no sooner is true Faith begotten in a Soul but it falls to working which is both the Nature and in some respect the end of it Nor do we say that our very best Works proceeding from the true Faith it self can merit no nor Faith joyned with them All that Man is capable of believing or performing can never merit everlasting Blessedness because there can be no proportion as there must be in case of Merit between the best Works that can be performed in the Life of Man and an Eternal Felicity Wherefore all that Man can do even with the Assistance of the Holy Spirit can never be properly said to merit but that right Faith and good Works which will follow it may and do obtain the blessed Immortality which it pleaseth Almighty God to give and priviledge the Sons of Men with who perform that necessary Condition is a Gospel and necessary Truth And this the Quakers groundedly and therefore boldly affirm So that they deny all Merit from the best of Works especially by such as the Papists are wont to conceive Meritorious But as they on the one hand do deny the meritoriousness of Works so neither can they joyn with that lazy Faith which works not Let not good Works make Men Papists because they make Men Christians I am sure believing and not working and imagining a Salvation from Wrath where there is no Salvation from Sin which is the cause of it is no whit less unscriptural and abundantly more pernicious to the Soul Blessed is he that hears Christ's Words and does them The doer is only accepted for though Death be the Wages of Sin yet the Gift of God is Eternal Life to such Rom. 6. 23. so that as they do not hold that their good Works merit neither believe they that their good Works justifie For though none are justified that are not in measure sanctified yet they are not justified because they are sanctified but for his sake that sanctifies them Isa 26. 12. and works all their good Works in them and for them to wit Christ Jesus who is made unto them as to the Saints of old Wisdom Righteosness Sanctification and Redemption that he that glorieth let him glory in the Lord 1 Cor. 1. 30 31. Pervers 14. The Quakers deny the two great Ordinances of the Gospel Baptism and the Supper Princ. Whatever is truly and properly a Gospel Ordinance they desire to own and practise But they observe no such Language in the Scriptures as in the Objection They do confess the Practice of John's Baptism and the Supper is to be found there but that is no Institution or sufficient Reason of Continuation That they were then proper they believe it being a time of great Infancy and when the Mysteries of Truth lay yet couched and foulded up in Figures and Shadows as is acknowledged by Protestants but it is their Belief that no Figures or Signs are perpetual or of Institution under the Gospel Administration when Christ who is the Substance is come though their use might have been indulged to young Converts in Primitive Times It were to overthrow the whole Gospel Dispensation and to make the coming of Christ of none effect to render Signs of the nature of the Gospel If it be said But they were used after the coming of Christ and his Ascension too They answer So were many Jewish Ceremonies not easily abolished If any say But Christ commanded that one of them should be done till he come They say That he that said so told his Disciples also That he would come to them again That some should not taste of Death till they saw him come in his Kingdom And he that was then with them should be in them And that he would drink no more of the Fruit of the Vine till he should drink it new with them in the Kingdom of God Joh. 14. 1 2 3. Mat. 16. 28. Joh. 14. 17. Mat. 26. 29. Mark 14. 25. Which is the new Wine that was to be put into the new Bottles Luk. 5. 37. and is the Wine of the Kingdom as he expresseth it in the same place Which Kingdom is within as may be read Luk. 17. 20. He was the heavenly Bread that they had not yet known nor his Flesh and Blood as they were to know them as may be seen John 6. 53 to 63. So that though Christ was come to end all Signs yet till he was known to be the Substance to the Soul as the great Bread of Life from Heaven Signs had their Service to shew forth and keep in hand and remembrance especially to the People of that day whose Religion was attended with a multitude of the like Types Shadows and Signs of the one good Thing and Substance of all Hence it is That the Quakers cannot be said to deny them that is too hard a word But they truly witnessing that the very thing that Water Bread and Wine do signifie is come to them they leave them off as fulfilled and henceforth have but one Lord one Faith one Baptism one Bread and but one Cup of Blessings which is the new Wine of the Kingdom Mark 14. 25. Pervers 15. They acknowledge no Resurrection of the Dead nor Rewards to come Princ. In this also they are greatly abused They deny not but believe the Resurrection according to Scripture the one from Sin the other from Death and the Grave but are cautious in expressing the manner of the Resurrection intended in the Charge because 't is left a Secret in Scripture Are People angry with them for not believing or asserting what is hidden and which is more curious than necessary to be known and which the Objectors themselves cannot be positive in Thou Fool is to the curious Inquirer as says the Apostle 1 Cor. 15. 