Prophecyes could be renewed it cannot be proved that one Prophet had the Visions of another Prophet repeated to him no nor that the same received the same exact Vision twice so little is it probable that a thousand can have the same for ever renewed downwards This pretence in the Issue destroyeth Christianity for suppose that Mat. 1.23 a Virgin shall be with Child be renewed then Jesus is not yet born when a Vision is fulfilled 't is Impossible to have another that it shall be fulfilled or to desire one to inform that it is fulfilled is a like folly It is equally as reasonable to expect a Revelation that there was a K. Henry VIII as that Jesus died at Jerusalem for it makes Prophecy to have no fixed determinate sence or completion Suppose the Revelations be repeated then no part of them is yet fulfilled for what hath been done cannot be scened or staged as undone and further it renders the Scriptures useless for what need I buy a sealed Book not to be understood when I have it line by line inwardly rehearsed by a supervening power to my own Spirit Repetition also would swallow up that Blessed Grace of Faith the believing things credible as credible and turn it into sense and Vision so that the desiring it if possible is either the Mother or Daughter of Infidelity There being also in tract of time some few Variae lectiones crept into the Sacred Volume T. E's Spirit if right will make a stand at the wrong ones so that he can inform infallibly which is the best Copy and where words are to be inserted altered or omitted Upon his Principles Revelations made to Women must be renewed to men which in Case of Conception or Child-Birth would look strangely though of all persons they seem the fittest for it your Mother the Pope saith Father Fox Lambs Officer p. 18. Winding sheet for Controv p. 1. Im. Rev. p. 118. Some Principles of the Elect p. 95 96. Her is He sometimes then He may be an Her at other times Blessed are the pure in Heart for they shall see Her in Imitation of Bonaventures change in the Psalms 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hic haec Homo as Dewsbury observes who attempts to baffle St. Paul about Womens not speaking in the Church making the Woman to signifie either Sex in which Christ is not the Head such chops as those would make a man think them nearest a Kin to Tiresias the Prophet There are many particular Revelations concerning places as Nineveh Tyre c. Persons as King Ahaz Zedechiah c. Can these be reacted when both Kings and Kingdoms are extinguished but it is not worth the while to hunt this fly or pursue so serious a folly Only these few things shall conclude it That if he speak Truth he must have received all the Revelations conferred to the Saints of Old before and after the Flood those written in Scripture and the unrecorded ones or if only those in the New Testament then those of Christ the Apostles particularly S. John S. Paul the 70 Disciples and those mentioned in the 1 Cor. chap. 14. that which was the Work of many Ages Periods and Persons is in a trice Acted before him which if it was really done I verily think he could not live The Divine Light was so strong in a Prophets Soul that he could not long continue under it but fell into Consternations or his Vision declined into a Dream all the Scripture Revelations if the thing was possible yet for length of time cannot be renewed to him since his turning Quaker in 1659. He must have time to recruit his Spirit between Vision and Vision allow Liberty for other intervening Affairs converse sometimes as a man and not always as a Prophet And Prophecyes in their preparatoryes and effects in their solemnity and dress are not so soon gone thorow Hosea was some 70 years a Prophet and yet hath but left some 14 little Chapters Isaiah was 45 years between the 6th and 36th Chapters which allows a year and a half to each Chapter Let Ellwood Study such things as these and the Nature of the Prophetick light it will make his Spirit be humble and modest and will Convince him that his Hairs will be gray before he see to the far end of the Revelations But possibly he foresaw not the Monsters he was hatching let us turn the Notion into what other more favourable shapes we can as First what was Revealed by several ways before is now renewed to him by the Spirit This is nothing better must the Holy Spirit repeat what was spoke by Angels Urim Signs Voices Visions Dreams Prophets Nay the very words of Christ I lay down my Life My Flesh is meat indeed I ascend to my Father c. can the Spirit repeat these for shame to Imbarque in such a leaky Vessel But Secondly what was Revealed by the Spirit at the first is by the Spirit renewed to him now try this also and he will reap no Advantage The Spirit said to Phiâ—ip Go near and joyn thy self to this Charet Act. 8.29 is this renewed or is he Philip â—s Candace now alive oâ— her Eunuch 〈◊〉 to Jâ—rusalem to Worshâ—p The Spirâ—t said unto Peter Behold three men seek thee Act. 10.19 is this renewed then Cornelius is alive and Ellwood is turned the Apostles Curate Agabus by the Spirit signified that there should be great Dearth throughout all the World which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar Acts 11.28 If this be Repeated then Paul is yet alive and Claudius hath not yet began his Reign But now the Spirit reveals to him that he did Reveal the Scriptures but this reacheth not his purpose renewing or repeating old Revelations is a distant thing from one single inspiring Assurance But the Spirit now renews to him those Expositions which he made to others this he cannot mean for those Expositions are not in Scripture and his are but the Repetition of what is therein Recorded Withal he supposeth the Spirit to turn Expositor of the Sacred Text but doth not prove it speaking of Scripture Revelations he should use the Word in the proper Sense for the Subject matter by God Revealed and not foyst in an uncouth Notion of his own That Revelation is Exposition turning the Spirit into a Glossary So the Revelation of John the Divine is the Exposition of John the Divine but this Fancy will be elsewhere met with Clements Recogn L. 8. What Peter in the Recognitions is related to have spoken that those things which are Revealed to others some do apply as spoken to themselves doth well befit this novel Fancy of Repetition Christianity being a Certain True and Determinate Religion so done and spoken as is related is not capable of Repetition the things of Jesus were True Real and Substantial not performed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 its Faith which makes them certain and even present to us
these are so gross and palpable that an easie Learning might detect them and in a matter of such moment which the poor Quakers do implicitely believe and hug he was obliged to the severest Caution not to impose upon their tame and easie Credulity And as to us who know our selves fallible and in Gods extream account very imperfect it must be allowed for an excuse But as for him who defends perfection pleads for Immediate Revelation which his Master extends to many things which are not in Scripture so much as by Consequence Keith Im. Rev. p. 6. 2d Quib. p. 11. Others of them challenging Infallibility in all things and cases and he as a Believer pretending the Unction whereby they know all things p. 229. and yet in many discovering and in some confessing his Ignorance I know not p. 227. to him this Plea can be no Advantage it pulling down that very thing which he is building up For if there be such a standing perpetual Ordinance as Immediate Revelation Gods Veracity and Goodness is concern'd at that time to let them be Infallible when they are pleading and become the Advocates for it But it is a good Confutation when a Champion proves an Instance against himself T. Ellwood's Courage 2. As to his Courage and Confidence they are high enough shewing great dis-esteem to the Sacred Scriptures as will appear in a proper place by a Catalogue of his Rules of Exposition such certainly as the Sun never saw especially by such a pretended intimate of Heaven We shall onely now consider his Carriage to most Orders of Men in the Kingdom for he presumes to Tax our World like Augustus Caesar The King must be plainly Thou'd and the Head covered before him The Turkish Fashion they esteem most proper and the tuissare or thou'ing which in Erasmus's time was opprobious among the English is dubb'd into both Religion and Manners My Lord the King is no pleasing Dialect to these new Saints it is Old Testament Divinity Dread Sovereign and Sacred Majesty must not now be used p. 46. Who must have the Majesty then Not the King I 'le warrant you it is taken from Him to be appropriated to their own dear selves take a few of their Expressions having spoken against Magistracy and for the Destruction thereof he proceeds * Fire in the Bush p. 39. If you would find true Majesty indeed go among the poor distressed ones of the Earth †Parnel's shield of the Tr. p. 25 27. Here is the ground of all true Nobility Gentility Majesty Honour No more after the Flesh but after the Spirit Quakers are sprung of the Noble Gentile Seed ‡ In his Noble Salutation to thee Charles Stewart from the Council and Nobility of the Royal Seed the Lion of the Tribe of Judah the Everlasting King of Righteousness who reigneth in George Fox the Younger â In the Testimony from the Brethren The Quakers Ministers are the Dignities and Government and Dominion The King must not write in the Plural Number We p. 27. though he be a Publick Person and Act by Advice of his Council all that is sprung from Pride and Flattery Besides this he saucily and pragmatically medleth with the Kings Revenues the Office for first Fruits Tenths offends him p. 355. No Flower can be fair in an English Crown which was taken out of a Popes Mitre if nothing else could be said against it but that it once stuck in the tripple Crown that alone were enough to make it unworthy to be worn in an English