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
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
1 Cor. 3.11 Zach 11.8 and affirms that some have not the Spirit of God in them Rom. 8.9 John 14.17 1 Cor. 2.14 therefore if they have no humane soul in them as Hubberthorn teaches in saying the Scriptures speak not of an humane soul they must have no soul at all for they have not the Spirit of God in them but enough for the confutation of this wretched doctrine It hath been objected to me by these people pleading for this abominable Tenet that Gen. 2.7 God is said to breath into man the breath of life and so man become a living soul whence they would infer the soul to be a part of the being of God infused into man Answ The Scripture holds forth no more but this that the soul was not created with the body of the earth as the souls of beasts were and so to perish with the body but that it was created by God a spiritual substance and so infused into the body it was of a more excellent and spiritual extract then the body was and therefore the original of mans spirit is set forth otherwise then the original of the souls of beasts it came indeed from God but was not of the being of God which is spiritual and indivisible this were to make men to be gods This was the heresie of the wicked Manichees whom Augustine sometimes confuted and vindicated this place which they had perverted Object But they argue much from these Scriptures that speak of the onenesse of beleevers with Christ and Gods dwelling in them and they in him for this thing Answ I shall therefore for the benefit of the weak open the manner of Christs in-being or in-dwelling in beleevers lest they not understanding it should stumble at these Scriptures This in-dwelling or in-being of Christ and onenesse with him is held forth in many Scriptures John 6 56. Gal. 2.20 Col. 1.29 2 Cor. 13.5 c. John 17.21 now how should we understand this what God to dwell in his Saints Christ to be and inhabit in beleevers how can this be the heaven of heavens cannot containe him how much lesse the strait heart of man Know First Negatively you must not understand this in-being or in-dwelling of Christ to be either 1. A corporeal inhabitation as if the body of Christ or his humane nature dwelt in us which was the grosse conceit of the Capernaites John 6. and is to this day the opinion of Papists and Vbiquitaries who imagine Christs body to have the properties of the divine nature communicated to it to be immense and to be in many places at once and this must be the conceit of the Quakers if they hold any man Christ at all for they deny any Man Christ but in us men This is a grosse mistake it overthrows the truth of Christs Man-hood and the Scriptures expresly say The heavens must containe him and this man Christ comes not till he descends to judge the world besides the Scriptures teach that Christs being in us is spiritual not bodily Rom. 8.9 10. 2. Nor is it an essential in-dwelling of the divine nature in Gods people as if the very being of God were communicated to us and dwelt in us though the Apostle Peter speaks of the divine nature being communicated to the Saints yet he expresses other where what he understands thereby namely the divine graces and vertues of the Spirit Indeed how can the being of God which is infinite and boundlesse be in one place or person more then in another though his graces may 3. Nor is it a Personal in-being as the soul lives in the body and is one subsistence with it thus the fulnesse of the God-head dwelt in Christ by personal or hypostatical union but thus God is not in his Saints then they should be gods as Christ was God this is the blasphemy of Familists who say they are godded and christed Secondly Affirmatively Christ dwelleth and is in his Saints according to the Scriptures two ways 1. By his special spiritual presence he is more especially present with and in the hearts of his Saints then with others by his gracious manifestations by his sweet influences and by his wonderful operatitions upon their hearts so God dwelt in the Temple formerly and so he dwells in heaven now in the Temple God said This is my rest here I will dwell he manifested himself to his people there he heard their prayers gave forth his oracles there they had communion with God in his Ordinances they saw his face in the Sanctuary c. and so now in heaven God is said to dwell there because he manifests his glorious presence there especially in that place the Saints shall have the vision and fruition of God eternally Thus in the same manner God dwells in his people now by special spiritual presence he makes such manifestations of himself to them as none besides have they see his face know more of his minde have more of his love-visits then others have John 14.21 Rev. 3.20 he refreshes them with his flaggons of wine and his hidden Mannah fills them with the comfort peace and joy of his Spirit He vouchsafes to them such divine influences of grace as others have not such quicknings and breathings of his Spirit as fills their