The History of the Rise, Increase, and Progress of the Christian People Called Quakers: Intermixed with Several Remarkable Occurrencs.Sewel, William
History
The History of the Rise, Increase, and Progress of the Christian People Called Quakers: Intermixed with Several Remarkable Occurrencs.
Sewel, William
Society of Friends -- History -- Early works to 1800
them? Beware lest heathens rise up in the day of judgment against
them who are called Christians, and condemn them.
‘And is this your cry for help, against so contemptible a people,
(as you count them,) you, like silly women, do but discover your
weakness and worthlessness; and if God open the eyes of King
Charles, he will see it. What! have you preached and wrestled
yourselves out of all hope and faith, that either you must have
sudden help from him, or all is lost and overrun? Surely it may
be said, you have been bad watchmen, and idle shepherds, who have
lost all, if sudden help come not from another hand. Now if any
had come against you with carnal weapons, then had you had some
excuse in crying to the earthly powers; but in that nothing but
spirit comes against spirit, and yet you have lost the day. This
doth clearly manifest, that the power of God you have not in you,
but have lost the kingdom of the Most High, and so are become
unreasonable men, who would have two weapons against one, and
another to do your work for you, and yet are unwilling to forego
your wages; yea, this advantage you have had divers years, but
have not prevailed therewith.
‘And whereas thou sayest thy book is of great consequence; and so
thou presumest to make king Charles the patron of it: and then
askest pardon for thy presumption, when thou hast done.
‘I say thou hast need: the substance of thy book being made up
of false accusations, gathered up out of books formerly written
against us, which have been disproved by answers several times
over: and to these thou hast added some new accusations, as false
as the old, and spied out the failings of some few, who have
mourned before God, that ever they should sin, and give occasion
to the enemy of God so to blaspheme. And many things which were
done and spoken by others, who are not of us, nor ever were: and
of this is thy book made up, as any may see who reads it, and our
several answers to the charges therein, many of them of several
years standing, against these false accusations, which have most
of them been printed over and over, and presented to the former
powers that have risen, and as often answered: so there needed no
more to be said, than hath been, were it not for the sake of some
who may yet be strangers to your way of dealing towards us, under
every power that hath been. Now discretion will say, that to make
another man the father of such a work, to which he is a stranger,
(but especially a king,) is presumption indeed, rashness and
folly, and needs a pardon.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account