Diadem It seems he hath more than this to Object against it such like things are frequent in their Books which stealing out into the World are apt to leaven mens Spirits with bad Principles One of them acquaints us * Parnel's shield of the Truth p. 19 25. What Magistrates they do not own but deny and testifie against and to make their Negative Power better Armed he saith The Kings and Nobles of the Earth shall be bound in Chains and Fetters of Iron This was Printed 1655. but lest it should be onely Serviceable in those times †Some Principles of the Elect People of God called Quakers p. 89. Isaac Pennington a Name deep enough certainly in Royal Blood to make it currant Quaker Doctrine now re-prints that Book in 1671. leaving out the beginning and end of it but he hath the Conscience and Confidence to re-print those very words out of what design let our Superiours Judge But lest since then so beloved a Doctrine of binding Kings should be forgot they keep up the Memory of it ‡ The true Christians Faith and Experience by Williâ—m Shâ—wen p. â—36 Another Book Printed 1675 speaks home Christ Reigning in the heart gives Power to bind Kings in Chains and Nobles in Fetters of Iron This Hâ—nour havâ— all thâ— Saints To the like contempt of Authority write several of them Howgils glory p. 107. Kings and Magistrates as Christians have no Priority but as they stand in the growth of Truth that is in Quakerism Parnel's shield p. 41. Will. Smith passim Fire in the bush p. 21 22 23. I charge you all by the Lord to take heed of medling about Religion meddle with such Affairs as you are set about Meddle not with Religion keep within your bounds And Winstanley the Instituter of their Order speaks roundly to all Four Idolized Powers must down The Imaginary Teaching Hear-say Book-studying Power or the Ministry The Imaginary Kingly Power must be shaken to pieces in all Nations The Imaginary Law of Justice which is but the declarative Will of Conquerours and buying and selling the Earth and being enslaved one to another must all be destroyed at the Resurrection of Christ and that he saith was then beginning and therefore the pretence to Revelation looks a-squint upon the safety of Kingdoms had not the Magistrates the Sword they might meet with as Reproachful words as the Ministers and had some Persons strength their Principles might carry them to repeat the Munster Tragedy If this Measure be dealt unto the Prince what will not be unto the Subjects The Peers and Lords must expect the like treatment from these Levellers Plough-men James Parnel's shield p. 24 25. Fâ—sher-men Herds-men Shepherds are Noble-men sprung of the Noble Seed here the true Honour is no more after the Flesh but after the Spirit He that boggles at using Sirs p. 46. will stumble at higher Titles and if this new Critick may be credited Titles are to cease and Epithets and Adjuncts are to succeed in lieu Which Men are at Liberty to give or not to give according to their prejudicated or capricious fancies He quarrelleth at several things established by Act of Parliament as the Book of Ordination is spurned at by degrading the Clergy the Confessing of our selves miserable Sâ—â—ners is Chastised by his Ferula p. 53. Tithes an Ancient payment of at least 800 years usage in this Nation Sir
Edw. Sandys his view of Western Religion Sect. 39. are Declared by him Popish whereas the non-payment of Tithes is grounded upon Papal exemptions And in Italy the Popes Countrey under his Nose praedial Tithes are not paid but their Clergies Maintenance consists in Glebes and Farmes which T. E. quarrels not at p. 323 324. so little is a Quaker offended with an Italian usage This Free-born Man also quarrels high that none can bind their Posterity with Tithes which strikes as fully upon Hearth-money or any descending Impositions The Judges and Courts and all Judicial proceedings lie in his way they sin and repeat sin and establish sin by Law An Oath of God must not be administred to end Strife but the Quakers Yea and Nay must be the Deciders and yet so uneven is their temper that for Interest they will take an Oath Witness the Cases of Mead Osgood and several so that their equivocating justly deserves that Brand Quakers can take an Oath and yet do not swear at all The Clergy as far as in him lieth are run down their Orders are taken away Chap. 1. Their Imployment Chap. 2 8. Their Maintenance Chap. 9. with stripes and buffettings all the way thorow Not so much as a Gentleman or stranger that ought to be called Master or Sir except in Law or Nature p. 43. but by his Model a breach of Gods Law is committed Thus is our Blessed Religion mis-represented such disservice is by Dreams done unto it excellent temptations do these propound to incline any to turn Christians when they would thus degrade and depress Men and set the Tenant on breast with his Landlord To draw Controversies to a speedy issue is good as hath been done in singling out the Romish Supremacy and Infallibility because upon the Fate of them lesser Differences depend so 't is not worth the while to stand upon thou'ing and such affected singularities the shortest cut is to examine their Revelations Infallibility Immediate Commission c. for the rest will stand or fall with these and it may prove most successful to shew that at the best they stand but on an equal level with other Men and what lower they may have depressed themselves by belying the Holy-Ghost and saying they are Prophets and are not deserves to be the matter of their sad and serious enquiry Taking then for granted That God hath revealed himself to Mankind That much thereof is committed to writing and is upon Record in the Bible as T. E. owns p. 238. That the latest of these Books have been written upon 1600 years since I shall proceed upon this and the Principles of Reason and the Judgments and Practices of the Quakers themselves extracted out of their own Works and the Works of others whom we have all the reason to believe the things being matters of Fact and the Parties offering to make good their Charge before the Lord Mayor of London Tyranny and Hypocrisie detect p. 48 49. or any Alderman on the Bench or any one of the twenty Common Council-men And the Dispute being whether the Quakers have any real Divine Revelations or not I durst refer it to the Judgment of indifferent Persons though Heathens if they understood the concern as Debates between Christians and pretenders thereto have been so ended CHAP. I. The state of the Case and the manner of proceeding THomas Ellwood in the Name of his Party claims such Communications and Heavenly Visits as good Christians are not Conscious they receive nor dare tempt God in desiring The proofs thereof he fetcheth from Scripture wherein I neither read his Name nor that of Quakers but if they conclude for him they conclude as strongly for me I profess my self a Believer in that Jesus who made those Promises and whom T. E. strangely over-looks So that of the two I am the more likely to have the greater share And untill he hath proved me no Believer which to do will exercise his Faculty of discerning of Spirits I might set my Revelation to answer his and hereby his Cause reaps no Advantage His Ghostly Father from whom his Spirit hath received much light and yet he is not so ingenuous as once to acknowledge it Declares Keith's Universal Free Grace p. 48. no Man can be bound to believe in that which comes not in a sufficient way so that it is but reasonable we should be allowed to pursue that Rule and to demand an Evidence proportionable to their soaring Claims Where our Assent is required to any thing God is pleased to afford us means for our Conviction and is satisfied with such a degree thereof as the Evidences will carry When matters of Fact are concern'd the Testimonies of our own or other Persons sences conclude us When matters of Reason thereupon using our best Faculties such a measure of Assent is sufficient as those Reasons will enforce But when one tells me He hath received Divine Inspirations thereby I am Arrested for I must not dispute any thing that is spoken by God my onely enquiry is whether God hath really so spoken as is pretended Which being a matter of great moment God hath abundantly provided that we should not be imposed on by giving us both Caution and Security And the more diligent we are in examining and trying such Claims the more is he delighted with us and will bless that Industry Wisdom and Obedience The Old and New Testament give us many warnings about Dreamers false Prophets c. Command to beware of them not to believe but try them And for matter of Security God hath abounded in that by furnishing his Messengers with such extraordinary Powers that thereby mens belief was both Commanded and Secured Mark 16.20 as they Preached every where the Lord wrought with them confirming the Word with Signs following or accompanying Nor did it seem consistent with Gods Wise Dispensation to give Immediate Revelations and not to furnish the Receiver with such Divine Testimonials as might truly satisfie him that God spoke and also command Faith and Obedience from others Gods immediate Voice hath not used to come so precariously into the World to be mis-pent and wasted for want of Evidence and it might be an intangling thought to an Inspirado would he consider it why the former old Revelations should not at this day be as good to convey the Doctrine and meaning of Christianity as the former old Miracles were and are still sufficient to settle and seal its Truth or that Miracles should be set as Seals to confirm such revealed Doctrines and yet those Doctrines in After-ages need as fresh Revelations to convey and expound them and in the mean time have no Miracles to attest the Truth of those Expositions especially when different pretenders to Revelations bring as different Expositions these do more and more ensnare but we may extricate our selves by allowing as the old Miracles to be the Seals so the old Revelations thereby attested to be the Objects of our Faith But
