are absolutely necessary to salvation This Creed is the badge or cognizance by which the faithfull are discerned from unbeleevers This is the Catholick faith which except a man beleeve faithfully he cannot be saved This short and perfect confession of this Catholike Creed which was assigned by the sentences of twelve Apostles is so perfect a celestiall Armour that all opinions of Hereticks may by this alone as with a sword be cut in peeces As Tertullian learnedly saith Regula quidem fidei un a omnino est sola immobilis irreformabilis credendi scilicet in unicum Deum omnipotentem c. Haec Lege fidei monente caeterajam disciplinae conversationis admittunt novitatem correctionis operante scilicet proficiente usque in finem gratia dei The rule of faith is wholy one unalterable never to be mended never to be changed to wit I beleeve in God the Father Almighty c. This Law of Faith remaining in other things you may encrease and grow The knowledge of these Articles is required of all in the defence whereof we should be ready to suffer the extreamest things even death it selfe if God be pleased to call us thereunto and which we should count the very Characters of true Religion the distinct knowledge whereof we should lay up as great riches Let us therefore be alwaies ready after the example of Christ to witnesse a good confession albeit it be even before Pontius Pilate 1 Tim. 6.13 Do any perswade you to forsake your Ministers and to follow new lights This perswasion commeth not of him that calleth you but of those who trouble you and would pervert the Gospell of Christ Gal. 5 8. Chap. 1.7 Whilest some men yea the most do sell the truth O do you buy it at any rate and sell it at no rate according to the counsell of the wise man Pro. 23.23 For I am perswaded the devill had never such a harvest of soules since the Reformation as he hath now by our innovators they are the devils brokers the Popes Agents sent abroad throughout the whole Land to seduce and to disturbe the Nation be you for Gods sake not seduced by them for errours in the judgement are far more dangerous than errours in life for sound doctrine may reforme a bad life but a scandalous life cannot establish sound doctrine Continue you therefore in the faith grounded and setled and be not moved away from the hope of the Gospell Col. 1.23 Would any perswade you to forsake the publike Assembly of Gods Saints Let your answer be and your resolution too we will not forsake the house of our God Neh. 10.39 Oh do you not as you tender the salvation of your soules forsake the Temple and truth of God to follow the bleating of Ieroboams calfe in Dan or in Bethel 1 Kin. 12. v. 25. to 31. As for these Quakers they are at this day miserably misled God of his infinite mercy open their eyes for now the blind do lead the blind and if they go on both will certainly fall into the ditch Oh therefore I do humbly and earnestly beseech you to have nothing to do with this gadding Tribe with this intoxicated giddy headed and brain-sick generation For your incouragement hereunto I beseech you seriously to consider what our blessed Saviour saith by way of commendation to the Church of Ephesus Rev. 2.2 I know thy works and thy labour and thy patience and how thou canst not beare such as are evill and hast tried them which say they are Apostles men sent from God and are not and hast found them lyars Marke and canst not beare them O that the same mind were in us of the Church of England Consider also what a discommendation and reproofe our blessed Saviour gives the Church of Pergamos Rev. 2.14 I have a few things against thee because thou hast them that hold the doctrine of Balaam who taught Balaac to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel to eat things sacrificed unto Idols and to commit fornication So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans which thing I hate So to the Church of Thyatira he gives a sharp reproofe for suffering false teachers to roost among them such as the Quakers are Rev. 2.20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee because thou sufferest * that woman Iezabel which calleth her selfe a prophetesse to teach and to seduce my servants c. And I am afraid that the Lord hath a controversie with the Church of England for * suffering these Quakers and decivers under the species of Religion to teach and to seduce the people not only in their private meetings and conventicles but also in the Presse by scandalous and lying Pamphlets which is the way to make our Magistrates and Ministers to be in contempt of the people and our adversaries the Papists do rejoyce at it for the Pope had never such a hopefull successe of reducing Popery into this Land as he hath now God of his infinite mercy prevent it And Oh! that our faithful Magistrates into whose hands God hath intrusted power would be valiant for the truth upon the earth as hitherto they have been to cut off false Prophets Hereticks and perverse and incorrigible seducers and blasphemers for these are the pest of Church and State Lev. 24.16 2 Kings 23.20 Chap. 10.4 5. 