THE QUAKERS Quaking Principles EXAMINED AND REFUTED In a briefe answer to some erroneous Tenets held forth by James Naylor in his Answers unto Mr Baxter and some others that have publikely opposed that blacke spirit in the deluded Quakers Wherein is also included a serious Admonition how wee ought to behave our selves towards the Ministers of the Gospell in respect of communicating unto them and for giving to the poore so as the Gospell requires and to beware of covetousnesse and the effects thereof least wee be left of God and delivered up unto strong delusions and a blasphemous spirit instead of the Spirit of God The heads of the whole Discourse are also premised Written by ELLIS BRADSHAVVE And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion that they should beleeve a lye That they all might be damned who beleeved not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousnesse see 2 Thess 2.11 12. LONDON Printed for Lodowicke Lloyd and are to be sould at his shop at the Castle in Cornehill 1656. TO HIS HIGHNES THE LORD PROTECTOR Of England Scotland and Ireland with the Dominions thereof MAy it please your Highnesse I have made bold being advised thereunto to presume so farre as to Dedicate and commend this little Treatise to your serious consideration The which I should not have don though advised to it being so meane a man Had I not been perswaded that your Highnes will approve of the contents hereof Or had I not also conceived that your approbation and publike owning and incouragement thereof would much tend to the glory of God and the good of his people And so by consequence also not onely to the fullfilling of your minde and desires being bent that way but it will really tend for your honour advantage in many respects which I could easily name One whereof is that though the Treatise is little yet it hath much in it that by the blessing of God may strongly tend for turning of the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children unto their fathers as Mala 4.6 Least the Lord should come and finding us devided smite the earth with a curse I meane for so wee ought to apply it for turning the hearts of the Ministers unto the people and the hearts of the people unto their Ministers Least the Lord finding us in a devided seperated malignant posture each against others should smite the earth with a curse for our sakes instead of causing the blessing to rest in our houses upon all that we have Now it is evident that Satan and all his instruments especially the Quakers labour with all their might and are too powerfull quite to the contrary as in this Treatise it will appeare That it is the chiefe designe of Satan in the Quakers to render the Ministers odious to the people that so hee might make their doctrines and labours utterly ineffectuall And I being confident that your Highnes is not Ignorant of these things nor of the ends and devices of Satan For I have not written to your Highnes because you know not the truth but because you know it and that no lye is of the truth And againe being also confident that your Highnes much desireth and is exceeding glad of all opportunities and meanes to effect this accordance amongst all the faithfull Ministers and people of God which doth much commend the goodnesse of your spirit through the grace of God in the sight of all good men that know your minde I have made bold to commend this Treatise the more to ingage your Highnes the rather to reade it Being a little jealous least your many and great affaires should withdraw your minde to sleight and neglect it before you know it Especially in regard here is included divers pressing arguments and that from Scripture-grounds such as cannot be reproved To ingage the people in love and duty to their faithfull Ministers freely to communicate and make them pertakers with them in all good things so as the Gospell requires Which love and dutyes Christianly performed so as really to proove the naturalnes of their love will doubtles ingage the hearts of the Ministers unto the people It being the nature of true cordiall affection such love I meane as commeth of God to be reciprocall And what happinesse attendeth both the Ministers and people that are in such a case Especially in respect of the blessing of God is clearely held forth Psal 133. Behold saith David how good and how pleasant a thing it is for brethren to dwell together in unitie vers 1. For there the Lord hath commanded the blessing even life for evermore vers 3. And so the Apostle biddeth us Be perfect be of one minde live in peace and the God of love and peace shall be with us 2 Cor 14.11 Now what better meanes can wee use for compleating all this happinesse to our selves and posterities Then to provoke one another unto love and to good workes And one thing I dare say that through the grace of God here are divers Arguments and doctrines for provoking to good workes which have never yet that I know of been published before either by word or writing from Gospell-foundations but in this Treatise But it is not suitable for mee to commend it but let it praise it selfe nor should I have done it at all but to ingage your Highnes not to neglect to reade it and take speciall notice of such a serious buisinesse so strongly opposed and of such high concernment to all our soules Thus hoping in God your Highnes will grant me this desired favour as with deliberation to reade it over when time will permit I Commit you to the guidance and protection of God and rest your loving faithfull and obedient Souldier ELLIS BRADSHAVVE The heads of the chiefe things herein prooved against James Naylor and others of his Complices are 1. THat it is not the Gospell nor the Scripture in