thereby to deceive And when Quakers are pursued hotly about Miracles they Smilingly say John the Baptist wrought 〈◊〉 Miracles and yet his Mission was Extraordinary and immediate as K. Alledged at my House and oâ— improved it and Particularly against the Nâ— England Ministers and they suppose they have gained the Day but methinks K. as I told him and all others may justly be ashamed of Producing this all an instance for the Future for tho' John wrought no Miracles yet being Co-temporary with our Lord Jesus and his Apostles and they who wrought many Miracles confirmed this Mission that he was the Promised Elias but the Immediate Mission of Quakers never was confirmed either by their own of by the Miracles of others tho' some of them have presumed boldly on Miracles which Propheseing Miracles As the Eating Quaker in England Justly made the Monument of Gods Wrath and Monster of Mankind For daring to imitate Our Lord in that Miraculous Action of His Fasting Forty Daâ—… and Forty Nights in the Wilderness And Solomoâ— Ackles who Boastingly challenged Ministers to Fasâ— with him and Justly Punished for his Vnchristian anâ— hold Arrogance Another once in Barbadoes to king upon him to Prophecy the Death of a Child which in all humane Probability was beyond all expectation of Recovery but GOD to confound his Boldness and discover him to be a Deceiver was pleased to restore the Child who Lived in health for many Jews and the Quaking Prophet was necessitated shamefully to Publish his Recantation wherein he affirmed he had Belyed the Spirit of God And if so it is no Wonder they Belye their Neighbours but any man may see how they come off with their Lying Wonders and so shall come off in the End with their immediate Mission but it is at Length come to this that you must recieve their Verbal testimony or remain altogether dissatisfyed about their Extraordinary Call tho' some as Keith informed us at my house run that Self-Confounding and Universal Gulf of Miracles in Spirit a New invented Phrase of worse then mans Wisdome far from the Language of the Spirit of God whose Saving Operations are not Miracles at all to the Spirit of God and if Miracles they are Gods Properly and not Quakers but this with many more Phrases of heirs has no Foundation in the Scriptures And we desire to know how many of them ever Spake with Tongues who were not Taught them in the School or Learned them of others Farewel then immediate Mission if you take it not upon the Words of a Quaker And that Presbyterians and Independants and then only as he invidiously expresses it should run to the Church of Rome and Pope for to derive the mission â—…ll and ordinition from thence is the grossest caâ—…ny and most notorious Lye that could be batched â—ut of hell and must be of Satan the Father of Lyes â—ut if K had asserted this of such has hold no ordination but from the hands of a Bishop or Prelate he might have had some plea for his charge for Rome and all that Party sufficiently know there are none so opposite to nor so faithful and Zealous against them as Dissenting Protestants were no not Quakers themselves who would not have been so great at the English Court in the late Reign if they had therefore a Noted Person lately gained from Rome affirmed The Dissenting Protestants were the Bulwarks of the Protestant Interest in Europe And I must greatly suspect what K told me at my House as another Lye and Calumny that Mr. John Cotton of Hampton in New-England acknowledged in a Publick Dispute that He derived his Ordination from the Pope and the rather because he abused me upon his Return to Mr. Davis affirming the same thing of me that I owned cur Mission and Ordination from the Pope of Rome but I am confident his own Conscience could not but witness the contrary to his Face But it is to be Feared it was not the First time he had Learned to Baffle Conscience in more Weighty Matters For I not only Abhorred Disclaimed and Denyed it but Positively and Plainly Affirmed Our Mission was from Jesus Christ and Warranted from the Scriptures Hence I give caution to all not to be Credulous of K's words however so confidently affirmed but he were no fit Deciever if nor Possessed with a Spirit of Lyes and Calumnys But we can easily Justify ourselves from this Aspersion thrown invidiously upon us by Quakers and particularly by K. in all his Publick and Private Discourses and also in some of his Writings repeated over and over with an empty noise of Words for 〈◊〉 we should say with Calvin that he and others oâ— our Primitive Reformers were Evangilists extraordinarily Raised and Immediately Called of God in that great Exigence of the Church in calling the People of God out of Popish Darkness and Superstition in bringing them out of Babylon yet this will prove but a slender Argument for Quakers holding Extraordinary Calls and immediate Missions to be Gods ordinary and usual uninterrupted way to the end of the World because it might be allowed of in that juncture of the Necessity of the Church for though our Lord himself the King of his Church at the beginning of the