English Puritan & Reformed

Anti-Quakerism

Richard Younge (fl 1640-1670) · 1,538 words · 7 min

The source for this document is https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo/A75478.0001.001

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

Anti-Quakerism, or, A Character of the Quakers Spirit, from its Original and first cause.

Written by a pious Gentleman that hath been thirteen years amongst the Separatists to make Observations, and is now returned home with a full intent to lay open the whole Mystery of iniquity, in unvailing the Whore, that men may no longer drink of the wine of her Fornications; he hath vowed a single life, and given himself up wholly to the exercises of the mind. And here he hath described the spirit of Quakerism. 1. Being a precise Puritan. 2. An Anabaptist. 3. A Seeker. 4. A Ranter. 5. A Quaker, and indeed what not, all things, and nothing. By which Character every Man may in some measure see the deceitfulness of his own imagination and be careful, and watch himself accordinly.

          I
         
         Have been in the valley of
         
          Siddim
         
         There I met with a Ranter, a Seeker, a Quaker, a Puritan,
        
         And he told me from the light within
        
         All things that ever I did was sin.

         He said also by the same light,
        
         God dwelled with him by his spirit,
        
         From these two premises I resume
        
         These are the Spirits that do presume.

         And now since they presumptious be,
        
         I will take the same Authority;
        
         For Reason wills that I defend
        
         My Life and Soul, being my own friend.

         And this without all fear I say,
        
         They liars are, that every way,
        
         There is nothing that they say is true,
        
         As I will demonstrate to you.

         And first I will them Anatomize,
        
         In divers shapes of their own guize;
        
         Then to their Conscience I will go,
        
         To see if this be true or no.

         And first he was a Puritan,
        
         Wareing short hair and little band;
        
         Then I thy Conscience did extol,
        
         Till thou wouldst ware no Band at all.

         Then thou foundst fault with singing Psalms,
        
         And said they were as black as charms;
        
         But now in singing you delight;
        
         Songs of your own made by the spirit

         Thy custom was to fast and pray,
        
         Honor thou didst the Sabbath Day;
        
         But now thou hast got a better light
        
         Opening thy shop that day for spite.

         Sermons at length thou wouldst not hear,
        
         Because the Minister would sware;
        
         But now you sware and curse down-right
        
         Is this the effects of your spirit.

         At length you had a Call come out,
        
         I will be your Father without doubt;
        
         Then could not you no longer stay,
        
         But left the Church without delay.

Then he turned Anabaptist.

         Then you together took in hand,
        
         To build Christ house upon the Sand,
        
         And still you want the Corner stone,
        
         I mean Jesus that is Christ alone.

         His word you know you did promise,
        
         And there you found the word baptize,
        
         You said the meaning ofit must be
        
         Needs meant of water, Baptism.

         Then did you muse and cast your care
        
         All for an Administraetor,
        
         But here in
         
          England
         
         none was seen,
        
         That used ought but sprinkling.

         At length you heard men say,
        
         That there was Saints in
         
          Silesia,
         
         Who ever since the Apostles time
        
         Had kept this Ordinance pure, divine.

         Thither alas you sent in haste,
        
         And thus you did some treasure w
         
          •
         
         ste,
        
         But wh
         
          •
         
         n your mess
         
          •
         
         ngers came there,
        
         They were deceived as we are here.

         But this they told you in good deed,
        
         That they of baptism stood in need,
        
         And for a present remedy,
        
         With prayers they to Heaven did cry.

         Then did they with a joint consent
        
         Do that o
         
          •
         
         which you now repent,
        
         Authorize one them to bap
         
          •
         
         iz
         
          •
         
         ,
        
         Thus this fine cheat they did devise.

The Original of the Anabaptists.

         They said that you should thus do,
        
         And God would own it they did know,
        
         And you their council simply took,
        
         Because Baptize was writ in Book.

He turned Seeker and Ranter.

         And thus at length you yourselves baptized,
        
         Tell you ano
         
          •
         
         her sect devised;
        
         You will say now Ord na
         
          •
         
         ces are low,
        
         God doth not own them you do know.

