Questions within the limits of one and the same Query or separating any part thereof from another that it may be seen that I have not in the least injured the Adversaries but have only sometimes for a distincter Method alter'd the place of a Total Query The Quakers also Inscribed their Queries all which here follows and first the Inscription Quakers Inscription Some Queries as followeth from the People called Quakers for one or all of the Ministers in Scotland to Answer First QUERY Whether or not Grammar or Logick and the many Tongues and Languages which began in Babylon is an Infallible Rule to make a Minister of Christ And whether or not Elisha the Plow-man Amos the Herdsman Peter and John the Fishermen who could hardly read a letter with many others who were not bred up in these things Logick and Grammar and the many Languages if they could not be Ministers of Christ Jesus Yea or Nay Second QUERY Whether or not the Scriptures were the Rule of Enochs Faith Noahs Faith and holy men in the old world and second world Whether or not they were a Rule to Abrahams Faith Isaacs and Jacobs Faith and Moses 's Faith and all the Patriarchs And whether or not they had Scriptures till Moses did write them Answer these things by plain Scripture Third QUERY Or how long was it after Christ and the Apostles days That that Grammar Logick and Philosophy and Schools of learning were set up to make Ministers of Christ Jesus Fourth QUERY Whether or not the Scriptures are the Word or the words of God seeing the Scriptures say themselves God spake all these words Exod. 20. And he that adds to the words in the last of the Revelation Plagues are added to him And what doth the Scripture signifie doth it not signifie Writings And whether all that is written in the Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation be a Rule for your Faith and Manners and every title of it from the one end of the Book to the other both in the Old and New Testament If not distinguish what part is to be obeyed and what not And whether every title from the beginning of Genesis to the end of the Revelation is the Word or the Words of God Fifth QUERY Whether or not the Prophets Christ and the Apostles and holy men of God did Preach down perfection and said that men should not be perfect while they were on Earth but said men should carry about a body of Death with them while they were on this side of the Grave let us see where this is written by any of them all Sixth QUERY Whether or not your singing of Davids Psalms his Prayers Prophesies Fastings Reproaches Weepings Mournings Lamentations and Complaints how he was Mocked have any Warrant in the Scripture and you bring all these together in Meeter without distinction Have ye not done this your selves Or did the Apostles it to the Saints in the Primitive times Or have ye the same Spirit the Apostles had Or a larger measure of it than the Apostles had by which ye have turned these into Meeter since the Apostles days And what was the Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs they sang in the Primitive times Answer these things by plain Scripture Seventh QUERY Whether or not your Directory Confession of Faith and Catechisms be an Infallible Rule for you and your people to walk by Or whether or not equal with the Scriptures or above the Scriptures And whether of them is the better Book And whether or not have ye an Infallible Spirit to give forth such a Directory or Catechism or Confession of Faith as ye have done And whether or not the Scriptures are not a better Directory than any ye can make which were given forth by the Holy Ghost by the holy men of God who had the Infallible Spirit Eighth QUERY Whether or not is your Sanctification your Justification and your Faith and Grace the Gifts of these without sin as they are Manifested within you Yea or Nay Ninth QUERY Whether or not Christ and the Apostles gave forth a Command that they should keep the Sabbath-day Let us see where it is written in the Scriptures But the first day of the week the Saints did meet together This is Scripture But let us see the Scripture for a Sabbath-day in the New Testament which speaks for a rest for the people of God But is this a day Yea or Nay Tenth QUERY Whether is there any Scripture or Command in all the New Testament for the Sprinkling of Infants Let us see Scripture without adding or diminishing for it that ye do not bring the Plagues upon you for it for the Plagues are added to them that adds for we do expect plain Scripture from you for this without any shuffling Meanings or Consequences or else never pretend Scripture-Rule more but acknowledge that it hath been your Meanings and Consequences that hath been your Rule Eleventh QUERY Whether doth the Scriptures say in the New Testament that eating of Bread and drinking of Wine after Supper was an Ordinance of Christ And whether do ye practise this as Christ and his Apostles did after Supper Do not ye take it before Dinner Did Christ or his Apostles do so What Scripture have ye for your Rule for this for they took it in the night And Christ says as oft as ye eat of this Bread and Drink of this Wine c. is that a standing Command Or is it left to people seeing it s said as oft as ye Eat this and Drink this do it in remembrance of his Death and shewing his Death until he come again Was this coming to the end of the world Or was it until his coming to dwell in his Apostles who said he would come and dwell and walk in them Need they then Bread and Wine to put them in Remembrance of him And doth not Christ say Eat this and Drink this in remembrance of his Death And doth not the Apostle say that they must die with Christ and to die with him is to come to the Death with him And they that be in the Death of Christ and die with Christ must they have Bread and Wine to put them in remembrance of his Death Yea or Nay And doth not the Apostle say that they must Die with Christ and be Buried with him And when the people are Dead and Buried with Christ must they have Bread and Wine to put them in remembrance of Christs Death Answer this yea or nay And the Apostle says they must rise with Christ Jesus and if they be risen with him then seek these things that are above And is not Bread and Wine from below and if the Apostle puts them to seek these things that are above then he brought them off these things that are below for he says to the Corinthians the things that are seen are Temporal but the things that are not seen are Eternal This he spake when they were Jangling and in a disorder about
have got a better Imployment with the Quakers it seems than he had with his unthankful Master But say the Quakers the Apostle bids Christians beware lest any man spoil them through Philosophy Colos 2.8 and we are commanded to avoid Prophane and vain Bablings and oppositions of Science falsly so called 1 Tim. 6.20 Ans The Apostle does not in these Texts condemn true Philosophy subsisting within its own Sphere neither can that be condemned for the reasons now given But that which he condemns is sophisticate and corrupt Philosophy which we call Sophistry and Philosophy extended beyond its Sphere to the measuring of an Object not included within its Principles This the Apostle shews to be his meaning by adding Exegetically in the first Text cited the Term Vain deceit after the Tradition of men that is of mens own meer Dreaming and Devising having no ground in the light of Nature and reason and so whereof God is not the Author and by calling it in the last place Science falsly so called none of which can be said of true Philosophy moving within its own Orb and not transgressing the Sphere of its activity as is before demonstrated The thing then that we are there commanded to avoid is Sophisticate and corrupt Philosophy as Aristotles Eternity of the world or Democritus's opinion of the worlds being made by the Concourse of Atoms Manicheus's two supreme Causes of all things the Platonick and Manichean conceit about the making of the Soul of man of the Divine substance Epicurus's mortality of the Soul of man Pithagoras's Transmigration of the Soul out of one Body into another The Fate of the Stoicks That and the like corrupt Philosophy we are commanded to avoid and beside this we are also commanded to beware of Philosophy diverted from its own proper use and object in considering the works of Nature and God as the Author of Nature to the measuring of Gospel