Promulgation of the Gospel Called some in an Extraordinary Manner though at the same time they had an External Call from Christ as man yet as soon as the Christian Church began to Encrease he Commands them to use second Means for that Calling and Separation of others to the Holy Office of the Ministry in an Ordinary and Holy Separation to that Sacred Work as Paul and Barnabas was commanded to be Separated and there was Casting of Lots used in supplying the number of the Apostles and the Apostle Paul commands Timothy and Impowers him to Ordain Elders in every Church and not to neglect the Gift that was given him by Prophecy with the Laying on of the Hands of the Presbytery who are Commanded to Lay Hands suddenly on no man without sufficient proof of his Parts and Piety And further for their direction in this Scriptural and Orderly Separation and Ordination God has laid down all the Qualifications of Ministers of the Gospel which Quakers can never find in all their Teachers especially of the Feminine Sex As to our Reformers receiving their Ordination Mission and Call from Rome and conveying it to us which would seem to be the first great puzling and confounding Argument I shall answer it in these following particulars 1. I would inquire of all Quakers whether God in that great defection and universal Corruption of the Church under Romish Idolatry had then a Church in the World though in the Wilderness to deny all Churches whether Visible or Invisible really belonging to God Jesus Christ were to overthrow many Promises of God to his Church of Building her upon an immoveable Rock and that the Gates of Hell should not prevail against her and it is inconsistent to
prevented of having any of my Friends present though some few dropped in occasionally at which time we had several Charges and Questions concerning several things which were too tedious to Rehearse here but I wish they had been Recorded then to prevent many misâ—epresentations that were spread abroad by that Party And though there was no real Debate he oft told me he came not to Dispute with me yet soon after they boasted of a Victory which if they find after a diligent perusal impartial consideration of these Sheets let them improve and post it if they will Yet after some Discourse be impudently charged me as a False Teacher and challenged me to a Publick Dispute before the Multitude which I scorned with a sharp retorsion and that for these reasons 1. Their Principles were unknown because never unanimously agreed upon nor fairly Published to the World therefore not to be Disputed within words 2. We should Dispute before an ignorant and illeterate Multitude who should be most incompetent Judges 3. Because he would run into Learning and I must follow and so what should be Delivered should not tend to their Edification but fall to the ground and be Lost But afterwards I gave him a Challenge to oppose my Catechism or Principles in Writing and he should have an Answer to every Particular though Keith gave not the least intimation of this Paper left behind him though he dropt an Expression which I understood not then that he would Write no more then he had done this I took for Declining my Challenge Now I Leave it to all to Determine whose Challenges or Overture was fairest for 1. What either of us should Deliver should be on Record and we could not fly from it 2 If the Hearing a verbal Debate in angry words should Edifie much more a written Debate frequently read over 3. Maâ—y might be Judges of a written Debate who â—ad no opportunity of hearing it Disputed â—ublickly And as I have prefixed his Paper verbatim so I expect the same priviledge for mine if any Answer is Published I have greater and better work then Controversie to Follow but in the Strength of the Lord shall not only Defend my Principles still by Writing but if called thereunto shall reaâ—ily Seal them with my Blood And so I Leave thee Reader to the Counsel and Direction of God whose Unworthy Servant I am in the Lord Jesus Amen At Rehoboth in Pocamok Maryland This 26 July 1692. Francis Makemie Reader I also offer thee these Following Questions which I expect and desire Resolution and Satisfaction from such as are concerned and that Plainly Positively Sincerely and Faithfully according to the Judgment of all of that Party without Obscurity Equivocation or Subtile and Unfair Reservation and so I bid theâ— Farewel and Remains as above F. M. Several mixed Quaeries to be resolved by Quakers in this juncture for the Justification of themselves and satisfaction of all July 26th 1692. Question I. WHat is the Reason Quakers are so far Metamorphosed or Changed both in Judgment and Practice at this Day from what they once were at their first rise in Europe II. What is the Reason Quakers that look upon themselves as the only pure Church in the World has never yet adventured to Publish a form of sound words according to the Apostles language containing a confession of their faith and principles unanimously agreed upon among themselves as all other churches in the world have done III Seeing they own