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A33735 The perfect pharisee under monkish holinesse opposing the fundamentall principles of the doctrine of the gospel, and scripture-practices of gospel-worship manifesting himselfe in the generation of men called Quakers, or, A preservative against the grosse blasphemies and horrid delusions of those, who under pretence of perfection and an immediate call from God, make it their business to revile and disturb the ministers of the gospel published for the establishing of the people of God in the faith once delivered to the saints, and in a speciall manner directed to beleevers, in Newcastle and Gateside. Weld, Thomas, 1590?-1662.; Cole, William. 1653 (1653) Wing C5045; ESTC R37653 40,293 52

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that of George Bateman to Mr. Ledgard pag. 25. 26. a● also their casting away their Bibles W●● Strickland told Mr. Archer If he had never Read the Bible it had been better for him How constantly doe the Scriptures passe under no better name from them then the Saints conditions Davids Moses Isays Pauls conditions and a declaration of the condition of them that spake them forth Confut. This Position is so grosse that we hope it will never sinke into any Christian heart but will be a confutation to it selfe in the thought of any sober minded Christian yet we shall propose these things 1. That when the Word of the Lord came to the Prophets Samuel Isay I●remiah c. it cannot be understood of the Word that was made Flesh the Lord Iesus but must necessarily signifie that minde or message of the Lord contained in those words or Scripture Writings as 1 Sam. 15. 10. Then came the Word of the Lord to Samuel saying It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be King Isay 38. 5. then came the Word of the Lord unto Isay saying Say to Hezekiah c. I will adde unto thy dayes fifteene yeares Ier. 14. 1. The Word of the Lord that came to the Prophet Ieremiah concerning the dearth Iudah mourneth and the gates thereof languish It s a grosse absurdity to say this word of the Lord was Christ and it is as much to say they were the experiences of those Prophets or their conditions but they were the word of the Lord by these Prophets spoken to the Persons therein concerned 2. As for the Phrase in the New Testament the Word of God it is cleare both Christ and the Apostles in their mention thereof doe understand that which they Spoke Preached or Wrote and not the Person of Christ of the Father or Spirit So Christ speaks to the Iews Marke 7. 13. making the word of God of none effect by their Traditions which word can be understood alone of that fifth Commandement ver. 10. Honour thy Father and Mother Luke 11. 28 Blessed are they that heare the Word of God and keep it which plainely hints a word spoken written or engraven c. not the eternall word the Lord Iesus Rom. 10. 17. Faith comes by hearing hearing by the Word of God where the word Preached or the Scriptures of the Apostles which we now have is plainely called the Word of God 3. As for those Writings of the Prophets and Apostles that they are the word given forth from the living God and of authenticall and undenyable authority over every conscience good and bad we could fill Pages with the proofes and evidence thereof but the Reader may observe we are speaking of the Scriptures in reference to these mens cavills and no further And so shall leaving so plaine so Fun●mentali a Principle rather fall upon their owne notion of the word of God calling it A declaration of the conditions or experienc●● of them that spoke them 1. This is fully to take away the very Foundation of the Faith of Saints which is onely built upon the authority of God not upon any experience of the best Saints or the declaration of it Luke 24 25. O fooles and slow of heart to beleeve all that the Prophets have spoken where Faith is bottom'd upon Scripture authority as Acts 18. 28. Apollos mightily convinced the Jews shewing by the Scriptures that Iesus is the Christ Acts 28 23. Paul perswaded them concerning Iesus both out of the Law of Moses and out of the Prophe●s Now be this Law and the Prophets what they will if they fall any thing lower then the truth and word of God they can be no bottome for the Faith of Saints and Paul takes a weake argument to convince them by And yet that those were not the conditions of those Prophets or the experience of things fulfilled in themselves is as cleare as the day to any not grossely ignorant and especially from 1 Pet. 1 10. 