truths which the Heathen Philosophers in these times foolishly did according to their Inclusion in or Exclusion from Natural Philosophical Principles upon which they do not depend but upon a Principle of an higher Order viz. Divine Revelation Beside these two things there is nothing else in Philosophy that can be Condemned and so there is nothing here against true and genuine Philosophy only which I defend which for our Demonstations given is neither Foolosophy nor Witchcraft as the Quakers in bitter Contempt have often called it in my hearing Third QUERY Whether or not the Scriptures are the Word or the Words of God Seeing the Scriptures say themselves God spake all these words Exod. 20. and he that adds to the words in the last of the Revelation Plagues are added to him And what doth the Scripture signifie Doth it not signifie Writings and whether all that is Written in the Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation be a Rule for your Faith and Manners and every tittle of it from the one end of the Book to the other both in the Old and new Testament If not Distinguish what part is to be obeyed and what not And whether every tittle from the beginning of Genesis to the end of the Revelation is the Word or the Words of God SVRVEY The principal Position of the Quakers upon this Head is that there is not another Word of God beside Christ the Co-substantial and Eternal Word and this they assert of purpose that they may elude all the Testimonies of Scripture which Tie us to the external written Word of God as our Rule and whereby the Efficacy thereof is commended for all these Scripture-Testimonies they will have to be understood of Christ the Eternal Co-substantial Word dwelling within them and all men as they alledg and teaching them immediately by himself present within them without an external written Platform which they are pleased to reproach with the Nick-name of a Dead Letter contrary to Joh. 20.31 Act. 7.28 Rom. 15.4 2 Tim. 3.15 16 17. which places declare the written Word of God to be lively Oracles and an excellent instrument of Faith Growth Comfort and Life unto us See also Heb. 4.12 where the Word of God is said to be Quick and Powerful and compared to a Two-edged Sword and that by the Word of God here is not meant Christ the Co-substantial Word but the external Word of God spoken within time which Word is written in the Scriptures as shall presently be shewed appears from many other Parallel places of Scripture where the Efficacy of the external Word is held forth in most Parallel expressions and by the very same Comparison for which see Ephes 6.17 which place we shall presently prove to be meant of the external Word and Rev. 1.16 Rev. 2.12 16. Rev. 19.15 In which places by the Sword of Christs Mouth and the Two-edged Sword going out of his Mouth which are the Expressions there can be no other thing meant but the external Word of Christ spoken by his Mouth nor do I ever read that Christ himself is compared so but his Word only It is true the Law or legal Covenant considered as strictly legal but never the whole Scriptures which pray observe is in respect of guilty Sinners such as we all are called a Killing Letter but not at all a Dead Letter dead Dogs neither Bark nor Bite and a Ministration of Death and Condemnation 2 Cor. 3.6 7 9. because it Accuseth Curseth and Condemneth such as are Guilty of the Breache thereof though yet the same be a notable Mean to shew Sinners their lostness without a Redeemer and their absolute need of Christ and to Whip and lash them home unto him These things are evident Now for clearing the state of the main Question we must premise first that the Quakers acknowledge the Scriptures to be Gods Testimony and Gods Words they do not as yet at least all of them openly deny the Scriptures to have been given by Divine Inspiration only they do generally deny them to be the Word of God for say they only Christ is the Word of God Secondly we must premise that we do not say that there is another Eternal Co-substantial or Co-equal Word of God beside Christ But that beside Christ the Co-substantial Word there is another Word of God which was spoken within time written in the Scriptures which we call the external written Word These things being premised We assert that beside Christ the Co-substantial and Co-equal Word there is another Word of God which is written in the Scriptures For first the Commandments of God are not Christ the Eternal Son of God as is clear but the Commandments of God are the Word of God therefore there is a Word of God which is not Christ the Co-substantial Word and that Word of God is written in the Scriptures seeing Gods Commandments are written there undeniably I prove the Minor from Psal 119.172 where David calls the Commandments of God his Word and from Mark 7.9 10. with 13. where that which Christ calls the Commandment
of the Spirit of Truth to imbrace a Doctrine that is not the Rule this is liker to be an evidence of the contrary Or How shall it be an evidence of the Spirit of Error to reject such Doctrine this also is rather an evidence of the contrary providing the Rule be retained Lastly God denounces all the plagues mentioned in the Scriptures quake that dreads then against every Man that shall presume to add in matters of Faith and Duty for of these its meant to the Doctrine and Rules written in the Scriptures Therefore the Scriptures do certainly contain the Rule and whole Rule of Faith and Manners The antecedent is laid down Rev. 22.18 where it is peremptorily said That if any Man shall add unto these things that are written in the Scriptures for there is the like reason and no other or more reason against adding to this Book of the Revelation and the rest of the holy Scriptures after the Canon is compleated and this Sanction is added here in the close of this Book as the close of the whole Scriptures God shall add to him all the plagues written in the Book The consequence is also evident For if not the Scriptures but some other Doctrine were the Rule then we not only might add to the Scriptures in matters of Faith and Duty but we ought of necessity to set up that other Doctrine as the Rule and Directory of both which is much worse methinks than any partial adding and so we could not be liable to such a doom for a partial adding And hence by a few arguments of many that may be produced we see that the Scriptures are the infallible Rule of our Faith and Manners that sure Word of Prophecy whereunto we ought to take heed and if an Angel from Heaven shall preach another Gospel to us than that which Christ and the Apostles did let him be accursed Every new Dispensation of the Covenant by the Ministery of Men though it were but only new in the manner was confirmed by Miracles and Wonders Exod. 4.28.30 Deut. 34.11 12. 2 Cor. 12.12 Heb. 2.4 much more need hath the Quakers Doctrine of such confirmations being new not only in the manner but also in the matter contrary to the Doctrine formerly dictated by the Holy Ghost and left upon Record unto us nor heard we ever of so great a company of Inspired Teachers as all the Doctors of the Quakers pretend to be and never one Miracle or Wonder to be had amongst them all excepting only their extream Infatuation and Brain-sickness or that they still retain the proportion and features of Human bodies having quite enervated their rational essence SECT II. Proving the Scriptures to be the principal Rule and overthrowing the Light within George Keith an Arch Quaker and a Man too learned as he imploys it doth here distinguish our Arguments yielding us That the Scriptures are the most compleat external Rule of Faith that is in the World but That they are not for all that the Principal Rule of Faith but only a Secundary Rule thereof and that the Spirit or his Dictat within is the Principal Rule in his Quakerism no Popery pages 9.13 25 59 108 109 110 111. and like Proteus turning himself into all shaces 〈…〉 â—mes designs Christ himself oftner the Spirit 〈…〉 he 〈…〉 of the Spirit within to be 〈…〉 oftnest the dictat◠〈…〉 But I am sure if George Keith be in earnest while he would have Christ himself or the Spirit himself to be our Rule he is beside himself For a Person cannot be a Rule of Faith for that must be some complex Proposition Direction or Precept and the like but Christ and the Spirit are Persons and so they cannot be a Rule of Faith The Major is already proved nor will the