Knowledge 2 Pet. 3. 18. of our Lord Jesus Christ and a greater Acquaintance with that true inward Spiritual Communion and Fellowship Rev. 3. 20. with him wherein he sups with his Saints and they with him and receives Life by him who dwells in them Eph. 5. 30. and they in him as the Members are joyned to the Head and partakes of its Life and liveth by it or the Branches to the Vine which receives Joh. 15. 5. Life Vertue and Nourishment from him whereby Fruit is brought forth to the glory of God and well-pleasing to him 'T is not sufficient that we participate hereof once a Month or Quarter but as the Jews had their Manna Exod. 16. 21. fresh every Morning so ought we to receive a daily supply and renewing of strength in our inward Man by eating that Heavenly Bread that nourisheth up to Eternal Life and drinking plentifully of that Well of Living-Weter Joh. 4. 14. which in the Saints springs up to Life Eternal for as in God we live move and have our very being so is Christ the true and proper Life of the inward Man by which it truly lives to God nor can it live but by him Those that are begotten to God by the Word of Life and are born again of the Spirit are priviledged thus to feed on Christ and enjoy him which none can do that are not first quickened and made alive by him none can receive Life Sap and Vertue from him as Head and Vine that are not first joyned to him as Members and Branches of him nor is it sufficient to make People Members of Christ and give them admittance to feed on him in that they were sprinkled when Infants c. as we have already express'd though they should eat Bread and drink Wine all their days Since then we no less enjoy the Substance without the Sign why may we not omit it as either being but temporary or not of absolute necessity as well as our Opposers do that which was instituted to use their own term at the same time and with as great solemnity and greater formality and was no less positively commanded under the same pretence Why may not the same Authority absolve us from the use of this and excuse us from being chargeable with the breach of a Command of Christ as release them from washing one anothers Feet and secure Joh. 13. 4 5 8 14 15. them from the like censure As also that of the Apostles cencerning things strangled and Blood and that of James Acts 15. 20 29. Jam. 5. 14 15. anointing the Sick with Oil Why should they be thus partial Have we not good reason to conclude that if these had not been long since laid down they would have cleav'd as close to them and that had those of Baptism and Bread and Wine been then discontinued also they would be now as easie under its omission For Tradition Custom and Education makes greater impressions on Mens minds than perhaps every one may be sensible of nor is it an easie task at first to move them from those things to which they have been fastned by it Would but People wholly relinquish these Prejudices and consider it impartially 't is probable there may appear no such real difference as justly to omit the one and yet with equal reason to continue the other since 't is not that Bread that gives life to the Soul nor doth necessarily include it but that Christ may be and is received and sed on without it Nor that those can be thought to forget his Death and Sacrifice who sensibly partake of the Benefits thereof Tit. 2. 14. and pursue its Ends who are taught and assisted by him to live a godly Gal. 1. 4. righteous Life and bears about in them the Marks of the Dying of our Mat. 1. 21. 2 Cor. 5. 15. Lord Jesus who died for all that those who live should no longer live to themselves fulfilling the desires of their minds but to him that died for them that through the power of his Resurrection Phil. 3. 10. they may mortifie the Deeds of the Flesh and have Fellowship with his Sufferings in whom his Life is made manifest neither can those who acknowledge his Death and Sacrifice and partake from time to time of this Bread and Wine in memory of it and yet are not by him redeemed from a vain Conversation and made conformable to his Death and so feed on him as to participate of that Life that comes by him in anywise escape Damnation let their Pretensions be what they will Since then God hath replenisht our Hearts with his Grace and hath not with held his heavenly Manna from us but daily owns us by his comfortable Presence to our great satisfaction under the Omission of these things supplying our Wants and Necessities as we have recourse unto him in that which ever hath access unto him having our continual Dependancy on him who enables and strengthens those of us * For we intend not to Apologize for those who tho' they may be call'd by our Name yet live loosly and walk disorderly and are Blemishes and a Grief to us which yet ought to be imputed to their Insincerity or Unwatchfulness and not to the In-sufficiency of the Prin-ci-ple they pretend to that retain our Primitive Sincerity and Integrity to lead a Sober Pious Christian Life as becomes the Gospel of Christ which is the certain Product of Spiritual Grace and forasmuch as our Opposers acknowledge it to be but an outward visible Sign and dare not say that