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A33735 The perfect pharisee under monkish holinesse opposing the fundamentall principles of the doctrine of the gospel, and scripture-practices of gospel-worship manifesting himselfe in the generation of men called Quakers, or, A preservative against the grosse blasphemies and horrid delusions of those, who under pretence of perfection and an immediate call from God, make it their business to revile and disturb the ministers of the gospel published for the establishing of the people of God in the faith once delivered to the saints, and in a speciall manner directed to beleevers, in Newcastle and Gateside. Weld, Thomas, 1590?-1662.; Cole, William. 1653 (1653) Wing C5045; ESTC R37653 40,293 52

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of the great businesse of justification of sinners by Faith of Iesus Christ that dare trust to so filthy raggs in the presence of so just and so holy a God Position 10 No reall Saint but he that is perfect and perfectly holy in this life and doth not sinne Proofe It is the designe of Nayler in his Booke in severall Paegs to prove this see his Book pag. 21. 22. Nayler hath oft spoken it of himselfe and said he witnessed it So G. Fox hath done others some of us doe know have said they witnesse perfection in Nayler Nay so farre doth Farnesworths ignorance of the Gospel proceed that in his Booke pag. 20. he thus writes They say they can never overcome the body of sinne or be made perfect here and they say no un ●l●ane thing shall ever enter into the Kingdome of God How doth this agree It s one of their ordinary out-●ryes against the Ministers because they oppose this Doctrine And t is the most generall Doctrine of all their Books and Papers Confut. 1. Let the Reader consider there must be of necessity a distinction of the word perfect and perfection in Scripture though we know this Generation of men will cry downe distinctions and pronounce that cur●e against us Rev. 22. as if we added to the word Yet the following cases will evidence the absolute necessity of distinctions if the unity of truth and the faithfulnesse of the word be owned at all Reade 1 Iohn 1. 8. 10. If we s●y that we have no sinne the truth is not in us compared with 1 Iohn 3. 8 9. Whosoever is borne of God doth not commit sinne Reade 1 Iohn 5. 16 There is a sinne to death and there is a sinne not to death So Isay 9 7. Of his Gouernment there shall be no end compared with 1 Cor. 15 24 Then commeth the end when he shall deliver ●p the Kingdome c 2. Now as to a necessity of it in the case in hand consider the various use of the word in Seripture Phil. 3. is very full ver. 12. Not as though I had already attained either were already perfect compared with ver. 15. where t is a word of the same root the Apostle speaking of the Saints and taking in himselfe in that expression adds Let us therefore as many as are perfect be th●● minded In which is plainely evident that Paul shall grossely contradict himselfe unlesse there be a distinguishing betwixt the variety of the sense of the word perfect 3. That perfection therefore ver. 12. is perfection in Glory as the verses both before and presently following it doe fully cleare it s that for which Paul was apprehended of Christ as is evident 1 Cor. 13. 10. where t is opposed to Pauls present state When that which is perfect i● come then that which is in part shall be done away clearely meaning his injoyment of God in glory as is plaine ver. 12. Now we see through a glasse darkely ●●en face to face Now the same word perfect in ver. 15. that it cannot possibly be meant of the same sort of perfection is evident For as the Apostle tells you that he enjoying the perfection v. 15. is yet short of is pressing forward towards the perfection in ver. 12. as to a thing that 's yet before so taking the word in both places in the same sense it were a contradiction for him to say he is perfect and is not perfect For the true meaning thereof we give you three Scriptures 1 Cor. 2. 6. Howbeit we speake wisedome amongst those that are perfect 1 Cor. 14. 