Quakers deny it But George Keith as many of his Brethren to my hearing doth flatly refuse the Minor as an uncertain unscriptural notion and a barbarous heathenish term to speak of a Person in the Godhead in his Quakerism no Popery page 97.104 and so according to him there are no Persons at all in the Godhead ah Blasphemy for if there be I am sure we may say there are and if Men believe that there are Three Persons in the Godhead they will not refuse to say the same The Quakers then do reject both the thing and notion and believe not there are Three Persons in the Godhead And therefore that there are I shall shortly prove First The Father Son and Holy Ghost are each of them an Intelligent Being subsisting incommunicably or distinctly from another Ergo each of them is a Person The consequence being from the Definition to the thing defined cannot be denied without a broad contradiction for if they grant the Antecedent that is the thing which all the World understands by a Person The Antecedent I prove for that each of them is an Intelligent Being Subsisting the Quakers dare not deny and their great Works declare it and that they subsist Incommunicably or distinctly from one another though in the same Godhead I prove because one and the same Subsistence cannot beget it Self or be begotten by it Self nor proceed from it Self as is palpable but the Father begets the Son the Son is begotten by him and the Holy Ghost proceeds from both and so they must be distinct Subsistences or subsist distinctly Secondly There are Three that bear Record in Heaven the Father Son and the Holy Ghost 1 John 5.7 Ergo they must either be Three Persons or Three Gods which is the beight of impossibility or let the Quakers shew how they will call them Three for though they also be one viz. one God yet the same Text cited says they are Three too I could never get any other answer to this from a Quaker but That they are three Manifestations viz. of Moses of Christ and of the Spicit But if these were the Father Son and Holy Ghost the World is much elder than they and then Who made it Thirdly While Christ proves Himself the Light of the World against the Jews who denied it He says John 8.17 18. It is also written in your Law That the Testimony of two Men is true I am one that bears Witness of my Self and the Father that sent Me beareth Witness of Me. Now Christ and the Father could not have been two Witnesses according to their Law except they be two distinct Persons for their Law admitted the Testimony of two Men proof enough because it was the Testimony of two Persons and otherwise the Testimony had not been admitted as proof enough Christ then clearly teaches Himself and the Father to be two Persons while he asserts that their Witnessing was proof enough according to their Laws demand Lastly Christ is said to be the express Image in the Original Language Character of the Fathers Person Heb. 1.3 Therefore the Father is a Person and Christ also and distinct Persons for the Father is plainly called so and
good Consequence and no otherways because God who is the God of the Living being their God their Dust which is their one half albeit the meaner half behooved to be Raised and Quickened again as being a part of their Essences Here then Christ Teaches that that which by good Consequence may be Inferred from Scripture-principles the same the Scripture shews and Teaches and so it is Scripture-Doctrine and so it is uncontrolably Scripture-Rule Thirdly if that which by good Consequence is inferred from the Scriptures be not Scripture-Rule then there was no Scripture-Rule in all the Old Testament Ordaining David or Solomon c. to be Circumcised and so the Circumcising of them behooved to be a meer Will-worship wanting Scripture-Warrant contrary to Joh. 7.22 23. My Proposition which I propounded I easily prove for in no where of all the Old Testament it is in Formal and Express Terms said David shall be or ought to be Circumcised but only by sure Consequence it follows from the universal Command for Circumcising every Male Gen. 17. That therefore David shall be or ought to be Circumcised nor is it otherwise to be found in all the Old Testament The Quakers then must admit that particular Conclusion by good Consequence following from the universal Command to be Scripture-Rule and so that which by good Consequence follows from Scripture-principles to be Scripture-Rule or else they must deny that there was any Scripture-Rule in all the Old Testament Ordaining David to be Circumcised for its impossible there should be any Scripture-Rule Ordaining David to be Circumcised except it be a Scripture-Rule that David ought to be Circumcised or else he was both Ordained to be and yet ought not to be Circumcised at once Fourthly if that which by good Consequence is inferred from the Scriptures be not Scripture-Rule then there is no Scripture-Rule in all the Old Testament Testifying and Witnessing that Jesus the Son of Mary is the Saviour of the world which is most false and contrary to the Scriptures Joh. 5.39 46. Act. 10.43 and 18.28 and 28.23 My Proposition which I laid down I prove because it is no where of all the Old Testament in express Terms said that Jesus the Son of Mary is the Saviour of the world But by Infallible Consequence it follows and may be inferred from many of the Old Testament Scripture-principles nor is it otherwise but by good Consequence therein to be found It must therefore be granted that that particular Conclusion which by good Consequence follows from these Old Testament Scripture-principles and is no otherwise to be found therein is Scripture-Rule which is that we plead for or else they must deny that there is any Scripture-Rule in all the Old Testament Testifying and Witnessing that Jesus the Son of Mary is the Saviour of the world for there cannot be Scripture-Rule Witnessing and shewing that Jesus the Son of Mary is the Saviour except it be a Scripture-Rule that Jesus the Son of Mary is the Saviour otherwise the Scriptures Testifying that shall be Scripture-Rule as is supposed and yet the very substantial Doctrine of their Testimony shall not be Scripture-Rule which is repugnant Lastly If that which by good consequence follows from Scripture-Principles be not Scripture-Rule then we are no where in all the Scriptures forbidden to worship a Dog or Cat c. which is a most absurd falshood seeing then the worshipping of these things could be no transgression of the Law of God for the whole Law of God is delivered to us in the Scriptures otherwise the Scriptures would be defective and not manifest our whole Duty in order to Salvation which is contrary to Deut. 5.32 Isai 8.20 Luc. 16.28 29. 2 Tim. 3.15 Rev. 22.18 My proposition laid down I evidently prove for it is not in formal and express Terms said in all the Scriptures Thou shalt not worship a Dog or Cat albeit it is expresly said That we shall have no other Gods but the true God and shall Worship and Serve him only Exod. 20.3 Matth. 4.10 from whence by evident consequence it follows but not without a consequence in all the Scriptures that we may not Worship a Dog or Cat. Will the Quakers then deny the Worshipping of these Creatures to be forbidden in the Scriptures and so to be unlawful because without a Consequence we cannot get any Scripture forbidding it and whereby to prove it unlawful If they stand to their Principles here of necessity they must do it as the Argument irresistibly infers upon them The Quakers may hence see how justly we may as yet pretend Scripture-Rule notwithstanding our consequences seeing we have unanswerably proved that that which by good consequence is inferred from Scripture-Principles is Scripture-Rule and we have convinced their wild Principles in this point to dash and run upon contradictions to disagree from the Doctrine and Practice of Christ to make way for denying Jesus the Son of Mary to be the Saviour of the World for the Scriptures of the Old Testament do by clear consequence though not without a consequence mightily witness and assure that great Article of Faith and to lead the way to Will-Worship in the Church yea for the grossest of Idolatry We see then how little reason we have to grant these impious demands of the Quakers But the Quakers here object That to draw consequences from the Scriptures is to add to the Scripture-Rule against which all the plagues in the book of God are denounced Answ By this Objection