Truth against the Soul-destroying Errors of Quakerism I am perswaded if the Principles of those Men were but truly understood and the consequence that necessarily flow from them known to you you would with as much Satisfaction chuse to dye a Martyr in opposition to that Error as the Christians of Queen Mary's Dayes did against Romish Idolitry give me leave to say plainly a Quaker cannot be a Christian I mean a Quaker that knoweth and defendeth the Principles of that party and I can confirm it as strongly as I assert it plainly and will do it for your sake by this Argument every part and Branch whereof I am fully satisfied in If Quakerism Subvert the Fundamental and Essential Articles of the Christian Religion then no Quaker that understands and professeth the Principles of Quakerism can be a Christian But it doth so as will presently appear For 1. They Deny the Existance of the Human Nature and Satisfaction of the Blood of Christ. 2. They Deny the Imputed Righteousness of Christ as the matter of our Justification 3. They Deny the Resurrection of the Body and its Partisipation of Glory with the Soul 4. They lead Men to the Covenant of Works and Obedience to the Light within for Salvation All these are there real Opinions let them dissemble and hide themselves never so Cunningly I can prove it out of their own wicked Pamphlets I have had it from there own Mouths and that often and to satisfie you of the truth of what I charge them if you will but conseal the Paper from them and ask any of their Leaders your self so as they apprehend not your design these Questions you shall find the Charge Just and Real against them take a fit Season and Demand thus 1. Are we Justified and Saved by that very Blood of Christ that was shed at Jerusalem or by some other means then by the Blood of the Man Christ Jesus 2. Is Jesus Christ now in Heaven in a true and real Body of Flesh and Blood Or is he not 3. Is the Active and Passive Obedience which Christ performed here on Earth in the dayes of his Flesh the matter of our Righteousness before God Or is it something in our selves 4. Shall these very Bodys of Flesh and Blood rise again at the last Day and be glorified with the Souls and remain Human Bodys still for Substance though glorified Bodys for qualities Or what shall become of them 5. Must we expect Salvation by believing in Christ for Righteousness and applying his Righteousness to our Souls by Faith or must we expect it by Obedience to the Light within us This being done discretly so as that they see you do for Satisfaction and not to intangle them I am confident you will find to your Sorrow that I have too Justly charged them with those Damnable Errors and then the Snare is broken and your Soul escaped But you must have a care of there deceitful Answers and hold them close to the words of each Question else they will hide the hook in general and plausable answers But it were better for you to converse on these points with sound and sollid Christians that know their Principles then trust your self amongst them but if you must I doubt not but by a discreet management you may have it from the Mouthes of their chief Leaders the Lord keep your Soul in his Truth remember there are damnable Errors 2 Peter 2. 5. as well as Practices Give me a few Lines that may rejoyce and comfort my Heart concerning you for my love to you makes me Jealous over you I Remain yours in Jesus Christ our Hope John Flavell Clement Lakes Answer to the foregoing Letter I Have considered thy Letter and the high Charges in it and to begin with the first First That they deny the Existans of the Humane Nature I shall as I said answer in Scripture Language and shall take heed of Philosophical words because I do not profess my self to be one I look on it as a Just and reasonable thing due from all men that all proposals of Questions to others about there Faith and Believe of the Scriptures should be in Scripture Language I do not remember that ever I read of the word Existaens or Humane in all the Scriptures of Truth I shall take heed according to the Apostle's advice of vain Philosophy and shall ground my Faith according to the Scriptures of Truth in all the matters on which my Salvation dependeth I believe that Christ is glorified with the Father with the same Glory he had before the World was according to John 17. 5. and 1 Tim. 3. 16. He is received up to Glory and that he shall come again in the Glory of his Father with his Angels Math. 16. 27. And that he is sitting on the right hand of Power Mark 14. 62. And that he ascended up far above all Heavens And that he is gone into Heaven and is on the Right Hand of God and that it is a Glorious Body Phil. 3. 