and false Accusations Can you give a better sense upon the Scriptures then they are thereby you shew another Spirit then that which did give forth the scriptures For all Scriptures being given forth by the Inspiration of the spirit it is of no private Interpretation nor came not by the will of man O flesh be silent before the Lord who art giving senses and speakest with thy own will wherein thou hast uttered forth thy solly who art unlearned therefore thou art wresting the Scriptures which thou wouldst turn upon the backs of others and the same turns upon thy own back and pate who art giving senses who livest in the corrupt nature and pleadest for it a servant to the Devil maintaining his Kingdom Whereof thou Accusest him being led Captive and thou art led Captive doing the work of the Devil and art a witness against him or them who are in the second Birth and the children of the living God Jacob was a perfect man God saw no iniquity in him Iob was a perfect man And God saw no transgression in Israel and Christ said be ye perfect as your heavenly father is perfect and the Apostle said see that you stand perfect in the will of God And he that is born of God sinneth not neither can be sin because the seed of God remains in him he that doth righteousness is righteous even as he is righteous let no man deceive you with vain words and in that number you shew your selves to be deceiving with vain words and we speak wifdom among them that are perfect saith the Apostle Yet not the wisdom of this world that cometh to nought but in the wisdom of the world thou art witnessing against that which the Apostle justified and hast raised thy self out of that which he was in giving Senses and Meanings upon his words as they painted Serpents did shewing a contrary Spirit then the Apostles had Shewing thy self in the first Birth and not in the second which is perfect Litterally learned but not Spititually that which will own it own without any Witchcraft Sorcery or twining humane inventions or its sence upon the Scripture which all is for Destruction and Fire For to that in thy Conscience do I speak which shall eternally witness for me and before you witness the same Spirit that gave forth the Scriptures you must witness these things in your selves The contradiction is in your selves and a seeming contradiction and not in the Scripture Therefore it is you that look after the sense of the word which cannot own it as it is and so make the contradictions had you the Spirit which Paul had and which gave forth the Scriptures you would not wrest it to your own destruction but the confusion is in your own minds and that is wresting the Scriptures in you and giving senses to it which is for destruction And whereas you speak of Pauls condition I desire you to let Pauls condition and the Saints alone For you know nothing of them but are giving senses upon their words and wresting them being unestablished with his Spirit and his life and the Saints For that mind in you hath nothing at all to do with it The Letter saith that the Saints were compleat in him and is not upright perfect Wherein it shews that you are not compleat in Christ but without in the world giving meaning to his words whereas you speak of giving a particular exposition of every Quotation it is the busie mind which would be exalted So if I should answer to every sense which you have given upon the Scripture from your conceivings I should make fools wise in their conceits which God hath promised he will scatter the proud in their imaginations and there you are and there is your portion Friends Your weakness you have uttered while any one thinks they are perfect they cannot tell but are in the same mind that you are in giving senses upon the Scripture which was given forth by an eternal spirit and you are giving senses upon ir with your external minds and your own imagined wisdom which is from below you utter it forth for it denies perfection and while your minds stand in imitation there is an Image in your minds which sets something up in it that neither knows Christ nor the way nor the Scripture Neither can it refolve doubtfull minds But that sense giving upon the Scriptures doth heal up the beast which hath a wound and applies the Scriptures to a wrong nature to your own sense that thereby many are led blind by you and led into doubts and instead of stablishing you unstablish and that is it which keeps so many in sin and from waiting upon Jesus Christ which comes to take away sin Friends here you sit as Judges of the Saints conditions speaking you do not know what of the Gospel of Moses Law of Justification and Sanctification which of these things you know nothing of but are busie minds uttering forth your folly for none of these things can you witness which you speak of not the Law of Moses nor Justification nor Sanctification nor the Gospel not in the inward man but in the Notion he that is sanctified is justified and witnessed and where it is not it is babled and disputed upon as you do giving your own imaginations and senses upon it which leads into temptations from God both your selves and others By one offering he hath for ever perfected them that are Sanctified Friends give over your babling and see which of you can witness this Christ this Sanctification and this Perfection and give over your disputes and rabling and rambling with an unclean mind For the Grace of God teaches to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts Which I do see you know nothing of but in the Notion and the History of it who are Ministers of the Letter Friends see if you be brought to see a Conscience that doth accuse for sin For that you must witness before you witness the Gospel and look within your selves and gad not abroad For that is the woman that abides not in her own house Friends let me ask you one question are you come to the end that you are Teachers of others I believe it will appear with a literal knowledge or have you an infallible judgement to judge of perfection who were perfect and who were not perfect For you make it appear as though you were able to judge but it is with your own sense and dark thoughts and not with the spirit that gave forth the Scriptures who was the Minister of Christ which had it said that they might present every man perfect in Christ Jesus You speak forth your imaginations Is the perfection that is in the Saints but a kind of perfection as you speak of These are your Saints which live in the Imaginations and your Perfection and your Sanctification which is your own sense who wrest the Scripture to your own destruction by one offering he hath for
