testimonie whether it be of God yea or no for this calling of the scripture carnal and a dead letter is not like the testimony of the spirit of God which cals it spiritual and I rather beleeve that the Law is spiritual and James Naylor carnal then the Law carnal and he spiritual Now can I think that James Naylor was ever quickned and received the spirit by the hearing of faith preached nor by the operation of the word and spirit joyntly together as other beleevers for then he would never cal it but a dead letter and carnal c. if he had ever received spiritual life from it but he would love and own it above all other words and also acknowledg that he hath received light and comfort from it But he saith in his Answers to Baxter that the scripture holds out but one light and Word which I say is not true and therefore first I shal make it appear from Scripture that it houldeth out more light then one and then I shal prove my former assertions that there is more words of God then one held forth in scripture and so properly called in scripture which the Quakers cal blasphemy but the blasphemy is theirs And first for Lights Christ himself saith who is the essential Light and as it were the the original Luminary of all inferior or lesser Lights in his Sermon upon the Mount Ye are the light of the world speaking to his Disciples and let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven see Matt 5.14 and 16. And again John was a burning and a shining light and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light see Joh 5.35 And David saith The entrance of thy words giveth light it giveth understanding unto the simple Ps 119.130 So that here is clearly more lights then one and these held forth in scripture though all proceeding from that one fountain and see also 2 Pet 1.19 We have saith the Apostle a more sure word of Prophesie whereunto ye do wel that yee take heed as unto a light shining in a dark place until the day dawn and the day starre arise in your hearts But I suppose James Nailor wil not acknowledg that he ever received any light from that sure word of Prophecie as from a ligh shining in a dark place but only some little brain knowledge of the bare letter Else he would not so reproach and disparage those that do take heed to the sure word of prophesie til they be enlightned thereby in what they were dark and did not understand For he intimateth so much as though he never needed any scripture light but had all immediatly and that by voice or immediate inspiration or both from the spirit of God all which if it were true yet it would become him better not to despise others that have it mediatly and it may be at the second third fourth hand especially some things that are hard to be understood with men that are dul of hearing as some of the Saints were to whom the Apostle writes see Heb 5.11 And lest I should seem to mistake his intimations he plainly expresseth himself in his Book against Thomas Moore pag 43.9 10 11 line where he saith I witness against thee who have received the word from his own mouth and immediate calling And that he accounteth their Ministry litteral who know not what it is to inquire at the mouth of the Lord. These are his words speaking to Thomas Moore to wit he saith he had reckoned up the names of many of the Saints of God which makes little for thy purpose who were all men that were taught in spirit and need not to run unto a Book to seek their knowledg but had the word of the Lord from Gods own mouth and there was the oracle whereat they enquired which thou wouldest make to be the letter who never knew what it was to enquire at his mouth whose Ministry is litteral see pag 28. line 16 to 24. Now these are his words and I shal not deny but even in these daies there is such men as may truly say with the Apostle to wit And trulie our fellowship is with the Father and with his Sonn Jesus Christ. But not all in a like measure the gifts and graces of God and the measures of them are various as the Lord said unto Aaron and Miriam Numb 12.6 7 8. to wit Hear now my words If there be a Prophet among you I the Lord will make my self known unto him in a vision and will speak unto him in a dream My servant Moses is not so who is faithfull in all mine house with him will I speak mouth to mouth even apparently and not in dark speeches and the similitude of the Lord shall he behold wherefore then were ye not afraid to speake against my servant Moses From whence it appears there is different dispensations even amongst the Prophets of the Lord some have more apparent acquaintance and familiarity with God and those are such who are faithfull in all Gods house And some have a more dark and hidden acquaintance with and knowledge of God as it pleaseth him to communicate unto them in different measures and degrees according as they are different in measures and degrees of faithfulnesse Now Moses was faithful in all Gods house but so were not Aaron and Miriam nor