in the Quakers Answer to this Petition they deny not swelling foaming and quaking See their Book p. 35. But they deny Saucery and Blasphemy They justify quaking and trembling as being used by the Saints of old Heb. 12. 21. Jer. 33. 9. Acts 9. 6. Ezek. 12. 18. These Texts are urged by Ja. Nailor p. 16 17. of his Book called The Power and Glory of the Lord shining out of the North He takes pains to prove their Name and justify their Practice for saith he search the Scriptures and holy Men of God do witness Quaking and Trembling This is true and the same may be said of wicked Men and Devils Acts 24. 25. James 2. 19. and Luke 9. 39. we read of him that was possessed that he foamed when the Diabolical Spirit did tear him I shall say no more of their Name it is of their own procuring and defending tho no discriminating Character of Christianity or Saintship 2dly As to their Profession for ought that ever I could gather from their own Tongues or Pens is a Labyrinth of Confusion or a great heap of Contradictions tending to the Subversion both of the Foundation and Fabrick of Christianity being a Compound of Heresies having Affinity with the Sadduces as Mr. Brown notes in the discovery of the Leaven of the Sadduces hid among the Quakers p. 5. which Sect was divided into two Branches Epicures and Stoicks these encounter'd St. Paul Acts 17. 18. calling him Spermologus which our Translation renders a Babler because he preached Jesus and the Resurrection and with the Heresy of Hymeneus and Philetus 1 Tim. 2. 18. who said the Resurrection was past already and had overthrown the Faith of some and they have Affinity with the Gnosticks who say that Christ did not take Flesh really but in a Figure so have the Quakers said as will appear See Saul's Errand to Damascus compare Epiphanius Heres 26. And they have Affinity with Seleucus a great Heretick who denied the Humanity of Christ and Water-Baptism he lived in the time of Theodosius Magnus See August lib. de Heres Both which Errors are maintained by the Quakers repugnant to the holy Scriptures Testimony Again They have Affinity with the Papists in their Master-veins of Popery for as the Papists do introduce all their vain Conceits by this Maxim That the Church cannot err So the Quakers usher in their Dreams that they are perfect and so cannot err And as the Papists make the Writings of their General Councils equal with the Scriptures so do the Quakers their lying Pamphlets nay prefer them above the Scriptures as will appear And they have Affinity with the Muggletonians who utter their execrable Imprecations Curses and Sentences against their Opposites And I must leave them in this Deluge of Errors and Heresy and proceed to examine their Pamplet in its respective parts 1. In the first Head being part of the first and last Articles professed in their Pamphlet they profess to believe holy Scripture-Testimony and that the holy Scriptures contained in the Books of the Old and New Testament do contain all matters of Doctrine and Testimony necessary to be believed and practised in order to Salvation and Peace with God and that they desire to live in the Faith Knowledg and Practice of them c. in all things appertaining to Life and Godliness Holy Scripture being given by Divine Inspiration is profitable for Doctrine Correction Instruction that the Man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto every good Work able to make the Man of God wise unto Salvation through Faith in Christ Jesus Indeed there is a present occasion for this plausible-Profession for the Promoters of it have now set up a Meeting in Deptford a place where their corrupt Notions have had but little footing and it is also a place where the Word of God hath for many Years been faithfully and powerfully preached so that except they appear in Sheeps Clothing they cannot draw Disciples after them It is said of the Oracles of the Heathens that they were made to look with two Faces that they may the better effect their Deceits It is not easy to conceive the many Meanings and Reserves that lie couched in this Paragraph But not to trace them into all their equivocal Reserves I conceive the best way to understand the Quakers Sentiments about the Scriptures is to have recourse to their own Construing Books And I shall begin with Humphrey Smith a forward Asserter of Quakerism see his Book called A true and everlasting Rule p. 29. he affirmeth in the Face of Men and Devils That there are no other Rules Ways or Means by which Men shall ever come to walk with God but by that which is manifest of God in him and that it is sufficient to guide in all the Ways of God without Scripture or any other outward Rule Doth not this tend to make null what is before professed If that in Humphrey Smith be a sure Guide and his Book be a true and everlasting Rule how then are the Scriptures necessary and wherein are they profitable for Doctrine Instruction