonſt themſelves and others, from buying, ſelling, or any otherways dealing with them; according to that Popish Precedent the Divine John foretold of, in order to compleat their outward Ruin, to the Ruin alſo of their poor Families; and when they hzve by thoſe their little leſs than barbarous Aćts, provoked them to ſome Indecency in Word or Aćtion, to aggravate their Weakneſs to their Souls Deſtruction, if poſſible, by rendring them diſtracted or craized in their Intellećts, as {Page 163} they me and others of their Monitors, in order to have all we ſay againſt their Corruptions rejected as the effećts of our Madneſs; for which I doubt not, the great God in whom we truſt, will with his juſt Vengeance, in his own due time, reward them, ſince they are ſo far from preventing the ſame by their true Repentance of thoſe Villanous Praćtices, as that they further perſiſt therein by mor of the like Enormities. For,4

5thly. Not to inſiſt on their Villanous Aſſumption, to make Laws and Orders to bind their People, in the Case of Oaths, Tythes and Marriages, &c. without being lawfully call'd thereto, which themſelves formerly own'd to be Treaſon.5:

What greater Villany than for them to keep those Laws, when made, from our publick Knowledge, (contrary to their own Rules to others) in forbidding few or no Copies of the ſame to be printed, than they have Monthly and Quarterly Meetings in England, &c. where, after once reading, they are cloſely kept by their Bigots, till they have an opportunity to ſurprize and abuſe us, by their unexpećted Proſecution; as they ſerv'd me in my Proceedings in order to Marriage, to my no ſmall Damage and Trouble. In pursuance whereof,6

6thly. What greater Villany than for them to limit us by thoſe their illegal Laws, &c.to their own Sećt for Juſtice, in Cases of Meum and Tuum, &c. againſt our own Conſents; under pretence, That *as they are the Saints who shall judge the World, it is (according to St.* Paul's Rule) unrighteous for us to go to Law before others. When as they are ſo far from doing us Juſtice, notwithstanding, when we Appeal to them, as that (besides their burning the Pap'rs ſometimes, wherein our Defences are contained, {Page 164} to ſave them the labour of thier Examination) they have not only made no Bones to violate their own Decrees, in behalf of the Perſons moſt in their favour, againſt the Rules of Juſtice and Truth; but alſo (beſides their late deceitful failure of Juſtice towards William Parr of Nottingham, and his oppreſſed Children, againſt Ambrose Galloway and his wicked Pertners, at Lunin Suffex) have moſt villanouſly reſuſed one of their She Friends in our Parts a Hearing in a Church way, againſt ſuch of their Brotherhood ad ſhe juſtly accuſed with tempting her Husband away from her, by conveying him off with another Man's Wife of their own Kin, in the place of her.7

7thly To paſs by their villanous Tranſaćtions towards our ancient Friend John Perrot, hereafter notified under the Head if their Tyranny.

What greater Villany than for them to amuſe us with their repeated Outcries of the Unrighteouſneſs of our suing any Man at Law, and much more our Friends called Quakers; under pretence, That as they are the Saints who ſhall judge the World, they are not to be judged by the World, &c. in order to make their own diſown'd Brotherhood, &c. think themſelves ſecure from legal Proſecution for Debts contracted in Trade with them. Whilſt yet besides the!r frequent Arreſts of the World's People, as they call them, for their Self-Intereſt, (contrary to thoſe their Pretenſions) they upon the leaſt malicious Pique, or groundleſs Suſpicion, ſtick not to ſend, and cauſe others to ſend their own approved Preachers (amongſt others of their profeſs'd Friends) to Goal, many times moſt cauſeleſsly, by their unexpected Arreſts, to their Diſhonour, as {Page 165} well as great Dénge of Ruin, without the leaſt Cenſure in a Church way, from any of their Brotherhood for their ſo doing; as William Gibson of London, Elibu Johnſon and William Parr of Nottingham, with Isaac Pearſon of Harig in Cumberland, amongſt many others of their Brotherhood, have ſorrowfully experienced, to their Shame and Confuſion; wherefore, whilſt they are guilty of ſuch villanous Practices towards their own profeſs'd Brethren, we may have juſt cauſe to fear, they are not over-free from it towards the Holy Ancients and others. In purſuance whereof8

8thly. As it is no leſs than Villany to them to tacitly condemn Holy Abraham, Iſaac and Jacob, Amram, Othniel, Boas, Ruth and Tobias, &c. as abominable wicked Villains, in repreſenting ſuch Marriages of lawful Kindreds as God led them to praćtiſe, as Abomination, Wickedneſs, Filthineſs, Confuſion, Villany, &c.9

