16. 1 Cor. 15.32 The devil did long since stir up his instruments to undermine the same the Sadduces Acts 23.8 denyed the resurrection Angels and Spirits and some amongst the Corinthians 1 Cor. 15.12 said There is no resurrection of the dead Hymeneus and Philetus 2 Tim. 2.18 said the resurrection was past already and overthrew the faith of some even as this generation of men now pretend it s already accomplished and past in them the body or Christ is now risen in them and hereupon deny the future resurrection of our dead bodies But it pleased the Lord out of his goodnesse hereupon to cleare up this doctrine more fully so that there 's no doctrine in all the Scriptures hath a clearer and fuller evidence for it self then this hath It was sufficiently laid down before in the Old Testament in many places See these instead of many Job 19.25 Isa 26.19 Dan. 12.2 Ezek. 37.12 but in the New Testament it 's not only positively laid down and asserted but proved by many Arguments against them that denied it Mat. 22.32 Christ proves it against the Sadduces and silences them by an Argument taken from Gods Covenant with his people he is their God in Covenant with them and not only with their souls but with their bodies also therefore they shall rise again he proves that same resurrection which was denyed by the Sadduces for he silenced them now it 's clear they denied the resurrection of the body of flesh c. See v. 23 24. other places might have been brought to have proved this truth more directly whereas this Scripture proves it but by consequence though clearly enough but the Sadduces only owning the five books of Moses Christ brings a proof from thence for it Exod. 3.6 But more especially the Apostle 1 Cor. 15. doth so largely prove this doctrine that if other Scriptures had been altogether silent about it this one Chapter had been sufficient confirmation thereof Let the Reader observe there three things that the Apostle principally treats of in that chapter 1. He proves the resurrection of the dead 2. He shews with what bodies they shall arise 3. What shall become of them which shall be alive at the day of the Lord. I. He proves the resurrection of the dead and he evidences that by six arguments 1 From the resurrection of Jesus Christ from v. 3. to 19. for if there be no resurrection of the dead then is Christ not risen but saith he Christ is risen therefore must the dead rise by vertue of their union with him Now that Christ is risen he confirms from the Testimony of the Scriptures ver 4. the Apostle names not what Scriptures but it 's cleare he intends Psal 16.8 and such like places then from those many witnesses that saw him verse 5 6 7 8. then from the evil consequences that would follow if Christ rise not the Apostles should be false witnesses and their preaching in vaine and the Corinthians faith should be in vain they should be yet in their sinnes and they that were fallen asleep should be perished 2 He proves the resurrection of the dead body because if it were not so Christians should be of all men most miserable verse 19. 3 He argues that all enemies must be overcome therefore death and if so we must rise again 4 He argues it from a practise amongst those persons that denied the resurrection probably the Corinthians those ancient hereticks who were baptized for the dead verse 20. and therefore their own practise might confute them 5 He argues it from the dangers and sufferings of the Saints verse 30 c. which they would not endure if there were no resurrection and reward after death Heb. 11.36 6 The denying the resurrection he shews would lead to all epicurisme and licentiousness then may we say let us eat and drink for to morrow we shall die thus he confirms the doctrine of the resurrection of our dead bodies The 2d. thing in this Chapter is to shew with what bodies the dead arise II. verse 35. He answers in the following verses not with such vile weak corruptible bodies as now we have but with incorruptible powerful glorious and spiritual bodies so Phil. 3.21 Our vile bodies shall be fashioned like to the glorious body of Christ himself and it follows as a reason of this change ver 50. Flesh and blood shall not inherit the Kingdome of God nor can corruption inherit incorruption Where observe the Apostle doth not overthrow what he before had built that is he doth not deny the resurrection of the dead body that it shall not rise at all as these deceivers would infer but it shall not rise in such a vile corruptible abject condition it were not capable of the glory of heaven then That this is the minde of the Apostle in these words appeares in that the Apostle doth not contradict himself and destroy what he had before built now having before proved the body shall arise again he doth not here deny it only he shews it shall not arise in such an abject and base condition as now it is in but in a more glorious condition and so he fitly answers the question propounded v. 35. with what body the dead shall arise It being also considerable that the word flesh is not in Scripture always put for the substance of mans body for the substance consisting of flesh blood and bones but frequently for the infirme weak state and condition of man as Esay 31 3. 1 Pet. 1.24 and thus the latter part of the verse shews it is to be taken here corruption shall not inherit incorruption corrupt frail flesh cannot inherit heaven it must be made a glorious spiritual body for its qualities and conditions when it is raised up again that so it may be capable of the happinesse of heaven III. The third thing the Apostle doth in this Chapter is he sheweth what shal become of them that shal be alive at the day of the Lord. v. 51. they shall not fall asleep but be changed or translated into a state of incorruption and immortality as it befell Enoch and Eliah in former times this also confirms the doctrine of the resurrection because those bodies that shall survive at the last day shall not be annihilated but only changed What clearer Testimony can be given to this truth then we have in this one chapter Many other places might be added as Acts 23.6 24.15 1 Thes 4.13 c. Phil. 3.20.21 Rev. 12. with other more but these may suffice But some object this is a thing impossible How can the dead body when consumed to ashes or dust and this driven away by the winde and scattered be raised up again the self-same body for substance Or when a body shall be eaten by wilde beast or fishes and they again eaten by men or by other creatures and their substances mingled and confounded how can these ever be distinguished and the selfe-same body that died
