revealing the Will of God to us by Hiâ— Word and Spirit page 10.4 The Spirit of Goâ— applies to us the Redemption purchased by Christ page 11.5 In the same page being the Author of Regeneration or the New Birth according to the Scriptures Joh. 3.6 The Spirits sanctifying of us page 15.7 That he teaches us to pray aright and acceptable to God page 41. From hence every one may learn what credit to give to Keith's worth and Calumnies for the future and though he constructs my Compassion over the tender Souls in aâ— American Desart to be a reflection against the Scâ— and English in Virginia I am satisfied it has nâ—… been so Received by them for whom it was intended neither judged so by the Spirit of God whâ—… much after the same manner pitties and compassiâ—nates the Ignorance of his own people by the Propheâ— Hos 4.6 My People are destroved for lack of knowledge And I am perswaded Quakers should nâ— have so great success in drawing aside silly Soul from the Truths and Ways of God if it weâ— not for the abounding Ignorance of Virginia anâ— other dark Corners of the World who have noâ— yet received and comprehended the Light shiniâ— about them and even their ignorance of thâ— Fundamental Truths contained in the Catechâ—… And none deserves more to be pitied for their â—…norance than Quakers and of the most Fundameâ—tal Truths notwithstanding of their high pretenâ— â—o the Spirit and Light within as John Drummond 〈◊〉 Reputed and Received Quaker a Reader of Keith's Books with many others who lately at my House at Poccamok before Keith and several other Witnesses published his gross Ignorance of that Fundamental Article That none could be Saved without Faith in Jesus Christ from which I understand since that he had oft reproached me drawing his own ignorant conclusions from thence And if Quakers are ignorant hereof what can they pretend â—o know Another general charge is That I nothing help the Ignorant neither do I direct them to the true Vision but whoever will but consider how many Fundamental Truths are laid down in the Catechism for the Edification of the Ignorant and plainly asserted That Christ teaches his People with his Word and Spirit and if this be not the true Vision of God Quakers must lose themselves and be puzzled in finding of it but he rather would insinuate what harm it would do if received but this may discover how far men are for keeping sinners in ignorance by possessing their minds with a dislike of this mean of Knowledge which leads and directs sinners to the Scriptures as the great mean of Knowledge and profitable for instruction containing all things necessary to be known by Christians and also to Christ and his Holy Spirit the Author and Efficient Cause of Knowledge who can Enlighten without means in a most immediate manner but most ordinarily conveyes Knowledge by Means and Ordinances of his own Appointment concurring with his Holy Spirit blessing and making them effectual to whom he pleases And in Catechism many savoury truths delivered no fins indulged most duâ—ies relating to our general and special callings enjoined Now â—ow the receiving such a form of sound words containing positive Diâ—vinity should be prejudicial and Kieth's works stuffed with Quibling and Sophistical Controversy his teachings filled with often repeated Calumnyâ— against all the Reformed Churches and Vn-scripâ— turaâ— or unheard of Long-winded Similitudes which amuse the deluded and ignorant should become profitable let every one determine and I am perswaded none has received or can receive injury therefrom but by slighting and disregarding it And this my experience can testifie that since the Catechism was opposed by Quakers they have had a more universal and kindly welcome and reception And here is no new Doctrine but what Keith had oft seen in the Catechisms of our Reformed Churches which he had oft impugned with all his might and Sophistry and his repeating his old Arguments is only with vain Ostentation to show himself among a poor ignorant and deluded people and once possessing them with this that what he delivers is immediately from the Spirit of God he may deliver what he will as infallible and never to be questioned Having answered his Generals I proceed to examine his particulars and he suffers not the first page to pass without a Censure because I have affirmed God made the World out of Nothing and that this is not only true and agreeable to Scripture that to word and expresâ— it otherwise were inconsistent with the Revelation of God and it were to jump in with the Adversaries of Gods Truth for we cannot conceive of Creation without saying it was made out of Nothing which all dâ—scribe to be Preductio ex nihilo therefore as many places of Scripture as but mention Creation say as much as I have done for which I am quarrelled Did not Creation give the First Being to all things that were made and consâ—quently were all nothing before God commanded them to be for was not Light nothing till God said Let there be Light Further if God made the World he either made it out of his own Essence or some pre existent matter from Eternity or produced it out of nothing I presume you will not be so absurd as to assert any of the first two not the first for so the Essence of God should become divisible and corruptible not the second for then some matter should be Co-eternal with God which were blasphemy to affirm And it is no small argument of the Omnipotence of God to declare and affirm especially to young ones the World was made out of nothing seeing they know not that it is implied in the word Creation for because of the Omnipotent Power of God in Creation Acclamations of Praise are ascribed to him Psal 33.6 By the word of the Lord were the Heavens made all the Host of them by the breath of his mouth Acts 4.24 In that joynt Acclamation of the Apostles Lord thou art good which hast made Heaven and Earth and the Sea and all that in them is And it is no adding to the Word of God while nothing is delivered but Gods Mind in his Word though Keith next in his pretences to Nailer himself should discover so much palpable weakness as to censure it again And I have also asserted in my Catechism that there is no work so peculiar to any of the Persons of the Holy Trinity but all of them have a hand in each so that his advice which he calls sufficient is prevented if he haâ— diligently read and considered it as he has said In page 3. He chargeth me for mentioning no other Teacher but the Scriptures to direct us to Seâ— and Glorifie God this is no strange imputation froâ— Quakers who notwithstanding of all their fair pretences yet have uttered many vilipending expression thereof calling it a dead Letter a nose of Wax Pâ—… Ink Divinity Keith in his publick Teachingâ—
a Competent maintainance or necessary Aliment by Quaker teachers however so freely and Voluntarily given without appointment of humane law and all compulsion be a Preaching the Gospel freely A True Copy of George Keith's Paper Delivered to Mr. George Layfield At POCAMOK in MARY-LAND KIND Friend George Lay-field my Dear Love in the Lord Jesus Christ Saluteth thee with Earnest Supplication and Prayer to God for thee that God who hath begun his good work in thee may perfect it until the Day of Christ and that the Precious Seed that God hath Sown in thy Heart may grow not only to be the greatest of Herbs but a great Tree bringing forth Fruit to Gods Everlasting Praise and to thy Souls Everlasting Comfort and Happiness As concerning the Catechism Published by F. M. I have diligently read and conâ—dered it and tho' it holdeth forth diverse true things yet it hath a great mixture of Error and many false and unsound hurtful things it doth contain which my present shortness of time in these Parts doth not permit me to mention in most particulars and as the same Catechism aboundeth with many Errors so it falleth exceeding short in not mentioning in the least many necessary Truths and Doctrines which are of great necessity to be taught unto people as belonging to the first Principles of Christian Religion which he altogether omitteth nor doth he in the least declare that he receiveth any one of these things delivered by him in his said Catechism from any inward opening or discovery of Gods Spirit in his Heart Nor doth he mention any one thing of his own experience of the work of God in his heart but as his Title Page sheweth