unfit for the Work of Gods Ministry whereof they have rendred themselves unworthy and so put a stop to their Proceedings therein And if they Submit not to the Judgment of the Spirit of Christ in his People then ought they Publickly to be declared against and Warning given to the Flock of Christ in their several Meetings to beware of them and to have no fellowship with them that they may be ashamed and Lambs and Babes in Christ preserved 5. And if any man or Woman which are out of the Unity with the Body of Friends Print or cause to be Printed or published in Writing any thing which is not of Service for the Truth but tends to the Scandalizing and reproaching of faithful Friends or to beget or uphold Division and Faction then we do warn and Charge all Friends that do love Truth as they desire it may prosper and be kept clear to beware and take heed of having any hand in Printing republishing or spreading such Books or Writings And if at any time such Books be sent to any of you that sell Books in the Country after that you with the Advice of good and serious Friends have tryed them and find them faulty to send them back again whence they come And we further desire from time to time faithfull and sound Friends may have the view of such things as are Printed upon Truth 's account as formerly it hath used to be before they go to the Press that nothing but what is sound and Savory and that will answer the Witness of God even in our Adversaries may be exposed to publick Vieu 6. We do advise and counsel That such as are made Overseers of the Flock of God by the Holy Spirit and do Watch for the good of the Church Meeting together in their Respective Places do set and keeep the Affairs of it in good Order beware of Admitting or Encouraging such as are Weak and of little Faith to take such Trust upon them for by hearing things disputed that are doubtfull such may be hurt themselves and may hurt the Truth not being grown into a good understanding to judge of things Therefore We exhort That you who have received a true sence of things be diligent in the Lord's Business and keep the Meetings as to him that all may be kept pure and clean according to that of God which is just and equal We also advise That not any be admitted to order Publick business of the Church but such as have felt in a Measure of the Universal Spirit of Truth which seeks the Destruction of none but the General good of all and especially those that love it who are of the Houshold of Faith So Dear Friends and Brethren believing your Souls will be refreshed in the Sence of our Spirits and Integrity towards God at the reading of these things as ours were while we sate together at the opening of them and that you will be one with us on the behalf of the Lord and his Pretious Truth against those who would limit the Lord to speak without Instruments or by what Instruments they list and reject the Counsel of the Wise-men and the Testimony of the Prophets which God sanctifyed and sent among you in the day of his Love when you were gathered and would not allow him liberty in and by his Servants to appoint time and place wherein to meet together to wait upon and worship him according as he requireth in Spirit and calling it Formal and the Meeting of Man We say believing that you will have Fellowship with us herein as we have with you in the Truth we commit you to God and the Word of Life which hath been Preached to you from the beginning which is neither limited to place nor time nor persons but hath Power to limit us to each as pleaseth him that you with us and we with you may be built up in our most holy Faith and be Preserved to Partake of the Inheritance which is Heavenly amongst all them that are Sanctifyed Richard Farnsworth Alexander Parker George Whitehead Josiah Coale John Whitehead Thomas Loe. Stephen Crispe Thomas Green John Moon Thomas Briggs James Parkes The Summ of the Particulars handled in the preceeding Treatise DIvisions are no argument against the Truth of Christianity p. 1. The Holy Scriptures are by some thought too plain and by others too obscure p. 2. Quakers give better names to their own Books than to the Scriptures p. 3. Their beginning was in 1648. p. 4. Winstanley the Leveller was their Father p. 5. 6. They have a great resemblance to Rome p. 7. 8. The many disadvantages in Treating with them p. 9. Their unchristian temper in Controversies pag. 10. 11. They misapply Scripture words as the old Hereticks did p. 12. 13. T. Ellwood's Ignorance and Impudence about St. Basil p. 14. About St. Greg Nazianzene and Sosiades p. 15. And in calling the Martyrs our Godly Martyrs p. 16. 17. Quakers deny themselves to be Protestants p. 16. Thomas Ellwood's sauciness towards the King p. 18 19. Quakers have dangerous Doctrines about Kings and Magistrates p. 19 20. Their degrading of the Nobility p 20. And contempt of other Orders of men p. 21. Thomas Ellwood's manner of claiming Inspirations concludes as much for others as for themselves p. 22. God affords sufficient means of Conviction p. 23. Immediate Revelation should be attested with Evidences p. 24. Revelation is a more easy thing than studying p. 25. The various Claimers of Infallibility confute each other p. 26. Quakers Challenge the Internal work of the Spirit but deny the External p. 27. Thomas Ellwood and his party 's high demands p. 28. His seeming Concessions p. 29. Christ was the Apostles Instructer before the Spirit p. 31. Quakers make Christs Prophetick office to signify nothing p. 32. Or confound Jesus and the Spirit p. 33. The manner of the Apostles Instructions recited p. 34. Quakers differ about the Apostles knowledge p. 35. The Apostles were certain Witnesses of Christ and the Writers of the N. T. wrote upon their certain knowledge p. 36. No new books of Scriptures can now be written 37. The Holy Spirit did inwardly pursue what Christ had outwardly delivered p. 38. Enthusiasm destroys the settled grounds of Religion p. 39. Quakers called themselves Apostles and Prophets p. 40. They make the Apostacy to begin with the second Century p. 41. They are very unlike the Apostles p. 42. Successours cannot receive like predecessours p. 43. The first settling a Dispersation must not always continue p. 44. God is not prodigal of Miracles p. 45. Quakers Inspirations must be as unintelligible as those of St. Paul or others p. 46. The Texts produced by T. Ellwood prove against him p. 47. What was promised to the Apostles should not be inlarged to all p. 48. Quakers like Celsus and the Gnosticks pretend much knowledge p. 49 Thomas Ellwood borrows Renewing of Revelations from George Keith p. 51. Their damnable Essential of Religion p. 52. 53.