9thly. What greater Villany than for them to affirm, That their Principles have not taught them to Condemn all the World but themſelves (as their Opponents have charged them) under pretence, That they own the ſin ere hearted of all Perswaſions to be their Chriſtian Brethren. Whilſt yet they are ſo far from any ſuch Chriſtian Charity, as that (besides their refusal of Chriſtian Burial to their own Chriſtian Monitors, in ſuch Places amongst them as they joyn'd in the Purchaſe of for that end and purpoſe) they in ſome Countries aſſume the Confidence to enjoyn their Proſeltyes, to diſinherit ſuch of their Children as Marry in any other Proteſtant Community, on the Penalty of their Excluſion from their Church Communion; under pretence, of all others being Heathens and Infidels.

{Page 166} 10thly. As it is moſt villanous for them, upon our Friends Diſcovery of their groſs Errors (in their Renunciation of Religious Oaths, Defensive Arms, and Payment of the National Militia, &c.) to expoſe their Diſcoverers, as Perſons turn'd to Swearing, Fighting and Trooping, &c. in order to prepoſſeſs their deluded Adherents againſt all Enguiry into the Truth they aſſert, by defaming its Maintainers, as Perſons infamously odious and scandalous. So,10

11thly. It is no leſs than Villany for them to expoſe their Opponents amongſt others, under the reproachful Denominations of Cobbet the Taylor, Bunyon the Tinker, &c. in order to prepoſſeſs their Readers againſt all Examination into the Truth of their Charges, through the meaneſs of their Callings; whilſt they exclaim at a loud rate againſt ſuch Praćtices in others towards them as Unchriſtian. Again,11

12thly. Not to enlarge on their villanous Exclamations againſt their Antangoniſts, as worſe than the depraved Isaelites towards Chriſt and his Followers, in refuſing to let them preach in their Churches ſo called when they request it. Whilſt they are ſo far themſelves from allowing any ſuch Liberty to thoſe they exclaim onin their Assemblies, when they attempt it, as that they as villanouſly as illegally have refuſed to admit their own profeſs'd Brotherhood, to deliver the Word of Exhortation, intheir own Meetings, if what theyſay tends to their Errors Reprehension.12

13thly What greater Villany than for them to cry out, Let there be no Law, but that Man may ask {Page 167} Man a Question, either going to, coming from, or in the Steeple-Houſe, (as they call it) under pretence, That none are worthy of the Name of a Miniſter, but ſuch as are able to ſatisfie all Doubts, and anſwer all Questions, &c. Whilst yet they are ſo far from allowing any of their own diſſsatisfied Brotherhood to ask them a Question in their own Meetings, in order to their Information, as that they not only endanger the breaking the Bones of the Questioners, by ſhoving them over the Forms, Hand over Head, inirder to their legal Prosecution; but alſo (besides their other vile Abuſes towards their Chriſtian Monitors hereafter related under the Head of their Tyranny) would be accounted true Miniſters, whilst they are ſo far from satisfying all Doubts, and anſwering all Questions put to them, as that they not only ue all the deceitful Means they can think of, to evade an Examination in a Church way, in irder to the ſatisfaćtiion of any of 'em, but alſo too often commit greater Villany, to prevent us of the Justice we ſue for against their Abuſes. In purſuance whereof13

14thly. As their pretence, That their publick mix'd Meetings is neither a proper Time nor Place (for those they have falſely accuſed, and abuſively vilified therein) to attempt to defend themſelves againſt their Aſperſions,only ſerves for an additional Evidence of their Villany. So,14

15thly. If it be Villany to alter our Friends Letters, to the Abuſe of the Author's Senſe and intentions, and forge Certificates in the Names of others, as Evidence in their behalf, who knew {Page 168} nought of the Matter contained in them, as none but guilty Villains will offer to question. Then ſince thoſe our depraved Quaker Teachers (with whom I have this Controverſy) have been juſtly accuſed with both thoſe Crimes, amongſt others of the ſame nature, beyond their attempts to defend themſelves, who have owned a Nihil Dicit to be a confeſſing of Judgment; Those our depraved Quaker Teachers are herein guilty of Villany, by the effećt of their own Doćtrine, beyond Contradićtion. In purſuance whereof,15

Lastly. Not to inſiſt on their villanous Pervertion of part of a charitable Donation in our Parts, to the building of a Meeting-House (together with their Attempts to pervert the reſt, in the Repairs of another) to the wrong of their Poor, contrary to the Donors Intentions; for which Cauſe, amongſt others, they are finely wip'd out of its Dispoſure, by one that I hope will take better Care of it.