themselves divinely inspired from an immediate call and Apostolick mission why they have not adventured to publish interpretations of Scripture seeing they condemn so far disapprove all other Commentaries as far from the mind of God and full of gross Errors and mistakes IV Wherefore did they write and Bark so much against all witnessing to truth conviction of falshood in Judicatures by an oath as sinful and unlawful under the Gospel and now in Pensilvania and Mary-Land seem only to quarrel the manner and way of Swearing on the Book according to the English Form and are willing to Swear now in Judicatures with lifted up hands which many look upon to be more solemn than the former V. Whether it be the same individual numerical Body for substance which falleth that shall rise again at the Resurrection notwithstanding of Changes in Respect of Quality VI. If there be a sufficient and saving light in all men to instruct direct and to teach them what necessity is there for multiplying so many Teachers both of Men and Women among Quakers VII Why Quakers are so hot and Zealous for K. James a Popish and Abdicated Prince and was never so for any other Protestant King tho' King WILLIAM and Queen MARY has been kinder than any other by giving a Liberty established by Law VIII Whether the same individual Josus that was cloathed with Hesh suffered and died at Jerusalem is the same that rose again and is ascended to Glory and the same they hold substantially in all men and women IX How Christ the Spirit of God saving Grace and Light can be in those who have not the least knowledg of him as Mediator and Intercessour between God and sinners X Whether the omission of duty as prayer or any other duty for a certain time a week a month or a year is excusable in Quakers before an all-seeing and Just God from this pretence that they had no impulse or motion of the Spirit thereunto XI Why they use not means for edifying reforming those of their families by calling them together reading Scripture daily to them praying with for them as other Christians in all Churches and Ages have done and is approved in the Word of God XII Wherefore Quakers have not adventured to publish their doctirnes publickâ— taught which they say is immediate from the spirit of God as most other Churches have done frequently XIII Seeing they decry the civil salutations of the Kingdom people among whom they live what warrant can they produce for their singular ugly bad natured way of salutation their Males Females taking one another by the hands or wrists continuing a â—onsiderable space wringing them hard looking stedfastly in each others faces without one word speaking XIV Whether it is Christ compleatly as modiator you believe in and is in all men XV Whether two men differing in a Fundamental truth absolutely necessary to salvation can be guided by the same infallible Spirit XVI Whether Quakers do direct their Prayers to God in themselves or to God in Heaven XVII Where God is really personally substantially is he not in all fulness of Grace and Goodness XVIII What Worship or Divine Service do the heathen nations perform unto the Living and True God XIX Whether the inflicting of corporal punishments on children servants other offenders and hiring of men to take a Vessel by force from Privateers be not an using of the carnal Weapon XX Whether the receiving of
Jewish Sabbaths and New Moons and other Types and Figures of the Law yet they set apart the First day of the week from Servile Labour and spend it Religiously in Publick and Private Religious exercises as their Neighbours can witness among whom they live and give up noâ— only that Day but many other days anâ— times to the Worship of God and aâ—… careful to live to God all the days oâ— their life Page Twenty-eight What he delivereth in his Catechism concerning Ministers is most Lame and Defective He saith People 〈◊〉 to maintain their Miâ—isters that is a principal thing with him but he faileth iâ— these Three great Particulars 1. That he doth not inform people that none are true Ministers of Christ buâ— such as are really Holy and Godly Men and have a Living Experience of the work and dealings of Gods Spirit in their heart that so they may Preach their own Spiritual Experiences unto people as Daviâ— did who said Come and I will tell you whâ— God hath done for my soul and as these did who said What we have heard and seen anâ— handled of the word of Life we declare 〈◊〉 you 2. That he doth not inform People concerning the true Call of the true Miâ—…sters of God and of Christ who aâ— called and furnished by the Spirit of Chaist in the work of their Ministry to Preach and Pray but seeing he and his Brethren called Presbyterian Ministers deny this manner of immediate calling by the Spirit of God they run to the Church and Pope of Rome by that Dirty Channel and Conduit to have their Call conveyed to them for they know that their Presbyterian Church nor indeed any other called a Church hath been a Visible Church ever since the Apostles Days but only the Church of Rome hath called her self the Visible Church