also then in their production too fertile and the Quaker is Junior to the most of them and they are all able to produce as good Evidences and Deeds so that it seems strange the Quaker should ingross both the birth-right and the blessing too from all the rest 1. The Seekers or Religious Scepticks laid Claim to Inspirations I call them so because those various differing Sectaries may be best comprized under such a general name Edward Gangre second Part p. 2. They affirm and hold they have not onely had Revelations but they have seen Visions also The means of Gods revealing himself and his mind and will to his Servants in reference to their Salvation is immediately by himself without Scripture without Ordinances without Ministers or any other means but especially many in the Army about 1645. took themselves to be intimate with God Idem p. 5. Some Officers and Souldiers affirmed That they had had Revelations and seen Visions and took upon them to Prophesie A Lieutenant a great Devoto denyed the Trinity of Persons affirming them to be three Offices he denyed that Christs presence in Heaven could be proved by Scripture p. 7. and made a great question whether there was a Resurrection or no. Mrs. Attaway the Woman-Preacher then begun to exercise Boggis wish'd he had not known so much of the Bible which he said p. 163. was but only Paper And Clarkson the Seeker vilifies the Scripture Ordinances p. 165. c. would not have People to live upon black and white and said That they of themselves were not able to Reveal God T. E. is the Successor of such Blades as these 2. The Antinomians maintained their undutiful Notions by recourse to this Armour and the Quakers have borrowed much from them as Perfection Discerning who were Elected the Notions about Christs Person and Christ within humane Learning and the like but I shall onely consider their Inspirations a large account of which we find in one who diligently traversed their Writings Rutherford's Survey of Spiritual Anti-Christ p. 173 174 175. The Witness of the Spirit is meerly Immediate without respect to Sanctification or Acts thereof all Doctrines Revelations and Spirits must be tryed by Christ rather than by the Word A Christian is not to Pray nor to do any Spiritual Acts but when the Spirit moveth him thereunto That all other askings or seekings of God which are not thus in Spirit are but the askings of Creatures as Creatures p. 222. The Scriptures are not to be understood according to Grammatical construction but as the Spirit of God reveals them p. 229. The meer Commandments of Scripture are not a Law to Christians p. 305. but the Law written in our Hearts The Holy-Ghost comes in place of the Natural Faculties of the Soul and acteth us immediately to all internal and external acts Part 2d p. 195. c. And that American Jezebel Mrs. Hutchinson said That her particular Revelations about events to fall out are as Infallible as any parts of Scripture p. 211. and that she is bound as much to believe them as the Scripture for the same Holy Ghost is the Author of both 3. The Levellers do make out their Free-born Community with Arrows fetched from this Quiver Winstanley the great Master of the Craft is exact herein New Law of Righte p. 46. This Phrase Mine and Thine shall be swallowed up there shall be no need of Lawyers Prisons or Engines of Punishment no Beggar nor cause of complaining there shall be no Buying nor Selling no Fairs nor Markets but the whole Earth shall be a common Treasury for every man The Poor upon their Commons saying p. 47. This is Ours the Earth and Fruits are common Now this Platonick fancyful Model he raiseth upon Revelation As I was in a Trance divers matters were presented to my sight which here must not be related p. 57. likewise I heard these words Work together eat Bread together declare it all abroad Likewise I heard these words Whosoever it is that Labours in the Earth for any Person or Persons that lift up themselves as Lords or Rulers over others and that do not look upon themselves equal to others in the Creation The hand of the Lord shall be upon that Labourer I the Lord have spoken it and I will do it Declare this all abroad And this very Trumpet he saith is still sounding in his Ears p. 67. Work together c. Surely the Lord hath not revealed this in vain This Heavenly Voice was so delightful that he was filled with abundance of quiet Peace and secret Joy p. 58. and he obeyed the Command of the Spirit which bid him Declare it all abroad by word of mouth and Pen and he waited till God shewed him the place and manner how to work upon the Common Lands p. 64. I will then go forth and declare it in my Action to eat my Bread with the sweat of my brows looking upon the Land as freely mine as anothers I have now Peace in my Spirit c. And elsewhere up-the same Subject he opens freely Fire in the Bush the Preface This Declaration of the Word of Life was a free gift to me from the Father himself When I had writ it I