the rest of the Ptophets then living though yet they were faithful in a good degree and were true Prophets of the Lord. Now I never read that Moses spake any thing at all to the disparagement of those that were inferior unto him in acquaintance with God though they spake against him as though he had assumed to much honour Say they Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses Hath he not spoken also by us And the Lord heard it and the anger of the Lord was kindled against them and he departed See verse 2. to 16. And the Lord himselfe vindicated Moses and was wroth with them but Moses being a meek man in stead of being angry prayed for Miriam that the Lord would heal her immediately but it could not be granted till after seven dayes so that the Lord himselfe was more severe then Moses whom she had spoken against But I find little of this meeknesse in James Naylor who accounteth himself the highest and all below him either Dwarfes or nothing like unto Christians insomuch as if they have need of a book either the Bible or any other they are despised by him as literal men in his book against Moore But Paul advised otherwise even to give attendance to reading and to exhortation and doctrine and not onely to a light within and biddeth not onely to bring his Cloake but the Books and especially the parchments In all likelihood then he himselfe made use of books and parchments Nay Christ himselfe disdained not to use a book or to read thereon
supplying of the necessities of the Saints and faithfull and more especially of the Ministers if it may but any way tend to the furtherance and glory of the Gospell of Christ And therefore give mee leave to argue for the furtherance of the Gospell upon this occasion Ar 1. If all that wee have yea our lives and all be due unto God when he calleth for them upon these accounts before named 2. And that hee hath not stinted us to any lesser part than all as sufficiently due and liberall when need requireth 3. And if the primitive examples in giving all they had to the common stocke whiles they did continue to be of one heart and of one minde was spoken of as a commendable thing and that which was but suitable to the professors of the Gospell 4. Nay if it was no more but what the love of God and the love of the brethren did naturally ingage and induce them too least there should be amongst them any that lacked either of the Apostles or brethren 5. Nay if God requireth and expecteth fruit suitable to his tillage And therefore the more free and splendorous and glorious dispensations that God holdeth forth in the dispensation of the Gospell of Christ Even speaking to us by his Sonne whom hee hath made heire of all things and by whom also hee made the worlds see Heb 1 2 3 4. and to the end of the Chapter wherein appeareth that he is our Land-Lord 6. And if wee should give the more earnest heede to the things which wee have heard least at any time wee should let them slip 1 Rea Because if the word spoken by Angells was stedfast and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward Then wee cannot possibly escape if wee neglect so great salvation which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him God also bearing them witnesse both with signes and wonders and gifts of the holy Ghost according to his owne will see Chap 2.1 2 3 4. 2 Rea Because it is dangerous to refuse him that speaketh from heaven to wit Christ And more dangerous than refusing him that spake on earth to wit Moses see Heb 12.21 3 Rea Because wee ought to consider and to honour and obey the Lord Jesus Christ as the Apostle and high Priest of our profession yea more and rather and that by many degrees above Moses by how much the more hee that buildeth a house hath more honour then the house and as hee that is the Sonne hath more honour then the servant see Chap 3.1.3.6 Nay as hee that hath built all things hath more honour then hee that hath built but some thing see vers 4. 7. And if Christ himselfe hath commanded this manner and measure of love to be found visibly amongst his Disciples That all men might know that wee are his Disciples 8. And if this boundlesse love cannot nor ought not nor never was limited to pay a tenth part nor any under a tenth but that it naturally produceth all if need so require 9. And if wee ought to prove and exemplifie the naturallnesse of our love Conclusion Then without all controversie or peradventure when need so requireth to give a tenth part of that wherewith the Lord hath increased us is but a sparing due in comparison of that which Christ hath commanded when hee commanded it as due First in the Law To love God above all and our neighbour as our selves And secondly when hee commanded such manner of love and such a measure also as hee himselfe had really exemplified and shewed to us And that wee should shew it forth not in word onely but in deed and in truth Not in having of bowells of compassion and shutting them up but in giving