Inspirations as a Quakers There having been in the Preceeding Discourse Reference sometimes made to the Quakers Testimony or Constitutions and those being Destructive both of the Light in each man and of Thomas Ellwood's Immediate Revelation in each Believer they are here verbatim Presented A Testimony from the Brethren who were met together at London in the third Month 1666. to be Communicated to the Faithfull Friends and Elders in the Countries by them to be Read in their several Meetings and kept as a Testimony among them We your Friends and Brethren whom God hath called to Labour and Watch for the Eternal good of your Souls at the time aforesaid being through the Lords good hand who hath Preserved us at Liberty met together in his Name and Fear were by the Operation of the Spirit of Truth brought into a serious Consideration of this present State of the Church of God Which in the day of her return out of the Wilderness hath not only many Open but some Covert Enemies to Conflict against Who are not afraid to speak evil of Dignities and despise Government without which we are sensible our Societies and Fellowship cannot be kept Holy and Inviolable Therefore as God hath put it into our hearts we do Communicate these things following unto you who are turned from Darkness to Light and Profess with us in the Glorious Gospel throughout Nations and Countries Wherein we have Travelled as well for a Testimony against the unruly as to Stablish and Confirm them unto whom it is given to believe the Truth which is unto us very precious as we believe it is also unto you who in Love have received it and understood the Principles and felt the Virtue and Operation of it In which our Spirits breath that we all may be preserved untill we have well finished our Course and Testimony to the Honour and Glory of our Lord God who is over all blessed for ever 1. We having a true sence of the Working of the Spirit which under a Profession of Truth leads into a Division from and Exaltation above the Body of Friends who never revolted nor degenerated from their Principles into marks of Separation from the Constant Practice of good and antient Friends who are found in the Faith once delivered to us And also into a slight esteem of their Declarations or Preaching who have and do approve themselves as the Ministers of Christ and of the Meetings of the Lords People whereby and wherein Friends are and often have been Preciously revived and refreshed And under Pretence of keeping down Man and Forms doing down the Ministry and Meeting or Encourage those that do the same We say The Lord giving us to see not only the Working of that Spirit and those that are joined to it that bring forth these ungrateful fruits but also the evil Consequents and Effects of it which are of no less Importance than absolutely tending to destroy the work of God and lay wast his Heritage We do unanimously being thereto encouraged by the Lord whose Presence is with us declares and testifie That neither that Spirit nor such as are joyned to it ought to have any Dominion Office or Rule in the Church of Christ Jesus whereof the Holy Spirit that was poured forth upon us hath made us Members and Overseers Neither ought they to act or order the affairs of the same But are rather to be kept under with the Power of God till they have an Ear open to Instruction and come into Subjection to the Witness of God of the encrease of whose Kingdom and Government there shall be no end 2. We do declare and testifie That that Spirit and those that are joined to it who stand not in unity with the Ministry and Body of Friends that are constant and stedfast to the Lord and to his unchangeable Truth which we have receiv'd and are witnesses of and Ambassadors have not any true Spiritual Right or Gospel Authority to be Judges in the Church and as the Ministry of the Gospel of Christ so as to Condemn you and their Ministry Neither ought their Judgment to be any more regarded by Friends than the Judgment of other Opposers who are without For of Right the Elders and Members of the Church which keep their Habitation in the Truth ought to Judge matters and things that differ and their Judgment which is so given therein ought to stand good and valued among Friends which though it be kickt against and disapproved by them who have degenerated as aforesaid And we do further declare and testifie That it is abominable Pride which goeth before Destruction that so puffs up the mind of any particular that he Will not admit of any judgement to take place against him For he that is not justifyed by the Witness of God in Friends is condemn by it in himself though being hardned he may boast over it in a false Confidence 3. If any Difference arise in the Church or amongst them that profess themselves Members thereof We do declare and testifie That the Church with the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ have Power without the assent of such as dissent from their Doctrine and Practices to hear and determine the same If any pretend to be of us and in case of Controversie will not admit to be tryed by the Church of Christ Jesus nor submit to the Judgment given by the Spirit of Truth in the Elders and Members of the same but kick against their judgment as only the Judgment of Man it being manifested according to Truth and Consistent with the Doctrine of such good antient Friends as have been and are found in the Faith agreeable to the Witness of God in his People then we do testifie in the Name of the Lord if that Judgment so given be risen against and denyed by the party Condemned then he or she and such as so far partake of their Sins as to Countenance and Encourage them therein ought to be rejected and having Err'd from the Truth persisting therein presumptuously are joyned in one with Heathens and Infidels 4. We do declare That if any go abroad hereafter pretending to that Weighty Work and Service who either in Life or Doctrine grieve good Friends that are stedfast in the Truth sound in the Faith so that they are not manifest in their Consciences but disagree to the Witness of God in them Then ought they whatever have been their Gifts to leave them before the Altar and forbear going abroad and Ministring until they are reconciled to the Church and have the Approbation of the Elders and Members of the same And if any that have been so approved of by the Church do afterwards degenerate from the Truth and do that which tendeth to Division and Countenance Wickedness and Faction as some have done then the Church hath a True Spiritual Right and Authority to call such to Examination and if they find sufficient cause for it by good testimony may Judge them
