But we know this way is the purpose of God made effectual concerning all he hath from Eternity predestinate to life as is express from Scripture 2 Thes 2. 13. That they are chosen to Salvation through sanctification of the spirit and belief of the truth though the evidence of this recovery in some where it hath been in Truth may be but little discernable to others The Lord so disposing in his infinite Wisdom that his People may be taught an alone recumbence on the Word even when his Works seems to justle therewith 2. We know no such length in profession of the Truth from which any have fallen through the prevalence of Error can go beyond those who after they have escaped the pollutions of the World through the Knowledg of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ are yet again intangled therein and overcome 2 Pet. 2. 20. or beyond those degrees of Conviction and common Illumination that may even have some transient taste of the good Word of God and of the Powers of the World to come Heb. 6. 5 6. To which the Apostle shews some may come even that length by a temporary Work of the Spirit who have yet fallen into a most dreadful Apostacy from the Truth and opposition thereto with the greatest hight of malice in both which Scriptures may be seen that it is such an Apostacy there meant as follows upon the prevalence of Error and Delusion 3. With what marvelous plainness doth the Holy Ghost in the Word speak to this Case that we may know what it means and have no cause for stumbling when it shall become the Churches Tryal as we see Mat. 13. 5. in that seed which fell upon stony places where it had not much earth and forthwith sprung up because it had no depthness of earth but when the Sun was up was scorched and because they had no root withered a Truth I may say is not more express in the Scripture when we read it with our eyes than its ratification in after-times in the Church hath oft been on many a sad instance such as after their being enlightned have sprung up yea forthwith with a hasty growth and too early appearance but no solid growing to the root yet such as for a time have most remarkably seemed to out-run those who had in Truth received the ingrafted word by a more forward profession than whom none have been a sadder sight to the generation they lived in and by as remarkable a withering have too visibly witnessed the want of root in which I must say and with some confidence appeal to any serious discerners of the time about this remark if in such who have most observably fallen from the Truth and plunged into that gulf of Error some precious evidence hath not been of such springing up forthwith and hasty appearance in profession of the Truth that hath taken the growth more to the blossom than to any sure founding under the sense of their sinful and lost estate by Nature 6. This also seems strange and may be shaking to some How tenacious and violent such usually are found in this way even when silenced with the clearest discoveries of the Truth so as it is rare almost in an age to find an instance of one who after some observable Hight of Illumination beyond others hath ever found a recovery or shown their returning by repentance after he hath thus fallen into damnable Heresies as the Apostle terms them But is not here also a convincing and marvelous seal to the Scripture if men will but seriously read what is so clear 2 Pet. 2. 20. and that Heb. 6. How dreadful an arrest thus in the Holy Judgment of God is put on this kind of Apostacy even beyond the most gross falling away from the Truth in practice which should cause fear to all that stand and do yet retain their stedfastness Yea is not the reason of this there also held forth that it is a putting the Son of God to open shame and so direct a doing despite to the Holy Ghost in counteracting his Workings and Discoveries once put forth in the soul For my self I must confess nothing in those times I have found more shaking who before a higher Judg than Men have some confidence to say The greatest joy I have upon Earth is to know that assuredly the Lord is God and the certainty of his Truth But I must here also profess how in this I have found cause for being more confirmed yea with admiration to consider How many ages past such things have been foretold what sore assaults the spirit of Error and Delusion should give the Church with so express circumstantiating of this Tryal in its whole frame conveyance and manner of appearance as hath been seen in the Event and at this day before our eyes which by the Holy Ghost only could be revealed to the Church and could never have been supposed or entred into mens thoughts at a distance SECT V. A Fourth particular that calleth for some serious enquiry upon this subject is what should be the grounds of so strange and prodigious a contagion of this way of the Quakers as is at this day in the Church whose Doctrine and Principles are such as the very recital thereof might be judged a sufficient antidote against its own poyson yea this after such clear and bright times of the Gospel but here none needs be in the dark if these things were seriously considered 1. That where a form of Knowledg and mens receiving of the Truth but not in Love comes some great length in the Church there is then cause to fear and foresee some remarkable flood of Error and Delusion to follow for in this the Scripture is express 2 Tim. 2. 