36 53 54. which makes the Quakers contented with that Body which God shall please to give them being assured that their Corruption shall put on Incorruption and their Mortality Immortality in such manner as pleaseth him And in the mean time they think it their Duty as well as Wisdom to acquiesce in his holy Will It is enough they believe a Resurrection and that of a glorious and incorruptible Body without further Niceties for to that was the ancient hope Now as to Eternal Rewards they not only believe them but above all People have the greatest reason so to do for otherwise who is so miserable Do they inherit the Reproach and Suffering of all that have separated from time to time that is are the Out-cries that have been against the Protestants by the Papists and those of the Church of England against Puritans Brownists and other Separatists fallen upon them and shall they hold Principles inconsistent with an Eternal Recompence of Rewards By no means It is their Faith their Hope and what they press as an Incouragement to Faithfulness and the contrary therefore both an unjust and foolish Suggestion of their Adversaries Pervers 16. The Quakers deny all Civil Honour
A KEY Opening a way to every Common Understanding How to discern the Difference betwixt the Religion professed by the People called QUAKERS and the Perversions Misrepresentations and Calumnies of their several Adversaries Published in great good Will to all but more especially for their sakes That are actually under Prejudice from vulgar Abuses LONDON Printed for Thomas Northcott in George-yard in Lombard-street 1693. CONTENTS 1. OF the Light within what it is and the Vertue and Benefit of it 2. Of the Scriptures and their Truth and Service 3. Of the Spirit of God and its Office with respect to Man 4. Of the Holy Three or Scripture-Trinity 5. Of the Divinity of Christ 6. Of the Manhood of Christ 7. Of Christ Jesus and his performances for Man's Salvation 8. Of Good Works that they are necessary and rewardable but not Meritorious 9. Of Water-Baptism and the Supper 10. Of the Resurrection of the Dead and Eternal Recompence 11. Of Civil Honour and Respect 12. Of Civil Government Reader IT is very unfair and indiscreet in any to oppose and calumniate what they do not understand It has been our unhappiness far more than all that our Adversaries have been able to say against us that hitherto we remain unknown by those who yet stick not to condemn us We must confess that our Principles as disguised and misrepresented in the World may well enough have given Offence to Those That have not thought it worth their while to take the Pains of enquiring further Nor indeed can we take it ill that People should be shy to entertain them under those frightful Vizards some have put upon them and yet they must be inexcusable that will take our Belief at our Enemies Hands rather than our own who best know what we believe But it will be the business of this little Key to explain the Difficulty and shew the Difference between our Principles and the Vulgar Mistakes and thereby open a way into so clear and plain an Understanding of the Quakers Principles from their Enemies Perversions as we hope with God's Blessing all impartial Enquirers will be satisfied of our Holy and Christian Profession Which we earnestly desire for their Good Knowing that as we have been called of God to be a People to him through his Grace none may stumble or be offended at the Truth we testifie of but seeing the Excellency of it may imbrace it and walk in it the only best way to end Controversy and obtain the great and true End of Religion the Salvation of the Soul Perversion I. THe Quakers hold that the Natural Light in the Conscience of every Man in the World is sufficient to save all that follow it and so overthrow Salvation by Christ. Principle This is a great Mistake for their Belief and Assertion is That Christ who is the Word that was with God and was God and is so for ever hath enlightned every Man that cometh into the World with his own Light as he is that True Light or such a Light as there is no other to be compared to him Which is the meaning of the Emphasis True in the Text and that such as follow the Reproofs Convictions and Leadings of that Light with which he enlightens the Understandings and Consciences of Men shall not walk in Darkness that is in Evil and Ignorance of God but shall have the Light of Life which Life is a living Condition towards God and a state of acceptance and Salvation and for which end Christ was given of God See Isa 49. 6. Jo. 1. 4 9. 3. 21. 5. 40. 8. 12. 10. 10. So that they assert the Light of Christ sufficient and not a Natural Light otherwise than as all Men born into the world have a measure of Christ's Light and so it may be said to be natural to all Men. For this Light is something else than the bare Understanding Man hath as a rational Creature For as such Man cannot be a Light to himself But has only a capacity of seeing by means of the Light that Christ the Word enlighteneth him withal For we can no more be a mental or Intellectual Light to our selves than we are an External and Corporeal Light to our selves But as the Sun in the Firmament is the Light of our Bodies so the Light of the divine Word is the Sun of our Souls the glorious Luminary of the intellectual World and they that walk in it and by it will come to Blessedness Pervert 2. The Quakers hold the Light within them is God Christ and the Holy Spirit so that every Quaker has whole God Christ and Spirit in him Which is gross Blasphemy Princ. This is also a Mistake of their Belief They never said that every Illumimination in the Hearts of Men was whole God Christ or the Spirit whereby to be guilty of that gross and blasphemous Absurdity they would fasten on them But that God who is Light or the Word Christ who is Light the Quickning Spirit and God over all blessed for ever 1 Cor. 15. 