supply his wants may spend his time in Catalogues of Heresies and the Stale Tracts of uncertain Persons to enable him to club Quotations and clap them upon the back of Charges taken from our profest Adversaries from whom in part he receives his Bread yet I doubt not but to bring in such a train of Evidence in these Questions wherein we are said to be Heretical as will sufficiently evidence to the Impartial Reader that the Charge as as well as the Man is false and that our belief in these Articles is Scriptural The Method I purpose to take herein is this I shall set down in a methodical order the several Testimonies under each distinct Head according to the priority of time in which they were written so that upon a short view the Reader may have recourse to each Some Testimonies to Christ Jesus as the Son of God and come in the Flesh SECT II. Page 2 3 4. WE Profess and Confess Books Titles Faith in God the Father and in Jesus A Confession and Profession of Faith in God c. 1651. by Rich. Farnsworth Christ his Eternal Son the True God and in the Holy Spirit And we do acknowledge the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the Words of God And there is none other Gods but One and this is God the Father which we own Isa 44. 8. 1 Cor. 8. 4. John 10. 30 31 Mark 12. 29 30 31 32 33 34. 1 Cor. 8. 5 6. Rom. 4. 25. Isaiah 45. 6. Eph. 4. 4 5 30. John 4. 24. Phil. 1. 1 29. and Profess Faith in and in Jesus Christ his Eternal Son who said I and my Father are One upon which saying the Jews took up Stones to Stone him yet notwithstanding the same Christ that the Jews hated we love belive in and own who was delivered up to be Crucified for our Offences and was raised again for our Justification who is the True God And him we Own and Profess Faith in and in the Holy Spirit God together equal with the Father and the Son One God over all Blessed for ever And unto us and all True Christians the Saints in Christ Jesus It is given in the Behalf of Christ not only to Believe on him but also to Suffer for his Name sake P. 10 11. VII In the next place truly to know this Lord Jesus The One Good Way of God Printed 1661. Written by Rich Hodden Christ come in the Flesh as the New and Living Way to the Father the Immanuel God with us making the Attonement by the Blood of his Cross to have all things subject unto him his Servants in him and he in them which is the great Mystery of Godliness his from Ages and Generations until the fulness of time and then Manifested in the Flesh Justified in the Spirit Believed on in the World and Received up into Glory which none of the Wise Men of the World ever knew or can know by all their Learned Skill of Earthly Wisdom nor any Man that Lives after the Flesh or satisfieth himself with Hearing Reading Telling or Talking of him or concerning what he or his Apostles did said or suffered as those that vainly take his Name into their Mouths on most occasions of their Invented Ways but know him not neither by his Divine Nature nor Name nor HOW GOD AND MAN BECAME ONE CHRIST JESUS how that which may be known of God is manifest in Man how he is The Wonderful Counsellor the Mighty God the Prince of Peace The Author and Finisher of our Faith How he saves his People from their Sins is the Reconciler without Imputation of Sin How he is Formed in his Servants and Cleanseth them by his Blood from all Sin and Unrighteousness how they take up the Cross and follow him or what the Cross is how the Body becomes Dead because of Sin and the Spirit Alive for Righteousness sake How they are Members of his Body of his Flesh and of his Bones how he is their Loader and Captain of Salvation made perfect through Sufferings How they are Baptized into his Death and Saved by his Life How the Union is perfected in all the Parts and Members of his Body the Church What the Church is or how his Body or what it is to eat his Flesh and drink his Blood without which as himself said we have no Life in us How every Knee shall bow to him of things in Heaven in Earth and under the Earth and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the Glory of God the Father How he is that Blessed and Only Potentate King of Kings and Lord of Lords the Head of all Thrones and Dominions and every Name that is named P. 2 13 14. This is answered in part already by what is said to A Vindication of the Principles and Practices of the People called Quakers 1665 By Geo. Bishop the former Question which in effect is this That that which enlightens which shews a Man his Heart his Reins and tryeth them which reproves which makes manifest is Christ the Light which Christ is the same that was born of the Virgin Mary which was made Flesh which sitteth at the right Hand of God which was Crucified Dead rose again from the Dead and ascended far above the Heavens that he might fill all things who when he was in the days of his Flesh with his Disciples said It is expedient for you that I go away for John 16. 7. 