when they enter upon their way first they professe to love and serve God truly and above all to live justly and uprightly with men c. and yet they profest not faith in Jesus Christ and as Josephus reports they worshipped the Sun But especially and above others the Popish Monks Friars and Hermites have excelled in these outward observances some of them professing poverty have given away all they had lived by begging some go bare-foot and are badly clad some live in the wildernesse in caves and hutts from the society of men casting off worldly imployments and tentations and giving up themselves only to their devotion prayer watching and contemplation the like do others in cloysters for their abstinence from creature comforts their continency and their extraordinary fastings and exceeding poor diet many have been famous some have macerated their bodies and killed themselves therewith what cruel whippings of their bodies for bringing the flesh into subjection have they used some have put spurs betwixt their skin and their garments and have lien upon sharp chips glorious visions and raptures also some have pretended to and immediate communion with God and with Angels for sufferings they have endured much the Jesuites boast that of their society and order alone in a few years three hundred have suffered Martyrdome some that might have escaped death have voluntarily offered themselves thereto as sometimes the Circumcelliones amongst the Donatists volumnes have beeen written of these things and no wonder they place righteousnesse in these things and seek justification thereby Now how far do all these excel the Quakers in external shews of mortification in voluntary humility and neglecting of the body for apparrel the Quakers go as neat and trim as most Yeomen in the Country though they came hither first in very mean and poor attire most of them for diet and lodging they have had as good entertainment for their sufferings they are not comparable with those before named for worldly profits it 's observed their followers do as little contemne the same as most others Now by all that hath been said it may appear there is but little reason for any to be induced to think well of the Quakers way because of their pretences to mortification and holinesse And thus for the ninth Section SECT X. The Quakers doctrine tendeth not to destroy sinne although they raile against sinne and how they destroy the true doctrine of Sanctification I finde by experience that one great temptation that induceth weak and ungrounded people to retain some good opinion of the Quakers is because they speak against sin vehemently condemning pride covetousnesse drunkennesse c. can these men be so bad say they and such enemies of Christ when they write and speak so many good things and cry out so much against sin These people who thus argue are little acquainted with the subtilties of Satan who can transform himself into an Angel of light and with the craftiness of seducers who can pretend themselves Ministers of righteousness 2 Cor. 11.13 14 15. that they may the rather deceive If Satan and his instruments should appear ever in their colours as enemies of Christ and holinesse who would be deceived by them I shall therefore in the next place for the sake of such shew how little these mens doctrine conduces to the destruction of sin and how they subvert the true doctrine of Sanctification This will appear in the ensuing particulars 1. They deny the efficient cause of a principle of Sanctification to wit the Spirit of grace and regeneration 2 Thes 2.13 Rom. 15.16 Tit. 3.5 which is given to the people of God alone and not to all men in the world 1 John 4.13 1 Thes 4.8 Rom. 8.9 John 14.17 Jude 19. and with the Papists and Pelagians those enemies of special grace and advancers of the power and ability in man they make a common light or principle put into all men in the world sufficient to conversion and sanctification if men heed the same This is clear from all their writings See Nailer Glory from the North p. 2 3. where he bids people mind the light in their consciences and it will lead them to perfect day foolishly pretending this to be that the Apostle 1 Pet. 1.19 bade them take heed unto this saith he will shew you all your sins and bring you out of them bring you to repentance and lead you to justification peace c. and he scoffs at those that pray for further light or grace saying this being minded and heeded is sufficient c. See Trial of faith p. 6 7. where they affirm that light in the conscience that all men have will lead men to repentance and newnesse of life and if heeded will crucifie their lusts and bring them out of the pathes of death into the way of life c. If this be so what necessity is there then of faith in Christs blood for Justification and life what need of a work of regeneration and the sending the Spirit of Christ into our hearts for our Sanctification it was before shewed all men have not the Spirit of Christ in them but these men neither regard the blood of Christ for Justification nor the Spirit of Christ for Sanctification as is evident from their words before cited But now because we are fallen upon their great and principal doctrine the sufficiency of the light in the conscience to lead men to Justification Sanctification and Salvation for the summe of all they hold forth may be reduced to this Look to the light within you I shall a little discusse that point what the light that all men have in their consciences is and whether it being heeded is alone available to justification Sanctification and Salvation I shall speak to this great question clearly and fully in these three particulars First There is a light which God hath enlightned every man in the world withal even the light of understanding and reason