A FULL DISCOVERY AND CONFUTATION Of the wicked and damnable Doctrines of the Quakers As also a plain Vindication and confirmation of sundry fundamental points of the Christian Religion denyed or corrupted by the enemies of the Truth in these Times Published for the benefit of such weak Christians who are not so able to discover and oppugne the dangerous doctrines of subtil Seducers when coloured over with fair words and pretences and so are more apt to be taken in their snares Whereunto is annexed an excellent Discourse proving that singing of Psalmes is not only lawful but an Ordinance of God By JONATHAN CLAPHAM a servant of Christ in the work and labour of the Gospel at Wramplingham in Norff. 2 Thes 2.10 11 12. Because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved God shall send them strong delusions that they should believe a lie That they might be damned c. LONDON Printed by T. R. E.M. for Adonirem Byfield at the Bible in Popes-head Alley near Lumbard-street 1656. The general heads of the following TREATISE SEct. 1. The Quakers proved enemies to the holy Scriptures Sect. 2. The Quakers deny Christ come in the flesh also his Death Resurrection c. Sect. 3. The Quakers deny the doctrine of the Trinity Sect. 4 The Quakers hold equality with God and the soul to be one being with God Sect. 5. The Quakers corrupt the doctrine of Justification Sect. 6. The Quakers deny the Resurrection of the body the last Judgement Heaven and Hell Sect. 7. The Quakers are enemies to all the Ordinances of Jesus Christ Sect. 8. The Quakers pretend to miracles Sect. 9. The Quakers are no truly mortified persons notwithstanding their pretences thereunto and how Popish Monks have out-stripped them therein Sect. 10. The Quakers doctrine tendeth not to destroy sin though they raile against sin and how they destroy the true doctrine of Sanctification Sect. 11. The Quakers he common sink of all the Heresies of our times and a parallel betwixt them and former hereticks in many particulars Sect. 12. The Quakers enemies to all civility and good manners Sect. 13. The Conclusion by way of admonition to Christians to beware of the heresies of the Times and in particular to avoid the Quakers as pernitious enemies to the Christian Religion and to the souls of men and to have no communion with them TO HIS HIGHNESSE The Lord Protector Of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions thereof SIR IT is a question much controverted in these times whether Jesus Christ besides his spiritual Kingdom in his Chrurches and in the hearts of his people is to have an outward Political Kingdom in the world and there are not a few of godly wise and sober Christians that do conclude affirmatively for the same and that as it seems to me upon undeniable authorities from the holy Scriptures But this being granted it will prove a matter of no lesse difficulty to determine by whom this kingdome shall be administred whether by our Lord Jesus himself in person residing here upon earth or by his Delegates or officers to whom he shall commit the rule and government under himself The former hath yet received small entertainment in my heart as seeing little clear Scripture evidence for it whatever others may see but rather it seeming to clash with some other weighty doctrines of the faith more clearly grounded on the Word and to be attended with such inconveniences as the Authours of this opinion know not well how to remove But for the latter it need not seem so incredible for seeing Jesus Christ hath already so long exercised his spiritual Kingdome and regiment in his Churches by Officers and Delegates thereunto appointed by himself why should it then seem strange to us if his outward political Kingdome should be administred in like manner and as I judge this seemes to have far clearer testimony from the Scripture then the former But are not we in a great strait yet to finde out who are these Officers or Delegates to whom Jesus Christ hath committed the government of this outward Political Kingdome in the world whether to his Churches and Saints under that reduplication as such or to the Civil Magistrate I am not unwilling to acknowledge my own mistake and possibly it may be the mistake of some honest hearts who are zealous now against the present powers upon this account that I have sometimes inclined to the former although I never had thoughts of acting against any established Government for to bring about my conceptions in such things sure it is most dangerous and unwarrantable for private persons to do so The ground of my mistake was an assertion received amongst many wise and holy men and therefore the lesse questioned by me that the Magistrate was no Officer of Jesus Christ as Mediatour whereupon I concluded seeing that Jesus Christ as Mediatour should have an outward Political Kingdom upon earth and the Magistrate as such was no Officer in that Kingdome that there must be some other hands into which this power and Dominion must be committed and who then might lay better Scripture claim to it then the persons above named But I do retract my errour in that particular for I dare not say with the Papists and Quakers I am infallible and cannot erre and do acknowledge the Magistrate to be an Officer of Jesus Christ as Mediatour and therefore in this external Political Kingdom of Christ the rule doth belong to him and not to the Saints as Saints though withal I doubt not but the Lord Jesus will in these last dayes raise up such to be Magistrates as shall be Saints and nursing fathers to his Churches governing more for the honour of Christ and for the welfare and benefit of his Churches then formerly and then shall the kingdoms of the world become the Kingdomes of the Lord and of his Saints That which induced me to be of this judgement for the Magistrate to be an Officer of Jesus Christ in this outward Political kingdom though he is no Officer in the spiritual Kingdom of his Church as the Erastians contend was the serious consideration of such Scriptures as these Prov. 8.15 16. Mat. 28.18 Isa 49.13 Psalme 2.8 10 11 12. Psalme 72.10 11. and indeed Christ having undertaken the work of mans redemption the Father hath delivered up the whole creation unto him in order to his managing of that work and therefore must Magistracy belong to him as Mediatour Rom. 14.9 Luke 10.22 John 3.15 Eph. 1.20 21 22. It were a work of no great difficulty to answer the arguments brought to the contrary and is already done by some Now this being granted as it doth strongly confirme the title of the Magistrate to his rule and government against all that would under any pretext challenge it from him So it may seriously minde him to consider from whom he hath received his power and authority and to whom he must one day be acountable
gifts in other things as of knowing mens spirits of being infallible of working miracles c. they might finde that there are several words used in Scripture that our translators render the Word of God there is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and there is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 now though the former title be given to Christ yet the latter is not and therefore such places wherein the latter is used can with no colour be expounded of Christ as in Rom 10.17 Eph. 5.26 Eph. 6.17 Heb. 6.5 c. whatever they pretend of the former 4. Let it be considered in what respect Jesus Christ is called the Word and in what respect the Scriptures be called the Word and it will appear this title will with greater propriety of Speech agree to the Scriptures then to Jesus Christ for Jesus Christ is only figuratively called the Word of God that he might through that similitude he hath to a word be more cleerly represented to our understandings as the word is the image and resemblance of ones minde so is Jesus Christ the expresse image of his Fathers person Heb. 1. though no transient image as our words be but co-essential and co-eternal or as the word makes known what is in the minde and heart so hath Christ made known the minde of God unto us others understand he is called the word also because it s he of whom the Word speaks to him give all the Prophets witnesse c. others because he made all things by his Word he spake and they were made But now in none of these respects nor any other that can be further named is Christ properly the word but figuratively But now the doctrines precepts c. of the Scriptures may in a more proper sense and without figure be called the word of God because spoken