Selected quad for the lemma: nature_n
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A65854
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The Christianity of the people commonly called Quakers vindicated from antichristian opposition sincerely tendered in behalf of the aforesaid people and their ancient friends by some of them.
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Whitehead, George, 1636?-1723.
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1690
(1690)
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Wing W1912; ESTC R27067
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25,012
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34
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and Robert Barcley especially G.K. in opposition to several of their and our ancient Friends and Brethren i. e. R.H. Ja. Parnell E.B. W.D. I.N. G.F. G.W. W.P. T. Speed c. The first Five being deceased And we have cause to assure our selves that both G. Keith and R.B. would abominate this false Brother's Attempt to make Divisions between them and their ancient Brethren divers whereof are gone and have laid down their Head in Peace And as to his giving these Commendations of G.K. as agreeing with them i. e. Protestants in this important Truth of the Divine Word assuming the true Nature of Man in Soul and Body into an immediate Vnion c. That Jesus Christ is true and perfect God and true and perfect Man c. very largely and fully c. All which Truths we firmly believe and own But says the false Brother Others in as great Repute among us as G.K. clearly contradict him which we do not believe Whereupon we solemnly declare that we find nothing asserted by G.K. and R.B. where rightly cited but we really own in the matter and intent thereof as about the Holy Scriptures the Word the blessed THREE in Heaven Christ's Divinity and Manhood Body Sufferings c. And also we do not find but what our Ancient Friends have written in these Points are reconcilable to the other upon a fair and rational or charitable Interpretation of their true Intentions and Meanings and taking due and serious Notice of the Tenor and Import of what they writ upon each Subject without mangling or curtailing as this and other Adversaries are apt to do where any things seem to oppose or vary as to some Terms or Expressions no doubt they may be easily reconciled by the Authors i. e. some of our Ancient Friends and G.K. and R.B. though many cannot so learnedly express their Minds and Meaning as they Howbeit this false Brother N.N. who seeks Division and Discord among Brethren feignedly pretends to defend G. Keith and the Protestant Churches against G.F. E.B. and others and says that G.K. owns as fully as they can desire the Doctrin intended by the Word TRINITY which he says they contend not for but the Doctrin intended the Truth of the thing it self we deny not says G.K. That these THREE are one in Nature and Substance yet Three otherwise than by mere Name Operation or Manifestation c. Being distinct in their relative Modes and Properties G.K. and R.B. are for us says he and hopes some of us are of their Mind and so far we may very well be call'd Protestant Quakers and says God forbid that we or the major part of us should approve such as say they are Prophets but are not but have said and done such things as are not to be named among Christians or Men. By these partial Insinuations this false Brother would still render us a divided People and some who are esteem'd as Ministers of Christ among us very suspicious and odious Though we know no reason to disown or protest against either W.D. E.B. R.H. I. P G.W. W.P. or the rest named by him because he has reviled and abused them as no Protestants nor to disown our Friends G.K. or R.B. whom he pretends to defend for we have a true tender and Christian esteem of both even of them all and of their Christian Testimonies and innocent Conversations and Sufferings for Christ. The Author of the Libel or false Brother condemns many things he neither answers nor refutes He supposes Contradiction in Matters reconcilable He reproaches the Dead whom he did not answer nor confute when Living One principal Contradiction supposed is this Title of a Paper i. e. Certain Papers which is the Word of the Lord and yet may not the Scripture be so called We say such a Title to any Paper or Writing is improper from the word should be instead of which is the word we shall not stand by the said Title as 't is worded without such Amendment Yet charitably think it was worded contrary to the intent and meaning of the Author for Paper and Ink cannot be the Word of the Lord nor can the Eternal Word be contained therein Yet that Word hath and may immediatly move upon the Spirits of some to speak and write and that 's our case The words cited against G.W. and others Thus Viz. and here thy Antiquity thy Reasons and about the 3 Persons thou dreamest of which thou wouldst divide out of one like a Conjurer are all denyed and thou with them i. e. his dark Reasons and Imaginations shut up in perpetual Darkness c. G.W. positively disowns the Words and affirms they are none of his and that he writ not that part of the Answer to Townsend which was about the Year 1654. yet looks on the words as wrong writ or wrong printed and that he raced them out or corrected them long since where he has met with that Answer For instead of and the 3 Persons it should