45 47. hath enlightned Mankind with a Measure of Saving Light So that the Illumination is from God or Christ the Word but not therefore whole God or Christ in every Man no more than the whole Sun or Air is in every House or Chamber There are no such harsh and unscriptural Words in their Writings It is only a frightful Perversion of some of their Enemies to bring a Scandal upon their Holy Faith Yet in a Sense the Scriptures say it and that is their Sense in which they say the same thing He that is with you shall be in you I will not leave you comfortless I will come to you I in them and they in me Christ in us the hope of Glory Unless Christ be in you ye are Reprobates Of whom I travel in Birth again until Christ be formed in you Jo. 14. 3 17. 18. 20. Col. 1. 26 27. 2 Cor. 13. 5. Gal. 4. 19. Now if they who denied his coming in the Flesh though high professing Jews were Antichrists because Enemies to that Appearance and Dispensation of God to Men what must they be reputed who as stiffly disown his nearer and more spiritual coming formation and dominion in the Soul Which is to be sure the higher and nobler Knowledg of Christ yea the Mystery hid from Ages and now revealed to God's People the Riches of the Glory of the Mystery which God reserved to be made known to the Gentiles Col. 1. 27. Certainly though they are called Christians they must be no whit less Antichrists than those obstinate Jews of old Pervert 3. By the Quakers Doctrine every Man must be saved for every Man they say is savingly enlightned Prin. Not so For though the Light or Grace of God hath and doth more or less appear to all Men and that it brings Salvation to as many as will be taught by it to deny Ungodliness and worldly Lusts and to live soberly and righteously and godlikely in this
present evil World as Jo. 3. 20 21. Tit. 2. 11 12. yet it no ways follows that Men must obey and learn so to do whether they will or not God tenders Saving Light or Grace to all Gen. 6. 3. Ezek. 18. 21 22 23 24. Mic. 6. 8. 1 Tim. 2. 4. 2 Pet. 3. 9. he strives and pleads with all but if they will not hearken to his Spirit Grace or Light he is clear of their Blood His Light is saving that lighteth them but it saveth them not if they rebel against it Job 17. 16. 21. 17. 24. 13. In short tho Men are lighted or visited with a saving Light or Grace yet the Quakers never concluded nor is it rightly concludable from their Testimony that such Men must necessarily and absolutely be saved whether they obey or rebel Pervers 4. By the Quakers Light or Spirit they may be moved to Murder Adultery Treason Theft or any such like Wickedness because they say that such as are have the Light within them Princ. This never was their Doctrine nor is it consequent of it though they hold all have Light they never said all obeyed it or that evil Men were led by it much less could the Light be chargable with the Sins of those that refused to be led by it for herein they know the Spirit of God and the Motions of it from the Spirit of this World and its Fruits That the Spirit of God condemns all Ungodliness and moves and inclines to purity mercy righteousness which are of God as Jo. 16. 7 8 13. ch 3. 20 21. Gal. 5. 16 26. They deny and abominate that ranting Spirit that would charge the Spirit of God with their unholy Liberty God's Spirit makes free from Sin and not to sin Neither do they distinguish as such loose People wickedly do between the Act and the Evil of it Wherefore they say that as the Tree is known and denominated from the Fruit so Spirits by their Motions and Inclinations And the Spirit of God never did incline to evil and for that cause they renounce that construction of such Ranters That evil is no evil when they pretend to be led to it by Gods Spirit for that never was nor can be the way and method of his Spirit which is pure and holy for ever And Man's Sin and Destruction are of himself but his Help is in God alone through Christ Pervers 5. The Quakers must be all infallible and perfect if they have such an infallible Light Princ. This is also a great Abuse of their true meaning They say the Principle is pure perfect unerrable in it self or else it were unfit to lead Men to Heaven but they never did assert themselves such meerly because it was in them by no means But that all who are led by it are so far perfect and so far infallibly in the right way and no jot further Who can lay down a more Independent Doctrin upon Self and a more depending one upon the Grace or Gift of God Let them not be Mistaken nor suffer for such misapprehensions nor be made to hold what they don't to disrepute them with sober People or support the mistaken Charges of their Enemies Yet to shew that a State of Perfection is attainable they urge among others these Scriptures Gen. 17. 1. Deut. 18. 13. 2 Sam. 23. 33. Job 1. 