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A65886 A serious account in XXXV evident reasons (to all who desire satisfaction) why the people of the lord, called Quakers, cannot go to worship at those places called churches and chappels, and to inform the magistrates and ministers that such consciencious people (as are separated from these places) ought not to be compelled (from their peaceable meetings) to their worship and churches, so called, being a short discovery of the way, worship, and principles of the true ministers and persecuted people of God, in several exceptions against the practices, worship, and principles of the priests, both of the Presbyterians, and Episcopal-men, and others of the same affinity, in some of which principles the Presbyterians are the rather concerned, but in others of them, both are concerned in the general / by Geo. Whitehead. Whitehead, George, 1636?-1723. 1661 (1661) Wing W1956; ESTC R20306 27,063 42

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Name of Jesus when the Rulers among the Jews did so command them which they could not obey but chose rather to obey God than man Act. 4.18 19. As also it was against the Prophet Daniel's Conscience to obey King Darius his Decree which was That whosoever should ask a Petition of any God or man for thirty dayes save of the King should be cast into the Lyons Den But Daniel contrary to this Decree did pray to his God as he was wont to do Dan. 6 7 9 10. and we might as well be commanded not to speak any more in the Name of Jesus or not to call upon the Lord as to have our peaceable Meetings which are in the Name of Christ broken and to be halled violently out of our Meetings when we have been calling upon the Lord in Prayer as many of us have been thus dealt by and not suffered to enjoy our Meetings to call upon the Lord in them as formerly II. Of the Education of the Priests ALso it is against our Consciences to go to worship with the World at these places called Churches and Chappels because the Lord hath brought us to see the Education and fitting of the hireling Priests to their Ministry at Oxford and Cambridge to be set up in the Apostacy when there was a degenerating from the state of the true Church of the Saints And the way they are made Ministers is contrary to the way the true Ministers of Christ were made for they were not made Ministers by natural learning of natural Languages Arts Sciences Traditions Inventions of men and studying the several kinds of Philosophy and learning out of old Authors nor ordained according to man's will as the Priests are who by their natural industry and study attain to their Learning and Knowledge as the natural man may do who knows not the things of the Spirit of God and as Pilate and other Learned men who knew not God nor Christ had the learning of Tongues Joh. 19.19 20. But the true Ministers of the New Testament received not their Gospel of man nor were made Ministers by the will of man but by the Gift and Revelation of CHRIST in them in which they owned and approved one of another Gal. 1. 1 Pet. 4.10 But these Priests have told us that Revelations and Inspirations from Heaven are long since ceased contrary to Christ and his Apostles Doctrine and so shew themselves to be both out of the knowledge of God which is revealed to the Saints Matth. 11.27 and never sent of God or Christ and therefore it is against our Consciences to sit under their Ministry which they never received nor had Commission for from God III. Of their Humane Learning AS also the Apostle who preached not in the words which man's wisdom taught but in the words which the holy Ghost taught said to the Church Beware lest any man spoyl you through Philosophy and vain deceit after the Traditions of men after the Rudiments of the world and not after Christ and bad Timothy avoid opposition of Science falsly so called Col. 2.8 1 Tim. 6.20 1 Cor. 1. chap. 2. And when the Word of the Lord prevailed among the Jews and Greeks where Paul preached many of them which used curious Arts brought their Books together which were counted worth fifty thousand pieces of silver and burned them openly Act. 19.18 19. so that the Priests idolizing natural Learning and crying it up with their Philosophy natural Arts and Sciences as their means to fit them to their Trade of Preaching is in the darkness of Apostacy and Antichristianism contrary to the Life and Word which the Apostles and true Ministers were in and preached which Word was before natural Learning and Languages were and Plough-men Herds-men Fisher-men and the like were made Ministers of the Word among the People of God of old Exod. 3.1 1 King 19.19 Amos 7.14 Matth. 