c. since all things necessary may be taught without them See also James Nailor's Answer to the Jews p. 4 22 25. It 's Blasphemy for any to say the Letter is the Word of God it is the Devil that contends for the Scriptures to be the Word of God c. Here you have the Sentence of one of their great Prophets passed against the Scriptures George Whitehead being asked Whether they esteem their Speakings to be of as great Authority as any Chapter in the Bible He affirms in his Apology p. 49. That which is spoken by the Spirit of Truth in any is of as great Authority as the Scripture yea and greater What can appear more clear than that the Quakers Inspirations are of as great if not greater But why do I mince it ay and greater Authority than the Scriptures Let us add to this James Parnell's Testimony Shield of the Truth p. 19. he also that saith The Letter is the Rule and Guide of the People of God is without feeding upon Husks and is ignorant of the true Light c. By this Man's Verdict the Scriptures are condemned as Husks or a false Light Could either Papist or Atheist more plainly oppose the Holy Scriptures But since we want no Evidence to detect these Impostors let us add a few more from their own Pens see James Naylor's Light of Christ p. 19. God is at liberty to speak to his People by the Scriptures if he please and where they are given by Inspiration doth so and he is also at liberty to speak by any other created thing as to Balaam by his Ass I think I do not wrong them if I infer from hence that the Sons of Men may as well expect Teachings and Rebukes from an Ass as from the Scriptures one hath as much Authority essentially in it self as the other one hath in it self as much Authority to
guide teach and instruct the Sons of Men as the other neither can teach Men except God immediately inspire them You see by this how these divinely-inspired Men esteem the Scriptures of Truth See the joint Consent of two of their chief Guides Fox and Hubberthorne Truth 's Defence p. 101. they say The Scriptures are no standing Rule and that it is dangerous for the ignorant People to read them Surely if they had bin brought up at St. Omers they could not more positively have denied the Scriptures I hope the Reader will remember how these chief Guides amongst the Quakers agree with the Account in the Pamphlet see pag. 29. of Mr. Hicks's Dialogue One Thomas Holbrow a great Zealot among the Quakers as appeared by the Journey he took to deliver a Message to one James Nobs which he said was immediately delivered to him from the Lord But it so unhappily fell out that James Nobs was forty Miles off when the said Holbrow came to the Meeting so that either the God that sent Holbrow did not know Nobs or else at least was ignorant that he was gone from Home at that time for he delivered the Message to a wrong Person This I have had testified to me as a Truth by several in those Parts And in p. 27. Dial. But this is not what I intend for afterwards Tho. Holbrow having some Reasonings with James Nobs and his Wife the said Nobs urging many Scriptures against Holbrow the said Holbrow replied What dost thou tell me of Scriptures which are no better to me than an old Almanack It is like when Humphrey Smith's True and Everlasting Rule came in date the Scriptures became no better than an old Almanack The brevity of this short Discourse will not admit me to draw the proper Inferences that would naturally flow from these Premises These are the Men that in their Pamphlet profess so high an Esteem for Holy Scriptures See James Pernell's Book Christ Exalted p. 4. Christ is the Word the Scripture is not Christ is the Light the Scripture is not he is the Ruler Guide Teacher and Judg the Scripture is not And thus he goes on like a Cloud carried with the Wind. It is like from the Title of his Book he concludes from these Expressions to exalt Christ when indeed he casts the greatest contempt upon him Christ saith If any Man love me he will keep my Word What are the written Words of Christ but Scripture But more of this hereafter Dialog 1. p. 24 25. Christian is it then ingenuous and honest for you to deny the Scriptures to be a Rule to others tho at the same time but by misinterpreting it you make it a Rule to your selves Are you not ashamed of this Deceit and self-condemning Partiality Quaker Thou mistakest us we own not the Scriptures to be our Rule and whereas thou hast said many things to render us guilty of condemning this in others whilst we our selves seemingly allow it to be so which is but thy own Imagination for when we make use of Scripture it is only to quiet and stop their Clamours that plead for it as their Rule but for us had the Scriptures never been we could have known what is therein contained I hope the Reader by this may perceive the Reason why the Quakers talk so much of Scripture in their Paper observe We own not the Scripture we seemingly allow