delayed the sending it almost a fortnight then the Voice was ready go send it to the Churches which he did well I have obeyed the voice and have sent this to you but what was the substance of the voice That he relates the voice is gone out Freedom Freedom Freedom he that hath ears to hear let him hear And what was this Freedom Even a setting the Earth free a breaking down all Pin-folds and laying all open to the Common Now have not I an equal if not greater Reason to believe his so particular and exact Revelations concerning Equality rather than your general and withal mixed ones concerning other matters Nay have not you as much ground to believe his pretence in this as to take the very lineaments of your Profession from him and yet herein desert him when as he Challengeth Inspiration for this as fully as for any other Doctrine But that you dare pick and chuse mangle and alter your own Revelations as well as his may in its due place appear A Sober Answer p. 56. 4. The Ranters deluded themselves and others with this blind and Fox acknowledged the affinity of his and their Principles that black Divinity challenged immediate Communications as fully as T. E. Some sweet sips of Spiritual Wine sweetly and freely dropping c. A Prophecy a Vision a Revelation and the Interpretation thereof in the Title page and as many pages as there are we have almost as much talk of the Spirit That Tract is like the other Scriptures p. 1. the Father secretly whispering would not have him set down Book Chapter or Verse though he used Scripture Language p. 2. arise out of Flesh
these are so gross and palpable that an easie Learning might detect them and in a matter of such moment which the poor Quakers do implicitely believe and hug he was obliged to the severest Caution not to impose upon their tame and easie Credulity And as to us who know our selves fallible and in Gods extream account very imperfect it must be allowed for an excuse But as for him who defends perfection pleads for Immediate Revelation which his Master extends to many things which are not in Scripture so much as by Consequence Keith Im. Rev. p. 6. 2d Quib. p. 11. Others of them challenging Infallibility in all things and cases and he as a Believer pretending the Unction whereby they know all things p. 229. and yet in many discovering and in some confessing his Ignorance I know not p. 227. to him this Plea can be no Advantage it pulling down that very thing which he is building up For if there be such a standing perpetual Ordinance as Immediate Revelation Gods Veracity and Goodness is concern'd at that time to let them be Infallible when they are pleading and become the Advocates for it But it is a good Confutation when a Champion proves an Instance against himself T. Ellwood's Courage 2. As to his Courage and Confidence they are high enough shewing great dis-esteem to the Sacred Scriptures as will appear in a proper place by a Catalogue of his Rules of Exposition such certainly as the Sun never saw especially by such a pretended intimate of Heaven We shall onely now consider his Carriage to most Orders of Men in the Kingdom for he presumes to Tax our World like Augustus Caesar The King must be plainly Thou'd and the Head covered before him The Turkish Fashion they esteem most proper and the tuissare or thou'ing which in Erasmus's time was opprobious among the English is dubb'd into both Religion and Manners My Lord the King is no pleasing Dialect to these new Saints it is Old Testament Divinity Dread Sovereign and Sacred Majesty must not now be used p. 46. Who must have the Majesty then Not the King I 'le warrant you it is taken from Him to be appropriated to their own dear selves take a few of their Expressions having spoken against Magistracy and for the Destruction thereof he proceeds * Fire in the Bush p. 39. If you would find true Majesty indeed go among the poor distressed ones of the Earth †Parnel's shield of the Tr. p. 25 27. Here is the ground of all true Nobility Gentility Majesty Honour No more after the Flesh but after the Spirit Quakers are sprung of the Noble Gentile Seed ‡ In his Noble Salutation to thee Charles Stewart from the Council and Nobility of the Royal Seed the Lion of the Tribe of Judah the Everlasting King of Righteousness who reigneth in George Fox the Younger â In the Testimony from the Brethren The Quakers Ministers are the Dignities and Government and Dominion The King must not write in the Plural Number We p. 27. though he be a Publick Person and Act by Advice of his Council all that is sprung from Pride and Flattery Besides this he saucily and pragmatically medleth with the Kings Revenues the Office for first Fruits Tenths offends him p. 355. No Flower can be fair in an English Crown which was taken out of a Popes Mitre if nothing else could be said against it but that it once stuck in the tripple Crown that alone were enough to make it unworthy to be worn in an English Diadem It seems he hath more than