Nature to this the Prophecies and Promises refer and we must render to each their due in the work of our Instruction to the Son as well as to the Spirit T. E. hath made the most untrue and desperate choice that could be the Apostles to receive the knowledge of the Gospel by the Immediate Revelacion of the Spirit what is become of all the Promises of the Messiah John 4.25 I know that Christ when he is come he will tell us all things saith the Woman of Samaria But by Ellwoods model he is com'd and gone and hath taught the Disciples nothing why did Christ chuse the Apostles Live Converse with and betwixt three or four years Instruct them in the things of Gods Kingdom if they were no better for all those Divine Lessons which came from him whom never man spoke like unto what quarrels have the Quakers against Jesus of Nazareth Luke 24.19 that Prophet or ' Divine Teacher mighty in Deed and Word before God and all the People that they must lay aside his Person or his Office either substituting the holy Spirit in his place or making their great Idol the Light or Christ within to do all the necessary work of Instruction Cannot T. E. permit Jesus to be the great Law-giver and Teacher and then upon his bodily removal from the earth the Holy Spirit to descend and build upon Christ the Foundation but as far as in him lies in imitation of the Heathens quarrels among their Deities he must have the Spirit to drown the Word the outward incarnate Christ to signify nothing but the inward Manifestation to Communicate all Was it the Holy Ghost who assumed our flesh lived and preached and Sealed the truth of his Doctrine with his Blood or it was the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who performed all those things and of whose fulness we receive were they the Apostles of the Spirit or the Apostles of Christ Jesus who breathed on them gave them Authority and sent the Holy Ghost to inable them to execute their Commission Why do the Quakers thus confound the works of the Word and the Spirit like the Libertines qui nihil ponunt inter filium Dei Calvin adversus Libertin Cap. 10. Spiritum ejus discriminis but suppose they were right about the Holy Unity that there is no destinction of Persons in the Godhead but that they are only different names of the same one Subsistence yet T. E. hath laid a wrong Foundation for it was not this Spirit which inwardly did all But it was Jesus the Son of Mary be he but a piece of the Christ or have he an Heavenly body sheathed up within that which he took of the Virgin or however else for they know not what to make of him nor do with him The man Jesus who was as truly visible in Jewry as Ellwood was in the House of Pennington stands much in their way and hinders their Light or Christ within who called the Apostles taught and instructed them as appears from the Series of the four Gospels which we shall adhere to rather than to these who do but dream dreams while they conceit that they see Visions This being the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that which is the procreative cause of so many delusions viz. a Disregarding Christs Personal Prophetical Office and placing their supposed Spirit in his room I shall make a short Narrative how the Apostles came to the knowledge of the Gospel how Religion was delivered by Christ that it was settled in an outward Bodily and Sensible way and thereby Ellwoods account of the Spirits doing the work by his inward Immediate teaching will appear not only distant from truth but the very subverter of the Christian Religion God having at sundry times and in divers manners made known his Will unto the Fathers at the last in the highest Dispensation which is never to be out dated he spoke unto us by his Son whom he hath appointed Heir of all things that is by the God-man Christ Jesus who took our flesh and blood and was of the same nature with us this Son of God was God himself who came to visit the earth and be his own Interpreter yet still he discharged this Office whilst he was Tabernacling in our Flesh He was God with us instructing us in the likeness and true Nature of man of a Reasonable Soul and Humane Flesh subsisting And thus I suppose those Prophecyes were fulfilled Taught of the Lord or Taught of God he had the Spirit without measure he was the very Temple of God the Holy of Holyes in and by whom the Divine Oracles were made known to Mortals The Divine Majesty resided in this man Jesus all the former owned ways of Revelation came to attend him into the World to usher him into his Office and give Credence to what he spoke and yet excepting some short Sentences serving as Testimonials to him they were all silent while he was Teaching but still Jesus in Humane Nature took the Chair and was Gods mouth and voice unto mankind as might be more fully and advantageously shewed The Apostles conversed with Christ saw heard eat drunk and lived with him how oft is this referred to of their being Eye and Ear Witnesses of what he did and said he taught them by Sermons Parables Conferences explaining things privately to them during the whole Term of his Ministry and after his Resurrection And must his whole Prophetick Office be thought nothing and can such select Scholars be still non-proficients under so powerful and so diligent an Instructer other Quakers think contrarily to T. E. and let one Infallible buffet another Whilst Christ abode with them in his bodily appearance they had some knowledge till the manifestation of the Spirit they were ignorant of many things many is not all that is for their knowledge and for their life he saith elsewhere the very Disciples themselves while they followed Christ outwardly were truly Religious and another of them surely none will or can deny Idem p. 230. who profess Christianity but the Apostles Taylors Faithful and True Witness the Light c. p. 12. in some measure before Christs outward departure from them had the Comfort of the Holy Spirit in them and were both Believers and obedient Children in their measure c. What though the Apostles being involved in the fatal prejudices of their Nation were ignorant of some things as about the Kingdom of God the Resurrection c. must they therefore know nothing of Faith Repentance a Christian Life or Duty Christ who knew them the best speaks otherwise John 17.6 7 8. they have kept thy word they have known they have believed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrysost apud Theâ—p in locum having known by my words and by my Doctrine The Apostles were as certain knowing Witnesses of Christ as we can be of any matters of Fact and the Christian Religion was entertained upon their Testimony that they
Evidence as T. Ellwood can 1. In the Primitive Church which was not little pestered by the varions forms which counterfeit Inspiration then assumed It appeared in the Apostles days Satan set up his Trade so early What warnings are there concerning false Christs false Prophets false Apostles How were the Apostles galled with them up and down in their several Plantations 2 Cor. 11.13 14 15. False Apostles transforming themselves into the Apostles of Christ Satan himself is transformed into an Angel of Light His Ministers transformed as the Ministers of Righteousness Thou hast tried them which say Rev. 2.2 they are Apostles and are not and hast found them Lyars v. 20. Thus Jezebel called her self a Prophetess Likely these may be the depths of Satan v. 24. For there is a Mystery of Iniquity as well as of Godliness the Mystery of the Woman as well as the Mystery of God And the ability of knowing who were Divinely Inspired is reckoned up among the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or extraordinary gifts 1 Cor. 12.10 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not barely the seeing into Mens hearts as Peter did to Simon Paul to Elymâ—s Grot. in loc but it was Dijudicatio qui Prophetae veri essent qui falsi an Heavenly discerning who were true who false Prophets and he lays down one Rule used in Tryal if they with-drew Men from Christ that is slighted his coming in the Flesh which is done by them who make Christ in the outward no Essential of their Religion Theophy in loc ite Oecumenius Discerning of Spirits was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to know who was a true Prophet or who was a Deceiver Nam Divinatores per illud temporis erant qui hominibus imponebant for then false Prophets were risen who imposed upon and deluded Men as Oecumenius addeth And this Immediate Revelation and Power of discerning continued till an intelligible Rule was settled known and owned in the Church wherein are sufficient means for detection of Impostors and to this Irenaeus resorts in all his Debates with those Hereticks 2. Either those false Teachers mentioned in those Texts or their Off-spring were the Gnosticks and Disciples of Simon Magus these among other heights now Challenged by T. Ellwood's Friends as to be free from Sin Perfect Spiritual to know all things pretended to Revelations Orig. con Cels Lib. 5. Arroganti Gnosticorum nomine polliceantur novam quandam scientiam they promised some high new knowledge Epiphan in Haeres Gnostic and they were not ashamed to say that our Lord Jesus Christ hanc turpem Operationem ipsis revelasse had revealed those filthy Opinions and Practices unto them And the Disciples of Simon Carpocrates Menander c. had affinity much one with another as the Libertines Swenckfeldians Familists and others of late have with the Quakers 3. Cerinthus Challenged Revelations as written by a great Apostle and feigned or related prodigious Narrations Euseb Hist Eccles Lib. 3. Cap. 25. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as shewed unto him by Angels and then brings in Christs Temporal Reign and his Dream of sensual pleasures And Aretas understands Cerinthus in that In Apocalyp Euseb Lib. 4. Cap. 7. Rev. 2.2 Novorum dogmatum annunciator Basilides also another of the like stamp assumed the names of several strange Prophets to him Epipha Haer. 24. as Barcab Barcoph c. who also suggested to his Disciples Vos omnia cognoscitis nemo autem vos cognoscat ye know all things George Fox was much like them who saw into the Heart of Mr. Nicols in Carlisle Perfect Pharisee p. 49. declaring him to be an Hypocrite but could not tell his Name when asked and Keith delivers it as Inspired Doctrine Imm. Rev. p. 186 189. The Children of God have been in all Ages unknown unto the World but they have an Infallible knowledge one of another by the free gift of God and when he pleaseth he may conceal some Persons that they may not be known for a time so Paul was unknown to the Brethren 4. Elxai appeared another false Prophet in the Times of the Emperour Trajan he wrote a Book By Prophecy Epipha Haer. 19. or according to a Divinely Inspired Wisdom and he endeavoured to introduce Imaginaria quaedam velut ex Revelatione certain imaginary fantastical things as by Revelation Augustin Haer. 32. His followers the Helcesaits were a most impious and abominable People rejecting some part of the Scriptures and chusing in the rest what would best suit to their conceit and those Opinions which they had imbibed Origen upon the Eighty second Psalm relates That they carried a certain Book about with them Apud Euseb H. Eccles L. 6. C. 37. which they affirmed did immediately drop down from Heaven and that whosoever heard and believed it should receive forgiveness of his sins though that was different from the Pardon which Christ conferred Eusebius indeed saith That this Sect was extinguished soon after its appearance and 't is happy when the Church is so soon rid of such pests But Epiphanius affirms its continuance to the times of Constantius when Marthus a Woman Ità Epiphan and even in his own days Et August Marthana her Sister were adored as Deities because they were of the Off-spring of Elxai and the Hereticks took their very spittle reliquas corporis sordes and other Excrements which they made use of towards the Curing of Diseases What Notion of Remission of sins some Quakers have entertained Fox Juniors Works 163. is too publick as also how their Works are said to be Written as moved and given by that Eternal Power which is like the Helcesaits Book they come down from Heaven and what Honour is done to some of their Grandees was evident in the instance of Naylor and is sadly lamented by the dissenting Party in those differences given to that Worthy Man G. F. as Mr. Pen calls him Winding-sheet p. 3. p. 7. many in the Ministry being wont to pull off his Shooes Irenae ad Haer. L. 1. c. 8. 5. Marcus an Arch-Heretick perverted many to him velut ad scientissimum perfectissimum as to a most knowing and most perfect Man By the assistance of a Daemon he also did seem to Prophecy quotquot dignas putat fieri participes gratiae suae Idem L. 1. c. 9. prophetare facit and he made such Women Prophecy as he thought fit to be pertakers of his grace He wrought most upon Women especially the Honourable and Rich aperi os tuum Propheta he bad Open thy Mouth Ità Epiphan Haeres 34. and thou shalt Prophecy The same Father relateth the manner how he effected it that raising their thoughts their hearts being heated and panting they grew bold and spake strange doting things and thereupon they fancied themselves to Prophecy He corrupted also many Women and the very words which Marcus gave unto himself are somewhat like those Blasphemous
understood Keith is far more prudent I grant that the History p. 232. or Historical part of the Scriptures is not conveyed unto us nor unto any ordinarily by Immediate Revelation Winding sh 5. Now the Gospels are undoubtedly Historyes of Christ what he was said did and suffered Mr. Pen calls one of them Johns History and the rest deserve that name as much so that they receive not the Gospels by Immediate Revelation And the whole Bible is transmitted to us as matter of History wherein such Commands Promises c. are comprized And this concession of Keiths pulls down Ellwoods whole Fabrick T. Ellwood doth strangely interfere with himself p. 223. p. 221. p. 235. p. 211. p. 231. he makes Tongues necessary to Preach to all Nations and yet confesseth it might be done by an Interpreter oft takes Notice of our owning the assistance of the Spirit and yet cryes out not a word of the Spirit of God but Humane Learning all in all he makes knowledge to be both the cause and the effect being strangely blundered to make out their Apostolical Inspirations without the Testimonials thereof Miracles and Tongues Lastly he makes the Gospel in all Ages revealed in some degree or other p. 237. which he anon retracts p. 243. Revealed in the first ages of Christianity and then brings on a long night of thick darkness and a general Apostacy Others of them are not more Harmonious it was never his to wit Christs Faith to sue Naylors living Faith p. 7. contend c. Sheild of the Truth p. 3. we sue no man at the Law but are sued by them but Thomas Ellwood is differently minded in civil cases it is no injustice for a man to recover his due by Law going to War is by some Condemned p. 361. Bishops looking glass p. 203. Barclay in Q. no Popery p. 100. Tyran Hipo. detected p. 22. Wars belonged to the Jewish Administration which had its end Quakers deny that it is Lawful for Christians to fight and kill one another in fighting Others of them have both allowed and followed Wars and John Thompson owned by others as a Quaker was Master of a Ship fought stoutly and killed many of the Dutch one while they were against all forms Great Mystery p. 16. Christ is the end of outward forms Paul brought the Saints off from things that are seen and water is seen and its Baptism but now they are hugely formal True Christian Faith p. 187. 189. Godliness is not manifested without a form in thy Holy form of Godliness led into by the power Justification by that Righteousness which Christ fulfilled for us wholly without us was one while esteemed a Doctrine of Devils Q is Paganism 8. 9. 10 11. Prin. his satisfaction counted irreligious and irrational that he fulfilled the Law only as our pattern and that Justification is by works but the horridness thereof is now mollifyed The Spirit Pennington's naked truth p. 35. the Life the Blood of the Lord Jesus justifieth Justification and the things accompanying it are the benefits of Christs death The same person renounceth all merit and debt strictly taken defines justification as it hath respect to what Jesus did and suffered for us without us Uni grace p. 103. Q. no Popery p. 47. 51. c. The procuring cause being Christ alone who became the expiatory Sacrifice and Propitiation unto God for our Sins Shewen dawbs it over by affixing an ill Doctrine on us that Christs Sanctification without us True Christian Faith p. 69. is imputed to a man whilst unsanctified which is not so bad as his own being taken into the third Heaven when unregenerate Fox at sometimes calls the Scripture a Rule the Scriptures shall buffet you about Epis to G. W Divin of Christ Q. no Pope p. 24. in 3d. Quib. p. 36. and you shall be whipped about with the Rule Keith calls it a compleat external secondary Rule Mr. Pen saith the Scripture is much like to the shadow of the true Rule c. a very great Honour do they advance it to to be much like the Shadow but not the Substance nor the shadow T. Ellwood daubs will allow it to be profitable and so are Tullyes Offices p. 241. but not to be a perfect and sufficient Rule in order to Salvation and yet he hath nothing Revealed but what is in Scripture so that if this be not sufficient the Repitition thereof must be as defective and having no new Essentials of Religion lesser than Inspiration might convey the others but at the last their kindness allows the Scripture to be a Rule in Cursing and Railing let it suffice that we give no harder names than the Scripture by Rule allows Hicks 3d Dialogue p. 40. With full mouth they declaim against Judicial swearing and yet for interest they can take an Oath some of them would have no Creeds nor Catechisms others compose such things They are much intangled when to Date that Apostacy of Christianity which they fancy Some make it to come before miraculous gifts ceased just upon the Apostles death In Mr. Jenner p. 116. Fiery darts p. 26. So Joseph Frice Since the Apostles days there hath been a great Apostacy and a true Church of Christ could not be found during all which time the true Church hath been in a Wildernessed Estate Christ had not a Visible Church in the World saith Farnsworth G. W. and G. F. reply at Cambridge Gag for the Q. p. 5. Howgils Glory of the Church p. 6. and yet they quote broken sayings of the Ancients who were within the Apostacy others of them do qualify the severity of the former the Church of Christ was glorious the first hundred years after his Manifestation in the Flesh and Keith more enlargeth the purity of the Church the Testimony of Antiquity in the purest times especially the three or four first Centuryes Q. no Popery p. 69. Spirit of the Hat p. 9. which at length they retort home concerning the great Apostacy in this day among themselves In 3d. Quib p. 36. G. Whitehead durst one while write That which was spoken from the Spirit of truth in any is of as Great Authority as the Scriptures and Greater c. Which being odious to all good minds he declares confidently the contrary as if our observations were as stupid as his Conscience nor did we ever prefer our Books before the Bible but do prefer the Bible before all other Books extant in the World one while man must be thou'd because God is so Q. plainness p. 70 71. anon the Hat must not be put off to man The true Christians Faith p. 187. that must be reserved to God alone as a necessary piece of his Worship These and many such are the crooked ways and interfering paths wherein their private Spirit is bewildred Spirit of the Hat p. 25. 2. Having taken an