it but our End in this is only to stop their Clamours that plead for it as their Rule You see here the condescending Spirits of these Men that they should allow the Scriptures to others ay and make use of them to please others and yet not own them as a Rule themselves but their End is to stop clamorous Tongues But here is their great disadvantage the old Birds will not be caught with this Chaff their seeming Allowances will not pass for Christian Principles When the Mask is taken off as Westfield said concerning Christ you are not able to bear what we have to hold forth concerning him should we deliver what we hold concerning Jesus Christ we should be stoned in the Streets Westfield a Quaker Dialog p. 74 75. And indeed should they hold forth in their Teaching what hath dropt from the Pens and Mouths of their chief Guides at some times they would draw but few in their right Minds into their clouded Delusions But observe what is before said As for us had the Scriptures never been we could have known what is therein contained This I have also heard from their own Mouths Then I desire the Quakers to resolve me in these two Questions it is said John 21. 25. And there are also many other things that Jesus did the which if they should be written every one I suppose that even the World it self could not contain the Books c. Again it is said John 8. 6 -8. when the Woman taken in Adultery was brought to Christ that he stooped down and wrote with his Finger on the ground c. Now let the Quakers resolve me by their immediate Inspirations what those things were that Jesus did that are not written and what were the Contents of that Writing on the Ground or else let their proud Boastings of immediate Inspiration be condemned to perpetual silence and Shame cover their Faces And waiting for their Resolve herein I proceed to examine the Suffrage of great George Fox who thinks he doth the business effectually see his Difference of Ministers pag. 1. he discants upon John 1. 1. Thus John did not say the Declaration was the Word but saith in his Declaration the Word was God and he that saith the Letter is the Word is a Deceiver and errs The Argument lies here because Christ is called the Word the Scriptures must not be so called John said the Word was God then the Scriptures cannot be the Word except they be God also It seems by the Quakers Logick they are Deceivers and err that call the Scriptures the Word of God the Reason is because Christ is so called Why then let us see 1 Cor. 10. 4. Israel in the Wilderness drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them and that Rock was Christ But are there not other Rocks properly so called A Rock is a hard congealed heap of Stone John 10. 1. God is called an Husbandman but are not Men that plow and till the Ground properly so called Christ is called a Vine a Door and a Shepherd but are there not other Vines Doors and Shepherds in a proper sense Sure the Quakers will grant there are Christ is called the Light of the World and yet Mat. 5. 14. he tells his Disciples they were the Lights of the World We own Christ to be called the Word of God and yet the Scripture is so called in a true and proper sense Christ is the only begotten Son of God Joh. 3. 16. 1 Cor. 8. 6. Eph. 4. 5. But he hath more words than one Mat. 4. 4. a Scripture from Deut.
Antichrist in Spirit unmasked OR Quakerism a great Delusion Being an Answer to a Pamphlet lately published and dispersed in and about Deptford in Kent intituled The Christianity of the People commonly called QUAKERS Which they say is asserted against the unjust Charge of their being no Christians upon several Questions relating to those Matters wherein their Christian Belief is questioned By which Pamphlet they would perswade the World that the QUAKERS are Christians In which ANSWER you have their Deceit detected their pretended Faith examined and proved a Counterfeit And no marvel for Satan himself is transformed into an Angel of Light 2 Cor. 11. 14. If that Light that is in them be Darkness how great is that Darkness Mat. 6. 23. They are of those that rebel against the Light they know not the Ways thereof nor abide in the Paths thereof Job 24. 13. And for this cause shall God send them strong Delusions that they should believe a Lie 2 Thess 2. 