not very much that is New in their Opinions and yet there is but little of the True Old Christianity neither Satan we may reasonably think hath long ago canvassed every word in the Sacred Book from thence to form Heresies and having run his round he doth oft new dress old Obsolete ones turning them into other shapes by some slender Additions to make them be the less discernible but whosoever will compare the Doctrines of the Quakers with many of the rotten Condemned Hereticks with some Fancies of the Monks in later times of the Anabaptists Familists c. about the Reformation of the Seekers Antinomians Ranters Dellists and those other swarms of Locusts in this Kingdom will be forced to acknowledge that not only their Foundation is the same but that also many of their Opinions even their Phrases Words and Tearms proceed from the same Fountain Learned men do look upon them as so unreasonable and others do esteem them so Obstinate that either they are not worth medling with or that the attempts will prove fruitless But the Interest of true Religion and the good of those Souls for whom Christ dyed are so Sacred that no Endeavours to justify the one and to save the other ought to be Discouraged And whereas Hereticks have one while questioned about God at another time about Christ or the Holy Spirit sometimes the Holy Scriptures sometimes the Church the Sacraments or single Articles have been debated Quakers doly under those sad Circumstances of having licked up the Vomit and imbibed the Errors about most of those Denying the Trinity and yet dividing the Godhead Denying Christs Body and Bodily Presence now in Heaven and our Redemption by him Confounding Christ and the Holy Ghost ingrossing Christianity to themselves so as to Paganize all other Christians and instead of them taking in the Heathen World to fill up those Vacancies they have thrust us from they being much more favourable to them as having Christ within them looking upon the Scriptures as dead Letters not the Rule either of Faith or Manners that they signify nothing to us without a new Revelation to impose them and a further one to Expound them With many the like Prevarications in the most Fundamental Articles of Religion and such Poysonous Doctrines require Warning and Antidotes from all hands This I have Related to shew the Occasion of this Tract and shall more particularly address my self to such of the Quakers as are well-meaning Persons like Absaloms men 2 Sam. 15.11 in the Simplicity of their Hearts following their Leaders but yet in Preparation of Mind being ready to embrace the Truth when fairly proposed and as I hope abhorring those Abominations which ly concealed under their Doctrines or are the direct Consequents of them The great prejudice those poor Souls ly under is That they are kept under with an Implicite Faith and scarce permitted to read Tracts against them which are supposed to be but Temptations to remove them from the Truth But if any such well designing Quakers shall meet with this I desire them seriously to lay to Heart these few following things which are not here set down to anticipate but either Briefly to represent what is proved in the following Papers or what might be more fully shewed especially in reference to that dangerous Delusion That the Light within every man is the Lord Jesus 1. That other Sects whom you Disown and Condemn have given out themselves to be Inspired as much as you do have spoken as well have continued as long have been as numerous have given as convincing Proofs as you can do and yet have been first Wandring then Fallen Stars and have come to nothing If you say That theirs were Counterfeit but yours True Lights that is a pittiful Begging the Question or If you say that their Light at first was Right but that they mistook in its use this still concludes nothing by what Arguments you would confute your Corrivals by the like we may confute you they falling as forcibly upon your selves as upon any others else 2. Consider that great Disservice which your trifling Expositions attempt to do unto Religion a tast of which we may take from your Inspired Allegorical Interpretations Recorded in Chapter the 8th The Everlasting Gospel The Tabernacle of David God Christ The Angels The Devil The Bottomless Pit The Beast with seven Heads Babylon The Mystery of Iniquity The Man of Sin The Mystery of Godliness Michael and the Dragon Fighting Antichrist The Third Heavens The Father of Lyes c. All these are made internal things so that a Quaker is well provided having within and carrying about with him all those certainly he must be an empty House that can entertain so many both things and persons and such a mixt Assembly 3. That other Nations have had their Enthusiasts there being a kind of Circulation of Errors Germany had its Anabaptists c. In the last Century and its plenty of Revealers in late times France had its Libertines Holland its Familists and what not and other Countryes had their share but the Scene at present of Fanaticism lies most in England for the Inquisition and Edicts suppressing as t is likely the Alumbrados or Quakers in Popish Countryes they were I mean their Doctrines transplanted hither where in a Soil at that time well prepared for their reception and increase they took good Root and thence shot forth their Branches into other Nations nor must we think that Quakerism is the last Sect for though the very Dregs of many of the former are squeezed into it yet their own Divisions perpetual Changings the doating of some persons upon Novelties and the Craft of the great Enemy give us Reason to suppose that when men are grown weary of this he will prepare a new one for them 4. That you would Consider your own Alterations generally observed both in point of Doctrine and Behavior for they are a clear acknowledgment that you were mistaken at the first to challenge Divine Motions for many things and yet in a few years to recede from those Commands reflects upon the Spirit as changeable or your selves to have been Imposed upon but if you were truly Wise it would engage you unto a strict Examination both of your Foundation and the several things erected on it The old Marcionites changed thus Cottidie Reformant illud Tertul. l. 4. adv Marc. prout à nobis cottidie revincuntur daily altered their Opinions as the Arguments of the others discovered their weakness and indefensibleness So do you daily lick and new mold many of your Doctrines as you are beaten from Hold to Hold though you continue still enthralled in the main 5. That you would throughly examine the Truth or even Possibility of those two by you called Fundamental Principles 1. How your Light within can be the Christ the Savior of the World for it destroys the Reality and Truth of his Humane Nature and hereby you proclaim your selves to be
that time her Visions began to be very frequent The Quakers cannot well out go St. Mr. Fowlis Hâ—st Popish Treasons p. 2. 6. Francis in perfection for he was like Adam in Innocency and kept the Gospel exactly to a Letter not breaking so much as a jott or tittle of it If Quakers receive the Gospel from the Lord so did he have they Revelations both he Dominick and Ignatius Loyola are equal with them Loyola wrought Invisible Miracles as well as the Quakers and Dominick clear outwent them for he received the Holy Ghost with the same Glory of a slaming Tongue as the Apostles did and had also the Gift of Tongues given him by inspiration If Quakers refuse to Salute or put off the Hat Dr. Stillingfleet's Idola p. 273. they have a good President for the Founder of the Jesuites refused to put off his Hat or give any civil Titles to Men The like Example they have for refusing an Oath in Judgment for not onely the Menists of late but the Beguardi or Spiritual Brethren of the Franciscan Order made the like denyal Idem p. 255. The Maintenance which the Quakers allow unto their Ministers is much like unto that of the Franciscans who go about without their Purse and Scrip and are bare-foot also carrying Altaria portatilia little Massing Altars Confessing People and taking what they can get among them The Dominicans got also by this Voluntary Service had no Rents yet most Money no Lands and yet most Corn. Such gratis Preachers as the Quakers pretend to desire we find far earlier than those Orders even the old false Prophets Ezek. 13.19 who took handfuls of Barley and pieces