20. In malice be yee children but in understanding be yee men or be ye perfect for the word is the same with the former Text Heb 5 last Stong meat belongs to those that are of full age or that are perfect In all which places it is evident in it selfe that the word imports Christians growne up to more knowledge in the Gospel then others had who are in these quotations called Babes From the consideration of this Text it may be fully seen that perfection of Saints here is not that absolute perfection in glory which Paul professed he had not attained to but that comparative perfection of being growne up to more then ordinary measures of Grace and understanding much beyond the attainement of Babes in Christ 2. As for our perfection by justification the Scriptures fully hold it out upon the account of the imputed righteousnesse of Christ whereby the spouse appeares altogether lovely not upon the account of her own holinesse for so she is blacke and an infant in her blood but we know that t is not this perfection they speake of as he that hath but looked into their Books may presently discover 3. There is a perfection which the Scriptures expresseth integrity by as that word speaks the truth of grace in opposition to hypocrisie Thus Iob is called perfect Iob 1. 1. but that this perfection doth not imply a totall absence of sinne is plaine witnesse his sinfull passionate cursing the day of his birth Iob 3. 3. Let the day perish wherein I was borne Job 6. 8. 9. Oh that is would please God to destroy me that he would let goe his hand and cut me off See his owne confession Job 9. 20 2● If I say I am perfect my owne mouth shall prove ●●● perverse Thus Asa is called perfect 1 Kings 1● 14 The high places were not removed neverthelesse Asa's heart was perfect with the Lord all his dayes Here is the perfection of Asa's heart with God and that all his dayes yet you shall ●nd● first He tooke 〈◊〉 away the high places which was a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Secondly He tooke the gold and silver ou● o 〈…〉 the ●●●se of the Lord and sent them to the 〈…〉 and 〈…〉 ue ●Chron 16. 7. 9 Thirdly 〈…〉 an● put him in the Pri 〈…〉 ppressed the People at 〈…〉 And ●● his D●●●as● sought not to the Lord 〈…〉 So that you may clearely see in wh 〈…〉 h● was s●●d to ●●perfect As for other examples in this kinde ●● this time it may be clearely understood in what sense the spirit c●l●● them perfect who otherwise had their personall grosse infirmitie● 4. You are to disting●●sh betwixt the perfection of God and the perfection of the creature in reference to that Text Mat 5. last In which place perfection cannot signifie that which brings up to an equality with God but a similitude unlesse you runne upon that blasphemous Principle of equallity with God of which we have said enough before 5 By our thus comparing Scripture with Scripture we expect from their former usage in this kinde they will charge us with pleading for sinne though we are but discovering the imperfections of the best Saints lest they shou'd live upon their owne righteousnesse which to set up and establish in opposition to that of Christs imputed is evidently the designe of Quakers And that so the strength of the Lord may
in his Answer to Mr. Ledgard pag. 21. affirmes If the promises there named be fulfilled in any man then what need have such of Scripture teaching without them when they have received the same spirit within them by which all true Scripture was written Pap. 22. If any soule be once made one with God who dare deny but that all * true Scripture is fulfilled in them and that such soules have no need of any to teach them Farnworth in one of his Books p. 29. minde the light within here is your teacher this light obeying it and here is your condemnation this light disobeying it See James Nayler in a Book of his called The Glory of the Lord shining out in the North pag. 2. All people cease from your outside lights and returne to the light of Christ in you and this light is not a Chapter without you in a Booke and this light did the Apostles every where bid to take he●d to till the day dawned 1 Pet. 1. 19. Let the Reader observe the palpable blindnesse of the man in the grosse mis-interpretation of so plaine a Text What need we the teachings of men saith another in a Paper of his in the hands of one of us William Strickland walking up the streets in Kendale naked except that he had a shirt on published the said Principle one of us both heard it and saw him in that immodest garbe Miles Bateman affirmed the same before the whole Congregation at Kendale And George Fox pretended he had all from within though his jugling was presently discovered a Concordance being sent to him from Yorke to help his Memory Miles Hawd in the same Congregation affirmed That whosoever did referre any man to any light but that which is within him is a Deceiver And being by one of us admonished to take heed of such Blasphemy and urged with Christs referring to the Scriptures and Pauls referring to the Doctrine he had Preached before Gal. 1. 