this to Object against it such like things are frequent in their Books which stealing out into the World are apt to leaven mens Spirits with bad Principles One of them acquaints us * Parnel's shield of the Truth p. 19 25. What Magistrates they do not own but deny and testifie against and to make their Negative Power better Armed he saith The Kings and Nobles of the Earth shall be bound in Chains and Fetters of Iron This was Printed 1655. but lest it should be onely Serviceable in those times †Some Principles of the Elect People of God called Quakers p. 89. Isaac Pennington a Name deep enough certainly in Royal Blood to make it currant Quaker Doctrine now re-prints that Book in 1671. leaving out the beginning and end of it but he hath the Conscience and Confidence to re-print those very words out of what design let our Superiours Judge But lest since then so beloved a Doctrine of binding Kings should be forgot they keep up the Memory of it ‡ The true Christians Faith and Experience by Williâ—m Shâ—wen p. â—36 Another Book Printed 1675 speaks home Christ Reigning in the heart gives Power to bind Kings in Chains and Nobles in Fetters of Iron This Hâ—nour havâ— all thâ— Saints To the like contempt of Authority write several of them Howgils glory p. 107. Kings and Magistrates as Christians have no Priority but as they stand in the growth of Truth that is in Quakerism Parnel's shield p. 41. Will. Smith passim Fire in the bush p. 21 22 23. I charge you all by the Lord to take heed of medling about Religion meddle with such Affairs as you are set about Meddle not with Religion keep within your bounds And Winstanley the Instituter of their Order speaks roundly to all Four Idolized Powers must down The Imaginary Teaching Hear-say Book-studying Power or the Ministry The Imaginary Kingly Power must be shaken to pieces in all Nations The Imaginary Law of Justice which is but the declarative Will of Conquerours and buying and selling the Earth and being enslaved one to another must all be destroyed at the Resurrection of Christ and that he saith was then beginning and therefore the pretence to Revelation looks a-squint upon the safety of Kingdoms had not the Magistrates the Sword they might meet with as Reproachful words as the Ministers and had some Persons strength their Principles might carry them to repeat the Munster Tragedy If this Measure be dealt unto the Prince what will not be unto the Subjects The Peers and Lords must expect the like treatment from these Levellers Plough-men James Parnel's shield p. 24 25. Fâ—sher-men Herds-men Shepherds are Noble-men sprung of the Noble Seed here the true Honour is no more after the Flesh but after the Spirit He that boggles at using Sirs p. 46. will stumble at higher Titles and if this new Critick may be credited Titles are to cease and Epithets and Adjuncts are to succeed in lieu Which Men are at Liberty to give or not to give according to their prejudicated or capricious fancies He quarrelleth at several things established by Act of Parliament as the Book of Ordination is spurned at by degrading the Clergy the Confessing of our selves miserable Sâ—â—ners is Chastised by his Ferula p. 53. Tithes an Ancient payment of at least 800 years usage in this Nation Sir
giveth the true sence and meaning of Scripture immediately p. 238 239 251 253 255. 4. The Gospel is now Preached in the demonstration of the Spirit and Power p. 244. and they are the Persons without question who Preach it 5. They know the Word of God by Experience p. 249. 6. The Primitive Christians had the knowledge of the Gospel by the immediate Revelation of the Spirit as the Apostles had p. 233 245. and the Quakers now receive it in the same manner 7. They receive it by the gift of God p. 245. 8. They have heard the voice of God speaking in them p. 249. 9. Divine Revelation consists in opening and discovering p. 249. 253 255. that is in expounding And all this is done without any help of Humane Learning which is not so much as to appear between the first of Genesis and the last of the Revelations but hath its Circle assigned beyond which it must not step reduced to its proper station and service which is to be conversant in Natural Civil or Humane Affairs p. 218 Humane Learning is to do the Drudgery of Translating to put an English Bible into a Quakers hand and must presently with-draw the pretended Spirit then supervening and opening each Text of Scripture truly to them These are different Notions and are too great favours for any Party on this side Heaven but it s subtilly done to chuse so many to leave room for escaping that if some prove deceitful the rest may support their Partners We must attend his Motions and examine them one by one giving his own words under each head onely some few things must be premised in passage 1. I think he seldom or never names our Lord Jesus Christ who dyed at Jerusalem as concerned in the revealing of Gods will His Prophetick Office is destroyed