have rather been about the 3 Persons And G.W. shall neither stand by nor own those words as charged after he see them in Print he was sorry his Name was to that Paper without distinction between what he writ and what he did not write in it wherein those words are which give the Occasion Let this Advertisement clear G.W. and others and suffice wâ—ry charitable and ingenuous Reader as we hope it will And now seeing this false Brother has so much commended Geo. Keith and Robert Barcley as to their Soundness in Doctrin c. We say there is matter sufficient in their Books in Vindication of the Doctrins Principles and Christian Religion of the People called Quakers which if this false Brother should oppose he 'll run into further self-contradiction against them he has so highly applauded Besides his Misquotations uncharitable and unjust Reflections and Falshoods here omitted and his wicked Attempts to sow Discord cause Divisions and Contentions among Brethen he most unfairly picks and nibbles here and there at our Friends Books and Words taking them in Pieces Bits and Scraps here and there leaving out the stress and explanatory Part of the Matter in divers things we could evince And thus 't is possible for a disingenuous Person to do by the best of Writings And lastly Whereas this false Brother would hear whether we would protest against the Errors his Letters implead c. Yet neither tells us his Name nor Residence nor how to direct to him nor who this N.N. is that 's subscribed to his Letters nor what religious Society he belongs to we have more to say or write to him for his better Information if we knew his Name and where he lives to direct to him and we should not be unwilling to subscribe our Names to such Defence as we have Cause to make in Truths and our own behalf for we are only defensive in these Controversies which this and other obscure and sculking Adversaries have begun against us the peaceable People called Quakers now in a Time of Liberty and Freedom from open Persecution which is an Indication that these secret peevish Smiters do secretly envy our present Liberty and therefore are in the same persecuting Spirit with our open Enemies and Persecutors This N.N. should come forth like a Man and discover himself that some of us whom he has accused might have some friendly Discourse with him which probably might tend to his Convincement and better Satisfaction if not obstinately set to oppose For hitherto he lurks he smiteth privily in the Dark he sitteth in the lurking Places to murther the Innocent he skulks privily to shoot at the Vpright in heart like the wicked If he would be plain and let us know how and whither to direct to him by his right Name it would give us Opportunity to let him hear more particularly from us till then excuse our Brevity FINIS Books Printed for and Sold by Thomas Northcott in Georgh-Yard in Lombard-street RObert Barclay's Apology for the true Christian Divinity as the same is held forth and Preached by the People called in scorn Quakers being a full Explanation and Vindication of their Principals and Doctrins c. G. Keith's Way to the City of God His Way cast up and the Stumbling-blocks removed His fundamental Truths of Christianity His true Christ owned as he is true God and perfect Man His Rector corrected His Truths Defence G. Fox the Younger's Collections E. Bathurst's Truth 's Vindication G. F's Heavenly Salutation His true Christian distinguished from the false A Narrative concerning Grace Watson's Death Abigal Fisher's Salutation of true Love Buds and Blossoms of Piety with some Fruit of the Spirit of Love and Directions to the Divine Wisdom Mankind Displayed or the History of the Little World being curious Collections out of the best Authors of the most wonderful and remarkable Things that have been performed by Men and Women in the several Ages of the World c. Scephen Strisp's Epistle concerning Present and Succeeeding Times Grammatista or the young Grammarian being a very useful selling Book containing Bills Bonds and Receipts c. * To this †I subscribe Geo. Whitehead Psal. 10. 11.2
THE CHRISTIANITY OF THE PEOPLE Commonly Called QUAKERS Vindicated from Antichristian Opposition I. In a serious Examination of Doctor Ford's Preservative against Quakerism in a large fallacious Scheme Tendered by S.F. D.D. as he stiles himself II. In a brief Answer to Henry Osland's Manuscript against the said People III. In a brief Consideration of an Epistle directed to Friends and Brethren at their next General Meeting in London Signed N.N. but no Name to it Sincerely Tendered in behalf of the aforesaid People and their Ancient Friends by some of them Psal. 35.20 They devise Deceitful Matters against them that are Quiet in the Land LONDON Printed for Thomas Northcott in George Yard in Lombard street 1690. THE CHRISTIANITY OF THE PEOPLE Commonly called QUAKERS Vindicated from Antichristian Opposition In a serious Examination of Doctor Ford's Preservative against Quakerism in a large Fallacious Scheme THE Industrious though fruitless Attempts of this Profound Doctor as he would be esteemed to unchristian or rather Antichristian the People called Quakers especially those of their ancient Friends is in this wise Methodized in three Columns on one large Sheet small Print The first contains a Recital of a Paper Entituled The Christianity of the People commonly called Quakers asserted against the unjust charge of their