8 9 10 11. if I go not away the Comforter will not come unto you but if I depart I will send him unto you and when he is come he will reprove the World of Sin of Righteousness and of Judgment of Sin because they believe not in me of Righteousness because I go to my Father and of Judgment because the Prince of the World is Judged So that which reproves the World of Sin of Righteousness and of Judgment the Spirit of Truth which proceedeth from the Father which testifies of Christ which guideth into all Truth is the thing that now is to be look'd to Christ in you the Hope of Glory the Mystery hid from Ages and Generations but now made manifest to his Saints the Riches of the Glory of the Mystery Now the Lord is that Spirit And when the Spirit of Truth is come he will John 16. 13. 2 Cor. 3. 17. guide you into all Truth Christ and the Light which is within are not Two but One yet are Ibil. p. 15. they not so One as that where Christ is there is the Body that Suffered at Jerusalem that was Flesh that proceeded from the Virgin Mary that died was buried rose again and ascended for in that he sitteth at the right Hand of God But where the Light is there is Christ which was in the Beginning with God by whom all things were made that was made In whom was Life and the Life was the Light of Men John 1. 2 3 4.
Primitive Christianity CONTINUED IN THE Faith and Practice Of the PEOPLE called QUAKERS BEING IN ANSVVER To a Pamphlet Entituled Primitive Heresie c. And which may serve as an Appendix to a Book Entituled An Antidote against the Venom of the Snake in the Grass by George Whitehead Joseph Wyeth Prov. 24. 8. He that Deviseth to do Evil shall be called a Mischievous Person Psal 140. 3. They have sharpened their Tongues like a Serpent Adders Poison is under their Lips Selah London Printed and Sold by T. Sowle next Door to the Meeting-House in White-Hart-Court in Gracieus-street and at the Bible in Leaden-hall-street near the Market 1698. THE PREFACE Friendly Reader THE Ensuing Leaves which contain our Vindication against the Black Attempts of a Necessitous and Malicious Priest in a Piece of his Emtituled Primitive Heresie c. are Commended to thy Perusal wherein thou wilt see the Consonancy and Constancy of our Principles to the Holy Scriptures Asserted in Opposition to the Charges of Heresie and New Representation by him Falsly but not first laid For it hath often been the Practice of our Adversaries when we have brought forth our True Testimonies to say our Representation was New But as this Man seems to Love Controversie in Opposition to Peace and Quiet because he may find his Bread or Base Ends supplied by the Contest and to make use of False Glosses to Colour the Pretended Occasion So I Esteem it a Duty to wipe off the Dirt he hath flung at us herein for which though I have none of his mean Profits yet I can assure thee Reader I have Satisfaction in so doing The Method I have herein taken is this I have from the Year 55. or there about brought in a Succession divers Testimonies against the Particular Charges which do at once shew that what we now Profess is no other than what we did The Quotations all speak the Minds of the Persons whose Names they bear I say this because those Quotations of our Friends which this Man brings does not nor can after the Barbarity he hath used toward them of which I have herein given divers Instances I need Preface no further than to Acquaint thee that as the Author Stiles himself from the Snake in the Grass I also have frequently Stiled him so not being willing to Abridge him a Title of his own choosing which fitly Expresses the Workings of that Deceit which was first began by the great Enemy of Man the Devil from whose Temptations and all Deceit howsoever working The Spirit of Truth which comes by Jesus Christ can only be thy Safe Guide To this thou art in all Sincerity Commended THE CONTENTS I. THE Incarnation of Christ that is the Vnion of the Divine and Humane Natures in his being made Flesh Asserted and Believed p. 12 II. The Truth and Reality of his Death and Sufferings Asserted and Believed p. 19 III. The Resurrection and Future Judgment Believed and Testified to p. 25 IV. Baptism and the Supper spoken to p. 32. Marriage owned and Fornication Preached down and denied p. 39 V. Magistracy and Government owned p. 46 No Stiffness in not taking off Hats Civility acknowledged to all p. 48 The Conclusion p. 49 Misrepresentation fixed p. 51 Our Ancient Belief no Modern Representation p. 53 Expostulation with W. Penn Considered ibid. Primitive Christianity CONTINUED c. SECT I. LOVE to Truth not Controversie hath drawn this from me for from a well-grounded Satisfaction Knowledge and Belief according to my measure in the Manifested Principles of True Religion I could with more ease have been pleased to Injoy that quiet which results from the Practice of them and which it hath Pleased the Government to allow to Persons quictly tho' differently Opining To the Disturbance of the Quiet thus allowed there hath of late appeared an Expulsed Clergy-man boasting himself to be some great one and indeed in all the Qualities of Venom Slander and Abuse he is so his first for what I know Libel against us The Snake in the Grass shews this and this he makes the Epoch of his Scandalous Practice in his