or weakned by this Sect and the Spirit is substituted in his place Thus p. 245. when he saith the Author of our Faith is the same the Finisher of it is the same alluding to Heb. 12.2 Where Jesus to wit the Son of the B. Virgin is named yet he takes no notice of him but turns it another way They received their Faith namely by the gift of God they received their Faith he saith there in the same manner that the Primitive Christians received it of old Now how that was he tells us p. 233 From the Immediate teachings of the Holy Spirit which dwelt in them So that he either lays aside our dearest Saviour or Confounds Jesus Christ and the Holy-Ghost as one and the same which he doth to purpose p. 233. Paul received the knowledge of the Gospel from Christ revealed in him thence he presently infers thus The Apostles did receive the knowledge of the Gospel from the immediate teachings of the Holy Spirit making Christ revealed in Paul and the Holy Spirit to be the same 2. He seems to make some concessions to inform within what bounds they keep denying new Revelations and yet he either hath new ones or none as from his Principles will be proved p. 237. they expect not a Revelation of any other Gospel of any other way of Salvation of any other Essentials in the Christian Religion they have but renewed Revelations p. 238. Truths formerly revealed p. 254. The same good old Truths p. 243 The good old Gospel again revealed a concession that destroys his design for having no new ones the old do neither need nor are capable of Repetition The true Christians Faith and Experience 3. He appropriates these receits to himself and Party We p. 237 245 249. Vs 254 256 to all Believers 228. that is to himself and Friends for they are the onely true the others but Titular and Nominal Christians saith Will. Shewen frequently The Testimony from the Brethren they are the Church of God returned out of the Wilderness And this is large enough Moses wish fulfilled Numb 11.29 All the People of the Lord are Prophets Are all Apostles Are all Prophets 1 Cor. 12.29 Yes among the Quakers Had he Challenged some few Inspirations in pursuance of the former or some rare single notices from good Angels they had been more Modest or an Immediate Revelation to ascertain him which Books were Divinely inspired and which not it should have been confessed that some have gone that way before him Vindication of the Protestants grounds of Faith second Discourse p. 308 Sect. 4. not onely the Enthusiasts and some Calvinists but the Popish Guide in Controversies in Dr. Stillingfleet saith That the ultimate Resolution of a Christians Divine Faith is into that particular Revelation first made known to him But supposing there was such a Supernatural and infused assurance given yet it is not rational and discursive saith Mr. Chillingworth it may be an assurance to a mans self but it is no Argument to another But one single immediate Revelation is too scant for T. E. during his whole life time He must put God upon Miracles and unnecessaries have what hath been before Revealed though translated into the vulgar Tongue renewed repeated re-revealed in the same manner and he must have Expository Revelations given him of the Sacred Books besides So that his own words contain the best his own Character p. 101. he treadeth an unbeaten path p. 246. he seems not rightly to understand Revelation but rather to have taken in some strange Notion concerning it CHAP. II. How the Apostles came to the Knowledge of the Gospel HIS first rise is That the Apostles had an inward manifestation and Immediate Revelation of the Mind and Will of God to them by the Spirit of Truth which dwelt in them p. 227. this he would have and so craftily brings in as if the Friendly Conference had so meant If by all those ways he intends no more than an inward manifestation But supposing this was true as he states it yet it is not Large nor Comprehensive enough For the Apostles had another Teacher even an outward one both before and besides the Holy Spirit and what Christian did ever yet lay aside or overlook the Personal Oral Teaching of their Lord Jesus If Quakers delight to be called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Irenae ad Heres L. 1. C. 1. the Spiritual and perfect from their supposed Teacher the Spirit as the Scholars of Valentinus did we must adhere to our elder name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from that Author and Finisher of our Faith If Quakers first make no distinction between the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost and then would lay aside the God-Man Jesus by making the Spirit inwardly supply all we Christians are instructed to hearken unto that Prophet whom God raised up like unto Moses Deut. 18.15 and T. E. can scarce make Moses and the Holy-Ghost alike we do Believe in and Obey that Beloved Son upon whom the Blessed Spirit descended Mat. 3.17 for we are commanded to hear him Mat. 17.5 he discharged his Prophetick as well as Priestly Office in our Humane