his whole Work is but a Collection from others he mentions nothing in all his Catechism that people are to be turned or directed to God or Christ or the Spirit of God in them he telleth not People that it is God or Christ or the Spirit of God convinceth them and reproveth them for sins of all sorts as Lying Pride Envy Coveteousness Unbelief he doth not instruct People how they are to find God and Christ in their Hearâ—… and how they are to wait in silence 〈◊〉 mind and thoughts to hear God and Chriâ— speak inwardly unto them in their Heartâ— in the silence of all Flesh and how theâ— are to have God and Christ and the Hâ—ly Spirit to dwell and walk in them and tâ— teach them over and beyond all outwarâ— teaching he mentions very little of the Spirit at all and what he mentions of it is very Obscurely so that without breach of Charity I can freely say he is a great Stranger to the inward Dealings and Workings of Gods Holy Spirit in the Hearts of his People and whereas he mentions his Compassion over the Tender Souls in an American Desart ready to perish for want of a Vision in his Epistle to the Reader his Catechism can nothing help them in that respect for not one word in all his Catechism directeth People were to find the true Vision of God in any measure but on the contrary according to his and his Bretherens False Faith all true Divine Vision and Revelation and all Divine Inspiration is ceased since the Apostles Days both among Teachers and People and God hath committed His Counsel wholly to Writing the former ways of Gods revealing himself being ceased and they say further there is no inward voice or word of God in people but the Scripture is the only Word and only Rule all which is most false and hurtful Doctrine and doth more hurt where it is received then all his Catechism can do good And all the People in Virginia both English and Scots whom he seemeth to reflect upon for their Ignorance have the Holy Scriptures without and the Holy teachings and illuminations of God and Christ within to teach them what is needful to their Salvation if they will hearken thereunto far better then this Catehism of F M. which is defective and wanting of many Principal and necessary doctrines belonging to the Christian Faith In the first Page of his Catechism He saith God made the World out of Nothing but this is no Scripture Language and indeed in very many of his Answers he holdeth not to Scripture Language but useth the invented words of Mans Wisdom not according but contrary unto the Holy Scriptures May it not suffice to say God Created aâ— things by Jesus Christ as the Scriptures declareth without adding to the Word of God Page Third He mentions no other Teacher but the Scriptures given to men to serve and Glorify God And thus according to him all these great Nations who have not the Scriptures are wholly left without all Teaching of God to Serve and Glorify him in the least measure but this is expresly contrary to Scripture which say concerning the Gentiles who had not the Law outwardly delivered in Scripture that they did show the work of the Law in their hearts and what was to be known of God was manifest in them for God had shown it unto them and when they knew God they Glorified him not as God and Christ the Light of the World hath enlightned every man that cometh into the World and teacheth every man in some measure to serve God which is to obey him otherwise they could not have sin if there were nothing in the Gentiles to require obedience or service of them unto God It had been much better in this Authour to have instructed People that they had some other helps and means of knowledge with the Scriptures and these some outward and some inward although it is to be granted that the Scriptures are the best of all Books outward yet there is the Book of Gods Creation and the Book of His Providence over all his Creatures that are no small helps and means in their place being duely used and together with God Christ and the Spirit are inwardly present to teach all People in some things to serve God and as every one is faithful in the little more is given to them Besides that the Writer of this Catechism should have joined the spirit of God Christ with the Scriptures as the Opener Interpreter of them informing people that the Scriptures are the Organ Instrument of Gods Spirit that Gods Good and Holy Spirit is the principal Author and cause of all true knowledge of God as he doth inwardly inspire and enlighten every one and that there is no true saving knowledge of God and Christ without the Spirits Inspiration and Teaching and that how much soever people read or hear the Scriptures if they neglect or turn away their minds from Gods inward teachings by his Word Spirit and Light within their hearts they remain Blind and Dark and Ignorant of God Page Third That he saith there are Three Persons in the God-head this is not Scripture Language to say Three Persons The Mystery of the Three to wit the Father the Son and the
publick with it is visible Hypocrisie to be seen of men If publick Worship it must tend to the Edification of others but how the perfect silence without all Admonition Rebuke Prayer Instruction or expressions of Praise edifies is unconceivable and as they meet so they disperse oft without the least motion to speak which demonstrates how fruitless many such Meetings are and what they amuse the World with their imaginary experiences of refreshments from their silent Meeting when nothing is said they must needs be like those which an English Congregation received from a Quaking Dutch woman Teaching in an unknown Language and what reason we have of believing their boasted of Experiences from negative imaginary Worship and they regard not the Experiences of thousands of the Godly of ravishings of Soul and ineffable Joy and Comfort from Praising of God in singing of Psalms and from Communicating in the Supper of the Lord as performed by us and in most of the Reformed Churches In the next place he condemns our asserting and believing there are Three Persons in the God head It is no wonder to find so great and transcending a Mystery rather to be Reverenced Adored and Believed then Reasoned and Disputed as it has been mistaken and quarrelled both by Ancient and Modern Hereticks in the World I encline not to 〈◊〉 up the gross Errors of Ancient Hereticks concerning this Doctrine as of Apollinarius Arrius Rhofinus Nestori us Sabelius and others and am not a liâ—… concerned that Quakers pretending to so great and so good things should joyn hand in hand with such whose subtilties have been long since cunningly silenced and exploded and that they by their frequent and scurrilous Barkings against so Fundamental â— Truth as Solomon Acles who in Barbadees asserted this Doctrine to be a Presbyterian Fiction and most others of that Gang I have conversed with had most ignorant and gross Notions of a person dreaming it to be some gross material visible and corporeal Substance like unto man and looked upon it an absurdity to apply any such thing to God at all and here I find one of their Learned and Litigious Champions quarrelling Three Persons in the God-head or Divine Essence and how such men can be Reconciled among themselves I leave to those that are concerned I must confess if I understood what Keith intends by this Charge so obscurely delivered I could with greater fulness and particularity answer and waving that uncharitableness he was notoriously guilty of concerning me and others I conceive he only contends about words by calling Three Persons in the God head not Scripture Language but words of mans wisdom as all our Doctrines and Writings are commonly Calumniated by such And this I must Animadvert the Reader that I am the more confirmed in that which I charged him with at my House that most of his Writings are quibling Controversies and his Debates a disputing about words little to the Edification of Souls but tending to Foment Divisions in the Churches of Christ upon Earth of which he had been a great Instrument already by making perverse Disputings his Trade in the World and to confirm it he brings a sublime and transcending Mystery rather to be adored and believed then disputed and brought under the Debate of men of corrupt minds but 1. If words not expressed in Scriptures in the same Letters and Syllables be words of mans wisdom and an adding to the Scriptures