4.18 19 20 21. though humane Learning we own to be of use in its own proper place as a natural thing but not to be made an Idol of as the Priests do IV. Of Tythes and forced Maintenance THe Lord hath brought us to see that the Priests taking Tythes and forced maintenance from people is contrary to the Doctrine Practice and Example of the Ministers of the Gospel neither do they live of the Gospel when they force Tythes and Maintenance from people by an outward Law of man or help of the Magistrate to compel people to pay them for the true Ministers who lived of the Gospel and whose words and works agreed they preached the Gospel freely and laboured to keep it without charge as Christ commanded Matth. 10.8 1 Cor. 9.18 And their Maintenance was freely administred to them in that love which their Gospel had begotten in the hearts of such as received them without compulsion or persecution as where they had sown spiritual things there they might reap of their carnal things for their relief Also the Apostle preached the end of that Law and Priesthood of Levi which upheld Tythes and who received them for their service done at the Tabernacle and out them the Fatherless Widdows and Strangers were relieved Numb 18.21 Deut. 14. but this was under the Law which Christ ended and changed that Priesthood Heb. 7. Neither is Melchizedeck's receiving the tenth of the Spoyls which Abraham once freely gave him when he returned from the slaughter of the Kings Gen. 14. any example for the Priests yearly forcing the Tenths of men's Labours and Estates from them and their taking Easter Reckonings Midsummer Dues so called and making Bargains with people for so much by the Year for preaching and yet saying they are Christ's Ambassadors This is exceeding gross and contrary to the practice and example of the true Ministers of Christ. And therefore we cannot own such covetous men to be our Teachers for the Apostle bad turn away from such 2 Tim. 3.5 for they are guilty of them that went in Balaam's way for reward and of the sins of the false Prophets and Priests in Israel who preached for filthy Lucre and Hire and sought for their Gain from their Quarters Isa. 56.11 Jer. 5.31 Micah 3.11 And these Priests are like Eli's Sons who were sons of Belial in their taking away mens goods by force 1 Sam. 1. and not like Samuel who could challenge all Israel to testifie against him whose Dr or whose Asse he had taken or whom he had oppressed or at whose hands he had received a gift to blind his eye therewith and he would have restored it again but none could accuse him but justified him as free from these things 1 Sam. 12.3 4. As also it was the false Shepherds that fed themselves and not the flock and with force and cruelty ruled over them as the Priests do Ezek. 34. and against such the Lord was as he is against them now V. Of the Priests Unreasonableness in spoyling mens Goods ANd what shameful work have these Priests made in their
A SERIOUS ACCOUNT In XXXV Evident Reasons To all who desire Satisfaction Why the People of the Lord called QUAKERS cannot go to Worship at those places called Churches and Chappels And to inform the Magistrates and Ministers That such Consciencious People as are separated from these places ought not to be compelled from their Peaceable Meetings to their Worship and Churches so called BEING A short DISCOVERY of the Way Worship and Principles of the true Ministers and persecuted People of God in several Exceptions against the Practices Worship and Principles of the Priests both of the Presbyterians and Episcopal-men and others of the same affinity in some of which Principles the Presbyterians are the rather concerned but in others of them both are concerned in the general By Geo. Whitehead London Printed for Robert Wilson at the Sign of the Black-spread-Eagle and Wind-mill in Martins Le Grand 1661. THE CONTENTS Of the following REASONS 1. COncerning the true Worship and Meetings which God hath called us to and of what he hath called us from 2. Of the Education of the Priests 3. Of their humane Learning 4. Of Tythes and forced Maintenance 5. Of the Priests Unreasonableness in spoyling mens goods 6. Of their Persecuting and Compelling men 7. Of the manner of their Preaching 8. Of the manner of their Worship 9. Of their Sinning in their best Performances 10. Of the Trade of their Preaching Then the falshood of the Priests and Professors Principles 1. Concerning the Light 2. Their confusion about the Light 3. Of the Offer of Salvation 4. Of the Death of Christ. 