11. By Edw. Paye a Servant of Christ London Printed in the Year 1692. A Commendatory Epistle to the READER Impartial Reader THOV art here presented with an Examination of the pretended Faith professed by the Quakers lately published and dispersed in Deptford It appeared to the World with a fair Aspect and the Ignorant and Easy were ready to take their Words that they so believed But the Author to unfold their Riddles hath made use of their own Construing Books to get at their Meanings and it fully appears to be nothing so believed by them as pretended in their Pamphlet We believe neither Ambition Self-Interest or Prejudice moved the Author to this Work but purely the Honour of God Defence of Truth and Good of Souls We also hope and believe that he hath been careful truly to cite the Quakers own Authors and we believe if any Error therein be as to Page or the like it may be justly imputed as an over-sight Reader thou art foretold by our Lord That in the last Days many false Prophets shall arise and deceive many And the Apostle informs of some that with feigned Words and fair Speeches shall deceive the Hearts of the Simple And of others That shall privily bring in damnable Heresies even denying the Lord that bought them c. and that many shall follow their pernicious Ways c. So that as was said in another Case we may say in this Is there not a Cause The Holy Scriptures which this Generation of Men contemn and vilify as will appear in this Discourse go very nigh to us we always having had and hope ever shall have a venerable esteem for them And thus we commend the ensuing Discourse to the Judgment of the unbiassed Reader hoping Error may be detected and the Truth preserved from Seducers who would introduce their corrupt Notions in the room thereof And we shall rest with these Desires true Friends to all that love Truth and Peace Hen. Loader William Allcot Quakerism a great Delusion THE Substance of their pretended Faith may be reduced into these six general Heads I. In the first and last Articles professed they say they believe according to holy Scripture-Testimony in the Trinity or those three Divine Witnesses that bear Record in Heaven c. and that they believe and own the holy Scriptures contained in the Books of the Old and New Testament and to be given by Divine Inspiration and to contain all matters of Doctrine and Testimony c. necessary to be believed and practised in order to Salvation and Peace with God c. II. They say their Belief is that in the Unity of the God head there is Father Son and Holy Ghost being those three Divine Witnesses that bear Record in Heaven the Father the Word and the holy Spirit and that these three are one c. III. They profess to believe the Divinity and Humanity of Christ the Eternal Son of God c. and that he is the one Mediator betwixt God and Man the Man Christ Jesus c. IV. They profess to believe and expect Remission of Sins Justification Redemption and Salvation through the Sufferings Death and Blood of Christ and not by their own Works Righteousness or Merits this is professed in their third and fourth Articles specified in their Pamphlet V. They profess to believe and own the Divine Offices of Christ as King Priest and Prophet over his own Church and People VI. They evade and deny Baptism in Water and the Supper of the Lord instituted in Bread and Wine to be now in force as standing Ordinances in the Church of Christ They say nothing of those two great Articles of the Christian Faith the Resurrection of the Bodies from the Graves of the Earth and the eternal Judgment tho they are not ignorant that their Faith hath been questioned herein Before I proceed to examine their pretended Faith professed in their Pamphlet I shall take notice of its Title it is called The Christianity of the People commonly called Quakers and could we take them at their words their Profession looks like good and Orthodox But as the Apostle saith 2 Cor. 11. 13. there were deceitful Workers transforming themselves into the Apostles of Christ using feigned words and fair Speeches was the old way of deceiving the Hearts of the simple As our Enemies at Sea either to defend themselves from our Stroak or to draw us into their Snare will put up the English Flag So the Quakers see it necessary upon this occasion to make a very plausible Profession The gilded Pill is not so irksome to the Palat but if we are cautions in taking Money and if a Piece be fair and large yet if the Metal be suspicious we bring it to the Touch-stone 1. Christianity is a very high holy and honourable Profession which hath caused many to lay claim to it without a just Title who will needs have the Name tho strangers to the Nature of Christianity many have no better a Title to this Name than their being born in a Nation called a Christian Nation Others depend upon Morality alone and bless God they are not so bad as some other Men. Christianity is to lay hold upon Christ by a true and Evangelical Faith in his Death Sufferings and Merits for Redemption and Justification to believe him in all his Offices and obey him in all his Ordinances Christians are Disciples or Scholars of Christ Acts 11. 26. The Disciples were first called Christians at Antioch A true Gospel-Profession from a real and Evangelical Faith attended with a pious Life for Morality is included where there is true Christianity 2. Quakerism with respect to the Name is not derived from a Person so called but from a Gesture used much amongst them formerly in their Meetings as was manifest by what was alledged against them by the Westmoreland Petitioners viz. That their Practice did exceedingly savour of Saucery because of the Swellings Quakings Roarings and Foamings that were amongst them at their Meetings And
