the Ministers of Christ endowed with the Spirit ought to minister or preach from the Scriptures O blind Stupidity Do they deny the Apostles to be Christ's Ministers endowed with the Spirit And did not they preach from the Scriptures Acts 3. 22. Peter proves Christ to be this Prophet from Deut. 18. 15. And Acts 8. 26 c. did not Philip preach Jesus to the Eunuch out of the Prophet Isaiah Acts 18. 28. Apollos mightily convinc'd the Jews of the Truth of Jesus being the Christ out of the Scriptures Acts 17. 11. the Bereans searched the Scriptures to prove Paul's Doctrine and Paul adviseth Timothy to study rightly to divide the Word Surely these were Ministers endowed with the Spirit But 3. As the Quakers do not own the Person nor Method used and appointed by Christ the great Prophet so they disown the Doctrine taught by him and his Apostles and like not those Directions given for Doctrine for say they ' All things are to be taught and ' learned by and from the Light within all they direct to is that No see Zech. 7. 2 3 7. Sherezer and Regem-melech were sent by the Children of Israel to enquire of the Priests and Prophets Whether they should weep in the fifth Month separating themselves as they had done many Years before Turn to the Light within saith the Quaker but the Lord speaks by the Prophet saying Should you not hear the words which the Lord hath cried by the former Prophets c. John Baptist who was a burning and shining Light sent two Disciples to Jesus saying Art thou he that should come or look do we for another Turn to the Light within saith the Quaker But saith Christ Go and tell John the things ye have both seen and heard c. Such outward Means were returned by Christ the true Prophet and Light of the World for John's Satisfaction Luke 7. 19 22. Luke 3. 10 14. The People came to Jesus saying What shall we do Also the Publicans saying What shall we do And the Souldiers said What shall we do Turn to the Light within saith the Quaker But saith Jesus who had another Spirit He that hath two Coats let him impart one to him that hath none Exact no more c. Do Violence to none Accuse no Man falsely Be content with your Wages Mat. 19. 16 21. a certain young Man came to Christ saying What good thing shall I do that I may inherit Eternal Life Turn to the Light within saith the Quaker But saith Christ Keep the Commandments and sell what thou hast and give to the Poor and thou shalt have Treasure in Heaven c. Joh. 6. 28 29. the Jews demanded of Christ saying What shall we do that we may work the Work of God Turn to the Light within saith the Quaker But saith Christ this is the Work of God That ye believe in his Son that is in me that talk with you that came into the World to die for you Lord what wilt thou have me to do saith Saul Turn to the Light within saith the Quaker Acts 9. 6. saith the Lord Christ Go into the City and it shall be told thee Acts 22. 10-16 Arise and go to Damascus and there it shall be told thee of all things that are appointed for thee to do And that not by a Light within for Ananias was to instruct him into the Will of Christ the great Prophet So Acts 2. 37 38. The poor Jews pricked in the Heart cried out Men and Brethren what shall we do Turn to the Light within saith the Quaker But saith Peter one that had the Holy Ghost Repent and be baptized for the Remission of Sins c. I might weary you with shewing how the Quakers oppose the Teachings of Christ's Prophetick Office And that the Quakers deny the Prophetick Office of Christ it appears by their denying his Gospel-Ordinances and this brings me to the Sixth Head as I observe in their Pamphlet VI. and Last In which they would insinuate to the World That they believe and are fully perswaded that Baptism which is essential to Salvation or Christianity or the Laver without which none can be true Christians or saved is the inward or spiritual washing of Regeneration by the Word of Life This is the saving Baptism into Christ and his Church which produceth the answer of a good Conscience towards God of which the outward was a Figure 1 Pet. 3. 21. This is that one Baptism of Christ by one Spirit into that one Body whereof Christ is Head And then that they may not appear with open Face but under a Mask in striking at Christ's Ordinance but still with the same Design they alter the stroak seemingly and go on As for Dipping or Sprinkling Infants or young Children we find no Precept or Precedent in Holy Scripture for the practice thereof and therefore we cannot think our not believing it essential or necessary to Salvation or making Christians a sufficient Argument to prove us no Christians unless it can be proved that none are saved without it and that all are saved that have it c. The scope and medium of this Article is to make null and abolish the sacred Ordinance of Water-Baptism And as to what they say that their not believing Sprinkling or Dipping of young Children to be essential to Salvation or making Christians can be no sufficient Argument to prove them no Christians No certainly I believe that no Advocate for that Cause could do it from those Premises I shall proceed to examine their Sentiments touching that Sacred Ordinance of Water-Baptism and it appears that they deny those two great