University of Virginia Library

Nov'r ye 24.

Mr. Ward's negro girl Dinah came for me yesterday,
saying that her Master did desire to see me.
Soe, marvelling greatlie what he wanted, I went with
her, and was shown into the Study. Mr. Ward said
he had sent for me to have some discourse in regard to

my brother Leonard, who he did greatlie fear was
likelie to make shipwreck of the Faith; and that Mr.
Richardson had written him concerning the young
man, telling him that he did visit the Quakers when at
Newbury, and even went over to their Conventicle at
Hampton, on the Lord's day, in the companie of the
Brewster familie, noted Quakers and Ranters. He
had the last evening had some words with the lad, but
with small satisfaction. Being sorelie troubled by this
account, I begged him to send for Leonard, which he
did, and, when he did come into the room, Mr. Ward
told him that he might see by the plight of his Sister
(for I was in tears) what a great grief he was like to
bring upon his familie and friends, by running out into
Heresies. Leonard said he was sorrie to give trouble
to anie one, least of all to his beloved Sister; that he
did indeed goe to the Quaker's meeting, on one occasion,
to judge for himself concerning this People, who
are every where spoken against; and that he must say
he did hear or see nothing in their worshipp contrary
to the Gospel. There, was, indeed, but little said, but
the words were savory and Scriptural. “But they
denie the Scriptures,” cried Mr. Ward, “and set above
them what they call the Light, which I take to be
nothing better than their own Imaginations.” “I doe
not soe understand them,” said Leonard; “I think
they doe diligentlie study the Scripture, and seek to
conform their lives to its teachings; and for the Light
of which they speak, it is borne witness to not only in
the Bible, but by the earlie Fathers, and devout men
of all ages. I doe not go to excuse the Quakers in
all that they have done, nor to defend all their Doctrines
and Practices, manie of which I see no warrant
in Scripture for, but believe to be pernicious and contrary
to good order; yet I must need look upon them
as a sober, earnest-seeking People, who doe verilie
think themselves persecuted for righteousness' sake.”
Hereupon Mr. Ward struck his cane smartlie on the
floor, and, looking severely at my Brother, bade him
beware how he did justify these canting and false
pretenders. “They are,” he said, “either sad Knaves,
or silly Enthusiasts — they pretend to Divine Revelation,
and set up as Prophets; like the Rosycrucians
and Gnosticks, they profess to a knowledge of things
beyond what plain Scripture reveals. The best that
can be said of them is, that they are befooled by their
own Fancies, and the victims of distempered Brains,
and ill habits of Bodie. Then their ranting against the
Gospel order of the Church, and against the Ministers
of Christ, calling us all manner of Hirelings, Wolves,
and Hypocrites, belching out their blasphemies against
the Ordinances and the wholesome Laws of the land
for the support of a sound Ministry and Faith, doe,
altogether, justify the sharp treatment they have met
with; soe that, if they have not all lost their Ears,
they may thank our Clemency rather than their own
Worthiness to wear them. I doe not judge of them
ignorantly, for I have dipped into their Books; where,
what is not downright Blasphemy and Heresie, is
Mystical and Cabalistic. They affect a cloudy and
canting style, as if to keep themselves from being
confuted by keeping themselves from being understood.
Their Divinity is a Riddle; a piece of Black Art; the
Scripture they turn into Allegory and parabolical
Conceits, and thus obscure and debauch the Truth.
Argue with them, and they fall to Divining; reason
with them, and they straightway Prophesie. Then
their Silent Meetings, so called, in the which they doe
pretend to justify themselves by quoting Revelations,
“There was Silence in Heaven;” whereas they might
find other authorities — as, for instance, in Psalm 115,
where Hell is expressed by Silence, and in the Gospel
where we read of a Dumb Devil. As to persecuting
these People, we have been quite too charitable to
them, especiallie of late, and they are getting bolder
in consequence; as, for example, the behaviour of that
shameless young Wench in Newbury, who disturbed
brother Richardson's church with her Anticks not long
ago. She should have been tied to the cart tail and
whipped all the way to Rhode Island.

“Do you speak of Margaret Brewster?” asked
Leonard, his Face all a crimson, and his Lip quivering.
“Let me tell you, Mr. Ward, that you greatlie wrong
one of Christ's little ones.” And he called me to
testify to her goodness and charity, and the blamelessness
of her life.

“Don't talk to me of the blameless life of such an
one,” said Mr. Ward, in a loud, angrie tone; “it is
the Devil's varnish for heresie. The Manichees, and
the Pelagians, and Socinians, all did profess great strictness
and sanctity of life; and there never was heretic
yet, from they whom the Apostle makes mention of,
who fasted from Meats, giving heed to seducing
Spirits and doctrines of Devils, down to the Quakers,
Dippers, and New Lights of this generation, who have
not, like their Fathers of old, put on the shape of
Angels of Light, and lived severe and over-strict lives.
I grant that the Quakers are honest in their dealings,
making great show of sobriety and self-denial, and
abhor the practice of scandalous Vices, being temperate,
chaste, and grave in their behaviour, and thereby
they win upon unstable Souls, and make plausible their
damnable heresies. I warn you, young man, to take
heed of them, lest you be ensnared and drawn into
their way.”

My Brother was about to reply, but, seeing Mr.
Ward so moved and vexed, I begged of him to say no
more, and, companie coming in, the matter was dropped,
to my great joy. I went back much troubled and
disquieted for my Brother's sake.