8. he Blasphemously and in much heat of spirit repeated the same againe John Andland affirmed No need of outward teaching in discourse with us as Newcastle Confut. 1. This is clearely to make Scriptures uselesse for as they are a light without so there is no taking in of them but by Hearing or Reading the Spirit going along therewith And are the Scripture● uselesse Then why doth Christ command the Jewes to search the Scriptures Iohn 5. 39. Paul commands Timothy to Reade the Scriptures 1 Tim. 4. 13. Give attendance to Reading 2 Tim. 13. 15. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable c. and so not uselesse Col. 4. 16. the Apostle saies When this Epistle is Read amongst you cause it to be Read to the Laodiceans and that you also Reade that from Laodice● Luke 4. 16. Christ himselfe stood up for to Reade the Scriptures 2. Wherefore were the Apostles sent forth if outward Teaching be uselesse or needlesse Mar. 16. 15. Mat. 10. 7. As you goe Preach Goe Preach the Gospel to every creature Mat. 28. last Goe teach all Nations And let the Reader observe they did not onely goe to Preach for conversion but for the building up of Saints as Acts 14. 23. they returned againe to Lystr● and Iconium and Ant●och confirming the soules of the Disciples Acts 15. 36. Let us goe againe and visit every City wherein we have Preached the word of the Lord ver. 41. they went through Syria and Cilicia confirming the Churches And why left they Elders in every Church but for the building up the body Acts 14. 24. Acts 20. 17. Ephes. 4. 11. 3. The great worke of Christ at his Ascending to his Father was to send forth Officers for the perfecting of ●●ints for the worke of the Ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ as is most undeniably proved Eph 4. 11. 12 and to continue to the end of all things till all the Saints even those yet unborne be come to a perfect stature 4. The Apostles in pursuance of the will of Christ Ordained Elders in every City Acts 14. 23. who are Officers for the teaching the house of God labouring in Word and Doctrine 1 Tim. 5. 17. Set downe qualifications of Pastours 1 Tim. 3 Bishops and Deacons to Tit. 1. 5. For this cause left I thee in Creet that thou shouldest Ordaine Elders in every City 2. Tim. 2. 2. Commit that thou h●st heard to faithfull men able to teach others Now let every Christian judge to what end doth Christ send forth his Apostles and other Officers if outward teaching be needlesse what folly nay what sinne had they been guilty of to hazard nay to ruine themselves 1 Cor. 4. 13. 2 Cor. 4 8. 9. 2 Cor. 11 ●3 if outward Teaching were needlesse To what purpose should Christ so eminently engage by Promise to goe along with them both in their successe and sufferings Mat. 28. last Luke 10 16. 1 Thes. 4 8. he that despiseth despiseth not man but God if outward Teaching be needlesse For they can but speake to the eare as appears by the fruitlesnesse of their labours often and the worlds resisting them Acts 7. 54. Acts 13. 45. the Jews spoke against the things spoken by Paul contradicting and blaspheming And though it were necessary the word of God should be first spoken to them yet they put it from them Acts 28. 24. How cleare is it from Scripture assertion and example That Faith coms by Hearing and not by minding a light within as Rom. 10. 14. 15. Gal. 3. 2. Acts 13. 48. Ephes. 1. 12. 13. And lastly though we might much more yet we shall adde but this the Lord was pleased eminently to seale to their outward teaching as to his owne Ordinance by those ●aire Epistles Ministred by them and written by the spirit of the living God viz. the multitudes of men converted from darkenesse to light by their Ministry and from the power of Satan unto God 2 Cor 3. 3. 1 Cor. 4. 15. Acts 2. And we dare appeale to the experience of the Saints in England whether the Ministry in England have not full and undeniable seales to their Ministration in the witnesse of Christ thereto in making them fruitfull Fathers to beget many soules to conversion by the Gospel Position 13. That the Scriptures are not the Word of God but a declaration of the conditions of them that spoke them forth Proofe Iames Nayler being asked by the Justices in Westm●rland whether he beleeved the written Word to be the Word of God answered I know no such thing See Mr. Higgis●●s Booke pag. 78. and this Passage one of us also heard Farnsworth in his Booke called A discovery of Faith pag. 6. cryes out against Ministers because they say The Letter is the Word and the foure books Matthew Marke Luke and Iohn the Gospel pag. 12. A Paper one of us hath from them hath this passage in it they say the Letter is the Word which is false To this purpose is
