prevented of having any of my Friends present though some few dropped in occasionally at which time we had several Charges and Questions concerning several things which were too tedious to Rehearse here but I wish they had been Recorded then to prevent many misâ—epresentations that were spread abroad by that Party And though there was no real Debate he oft told me he came not to Dispute with me yet soon after they boasted of a Victory which if they find after a diligent perusal impartial consideration of these Sheets let them improve and post it if they will Yet after some Discourse be impudently charged me as a False Teacher and challenged me to a Publick Dispute before the Multitude which I scorned with a sharp retorsion and that for these reasons 1. Their Principles were unknown because never unanimously agreed upon nor fairly Published to the World therefore not to be Disputed within words 2. We should Dispute before an ignorant and illeterate Multitude who should be most incompetent Judges 3. Because he would run into Learning and I must follow and so what should be Delivered should not tend to their Edification but fall to the ground and be Lost But afterwards I gave him a Challenge to oppose my Catechism or Principles in Writing and he should have an Answer to every Particular though Keith gave not the least intimation of this Paper left behind him though he dropt an Expression which I understood not then that he would Write no more then he had done this I took for Declining my Challenge Now I Leave it to all to Determine whose Challenges or Overture was fairest for 1. What either of us should Deliver should be on Record and we could not fly from it 2 If the Hearing a verbal Debate in angry words should Edifie much more a written Debate frequently read over 3. Maâ—y might be Judges of a written Debate who â—ad no opportunity of hearing it Disputed â—ublickly And as I have prefixed his Paper verbatim so I expect the same priviledge for mine if any Answer is Published I have greater and better work then Controversie to Follow but in the Strength of the Lord shall not only Defend my Principles still by Writing but if called thereunto shall reaâ—ily Seal them with my Blood And so I Leave thee Reader to the Counsel and Direction of God whose Unworthy Servant I am in the Lord Jesus Amen At Rehoboth in Pocamok Maryland This 26 July 1692. Francis Makemie Reader I also offer thee these Following Questions which I expect and desire Resolution and Satisfaction from such as are concerned and that Plainly Positively Sincerely and Faithfully according to the Judgment of all of that Party without Obscurity Equivocation or Subtile and Unfair Reservation and so I bid theâ— Farewel and Remains as above F. M. Several mixed Quaeries to be resolved by Quakers in this juncture for the Justification of themselves and satisfaction of all July 26th 1692. Question I. WHat is the Reason Quakers are so far Metamorphosed or Changed both in Judgment and Practice at this Day from what they once were at their first rise in Europe II. What is the Reason Quakers that look upon themselves as the only pure Church in the World has never yet adventured to Publish a form of sound words according to the Apostles language containing a confession of their faith and principles unanimously agreed upon among themselves as all other churches in the world have done III Seeing they own themselves divinely inspired from an immediate call and Apostolick mission why they have not adventured to publish interpretations of Scripture seeing they condemn so far disapprove all other Commentaries as far from the mind of God and full of gross Errors and mistakes IV Wherefore did they write and Bark so much against all witnessing to truth conviction of falshood in Judicatures by an oath as sinful and unlawful under the Gospel and now in Pensilvania and Mary-Land seem only to quarrel the manner and way of Swearing on the Book according to the English Form and are willing to Swear now in Judicatures with lifted up hands which many look upon to be more solemn than the former V. Whether it be the same individual numerical Body for substance which falleth that shall rise again at the Resurrection notwithstanding of Changes in Respect of Quality VI. If there be a sufficient and saving light in all men to instruct direct and to teach them what necessity is there for multiplying so many Teachers both of Men and Women among Quakers VII Why Quakers are so hot and Zealous for K. James a Popish and Abdicated Prince and was never so for any other Protestant King tho' King WILLIAM and Queen MARY has been kinder than any other by giving a Liberty established by Law VIII Whether the same individual Josus that was cloathed with Hesh suffered and died at Jerusalem is the same that rose again and is ascended to Glory and the same they hold substantially in all men and women IX How Christ the Spirit of God saving Grace and Light can be in those who have not the least knowledg of him as Mediator and Intercessour between God and sinners X Whether the omission of duty as prayer or any other duty for a certain time a week a month or a year is excusable in Quakers before an all-seeing and Just God from this pretence that they had no impulse or motion of the Spirit thereunto XI Why they use not means for edifying reforming those of their families by calling them together reading Scripture daily to them praying with for them as other Christians in all Churches and Ages have done and is approved in the Word of God XII Wherefore Quakers have not adventured to publish their doctirnes publickâ— taught which they say is immediate from the spirit of God as most other Churches have done frequently XIII Seeing they decry the civil salutations of the Kingdom people among whom they live what warrant can they produce for their singular ugly bad natured way of salutation their Males Females taking one another by the hands or wrists continuing a â—onsiderable space wringing them hard looking stedfastly in each others faces without one word speaking XIV Whether it is Christ compleatly as modiator you believe in and is in all men XV Whether two men differing in a Fundamental truth absolutely necessary to salvation can be guided by the same infallible Spirit XVI Whether Quakers do direct their Prayers to God in themselves or to God in Heaven XVII Where God is really personally substantially is he not in all fulness of Grace and Goodness XVIII What Worship or Divine Service do the heathen nations perform unto the Living and True God XIX Whether the inflicting of corporal punishments on children servants other offenders and hiring of men to take a Vessel by force from Privateers be not an using of the carnal Weapon XX Whether the receiving of
