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
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Shape or Figure of a Man See the difference in Crit. Sacr. and the Translation of the Church of England In Phil. 2.7 Of Christ its expresly said and found in Figure as a Man as Dr. Fulk against the Papists has it He was also said to be made of a Woman made under the Law to redeem them under it Gal. 4.4 He was Circumcised presented to the Lord with an Oblation Luke 2.21 24. He eat of the Passover c. and thus came under the Law to fulfill it in these Things which were figurative and shadowy yet was the Substance and End of them Charges 10 and 11. Against an Actual keeping of the Law of God so as to avoid all Sin though he grants such a Perfection as imports Sincerity Integrity and Constancy in our utmost endeavours perfectly to keep God's Law entirely to avoid all Sin c. which Perfection he confesses to be requisite to Salvation Yet contrariwise chargeth one of our Friends for saying He had proved by manifest Scriptures that some were perfect in this Life even without Sin and that our Sanctification is Christ himself 1 Cor. 1.30 And another Friend he charges for saying In your Vnbelief you judge that none can live without sinning Obs. Now take the Doctor as believing the contrary thus viz. Though 't is our Duty sincerely to use our utmost endeavours perfectly to keep God's Law and entirely to avoid all Sin yet none were ever so perfect in this Life without Sin and that our Sanctification is not Christ and that 't is our belief to judge that none can live without sinning Thus faithless is this great Doctor how contrary to the Faith of Christ and true Christians is his belief herein And such endeavours for such a Perfection as never attain it but still fall short are not in the true Faith nor so sincere as they should be for Christ said Whatsoever ye ask in my Name believe that ye shall receive it and the same shall be given you Mark 11.24 Luke 11.9 10 11 13. John 14.13 14. and 16 23. Mat. 7.7 And by Faith in Christ comes the Heart to be purified Acts 15.9 And Christ is of God made unto us Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption 1 Cor. 1.30 And blessed are the undefiled in the way c. Psal. 119.1 2 3. And seeing the Son of God is manifest for this very purpose to destroy the Works of the Devil 1 John 3. Why then should Sin which is the Devil's Work be thus Preach'd up or contended for by any who profess Faith in Christ Jesus Their's must needs be a faithless Preaching who when they have told People 't is their Duty to use their utmost endeavours entirely to avoid all Sin yet contrarywise tell them That none can live without sining With what Faith or Sincerity can this Man or any of his Brethren engage Childrens God-Fathers and God-Mothers as they call them by Promise and Vow that they shall forsake the Devil and all his Works and yet endeavour to perswade them 't is impossible for them so to do i. e. to live without Sin or to avoid all sinning wherein they obey the Devil and do his Work And note that this Doctor S.F. has in this Point also contradicted the said Doctor Stillingfleet his now Bishop See his Sermon Preach'd before the King March 13. 1666 7. Wherein he does not only plead and argue it as our Duty to obey God's Laws and Commands but the Possibility thereof through the Assistance of his Grace and good Spirit against them who charge God with laying impossible Laws upon Mankind c. and puts the Question What then is wanting but only setting our selves with a serious obedience to them to make his Commands not only not impossible but easy to us Now that this Priest S.F. who styles himself D.D. has apparently contradicted his said Bishop the Contradiction being between the Impossibility and Possibility of living without sining or avoiding all Sin Charge 12. Against some of our ancient Friends for asserting that he calls main fundamental of all our Religion namely The Light and Christ within us and that this Light is in its own being no other than God himself the Christ of God and Saviour of the World the living Principle of God of the Divine Nature c. Obs. And we do not believe this to be either Unchristian or Antichristian as he has rendered it by his Title over it which is no Proof but his own bare Affirmation and Charge wherein he imposes still we preach no other Light but what is Divine of the divine Nature and Being