no sooner is true Faith begotten in a Soul but it falls to working which is both the Nature and in some respect the end of it Nor do we say that our very best Works proceeding from the true Faith it self can merit no nor Faith joyned with them All that Man is capable of believing or performing can never merit everlasting Blessedness because there can be no proportion as there must be in case of Merit between the best Works that can be performed in the Life of Man and an Eternal Felicity Wherefore all that Man can do even with the Assistance of the Holy Spirit can never be properly said to merit but that right Faith and good Works which will follow it may and do obtain the blessed Immortality which it pleaseth Almighty God to give and priviledge the Sons of Men with who perform that necessary Condition is a Gospel and necessary Truth And this the Quakers groundedly and therefore boldly affirm So that they deny all Merit from the best of Works especially by such as the Papists are wont to conceive Meritorious But as they on the one hand do deny the meritoriousness of Works so neither can they joyn with that lazy Faith which works not Let not good Works make Men Papists because they make Men Christians I am sure believing and not working and imagining a Salvation from Wrath where there is no Salvation from Sin which is the cause of it is no whit less unscriptural and abundantly more pernicious to the Soul Blessed is he that hears Christ's Words and does them The doer is only accepted for though Death be the Wages of Sin yet the Gift of God is Eternal Life to such Rom. 6. 23. so that as they do not hold that their good Works merit neither believe they that their good Works justifie For though none are justified that are not in measure sanctified yet they are not justified because they are sanctified but for his sake that sanctifies them Isa 26. 12. and works all their good Works in them and for them to wit Christ Jesus who is made unto them as to the Saints of old Wisdom Righteosness Sanctification and Redemption that he that glorieth let him glory in the Lord 1 Cor. 1. 30 31. Pervers 14. The Quakers deny the two great Ordinances of the Gospel Baptism and the Supper Princ. Whatever is truly and properly a Gospel Ordinance they desire to own and practise But they observe no such Language in the Scriptures as in the Objection They do confess the Practice of John's Baptism and the Supper is to be found there but that is no Institution or sufficient Reason of Continuation That they were then proper they believe it being a time of great Infancy and when the Mysteries of Truth lay yet couched and foulded up in Figures and Shadows as is acknowledged by Protestants but it is their Belief that no Figures or Signs are perpetual or of Institution under the Gospel Administration when Christ who is the Substance is come though their use might have been indulged to young Converts in Primitive Times It were to overthrow the whole Gospel Dispensation and to make the coming of Christ of none effect to render Signs of the nature of the Gospel If it be said But they were used after the coming of Christ and his Ascension too They answer So were many Jewish Ceremonies not easily abolished If any say But Christ commanded that one of them should be done till he come They say That he that said so told his Disciples also That he would come to them again That some should not taste of Death till they saw him come in his Kingdom And he that was then with them should be in them And that he would drink no more of the Fruit of the Vine till he should drink it new with them in the Kingdom of God Joh. 14. 1 2 3. Mat. 16. 28. Joh. 14. 17. Mat. 26. 29. Mark 14. 25. Which is the new Wine that was to be put into the new Bottles Luk. 5. 37. and is the Wine of the Kingdom as he expresseth it in the same place Which Kingdom is within as may be read Luk. 17. 20. He was the heavenly Bread that they had not yet known nor his Flesh and Blood as they were to know them as may be seen John 6. 53 to 63. So that though Christ was come to end all Signs yet till he was known to be the Substance to the Soul as the great Bread of Life from Heaven Signs had their Service to shew forth and keep in hand and remembrance especially to the People of that day whose Religion was attended with a multitude of the like Types Shadows and Signs of the one good Thing and Substance of all Hence it is That the Quakers cannot be said to deny them that is too hard a word But they truly witnessing that the very thing that Water Bread and Wine do signifie is come to them they leave them off as fulfilled and henceforth have but one Lord one Faith one Baptism one Bread and but one Cup of Blessings which is the new Wine of the Kingdom Mark 14. 