into Spirit out of Form Type and so into Power Truth c. p. 4. 48. passim hear what the Spirit saith p. 10. The Doctrine turned into a Prayer is a brisk one Fall upon them while they are eating and drinking without p. 13. let them eat and drink within bread in the Kingdom and drink Wine new in the Kingdom even new in the Kingdom new in the Kingdom not in the oldness of the Letter but in the newness of the Spirit The Elements p. 6. Formal Prayer Baptism Supper c. shall melt away into God and at this rate he proceeds he Loved also a Woman Prophetess even his dear Friend p. 46. Mrs. T. P. I had as live hear a Daughter as a Son Prophesie and I know that Women that stay at home divide the Spoyl Male and Female are all one in Christ 5. The Fifth Monarchy Mâ—n were not onely Citizens of the New Jerusalem but Candidates of Heaven receiving much Intelligence from thence Their Prophet for I know not what Sect else he should belong to had several Visions of what the All of All things was bringing to pass The pouring forth of the seventh Vial upon all Flesh The Father spoke to him as he lay in a Trance almost dead for 22 hours in the Preface Being chosen to declare those things and publish them as being what the Prophets pointed at his Name was changed from George in a Vision to Jacob Israel Foster and so saith he I subscribe or George Foster or Jacob Israel Foster His Visions are too many to be set down as if he strove both to imitate and out-do St. John some few we shall take a taste of for their curiosity He had a Vision of the calling of the Jews p. 19. under the Emblem of a man that went up and down gathering men together So that the Jews now dispersed among the Gentiles were to return to their own City p. 33. p. 41. p. 55. and there the Lord would Reign among his Saints in Mount Sion for Judea was the place where both God and his Spouse were to rest Heaven or the third and highest Dispensation must be about Jerusalem for the Credit of our Nation the Chief or Principal Leader of this Expedition into the Holy Land p. 39. must be an English man whom God hath chosen for that Work When they came to Jerusalem they were to dye and presently to rise up again and never to dye more and the time of restitution is to be in the year 7000. after which there is neither Hell nor Devils left p. 40 with very many Visions of the like Nature delivered in such exact Circumstances with so set and composed a Countenance and under such variety of Emblems and Figures that he deserves as much regard as any other in the whole herd of Enthusiasts 6. William Franklin Mary Gadbury and their Proselytes put in as strongly and produce as good proofs for Inspiration as T. E. can do some take them for Quakers but the name was not then known nor do I think they will own them But be their Sect without name or what else I am not concern'd it is onely their Revelations I must consider for they had drunk their share of the Spirit of Delusion then poured forth Franklin affirmed Humphrey Ellis his Pseudo Christus p. 7. His Receit of Revelations and Visions which he endeavoured to countenance with fair and seeming Gospel Expressions he pretended to Prophesie to fore-tell things to come to speak with new Tongues p. 36. and babled out uncouth words He also forgave Sins and his Proselytes as Spradbury and the rest were drawn unto him by Sights and Voices with several strange Relations His Whore Mary Gadbury called him the Son of God p. 31. the Christ the Lamb slain c. She pretended to Visions Voices and Revelations was full of comfort p. 8. joy and singing had strange trembling Fits She saw a Light as big as the Moon and many Stars p. 10. p. 18. she had a voice sometimes to seal up the Vision and then would not speak she slighted Sacred Scripture and yet delivered her Revelations in its Language p. 15. They were commanded in a Vision to go into the Land of Ham which by a sutable Exposition they Interpreted Hampshire Their Proselytes like the Disciples of Marcus had Voices p. 22 28. Visions and Glories insomuch that both a Minister Mr. Woodward and his Wife were deluded by them he hearing Voices and seeing Glories and she seeing Visions To this hight they had quickly arrived till the Vigilance of the Magistrates suppressed them That Whore with whom Franklin lay as a fellow-feeler of her Misery called her self the Spouse of Christ p. 50. the Lady Mary the Queen the Bride and the Lamb's Wife Had she not been ten years too forward she would have been a fit Match for apretty pragmatical thing of G. F. which begun to bleat in 1659. called the Lamb's Officer gone out with the Lamb's Message 7. Lodowick Muggleton and John Reeve giving out themselves as the two last Witnesses Rev. 11.3 as the Prophets of Christ and the Sealers of the Fore-heads of the Elect and the Reprobate appeared much contemporary with the Quakers being equal to them both in their Claims and Proofs of Inspiration