11. 12. Of which salvation the Prophets have enquired and searched diligently who prophe●ied of the grace that should come unto you Searching what or what manner of time the shirit of Christ which was in them did signifie when i● testified before hand the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow Unto whom it was revealed that not unto themselves but unto us they did minister the things which are now reported unto you by them that have Preached the Gospel unto you And as in this its cleare that they spoke not forth their own conditions and experiences so also the Apostle sends the Saints to a word of Prophesie as a more sure foundation of Faith then the most glorious experience or enjoyment in the World 2 Pet. 1. 18. 19. 2. This is to make the Scripture lose his authority save onely when we experience it or where it is fulfilled in mens soules and so doth make voyd every command and Promise and all wicked men that can experience little of it shall be left excusable before God at the last day because not having the Scripture fulfilled in themselves according to the Quakers Doctrine it had no authority over them This is the most pleasant Doctrine for desperate Atheists that can be Whereas John 12 48. He that receiveth not my words hath them not fulfilled in him yet the words that I have spoken they shall ●udge him at the last day 3. This at once nulls and destroyes the Divine Authority of the whole Hystoricall and Propheticall Part of Scripture together with all the threatnings of Scripture of Hell and iudgement unlesse they say the Sainss have those threats of Hell fulfilled in themselves and that condition of Dives in Hell is the condition of Saints as also the promises therein of mercies yet to come their futurity denying their being the already experiences of the Saints 4 Consider what impossibilities contradictions falshood doth this woefull Doctrine bring upon most parts of Scripture wherein such things there spoken of were not could not be the conditions of either God that gave the Word or the Prophets and Apostles that Published it In the close of this consideration we disire to mind you of the reproachfull earmes this people every where give to the Written Word though the Spirit Rom. 15. saith These things were Written that we through patience and the comfort of the Scriptures might have hope And the holy Ghost still referres to the Written Word Luke 20. 17. John 15. 25. Heb 10. 7. 1 Pet. 1. 17 because it is Written Be yee holy as I am holy where the Spirit of God doth evidently put an authority upon the Written Word which is the same in signification and thing with the word Scriptures of which see how glorious things the holy Ghost reports thereof how sleightly soever the Quakers esteeme thereof 2 Tim. 3. 15. 16. 17. The holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise to salvation All Scripture is given by inspiration from God and
death Rom. 7. 23. 24. And shall sinfull man be equall with God he whose righteousnesse is but raggs drosse and dung whose goodlinesse but as the Flower of the Field Isay 64. 6. Phil. 3. 7. 8. Isay 40. 7. Whose Breath is in his Nostrils Psal. 144. 4. Whose station is lower then the Angels Psal. 8. and the best of whom is so farre from being just with God as that he cannot answer him one of a thousand Job 9. 2. 3. If they affirme he is so from some worke of conversion since he was Borne 1. Then the worke of conversion is to make new gods 2. And growth in Grace shall be the growing of God and so God shall be lesse or more God according to the different degrees of Grace on the soule But the Blasphemy is so horrid that to name it is enough to make true Saints loathe it and abhorre this pretence of Naylers to an holinesse justice and goodnesse equall unto Gods As for the other Attributes powerfull omni present c. we send them to Gods Challenge of Iob. in Iob 38. Where wast thou when I layd the Foundations of the Earth ver. 4. Canst thou binde the sweet influences of the Pleiades and loose the bands of Orion Canst thou bring forth Maza●●th in his season Or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sonnes ver. 20 31. to chap. 40. 