wherby man is distinguished from the beasts irrational creatures and this light may be called the light of Jesus Christ because coming from him as Creator and thus may the light of the Sun be called the light of Christ for he made it and the life of beasts be called the life of Christ for he gave it to them but what is this to that sanctified saving light and life communicated from Jesus Christ to his people as their Head and Redeemer in their regeneration to fit them for enjoyment of God and communion with him in glory it is of this common light of understanding which Christ as Creator gives to all men that that Scripture John 1.9 speaks of for in v. 10. mention is made of the creation the world was made by him and the scope of the Evangelist in that place is to prove Christ to be God which the Hereticks of those times denied and what fitter argument to prove it then his creating the world and giving life to the creatures
his last part in the world it 's likely he will use his utmost subtilty in deceiving Our great care therefore should be to preserve our selves from the errours of the wicked and to take heed of the leaven of such seducers how many cautions hath the Scripture given to us herein when Christ had foretold of those seducers Mat. 24. he bids Take heed that no man deceive you and believe them not this being the end of his forewarning us that we might be forearmed against them Heresies are reckoned amongst the fruits of the flesh Gal. 5.20 and are therefore sooner drunk in by people then the precious truths of the Gospel for we cannot receive these without the special help of Gods Spirit to let them in to our hearts how soon did the Arian heresie over-spread the world only one Athanasius visibly withstood it All the world wondered after the Beast and worshipped the same Rev. 13.3 4. Popery soon over-ran the West and North parts of the world and Mahumetanisme the East and South even there where those famous Asian Churches sometimes were seated are now the impure Temples of Mahomet no gangrene sooner over-spreads the natural body then errours and heresies do the Ecclesiastick body 2 Tim. 2.17 What care then should Christians have lest they be infected with the same Adde hereunto these are no lesse deadly to the souls of people then gangrenes or plagues are to their bodies such doctrines eat as doth a canker or gangrene saith the Apostle heresies may prove as damnable to men as moral wickednesse 2 Pet. 2.1 lesser errours indeed men may hold and yet be saved whilest they build upon the right foundation Though they build hay or stubble thereupon they may be saved yet so as by fire 1 Cor. 3 13. their spirits may be scorched their peace and comfort lost but to miscarry in the foundation is damnable who can reckon up the evil consequences of false doctrines they blind the mind and extinguish the true knowledge of God they harden the heart they undermine the comfort of Christians and destroy the Churches peace they mortally infect the inward vitals of Christianity and outwardly deprave the conversation corrupt principles wil at length produce corrupt practises they provoke the Lord to have a controversie with a people where they are tolerated Rev. 2.14 15 20. and will exclude men the Kingdome of heaven Gal. 5.20 21. Let not any Christian therefore look upon the errours and heresies of the times as things of small concernment but make it his great care to be preserved from the infection of them as men do in the time of pestilence to be preserved from the same I shall for the benefit of such humble and sincere Christians as fear the infection of the errours amongst us and are willing to use such preservations against them as the Scriptures afford collect from thence a few antidotes of special use for that end the blessing of the Lord accompanying them Directions showing how Christians may be preserved from the errours and hreresies of the times I. Labour to be rooted and grounded more in the truth if you would not be shaken with every wind of doctrine Col. 1.23 2 Pet. 2.14 it 's ungrounded and unstable Christians who commonly are seduced who never saw on what grounds they took up their Religion but take it on trust from others and then when they meet with such arguments against the truth as they cannot answer they yeild to errour whereas that may be neverthelesse a truth Mat. 22.29 though they cannot defend it therefore search the Scriptures more and labour to see how the principles of the Christian faith are established upon them and be not ashamed to learn your Catechismes wherein you have the fundamentals of Christianity extracted out of the Scriptures and plainly set down even in the Primitive times they had such first principles of the oracles of God Heb. 5.12 and forms of wholsom words 2 Tim. 1.13 for the better grounding of weak Christians and the greatest proficieoâ—â— did first begin there and therein are contained such truths as may exercise us in searching further into all our life time Luther that eminent servant of Christ professed himself a Scholar in the Catechisme Had the Quakers ever been well grounded in the first principles or rudiments of Religion how is it possible they should so soon have been turned from the truth and denyed the doctrine of Christs humanity of the holy Trinity of Justification of Sanctification of the resurrection of the dead c for my part I know but few of them if any that I can judge ever had any clear distinct knowledge of these things and could tell how they were confirmed by the Scriptures Let therefore weak Christians if they would not be seduced use this direction conscionably give diligence to be setled more in the truth and to get a clear knowledge of the great doctrines of the Gospel such things as be fundamental and necessary to be known