the Quakers shew how unlawful they think Scripture-Consequences to be But I have abundantly shewed that that which by good consequence is inferred from Scripture-Principles is no addition to the Scripture-Rule but is it self very Scripture-Rule and how should it be an adding to Scripture-Rule to draw forth more expresly and distinctly by consequence the same Doctrine which it really and truly teaches though more Implicitly Is it an adding to the Scripture to shew more expresly it 's own Doctrine Then the Scriptures own Doctrine should be an addition to the Scripture-Rule they have a great dexterity in speaking of Contradictions Secondly It uses to be objected That if that which by good consequence is inferred from Scripture-Principles be Scripture-Rule and so a Rule of Divine Faith then our Divine Faith whereby we believe that Scripture-Rule so inferred shall stand upon reason which is most absurd seeing the inferring of a consequence is an act of reason Answ I deny the Sequel or consequence of the Major proposition because when a conclusion is by good consequence inferred from Scripture-Principles Reason is not the Argument or Motive wherefrom the conclusion follows and is inferred and moves and constrains us to assent thereunto seeing the Conclusion is not inferred from the natural Principles or Premises of Reason but from Supernatural Scripture-Principles as is most manifest Reason therefore is only requisite here as a necessary Instrument for perceiving and discerning the consequence or connexion of the Antecedent with the
spread in otherwise most pleasant and beautyful Gardens perpending also the meaning and Intention of the particular Providence conveying these Queries to my hand which by the prospect and veiw of its contexed Method and inferiour Circumstances seemed to call me either to give answer thereunto or else in so far betraying Truth by my silence to have been Interpreted either a Tacit consenter to the Doctrine 〈◊〉 the Adversaries which my Soul abhorrs or at least a Distruster of the Cause Professed by us and Impugned by them I could not but contribute my endeavors for vindication of the Truth and stopping of the Mouths of the reproachful Adversaries who like so many Rhabshakehs have in these Queries and others of their Blasphemous Papers disgorged as many lies against God and his Truth and as many slanders against the Church of God in Britain as if they had exchanged both Persons and Offices with the Father of lies and Accuser of the Brethren And who are these uncircumcised Philistines recouncing Baptism which is in the room thereof that they should defie the Camp of the Lord and Armies of Israel Is it because there is neither Sword nor Spear in our Israel that the Quakers have given so proud a Challenge and windy Defiance to all the Ministers in Scotland Nay I hope few of these are so ill provided or unworthy of their name and place but that without Reserves they dare sustain the Quarrel against the chiefest Luminaries and First-Magnitude Stars in the new Excentrick Quaking-world And whether I be a Minister or not its all a matter I hope by perspicuous and convincing Demonstration of the irresistible Truth in the following Survey so to detect their Fallacies explode their Errors and exterge their Calumnies as they shall not henceforth be so extravagant in their Challenges or prodigal of their Cartels against such a Party having all the Protestant Sister-Churches engaged in the same Quarrel Or if because a Fool beaten in a Mortar will not be wise they shall hereafter dare us with such another bragging appeal they shall but so much the more discover their own Nakedness to the world and that though with much Impudence they will still be Babling yet how Cowardly and Mightless they are for doing leaving thereby to our Cause the glory of Victory and to their own the due Infamy of an overthrow except they shall first dissolve and undo the Knots of my demonstrative Arguments in the following Survey In this ensuing Treatise I have endeavoured as much Brevity as may consist with Perspicuity having no where stood on inlarging Amplifications except where the right handling of the purpose doth necessarily require it nor have I Cited any humane Testimonies against the Adversaries seeing these they do not value except when they think they make for them especially ad hominem and therefore I would not have the work by the unprofitable accession of these to swell neither have I adduced any Argument lying far remote from the Principles because such long Deductions are by the unlearned more hardly perceived But after a brief state of the Question which the disingenuous Quakers almost every where pervert I have delivered a few evident Arguments thereby irresistibly establishing our Doctrine and overthrowing the contradictory Doctrine of the Adversaries and thereafter I propose and answer their Objections where except in some few Questions that under the same dress have been handled formerly betwixt our Writers on the one part and the Papists Anabaptists Arminians c. on the other part where the Objections are long ago abundantly answered by our Writers though even in these also I propose and and answer some of the chiefest together with these lately devised by the Quakers I adduce and Answer all that so far as I can learn they have to say against us or for themselves in defence of their Heretical Doctrine whereunto their following Queries relate which indeed comprehend the very Cardinal hinges and essential Principles wherein the very Life and Soul of Quakerism consists and wherewith it stands and falls The Scripture hath indeed fore-told us that in the latter days men shall bring in damnable Heresies even denying the Lord that bought them 2 Pet. 2.1 and that they shall give heed to seducing Spirits and Doctrines of Devils 1 Tim. 4.1 and shall not endure sound Doctrine but after their own lusts heap up Teachers to themselves and turn away their ears from the Truth and hearken unto Fables 2. Tim. 4.3.4 and that Heresies must be that these who are approved may be made manifest 1 Cor. 11.19 But as Christ says that offences must come but wo to that man by whom they come Mat. 18.7 So we may well say that though Heresies must be yet wo and a heavy wo to the Authors thereof for whatever Innocency some impious Fools Atheistically Sceptick in matters of Faith and the Principles of Religion do ascribe unto Heresie yet the Scripture doth far otherwise pronounce thereof calling it a work of the flesh Galat. 5.20 and a thing that overthroweth the Faith 2 Tim. 2.18 and a Doctrine of Devils 1 Tim. 4.1 and knitting and connecting Damnation swift Destruction and the Lake of Fire and Brimstone unto Hereticks false Teachers and false Prophets 2 Thes 2.11 12. 2 Pet. 2.1 Rev. 19.20 nor is there any Censure in Scripture more peremptory then that against Hereticks Tit. 3.10 and the Followers of false Prophets and blind Guides are in the same danger with the Leaders Jer. 14.15 16. Mat. 15.4 2 Thes 2.11.12 and surely Quakerism is one of the chiefest Heresies and most damnable Delusions that ever set foot in the Christian world For beside that by their rejecting of all manner of external Ordinances their denying the Scriptures to be the Rule and setting up the Light within for the Rule they do directly strike at the Foundation of all with one Blow overturning so far as they can the whole Rule of Faith and Duty and setting a New one of their own Invention in the room thereof Beside this I say this Heresie is a very Sink or an universal System of almost all the grosse Errors which hitherto have annoyed the Church of God as cannot be unknown to such as know the Errors which heretofore have troubled the Church and have occasion of Converse with the Quakers or of reading their Books And therefore people had need to beware of them Mat. 7.15 for their word eateth as doth a Canker 2 Tim. 2.17.18 Yet we do not look upon all of the Profession of Quaking in the same manner or as Constituted in the same Category of Degrees for we know that some of them are through simplicity and weakness seduced who may as yet peradventure obtain repentance to the acknowledging of the Truth and be recovered out of the snare of the Devil whose Recovery as it is one of the special designs of this small Treatise so we heartily pray God to make it successful for that end Others of them are