8. 3. to oppose the Devil's Assault Man lives not by Bread alone but by every Word that proceedeth out of the Mouth of God Prov. 30. 5. Every Word of God is pure Jer. 23. 36. the Complaint is The false Prophets had perverted the Words of the Living God A great Evil and too common in this day But would the Quakers have the Word always to intend Christ Mark 4. 19. The Cares of this World and the Deceitfulness of Riches and the Lusts of other things entring in choke the Word Will the Quakers say these things entring in choked Christ Surely no. By all this the judicious Reader will see the Endeavours that have been used by the Quakers to explode the holy Scriptures not only to rob them of their Nature Use Power and Efficacy but also of their very Name But let all Christians learn to prize them and carefully improve them and be thankful to Divine Providence by which they have been preserved through all Times and against all Tyrants Psal 19. 7 8. David sets forth the worth of them The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the Soul the Testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple The Statutes of the Lord are right rejoycing the Heart the Commandments of the Lord are pure enlightning the Eyes 2 Tim. 3. 15 16. They are able to make wise to Salvation Soul thou needest not fear miscarrying if thou makest the holy Scriptures the Rule of thy Faith and Guide of thy Life This short Treatise will not admit me to enlarge I shall leave this short Scheme by which the Reader may judg what an Esteem the Quakers have for holy Scriptures they so much pretend to in their Pamphlet The Names they give the holy Scriptures Scriptures no standing Rule it is dangerous for the ignorant to read them No better than an old Almanack neither Rule Guide Light nor Teacher A dead carnal Letter They are Precepts and Traditions of Men. Paper Iak and Writing The Letter without Swine feeding on Husks Obedience to Scriptures is the Harlot's Child You may as well expect God to teach or rebuke by any other Creature as the Scripture as he did Balaam by his Ass The Names they give their own lying Pamphlets A true and everlasting Rule The Royal Law and Covenant of God Love to the Lost News out of the North written from the Mouth of God The pure Language of the Spirit A Salutation to the Seed of God The Lip of Truth The Spirit of Truth A Trumpet from the Lord sounding out of Zion A true Prophecy of the mighty Day of the Lord. The Word of the Lord and a Word from the Lord p. 13. of the Mighty Day of the Lord. Blusn O Heavens and tremble O Earth at the Pride and Ignorance of these Impostors I shall add but two or three Passages more concerning their Contempt of the Scriptures see Tho. Lawson Vntaught Teacher p. 6 7 8. The Scriptures are not a Rule whereby Men may know the Will of Christ And in Pag. 2 and 3. of the same Book he denies that the Ministers of Christ endowed with the Spirit of Christ ought to minister or preach from Scripture Add to this what is said in Cloud of Witnesses a Book of theirs p. 1 3 4. But the Priests of England the blind Guides they do teach the People and say Hearken to the Word of the Lord as it is in such a Chapter and Verse Now is it not a sign that the Quakers are untaught Teachers indeed but let the Word of God be true and these Men Liars Did not our Lord make use of the Scriptures in teaching Mat. 21. 42. saith Christ Did ye never read in the Scriptures The Stone that was set at naught by you Builders and Mat. 22. 29. Ye do err not knowing the Scriptures Surely they will not deny Christ to have the Spirit and he proves the Resurrection of the Dead by Scripture Exod. 3. 6. Surely Peter had the Spirit yet he proves Christ to be the great Prophet Acts 3. 22. from Deut. 18. 15. And will they deny Philip to be endowed with the Holy Ghost Acts 8. 35. he preacheth Jesus to the Eunuch from Isa 53. And Acts 17. 2 11. Paul reasoned and preached out of the Scriptures and the Bereans searched the Scriptures to try whether Paul's Doctrine was true or not The Reader may see from hence with what an open Face these deluded Impostors will assert apparent Falshoods From all this it appears the Quakers are great Enemies to and Contemners of holy Scriptures and that what they say in their Pamphlet is a great Falshood II. I proceed to examine the other part of their first Article professed in their Paper Article Our Belief is That in the Unity of the Godhead there is Father Son and Holy Ghost being those three Divine Witnesses that bear Record in Heaven the Father the Word and the holy Spirit This Profession looks like good and Orthodox Christianity but yet when it comes to be weighed it will be found wanting I shall only examine