Holy-Ghost who are One GOD is Great and Glorious and ought to be Reverently conceived expressed in Scripture words which the Holy-Ghost hath Taught but not in words of Mans Wisdom Page Ninth Tenth In mentioning the Offices of Christ being Three Viz. Prophet Priest and King he should have mentioned how that not only without us he did perform these Offices and now is both Priest and King in Heaven whither he is ascended but that also within us Viz. All true Believers in him he is both Prophet and King and Priest also who offereth up their Prayers unto God and by whom they have access unto God beside that Christ is not only King Priest and Prophet over his Church but Bishop Shepherd Physitian Captain and Husband c. as the Scripture declareth And that he saith Christ revealeth the Will of God to us by His Word and Spirit in Page 10. He delivereth this matter very barely and obscurely for he does not tell people where they may find the Spirit of God he doth not instruct them That the Spirit of God is in them to teach them and open the Scriptures unto them And tho' he delivereth diverse things in his Catechism concerning the New Covenant yet he neglecteth a Principal matter belonging to the same Viz. That God hath Promised in his New Covenant to teach His People Himself and to dwell in them and walk in them and that they shall be his Temple c. Page 10 11. Although he mention the death and Sacrifice of Christ for sinners yet he doth not well that he doth not hold forth that Christ died for all and tasted Death for every man as the Scripture expresly declareth which is a most great and weighty testimony of Gods universal Love for sinners Page Eleventh Tho' he say The Holy Spirit worketh faith in us and Uniteth us to Christ yet he doth this very barely and obscurely yea in contradiction to his and his Brethrens Doctrine who say all inward Divine Revelation and Inspiration is ceased since the Apostles Days if so then the Holy Spirit hath ceased to work or operate on mens hearts for his operation is not in the dark or in a blind and insensible manner but in Light and Demonstration sensibly and clearly revealing his power in them opening the eyes of their understanding and thence it is that the Spirit of God is called in Scripture the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation and that Spirit worketh in true Beleivers Page Eleventh That he calleth Regeneration a New and Spiritual Birth by the Spirit of God is true but this Contradicteth His and His Brethrens Doctrine who say they have no infallible Spirit and all Divine Revelation is ceased and that there is no immediate communion with God or his Spirit which is False Doctrine and contrary to Scripture and the Saints Experience who know that as they are Born of Gods Spirit so they are sensibly Fed and Nourished by the Spirit of God and Suck the Breasts of their Heavenly Mother Jerusalem from above and feel themselves embraced by the same as sensibly as the Child feeleth the Mothers Embraces and see and behold Her Beauty hear her voice and Language and all this is Spiritually and Inwardly known and witnessed in all True Believers Again that he saith True Believers are United to Christ is true and very comfortable but is in contradiction to His and his Brethrens Doctrine who say it is Blasphemy to affirm that Christ is really in the Saints for if he be not really in them by himself they cannot be United to him for true Union requireth the near presence of the things United one to another as the Body cannot be United to the Soul if the Soul be not really in the Body and all true Believers are United to Christ in Heaven by their being United to the measure of him in themselves as the Members of the Body are United to the Head by being United to a measure of the same Life and Spirit in them that is in the Head Page Eleven Twelve He defineth Effectual Calling to be A powerful call of God whereby he calls and draws sinners out of Sin into Grace which as it is true so is in contradiction to him and his Brethren who say All inward calling and speaking of God is ceased and there is no other Voice or Word of God but the Scriptures and yet he confesseth all have not that Effectual Calling who have the Scriptures Again he concradicteth by saying that God calleth and draweth sinners out of sin unto Grace and yet in Page Twelve saith All are still sinners And in Page Thirty saith The Godly cannot keep Gods commands perfectly And His Brethrens Doctrine is that the Saints sin in every Though Word and Deed. Page Fifteen He saith Justification and Adoption are acts of God without us and make only a Relative change but no real change and are compleated at once And in Page Sixteen He saith Justification Adoption and Sanctification once had can never be wanted all which are False and hurtful Assertions and contrary to Scripture for Gods Justifying Believers is his speaking peace to them in their Consciences and Absolving them from Condemnation as a Judge absolveth or cleareth an Accused Person and surely that is within and if not within he should have told where without if he mean in Heaven thiâ— can be no assurance nor comfort to any unless it be