again with the Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven And at this Rate they may say or be any thing Demonstrate though they cannot shew having the Power but not the thing 3. Supposing the Quakers Principles true Miracles are more necessary now than ever For 1. God wrought Miracles to convince Unbelievers and in the Quakers Charity we are no better come you un-Christians saith the curious Pen of Fox William Shewen calls us 2d Quib. p. 66. Pennington concerning peâ—â—ec Prof. Barclay in Q. no Popery p. 106. titular and nominal Christians through his whole Book Christians according to the Letter who are as great Enemies to the Spirit and Power as ever the Jews were Worldly literal Christians both Papists and Protestants now being such Miracles are infinitely necessary to disabuse and to remove us from the Letter into the Spirit a mistaken Christianity being more obstructing and prejudicial than meer Heathenism 2. If Miracles were necessary when the Scriptures were Writ which are a dead Letter a Sealed Book and worse then are they much more necessary when Inspired Expositions thereof are given To allude to T. Ellwoods terms of shell and kernel c. God would not give a Demonstration the shell was his and leave us at a loss whether the kernel was his also if he send Evidences along with the bark rind c. he would do the same much more with the Substance The Apostacy continuing 1548 years we need signs that this is the same Doctrine with the old especially if the Scripture the Repository of that Doctrine cannot be understood without Inspiration there being many Pretenders we need a Sign more at the unsealing than at the sealing of that Book if to receive the Letter much more to understand the Spirit the sence when given as from God needs most of all his Attestation to it for the pretending to give an Inspired Exposition of the Scriptures is more than the bringing new Scriptures and needs greater Attestations as much as the sense is better than the Letter And Thomas Ellwood knows not what he hath but if he have Revelations they must be new ones for Revelation being necessary to understand the Scriptures those Expositions Thomas Ellwood receives must be new the Repetition is the reacting the old but then the Expounding is the conferring new which are not to be found within the Bible 3. The debate being whether or no they be Inspired upon their grounds nothing can end it but the interposing of Gods Power For to say They Witness it is a begging the Question and to credit those Witnessings will expose to delusions to produce Scripture disowned by them as the Rule is improper and concludes nothing being it cannot be understood without Inspiration when produced or if it could still it concludes as equally for any other Pretender as for them 4. He who abrogates a Divine Law must produce greater Authority for so doing than that by which at first it was instituted Thus Christ taking down or altering that way of Worship which had been set up by a Power of Miracles in Moses produced greater Evidences than Moses that he was sent from God And that Quakers do abrogate Christs Commands is evident from slighting his Sacraments c. Thus Shewen concerning Baptism and the Disciples and Apostles having Baptized some proceeds not discerning the times and seasons True Christians Faith p. 79. and the divers Dispensations of God towards mankind since the fall nor perceiving the end of them lays hold of the shadow and figure instead of the Substance c. Allegorizing and abrogating Christs Institutions 5. He who brings a newer and an higher Dispensation must produce visible Evidence for so doing in this indeed the Quakers are much divided Some making theirs a new Dispensation new Heavens and a new Earth Pennin Conc. Persecu Pref. Idem in Faldo Quak. no Chris p. 17. New Law p. 14. the former Dispensation was swallowed up by the breaking forth of a more Lively Dispensation This Fancy runs through the Works of Winstanley the Ministration of the Spirit is now rising up claims its due right by course And having received it from God he thus writeth there are seven Dispensations 1. to Adam 2. the Seed of the Woman from Adam to Abraham Mistery of God p. 21. 3. From Abraham to Moses 4. From him to Christ. 5. God in Christ. 6. God in the Flesh of his Saints as before in Christ which holds till the day of Judgment which is the 7th these he contracts into three Moses New Law p. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 120. Christ the Spirit and as Moses gives way to Christ so that single Body Jesus gives way to the Holy Ghost or spreading Power in Sons and Daughters and this begun in 1648. and every such Dispensation is a full period or term of Time Mistery of God p. 38. 40. Im. Rev. p. 18. p. 49. others makes theirs to be an higher Improvement of the former Dispensation the more Gospel times that were to come in the latter daies A spiritual Ministry a Gospel Ministry a powerful Ministry is come and coming or they would have it a reviving the Dead or a restoring of the former lost Dispensation Universal free Grace 92. Christs Spiritual inward and powerful appearance is now again revealed in this day after the Apostacy but every several way of stating makes it high Howgils Glory of the true Church 32. for the Everlasting Gospel was a thing beyond above and before the Writings of the new Testament and it requires the Spirits owning it before any should entertain it for it is a mighty alteration from a Bodily Christ without to an Invisible one within and if the Man Christ wrought Miracles much more should Christ the Spirit Act. 2.22 the visible Christ was a man approved of God by Miracles Wonders and Signs which God did by him in the midst of them as they also knew the new Invisible Christ hath nothing to approve him but words and fancyes but either at bringing as Moses at reviving as Elias or at changing as Christ of a Dispensation Miracles were necessary and though John the Baptist wrought no Miracles yet his coming was Prophecyed of by Esaias and Malachy nor did he bring in a new Dispensation only he prepared for it but the Quakers pretending to the highest Dispensation that of Christ in the Spirit which is never to be out-dated are to do greater works than Christ in the Body and Miracles being the Work of the Spirit they being more necessary to it than to the Dispensation of Christ Quakers are to have its Demonstration both to usher in its Dispensation and also to assure us that they are the sole Persons intrusted with the bringing of it But whence had they this Notion there are Presidents enough for what is evil Montanus and Mahomet made use of this Weapon David George took himself for the true Spiritual David sent to Restore the House
him TH. Ellwood representing the Holy Scriptures dark and unintelligible attempts to prove his Immediate Teachings from those dark texts which he saith cannot be understood without Immediate Inspiration and which we deny the having of 't is a manner of proceeding that makes the Scriptures confute themselves and supposeth men fools who must admit that which cannot be understood Yet so far to be understood as to be a proof against it self and no further other proofs of Inspiration are only in this case proper but seeing he hath no Evidences else let us try those Expositions his Spirit gives of some places This Prophecy he confesseth begun to be fulfilled at Pentecost but denyeth that it is yet ended Joel 2.28 p. 270. but Joel foretells not the reacting of old Prophecyes only that after its cessation for many years there should be another more plentifull Effusion of the Spirit then had been before St. Peter an Inspired Interpreter refers it to that very thing the Descent of the Spirit Act. 2.16 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this is that c. in the present tense and dare Thomas Ellwood sence it otherwise Well may they controll Expositions of men when they contradict that of the Spirit if it belong to all than the Papacy had it and Thomas Ellwood will lose his share we being flesh and he Spirit but the Apostle makes that very days Wonder to be the fulfilling of it which he uttered upon receit of the Gift of Tongues before other Miracles were wrought why is not the Spirit as Visible now as in that Chamber in Sion why do Quakers deny Prophecyes Visions Dreams strictly taken and insist for Revelation not there named Joel hath afterwards which Peter adapting to the Jewish State calleth the last days the Scripture sence thereof will clear it that last days refer to some determinate period of time reason will tell us for that last days should signify all time is not possible for the now last are before the succeeding last and each taking his own for the last days nothing could be certain thus H. Nicholas applyed the last days to his Prophecy upon an hundred and twenty years agon New Law p. 11. Glory of Church 8. The Leveller took latter times to support his own fancy Howgil in 1661. called those the last days So did Truth Exalted in 1658. p. 1. but latter days is an Old Testament phrase Gen. 49. 