9. Hast thou an Arme like God Canst thou Thunder with a voyce like him 4. If equall then the same God or another other there can be none but he that was before all time T is a contradiction if another so many Saints so many Gods if he be the same then God wanted something of his infinite perfection which he receiveth by Naylers being god c. These things we should not mention but that Saints might be warned of such devilish Doctrines the very smoake of the bottomelesse Pit Position 2. That there is no distinction of Persons in the God-head Proofe George Fox layes downe such a Principle as you may see in their Booke called Sauls Errand to Damascus pag. 12. with other ascertions of the same kinde knowne to some of us Confut. We hope we need not say much to the confuting of so knowne an Heresie raked up out of the dust and which the Saints have ever loathed as pulling downe one great Pillar of their Faith the Personall Deity of Christ being the maine ground of the infinite value of his merits and the Personality of the Spirit being so fully evidenced by the Divine Attributes appropriated to him in Scripture But we referre you to these unanswerable Scriptures Heb 1. 3. Mat. 3. 16. 17. 1 Iohn 5. 7. Mat. ●8 19. Isay 6. 1. 3. compared with Iohn 12. 39. 40. 41. and Acts 28. 25 c. Position 3. That the soule is a part of the Divine Essence Proofe One of us W. C. had this positively asserted by Coll. Benson and Captaine Ward at Kendale and discoursed the controvercy with them Confut. Let the Christian Reader consider 1. That if this could be so then should the Essence of God be divided into so many finite beings or parcels as soules 2. Yea and by this Doctrine that Essence of God which is infinite in him should come to be finite when it becomes a soule in man The Heavens of Heavens are not able to contain him and the finitenesse of our created spirits who doth not know 3. How shall the All Creating Essence of God become a Creature and who understands not the Creation of soules Gen. 2. Heb. 12. 9. 4. If this be so then shall a part of God be sinfull which how blasphemous unlesse men most wretchedly dare deny that there is a sinfulnesse in any soule 5. And then shall God hate himselfe burne in wrath for ever against his owne Essence and it lye under damnation for evermore for so is the state of thousands of soules How horrible i● any of this to be ascerted of him in whose presence is fulnesse of joy Psal. 16. and that is God blessed for ever Rom 9 5. 6. Hereupon when Jesus Christ gave himself to death for the soules of men either he dyed for himselfe and for the Essence of God or else he dyed altogether in vaine What soule not grossely Apostatized dare vent such things Position 4 That Christ is in every man and in the reprobates he is held under corruption Proofe * One of us received this assertion from James Nayler in conference with him wherein he extended the in-dwellings of Christ to Indians that never heard the Gospel 2. Those whom they call Reprobates Devils they usually tell notwithstanding that they Crucifie Jesus Christ within them As is cleare in a Letter one of us hath Read from John A●dland to Edward Brigs an holy humble Saint in Westmerland whom God was pleased to deliver out of their snares with which for some time he was entangled And in ordinary experience it is very much apparant Confutation 1. 1. If so then either Christ Personall or els he is in them by his Spirit we rather suppose they understand Christ Personall and our reason is because Mr. Higgison in his Booke pag. 5. which he offred the Supreame Power to make good in his Epistle affirmes it to be their Doctrine That Christ as Man dwells in them which is so grossely Blasphemous and horrid a contradiction to the Personall Ascention of Christ Acts 1. 9. and his sitting at his Fathers right hand till the restitution of all things Acts 3. 21. that it needs no further confutation If Christ dwels in every man by his Spirit Then 1. Are the fruits of the Spirit in all men Gal. 5. 22. the fruits of the Spirit is love joy peace long-suffering gentlenesse goodnesse faith me●knesse temperance Are these in Turks Indians Papists Drunkards whoremasters Atheists c. 2. Where the Spirit is it is a quickning Spirit Ephes. 2. 1. 2. 1 Cor. 6 9. yee were such and such but now yee are sanctified by the Spirit of our God but it is most apparent that there is no such quickning in all Nay the whole world lyes in wickednesse 1 John 5. 19. If they shall affirme as they have done that the Spirit of God is in such kept under by corruption then it is so either first for want of will in the Spirit of the living God to get the Mastery over sinne Or secondly for want of Power Not for want of will For the will of the Father Christ and Spirit are all one which will is To destroy the works of the Devill wheresoever the Spirit dwels 2 Cor 3. 17. where the Spirit of the Lord is there is Liberty and so not kept under corruption For the Apostle comfortably concludes that sinne shall not have Dominion over those who are implanted into Christ because they are not under the Law but under Grace Rom. 6. 14. Nor can he secondly be kept under for want of Power 1 John 4. 4. You overcome the World because