25. Pervers 15. They acknowledge no Resurrection of the Dead nor Rewards to come Princ. In this also they are greatly abused They deny not but believe the Resurrection according to Scripture the one from Sin the other from Death and the Grave but are cautious in expressing the manner of the Resurrection intended in the Charge because 't is left a Secret in Scripture Are People angry with them for not believing or asserting what is hidden and which is more curious than necessary to be known and which the Objectors themselves cannot be positive in Thou Fool is to the curious Inquirer as says the Apostle 1 Cor. 15. 36 53 54. which makes the Quakers contented with that Body which God shall please to give them being assured that their Corruption shall put on Incorruption and their Mortality Immortality in such manner as pleaseth him And in the mean time they think it their Duty as well as Wisdom to acquiesce in his holy Will It is enough they believe a Resurrection and that of a glorious and incorruptible Body without further Niceties for to that was the ancient hope Now as to Eternal Rewards they not only believe them but above all People have the greatest reason so to do for otherwise who is so miserable Do they inherit the Reproach and Suffering of all that have separated from time to time that is are the Out-cries that have been against the Protestants by the Papists and those of the Church of England against Puritans Brownists and other Separatists fallen upon them and shall they hold Principles inconsistent with an Eternal Recompence of Rewards By no means It is their Faith their Hope and what they press as an Incouragement to Faithfulness and the contrary therefore both an unjust and foolish Suggestion of their Adversaries Pervers 16. The Quakers deny all Civil Honour
present evil World as Jo. 3. 20 21. Tit. 2. 11 12. yet it no ways follows that Men must obey and learn so to do whether they will or not God tenders Saving Light or Grace to all Gen. 6. 3. Ezek. 18. 21 22 23 24. Mic. 6. 8. 1 Tim. 2. 4. 2 Pet. 3. 9. he strives and pleads with all but if they will not hearken to his Spirit Grace or Light he is clear of their Blood His Light is saving that lighteth them but it saveth them not if they rebel against it Job 17. 16. 21. 17. 24. 13. In short tho Men are lighted or visited with a saving Light or Grace yet the Quakers never concluded nor is it rightly concludable from their Testimony that such Men must necessarily and absolutely be saved whether they obey or rebel Pervers 4. By the Quakers Light or Spirit they may be moved to Murder Adultery Treason Theft or any such like Wickedness because they say that such as are have the Light within them Princ. This never was their Doctrine nor is it consequent of it though they hold all have Light they never said all obeyed it or that evil Men were led by it much less could the Light be chargable with the Sins of those that refused to be led by it for herein they know the Spirit of God and the Motions of it from the Spirit of this World and its Fruits That the Spirit of God condemns all Ungodliness and moves and inclines to purity mercy righteousness which are of God as Jo. 16. 7 8 13. ch 3. 20 21. Gal. 5. 16 26. They deny and abominate that ranting Spirit that would charge the Spirit of God with their unholy Liberty God's Spirit makes free from Sin and not to sin Neither do they distinguish as such loose People wickedly do between the Act and the Evil of it Wherefore they say that as the Tree is known and denominated from the Fruit so Spirits by their Motions and Inclinations And the Spirit of God never did incline to evil and for that cause they renounce that construction of such Ranters That evil is no evil when they pretend to be led to it by Gods Spirit for that never was nor can be the way and method of his Spirit which is pure and holy for ever And Man's Sin and Destruction are of himself but his Help is in God alone through Christ Pervers 5. The Quakers must be all infallible and perfect if they have such an infallible Light Princ. This is also a great Abuse of their true meaning They say the Principle is pure perfect unerrable in it self or else it were unfit to lead Men to Heaven but they never did assert themselves such meerly because it was in them by no means But that all who are led by it are so far perfect and so far infallibly in the right way and no jot further Who can lay down a more Independent Doctrin upon Self and a more depending one upon the Grace or Gift of God Let them not be Mistaken nor suffer for such misapprehensions nor be made to hold what they don't to disrepute them with sober People or support the mistaken Charges of their Enemies Yet to shew that a State of Perfection is attainable they urge among others these Scriptures Gen. 17. 1. Deut. 18. 13. 2 Sam. 23. 33. Job 1. 1 8. ch 2. 3. and 8. 20. Psal 18. 32. and 119. 1. Prov. 2. 21. Mar. 5. 48. Luke 6. 40. 1 Cor. 2. 6. 2 Cor. 13. 9 11. Eph. 4. 13. 