revealed and done also within in mens hearts Again that God maketh any men to be his Children without a Reâ—change is most absurd is not Faith and Regeneration a real change and none are made the children of God but by Faith and Regeneration and again to say that Sanctification and Justification cannot be lost is moâ—… absurd and serveth to flatter people iâ— great sins yea the greatest as if they were still Saints for according to this False Doctrine David remained a Saint and perfectly Justified when he committed Murder and Adultery and at this rate the worst of men may be Saints while such but the Scripture saith No Murderer nor Unrighteous Person can Inherit the Kingdom of God but they must be washed c. But if they still remain Saints after Murder they may inherit Gods Kingdom for all the Saints are in measure in Gods Kingdom Page Twenty-four Concerning the Sabbath he expresly Contradicteth the Scripture which expresly enjoyned the seventh Day to be kept and not indifferently one of seven Page Twenty-six He most grosly wrongeth and most falsely accuseth the People of God called in scorn Quakers saying that the Quakers and all Profane Persons are enemies to a Sabbath but it is no new nor strange thing that Gods People is numbred with Transgressors of the greatest sort seeing Christ our Lord and Head was so used by men high in an outward Profession and the people called Quakers own Christ to be the True Spiritual Sabbath or Rest of all True Believers the substance and thing signified by the
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
Jewish Sabbaths and New Moons and other Types and Figures of the Law yet they set apart the First day of the week from Servile Labour and spend it Religiously in Publick and Private Religious exercises as their Neighbours can witness among whom they live and give up noâ— only that Day but many other days anâ— times to the Worship of God and aâ—… careful to live to God all the days oâ— their life Page Twenty-eight What he delivereth in his Catechism concerning Ministers is most Lame and Defective He saith People 〈◊〉 to maintain their Miâ—isters that is a principal thing with him but he faileth iâ— these Three great Particulars 1. That he doth not inform people that none are true Ministers of Christ buâ— such as are really Holy and Godly Men and have a Living Experience of the work and dealings of Gods Spirit in their heart that so they may Preach their own Spiritual Experiences unto people as Daviâ— did who said Come and I will tell you whâ— God hath done for my soul and as these did who said What we have heard and seen anâ— handled of the word of Life we declare 〈◊〉 you 2. That he doth not inform People concerning the true Call of the true Miâ—…sters of God and of Christ who aâ— called and furnished by the Spirit of Chaist in the work of their Ministry to Preach and Pray but seeing he and his Brethren called Presbyterian Ministers deny this manner of immediate calling by the Spirit of God they run to the Church and Pope of Rome by that Dirty Channel and Conduit to have their Call conveyed to them for they know that their Presbyterian Church nor indeed any other called a Church hath been a Visible Church ever since the Apostles Days but only the Church of Rome hath called her self the Visible Church and they confess and say with us that the True Church of God hath been that Woman who hath fled to the Wilderness and hath not been always visible but hid and that for about Twelve Hundred Years and so had no visible Officers or Ministers to call their successors And therefore they derive their Call and Authority by the Church and Pope of Rome as James Durham in his Commentary on the Revelations and many others whose Call and Ordination Dr. Owen so called hath refuted and these called Independent Ministers whereof John Owen was one have another poor shift and evasion saying they are called by the Church but if the Church was not visible for so many ages the Church could not call them the Ministers are before the Church and therefore cannot be called by the Church originally but all these poor shifts are in opposition to the inward Call and work and motion of Gods Spirit in the hearts of the Faithful which if they knew they would never run to such broken Cysterns to Draw Water 3. That he doth not inform people that all true Ministers of Christ as they have freely received so they freely give without desiring or bargaining for any setled maintenance nor exacting it by force as Presbyterian Ministers commonly do Page Thirty Nine Forty He doth very barely and obscurely and very defectively and in some things falsly deliver his Doctrine concerning Baptism and the Lords-Supâ—per he doth not distinguish Christs Baptism which is with the Holy Ghost and Fire from Johns Baptism that is with Water he barely alledgeth that Children of Believing Parrents Viz. Infants are to be Baptized he giveth no account by what Authority oâ— Call they Baptise for they have no other Call but by the Pope of Rome and they have learned that practice of Sprinking or pouring Water on a Childs Forehead and calling it Baptism from the Church of Rome which they call the Where of Babylon and 〈◊〉 concerning the Supper of the Lord he is also very defective and he and his Brethren usuâ— and assume an Authority to themselve to Consecrate and Administer the Supper because of their Ordination originally deriv'â— by the Pope but all good Christians maâ— and ought to Eat and Drink remembring Christs Death and may and do receive him by Faith together with their outward eating with Prayer and Thanksgiving and so fulfil Christs Institution without any Prelate Presbyter or Priest of the Popes making for all true Christians are a Kingdom of Priests unto God and have the Word and Spirit of Prayer that only doth and can Sanctify their Eating and Drinking c. If any Question the Truth of this Copy they may satisfie themselves by perusing the Original at Rehoboth in Pocamok Mary-Land