Christ imputed to me but by the righteousnesse of Christ inherent in me Confut. 1 This assertion is fully and industriously confuted by the Apostles and we may cry out Gal. 3. 1. Who hath bewitched the hearts of these men Gal. 3. 10. As many as are of the works of the Law are under the curse for it is written Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things c. clearely holding forth an universall impossibility to fulfill the righteousnesse of the Law Ver. ●2 and ver. 21. If there had been a Law given which could have given life verily righteousnesse should have been by the Law But the Scripture hath concluded all under sin that the promise by Faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that beleeve Rom. 4. 5. To him that worketh not but beleeveth on him that justifieth the ungodly his faith is counted to him for righteousnesse Even as David himself describeth the blessednesse of the man unto whom God imputeth righteousnesse without works v. 6. This Doctrine beleeved and practised was the very reason of the Iewes stumb●ing at the Gospel Rom 9. 30. 31. Rom. 10. 3. 4. We might weary you with quoting such Texts as Rom. 3. 19. to the last multitudes of Scriptures fully clearing up this soule-ravishing truth of justification not by inherent holinesse but by Faith in the bl●od of the Lord Iesus but we shall close it up with these in stead of all 1 Cor. 4. 4. Phil. 3. 8. 9. 10. Position 8. That God and man cannot be wholly reconciled till ●e be brought into the state of the first Adam and able in his owne power to stand perfect Proofe We referre the Reader for proofe hereof to a Booke of Naylers pag 26. where he is so confident of this Doctrine that he proposeth it as a Quaere to all as if none should have the boldnesse to gain-say it your owne Eyes may satisfie you there Confut. 1. Is not this to bring us perfectly under the covenant of workes and to make us our owne reconcilers and so to make voyd the death of Christ But he that hath an Eare to ●eare let him heare what the spirit saith Rom. 5. 10. When we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Sonne Rom. 8. 3. what the Law could not doe in that it was weake through the flesh God sent his owne Sonne to performe 2. And let the Reader observe that as the merit of Christ is by their horrible Doctrine before mentioned wholly made uselesse as to righteousnesse so by this Position the very spirit and power of the Lord Iesus is wholly cast out as to sanctification and holinesse And so this Anti-Christian Generation have totally renounced the Lord that bought them For this our standing perfect is in that assertion attributed wholly to our own power Alas who knowes not that Iohn 15. 4. 5. Iohn 1. 16. It pleased the Father that in him should all fulnesse dwell Col. 1. 19. Phil. ● 13. it is God that worketh in you both to will and to doe that is the Alpha and Omega the very a●thor and finisher of our Faith Heb. 12. 2. Phil. 1. 6. These are the People that pretend to leade you to Christ that thus leave you to the meere strength of your weake and rotten natures both for life and holinesse 3. This bringing us againe to the state of the first Adam till which time this people say God and we cannot be fully reconciled is nothing else but to bring us againe under a covenant of workes And though perhaps to be restord to the state of Adam may seem a glorious thing yet it will clearely appeare to be short of that Gospel-state you are translated into to the more infinite advancing of Free Grace Are you not clearely told the second Adam the Lord Iesus Heb. 7. 22. is made a surety of a better Covenant Heb. 8. 6. Established on better Promises For whereas the first Adam by that Covenant First Was to doe and live Secondly Had no Promise of perseverance in that state Thirdly Nor was there a Mediator to enterpose in case of breach the tenour of the Law in it selfe considered as a Covenant clearely dis-owning any Mediator 4. In a word the sad condition of Adam under such a covenant though for a time in so good an estate if it be not enough experimentally seen in all our falls by his yet may in the ruine of damned Angels standing upon the like tearmes be known apparantly First Yet in the Gospel-state Iesus Christ purchased life for us to be received not by working but by beleeving Rom. 4. 