Ordinances instituted by our Lord and great Prophet namely Baptism in Water and the Supper administred in Bread and Wine then one good Argument amongst many may be drawn from thence to prove the Quakers no Christians Let us therefore have recourse to their Construing Books and see what they say Pernell's Shield of the Truth p. 11. The Baptism we own is the Baptism of Christ with the Holy Ghost and with Fire but we deny all other See p. 12. Here the Quakers fully deny Water-Baptism See also James Naylor's Salutation to the Seed of God p. 33 34. where he slights and denies Baptism in Water calling it a carnal thing But Edw. Burroughs with open Face and great Confidence testifies against Christ's Ordinances being now in force I do affirm saith he that Circumcision is as much in force as Water-Baptism and the Pafchal Lamb as the Bread and Wine for the continuing of them would have been a Judaizing of the Evangelical Worship To assert their continuance would be as much as in such lies to pluck up the Gospel or Spiritual Worship by the Roots Hence that Appellation Ordinances of Christ I do renounce as unscriptural and unevangelical and can testify from the same Spirit by which Paul renounced Circumcision that they are to be rejected Burroughs's Works pag. 108 109. Here is a compound of Ignorance and
without the Gates of Jerusalem that died was buried and rose again Luke 24. 39. saith Christ It is I my self Behold my Hands and my Feet handle and see for a Spirit hath not Flesh and Bones as you see me have This I say is the Christ of God as Peter testifies Acts 2. 36. Therefore let all the House of Israel know assuredly that God hath made the same Jesus whom ye crucified both Lord and Christ I pass this and leave what hath been said and the Opinion of the Quakers about the Humanity of Christ to impartial Consideration But lest any should suppose the Quakers do not own such blasphemous condemning and railing Answers as Edw. Burroughs gave to the twenty Questions before hinted at some of which being about the Person or Humanity of Christ and Place of his Residence you have Mr. Penn warranting this Answer from God and by the sense of the Eternal Spirit for he declares It was the Portion and only fit Answer to be given to those trapanning Questions and saith he had Edw. Burroughs gone into a familiar opening unto his vulterous unclean serpertine Eye all the deep Things of the Spirit of God and Mysteries of Holy Kingdom who was in that nature that crucified the Lord of them Edw. Burroughs had brought the Wrath of the Eternal God upon himself instead of the Priest Will. Penn's Reas against Railing p. 164. IV. They profess in their Pamphlet That they believe and expect Salvation and Justification by the Righteousness and Merits of Christ and not by their own Righteousness or Works and that they believe Remission of Sins and Redemption through the Death Sufferings and Bloodshed of Christ This they make a plenary profession of in their Answer to their third and fourth Questions propounded I must now examine whether they believe what they have here so plausibly professed And there are three things to be enquired into which together with the circumstances and Concomitants will unfold their meaning in what they have here professed 1. What do the Quakers intend by the Death and Blood of Christ They do not believe in that Blood that was shed upon the Cross for Robert Ruckhill a Quaker saith in his Paper sent to Tho. Grantham That the Blood of Christ or Blood of Sprinkling never mortal Eye beheld And in pag. 11. of the same Paper he condemns all Professors that know no other Blood of Sprinkling than that which the Jews saw So that the Blood that our dear Lord shed upon the Cross they do not intend for John 19. 34. the Souldier pierced his Side and Water and Blood came out of his Wounds in the piercing of his Hands and Feet this the Souldiers and his Crucifiers saw But this is not the Blood intended see Tho. Lawson's Book pag. 18. I suppose they will not deny him to be a thorow-paced Quaker he saith The offering of Christ's Body to be broken and his Blood to be shed avails not so as through Faith therein to set free from Sin but Blood in a Mystery and a Body in a Mystery which we know not what it is saith Lawson But saith Pennington's Questions pag. 33. this we certainly know and can never call the bodily Garment Christ That is in plain English that Body of Flesh that they can never call Christ Pennington in another Page of the same Book asks Can outward Blood cleanse the Conscience we witness the same Christ that ever was now manifest in the Flesh This Isaac Pennington was an approved Quaker Now if this be not the Mystery of Iniquity I know not what may be called so and it this be not to bring in those damnable Heresies denying the Lord that bought them 2 Pet. 2. 