A Short Answer to George Keith's Lybel Against a CATECHISM Published by F. M. And left in the Hands of Mr. George Layfield I Am not a little surprised to receive from the hands of Mr George Layfield a paper containing so many mistakes false unjust and invidous charges against a Catechism Published by F M. and the rather because of his high pretences to an immideate mision and vain boasting of an extraordinary Apostolick call iusulting over all others from unusual high and enthusiastick attainments compleat perfection and unheard of experiences which the most serious and Godly are strangers unto and what they have any experince of most modest in discoursing of them and selfe denyed under their greatest enjoyments I shall wave two things First it's being delivered without a subscription whereby it is to be looked upon as a Libel not â—o be Answered nor Regarded Secondly that complementing and flattering preamble they have ever Condemned in others and withal am glad 〈◊〉 hear they have any Charity for any of a different Opinion from themselves which coming to heaâ— their Teachers will procure at any time First He begins with a general Charge of many Errors false and unsound things comprehended in the Catâ—chism And next He asserts the Author to be guilty of many Omissions and this from one pretending to Learning who has diligently read and considered it as he says is so insignificant and idle Imputation which all modest and ingenuous men must never disown and that there are Omissions wilful and designed Omissions I shall never deny for after it was first Composed I did Compendize and Abreviate it ofter than once to suit it to the Capacities of such for whom it was prepared even young ones to whom Quakers have had little regard hitherto as to their Instruction in Religious Fundamentals Neither have I seen any Writings of Quakers even those pretending to give accounts of their Principles but justly may be charged with greater Omissions then any yet discovered in the Catechism Published by F. M. as the Doctrine of the Trinity of Persons in the God-head the Ten Commandments and the Lords Prayer the Pattern of all Prayer and George Fox his Received Catechism industriously spread by Quakers not only savours of Humane Learning and words of mans wisdom but guilty of many weighty Omissions and fills up a great part with stuff wherein there is no Religion far less can they
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—
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
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
AN ANSWER TO George Keithâ—… Libel Against A CATECHISM Published by Francis Makeâ—… To which is Added by way of â—…script A Brief Narrative of a Late Difference among the Quakers begun at Philadelphia BOSTON Priâ—…ed by Benjamin Harris 〈…〉 of the BIBLE over-agâ—… 〈…〉 MDCXCIIII Imprimatur Increase Mather March 31st 1694. Christian Reader SVch is not only the Impiety Irreligion and Contradiction to clear Scripture Light which the Doctrine of the Quakers is stuffed withal but the Unreasonableness Nonsense and Self-contradiction which 〈◊〉 â—arries with it that it may well seem a wonder to men of Vnderstanding that it hath not long since been Exploded and that the Abetters of it have not been a shame and ridicule to themselves and one to anotherâ— and that it had not died alone if no attempts had been made against it by so many worthy Champions of the Truth and indeed there can be no other account given of it but that God in his awful and righteous Judgment hath left men to Believe a Lie because they received â—ot the Truth in the Love of it 〈◊〉 so a Deceived Heart hath turned them aside that they cannot say is there not a Lie in our Right hand and were it not that there are so many Labouring of such ignorance as to think that holding our peace were a yielding up the cause it were pity at this time of day to take so much notice of their Scriblings as to waste Paper in replying upon them But since there is a kind of a necessity for it lest the sacred Oracles should see◠〈◊〉 some not sufficiently defended without it it may not be thought unadvisable to comply with the second part of the Wisemans Antithesis Prov. 26.5 and though no Truth is to bâ— foregone yet when the Foundations arâ— stricken at and those Articles on which our hopes for Eternal Life are built bâ—…Vndermined it is time to arm in Defence of them The following Discourses then will bâ— found both seasonable and profitable 〈◊〉 which the venome and sophistry of â—rand Apostate and one of the moâ—… 〈◊〉 caried Supporters of that totteriâ—… Fabrick of Enthusiasm are detected and the perverse spirit which God hath sown among them in suffering them to lay open each others follies is discovered by the Reverend and Judicious Author We do therefore Commend him and these Labours of his to the Blessing of God who alone can recover the fallen settle the wavering and confirm such as stand and make the faithful Endeavours of this his Servant become instrumental to these Desired Ends. Increase Mather Iames Allen Samuel Willard Iohn Baily Cotton Mather An Epistle to the Reader Reader I Cannot but admire the Instability of many who are so easily and soon drawn to Embrace and Espouse that perswasion and way of those called Quakers and that because of an outward and seeming Sanctity that is to be found and to be discerned among many of them consisting only in Negatives making up a Pharisaical Righteousness made of those things that are not peculiar to Quakers only of not Swearing Drinking and Ranting but if they would but cautiously Look before they Leap they would find the principles of many of the Reformed Churches as much against all those and many more evils as theirs can be and thousands of Professors exceed them in a shining Holiness and Christian Universal Piety and though others walk disorderly and not answerable to the Gospel of our Lord Jesus is not to be imputed to our Profession Principles or