5. 6. And secondly None can take out of his hands Thirdly If any man sinne we have an Advocate with the Father 1 Iohn 2. 2. And fourthly Are delivered from the wrath to come Rom. 5. 9. So that it will appear that this restitution to the state of the first Adam being so magnified by these men fully speaks how low their spirits are as to the things of God how Legall their conceptions of the way of salvation and that it is but a miserable state in comparison of what you are brought to by the Covenant of Grace For how doth the ministration of righteousnesse exceed in Glory 2 Cor. 3. Position 9. That no man that commits sin or that is not perfectly holy can ever enter into the Kingdome of Heaven unlesse there be a Purgatory Proofe Iames Nayler in his Booke before quoted pag. 26. puts it by way of quaere And the very reading of the said page will evidently manifest it that this is not onely his Principle but any assertion to the contrary looked upon by him as an impossibility or grosse absurdity Confut. Our Purgatory is the blood of Iesus which cleanseth the soule otherwise as to its personall actings very guilty from all sinne as 1 Iohn 1. 7. And though perhaps these tremblings and quakings which the Administrator at Haxham in his Banners affirmes pag. 18. doubtlesse his false Iew could doe and which kinde of extasies pag. 24. he derives from the Francif●an Fryars may be looked upon by these People as a Purgatory from their sin●e●●●et we dare not trust our eternity upon such impost●r●● or be they never so reall on things so evidently rather the ●●●●e of Legall conviction and the horrour of an unbeleeving ●o●l● ●●●● of any saving knowledge of the Gospel How 〈◊〉 doth this one Position lay the very whole designe of 〈…〉 ably naked and bare as to an overturning of righteousnesse by the blood of Iesus Our way and the onely way into the holy of holies is by that blood Heb. 10. 19. 20. by Faith in which a soule otherwise wicked ungodly c. Rom. 4 5. is justified and though guilty as to his own actings of many infirmities shall be absolved and stand undeniably righteous before the Tribunall of the Father But alas how sottish are the spirits of these men in this discovered to be how grossely ignorant
in his Answer to Mr. Ledgard pag. 21. affirmes If the promises there named be fulfilled in any man then what need have such of Scripture teaching without them when they have received the same spirit within them by which all true Scripture was written Pap. 22. If any soule be once made one with God who dare deny but that all * true Scripture is fulfilled in them and that such soules have no need of any to teach them Farnworth in one of his Books p. 29. minde the light within here is your teacher this light obeying it and here is your condemnation this light disobeying it See James Nayler in a Book of his called The Glory of the Lord shining out in the North pag. 2. All people cease from your outside lights and returne to the light of Christ in you and this light is not a Chapter without you in a Booke and this light did the Apostles every where bid to take he●d to till the day dawned 1 Pet. 1. 19. Let the Reader observe the palpable blindnesse of the man in the grosse mis-interpretation of so plaine a Text What need we the teachings of men saith another in a Paper of his in the hands of one of us William Strickland walking up the streets in Kendale naked except that he had a shirt on published the said Principle one of us both heard it and saw him in that immodest garbe Miles Bateman affirmed the same before the whole Congregation at Kendale And George Fox pretended he had all from within though his jugling was presently discovered a Concordance being sent to him from Yorke to help his Memory Miles Hawd in the same Congregation affirmed That whosoever did referre any man to any light but that which is within him is a Deceiver And being by one of us admonished to take heed of such Blasphemy and urged with Christs referring to the Scriptures and Pauls referring to the Doctrine he had Preached before Gal. 1. 8. he Blasphemously and in much heat of spirit repeated the same againe John Andland affirmed No need of outward teaching in discourse with us as Newcastle Confut. 