5. Of Perfection 6. Of the Priests Exhorting to endeavour after it 7. Of Election and Reprobation 8. Of Original Sin 9. Of the Serpent and the forbidden Fruit. 10. Of Justification and of Sanctification 11. Of the Believer's Faith and its Work 12. Of the Priests meanings upon the Scripture 13. Of the Gospel 14. Of the Foundation and only Rule 15. Of Swearing 16. Of Revelation and Inspiration from Heaven 17. Of Sprinkling Infants 18. Of Bread and Wine which they call the Lords Supper 19. 20. Of the Church and Seal of the Covenant 21. Of Bishops and Presbyters 22. Of the Priests Ordination 23. Of the Common-prayer-Book 24. Of the Priests grosse Ignorance about their Publick Baptism 25. Of the true Church and its Head I. Concerning the true Worship and Meetings which God hath called us to and of what he hath called us from THe LORD GOD of Truth and Righteousness hath gathered us by his mighty Power out of the worlds Ways Worships and Traditions which were never set up by the Power of God and from the Priests and Teachers of the world which are made and set up by the Traditions and Wills of men who preach for filthy lucre and gain which thing was ever abhorred and denyed by all the true Ministers and holy People of the Lord who feared God and hated Covetousness in all Ages as also we are brought by the Power of the Lord God out of the Worlds Temples or Houses which are falsly called Churches and brought into the Worship of God which is in the Spirit and in the Truth Joh. 4. VVhich Worship Christ taught when he foretold the end of that Worship which was at Jerusalem in the Temple which once God commanded to the Jews under the Law which with the outward things that pertained to it and to the Priests and Worshippers in that Temple as outward Musick Instruments Singing Tythes Offerings were all to cease as Figures or Types when a more inward and mysterious Way and Worship in the Spirit was brought in and revealed by Christ to the Saints and Christians of the New Testament who as they grew in the power of God to enjoy the enduring Substance and end of Figures and Shadows they grew out of these outward things that were but as Figures into the knowledge of the glorious Gospel and the Mystery of its Fellowship which outshined and transcended all these shadows under the Law See Heb. 9. chap. 10. which Gospel and Mystery we are come to know and witness to the praise and glory of our God And to this Testimony did the holy Apostles and Ministers of Christ bear large Witness as did the Martyr Stephen when he preached Christ whom the people were to hear in all things and he that would not hear was to be cut off Deut. 18.18 Act. 7.37 and 3.23 and called them stiff-necked and uncircumcised in hearts and ears who were in their blind zeal for the outward Temple and so witnessing to Christ the substance and end of the Temple He told them The most High dwelleth not in Temples made with hands and for his Testimony he was stoned to death Act. 7.47 48 51. And so we being brought to hear and learn of Christ the Prophet whom the People were to hear in all things lest they were destroyed and being made a spiritual house Church and living Temples in which God dwells and walks according to his Promises 2 Cor. 6.16 who hath brought us out from the Idols Temples false Worships and Teachers we may not uphold nor joyn with that Worship that is upheld in these places which the world calls Churches and Chappels which God never commanded nor set up but the Papists and such as were apostatized from the Life of the Saints into men's Traditions and Inventions neither ought the Magistrate to compel us to these places of Worship against our Consciences but as it is the just duty of the Civil Magistrates to punish evil-doers and to be a praise to them that do well Rom. 13. 1 Pet. 2 14. So they ought rather to protect than hinder our peaceable Meetings which are in the Worship into which God hath called us by his Spirit And whether our Meetings be in houses or fields we being brought to meet together in the Name and Power of Christ we meet according to the Example of the People of God and true Christians in the primitive times when they were brought both from the Jews Temple and from the Gentiles Temples and Worships and sometimes met in houses sometimes abroad in the Fields and upon Mountains sometimes by the Sea-side c. as many examples might be mentioned See Matth. 5.1 Joh. 20.19 Act. 10.27 chap. 12.12 and 16.13 and 20.8.20 and 28.30 Heb. 10.25 Mal. 3.16 So would it have been just or righteous to have persecuted these Christians for meeting in houses and to have termed their Meetings Conventicles or to have made any Laws against them for the breaking of their Meetings and for imprisoning them for meeting in houses as many of the People of God have been dealt with for no other cause but for being in their Example and Life And it is as much against our Consciences and the Law of God in us to deny to meet together in the Name of Christ wherein we have long and often met as it was against Peter and John's Consciences to deny to speak in the