10. and lets us see how nothing does more ripen the harvest to make the field white for the spirit of Error 's putting in his Sickle than most solemn times of the brightness of the Gospel if no suitable fruit be found thereof Light is one of the greatest Talents of the Church that must bring either some remarkable gain or loss with it nor need any wonder seduction from the Truth bear some blacker dye now in those days and have a more singular addition of grossness even beyond all former times since thus the Stroke and Judgment must keep proportion to a further degree of the Churches Exaltation and more clear discoveries of the Truth than former ages have known 2. As the formentioned culpable and provoking cause may at this day be discernable to all should the Holy Judgment of the Lord inflicted thereupon be strange to us in a visible Tradition and giving up such a Party unto strong Delusion with a withholding of the very exercise of their Reason and Judgment that they do not see the Light when it is most clearly shining forth before them since this a convincing seal also to that Scripture 2 Thes 2. 10. I confess it is one of the marvelous things of God
and of the greatest depths of his Judgment whereby he makes himself known in the Earth yea such as may enforce on Atheists the conviction of a Deity and that Dominion which the Holy God exercises over the soul but such as none can pretend cause for stumbling where his unspotted righteousness doth so clearly shine forth on these grounds 1. That so immediate a stroke and judicial arrest in delivering one over to the Power of this Plague is not inflicted but where some choice and consent hath gone before and is the very execution of that sentence from the Lord Rev. 22. 21. He which is unjust let him be unjust still and he which is filthy let him be filthy still 2. Since the greatest contempt of God which any can witness is a not receiving the Truth when clearly offered should it be strange if that which is certainly one of the greatest strokes of God upon men answer thereto by giving up their Reason and Judgment to such strong delusion 3. If the Heathen who did not glorifie God with the Light of Nature were in his Righteousness given up to a reprobate mind to do that which was inconvenient and morally absurd Rom. 1. 26. Need we then be in the dark if those who dishonour God under the revealed Light of the Scripture be given up to such spiritual wickedness as to believe Error and lies for the Truth 4. Nor should any wonder to see what confidence this Party now pretends to in their way and though under so sad a stroke of obduration that may be seen by all others yet how little it is felt by themselves since the want of Light and feeling is a part of that disease and is a Judgment which walks in the dark and gives the sorest wound when the pain is least felt Men being thus judicially bound over as under chains in the prison that they cannot once stir until the last stroke be given 3. When a previous disposition and tendence amongst many to stumble at the way of the Lord is so manifest this day through the Church should their be cause to wonder though it quickly Land here These things being considered 1. That the motion is then down the hill where it is not easie to stand and instead of a humble serious enquiry after the Truth under an awful Impression of God whose word it is such are upon another sent how to oppose the Truth against it self and have it made subservient to their Byass 2. The ground then needs not be prepared for this seed there is so much within to make its entry and acceptance easie for a snare enters not without a call but where such an impoisoned Nature is it must needs seek to strengthen it self by bringing in things suitable yea can suck that poyson of Error out of those Truths that would seem the most proper antidote against it 3. It is then men do insensibly wear at a distance from under these former Impressions which once they had of duty and of the way of the Lord so as ere they be aware then Judgment is determined by a judicial stroke to what was before their desire things representing themselves suitably to that predominant humor which is within yea it may be too clear as a disposition to stumble takes root in the soul How passion and sensual lusts get ground which as the Apostle shews cannot endure sound Doctrine or a being searched by the word 2 Tim. 4. 3. But thus are unawares sucked up into this gulf and whirle-pit of some predominant lust that leads them captive at its pleasure 4. A not keeping that distance from this contagion which the Holy Ghost expresly requires hath given too visible a rise to the falling off of many to this horrid way of the Quakers nor should this be strange to any Why thus the Lord is provoked to desert and leave such to themselves who do so far adventure out of his way when it is so clear 1. How express the command is not to receive such into their house or give them a friendly salute as they would not be partakers of their evil deeds Tit. 3. 10. 