manner of Worshipping God otherwise all Religion would soon be rejected and Quakerism it self would be soon deserted The most of their Religion is composed of Negatives for many of them are as void of the positive part of Religion as worshipping God in the publick private and secret Duties of Religion as many moral Heathens who if they had but Learned their usual tone and grown sullen and unmannerly might pass for Quakers all over the world If we take a view of their principles in believing every one of them severally by themselves and the Books of particular Writers they are not only repugnant to truth contrary to Gods Word and the publick received Doctrine of the Churches of Christ for many Centurys past but also dangerous and damnable They cannot be looked upon as a Church having not unanimously-and fairly or faithfully published all their opinions and principles which is the cause many Espouse they know not what they have not in any of their Writings declared their Church Order Constitution Government nor Discipline They have no orderly way of Admission for Teaching Officers but as many men women as say the Spirit of the Lord is upon them must be received though they can give no convincing proof but to those already Deluded to their way from which they want the pure and powerful Preaching of the Gospel and all Administration of Sacraments which they slightly ridicule rather than own they hold or maintain a common Christ in all even in the Reprobate in whom the Spirit of God says Christ is not a sufficient saving Light and grace in all even the children of Darkness denying Original and Damnable Guilt in any Infants even in their natural State Railing against Singing of Psalms denying the Resurrection of the same Body many of them scoff at the Imputed Righteousness of Christ for our Justification and Salvation maintaining an absolute perfection for many years in this Life by a Popish Possbility of keeping all Gods Commands of which neither they nor Papist could ever in any age produce one known Instance Reader I offer here some Sheets to thy impartial perusal which was occasioned by a Paper writ by George Keith and delivered by his own hands into the hands of Mr. George Layfield at Rehoboth in Pocamok from whence as many as read may soon conclude this debate was first set on foot by themselves and by promoting it gave occasion for Laying open both their Principles and their practises more in these corners of the World then they have yet been In which Answer I have given Reply to all the Calumnies and Charges in that Paper against my Catechism which I am obliged to Justifie and Defend And the only Apology why I have not Enlarged in the proof of some points and particularly of our Doctrine concerning the Sabbath though I have sufficiently vindicated my Charge because they are fully handled by others And concerning this Subject I Recommend Keith and all of them to Caudree and Palmer Mr. John Brown sometime of Holland and Mr. Matthew Crawford and whoever answers them shall answer me If any should Censure me for my tediousness in answering I had finished it a year ago but by reason of my tedious Affliction not Transcribed until now I had a visit from Keith at my house in Virginia which though promised and intimated by his Harbinger to be on Fryday was not performed until Saturday in the Afternoon by the uncertainty of their coming was
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
in hand with Arminians and Pelagians do hold which only leaves man in a possibility of Salvation if the sinner will but may be the most of Christs Redeemed ones go to Hell notwithstanding while Christ John 17. Speaks of his Redeemed and Ransomed ones as those Select Ones whom the Father had given him out of the World for whom that is the World He would not so much as Pray far less dye and Keith himself owns in his Malicious Uncharitable Book Against New-England Ministers that there are those for whom it may be said Christ Dyed not And so this must be the Gentlemans Position Christ dyed for all and dyed not for all which is a plain conradiction and farewel Keith's universal Redemption which if it had not evanished in a contradiction was uncomfortable and ineffectual to the greatest number of Redeemed ones I Remember in the beginning Keith says I speak very little of the Spirit of God at all which I have already shown in the most convincing and particular manner to be False by directing the Reader to the particular Pages and now I am to show he contradicteth himself by owning in several Questions and Answers my asserting The Spirits Operations in calling Effectually in Regeneration in Working Faith in us and Vniting us to Christ But while he is necessitated to own this He affirms it To be inconsistent with and contradictory to my 〈◊〉 and My Brethrens Doctrine which he endeavours to confirm by a far fetched and inconsequential reason because we deny all extraordinary immediate and Objective Revelation such as the Apostles had and tho' we disown this Doctrine of theirs how it shall Follow we renounce all the special Gracious and saving operations of the Spirit of God in and by the use of means and Ordinances of Gods own appointment and sometimes immediately where External means of our Salvation are Wanting in the Regeneration Sanctification of Souls in making them meet for himself in Glory I leave both to Natural and Gracious Souls to Determine But every Christian Reader may discover in this person a most Arrogant Spirit to pretend to know my Principles and Opinions better than I know them my self and with impudent falshood to affirm and declare I have Published an Account of Principles I do not believe and that they are repugnant to my Brethrens Doctrine seeing our publick Confessions of Faith and Catechisms known to the whole Christian World sayes the same things and particularly in the Description of Effectual Calling which is further confirmed in all our common places and Bodies of