2 Chron. 15.8 12 13 14 15 16. That judgement may flow down as the rivers Psal 99.4 And I am perswaded the worke would be so acceptable to God that he would multiply his blessing not only on the persons of our Magistrates but on their seed also Pro. 29.4 14. This note was the swan-song of the sweet Psalmist of Israel which the God of Israel the rock of Israel spake to him he that ruleth men must be just ruling in the feare of God and he shall be as the light of the morning * when the sun riseth even a morning * without clouds as the tender grasse springing out of the earth by cleare shining after raine 2 Sam. 23.1 3 4. Deale couragiously and the Lord shall be with the good 2 Chron. 19.11 So shall the wicked feare the godly love and all reverence you but if not you and your authority will be contemned and kicked against by every worme And O ye inhabitants especially of the City of London and Bristoll and all other the Sons of the Church of England both high and low old and young rich and poore male and female O that my counsell might be acceptable unto you have not itching eares forsake not your old teachers to follow new lights for the good way is an old way Ier. 6.16 Use much prayer especially morning and evening in your Family and in your Closets and beg earnestly of God from a faithfull and penitent heart to shew you the right way Ezra 8.21 Psal 119.36 Esa 48.17 Psal 27.11 Gad not about to change your way Ier. 2.36 Rather consider that undeniable truth
devisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned and avoid them Then he adds the reason For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ but their own bellies and by good words and faire speeches deceive the hearts of the simple O that we would all imbrace this wholsome counsell of the blessed Apostle even to marke and so to marke as to avoid all Papists Arminians Antitrinitarians Anti-scripturists Anabaptists Quakers and all other Sects and Sectaries whatsoever that cause divisions and offences contrary to this or any other doctrine which the blessed Apostle taught the ancient Romans and that upon the reason of the counsell ver 18. Make not the light within your rule to walke by further than it agrees with the light without shining forth in the holy Scriptures Follow your light within and your teacher within what else But so as not to neglect the light without shining forth in the holy Scriptures For as the Scriptures are the word of God 2 Tim. 3.16 So it is a perfect rule of righteousnesse containing all our duty to God to man to our selves all those things which are to be done or left undon or to beleeved to salvation Psal 19.7 The holy Scriptures are able to make us wise unto salvation through faith which is in Jesus Christ All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine for reproose for correction for instruction in righteousnesse that the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto every good worke 2 Tim. 3.15 16 17. Whilest the upstart Sect the Quakers do look principally after the light within we saith Saint Peter have a more sure word of prophecy whereunto ye do well * that ye take heed even as unto a light which shineth in a darke place untill the dawn and the day star arise in your hearts Knowing this first that no Scripture is of any private interpretation For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost 2 Pet. 1.19 20 21. Wherefore I humbly beseech you that ye be not soone shaken in mind by this up-start generation of quaking seducers who have a forme of godlinesse but deny the power thereof from such turne away For of this sort are they which forsaking the publike assemblies creep into houses and lead captive silly women laden with sin and led away with divers lusts ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth Now as Iannes and Iambres those sorcerers spoken of Exod. 7.11 22. withstood Moses so do these also resist the truth men of corrupt minds reprobate concerning the Faith but they shall proceed no farther for their folly shall be made manifest unto all as theirs also was But continue you in the things which ye have learned and have been assured of knowing of whom ye have learned them Tim. 3.5 6 7 8 9. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering for he is faithfull that promised and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works Not forsaking the assembling of our selves together as the manner of some is but exhorting of one another and so much the rather as ye see the day approaching Cast not away therefore your confidence which hath great recompence of reward For ye have need of patience that after ye have done the will of God ye may receive the promise For yet a little while and he that shall come will come and will not tarry Now the just shall live by faith But if any man draw back my soule shall have no pleasure in him But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition but of them who beleeve to the saving of the soule Heb. 10.23 24 25 35 36 37 38 39. Be ye henceforth no more