the Words of the Living God then all Expositions of Scriptures though agreeable to Scripture if not numerically the same words must be condemned and thrust out of doors and then what will become of most of Keith's Teachings which are delivered in publick as immediately from the Spirit of God yet stuffed to the amusing rather than Edification of his Hearers with unscriptural unusual and unheard of Allusions of a Key and losing and finding a Key as also of a Table and covering of a Tabling with Trenchers and Napkins and a Cupboard at Home and no Meat in it as also a Husbands Writing Letters to his Wife while absent all which was delivered in Long winded Discourses at Thomas Fooks his House in Onankok and Nusswaddux to numerous and mixed Auditories of men and women rather offended then edified and affrighted from then engaged to Quakers Principles or Practices 2. If I should make it appear that Quakers are as guilty of using words not to be found in the Scriptures as any of their Neighbours will not all men believe them very perverse to Ceâ—sure others for that which they practice themselves and consequently from Keith's words aâ— to the words of the Scriptures And 1. Let any be prevailed with to observe the Writing of this Litigious Author which is filled in every page with Humane Learning and Scholastick Notions making as much use of School Art in all his sophistical Argumentation as any that has put Pen to Paper as heâ— himself owned the use of Humane Learning in all his Writings 2 I shall instance to you from themselves not only words but sentences and phrases which none could ever yet find or hear of in or from the Scriptures some whereof are Pens others belong to Barclay others are usual and common in the mouth of most Quakers as those uncouch phrases of Miracles in Spirit which Keith made use of at my House a measure of God as if God were divided in parcels from the Spirit in Ward by ravening the Seed in Captivity ravening comprehending brain fleshly comprehensions Traditional Read Knowledge Vulturous Eye with many others and for words none more new and invented without any foundation in the Scriptures then some used by Quakers as Vehicle of the Spirit Fermentation of the Spirit and many such like 3. How much is it to be Lamented that the frequent Debates and needless Janglings of Keith concerning this Subject could not have sufficed him he must now upon his running Circuit raise a new Debate and Controversy about words which is Censured in the words of the Holy Apostle 1 Tim 6.4 He is proud knowing nothing but doting about Questions and Strifes of words whereby cometh Strifes Railing Evil Surmisings 5. Perverse Disputings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the Truth supposing that Gain is Godliness from such turn away or withdraw thy self And all such are Censured in the words of Holy Calvin that Eminent man of God Lib. 1. Cap. 13. The Hereticks bark at the name Person and others too precise Carp at all words devised by men and would have all to restrain not only their meanings but their very words strictly within the bounds of Scripture who are be Calvin Charged as unreasonable who quarrel words expressing nothing but what is testified and approved by Scripture and what hinders saith he but we may in more plain words express such things as are mysterious to ordinary Capacities where there are necessary grounds urging thereunto such saith he as quarrel this must be reputed to be grieved at the
Light of the Truth because he quarrels this that the Truth is made so easie plain to be discerned and the reason or ground given by this worthy Author why the Churches of Christ are necessitated to use such novelty of words if they may be so called is when the Truth is to be Defended against Rangleâ—… who deride it with Quibbles so the Old Fathers being troubled with False Doctrines were necessitated to express themselves in exquisite plainness least they should leave any crooked by ways to the wicked to whom the doubtful Constructions of words were hiding Holes of Error therefore it was that the Fathers in Confutation of Arius were necessitated in asserting the Divinity of the Son to call him HOMOUSION or Consubstantial with the Father And against Sabellius who denied all Distinction between the Father Son and Holy Ghost but what was Nominal the Defenders of Truth were necessitated to say there did subsist in the Unity of God aâ— Trinity of Persons which is most suitable to thoughâ— not rigidly the same with the Language of John There are Three and these Three are One Trinity Tres Vnes or Tres in Vno Trinity Having offered these Generals I come particularly to the Charge for asserting there are Three Persons in the God-head All that Keith would seem to Alledge is only that it is not Scripture Language whereby he would seem to favour the great Fundamental Principle most of his Brethren have been blasphemously barking against these Thirty or Forty Years and devoutly to say There are Three in One But it were to be wished that he and all of them would demonstrate themselves according to their usual boasting more skilful in the Scriptures then any of their Neighbours by declaring freely ingenuously what those Three are called that are but One God and what Substantive they joyn with the Adjective three which is distinguished in the Father Son and Holy Ghost and then they would have dealt plainly without all Popish Equivocation or Reservation which all that Read their Books and frequently Converse with them will find the generality of Quakers as guilty of as any subtile Jesuit at St. Omers For if this great and Fundamental Truth would be made plain to the Edification of the Church of God to which it is so highly necessary that God can neither be known believed in or called upon aright without it then some denomination must be ascribed and given differing from one another in Incommunicable Properties for they must either be three somethings or three nothings the former being rejected if three somethings they must be either three Gods three Essences three Parts of the same Essence or three Qualities or three Names or three Manners or wayes of Subsisting To assert to Three Gods were insufferable Blasphemy Though Josiah Coal is as guilty of as great Blasphemy in a Letter to George Fox which as it came from a Quaker was also Approved of by Pen himself in his Answer to Mr. John Faldo a Minister I lately saw in London which for the Readers satisfaction and abhorrence of all I shall here Insert Dear George Fox who art the Father of many Nations whose Life has reached through us thy Children even to the Isles afar off to the Begetting of many again unto a Lively Hope for which Generations to come shall call thee Blessed whose Being and Habitation is in â—he powtr of the Highest in which thou Rules Governs â—n Righteousness And thy Kingdom is Established in Peace and the Encrease thereof is without End Let Pen and as many as will dare to Justifie this consider the Language of the Righteous God Hâ— that Justifies the Wicked and he that Condemneth thâ— Just even they both are Abomination to the Lord. But to return To assert Three Essences were to conceal Three Essentially Distinct which were to fall in with the former absurdity To receive or be lieve three parts of the same Essence or God head which were most inconsistent with that Oneness and absolute Simplicity in the Nature of God which cannot be conceived divisible and to call the three in one three qualities or accidents were to believe accidents in God which were absurd and to asseâ—… nothing else but three Names were to fall in with the long since exploded Heresy of Apollinarius and to hold Faith repugnant to the Rule of Gods Word whence he has twice Three Names and yet asserted to be but Three only so that it must be Three Distinct Manners Methods or Wayes of Subsisting and is Termed in the Schools Ens and Modus Entis And according to the unanimous Opinion of our Reforming and Reformed Divines A Person in the God-head is whole God not absolutely or simply considered but by way of some personal Properties or a manner of Being or Distinct Subsistence haveing the whole God-head in it Vsher and Calvin call a Divine Person a Subsistence in the Divine Nature which having relation to the other is distinguished from them with Incommunicable Properties So that though the Father Son and Holy Ghost be really