Divinity and in all the practical Pieces treating of these Subjects as Mr. Allen of Conversion Mr. Burgess and Mr. Cole of Regeneration and many others and I am satisfied how oft I have delivered in publick my Opinion in these matters I must needs declare it is an evil Principle and unfair Undertaking for any to take upon them to Publish Principles and contradict Principles of those he is an â—solute stranger unto and it is the true Character of a Deceiver to possess others with prejudices against â—ur Principles only by misrepresenting of them and â—astening Principles on us which we abhor And â—s to all inward Revelation or speaking of God to â—e Souls and Hearts of Believers I never read nor heard of any of our Divines absolutely deny or disown iâ— And I have upon all occasions publickly Taught and Do and shall in the Strength of Jesus Christ firmly believe and that unto the end the Aluminating Sanctifying Mortifying Quickning Operations of the Holy Spirit of God in the hearts of every sound Believer in restoring the Corrupted Soul to the Forfeited Image of God so it is evident how inclinable Keith is to Calumniate and misrepresent us upon all occasions How great must the Ignorance of Quakers needs be who cannot or their perversness be that will not distinguish between Enthusiastick Immediate Extraordinary and Objective Revelations from the Spirits Gracious and Spritual Illumination of his mind impressing those Truths made known and Revealed in an ordinary way by Means of Heavens Appointment giving them Efficacious Grace to see Embrace Close with and make Saving Application of them to their heartâ— and Grace to observe the same in their Lives which ordinary and extaordinary Operations they confound together as they do the Universal or General Presence of Christ with his special saving and gracious Presence holding him to be in all after the same manner And whereas he has assumed boldness to affirm we call it Blasphemy to say Christ is really in the Saints All the Answer this deserves is that it is Notoriously False and a groundless Calumny For all of us firmly believe That unless the Spirit of Christ be in us we are none of his and Christ is in us except we be Reprobate and he dwells in all Believers 〈◊〉 from Pauls words it is by Faith Eph. 3.17 as 〈◊〉 declared and that fully from that Text Colos 1.27 Christ in you the Hope of Glory And it is no contradiction to affirm and believe that God hath called Sinners out of Sin unto Grace yet at the same time to feel and assert that all have sin remaining in them for it is no hard matter to distinguish betwixt Sinners being under the Power Dominion and Slavery or Drudgery of Sin and a Sinners having some Relicks and Remainders of Sin and Corruption in them whereby even in Believers there is a constant and spiritual Warfare raised in the believing Soul whereas formerly the Strong Man kept the House the Apostle gives us this distinction Sin shall not have Dominion over you you are not under the Law but under Grace and the same Apostle even after his Conversion complains of his own sinful wretched Corruption and at the same time Triumphs in the Victory obtained for in the next breath Thanks be to God who has given us the victory and if Sin in some measure be not cotemporary with saving Grace or Conversion what must become of Quakers universal sufficient and saving Grace and all the multitudes of them I have ever seen must according to their own Opinion be void of Conversion Grace and Justification for Sin have been easily discernable in all neither did ever any of them produce one instance for their absolute perfection and yet none of us assert that the Saints Sincerity Thought Word and Deed as Keith falsely words it yet it strictly and spiritually taken all are attended with Infirmities I am quarrelled for asserting in my Catechism page 25. This Justification and Adoption are Acts of God without us and and work only a relative Change and that Justification Adoption and Sanctification once had cannot be Lost As to the first Justification is according to the Judgment of all Proâ—estant Divines a gracious Act of Gods Love in a Judicial Way upon the account of Christ's Imputed Righteousness acquitting and absolving the sinner from Guilt and consequently from Condemnation I hope Quakers will not jump in
can attest to a Worship which can be neith seen nor heard it passes my skill to Determine Lastly As many as know Quakers in Englâ—… Scotland and Ireland cannot be ignorant how â—…ther from Obedience to God or Man could 〈◊〉 perswaded to observe the First Day of the Weâ—… but would keep open their Shops and follow thâ— several Callings for which they were often draâ— to Prisons and their Goods carryed away thâ— was not done in a Corner but manifest know to all And tho' Keith blamed me for not chaâ—ging Mr. John Calume as an Enemy as well as they but had not the least reason for so doing for I haâ—… oft conversed with Calumists and Read the Writing of his Followers who stoutly defended the Moralâ— of a Sabbath or the Fourth Câ—mmand And whâ—… ever over zealous mistake that Eminent Man 〈◊〉 God was under when he Wrote his Institutiâ—… yet in his Exposition on Genosis about Eightâ—… Years after he Wrote his Institutions owns 〈◊〉 Morality of the Fourth Command and it could 〈◊〉 be ceremonial seeing the Institution of a perpeâ—… Sabbath was before all Ceremonies and that 〈◊〉 was Calums last Sentiments is not only Evidâ—… from that Commentary but also from the Principâ— and Practices of the Reformed Churches of Frâ—… and Geneva of which Callume was the First Râ—…mer Now all these things duely considered 〈◊〉 together I leave it to any to determine how 〈◊〉 they are wronged in being reckoned with or numbered among the Enemies to a Sabbath which has set their peevish Spirit in a flame against my Catechism and stirred up their Venom against me which I ever shall little regard In page 28 I am Charged with Deficiency concerning Ministers and