A Sober Request to the Quakers
The source for this document is https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo/A45833.0001.001
Project Note
This is licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND. This license allows reusers to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form only, for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
The source of this document is the Early English Books Online (EEBO-TCP) website. Those books were transcribed in a character for character manner and can be very cumbersome to read since there was no standard spelling during that time. Many spelling variations such as "unlesse", "vnlesse", and "vnles" regularly appear.
This project was conceived to clean up those books as much as possible and make them more accessible to the interested reader, leading to the creation of a massive list of variant spellings and their corrections. This was used to clean up the text, but is of course only as complete as the list itself. Because of the nature of the original transcription, some words have missing characters or places where the original language (e.g., Greek) was not transcribed. This effort does not change that. Be aware that the original transcription can also be faulty and in some cases entire sentences may be missing.
Although this is no substitute for a properly compared, proofed, and scholarly edition, I believe that the result is a document which is far more accessible, particularly for searching for terms using standard spelling. The document has been cleaned and presented in what I hope is a pleasing and useful format for the vast majority of Christian brothers and sisters who just want access to read these spiritually nourishing works.
However, a word of warning: The Puritans were a very diverse group of people and their age was characterized with godliness, but also much upheaval, disputation and strife. They disagreed on many doctrines and some of these works contain less orthodox or Scriptural views than others. The reader is strongly advised to read with discernment, particularly if it is unknown whether author is trustworthy.
This project took a huge amount of time and skill to bring to fruition. I would particularly like to thank David Jonescue for the initial list of Puritans he found on EEBO and the concept behind this project as well as the continuous, unceasing efforts toward seeing this complete. Without his labor, this would not be available. Alex Sarrouf was invaluable in providing the initial list of over 7,000 spelling variations he had identified and corrected, as well as continuing to review more than 16,000 additions to that list for any typos.
Logan West
(with David Jonescue and Alex Sarrouf)
www.puritansearch.org
A Sober Request to the Quakers:
WHereas I have lately charged you in a public Meeting, that you are no Christians, and that your Friends of the Ministry are mere Impostors ; which Charge you have endeavored to evade with various put-offs, Alleaging that it was besides the Business of the day; which is manifestly false: for, was it not the Business of the day to examine the Charge against Tho. Hicks ? And was not this the first Article in your written Charge against him, that he writ a Dialogue between a Quaker and a Christian ? Now this being the first general Article, what could be more material in order to his Vindication than for him to prove (or someone in his behalf, and the behalf of Christianity itself) that you are no Christians, nor worthy to bear so venerable a name? and if this be made manifest it can be no fault to oppose a Quaker to a Christian.
But when I still enforced this Charge, and by several motives pressed you to vindicate the honor of your Profession, by responding to what I had objected against you. Will. Pen stands up and makes a Confession of his Faith in Scripture expressions, which while you declaredly own such Books (written by Quakers ) as contain in them Doctrines no way reconcilable to Scripture-Language, or Christian-Religion, but are destructive both of the one and the other, as I am ready to prove, it plainly shows that this Confession was but a mere Equivocation (an old art of Deceivers; who by good Words and fair speeches do the more effectually beguile the hearts of the Simple and less wary Hearers) for, what if your Discourses and Confessions of Faith be clothed with Scripture-Language now more than formerly, this doth but render those Confessions to be gross Equivocations, unless you will renounce your former vile, absurd, and nonsensical Opinions, which I proved to your Face do make void all rules of Christian Faith and Practice. And when by force of Argument I had driven you to that strait that you could make no reply, and finding myself under some indisposition of body after nigh six hours discourse with three of you, I thought it advisable to quit the Meeting; which you making so ill an improvem • nt of, for want of better Arguments Will. Pen crying out (as if he had been among the Boys in Moor-fields ) They run, they run ; others of you report as if I ran from the Charge, as being afraid or ashamed to own it: I say, your so base and insolent behavior in my absence, who had nothing to the purpose to answer in my presence, gives me the occasion to let you know, that I am neither afraid nor ashamed to make full proof of what I have charged upon you, if you dare appoint a Time and Place for that purpose. And then appoint whom you will to Dispute the matter with me; provided none be admitted to speak but us two, unless it be to correct any disorders either in the Disputants or Auditors; as also that a certain hour be agreed on for the beginning, and another for the ending of the Disputation for that day; and that neither party shall exceed the limites of that time so agreed on, unless it be by mutual consent.
Upon these terms I earnestly request a Meeting with you to prove these two things against you.
- 1. That you are no Christians, what ever you pretend.
- 2. That your friends of the Ministry (as you phrase it) are Impostors, False-Prophets, and men of lying Spirits.
Now if you shall not by all this be prevailed upon to meet according to this Request, I hope you will not take it unkindly if I conclude, that you that talk so much of the Light, care not how little you come at it, left your folly should be made manifest; but if you take this for an unkind Conclusion, I hope this will please you ( viz ) that what ever you say of me, I shall pray that God would Convert you to Christianity ; and Subscribe myself,
Your Friend, JER. JVES.
POSTSCRIPT.This Meeting is desired to be distinct, without respect unto any Meeting that shall be a greed on between Tho. Hicks, and you, touching the matters you have objected against him.
Published with Allowance.
LONDON, Printed for F. Smith at the Elephant and Castle in Cornhill near the Royal Exchange. 1674.