1. prophesied of by Peter what is for the Blood shed upon the Cross is not available say they Now why should these Impostors talk of the Blood of Christ and labour to perswade the World that they expect Justification Redemption and Salvation and the blessed Effects of his Suffering and Dying even Salvation See Pennington's Questions pag. 25. Can outward Blood cleanse the Conscience can outward Water wash the Soul clean What plainer denial can there be of the Efficacy of the Blood of Christ shed on the Cross E. Burrough's Trumpet c. p. 17. All the Presbyterians and Independants with their feeding upon the Report of a thing done many hundred Years ago Thus they deridingly speak of such as believe in the Death and Sufferings of Christ upon the Cross I shall conclude this Confutation of their pretended Profession of Faith in the Blood of Christ Now if the Quakers will assign some other Blood of Christ besides the Blood of the Man Christ Jesus crucified on the Cross that is of this redeeming Nature and Efficacy then I shall be inclined to turn Quaker and not before But let Christians believe in Christ's Death and Blood-shed upon the Cross for Justification Sanctification and Redemption and let the Word of God be true and these Men Liars Rom. 3. 25. Rev. 1. 5. It was this Christ Jesus that was crucified upon the Cross that loved us and washed us from our Sins in his own Blood Heb. 9. 14. Col. 1. 14. We have Redemption through his Blood Heb. 13. 12. Wherefore Jesus also that he may sanctify the People with his own Blood suffered without the Gate c. See Rom. 5. 9 10. Col. 1. 20. Let us believe that Christ's Blood shed upon the Cross was to reconcile us to God Let us for ever admire God for this unspeakable Gift of his Son to die for us that he by the Grace of God should taste Death for every Man Heb. 2. 9. Again Let us believe love and obey so dear a Lord that so freely gave his Body to be broken pierced and mangled in that shameful manner to redeem sanctify and justify such that lay hold upon him Let the Love of Christ constrain us to be followers of God as dear Children and walk in Love as Christ hath loved us 2. Under this fourth Head they pretend to believe and expect Justification and Remission of Sins by the Righteousness and Merits of Christ and Redemption by him I shall now examine whether they do believe and expect Justification and Remission of Sins by the Righteousness and Merits of Christ Now if you will believe their Writings you will see this their Profession to be but a painted and deceitful Flourish for Justification and Remission of Sins by the Righteousness of another is not by them believed See Edw Burrough's Works in Answer to the 14th Query p. 33. God doth not accept any where there is any failing or who do not fulfil the Law and answer every Demand of Justice This were there no other Instance confutes their plausible pretence to Justification and Remission by the Righteousness and Merits of Christ But see Will. Pen's Sandy Foundat p. 25 c. Justification is not from the Imputation of another's Righteousness but from the actual performing and
But Paul had the Spirit of God and not of the Quakers and therefore he readily submitted to this Holy Ordinance and stands not to confer with Flesh and Blood See also Acts 10. from 44 to 48. While Peter was preaching the Gospel to Cornelius and those with him the Holy Ghost fell on all them that heard the Word and they heard them speak with Tongues and magnified God Then answered Peter Can any forbid Water that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Ghost as well as we c. Doubtless had R. Ruckhill or any of the Quakers been there had there been any such a Creature in those Days they would have forbid Water and told Peter he was mistaken Hold Peter they have the Substance the Baptism of the Spirit wilt thou lead them back to the Letter to the carnal Thing of Water-Baptism If G. Fox had been there with his Book The Great Mystery pag. 65. he would out of that have proved to Peter that Paul told of the Spirit 's Baptism and brought the Saints off from Things that are seen and Water is seen and its Baptism from that Text 2 Cor. 4. 18. Would any Man in his Senses have drawn such an Inference But it is a lamentable thing that these Men care not for the Scriptures except it be to abuse them But to return Vers 48. Peter being of another mind having another Spirit than the Quakers Commanded them to be baptized in the Name of the Lord. From whence I groundedly conclude That the highest Attainments or greatest Measures of the Holy Spirit do not exempt or excuse Men from but fit them for Gospel-Ordinances But I have shewed you before it is the Baptism of the Spirit and no other that they will allow This is that they contend for in their Pamphlet they say The Baptism of Water was put an End to at Christ's Death and then that of the Spirit succeeds of which that of Water was a Type This is their common Opinion To which I answer That it was Water-Baptism that Christ gave in Commission to his Disciples to Administer after he was risen from the Dead Mat. 28. Mark 16. First They were not to administer that of Sufferings his Disciples nor Apostles were not to persecute nor lay Sufferings upon others Secondly If they say that the Apostles were to baptize with the Spirit as some of them want no Ignorance or Confidence to affirm First I demand Whether the Administration of that were not peculiar to Christ Mat. 3 11. He meaning Christ shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with Fire Secondly Whether that if the Command Mat. 28. 18. Mark 16. 