21. And if this make me an Heretick for believing as the Scripture hath said I shall willingly bare thy Judgment For the Second part of it That they deny the Satisfaction of the Blood of Christ. This is a false Lying Slanderous Charge charge it who will for my part according to what I have heard and seen since acquainted with them of all the sorts of Professors that I have been conversant with I have not known any to have a greater Esteem for and put a greater value on the Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ then those do that are thus charged and indeed it is no wonder that they thus value it seeing a remnant have experienced such unexpressable vertue from it and benefit by it As for my part I believe Salvation in no other and out of him there is none and I believe and know it is the Faith of those with whom I walk according to Acts 4. 12. And he is the Propitiation for our Sins 1 John 2. 2. And he hath purchased us with his own Blood Acts 20. 28. and Rom. 3. 25. and by him we have Remission of Sin and we are Justified by his Blood Rom. 5. 9. And by it we have Eternal Redemption Heb. 9. 12. 1 Pet. 1. 2. And if we walk in the Light as he is in the Light we have fellowship one with another and the Blood of Christ cleanseth us from all Sin And what the difference is between the walking in the Light that is so much derided and walking in Christ I know not but if we walk in him the Blood of Jesus Christ will cleanse us from all Sin John 7. 9. And I believe not only from the guilt but from the filth also verse 9. And I believe that Sanctification and Justification are inseparable I see but little mention made in thy Letter of the cleansing vertue of Christ's Blood or the work of Regeneration that must be wrought in man or the new Birth that
must be Experienced or no entreing the Kingdom of Heaven John 3. 3. And we believe that for all those for whom the Blood of Christ maketh Satisfaction they know and Experience a purging of their Consciences from dead works to serve the living God and this a Remnant have found and can speak it to the Glory of our God 1 Pet. 1. 18 19. They know Redemption from a vain Conversation by the pretious Blood of Christ and I hope that this is also clear If Scripture will pass and I be believed that it is the Faith of those called Quakers As to the Second that They deny the Imputed Righteousness of Christ as the matter of Our Justification Before I answer this Question I would query my self what is ment by Our Whether it be all men universally without condition or quallification and so whether Christ did in the Body of his Flesh in his own Person all that was to be done for man or whether his work is not to be experimentally known in every man for the destruction of Sin and the work of Sanctification by all that shall have the benefit of his imputed Righteousness yea or nay For my part this is my Faith that he is a blessed Man to whom the Lord imputeth Righteousness and to whom the Lord will not Impute Sin Rom. 4. 6 7 8. But I believe also that those Souls that are in this Bleâ—ed State do know and Experience a work of Sanctification wrought in them and the destruction of Sin wrought for them and Redemption from Sin all wrought by the same Lord Jesus Christ for all those that believe in his Name and Power 1 Cor. 1. 30. And he was also made manifest for the destruction of the works of the Devil 1 John 3. 8. And where this work is wrought for man and in man the fruit of the Spirit is brought forth according to Gal. 5. 22. And this also is my Faith that they also know the old man to be Crucified that the Body of Sin may be destroyed that henceforth they may not serve Sin and so know a washing and a sanctifying before they know themselves to be Justified 1 Cor. 6. 11. And those shall have the Righteousness of Christ imputed to them Thirdly That they deny the Resurrection of the Body and its Partisipation of Glory with the Soul This is another false Charge we believe the Resurrection of the Body that the dead shall be raised up incorruptably 1 Cor. 15. 52. And we believe the Resurrection of the dead both of the Just and Unjust Acts 24. 15. And that those vile Bodys shall be made like to his Glorious Body Phil 3. 21. And we believe that all that are in the Grave shall come forth they that have done well to the Resurrection of Life and they that have done Evil to the Resurrection of Damnation John 5. 28. 29. And those that are guided by the Counsel of the Lord and follow it here shall be received up to Glory Psal. 73. 24 And that we shall be glorified to gather with the Lord Rom. 8. 