the inward Spiritual Grace is tied to it nor that 't is of absolute necessity to Salvation with what Reason do they Unchristian us and so load us with Calumnies and Accusations on this Account using it as an Instance to blacken us and condemn in gross our whole Christian Profession principally from hence as though 't were the chief thing that constitutes a Christian and entitles him to the Benefits that come by Christ What shall we think then of perhaps more than two parts in three of their own Assembly who no more practice this than do we and yet are many of them as sober People and if we may know as Christ directs us by their Fruits are doubtless as near the Kingdom and no less in a State of Grace than are those who so exult in and value themselves upon this Performance which however it may bound and distinguish particular Societies and Communions 't is certain no Observations nor Performances short of being ruled and governed by the Spirit of Christ as Head can entitle us to a Membership in him we may make a specious Shew and carry a System of Divinity in our Heads but if he rules not our Hearts we are none of his 'T were well they were as thoughtful to fulfil all Righteousness in every respect and as zealously careful and concern'd to observe and punctually perform all the Commands
A Brief APOLOGY IN Behalf of the PEOPLE In Derision Call'd QUAKERS WRITTEN For the Information of our Sober and Well-inclined Neighbours in and about the Town of Warminster in the County of Wilts BY Will. Chandler Alex. Pyot I. Hodges And some others By honour and dishonour by evil report and good report as deceivers and yet true as unknown and yet well known as dying and behold we live 2 Cor. 6. 8 9. LONDON Printed for Thomas Northcott in George-yard in Lombard-street 1693. A Brief Apology c. IT is not that we love Contention or desire Controversie or are impatient in bearing Reproaches that we appear thus publick but such have been the repeated high Charges and smart Lashes that our Adversaries more especially some of the Presbyterian Assembly have of late taken a liberty liberally and lavishly to bestow upon us that we find ourselves concern'd to Clear and Vindicate the Truth and Innocency of our Christian Profession from those black aspersions that have rendred it so frightful and formidable as though 't were only a meer complication of pestilent Errors as well as to satisfie the minds of such of our piously-inclined Neighbours as may be desirous to hear us speak for ourselves as also for the information of those who may have been imposed upon by that dress wherein our Opposers have represented us And although these can Object nothing material against us now that hath not been long since over and over offer'd by some of the same Perswasion and have as often received Answers from some or other of our Friends some of which have never yet been by them replyed unto yet forasmuch as those may not have come to the view of many of our Neighbours for whom this is chiefly intended we thought fit briefly to say so much as we think may be accommodate to the present occasion and which perhaps with unprejudic'd minds may bespeak our Creed not so unsound and erroneous Esth 3. 5. as our somewhat different deportment hath rendred us obnoxious and contemptible as well as distasteful to those who either ambitiously affect honour Joh. 5. 44 Mat. 23. and respect and love greetings or think a complaisant complyance to the fashions customs and complements of the Age to be one of the chiefest felicities of this Life and best expression of their Civility and good Manners We therefore desire our well-disposed Neighbours candidly to weigh what we have to alledge against the Clamours of those who to be sure will not set us out to our best advantage and to receive an Account from ourselves what we are and what we believe and hold for Christian Truths who certainly must needs know better our own Belief than those who perhaps never examin'd it to any other end than to find fault if ever they did it and also that you will not think it strange that we express not our Belief in some particulars in the affected Terms of other Professors of Christianity but think it more reasonable and safe to content ourselves with that Dress of Language in which the Holy Ghost thought fit to hand them to us in the Holy Scriptures those most Excellent and Divine Writings which above all others in the world challenge our reverence and most diligent reading those Oracles of God rich Christian Treasury of Divine saving Truths which were written for our learning that we Ro. 15. 4. through patience and comfort of them may have hope and are profitable for doctrine reproof correction and instruction 2 Tim. c. 3. v. 15 16 17. in righteousness to the perfecting and thoroughly furnishing of the Man of GOD to every good Work making him wise unto salvation thro' Faith which is in Christ Jesus containing all Christian Doctrines necessary to be believed for salvation and are a sufficient external standard and touchstone to try the Doctrines of men and we say with the Apostle whosoever shall Gal. 1. 