The Grand Impostor Discovered Or, The Quakers Doctrine weighed in the Ballance, and found wanting. A Poem, By way of Dialogue: wherein their Chief, and most Concerning Principles are laid down, and by the Authority of Gods Holy Word clearly Refuted. By B. K. [i.e. Benjamin Keach] |
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An Epistolatory word to those called Quakers.
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 | The Grand Impostor Discovered |  |
An Epistolatory word to those called Quakers.
A Word or two to thee, as to a Friend,If I may use that word and not Offend
If e're this writing comes into thy hand
Contemn it not, before thou understand
That it deserves thy Censures, and be sure
If that your Principles be truly pure,
The Light will lead you to subdue all Passion,
And lead you in the paths of Moderation.
Patïence and Moderation is a Fruit
Of Gods most Holy Spirit, and doth suit
With that Perfection, for which thou dost plead;
Which if thou hast, I need not intercede
For Patience; for where perfection dwells,
All things that's good abounds, that Man excels
Above all other; and without dispute,
A Perfect Man's discerned by his Fruit:
That Man, in whom Perfection's to be found,
There Charity and Meekness do abound.
This truly perfect Man will suffer long,
He'l Take, but never Offer any wrong.
Scriptures Authority I here defend
Against thy Notions, whilst thou dost pretend
To Revelations, proudly dost accuse
All that believe thee not, but rather chuse
To make the blessed sayings of our Lord,
Which he did speak, and leave upon Record;
Their Rule to Worship great Jehovah by,
Such you contemn, and daily vilifie,
Yet you charge all Men with Self-Contradiction
That do oppose you; then what ground have I
To hope I shall escape that destiny
That others meet with from so proud a hand,
Whose Christian Patience helps them to withstand
The fury of your rage; whose bitter words
Do fly like Arrows, and do wound like Swords?
But for as much as I am satisfied
Here's nothing written but what's Justifi'd
In your own writings, as might well appear,
Would room permit me to insert them here.
I do not value, though thou flight'st each page,
And dost oppose the whole, with greatest Rage:
Yet this I'le tell thee, if thine anger rise
Without a Cause, it plainly testifies
Thou boast'st of that thou hast not, all may see
And art not what thou wouldest seem to be;
Thy swelling Notions will be found too light,
And thy Perfection proved under weight.
Think not it will excuse thee to revile
This work, because, perhaps, its Mode and style
Fits not thy Fancy, as thou mayst pretend;
What though two lines alike in sound do end,
The matter is the same, the chief design
Is to Instruct that erring heart of thine,
And to perswade thee to a true belief
Of Holy Scriptures, it's the Authors grief
That thou should'st perish; and not onely so,
But by Thy means, work others overthrow.
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