ever perfected them that were sanctified out of your own mouths you are judged Friends the Apostle Paul did not tell you these words but you are theeves that steal his words For he spoke to the Saints which had an understanding when he bad them forget those things which were behind which you need not give a sense to his words and wrest them to another meaning that is your condition which James speaks of for you live in the nature by whom Offences come that is but a form and the Robber to apply his words except you had a Principle within you that told you so And Iohn saith if they say they have no sin they deceive themselves and the truth is not in them But saith he if you confess your sins he is faithfull and just to forgive and to clense from all sin and if you walk in the light as he is in the light the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin But here you are not in this light onor cannot witness this blood no not the confession of your sin but in the generation of the Pharisees gathered Churches separated from others contending against Christ Who said a good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit and witnessed a good Conscience before Pontius Pilate and where Christ is made manifest he hath destroyed the works of the Devil and he that is born of God sinneth not and he that sinneth is of the Devil Hereby are the children of God known from the children of the Devil And in that Generation you are pleading for the sin and not for the faith which purifies the heart But that mind and servant must serve its own master whom you contend for So every kingdom stands for it self yet you have one of the beasts colours of profession which makes you to appear beautifull as ever the Harlot did under a pretence of the true worship of God which is a stranger from the Spirit of God as you utter it forth which the Saints were guided by Friends you give Exposition of the Apostles words which he gave no such exposition but spake plainly he was a perfect man that could bridle his own tongue and I know none in your Church and Generation can do it Herein thou shewest thy self and thy Religion to be vain For he that hath not power over his own tongue his Religion is vain and thy self no Minister of Christ For he was a Minister of Christ that said so but you are evil beasts and slow bellies which the Scripture speaks of Are they not hirelings as the Priests were are they not called of men masters and have they not the chiefest place in the assemblies are they not lyars which pretend to be in the same state the true Prophets were in you are in the same nature which justifies them who are for condemnation and God will condemn that high wisdom of yours the Apostle said as he is so are we in this present world which of you can witness that there is no hole for Satan But friends look within and you shall see he keeps the house you plead so much for him Friends in that life you live in you cannot see it For none can see God and live therefore are you blinded Fogged and Misted with the corruptions of the dark mind therefore take the alass alass to your selves and pitty your own selves he that believes is born of God and he that is born of God sinneth not and he that is born of God overcomes the world and this belief you shut your selves out of and do make it appear that you do not believe to that in your Consciences I speak Friends as touching Johns words let flesh be silent for giving senses upon them for that fills the world full of imaginations and fancies For you are the Lyars which would draw something out of his words and give another meaning to them and shew a contrary spirit and the wresting of the Scriptures but all such as you are discovered where the life of them is made manifest who wrest the Scriptures and give your own sense and meaning upon them and so bewitch them by your craft and draw them from waiting upon God to have them fulfilled so that mind judgeth all to be deceit which is not according to your own lense and so calls light darkness and evil good Friends you strengthen your selves with that Scripture as he that saith he hath no sin deceives himself and the truth is not in him And here you stand up for the Devils kingdom For you have not confessed your sins yet If you confess youâ— sin he is faith-and just to forgive and to cleanse from all sin but these thinge you know nothing of but shew forth your corrupt mind and your selves of them which the Scripture speaks of Friends here you have uttered forth your folly without knowledge and understanding and make it appear that you never heard the voice of God for his voice shakes the Earth First you must witness the Earth shaken before you witnes the Heavens and make it appear that an your knowledge is notionary and earthly and yet standing and of this World and the world by their wisdom know not God and there you are to that in your conscience I speak here you thrust your selves out of the Church of God and shew forth your ignorance not having the form of the Letter For Paul when he came among the Corinthians he was with them in fear and weakness and much teembling that their Faith might stand in the power of God and not in the wisdom of Words but here are you not and the Corinthims received Titus trembling and he that was a Minister of Christ exhorted the Saints to work out their salvation with fear and trembling for it was God that wrought both the Will and the Deed and the Assembly which assembled to Ezra had all trembling hearts and Iobs flesh trembled and Davids flesh trembled and his bones quaked and Moses when he heard the voice of God he trembled Habbakuk when he heard the voice of God he trembled Hear the word of the Lord all you that tremble at his Word when your Brethren hate you and cast you out and say 〈◊〉 the Lord he glorified he shall appear to your joy when they shall be ashamed and in that Generation you shew your selves to be not knowing the Power of God not the Scriptures but err so shutting your selves out from the life of them that gave forth the Scriptures making your selves openly to appear blind Friends besilent as giving senses of shaking and of removing of things without you for it is the eâ—â—th within you and the Corruptions within you which plead for the Devils kingdom so much which must be removed and that bufie minds which are giving senses upon the Saints Conditions for eternally you know nothing Friends as touching Moses Condition when any one witnessestlie same Condition you cannot own it but are cavelling about words neither can you