16. be to command the Apostles to baptize with the Holy Ghost and Fire If it were I demand when and where they obeyed it Thirdly Whether we may not groundedly believe That the baptizing Men and Women in Water in the Name of Christ which the Apostles did was not in obedience to some Commission from the Lord so to do Fourthly Let the Quakers shew when and where the Lord gave them command so to do if this of Matth. 28. and Mark 16. was not it Fifthly If Peter had not Authority from the Lord to baptize with Water Acts 10. latter end I demand whether you do not conclude he finned in so doing for he commanded them to be baptized in the Name of the Lord see Deut. 18. 20. But the Prophet that shall presume to speak a word in my Name that I have not commanded that Prophet shall die saith the Lord. I wish this were seriously weighed by all that counterfeit Christ's Ordinances Sixthly That whereas it is alledged that Baptism may be done or left undone that it is a thing indifferent Then I demand whether it was not as great a Sin in Peter Acts 10. 48. to command them to be baptized as it was in those 1 Tim. 4. 2 3. who command to abstain from Meats and forbid to marry which are things left at liberty For to command to do what God hath left at liberty to do or not to do is equally a Sin to the same extent with forbidding what God hath left to Mens liberty Therefore I would have none to count the Ordinances of Christ Things indifferent Let what hath been said be considered But the Apostles in pursuance of the aforesaid Commission Mat. 28. 18 19 20. Mark 16. 16. did preach and baptize with Water that being the only Baptism they were to administer That of Sufferings by Persecution being from the Devil and wicked Men that of the Spirit being peculiar from Christ and that of Water by his Apostles and Disciples And thus according to the Commission of their Lord you find them administring Acts 2. 38. and reaching Repent and be baptized for Remission of Sins and ye shall receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost Acts 8. 12. When they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the Kingdom of God and Name of Jesus they were baptized both Men and Women Ver. 36 37. saith the Eunuch See here is Water what doth hinder me to be baptized Philip answered If thou believe with all thy Heart it is lawful for thee as most truly read And they went down into and came up out of the Water c. Acts 10. 47 48. And he commanded them to be baptized in the Name of the Lord and none could forbid Water tho they were baptized with the Spirit before So that altho the pouring forth of the extraordinary Gifts of the Spirit are comparatively called a Baptism and the Greatness and Over-whelmings of Christ's Sufferings are so called comparatively Yet there is but one Baptism in a full and proper sense and that is that of Water in which the penitent Believer is buried Coloss 2. 12. Rom. 6. 4. And whatever the Quakers pretend Ephes 4. 5. Christ is that one Lord and to believe in him his Offices and Doctrine is this one Faith and to be baptized in Water is the one Baptism and how ridiculously they abuse that Text in their Pamphlet 1 Pet. 3. 21. In ver 21. he speaks of God's Patience in waiting upon the old World while the Ark was a preparing wherein eight Persons were saved by Water The like Figure where unto even Baptism doth also now save us not the putting away of the Filth of the Flesh that is not the end of Water-Baptism to cleanse the Filth from the outward Man as were the many Washings under the Law but it is the answer of a good Conscience towards God in shewing your Obedience to his Law as it is said Luke 7. 30. The Pharisees and Lawyers rejected the Counsel of God against themselves in not being baptized of him and so contracted Guilt to their Consciences And their saying Water-Baptism was a Figure of the Spiritual is an apparent Falshood the Text under debate hath no such meaning But thus as eight Persons believed in the Lord 's preaching by the Ark's building when the old World was
second coming of Christ as the Quakers dream for how improper were it for to celebrate an Ordinance in remembrance of him that was within them I leave to the Reader to judg 2. Christ is not come because that Kingdom is not come that Christ speaks of I will not henceforth drink of the Fruit of the Vine till I drink it new with you in my Father's Kingdom notwithstanding the Quakers do so abuse that Saying of our Lord. For it is the Duty of the Disciples of Christ to pray for the coming of that Kingdom and it is most evident that the Will of God is not done upon Earth as it is in Heaven for the greatest part of the World live in Disobedience to the Will of God neither doth Christ now drink of the Fruit of the Vine with his Disciples because he is at his Father's Right-hand in the glorious Heavens and his Disciples upon Earth are to break and eat Bread and drink of the Fruit of the Vine till he come in remembrance of his broken Body and Blood shed for their Redemption and Salvation in which Christ hath spiritual Communion with them not personal which he will have after his second Coming And 3. Paul and the Primitive Christians did not believe the givings forth of the Spirit to be the second coming of Christ because they believed and expected him to come in a personal glorious and visible manner Phil. 3. 