greater is he that is in you then he that is in the World the very ground of their over-comming is the greatnesse of the Spirits Power above corruption wheresoever he is Mat. 13. 29. Luke 11. 22. And if the Spirit be in all then all must be saved or it must necessarily goe to Hell with the damned But enough of this so horrible an assertion Position 5. That Christ in the Flesh with all he did and sufferd therein was but a Figure and nothing but an Example Proofe 1. This is expressely found in their Booke called Sauls Errand to Damascus 2. As also Mr. Higginson pag. 5. sayes The Lancashire charge stands cleare against them in this Principle and nothing answered to evade it in Sauls Errand to Damascus pag. 8. 3. Also this was Written in that Letter which Nayler wrote to one in Lancashire which was objected against him by Dr. Marshall upon account of another Principle in it viz. that he that expected to be saved by him that dyed at Ierusalem should be deceived And this Mr. Iaques Minister at Bolton in Lancashire sent his Testimony under his hand that he would make appeare if the Justices of Westmerland pleased to call for him at another season being detained at that time upon other occasions Confu. 1 1. This wholly destroyes the grand foundation of the Saints justification and confidence at the Throne of Grace For if he were but a Figure then there was no merit in his death Heb. 9. 26. 2. If but a Figure then he must Type out another Christ yet to come Col. 2. 17. But surely they doe not meane the Jewish Messias or doe they intend a Type of Christ in them yet to come and to appeare there in the time of their conversion as their Notion is * How absurd is such a Doctrine That all the Acts of Christ while here on Earth must be acted over againe within them As that the Virgin Mary must be in them and bring forth a Christ and be espoused to Joseph in them that John Baptizeth in them that the eleven Apostles are in them Iudas Herod and Pilat in them that Christ is crucified dead and buried in them and risen againe and ascended to the right hand of the Father in them And all these not allegorized but really personally and bodily acted in them and as they were acted at Ierusalem c. For all these are the necessary appendices of that sottish Doctrine 3. If an example onely this in plaine tearmes cuts up the satisfaction of Christ which is the very Anchor and Refuge of soules Let the Reader seriously consider these Scriptures following because the denying of this doth wholly make fruitlesse the blood of Christ Acts 20. 28. Rom. 5. 8. 9. Ephes. 1. 7. Col. 1 14. Col. 1. 20. 1 Peter 1. 19. 1 Iohn 1. 2. Rev. 1. 8. 4. If an example How then is the justice of God satisfied it must be either by the obedience of him the example or by our owne that follow it they deny it to be by Christs obedience in making it meerely figurative and that it cannot be by any obedience of our personall actings we referre you to what follows in the confutation of the Principle of justification by workes And thus the justice of God shall be unsatisfied still What desperate ruine doe these Doctrines bring to guilty soules 5. What comfort shall a guilty Conscience ever finde but in the satisfaction of Iesus and what Peace shall he have if Christ be onely an Example unlesse he doe fully came up in every tittle of his life and death also to answer the Patterne which it is impossible for man to doe Heb. 4. 15. he being without sinne and in that alone accepted as to a likenesse to us in all things and the same impossibility is there of comming up to that patterne in the great matters of his Nativity death and Passion and the like Position 6. That men are not justified by that righteousnesse of Christ which he in his own Person did fulfill without us Proofe 1. This was the cleare sense of that expression in Naylers Letter formerly hinted That whosoever expects to be saved by him that died at Ierusalem shall be deceived 2. In Naylers delivering his sense of that expression before the Justices in Westmerland he clearely states the righteousnesse of Christ by which we are justified to be fulfilled in us 3. The proofe for their next Position fully cleares it 4 Collonell Benson a●Kendale asserted the same to one of our selves and disputed for the maintenance thereof Confut. 