unto Salvation are clearly set down in Scripture that weak Christians if they study them with humility prayer and diligence may attain the understanding of them as for more difficult points that they cannot yet comprehend let them not too much be troubled about them but waite till God reveale the same unto them and in the meantime it s far safer for them to adhere in such things to what is commonly received by the people of God and embraced by the Saints in all ages Cant. 1.8 to follow the footsteps of the flock of Christ then to be led away by pretenders to new-light the Scriptures having given so many Cautions to beware of seducers in the last times This first direction is given by the Apostle 2 Pet. 3.17 18. Beware lest ye also being led away with the errour of the wicked fall from your stedfastnesse but grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ II. Rest not in a notional embracing of the truth but receive it with love and obedience and labour to finde your hearts bettered therby and then you shall not so soon be induced to desert the truth and embrace errours when men receive not the truth with love they are soon brought to beleeve lies 2 Thes 2.10 but when men taste the sweetnesse of the wayes of God and are in love with Gospel truths for that goodnesse they find in them they will hold them fast such as have experimented the efficacy of the doctrines of faith changing and renuing their hearts quickning their spirits pacifying and comforting their consciences and quelling their corruptions will not be easily induced to exchange them for errours but it 's those that never found those benefits by the same that so soon part therewithal Let therefore the truths of Christ dwell in your hearts and season them as leaven labour to finde your hearts molded by the same and changed into the image of truth the more you grow in grace the more
you shall be established and kept from falling into the errour of the wicked Heb. 13.9 2 Pet. 3.17 18. And let your obedience to the faith appear to all Rom. 16.19 He that doth the will of God shall know more thereof John 7.17 and shall be established therein It is the great evil of many professors in this age they covet to fill their heads with knowledge and light letting their hearts be empty of holinesse and grace they are much in searching after new lights high notions and discoveries of smaller concernment but little in working upon their spirits the great and saving truths of Christ and in practising known Commandments it 's no wonder if such prove apostates they whose hearts are deceitful under truth may soon be deceived by errour Can we judge that these persons who deny the doctrines of Christs humanity of justification of the resurrection c. ever lived in the power of these truths received down the comfort of them and had their hearts formed into holinesse by them if they had they would have been hereby fortified against such seducers as tempt them to deny these doctrines for my own part I must professe whilst my faith is acting upon these great and precious truths of the Gospel and the comfort and sweetnesse of them is now flowing into my spirit I cannot mention these filthy and abominable errours but it is with highest detestation and abhorrence Let this therefore be the care of every Christian not to rest in a bare notional knowledge but to get a sanctifying experimental and practical knowledge of the things of God III. Be much in prayer that God would give you the spirit of Truth and thereby guide and keep you in the truth Joh. 16.13 In times of infection you use not to stir out of your houses till you pray God to keep you and your families daily had you as sensible apprehensions of the infections and mortall contagion of the heresies now raigning amongst us you would be as much in prayer to God for to keep you and yours daily from them but all the admonitions in the Scripture will hardly perswade people to believe their danger herein 2 Pet. 2 1. 1 Tim. 3.17 are not heresies damnable and extremely infectious and contagious as gangrenes and plagues our own experiences in these times abundantly testifies it if one person in a family be infected with heresie all the rest soon learne it of them even young ones commonly drink it in its more rarely seen that any good is so soon learnt by them and if one house be infected such as live neare thereto or converse with them they are also indangered What need therefore to be much in prayer to God to keep us in these infectious times wherein if it were possible the very elect should be deceived we had need to commend our selves to him who is able to keep us from falling Jude 24. IV. Expose not yourselves to the tentations of Seducers t is in vain to pray to God to keep you from the infection if you wilfully against the expresse Word of God run into the company of Deceivers you are bidden to avoid them Rom. 16.17 to turn away from such 2 Tim. 3.5 6. to beware of them Mat. 7.15 not to go after them Luke 21.8 if they come to you not receive them nor bid them God-speed 2 Joh. 10. What wilful disobedience to all these cleer commands is it when people will venture to go into the company and frequent the meetings of such seducers if Satan take such among his own how justly may God give them up to him as his own this is contrary to the example of the primitive Saints The Apostle John would not stay in the same hath where Cerinthus the heretick was nor would Policarp entertaine acquaintance with Marcion but termed him the first-born of the Devil Ireneus tells us the Apostles and their Disciples were so full of holy fear that they would not communicate with them in the world who had adulterated the Word If you say we may go and hear whether they broach such errors or no what hurt in this we must try all