wilful Seducers and malicious Opposers of the Truth whose Blasphemous Mouths must be stopt and their Heretical fury repressed that the Truth may not be Troden under foot and the simple Seduced who are easily ensnared where such men get way and are not Redargued That which hath deceived and been a Snare unto many simple and ignorant people is some hairy Garments of a few and but a few external Duties of the second Table of the Law wherewith these Instruments of Satan have Clothed themselves But such should remember that false Apostles and Ministers of Satan do Transform themselves into the Apostles of Christ and Ministers of Righteousness even as Satan also Transforms himself into an Angel of light 2 Cor. 11.13 14 15. and false Prophets being inwardly Wolves do notwithstanding come in Sheeps Clothing Mat. 7.15 and even Resisters of the Truth put on a form of Godliness 2 Tim. 3.5 8. and however these Doctors of the Quakers Mask and Vizorn themselves with some few externals of the second Table yet how even in Doctrine they trample generally upon the whole Moral Law but more especially upon the first Table thereof which yet in reason ought to have the first room is not obscure For as for the First Commandment it is notour to all acquaint with the Principles of the Quakers how manifestly even in Doctrine they contradict and oppose the same while they Impudently deny that any man who hath not received the Spirit ought to Worship God This is so known a Tenet of the Quakers that we need hardly to produce Testimonies thereof but it may be seen in a Book of theirs Published in the year 1668 entituled The Principles of Truth or a Declaration of their Faith in the 81 82 and 92 pages whereof they expresly Teach and I shall repeat their very words That all men ought First to wait Vntil they receive the Spirit in Truth Then in the same Truth to worship God in Spirit who is a Spirit In plain Terms that is to say men must first wait until they receive the Spirit before they offer to meddle in worshipping of God The same also may be seen in a most virulent Printed Pamphlet of theirs Intituled in the beginning of the Chapters or Sections thereof for I had it without a Title page The Principles of the Priest so they call the Ministers of Scotland of whom they there speak of such a Place and such a Place in the 14. and 15 pages whereof they directly Impugn and oppose this Position and Principle alledged by them to have been Taught by Mr. John Carstairs Minister at Glasgow viz. That all men whatsoever ought to Worship God Unto this their Atheistical Doctrine is Subalternate that other impious Principle of theirs That no man ought to Pray to God till he be actually moved thereunto and Influenced by the Spirit otherwise Mr. George Keith one of their Chief Apostles affirms it is but Will-worship and Superstition in his Quakerism no Popery page 99. and 100. Good Reader allow me to take a small word of these Mad Principles and I shall do it very briefly Therefore first all men whatsoever they be are bound to Fear Reverence Love and praise God say the Contrary who dare but these are all most principal Arts or parts of the Worship of God Therefore this Principle of the Quakers is both False and Prophane Secondly Obedience to God Essentially and Indispensably includes worshipping of God seeing it includes a subjecting and stooping to his Yoke and Soveraignity and a doing of Homage and Honour unto him and this also includes Reverence all which are no mean parts of his most Substantial and Moral worship Well then if no man ought to Worship God until first he receive the Spirit then no man ought to obey God until first he receive the Spirit seeing obedience Essentially includes Worship and cannot be performed without it as is shewed but it is utterly Atheistical Profane and Absurd to say that no man ought to obey God until first he receive the Spirit for then no unrenewed man ought to obey God seeing such men have not received the Spirit Joh. 14.17 Rom. 8.9 if then unrenewed men ought not to obey God then they are not under any Law of God and he requires no obedience of them for if they be under any Law of his and if he requires any Duty of them I am sure the Quakers will never get them exempted from it Well then if unrenewed men be not under any Command or Law of God and he requires no Duty of them then it follows Infallibly first that let unrenewed men do what they will they cannot sin against God seeing such as are not under any Command or Law of God cannot trasgress any Law of his and so sin against him see Rom. 4.15 1 Joh. 3.4 Such men then in the Quakers Principles may deny disown reject hate and Contemn God Worship the Devil and Debauch at their pleasure and yet they cannot sin against God for all that seeing they are not under any Law of God Secondly it follows thereupon that Reprobates are all most unjustly Condemned for their sinning against God seeing they not having received the Spirit are not under Law to God as is supposed and so cannot be Guilty of sinning against him Thirdly it follows thereupon that unrenewed men cannot sin albeit they should never so much Counte-ract and Contraveen all the Precepts of the second Table of the Law also seeing these that Transgress no Law of God nor any Command of his cannot be sinners seeing Sin is a Transgression of the Law and where no Law is there is no Transgression they are not capable of Trangressng a Law who are not under it and bound to obey it Hence then in the Quakers Principles unrenewed men may Lawfully Dishonour and Defame all men Murder commit Adultery Steal bear false Witness and what not Is not that a sweet Doctrine that tends so directly to all mischief and wickedness losing all men that have not received the Spirit from all Bonds of God and cutting asunder all the Divine Cords of their Duty are not the Sage Doctors of these black Mysteries of Satan very Divinely Inspired Do they not seem to be very Pious Would it not be a sweet world if these Principles were put in practise God preserve us from from so Impious a Piety and such stark Mad Inspirations which I am sure are the very quintessence of the Devils whole Treasury and the utmost of his strength and endeavour Hence falls that other Lewd and Prophane Principle of the Quakers subalternate to their Doctrine here presently Confuted viz. That no man ought to Pray to God until he be actually moved and influenced thereunto by the Spirit seeing calling upon God is a part of Moral Worship or of our Obedience to the Moral Law whereunto all men are obliged Pour out thy wrath upon the Heathen that know thee not and upon the Kingdoms that call not on thy
of Religious worship under the New Testament doth belong to Christians of our Calling and condition The Quakers must here be content with these clear generals But as far the Ceremonial Law of the Jews that is indeed totally Abrogated as to its Obligation albeit yet the same be many ways useful for our Instruction but especially to convince us of our Natural uncleanness and by the exact Accomplishment of its manifold Types in Jesus of Nazareth to assure us that he is our Saviour and the True Messias together with their Judicial Law which in so far as it particularly respected that State is exspired therewith though in so far as it is of common right it still obliges all men as is easie to be understood Lastly the Quakers inquire whether every tittle from Genesis to the Revelation be the Word or the Words of God Ans It cannot be that this member of the Query is the same with the first already discussed or else they have foolishly proposed it twice to us But to be short they seem here to inquire if any new thing at all whether every enunciation and sentence of the Scripture be of Divine Inspiration and from God Whereunto I answer affirmatively for first the main substantial Texts of Scripture cannot be doubted because of the Notes and Arguments before given most part whereof are Intrinsical and do brightly shine in these with their inlightening Beams to full conviction Secondly for other Sentences of lesser importance if the Quakers will say that some ill Seed-sower hath Inserted them or any of them since the Writing of the Scriptures and so that they are not of Divine Inspiration but a corruption of the Scripture we shall first desire them to prove their affirmative and until then we shall confirm our assertion For seeing they were found in the same original Language inserted with the rest seeing