1 8. ch 2. 3. and 8. 20. Psal 18. 32. and 119. 1. Prov. 2. 21. Mar. 5. 48. Luke 6. 40. 1 Cor. 2. 6. 2 Cor. 13. 9 11. Eph. 4. 13. 1 Thess 3. 10. 1 Tim. 3. 17. Jam. 1. 4. 1 Pet. 5. 10. Heb. 6. 1. 1 J. 4. 13. Pervers 6. The Quakers deny the Scriptures for they deny them to be the Word of God Princ. They own the Scriptures as they own themselves viz. A Declaration of those things most truly believed given forth in all Ages by the Inspiration of the Holy Spirit consequently that they are profitable for Reading for Exhortation for Reproof in Righteousness that the Man of God may be perfectly furnished They are the Form of Sound Words They profess to believe them read them and say it is the Work they have to do in this World and the earnest Desire of their Souls to Almighty God that they may witness the fulfilling of them that so God's Will may be done in Earth as it is in Heaven But to call them the Word of God which they never called themselves but which they peculiarly denominate and call Christ by as Jo. 1. 4 14. Rev. 19. 13. In reverence to Christ and in no slight to them which they believe to be of divine Authority and embrace as the best of Books and allow to be as much the Word of God as a Book can be They do as in Duty and Reason bound attribute that Title to Christ only And yet as the Word of God signifies the Command of God referring to the thing commanded it may be called the Word of the Lord or Word of God as on particular occasions the Prophets had the Word of the Lord to Persons and Places that is to say that which was commanded them of the Lord. So Christ uses it Mar. 7. 13. when he tells the Pharisees That they had made the Word or Command of God of none effect by their Traditions But because People are so apt to think if they have the Scriptures they have all for that they are the Word of God and so look no farther therefore this people have felt themselves constrained by God's Spirit to point them to the great Word of Words Christ Jesus in whom is Life and that Life the Light of Men that they might feel something nearer to them than the Scriptures even the Word in the Heart Christ within them the Hope of their Glory Deut. 22. 12. Rom. 10. 6 7 8. who is the Author and Expounder of Holy Scripture and without whose Light Spirit or Grace they are not profitably read by those that read them Pervers 7. They deny them to be any Means whereby to resist Temptation Princ. This is a very uncharitable aspersion True it is that they deny the Scriptures meerly or of themselves to be sufficient to resist Temptation for then all that have them and read them would be preserved by them against Temptations But that they should deny them to be any Means or Instrument whereby to do it when they allow their own Writings may be such is either great Ignorance or Malice in their Adversaries God has made use of the Scriptures and doth and will make use of them for Reproof Comfort and Edification through the Spirit Thus they say they have felt them and so they are made to them through the good Spirit of God coming in upon their Spirits in the reading of them Pervers 8. The Quakers assert the Spirit of God to be the immediate Teacher and that there is no other Means now to be used Princ. They never spake such Language But herein they perceive the great
and Respect but what is relative or equal between Men. Princ. They Honour all Men in the Lord but not in the Spirit and Fashions of this World that pass away and tho' they do not pull off their Hats or make Curchings nor give flattering Titles or Complements because they believe there is no true Honour but Flattery and Sin in the using of them yet they treat all Men with Seriousness and Gentleness and are ready to do them any reasonable Benefit or Service in which they think real Honour consisteth Whereas those that thus reproach them are often Peevish Snappish Abusive and Oppressive one to another tho' at the same time they can give one another the Cap and Knee which is far from true Civility or honouring all Men as they are exhorted by the Apostle And as for expressing their respect to their Superiors they think it best done by obeying all just Laws under their Government according to the saying of the Centurion unto Christ and which Christ so much approved of Luk. 7. 8 9. Pervers 17. The Quakers are Enemies to all Government every one acting according to his own Conceit Princ. That this a Calumny their Lives and Conversations sufficiently shew for no People give the Magistracy less Trouble or cause that Charge or Burden to sit lighter on their Shoulders than they do And for their Principle They believe Magistracy to be an Ordinance of God And he that Ruleth well to be worthy of double Honour and is to be much valued and esteemed as such certainly do who are a Terror to Evil doers and a Praise to them that do well And further to shew that they are a People that love Order and good Government they carefully practise it among themselves for if there be twenty Meetings of Worship in a County they peradventure make three or four Monthly Meetings of Business and these Monthly Meetings are resolved into a Quarterly Meeting for the County by such Members as they severally appoint to constitute it And all the Quarterly Meetings in the Nation by chosen Men out of themselves do constitute one general Yearly Meeting unto which the Meetings