things and hold fast that which is good I answer may you not as well say you will go into the pest-house and see whether the persons there be infected with the plague before you will beware of them how many poor and weak persons are infected with their errours before they can discern what errours they hold And whereas the Apostle 1 Thes 5.21 bids prove all things hold that fast which is good He intends it of the prophecyings spoken of in the former verse all things spoken by the Prophets in the Church should be proved by the Scriptures whether they be so or no and not received only because they say they are of God as the Quakers receive what their teachers deliver to them without trying them by the Scriptures which they deny to be the rule of faith and life but this place makes nothing for the hearing of convicted hereticks and open enemies to the Church If thou beest therefore an humble and sincere Christian that makest conscience of the commands of the Lord then shun deceivers turn away from them go not to their meeting if they come to thee receive them not into thy house nor bid them God-speed but if thou wilt run upon tentations thou hast no promise of God to keep thee it was the devils deceit to perswade men God will protect them out of his way Mat. 4.6 V. Harbour not any sinful lusts in your hearts allow not of any secret sin it 's sin that makes God give up men to errour 2 Thes 2.10 11 12. because they have pleasure in unrighteousness and it 's sin that makes a man like a piece of wax ready to receive the impression of any errour they who are not sound in the fear of God may easily become unsound in the faith of God Hymeneus and Alexander 1 Tim. 1.19 20. first put away a good conscience then made shipwrack of the faith the women that were led captive by seducers 2 Tim. 3. were such as were laden with divers lusts if the heart be corrupt and love sinne it will strongly encline a man to entertaine corrupt principles that will give liberty unto sin how ready will a wicked heart be to close with the wicked errours of the Quakers that there is no resurrection of the flesh no heaven and hell but what is now in this world that after death nothing remains or with the Libertines opinion that sin is no real evil but to him that thinks it evil to him it is evil as Jos Salmon in his touches of good and evil speaks or with the Atheists opinion that there is no God c. look therefore to your hearts to keep them pure if you would not be given up to impure errors love no sin if you would leave no truth VI. Cleave more to the Ministry of the Word and the
sufficiently convince God would have us to heed his word more and try the spirits by that and the grosse and palpable blindnesse of such as want the direction of the Scriptures may shew God is not pleased to use this way of immediate revelations now nor indeed is it the work of God holy Spirit to discover things to us now immediately having already made a full discovery of them in the Scriptures but to open our eyes to see the wonderful things of his Law to apprehend those discoveries of God made in his word and to sanctifie our hearts so as they may close with those truths revealed and rellish them and to remove the natural enmity that is in as to the things of God 3. It hath pleased the Lord of his infinite goodnesse to give his holy Scriptures the Word of God for so now I will call them whether the Quakers will or no that this may be a direction and rule to us of faith and obedience how we are to believe in God and worship and serve him and to direct us to eternal salvation this is a special pledge of Gods love to us though the enemies of truth will not acknowledge it The Lord hath not done so to all Nations neither have the heathen knowledge of his Laws Psalme 147 19 20. and the end of writing them was that we might be directed in our faith and obedience John 20 last These things are written that ye might beleeve c. we are to try the spirits now by them whether they be of God as the noble Bereans did Acts 17.11 we are to go to the Law and to the Testimony Isa 8.20 to search the Scriptures John 5.39 or otherwise we shall be necessarily exposed to errour Matth. 22.29 They are now a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our steps Psal 119.105 and through the words of Gods lips we may be kept from the path of the destroyer Psal 17.4 in a word they are able to make wise to salvation to furnish to all good works they are profitable for doctrine reproof correction instruction in righteousnesse c. 2 Tim. 3.16 17. The Lord accompanying them with the blessing and efficacy of his Spirit And let not any ignorantly pretend it is a disgrace to the Spirit to be tried and regulated by an outward rule for gold may be tryed by a touchstone why may not any doctrine or revelation or practice now though pretended to come from the Spirit be tried by the Scriptures which we are more sure came from the Spirit of God they being a surer word of prophecy then any voice we can heare spoken from heaven 2 Pet. 1.18 19. 