and essentially the same in Essence or Being yet they have something differing from one another for if the Word Joh. 1.1 had been simply and absolutely God without any thing peculiar to 〈◊〉 self it had been improper and amiss to have said 〈◊〉 was not only God but with God To which Dâ—ctrine Tertullian agrees saying there is in God a certain Disposition or Distribution which changeth nothing of the Unity of the Essence I need not heap up these manifold Testimoâ—ies both of old New Testament asserting Three in One and One in Three and if any quarrel the word person they shall find this plain Scripture Language Heb 1.3 speaking of Christ the Second Person in the Trinity saith He is the Brightness of his Fathers Glory and Express Image of his Person can any serious and illuminated Reader pass over this Text without owning the word Person to be Scripture Language and that the Father is a Person distinct in Person from God the Son for he is not called the Fathers Person Remark it Reader but the Express Image of his Fathers Person And if none must be called a Person but the Father as some Quakers have said then what was Christ's Person when Mediator having two Natures of God and man not mans personality for so Divine Nature would have satisfied in the Person of the Humane Nature which would imply no small Absurdities or he should be the Person of the Father which were repugnant to the formerly cited Text Our Mediator was without all Person And finally if the Father is a Person and the Son the Image of this Person why not the Holy Ghost a Person also and Three in One and One in Three The Next Charge is and that a Weighty one in P. 9 10. And that is for mentioning only Three Offices of Christ as Mediatour a Prophet Priest and King And that Really Savingly and only to those that Believe
Accomack compared it to a Letter wrote from an absent Husband to his Wife which as soon as he Return is to be laid aside any may easily apprehend whâ— this Gentleman would be at who also in his Boâ—… though he would make fools believe he commenâ— the Scriptures yet immediately he accuses it of 〈◊〉 sufficiency and imperfection and affirms there aâ— several things which the Scriptures Teaches not 〈◊〉 which we must have immediate Revelations anâ— Daniel Acres a Teacher in North Carolina declaâ—… to me it bordered with Blasphemy to call the Scriptures the Word of God But he further affirms 〈◊〉 should have joyned the Spirit of God and Christ with the Scriptures and that I should not only havâ— done it but that it is really done every Reader 〈◊〉 find page 10 where it is taught That Christ Reveâ— his Will by his Word and Spirit neither dare any 〈◊〉 sert I have said it was only the Scriptures excludâ—… Christ or the Holy Spirit of God and yet we havâ— ground from the Scriptures themselves to affirm 〈◊〉 the Scriptures are a rule to which we are directed 〈◊〉 the Spirit of God our Saviour too and the fulâ—e and sufficiency of the Scriptures for our direction 〈◊〉 asserted from the Spirit of God though we are uâ—nimous in depending on the Blessing of God presence of Christ and concurrence of his Holy Spirit to make the Scriptures effectual to our Salvation with all other Means and Ordinances yet the Scriptures are the Rule for our Instruction and Direction though Christ and the Holy Spirit of God the Opener up and sole Interpreter of the Scriptures to us as all of us Teach Believe and Own which is evident from our Praying before and after all our publick and private Administrations which many Quakers are absolute strangers to as John Porter of Elizabeth River who never was heard to Pray either before or after Teaching this Savours of Opus Operatum I say the Holy Spirit of God endues us with skill to understand apply and obey the Scriptures so that Quakers confound the Rule with the skill in making use of that Rule but our judgment is fully delivered in answer to that Question in the Assemblies Catechism How is the Word made effectual to Salvation and that all that read these Sheets may see how pernicious it is to quarrel our Doctrine concerning the Scriptures let them peruse those following Scriptures 1. Tim. 3.16 All Scripture is given by Inspiration of God and is profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction for Instruction in Righteousness and in the foregoing verse The Holy Scriptures which is able to make thee wise unto Salvation through Faith which is in Jesus 17 That the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto every good work and are we not directed to the Law and to the Testimony but no where directed to the Light in all men and consequently in the Heathen and Reprobate to be our Guide to Glory Our Saviours advice favours and confirms our Judgment Search the Scriptures for in them you think ye have Eternal Life and they are they that testifie of me And we find our Lord in dealing with the Capcious Jews appealing to the Scriptures as the Rule of Faith and Judge of Controverties saying It is written and Cites the Prophets oft for their Conviction and charges them with ignorance of the Scripture as the cause and ground of their Error saying Ye Err not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God And though dim Natures Light the Rellicks of one fallen from perfection and the works of Creation render all inexcusable for their Ignorance of their Creator yet are very lame and insufficient fully to teach their Duty or to discoveâ— all their sins or teach them the knowledge of God and his Son Jesus Christ our Redeemer whom Quakers say is in all men but can this Jesus of their be the true Christ and savingly in all men seeing there are Nations and Kingdoms who have not the least remote or dim notions of Christ the Son of God as Saviour or Mediator between Sinners and God who was in Christ Reconciling the World to himself and if so as Quakers affirm then blinded Pagaâ— Nations are in as brave a case as the Churches oâ— Christ to whom the Oracles of God are committed who are pronounced blessed beyond all others 〈◊〉 Gods Chosen Inheritance and particularly from the great and transcending priviledge of enjoying 〈◊〉 Revealed Will of God to whom the Divine Oracles were committed and blinded Nations were ouâ— Predecessors within some few Centuries past And what Keith understands by silent waiting 〈◊〉 God which he calls a silence of mind and thoughts 〈◊〉 I fear neither he noâ— any Quaker for him can ever demonstrate from plain Scripture Testimony and 〈◊〉 is not the first time they have been puzled to tell 〈◊〉 what it is though some have preferred it to the Reâ—ding of the Scriptures and a Mean appointed 〈◊〉 God for right understanding of the Scripture 〈◊〉 this new notion of theirs is warranted no where in the Scripture some of them have taken upon them to call it a silent posture of the heart without thinking good or evil but this is so strange a conceit that it is inconsistent with the nature of the heart and spirit of man which is in the judgment of most and solid experience of all so stirring and active a thing that it is never at quiet or rest but always employed about either good or evil and this so many as call a Spirit Res Gegitandi say is while man is asleep but further it is inconsistent with Scripture waiting for herein there must be an exercise of the Graces of Faith Patience Hope c. Psal 4.1 I waited patiently for the Lord and he enclined unto me and heard my Cry here is both the exercise of Patience and the use of Prayer in the Psalmists successful waiting and how this can be without exercising the heart about good or evil this is much like the Commentary and vulgar glâ—ss of Quakers on that Text Mat. 6. â—6 When thou prayest enter into thy Closet and when thou hast shut the door or according to these able Commentators shut thy heart which is an unfit frame for God to whom we must open and before whom we must pour out our hearts Another Instance of Scripture waiting very unlike Quakers waiting you may find in Lam. 3 26. It is goâ—d that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the Salvation of the Lord and let every one be â—umpire in this case whether there can be the exercise of those Graces where the heart thinks neither good nor evil and they are often puzled to satisfie us whether their silent waiting be publick or private Worship for if it is not done in Faith it must be sin and consequently no acceptable Service to God if private or secret it ought to be gone about with as great secrecy and to go too