17. 18. And we believe that those that follow Christ in the Regeneration deny themselves and take up the Cross shall Inherit Eternal Life Math. 19. 28 29. And we believe also that the end of those that are Enemies to the Cross of Christ will be destruction Phil. 3. 18 19. Fourthly That they lead Men to the Covenant of Works and Obedience to the Light within This is a Slander cast out of the Mouth of the old Dragon like a Flood to prejudice the World and spread by his Agents what ground Men have for this Charge I know not except it be for pressing People to the Mortification of Sin by the Power of the Lord denying of self Crucifying of the Flesh with the Affection and Lust thereof and takâ—ng up the Cross and following of Christ who is our Way Truth and Life out of whom we believe there is no Salvation from Sin or Wrath No Name or Power given under Heaven whereby any Soul can be saved but Jesus Christ He is our all in all and man is nothing neither can do any thing as to his own Salvation for without him we can do nothing it is he that worketh both to will and to do of his own good Pleasure And to as many as receive him to them he giveth Power to become the Sons of God even to them that believe in his Name which Faith also is the Gift of God It would be thought hard measure from us if we should say that because no mention is made in all thy Letter of any thing that is to be wrought in man or done by man as a Quallification of those that shall partake of those benefits by Christ that therefore you do believe that Men may partake of them and yet do what they will and live as they list tho we have as great a ground for it as any have for charging us to lead Men to the Covenant of Works For the Second part of the Charge That they lead Men to Obedience to the Light within for Salvation This I will say that Rebellion is as the Sin of Witch-craft and Stubbernness is as Idolatry and that without Obedience there will be no eating the Fat of the promised Land And for the Light within so much despised by the dark Rabbies of the World this Light of Israel shall be for a Fire and his Holy One for a Flame that shall burn and devour the Thorns in one day Esa. 01. 17. And that we press Obedience to the Light within we own who is Jesus Christ the Light of Israel the Light of the World who is given to be a Covenant to the People and a Light to the Gentiles to open the Blind Eyes Esa. 42. 6 7. This was David's Light to his Feet and Lanthorn to his Paths Psa. 119. vers 115. And this word or Light or Jesus was in the beginning and in him was Life and the Life was the Light of men 1 John 8. And this beginning he is our Light and Life and he it is that expels the Darkness out of the Heart and those that are Obedient to him are called the Children of Light Ephes. 5. 8. And it is by this Jesus Christ who is the Wisdom and Power of God the Light that maketh manifest all things as they are that bringeth down every Imagination in man that exalteth it self against the Lord and bringeth every thought into Obedience to himself he it is that is the author of Eternal Life to all that obey him Hebrew 5. 8. and 1 Pet. 1. 2. And that he is within and dwelleth in the Saints we own it tho for owning it we are an Abomination to the Egyptians 2 Cor. 13. 5. Are not the Saints the Temple of God And doth he not dwell in his Temple And is it not in the Heart And is not the Heart within And is not his Throne there And is it not there he
People of our days men can be content to have Drunkenness and Swearing Murder Theft and such like Goliah's slain this is possible to live without to some and cry they will enough against those that will not and well worthy But what Sin is it I would fain know that the Lord cannot yea will not destroy and keep us from as well as these if People did not hide them and will not let them go Is it possible men may have the greater and not the lesser slain by the Power of the Lord if they would bring them forth he would slay them before theâ—r faces There is something that is sweet to them like as to Saul goodly in their Eyes and that must be spared but that which is Wild Disgraceful and Reproachful that must be destroyed but sparing of the other was his Ruin Ah if People were but ingenious and bring forth that to the Sword that is for the Sword and that to the Fire that is for the Fire would not then this Sword and Fire of God's Spirit burn up and destroy those Fatlings and Lambs that they keep in their Bosom as well as that which is Wild and Refuge I shall desire thee to view what thy own Pen hath written pag. 7. of the Saint indeed thy definition of keeping the Heart