being no Christians writ by some of the said People by which the said Doctor S.F. saith They seem to be of a New Edition compared with the Vnchristianity or rather Antichristianity of their ancient Friends as he unjustly charges them in his Title set over his two other Columns and yet in contradiction falsly stiles our said Paper a Partial and Fallacious Scheme of their Doctrins Thus his Design appears malicious and uncharitable to endeavour not only to unchristian but to antichristianize an Innocent People that truly fear God and to render them contradictory to their Christianity sincerely asserted by them And whereas contrary to the Title over his first Column which is The Christianity of the People called Quakers over his second and third he has put the Title of the Vnchristianity or rather Antichristianity of the Quakers ancient Friends Hereby its apparent â—â—rst That all those Doctrins are by him rendered Vnchristian Antichristian which he has placed under the same Title and charg'd the Quakers ancient Friends withal in his two last Columns Secondly we may therefore rationally take him as holding the contrary and need give the less Remarks on the Particularâ— where his Unchristian Doctrins and Errors appear most obvious Thirdly most part of his charges are but what some of our old Adversaries and Persecutors have enviously and blindly Objected which long since are answered and the Truth fully clear'd in our Friends Books whereby he seems to have been one of them and since turn'd about from his Presbytery to the now Church of England for his own Interest yet retains his old Enmity And why is he now in 's old Age so disturbed and angry against the Quakers What 's the matter now Is he afraid to lose some of his Benefactors seeing he directs his Scheme to those of his own Neighbourhood and all others who are newly made or endangered to be made Quakers But he takes not the Course to oblige them that mean honestly by his abusing an innocent People in Print Fourthly Many Things are very unfairly and partially Cited by him leaving out the most material which are for Explanation of the Matters charged which we do not find but our Friends Books themselves which he quotes sufficiently and plentifully clear Others he has taken upon Trust against us out of our Adversaries Books without any impartial Enquiry what we could say for our selves or representing our Answers thereto But selfish Temporizers are commonly the most envious and apt to pervert Truth Now let 's examine his severe charge of Vnchristianity and Antichristianity against the Quakers ancient Friends in the several Instances given by him the said S.F. D.D. as he stiles himself that we may see what contrary Divinity he is Doctor of Charge 1. Is against our deceased Friend Ed. Burroughs viz. That God is a Spirit not distinct nor far from living Creatures for in him they live move and have their Beings Observation The Doctor 's deeming this Antichristian is to tell us he believes the contrary i. e. That God is not a Spirit That he is far from living Creatures Distinct or divided from them c. This being in his first Charge may be thought to be his Chief but his Divinity herein is expresly contrary to the Doctrin of our Lord Jesus Christ who Testified that God is a Spirit Joh. 4.24 and please to take the words not distinct to intend not divided or separate as E.B. intended and has explain'd That God is not far from his living Creatures and we see no Reason to render this Doctrin of God's Omnipresence either Antichristian or Unchristian but him to be both who so renders it For doth not God fill Heaven and Earth with his Presence and uphold all Things by the Word of his Power Jer. 23.24 Heb. 1.3 In whose hand is the Soul of every living Thing and Breath of all Mankind Job 12.10 And in him we live move and have our being Acts 17.28 If this Doctor had either known God or his Power and Omnipresence truly or seriously consulted holy Scripture he durst not have rendred such Doctrin either Antichristian or Unchristian Charge ibid. Against E.B. That the nature and glory of the Elect differs not from the nature and glory of the Creator The Elect are one with him enjoying his glory c. Obs. These being also put under the Title Vnchristianity or rather Antichristianity we may take this Doctor as holding the contrary i. e. That the nature and glory of the Elect differs from the nature and glory of the Creator That the Elect are not one with him in his nature that they enjoy not his Glory contrary to Christ's own Testimony John 17.21 22 23. That they all may be one as thou Father art in me and I in thee that they also may be one in us c. And the Glory which thou gavest me I have given them that they may be one as we are one I in them and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one And see 2 Pet. 1.4 That by these you might be Partakers of the Divine Nature Tho' we be Creatures still yet by the work of God's Grace and making good to us his precious Promises we are in some measure Partakers of his Divine Nature being Partakers of Christ Heb. 3.14 and so far united unto and in Union with him and is not this divine Nature the nature of the Creator Charge 2. Against our ancient Friends G.F. and R. Hubberthorn Of the Soul coming from God and returning to God again as of his Being c. And E. B's saying when dying Now my Soul and Spirit is Centered into its own being with God Obs. Here the Doctor has