hearts with spiritual vigour and life because he lives they live also And he doth such mighty works in them as in none else puts forth the same power that was put forth in raising Christ from the dead to mortifie corruptions in them to strengthen them to beleeve and to do the works of God to frame them according to the image of God c. Esay 26.12 Eph. 1.21 2. By mystical union and this is more then the former one may have a dwelling in an house but no union with it God dwelt in the Temple but was not one with it he dwells in the heavens but hath no union with them but he so dwells in beleevers as he is one with them 1 Cor. 6.16 1 Cor. 12.12 John 17.21 This onenesse is so near that it excels all the unions upon earth the Scripture uses the comparisons of husband and wife Eph. 5. of head and members 1 Cor. 12. of soul and body Gal. 2 20. of root and branches John 15. to set it forth by and yet all these be too short he addes the union betwixt the Father and Son John 17. to commend it further yet must not be so presumptuously wrested as to plead for an essential or personal union to make us gods All these comparisons are used in Scripture not because they suit in al things but that we may by these see what a comfortable relation we stand in to God and what blessings we may expect to be communicated to us by vertue thereof If any expect I should give some name to that union to expresse what it is further I shall presume to say no more but this it is a great mystery and cannot be fully comprehended by the Saints
David prays Open mine eyes that I may understand the wonderful things of thy Law give me understanding that I may keep thy precepts would not the Quakers correct David here and say why David look to the light within thee and that is sufficient what needest thou pray for more so Paul Eph. 1.17 18. prays for a Spirit of wisdom and revelation for the Ephesians though they had already the light in them and the outward preaching of the Gospel our doctrine therefore is more agreeable to the Scriptures then the Quakers doctrine we teach besides the light in the conscience which condemns grosse sins which we would not have men sin against but to study to keep a good conscience void of offence there is a necessity of the light of the Scriptures and the preaching of the Word to discover such things as the conscience cannot discover and of the sanctifying illumination of Gods Spirit also to open our blind eyes to see those discoveries and his grace to heal the enmity of our hearts that we may close with them did the Quakers believe the conversion and sanctification of the soul to be such a great work as we do they would see a necessity of an higher principle to produce it then this common light in all men Reader thou mayst sufficiently see what corrupters of the truth the Quakers be seeing in this main doctrine which is the sum of all their teaching they erre so grosly and are plain Papists and Pelagians II. The Quakers destroy the true doctrine of Sanctification in that they make it to consist in a few outward observances of casting off ribbons not putting off the hat vsing the expressions of thou yea nay c. as the Pharisees formerly placed holinesse in washing cups hands c. and the furthest they go is but to cry down grosse sinnes as pride drunkennesse covetousnesse c. whilest in the mean time they speak nothing of a work of regeneration and renovation in the heart for they teach there 's enough in men as they come into the world if they heed that and as concerning inward mortification of the seeds of evil in the heart and a spiritual work of God upon the soul in turning the whole frame of it to God to center in him again how silent are they in these great things did they look upon these as necessary they durst not proudly boast they are perfect and absolutely free from the being of sin but even as the Papists who say they are free from the being of sin and for that end deny concupiscence in the regenerate to be sin so must the Quakers look upon these things as nothing if they will defend their perfection But we on the contrary maintain the great work of Sanctification begins chiefly in the heart in creating a new heart infusing a new spirit Ezek. 36.26 27. which men have not as they come into the world at the first birth but at the second birth in making the tree good and then the fruit will be good afterwards Mat. 12.33 III. They destroy the proper end of Sanctification the end of God in Sanctifying his people is not that by setting up a righteousnesse in them they might thereby be justified before God for their justification stands in Gods free remitting of their sins and imputing to them the obedience and satisfaction of Christ their Surety wrought in his person for them as was before shewed in the Section of Justification but that being reconciled to God through Christ their natures being sanctified and the image of God repaired in them they might be fit to glorifie God and to enjoy communion with him for ever to make them fit for glory for without holinesse no man can