reconcile the Scriptures to themselves by their Meanings wherein they intimately accuse the Scriptures to disagree and to be false and imperfect in many things And many of the Priests contradict one another in their meanings upon Scripture when as the Scriptures of Truth were given forth from the Spirit of Truth in the Saints and cannot be broken Joh. 10.35 2 Tim. 3.16 which Spirit is that which must open the Scriptures and give men the true understanding of them Joh. 16.13 and not the Priests confused and invented meanings and senses which proceed from the spirit of Error in them who have denyed that they have the Infallible Spirit or Inspiration in them from Heaven from which the Scripture was given when as it is the Inspiration of the Almighty that giveth understanding Job 32.8 So that they who have not that have not the understanding of the Scriptures and such we cannot own to be our Teachers who being out of that Spirit which the holy men of God were in it 's evident they know nothing but what they know naturally and in these things they corrupt themselves Jude v. 10. XIII Of the Gospel ALso the Priests have shewed their Error and Ignorance about the Gospel in calling the four Books of Matthew Mark Luke and John the Gospel when as the Gospel is Everlasting being the Power of God unto Salvation to every one that believeth Rom. 1.16 And the Gospel was preached to Abraham before the four Evangelists were Gal. 3.8 And there is not to be another Gospel preached than that which is the Power of God which the Apostles preached for he that preacheth another is to be accursed Gal. 1.8 XIV Of the Foundation and only Rule ANd the Priests in affirming the Scriptures to be the Foundation and only Rule of Faith and Life and the Word c. They affirm contrary to the Scriptures themselves and contrary to the Apostles Doctrine who said That another Foundation can no man lay than that which is laid which is Christ who is the Foundation of Faith 1 Cor. 3.11 though the Priests have preached another and though one while they profess the Scriptures to be their Rule yet another while they set their meanings above them as to reconcile them and act contrary to them and thus shew their Confusion but it is the Spirit of Truth that leads into all Truth And so the Saints had the Rule of Faith and Life before the Scriptures were written as had Abel Enoch Abraham Moses c. And the Gentiles who had the Law written in their hearts who had not the letter of it without had a true Rule of Life in them as many have who cannot read the Scriptures and whereunto the Saints had attained in the Spirit and Life of Christ they were to walk by the same Rule Rom. 2.15 Phil. 3.16 2 Cor. 10.13 14 15. And the Word was in the beginning and was in the hearts of the holy men of God before they spake forth the Words or writ the Scriptures wherein are the words that God spake which are a true Declaration of those things that were surely believed amongst the Saints but the Word of God liveth for ever and was before the words or writings of Scripture without were Psal. 119.11 Joh. 1.1 Luke 1.1 So that the Priests who have so much shewed their Ignorance about the Gospel the Foundation the Word the only Rule and yet say they are Ministers of the Gospel and of the Word we have sufficient cause never to own them as our Teachers XV. Of Swearing ANd the Priests in pleading for Swearing and teaching men that it is lawful for them to swear chiefly bringing Heb. 6.16 for it and some of them telling people that Swearing is a part of the Worship of God The Priests herein have shewed themselves to transgress Christs Doctrine and teach others so to do and so they have not God 2 Joh. ver 9. for Christ who is the end of the Law for Righteousness and the end of the Shadows under it he said to his Disciples It hath been said by them of old time Thou shalt not forswear thy self but shalt perform unto the Lord thine Oaths which Oaths were under the Law and in their time were commanded of God and were not vain nor needless Oaths nor by the Creatures But in opposition to these Oaths as ending them Christ said But I say unto you Swear not at all neither by Heaven nor by Earth c. Mat. 5.33 34. Now he that sweareth by Heaven sweareth by the Throne of God and by him that sitteth thereon Matth. 