2 Joh. 10. but should be rejected as men void of and enemies to the Truth whose words eat like a gangrene 2. That this is a peculiar mean of the Lord appointed for their reclaiming to keep such a distance as may witness that abhorrence and holy indignation which the Zeal of God should have at such a Party so as they may be ashamed for it is sure Error and Heresies would soon dye of themselves if they got not free vent and too favourable a countenance from others 3. Where men will pass over those bounds the Lord hath set in his holy Word by an unnecessary converse with seducers from the Truth Is it strange though the Devil have them at such advantage since he finds them on his own ground And I doubt not upon serious enquiry but it might be easie to find the first rise and occasion of most that are infected with this plague hath been upon a familiar and 〈◊〉 converse with such a Party as one sad 〈◊〉 I may here mention of a young man in this Countrey who would adventure on going abroad by Sea in a Ship when the Master of it was a Quaker having then no respect to that way but upon some familiar converse when he had so far put himself out of Gods Protection was quickly drawn first to a listening and then a liking of those Principles until he had fully drunk in that poyson which was the account he himself gave of the first rise of such a change 5. A fifth ground why Quakerism should in so strange a manner be at this day contagious is its discernable suiting to the Principles of the World and that inbred Enmity that is by Nature in men against the way of God When thus they are taught that all days are alike and no need of outward Teaching but by the Light within yea to cry down the Ministers of Jesus Christ as hirelings with most of the weigty duties of a Christian which to them are as an abomination and when it is thus can it be strange How many gross and visibly profane are carried with this stream or why the greatest adversaries of godliness are sound to pursue those with less heat and aversion of their way and have more easie suiting therewith than with the way of the Lord 6. I must further add to those forementioned grounds that except men shut their eyes a most visible discovery of the immediate power and influence of the Devil and his actual concurrence may be convincing to all who look seriously thereon when it is so clear 1. How this change they are under who once turn that way hath a rage and fury therewith in their opposition to the Truth beyond the ordinary rate of mens natural Enmity thereto yea that without the least shadow of provocation they are driven by some violent
a terror and while the Watchmen slept hath the Devil essayed to sow such seed having that advantage which in the like case Calvin said of Servetus Fatuitas dogmatum me securum reddit It 's true they are skilful to put themselves in such different forms as may make it something difficult how to handle them being under a visible awe and dread to be found out in what they are But I am sure if what they own to the World in their Writings bear any sense and their words be not such as none possibly but themselves can understand it may be easie to see the undoubted tendency of this way is to subvert the Christian Faith to explode the Scripture from being the alone rule and standard of our Religion and incite those they converse with to a real Apostacy from Christianity Now in speaking to this subject which is such as should make it a sad and unpleasant work to rake in so horrid a dunghil as the known Tenets of this Party are if a testimony to the Truth and for its Vindication did not necessarily require the same 1 must here offer a few things to be considered which in this following discourse seem to be of greatest use to be cleared 1. What Positions these of the Quakers are in which they do most visibly agree and unite and how direct a sendency they have to subvert the Faith in the great Foundations of Christianity 2. What should be the meaning of this so strange and amazing an assault they do adventure upon against the Faith and how sad an account it gives of the temper and complexion of this time when with day-sight such dare come sorth to express themselves at this rate 3. It is of special use to consider what advantage Christians have here even from the strange appearance of this Party to clear the holy and unspotted way of the Lord and for being more sixed and strengthned in the Truth whatever cause others may pretend on this account for stumbling 4. It seems needful also to consider the great influencing cause of this contagion and it 's too evident growth now in the Church whilst such horrid things are by these vented with an amazing confidence as we should think a natural Conscience in men who have but any sense and impression of a Deity and are not wholly given up to Atheism could not but tremble at 5. We would consider what is of greatest use to guard Christians now against such mortal poyson that they fall not from their stedfastness nor be carried about with this cloud driven with such a tempest 6. I must shut up this with a twofold appeal one to that Light which Quakers so much cry up in every one which I am sure in the most favourable sense it can be taken is the Conscience that high Court of Justice set up under the Authority of the