4. Now let the weakest Reader if he be not wilfully blinded judg whether these people be not extreamly ingrateful to God for his goodnesse in giving the Scriptures to deny this principal use and end of the Scriptures and whether hereby they declare not themselves enemies thereunto I might shew other uses and ends of the Scriptures that they subvert but this may suffice for this second particular to prove the charge that the Quakers be enemies to the holy Scriptures III. They make Scriptures to be but a declaration of the Saints condition an expression frequently to be found in their writings insinuating thereby as if they belonged not to us now Burroughs p. 30 Glory from North. p. 8 9. but concerned the Saints only in former times for so much its clear they intend by comparing this with the former particular they are the declaration of the Saints conditions in former times but they are no rule of faith and life to us what do they then concern us what need we regard them what benefit have we by them A most unworthy expression when God hath written to us the great things of his word and we account them a strange thing Hosea 8.12 as if they did not at all concern us and the Lord had not spoken those things to us but to others But as it delares their enmity against the Scriptures so is it a very false assertion There be some part of the Scriptures that do more concern us now in these last dayes of the world then they did the Saints in former times as many Prophetick Scriptures in Dauid and the Revelations and for other Scriptures the Apostle faith what ever was written was written for our learning Rom. 15.4 and for our admonition upon whom the ends of the world be come 1 Cor 10.6 11. The example of Christ and his Apostles teaches us to make use of the whole Wood of God they frequently cited the writings of Moses and the Prophets in the book of the Psalmes applying them to that generation why may not we then apply the same as also the writings of the New Testament for our benefit In Heb. 13.5 The Apostle applies that promise made to Joshuah to the beleeving Hebrews I will not have thee nor forsake thee See 1 Cor. 7.1 where the Apostle applies the promises made by the Prophet Jer 31.1 to the Corinthians and presses them to duty from thence and indeed to what end are they written down and by the gracious providence of the Lord preserved to this day but for our use and benefit it 's needlesse to adde more here that which was spoken in the former particular will also clear this IV. They call the Scriptures reproachfully a letter a dead letter c. as may be seen in their writings frequently which is but a piece of Popish Rhetorick for this hath been the language of Papists before them who have called them a dead letter divinity of ink and paper with many more such opprobrious tearms But whether we should beleeve Papists and Quakers in vilifying the Scriptures or credit the holy penmen their commendation of them judge ye David saith The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the soule the testimonies of the Lord are sure making wise the simple the Statutes of the Lord are right rejoycing the heart the Commandments of the Lord are pure enlightning the eyes c. and Psalme 119.50 Thy word hath quickened me The Apostle James 1.18 saith he begot us with the word of truth Paul saith faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God Rom. 10.17 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it 's not said by the personal word Jesus Christ but by the word that is preached by men not that we exclude the co-operation of Gods Spirit with preaching for we are workers together with God 2 Cor. 6.1 but that the word written and preached might have it's due place and commendation being mighty through God the power of God to salvation and therefore no dead letter It is a grosse perverting of that Scripture 2 Cor. 3.6 to alledge it for to prove the Scriptures to be a dead letter for the Apostle there compares the doctrine or ministration of the Law and the old Covenant with the ministration of the Gospel Covenant disputing against such as commended the
Law above the Gospel and call'd men from the grace of Christ to the works of the Law c. now the Law was but a dead killing letter pronouncing a curse and death not could it quicken spiritually there being no promise in it of writing the Law in our hearts but in the same place he commends his Ministry for the Ministery of the Spirit and of Life therefore this place makes nothing for this wicked cavil of those enemies against the Scriptures V. They equal their books and pamphlets though commonly stuft with non-sense and railing ever with wicked errors to the holy Scriptures then which what can be more disgraceful to the Scriptures and more abominable to all sober spirits This appears clearly to all that have but read their papers for thus they commonly write Moved from the Lord written from the Spirit of the Lord given from the Lord c. and they boast commonly that they speak from God immediately and infallibly as the Apostles did formerly Whether this doth not bring them under that curse Rev. 22.18 for adding to the Scriptures let them look to it VI. They sometimes plead the Church was a long time without the Scriptures and therefore they are not necessary now and if ten thousand of those books were burnt they might do well enough the light in them is sufficient c. This I testifie hath been objected to me and there be others can witnesse it with me For the former part it is an old Popish Argument against the necessity of the Scriptures and I shall only reply what hath been answered the Papists to this formerly Whitaker de perfec Script cap. 7. tells the Papists though of old time when God familiarly shewed himself to the Fathers and by himself manifested to them his will the Scriptures were not necessary yet after God did change the course of teaching his Church and would have the Word written then the Scriptures began to be necessary To the latter part I answer such an expression would suit the mouth of an Irish rebel rather then of any sober Christian and therefore let him repent and pray if perhaps the thought of his heart may be forgiven him VII They appear enemies to the holy Scriptures in their daily practices as their neglecting to use the holy Scriptures Their speakers speak not out of the Scriptures as did Christ Luke 4.17 who opened the book and took his text out of Esay 61.1 and in all his Sermons he opened the Scriptures and proved all things by the Scriptures nor do their speakers