more of like nature But there is scarce the shew of an answer to any thing in ours though it be very large and tedious Some of the un-favory and un-Christian expressions I have gathered out and presented to publike view that all persons that have to do with them may know what scurrilous language they may expect instead of an Answer I find many busie minds giving senses upon Scripture O flesh be silent before the Lord who art giving senses Who speaks with thine own will Thou hast uttered forth thy folly Who are unlearned therefore thou art wresting the Scriptures The same turns upon their own back and pate Thou livest in corrupt nature and pleadest for it A servant to the Devil maintaining his Kingdom Thou art led Captive doing the work of the Devil Thou art a witness against him and them who are in the second birth Thou art deceiving with vain words In the wisdom of the world thou art Shewing a contrary spirit to the Apostle Shewing thy self in the first birth and not in the second Litterally learned but not spiritually Had you the Spirit you would not wrest Scripture to your own destruction The confusion is in your own minds Let Pauls condition alone for you know nothing of it You are not compleat in Christ but without in the world It is the busie mind that would be exalted If I should answer to every sense you give I should make fools wise God will scatter the proud and there you are and there is your portion Your exernal mind and imagined wisdom which is from below There is an Image in your mind which neither knows Christ nor the way nor the Scripture That sense giving heals up the beast that hath a wound Here you sit as Judges of the Saints conditions speaking you do not know what of the Gospel of Moses of the Law of Justification of Sanctification Of these ye know nothing but have busie minds uttering forth your folly None of these can you witness to not the Law not Moses not Justification not Sanctification not the Gospel in the inward man but in the Notion It is babled and disputed upon as you do Friends give over your babling Give over your disputing and rabling and rambling with an unclean mind Look to your selves and gad not abroad for that is the woman thae abides not in her own house Paul did not tell you these words but you are thieves and steal his words You live in that nature by whom offences come But here you are not in this light nor can witness this blood nor the confession of your sin You are in the Generation of the Pharisees contending against Christ Children of the Devil and in that Generation are ye pleading for sin and not for faith You have one of the beasts colours of profession You appear beautifull as every harlet doth None in your Church and Generation can bridle his tongue Herein thou shewst thy self and thy Religion to be vain You are evil beasts and slow bellies You are Blinded Fogged Misted with the corruptions of a dark mind You are liars which would draw somthing out of Johns words Here you stand up for the Devils Kingdom You have uttered forth your folly without knowledge The world by wisdom knows not God and there are you You are in the same nature who justifie them who are for condemnation The earth within is that which pleads for the Devils Kingdom Thou shewest thy self to be of the same Adulterous Generation of the Scribes and Pharises You have uttered forth many lyes and slanders and scandalous speeches You are in Cains nature murthering the righteous one You are spewing forth your venom against an harmless people As dogs ye snarl and bite them that are guided by the Spirit of God You speak a vain divination You are yet under the dominion of Satan You have uttered forth your folly and filthiness They that say they are Iews and are not but are of the Synagogue of Satan there are you This is some of that mire and dirt which as the Sea they cast up against us meerly for the cause of that Letter which we sent to one of their wives who stood related to us But this is not all for the whole Reply consists of such kind of Language save that here and there there is some small intermixture of some Scriptures produced for the Justification of Perfection anh Quaking which I see no cause to return any further answer to because the answer that is already given in the Letter that we sent which is now presented to publike view may be equally applied to such Scriptures which are here added as to those other Scriptures which I met with before and will remain in like force These are the persons who alone pretend to the Spirit and to the second birth and do not onely lay us but all the Saints in all the World under the condemnation of such who have not the spirit and are in the first birth and not in the second But what spirit it is that Dwells and Acts and Rules in them doth appear from their expressions for their speech bewraies them These things have I presented for this end and purpose to obstruct their way and stop their further proceedings that by their impostures they may pevail no longer If God shall be pleased to give his blessing to my endeavors herein it will be a good reward of my labors however I have discharged my duty and shall have peace in that There was a paper given unto me containing the confession of Iohn Gilpin a Quaker Which is now printed for publike view that all may take notice what spirit it is that possesseth these persons and may fear and tremble at Gods just Judgements who delivers up them to Satan who cast off him FINIS There is lately Printed and sold by Thomas Brewster at the three Bible in Pauls Church-yard near the West and these Books viz. A discovery of Mystical Antichrist Displaying Christs Banners but attempting to lay waste Scriptures Churches Christ Faith Hope c. Containing an examination of the Doctrines and ways of the Quakers in York-shirie Written by John Pomroy Pa. Glissen Ioseph Kellet Milk for Babes in Christ or Meditations Observations and Experiences Divers Cases of Conscience Resolved c. by M. Fynch Preacher of the Gospel in Lincoln-shire Sions glory Discovered in the Churches and Ordinances before the fulness of the Iews come in by I. Prowd Three Treatises 1. A Discovery of the unsupportable burthen of sin 2. The Resolution of a soul to return to God that is sensible of his withdrawings 3. The Entertainment that such meet within their returnings by P. Hobson The Resurrection of the Witnesses and Englands fall from Rome by M. Cary. Refractoria Disputatio Or the Thwarting Conference In a Discouse between different Interests Disputing about the Dissolution of the late Parliament and other Changes of State A stop to the mad multitude being an Answer to a scurrilous book published against the peace of this Commonwealth Entituled The Grand Politick Informer A Description of Ierusalem as it flourished in Christs time With a large Map Explaining 268. places therein and in the Suburbs thereof shewing the several places of the Acts and sufferings of Jesus Christ and his holy Apostles As also of the Kings and Prophets c. Also seven general Rules for expounding Scriptures that speak of Christs coming and Kingdom and calling the Iews by H. Jessey Vindicae Justificationis Gratuitae Justification without conditions or the free Justification of a sinner and the absoluteness of the New Covenant Explained Confirmed and Vindicated from the Exceptions Objections c. Cast upon it by the asserters of conditional Justification viz. Mr. Baxter Mr. Woodbridge Mr. Cranford By W. Eyre Minister of the Gospel and Pastor of a Church at New-Sarum