and manifest by degrees in us God is Light and in him is no Darkness at all and hath shined in our Hearts 2 Cor. 4.6 1 John 1.5 And Christ saith I am the Light of the World he that followeth me shall not abide in Darkness John 8.12 and Chap. 12.46 And he saith Believe in the Light that ye may be the Children of the Light John 12.36 And his Apostles Preached not only Christ as without but also Christ as within in Spirit and so did Christ himself John 14.20 and 15.4 and 17.23 2 Cor. 13.5 And therefore our Adversary is far out and shews himself Unchristian in opposing such ancient Christian Doctrin as this of the divine Light and Christ within c. Rendring it both Unchristianity and Antichristianity The Lord deliver poor Souls from such ignorant dark and unchristian Preachers and Doctors who neither know the holy Scriptures nor Jesus Christ nor his divine Light or power of God within them Charge 13. Is about the Holy Scriptures that one said They are not the Word of God not the Rule and Guide of Faith and Life to the Saints but the Spirit of God that gave them forth the Covenant of Life and Peace That a Man may lawfully deny the Scriptures to be the Foundation of Faith and Rule of Life c. That another Friend said Faith is the Ground of the Scriptures and of the Scriptures the Ground of Faith c. With more of like Nature in his Charge elsewhere Answered and Explain'd in our Friends Books quoted by him Obs. Where any of our Friends have said or writ such things it was so far from undervaluing or slighting the Holy Scriptures that the matters here charged as unchristian are agreeable to the very Doctrin of Christ and his Holy Apostles as First That the Word of God is Christ. In the Beginning was the Word John 1. His Name is called The Word of God Rev. 19.13 Secondly That the Spirit of God and Christ is the Saints Guide and Rule of Faith to lead and guide them into all Truth as Christ Jesus promised John 16 â—3 Thirdly That Christ is the Foundation of the Saints Faith and not the Scriptures No other Foundation can any Man lay than that which is laid which is Christ. Fourthly That Faith is the Ground of the Scriptures and not the Scriptures the Ground of Faith
Presence are instrumental therein even in Spiritual Baptism as well as the Conversion of Sinners H.O. Other Christians sit under these Ordinances with great delight and they are sweet to their Taste Answ. The converted Souls great Delight and the Fruit that 's sweet unto the Taste thereof is in sitting under the Shadow of her Beloved and partaking of his Living and pleasant Fruit Cant. 2.3 H.O. You do not own Christ for your Lord and Law-giver and the Scriptures for his Law seems plain to us in that you Communicate not in the Body and Blood of Christ at the Table as other Christians do Answ. We both sincerely own Christ for our Lord and Law-giver and the holy Scriptures and do communicate with all spiritual Christians at the Table of the Lord where we livingly partake of Christ that one living Bread from Heaven and the Cup of Blessing which only can and doth comfort strengthen and nourish our Souls to eternal Life as we daily in his Light do wait upon him H.O. On Acts 4.8 and 13.9 These had then Christ within them and yet they sat down at the Supper Acts 2.4 Others fill'd with the Spirit of Christ yet came together to break Bread 1 Cor. 10.16 and 11.26 Paul gives them Directions c. Answ. It s not question'd that they who receiv'd the Word and believed mentioned in Acts 2. did continue in Fellowship and breaking of Bread and daily in the Temple and breaking Bread at home did eat their Meat together with gladness and singleness of Heart which we truly own but also they had all things common they sold their Possessions and Goods and parted them to all Men as every one had need And that the Disciples came together to break Bread Acts 20.7 But the Question is 1. Whether because these Things were done by Believers then they must be practised by the Church of Christ as long as the World lasts if so why are they not all Are all their Temporary Practices Commands If so why do not the present Priests and Professors sell their Possessions and divide them and have all things common 2 And whether Christ's Practice as to the Bread and Cup and Passover in his Supper Luke 22. was therefore an Institution injoyn'd by him to be observed and practised in his Church while the World lasts Christ took brake and gave