exhort people to search the Scriptures to give themselves to reading meditation This they that have been present testifie c. but to look to the light in their consciences let them shew where ever Christ or his Apostles gave such an exhortation to look to the light within them And for their disciples they follow not the example of the noble Bereans Acts 17.11 who searched the Scriptures daily whether those things were so but they take all spoken to them as given from God immediately and turn not to the Scriptures to try the doctrines they hear by the Law and testimony When they have no speakers they sit as mutes together looking on the ground or looking at the light within them as they say but not looking on the Scriptures nor conferring about them though sometimes they will read in their Assemblies their quaking letters or books besides some of them have offered to sell their Bibles Now the most ignorant may easily judge by all this what friends they are to the Scriptures I might adde hereunto if it were requisite to shew their enmity to the Scriptures their perverse wresting of the Scriptures in such a manner sometime as shews they have neither knowledge of the Scriptures nor any light of common understanding of men left in them G. Whitehead maintaining of perfection as the Papists do I brought him that place against it Eccles 7.10 not a just man upon earth that doth good and sinneth not he perverted it as if Solomon did speak of a man in an earthy condition Another when that cripture 1 Cor. 6.20 was used to prove that we are not only to give God internal worship and service but outward and bodily he replied the Church was he body that was to glorifie God Again when Paul Rom. 7. cryed out ob wretched man c. he had not the Spirit And that the same Apostle in 1 Cor. 11.14 did not at all condemne long hair And many of them have said that the Apostle 1 Cor. 9.14 saying even so hath the Lord ordained that they that preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel doth not plead for outward bodily maintenance but their living by faith or living spiritually on the Gospel were ever any people more blinded in the world then these how dreadful a judgement is this upon them for leaving the Scriptures and looking to the light in them which appears by these things to be meer darknesse I could fill many pages with such instances of their perverse wrest of the Scriptures but this will appear more fully in the following Sections Let me but summe up these things together and then let the Reader judge whether this first charge is not sufficiently proved against them The proof runs thus if to deny the Scriptures to be the Word of God and thereby to insinuate they never came from God if to deny the special use of the Scriptures to be a rule of faith and obedience and to make as if they belonged to the Saints formerly but did not concern us now if to give vilifying expressions to them and to call them a dead letter if to equal foolish and wicked pamphlets with them if to plead there 's no necessity of them if to practise to slight them and perversly to wrest them if any or if all of these together will prove the Quakers to be enemies to the holy Scriptures then the charge stands good against them Let the weakest hereby discern and see and not be deceived by them though they pretend in words never so fairly to the Scriptures And thus for this first charge SECT II. The Quakers deny Christ come in the flesh as also his Death Resurrection Ascension Intercession and coming to Judgement THe Apostle John in his second Epistle ver 7. speaks of many deceivers and Antichrists come into the world who confesse not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh and forbids to receive such into your houses and to bid them God-speed for such as do so are partakers of their evil deeds Let us therefore in the next place enquire whether the Quakers may be justly charged with this crime that if they be found guilty thereof all such as professe to be Christians may disclaime them and take heed of them as Deceivers and Antichrists I shall here first freely give Testimony for the Quakers and do acknowledge in their behalfs that they have the name of Jesus Christ
as Christ himselfe used John 17. not praying to God through Christ but as if Christ personally inhabiting in them did himself speak to his Father and not such sinful worms as they are also they never speak in the plural number as if the people should joyn with them but ever in the singular I pray thee I thank thee and so though they should acquit themselves of this charge yet they leave all their followers under it as being such Heathens as know not God nor call upon his Name and so liable to that curse Jer. 10 25. Water-baptisme and the Lords Supper are other standing Ordinances instituted by our Lord Jesus Christ Mat. 28.19 John 4.1 Acts 8.36 1 Cor. 11.23 c. and these are to continue to the end of the world till all Nations be brought into subjection to Christ and then must the end come til Christ come again not in Spirit for so he was already to those to whom these things were spoken but in person as the Son of man in his glory c. But these pretious Ordinances are utterly cast off by the Quakers as their practise evidences it and their books speak it plainly see the paper against the baptized people p. 1 2 3 4 5. they own no baptism with water but that of the Spirit alone no Lords Supper but feeding on Christs flesh and blood by faith when in the mean time they also deny Christ to have a real body of flesh and blood though glorified Singing of Psalmes is another Ordinance of God Mat. 26.30 Col. 2.16 Jam. 5.13 But this is denied utterly by them they have written two pamphlets formerly against my self for vindicating this Ordinance Let the Reader know