see God Heb. 12.14 But now the Quakers make the great end of God in sanctifying his people and infusing righteousnesse into them to be that they might be justified before God and therefore ignorantly confound justification mortification and sanctification together see Nailer love to the lost p. 50. thus are they enemies to the doctrine of Christ crucified and justification by faith they are fallen from grace and seek to lead men from Christ to the Law again as the Apostle Paul shews in the Epistle to the Gallatians IV. They own not any for truly sanctified persons but such as are perfectly freed from the being of sinne and therefore reproach us who say with the Apostle Romans 7. we have sin dwelling in us as unsanctified persons whereas the Scriptures own such for Saints as are freed from the dominion of sinne though not yet from the being thereof and shew that in the best there is flesh as well as Spirit Gal. 5.17 V. They deny the grace of God infused into the Saints in Sanctification to be a created thing though the Scripture calls it the new creature 2 Corinth 5.17 Ephes 2.10 and hold it to be the uncreated being of God so Richard Hubberthorne and John Lawrence in a letter sent to me speak a most wretched and blasphemous doctrine for then should we be Gods if the uncreated being were communicated to us even as Christ was God the divine essence being eternally communicated to him besides this doctrine would make us meerly passive as stocks and stones in all duties of Sanctification the plain doctrine of the Libertines that being followed overthrows all holinesse having sometimes laid open the odiousnesse of this opinion to my people the person last named being ashamed of it did openly deny it before the Congregation but hath now owned it with his hand subscribing to it VI. They take away many great arguments inducing to Holinesse and Sanctification as the doctrine of the Resurrection last Judgement Heaven and Hell c. as was before shewed now to what purpose is it to raile against sinne when they take away those weapons that should destroy it and to speak of holinesse when they take away the greatest inducements thereunto If the dead rise not saith the Apostle 1 Corinth 15.22 then let us eat and drink for to morrow we die what need men be affrighted with the scar-crowes of Heaven Hell c These evil words will more corrupt good manners then all their other good words will promote holinesse VII They destroy all those helps to Sanctification and Godlinesse which God hath given us They deny the Ordinances of God as before was shewed which are the means of grace and Sanctification John 17.17 Eph. 5.26 Jam. 1.18 c. could the prelatical enemies of holinesse in former times take a more crafty course to suppresse holinesse then by silencing of Preaching Catechising Praying and restraining Christian communion c how gladly the Quakers would promote all this if they could and leave people only to the light in them which is meer darknesse I shewed before in the Section about Ordinances By this time the weakest Reader may perceive the Quakers to be but faint enemies to sinne though they speak aloud and give bigge words against it and
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
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
faithful dispensers thereof if you would not fall into errours let not any say I plead more in this for the honour and benefit of Ministers then for the good of peoples souls So Heb. 13.7 9. for the spirit of God hints this direction Eph. 4 14. in v. 11. you read God hath given to his Church Prophets Apostles Pastours Teachers and in the following verses is shewed the end thereof for the work of the Ministry for the edifying the Church and perfecting the Saints and v. 14. to prevent being tossed to and fro and carried away with every wind of doctrine by the sleight of men and cunning craftinesse of deceivers This is one great end of Gods giving Ministers to his Church to prevent their being deceived by seducers one great part of their work is to confute gain-sayers There is scarce any desert the truth but they first desert the Ministry men first begin to have itching ears and seek new Teachers and then embrace lies and fables 2 Tim. 4.3 4. how diligent therefore are seducers to undermine the Ministry and steal peoples hearts from them if the wolves can draw the sheep from the shepherds they will soon devour them What designes have they against the office maintenance and persons of Ministers to bring them down and especially against the most faithful and industrious in the Ministry think not therefore you can be long preserved from these ravening wolves if you stragle from your shepherds but learn to keep close to your faithful Ministers If it be asked who are those Ministers we are to adhere unto for many lay claime to this office now I answer in two words 1. Those whom God hath so visibly owned and set his seal to by blessing their Ministry to the convincing converting comforting and confirming so many thousands of his Saints in England those whom