1 Cor. 11. 16. and offence to brethren in such things is vigilantly to be avoyded Rom. 14. 20 21. Querie 13. Whether you have the voice and whether you do know the voice of Christ from the voice of a Stranger My What is Christs voice and how distinguished from a Strangers voice Sheep know my voice saith Christ seeing that you are so forward to judge and sit as Judges of the Saints Conditions Answ The Apostle tells us in the Epistle to the Hebrews that God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the Fathers by the Prophets hath in these last daies spoken to us by his Son for the Word was made flesh and dwelt among the Jews and went up and down teaching in their Synagogues and preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom Mat. 4. 23. and this Son of God in flesh sent forth the Apostles to preach and put a word into their mouthes and guided them by his Spirit in writing to the Churches what his minde and will was unto them Let him that hath an ear hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches Now that which Christ preached and the Apostles preached and wrote unto the Churches that is Christs voyce as from Heb. 4 3. which is fetched out of Psalm 95. appears David saith to day if ye will hear his voyce What voyce was this The Apostle tells us Heb 4. 2. That unto us was the Gospel preached aswel as unto them but the word preached did not profit them through unbelief The word then which they heard in Davids time which was preaching out of the Prophets was this voyce and so the Gospel which Christ and the Apostles have preached and left upon Record is the voyce of Christ And this voyce we have in the Scriptures and this voyce we know and we are able through Gods Grace to distinguish this voyce from the voyce of a stranger if any bring not this Doctrine which Christ and the Apostles brought we know him to be a Wolf and an Antichrist and after once or twice admonition we dare not say God speed to him But there is another voyce which thâ—se persons who question us intend and pretend to and that is an immediate voyce which speaks within them as they say and dictates unto them all that they say and do Now this voyce we have not heard nor do we know it within our selves experimentally and we believe and hope that we shall be kept that we may never know it For we know it is not the voyce of Christ but the voyce of a stranger We know it from what it speaks and acts in others yea in these persons that pretend to it and we bless our selves from it for it is the voyce of the Devil that comes as Christ to them and pretends to be he but deludes them and deceives them as one of themselves recovered out of their soares hath confessed Now to the praise and glory of Gods Grace we speak it that we have neither heard his voice nor seen his shape Concerning our judging there will be occasion to speak of it in the Answer to the next Question Querie 14. Whether that which is in you which Judgeth be eternal and infallible yea or no Answ These men are harping in many of their Questions Ifallibility further discussed upon one and the same string They have a conceit of Christ within them speaking within them acting within them saying all and doing all immediately and infallibly that is said and done by them so that it is not they that say or do any thing but it is Christ and the Spirit within them And this so fills them that it almost fills all their Questions Now it doth appear that it is a spirit of delusion that thus possesseth them because it contradicts both Christ and the Spirit in the Scriptures in many things And after this Christ and Spirit within they enquire of us whether that which judgeth in us be eternal and infallible But we assert no such thing concerning our selves For though all the Saints have the Spirit of Christ dwelling in them which is eternal and infallible yet that this Spirit should do all that Saints do and should say all that Saints say and should judge for them both of persons and of things after an infallible manner and that they should neither say nor do nor judge any thing by any understanding of their own but the Spirit all this we deny For the Apostle speaks of himself When I would do good evil is present so it may be said of every man when I would say or do right errour is present Notwithstanding though we judge not either person or thing by any Spirit of infallibility yet there 's one that judgeth and that is the word which Christ spake and which Scripture speaketh and this word is eternal and infallible And so far as we judge according to this word our judgement becomes eternal and infallible and so we may speak of persons present condition with much certainty because we know what the Scriptures have said of them Christ tells us of Wolves that shall come in sheeps clothing and that by their fruits we shall know them Mat. 7. 15 16. And John tells us who is an Antichrist viz. he that denyeth the Father and the Son 1 Joh. 2. 22. And Peter prophesieth of false Teachers that shall bring in damnable heresies denying the Lord that bought them 2 Pet. 1. 1. When therefore we see such we may judge of their present state what and who they be but in reference to their future final state we must leave them to the judgement of God who infallibly knows who are his Querie 15. What are the Ordinances which are ordained of God that those which you call Quakers deny Or when did God command you to observe them as to sprinkle Infants and to pray before and after your Sermons as you call them or to set times dayes and hours which was in the generation which were enemies to Christ who observed such things Querie 16. What these Ordinances of God be which you The justification of several ordinations of Christ in the Churches of God speak of and where God commanded them and to whom which you say them which you call Quakers deny mention them in particular and declare them openly in Writing and give over accusing Answ These two Questions are distinct in the paper presented to me but the former entirely comprehends the latter and is more ample then it requiring us not onely to shew reason of accusing them but also grounds for the justification of our own practise therefore I have joyned them together And in reference to the first What Ordinances they do deny which God hath commanded there is no need that we should accuse them for they are accusers of themselves in their very Questions which they propound The Reader may easily discern from them what the things are against which their malignity is