and they confess and say with us that the True Church of God hath been that Woman who hath fled to the Wilderness and hath not been always visible but hid and that for about Twelve Hundred Years and so had no visible Officers or Ministers to call their successors And therefore they derive their Call and Authority by the Church and Pope of Rome as James Durham in his Commentary on the Revelations and many others whose Call and Ordination Dr. Owen so called hath refuted and these called Independent Ministers whereof John Owen was one have another poor shift and evasion saying they are called by the Church but if the Church was not visible for so many ages the Church could not call them the Ministers are before the Church and therefore cannot be called by the Church originally but all these poor shifts are in opposition to the inward Call and work and motion of Gods Spirit in the hearts of the Faithful which if they knew they would never run to such broken Cysterns to Draw Water 3. That he doth not inform people that all true Ministers of Christ as they have freely received so they freely give without desiring or bargaining for any setled maintenance nor exacting it by force as Presbyterian Ministers commonly do Page Thirty Nine Forty He doth very barely and obscurely and very defectively and in some things falsly deliver his Doctrine concerning Baptism and the Lords-Supâ—per he doth not distinguish Christs Baptism which is with the Holy Ghost and Fire from Johns Baptism that is with Water he barely alledgeth that Children of Believing Parrents Viz. Infants are to be Baptized he giveth no account by what Authority oâ— Call they Baptise for they have no other Call but by the Pope of Rome and they have learned that practice of Sprinking or pouring Water on a Childs Forehead and calling it Baptism from the Church of Rome which they call the Where of Babylon and 〈◊〉 concerning the Supper of the Lord he is also very defective and he and his Brethren usuâ— and assume an Authority to themselve to Consecrate and Administer the Supper because of their Ordination originally deriv'â— by the Pope but all good Christians maâ— and ought to Eat and Drink remembring Christs Death and may and do receive him by Faith together with their outward eating with Prayer and Thanksgiving and so fulfil Christs Institution without any Prelate Presbyter or Priest of the Popes making for all true Christians are a Kingdom of Priests unto God and have the Word and Spirit of Prayer that only doth and can Sanctify their Eating and Drinking c. If any Question the Truth of this Copy they may satisfie themselves by perusing the Original at Rehoboth in Pocamok Mary-Land A Short Answer to George Keith's Lybel Against a CATECHISM Published by F. M. And left in the Hands of Mr. George Layfield I Am not a little surprised to receive from the hands of Mr George Layfield a paper containing so many mistakes false unjust and invidous charges against a Catechism Published by F M. and the rather because of his high pretences to an immideate mision and vain boasting of an extraordinary Apostolick call iusulting over all others from unusual high and enthusiastick attainments compleat perfection and unheard of experiences which the most serious and Godly are strangers unto and what they have any experince of most modest in discoursing of them and selfe denyed under their greatest enjoyments I shall wave two things First it's being delivered without a subscription whereby it is to be looked upon as a Libel not â—o be Answered nor Regarded Secondly that complementing and flattering preamble they have ever Condemned in others and withal am glad 〈◊〉 hear they have any Charity for any of a different Opinion from themselves which coming to heaâ— their Teachers will procure at any time First He begins with a general Charge of many Errors false and unsound things comprehended in the Catâ—chism And next He asserts the Author to be guilty of many Omissions and this from one pretending to Learning who has diligently read and considered it as he says is so insignificant and idle Imputation which all modest and ingenuous men must never disown and that there are Omissions wilful and designed Omissions I shall never deny for after it was first Composed I did Compendize and Abreviate it ofter than once to suit it to the Capacities of such for whom it was prepared even young ones to whom Quakers have had little regard hitherto as to their Instruction in Religious Fundamentals Neither have I seen any Writings of Quakers even those pretending to give accounts of their Principles but justly may be charged with greater Omissions then any yet discovered in the Catechism Published by F. M. as the Doctrine of the Trinity of Persons in the God-head the Ten Commandments and the Lords Prayer the Pattern of all Prayer and George Fox his Received Catechism industriously spread by Quakers not only savours of Humane Learning and words of mans wisdom but guilty of many weighty Omissions and fills up a great part with stuff wherein there is no Religion far less can they
