The Conduct of the Paxton Men Impartially Represented - 11
Robert Rich, another Author, informs us, That in the Usurpation, Friends had such an Interest, that by the Act of Parliament, bearing Date June 28th, 1659, for settling the Militia, the Quakers were made Commissioners to form Troops and Regiments; to nominate the Officers; and to assess Money for buying Horses, Arms, &c.---He names Five by their Names, whom he knew, who were of the Committee for the Militia of Westminster.
But Friends will deny all these Things.------And if you turn over to the Place, and shew them the very Expressions, they will still endeavour to evade you, and will sneer at your Ignorance for taking them in a literal Sense, and tell you with a very grave Phyz, that they are all to be taken Spiritually.
If any Man has a Mind to be imposed upon by such Quibbles, I have no Objection----Let him believe that no more is meant here, than Spiritual Soldiers----Spiritual Armies----Spiritual Wars----Spiritual Regiments and Militias!-------Let him believe Spiritual Troops, and Spiritual Horse too, if he will!-------Si vult decipi, decipiatur.
Mr. Barclay, the great Apostle of Quakerism, has indeed taken great Pains in his Apology, to quote the Testimonies of the Fathers against Fighting:------And in page 515 lays down this Proposition, “That it is not lawful for Christians to resist Evil, or to make war in any Case.”
But did not your Philadelphia Quakers take up Arms, and declare they would fight in one Case, namely, In Defence of Friend Indians?
Therefore, these Quakers of Philadelphia have surely either committed a Thing unlawful, for Christians; or belied their Apostle, and done Despite to the Spirit of Barclay.----Again in Page 558, St. Robert says, “Whoever can reconcile this, resist not Evil, with, resist Violence by Force; Give also thy other Cheek, with, strike again; whoever