by God The Lord hath spoken these things by the mouth of his holy servants which have been since the world began Luke 1.70 5. Whereas they call some part of the Scriptures the word of the devil intending thereby that in Gen. 3.1 4 5. and such like places I answer they were the words uttered by the devil originally but now as they be recorded by the penmen of the holy Scriptures and so have a truth of history in them they be the words of God and therefore their malice against the Scriptures only appears herein 6. It would be observed how ignorantly these men do contradict themselves in denying the Scriptures to be the Word of God and yet granting them to be a declaration of Gods minde let them tell what a word is but a declaration of ones minde cannot a childe know that if a man speaks words to another he declares his minde to him what a simple contradiction is this to be found in men that pretend to be infallible but any thing shall be said or done to take down the authority of the holy Scriptures and to lessen the reverence due to them Burroughs against Griffith p. 19. sword drawn p. 1. II. They deny the Scriptures to be a rule of faith and life and hereby seeking to overthrown the great use and end of the Scriptures they are clearly manifested to be enemies to the Scriptures This charge will not be disowned by them for many of their pamphlets manifest their denial of the Scriptures to be a rule of faith and life therefore it rests on me to prove that they are enemies to the Scriptures herein and this will appear in these particulars 1. Without some standing rule and direction given by God we know not how to beleeve in God aright nor worship and serve him acceptably and thereby attain eternal life such as have no standing rule and direction worship they know not what as Christ speaks of the Samaritans John 4. They erre not knowing the Scriptures as Christ saith to the Sadduces Matth. 22.29 The Heathens that wanted the rule of the word what dark apprehensions and misconceivings had they of God and the things of God how utterly ignorant of many mysteries of faith how besotted in worshipping false gods and deceived variously in their searching out the chief happinesse of man Man since the fall hath lost the knowledge of God and is stricken with blindnesse being able only to grope after God as the Sodomites for Lots door so the Apostle phraseth it Acts 17 They feel or grope after him and besides the darknesse of mans minde the seducements of Satan are such who can transform himself into an Angel of light that if we have not something to try the spirits by we may soon be deceived and therefore to have a rule or direction for mans faith and obedience is most necessary seeing man is a reasonable creature and is not acted by a brute impulse but as a free and understanding agent must act what he doth knowingly and with Councel 2. It 's as certain that there is no other way sufficient to direct man to beleeve in God aright and to worship and serve him acceptably and therby attain happinesse but the holy Scriptures As for traditions of men which the Jews formerly and now the Papists equal with the Word of God they lead men further from God and happinesse And for the light in the conscience which the Quakers so highly cry up though it may convince men there is a God as we see by the Heathens that have no other teacher but it yet is it unable to give a man any cleare distinct knowledge of God only a groping knowledge as before was said nor can it teach a man so much as the name of Christ for which of the Heathens know this by the light in the conscience much lesse the great mysteries of Christs incarnation or taking on him flesh of his death and the new Covenant founded on it his Resurrection Ascension c And for matter of practise though it will witnesse against grosse sins and impieties Rom. 2.14 yet how unable is it to convince of original sin the first entrance of sin into the world and death by Adam and of concupiscence or the motions of sin in the flesh that it is sinne when not consented to which the Papists deny to be sinne and it 's likely the Quakers also or else they would not affirm they are perfectly freed from the very being of sin Paul expressely saith he had not known it to be sinne but by the Law Rom. 7.7 it seems then the light in his conscience could not discover it How grosly such have been misled that have given up themselves to heed that light neglecting to use the Scriptures for their light and rule appears sufficiently in the printed relation of Gilpin and Toldervy and by the delusions that this whole company are given up to by God that pretend to follow it Further as for such special and immediate revelations of the spirit that others have boasted of as their guide and direction the woful miscarriages of such Enthusiasts that have pretended thereunto may
Law above the Gospel and call'd men from the grace of Christ to the works of the Law c. now the Law was but a dead killing letter pronouncing a curse and death not could it quicken spiritually there being no promise in it of writing the Law in our hearts but in the same place he commends his Ministry for the Ministery of the Spirit and of Life therefore this place makes nothing for this wicked cavil of those enemies against the Scriptures V. They equal their books and pamphlets though commonly stuft with non-sense and railing ever with wicked errors to the holy Scriptures then which what can be more disgraceful to the Scriptures and more abominable to all sober spirits This appears clearly to all that have but read their papers for thus they commonly write Moved from the Lord written from the Spirit of the Lord given from the Lord c. and they boast commonly that they speak from God immediately and infallibly as the Apostles did formerly Whether this doth not bring them under that curse Rev. 22.18 for adding to the Scriptures let them look to it VI. They sometimes plead the Church was a long time without the Scriptures and therefore they are not necessary now and if ten thousand of those books were burnt they might do well enough the light in them is sufficient c. This I testifie hath been objected to me and there be others can witnesse it with me For the former part it is an old Popish Argument against the necessity of the Scriptures and I shall only reply what hath been answered the Papists to this formerly Whitaker de perfec Script cap. 7. tells the Papists though of old time when God familiarly shewed himself to the Fathers and by himself manifested to them his will the Scriptures were not necessary yet after God did change the course of teaching his Church and would have the Word written then the Scriptures began to be necessary To the latter part I answer such an expression would suit the mouth of an Irish rebel rather then of any sober Christian and therefore let him repent and pray if perhaps the thought of his heart may be forgiven him VII They appear enemies to the holy Scriptures in their daily practices as their neglecting to use the holy Scriptures Their speakers speak not out of the Scriptures as did Christ Luke 4.17 who opened the book and took his text out of Esay 61.1 and in all his Sermons he opened the Scriptures and proved all things by the Scriptures nor do their speakers exhort people to search the Scriptures to give themselves to reading meditation This they that have been present testifie c. but to look to the light in their consciences let them shew where ever Christ or his Apostles gave such an exhortation to look to the light within them And for