what Heaven this is the Quakers intend not in the glorious Heavens above beyond the Clouds and starry Heavens no by no means it 's ridiculous to speak of an imagined God beyond the Stars it is the Heaven within thee where these three Divine Witnesses are you will hear their severe Rebukes by and by if you will have any other Heaven to be meant as their Residence See James Parnell's Book Satan's Design discovered p. 19 25. he affirmeth They that confess not Christ to be come in their Flesh are the Antichrist and also affirmeth That by preaching of Christ in Heaven the Devil gets his Work done on Earth Pray what is fairly to be inferred from hence why the Heaven they intend is no where else but within their Mortal Corrupt Bodies or else Christ is not one of those three Divine Witnesses they speak of in the Paper for they will allow of no other Christ but what is in every Man And see further Tho. Lawson in his Book against William Jeffery calls him Thou Image-maker thou Cockatrice hatching Eggs Vulters Eye c. because William Jeffery had said that Christ was ascended into Heaven with that Body that was raised from the Dead And they intend no other Heaven than what is within them and thus they must be understood in their Pamphlet for see Lawson's Book p. 9 and 19. they say that they have eternal Life now really in Possession But would you have it more plain that the Quakers Heaven is within them take a Testimony out of Edward Burrough's Works Pag. 9 149. a chief Guide among them therefore you may take his word for it We say he that was slain upon the Cross is the very Christ of God and the very Christ of God is in us Tho Lucock being ask'd several times before many Witnesses where that Heaven was that Christ did ascend into and now was in he answered clapping his Hands
bid People believe in him as he is in Heaven above but they that are true preach Christ within It seems by the Quakers it is false Doctrine to teach People as Paul taught the Hebrews namely that their Mediator is in Heaven that their High-Priest is there They that are false Ministers preach Christ without your Carnal Christ is utterly denied by the Light your imagined God beyond the Stars But none can witness this whose Eye is outward looking at a Redeemer afar off c. Smith's Primmer p. 9. Sword of the Lord p. 24. Shield of Truth p. 30. But there hath been enough of this before They deny any other Heaven than what is within them as hath manifestly appeared Arg. Those that deny Christ to be entred into the glorious Heavens above deny the Priestly Office of Christ But the Quakers deny Christ to be entered into the glorious Heavens above Ergo they deny the Priestly Office of Christ The Minor hath been before proved namely that the Quakers deny Christ to be in the glorious Heavens above The Major is evident from Scripture Heb. 4. 14. Seeing then that we have a great High-Priest that is passed into the Heavens Jesus the Son of God Heb. 8. 1. We have such an High-Priest who is set on the Right-hand of the Throne of the Majesty in the Heavens Burrough's Works p. 127. They that deny Christ to be the Light in every Man are Antichrists Smith's Primmer p. 8 9. The false Ministers preach Christ in Heaven saith Smith the Quaker and the true preach Christ within and these have no more Fellowship together than the East and West So that there is just so much difference betwixt the Doctrine of the Apostles and Quakers as there is between East and West 3. They deny the Blood of the Sacrifice Christ our High-Priest offered upon the Cross This I have before proved and shewed the scornful Contempt they have cast upon it at large And much more might be said if need were what else means their dropping such words as these Says Edw. Billing The Mystery of Iniquity lies in the Blood of Christ And say they Dost look at Christ's Death afar off What will that Blood avail didst ever see any of it that carnal Blood Can outward Blood cleanse if thou hadst a great deal of it would it do thee any good How apparently do they scorn that Blood of Christ shed upon the Cross But it 's most evident they deny Christ's Priestly Office 4. The Quakers cannot believe the Priestly or Mediatory Office of Christ because they have no need of a Mediator For if they are as perfect without Sin as God is says Leucock and are come to the end of Faith as saith Lawson's Book p. 10. And if Burrough's Works p. 33. say true That God doth not accept any where there is any failing or who doth not fulfil the Law and answer every Demand of Justice and this they say they do and are perfect then what need have they of the Mediatory Office of Christ It is certain Christians own a Perfection according to Gen. 17. 1. to be sincere and as our Saviour saith Be ye perfect Secondly We believe a Perfection through the Merits and Intercession of Christ Philip. 3. 12. Not as tho I were already perfect For if we say we have no Sin we should deceive our selves as the Quakers do But 1 John 2. 