         Then you Assemblies quite forsook,
        
         Having learned your lessons without book,
        
         And fo
         
          •
         
         a time you
         
          •
         
         orment were,
        
         Till you discerned the morning star.

He turned Quaker, and nothing.

         Which as a light in you did shine,
        
         Which light you said w
         
          •
         
         s Christ divine,
        
         And now you say he dwells in you,
        
         Whatsoever you say I know is true.

         Thus have you traced and run division,
        
         In your confused mad religion;
        
         A great deal more I could you show,
        
         But this is en
         
          •
         
         ugh for once to know.

         And now you see our trade is gone,
        
         Is it long of God, or long of Man,
        
         If caused by m
         
          •
         
         n'tis thee and I,
        
         Let us repent then speedily.

         And do thou do what I have done,
        
         If future evils, thou wilt shun,
        
         Return to Church again, I say,
        
         There thou mayest learn to sing and pray.

         Return to Church again with speed,
        
         Lest obstinacy doth thy torment breed,
        
         For if-that Faction have his head,
        
         Blood in our streets must needs be shed.

It is good Reasoning, Inter argumenta hominum, amongst the Arguments of Men, to draw Conclusions from such premises which the Respondant or Adversaries that are to answer do own.

THe Puritan Spirit was the Spirit of Quakerism, in the first degree, which thing wise men knew full well, which made them so much i • de • vour the suppressing of them, though howbeit they took not the right way, or else the Spirit was too strong, and had gotten too much hold both in the Magistrates and vulgar, by reason whereof it brake into these extremes, the men of those times were too precise, critical, and exact, which is an infallible sign of relig • ous dotage, or melancholy: See Burton on Religious Melancholy, They took offense without cause; and I think now the Devil, is in them, for they will not be pleased with amends, though they have got all, for their desires are as deep and as large as Hell.

They sing spiritual Songs and Hymns of their own devising, and force their brethren to sing with them, under penalty of their censure, which in their opinion is little less then damnation.

They bitterly curse and banne all that any way differ from their opinion, and say, they have Authority from God to open their Shops on the Lord's day, even that day of which they had once so high an esteem. They apply that Text worthy of all Consideration, which is by Saint Paul meant of universal sin unto themselves, with opposition to others, Cor. 6.17. and make as if they only were the alone people of God.

The word Jesus, signifies a Savior, Christ, a King, so that Christ Jesus is such a King that doth save; but their Christ within leads all into destruction, and hurries them upon impossibilities contrary to Law and Reason, witness their new Catalogue of Martyrs, printed in red Letters like blood, because by the simple they would forsooth be understood as Martyrs.

The word Baptism is an Ambiguous term, take heed how you understand it, or make any particular application thereof.

They sent up and down the world for a Man to baptize them, but they found none, but such as had baptized themselves.

In England there was some in the practice of sprinkling, but those the D • ppers, to my knowledge, did reject from Communion with them on this very ground. They forsook Assemblies, and lay dormant, and so imagined a new Gospel, and a new Christ within them, the Devil take him for me, for I am too much under his power; then they went to work afresh to get Disciples, and I think they have hit it; for I know, Country-men, what I say, that three parts of you that are religiously affected at this day, are possessed with that humor which will make you Quakers, if you take not great heed.

The Quakers did preach, that it was a sin to wear Bands or Band-strings.

And now my Christian friends, and Country-men, for the Lord's sake take heed to yourselves, be wise and warned by my harms; for Faction, I thank God, hath undone me, as to my outward Estate, in my outward Man; But I have seen the bottom of their bottomless pit; and beseech you take unto you the whole Armor of God, put on Fortitude and Faith, Clothe yourselves with zeal, as with a Cloak, but for the Lord sake let your feet be shod with the Preparations of the Gospel of peace. Follow my directions, and under heaven I will fell these Spirits, and then will War and Tumults cease, and keep always in memory the words of our Lord, Matthew 26.41. Mark 13.37.

The Author hath written a Book, which is as a Tract of his thirteen years Experience: Entituled, A Leaf from the Tree of Life. And are to be Sold by Daniel White, at the Seven Stars in Paul's Church-Yard, and by some that sell this paper.

LONDON, Printed for the Author, Anno Dom 1659.