1. This is clearely to make Scriptures uselesse for as they are a light without so there is no taking in of them but by Hearing or Reading the Spirit going along therewith And are the Scripture● uselesse Then why doth Christ command the Jewes to search the Scriptures Iohn 5. 39. Paul commands Timothy to Reade the Scriptures 1 Tim. 4. 13. Give attendance to Reading 2 Tim. 13. 15. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable c. and so not uselesse Col. 4. 16. the Apostle saies When this Epistle is Read amongst you cause it to be Read to the Laodiceans and that you also Reade that from Laodice● Luke 4. 16. Christ himselfe stood up for to Reade the Scriptures 2. Wherefore were the Apostles sent forth if outward Teaching be uselesse or needlesse Mar. 16. 15. Mat. 10. 7. As you goe Preach Goe Preach the Gospel to every creature Mat. 28. last Goe teach all Nations And let the Reader observe they did not onely goe to Preach for conversion but for the building up of Saints as Acts 14. 23. they returned againe to Lystr● and Iconium and Ant●och confirming the soules of the Disciples Acts 15. 36. Let us goe againe and visit every City wherein we have Preached the word of the Lord ver. 41. they went through Syria and Cilicia confirming the Churches And why left they Elders in every Church but for the building up the body Acts 14. 24. Acts 20. 17. Ephes. 4. 11. 3. The great worke of Christ at his Ascending to his Father was to send forth Officers for the perfecting of ●●ints for the worke of the Ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ as is most undeniably proved Eph 4. 11. 12 and to continue to the end of all things till all the Saints even those yet unborne be come to a perfect stature 4. The Apostles in pursuance of the will of Christ Ordained Elders in every City Acts 14. 23. who are Officers for the teaching the house of God labouring in Word and Doctrine 1 Tim. 5. 17. Set downe qualifications of Pastours 1 Tim. 3 Bishops and Deacons to Tit. 1. 5. For this cause left I thee in Creet that thou shouldest Ordaine Elders in every City 2. Tim. 2. 2. Commit that thou h●st heard to faithfull men able to teach others Now let every Christian judge to what end doth Christ send forth his Apostles and other Officers if outward teaching be needlesse what folly nay what sinne had they been guilty of to hazard nay to ruine themselves 1 Cor. 4. 13. 2 Cor. 4 8. 9. 2 Cor. 11 ●3 if outward Teaching were needlesse To what purpose should Christ so eminently engage by Promise to goe along with them both in their successe and sufferings Mat. 28. last Luke 10 16. 1 Thes. 4 8. he that despiseth despiseth not man but God if outward Teaching be needlesse For they can but speake to the eare as appears by the fruitlesnesse of their labours often and the worlds resisting them Acts 7. 54. Acts 13. 45. the Jews spoke against the things spoken by Paul contradicting and blaspheming And though it were necessary the word of God should be first spoken to them yet they put it from them Acts 28. 24. How cleare is it from Scripture assertion and example That Faith coms by Hearing and not by minding a light within as Rom. 10. 14. 15. Gal. 3. 2. Acts 13. 48. Ephes. 1. 12. 13. And lastly though we might much more yet we shall adde but this the Lord was pleased eminently to seale to their outward teaching as to his owne Ordinance by those ●aire Epistles Ministred by them and written by the spirit of the living God viz. the multitudes of men converted from darkenesse to light by their Ministry and from the power of Satan unto God 2 Cor 3. 3. 1 Cor. 4. 15. Acts 2. And we dare appeale to the experience of the Saints in England whether the Ministry in England have not full and undeniable seales to their Ministration in the witnesse of Christ thereto in making them fruitfull Fathers to beget many soules to conversion by the Gospel Position 13. That the Scriptures are not the Word of God but a declaration of the conditions of them that spoke them forth Proofe Iames Nayler being asked by the Justices in Westm●rland whether he beleeved the written Word to be the Word of God answered I know no such thing See Mr. Higgis●●s Booke pag. 78. and this Passage one of us also heard Farnsworth in his Booke called A discovery of Faith pag. 6. cryes out against Ministers because they say The Letter is the Word and the foure books Matthew Marke Luke and Iohn the Gospel pag. 12. A Paper one of us hath from them hath this passage in it they say the Letter is the Word which is false To this purpose is