they have still some Connexion with or Relation to the rest seeing the Scriptures were by the Providence of God kept pure in the time of the Old Testament as appears in that that Christ and his Apostles in all reproofs to the Scribes and Pharisees never Taxed them for such a thing nor at any time touches such a Question seeing even the Writings of men may continue pure through many Ages and if they be vitiated it can hardly escape discovery seeing the Scriptures as they now are were transmitted to us by the Church unto whom the Oracles of God were committed and against whom the Gates of Hell shall not prevail Rom. 3.2 1 Tim. 3.15 Mat. 16.18 and attested by her to be the true Word of God seeing the very end of Gods committing his Word unto writing is for our Learning and Instruction and that we might have hope and be Saved Joh. 20.31 Rom. 15.4 1 Cor. 10.11 seeing God cares for the feeding of Ravens clothing of Lilies and for our Food and Raiment how much more to use Christs own Argument in a matter of smaller moment Luke 12.28 will he care for the purity of his own Word which is of so weighty concernment to his Glory and his peoples Salvation These things with Gods special Providence over his Church duely considered do sufficiently secure our assertion especially seeing the Quakers cannot prove any corruption in the Scriptures which if they affirm they are obliged to do But the Quakers will may be say that there are several mistakes of men yea and lies written of in the Scriptures such as the lies of Rahab the Gibeonites Sarah c. I and there are several Blasphemies written of in the Scriptures too But what shall follow from hence That any enunciation of the Scripture doth Lie or Blaspheme Nay by no means seeing these Lies and Blasphemies are not Taught and Enunciat by the Scripture or Enunciations and Doctrines thereof but the Narration and History of them is the thing Enunciat and Taught by the Scripture for the Scriptures do not affirm what these persons said and affirmed but only they affirm that such persons said and affirmed so which is no Lie nor Blasphemy as is clear These Lies therefore are not Scripture Enunciations but are only meer complex Predicats thereof which the Scripture Attributes to their Authors that said them as the subjects of its Enunciations in all such Cases Some Quakers are upon this Head so grosly Athiestical as to say that the Scriptures are but the Saints words and Testimony from their own particular Experiences unto which horrid Atheism their forementioned Confession of Faith called The Principles of Truth me-thinks in Derision and Scorn doth also positively subscribe pag. 100 101 102 103 127. But this impudent assertion of the Quakers cannot stand For first these foresaid Notes and Arguments that we above named do convince the Scriptures to be of Divine Inspiration and Authority and not the meer bare word of any Creature Secondly this Assertion of the Quakers involves a violent contradiction for the Pen-men of the Scriptures deliver their Doctrine in the Name and Authority of the Lord asserting it to be his Word his Will his Command whereof the Scriptures are every where so full that we need not stand to instance If then it was but their own meer Word and Testimony these Pen-men of the Scripture are so far from being Saints that of all men in the world they must have been the greatest Cheats and Archest Impostors and Villains seeing they have delivered us so many meer humane Precepts and Principles for the Rule of our Faith and Duty towards God and man promising Eternal Life and Glory to the Obedient and threatning Hell and Damnation to the Disobedient a terrible Presumption for them to do by their own meer Authority and that for Obedience or Disobedience to their meer Commands and beside have wickedly Fathered all this upon God To be Saints and yet live and die such Impostors and Villains is Incurably repugnant Thirdly except the Quakers shall proceed further in their Distraction and Atheism and Assert the Scriptures to be a Book of Falshoods Fictions and Lies they must acknowledge the Scriptures to be somewhat more than the meer bare Word and Testimony of any Saint seeing the Old Testament almost every where Asserts it self to be the Sayings of God and in the New Testament the Doctrine and Miracles declared in the four Evangels is expresly therein ascribed unto Christ who is God aswel as Man The Apostles also often Assert the Divine Authority of their Doctrine Except then they will conclude these Scriptures to be all meer Fictions and Lies they must yield the Scriptures to be the Word of the Living God either immediately declared by himself or mediately by his Servants by him unerringly directed Fourthly the Scriptures are full of Precepts Prohibitions Promises and Threatnings But the Relation or Narration of an experience is none of all these Ergo the Scriptures are not universally at least a Narration of Saints experiences Lastly there is much Doctrine Taught in the Scriptures that
therewith as a Sacred Symbol due to all the visible Disciples all which we have before proved The passage of Scripture here cited by the Quakers out of the Epistle to the Hebrews Heb. 9.10 will not help their Erroneous Cause for the Apostle does not there speak of the Gospel-Baptism for the evident grounds now given and as is clear from the Context it self where he speaks of Old Testament Ordinances only nor was that imposed on the Israelites in Old Testament times but began with the New But the Baptisms he there speaks of are the legal washings and purifications that were imposed upon the Israelites in the time of the Old Testament such as are described in Numb 19. Chap. Levit. 11 12 13 14 15. Chapters SECT IV. Concerning Infant-Baptism Being now come to Infant-Baptism upon which I am sure I shall need to say very little in regard that Reverend and Worthy Mr. Baxter hath in his Book against Tombs so fully and excellently discussed the Point that I can hardly expect that ever any Man shall add to him but only because this may come into the hands of some Persons who have not seen that Therefore though very briefly I shall not altogether seem to say nothing but still referring the Reader to the foresaid excellent Book The Question therefore is Whether the Infants of Believing Parents or Professing to believe which is all one to the Church ought to be Baptized or not Whereunto I answer affirmatively that they ought be Baptized I prove it But first I must Premise that the Covenant is the same in Substance under the Old Testament and the New For which see Rom. 4.11 12 13. and 11.17 24. Galat. 3.8 9. and 4.28 Heb. 6. from Ver. 12. to the end Secondly I must Premise That the Children of Believers have the same Interest into the Covenant with the Parents for which see Gen. 17. ch Act. 2.39 Matth. 19.14 Luk. 18.16 and for that cause Paul calls the Children of Believers Holy 1 Cor. 7.14 viz. Externally Federally and in regard of Church-Membership and not because they were not Bastards for so the Children of meer Pagans might as well have been called Holy but because they were descended of Believing Parents though but on the one side which is the very reason that he gives in the Text why they are Holy Thirdly I must premise that Circumcision was the initiating Seal under the Old Testament which is evident by the early Administration thereof upon the Eight Day and that by Divine Appointment Gen. 17. Having premised these things I prove my Conclusion First Children of Believers were by a Divine Right Circumcised under the Old Testament but Baptism under the New Testament is succeeded in the room of Circumcision under the Old Therefore the Children of Believers ought to be Baptized under the New Testament Only that needs proving that Baptism under the New Testament is succeeded in the room of Circumcision under the Old which I prove First because they both Seal the very same thing and Secondly because as Circumcision was the initiating Seal under the Old Testament so is Baptism under the New That they both Seal the same thing is clear by comparing Rom. 4.11 with Mark 1.4 Act. 2.38 where Circumcision is declared to be a Seal of the Righteousness of Faith and Baptism is held forth to be a Symbol or Pledge of the Remission of Sins now the Imputation of Christs Righteousness is really one and the same thing with Remission of Sins as also may be seen Rom. 4.6 7 8. albeit the respects be divers And again as Circumcision under the Old Testament was a Symbol of inward Mortification and Repentance so is Baptism under the New for which compare Deut. 10.16 and 30.6 and Jer. 4.4 and Rom. 2.28 29. with Mark 1.4 and Act. 2.38 and 19.4 from all which it is clear that Baptism is a Symbol and Seal of the same things whereof Circumcision was Secondly that as Circumcision was the Initiating Seal under the Old Testament so is Baptism under the New I prove First because the Apostles Dispensed it so early to the Disciples at the first appearing of their New Breath and Interest into the Covenant as we shewed before Secondly because by Baptism we are said to put on Christ Galat. 