1. Num. 24.14 Isa 2.2 Referring oft to the last days of the Jewish Government within which Christ was to appear but to inlarge last days to all the periods of Christianity is very improper and will leave nothing determinate Thus Heb. 1.2 God hath in these last days c. i. e. not in our last which may not be the last by many hundreds but in those last a while before the throwing down of the Jewish inclosure St. Peters last days 2 Pet. 3.3 are followed v. 13. with looking for a new Heaven and a new Earth wherein dwelleth Righteousness that refers not to the day of Judgment when we look for no new Earth but to the state of Christianity the Jewish last days being out a new Holy State of Christianity should commence this is that World to come Heb. 2.5 which is not put in Subjection to Angels as the Jewish World was Christ the Everlasting Father Isa 9.6 is the Father 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of this Future 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Period Age World or State which is to be Everlasting never antiquated by any supervening Dispensation These two States of Moses and Christ are conjoyned 1 Cor. 10.11 the ends of the World are come 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 upon the Apostles the extreams of those two periods met the ends of those two States concentred and concurred So Heb. 9.26 he hath once in the end of the World not of this World Christ is not to die again but at the end of the Jewish World he dyed at the close or shutting up of that State and St. John surviving them all calls it the last hour all flesh refers to Gentiles as well as Jews some of all Ages some of all Sexes c. at the return of the Spirit of Prophecy should be so Inspired If T. Ellwood inlarge this to all he must confute St. Peters Present Tense he must produce visible Proofs of the Spirit as the Apostles did and lastly both as to this and other Texts shew his party to be wholly intrusted with the Revelations therein supposed Ephes 1.17 The Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation or the Wisdom and Revelation of the Spirit but Immediate p. 227. instant conferring is not named or if it was it had been sutable to that first Plantation or if you have it at present then we desire Evidences of such before we give Credit but the word either implyes ability of Exposition of the figures of the Old Testament Dr. Ham. Grot. or the foretelling Future things which man cannot find out but the Spirit still reveals to us gradually in Blessing the used means inlightning our minds c. Rom. 8.9 p. 232. All true Believers received and must receive the Spirit but it doth not require of Immediate instant Inspiration but the Spirit of Sanctification and Adoption v. 10 13. c. 2 Cor. 4.6 God hath shined in our hearts but it doth not say Immediately p. 232. the Gospel which is outwardly proposed is a Glorious Light when it is inwardly entertained but it was by the Ministry of Paul they received that Light Grot. v. 7. that Treasure being brought them in earthen vessels in the face of Jesus that is by Jesus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth a Person it is id omne quod sensibus exterioribus percepitur 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Theophil p. 233. Gal. 1.16 Thomas Ellwood crowds together several things which are not in that Text but the Apostle shews how he received the Gospel not of man by certain ear Testimony as St. Luke and St. Mark did but from Jesus Christ himself who called him and taught him Act. 9. 22. and 26. In me is either unto me or by me or if in me yet not so as to destroy Christs outward calling and commissionating him p. 233. Ephes 3.3 7. He sets this in the Margin without the Words which concern only the Revelation of that Mystery viz. the taking in the Gentiles to be Fellow heirs v. 6. which Revelation is oft referred to and implyed in Scripture p. 237. 2 Pet. 1.21 Here he makes a wide inference because Prophecy came not by the Will of man c. Therefore the Scriptures must be understood only by the Revealings of the Spirit the Immediate influx of Prophetick light into anothers Soul is of a different nature from my sensing or understanding that Light which he received for if the Prophets could not conceive or write intelligibly what the Spirit spoke no more can Thomas Ellwood for the Spirit was as able to speak
in that best of Books called the Bible But must the first settling a Dispensation be always continued Must those manners whereby Religion was propagated be perpetually maintained Then Miracles are as necessary in the present Church as in the Primitive the ten Commandments were delivered in Thundrings and Lightnings were those repeated every time the Law was read in their Synagogues and Houses The Holy-Ghost descended wonderfully on the day of Pentecost So Acts 4.31 8.17 10.44 11.15 15.8 19.6 and generally there was an outward evidence of him upon Believers but where have we now such Miraculous Convictions of his Presence Religion being once settled by Gods extraordinary Power needs not the daily renewing those Wonders and when other Miraculous gifts are ceased and Prophecy is fore-told to cease as well as Tongues and Tongues are undoubtedly ceased It is strange and looks like giving God the Lie to say that Prophecy is longer lived than the other The first bringing in a Religion requires other Methods of Conviction than are necessary afterwards for being entertained upon those Evidences The danger of Enthusiasm Discovered in an Epistle to the Quakers and committed to writing God continues it in a regular course men instructing men from these owned Oracles as is well proved in a late Treatise George Fox upon T. Ellwood's Principles may quarrel with Margaret Fell that she is not his Wife because not made out of his Rib as Eve was out of Adam's and Margaret Fell may retort that George Fox is not her Husband because he was not formed out of the Earth as Adam was The Israelites might refuse to Plough and Sow in Canaan expecting the same easie Maintenance afforded in the Wilderness And we may Object that now we are not to work only to expect and wait the Earth ought to yield us Fruit of its own accord as it did in Paradise T. E. needs the Breast and Spoon at forty years old as well as at four months and all Men and Women must come into the World in the same manner with Adam and Eve and this is the direct consequent of holding Nature and Religion always in the Cradle But though Quakers did not hear nor see Christ nor have had the Spirit visibly descend yet these Successors have the same inward Revelations with the Apostles If you prove it in the same manner they could you shall have another manner of return till then I shall be assured that God doth not multiply unnecessaries nor grant things to satisfie wanton Humours Whatever Immediate Revelations the Apostles had we have at this day the benefit of them in their Inspired Writings and God having conveyed them to us in an Intelligible Book it is not his Method to increase Revelations to represent that immediately to my Soul which he hath commanded me to read in a Book of his own Inditing Christ who raised Lazarus from the dead could by the very same Word have rolled away the stone that lay over him but he was not Prodigal of Miracles Where other means can be used Gods immediate Power will not be Arrested He therefore bids first Take ye away the stone John 11.39 which they obeyed v. 41. and then he speaks with Power Lazarus come forth If the Apostles had Immediate Revelations which I can read in my Bible for me to say I receive them in the same manner is a Delusion and to desire the receit is a Temptation But suppose that Ellwood's Book was writ by Revelation as his Hectoring Letter imports May the Honour be returned to that Powerful Arm which gave both the Weapon and therewithal skill and strength to use it And suppose the Expositions he gives proceed from the same Fountain still fresh vexations do arise for I am as much to seek how to understand his Book as an Epistle of St. Paul's If Paul's Revelation cannot be understood without a new one no more can Ellwood's the Successor must be like the Predecessor and therefore till he can either write so as to be understood or give us security that he writes by Revelation and withall assurance where to meet with another Inspiration to capacitate us to understand his Charity obligeth him to keep his sealed-up Notions to himself and not to trouble the World with waste Paper But upon what grounds is all this claimed Doth he know by Inspiration that all Believers receive the Gospel as the Apostles did No sure for he turns another way attempts a proof thereof from Scripture-promises but hereby he makes Quakerism a little imbodyed 'T is not so airy and slippery as formerly I may now look at it turn it about and handle it which leads to the third 3. The Proofs produced to make out this claim and they seem more like the coherence of a Quakers dream than the Logick of a waking Man p. 228. Thus he takes his rise As our Saviour prayed not for them onely but all such also as should believe on him through their word So what he promised concerning sending the Comforter he did not promise with Restriction and Limitation onely but with an extensive relation to all that should believe on him and inference that is strangely wide and destructive of his very design Is there no limitation because he observes none Nor no restriction implyed where not expresly given From a Prayer for all to infer a Promise to all especially when about different things is a loose way of Arguing Such a Writer may commence any thing per saltum and from Fisher's folly instantly jump into the Porphyry's Chair Christ's Prayers were always granted and his Promises fulfilled but his Prayer and Promise must not be confounded He made Intercession for Transgressors he Prayed Father Isa 53.12 Luke 23.34 forgive them for they know not what they do It would have been a closer deduction but untrue thence to infer that all Transgressors and all that know not what they do be the Ignorance never so culpable are forgiven But view the Prayer and it confutes this perverting gloss it was a Prayer for all Believers that they may be one that is John 17.21 live in all the Duties of Christian Unity Had Christ prayed for Immediate Revelation to all Believers in all Ages that had been to his purpose but it is not named nor concerned here And the very words of that Prayer in v. 20. plough up his Fancy For them also who shall believe on me through their word where the Apostles Word Doctrine Preaching and Testimony concerning Christ is made the Motive to Mens believing in him and Immediate Revelation is not once named He would have also the promise of sending the Comforter given without Restriction but in Scripture limitations must be given to general words according to matters c. concerned Joel 2.28 I will pour my Spirit upon all Flesh is not upon Horses Asses no nor the unconverted Indians John 14.26 He shall teach you all things is not giving