What greater Villany than for them, (on our Complaint of thoſe their Abuſes) to encourage us to come up to their YearlyMeeting in London, as the only redreſs of our Grievances; for which end they tell us, Every one amongſt us, how obſcure ſoever, may there have liberty to ease his Mind freely, concerning any Matter he eſteems Error in the Church, without being cramp'd to any ſtinted Method in his Prceedings in order to it; under pretence, of their being Wicked, that abridge us of that {Page 169} Privilege, &c.) Whilſt yet they are so far from allowing us any ſuch Liberty notwithstanding, in our obſcure Capacity, when we have come there many ſcore Miles for that purpoſe; as thzt they have Time after Time, as villanouſly as illegally, fircibly oppos'd me Entrance therein; when, beſides my Privilege as Overseer and Writer in their behalf, I have had our own Quarter Meetings Allowance on Record for that end, according to the Meth!d of their own preſcribing; ſo much do theſe pretendely Innocent, Harmleſs and divinely annointed Ones (as they love to call themſelves) dread a bringing their Deeds to Light, by a fair Examination, according to their magnified Pretenſions.16

Wherefore, if they that will Lie for God,and Cheat for Religion, be no better than Villains, as the Quakers themselves have confeſs'd; then, as I have proved them guilty of both theſe Crimes, amongſt many others in what I have written, I hope they won't blame me for applying that Charaćter (they have bequeathed themſelves) as justly due to them. In Conſequence whereof, it is no great wonder, That they who have ſo long aćted villanously towards Man, ſhould finally be found guilty of Blaſphemy againſt the great God who made them, in advancing their own Impertinencies, as the immediate Dictates of his divine Word of Life, and themſelves in the place of Him XR8446, as will appear by the proof of this Charge upon them as follows. In order whereto,

  1. Examination and State of Liberty Spiritual, p. 9, 13.  ↩︎

  2. See the ſeveral Inſtances exhibited in Quakeriſm drooping, p. 139. Pilg. Prog. p. 9 -Hiſtory of Quakeriſm, p. 135. Rogers's Chriſtian Quaker. Tyranny and Hypociſy, with Parr's Caſe againſt Galloway's and Pearſons Cumberland Friends, compared with that of John Whitehouſe, mentioned p. 92. if the Life of John Penyman.  ↩︎

  3. Bugg's *Philgrim's Progreſs, p. 290, 293, 296, 299. News from New Rome, p. 14. Elwood's Truth defended, p. 86. Paper of Orders ſet forth by 11 of their Preachers, Anno 1660. Ang. Flag. p, 142. and Taylor's Epiſtles of Caution againſt Reading Adverſaries Books, as they call them.*  ↩︎

  4. Preface to W.R.'s Chriſtian Quaker, Marg. Accuſer, p. 146. Truth defended, p. 86. F.B.'s Pilgrims Progreſs, p. 288, 290. Quakeriſm drooping, p. 140. Quakers Wickedneſs, and p. 29, 51. of the Account of the Life of Jihn Penyman, compared with the declared Experience of Iſ. Pearſon, &c. in Cumberland.  ↩︎

  5. See Claridge's Melius Inquirend. p. 29. and Iſ. Penington's Question propounded, p. 8. Compared with Weſt anſswering to the North, p. 80.  ↩︎

  6. Chriſtian Reprehenſion, p 4,5. Peoples ancient Liberties, p. 27. Burrows Works, p. 111. Compared with their repeated Admonitions in their Yearly Meetings, in my Audience.  ↩︎

  7. See their Paper of Ord4rs sign'd by G.W. and others of their Miniſtring Friends, in Anno. 1666. Caton's Moderate Enquirer, firdt Impreſſion, p. 33. Whitehead's Truth and Innocency, p. 23, 24. Sober Expoſt. p. 465, 542. Selećt Epiſt. p. 438. Hubberthorn's Account from the Children of Light, p. 19. Together with F.B.'s Pićture of Quakeriſm, p. 134. Compared with the ſorrowful Experience of Robert Stanly of Nottingham, Daniel Brittain and his Son near Boſton, William Part of Nottingham, Samuel Beard of Windon, George Good of Naſeby, and his Children, with the Widow Tibbat, late of Lincoln, as ſhe is in effećt become, through their Villany.  ↩︎