succeeding Scurrilous Pamphlets which his Sculking Leisure and Malice Furnishes him with Opportunity to multiply for from being an Expulsed Priest he makes it a Trade for Bread and in part to repair those Losses which he charges the present Establishment to have brought upon him What he says of himself is That he Fights for his Soul the Joy and Vnion of Christendom the Honour of Religion and Pri. Her p. 20. the Glory of God But upon better Information this appears to be False and that he seeks nothing less than those good things he speaks of but to varnish ill Attempts with Specious Titles and the Confusion of a Church and Nation with a Prayer Dis Shewing who they are that are now qualified c. p. 33. for a Removal of High Places is no new thing But to come more parcularly to his Out-rage against us He is pleased to Charge us with Follies Crimes Errors and Heresies of very many sorts and herein hath gone so far that I think there are few that know and impartially consider us but know that it is False though Attested Verbo sacerdotis in the disguise of a Snake c. It is true it is no new thing for particular Persons or Communities of Men to be Charged with Blackest Crimes Greatest Errors Schisms and Heresies An Instance of this kind and which comes to our present purpose is seen in the Apology of the Church of England for her separation from Rome in the Fifth Article there is numbred up some of the Crimes which were Charged upon her the Article it self follows Clamant hodie passim nos omnes esse haereticos disccssisse à side novis persuasionibus atque impiis dogmatis Ecclesiae causam dissipavisse nos veteres jam Doctrina Politia Ecclesiae Anglicanae c. p. 3. Ar. 5. olim Damnatas Haereses ab inferis redivivas restituere novas sectas inauditos furores disseminare jam etiam in contrarias factiones sententias distractos esse nec ullo pacto potuisse unquam inter nos ipsos convenire esse homines gigantum more Deo ipse bellum facere prorsus sine omninuminis cura cultuque vivere nos omnia rectefacta despicere non virtutis disciplina uti ulla non legibus non moribus non jus non aequum non rectum colere ad omnia flagitia laxare fraenoe populum ad omni genus licentiae atque libidinis provocare nos id agere querere ut monarchiae regnorum status evertantur omnia ad popularem temeritatem imperitae multitudinis dominationem ridigantur nos ab Ecclesiae Catholicae tumultuose defecisse nefario Schismate orbem terrarum concussisse pacem communem atque otium Ecclesiae publicum conturbasse utque olim Dathan Abiram Arone Mose Num. 16. ita
P. 11 12. It is objected against us who are called Quakers That Concerning the Sum or Substance c. Isaac Pennington we deny Christ and look not to be Saved by him as he was manifested without us but look only to be Saved by a Christ in us To which this is in my Heart to answer to such as singly desire satisfaction therein We do indeed expect to be Saved yea and not only so but do already in our several measures witness Salvation by the Revelation and Operation of the Life of Christ within us yet not without relation to what he did without us For all that he did in that Body of Flesh was of the Father and had its Place and Service in the Will and according to the Counsel of the Father But the Knowledge and Belief of that since the days of the Apostles hath been very much held in the Unrighteousness and in the Separation from the Inward Work of the Power and Life of Christ in the Heart which as so held cannot Save any But whoever feels the Light and Life of Christ revealed in him and comes into Union with God there-through he feels the Work of Regeneration of Sanctification of Justification of Life and Redemption and so comes to reap Benefit inwardly and to partake of the Blessed Fruits of all that Christ did outwardly Yea he that is thus one with Christ in the Spirit cannot exclude himself nor is excluded by God from the Advantage of any thing nor every thing that Christ did in that Body of Flesh P. 243. The Doctrines and Principles of the People called Immediate Revelation c. By Geo. Keith Quakers as well as the People do indeed more acknowledge the Man Christ Jesus than any of them all Inasmuch as we do believe and acknowledge that a measure of the same Life and Spirit of the Man Christ Jesus which dwelt in him in its Fullness and had its Center in him which came in the Flesh and was born of the Virgin Mary and is now glorified in Heaven is communicated unto us and extends it self into our Hearts and Souls and whole Inward Man so that the Man Jesus who Simeon imbraced with his Arms according to the Flesh is according to the Spirit our Life and Glory by whom we receive Light Grace and Truth and through whom we have access unto God P. 358. Yet notwithstanding for your Satisfaction we do now Journal Geo. Fox plainly and sincerely declare That we Own and Believe in God the Only Wise Omnipotent and Everlasting God who is the Creator of all things both in Heaven and in the Earth and the Preserver of all that he hath made who is God over all Blessed for ever To whom be all Honour and Glory Dominion Praise and Thanksgiving both now