that in three things and I am ready to own I have wilfully Omitted twice three things concerning Ministers Qualifications and Call and pray where is the crime seeing there are so full Treatises by others on that Subject already Published and all I intended in my Catechism for Young Ones was only to lay down the several Duties of Ministers and People and if I had been guilty of an Omission in that Enumeration he might have found fauâ—t but I must take notice of an invidious Parenthesis that Peoples Maintaining their Ministers is a main thing with me Let the Reader examine my Catechism and he shall not find ground for this malicious Reflection for it is expressed in as few words as any other Duty without in sisting thereon and this was the expression of an absolute Stranger to me and my practice in Relation to a Maintainance to which I am bold to assert I have been ever undenied as Keith or any of his Brethren And whatever others have done I dare affirm I never bargained with any people about a Maintainance and have oft refused mony when freely offered and never Enjoyed any Maintainance but what was most freely offered to me though I â—eny not to the Magistrate a power of Determining Maintainances when Necessity requires it and none so unwilling to pay it as perverse Quakers though I could wish it were voluntary Offerings yet this partial Author would insinuate as if Presbyterians only were Guilty exacting Maintainance by force whereas he cannot be ignorant that the Maintainance of Ministers in Scotland are not to be compared to what Prelates have whether Popish or Protestant neither for quantity nor manner of Exacting And it is observable that the Quakers have been brawling and barking unreasonably against all who receive Maintainance as Hirelings but the greatest Champions among them were never able to defend so bad a Cause as they have been tenacious in for a long time though now of late they seem to change their Tunes and own a Maintainance providing it be voluntary and not by Compulsion as Barclay has owned who has taken upon him to Publish Quakers Principles though he never produced any Commission for it and I am perswaded he will find it as hard a matter to procure their universal Consent and Approbation to all he has Wrote but a Ministers Maintainance among Quakers must be voluntary and free for they would never Exact it by force for two Reasons 1. Because they never had the Government solely in their Hands for in Pensilvania they are a mixed people neither would the Infancy of that Plantation bear it beside that their forme Railings would have Retorted upon themselves 2 Because of the multitude of their Teachers and the Weakness of many of them that dare not claim a Right to any such Maintainance as many silly women and ignorant Mechanicks And it must be for measure or quantity a necessary Competency or Aliment as Barclay calls it but must Quakers oâ—… be Judges of this Competency or should the Give or rather the Civil Magistrate to determine it according to the several Abilities of the People And consider what narrow and niggardly Souls these people have who would allow no more to the Ministers of the Gospel then common Charity obliges them to give to the most common beggar that goes from Door to Door even a necessary Competency and Aliment whereas Ministers should have such a Maintainance as they may not be necessitated to intangle and incumber themselves with secular Affairs and be diverted from their holy Office and Ministerial Calling whereunto they have been Called and to which they are to be Separated according to the Command of God concerning Paul and Barnabas and further they ought to have such an Honourable Allowance as they may not only Live answerable to their Station and be able to maintain Duties to Hospitality which Quakers Competency and necessary Aliment will never render them capable to perform And it were no hard matter to prove that many Quakers even Keith and Barclay themselves whose Birth Education Travels and Estates are known to many yet alive have had much more given then their necessary Aliment And I know not what Evasion can be found for K's Hundred Pound Per Annum setled on him by the Government in Pensilvania Exacted of a mixed People who neither hear him nor enjoy any benefit or advantage from his School-Keeping which is their only shift and Back-Door they would fly out at which will never Blind the eyes of the Rational for School-Keeping has a peculiar advantage attending it self without any Publick Tax by compulsion as they call all our Mentainances And I Dare be bold to say in behalf of Presbyterians whom he would chiefly seem to reproach that they are as little concerned about mentainances as any of the Reformed Churches and value them not when they come in competition with theirs And have not the Ministers of the Reformed Church of Scotland these Thirty years past have suffered Persecution even unto Death iâ— self for preaching the Gospel under so much want that they have been necessitated to Labour with their own hands and betake themselves for a time to Merchandising and yet never would dare to lay aside the Preaching of the Gospel And