the Ministery of the Word upon that account casting off seâ—ing of Tables did joyn prayer unto it and did wait upon these joyntly Act. 6. 4. Thirdly we reade that it was the Custom of the Apostles to begin every weighty serious business with prayer when they were to cast a lot they went to prayer first when they were to lay on hands on Deacons they first prayed when they were to send forth Paul and Barnabas to the work which God had appointed them unto viz. to preach the Gospel they prayed first when they ordained Elders in every City they began it with prayer so that all was attempted with prayer preaching therefore being a weighty work should be performed with Prayer Fourthly prayer is that which sanctifieth all things and persons have a Christian holy use of things which in their nature are but Civil Every creature of God saith Paul 1 Tim. 4. 5. is sanctified of God by the word and prayer much rather should holy and religious services be used holily by adioyning prayer thereunto Fifthly The Apostle Paul giving direction in his Epistle to Timothy how the worship and service of God should he carried on in the Churches of Christ doth in 1 Tim. 2. 1 2 3. enjoyn that first of all Prayers and Supplications should be made his scope is not to direct particular Christians but Churches of Christians in their publike Assemblies as appears from vers 11 12. where Women are commanded to keep silence and are not suffered to teach Now this respects the publike meetings of the Saints and in 1 Cor. 11. 4. the same Apostle gives light how publike exercises of Religion were carried on in the Christian Assemblies there was prayer and prophesying afoot amongst them prophesying was not without prayer Sixthly there are also many general rules amongst others that in Phil. 4. 8. which serve to justifie this practice What ever things are just true honest pure lovely of good report if there be any vertue any praise think on these things Now I leave it to the judgement of any person who is not given up to a wicked spirit whether prayer before and after preaching be not such a thing And the Apostle many times requires that things which make for edification may be done 1 Cor. 14. 4 5 12 26. Eph. 4. 26. 1 Thes 5. 11. But these men shew what spirit they are of by their arguing against the most religious and holy Exercises and spiritual Performances which the Saints use and which the Devil and the Flesh have alwayes much opposed Concerning set times days and hours which was in the Concerning set times and days and hours generation which was enemies to Christ who observed such things I know not what answer to make unless I understood what it is that they find fault with The Charge runs as if we did keep up those Jewish Sabbaths and holy Fasts and Feasts and Hours of Prayer which were observed in Christs time whilest he lived on Earth amongst those of his own Nation most of which were enemies unto him but they are or might be convinced of the contrary concerning us that we set no such times a part for worship as they did neither was it the practice of the enemies of Christ only to set such times and days and hours apart but of the friends of Christ also and of Christ himself while he was upon the Earth and of the Apostles seeing it was by divine institution that the people should meet at such times Acts 3. 1. Nor was it any part of their enmity against Christ but rather of their subjection to God that they met at such times therefore these Persons have another intent and scope in their question It is our Lords day-meetings and our Christian Fasts and Thanksgiving-days that we keep that they are offended at it is the hours of prayer in our Church-meetings and Families which they find fault with and in this also they strike at Godliness for if they can but destroy all forms the power will fall with it for though the form be but the shell yet it preserves the kernel the power is put forth in a form and if they can but acquit and discharge the body from service and religious exercise the spirit will not bear up in it any long time after but all devotion and duty Godward both in body and soul will fall in short time Therefore the Devil and his Instruments plead against set times days and hours knowing very well that Gods worship cannot at all be performed by many Christians together without times and days and hours no nor yet kept alive any long time in any But for the better justification of set times days and hours Concerning the first day for Gods service let it be considered First that time is a perpetual adjunct of action there is no action can be done but it must be done in time It is therefore a necessary adjunct of divine and spiritual actions so that if God will enjoyn a worship and a service to be performed to him he must needs enjoyn the time in which he will have it performed Secondly let it be duly weighed that both the Apostles themselves were wont to meet upon the first day of the week to worship God and that Christ met with them upon that day twice and thereby shewed his approbation of their meeting upon that day Joh 20. 19 20 26. And also that the Churches that were planted in the world by the Apostles observed that day in course as it came and set it apart for divine exercises 1 Cor. 16. 1 2. Act. 20. 7. and further it is to be observed that the Apostle annexed duty to that day and bound the collection of the Saints to that day as it should come in course which how he could do without usurping upon them unless he had received it from the Lord I cannot understand And also that that day above all other days was denominated the Lords day and it was spoken of as a noted known day to all the Saints by that name Rev. 1. 10. which name Lords day doth point at an institution as when the Supper is denominated the Lords Supper it is from the institution which it had from the Lord Christ that it is so named and Lords day holds the setting of it apart to the Lords use and to call something for remembrance which can be nothing but the resurrection as the Lords Supper is for remembrance Thirdly let it be observed that occasional Fasts are justified in the Concerning fasts and thanksgiving days New Testament as well as in the old from Primitive examples both of Apostles and Churches Acts 13. 3. and 14. 23. and upon the like accompt will occasional thanksgivings be maintained and we have in the new Testament besides the instances that may be fetcht from the Old Testament something that looks that way Acts 4. 23. to 32. Fourthly concerning hours it doth not appear from the New Testament