and for evermore And we do Own and Believe in Jesus Christ his beloved and only begotten Son in whom he is well pleased who was Conceived by the Holy Ghost and Born of the Virgin Mary in whom we have Redemption through his Blood even the Forgiveness of Sins Who is the express Image of the Invisible God the First-born of every Creature by whom were all things created that are in Heaven and that are in Earth Visible and Invisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers all things were Created by him And we do Own and Believe that He was made a Sacrifice for Sin who knew no Sin neither was Guile found in his Mouth And that he was Crucified for us in the Flesh without the Gates of Jerusalem and that he was Buried and Rose again the Third day by the Power of his Father for our Justification And we do Believe that he ascended up into Heaven and now sitteth at the right Hand of God This Jesus who was the Foundation of the Holy Prophets and Apostles is our Foundation And we do Believe that there is no other Foundation to be laid but that which is laid even Christ Jesus who we Believe tasted Death for every Man and shed his Blood for all Men and is the Propitiation for our Sins and not for ours only but also for the Sins of the whole World P. 149. We do Believe in One Only Holy God Almighty who A Serious Apology c. 1671. By G. Whitehead and W. Penn. is an Eternal Spirit the Creator of all things And in One Lord Jesus Christ his Only Son and express Image of his Substance who took upon him Flesh and was in the World and in Life Doctrine Miracles Death Resurrection Ascention and Mediation perfectly did and does continue to do the Will of God to whose Holy Life Power Mediation and Blood we only ascribe our Sanctification Justification Redemption and Perfect Salvation And we Believe in One Holy Spirit that proceeds and breaths from the Father and the Son as the Life and Vertue of both the Father and the Son a measure of which is given to all to profit with and he that has one has all for those Three are One who is the Alpha and Omega the First and the Last God over all Blessed for ever Amen To these foregoing Citations I could add very many more both of older and later date but as I would not needlesly quote Instances so I hope the Reader will not account me hitherto Superfluous in rescuing our selves from Calumny and Abuse in a Charge which appears so plainly to be False for a plain as is the Sun when on its Meridian so plain is it that we sincerely own and heartily believe all that the Holy Scriptures testifie concerning the Incarnation of Christ and the Union of both Natures that is as God and Man SECT III. HIS next Calumny in the order of his Charge is That we deny the Truth and Reality of his Death and Sufferings In proof of our Belief whereof I am already in good part prevented by the foregoing Testimonies in almost all of which there is some mention of his Crucifixion as well as of his Birth But however I am content to answer exabundanti not wanting Instances of our Belief herein from whence I can allow Measure pressed down and running over Some Testimonies to the Truth and Reality of Christ's Death and Suffering Page 3. Before Abraham was I am who was in the Beginning The Path of the Just Cleared 1655. By G. Whitehead which was the Word by which all things were made which Word became Flesh and dwelt among John 8. 58. John 1. the Disciples and Suffered at Jerusalem and witnessed a good Confession before Pontius Pilate whom Pilate delivered up to the Jews and the Chief Priests and Elders whom they mocked and despitefully used and put to Death concerning the Flesh but is raised up by the Spirit and ascended into Glory which Glory he prayed for even that Glory John 17. John 5. 22. John 10. 30. whereby he was at first by his Father glorified in wherein he is glorified in his Saints and
and Manifestation is to Destroy the Works of the Devil which is Sin Unbelief and all Unrighteousness whatsoever that he alone may Rule and Reign in Man and Woman who brings Salvation to their House This his Second Charge of our Denial of the Truth and Reality of Christ's Death and Sufferings is I think by the foregoing Testimonies sufficiently Cleared it appearing from them that his Charge of our having left the Body of Christ as a Forsaken Vail and Garment Prim. Here. c. P. 7. to Rot in the Grave And Careless of what is become of it as a thing now of no Virtue or Consequence with Vs is False if a Succession of Testimonies of our Belief herein produced for about Forty Years can Prove it yet if these are Judged too few I have many more in Store not that I can at all doubt that these are not enough to satisfie Honest Enquirers at a distance and also to Invite them to a nearer View of us herein and in the whole System of one Faith it being for the sake of such that we find our selves Concerned to Oppose the Truth of our Profession to the Falsity of our Enemies Charges For with respect to our selves we do Enjoy great Peace and Quiet though thus Evilly spoken of as knowing it was by our Saviour so foretold it should be who also himself was said to have