of those things that are needfull and convenient and that may expresse our bountifullnesse and not sparing spirits to be really in us Else wee doe not realize the love of God to be dwelling in us see John 3.17 And againe saith hee plainely This is my commandement that yee love one another as I have loved you And greater love then this hath 〈◊〉 then that a man lay downe his life for his friends see John 15.12 13. And againe These things I command you that yee love one another vers 17. And againe as answering an objection which hee foresaw in their minds to wit That if they loved one another and shewed such peculiar love one to another then the world would hate them the more The which he cutteth off clearely as altogether invalid saying If the world doe hate you yee know that it hated mee before it hated you see vers 18. and to the end And give mee leave a little to ingrate upon the spirits of men yea that whoever readeth or heareth these Resolves might consider with mee and so freely acknowledge as sure none can deny but that these very words are the words of Christ and the commands of Christ And therefore as wee doe know them and faithfully beleeve that they are his words Let us take heed yea diligent heed and the more heed also least wee let them slip Even because they are his words whom wee ought to love honour and obey in all things And that not as man onely but as God himselfe And therefore let no excuses serve our turnes like them that heard the Law at first because they could not abide that which was commanded see Heb For wee must abide and obey also what Christ hath commanded wee cannot be excused as the Israelites were For he likewise exemplified what he hath commanded in his owne person and in our nature And therefore whoever he be that will not hearken to the word of God which Christ hath spoken in his name God will require it of him see Deut 18.18 19. And therefore let no man deceive us with vaine words For God is not mocked but wee shall finde that his words are true when all men living on the face of the earth shall be found lyars And these are his words concerning such measure and manner of love as hee requireth of us let us take heed therefore least wee let them slip or least wee finde excuses as if wee will give eare to excuses wee shall finde too many and all but such as will not serve our turne nor cleare our consciences in the sight of God 1. And first beware of giving eare to the Quakers For they tell us if wee can beleeve them that our Ministers are carnall and hirelings and looke onely for gaine from their quarters and much to that purpose as hath been shewed And likewise that all professors are carnall that frequent the Ordinances and have need of the teachings of men or of the Scripture it selfe and that all Ordinances are vaine and uselesse and shall come to nought But doe not beleeve them I hope there hath sufficient proofe been held forth in this little Treatise to prove them
ministred by the hearing of faith preached as wel as sometimes immediatly both which administrations I own as true But I come now to his other main Tenent which chiefly tendeth to the disparagement of the Scriptures and which chiefly ingageth men to oppose him in it as a work of Sathan And why should not I whiles I am in the world what in me lieth indeavour to destroy the works of the devil see 1 Joh 3.8 He saith further in his Book against Baxter speaking of the Apostles that they did never say the letter was the Word And in his 7th Querie in the end of his Book he enquireth whether the word of God can be changed or can it admit of several meanings as to one particular thing A I Answer that James Naylor may wrest the Scriptures to his own destruction and he is not so infallible but he may misunderstand the genuine meaning 2 Pet. 3.16 2. He enquireth whether it be visible or invisible A I answer the Word was made flesh and dwelt on earth and is now visible in Heaven and yet is here invisibly in spirit in the hearts of his people but how the word was made flesh James Naylor understandeth not 3. He enquireth is there any word but one or whether was that word before the letter and shal be when the letter is turned to dust A. To which I answer that Christ the essential word is but one we own but one Christ who shal remain when the Quakers have burnt their Bibles if they wil burn them as some of them have said it were all one to them if the Bibles were all burnt Foster by name hath so exprest himself and they say they are all of one mind then such esteem they have all of the sacred scriptures which we account of as not only the word of men but the word of God as so I shal make to appear that it is not blasphemy as they most wickedly assert but our bounden duty to own and call it the word of God and that it is blasphemy in them to deny it and cal it carnal and a dead letter And the Lord assisting I shal prove 1. That there is not only one but many words yea words of God so taken