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 P•m•iats 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, 'tis 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, but 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. sales, 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 P•m•iats of Ma•abar, 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, 'tis 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, but 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. sales, 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.