great Judg in every mans Breast which doth enforce the soul to some reflexion on it self even when they tremble at that sight if before this Light these can possibly stand and be but in earnest therewith without horror and amazement at themselves A second is to the most ordinary observers in the time if without shutting of their eyes they can shun the clear discovery of the horrid imposture of such a Party whatever high pretences they seem to have how visible a contradiction their way is not only to Scripture and Reason but to it self SECT II. FOr the first of these which concerns their Doctrine and Principles That I am sure none needs pretend is latent and hid from the World except what an expressing themselves with a reserved sense and palcable equivocating may cause to some I have confidence to say that without passion or prejudice in the least or without any quarrel but for the Truths sake I have in earnest sought to know the certainty of what they own herein which in these following Positions I shall briefly touch Position 1. It is undeniable they own a sufficient light in every man to guide him in the way to salvation which he is expresly obliged to follow and lean to a Tenet above all they most closely keep by and on which their whole Doctrine seems to found it self We know such a Light did once shine brightly in Adam in the State of perfection so as he needed no light or voice without to be his guide but since that time none ever knew how to guide himself and they must think the Christian World in a strange darkness if it be easie to obtrude such a Light upon them which when brought to the test of Scripture and solid Reason doth resolve in most direct Paganism and is an express setting up of a Light and Spirit in opposition to the Holy Spirit speaking to us in the Word where we are taught 1. That such a Spirit is not of God which hears not Gods voice as Christ reasons with the Jews John 10. 3 4. Nor can it be his which leads not into all truth and brings not these things shewed forth there to our remenbrance John 14. 26. 16. 13. Which made Luther say if any Spirit should suggest an opinion for which he had not Scripture he should spit in his face knowing assuredly that it was the Devil 2. This expresly owns a common universal and sufficient grace to all as that which knocks at every mans door whether Christians or Pagans and that it is in his power to open and entertain the same and that no spiritual advantage doth accrew to Christians by the Scriptures being revealed unto them but what Pagans may have also by this Light within yea that they have no other Teacher but that inward teaching and guide common to them with the most savage Indians 3. But is there a sufficient and saving Light in these who are spiritually dead Ephes 2. 15. Or could that Light be a sufficient instructer to Paul when he thought verily he ought to do many things against the name of Jesus of Nazareth and in his following that Light within did consent to Stephens Death 4. How should this Light possibly be known when so oft stated in a direct opposition to the Light within others who may reckon they have as much advantage for the same as they if both be not brought to the Scripture for tryal 5. Did this Light within give the Heathens a check for Idolatry or could it let them see the alone way of being saved by that unconceiveable contrivance of the Gospel or restrain these from swearing to whom that moral prohibition of the third Command was never known 6. The Scripture shews that the natural man cannot discern the things of God which to him are foolishness 1 Cor. 2. 13. and that there is a necessity of the spirit of wisdom and revelation that the eyes of our understanding being enlightned we may know what is the hope of our calling and what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the Saints Ephes
Conscience enforce this conviction upon them that in the Church of Christ from which they are gone out there are still Ministers of the Spirit and not of the dead Letter and empty sound and a Ministration of Power and Life found to go along with these blessed Ordinances they so avowedly contemn yea that by this Doctrine of the Church they have now quit the followers of the Truth do in these times as well as in former ages receive the Spirit and know the certainty thereof that it is the Spirit of Holiness most exactly corresponding with the written Word 8. Does not that conviction also follow them though they flee never so fast from it what burning and shining Lights there have been and yet are among the Ministers of Christ in these late times such as were Mighty in the Scriptures servent in Spirit cloathed with the Power and Authority of God before whose Ministry the most daring and stout-hearted have been made to tremble than whom none have witnessed more zeal for the Truth and that Doctrine so much now cryed down by the Quakers yea how some also of these we have known to have had very extraordinary discoveries and immediate in-breathings of the Mind of God in particular cases who in this were led by a Scripture-spirit and in no other path but in the way of the Word though by some more singular enforcing Application of the same 9. Are not such enforced also to see so as their