a Devil to be a Seducer a Samaritan and a Winebiber his Apostles and Servants of Old found such-like Treatment Stephen being Stoned as a Contemner of God of his Law of Moses and of the Temple And the Apostle Paul was accounted a Heretick a Deceiver a Mad-man a Blasphemer a Seditious Person and a Contemner of the Law of his Fathers What better may we then expect from the same Spirit working in that Snake which hides himself in Grass or other Subterfuge SECT IV. I Come now to his third Charge That we deny the Resurrection and Future Judgment which upon enquiry will be found as False as the foregoing Charges and it cannot well be otherwise for it is next to impossible to be Orthodox in them and Heretical in this their dependance on each other is such And the Apostle's Argument is very strong If we had hope only in this Life we were of all Men most Miserable For true Religion cannot incline a Man to believe and be obedient to such Principles as here expose him to utmost Dangers and hereafter to no Joys Christianity is a Complex of more rational Truths than so to Clash and Jarr And however Foolish the Man accounts us we are more Learned in the School of Christ than to deny or be ignorant of so inestimable an Advantage as is the Resurrection by Christ to Eternal Glory and of that Future Judgment by which the States of Men must be determined I now subjoyn some Testimonies hereof P. 4 5 of his Works Therefore Wo be unto all Epicures who The Lying Spirit c. 1658. William Smith put the Judgment of the Lord afar off and sit down at ease in the Flesh and make their Belly their God minding Earthly things devouring God's Creation to satisfie a Lustful Appetite and so Treasuring up Wrath against the Day of Wrath and Revelation of the Righteous Judgment of God who will render to every Man according to his Deeds when the Workers of Iniquity will not be known by him but must all depart from him into Everlasting Fire there to abide under the Eternal Judgment P. 332. And he that dieth in his Sins not believing in the Humphry Smith's Works about 1660. Light which makes an end of Sin cannot come where Christ is and so the Tree falling there it lieth and as Death leaveth Judgment findeth so shall the Reward according to the Deeds be and then shall every Man stand or fall to his own Master the Servants of the Devil to their Master and the Servants of God to their Master and there is no more Masters but them two and no Man can serve them both Again concerning Christ We believe that he is one with the Edward Burroughs his Works P. 440. Father and was with him before the World was and what the Father worketh it is by the Son for he is the Arm of God's Salvation and the very Power and Wisdom of the Creator and was is and is to come without Beginning or End And we believe That all the Prophets gave Testimony to him and that he was made Manifest in Judea and Jerusalem and did the Work of the Father and was Prosecuted of the Jews and was Crucified by his Enemies and that he was Buried and rose again according to the Scriptures And we believe he is now ascended on High and exalted at the right Hand of the Father for evermore and that he is glorified with the same Glory that he had before the World was and that even the same that came down from Heaven is ascended up to Heaven and the same that descended is he that ascended And we believe even that he that was Dead is Alive and lives for evermore and that he cometh and shall come again to Judge the whole World with Righteousness and all People with Equity and shall give every Man according to his Deeds at the Day of Judgment when all shall rise to Condemnation or Justification he that hath done good shall receive Life and he that hath done Evil Everlasting Condemnation P. 197. of his Works And thus in the Blindness of their Uncircumcised God's Virtue c. 1670. By Tho. Taylor Hearts they heap up Wrath against the Day of Wrath and Revelation of God's Just Judgments upon them Where is he that comes from the Dead to tell us what is in another World Let 's Eat and Drink and take our Fill of Pleasures for to morrow we Dye and are not say they P. 9. And how God hath anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the A Testimony c. 1677. By George Fox Holy Ghost and with Power who went about doing good and Healing all that were Oppressed of the Devil for God was with him and we are Witnesses of all things which he did both in the Land of the Jews and in Jerusalem whom they slew and hanged on a Tree him God raised up the third day and shewed him openly and we did eat and drink with him after he arose from the Dead and he commanded us Acts 10. 41. to preach unto the People and to testifie that it is he that is ordained of God a Judge of Quick and Dead And to this do we testifie which are the People of God in Scorn called Quakers P. 159. of his Works Marvel not at this for the Hour is A Catechism 1673. By Robert Barclay coming in which all that are in the Graves shall hear his Voice and shall come forth they that have done good to the Resurrection of Life and they that have done evil to the Resurrection John 3. 28 29. of