in scripture 2. That what God hath spoken is his word 3. That whatever Christ hath spoken who is the essentia word is also the word of God 4. That all scriptures given by inspiration of God and all expressions of men unto which they are moved by the Holy Ghost are the words of God and that it is not they that speak but the spirit of their Father that speaketh in them 5. That every word of God is pure and also true by whomsoever spoken but nor such lies as these of the Quakers but they are the words of another spirit then the spirit of God as I trust in God to make it manifest as so I ought And before I begin for fuller satisfaction how they account of the scriptures take notice that I find it in a little Book called The holy Scriptures clearing it self from scandals or an Answer to a Book written by Richard Farnworth who is commonly called a Quaker written by Thomas Polard who had opposed them by argum nt in a publick way Which Thomas Polard saith that they cal the scripture carnal and a dead letter and say it wil never bring a man to the knowledg of God but that all that is gotten from the scripture is but brain knowledg And I find in a Book of Naylors against one Thomas Moore how he answereth this to wit being asked by Moore whether the writing of the Prophets and Apostles be a dead letter He answereth that without the spirit it is nor can any without that spirit that gave them forth understand them or know the voices of Prophets or Apostles aledging Luk 24.45 Act 13.27 A 1. But where doth the scripture or the spirit of God cal the scripture a dead letter or carnal and that it wil never bring a man to the knowledg of God but that all that is gotten from it is but brain knowledg A 2. Where is it said in scripture that the spirit of God and the scripture are seperated The words that Christ hath spoken they are spirit and they are life and Moses said unto the people set your hearts unto all the words that I testifie unto you this day which ye shal command your Children to observe to do all the words of this Law for it is not a vain thing for you for it is your life and through this thing yee shall prolong your daies Deut 32.46 47. And again the law is spiritual faith saith the Apostle I am carnal Rom 7. and Prov 2. My sonn if thou wilt receive my words and hide my Commandements with thee so that thou incline thine ear to wisdom and apply thine heart unto understanding if thou seekest for her as silver and searchest for her as for hid treasures Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledg of God see v 1 2 3 4 5. See also Pro 3.1 2. My sonn forget not my Law but let thine heart keep my Commandements For length of daies and long life and peace shal they add to thee see also ch 4.1 2 3 4. Let thine heart retain my words keep my Commandements and live And ver 13. Take fast hold of instruction let her not go keep her for she is thy life Consider I say whether the wisdome of God so pathetically expressing her self to us if possible to perswade us to attend and hearken to the words of his mouth and to keep his Commandements and instructions and treasure them in our hearts as words of life to our souls and marrow to our bones as in another place and that for this end we should teach them to our Children as I might be large upon any of these Texts But whether I say doth the wisdome of God account the scripture as a dead letter let all wise men judg and whether they have not in them more spirit of life and power then the words and writings of James Naylor and whether they ought not rather to be observed and beleeved and trusted in for eternal life Now it is evident that the directions of James Naylor as a way to be infallibly guided and to attaine unto life and peace and rest for our souls is one thing and these directions are another his directions are to attend and hearken to that spirit and light within though it be a question whether it be the spirit of God or a lying spirit and a question whether there be at all any light within but grosse darkness and he that is in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth til he be enlightned by the Word and Spirit But he that hateth his Brother is in darkness until this present time it were wisdom therefore for James Naylor himself to try his spirii and light by the Law and