in him and to whom He is Actually a Saviour and that those Three Offices include All that Christ did and was Requesite to be done as Mediatour None even Kieth himself cannot deny as he readily owned at my House all was Reducible to those Three Offices which are all we have mentioned in the Scriptures and those Three are very Obvious and Plain 1. He is called and that Deservedly The Greaâ— Prophet of His Church according to that Promise of and Prophecy concerning him A Prophet shalâ— the Lord your God raise up unto you like unto hiâ— Brethren Him shall ye hear in all things And thiâ— Promise was fulfilled in his Coming and Executing this his Prophetical Office by being the Great Gospel-Preacher to his Church and People Declaring the Way and Means of Salvation by a Mediatour delivering the Will of His Father This was Prophesied also of him in Isaiah 61.1 2 3. and Hebr. 3.1 He is called the Apostle of our Profession And He is the Sole Teacher of the Mysterys of Salvation from the Father Matth. 11.27 No Man knoweth the Father save the Son and he to whom soever the Son will reveal him And this Our Great Prophet do's not always immediately else K's Teachings and all the Teachings among Quakers were most needless and vain but 1 By the Holy Scriptures Profitable for Doctrine and able to make the Man of God Wise unto Salvation 2. By His Messengers and Ministers whom he has commanded to Go and Teach all Nations and sent to give Warning to His Churches and People Therefore from their Office and Teaching called Teachers And Lastly by his Holy Spirit in the Hearts of his People where Christ dwells not Substantially as Quakers say but Spiritually by Faith and so is united by Faith tho' Locally Distant without the Presence of the things United as K. would insinuate and assert in his Paper For if there can be a Moral Union and Relation standing firm betwixt a Husband and Wife the one in Europe the other in America and a Natural Union and nigh Relation between Parent and Child much more between Christ in Heaven and believers on Earth by a Spiritual and indissolvible Union by Faith which is not an absent Christ to Believers with whom he is by Gracious and Spiritual Influences in their Hearts And K's Subtle and Sophistical Arguments from the General and Universal Presence of Christ as God to his special and Gracious Presence as Mediatour will take Place with none but Ignorant and Deluded Quakers for so the Devils in Hell should enjoy as great a Priviledge as Believers on Earth And also it is granted that he is the Eternal High-Priest of His Church who Offered and gave Himself a Sacrifice once upon the Cross for Sinners and by the Efficacious Merits of this Death renders the Persons and Services of his People acceptable unto God not only Teaching them by His Holy Spirit what to pray for as they ought but also continues an High-Priest at the Right-hand of God making continual Intercession for Believers Heb. 7 15. Wherefore he is able to Save them to the uttermost that come to God by Him seeing he ever Liveth to make Intercession for us all which is fully and soundly delivered in the Catechisms and Confessions of Faith of our Divines of the Westminster Assembly And Lastly He is the Sole King Head and Law-giver of his Church by which Kingly Power and Authority he Appoints Laws and Statutes for the Counsel and Direction of his people even to the binding of Conscience with the whole inward man in whom Christ does Rule and Reign even in and over such as subject their Souls to his Government suffering Christ to Reign over them 2 He Subdues and Conquers sinners Naturally Rebels to himselâ— making them from an Un-willing a Willing People in the Day of his power 3 In defending of his Church from all their Enemies assuring them the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against them 4 He restrains the Fury and rage of and Finaly executes his Wrath on all His and their Enemys And we never did disown that the special Fruits of all these Three Offices are wrought in the heart of Believers which is inconsistent with that Prophet Priest King in all men according to Quakeâ— Doctrine while the Scripture affirms they are Reprobate in whom Christ is not And it is plaiâ— the Quakers common Christ is not the true Mediatour and Messiah who only dwells in the hearts oâ— Believers by Faith and not of Infidels that do not so much as know by any kind of knowledge aâ—… yet they are Enlightned by him as they say with 〈◊〉 sufficient and saving knowledge How unnecessaâ—… must it be to multiply Offices in our Mediatouâ— seeing all are reducible to those Three and must he not be a Man of a Perverse Spirit and contentioâ— mind that would raise a Debate upon this head and K's Evasion and Quibble for this is extreemâ— silly and weak for saith he the Commands 〈◊〉 Gods Moral Law are reducible to two yet 〈◊〉 branched out into Ten for the first Division 〈◊〉 the Divine Commands was by God himself into tâ— Tables or two Commands yet the same Gâ—… makes the Enumeration or Divisiâ—… 〈◊〉 to ten but no such Warrant can be produced for this Enumeration or Multiplication of Offices in our Mediator for it were as impertinent and idle as if every Duty required and every Sin prohibited in every Command were a new Command and there should be thrice ten instead of ten and what must be thought of those that multiply Offices in Christ calling every thing that Christ is called a new Office in the Mediator as a Father a Shepherd an Husband Physician c. Whence he is called the Way a Rock a Door a Vine all which denote no new Offices but signifie his Richness Fulness Benefits Love and Favour to Believers denoting that Spiritual Relation to Believers and Christ's usefulness to them in all Estates and Conditions His next Charge Page 10 11. I have affirmed Christ Died or was Sacrificed for Sinners Now let any determine whether this Answer does not set forth the Fruit and Satisfaction of Christ's Death for Sinners for if he Died for Sinners and for our Sins is it not enough to us for if we had not been Sinners we should not have stood in need of Redemption and if sinners were Redeemed no others did want it And tho' he seems to reprehend it with Scripture Language yet his Charge is more obscure and defective then that he finds fault with either that quarrelled at must be true or false or deficient if true why Censured if false let Quakers speak their minds plainly if deficient there must be some for whom Christ Died besides Sinners If I have not multiplied words to humour captious and critical Quakers I hope I shall never have cause to repent it where I Studiously avoided all prolixity and endeavoured all succinctness and brevity But to return to the
matter in hand concerning the Nature Efficacy and Extent of Christ's Redemption we have to do with many Adversaries whose various Sentiments are not to be reconciled either among themselves or with the Holy Scriptures for some say Christ Died absolutely for all and every individual sinner and in Laying down his Life did equally intend the Salvation of all others say he Died for all conditionally from a foreseen condition of Faith so it was only a conditional Salvation or Redemption wherein not one was absolutely Redeemed this by some is called a possible Salvation whereby they explain Universal Redemption to be nothing else then Christ's Pacifying an Angry God for all and leaving all in a possibility of Salvation if they will others of a middle sort say he Died absolutely for the Elect of God but conditionally for the Reprobate But the most unanimous and received Doctrine of the Reformed Churches is That whom Christ Died for he absolutely and compleatly Redeemed and that was some Select and Chosen Number given him of God the Father to Lay down his Life for them as our Lord himself hints plainly to us in John 17. at large of which says he Noâ—… was Lest That I may discover the absurdities of the former Opinion consider first Christ's absolute Redemption for all and every individual Sinner For 1. So Christ should have intended to have saved those that were actually in Hell and condemned to Eternal Flames before his Death under an Irrevocable Sentence of Wrath. 