if they publish a hundred of such like answers to this Treatise as those two against my vindication of singing I shall not trouble my self to write one line in reply to them as judging it altogether needless Church-communion is another Ordinance of Christ when Christians walk together in the fellowship of the Gospel and in all the Ordinances of Jesus Christ as appears by the Apostle planting of Churches in every place where the Gospel was entertained and Christs owning of them by writing to them Rev. 1. and this Ordinance was to continue to the end of the world Rev. 22.16 1 Tim. 6.3 with 1 Tim. 3.15 but the Quakers deny there ever could true Church be found since the Apostles time to this time Burr against Grif. pag. 26. For the Lords-day it is known they are no friends to it they make all days alike many have professed against it and the known practises of their followers evidence they make no conscience thereof although in the fourth Commandment God requires the keeping holy of a seventh day or one day in seven and Christ saith Matth. 5. He that breaketh one of these least Commandments and teachteh men to do so shall be least in the Kingdome of heaven and it 's evident the Apostles and primitive Saints met together every first day of the week and they found the Lord was with them in so doing and in our own Nation God hath so blessed the faithful observation of this day to the encrease of piety and godlinesse that no Christian can deny it but now the devil cannot subvert this day by games and sports which he attempted formerly he tries if he can do it by denying it to be an institution of Christ As for Christian conference a duty so pleasing to God Mal. 3.16 it appeares they are little friends thereto by their sitting mute when they meet together I might instance in other appointments of God instructing their families in the fear of God teaching them the knowledge of Christ c. this though strictly enjoyned in the Scriptures Deut. 6.7 Eph. 6.4 Prov. 22.6 and commended by the godly examples of many precious Saints recorded in Scripture as Abraham Timothies mother c. yet hath been derided by some of them what can we teach them say they God must do all c. besides to this day there are some Masters who suffer their families to do any thing upon the Lords days either sleep at home or walk about the fields c taking no more care of their souls then if they were to die as beasts as indeed they hold as before was shewed thus do the Quakers appear evidently to be enemies to all the holy Ordinances of Christ But because it is a common plea in these apostatizing times that all outward Ordinances are abolished Christians are not bound to worship God in them now they were but for the first times of the Gospel c. I shall adde a little for the establishment of the weak that they may not by the craft of Seducers be brought to cast of the precious Ordinances of Jesus Christ It was before proved that these Ordinances were instituted by Jesus Christ the King of his Church as we shewed in each of them severally and that with expresse intimations of the continuance of them not only for that present age but for all following times to the end of the world who then dare to take upon him to abrogate the same The Laws and Ordinances of men are not abolished but by the same power that first enacted them now what one Word of God can these men bring for the repeal of any one Ordinance of the Gospel may not they on the like account make the great Commandments of beleeving repenting c. be temporary Commandments and not concerning Christians in these times and why should not the other nine Commandments be abolished as well as the fourth which requires a set stinted time for Gods solemn worship and service even every seventh day or as well as any other outward Ordinance commanded by Jesus Christ in the Word Certain we are there be the same grounds and reasons for continuance of these Ordinances of God now as were at first for the institution of them Is not God to be visibly worshipped and adored by us as well as formerly and if so it is more fit we should do it in the way of his appointments then in any way of our own invencieus have not we still need of Ordinances wherein to enjoy communion with God we have no such immediate converse with God now as to see him face to face but only as we behold him in the glasse of his Ordinances whilest we are present in the body we are absent from the Lord 2 Cor. 5.6 only while we are waiting on him in his Ordinances he promises to meet us and be with us spiritually and we finde many sweet visits and manifestations therein we have still need of the communications of his grace and the influences of his Spirit some needing conversion and illumination others confirmation and strengthning all further increasings of God that we may more and more grow up to perfection and are not the Ordinances given to us for these ends and not only till one come to perfection but till all