1. If any Man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous In and through him the Saints expected Perfection But Christians also expect compleat Perfection when they come to Glory on the other side of the Grave even when Mortality is swallowed up of Life But the Quakers believe they have the Kingdom of Christ and are in the glorious Possession of it already But that they are not I prove thus Arg. Those that are in the Possession of that Kingdom neither marry nor are given in Marriage c. But the Quakers do marry and are given in Marriage Ergo the Quakers are not in the Possession of that Kingdom The Minor is self-evident that they do marry c. The Major is proved from our Lord's words But let what hath been said suffice to make it appear that the Quakers deny the Priestly Office of Christ 3dly I shall proceed to examine how they own his Prophetick Office which they say yes verily we believe and own c. Now how can it be since they have so plainly denied Christ's Human Body as hath been shewed And Deut. 18. 15. The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee of thy Brethren like unto me i. e. a Man unto him shall ye hearken he shall be according as you desired of the Lord in Horeb v. 16. You were afraid of God's speaking to you he shall raise you up a Prophet a Man the Man Christ Jesus of your Brethren like to me you shall not be terrified with the immediate Voice of God Exod. 20. 19. Now this is Christ whom Peter shews and declares Acts 3. 22. Him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you And it shall come to pass that every Soul that will not hear that Prophet shall be destroyed from among the People This is he that God the Father from Heaven testified of Mat. 17. 5. saying This is my beloved Son hear ye him This is he that was crucified and put to Death on the Cross and that rose from the Dead in his Body of Flesh and Bones Luke 24. 39. This is he that told Mary Joh. 20. 19. I go to my Father and to your Father and to my God and your God The Disciples did not expect this Christ to come into them But as I promised before my Death and Passion so I will send you the Comforter This is he that declares he hath all Power both in Heaven and in Earth and that gives his Commission to his Disciples Mat. 28. 19. injoyning them to teach and publish all his Commands and he saith He that heareth you heareth me and he that heareth me heareth him that sent me c. This is the Person denied by the Quakers to be this great Prophet as hath been shewed 2. They deny the Method used by this Prophet namely preaching from the Scriptures which he frequently did Mat. 21. 42. saith he Did ye never read in the Scriptures The Stone that was set at naught by you Builders the same is become the Head of the Corner Mat. 22. 29. Ye do err not knowing the Scriptures John 5. 39. Search the Scriptures c. What was more frequent than for Christ to preach from the Scriptures and to convince his Opposers by them But the Quakers deny this Method for saith Lawson's Book p. 14. The Scriptures are not a Touch-stone to try Spirits withal And p. 15. he saith The written Law doth not convince Men of Sin And in his Book called The untaught Teacher p. 2 3. he denies that
the Ministers of Christ endowed with the Spirit ought to minister or preach from the Scriptures O blind Stupidity Do they deny the Apostles to be Christ's Ministers endowed with the Spirit And did not they preach from the Scriptures Acts 3. 22. Peter proves Christ to be this Prophet from Deut. 18. 15. And Acts 8. 26 c. did not Philip preach Jesus to the Eunuch out of the Prophet Isaiah Acts 18. 28. Apollos mightily convinc'd the Jews of the Truth of Jesus being the Christ out of the Scriptures Acts 17. 11. the Bereans searched the Scriptures to prove Paul's Doctrine and Paul adviseth Timothy to study rightly to divide the Word Surely these were Ministers endowed with the Spirit But 3. As the Quakers do not own the Person nor Method used and appointed by Christ the great Prophet so they disown the Doctrine taught by him and his Apostles and like not those Directions given for Doctrine for say they ' All things are to be taught and ' learned by and from the Light within all they direct to is that No see Zech. 7. 2 3 7. Sherezer and Regem-melech were sent by the Children of Israel to enquire of the Priests and Prophets Whether they should weep in the fifth Month separating themselves as they had done many Years before Turn to the Light within saith the Quaker but the Lord speaks by the Prophet saying Should you not hear the words which the Lord hath cried by the former Prophets c. John Baptist who was a burning and shining Light sent two Disciples to Jesus saying Art thou he that should come or look do we for another Turn to the Light within saith the Quaker But saith Christ Go and tell John the things ye have both seen and heard c. Such outward Means were returned by Christ the true Prophet and Light of the World for John's Satisfaction Luke 7. 