But the Devils Malice herein out-run his Wit for setting up so many contradictory Competitours in Revelation about the same time one of them is a sufficient confutation of another whereas had but one single Sect put in and ingrossed the favour of that immediate Heavenly converse weak and simple Souls might thereby have been sooner deluded but to considering minds their so fertil multiplication is their mutual Destruction In what terms Muggleton Challenged Inspiration is not now proper to relate for seeing that the Fire hath of late deservedly by publick Order done Execution upon his Works 't is not manners to rake such putrid stuff out of its ashes Let all the like Tracts and Pretentions meet with the like Purgation Only by way of Tryal take this whatever the Learned men of this World Dream of finding out the Invisible things of Eternity Reeves and Muggleton's Divine Looking-glass Cap. 36. p. 145. by searching into the Scripture Records and comparing them togeher the Divine Majesty hath lock'd up all the Principal Secrets of the Scriptures in his own Spiritual Breast that he by any Immediate Revelation may dispose of them into the Spirits of Elect Men and Angels most advantagious for his own Glory and their Consolation 8. Anna Trapnel exceeds both the Quakers and most of the other Pretenders in excessive fastings Poetical Enthusiasms lucky hits upon several things that came to pass afterwards rapturous Devotions The cry of a stone Title Preface c. She was in the Visions of God by an Inspiration extraordinary and full of wonder England was the Valley of Vision the wise have
which the rest had never seen nor heard of and cryed down their old light as darkness pretending to have hers Immediately And 't is hard to discover how upon their principles they can confute her Rationally sometimes they stop the Mouths of such Tyran 15. Silent meet a wounder p. 10. as offer to speak in the name of the Lord. So Ann Mud c. Was pulled away by violence they are very curious in the time when the Spirit seizeth on them the 22. day of the 7. Mouth the word of the Lord came unto W. B. another is more exact On the 31st day of the 10th Month 1655. about 4 a Clock in the Morning the Word of the Lord came to Burroughs c. the same could have gone on to Minutes Seconds c. Revelation also is challenged for bad Designs Hicks 1 Dial. p. 26. a Quaker Debtor replyed to his Creditor 't is revealed to me I ow thee nothing p. 27. Ellis Pseudo-christus p. 27 Studelys looking glass of Schism Messages have been pretended sent from God and the person hath been proved many miles distant when the dreamer came to declare it so Holbrow and Marshal were deluded Mary Gadbury pretended a Revelation to get some Cloath from Mrs. Woodward and such a Command must be embraced Schucker beheaded his brother Leonard by Inspiration and Enoch ap Evan upon partly such a pretence killed his Mother and his Brother Kays Answ to 18. Quae. p. 5. Q. Spi. Court p. 7. 21. And two Quakers near Stokely in York-shire their Conscience bidding them destroy Original Sin they Apprehending that their Mother was the fountain thereof Murdered her Fox challenged Inspiration for the Earths being flat Spirit of Hat 27. and that it was twelve a Clock all the World over and he kept part of his Commission concealed a long time Although I have not yet told it you I do now declare it I have power to bind and to loose whom I please At this rate he may keep an Instrument for Reconciling us to Rome dormant by him And Revelations have put them both upon hardships and going naked Idem p. 20. But all these contentions are nothing to such Inspirado's they are yet Whole and Sound in the true Church unity stands in Diversityes as if they had taken the word of the Valentinians Tertul. adve Valcutin Concerning in Faldo Q. no Christ p. 56. who take Diversity as a Charisma or gift nec unitatem sed diversitatem and Pennington licks all right the doing the same thing the thinking the same thing the speaking the same thing this doth not unite here in this state in this nature but the doing the thinking the speaking of it in the same life yea though the doings or thoughts or words be divers yet if they Proceed from the same Principle or nature there is a true unity felt therein where the life alone is Judge And by this salvo all these Contradictions hurt their unity no more than taking an Oath doth prejudice their not Swearing CHAP. VIII Concerning their Expository Revelations III. THe third which these Privado's of Heaven enjoy is They have Expository Revelations so T. E. p. 238. the Scriptures are understood only and alone by the openings and discoveries of that Holy Spirit by which they were at first revealed those Divine Mysteries are Mysteires indeed and remain so as a sealed book until Christ the Lamb doth open them p. 239. nor can the Doctrine of the Gospel or the Mysteries of Gods Kingdom be known to man but by the Revevelation of the Holy Spirit Revelation is