it is to have the Heart set right It will be too tedious to transcribe all view it what thou sayest there what man was by Creation what man became by Degeneration and what man is by Regeneration where all is set right again and pag. 22. Had they kept their Hearts with God all had been well and what is that but to keep from Sin pag. 13. holy Job durst not suffer his Heart to yield to an impure Thought surely then to no wicked Action and so in a Sinless State as long as he kept there I would fain know of thee if thou dost please whether it be possible for a Christian to observe those directions laid down in thy Book If possible whether that Soul will not then be kept from Sin and if possible why are we then Unchristian'd for believing of it If impossible why thou dost press People then to Impossibilities and take Money for it to view thy own Book well and practice it also and I dare to say thou wilt come to that blessed state Look to the 191 pag. read it at large where thou cryest out Away with bold Censuring But it was but a little way for in the 194 pag. thou canst Censure the Quakers that they never knew what belong to Practical Godliness and study of their own Hearts I beseech thee in the bowels of Love do not be found in the number of them that say and do not by what Scripture-Rule dost thou thus judge the Secrets of thousands of Hearts Persons whom thou never knewest nor sawest View 198 and 199 pag. where thou complainest of the Lives of Professors and how can it be otherwise What is the Reason of it they are told it is impossible to get themselves free of Sin and so one sets down Captivated with one Sin and another with another Sin I tell thee in the Bowels of Love that if ever the Lord did send thee to Preach the Gospel it was for the Perfecting of the Saints and turning men from the Power of Satan to the Power of God and from Darkness to Light and not to tell them the strong man cannot be cast out and all his Goods spoiled But say you there is something that cannot be destroyed Where then is the Purgatory to cleanse Souls You say and it is true That as the Tree falleth so it lieth and if men dye in their Sins where Christ is gone they cannot come and no unclean thing can enter the Kingdom of Heaven and yet poor People cannot be cleansed Ah the Souls that split on this Rock 3dly The Scripture holdeth forth there have been Perfections I shall quote the Scriptures Psal. 64. 4. Gen. 6. 9. Job 1. 1. Prov. 2. 21. 1. Cor. 2. 6. 2 Cor. 13. 9. 11. where the Apostle Prayeth for it and Exhorteth to it Rom. 6. 1. How shall we that are dead to Sin live any longer therein Men must know a Death to Sin or I will be bold to say shall know a Death for Sin Vers. 6. They must know the Old man Crucified that the Body of Sin may be destroyed that henceforth they should not serve Sin Vers. 7. He that is dead is freed from sin men will not know a Freedom from Sin until they know a Death to Sin Vers. 18. Being then made Free from sin they became Servants of Righteousness Vers. 22. When dead to sin then servants to Righteousness and then men have their Fruits to Holiness and their End is Everlasting Life This is the Doctrine of Christ. But the Doctrine of Devils is to say that men may Sin and not dye he was the first that preached it Gen. 3. 3. Ye shall not dye here is the great Lyar And what are those men that say men cannot be free from Sin till they come to Heaven cannot cease from Sin till come to Heaven that Sin cannot be destroyed What is this but to make Christ's coming void who came to destroy the Works of the Devil to save his People from their Sins Is not this a departing from the Faith that overcometh the World the Flesh and the Devil and a giving heed to the seducing Spirit and Doctrine of Devils to speak Lyes to uphold the Devil's Kingdom 1 Tim. 4. 1. and unchristian all that believe as the Scripture hath said that Christ saveth from Sin not in Sin from the Power and Practice from the Filth as well as the Guilt all that he will save from Hell and its Damnation and who are those that cry out against it but those that will make Christ Scripture and all bow down to their sinful condition Is there not some little one in them that they will not give up to God's Sword and Fire some Fatlings in their Bosom goodly in their Eyes like Saul and yet think their Souls shall live for all this that gather up the Failings of the Saints to feed upon that because Noah David and Peter and others failed they may yea must sin all their days I beseech thee in the tender love of the Lord to perswade the Children of men to a thorow Work of Sanctification in Body Soul and Spirit and a perfecting Holiness in the Fear of God and a Cleansing from all Unrighteousness and a casting out of the Heart all that offend him not only some things but all things that offend him all which is to be done by the Power of the Lord and so come to know a Perfection in Christ and so come to be one with Christ as he is with the Father and the strong man cast out and all his Goods spoiled and so come to be a Habitation for God through the Spirit My Heart is here enlarged and my