thereby to deceive And when Quakers are pursued hotly about Miracles they Smilingly say John the Baptist wrought 〈◊〉 Miracles and yet his Mission was Extraordinary and immediate as K. Alledged at my House and oâ— improved it and Particularly against the Nâ— England Ministers and they suppose they have gained the Day but methinks K. as I told him and all others may justly be ashamed of Producing this all an instance for the Future for tho' John wrought no Miracles yet being Co-temporary with our Lord Jesus and his Apostles and they who wrought many Miracles confirmed this Mission that he was the Promised Elias but the Immediate Mission of Quakers never was confirmed either by their own of by the Miracles of others tho' some of them have presumed boldly on Miracles which Propheseing Miracles As the Eating Quaker in England Justly made the Monument of Gods Wrath and Monster of Mankind For daring to imitate Our Lord in that Miraculous Action of His Fasting Forty Daâ—… and Forty Nights in the Wilderness And Solomoâ— Ackles who Boastingly challenged Ministers to Fasâ— with him and Justly Punished for his Vnchristian anâ— hold Arrogance Another once in Barbadoes to king upon him to Prophecy the Death of a Child which in all humane Probability was beyond all expectation of Recovery but GOD to confound his Boldness and discover him to be a Deceiver was pleased to restore the Child who Lived in health for many Jews and the Quaking Prophet was necessitated shamefully to Publish his Recantation wherein he affirmed he had Belyed the Spirit of God And if so it is no Wonder they Belye their Neighbours but any man may see how they come off with their Lying Wonders and so shall come off in the End with their immediate Mission but it is at Length come to this that you must recieve their Verbal testimony or remain altogether dissatisfyed about their Extraordinary Call tho' some as Keith informed us at my house run that Self-Confounding and Universal Gulf of Miracles in Spirit a New invented Phrase of worse then mans Wisdome far from the Language of the Spirit of God whose Saving Operations are not Miracles at all to the Spirit of God and if Miracles they are Gods Properly and not Quakers but this with many more Phrases of heirs has no Foundation in the Scriptures And we desire to know how many of them ever Spake with Tongues who were not Taught them in the School or Learned them of others Farewel then immediate Mission if you take it not upon the Words of a Quaker And that Presbyterians and Independants and then only as he invidiously expresses it should run to the Church of Rome and Pope for to derive the mission â—…ll and ordinition from thence is the grossest caâ—…ny and most notorious Lye that could be batched â—ut of hell and must be of Satan the Father of Lyes â—ut if K had asserted this of such has hold no ordination but from the hands of a Bishop or Prelate he might have had some plea for his charge for Rome and all that Party sufficiently know there are none so opposite to nor so faithful and Zealous against them as Dissenting Protestants were no not Quakers themselves who would not have been so great at the English Court in the late Reign if they had therefore a Noted Person lately gained from Rome affirmed The Dissenting Protestants were the Bulwarks of the Protestant Interest in Europe And I must greatly suspect what K told me at my House as another Lye and Calumny that Mr. John Cotton of Hampton in New-England acknowledged in a Publick Dispute that He derived his Ordination from the Pope and the rather because he abused me upon his Return to Mr. Davis affirming the same thing of me that I owned cur Mission and Ordination from the Pope of Rome but I am confident his own Conscience could not but witness the contrary to his Face But it is to be Feared it was not the First time he had Learned to Baffle Conscience in more Weighty Matters For I not only Abhorred Disclaimed and Denyed it but Positively and Plainly Affirmed Our Mission was from Jesus Christ and Warranted from the Scriptures Hence I give caution to all not to be Credulous of K's words however so confidently affirmed but he were no fit Deciever if nor Possessed with a Spirit of Lyes and Calumnys But we can easily Justify ourselves from this Aspersion thrown invidiously upon us by Quakers and particularly by K. in all his Publick and Private Discourses and also in some of his Writings repeated over and over with an empty noise of Words for 〈◊〉 we should say with Calvin that he and others oâ— our Primitive Reformers were Evangilists extraordinarily Raised and Immediately Called of God in that great Exigence of the Church in calling the People of God out of Popish Darkness and Superstition in bringing them out of Babylon yet this will prove but a slender Argument for Quakers holding Extraordinary Calls and immediate Missions to be Gods ordinary and usual uninterrupted way to the end of the World because it might be allowed of in that juncture of the Necessity of the Church for though our Lord himself the King of his Church at the beginning of the Promulgation of the Gospel Called some in an Extraordinary Manner though at the same time they had an External Call from Christ as man yet as soon as the Christian Church began to Encrease he Commands them to use second Means for that Calling and Separation of others to the Holy Office of the Ministry in an Ordinary and Holy Separation to that Sacred Work as Paul and Barnabas was commanded to be Separated and there was Casting of Lots used in supplying the number of the Apostles and the Apostle Paul commands Timothy and Impowers him to Ordain Elders in every Church and not to neglect the Gift that was given him by Prophecy with the Laying on of the Hands of the Presbytery who are Commanded to Lay Hands suddenly on no man without sufficient proof of his Parts and Piety And further for their direction in this Scriptural and Orderly Separation and Ordination God has laid down all the Qualifications of Ministers of the Gospel which Quakers can never find in all their Teachers especially of the Feminine Sex As to our Reformers receiving their Ordination Mission and Call from Rome and conveying it to us which would seem to be the first great puzling and confounding Argument I shall answer it in these following particulars 1. I would inquire of all Quakers whether God in that great defection and universal Corruption of the Church under Romish Idolatry had then a Church in the World though in the Wilderness to deny all Churches whether Visible or Invisible really belonging to God Jesus Christ were to overthrow many Promises of God to his Church of Building her upon an immoveable Rock and that the Gates of Hell should not prevail against her and it is inconsistent to