necessary yea of necessity even to understand the Scriptures the true sence man can never attain unto until the Holy Spirit Reveal it to him to the like purpose he writes p. 251 253. and 255. that the Spirits helping to understand the Scriptures is by its teaching the true sence and meaning of them by opening discovering and making known the Mind and Will of God therein exprest This is Revelation But there is a great Craft in this procedure for he beginneth with Immediate Revelation but after he Ommitteth the Word Immediate and slideth into Revelation in General But what makes he Requisite on our Part to receive this boon from the Spirit 't is summ'd up into a narrower room than the Essentials by Keith viz. waiting p. 220. desiring and waiting p. 240 but especially humane Learning is disbanded from the least concern except Translating T. Es. Spirit cannot Translate a Greek Chapter but it can Infallibly Expound an English one that is it can do nothing discernible but it can do all things Indiscernible 〈◊〉 Law of 〈◊〉 This gaping way of Expâ—unding was taught by Winstanley all Exâ—â—sitions upon others words shall cease they shall 〈◊〉 with a quiet silence upon the Lord Till he break forth within their Hearts and give them words and Power to speak You must get into the Hâ—ly Silence 〈…〉 8.9.10 and then the Spirit will Instruct you But the Rule is Elder then the Quakers Hildegardis in that her Nonsensical Vision Related to Arnold Arch-Bishop of Colen determines qui autem Vult bene Vigilare hunc intellectum Percipiat Biblio pâ—trum Tom. 15. p. 622. c. He that will make or wait wâ—â—â— shall have the Vnderstanding of her Vision And the Libertines and Swenck field the Familists and all the herd not so much as Anna Trapnel but they all are against learning and for T. Es. easy way of Inspiration or Ministers to have no help but to speak all from the light within So that there is nothing of Studying Praying Reading Meditating or Confering Required on our Part but a Supine desiring and Expecting Reasoning is outdated by Yawning and brains are Superseded by Meer Attendance Quakerism Nuzzles up in sloth and Idleness they may Rest day and night and have the Law writ in their Hearts without Exercising themselves in it their terms are so easy they will have Proselytes Danger of Enthusiasm p 71. but saith one Jacobs Venison could not be right it came so soon to hand To which we may add he lyed in saying the Lord his God brought it to him when it was his Mothers Art This waiting Prostitutes and layeth the soul open to every Impression what starts up first is thought a Divine Irradition The Devil loves a house so garnished and Empty and whilest Saul was thus waiting he started up in the Room and likeness of Samuel their Inspirations are both Writing and Seal to themselves and being in such a passive stilness they Interpret each forward Fancy to be the Whispering of the Spirit that silent Attendance throws down the mounds and Fences of our Spirits and whilst we ly waiting we shall not want the Entertainment and Variety of Suggestions but be bewildred and run on from one Imagination to another But what need T. E. wait Dr Causabons Enthu p. 162 the Spirit of Truth dwells in them p. 228. and
foretells of false Prophets but no where promiseth a succession of new ones Nor is it possible Christianity being entertained upon their Personal knowledge of Christ and the Visible Evidences of the Spirit which also inwardly inclined men to search into to approve and chose what the Apostles c. outwardly proposed and now Learning and Meditation supply to us what the Spirit Immediately vouchsafed to them In Epistle ad Paulinuim as St. Hierom saith quicquid enim aliis exercitatio quotidiana in lege meditatio tribuere solet istis hoc Spiritus sanctus suggerebat Thomas Ellwood makes some attempts of proof about the Reformation as from Tindal p. 273 but neither renewed Immediate nor Expository Revelations are therein owned nor doth it concern Notional about which our debate is but Practical knowledge he deals very unfaithfully with Bishop Jewel who proves from the Antients That many things are easy in the Scripture p. 393. and he strikes in with Harding about the darkness of Scriptures and the understanding of them not by reading but by special Revelation and Miracle p. 394. And that which the Bishop calls Help and Prompting Thomas Ellwood transforms into Inspiration and Revelation of the Divine Spirit p. 275. Without humane Learning Study or natural abilities and the Answer of Alphonsus the Spanish Fryar to Mr. Bradford becomes Thomas Ellwood's Mouth You must be as it were a Neuter as one standing in doubt Pray Fox his Mart. Vol. 3. p. 299. and be ready to receive what God shall Inspire for in vain laboureth our tongue to speak else But none of his Proofs concern Perpetual Immediate Inspiration for the Spirit giving assurance of the Scriptures is a thing of a different nature The sence of the Reformers is discerned from