19 22. Luke 3. 10 14. The People came to Jesus saying What shall we do Also the Publicans saying What shall we do And the Souldiers said What shall we do Turn to the Light within saith the Quaker But saith Jesus who had another Spirit He that hath two Coats let him impart one to him that hath none Exact no more c. Do Violence to none Accuse no Man falsely Be content with your Wages Mat. 19. 16 21. a certain young Man came to Christ saying What good thing shall I do that I may inherit Eternal Life Turn to the Light within saith the Quaker But saith Christ Keep the Commandments and sell what thou hast and give to the Poor and thou shalt have Treasure in Heaven c. Joh. 6. 28 29. the Jews demanded of Christ saying What shall we do that we may work the Work of God Turn to the Light within saith the Quaker But saith Christ this is the Work of God That ye believe in his Son that is in me that talk with you that came into the World to die for you Lord what wilt thou have me to do saith Saul Turn to the Light within saith the Quaker Acts 9. 6. saith the Lord Christ Go into the City and it shall be told thee Acts 22. 10-16 Arise and go to Damascus and there it shall be told thee of all things that are appointed for thee to do And that not by a Light within for Ananias was to instruct him into the Will of Christ the great Prophet So Acts 2. 37 38. The poor Jews pricked in the Heart cried out Men and Brethren what shall we do Turn to the Light within saith the Quaker But saith Peter one that had the Holy Ghost Repent and be baptized for the Remission of Sins c. I might weary you with shewing how the Quakers oppose the Teachings of Christ's Prophetick Office And that the Quakers deny the Prophetick Office of Christ it appears by their denying his Gospel-Ordinances and this brings me to the Sixth Head as I observe in their Pamphlet VI. and Last In which they would insinuate to the World That they believe and are fully perswaded that Baptism which is essential to Salvation or Christianity or the Laver without which none can be true Christians or saved is the inward or spiritual washing of Regeneration by the Word of Life This is the saving Baptism into Christ and his Church which produceth the answer of a good Conscience towards God of which the outward was a Figure 1 Pet. 3. 21. This is that one Baptism of Christ by one Spirit into that one Body whereof Christ is Head And then that they may not appear with open Face but under a Mask in striking at Christ's Ordinance but still with the same Design they alter the stroak seemingly and go on As for Dipping or Sprinkling Infants or young Children we find no Precept or Precedent in Holy Scripture for the practice thereof and therefore we cannot think our not believing it essential or necessary to Salvation or making Christians a sufficient Argument to prove us no Christians unless it can be proved that none are saved without it and that all are saved that have it c. The scope and medium of this Article is to make null and abolish the sacred Ordinance of Water-Baptism And as to what they say that their not believing Sprinkling or Dipping of young Children to be essential to Salvation or making Christians can be no sufficient Argument to prove them no Christians No certainly I believe that no Advocate for that Cause could do it from those Premises I shall proceed to examine their Sentiments touching that Sacred Ordinance of Water-Baptism and it appears that they deny those two great Ordinances instituted by our Lord and great Prophet namely Baptism in Water and the Supper administred in Bread and Wine then one good Argument amongst many may be drawn from thence to prove the Quakers no Christians Let us therefore have recourse to their Construing Books and see what they say Pernell's Shield of the Truth p. 11. The Baptism we own is the Baptism of Christ with the Holy Ghost and with Fire but we deny all other See p. 12. Here the Quakers fully deny Water-Baptism See also James Naylor's Salutation to the Seed of God p. 33 34. where he slights and denies Baptism in Water calling it a carnal thing But Edw. Burroughs with open Face and great Confidence testifies against Christ's Ordinances being now in force I do affirm saith he that Circumcision is as much in force as Water-Baptism and the Pafchal Lamb as the Bread and Wine for the continuing of them would have been a Judaizing of the Evangelical Worship To assert their continuance would be as much as in such lies to pluck up the Gospel or Spiritual Worship by the Roots Hence that Appellation Ordinances of Christ I do renounce as unscriptural and unevangelical and can testify from the same Spirit by which Paul renounced Circumcision that they are to be rejected Burroughs's Works pag. 108 109. Here is a compound of Ignorance and