of Bread And the Pseudo-Apostles who because St. Paul Preached gratis to some Churches endeavoured to imitate him therein 2 Cor. 11.12 That wherein they Glory they may be found even as we because the Devil knew that the Men of this World are most taken when Teachers take nothing St. Chrysos Apud Theophyl in locum Oecumenius in loc 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he taught the false Apostles to imitate or counterfeit that also The false Apostles abounding in Riches took notheng and Gloried upon that account Do the Quakers look upon others as Dunces who follow not their Method Keith Im. Rev. p. 68. Your Wisdom is foolishness your knowledge is Darkness So did the Franciscan Fryars to purpose Your Parish Priest is Idiota nunquà m Theologiam audivit Bishop Usher de Christianarum Ecclesiarum successione statu p. 273. c. A Fool that knows nothing of Divinity Blind leaders of the Blind come to us to whom the High the difficult Dei Secreta patuerunt to whom the Secrets of God are unfolded And as the Quakers do now insinuate and creep into other Mens cures so then did the Monks intrude themselves into the places of the secular Clergy So that many even Noble Persons Spretis propriis sacerdotibus made these Vagabond Fryars their Teachers The same Franciscans also above four hundred years ago were busie in making the new and highest Dispensation to wit the Evangelium Spiritus or Evangelium Aeternum the Eternal Gospel of the Spirit which should succeed the Gospel of Christ and that the Quakers come near them in licking up their Vomit 2. The Quakers Temper will in its proper place appear As for their Temper in the most it discovers it self very unlike the Rational Humble and sweet Spirit of Christianity and there is more disadvantage in treating with them than any other Party For We have no Solemn Publick Instrument of theirs containing their Faith Their Judgments in Theological points their way of Worshipping God c. agreed upon by them to which they will engage to stand and by which for the future they will be concluded but each Writer states things according to his own conceit Learning or Advantage and withal they have rare Arts of Equivocation under colour of Figurative Expressions and curious Salvoes to bring one another off from the brink of Blasphemy It will be hard to find another Party that in so few years hath stated things with so much diversity as they have done And it is as difficult to discover one good Notion wherewith they have bettered the World since their first appearing Some of them give us reason to think that their Light was made to be kept dark Geo. Bishops Looking-glass for the Times p. 1. and that we must never know their Opinions There is no Religion under the Sun or no prescription that ought to be as to any thing that relates to the Worship of God but what is within in Spirit and in Truth Away with all Jewish and outward Worship Forms Constitutions Canons Orders Decrees Directories Catechisms Confessions of Faith Idem p. 4. Synods Councils Prescriptions Ordinances of Men all imitations of Christ and his Apostles and doing things by Example of them where the same Spirit of Jesus is not the Leader Away with all National Religions and Worship Christ the Substance the true Jew inwardly the Circumcision in the Spirit Christ the Publick Worship in Spirit and in Truth is come So that if we know not a Quakers heart we cannot know his Religion within it And this he tells he wrote as moved of the Lord and doing his will p. 236. There is no certain stated owned Rule Penningtons Naked Truth p. 22. whereby they will be tryed The Scriptures are excluded from Tryal of the Spirits the Spirit they say must do that Wherein they beg the Question and should give some Evidence they have the Spirit before they try Scriptures by it So that they devolve all upon their inward Motions which being invisible and indemonstrable to us and hugely dissonant among themselves discover their right Father and hereby we who deny new or renewed Revelations are debarred from having any Rule at all Their Style is so bitter so stuffed frequently with cursing and railing that they may well think themselves Conquerours when they have the last word and keep the Field with scolding The want of Arguments is supplyed by the want of Modesty and louder Clamours stand for calmer Reasons James 3.13 1 Pet. 3.15 Instead of the meekness of Wisdom and rendring a Reason of their Hope with meekness and fear Dirt and Rubbish is too oft thrown upon Men their Credits blasted their Souls damned and their Livelihoods Substracted To single out some few Evidences of their Temper If a Man be infirm or sickly A Gagg for the Quakers p. 12. they say he is tormented for writing against them If a Man be Aged then he is called and treated as a Dotard that was the Civility bestowed on Mr. Jenner Or if he dye during the Debate with them as that Person did then they Triumph They sent such an Answer as broke his Heart it seems their Works are a Killing Letter also To one a great Name threatens Reason against Rayling p. 180 181. That his
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 when I find high Claims of renewed Revelations and therewith as studious an undervaluing and depressing the Honour of Miracles and withal the rejecting the Scripture from being the Rule to try the Spirits by as Quakers do and withal when I find such Caution used by Moses to satisfie himself and others that God spoke by him None especially if their Claims be really Divine can quarrel to have them examined by such means of Discovery as a wise Religion and sober Reason afford unto us Keith's Im. Rev. Title page But though T. E. was in the right that there is such a standing Ordinance in the Church of Christ of indispensable Necessity as perpetual Inspiration yet he hath but done half his work he must go write another Book to prove that among all the Societies of Christians disowning it and the various Sects of single Persons claiming it his Party having the onely inclosure thereof their Fleece to be wet when all others are dry about them till this be done his Arguments are as equally Calculated for me if I will as for himself and do conclude as forcibly for Jacob Israel or Muggleton as for George Fox It would have been an ease if his Discourse had been true meer waiting is a more facile thing than reading meditating or studying and to a weak Constitution a Supine expecting would have been far more favourable than that which wise and inspired Solomon called a weariness of the Flesh Eccles 12.12 Of the Infallibility of the Church of Rome Sect. 36 37. What the Excellent Lord Falkland spoke concerning the Romish may with no alteration be applyed to the Quakers Infallibility and Inspiration also I take no pleasure in tumbling hard and unpleasant Books and making my self giddy with Disputing obscure Questions if I could believe there should always be whom I might always know a Society of Men whose Opinions must be certainly true so as I might be excusably at ease and have no part left for me but that of Obedience which must needs be less difficult than the harsh Greek of Evagrius and the as hard Latin of Irenaeus and he would deserve not the lowest place in Bedlam that would prefer those Studies before so many so much more pleasant that would rather employ his understanding than submit it The ease then would lye in having Inspirations or sitting at the feet of such as have them rather than in employing time and strength in laborious searches only the way of Labour is