8. publish and propagate any other Gospel and Faith than is therein testified of to us by those inspired Pen-men who were the first Promulgators thereof though he were an Angel let him be accursed all which and whatsoever is therein contained we as firmly believe as any of you do and as 't is the duty of every sincere Christian we are heartily thankful to God for them who through his good Providence hath preserved them to our Time to our great benefit and comfort We Believe in that Great Omnipotent God that made and created all things and gave us our Being whom in sincerity of heart we fear reverence and worship being seriously concern'd for our souls welfare to eternity We believe that Great Mystery that there are Three that bear Record in Heaven 1 Joh. 5. 7. the Father Son and Holy Ghost and that these Three are One in Being and Substance And as do ye so do we also hope for and expect Salvation only and alone through the Son of God our blessed Lord and Saviour JESUS CHRIST of Nazareth believing that God the Father hath ordained him for Isa 49. 6. Act. 13. 47 4. 12. salvation to the ends of the Earth and that no other Name is given under Heaven by which men shall be saved who being conceived by the Holy Ghost in the Womb of the Virgin Mary was born of her at Bethlehem as also his Holy 1 Pet. 2. 21 22. Heb. 4. 15. and Exemplary Life perfectly free from sin his Doctrine Miracles Sufferings and Death upon the Cross without the Gates of Jerusalem his Resurrection from the Dead and Ascension into Heaven Ro. 8. 34. 1 Tim. 2. 5 6. 1 Jo. 2. 1. 2. where he is at the Right Hand of God the Father perfect GOD and perfect Man and the alone Mediator between GOD and Man and is our Advocate with the Father and ever liveth to make Intercession for us and also shall judge both Quick and Dead Act. â—0 42 All which and whatsoever else is recorded of him in the Sacred Scriptures we firmly believe This Jesus in whom dwelt the fulness Col. 2. â— of the God-head we believe offer'd up himself according to the Will of the Father an acceptable sacrifice to Eph. 52. 1 Joh. 2. 2. Heb. 10. 12 God and became a Propitiation for the sins of Mankind to the end of the World and dyed for all Men as all dyed in Rom. 5. v. 12. 18. Adam through whose Blood God proclaimes Redemption and Salvation to 2 Cor. 5. 19. Man and offers to be reconciled and freely for his Sons sake to remit forgive Ro. 3. 25. and pass by all past offences to as many as shall truly and heartily repent of their Luk. 24. 47. Acts 10. 43. 26. 20. Eph. 4. 22. 23. 24. Ro. 8. 3. 4. 2 Cor. 5. 15. 17. Tit. 2. 14. Joh. 14. 15. 21. 23 24. 15. 10 2 Tim. 2. 19. 1 Pet. 4. 1 2 3. Jam. 2. 12. to the end sins and turn from the
the heavenly Gift and were made Partakers of the Holy Ghost and that had tasted the good Word of God and the Powers of the World to come shew'd signs that they were effectually call'd and in a State of Grace that if they should fall away 't would be impossible to renew them again to Repentance not because they were eternally reprobated but because they crucified to themselves the Son of God afresh because they grieved his good Spirit Ezek. 18. 24 26. and c. 33. v. 18. and rejected the Means Hath not the Lord said If a righteous man turns from his righteousness he shall die Who can be righteous without the assistance of God's Grace No Man can make himself so 't is not in Man to direct his own Ways and yet it seems 't is possible for him to fall from it after he hath lived so long under its conduct as by it to be made righteous and one would think should then be sanctified too Our Saviour saith of himself I am the true vine ye are the branches John 1 1 2 5 6. my Father is the husband-man every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away Again If a man abide not in me he is cast forth as a branch and is withered Surely those who are Branches in Christ while so are accepted of the Father and yet it seems 't is possible for them to fall away and be cut off as wither'd Branches whence he often repeats this Condition if ye abide in me and presently he saith John 15. 10. the way to continue in his Love was to do his Will as he had that of his Father's and continued in his Love But though we can't embrace their Opinion for their Reasons and as they state it but that 't is possible for People to make a considerable Progress in Grace and yet for want of a careful and constant Watchfulness to that Grace they may fall away Yet we believe such a State and Growth in Grace throw a vigilant Attention thereto and such a degree of Faith attainable as that there is no more going forth But that which seems to be our capital Error and the top of all their Charge and that which is to silence all Plea's in our behalf is our omitting the use of the Ordinances so called of Baptism and Bread and Wine John indeed as the next immediate Fore-runner of Christ to prepare his Way gave an Alarm to the Jews that were so secure under the Law of Moses and proclaim'd the Kingdom of Heaven at hand and Mat. 3. 2. Acts 17. 30. the time come wherein God commanded the Jews as well as others every-where to repent 't was not sufficient for them to go on in sinning and then offer those respective Sacrifices which the Law enjoyn'd them for the same but now the Wrath of God was near Rom. 1. 