and that in publick which was the old Testament But James Naylor saith he may read all his life the Letter of the Scriptures and therewith come amongst the Parish Ministers and never discern the voyce of Christ See page 45. in his book against Moore To the which I answer It is true that such who are none of the sheep of Christ may indeed read the Scriptures and heare them read and preached all their lives and yet never know the voyce of Christ in them so as to follow him but they will rather follow strangers instance James Naylor But such who are his sheep they know his voyce and will follow him and not the stranger yea by what means soever he speaketh unto them mediatly or immediatly and they account the Scripture as the word of God himselfe as if he should speak unto them by an audible voyce and they know them to be written for their learning that they through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope And it is no disparagement to the Scripture the Letter as he calls it that some despise it and regard it not but undervalue it and let it slip Nor to the words of Christ himselfe and his Apostles nor to his Ministers now because many people did not profit by them nor do not know them in regard they are not mixed with faith in such as heare them For it is they that are of God they hear Gods word and they that are Christs sheep know his voyce and obey and follow him But some therefore heare them not because they are not of God and some obey not his voyce because they are none of his sheep John 10 and Chap. 8.47 But Naylor often produceth the non-proficiencie of the people as a ground of disparagement to the Ministers of the word yea and to the word it self the Letter I mean the which I shall prove to be the word of God And first that there is not onely one but many words of God and so called in Scripture it is plain to any rational Christian that knoweth the Scriptures 1. Psalm 12.6 The words of the Lord are pure words like silver tried in a Furnace of earth purified seven times 1 Arg. Now the words of the Lord are words of God 2 Arg. And words in the plural number must needs include more then one Conclus Therefore there is as certainly as that the Scripture is true more words of God then one spoken of in Scripture 2. Prov. v 30.5 Every word of God is pure he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him Now this word Every includeth more then either one or two words and that of God 3. 1 Thess 2.13 where the Apostle saith Because when yee received the word of God which ye heard of us yee received it not as the word of men but as it is in truth the word of God From whence it is clear that the word which they heard of the Apostles was in truth the word of God Even that audible word which they heard of the Apostles yea heard them speak 4. 1 Tim. 5.17 Especially them that labour in the Word and Doctrine 5. 2 Tim. 2.9 But the word of God is not bound 6. Heb. 6.5 And have tasted of the good word of God 7. Jam. 1.18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth 8. And verse 21. And receive with meeknesse the ingrafted word which is able to save your souls And verse 22. And be yee doers of the word and not hearers onely deceiving your own souls Quest Can any of these be meant of Christ How improper had it been to have said Be ye Doers of Christ in stead of Be ye doers of the word 9. See Deut. 8.3 But by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God Obser Observe how improper it had been to have said Every Christ that proceedeth out of the mouth of God 10. Psa 68.11 The Lord gave the word great was the company of those that published it Observe It it is not said him but It. 11. Isai 2.3 For out of Zyon shall go forth the Law and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem 12. Jer. 6.10 The word of the Lord is unto them a reproach they have no delight in it 13. Amos 8.11 12. A famine of hearing the words of the Lord. 14. Matth. 13.23 He that receiveth seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word and understandeth it And Luke 8.11 12. 15. The seed is the word of God Those by the way side are they that heard then cometh the Devil and taketh away the word out of their hearts lest they should believe and be saved Could the Devil take Christ out of their hearts after once received how absurd were it 16. John 5.24 He that heareth my word and beleeveth on him that sent me hath everlasting life 17. Acts 4.31 And they spake the word of God boldly 18. Acts 6.2 It is not meet that we should leave the word of God and serve the tables And verse 7. And the word of God increased and the number of the Disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly Quest. Had it been proper to have said That Christ increased 19. Acts 8.14 15 16. Samaria had received the word of God and yet the holy Ghost was not come down upon any of them Conseq So they had received the Word but not the Spirit and so not Christ by James Naylors account if there be no more but Christ 20. Act 12.24 But the word of God grew and multiplied Did Christ grow and multiply See also chap. 13.44 and verse 46 48 49. And chap. 15.35 36. And chap. 19.20 2 Cor. 4.2 Ephes 6.17 All which are clearly meant of the teaching and preaching of the word of God and of the growth thereof Assertion 2. to wit That what ever God hath spoken is his word or words The which I prove thus it is written Exod 20.1 And God spake all these words saying Conseq Therefore when God speaketh his expressions are called words or a word See Psalm 68.11 The Lord gave the word great was the Company of those that published it Arg. But if what God