children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the sleight of men and cunning craftinesse whereby they lie in waite to deceive Eph. 4.14 Embrace the counsell of the Apostle 1 Ioh. 4.2 Beloved beleeve not every spirit but try the spirits to wit those who say they are sent by the spirit whether they are of God because many false prophets are gone out into the world But how shall we try them To the Law and to the Testimoney if they speake not according to this word it is because there is no light in them Isa 8.20 If there come any unto you and bring not this doctrine receive him not into your house neither bid Godspeed that is shew him no countenance by receiving him hearing him and the like for he that biddeth him God-speed is partaker of his evill deeds 2 Ep. of Ioh. 10 11. ye therefore beloved seeing ye know these things before beware lest ye also being led away with the errour of the wicked fall from your own stedfastnesse 2 Pet. 3.17 Little children saith Saint Iohn it is the last time and as ye have heard that Antichrist should come even so now are there many Antichrists whereby we know that it is the last time They went out from us but they were not of us for if they had been of us they would no doubt have continued with us but they went out that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us But ye have an unction from the holy one and shall know all things Let that therefore abide in you which ye have heard from the beginning if that which you have heard from the beginning shall remain in you ye shall also continue in the Father and the Son And this is the promise that he hath promised us even eternall life These things have I written unto you concerning them which seduce you 1 Ioh. 2.18 19 20 24 25 26. Now the spirit speaketh expresly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrine of devils speaking lies in hypocrisie having their consciences seared with a hot iron 1 Tim. 4.1 2. Thus saith the Lord stand ye in the waies and see and aske for the old paths where is the good way and walke therein and you shall find rest for your soules Ier. 6.16 Therefore suffer not your selves to be led aside out of the old way after new lights new waies new notions new doctrine a new Gospell a new Church for the good way is an old way but stand stoutly and to the death in the cause and quarrell of the good old way and contend and that earnestly for that old faith once delivered to the Saints Iude 3. Which faith is laid down in the sacred lines of the holy Scriptures from the Alpha of Genesis to the Omega of the Revelation and is summed up in that almost forgotten Creed commonly called the Apostles Creed which may be truly called the Summary or Abridgement of the Gospell for it is a short sum of all those Gospell-truths which
place ye call me Master and Lord and ye say well marke that ye say well for so I am If I then your Lord and Master have washed your feet ye also ought to wash one anothers Rom. 14.4 Who art thou that judgest another mans servant To his own Master he standeth or falleth Eph. 6.5 6. Servants be obedient to them that are your Masters according to the flesh and so forward to the end of ver 9. Masters give unto your servants that which is just and equall Col. 4.1 I shall name one Scripture more which alone of it selfe is enough to overthrow the whole body of the Quakers and to lay them upon their backs but I pray God it may bring them upon their knees to beg pardon of God for breaking the peace of the Church upon such a false ground 1 Tim. 6.1 2 3 4 5. Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own Masters worthy of all honour that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed And they that have beleeving Masters let them not despise them because they are brethren but rather do them service because they are faithfull and beloved partakers of the benefit These things teach and exhort Marke what followes ver 3. If any man teach otherwise and consent not to wholsome words even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the doctrine which is according to godlinesse he is proud knowing nothing but doting about questions and strifes of words whereof commeth envy strife railings evil surmisings perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth supposing that gaine is godlinesse from such withdraw thy selfe To which we may adde two Tenets of theirs of a higher nature 6. That Infant Baptisme is no Ordinance of Christ and therefore of no use in the Church of God Proofe That this is theirs doth appeare by Iohn Audlands lastbook against M. Farmer and also in Richard Farnworths book intituled the heart opened by Christ Confut. 