3.7 Thirdly the Lords Supper which I shall prove to be of Divine Institution at the Survey of their next Query is a Symbol or Seal of our Growth and Nourishment into the Covenant Therefore Baptism which is the other Seal must be the Seal of our New Birth and Entry into the Covenant For it were absurd to say we had two sorts of Seals for our Growth and Confirmation thereof and our Birth and Entry into the Covenant left altogether without Seal nay we have much more need to be Confirmed concerning this than that and so it ought far rather to be Sealed We shall add as the Epilogue of this Argument that the Apostle Teaches Celos 2.11 12. that our Burial with Christ in Baptism is our Circumcision in Christ which shews that Baptism is succeeded to us in the Room of Circumcision But the Anti-pedobaptists except against the Argument that Baptism is not succeeded in the Room of Circumcision because Circumcision was Dispensed to none but Males and on the eighth day exactly and because Circumcision was not a Figure of Baptism Ans But our preceeding Arguments prove that Baptism is succeeded in the Room thereof seeing it exactly acts the Part and Office that Circumcision formally acted as the Initiating Seal which shews it to be come in the Room and place thereof As for that that Baptism is not Tyed to the Circumstance of the eighth day as Circumcision was that says nothing for albeit Baptism be succeeded in the Room of Circumcision in the substance of its work yet it does not therefore follow that it should succeed to the external Circumstances of Circumcision for so not Baptism but the Circumstances thereof should have succeeded to the Circumstances of Circumcision which is not the Question nor any thing we plead for Again Circumcision in the Institution was restricted to the eighth day which Baptism is not and so it is not Tyed to that Circumstance That Circumcision was Dispensed only to Males says nothing neither seeing women by Nature were not capable thereof and therefore it stood in the Room thereof to them to be the Daughters of Circumcised Fathers But they are capable of Baptism and are not excepted from it as they were from Circumcision but on the contrary women are Baptized as well as men Act. 8.12 and 16.15 For that that in the matter of Succession they require the Cedent to be a Figure of the Successor I believe it is spoken in Jest otherwise they will have every Cedent a Figure of his Assigny and every Servant removing at the Term to be a Figure of the other that comes in his place which is Ridiculous Secondly whosoever is Adopted and received within the
albeit there are diversities of gifts amongst Believers yet they have all the same Spirit 1 Cor. 12.4 13. But behold here a rare fansie The Quakers require either at least the same measure or else a larger measure of the Spirit than the Apostles had for turning the Psalms into Meeter What will no less measure of the Spirit than the Apostles had serve to understand Poetry and the Notes of Musick Must we be immediatly Inspired for these two O brave Morology The Quakers it seems will not allow a Boy to sing a Song nor a Minstreller to play his Tune both which requires something of Musick without immediate Inspiration forsooth Spectatum admissi risum teneatis amici The Quakers it seems do not like to be Precenters lest perhaps they get little Salary Lastly They ask what the Psalms were that were sung in the Primitive times Ans They were certainly the same that we now sing seeing these only are written in the Scriptures though the Quakers may have other Psalms in their wild scripture-Scripture-Book within and appointed by God to be sung as beside that we are Ordained to sing Psalms and there is no other to choose upon is clear from 2 Chron. 29.30 where the Church of Israel sang praises to God with the words of David and Asaph says the Text by the command of the good King and great Reformer These that would see any further concerning some scruples about Psalms-singing let them read worthy Mr. Durhams Exposition of the Song of Solomon from page 48. to page 53. where they may find some doubts resolved which I purposely here omit because there they may be found though little or nothing here medled with be there touched Ninth QUERY Whether or not your Directory Confession of Faith and Cathechisms be an Infallible Rule for you and your People to walk by or whether or not equal with the Scriptures or above the Scriptures and whether of them is the better Book and whether or not have ye an Infallible Spirit to give forth such a Directory or Catechism or Confession of Faith as ye have done and whether or not the Scriptures are not a better Directory than any ye can make which were given forth by the Holy Ghost by the holy Men of God who had the Infallible Spirit SVRVEY This Inspirer of the Quakers is surely no Spirit of Truth but a manifest Deviser of Lies seeing almost in every Sentence that drops from his mouth he impudently slanders the Church of God in Britain for who ever heard that any Protestant Church did hold any thing of Ecclesiastical Constitution formally as such for an Infallible Rule But on the contrary it hath always been the Doctrine of all Protestant Churches and as much of the Church of Britain as any other as may be seen in the fourth Article of the 31. Chapter of her Confession of Faith that all Synods and Councels since the Apostles days are liable to Error and that therefore their Constitutions formally as such are not to be made the Rule of Divine Faith and Religious Practice and yet there is much more hope of an unerring Spirit in a whole Synod of Orthodox Church-Guides than in any Brainsick Quaker falsly pretending thereunto The Quakers do not here quarrel with our Directory Confession or Catechism as to their subject sentence and the particular definitions which they contain or else they should have instanced the particulars which they judge to be wrong and not agreeable to the Stripture that we might have known what to vindicate which until they do I cannot gratifie them with particular defences Their quarrel therefore here is at the very common form of a Directory Confession or Catechism in a Church and that Church-Guides should presume to Constitute these and so all Churches are concerned in this affair seeing all of them have their Confessions Catechisms and Directories and yet no doubt this quarrel is chiefly intended against the Directory Confession and Catechism of the Church of God in Britain Therefore that we may in the general vindicate these we shall begin with the Directory Therefore first a Church-Directory may be taken in a large and improper sence as comprehending rules concerning parts of the publick Worship of God it self and the religious manner thereof as their immediate object directly regarded and if these Rules teach and direct no other Worship nor any other religious manner of the Worship but the very same which the Scripture directs and teaches then they can never be found fault with seeing even every particular Minister hath authority and is obliged by his Office to teach and enjoyn his Flock the Worship of God and the religious manner thereof from the Scripture yea that is his chief work and I must still think that a Synod of Ministers conveened in Christs name have no less authority nor can be any less obliged Such Rules there are in our Directory as the Rules appointing the Sabbath-day to be kept holy Psalms to be sung Ministers to do their work faithfully diligently c. all which are very Scripture-Rules particularly taught therein and their immediate objects are constituent parts or religious manners of the Worship But Secondly a Church-Directory may be taken in a more strict and proper sence as restricted