2. What a Dishonour were it to God to say he intended and at so dear a rate as the Death of his own Son to go about the Redeeming of those whom he knew from all Eternity should be infallibly Damned can it be imagined Christ intended to Save sue 3. If all men and women were absolutely Redeemed all should be infallibly Saved for Salvation supposes Redemption and Redemption secures Salvation but it is evident to all the smallest number shall Enter in at the Strait Gate 4. If God should purpose and intend the Salvation of all absolutely and yet the smallest number escape Eternal Wrath what should the purposes and intentions of God be more then the purposes and intentions of his Creatures that can be frustrated disappointed and come to nought Let us view the absurdities and inconsistencies that flow naturally from the universal cnuditional Redemption whereby all are left under a possibility of Salvation if they will and 1. If so then it would have been possible for all to have been Damned and not one Saved for if man had but resisted as it was in his Power because not absolutely Redeemed then Christ might have Died really for nothing and have seen no Fruit of the Travait of his Soul And let serious Souls consider what an insignificant Death and fruitless inefficacious Redemption should he have Paid 2. If a conditional Redemption and a possibility of Salvation was all that Christ Died for I would Enquire Who it is that performs the Condition God or man if men can believe or repent of themselves then the Conditional Salvation might avail them something but he cannot believe it is Gods special Gift Ephes 2. And man cannot repent for it is his grant 2 Tim 1 What will a Possibility of Salvation for all men avail and a conditional Redemption signifie if all men are not left also in a Possibility of believing and Repenting also if and when they would 3. If a conditional Universal Redemption be all the Redemption accomplished by Christ then it is as impossible for man to be saved as if he had not bee Redeemed at all seeing it is as impossible for maâ— to perform the Conditions as it is for him to redeeâ— himself and all may see if this be Quakers unâ— versal Redemption what a poor lame ineffectuaâ— and half Redemption they believe in and build upon for their Salvation as Barclay has declared in Publishing his Vniversal Redemption sufficiently confuted by Mr. Brown not answered 〈◊〉 he was Removed off the Stage by Death And such as tread the middle path holding anâ— absolute Redemption of Gods Elect and only 〈◊〉 a Conditional Salvation of the Reprobate They hold 1. A Twofold manner of Redemption which we have no ground for in the Scriptures all that are Redeemed being Redeemed alike 2 If so the greatest part of Mankind are left in as bad a state as if they were not Redeemed at all If we consider the Merit of Christs Crucifixion and Death materially in regard of its Sufficiency Dignity Worth and Merit by Reflecting on the Person who Suffered and Died and of the manner how he Accomplished it with Faithfulness and that most Willingly and Chearfully that it was no less Price then the Death of him who was God Equal with God the Father The Ransome must be owned and believed of Infinite Value and Worth Merit and Dignity and so not only a compleat and sufficient Satisfaction for the sins of the whole World but was in it self a compleat Ransome for the Offences of a Thousand Worlds And so if we consider the Sufficiency of his Price and Ransome he Died for all he Offered a Sacrifice and gave an Atonement that was enough for all he gave himself a Ransome for all and Tasted Death for every man further we assert and believe that all Nations Kingdoms Tongues and People were Redeemed by Jesus Christ so according to the School distinction He Dyed for Generibus Singulorum for All kinds of men not for Singulis Generum not for Every Individual Man and Woman according to Johns Vision Rev. 5.9 For thou wast stain and hast Redeemed us to God by thy Blood out of every Kindred and Tongue and People and Nation so that all and every one that is or shall be Redeemed are Redeemed by Jesus Christ who is the only Saviour and no Name given under Heaven whereby we can be Saved but by the Name Jesus so he is the Saviour of all And this we dare most boldly and Warrantably affirm that Christs Death is Efficacious for the Salvation of all whom he died for and not one of these Predestinated to Eternal Life shall Perish but be brought Infallibly to Glory Rom. 8.30 Whom he did Predestinate them he also Called and whom he Called them he also Justified and whom he Justified them he also Glorified From which Scripture none can be Ignorant unless they wilfully stop and Blind the Eyes of their understandings what an inseperable connection is between the Means and the End and all flowing from the Everlasting Purpose and immutable Predestination of God and as many as Christ Died for shall be infallibly Saved and to whomsoever he has purchased Salvation to as many he has Purchased all the Means and Conditions of Salvation as Faith Repentance and all the Holy Graces of the Spirit of God for saith the Spirit of God as many as were ordained to Eternal Life Believed neither dare we believe such an ineffectual Redemption as Quakers hand
intercession in Heaven for them 6 He promises his Holy Spirit to abide in them to compleat his begun work in them and establish them all which is abundantly confirmed from Scripture 5 The Final and Total fall or Apostacy of Regenerate Saints is inconsistent with the Nature of Grace which is an Incorruptible Seed that cannot be totally extinguished where e're it is planted of God And farther it much weakneth the Faith of the Saints their Hope and Confidence in Gods Preservation of them from Falling which the experience and confidence of the Apostle Paul testifies they firmly Believe Rom. 8.35.38.39 and that in their deepest Tryals and sharpest Afflictions Finally it Robs the Regenerated Children of God of their Spiritual Joy and Holy Consolation in the Holy-Ghost by filling them with Perpetual Fears Anxiety and Doubts about their State And we find Keith insinuating this That the Doctrine of Perseverance Flatters men in great sins for tho' the Godly cannot Fall Finally nor Totally yet as we have said they may Fall into many Evils provoking to God and injurious to their own Peace and comfort which they are ever watchful against lest they should lose the sense and comfort of Gods Special Love and Favour any measure or degree of Grace or Holiness which would be most Wounding and Grievous to them and so far from Flattery but this his Calumny is like unto the rest And I dare refer my self to Quaâ—…s themselves if Universal Grace saving and divine Light the Spirit of God and Christ Substantially present in all men even the most ignorant wicked and Profane and absolute Perfection in some be not more soul-deluding and self-Flattering Doctrine then the Perseverance of the Saints once Regenerated whose sins and infirmityes humbled and makes them constantly watchful and so it is evident it destroys the promise of Gods Establishing confirming Spirit and leaves the Catholick Church of God which the Gates of Hell cannot prevail against upon a most Ticklish Foundation and Lyable to to come to nothing it would annul all Christian Communion and Fellowship for according to Quakers opinion one may be a Saint to day and in Christian Fellowship and may Fall away and be Damned to morrow it renders our Pardon comfortless seeing after Pardon we may perish Eternally and destroyes the Hope and Faith of Life Everlasting seeing no man can firmly believe it until he have the Enjoyment of it The next grand Charge that highly offended many of that Gang is concerning a Question in my Catechism concerning the Sabbath in the Answer I affirm Quakers and Profane Persons are Enemies to a Sabbath and now I am satisfied to have an opportunity of showing my reasons to the World how just and not invidious this my Charge was though I mentioned no other Enemies in Judgment besides Quakers and notwithstanding of all reasons given to Keith and others at my House they seem still to be dissatisfied but it is for the most part the peculiar Temper of such as Rangle and oppose all Reasoning And that I may referr my self to the Censures 〈◊〉 the more unprejudiced and rational and I am so far from Recanting Denying or Giving any submission for the Charge that I am the rather confirmed it was most just and deserving and that withouâ— all shadow of the guilt of a Calumny and that