travel and should have a man-childe whose name should be Immanuel which child was shewed afterward to the Protector for a wonder Many aged and infirme women say they since they came into this way out of weaknesse have become strong and able to travel hundreds of miles on foot These things being objected against by me as being done far of and most of them in corners and therefore far unlike the miracles done by Christ and the Apostles I desired to hear of some done neerer hand the truth of which I might finde out whereupon I was informed of one in this Town wherein I live and another at Norwich That in this Town was reported to me as neer as I can remember in these very words Was it not a Miracle for T. C. that had been brought so low by a Quartane Ague to be so suddenly recovered I answered it was a merciful providence but no miracle and further demanded by what means he was cured It was replyed that Richard Hubberthorne did but go to his door and speak to him and presently he recovered but afterwards enquiring of the man himself what Hubberthorne said to him he told me he said nothing but bade him look to the light in him he did not rebuke his distemper nor command him in the Name of Christ to arise and walk and since that time this poore man hath continued in a languishing condition That other pretended miracle at Norwich was upon Thomas Symonds Weaver one of their speakers a letter whereof I read subscribed with his own hand It was this that upon a Lords day some few moneths agon the hand of the Lord was upon him from morning to evening very sore and he was smitten with a tormenting pain in his bowels and nothing that his friends about him applied could help him insomuch that they gave him over as irrecoverable whereupon the voice within him bade him take a draught of cold water which he doing in the obedience of faith his spirits revived and himself presently recovered and sent out a letter of this to his friends that they might give glory for it to God and be thereby further confirmed and established in their way The Pawwaw do greater cures then this upon the poor Indians to confirm them in their worshipping of devils Besides this is a medicine many have been helped by when troubled with paines upon the distillation of a salt humour upon the inward parts and therefore is no miracle Concerning their quaking trances visions rapture and Revelations I have not heard much in these parts They knowing how prejudiciall these things have been to their way as also their going naked they have much left them Only I have one memorable story to relate about the same which is of Atkinson that notorious impostor when he first came to Norwich who pretended and those poore people did readily believe him that the dread of the Lord fell upon him as he was travelling on his journey and he was smitten off from his horse as Saul going to Damascus and it was told him he was going to as ignorant and blind a City as any was in the world and there should suffer for Christ and be imprisoned but should have unspeakable comforts c. The notorious wickednesse of this wretch now discovered to all may convince that it was no hard thing for him to invent such cheats to delude poore creatures by who are willing to be deceived Now least any weak ones should be stumbled at these pretenses of Miracles and be thereby induced to hearken to them I shall adde these few things for the sake of such 1. If these Miracles or wonders which those persons pretend to work were indeed true and reall and not feigned things yet seeing they are wrought to confirme lying doctrines as the doctrines of the Quakers are before proved to be we are not to hearken unto them Deut. 13. 1 2. If a Prophet shall give a signe or wonder and it come to pass of it be to tempt to follow strange gods we are not to hearken to such for the Lord permits it to try his people and prove them It was before shewed that in these last dayes this power of working Miracles is to be in the hands of false prophets and deceivers Math. 24. 2 Thess 2. And therefore faith Aug. tract in Joh. 13. God hath armed us against such Miracle-mongers by warning us that in the latter daies false prophets shall work signes and wonders c. 2. But how evident is it they are but lying signes and wonders as the Apostle 2 Thess 2. calls them or as Austine speaks of the miracles of Hereticks in former times either the juglings or mockeries of deceitfull men or else illusions of lying spirits For such as were pretended to be wrought in these parts I shewed before those to be no better and for such as be pretended to be done in remote parts we have reason enough to suspect them when we find their deceits at home besides it 's most certain God will never put to his seale of true miracles which he only can work to confirme lyes 3. The enemies of the truth in former times have wrought greater wonders by far then these people have pretended to what wonders were wrought by the Egyptian Sorcerers in the time of Moses by many Hereticks in the primitive times but especially how many and how great miracles have been pretended to be wrought by the Papists these being so eminent we are prophetically warned of them Rev. 13.13 14. where we read that the second beast or the Pope possessing the seat of the first beast or Romane Empire should do great wonders and deceive them that dwell upon the earth by his miracles And indeed hardly any new doctrine that the Papists coyned or superstitious rites and ceremonies but that had multitudes of pretended miracles to confirme the same When they would bring into the Church Transubstantiation or the Doctrine of Christs bodily presence in the Lords Supper they have pretended their wafer-cakes have been seen bleeding as they were broken and eaten by them and that heathens have come into their assemblies and seen the Christians put a little pretty boy into their mouthes c. When they would bring in the worshipping of Images they have pretended that those dead stocks have moved themselves could walk could stirr their eyes and hands could speak could light their owne Tapers could heale the sick and raise the dead how many wonderfull cures and miracles have been wrought as they say by the image of the Virgin Mary some of her chappels have laid up in them very many crutches pictures of armes leggs c. All which they pretend she hath miraculously healed and recovered they that will not believe things done beyond sea nay enquire after the great miracles done here amongst us by the Lady of Walsingham and Ipswich strang things for Images to do and wherefore were all these fained but to draw people to