18. to be reveal'd from Heaven against all Ungodliness and Unrighteonsness of Men 't was not sufficient to deek and make clean the outside of the Cup and Mat. 23. 25 26. and c. 3. 10. Platter but the inside was to be clean'd and then the outside would be clean also The Axe was now laid to the root and every Tree that brought not forth good Fruit was to be hewn down The Law of Moses took hold on exterior Acts and could not make perfect as pertaining Heb. 9. 9. 2 Cor. 10. 5. James 1. 15. to the Conscience but now that Dispensation was about to be established that comes nearer home and takes cognizance of the very Thoughts that Sin be not so much as conceived by the Will 's joyning thereto Wherefore John was sent to administer the Baptism of Repentance as a lively Figure of that which was presently after to follow for John's Baptism was not capable to produce this Effect upon the Mind and he himself testifies That though he baptized them with water yet he that came after him that was before him and more honourable than he should baptize them with the Holy Ghost and Matt. c. 3. v. 11 12. with fire that his fan was in his hand and and that 't was he should throughly purge his floor Which is the great Work that is to be done under his Gospel-dispensation to take away the Sins of the World and destroy the Works of the 1 John 3. 8. Devil to purifie Peoples Hearts and make them spiritually minded this is the proper Effects of Christ's lasting Baptism not the washing away of the Filth of the Flesh but the answer of a 1 Pet. 3. 21. good Conscience towards God to purge our Consciences from dead Works to serve the Living God in Newness of Life The Baptism of Christ is but Ephes 4. 5. Rom 6. 3. and v. 6 7 8 11. one and those who by it are baptized into Jesus Christ are baptized into his Death and their old Man crucified with him that the body of Sin may be destroy'd and they no longer serve Sin because they that are dead with Christ are freed from Sin and made alive to God to live a holy righteous Life These are the blessed Effects of the Baptism of the Holy Ghost and Fire and Benefits that redound to those who are in truth washed by Christ in that holy Laver which entitles us to a part Zech. 13. 1. in him 't is our chiefest Concern to know this inward spiritual Baptism of Christ that our Hearts may be washed 1 Cor. 6 11. purified and sanctified by the Spirit of God and that we really put on Christ and are in him who is the Substance in whom the Types ended John knew and foretold himself that he must decrease but Christ must encrease he John 3 30. doth not say I shall cease presently at once so soon as Christ's Baptism takes place but I must decrease but were Water-baptism to continue always amongst Christians then would not John decrease Nor will it solve this Allegation That 't was abolisht as John's and instituted anew as Christ's for then hath Christ his different Gospel-baptisms which is erronious We grant that some of the Apostles did use Water-baptism for a time but we believe 't was rather in compliance with the Circumstances of Time than of Necessity and in condescention to the Weakness of Believers in the very Infancy of the Church and even the same Age wherein John baptized who was not only a true Messenger of God in his time but had gained great Credit among the People and his Memory and Message could not soon be forgotten nor was it easie to draw them from a Practice that but just before was acknowledged to be of Divine Authority for we find the Apostles tolerated the believing Jews to live in certain Rites and Ceremonies of the Mosaical Law notwithstanding the Messiah was come in the Flesh and abrogated them so difficult 't is to disengage People from those things wherein they have been educated and to which their Minds are
12. Phil 2. 12 13. us with a vigilant attention to and co-working with that Grace which to that end is given work out our Salvation with a reverend fear since a good degree of attainment herein is soon lost except there be a constant sedulous watchfulness upon the Mind amidst all business and concerns to have a check upon our words and thoughts and a diligent pressing forward For while Mat. 26. 41. we live in this World we are liable to temptations and may enter thereinto also without a strict care and watchfulness our Senses presenting many baits to our Minds on every hand which Satan makes use of to beguile and many provocations offer themselves in 2 Cor. 12. 9. our Pilgrimage against all which God's Grace is sufficient Armour as our Minds are seasoned by it so that where any shortness is 't is through Insincerity Negligence or Inadvertency Or is it a dangerous heinous Heresie that we with very many Professors of Christianity believe the Universality of Ps 145. 9. the Love of God to all Mankind that God who is good to all whose Mercies extends to all the Works of his Hands is sincere in his Intention and Attestation thereof and doth not design to delude Ezek. 33. 11. 18. 