23.22 So that from Christ's Command we are now to swear by neither And the Apostle James as confirming to the same Testimony said Above all things my Brethren swear not neither by Heaven nor by Earth nor by any other Oath but let your yea be yea and your nay nay left you fall into condemnation Jam. 5.12 And as to that of Heb. 6.16 where it 's said For men verily Swear by the Greater and an Oath for confirmation is to them an End of all Strife which the the Priests object for Swearing In this they are very dark for the Apostle doth but mention this as a Practice which had relation to the Jewes who were under the Law and such as were in the Strife but he gives no Command for Swearing neither doth he vindicate it any more than he doth receiving of Tythes in his saying here men that die receive Tythes Heb. 7.8 which was but a mentioning that as a practice which the Jews upheld as was the other of Swearing for he witnessed the Commandment disanulled by which Tythes were received and the Priesthood changed by which they were upheld Heb. 7.12 18. So that the bare relation of a Practice is no command for it nor vindication of it And the Oath which God sware to Abraham wherein he makes known the Immutability of his Counsel to the Heirs of Promise is greater than man's swearing to end strife for where that Oath of God is received and fulfilled the Blessing to the Seed is manifested and the Strife is ended and the ground of it removed and of this Oath and Covenant mens swearing to end strife without was but a figure type or shadow And as to the Priests saying that Swearing is a part of the Worship of God From this then it follows that it 's an easie thing for Drunkards and Prophane Persons to be in the Worship of God if Swearing be a part of it for what case is it such cannot swear in either by the Lord or otherwise and then they might as well say it's part of the Worship of God to transgress Christ's Doctrine as say Swearing is part of his Worship Surely this is a bad Worship which the Priests preach and set up for Christ commanded not to swear at all and he is the End of all Strife about which the Swearing was and the End of the Law and of the Oaths under it for
Righteousness and the Word of that Oath by which he was made a Priest which was since the Law is the substance and end of all Oaths Shadows and Ceremonies that were under the Law For the Jews under the Law confirmed their Testimony to end strife and controversie by Swearing and bound themselves by an Oath or sometimes by Vows and Curses to walk in the Law of the Lord Nehem. 10.29 But the Christians in the Gospel and New-Covenant are bound in Conscience by the Power and Law of Christ in them which is a greater Bond than Swearing to do to all men as they would be done by and to perform Equity and Righteousness in that Love which is the fulfilling of the Law in the sight of God and man without swearing Oaths which were but a Figure or Shadow of this Inward Bond or Covenant confirmed by the Oath of God to the Seed of Abraham which the true Christians are of who witness the substance and end of all Oaths without and of the Iniquity and Strife which occasioned the Oaths XVI Of Revelation and Inspiration from Heaven ANd the Priests affirm That Revelation and Inspiration from Heaven is ceased and deny that any now may attain to Immediate Teaching or hearing of God's Voice from Heaven Herein have they taught people Errors and Falshoods and shewed that they never knew God nor are any of his Ministers For no man knoweth the Father but the Son and he to whom the Son will reveal him Matth. 