the way of Gods Blessing But the whole Scene as laid by the Quakers is so distant from Gods way of Dispensation who was pleased to become God with us to live on Earth to teach us which having performed there cannot be much to be new taught now and also Immediate Revelation when in use yet being but rare conferred on some whom God used as his Mouth to communicato it to others and Religion being Published in an External sensible way and in like manner settled to prevent such delusions as might insinuate themselves under the cover of inward Suggestions we have no encouragement to sit down satisfied with these Internal and indemonstrable transactions being full of nothing but difficulties and dangers but we must take the more laborious way of searching the Scriptures praying conferring and comparing Spiritual things with Spiritual Sect. 9 10. The afore-said Lord further urged That the Romish pretence to Infallibility was but an accidental Argument because if any other Company had likewife claimed to be Infallible it had over-thrown all so proved nay it is but an Arbitrary Argument and depends upon the pleasure of the Adversary for if any Society of Christians would pretend to it the Church of Rome could make use of it no longer Now though the Disciples of Hetherington the Box-maker even before that Lord wrote to wit about 1625 had maintained Dr. Dennison's white Wolf p. 72. That they could not erre in giving deliberate Sentence in points of Divinity as H. Nicholas had done before them yet if that Noble Viscount had lived till now what would he have thought of the force of his former Argument when not onely within this Island John Reeve and Lodowick Muggleton who would be taken for the two Witnesses in the Apocalyps pretended and were owned by their few Disciples to be Infallible but the more numerous company of the Quakers do Challenge the same to their Party and out-do the Romanists in the variety of their Claims of Inspiration Immediate Revelation Apostolical Commission of Christ the light within of Infallibility and discerning of Spirits So that now on this side Dover we have Popes of both Sexes Joan belongs to England not to Mentz and we have many Johns above 24 but whilst three different if not contradictory Parties pretend to Infallibility we have Reason to suspect they are all alike Infallible The Quakers have a pretty Craft but it may easily be seen thorow The Apostles were endued with extraordinary Powers both inward and outward now they Challenge to themselves the inward as Authority Inspiration Infallibility Commission Discerning of Spirits the inward Baptism with the Holy-Ghost c. which being Internal and indiscernable may be Challenged and are not so readily confuted but then the outward as the Miraculous descent of the Holy-Ghost the gift of Tongues the visible Baptism with fire the ability of working Miracles of all sorts the Spirit of Prophecy or fore-telling future things c. these being discernable to the sense capable of an easie detection they do both deny them and speak slightly of their necessity or use Though God conferred these outward ones as undeniable proofs and convictions of the inward and without which sensible Testimonials the internal would not have had that Operation but have been like Candles under Bushels and this very Art lays no little prejudice upon their Plea T. Ellwood's Notion of Divine Revelation is put into variety of Expressions which lie dispersed in several pages his stating of things is different and the claims he makes are of several Natures I shall put them into the best Method I can more orderly to examine them We may conceive some of them to be as the ground-work whereon he builds the other as the Fabrick thereon raised His grounds are two 1. That the Apostles had an inward manifestation and Immediate Revelation of the Will and Mind of God to them by the Spirit of Truth which dwelt in them p. 227 228 233. 2. That the Apostles Successors or all Believers in an extensive Relation receive the knowledge of the
Gospel in the same manner as the Apostles received it p. 228 230 233. Other things he Erecteth upon or claimeth in pursuance of these 1. They have renewed and repeated Revelations p. 238 240 243. The good Old Gospel is again revealed by the same Spirit p. 254. 256. 2. They have Immediate Revelations from the Spirit as the Apostles had p. 228. 3. They have expository Revelations the Spirit giveth the true sence and meaning of Scripture immediately p. 238 239 251 253 255. 4. The Gospel is now Preached in the demonstration of the Spirit and Power p. 244. and they are the Persons without question who Preach it 5. They know the Word of God by Experience p. 249. 6. The Primitive Christians had the knowledge of the Gospel by the immediate Revelation of the Spirit as the Apostles had p. 233 245. and the Quakers now receive it in the same manner 7. They receive it by the gift of God p. 245. 8. They have heard the voice of God speaking in them p. 249. 9. Divine Revelation consists in opening and discovering p. 249. 253 255. that is in expounding And all this is done without any help of Humane Learning which is not so much as to appear between the first of Genesis and the last of the Revelations but hath its Circle assigned beyond which it must not step reduced to its proper station and service which is to be conversant in Natural Civil or Humane Affairs p. 218. Humane Learning is to do the Drudgery of Translating to put an English Bible into a Quakers hand and must presently with draw the pretended Spirit then supervening and opening each Text of Scripture truly to them These are different Notions and are too great favours for any Party on this side Heaven but it s subtilly done to chuse so many to leave room for escaping that if some prove deceitful the rest may support their Partners We must attend his Motions and examine them one by one giving his own words under each head onely some few things must be premised in passage 1. I think he seldom or never names our Lord Jesus Christ who dyed at Jerusalem as concerned in the revealing of Gods will His Prophetick Office is destroyed or weakned by this Sect and the Spirit is substituted in his place Thus p. 245. when he saith the Author of our Faith is the same the Finisher of it is the same alluding to Heb. 12.2 Where Jesus to wit the Son of the B. Virgin is named yet he takes no notice of him but turns it another way They received their Faith namely by the gift of God they received their Faith he saith there in the same manner that the Primitive Christians received it of old Now how that was he tells us p. 233 From the Immediate teachings of the Holy Spirit which dwelt in them So that he either lays aside our dearest Saviour or Confounds Jesus Christ and the Holy-Ghost as one and the same which he doth to purpose p. 233. Paul received the knowledge of the Gospel from Christ revealed in him thence he presently infers thus The Apostles did receive the knowledge of the Gospel from the immediate teachings of the Holy Spirit making Christ revealed in Paul and the Holy Spirit to be the same 2. He seems to make some concessions to inform within what bounds they keep denying new Revelations and yet he either hath new ones or none as from his Principles will be proved p. 237. they expect not a Revelation of any other Gospel of any other way of Salvation of any other Essentials in the Christian Religion they have but renewed Revelations p. 238. Truths formerly revealed p. 254. The same good old Truths p. 243 The good old Gospel