23. us when he affirms That as certainly as he lives he desires not the death of a sinner but rather that he would return and live that God whose Love and Mercy is unlimited doth graciously and John c. 3 v. 14 15 16 17. Isai 55. 1 Rev. 22. 17. Rom. 5. 18 generously offer Salvation through Jesus Christ upon certain Conditions to be performed on our part to all Mankind to every individual Man and Woman upon the face of the Earth which is the true Gospel-message good Tydings Luke 2. 10 14. of great Joy which shall be to all People Peace on Earth and good will towards Men good cause indeed to rejoyce that all are within the verge Isa 55. 7. Ezek. c. 18 v 21 22 to the end of Mercy and free Pardon that God is indeed no Respecter of Persons but among all Nations and People he or she that fears him and works Righteousness is Acts 10. 34 35. 1 Joh. 2. 2. Heb. 2. 9. of him accepted and that Christ dyed for the sins of the whole World yea for every Man surely then all for whom he dyed are thereby put into a capacity for Salvation that saving Tit. 2. 11. Grace hath appeared to all Men and a 1 Cor. 12. 7. See Pro. c. 1. from v. 20. to the end manifestation of the Spirit is given to every Man to profit withal And that none are reprobated but those that continue to be deaf to the Calls of this Grace and resists the Spirit and hides and neglects their Talents till the day Mat. 23. 37. of their Visitation be over and Christ so withdraws himself as to cease longer to strive with them so that the Neh. 9. 20 26. means being taken away they are left to themselves and given up to Hardness Isa 63. 10. Psal 81. v. 11 12 13. of Heart that being absent that should prepare tender and mollifie it that now they cannot Repent Believe and be Converted If thus to believe be a dangerous and pernitious Errour we confess we are Guilty and not like to be otherwise for we cannot perswade ourselves to embrace that Anti-evangelical Opinion That God from all Eternity hath personally and conditionally without respect to their accepting or rejecting the Salvation offer'd in Christ elected some and reprobated others by an immutable Decree so that those who are so elected shall certainly be saved let them do what they will for God's Decree can't be reverss'd let the unstable Mind of Man vary as it will and those that are reprobated were in effect damned thousands of Years before they were born so that their Salvation is put beyond all hope let them seek it never so earestly and diligently and be never so desirous to serve and please God For besides that this sad Tidings instead of glad Tidings if it were really true in itself puts an end to the whole business of Religion by rendring all Worship and Devotion all Preaching Praying Assembling together and Holy Living as 't were useless by invalidating all whatsoever on Man's part as nothing contributing as a necessary Condition on his part to be performed or neglected towards his Salvation or eternal Destruction We dare not take up an Opinion so diametrically opposite to the very Attributes of God and his repeated Protestations to the contrary and with some Men thus presume to arraign his Justice Mercy and Goodness we cannot believe that God who is Love itself and Goodness itself and hath always manifested a wonderful Care and Concern for Man as his darling Creature VVis 12. 15 16. it being disagreeable to his Power to condemn those that have not deserved to be punished and having no pleasure in the death of him that dies Ezek. 18. 22. VVis 11. 23 24. should yet make the major part of Mankind with design to damn them unprovok'd thereto without ever tendring them Salvation or that he would make the far greater number wholly uncapable of accepting the Salvation tendred them by putting it out of their power to perform those Conditions and Terms upon which he offers it and then condemn them to eternal Misery for not complying with those Conditions that 't was impossible for them to observe For he don't only call to all the ends of Isai 45. 22. the Earth which implies all Mankind to look to him and be saved but he hath given to every one a Portion of his Spirit to enable them so to do he hath not only sent forth the Son of his Love Joh. 3. 14 15 16. to shed his Blood for every Man to be lifted up as Moses lifted up the Brazen Serpent that whosoever believeth in Joh. 6. 44 45. him should not perish but he also draws them and as they will receive it toucheth them with that Divine Magnet that only can incline and impower them effectually to turn to that Pole in which all our true Happiness centers But this is the condemnation that Joh. 3. 19 20. light is come into the world and men love darkness rather than light because Eph. 5. 13. their deeds are evil and hates the light and will not bring their deeds to it lest it should reprove them for whatsoever is reprovable is made manifest by the light but men love their own broad ways to pursue the sight of their eyes and desire of their minds and Eccl. 11. 9. therefore hate to be control'd therein and reform'd The Apostle stirring up the Ephesians to Purity of Life and to avoid several Evils there mentioned saith expresly Let no man deceive you Eph. 5. 6 7. with vain words for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of