their disciples they follow not the example of the noble Bereans Acts 17.11 who searched the Scriptures daily whether those things were so but they take all spoken to them as given from God immediately and turn not to the Scriptures to try the doctrines they hear by the Law and testimony When they have no speakers they sit as mutes together looking on the ground or looking at the light within them as they say but not looking on the Scriptures nor conferring about them though sometimes they will read in their Assemblies their quaking letters or books besides some of them have offered to sell their Bibles Now the most ignorant may easily judge by all this what friends they are to the Scriptures I might adde hereunto if it were requisite to shew their enmity to the Scriptures their perverse wresting of the Scriptures in such a manner sometime as shews they have neither knowledge of the Scriptures nor any light of common understanding of men left in them G. Whitehead maintaining of perfection as the Papists do I brought him that place against it Eccles 7.10 not a just man upon earth that doth good and sinneth not he perverted it as if Solomon did speak of a man in an earthy condition Another when that cripture 1 Cor. 6.20 was used to prove that we are not only to give God internal worship and service but outward and bodily he replied the Church was he body that was to glorifie God Again when Paul Rom. 7. cryed out ob wretched man c. he had not the Spirit And that the same Apostle in 1 Cor. 11.14 did not at all condemne long hair And many of them have said that the Apostle 1 Cor. 9.14 saying even so hath the Lord ordained that they that preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel doth not plead for outward bodily maintenance but their living by faith or living spiritually on the Gospel were ever any people more blinded in the world then these how dreadful a judgement is this upon them for leaving the Scriptures and looking to the light in them which appears by these things to be meer darknesse I could fill many pages with such instances of their perverse wrest of the Scriptures but this will appear more fully in the following Sections Let me but summe up these things together and then let the Reader judge whether this first charge is not sufficiently proved against them The proof runs thus if to deny the Scriptures to be the Word of God and thereby to insinuate they never came from God if to deny the special use of the Scriptures to be a rule of faith and obedience and to make as if they belonged to the Saints formerly but did not concern us now if to give vilifying expressions to them and to call them a dead letter if to equal foolish and wicked pamphlets with them if to plead there 's no necessity of them if to practise to slight them and perversly to wrest them if any or if all of these together will prove the Quakers to be enemies to the holy Scriptures then the charge stands good against them Let the weakest hereby discern and see and not be deceived by them though they pretend in words never so fairly to the Scriptures And thus for this first charge SECT II. The Quakers deny Christ come in the flesh as also his Death Resurrection Ascension Intercession and coming to Judgement THe Apostle John in his second Epistle ver 7. speaks of many deceivers and Antichrists come into the world who confesse not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh and forbids to receive such into your houses and to bid them God-speed for such as do so are partakers of their evil deeds Let us therefore in the next place enquire whether the Quakers may be justly charged with this crime that if they be found guilty thereof all such as professe to be Christians may disclaime them and take heed of them as Deceivers and Antichrists I shall here first freely give Testimony for the Quakers and do acknowledge in their behalfs that they have the name of Jesus Christ
often in their mouths and in their writings and they will tell you in words they own Jesus Christ come in the flesh so that if this will prove them good Christians they shall passe free from this censure and not be charged with it But withal I shall not conceale the subtilty of Satan in deceiving in this as well as in the former particular as he will let these his instruments own the Scriptures in words whilest they deny them in deed and truth and are enemies to them as before was proved so whilest they professe in words to own Jesus Christ come in the flesh and speak of his Death Resurrection and Ascension c. they do in deed and in truth deny all these things Nor let any wonder at this they could not be deceivers else they are simple deceivers that will in plain and evident words say they deny Jesus Christ they disclaime his Incarnation Death Resurrection c. who would then be taken in their snares the simplest would espy what they are I finde not amongst all the ancient hereticks in the Church since the time of Christ to this day any that have in expresse words said Christ is not come in the flesh though open enemies such as the Jews deny it plainly yet none that have professed to be Christians Some deceivers have said Christ took on him an imaginary no real body some an aërial some a coelestial some a body but no humane soul some that his humane nature was swallowed up of his divine nature and several other heresies about it and these all do in effect deny Christ come in the flesh because they hold forth such a Christ as is no real and true man but none of them have denied it in expresse words and why should we think seducers should be more foolish in deceiving in these last dayes of the world then in former times Besides the Apostle John he calls such an one as shall not confesse Jesus Christ come in the flesh 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is a crafty cheater or juggler that will cozen you while you look on so some expound the word and therefore you must not think they wil in down-right words deny Christ but while they look you in the face and give you good words and say we own Christ come in the flesh and we are slandered by them that say ootherwise of us yet they do but cozen and cheat you for they nothing at all intend it And indeed if you examine the Quakers throughly and ask them what Christ it is they own now in the flesh they will confesse no other Christ but the Christ of the familists Christ in their flesh that in the conscience they own to be Christ but as for the man Christ now in the heavens him they own not as for a Christ who is a particular man personally distinct from other men that Christ that was of the seed of David the Sonne of Mary Jesus of Nazareth they own not him some have said he was the idol of the world they will grant that God took that flesh for a time but no humane soul with it and when that man died on the crosse he never rose againe in this same individual body that same particular man did not ascend into heaven is not at the right hand of God making intercession shall not come to judge the world c. but all this by an allegory is applied to themselves Christ in the flesh is Christ in their flesh dying and rising again in them and now Christ is come to judge the world while they take upon them with authority to judge and revile the servants and wayes of Christ This is the very doctrine of the Quakers concerning Christs Incarnation Death Resurrection Ascension coming to Judgement as may appear by these few testimonies I shall hear set down one of them in a printed paper called The sword of the Lord drawn c. p. 5. hath these words Your imagined God beyond the stars and your carnal Christ for so they reproachfully call the man Christ Jesus now in the heavens is utterly denied and testified against by the light c. In their book called Sauls errand to Damascus p. 8 9. 