Mouth opened to bear witness to the Truth of God that Christ is able and willing to save from all Sin and to keep us from failing if men believe in his Power and keep to it for it will be to all men according to their Faith but if men do not yea will not believe Christ is that he that can yea and will do these things for them they shall dye in their Sins and where he is gone they cannot come 3dly He cannot be a Christian that maketh no distinction between the Godly and the Wicked or Ungodly This Saddle best fits thy own Horse on whose back I shall set it look to the Epistle of thy Book called The Saints indeed where no difference is made between the Godly and the Ungodly the one so Confers Prays bewailes Corruption talks of Experience open their Condition neglect the watch over the Heart and does often fall into scandalous Sins as the Wicked do What difference dost thou make between the Godly and Ungodly Hearts except it be in this that one shall go to Heaven and the other to Hell tho they thus live no difference in the Life except it be that the Godly so called by thee are worse in their Lives for by their example they make fast the bands of death upon both the former are cruel and shed the Blood of other Souls fall often into Scandalous Sins and for proof David is brought He committed Murder and Adultery Did he fall into this often was it the Practice of his Life was not the remaining part of his Life spent in mourning and watching and warning against and praying against all Sin and did he not declare his abhorrance of it by his abstaining from it all false wayes he did utterly abhor and did he utterly abhor it with his Tongue and not abstain from it in his Life surely his remaining Years were far different from the Life of the Wicked and so were the Life of other Saints after their falls and therefore take this Charge home to thy self who pleads for Sin term of Life and Unchristian others who plead for purity of Heart and Life and a ceasing from Sin and a Freedom indeed by the Truth Be not offended because I spake forth the Words of Truth it is for the honour of my Saviour Christ Jesus And it is my Testimony that I bare against the Devil and Sin and the Pleaders for it that he can that he doth that he will save from Sin those that believe in him and come to him and receive him in all his Offices to them he will give Power to become the Sons of God and what is that but to cease to do Evil and learn to do Well And now for the proof of thy Charge for which we are Unchristianed and that we make no Difference between the Godly and the Wicked is this that Christ inlightneth Every one that cometh into the World with a saving Light I would fain know whether Saints be Born Saints If not but all are by nature Children of Wrath Enemies to God by wicked works as I believe they are Then whether that Spirit that strived with them and convinced them of Sin Righteousness and Judgment and brought them out of the state of Darkness Enmity and Rebellion and turneth them or leadeth them from the power of Satan to be lead giuded and governed by the Power of God be not the same Spirit that is striving with and in the Wicked to reclaim them and whether it would not reclaim them if they did follow it and obey its Reproofs Instructions and Counsels God gave his Good Spirit to the old World and others and doubtless willing and sufficient to save them if they had not resisted and rebelled against it it was Gods Good Spirit that was saving which was given to rebellious Israel but they Rebelled and Vexed it that it could not dwell in them and it is the same secret still Voice that cryeth after or in Man and Woman This is the Way walk in it Return Return why will you Dye But by Rebellion against and Resistance of Grieving Vexing and Quenching its Motions it ceaseth to strive and wo then to that Soul when left to commit Sin with Greediness And as I have said formerly I say again if in any thing thou supposest I am beside the Truth signifie it to me in a few Lines who desireth and prayeth for the coming of God's Kingdom in the Hearts of the Children of men Clement Lake Crediton the 28th day of the 10th Month 1687. THE END