to and meerly comprehending Rules or Directions concerning the External Circumstances of the Publick Worship and Government of Gods House And for vindicating our Directory in the general as was explained taken in this proper notion We must observe first that as it is utterly impossible to exerce any action except under the vesture of several circumstances So likewise the publick Worship of God cannot be performed except under the vesture of various Circumstances as needs no demonstration Secondly I must observe that as the vesture of unbeseeming undecent and disorderly circumstances in the exercise of Gods Publick Worship doth very much deform and disgrace the work as all may know and so cannot but very much hinder Edification and beget Scandals So the Vesture of comely decent and orderly circumstances therein doth greatly beautifie and adorn the work by the Rule of Contraries and so doth promote and advance Edification and Growth which by the contrary are exceedingly letted and hindered Thirdly I must observe that these External Circumstances of Gods Publick Worship are not in the Scripture particularly defined and determined seeing it is no where of Scripture particularly defined what time of the day or night the publick Worship shall begin how long it shall last what order shall be observed in reading preaching praying singing hearing c. But only they are therein determined in the general as to their common form of order and decency that decency and order must be observed therein seeing all things must be so done in the Church 1 Cor. 14.40 which command is manifesty transgressed by the undecency and disorder of one small Circumstance and so it plainly injoyns to maintain order and decency in all the Circumstances
others since had been quite unchurched when yet they were not for their Consequential fundamental Errors But Sir the Case is now hugely alter'd and the Scene changed after that our Reformers have by vive Demonstration shewed the Papists their Clergy at least the unavoidable Consequence who yet still pertinaciously hold the principle which it cannot be conceived how they can do it in such Circumstances of shining Light without allowing the Consequence also There is also a vast difference betwixt the Papist-Church now and before the Council of Trent when many Errors that were before that but taught or held by some particular persons greater or smaller but not turn'd into a Law are now by publick Consent and Constitution of their Canon or Church-law become their universal and Church-profession as she is such a Church viz. Popish And this makes her Guilty now in her very publick and stated Notion of such a Church and the Errors if Fundamental which now I meddle not with because I need not quite Unchurches whereas the other of particular persons cannot do it or else no Church could be long in safety It may be ye will retort this in what I said concerning Consequential-Scripture above viz. that if the Terms Material and Consequential be diminutive as here is said then Consequential-Scripture will not be of equal Authority with that formally and expresly Taught But there is no parity of reason for this Consequence seeing men do not always see or perceive what follows from the Principles they hold nor frequently would they if they saw it hold or own such Principles But God cannot be Guilty of Ignorance but sees most perfectly all that follows from every Principle and therefore every Consequence of his Word is as much by him intended and so is as much of Divine Authority as that which is most expresly and formally therein Enunciated There is no place here then for a Retorsion Having Discussed this head I come to your following Libel of Popery against us charged in your Twelfth Section of that Book of yours often named Where first ye charge us with Popery in Asserting the three Persons in the Godhead and a Trinity But in this the Scriptures are as Popish from which I have proved the three Persons in the Deity And the Concrete also of the word Trinity is in the Scripture 1 Joh. 5.7 and it is the only abstract thereof But the Quakers are herein Blasphemous and quite off the Foundation too for if the Attributes of God and persons in the Godhead be not Fundamental nothing can be such Your Ordination would surely be a meer Nullity Secondly ye alledge we are Popish in affirming of Original Sin in Infants who have not sinned Actually and Thirdly because we deny your universal Grace Ans Indeed your Principles in both these are Jesuitically Popish and Jesuits are the worst of Papists both in their Erroneous Principles and Bloody Practices for ye and they both joyn exactly in these against the Scripture as I have before fully proved Fourthly ye say we are Popish in affirming that humane Learning and Natural Parts are more essential qualifications of a Minister then the Grace of God Ans Sir I described a Minister for these of your Profession before and ye needed not have done it over again for still I see ye would have an ignorant nay unnatural Dunce I have known men but moderately Learn'd be Ministers with us because of their Piety and fit Faculty for exhorting But a man utterly void of Learning and Natural Parts too that 's an Idiot I think cannot in an ordinary Method and we cannot now upon any ground of Scripture look for extraordinary Inspiration to supply such wants be fit to Teach for how shall a man Teach others that which he knows not himself a man of great Gifts though really wanting Grace may be able to Instruct and Teach others as Judas and many others have done but a man void of Gifts and Knowledge though he have Grace cannot do it And herein we are not Popish seeing the Scriptures shew that some without Grace have been Ministers and called by Christ himself to that Office but requires that none without Gifts be admitted thereunto 1. Tim. 3.2 Tit. 1.9 Fifthly ye say we are Popish because our Ministerial Authority is transmitted by external Ordination from Age to Age and that this makes a Minister though he have no Inward call who is thereby Authorized Ans The first was in the Apostles time practised viz. The transmitting of Ministerial Authority by Ordination Act. 14.23 1 Tim. 4.14 2 Tit. 1.5 and for the second it gives him Ministerial Authority and so makes him a Minister surely nor is the Church obliged or capable to know his Inward Call without which his Ministerial Acts are still valid None of these are any ways Popish I am sure not the first for the Scriptures Cited nor yet the second for the reason given Sixthly ye alleadge we are Popish in affirming that Clergy-men ought to be distinguisht from others by their Black Coats so that it is not Lawful for honest Tradesmen such as the Apostles were to Preach who have not past their Apprenticeship at the University Ans For the Clergy their wearing of Black Coats I never learnt that our Church made it necessary and another Garb not Gaudy unlawful but that they accounted it the Gravest and most sutable I acknowledge and I do not think it Popish to be Grave As for the Apostles Preaching who were some of them before Tradesmen they were immediately Called and Inspired which now adays cannot be look'd for as is shewed in our Survey Nor is it Popish to refuse men the Pulpit who can do no good in it for they must be apt to Teach that get that by Scripture Command Seventhly ye alleadge we are Popish because we study our Sermons before we come to the Pulpit and does not wait till the Spirit come Ans do ye think Sir that a Minister of the Gospel should not both by prayer reading and serious meditation prepare himself before he come to Preach to the people And is it Popish if he do viz. Paul exhorted Timothy to be a Papist 1 Tim. 4.13 14 15. When he enjoyned him to read much and meditate much for the increase of his gifts that his profiting might appear to all But Sir what makes your Spirit Study so much for they say to me he will Study sometimes a whole day almost for the wrabling out of a quarter of an hours non-sense It may be he is a Papist and I very much fear it be too true Eightly ye alleadge we are Popish because our Ministers have a modified or set stipend for their maintenance Ans But pray you Sir was the Law of God ordaining the Tenths for the Tribe of Levi Popish too It s true that Law as peculiar to that Church is expired but the Common equity thereof is still a binding example and pattern for the Peoples incouraging of