say God had a Church among the Jews under their Defections and Failings away to Idolatry and Superstition Now where Christ has a Church though Invisible in the Wilderness there are the Essentials of Religion Ordination and Church-constitution tho' much infected with Error and corrupted with Romish Superstition and these Essentials are still Gods and to esteem his and not theirs who are the chief Instruments Heads and Authors of all the Corruptions under that Defection to whom only and properly belong those Errors Corruptions Idolatries and Superstitions they have invented and introduced to the Church And yet the soundest of Divines believe that upon all Reformations which undoubtedly are originally and efficiently of God a people or particular persons leaving and Renouncing the Abominations of Antichrist and their submitting to and embracing the Truth of the Gospel and the Purity of all Ordinances and Worship abandoning the Pope as their Head and Subjecting themselves to Christs Kingdom they are ipso facto Constituted Churches of Jesus Christ and the Gospel Truths Ordination and Ordinances VVord and Sacraments they adhere to are not theirs nor from those they Separated from is Keith ignorantly and invidiously asserts but they are still the Lords and belong to Jesus Christ for even in the Church of Rome and under Antichrist there were Ordinances of Jesus Christ VVord and Sacraments Praying Preaching and Praising of God tho' much vailed and corrupted and consequently they had Ministers or Officers to Dispense these Ordinances who undoubtedly had some of the Essentials of Ordination which was the Lords and nothing was properly Antichrists but Antichristian Corruptions of which he is Author for differentia constituit speciem so that we no more have Ordination from the Pope upon Reformation then we have Baptism and the Lords Supper Reading and Praising and Quakers have Prayer Teaching the Scriptures and their new Observation of the First Day of the VVeek And we would gladly know from what part of Gods Word is it or can it be made to appear that upon every Defection and Corruption of the Church God will Beget and Create New Churches in an immediate manner under the Gospel more man under the Law For after the Defections of Israel and long continuance in Idolatry upon their Repentance and Reformation from all their Coruptions and Abuses they were Re Established 〈◊〉 Adâ—…itred unto all the Ordinances and Priviledges of the Church of God and what does Keith think of them and their Reformation dâ—are he affirm they had all their Ordination and VVorship from Jereboam Who made Israel to Sin and other chief Idolaters so it will unquestionably follow that neither we our Ordination Doctrine VVorship nor Sacraments while warranted from the Authoâ—ly of Gods VVord are from Rome the Pope or any Prelate in the VVorld as Quakers after the manner of Satan would Accuse the Brethren Thus Keiths invincible Armado is beat to pieces whereby he thought to have overthrown all Churches who have obeyed Gods Call and are come out of Babylon And we are confident that a great part of our Teachings are Christian Experiences to which we oft publickly do Appeal for Confirmation of what is delivered and many Preachers have a peculiar way of Preaching their own Experiences And finally as he begins so he closes shuts up his Paper with groundless False Calumnies and invidious Reflections affirming I assert and alledge False things concerning Baptism and the Lords Supper and First concerning Baptism he saith First I do not distinguish between Johns Baptism and Christs In answer to this I Freely assent to any and all the distinction made in the Scriptures which is not in Substance or Essence but in Fruit and Efficacy and the same distinction I still make between our External Administration and Christs Efficacious Blessing thereof for what John said we and all Ministers of the Gospel to the end of the World must still acknowledge we Baptise with Water but Christ and he alone Baptiseth with the Holy Ghost and with Fire And if the Baptism Administred by Christs Disciples in His Name Authority and Presence was Christs and no doubt it was the same with Johns for Substance as you or any other may Read John 2.22 23 24 26. verses For 1. That Baptism wherewith Christ and His Disciples Baptised in the Land of Judea was Water Baptism 2. It was an outward visible and discernable Baptism to Spectators saith Johns Disciples to him Rabbi he that was with thee beyond Jordan the same Baptizeth and all men come unto him it is observable that it was not the Baptism with the Holy Ghost and with Fire as distinct from the outward Ordinance for it is said John 4.2 Jesus himself Baptised not but His Disciples yet it is called his in the 1 v. of this chap. and in the 22. v. of the former chap 1 Because done by his Disciples 2 By his Command and Authority And it was the same Baptism his Disciples and Apostles performed in all and Every Church where they Preached the Gospel according to that last Commission of Our Lords immediately before His Ascension Matth 28. and last Go Teach and