14. they say That Christ in the flesh with all he did and suffered therein was but a figure and nothing but an example some of them in these parts have publickly before many witnesses denied the Resurrection of the dead body and if so then Christ is not risen and there 's no such man as the man Christ Jesus now in heaven B. L. in conference with my self denied Jesus Christ to take to himselfe an humane soul so Hubberthorn in a letter to me though he took flesh upon him The same person being asked by W. S. what became of the body of Jesus when it was not to be found in the grave answered it perished Another of them said Thou hopest to be saved by the Christ that died at Jerusalem but I trust to a Christ within me pointing to his breast when that testimony of Christ which he gave concerning his Resurrection was urged to some of them in Luke 24.39 The disciples supposing they saw a spirit and that it was not Christ himself he said unto them behold my hands and my feet that it is I my self a spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see me have they have scoffingly answered where was his blood that was spilt upon the crosse they have often urged Christs appearing to his Disciples the doors being shut to argue that Christ rose not with a corporal body of flesh and bones though at the same time he bid unbeleeving Thomas behold his hands and reach his finger and thrust it into his side They frequently speak of a Christ in their conscience as the only Christ for no other man Christ they will acknowledge There needs no further proof of this charge let but any one that desires further satisfaction concerning it ask them as I my self have often proved it by experience in conference with them whether they acknowledge a man Christ personally distinct from other men now residing in the highest heavens who is to come to judge the world at the last day they will tell you they own the same Christ that ever was for they deny not his divinity but for his humanity they will shufle you off and not speak to that and thereby prove themselves Anti-christs because they confesse not Christ in the flesh c. I need not spend many words in the confutation of these things there is no sober Christian that hath received any thing of the knowledge of Christ but his heart wil abhor these doctrines at the very mentioning of them I shall only refer the Reader to some Scriptures that may establish his faith in the truth about these particulars Concerning Christs being really and truly a man See John 1.14 Gal. 4.4 1 Tim. 2.5 That he was a particular individual man personally distinct from all
other men and not a man as he dwells in the flesh of other men appears because he is described to be a man coming of the seed of Abraham of the Tribe of Judah of the family of David born of a particular woman the Virgin Mary not of other women and in that the great doctrine concerning Christ to be beleeved which the Scriptures speaks of was that Jesus of Nazareth that particular man was the Christ That he had a humane or reasonable soul besides his God-head or divine nature See Esay 53.12 Matth. 26.38 John 12.27 And that after this man Christ was crucified he arose again with the same individual body that suffered on the crosse though made more glorious appears by the many witnesses that testified it Acts 2.24 and 3.15 1 Cor. 15.1 2 3 4 5. 2 Tim. 2.8 indeed it was the great work of the Apostles to testifie it Acts 1.22 nor could these witnesses be deceived for 1 There were many that did see him the eleven Apostles and five hundred brethren at once 2 They not only did see him but heard him speak and did eat with him nay felt his prints and marks and himself affirmed he had flesh and bones still 3 And he continued fourty dayes among them besides the Angels from heaven testified the same thing Luke 24.3 5 6. Mark 16.6 and the very souldiers that kept watch bare witnesse to it Mat. 28.11 Further that this same individual person did ascend into heaven even above the visible heavens and is there present making intercession for us at the right hand of God and shall come again to judge the quick and dead at the last day See these Scriptures Mark 16.19 Luke 24.51 Act. 1.9 10 11. Rom. 8.34 Heb. 9.24 Acts 3.21 Acts 17.31 But some Scriptures those people do wrest to make for their purpose which lest they deceive weak ones by them I shall vindicate them 1. They speak much of that Scripture 1 Col Christ in you the hope of glory and of all those Scriptures that speak of Christs being living or dwelling in his people thereby to insinuate there is no other man Christ but Christ in us men Answ I shall not speak now of the nature of Christs in-dwelling or in-being in his people till I come to the fourth Section where I shall have occasion to open it more distinctly onely thus much for the present Christs dwelling in his people now is by his Spirit and not according to his humane nature for this the heavens do containe till he descend visibly to judge the world as he was seen to ascend Acts 1.11 Acts 17.31 But it is by his spirit he dwells now in his people which is infinite and fills all places and so doth not his humane nature being a created thing and finite see this cleer from Rom. 8.10 11. in v. 10. the Apostle speaks of Christ being in you in v. 11. he explaines the expression by shewing the manner of it by his Spirit dwelling in you And indeed we must thus have Christ in us by his Spirit or else we can have no assured hope of glory though the meritorious cause of our salvation and glory is Christs obedience unto death performed in his own person Eph. 1.7 11 14 c. yet we can have no evidence of our right to glory but by finding Christs in-being in us by his Spirit now so that these Scriptures are utterly perverted to make for their ends Further that Scripture 2 Cor. 5.16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh yea though we have known Christ after the flesh yet now henceforth know we him no more is as grosly abused when it is made to speak against that particular man Christ Jesus now in heaven c. for 1 This doctrine concerning the man Christ Jesus his Resurrection c. the Apostle had before asserted in many places as we shewed even now 1 Cor. 15. the beginning Rom. 1.3 4. c. and he doth not now destroy what before he built it was the great thing the Apostles were to testifie and witnesse to the world Acts 1.22 they were to be witnesses of his Resurrection this Apostle doth in more then twenty places in his Epistles testifie how that the man Christ indeed was risen from the dead and ascended into heaven c. therefore he doth not contradict in this place what he lays down in so many other places 2 And therefore we must enquire after another interpretation of that Scripture and it will clearly appear to be this The false apostles had vilified the Apostles Ministry that they might draw away the hearts of people from him according to the practise of the Quakers in these dayes for this is an old trick of Satan and one plea they had against him was this he had not conversed with Christ upon earth as had the other Apostles and therfore he was not so much to be accounted off The Apostle hints we are not to look on Christ under such outward relations as if there were so much benefit by being related to Christ in the flesh or by being in his