11.27 And the Righteousness of God was revealed from Faith to Faith in the Gospel which is the Power of God which Paul preached Rom. 1.16 17. So they in saying That Revelation and Inspiration is ceased have preached another Gospel than that which Paul preached and therefore are to be accounted accursed Gal. 1.8 And all the Children of God are taught of Him and so hear his Voice Isa. 54.13 Jer. 31.34 Heb. 8.11 So that the Priests who have neither heard the Voice of God nor received his Inspiration nor the Revelation of his Son and yet say they are his Messengers and Christ's Ambassadors they have shewed their deceit and hypocrisie and themselves to be such as the Unbelievers Joh. 5.37 who had neither heard the Voice of God at any time nor seen his Shape And they that have not the Spirit of Christ are none of his So they are none of Christ's Ambassadors but Antichrists and therefore we deny them XVII Of Sprinkling Infants ANd whereas the Priests do sprinkle Infants and some of them have dipped them and used the sign of the Crosse in doing it and call that the Baptism into the Visible Church c. Herein have they shewed themselves ignorant of the true Baptism and have set up a false and Popish Baptism which they have neither Command Precept nor Example for in the Scriptures of Truth either from Christ or any of his Ministers For the Baptism of Water which John who was a Prophet and a Fore-runner of Christ had a Command from Heaven to administer was to them that confessed their Sins and this was to cease as being a Figure of the inward Washing and one Baptism of the Spirit 1 Cor. 12.13 Eph. 4.1 1 Pet. 3.21 for the Saints were all baptized by one Spirit into one Body which was the Church and did not call sprinkling or baptizing Infants the Baptism into the Church as the Priests do Neither do we read in Scripture of Godfathers and Godmothers among the true Christians to be the Infants Sureties and to promise that they should forsake the Devil and all his Works Thus we see the Error of the Priests and how their Worship is in vain who teach for Doctrines the Traditions of men Matth. 15. And how thereby many that have had the name of Christians have been captivated and led in great ignorance and neither they nor their Teachers have forsaken the Devil or all his works notwithstanding their pretended promising to do it when they are in Sin which is the Devil's work and contend for it telling men that none can be clean or free from sin on this side the Grave and thus they shew their Confusion and Error XVIII Of Bread and Wine which they call the Lords Supper ANd neither do we ever read in Scripture That Christ's Ministers did give the people of the world Bread and Wine in a Steeple-house at certain times of the year and call it a Sacrament the Communion and the Lord's Supper and preach it up so to continue in the Church as the Priest do Herein do the Priests make an Idol of outward Bread and Wine and keep people in shadows instead of bringing them to the substance For 1. they have no proof in the Scripture to call Bread and Wine a Sacrament but from the Papists 2. The true Communion stands not in outward Bread and Wine but in the Body and Blood of Christ which is the substance and end of outward Figures and Shadows 3. The Bread and Wine which the Priests give People in Steeple-houses at Easter and Appointed times like the Papists cannot be the Lord's Supper for Drunkards Covetous Proud and prophane Persons who are in their sins and so eating at the Table of Devils can receive their pretended Sacrament of Bread and Wine who cannot eat at the Table of the Lord 1 Cor. 10.21 nor come to his Supper as to sup with him and he with them as they do who open to him when he knocks and receive him Revel 3.20 4ly Neither is it proper to call a little Bread and VVine which people receive on the day-time a Supper it being more like a Dinner for in this the Priests are both out of the Form of Christ and the Saints Practice and out of the Power for it was in the Night in which Christ was betrayed that he was at Supper with his Disciples not with the VVorld and gave Them not the VVorld the Bread and the Cup to shew forth his Death till he come And at his Supper he ate the Passeover with them according to the Law Matth. 26. Luke 22. which the Priests do not so much as truly imitate but the Passeover and these outward things were but Figures and to cease as other Figures under the Law were which Christ passed through in the dayes of his flesh and fulfilled them and blotted out the hand-writing of Ordinances and nailed it to his Crosse. So that after Christ had suffered and fulfilled the Figures that related to that state under the Law and did manifest his Coming and the Power of his Resurrection in the Saints these Shadows and Figures were not of force by a Law though some of the Churches did use them for a time by permission But the Apostles laboured to bring them from off these Shadows and outward things to the knowledge of the Mystery of Life within for said the Apostle If ye be dead with Christ from the Rudiments of the World why as though living in the World are ye