God hath used as instruments under him to maintaine the profession and power of godlinesse in the Nation for many yeares that have by their doctrine conversation and sufferings adorned the Gospel of Christ can any but the hardened enemies of the truth call these Anti-christian whoever is not blinded by Satan may see these to be the Ministers of Christ 2. Those whom the devil and his instruments hath most opposed and maligned whom the Popish Prelates silenced fined imprisoned banished whom the Malignant Caveleirs hated cursed and plundered whom all drunkards swearers and profane persons would have suppressed and whom apostates the most bitter enemies of all the rest do now with such implacable hatred and malignity prosecute and molest These are the Ministers of Christ there need no other arguments to prove it VII Consider seriously the many eminent testimonies God hath given from heaven against hereticks and apostates against despisers of his Ordinances and Ministers and against the errours and heresies broached by them God hath in all ages borne some signal testimony against them which being duly observed might be a very effectual means to preserve from the errours of those times It might be shewed in what age and by what persons most of these now supposed new lights but indeed old exploded heresies newly revived and brought from hell were first broached what successe they had what fearful judgements befel the Authours of them how truth prevailed against them and this might much tend to establish Christians against seducements thereunto but this would require a volumn to do it In the primitive times many wonderful testimonies God gave against several enemies of his truth Simon Magus who was the first arch-heretick and by his Sorceries deceived much people and contended with the Apostles themselves in working miracles as the Egyptian Sorcerers did with Moses he attempting to flie in the aire was by the prayers of the Apostles brought tumbling down and miserably perished Cerinthus was killed by the fall of an house Montanus hanged himself Manes had his skin torn off his flesh Arrius his bowels gushed out Nestorius his tongue rotting and consuming in his head the earth opened and swallowed him up What standing monuments are these of Gods wrath against hereticks yet are many of their wicked errours revived in these days if these testimonies of Gods wrath against them were duly considered it might make people to this day more fearful of drinking in their abominable doctrines In the first times of Reformation from Popery the devil stirs up the Anabaptists to hinder that work and they were more bitter and malignant enemies to the first Reformers and greater obstructers of the work of God then the Papists and what signal tokens of Gods wrath were shewen against them by giving them up to such vile affections and practises as preparing them for destruction there were say some * Pontanus one hundred and fifty thousand of them slaine What a warning might this be to people to beware of the leaven of Anabaptisme now spreading amongst us When the Churches of Christ in N. England were infested with Antinomians Familists and Anti-ordinanced men betwixt whom and the Quakers is great agreement how did the Lord give signal testimony against them by those prodigious births of Mrs. Hutchinson and Mrs. Dyer are not these land-marks to warn people to take heed of suffering ship-wrack upon such rocks of errour And amongst our selves in England God hath many ways appeared against the raging enemies of his truth and Ministers risen up in these late years some are so given up to be blinded and infatuated that they have lost the understanding and reason of men and are become brutish in their wayes others casting off the profession of godlinesse are given up to vile affections and practises what abominable errours and delusions have some swallowed down gredily and what remarkable judgements of God have befallen others It would require a large volumne to record the history hereof These things if duly considered might be serious admonitions to all to take heed of deserting the truths Ordinances and Ministers of Christ I adde no more these directions if conscionably used might through the blessing of the Lord be special preservatives against the infection and contagion of the errours of our times Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy to the only wise God our Saviour Jude 24.25 be Glory and Majesty Dominion and Power now and ever Amen FINIS A TABLE Shewing some principal Doctrines of Religion cleared and confirmed in the former Treatise with other useful things B BOwing to Superiours and other gestures of Civil honour justified from Scripture pag. 68 69 C How Hereticks deny Christ come in the flesh pag. 11 Christ proved a true and real man and personally distinct from other men pag. 13 Christ his death resurrection and ascension proved from Scripture pag. 12 Christ dwells in us by his Spirit not by his humane nature pag. 14 What it is to know Christ after the flesh pag. 15 The Quakers