them Bread and Fish likewise after he was risen Luke 24.30 John 21.13 But we find not that he imposes these as a Sacrament or perpetual Institution to be allways observed in his Church 3. And Paul having recited Christ's Practice says to the Corinthians As oft as ye eat this Bread and drink this Cup ye shew the Lord's Death till he come 1 Cor. 11.26 Was this an universal and perpetual Command to the Church Or was it not fulfilled in Christs COMING which those very Corinthians waited for 1 Cor. 1.7 and 4.5 and which coming of Christ they had then great need of to remove and end the Strifes Divisions Carnality Drunkenness Sleepiness and Disorders among them 1 Cor. 3.3 and 11.21 30 We farther seriously ask 1. If the outward Bread and Cup were not figurative visible Signs or Shadow of something more excellent 2. If outward Types Figutes and Shadows be not of a decreasing and vanishing Nature 3. What perpetual Command and Necessity is there of the Shadow to continue the Substance being come and manifest in Christ's Church 4. Is not Christ the Sum and Substance and end of all outward Shadows Types and Figures and the Bread of Life from Heaven the spiritual Meat and Drink of every sanctified Soul 5. Is not the inward Living and spiritual Enjoyment of Christ and our being truly partakers of Christ far more excellent than the outward Observation of the Shadow to put us only in remembrance of him 6. If the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in Spirit and Power and his Members and Saints spiritual Communion with him their eating and drinking at his Table in his Kingdom Luke 22.16 30. and partaking with him of his spiritual Supper or supping with him Rev. 3 20. do not fully answer and fulfill the end of the Figures and Shadows as being a far more excellent Dispensation Shew us any Thing figurative or shadowish mentioned in Scripture that we cannot shew the substance thereof under the same Term or Title 7. Can any Bread Cup or Wine give Life unto or nourish the Soul unto Eternal Life then that which is spiritual the Bread of Life and Wine of the Kingdom of Christ even the same Bread and Wine in Wisdom's House Prov. 9.5 Pray seriously consider these Questions for they are serious and to us of concern H.O. Say they i. e. the Quakers That Christ enlightens every Man that comes into the World I told them that was with the Light of Nature Answ. Where proves he that Light of Christ in every Man John 1.9 is but the Light of Nature By what Scripture proves he this when 't is expresly said In him was Life and the Life was the Light of Men John 1.4 which rather proves it a divine and spiritual Light for that Life that was in Christ the Eternal Word was the Light of Men. Can this be the Light of Nature How great is the Darkness of such Preachers who so teach H.O. That you do not own Christ for your Lord and Teacher you do not own the Ministry of such men who are lawfully called set apart by such as have lawful Authority in the Church It is plain in Scripture Christ gave some Apostles some Prophets and some Evangelists c. for the perfecting of the Saints c. Answ. The first part charged against us is not true we do own Christ's Ministry and Ministers sent by him who are gifted and qualified for the Work of his Ministry but such Ministers as were never called gifted nor qualified by Christ but made and authorized only by Men and who deny any immediate Call or Revelation from Christ in these Days and who in their Preaching oppose Perfection and living without sinning in this Life such we do and shall deny and testifie against H.O. Are all Apostles are all Prophets What may every Man or Woman speak in the Church Oh no. Answ. Though all are not such yet if the Spirit of the Lord be upon them to speak or prophesie as he has promised Joâ—l 2. that 's not to be limited nor quenched Ye may all prophesie one by one 1 Cor. 14.31 And there were Women among them Chap. 11.5 Therefore the Prohibition to their Women 1 Cor. 14 34· was not General nor comprehending all States and Attainments of Christian Women nor yet to make void that Prophecy Joel 2.28 29. nor to hinder godly Women gifted and qualified from their Duty of being Teachers of good things Titus 2.3 H.O. Take heed to thy self and thy Doctrin continue in them 1 Tim. 4.15 16. That is be constant in Preaching noâ— in your Study one day and at Plow the next
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