Conscience cannot contradict What unspeakable joy and peace Christians do witness in their sufferings for the Truth and bearing Testimony to that way to which they are so known and stated Adversaries yea that when such are a-dying with what a marvelous gale of assurance and joy they have parted from time putting their Seal to the same Doctrine of the Church and Ministry thereof which they so virulently revile blessing the Lord that ever they were made acquainted therewith even then when all that lookt on might perceive their soul raised and under some present Transport with these begun unexpressible Tasts of Heaven and that some sight thereof was there broken up unto them which no Words could express 10. I must attest their Conscience if they be not constrained to justifie such as are most serious in adherence to the Truth even over the belly of the greatest prejudice that they are such as are real and serious in what they profess and may be known to make no naked and empty shew thereof but are willing to be tried in what is their Testimony and render a reason of that hope within them with the greatest seriousness by bringing it to the Tryal of the Scriptures of Truth I shall but further appeal to their own Conscience and Light within if they do not see this way of Holiness and serving the Lord according to that Rule of the Scripture which they so expresly disown to be that good and old way in which the footsteps of the Saints may be found since the beginning and how it is no new Light broken up in the World but a continued succession hath been still of those who from one time to another delivered over the same Truth to succeeding ages yea can they possibly deny that as at the first up-breaking of the Christian Faith so in these late times the Lord hath put to his Seal by extraordinary Signs and Confirmations with such an immediate appearance of himself to the same Truth now owned and professed by the reformed Churches as the greatest Atheists will stand in a we to question I must shut up this with one Word more of appeal to the World and most ordinary observers in this time If without shutting their eyes they can consider this way of the Quakers and not see the imposture thereof also 1. How their work is as the Serpent deceived Eva to engage more by enticing words and laying baits before the Affections than to clear and convince the Judgment so as it is not stange though such are induced to change their Religion as had never yet in earnest imbraced any 2. Can they see here any thing else but the grossest Atheism under a new dress when such do expresly deny whatever they pretend the only true God revealed in Jesus Christ except as an abstract Notion and Principle within every one 3. And may not the most ordinary observers of the time be struck with the conviction of a more excellent spirit in such as seriously own and imbrace the Truth with that savour their way hath of humility self-denial without daring to revile and what a more convincing resemblance this hath to that perfect Rule of the Scripture than that imbittered raging spirit which in such horrid scurrilous expressions fears not to vent it self among this Party 4. Do not all see this also their taking advantage to wrest the Scripture so far as they can see the least shadow there to bring it to their Interest whilst yet they fear not to throw off the whole and deny subjection thereto in its being the alone Rule of a Christians Faith and Practice as though these they converse with were in no case to discern so gross and visible an Imposture A Postscript READER This sad subject with the threatned effects of such a contagion in any of the Churches of Christ may have a serious voice to us this day if we could hear or be awaked to read from the sin and distemper of others and our own duty concerning which I shall in a few lines further add some things which thus seem to be convincingly pointed at First To be more deeply affected with such a plague on the spirits of men as we would be with the sword or pestilence breaking forth in the Land when withal it must be considered 1. That it is no consequent of ordinary sins but may be seen to follow some remarkable hight of resisting the Holy Ghost and rejecting of the Word of Truth in more bright discoveries thereof than most parts of the Christian World at this day have had 2. That this Meteor of Quakerism doth so obviously threaten and hath its proper aspect on the Churches of Britain and Ireland beyond any else of the Reformed Churches 3. That in all times the abounding of spiritual plagues in any place where the Truth did shine are still found to go before the saddest of temporal Judgments and can there now be found such threatning symptoms in any Church-history or Records of ancient time to have gone before the most desolating stroke which does not in some unusual manner meet in our case this day yea such prodigies both of Error and Prophaneness and the highest daring of the glorious God to his face as cannot be instanced by any paralel since the first dawnings of Christianity 4. And should not this also make it the more affrighting to us that it speaks with so audible a voice where some great pretences to Religion may yet end and what cause to fear lest many