the Homily in the Exhortation to the reading of the Scriptures which requires our humility and diligent search and often reading And John Olde a Famous Divine in Edward the sixths days declares how they proceeded in interpreting Scripture Touching the Interpretation of the Scriptures it must be expounded according to the Proprieties of the Tongues in which it was first written In Dr. Holdsworth praele◠Theolog. p. 435. and by diligent Weighing of sayings that go before and that follow after withall the Circumstances and also according to other places that are more plain or like or contrary and where the Fathers the Doctors of the Holy Church have Interpreted the Scriptures after this manner and have in no wise blanched or swerved from this Rule there we do with heart and good will acknowledge and take them for faithful and diligent Interpreters of the Scriptures and honorable Instruments of the Holy Ghost whose painful labours and Industryes our Lord God hath used in the Church to the Glory of his own Name and the profit of his flock c. this was Printed 1554. CHAP. XII Of their hearing the Voice of God and some other Claims THomas Ellwood to all these Superadds other Priviledges as first their hearing Gods Voice blessed be the Lord we have heard the Voice of God and when the Lord hath spoken in us p. 249. Implying in a Distinct Articulate Voice spoken within and heard by them a most dangerous Delusion and contrary to Gods manner of Proceeding who rarely or never spoke to men without some internuntius or medium his Voice being dreadfull no man can hear it and live Exod. 20.19 Deut. 18.16 So that either Angels or God Incarnate signifyed his Pleasure The Motions and Whispers of the Spirit are not an audible Voice the manner of Gods speaking is related thus The Word of God speaketh forth it self at first simply in Power Univ. Grace p. 87. 88. Vertue Light and Life rather than in words and afterwards words are given and that very Distinctly heard and apprehended So that the Quakers Inspirations come rather at first by signs and Symbols than Words and that is a darker way of Expression Im. Re. p. 171. 58. For the Plainest words cannot give the knowledge of the things and words even the best cannot give the knowledg of God c. that must be strange which words cannot express though they pretend to receive it from the Mouth of the Lord or vivâ voce from him Q. no Christ p. 121. 272. New Law 96 Parnels shield 38. Im. Rev. 14. Q. spi Court p. 7. but they may questionless hear his Voice for they can see the Invisible he sees his maker and lives in the light some of them have had appearances of God the Saints have an intuitive knowledge of God in this life so that though Fox in the Divine Light could never see Angels nor Spirits yet they can see and hear God and they succeed several herein Theod. Eccl. Hist l. 4. c. 11. Dr. Causabons Enth. p. 103. 161 163 164. The Messalians did behold the Trinity with their eyes God did talk with Ignatius Loyola and the Holy Maid saw God Heaven and Hell and the Soul of Christ in its Purity And that strange Enthusiast in Acosta talked of conversing with God and the Alumbrados or Spanish Quakers said They might see God Visibly in their Ecstacyes 2. They receive the Gospel by the Gift of God p. 245. from the Divine Power it self p. 232. not once naming in this regard that great Prophet who in the days of his flesh taught us but these are two general words technically to Imply the manner of Inspiration for every good and perfect gift comes from God and yet it is not handed down by Revelation 3. Divine Revelation consists in opening discovering or expounding Teaching the true sence and meaning of Scriptures by opening discovering and making known the Will of God therein exprest this is Revelation for whatsoever is discovered or made known is Revealed p. 255. a new Notion by which the Apocalypse must be the easiest book and the Revelation of John must be the Exposition of John but he useth the word doubly sometimes properly as p. 238. for Gods conveying such a Message unto a man at other times he takes it loosly for the understanding the Message so brought Whereas Divine Revelations do not depend upon our right understanding them but upon Gods conveying them unless he be of the Jesuits mind that the Scripture not being understood is no Scripture and if discovering be Revealing then every Artist or Inventer is a Revealer So Dr. Harvey was a Revealer of the Circulation of blood Pecquet the Revealer of the passage of the Chyle Vesputius or Columbus were the Revealers of America and the Discoverer of the Isle of Pines was such a Revealer as Thomas Ellwood and by this there will be plenty of books of Revelations Univer Gra. p. 24. The book of Creation being a sealed book till the Divine and Spiritual Illumination of the Holy Spirit of God do unseal it Reveal and open and make known the things that are therein contained CHAP. XIII Of the Texts of Scripture Produced by