speaketh is his word or words Conseq Then it must necessarily follow that all Scripture is the word of God and the particular words of it are words of God and altogether they are his word See Heb. 1.2 God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake unto our Fathers in times past by the Prophets hath in these last times spoken unto us by his Son whom he hath appointed Heir of all things by whom also he made the worâ—ds See also Chap. 12.25 See that yee refuse not him that speaketh Also Luke 1.69 As he spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets which have been since the world began Observe he spake it by the mouth of his holy Prophets and of his Apostles and af his Son Therefore all such speakings and expressions are the words and
word of God 3 Assertion To wit What ever Christ hath spoken who is the essential word is also the word of God Reason First because he is the Sonne and Heire yea and even God himself and not only man For in him dwelleth the sulnesse of the Godhead bodily He whom God hath sent speaketh the word of God John 3.34 Therefore what words he spake were the words of God and therefore it was truly said of him by the people to wit Never man spake like this man Coloss 3.16 And therefore it behoveth us not to let the words of Christ slip but to let it dwell richly in us in all wisdom John 3.34 For his words are the words of the word of God He whom God hath sent speaketh Gods words The words that I speak unto you they are Spirit and they are Life The fourth and fifth Assertion proved Rom. 7.14 For we know that the Law is spirituall but I am carnall Deut. 4.2 You shal not add unto the word that I command you neither shall you diminish ought from it that yee may keep the commandements of the Lord your God which I command you Observe that he enjoyns them that they shall take heed unto the word which he commands them speaking in the singular number as if it were but one word But when he shewes them the end of this his Take heed he expresseth it in the plurall number and maketh that plurality the same in the conclusion to wit That you may keep the Commandements of the Lord your God which I command you Clearly shewing that that word which he commanded them in the singular number was the Commandements of the Lord their God in the plural number So that it is evident that all the words and commandements of God in the whole Scripture being the words of God by whomsoever held forth may properly and truly and justly be called the word of God in the singular number Reason For as God spake those ten Commandements and writ then upon two Tables see verse 13. so all the rest of the scripture is not onely spoken but written and every part of it written or spoken by Holy men of God as they were moved by the spirit of God that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope And there is none that is ordained to eternall life but if hee read the Scriptures or heareth them read or spoken but if he understand them he doth believe them And there is no man justified through faith in Christ but he loveth the Scriptures and will own them as words of Spirit and Life and not account them as a dead Letter but as the word of God and as words of eternal life in which there is spirit and spiritual life communicative unto them yea even every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God is as spiritual food and nourishment whereby they grow up unto greater degrees of spirituall life where it is begun and whereby they presse forward unto perfection Those precious promises therein contained are the savour of life unto life unto them and they cannot but relish them as sweeter to them then the hony and the hony comb They cannot but with David love Gods Law and it is their meditation continually they doe esteem of the words of his mouth more then their appointed food they doe account them as a Lanthorn unto their feet and a light unto all their paths they grow thereby to be wiser then their Teachers because they keep them and to have more understanding then the ancients because they keep his precepts His words are sweet unto their taste yea sweeter then hony unto their mouth They vow and doe resolve that they will keep his righteous judgements Read much of this Psalm 119. All that are men and women after Gods own heart have the same spirit of love to and delight in and beliefe of and benefit and comfort by and from the sacred Word Law Precepts Judgments Statutes and Promises contained in the Scriptures and therefore cannot but hate every false way or contradictious way or way and works or words whatsoever that tend to the disparagement or contradiction thereof And therefore it was that our dear Saviour honored them so much as that he kept all Gods Law and fulfilled it perfectly and witnessed also that Men therefore erred because they knew not the Scripptures nor the power of God And he opened the understanding of his Disciples that they might understand the