again revealed a concession that destroys his design for having no new ones the old do neither need nor are capable of Repetition 3. The true Christians Faith and Experience He appropriates these receits to himself and Party We p. 237 245 249. Vs 254 256. to all Believers 228. that is to himself and Friends for they are the onely true the others but Titular and Nominal Christians saith Will. Shewen frequently The Testimony from the Brethren they are the Church of God returned out of the Wilderness And this is large enough Moses wish fulfilled Numb 11.29 All the People of the Lord are Prophets Are all Apostles Are all Prophets 1 Cor. 12.29 Yes among the Quakers Had he Challenged some few Inspirations in pursuance of the former or some rare single notices from good Angels they had been more Modest or an Immediate Revelation to ascertain him which Books were Divinely inspired and which not it should have been confessed that some have gone that way before him Vindication of the Protestants grounds of Faith second Discourse p. 308 Sect. 4. not onely the Enthusiasts and some Calvinists but the Popish Guide in Controversies in Dr. Stillingfleet saith That the ultimate Resolution of a Christians Divine Faith is into that particular Revelation first made known to him But supposing there was such a Supernatural and infused assurance given yet it is not rational and discursive saith Mr. Chillingworth it may be an assurance to a mans self but it is no Argument to another But one single immediate Revelation is too scant for T. E. during his whole life time He must put God upon Miracles and unnecessaries have what hath been before Revealed though translated into the vulgar Tongue renewed repeated re-revealed in the same manner and he must have Expository Revelations given him of the Sacred Books besides So that his own words contain the best his own Character p. 101. he treadeth an unbeaten path p. 246. he seems not rightly to understand Revelation but rather to have taken in some strange Notion concerning it CHAP. II. How the Apostles came to the Knowledge of the Gospel HIS first rise is That the Apostles had an inward manifestation and Immediate Revelation of the Mind and Will of God to them by the Spirit of Truth which dwelt in them p. 227. this he would have and so craftily brings in as if the Friendly Conference had so meant If by all those ways he intends no more than an inward manifestation But supposing this was true as he states it yet it is not Large nor Comprehensive enough For the Apostles had another Teacher even an outward one both before and besides the Holy Spirit and what Christian did ever yet lay aside or overlook the Personal Oral Teaching of their Lord Jesus Irenae ad Heres L. 1. C. 1. If Quakers delight to be called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Spiritual and perfect from their supposed Teacher the Spirit as the Scholars of Valentinus did we must adhere to our elder name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from that Author and Finisher of our Faith If Quakers first make no distinction between the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost and then would lay aside the God-Man Jesus by
new Revelation of the good old things which are the Essentials of Religion The first of those 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 But though he taketh the Words and Notions of Keith the Revelation is still Immediate for their Institutor hath prettily determined Truth lifting up its head p. 38. If you would hear then acquaint your seives with such as can speak from a Testimony within for as they Received what they have from the pure teachings of the Father so this second hand teaching will be a pure Teaching unto you but be sure you do not prefer this second Teaching before the first for now the Everlasting Word and Gospel must reveal himself to you or else you cannot be satisfyed Their own or others is first and second hand teaching but instructing from the Scriptures is not so much as third hand Teaching and the Scriptures are now out of date The Writings of the Apostles are to cease Truth lifting c. p. 30. when the Lord himself who is the Everlasting Gospel doth manifest himself to Rule in the Flesh of Sons and Daughters They have no New Essentials of Religion this I thought spoke in our Acception about Fundamentals till further Converse in their Works discovered the Deceit Keith Im. Rev. p. 5. for though one tell us that less than one half of the Scriptures is a full and perfect Testimony of all the Essentials yet he spoyls all in saying That the knowledge and beliefe of the History of Christ his outward Coming Pag. 229. Birth Life Death Burial Resurrection c. are such parts of our Religion and Faith as serve to make up the Intiredness or Fulness of it yet so as true Religion may be without the express Knowledge and Beliefe of them So that a man may be a Quaker Christian without the express knowledge of Christ in the outward either of his Name Nature Laws or Offices The great Mogul hath true Religion as much as George Fox This lays aside all that Jesus Was Did Taught and Suffered and contains all Heresies in its Bowels even to the denying the Lord who bought them And another hath writ a Folio to shew that men should not be concern'd about Faith or Creeds Bishops looking glass for the times but leave all to the Conduct of the Light But what then are their Essentials of Religion nothing of Jesus our Lord and Saviour nothing that is a part of the four Gospels True Christianity and Religion may subsist without the History of Christ in the Letter to wit Im. Rev. p. 243. In the Mistery of the Life of Christ in the Spirit So that a Turk is a true Christian though he never owned but hated Christ rarely allegorized till our whole Christianity is shrunk up into those four insignificant words as so used which are fit for nothing but a Quakers Posy And George Bishop crouds all into that Everlasting Truth viz. A looking glass for the times p. 235. the Principle of God in Man which is in every man a measure thereof to lead him and guide him which is able to lead him into all truth and to deliver him from evil and which will bring him to God These are the new made Essentials of Religion which the ancient Heroes knew not of who required from all Baptised persons the Profession of their Faith about Christ in the outward who scrupled the change of one Letter in the Creed but Quakers disowning visible Baptism have sent away the Creed therewith lest the retaining of it should upbraid them In the mean time the Devil hath ordered their Scene rarely The Light Christ within renders the Christ without much useless he who shed his Blood for them is no Essential of their Religion and their Inspirations supply the place of Scripture being preferred before it So that their two Principles Im. Rev. p. p. 43. the Light and Motions fairly lessen if not discharge the Essential and Written word of God Christ in Heaven and the Scriptures on Earth signifie little to these self-made Pagans who have enough within to carry them to all that Heaven which their Faith expects But to resume the claim of renewed and Repeated Revelations a Notion so strange that nothing but a search into their Writings can Discover the sense or design of it I must take the freedom to present their thoughts of the Holy Scriptures that by such preparatory tasts we may be drawn on to swallow this Camel of Repetition To begin with their Founder men must not walk by the Scriptures Winstanley in Truth lifting up p. 