what hours were spent in their publike service nor Concerning hours in the publike service whether those hours that were spent were spent together and at one entire meeting without intermission and parting or whether they divided their hours according to the pattern and example which they had in the Offerings and Sacrisiees of the Old Testament which were not at once and together but at discontinued times there was a morning and an evening-Sacrifice which were offered about the third and ninth hours and there was a great expediencie in it that there might be some bodily refreshing betwlxt the times and the necessity of Nature was provided for in it and Sabbath-exercises were distinguished thereby from Fasts and upon this accompt it is equitable that Christian service should be carried for time after such manner but herein Christian Prudence hath the Principal stroke for we do not judge our selves Scripturally obliged to so many hours or so distributed that some should be in the forenoon and some in the afternoon but for conveniencies-sake we practise it yet not precisely keeping to an hour And for hours in Families we Concerning time spent in holy exercises in Families have read how holy men of God have carried it in their milies Abraham commanded his children and his houshold after him and they did keep the way of the Lord Jacob he reformed his Family and purged away the Idols and all the filth from it that they might more purely serve the Lord together Josbua resolved that he and his house would serve the Lord now he could not resolve it in reference to secret worship which each apart was to perform to God but it refers to Family-duties and service which should be on foot amongst them together And David would walk not in his own Person alone but in his house with a perfect heart And there is a Prophesie that respects Families mourning apart which is to be accomplished in the dayes of the Gospel Zach 12. 12. to the end And there is a Promise made where two or three are gathered together suppose in a Family or any other way Christ will be in the midst of them and where Saints are together in a Family the Spirit of God within them will be a Spirit of Prayer within them and will bring them together and there cannot be Family-duties but there must be a time to perform them in and if morning and evening be taken for them it is most congruous First because occasions wilt then best permiso for it will be before the works of these Callibas be begun and it will be afree they are finished Secondly all things are sanctified by prayer and so will their is bours be in the morning and their rest in the evening But where or when doth a good heart dispute against these things a spiritural heart will rather dictate to a Person to apprehend the opportunitigs unto prayer and all other spiritual duties both apart and with others and will practise what was commanded in reference to preaching will pray in season and out of senson at times which conâ—â—eiency makes cheice of and at other times also will put up all manner of prayers and at all times as occasion requites And where Saipts are together they will encourage one another and say come let us joya together and pray and seek the face of God in prayer and in other duties also and in Families especially will this be done Querie 17. Whether you do not seduce the People to araw Concerning the Spirits teaching in what way to expect it And whether the outward must be denyed that the inward may be received them from the anointing within them when as John saith they need no man teach them but as the anointing and the Promise was Eternal Life to him that did abide in the anointing Ans The scope and intent of this Question is to overtura all out ward teaching by men to erect an immediate teaching of the Spirit in the room of it It is to carry men off from Gods outward Ordinances to wait for secret Inspirations of God and indeed it is to subject men to Satanical delusions instead of the Spirits suggestions For that which is insinuated is this viz that the drawing of any people to attend upon any out ward instruction becomes in effect a withdrawing of them from the annointing or from that inward teaching of the Spirit which indeed hath not one syllable of truth in it For John the Baptist did draw the people after him so did Christ so did the Apostles to hear the Word of God which they preached which was an outward word an outward teaching did they withdraw such Persons from the inward teaching from the annointing within them or were they not rather drawn to the annointing within them by attending and giving heed to the outward preaching did not the Spirit of God accompany their outward preaching did not John come in the Spirit and Power of Elias in his outward Ministery and were not many turned from their disobedience to the wisdom of the Just and could this be without the Spirit was there not an admirable power of the Spirit attending both Christs teaching and the Apostles preaching did their outward instruction withdraw the people from the Spirit or did they not rather convey the Spirit to them Is not the Gospel as it is presented to men in an external way said to be the administration of the Spirit 2 Cor. 3. 8. Gal. 2. 5. And were not many annointed with enriching gifts by that Spirit which is the Spirit of the Gospel which comes along with the Gospel preached How then are any seduced by being being brought to the hearing of the Gospel preached or are not they rather seduced who are drawn off from the external Means and Ministery by which the Spirit is given and Faith is wrought to wait for the receiving of the Spirit without any Word to conveigh it to them which Spirit when they have it is not the Spirit of Truth but of Delusion as is confessed by one of their own newly redeemed out of such hellish captivity under which these poor Creatures are held Object But they produce a Scripture which seems to erect and set up one only Teacher which is the Spirit and to throw down and cast under foot all outward Teaching which is performed by men John saith to them he wrote 1 Ioh. 2. 27. That they needed not that any man teach them but as the annointing teacheth them of all things and is Truth Answ First This is not spoken of all men but of those 1 Ioh. 2. 27. Answered viz. ye need that no man teach you but as the anointing teacheth you all things who are come to Christ and had the Spirit that they needed no man to teach them But what must they do that have not the Spirit how must they obtain it if not by the Word of the Gospel which conveys it therefore an outward teaching
