But what will become of those Forlorn Villages, that shall Resign themselves to the conduct of that Light within; which our Sacred Scriptures indeed never expressly mention but once or twice, and then call it, Real Darkness; and which may lead men to all this wickedness? There was among the Mahometans in the Eastern parts of the World, a Sect called Batenists, from the Arabic, Batten, which signifies within:) who were Enthusiasts that followed, The Light within, like our Quakers; and on this principle, they did such Numberless Villainies, that the World was not able to bear them. None of all their Diabolical Raveries which I know I am now pulling on my self, and which I value no more, than if they came from the Pouliats of Malabar, shall frighten me from soliciting your Christian Cares & Prayers, That you be not over-run with English Batenists. And I must solicitously make the Observation, That although such a Number of Quakers in our ⟨p. 185⟩Nation, be a dreadful Judgment of God upon men, smiting them with Spiritual Plagues for their Unfruitfulness and Unthankfulness under the Gospel; nevertheless, of a special Favour of God, that the Number of Quakers is no Greater; for if they should multiply, not only would Christianity be utterly Extinguished, •ut Humanity it self Exterminated. It is well known, That when a Quaker had Stolen an Hour-glass, their Mahomet, George Fox of whom Sol. Eccles, in a Sheet called, The Quakers Challenge, pag. 6. says, He was the Christ,) thus vindicated it [Great Myst. pag. 77.] As for any being moved of the Lord, to take away your Hour-glass from you, by the Eternal Power it is owned. Reader, Dost not thou even Tremble to think, what a Dark Land, we should have, if it should ever be filled with these pretended followers of the Light; who wear the Name of Tremblers? In Truth, I know not unto what better one might compare them, than unto the Macheveliers growing upon St. Lucia; Trees which bear Apples of such an Odour and Colour as invites people to Eat thereof; but it is horribly Dangerous to do so; for there is no Antidote that can secure a man from speedy Death, who hath once tasted of them. The Leaf of the Trees, makes an Ulcer on any place touched with it; the Dew that falls from them fetches off the Skin; the very Shadow swells a man, so as to kill him, if he be not speedily helped.
But what will become of those Forlorn Villages, that shall Resign themselves to the conduct of that Light within; which our Sacred Scriptures indeed never expresly mention but once or twice, and then call it, Real Darkness; and which may lead men to all this wickedness? There was among the Mahometans in the Eastern parts of the World, a Sect called Batenists, from the Arabic, Baten, which signifies within:) who were Enthusiasts that followed, The Light within, like our Quakers; and on this principle, they did such Numberless Villanies, that the World was not able to bear them. None of all their Diabolical Raveries which I know I am now pulling on my self, and which I value no more, than if they came from the Pouliats of Malabar, shall frighten me from solliciting your Christian Cares & Prayers, That you be not over-run with English Batenists. And I must sollicitously make the Observation, That although such a Number of Quakers in our ⟨p. 185⟩Nation, be a dreadful Judgment of God upon men, smiting them with Spiritual Plagues for their Unfruitfulness and Unthankfulness under the Gospel; nevertheless, of a special Favour of God, that the Number of Quakers is no Greater; for if they should multiply, not only would Christianity be utterly Extinguished, •ut Humanity it self Exterminated. It is well known, That when a Quaker had Stollen an Hour-glass, their Mahomet, George Fox of whom Sol. Eccles, in a Sheet call'd, The Quakers Challenge, pag. 6. saies, He was the Christ,) thus vindicated it [Great Myst. pag. 77.] As for any being moved of the Lord, to take away your Hour-glass from you, by the Eternal Power it is owned. Reader, Dost not thou even Tremble to think, what a Dark Land, we should have, if it should ever be fill'd with these pretended followers of the Light; who wear the Name of Tremblers? In Truth, I know not unto what better one might compare them, than unto the Macheveliers growing upon St. Lucia; Trees which bear Apples of such an Odour and Colour as invites people to Eat thereof; but it is horribly Dangerous to do so; for there is no Antidote that can secure a man from speedy Death, who hath once tasted of them. The Leaf of the Trees, makes an Ulcer on any place touched with it; the Dew that falls from them fetches off the Skin; the very Shadow swells a man, so as to kill him, if he be not speedily helped.