39. for this is to walk by the eyes of other men and the Spirit is not so scanty that a dozen ar twenty pair of eyes shall serve the World but every Son and Daughter have light within themselves You shall feed no longer upon the Oyl that was in other mens Lamps the Scriptures In the Title page now it is required that every one have Oyl in his own Lamp within himself Some walk by Example Mistery of God p. 35. The Saints Paradise p. 1.2 and have seen very little of the anointing in them some walk more in Spirit and Truth as the anoynting of the Father teacheth them teaching from Scripture is not but speaking from their own experience that is from God The like Notion breaths in T. E. Master Keith The old Revelations given unto the Saints cannot serve our turn the Faith of another man is not sufficient unto me but I must be saved by the Faith Knowledge and Experience given me of God of the self same things the Revelation of them given of God unto others cannot suffice me nor were these things recorded in Writ that I should sit down upon the History but to point us inward to that same Principle of life revealing and working the same things in us Pag. 34. c. We find it to hurt and deaden us to think any thoughts even from the Scriptures but as the Spirit influenceth if at any time we do it we find our selves rebuked and chastized of the Lord for it and in another place we must not obey Scripture without motions but we may obey motions without Scripture At this rate write others of them to cull out some few from among many G. W. and Fox in the gag for the Q. p. 14. what Paul wrote unto the Ephesians and Colossions doth not concern this Generation That is no Command from God to me which God hath given by way of Command to another Burroughs Works p. 47. neither did any of the Saints act by the Command which was to another every one obeyed their own Commands
visibly in their exstacyes c. that all things ought to be done by Immediate Motions and Inspirations c. The Church of Rome proves her self the Temple of the Living God from these Revelations Borius de Signis Eccles L. 6. C. 2. in Dr. Spencers Prophecyes p. 15. Keiths Im. Rev. p. 99. or the voice of his Oracles heard therein she hath she tells us the Spirit of Prophecy called the Testimony of Jesus to bear Witness to her Doctrine Worship and Discipline and to this purpose gives in a list of her Prophets and of their Wonderful Predictions And this very Argument is used by the Quakers Jâ—sus Christ revealed in man or Immediate Revelation is the Foundation of the true Church and of every member thereof in particular and therefore if the true Church remain this must remain also And the Councel of Laterane having prescribed Rules for the Preachers Session the 11. under Leo the 10. addeth an exception Caeterum si quibusdam c. But if to some the Lord shall Reveal by Inspiration certain Future things in his Church as he hath promised by Amos the Prophet and Paul saith despise not Prophecying we will not have such to be numbred amongst Fabulous or lying People or otherways to be disturbed Here is a Council defending Immediate Revelation and if I credit a Quakers pretensions that way I am in point of Justice equally bound to believe the Romish and the Doctrines thereby confirmed nay I am more bound in that the Romish Church hath used this claim much longer and pretends to more Caution in examining the things thereby brought 3. At the Reformation this pretence was industriously set up and carried on by Satan to weaken or defeat the endeavours of those Worthy Heroes Calvin in the preface saith That for twenty years Satan endeavoured to extinguish Adver Libertin stifle or defame that Evangelicall Doctrine which he saw appearing they called them Literal Reformers who had but faint and small discoveries of the Spirit c. Muncer said the first Reformers were not sent of God Bullinger Adver Anabap. L. 1. c. 1. nor preach'd the True Word of God c. Of these Conceited Devoto's there were several sorts which did split and subdivide more and more afterwards 1. The Anabaptists flew high with this claim and it was the stale to cary on each design Their Founder Nicholas Stork John Davyes Apocalypse had his visions and God Communicated Himself to Thomas Muncer John Matthiz the Baker had Secrets revealed to him which God had not Revealed to others He being Enoch the second High-Priest of God Herman the Cobler professed himself a true Prophet and the true Messiah c. Their Storyes are so known that it is superfluous to relate them John Buckhold had Revelations as plentiful as Mahomet This King of Justice Minted his Money with this Impression Verbum caro factum quod habitat in nobis that is the Word was made Flesh which dwelleth in us which is the Doctrine of Winstaenley and of his Disciples that God is manifested in the Flesh of Sons and Daughters New Law of Righte p. 33. or in many Bodyes as Christ or the Anointing was poured on that Humane Body Jesus the Son of man and dwelt Bodily there for a time So that Quakers are Christs now as much as Jesus was on Earth only he was one single Christ but this spreading power of Righteousness makes them many Christs in many Bodyes But if there was perpetual Inspiration Reason would adjudge the Anabaptists and the others being contemporary with the Reformation more likely to have a share thereof than others at a great Distance from it And so little did the first Reformers favour them that Luther Writ to the Senate of Mulhusium to beware of such Wolves and Melancton expressly declares against them De numero Sacramentorum Anabaptistae fingunt expectandas esse novas Revelationes c. The Anabaptists feign that there are new Revelations and Illuminations to be expected from God and that these are to be obtained with great Bodily severities as the Monks and Enthusiasts of old Feigned These Fanatical dotages are accursed we contrarily do think that God out of his Infinite Goodness having Revealed his Will to us in the Gospel other Revelations or Illuminations are not to be expected 2. The Libertines took themselves to be Inspired Calvin Advers Libertinos C. â— and galled the Church much totus corum sermo de Spiritu est Calvin Advers Libertinos C. 2. c. all their Discourse was of the Spirit Sometimes they used strange Words to bring their hearers into Admiration and cast a mist about them at other times they used common words Sed significationem corum deformant C. 7. altering their signification when any place of Scripture was urged C. 9. their Answer was nos Literae minimè obnoxios esse that they were not concern'd in the Letter thereof but were bound to follow the Spirit that quickneth It was their Principle that the Scripture in its natural Sence was a dead Letter and therefore was not to be regarded but to observe the quickning Spirit saying Sublimiùs speculemur let us look for higher things than what the Letter affords and let us seek new Revelations They scarce spake two Clauses but the word Spirit was in their mouths C. 10. and made no Account of the name Christian in compare to the name Spiritual perswading their hearers that they were Spiritual purely Divine Et jam cum Angelis semiraptos esse Antonius Pocquius a great man among them said Aspicite adest tempus c. Behold now the time is at hand wherein the Disciple of Elijah begged the double Portion of the Spirit and that was the time which Christ meant when he said I have many things to say unto you c. Qualis ego sum such a Teacher did Pocquius boast himself to be but he would not speak out donec tempus advenerit 3. Casper Swenckfield for thirty years together troubled the Church with his Dreams Rutherford p. 15. Ex schlus Selburgio he called for Spiritualness and the Spirit and the internal word that we must not depend on the External Word he took several things from Papists Anabaptists and Calvin making a mixture of Opinions he accused the Reformed Pastors that no man was better for their Preaching extolling the Spirit as doing all The Reformed Divines admonished and refuted him his monstrous Opinions were Condemned by a Synod at Norinburg and by the Divines of Mansfield and he still persisted in them He made the Gospel to be the Essence of God which is the Doctrine of Winstanley the Lord himself Truth lifting up its head p. 30. who is the Everlasting Gospel he made Faith and Conversion to be wrought Immediately taught that we must try the Word by the Spirit and not the Spirit by the Word that no Doctrine Sacraments or any things written in