  8. Fox's Journal, p. 542. Account from the Children of Light, p. 19. printed 1660. by R.H. and J.N. Moderate Inquirer p. 33. Declaration to the Diſtracted Nation, p. 8,9. Good Counſel rejećted, p. 10. Bigotry and Partiality ruinous, &c. Comoared with their Arreſt of the Friend Andrew, &c. mentioned p. 5. of Quakers Contradićtions, and Bibſon's ſeven Arreſts in one Day, through their Procurement.  ↩︎

  9. See G.W.'s *Manuſcripts in defence of their Order againſt Marriage of Firſt Cousens, in wſy of Anſwer to my Allegations in behalf of 'em; compared w ith Iſ. Penington's Works, p. 108, 310, 311, 312, 313. Ang. Flag. p. 293, 303, 540. Introćtion, p. 13. Man hath his Day, p. 14, 15. Juſt Enquiery, p. 3. Addreſs to Proteſtants, p. 19, 99, 104, 177. Spirit of Trith, p. 11. G.F. jun. Collećt. p. 191. G.W.'s Real Quaker, p. 100. Truth and Innoc. p. 46. Crook's Epiſt. of Unity, p. 18. Crook's Collećt. p. 45. Burrow's Works, p. 74, 75, 113, 341, 417, 419. Howgil's Works, p. 16, 41, 42, 45. Anſwer to Hidden Things, p. 4, 14, 15. Whiting's Judas, p. 182. Biſhop's Works, p.* 28, 29, 31, 34.  ↩︎

  10. Pen's Judas, p. 19. Something in Anſwer to Hidden Things, p. 3,9. Compared with p. 26,28 of the Hidden Things they pretend to Anſwer.  ↩︎

  11. See John Penyman's Collećtion of Paſſages at the End of his Traćts, p. 9. Laſt Part, with p. 16, 79, 80. of the Account of the Life of the ſaid John Penyman, comoared with p. 162. of their great Clarifge's Melius Inquirend. &c.  ↩︎

  12. See their Book ſtiled, Seven Particulars, p. 30, 31. As recited in Penyman's Letter to Pen and Whitehead, in his ſeveral Traćts. Compared with their abuſive Oppoſition to the ſaid Jihn Penyman, as notified p. 5, 6, &c. of the ſaid Letters and Rogers's Quakers divided, &c.  ↩︎

  13. See Fox's Epiſt. to the Parliament of the Commonwealth, p. 6. Several Papers given forth, p. 6. Compared with F.B.'s Quakeriſm further expoſed, p. 33. Pićture of Quakeriſm, throughout. Account of the Life of J. Penyman, p. 84, 293. and ſeveral Traćts. Boyſe's Quakers Wickedneſs. Rogers's Chriſtian Quaker,, in all the Eight Partd; with their late notorious Abuſe to J.P. in Grace-Church-Street Meeting-houſe, of which our publick News-papers gave ample Relation. Bugg's Pićture of Quakeriſm, p. 143, 135. Pen's Judas, p. 102, 113. And Account of the Life of John Penyman, p. 74, 240, 241.  ↩︎

  14. See their Paper to York Yearly Meeting againſt Richard Ranſam. Compared with Penyman's Traćts, p. 5,6,7,8,9,10. Second Part; and p. 2. of the Third.  ↩︎

  15. Tyranny and Hypocriſy dectećted, in the Caſe of J.W.'s Account of the Life of Jihn Penyman, p. 74, 220, 241. Pićture of Quakeriſm, p. 134, 135. Quakers divided, p. 6. Pen's Judas, p. 102, 113. Ang. Flag. p. 432, 433. Truth defended, p. 61, 107. Truth defended, p. 61, 107. Miniſtry of the Church of England defended, p. 3. Ann Docwray's Letter, cited alſo p. 11. of Penyman's Traćts.  ↩︎

  16. See Pen's Preface to Fox's Journal, compared with p. 218, 226, 305. of Robert Barcley's Collećtion. Elwood's Truth defended, p. 23, 59, 63. Whitehead's Truth exalted, p. 6. Burrow's Faithful Teſtimony, p. 9. Penyman's Life, p. 293. Parnil's Watcher, p. 198, 199, 200. Whirehead's Rećtor correćted, p 64.. Caton's Cloud. Bugg's Retroſpećtive Glaſs, Part 6. p . 559, 576. Rich's Hidden Things. Pen's Judas, p. 102. Gibſon's Bigotry and Partiality ruinous, with Perrot's Anſwer to Fox's Villanies, &c.  ↩︎

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