of those People in all parts of the World have their Recourse by Chosen Messengers or by Epistles The Business of all which Meetings in their several Degrees being to promote Virtue and Charity Peace and Unity Thus sober Reader thou hast an Account of this People their Principles and Practice and thereby thou mayst see if thou pleasest with how little Reason they are despised by some and abused by others which hath been their Lot in a large Measure ever since they have been a People Though the whole bent of their Spirits and Testimony since God by his Grace hath raised them to be a People hath been to promote the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ in the World by turning all People from darkness to the light of Christ in them as the great and singular Agent and Principle by which only Man is enlightned and inabled to see and do the Will of God For till Men are quickned by this divine Principle they are Hypocrites and not Christians and Bastards and not Sons Neither can they have true Faith whatsoever they profess nor can they truly worship God whatever they perform Oh then let the poor Quakers and their abused Principles have better entertainment with thee Reader And do not conclude because they direct People to the Light of Christ in them that therefore it is a meer natural and not a divine Light Or because they assert Christ to be the Word of God and that he is revealed in the Heart according to the Scripture and that the Scripture in that sense is not so therefore they deny the divine Authority of the Scriptures and that the Truth thereof is not in any sense the Word of the Lord Or because they don't receive the Schoolmens Trinity therefore they deny the Scripture Trinity of Father Word and Spirit Or that therefore they deny the Divinity of the Word Or that they deny Christ without them who was the Son of Man in a suffering state on Earth and is now the Son of Man in Glory because they exalt and press the knowledge of Christ within as the Truth and Excellency of the Hope of the Glory that hereafter shall be revealed according to Col. 1. 26 27 28 29. and 2 Cor. 13. 5. as being the Riches of the Glory of the Mysteries revealed and to be revealed in these latter days Neither say that they hope to be saved by their own works since they maintain that no Works that are not wrought by the Spirit of God are acceptable to him Or that they hold even such Works meritorious because they say good Works are necessary and rewardable Or that they deny the use of Means because they reject Ungospel ones or that they deny Baptism and the Supper because they say they experience their Accomplishments Neither say that they honour no Man because they forbear Titles and Ceremonies in which true honour consists not Or that they are against Government because they cannot conform to it in Matters relating to Religion and Conscience in which Christ only is Lord and King Since thou seest Reader That they believe the Light to be divine and the Scriptures to be of divine Authority That they own the Scripture Trinity or holy Three of Father Word and Spirit to be truly and properly one that Christ is God and that Christ is Man that he came in the Flesh died rose again ascended and sits on God's right hand the only Sacrifice and Mediator for Man's happiness That truly Gospel Means and Ordinances are requisite and to be reverently practised That good Works are necessary and rewardable That all Men are to be honoured in the Lord according to their Degrees and that Government in Church and State is God's Ordinance and both requisite and very beneficial Now Reader that which remains is to recommend thee to this divine Principle They make the Root and Spring of all true sense of God and Religion in Man even the Light within which comes from Christ and is Christ the eternal Word and brings all that follow the Convictions and Leadings of it to Christ and to know him in themselves the hope of their Eternal Glory Who as he is of Abraham after the Flesh so is he God the true Light over all blessed forever that inlightens all in order to Life and Blessedness Unto whose holy and blessed Light thou Reader art recommended Love it and walk in it and thou shalt have Fellowship with God and with his Saints and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son shall cleanse thee from all Sin 1 Jo. 1. 5 6 7. which is most earnestly desired on thy Behalf FINIS Books Printed for Tho. Northcott in George-yard in Lombard-street 1693. TRuth Triumphant through the Spiritual Warfare Christian Labours and Writings of that able and faithful Servant of Jesus Christ Robert Barclay price bound 13s The Truth Exalted in the Writings of that eminent and faithful Servant of Christ John Burnyeat price bound 2s 6d The Presbyterian and Independent visible Churches in New England and elsewhere brought to the Test and examined according to the Doctrin of the Holy Scriptures in their Doctrin Ministry Worship Constitution Government Sacraments and Sabbath day By G. Keith Price bound 1s 6d The Divine Light of Christ in Man and his Mediation truly confessed by the People called Quakers By G. VVhitehead Price 2d The Fundamental Truths of Christianity by G. Keith price bound 8d His Way to the City of God described Elizabeth Bathurst's Truth 's Vindication price bound 8d The Spirit of the Martyrs Revived pricâ— bound 4s