Baptise al Nations and Lo I am with you to the end of the World Hence Four things are observable in this Text. 1 That Teaching of Nations yea All Nations by external means and instruments is a Standing and Perpetual Ordinance in the Church of Christ to the end of the World 2 That as many as are Called Ministers of the Gospel are also Commissionated To Baptise also Go Teach all Nations Baptising them 3 That Water Baptism or the External Ordinance is that Enjoined or Commanded in the Words and not the Baptism with the Holy Ghost and with Fire for it is enjoined to meer men who can do no more then John could do who Professed he Baptised with Water and yet we believe many who were Baptised by John received also the Holy Ghost otherwise a very empty and insignificant Ordinance and unprofitable to all if nothing else was reaped thereby but Sprinkling or Washing with Water and yet the Outward Mean Ordinance and Administration was from John and the fruit efficacy and blessing was from Jesus Christ and it is bold impudence and Arrogant Presumption for any to pretend to Baptise with the Holy Ghost and with Fire which is Christs peculiar Work and Prerogative And Keiths answer here unto in his Book is void of all satisfaction to any Intelligent Person for he affirms tho' no man Baptize with the Holy Ghost efficiently yet they may instrumentally we who use the outward mean Instrument and Ordinance may through the Blessing of God and Efficacious Presence of Christ's Spirit and undoubtedly are made Instruments of the Inward Grace Life and Advantage of that Ordinance but how Quakers can be Instruments of Baptizing Spiritually who are opposite to and ridicule the outward Ordinance which is the only proper means and instrument of Gods own Appointment I cannot resolve unless they
will take Gods place by working without Means and contrary to Means or they imagine to work Effects by unsuitable causes and attain an end by improper means as if a man intended to Merchandize by Labouring in the Ground intend for Europe from America and yet Steer to the South or by Planting Tobacco to imagine to Reap Corn for I am perswaded that such as in Faith Administers the outward Ordinance of Baptism and that purely according to the Divine Institution Praying and Depending on God for his Blessing and Christ for his Vertue and Presence are in the most probable way of being Instruments of the Grace of Baptism so that this Baptism is a standing and perpetual Ordinance to the End of the World which is clearly inferred from the Promise annexed which is perpetual and Lo I am with you to the End of the World as durable as Teaching it self which the after practice of the Apostles and Servants of Christ to this day Confirm should be continued until Christ's Second Coming notwithstanding of all Gainsayers He further would insinuate That we Learned and Received Sprinkling of Children from the Church of Rome but it is easy to make appear they go hand in hand with Rome in more things than we do who are known to all the Followers of Antichrist to walk more opposite to and in abhorrence of their Principles and Practices then any others for their Universal Redemption their Free-will their denying Perseverance their possible Perfection in this Life their Vilipending the Scriptures and denying it to be the Rule and their holding the Pope of Rome not to be Antichrist and their Denying the Morality of the Fourth Command they have raked and picked these with many more out of that filthy Sink and stinking puddle of Romish Corruption and as for our Sprinkling in Baptism it is not so repugnant to Scripture as perverse Quakers do imagine For Water in Baptism Represents the Blood of Jesus Christ and why not sprinkling the Sprinkling of the Blood of Christ which is so clearly expressed by the Apostle Paul to the Hebrews but neither Infant Baptism nor Sprinkling is 〈◊〉 Controversy between Quakers and us for 1 They are against the Baptism of Old as well as Young 2. They are against Washing or Dipping as well as Sprinâ—ing therefore I wave both And next I shall make appear That George Keith is guilty of a double falshood concerning Baptism in his Book 1. In opposition 〈◊〉 Scripture to say with his Brethren that Water â—aptism was only for Johns Dispensation and conseâ—ently Abolished or abrogated in Christ whereas 〈◊〉 was continued all the time of Christ's Life and 〈◊〉 he was Dead and Gone and still does without all interruption as any may read in the Acts of the Apostle 2 He contradicteth himself and his Brethren too in saying that only it stood in force in Johns time and abolished immediately yet some may be Sent of the Lord and Instructed to Baptise with Water and if they can prove they are Sent of the Lord should be gladly Received but Hiâ— Labor hâ—… Opus est for how they go about to prove this they have never yet told us Now let his Friends and Followers consider and examine what this man would be at for it is abolished and yet they may be called by the Spirit of God to Administer it can it be supposed that the Spirit of God will call any to Administer that