20. We look for the Saviour who shall change our vile Bodies and make them like his own glorious Body that being one thing that will be done at Christ's second Coming And Paul and the Christians did look for Christ's second and personal Coming because they were told Acts 1. 11. That the same Jesus should come in like manner visible in his Body of Flesh and Bones as he did ascend as hath been before proved more largely and as Christ himself shewed his Disciples Mat. 24. at large that his coming should be glorious and visible Rev. 1. 7. Long after the Spirit or Comforter was come faith John Behold he cometh every Eye shall see him and they that pierced him shall mourn 1 Thess 4. 6. For the Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout with the Voice of the Arch-Angel and the Trump of God c. 4. If the Quakers will need have this to be true which no Christians can allow them that Christ is come the second time as the Scriptures have foretold of him and as he himself said he would and from thence they conclude that Baptism and the Supper of the Lord are at an end I would know whether all other Gospel-Ordinances are not at an end also as Preaching Prayer Acts of Mercy and Charity and the like And if so why do the Quakers pretend to Preach and Pray for in that Kingdom there is no need to teach any to know the Lord no need of Prayer for then the Saints possess the fullest Enjoyments they can pray or wish for they shall hunger no more and so have no need of Alms and in that Kingdom they neither marry nor are given in Marriage neither can they die any more Luke 20. 35 36. But the Quakers pretend to Preach and Pray and give Alms they Marry and they Die See then what horrid Contradictions and gross Absurdities attend this Spirit of Delusion And to what End they bring 1 Cor. 10. 15 16 17. Rev. 3. 20. Prov. 9. 4 5. with Joh. 6. I know not except to abuse the Scriptures or confute themselves All Christians own Christ to be the Bread of Life and have spiritual Communion with him in his Ordinances which spiritual Communion they cannot have whatever they pretend who do not obey Christ in his Ordinances but flight vilify and contemn the same as the Quakers do But those that open when he knocks by the Hammer of his Word those that receive his Word Ordinances and Appointments he will come into them by his Spirit and having Communion one with another as one Bread so their Fellowship shall be with the Father and the Son spiritually and so he hath promised to be with his Church in the participation of his Ordinances to the end of the World And though we highly own and honour the Ordinances of Christ yet as we believe those that reject and despise them whatever they pretend have no spiritual Communion with Christ so also those that are not duly fitted and prepared for them may not expect any Benefit or Advantage by them In the next place they talk of the Seals of the New Covenant Which term in the plural I deny and believe that the Spirit or Holy Ghost those Measures or Gifts thereof that God bestows upon Christians is the Seal of their Acceptance with him as Ephes 1. 13. After ye believed ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of 〈◊〉 Whoever accounts these Gospel-Ordinances the Seals of the Covenant are so far mistaken for they are part of the Covenant it self Saith Christ If ye love me keep my Commandments and I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter that shall abide with you for ever even the Spirit of Truth This Spirit which is promised as a Seal is upon the Terms of keeping Christ's Commandments of which are Baptism and the Lord's Supper Acts 5. 32. He gives this Seal of the Spirit to those that obey him duly observing and obeying Christ's Ordinances and Commands from a real Faith in his Word and Promises as well as in his Death Blood and Merits and also to attend this Gospel Faith with a pious Life and so resigning up our selves to be Christ's he hath promised us the Seal of his Spirit as an earnest of our Inheritance which is hereafter to be enjoyed But vainly do the Quakers feed themselves with Wind in imagining that they have the Holy Spirit or Seal of this new Covenant who rebel against Christ the Minister of the Covenant condemn his Blood despise his Ordinances c. So that from hence it appears they have nothing to do to take his Covenant into their Mouths seeing they hate to be reformed And as for their next Impertinency in talking of one outward Type or Shadow being a Type of another outward Type I am an Advocate for no such Notion neither do I believe that Circumcision was a Type of Baptism but of the Circumcision of the Heart nor that the Passover was a Type of the Lord's Supper but of Christ the true Paschal Lamb slain for the Sins of the World And now to conclude Let all Christians admire the Grace of Christ who gave his Body to be broken and his Blood to be shed and not only so but in love to his People hath left this Ordinance of his Supper in his last Will and Testament to be celebrated he before knowing our Frailties we being subject to forget his Kindness Let us therefore observe it with the rest of his Ordinances and blessed is the Servant whom the Lord