the skill of Astronomy or Algebra So the promise of the Spirit is not onely to be understood with Restriction but the very Limitations are given John 15.27 Ye have been with me from the beginning that limits it to the Persons of the Apostles who accompanyed with Christ beginning from the Baptism of John Acts 1.22 Hereupon Christ saith Ye also shall bear Witness which none could do upon their certain knowledge but his Personal Attendants And John 16.13 He will shew you things to come restrains it also to the Apostles which clause T. E. as too tough for him ungodlily leaves out But to Argue upon their Principles what is Ellwood concerned in Christ's Promise made before his Death when as he slights Luke 14.8 because spoken before the one Offering was Actually offered up Edw. Burroughs p. 47. p. 37. Another saith A Command to one binds not another no more should a Promise to one benefit another The gift of Tongues and working Miracles were peculiar to the Apostles Times Geo. Whitehead's Reprehension and so was Inspiration also Those Promises Christ made just before his Death having discharged his Prophetick Office he betook himself to his Priestly the Multitude being gone he addressed himself in his Sermon to his Apostles whom he left his Commissioners on Earth and having finished his Prayer was presently Apprehended Now to enlarge to all Believers what was spoke to that select Company will make wild Divinity T. Ellwood so may pass for Thomas Didymus and challenge one of the twelve Thrones whereon to sit and Judge the twelve Tribes of Israel But suppose he inferred truly in an extensive Relation to all Believers till he prove me to be no Believer he hath argued me to have Inspiration as well as himself and withal Faith being an Internal invisible Grace without another Immediate Revelation I cannot be assured who is this true Believer nor who hath the Spirit It may suffice humble Souls that those Promises may extend in some sort to the whole Church diffusive not to every single Man no nor Sect of Men nor to any Church of one Denomination whatsoever and that God will bestow the Spirit of Illumination and Sanctification upon sincere Christians But that those are different from the Apostolical Inspiration without which a man may be saved and with which he may be damned To these he adds Auxiliary Proofs as John 17.37 38 39. p. 128. in which neither Repeated nor Immediate Revelation as perpetual is named And he reads it differently from his Master Fox who thus turns it Out of whose Belly Great Mystery p. 130. in the Spirit of the Quakers tryed Universal Grace p. 102 viz. the Light Christ flowed Rivers of Living water as also the Text above is differently by him Interpreted from his Tutor Keith He prayeth for them that they may be converted and believe as John 17.21 That Text as to us is now abundantly fulfilled in that Vital Principle of Holiness implanted in all Regenerate Hearts whereas it doth explain it self v. 39. to belong to the day of Pentecost But T. E. deals with it as Satan did with that Mat. 4.6 leaveth out the Holy-Ghost was not yet given because Jesus was not yet Glorified Chrysost apud Theop. in locum because it looked unkindly on his Project 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He brings in also p. 229. 1 John 2.20 27. wherein Immediate perpetual Revelation is not named but it referreth to the Subject matter the discovering of false Teachers and Doctrines by the anointing that gift of discerning the Spirits then in the Church But if T. E. conceit that he know all things I shall grant him to succeed some in such thoughts Irenae advers Haeres Lib. 1. c. 1. Origen L. 1. p 31. the Gnosticks and Valentinians Abundantiùs gloriantur plus quam caeteri cognovisse Gloryed themselves to know much more than others And Celsus had as high conceits 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 boasted he knew all the Doctrines and things belonging to Christians His other Proofs from John 14 15 16 Chapters belong in their proper and prime sence to the Apostles who were Christs Attendants whilst he lived on Earth and his Commissioners and Witnesses when Ascended The fancy that without Revelation we are left comfortless is foolish for God hath afforded the certain Original Revelations to us in his Bible we have his Spirit and his Comforts to many purposes besides Inspiration and he is still with us in the use of means as he causeth Corn to grow and yet our Labour and Sowing are required Vbi supra Thus like those in Irenaeus he doth ex arenâ resticulas nectere his whole Scheme thus far is but a rope of Sand drawn out of untrue and unconcluding Premisses Jesus that Prophet is laid aside and the Spirit made the whole Teacher and that Employment is devolved on him to make way for their inward unaccountable suggestions Then he kindly supposeth his Friends to be the Apostles Successors thence infers that all must be taught for ever as the Apostles were And lastly attempts at some Proofs which without a Quakers Spectacles cannot be therein spelled Feed my Sheep the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven c. serve the Pope as clearly and with more likelihood The Disciples of H. Nicholas may be esteemed the Nicholaitans Rev. 2. or the two George Foxes be Interpreted those little Foxes Cant. 2.15 that spoil the Vines CHAP. IV. Concerning their Renewed or Repeated Revelations UPON these tottering Pillars he raiseth several and different Notions I. To begin with their Youngest that which is their Fondling viz. the Claim of Renewed and Repeated Revelations which without offering one Text in favour thereof he thus wordeth p. 238. Not new Revelations that is new things Revealed but rather renewed Revelations that is Old things revealed anew The same Gospel the same way of Salvation the same Essentials of Religion the same Principles and Doctrines in a word the same good Old Truths which were Revealed to the Saints of Old and are Recorded in the Holy Scriptures Revealed now anew This he is large upon p. 243. That they are again Revealed by the same Spirit which he calls a repetition of the former Revelations p. 254 256. But why names he not the Author of this knack That would have looked untowardly upon the Immediateness of it Im. Revelation not ceased p. 3. But George Keith Inspired him therewith Observe the difference betwixt these two the new Revelation of new things and the new Revelation of the good old things which are the Essentials of Religion The first of these two we do not plead for but the latter And elsewhere p. 33. The same Eternal Life which first breathed them forth doth either again breath or speak them forth in us or sendeth forth of his Living powerful Influences into them as they have a place in our Minds and Memories this latter as more modest is below Ellwoods purpose
also then in their production too fertile and the Quaker is Junior to the most of them and they are all able to produce as good Evidences and Deeds so that it seems strange the Quaker should ingross both the birth-right and the blessing too from all the rest 1. The Seekers or Religious Scepticks laid Claim to Inspirations I call them so because those various differing Sectaries may be best comprized under such a general name Edward Gangre second Part p. 2. They affirm and hold they have not onely had Revelations but they have seen Visions also The means of Gods revealing himself and his mind and will to his Servants in reference to their Salvation is immediately by himself without Scripture without Ordinances without Ministers or any other means but especially many in the Army about 1645. took themselves to be intimate with God Idem p. 5. Some Officers and Souldiers affirmed That they had had Revelations and seen Visions and took upon them to Prophesie A Lieutenant a great Devoto denyed the Trinity of Persons affirming them to be three Offices he denyed that Christs presence in Heaven could be proved by Scripture p. 7. and made a great question whether there was a Resurrection or no. Mrs. Attaway the Woman-Preacher then begun to exercise Boggis wish'd he had not known so much of the Bible which he said p. 163. was but only Paper And Clarkson the Seeker vilifies the Scripture Ordinances p. 165. c. would not have People to live upon black and white and said That they of themselves were not able to Reveal God T. E. is the Successor of such Blades as these 2. The Antinomians maintained their undutiful Notions by recourse to this Armour and the Quakers have borrowed much from them as Perfection Discerning who were Elected the Notions about Christs Person and Christ within humane Learning and the like but I shall onely consider their Inspirations a large account of which we find in one who diligently traversed their Writings Rutherford's Survey of Spiritual Anti-Christ p. 173 174 175. The Witness of the Spirit is meerly Immediate without respect to Sanctification or Acts thereof all Doctrines Revelations and Spirits must be tryed by Christ rather than by the Word A Christian is not to Pray nor to do any Spiritual Acts but when the Spirit moveth him thereunto That all other askings or seekings of God which are not thus in Spirit are but the askings of Creatures as Creatures p. 222. The Scriptures are not to be understood according to Grammatical construction but as the Spirit of God reveals them p. 229. The meer Commandments of Scripture are not a Law to Christians p. 305. but the Law written in our Hearts The Holy-Ghost comes in place of the Natural Faculties of the Soul and acteth us immediately to all internal and external acts Part 2d p. 195. c. And that American Jezebel Mrs. Hutchinson said That her particular Revelations about events to fall out are as Infallible as any parts of Scripture p. 211. and that she is bound as much to believe them as the Scripture for the same Holy Ghost is the Author of both 