bodily presence but we are to consider him as having compleated the work of our redemption having overcome death being raised up in glory and ascended into heaven and thus we should know him for the future this is the spring of a Christians comfort thus he speaks not against Christs being in the flesh still which other Scriptures clearly witnesse but against looking upon him under these carnal relations they stood in to him whilest he was upon earth this will appear more fully to be the Apostles mind by considering the various acceptation of the word flesh in Scripture which to avoid tediousnesse I omit here intending to speak of it in Sect. 6. where in proving the resurrection of our dead bodies I shall further prove the truth of Christs resurrection and that still he is really and truly in our natures in heaven even in the same particular body he had upon earth though glorified and indeed if this were not so the Apostles were false witnesses our faith is in vaine we are yet in our sins and they who are fallen asleep in Christ are perished 1 Cor. 15.15 c. Thus for the clearing of this second charge That the Quakers deny Jesus Christ come in the flesh overthrow his Incarnation Death Resurrection Ascension Intercession and coming to Judgement and thereby pull down the maine pillars of Christianity and overthrow the faith and comfort of Christians and that while they pretend to be more spiritual but are indeed deceivers herein turning all into Allegories and faining these things done in the true Christ to be but as a shadow of what is now really done in them From this it is clear the Quakers-christ and Ours is not the same they hold no other man Christ but in their consciences we beleeve our Christ is in heaven and do wait for him to come from heaven who was raised up from the
be raised up again Answ Why should it seem a thing incredible to you that God should raise the dead Act. 26.8 Ye erre because ye know not the Scriptures nor the power of God Matth. 22. Do not you see as great things wrought before your eyes daily Doth not the corne that is sowne in the ground dye and rot and then spring up afterwards and yet Oh fooles will ye not believe 1 Cor. 15. have not many dead bodies been raised up formerly that we have mention of in Scripture to convince men what God can do Nay do not we know that men are able by their wisdome and power when several mettals are mixed together in one lump to sever them so as each shall be pure and unmixed by it self and nothing lose but the drosse And will you then say that the infinitely wise and powerful God cannot do that in our bodies that such poor worms can do in things below here Let such vain thoughts be laid aside and let faith believe though reason cannot comprehend it Then for the Doctrines of the last Judgment Heaven and Hell I need not insist so much upon the proof of them they will follow upon what is already said for granting the resurrection of the body it will more easily be yielded there shall be rewards and punishments to which men shall be adjudged in the world to come That every man shall receive according to what he hath done in his body whether it be good or evil 2 Cor. 15.10 This may appeare one great end why God shall raise them up again But something I shall say to strengthen the weak in these things also 1. Let the light in all men be but judge which these men so much speak of and it will witnesse against them that there is a future state of happinesse or misery an heaven or an hell to which men shall be adjudged after this life is ended according as their works have been here and that judgement heaven and hell are not only in this life There is no Nation in the world however barbarous but have believed it this the light in them hath taught them The Heathen Poets have spoken of their Elisian fields and of the infernal rivers of hell Cicero the Heathen Orator and Lucretius have made mention of the conflagration of the world and the future judgment the Turks speak of Paradise c these they have some dark and groping knowledge of from the light in them though no clear distinct knowledg The poor Indians that go naked as these Quakers sometimes have done in their delusions they have the notion of these things nor are there only meer notions in these Heathens of these things but they have many terrours and feares of conscience about them especially when they have been near unto death this hath been so firmly rooted in them that nothing could weare it out men that have lived like Atheists have been overtaken with these feares sometimes Besides they have an obscure knowledge of a God and that this God is a righteous God and will judge the world in righteousnesse and observing it is not well alway here with them that do well nor doth evill befall the wicked more then others they hence collect there will be a more equal dispensation of rewards and punishments in the world to come Adde further they have knowledge of the souls immortality for they see it doth not depend upon the body now for its acts and operations but can comprehend things that never came within the outward sences can know and understand the nature and causes of things can attaine some knowledge of God and spirits can enter heaven with contemplation while the body lies groveling here upon earth c. and therefore they conclude it doth not depend on the body for its being but is immortall and being immortal there is an estate of eternal happinesse or misery for it How little then do these men look to the light within them while they deny these manifest truths how false are they to their own principles if the light that is in them be darkness how great is that darkness II. But let us appeal to the light of the Scriptures and there we have more clear and distinct discovery of these things then this generall light in all hath yet ever made For the last judgement read Mat. 25. where we have the processe thereof set down at large by Christ the time when it must be is shewed ver 31. When the Sonne of man shall come in his glory and all the Holy Angels with him not when Christ comes in Spirit to his people but when he comes as the Son of man in a glorious condition his Angels attending him and the persons then to be judged are all Nations ver 32. and not only a few persons shall be judged as these poor wretches affirming this judgement to be now present take on them to judge here and there a person for the living and dead both must be judged then 2 Tim. 4.1 and Angels as well as men Jude 6. The manner of the judgment is described in the following part of the Chapter Acts 17.31 God hath appointed a day wherein he will judge the world by that Man whom he hath appointed whereof be hath given assurance by raising him up from the dead that Man-Christ that particular Man that was raised up from the dead is to be Judge not these men that pretend to judge now See also for this Act. 10.42 2 Tim. 4.1 And if you would know when this appointed day is to be the Apostle expresses it Heb. 9.27 It is appointed for men once to dy but after this the judgement after death followes the resurrection and judgment it is to be at the second appearance of Christ the Son of man in the cloudes of Heaven 2 Tim. 4.1 1 Thess 4.16 2 Thess 1.7 8. for this last and great judgement see further Jude 14 15. Rev. 20.12 with many other places And for Heaven and Hell after this life is ended that necessarily followes upon the proof of the last judgment these being the places of reward and punishment to which men shall be adjudged at that great day of the Lord So that it s not requisite to multiply places for these Only let the Reader for to confirme his faith peruse at his leasure these Scriptures Mat. 25.34 56. Luke 16.22 2 Cor. 5.1 5 8. 2 Thess 1.7 Heb. 10.34 1 Pet. 1.3 4. Isa 30.33 Psal 9.17 Matth. 10.28 Mat. 25.41 Luke 16.26 Rev. 20.15 From which places its evident that Heaven is a place of perfect blisse and happinesse not upon earth but above the visible Heavens not to be enjoyed whil'st we be in the flesh here though we have some foretasts or earnests of it in which respect it may be said the Kingdome of Heaven is now within us but into which the souls of the righteous shall be translated presently after their departure out of the body and which their bodies