1. An expresse command I grant is not to be found in the New Testament for Infant-Baptisme no nor yet an expresse command against it Infants under the Law were circumcised at eight daies old Gen. 17. And this Circumcision was a seale of the righteousnesse of faith Rom. 4.11 even of that righteousnesse of Christ made ours by faith And in the roome of Circumcision under the Law is ordained Baptisme or washing with water as a seale of the same righteousnesse of faith now if it had been the will of God that Infants should not have been sealed or this righteousnesse of faith sealed to them by Baptisme under the Gospell as well as by Circumcision under the Law he would have given an expresse command to the contrary which neither Christ nor his Apostles have done therefore Infants are to be baptized 2. If Baptisme should be denied to Infants under the Gospell more than Circumcision under the Law this inference must of necessity follow That the Covenant of grace now under the Gospell would be of a farre more narrow extent than the same Covenant or dispensation of grace was under the Law Ergo Infants are to be baptized 3. The Apostle Saint Paul saith That the blessing of Abraham comes on the Gentiles Gal. 3.14 Now a part of the blessing of Abraham and a great one too was this That his Infants or male-children for the female were uncapable of Circumcision should be circumcised the eighth day as a seale of the Covenant Gen. 17. or as a seale of the righteousnesse of faith Rom. 4.11 Now how can the blessing of Abraham come on the Gentiles if their Infants under the Gospell should not have the seale of the Covenant by Baptisme as well as Abrahams had under the Law by Circumcision Since Baptisme is commanded to us under the Gospell in the roome of Circumcision and doth seale the same Covenant Thus we have Scripture for Infant-baptisme but you that deny it have none 7. That the Lords Supper is of no use in the Church of God since the resurrection of Christ Proofe That this is theirs is evident by the writings of one Richard Farnworth who is a professed Quaker in his book intituled The heart opened by Christ And he seems to prove it by 1 Cor. 11.26 For as often as ye eate this bread and drinke this cup ye do shew the Lords death till he come that is saith he till he come from the dead Confut. This Scripture 1 Cor. 11.26 doth plainly shew that this Ordinance of the Lords Supper is to be continued in the Church of Christ till the second comming of Christ to judgement for first this Epistle was not wrot till after both the Resurrection and also Ascension of Christ and also the comming down of the Holy Ghost for it was written by Saint Paul and Saint Paul was not converted till after the comming down of the Holy Ghost and therefore could not write it till after he was converted and it was a present duty in the Church of Corinth when the Apostle wrote this Epistle as appeares ver 20. to the end of the Chapter see Acts 2.46 and 20.7 So it is cleare that this Ordinance is to continue in the Church of Christ till the second comming of Christ to judgement Reverence therefore deare Christians the antiquity of this so high and heavenly a mystery for it was ordained by our Saviour Christ Jesus himselfe when the world was three thousand nine hundred fourescore and five years old the foure and twentieth day of March and in the three and thirtieth yeare of the Nativity of Jesus Christ our Lord above sixteen hundred yeares ago and hath been continued in the Church of Christ ever since and must till his second comming as hath been shewed 1 Cor. 11.26 For as often as ye eate this bread and drinke this cup ye do shew the Lords death till he come It was never my purpose Christian Reader to have wrote a Treatise of this Subject till of late firding none that have answered that Pamphlet set forth by Iohn Audland full of malice and spleen against our Magistrates and Ministers When I see two Hebrews strive together I cannot but say to him that did the wrong why smitest thou thy fellow Exod. 2.13 Not out of any pragmaticall disposition or love to contention as all that know me can witnesse and God the searcher of the heart is witnesse but out of a heart unfeignedly affecting the Peace of Sion Remember I pray you that of Saint Austine there are some who defend their opinious not because it is true but because it is their own for so selfe-love doth draw men into errours I doubt not but I shall heare from some what Moses did from the Hebrew who made thee a judge over us But Saint Ierome hath taught me not to regard subtill disputes nor reproaches My conscience beares me witnesse that I have in this matter dealt sincerely And if I should be smitten with the tongues and pens of any yea of many yet the reducing of a few that erre or satisfying of some that doubt shall be a sufficient comfort to me It is an excellent speech of a worthy servant of Christ prayers are fitter for these times than controversies I would to God we were all effectually perswaded of the truth hereof for so controversies might be easily decided opinions might be turned into unity contention into amity and these lamentable digladiations which afflict the Church into the precepts and practice of piety and charity which blessing of peace the God of peace grant unto his Church in his own good time and I beseech the God of peace and truth to bring into the way of truth all those poore soules that have erred and are deceived Amen FINIS