received from God Magistrates must make Laws by Gods Spirit but not only Lawyers but Physicians also instead of Curing these Enthusiasms are themselves to turn Inspirado's Im. Rev. p. 69. He reads Hypocrates Galen and other Writers concerning Medicine and so he thinks hereby to become a Physician c. Whiles their hands are out from the Light of Christ which gives ability Dr. Gray thus pretended Revelation for the Secrets of Physick The Q. Spiritual Court p. 39 40. whereas it was one Mrs. Slack of Islington who inspired him and made him pay sauce for it Paracelsus would have been a good Physician for them or Helmont who at length obtained a Vision of his Soul Dr. Charltons Ternary of Paradoxes being a pellucid transparent Substance If Hermolaus Barbarus had had this Light he needed not to have gone to the Fiend to know the meaning of Aristotles Entelechy 3. Consider the debate about the Hat and their Canons so far as Inspiration is concerned whether the Hat should be put off or no in Prayer hath caused great heats among them they who act consentaneously to their first Principles would have it left to the Spirits motions The rest who set up a Tyranny will have it off as matter of Decency as significative that the Veil is taken from their Heart as expressive Honour to God c. The thing I debate not but the Consistency of it with their Doctrines their Mournful Gildas makes a sad Narrative of what was made known Spirit of the Hat p. 9. and manifested in him concerning the great Apostacy to wit among themselves to such a height was it carried that to keep on the Hat was a forfeiting of their Priviledges Perrot declared Tyran and Hipo. detec p. 33. I have received by express Commandment from the Lord God of Heaven in the day of my Captivity in Rome viz To bear a sure Testimony against the Customs and Traditions of the taking off of the Hat by men when they go to Pray to God the which they never had by Commandment from God And yet this Revelation is thrown by as a Delusion Fox and the ruling party having determined the Contrary but it is hence Evident that men may take that for Inspiration which is not so even among Quakers as well as other men And Ben. Furley wrote a large Letter to shew that such imposing Idem p. 67. is contrary to the Freedom or Motion of the Spirit of Life and the thing begot much confusion some taking their Hats off at wrong times c. How can I know which are the right Quakers the Hat-men or the others Spirit of the Hat p. 32. or should not I believe the Revelations of the weak side rather than the Arts and Tyranny of the stronger But the most unparallel'd Usurpation Printed at the end of this Tract and Lordliness consists in their Canons or the Testimony from the Brethren which are a direct Receding from their first Principles But experiencing the Light in every one to be the way to destroy all Government and Order they Mint a pretty thing called the Light of the Body in which the dispersed Light is concentred and to which it must be accountable we shall first consider the making and entertainment of this Testimony and then some of the matter of it The makers thereof declare that through the Lords good hand being met together were through the Operation of the Spirit of Truth In the Preamble as God hath put it into our Hearts Art 1. The Lord giving us to see being thereto encouraged by the Lord whose Presence is with us c. Which imply that Testimony to be drawn up by Inspiration Mr. Pen calls them inoffensive Faldo's Appendix p. 2. nay Christian and necessary Resolves which sinks them far below Revelation But G. Bishop who deserves as much credit as any of the party wrote a large Letter in Opposition to that Testimony having considered their Paper in the Spirit of Truth In Tyran and Hypo. detect p. 34. he was moved of the Lord to let them know c. and upon their first Principles he proceedeth shaking down what the others later Model had erected but Gods Spirit is opposed to himself and in such Wicked Debates what side must an Inquirer joyn unto or what undoubted security can one party give of their having the Spirit more than the other it being in both alike Invisible and neither submitting to an outward Rule nor giving outward proofs They enjoin them to be read in their several meetings and kept as a Testimony So W. D. sent his Papers to be read in the fear of the Lord in the Holy Assemblies of the Church of the first Born an insolent Act to impose their Motions on others who are equally taught by God their notion of the Body of Friends of good and ancient Friends the Witness of God in Friends the Judgment of the Spirit of Christ in his People good and serious faithful and sound friends the Vniversal Spirit of Truth c. are such canting ways of inslaving Souls that they exceed both implicite Faith and all the Intrigues of the Conclave this being their new Maxime and Infallible Rule that the Body will have a true sence Spirit of the Hat p. 21. feeling and understanding of Motions Visions Revelations Doctrines c. and therefore safest to make her my Touchstone in all things relating to God But what signifieth the Light in every man or Immediate Revelation they are wholly useless upon these Principles for if my Revelations must be tryed by the Body what must I be guided by in the Interim till their approbation be sent in a Cloak-bag from London but who are this Body how many members go to constitute it Where is it deposited In what place lodged whence have they this Authority or how can I infallibly know when they proceed upon Inspiration are they turned into Body who were all Spirit Thomas Ellwood is a Non-conforming Brother as he states things but to have such a power over others requireth a being deputed thereto as Bishop well urged but especially the trying Divine motions in that manner requires the highest degree of Inspiration and Authority from God Never did any turn Revelation into a craft so much before the Body to be sensible of Visions c. Where is this Body one in every County or the Universal one at London such a Representative mankind never heard of The Apostles at the Council Acts 15. received their outward information from Paul and Barnabas and so proceeded but for a Body of Friends to understand the motions of all the Members makes such a trifling prodigious superfaelation of Revelations as cannot be imagined suppose the number of Quakers to be 20000. each Believer of these hath Scripture renewed hath expository Inspirations on it besides all that concern civil Life as eating drinking marrying c. Now what Body besides its own particular ones