is necessary for such Secondly The Apostle seems to speak of such an annointment which they had received which had already taught them by which they should abide in Christ and not be seduced as those words shew Even us it hath taught you you shall abide c. Now indeed the Spirit of God hath taught us of all things in the Scriptures which were of his inspiring whereto if we attend we shall abide in the Truth and not be misled by Seducers and to this teaching of the Spirit in the Scriptures we need not that any teaching of man should be added but as we are taught in them Thirdly The words You need not that any man teach you but as the annointing teacheth you are hyperbolical expressions there is an excess in them as in many places of Scriptute as where it is said If all things should be written which Jesus said and did the whole world would not contain the the Books that would be written The meaning is there would be very many Books written if all should be written And in vers 20 of this very Chapter the Apostle tells them that they knew all things it is an excessive speech for no one knoweth all things but God Christ himself as man knew not all things who yet had the Spirit not according to measure but beyond it the meaning then is they had much knowledge and knew many things and so they needed not that any man teach them that is they knew so much already of the Doctrine of the Gospel that if onely they persevered in that which they knew they might be kept without much teaching it is to be understood in a comparative sense not in an absolute consideration as to exclude all teaching but to exclude much of that teaching which others do require and it respects the abundance of knowledge which they had in comparison of Believers of former times before the Gospel was revealed as from the Prophesie from which these words of John were fetcht appears Jer. 31. 34. They shall teach no more man his Neighbour and every man his Brother saying know the Lord for they shall all know me from the least of them unto the greatest of them saith the Lord Knowledge should so abound in the dayes of the Gospel that they should not need teaching so much as in the times of the Law For it points at the days of the Gospel after Christ should be revealed of which Christ saith That he that is least in the Kingdom of Heaven should be greater then John the Baptist who yet was greater then al the Prophets so exceedingly should Light shine in Gospel-times but that teaching should be absolutely excluded was not the Apostles meaning for though they never did need it less yet they never had it more then in the days of the Apostles and of the Primitive Churches For there were many who were eminently gifted besides Pastors and Teachers who did teach And it is to be observed that the Spirit was never given so plentifully in any Age as in that Age wherein so much outward teaching was so that there is no such measure of reception of the Spirit that can thrust out outward teaching while we are here yea and John himself thought there was need of teaching while he tells them of an unction that they had received and that they knew all things and needed not that any one should teach them for vers 36. he saith These things have I written unto you in reference to them that seduce you that is least you should be carried away from the Truth by them he taught them to stand fast in the Truth they had received Fourthly It holds forth that they were not neither should be Babes which knew nothing themselves were able to judge of nothing themselves but do depend wholly and really upon others to teach them and were led wholly as others guide them in this sense they should not need teaching for there was a light set up in their souls and they had the Spirit of God which is a light and enables them to discern with such clearness that they believe not because others tell them so but because they can look into the Truth themselves Concerning the last words of that question viz. that the Promise was eternal Life to him that did abide in the anointing because there is no such Scripture that saith so and because no course we take in our teaching doth tend as hath been shewed to withdraw from the anointing therefore I shall not insist upon them Querie 18. Whether you do not bewitch the people and draw them from the Spirit of God within them to observe those Sacraments and Ministery maintained and other practises in Church-meetings things which God never commanded to tell the people of a Sacrament and following your outward Teaching who stand praying in the Synagogues and are called of men Masters which Christ dâ—d forbid Mat. 23. And have the chiefest places in the Assemblies Whether these be not called Antichrists which act contrary to the Commands of Christ yea or no Answ In this Question besides the repetition of former things they strike at Sacraments at the teaching and praying of Pastors and Elders for to them they speak in al their questions at the posture of standing in prayer at the places of meeting calling them Synagogues in a derisive way at the Title of Master which is put upon them and charge them with ambition in assuming chiefest places which they say such take I must clear up the truth in all these particulars First Concerning Sacraments there are no Ordinances on foot amongst us which we call by that name though there Concorning Sacraments might be a defence for it but there are Ordinances which others call Sacraments and we call them Seals of the Covenant which are to confirm Faith in the Covenant of God concerning Remission of sin by the blood of Christ and other Grace of the like nature which is vouchsafed in Christ and they are Baptism and the Lords Supper and they are both of them instituted by Jesus Christ Mat. 28. 19. 1 Cor. 11. 23. and they both point at Christs Death and the shedding of his Blood Rom. 6. 3. 1 Cor. 1. 26. Mat. 26. 28. and they serve to Seal Remission of sins by Christs Blood Act. 22. 16. Mat. 26. 28. and indeed both of them are to put us in remembrance of Christ and that which Christ hath instituted who dares abrogate And those that destroy the Seals therein attempt the destruction of the Covenant for Seals are the ratification of Covenants or at least they do despise Gods grace of condescendency who for the cause of our weakness in belief of his Covenants vouchsafeth to grant us Seals to confirm them And Gods Covenants have never been without Seals and though there hath been change of Seals yet Seals are as old one or other of them and are to last as long as the Covenants and the Lords Supper