scriptures And he opened the heart of Lidia that she attended to the things that Paul spake And it is enjoyned unto Kings that they shall write them a Copie of the Law in a book which shall be with them that they may read therein all the dayes of their life that they may learn to seare the Lord their God and keep all the words of the Law and of the Statutes to doe them that their hearts be not lifted up above their brethren and that they turn not aside from the Commandement to the right hand or to the left to the end that they may prolong their dayes in their Kingdome See Deut. 17.18 19 20. Timothy was commanded to give attendance to reading to exhortation to doctrine 1 Tim. 4.13 These and many such like which I might produce are farre unsuitable to the Spirit and Doctrine of James Naylor which directeth onely to a light within which in many is clouded with sottish ignorance till they hear the Word which is ordained of God to save them that believe and is the meanes which they ought to use for getting that light and spirituall understanding which the Fountain of wisdome holdeth forth therein and doth thereby communicate to his poore dull ignorant creatures his Spirit being with it and as the Porter of their understandings that they may understand them and comprehend in measure those internall hidden and secret mysteries therein contained The Apostle Paul had served God with pure conscience from his fore-fathers and yet his light within informed not his conscience but that he thought it his duty to doe many things against the name of Jesus insomuch as through pure zeale persecuted the Church and wasted it exceedingly til he was called to from heaven See 2 Tim 1.3 And that notwithstanding all his learnednesse in the Scriptures and blamelesnesse of life concerning the Law For the reason was not because he knew not the Scriptures or did not search them but because he did not understand them aright but according to the false glosses of the Scribes and Pharisees which had clouded them so to him so that he did not know them in their genuine sense and proper meaning but under a false glosse For else he should not have erred for saith Christ ye therefore erre because ye know net the Scriptures nor the power of God And biddeth Search the Scriptures for they are they that testifie of me And the Scriptures are alle to make us wise unto salvation yea to make
or so much as the least shew of them and then you may judge by whose Spirit they are acted But saith the Apostle the fruit of the Spirit is love Joy peace long-suffering gentlenes goodnesse faith meeknesse temperance against which there is no law Now for my part I see not so much as a shew of any of these in them but the quite contrary are manifest in them to wit hatred sadnesse of spirit and countenance no peace with any man no long-suffering but hastie rage no gentlenes but severe austeritie and imperious bitternes no goodnesse but cleare malignitie against all goodnesse no saith in God but in a lying spirit within them whom they obey and serve and worship as God no meeknesse for they are hastie and angerie and revengefull no temperance in their tongues and pens And therefore every Law of God is against them let them try themselves by this if they please and try them who will and they shall finde them such and so farre off from loving or honouring any man at all in whom the Image of God is in a great measure renewed As that they doe what they can to disparage and dishonour and to cause them to be abhorred For if they discover any fault or weaknesse or frailtie in any man they are readie with all the wit and skill they have to publish and aggravate the same to the highest pitch But I never heard them speake good of any man unlesse of themselves nor tooke notice so of them as to commend them for their vertues in the least degree but the Spirit of God doth otherwise Rev 2.2 though he have somewhat against them vers 4. c. 7. And againe their spirit teacheth them as much as in them lyeth to destroy and pull downe mens faith and hope which they have in God telling them they see death in their faces and that they are eternally damn'd and such like language judging all men they meete with before the time now the end of Satan in this is to destroy their weake faith telling them if they be not perfect and free from sinne they are sure to be damned But the Spirit of God teacheth us to judge nothing before the time but to edifie one another in our holy faith and not to quench the smoaking flax nor breake the bruised reede but to support and strengthen one another and to comfort one another by holding forth the promises and that to sinners for Christ came not to call the rightous but sinners to repentance and if any if any man saith hee hath no sinne hee deceiveth himselfe and the truth is not in him And if any man sinne hee is not presently damned by the Apostle as the Quakers would doe but hee telleth us Wee have an Advocate with the Father