1. Then what ground had Paul to b●ast and glory in the Crosse of Christ Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect Who shall condemne me upon this account Rom. 8. 34. It is Christ that dyed setting the blood of Iesus as a full answer to all the challenges of guilt 2. When we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Sonne Rom. 5. 10. 80 3 He his owne selfe bare our sinnes in his owne Body on the Tree 1 Peter 2. 24. And 4. He reconciled us in the body of his Flesh through death Col. 1. 21. 22. This body this death this crosse were certainely all without us Rom. 5. 9. We are justified And Ephes. 1. 7. Have Redemption through his blood even the Remission of sinnes 5. Nay justification clearely imports according to the designe of the Gospel-Grace a non-imputation of sin and a cloathing with that which is the righteousnes of Christ fulfilled in the world imputed through beleeving Rom. 4. 6. 2 Cor. 5. 19. 20. 21. What spirituall man may not clearely observe the Scripture laying the weight of justification upon the death of Christ and his bloody sacrifice on the Crosse Heb. 9. 26. Position 7. That men are justified by that Righteousnesse which Christ within us enabled us to performe or which is in effect and some of them have expressed by inherent holinesse Proofe Affirmed by Iames Nayler in a Booke of his This light within you will let you see your sinne bring to repentance and tendernesse of heart bring you to feare God and so leads up to justification and peace pag. 3. Fawnworth in one of his Pamphlets thus Condemnation is onely the disobeying of light within pag. 30. Nayler saies We are not reconciled to God till we be perfectly holy and able to stand so in our owne power pag. 25. A. P. to the same purpose in a Book set forth by him pag. 13. Christ reconciles God and Man by renewing the Image of God in purity and holinesse Collonell Benson and Captaine Ward were positive in the same Principle in a discourse with one of us at Kendale in Westmerland Anthony Hodgshon one of that way being asked by Mr. Ward Minister at Wol●ingham an account of his Faith at first denyed so to doe but he pressing with that of Peter answered then I tell thee I beleeve to be saved not by the righteousnesse of
is profitable for Doctrine for reproffe for correcti●r for instruction in righteousnesse that the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good works Position 14. The Spirits are not to be tryed by Scripture Proofe Miles Hawd in the Congregation at Kendale asserted that he that referred to any light without was a deceiver In a Paper of theirs one of them reckons this up as one of the Errors of the Priests as he ●alls them they professe the Scripture to be the rule and the touchstone to try withall A Book called Severall Papers set forth by A. P. pag. 19. sayes the worlds touchstone is without them and they try the living by the dead the spirit by the letter the Saints touchstone is within whereby they try the spirits whether they be of God or no which evidently demonstrates they allow no tryall of the spirits by the written word Confut. ● Heare what the spirit saith Isay 8. 20. To the Law and to the Testimony if they speake not according to this it is because there is no light in them 2. This is to withdraw the soule from the judgement or determination of God whose revealed will the Scripture is as above is shown 3. This is to open a gap unavoydably to all Satans delusions as you may see by the short Relation of the Quakers Shaken in the case of Iohn Gilpin and we can no otherwise look upon this then the very Hold Satan hath to keep this people under his delusions by cousening them thus to stop their eyes against the light Iohn 3. 20. for what else shall be the Touchstone but the Word of God 4 And how strong are the perswasions of errour how fully doth Satan pretend in the soule to be an Angell of light and wherein shall man distinguish The Berean● searched the Scriptures whether these things were so Acts 17. 11. trying the Apostles themselves by the Written Word 6. And Christ himselfe leaves the very proofe of himselfe to be the Messias to the Scriptures Iohn 5 39. Search the Scriptures for in them ye thinke ye have ●●●●●all life and they are they which testifie of me Position 15. That there ought to be no sinse meaning or exposition given or studying of the Scriptures Proofe Their common expression is to him that opens or shews them the interpretation of any Scripture Cursed is he that addes or the plagues are upon thee for adding to the Scripture John Audland a few days since being for his Rayling and Publique disturbance called before the Magistrates and there pleading against the Ministry alledging that Text Ier. 5. 