Worship that is Removed and Abolished by God and His Holy Spirit were not this to make God and His Holy Spirit who are Essentially one to Clash with themselves which were Blasphemy to affirm He impugnes Water Baptism with all his might as not now warranted by Scripture and yet will Justifie a Call and Mission to Administer Abrogated Worship and from the same Argument why not Called and Sent to perform all the Abrogated Services Rites and Sacrifices under the Law as Circumcision the Passover and all Legal Sacrifices and so from a pretended Call to set up again the Mosaical Worship This would be a brave Spiritual Work indeed and to make this appear to be the Judgment of others of that Party as well aâ— his own he acknowledged at my House A Quakeâ— once Baptised with Water and was approved of for it Is Water Baptism not warranted by Scripture but Abolished since Johns Dayes and yet performed and approved of by those who are Enemies thereunto from an imaginary and unknown Call and Mission which would be to introduce the grossest Enthusiasâ— in the World and an open door to all wild fancies and imaginations Let Keiths Friends and Followers beware of this mans principles and Books And concerning the Lords Supper he asperses us all but I doubt not to make it convincingly appear that he both contradicteth Scripture and his Brethren too 1 He contradicteth Scripture in undervaluing this great Ordinance as no Special Divine Spiritual Gospel Ordinance but Jumbles it in with the common and dayly Eating and ordinary means of Believers an high indignity to this Ordinance and the Author of it repugnant to Scripture and inconsistent with the sure and certain experience of thousands of the Godly who have Eat at the Table of the Lord to their unspeakable comfort and transporting Consolation more then they reaped by their ordinary Meals so that Christian Experience witnesseth against them and confutes all their Quibling Arguments and Sophistical Quirks and my own experience of the Grace Blessings and Benefits of this Great Special and Solemn Ordinance shall be an unanswerable Argument to me against all Hereticks in the World And it is also strange with what impudent Spirit they can call the Supper of the Lord no Special Ordinance distinct from Ordinary Meals For 1 Our Lord oft Eat with Mixed Multitudes but in this Ordinance with a Select Number of his own even his Apostles 2 He never did Celebrate that Ordinance but once and that was in the very Night wherein he was Betrayed a great Argument of his Love and Faithfulness to his Church 3 He Instituted it immediately after the Passover and that Hymn that was usually Sung after the Passover was deferred till after the Administration of the Lords Supper to signify the Abrogation of the one and Institution of the other in its Room and Place 4 At what other Meals did ever Our Lord say This is my Body and as oft as you do it do it in Remembrance of me 5 Those that make their Ordinary Meals to be the Lords Supper which is a new notion of K's they alter the Elements at your Pleasure which are Signs instituted of God the Bread to signify his Flesh and Wine to signify his Blood and they Arrogantly Presumptuously appoint others Fish Flesh and what ever comes in the way far from the practice of the Apostle Paul in the Church of Corinth who delivered nothing to that Church in this great Ordinance but what he received of the Lord Jesus the Author of it
Grace of God within and also that Christ was only a Spirit in Heaven and had nothing of the Body and many of theâ— denying the Day of Judgment and any Resurrection but what they have already attained John Wilâ—ford said Christ was a Mediator for no Drunkards 〈◊〉 wicked persons but for his own Disciples many 〈◊〉 them denied Gods Presence in all his Creatures Arguing most ignorantly and blasphemously if God be in Herbs and Grass then who tramples on theâ— tramples on God and this occasioned a new Disputâ— whether God be present in Lice Some denyinâ— they were any part of the Creation another Preaches that Christ Cureth mens Souls perfectly at once and makes them free of all sin and when we 〈◊〉 perfect we are Kings and are not to Beg or Prâ— to God for our selves another says Whether 〈◊〉 Body that was Crucified be in Heaven Let 〈◊〉 Church determine one Samuel Ginnings declared 〈◊〉 a Meeting That to do Gods Business we needed Goâ— Wisdom but to do our own Business as men 〈◊〉 needed it not another affirmed That a man migspeak unsound Words in the Life and at another Meeting the same man bids us wait That the Scepter might depart from Judah that Shiloh might come Is it not evident from these gross impertinent and abominable Ignorances and Blasphemous Heresies That God has justly given them over to a Spirit of Delusion â—o believe the grossest Lyes that ever was hatcht â—nd that for their ambitious and deceiving pretences â—o unwarrantable Inspirations Another Quarrel was G. K's Objecting against their Discipline as too Loose but for my part I never knew nor heard â—…y they had that was purely Ecclesiastick what they pretended to was most