the Earth onely but the Heaven also Now the Apostle gives the sense of these words yet once more vers 27. It signifieth faith he the removing of those things that are shaken that those things which cannot be shaken may remain Now those Persons whom they call Quakers they are shaken in their meetings first one and then another then the Text taken in the Letter shews that they shall be removed and taken away seeing they are shaken but others who are not shaken shall remain so they fall by the Text which themselves alledge But the true sense of this Text is Metaphorical and signifies the removing of things corrupt in Church and State so far as it remains yet to be fulfilled and it did signifie the removal of Moses Law of Rites that the Gospel might be establâ—shed instead thereof There was an outward shaking of the Mount and of Moses but it was typical of this Metaphorical and spiritual shaking and shewed how Moses Paedagogie or Childish Discipline was to be removed away but what is this to their purpose There is also a spiritual trembling arising from the reverence of God and his Word which is inward in the foul which all Saints have more or less Isa 66 2. Ezra 9. 4. which are Texts of his citing but they make nothing for the upholding of their outward shaking nor are they persons that tremble at the Word of the Lord but are despisers of it There is also a quaking and trembling of Flesh but it did arâ—se from the sense of Gods Judgements Psal 119. 120. Jer. 23 9 Ier. 30 5 6. and from a sense of Gods Wrath Psal 187. but they who have the name of Quakers being all of them perfect and without sin as they pretend cannot be afraid of Gods judgements of his wrath nor do they quake upon that account what they shall do hereafter if they repent not we leave to that one ludge of the world to determine in his time There is also a quaking from Visions and Apparitions as when an Angel appeared to Daniel Dan. 10. 7. 11. and the outside of the Vision those that were with him saw and quaked and fled through fear they saw not the inside as those that were with Saul did which saw a light though they saw no man and they were terrified And Paul was astonied and trembled Acts 9. 6. upon the appearance of Christ to him Now whether these persons pretend to apparitions or not we know not and whether there be any Apparition unless the Devil doth appear we know not onely this we know Those persons who saw many Visions and to whom God immediately or by an Angel spake familiarly which caused quaking and trembling they were such for whom and by whom God wrought many wonderful things therefore said the Pharisees to the people We know that God spake with Moses It was known to all by signs and wonders that Moses did that God had Communion with him and spake to him so also it was with Daniel Peter Paul and all others so that all might be assured that God spake with then and the appearance was visible also Now when these persons can confirm their Visions by miraculous things wrought for them and by them it will be better received that God hath appeared and spoken to them But that which most satisfies us that neither they nor their quaking are of God is first because though some particular persons upon some particular and sudden appearances have trembled and quaked yet there is nothing in all the Scripture that makes out the meetings of many people together in a constant way and course waiting and expecting to see or hear something which casts them into trances and brings upon them quaking and trembling and in a kind of order also as first one and then another Indeed the Apostles did abide waiting at Ierusalem once but never after for the receiving of the Spirit according to the Promise of the Father by Christs own special Injunction but then the Spirit came in visible manner there was a rushing wind and sound from Heaven and an appearance of cloven tongues like as it were fire sat upon every one of them and they spake with tongues But what injunction have these men to meet and sit together waiting for any appearance of spirit or Angel or ought else And what promise have they made to them or what outward appearance is there of any comming of the Spirit to them Or what mighty works are done by them Or what communion with God or with his Spirit can they have which oppose God in their many blasphemous assertions which come from them and who destroy many of the great Doctrines of the Gospel and who change and subvert Gods Ordinances viz. Relations betwixt Magistrates and Subjects Masters and Servants c. which God doth build up in his word Sister You may discern what little strength there is in those many Scriptures in your Husbands Letter heaped togegether by that which we have presented in answer A cloud of misapplied Scriptures we hope will deceive none but the simple We are willing to believe that God hath and will give you a better understanding then to be deceived with vain words Watch you stand fast in the faith quit your self well like a solid Christian be strong If you doubt of any thing send to us we shall endevor to give you satisfaction and shall beg of God to guide you even he himself by his Spirit into all Truth Appear not in any other meetings as you tender the welfare of your Soul tempt not God to leave you If your Husband bring them to your house get from among them If by any means you can have no discourse with them least you be ensnared You are warned in your Husband he conversed with them and how soon is he become one of them as his Letter shews We pitty his condition greatly What would we do to recover him and bring him out of such snares But we fear least some sin is unrepented of and that God is offended and hath left him Look you to your self and past wayes and know the evil you have done and meet the Lord by faith and timely Repentance It may be God will be gracious to you and you shall be kept in the fire and in the water in the midst of the greatest and nearest dangers so that they shall not touch you nor hurt you Which shall be the prayer of those who are true friends to your soul and do watch over you as those who must give an account to God for you Farewell From the Elders and some brethren of the Church of Christ meeting at Stoppors In the name and on the behalf of the rest Sam. Eaton The Quakers Reply to our forementioned answer sent by Richard Waller with an injunction that it should be read in the presence of the CONGREGATION I Have received a Letter wherein I find many busie minds giving senses upon the Scriptures