31. The Priests heare rule by their means One of us laboured to convince him of this ignorance in that grosse mis-interpretation for by means he understood by their maintenance shewing that that Text doth most evidently hold this sence That those Priests bare rule by the means of the false Prophets The said I. A. presently cryed out Thou addest thou addest The same man having called another of us Deceiver was asked Whether he heard him Preach any thing contrary to the truth the day before telling him withall he Preached that which he had Prayed and studied the Scripture for presently the said Audland as if studying the word were enough to convince a man to be a deceiver cryed out there thou shewest thy selfe One of their Papers in the hands of one of us wickedly rayles thus Away with all your conjuring studying away with all your stage play Preaching And t is their knowne and constant Princip●e Though their grand master Fox was not able enough in this point but discovered his Imposture by his Concordance to the Bible sent him from Yorke to Kendale Confut. As to this let the Reader consider Neh. 8. 8. Ezra Read in the Booke of the Law of God distinctly and gave the sence and caused them to understand the Reading Luke 24 27. Christ began at Moses and all the Prophets and expounded therein all things concerning himselfe Marke 4 34 He expounded all things to his Disciples Acts 28. 23. Paul expounded and testified the Kingdome of God out of the Prophets Act 8. 30. to ver. 35. Philip expounds the mende of the holy Gho●● in that Prophecy of Isaiah to the Eunuch who Read it and yet without Interpretation knew not the meaning of it Christ sends the Pharisees to study the meaning of Scripture in stead of cavelling Mat. 9 13. Goe learne what that meaneth And Peter tells you in the writings of Paul there are many things hard to be understood 2 Pet. 3. 16. which the unlearned and unstable wrest as they doe also other Scripture unto their owne destruction But to say there is no sense or meaning in the Scriptures shewes so grosse ignorance nay such senselesnesse in these people that this may suffice And for the studying of the Word reade the command of Christ for searching it Iohn 5. 39. of Paul 1 Tim. 4. 13. Give attendance to Reading Col. 3. 16. Let the Word of God dwell in you richly in all wisedome Ti●ethy must be nourished up in the Word of truth and of that good Doctrine to which he had attained 1 Tim. 4. 6. must give himselfe wholly 1 Tim 4 15. to Reading Exhortation Doctrine that his profiting might appeare to all 2 Tim. 2. 15. Study to shew thy selfe approved unto God a workeman that needeth not to be ashamed rightly dividing the Word of truth 2 Tim. 3. 15. From a childe thou hast learned the holy Scriptures c. out of which the man of God must labour to be throughly furnished unto all good works Position 16 They cry downe Baptisme with Water and the Lords Supper a● being but types and shadowes ceasing upon the appearance of Christ within them Proofe A Booke called Severall Papers set forth by A. P. pag. 19. thus The worlds Baptisme is without them the Saints Baptisme is within them the worlds Communion is without them taking a little Bread and Wine c. which is carnall the Saints Communion is within Compare this with George Batemans answer to Mr. Ledgard pag. 29. disputing with him about Baptisme c. sayes That Baptisme and the Lords Supper c. Christ when he was in the flesh left them as types of another nature and this pointed at Christs appearing in the spirit and as the types under the Law ended when Christ appeared in the Flesh so these types viz Baptisme and the Supper of the Lord for of them he speaks there end when Christ appeares in spirit To which adde that of Farnsworth in his Pamphlet entituled A Discovery of Faith pag. 11. All your Baptisme such as are invented from the Letter the carnall minde invents them these are for the Fire for they are the workes of the Flesh Reade him also pag. 13. Confut. What soule that lives under the Kingdome and Scepter of the Lord Iesus will not abhorre these opinion● that destroy and wholly take from the Saints these two grea● Mysteries