1 Thess 3. 10. 1 Tim. 3. 17. Jam. 1. 4. 1 Pet. 5. 10. Heb. 6. 1. 1 J. 4. 13. Pervers 6. The Quakers deny the Scriptures for they deny them to be the Word of God Princ. They own the Scriptures as they own themselves viz. A Declaration of those things most truly believed given forth in all Ages by the Inspiration of the Holy Spirit consequently that they are profitable for Reading for Exhortation for Reproof in Righteousness that the Man of God may be perfectly furnished They are the Form of Sound Words They profess to believe them read them and say it is the Work they have to do in this World and the earnest Desire of their Souls to Almighty God that they may witness the fulfilling of them that so God's Will may be done in Earth as it is in Heaven But to call them the Word of God which they never called themselves but which they peculiarly denominate and call Christ by as Jo. 1. 4 14. Rev. 19. 13. In reverence to Christ and in no slight to them which they believe to be of divine Authority and embrace as the best of Books and allow to be as much the Word of God as a Book can be They do as in Duty and Reason bound attribute that Title to Christ only And yet as the Word of God signifies the Command of God referring to the thing commanded it may be called the Word of the Lord or Word of God as on particular occasions the Prophets had the Word of the Lord to Persons and Places that is to say that which was commanded them of the Lord. So Christ uses it Mar. 7. 13. when he tells the Pharisees That they had made the Word or Command of God of none effect by their Traditions But because People are so apt to think if they have the Scriptures they have all for that they are the Word of God and so look no farther therefore this people have felt themselves constrained by God's Spirit to point them to the great Word of Words Christ Jesus in whom is Life and that Life the Light of Men that they might feel something nearer to them than the Scriptures even the Word in the Heart Christ within them the Hope of their Glory Deut. 22. 12. Rom. 10. 6 7 8. who is the Author and Expounder of Holy Scripture and without whose Light Spirit or Grace they are not profitably read by those that read them Pervers 7. They deny them to be any Means whereby to resist Temptation Princ. This is a very uncharitable aspersion True it is that they deny the Scriptures meerly or of themselves to be sufficient to resist Temptation for then all that have them and read them would be preserved by them against Temptations But that they should deny them to be any Means or Instrument whereby to do it when they allow their own Writings may be such is either great Ignorance or Malice in their Adversaries God has made use of the Scriptures and doth and will make use of them for Reproof Comfort and Edification through the Spirit Thus they say they have felt them and so they are made to them through the good Spirit of God coming in upon their Spirits in the reading of them Pervers 8. The Quakers assert the Spirit of God to be the immediate Teacher and that there is no other Means now to be used Princ. They never spake such Language But herein they perceive the great
subtilty of Satan as in other things to darken the Appearance of Truth and prepossess Peoples Minds against it For since he cannot hinder the Exaltation of the Spirit above all visible Instruments and the Necessity of its Motions and Operations to be known in the Hearts of Men and the great suitableness of it to the Gospel Administration he would spoil all by overdoing For they never denied the use of Means but to this Day from the beginning they have been in the use of them But then they are such Means as are used in the Life and Power of God and not in and from Mans meer Wit Will or Imitation the thing they strike at For instance they cannot own that to be a Gospel Ministry that is without a Gospel Spirit or that such can be sent of God that are not taught of God or that they are fit to teach others what Regeneration and the Way to Heaven are that have never been born again themselves or that such can ever bring Souls to God that are themselves strangers like those in the Acts 19. 21. to the Baptism of Fire and the Holy Ghost This is only the Ministry and these the Ministers that the People called Quakers cannot own and receive and therefore cannot maintain For the Ministry and Ministers that are according to Scripture they both own and delight in Read Jo. 14. 16 17 26. ch 16. 13. Acts 1. 8. Gal. 1. 1 15 16. It is strange because they deny all false Means or means not used in the Leadings of God's Power and Spirit that therefore they must deny all means however rightly employed This is an Injustice in their Enemies Wherefore all are desired to take notice That Evangelical Means and Order they love and desire to keep for they diligently assemble themselves together to worship God where they both pray in the Spirit and prophesie one by one as any thing is revealed to them according to 1 Cor. 14. 