3. The Levellers do make out their Free-born Community with Arrows fetched from this Quiver Winstanley the great Master of the Craft is exact herein New Law of Righte p. 46. This Phrase Mine and Thine shall be swallowed up there shall be no need of Lawyers Prisons or Engines of Punishment no Beggar nor cause of complaining there shall be no Buying nor Selling no Fairs nor Markets but the whole Earth shall be a common Treasury for every man The Poor upon their Commons saying p. 47. This is Ours the Earth and Fruits are common Now this Platonick fancyful Model he raiseth upon Revelation As I was in a Trance divers matters were presented to my sight which here must not be related p. 57. likewise I heard these words Work together eat Bread together declare it all abroad Likewise I heard these words Whosoever it is that Labours in the Earth for any Person or Persons that lift up themselves as Lords or Rulers over others and that do not look upon themselves equal to others in the Creation The hand of the Lord shall be upon that Labourer I the Lord have spoken it and I will do it Declare this all abroad And this very Trumpet he saith is still sounding in his Ears p. 67. Work together c. Surely the Lord hath not revealed this in vain This Heavenly Voice was so delightful that he was filled with abundance of quiet Peace and secret Joy p. 58. and he obeyed the Command of the Spirit which bid him Declare it all abroad by word of mouth and Pen and he waited till God shewed him the place and manner how to work upon the Common Lands p. 64. I will then go forth and declare it in my Action to eat my Bread with the sweat of my brows looking upon the Land as freely mine as anothers I have now Peace in my Spirit c. And elsewhere up-the same Subject he opens freely Fire in the Bush the Preface This Declaration of the Word of Life was a free gift to me from the Father himself When I had writ it I delayed the sending it almost a fortnight then the Voice was ready go send it to the Churches which he did well I have obeyed the voice and have sent this to you but what was the substance of the voice That he relates the voice is gone out Freedom Freedom Freedom he that hath ears to hear let him hear And what was this Freedom Even a setting the Earth free a breaking down all Pin-folds and laying all open to the Common Now have not I an equal if not greater Reason to believe his so particular and exact Revelations concerning Equality rather than your general and withal mixed ones concerning other matters Nay have not you as much ground to believe his pretence in this as to take the very lineaments of your Profession from him and yet herein desert him when as he Challengeth Inspiration for this as fully as for any other Doctrine But that you dare pick and chuse mangle and alter your own Revelations as well as his may in its due place appear A Sober Answer p. 56. 4. The Ranters deluded themselves and others with this blind and Fox acknowledged the affinity of his and their Principles that black Divinity challenged immediate Communications as fully as T. E. Some sweet sips of Spiritual Wine sweetly and freely dropping c. A Prophecy a Vision a Revelation and the Interpretation thereof in the Title page and as many pages as there are we have almost as much talk of the Spirit That Tract is like the other Scriptures p. 1. the Father secretly whispering would not have him set down Book Chapter or Verse though he used Scripture Language p. 2. arise out of Flesh
into Spirit out of Form Type and so into Power Truth c. p. 4. 48. passim hear what the Spirit saith p. 10. The Doctrine turned into a Prayer is a brisk one Fall upon them while they are eating and drinking without p. 13. let them eat and drink within bread in the Kingdom and drink Wine new in the Kingdom even new in the Kingdom new in the Kingdom not in the oldness of the Letter but in the newness of the Spirit The Elements p. 6. Formal Prayer Baptism Supper c. shall melt away into God and at this rate he proceeds he Loved also a Woman Prophetess even his dear Friend p. 46. Mrs. T. P. I had as live hear a Daughter as a Son Prophesie and I know that Women that stay at home divide the Spoyl Male and Female are all one in Christ 5. The Fifth Monarchy Mâ—n were not onely Citizens of the New Jerusalem but Candidates of Heaven receiving much Intelligence from thence Their Prophet for I know not what Sect else he should belong to had several Visions of what the All of All things was bringing to pass The pouring forth of the seventh Vial upon all Flesh The Father spoke to him as he lay in a Trance almost dead for 22 hours in the Preface Being chosen to declare those things and publish them as being what the Prophets pointed at his Name was changed from George in a Vision to Jacob Israel Foster and so saith he I subscribe or George Foster or Jacob Israel Foster His Visions are too many to be set down as if he strove both to imitate and out-do St. John some few we shall take a taste of for their curiosity He had a Vision of the calling of the Jews p. 19. under the Emblem of a man that went up and down gathering men together So that the Jews now dispersed among the Gentiles were to return to their own City p. 33. p. 41. p. 55. and there the Lord would Reign among his Saints in Mount Sion for Judea was the place where both God and his Spouse were to rest Heaven or the third and highest Dispensation must be about Jerusalem for the Credit of our Nation the Chief or Principal Leader of this Expedition into the Holy Land p. 39. must be an English man whom God hath chosen for that Work When they came to Jerusalem they were to dye and presently to rise up again and never to dye more and the time of restitution is to be in the year 7000. after which there is neither Hell nor Devils left p. 40 with very many Visions of the like Nature delivered in such exact Circumstances with so set and composed a Countenance and under such variety of Emblems and Figures that he deserves as much regard as any other in the whole herd of Enthusiasts 6. William Franklin Mary Gadbury and their Proselytes put in as strongly and produce as good proofs for Inspiration as T. E. can do some take them for Quakers but the name was not then known nor do I think they will own them But be their Sect without name or what else I am not concern'd it is onely their Revelations I must consider for they had drunk their share of the Spirit of Delusion then poured forth Franklin affirmed Humphrey Ellis his Pseudo Christus p. 7. His Receit of Revelations and Visions which he endeavoured to countenance with fair and seeming Gospel Expressions he pretended to Prophesie to fore-tell things to come to speak with new Tongues p. 36. and babled out uncouth words He also forgave Sins and his Proselytes as Spradbury and the rest were drawn unto him by Sights and Voices with several strange Relations His Whore Mary Gadbury called him the Son of God p. 31. the Christ the Lamb slain c. She pretended to Visions Voices and Revelations was full of comfort p. 8. joy and singing had strange trembling Fits She saw a Light as big as the Moon and many Stars p. 10. p. 18. she had a voice sometimes to seal up the Vision and then would not speak she slighted Sacred Scripture and yet delivered her Revelations in its Language p. 15. They were commanded in a Vision to go into the Land of Ham which by a sutable Exposition they Interpreted Hampshire Their Proselytes like the Disciples of Marcus had Voices p. 22 28. Visions and Glories insomuch that both a Minister Mr. Woodward and his Wife were deluded by them he hearing Voices and seeing Glories and she seeing Visions To this hight they had quickly arrived till the Vigilance of the Magistrates suppressed them That Whore with whom Franklin lay as a fellow-feeler of her Misery called her self the Spouse of Christ p. 50. the Lady Mary the Queen the Bride and the Lamb's Wife Had she not been ten years too forward she would have been a fit Match for apretty pragmatical thing of G. F. which begun to bleat in 1659. called the Lamb's Officer gone out with the Lamb's Message 7. Lodowick Muggleton and John Reeve giving out themselves as the two last Witnesses Rev. 11.3 as the Prophets of Christ and the Sealers of the Fore-heads of the Elect and the Reprobate appeared much contemporary with the Quakers being equal to them both in their Claims and Proofs of Inspiration But the Devils Malice herein out-run his Wit for setting up so many contradictory Competitours in Revelation about the same time one of them is a sufficient confutation of another whereas had but one single Sect put in and ingrossed the favour of that immediate Heavenly converse weak and simple Souls might thereby have been sooner deluded but to considering minds their so fertil multiplication is their mutual Destruction In what terms Muggleton Challenged Inspiration is not now proper to relate for seeing that the Fire hath of late deservedly by publick Order done Execution upon his Works 't is not manners to rake such putrid stuff out of its ashes Let all the like Tracts and Pretentions meet with the like Purgation Only by way of Tryal take this whatever the Learned men of this World Dream of finding out the Invisible things of Eternity Reeves and Muggleton's Divine Looking-glass Cap. 36. p. 145. by searching into the Scripture Records and comparing them togeher the Divine Majesty hath lock'd up all the Principal Secrets of the Scriptures in his own Spiritual Breast that he by any Immediate Revelation may dispose of them into the Spirits of Elect Men and Angels most advantagious for his own Glory and their Consolation 8. Anna Trapnel exceeds both the Quakers and most of the other Pretenders in excessive fastings Poetical Enthusiasms lucky hits upon several things that came to pass afterwards rapturous Devotions The cry of a stone Title Preface c. She was in the Visions of God by an Inspiration extraordinary and full of wonder England was the Valley of Vision the wise have