foâ— these following reasons 1. Because I never met wiâ—… any others that in realâ—ity opposed this Doctrine be sides that Party and though I might hear commâ—… Fame accuse others and meeting with none of the Writings I had no Warrant for including them under the publick Charge though my Answer does 〈◊〉 way exclude them 2. All the Quakers I ever conversed with in Europe or America declared this aâ— their undoubted Judgment that all Dayes were alike under the Gospel and none of perpetual Observation as a Day of Rest and further That they were as free to Work or Labour in their several Callings and Trades on the First Day of the Week called now the Christian Sabbath or Day of Rest under the Gospel as any other Day of the Week oâ— which I gave and am able yet to give several Instances And I am lately informed of several Servants oâ— Quakers otherwise Educated who have made complaint to Magistrates of their Masters causâ— them to follow their daily Labour and a Witneâ— yet alive can declare being on a Sabbath at Thomas Everdens House perceived no manner of Worship with his Family but great diligence in dispatching one of his Servants with Necessaries for Building a Sloop I have met one of them with a Gun in the Wood on the Sabbath or First Day of the Week whâ—… we were going to the Publick Worship of God I such are not to be looked on without any just Aâ—cusation of an invidious Calumny Enemies to 〈◊〉 Sabbath let the World judge 3. They need no make so gâ—…at a noise and clamour at this Charge forhowever others may remain ignorant yet it is not unknown to Keith how oft by several others Quakers have been ranked in with several others Enemies of the Sabbath long before I had any acquaintance with their principles as by Mr John Brown in his Latine Treatise concerning the Sabbath also Mr. Matthew Crawford in his Learned defence of the Morality of the Fourth Commandment called Exercitacio Apologetica therefore this charge is not mine only but of as many as Treat of that Subject 4. If I can produce their own Word charging them with as much as I say will it not appear how unjustly they seem to to be offended at my charge and if any would peruse that small but angry Pamphlet of Quakers soberly answered by Mr. Mitchel of Aberdeen and they shall find it confidently asserted that all Days are alike and are told from Rom. 14.6 Gal. 4.10 11. To Reprehend all such as observe one day of Seven as a Day of Rest and that all Weekly Observation of a Day is Abolished under the Gospel And how Keith comes in now of Late to â—ell us of their keeping the first Day of the Week without being first reconciled to his own Brethren both in Practice and Judgment And it yet remains for him to declare By what Authority or from what Command they keep that Day and not another whether it is commanded of God or only an Ecclesiastick and Humane Constitution which until proved to be the Vnanimous Judgment of Quakers must be looked upon to be the Private Judgment of Keith only But he is Pleased to say That Quakers keep the first Day of the Week and spend it in the Religious Exerâ—ise of Publick and Private Worship but this is said and not Proved for the contrary is know to most who resort to and frequent their House where they discern no more Worship in many 〈◊〉 their Families than in the Families of Indians Aâ— He Appeals to their Neighbours as Witnesses but 〈◊〉 of their Witnesset have affirmed the contrary and bâ— they
will take Gods place by working without Means and contrary to Means or they imagine to work Effects by unsuitable causes and attain an end by improper means as if a man intended to Merchandize by Labouring in the Ground intend for Europe from America and yet Steer to the South or by Planting Tobacco to imagine to Reap Corn for I am perswaded that such as in Faith Administers the outward Ordinance of Baptism and that purely according to the Divine Institution Praying and Depending on God for his Blessing and Christ for his Vertue and Presence are in the most probable way of being Instruments of the Grace of Baptism so that this Baptism is a standing and perpetual Ordinance to the End of the World which is clearly inferred from the Promise annexed which is perpetual and Lo I am with you to the End of the World as durable as Teaching it self which the after practice of the Apostles and Servants of Christ to this day Confirm should be continued until Christ's Second Coming notwithstanding of all Gainsayers He further would insinuate That we Learned and Received Sprinkling of Children from the Church of Rome but it is easy to make appear they go hand in hand with Rome in more things than we do who are known to all the Followers of Antichrist to walk more opposite to and in abhorrence of their Principles and Practices then any others for their Universal Redemption their Free-will their denying Perseverance their possible Perfection in this Life their Vilipending the Scriptures and denying it to be the Rule and their holding the Pope of Rome not to be Antichrist and their Denying the Morality of the Fourth Command they have raked and picked these with many more out of that filthy Sink and stinking puddle of Romish Corruption and as for our Sprinkling in Baptism it is not so repugnant to Scripture as perverse Quakers do imagine For Water in Baptism Represents the Blood of Jesus Christ and why not sprinkling the Sprinkling of the Blood of Christ which is so clearly expressed by the Apostle Paul to the Hebrews but neither Infant Baptism nor Sprinkling is 〈◊〉 Controversy between Quakers and us for 1 They are against the Baptism of Old as well as Young 2. They are against Washing or Dipping as well as Sprinâ—ing therefore I wave both And next I shall make appear That George Keith is guilty of a double falshood concerning Baptism in his Book 1. In opposition 〈◊〉 Scripture to say with his Brethren that Water â—aptism was only for Johns Dispensation and conseâ—ently Abolished or abrogated in Christ whereas 〈◊〉 was continued all the time of Christ's Life and 〈◊〉 he was Dead and Gone and still does without all interruption as any may read in the Acts of the Apostle 2 He contradicteth himself and his Brethren too in saying that only it stood in force in Johns time and abolished immediately yet some may be Sent of the Lord and Instructed to Baptise with Water and if they can prove they are Sent of the Lord should be gladly Received but Hiâ— Labor hâ—… Opus est for how they go about to prove this they have never yet told us Now let his Friends and Followers consider and examine what this man would be at for it is abolished and yet they may be called by the Spirit of God to Administer it can it be supposed that the Spirit of God will call any to Administer that Worship that is Removed and Abolished by God and His Holy Spirit were not this to make God and His Holy Spirit who are Essentially one to Clash with themselves which were Blasphemy to affirm He impugnes Water Baptism with all his might as not now warranted by Scripture and yet will Justifie a Call and Mission to Administer Abrogated Worship and from the same Argument why not Called and Sent to perform all the Abrogated Services Rites and Sacrifices under the Law as Circumcision the Passover and all Legal Sacrifices and so from a pretended Call to set up again the Mosaical Worship This would be a brave Spiritual Work indeed and to make this appear to be the Judgment of others of that Party as well aâ— his own he acknowledged at my House A Quakeâ— once Baptised with Water and was approved of for it Is Water Baptism not warranted by Scripture but Abolished since Johns Dayes and yet performed and approved of by those who are Enemies thereunto from an imaginary and unknown Call and Mission which would be to introduce the grossest Enthusiasâ— in the World and an open door to all wild fancies and imaginations Let Keiths Friends and Followers beware of this mans principles and Books And concerning the Lords Supper he asperses us all but I doubt not to make it convincingly appear that he both contradicteth Scripture and his Brethren too 1 He contradicteth Scripture in undervaluing this great Ordinance as no Special Divine Spiritual Gospel Ordinance but Jumbles it in with the common and dayly Eating and ordinary means of Believers an high indignity to this Ordinance and the Author of it repugnant to Scripture and inconsistent with the sure and