slighting Christs satisfaction and denying it to be our righteousnesse before God and in making Christ a figure With the Anabaptists in denying the lawfulnesse of oathes and of Infant-baptisme With the Familists in turning all the Doctrines of our faith into Allegories and making Christs incarnation death resurrection c. only mysteries to be witnessed in men They agree with the Libertines in denying created graces in the Saints and making Christ in a man do all whil'st we are passive And with the Ranters who make reason to be God for the Quakers make the light in the conscience to be Christ himselfe I have charged them with it as their tenet and told them I would report that they held it if they would not deny it but they durst not deny the same I should have done raking in this filthy puddle of false doctrine but that I must not omit to parallel them with the Papists they are so ready to exclaime against others as Popish and Anti-christian whereas none are more deeply guilty of the charge then themselves I shall shew in twenty particulars and I might instance in more that they exactly agree with them The Papists deny the necessity of the Scriptures So the Quakers I shewed both in the first Section The Papists will not have them a rule of faith and life a judge of controversies So the Quakers The Papists revile them and call them a dead letter So the Quakers The Papists equall other things with the Scriptures and so do the Quakers the Papists prefer the vulgar translation before the original copies of Greek and Hebrew so the Quakers The Papists agree with the Quakers exactly in the great Doctrine of Justification both make Gods justifying act to stand in infusing or putting in righteousnesse into men both hold they are free from the being of sinne that they can keep the Law perfectly both scoffe at Protestants who confesse they have sinne dwelling in them and they need the robes of Christs righteousnesse to cover them saying they make Christs righteousnesse a cover to their abominations The Papists place holiness in outward observations voluntary humility neglecting of the body casting off wordly imployments So the Quakers The Papists take away justification by faith turne from the Gospel to the Law are fallen from grace so the Quakers The Papists pretend revelations visions raptures trances so the Quakers The Papists deny speciall grace necessary to conversion and salvation making the common light and power given to all sufficient if heeded Papists give to man free-will and a power to improve this common grace So the Quakers Both Papists and Quakers pretend to infallibility to a power if working Miracles Both are alike in censuring condemning and cursing all that are not of their way Both deny the Protestant Churches to be Churches of Christ both are bitter enemies to the Ministers and would gladly suppresse them if they could the Popish Prelates in England sought to silence them and suppresse preaching catechising c. Till they were suppressed themselves and the raging Quakers who rose up in their steades never ceased disturbing them and vilifying them till they were themselves curbed by the civil powers The Papists sought to keep people in ignorance without teaching and instructing them and the Quakers seek to bring people from all other teachings to the light in them that so they may have no other teaching then the Savage Indians have The Papists and Quakers are both alike industrious in compassing sea and land to make proselytes and to render them two-fold more the children of the Devil then before I might shew the agreement of Papists and Quakers in several other particulars if it were necessary doth not all this make it evident the Quakers are the Popes brats though they be so unnatural they will not own their father We have reason enough to believe there have been more Popish Priests in England besides Coppinger to instill these notions into the Quakers This Coppinger being a Franciscan Friar did confesse to a Citizen of Bristoll as was given in upon Oath before the Magistrates there that he had spoken about thirty times amongst the Quakers at London and that he saw two other Franciscan Friars at a quaking meeting who were become chief speakers amongst the Quakers Now how dreadfull a thing is it that these filthy doctrines of Popery that the people of God in the former age with so much detestation have rejected should in this apostatizing age with so much acceptance be entertained amongst us Sure this may be a sufficient warning to all humble and holy Christians and to all who are not given up to believe lies to beware of Quakerisme seeing it is evidenced so clearly to be the common sink of all those former heresies SECT XII The Quakers are enemies to Civility and good manners THere is scarse any Nation under the whole Heavens even the Savage Indians not excepted but they have been taught by the light in them to give some civil honour and respect to their superiours and to shew outward tokens of love and courtesie to their equals Had therefore the Quakers minded the light within them as they pretend to do they would not have affected so morose and clownish a demeanor as to deny civility and humanity toward men Much lesse had they consulted with the light of the Scriptures where so many excellent precepts and examples are recorded teaching us the same It is the commendation of the holy Scriptures that they are absolutely sufficient for doctrine reproof correction and instruction in righteousnesse that we may be furnished unto every good work and therefore as they teach us duties of Religion and Piety towards God so do they instruct us in duties of righteousnesse and civil behaviour towards men I need not prove this charge against the Quakers that they are enemies against civility and good manners their daily practise doth evidence it they deny to give any titles of respect to men though never so deserving they expresse no civil honour by any outward gestures use not common salutations yea they condemne such as do these things I shall therefore shew how contrary they walk herein to the precepts and presidents we find in the holy Scriptures and vindicate some Scriptures that they perversly wrest to make for them Concerning saluting of men we have Christs expresse command for it to his disciples Matth. 10.12 and when ye come into an house salute it and lest any should take this for a duty only to neere friends and acquaintance we may see how Christ Mat. 5.47 teaches it to be a duty to others Christians should excell others should love their enemies and salute them also or else what do they more then the Publicans Rom. 16. Paul spends the whole Chapter almost in salutations to the Saints which he would not have done if it had been so unlawful as the Quakers would make it Luke 1.40 we have Mary saluting Elizabeth See also Act. 18.22 and c.