15 29 30 31. Nor are they without Spiritual Songs making Melody in their Hearts to God their Redeemer by the same Holy Ghost as they are comforted and moved by it Eph. 5. 19. Pervers 9. The Quakers deny the Trinity Princ. Nothing less They believe in the Holy Three or Trinity of Father Word and Spirit Jo. 1. 1. ch 14. 9. Rom. 9. 5. 1 Jo. 5. 7. And that these three are truly and properly one Of one Nature as well as Will. But they are very tender of quitting Scripture Terms and Phrases for Schoolmen's 1 Cor. 1. 18 31. ch 2. 2 6. Col. 2. 8. as Persons and Substances c. are And they judge that a curious Enquiry into those High and Divine Relations tends not to Godliness and Peace which should be the Aim of true Christians and therefore they cannot gratify that Curiosity in themselves or others Speculative Truths being to be sparingly and tenderly declared and never to be made the Measures of Christianity or Christian Communion For besides that Christ Jesus hath taught them other things the sad Consequences in all Times of superfining upon Scripture Texts hath sufficiently forbid them Men are too apt to let their Heads out-run their Hearts and Notion Obedience and with Passion to support their Conceits Pervers 10. The Quakers deny Christ to be God Princ. Nothing can well be more untrue and unreasonable for their great and characteristick Principle being this That Christ enlightens the Souls of all Men that come into the World with a Saving Light which nothing but the Creator of Souls can do It does sufficiently shew They believe him to be God But they truly and expressly own him so according to Jo. 1. 1. and Rom. 9. 5. to be God over all blessed for ever Pervers 11. The Quakers deny the Human Nature of Christ Princ. They never taught or said or held so gross a thing if by Human Nature be understood the Manhood of Christ Jesus For as they believe him to be God over all blessed for ever so they believe him to be of the Seed of Abraham and David after the Flesh and therefore truly and properly Man like us in all things and once subject to all things for our sakes Sin only excepted See Is 7. 14. Matt. 1. 23. Luke 1. 31. Pervers 12. The Quakers deny Christ's Transactions at Jerusalem and the shedding his Blood to be beneficial to them for it is the Light within only they expect to be saved by Princ. This is untruly charged upon them They do say that the Appearance of the second Adam Jo. 1. 14. Heb. 10. 5. the Lord from Heaven the Quickning Spirit in that holy Body prepared of the Father for him was for the Salvation of the World that had fallen in the first Adam That whatever Christ then did both Living and Dying was of great Benesit to all that then believed and is still to all that now do and hereafter shall to the end believe in him as they receive and obey the manifestation of his Light in their Consciences which leads Men to believe and value and not to disown Christ as the common Sacrifice and Mediator For they do affirm That to come to that Light and turn their Minds and bring all their Deeds and Thoughts to that is the readiest nay the only right way to come to have true Faith in Christ as he appeared in the Flesh and to discern the Lord's Body aright and to receive any real Benefit by him as their only Sacrifice and Mediator And it is not another than that Blessed Word Light Power Wisdom and Eternal Righteousness who then appeared in that Holy Body by whom they have received or can receive any true spiritual Benefit Light is from him Forgiveness through him and Sanctification only by him So that their ascribing Salvation in this Age to him who now appears to their Souls as before expressed cannot render him no Saviour in that Age or invalidate the Benefit of his blessed Appearance then on Earth or Mediation now in Heaven Whose Doctrine pierced whose Life preached whose Miracles astonished whose Blood attoned and whose Death Resurrection and Ascension into Heaven confirmed that Blessed Manifestation to be no less than the Word God who is Life and Light manifested in the Flesh 1 Tim. 3. 16. for the Salvation of the World and therefore properly and truly the Son of Man on Earth and now the Son of Man in Glory Pervers 13. The Quakers set up Works and Meriting by Works like the Papists whereby Justification by Faith in Christ is laid aside Princ. By no means They say with the Apostle James ch 2. That true Faith in Christ cannot be without Works no more than a Body can live without a Spirit and where there is Life there is Motion and where there is no Divine Life there is no Faith Nay by the Comparison if they were separable Works being compared to the Spirit would have the better The very believing is an Act of the Mind and therefore a godly Work and