absolute and arbitrary â—ho ' I understand of late G. K. had Composed a new Draught in many particulars which tho' not allowed 〈◊〉 Reading at their Yearly Meeting yet was sent to the Yearly Meeting at London for their Approbation 〈◊〉 Sanction of which I shall give my Reader a small â—ast in these following particulars 1. That all faithâ—l Friends shall give in a few words less or more a â—ure Confession unto the Truth generally Received 〈◊〉 Friends 2. If Friends be satisfied with this Conâ—…ssion they are to express their Christian Love and â—gnifie their owning them by taking them by the â—nd or giving the hand unto them 3 That all friends who have Children come to years of Discreâ—on whom they have Instructed in the Principles of Truth that they further Labour with their Children 〈◊〉 be willing to be Received into the Number of friends in the manner above mentioned 4. Wheâ—er there should not be Elders and Deacons Chosen â—…d Appointed and Named by the Consent of the hole Church for the Help and Assistance of the â—iends of the Ministry 5. That no raw and unseaâ—ed persons do presume to speak or pray in the Meetings until they give proof of their sound Knowledge Experience and Spiritual Abilities to their Elder Brethren the Elders and the Church 6. That no Friends joyn in Marriage with any but such as are Received into the Society of Fiends by a solemn Confession of their Faith and Profession of Truth in the manner aforesaid These are but a few of many Articles of the like nature which had a very cold Reception that thoâ— they did not allow it a publick Reading yet cry'd it down as downright Popery but sure if this take place Quakers will look with another Face then ever they have yet done and many of their silly ignorant and impertinent and blaspemous Teachers shall be laid aside as useless And the Breach was so great that the two Emissaryes from London T. W. and J. D. was so far from accomplishing a Reconcileation that they Condemned him for the Separation and pronounced Woes against him and J. D. compared the Difference there to Childrens falling out about trifles sure these men so much admired at Barbadoes and elsewhere discover both their ignorance and weakness in joyning with the strongest Party the Magistrates and looking upon the Doctrine of Christ Crucifyed and the Sufficiency of the Light within to be but Trifles Lastly G. K. is blamed for calling W. Stockdal and a whole Meeting ignorant Heathens but says Keith it there is Light sufficient to Salvation in all men without the man Christ then an honest Heathen is a true Christian hence every man may Learn That honest Heathens are good Quakers oâ— Quakers are good Heathens George Keith having his Sentence Lay under Charges and no possibility of obtaining as he says 〈◊〉 any redress or Gospel Order but it is strange that any man of Sense should expect order from I gnorance Distraction and Confusion as the whole Scheme of this Controversy appears to be to every Rational and considering Man he at Length breaks off separates from their Society and sets up for himself First at his own House and generally since at the Barbado's House in Philade phia and as he endeavours to Justify himself from all former Imputations so he essays a Vindication of the Late Separation which he does by a Pamphlet called the Reasons and Causes thereof which I shall give my Reader as Followeth 1. Because Thomas Lloyd so far failed in Proving his Charge against G. K. For denying the sufficiency of the Light within and after Judgment was passed by a Monthly Meeting at Philadelphia the 22 d of the 12th Month 1691. Would not give forth a Paper of Condemnation of his False Charge but any may perceive K's cunning who not only escaped the Just Judgment of this Meeting according to â—uakers Principles but by denying the charge with a Reservation made his accuser guilty for as he declared before and since saying the Light within is not sufâ— ficient without the Man Christ Without us 2. Reason for his Seperation because K's Antagonists kept a Publick Meeting in the Afternoon at the Bank without the consent of the whole Body of Friends there which K says should be universal Unanimous and not by any Plurality of Votes and so G. K. and his party kept a Meeting for that Day in the Afternoon at his own House which he called Private and finding as they say they resolved to continue the Seperation which is still done I would Amimadvert the Reader that the Second Reason is Frivolous arising from a Nicety and circumstance of Place which as carryed by a Plurality of Votes tho' K would not submit to it without the Unanimous Consent of all which he says is the allowed method of Friends but it is not to be doubted if the Plurality had determined for him he would never have gone about to invalidate the determination and if the Unanimous consent of all be requisite in such triflles we expect K will do nothing in greater Matters without it 3. Reason because most Gross and Uuchristian Errors against the Fundamental Doctrines of the Christian Faith are held by divers of them that are Publick Teachers