c. who is the propitiation for our sinnes And the truth is if none must be saved but such as have no sinne there will but few be saved indeed I beleeve all the Quakers will come short of heaven For if those their doctrines and wayes and practises be not manifest sinnes there is no sinne at all in men or Devills And what was the end for which Christ came into the world but to save sinners they would make his blood of none effect for if men could be saved by their owne righteousnesse Christ dyed without a cause And who ever is justified by the Law is fallen from grace for it is not of grace but debt if men be perfectly just of themselves But if it be of grace then it is by faith and that in the righteousnesse of Christ which is not properly ours but by the application thereof through faith which faith also is the gift of God and given freely of meere grace also and that to whom hee pleaseth yet it is given to all his Elect and that in due time And this will exclude all the Quakers boastings and trusting in themselves that they are righteous and despising others as Pharisaicall 8. And Eightly Their spirit teacheth them not to put off their hatts when they pray unto God or preach and that in publike Congregations so that it evidently appeareth that they give no honour or worship either to God or man but onely to to that lying spirit within them And surely if they thinke themselves too good to worship or honour God it is no marvaile that they give no honour or respect unto man who is but his Image at the best when perfect But the Spirit of God teacheth us That every man praying or prophesying having his head covered dishonoureth his head see 1 Cor 11.4 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head for as much as hee is the Image and glory of God vers 7. 9. Ninthly Their spirit teacheth them most prophanely to call the Psalmes of David Davids Rimes and Balads and jeare towards us because wee sing them in meeter Oh prophane spirits But the spirit of God teacheth us to sing them with grace in our hearts unto the Lord and biddeth us If any be merry let him sing Psalmes James 5.13 Coloss 3.16 They know not what it is to speake unto themselves in Psalmes and Hymnes and spirituall Songs singing and making melody in their hearts unto the Lord see Eph 5.19 No such strangers as they shall intermeddle with the Saints Joy It is too unspeakeable and full of glorie to be communicated unto them Though they sport themselves with their owne deceivings sometimes But it will not reach to such a measure of Joy as to expresse themselves in singing of Psalmes in praise unto God and thankfullnesse of heart as he requireth of us Neither doth any inforce them nor any other till they doe it heartily as unto the Lord yet the Saints are commanded see Psal 30.4 Sing unto the Lord yee Saints of his and give thankes at the remembrance of his holinesse But it is no marvaile at them in this for where is there any ordinance of God but they despise and jeare them and such also as observe and keepe them in sinceritie of heart Which maketh cleare to mee that they have no knowledge of God at all but of a wicked lying malicious spirit that is an enemy unto all goodnesse But I have raked too long in these stinking puddles that are so nautious to the stomackes of all the truely godly as that they will scarce reade them much lesse will they daigne to answer them in every particular accoridng to their folly Save onely in regard that their mouthes must be stopped because they subvert whole houses see Tit 1.11 Yet the holy Ghost biddeth us answer a foole according to his folly least he be wise in his owne conceite So that it is lawfull and a duty also to answer such who are in folly and thinke themselves wise in such their foolishnesse that so if possible at least their conceite of their owne wisdome might be remooved For a man once wise in his owne conceite there is more hope of a foole then of such a man And such I conceive some of the Quakers to be and therefore have little hope of prevailing with them Yet perceiving so many that are counted religious to plead much for them and rather incline to embrace their doctrine being seduced thereby and too much deluded I have taken some paines in searching their bookes to finde out the bottome and tendencie of their doctrines and wayes and practises and the depth of Satan and his enterprises therein that some of them at least might be undeceived and have endeavoured to discover them and make them to appeare in their owne native colours and from whence they come and whither they tend committing the successe and event thereof to the great Lord both of heaven and earth the God of the spirits of all flesh to make it effectuall as it pleaseth him and to take impression on whom he pleaseth according to his infinite wisdome and goodnesse and mercy To whom be for ever ascribed as it is justly due all the honour and glory and power and praise for ever and ever Amen Amen FINIS