faithful dispensers thereof if you would not fall into errours let not any say I plead more in this for the honour and benefit of Ministers then for the good of peoples souls So Heb. 13.7 9. for the spirit of God hints this direction Eph. 4 14. in v. 11. you read God hath given to his Church Prophets Apostles Pastours Teachers and in the following verses is shewed the end thereof for the work of the Ministry for the edifying the Church and perfecting the Saints and v. 14. to prevent being tossed to and fro and carried away with every wind of doctrine by the sleight of men and cunning craftinesse of deceivers This is one great end of Gods giving Ministers to his Church to prevent their being deceived by seducers one great part of their work is to confute gain-sayers There is scarce any desert the truth but they first desert the Ministry men first begin to have itching ears and seek new Teachers and then embrace lies and fables 2 Tim. 4.3 4. how diligent therefore are seducers to undermine the Ministry and steal peoples hearts from them if the wolves can draw the sheep from the shepherds they will soon devour them What designes have they against the office maintenance and persons of Ministers to bring them down and especially against the most faithful and industrious in the Ministry think not therefore you can be long preserved from these ravening wolves if you stragle from your shepherds but learn to keep close to your faithful Ministers If it be asked who are those Ministers we are to adhere unto for many lay claime to this office now I answer in two words 1. Those whom God hath so visibly owned and set his seal to by blessing their Ministry to the convincing converting comforting and confirming so many thousands of his Saints in England those whom God hath used as instruments under him to maintaine the profession and power of godlinesse in the Nation for many yeares that have by their doctrine conversation and sufferings adorned the Gospel of Christ can any but the hardened enemies of the truth call these Anti-christian whoever is not blinded by Satan may see these to be the Ministers of Christ 2. Those whom the devil and his instruments hath most opposed and maligned whom the Popish Prelates silenced fined imprisoned banished whom the Malignant Caveleirs hated cursed and plundered whom all drunkards swearers and profane persons would have suppressed and whom apostates the most bitter enemies of all the rest do now with such implacable hatred and malignity prosecute and molest These are the Ministers of Christ there need no other arguments to prove it VII Consider seriously the many eminent testimonies God hath given from heaven against hereticks and apostates against despisers of his Ordinances and Ministers and against the errours and heresies broached by them God hath in all ages borne some signal testimony against them which being duly observed might be a very effectual means to preserve from the errours of those times It might be shewed in what age and by what persons most of these now supposed new lights but indeed old exploded heresies newly revived and brought from hell were first broached what successe they had what fearful judgements befel the Authours of them how truth prevailed against them and this might much tend to establish Christians against seducements thereunto but this would require a volumn to do it In the primitive times many wonderful testimonies God gave against several enemies of his truth Simon Magus who was the first arch-heretick and by his Sorceries deceived much people and contended with the Apostles themselves in working miracles as the Egyptian Sorcerers did with Moses he attempting to flie in the aire was by the prayers of the Apostles brought tumbling down and miserably perished Cerinthus was killed by the fall of an house Montanus hanged himself Manes had his skin torn off his flesh Arrius his bowels gushed out Nestorius his tongue rotting and consuming in his head the earth opened and swallowed him up What standing monuments are these of Gods wrath against hereticks yet are many of their wicked errours revived in these days if these testimonies of Gods wrath against them were duly considered it might make people to this day more fearful of drinking in their abominable doctrines In the first times of Reformation from Popery the devil stirs up the Anabaptists to hinder that work and they were more bitter and malignant enemies to the first Reformers and greater obstructers of the work of God then the Papists and what signal tokens of Gods wrath were shewen against them by giving them up to such vile affections and practises as preparing them for destruction there were say some * Pontanus one hundred and fifty thousand of them slaine What a warning might this be to people to beware of the leaven of Anabaptisme now spreading amongst us When the Churches of Christ in N. England were infested with Antinomians Familists and Anti-ordinanced men betwixt whom and the Quakers is great agreement how did the Lord give signal testimony against them by those prodigious births of Mrs. Hutchinson and Mrs. Dyer are not these land-marks to warn people to take heed of suffering ship-wrack upon such rocks of errour And amongst our selves in England God hath many ways appeared against the raging enemies of his truth and Ministers risen up in these late years some are so given up to be blinded and infatuated that they have lost the understanding and reason of men and are become brutish in their wayes others casting off the profession of godlinesse are given up to vile affections and practises what abominable errours and delusions have some swallowed down gredily and what remarkable judgements of God have befallen others It would require a large volumne to record the history hereof These things if duly considered might be serious admonitions to all to take heed of deserting the truths Ordinances and Ministers of Christ I adde no more these directions if conscionably used might through the blessing of the Lord be special preservatives against the infection and contagion of the errours of our times Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy to the only wise God our Saviour Jude 24.25 be Glory and Majesty Dominion and Power now and ever Amen FINIS A TABLE Shewing some principal Doctrines of Religion cleared and confirmed in the former Treatise with other useful things B BOwing to Superiours and other gestures of Civil honour justified from Scripture pag. 68 69 C How Hereticks deny Christ come in the flesh pag. 11 Christ proved a true and real man and personally distinct from other men pag. 13 Christ his death resurrection and ascension proved from Scripture pag. 12 Christ dwells in us by his Spirit not by his humane nature pag. 14 What it is to know Christ after the flesh pag. 15 The Quakers