certain experience of thousands of the Godly who have Eat at the Table of the Lord to their unspeakable comfort and transporting Consolation more then they reaped by their ordinary Meals so that Christian Experience witnesseth against them and confutes all their Quibling Arguments and Sophistical Quirks and my own experience of the Grace Blessings and Benefits of this Great Special and Solemn Ordinance shall be an unanswerable Argument to me against all Hereticks in the World And it is also strange with what impudent Spirit they can call the Supper of the Lord no Special Ordinance distinct from Ordinary Meals For 1 Our Lord oft Eat with Mixed Multitudes but in this Ordinance with a Select Number of his own even his Apostles 2 He never did Celebrate that Ordinance but once and that was in the very Night wherein he was Betrayed a great Argument of his Love and Faithfulness to his Church 3 He Instituted it immediately after the Passover and that Hymn that was usually Sung after the Passover was deferred till after the Administration of the Lords Supper to signify the Abrogation of the one and Institution of the other in its Room and Place 4 At what other Meals did ever Our Lord say This is my Body and as oft as you do it do it in Remembrance of me 5 Those that make their Ordinary Meals to be the Lords Supper which is a new notion of K's they alter the Elements at your Pleasure which are Signs instituted of God the Bread to signify his Flesh and Wine to signify his Blood and they Arrogantly Presumptuously appoint others Fish Flesh and what ever comes in the way far from the practice of the Apostle Paul in the Church of Corinth who delivered nothing to that Church in this great Ordinance but what he received of the Lord Jesus the Author of it
in Heaven and Rt. Young one of their pretended Teachers said that he did not find Christ without in all the Scriptures and further that Christ when he ascended into the Cloud was seperated from his Body and Arthur Cook accused G. K. for saying that Christs Body that was Crucified and Buried is gone into Heaven and was and is in heaven even the very same Body which Cook and others called a Novelty imposed upon his Ancient Brethren And John Simtock asked G. K. Did Christs Bones Arise and Thomas Lloyd did object against G. K. his imposing Unscriptural Faith on his Bretheren further that Faith in Christ without us as he Dyed for our sins and rose again was not necessary to Salvation and further that Christ within did all Can any Repeat such Blasphemous expressions without horrour when they consider the deplorable case of such as are Lead and Taught by these men who openly publickly and avowedly profess their Ignorance of the true Christ which is but One and can be no other even He that was Born of the Virgin Mary Suffered in the World was Crucified without the Gates of Jerusalem was Buried Rose again with the same Body having his wounds upon him as he shewed to Thomas the Apostle after some time of Converse in the World proving thereby the Reality of his Resurrection was received Bodily into a Cloud in the open view of his Apostles and Ascended into Heaven now Sits at the Right Hand of God the Father making continual intercession for sinners the same Man-Christ that Liveth for Ever Ever shall come in his Glory with all his Holy Angels to Judge the World in Righteousness at the Last Day All which is abundantly testified in the Holy Scriptures And now whosoever Believes not in Christ nor receives him as described in the Word of God seeing he himself says John 5.39 They are they that testify of him it may warrantably be concluded they believe not in him at all therefore I leave it to others to determine what sort of Christians Quakers must needs be and also what we must judge of their Sufficient Saving Divine Light of which they have been boasting universally and magnifying them selves from above all others in the world and what do they now think of their immediate Call and Apostolick Mission seeing they discover themselves so grosly Ignorant and so much in the dark about the Foundation of our Salvation even Christ Jesus who is so fully described in the very Letter of the Scriptures And this Breach is Risen to such a height that the Railings Revilings bitter uncharitable Accusations they were wont to vomit maliciously against all the Reformed Churches are now justly turned against one another for Lloyd and his Party fly out against Keith calling him a Reviler of the Brethren Brat of Babylon Accuser of the Brethren one that alwayes endeavoureth to keep down the power of Truth drawing from the Gift of God calling him also Pope Primate of Pensilvania Father Confessor accusing him of Envy extream Passion a turbulent unsubdued Spirit Let the Authors of these make good their Charge or let them take what follows Shall ever such a man be followed by such as have given him such a monstrous Character as none but the greatest of Impostors deserve and it is observable that in all which K has Published for he has carried the day in his Prints that he has not fairly nor fully Explained himself for it wants to be determined when Christ is said to be in all men by the name Light whether he and his Party who say with all Quakers He is substantially in them believe him to be in them as Mediator and Saviour as K. seems to assert in his Grounds of Separation pag. 32 William Pen in Reason against Railing asserts the true Light with which every man is Enlightned to be sufficient for Salvation and how Pen G. K. and his Adversaries can jump again into a Knot after so plain and palpable Difference about their great Fundamental of the Sufficiency of the Light within I Leave it to other Judges to determine and it deserves observation that in their Epistle to their Brethren and their Commendation what high lofty and proud Titles of Commendation scarce applicable to men they gave to G K. as That he Walked in the Counsel of God was Lovely in that Day When the Beauty of the Lord was upon him and his Comeliness covered him and immediately with the same Breath they throw him down and look upon him as Fassen from the high Places of Israel as a man Slain in his High Places as they fix hard names upon him as formerly so he payes them home again in the same Coin calls Lloyd and his Party which are some thousands Fools Ignorant Heathens Infidels Silly Souls Lyars Hereticks Rotten Ranters Mugg letonians c So that if we were inclinable to give them Names we have no Room for they have done it to our hands themselves And I must confess they are better able than we for they are better acquainted with one another and privy to their Errors Heresies and other Hidden Works of Darkness which they have hitherto been ashamed to Publish to the World and yet it is admirable to think where these men find such a stock of Confidence as to wipe their mouths and say they have not Railed all this while but all they have said on both sides is in the uprightness of their hearts all these Names given are Truth I shall leave them so disproving neither one of Lloyds Party William Gabitas desired K to forbear Preaching Christ without seeing it gave Offeence to his Brethren as Paul did concerning Eating of Flesh an able Doctor indeed and very probable to have Christ in him who valued the Preaching of Christ Crucified no more than the Eating of Flesh and must not such Brethren as take Offence as such Doctrine be acted by a Diabolical Spirit Thomas Lloyd in a Publick Meeting affirmed no man could differ with G. K. but he was in danger of the Life of his Soul by him and farther that he had bin 〈◊〉 more vexatious Adversary to Friends then Hicks or Scanderet or the greatest Enemies sure such Untharitableness and Ranchor must have great provocations flow from no good Spirit another proud and self conceited expression of a plain Quaker Must I truckle under thee indeed it was not fit a Governour should and further G. K. affirmed That no such Damnable Heresies and Doctrines of Devis were Tolerated in any Protestant Society as among Quakers at Philadelphia if this Charge is true I am perswaded it will extend to most Quakers in the World or they must yet be in Confusion and Undetermined about their Principles Many other most dangerous Positions were urged and disputed among them savouring of nothing but Blindness and Error as one that owned no man Christ Jesus as Mediator in Heaven without him but the