generall which is called the letter by the Apostle Paul Rom 2.27.29 Chap 7.6 2 Cor 3.6 But the Law onely and that but in some respects 2. That there is more lights then one yea then that within that are properly spoken of and called lights in Scripture which Naylor denyeth 3. That there is more words of God then one and so properly called in Scripture which he denyeth 4. That the Scriptures are the words and word of God and properly so called in Scripture which hee denyeth 5. That there is no man justified by faith in Christ but he loveth the Scriptures and will owne them as words of spirit and life and that to him and therefore will not call them a dead letter and carnall c. as the Quakers doe 6. The absurditie of Naylors directorie to a light within and to desert the Scriptures and the teachings of men discovered 7. That James Naylor is not infallibly guided but either grossely erreth through delusion or is obstinately wicked in maintaining such things as
one that cometh into the world with what light they have of understanding and rationalitie And who knoweth not that Jesus Christ is in us except wee be Reprobates by his blessed Spirit in lesser or greater measure And who knoweth not that the word is nigh us even in our heart and in our mouth to wit the essentiall word which is Christ by his blessed Spirit if wee be his Elect And who knowath not that the ministration of the Spirit is not by the workes of the Law by which no flesh can be justified but by the hearing of faith preached because the letter of the Law killeth spiritually but the Spirit giveth life through faith and love which are in Christ Jesus And who knoweth not that God is a Spirit and will be worshipped in spirit and in truth or not accept it But hee will be worshipped with the body also And who knoweth not that men should sing with the Spirit and with the understanding But what singing or praising of God is that which is not with the mouth I never heard such nor shall doe I thinke unlesse I heare the Angells which have not any proper mouthes And what Church is that which is in the heart our bodyes indeed are the Temples of the holy Ghost and I reade of the Church of the first-borne written in heaven but are these the Churches of the Saints spoken of in Scripture which yet some of them had their failings And who knoweth not that all that are without God and his Righteousnesse are in the world and strangers as yet to the Covenant of grace And who will not deny that faith and worship which God denyes And who knoweth not that those who have an unction from the holy One and know all things have no need that any man should teach them but as the same Anointing teacheth them of all things see 1 John 2.20.27 But those who have this unction will not follow James Naylor nor his crooked and perverse doctrines for those that goe out from us are not of us see vers 19. For a stranger will they not follow for they know not the voyce of strangers Joh 10.5 But James Naylor is sent with strong delusiens to some that they might beleeve a lye that they all may be damned that receive not the truth in love but have pleasure in unrighteousnesse Qu But how is hee sent may wee Imagine Ans Not properly of God nor by his Spirit but Satan hath got commission to be a lying spirit in his mouth and in the mouthes of all his complices as hee was in the mouth of all Ahabs Prophets to deceive those who receive not the truth in love but have pleasure in unrighteousnesse If hee had a paire of hornes of Iron such as Zedekiah the sonne of Chenana made that hee might bring them to Fox and tell him that with those hee should push downe all the Ministers of God till hee had destroyed them It is very likely that Fox would beleeve him yet so doth not any Micaiah any true Prophet of the Lord though James Naylor himselfe hath prophesied so much concerning all the Ministers of God in England and elsewhere yea even all the generation of them who ever they be that will not receive and beleeve his lyes Which truly are so palpably grosse that I verily beleeve that not one Minister that is sent of God in all the world will owne for truthes though hee shuffle them up never so closely amongst the truthes of God as in that art hee is extreame cunning and it is no marvaile if that old lying spirit hath skill to teach him and be in his mouth for hee hath long used that very art and of all the arts that hee hath yet learned it is the most deceivable and therefore he hath used it longest hee deceived Eve with it when shee was pure from sinne and perfectly wise no marvaile then if hee deceive so many now that are laden with sinne and lead with divers lusts and not so wise as shee But I hope it is his last and cheifest Refuge I cannot but rejoyce to see him play this carde to transsorme himselfe into an Angell of light and his Ministers into Ministers of Righteousnesse I hope it will be to his losse in the end If the Ranters doctrine would have taken amongst us hee would never have owned so many truthes and good things but that not taking hee was glad to transforme himselfe and his Ministers in new suits of apparrell not all out of course but finer wooll and smoothly woven and drest yet the designe and doctrines against the Scriptures being not owned as the word of God and in respect of disowning the teachings of men as utterly needlesse they being taught of God as they say to love one another They are just the same which the Ranters used Their designe being clearely the same with the Ranters to wit to preach downe all preachings and teachings of men though never so holy and spirituall teachings And why forsooth but because there is a promise that they shall be all taught of God using the very same Scripture-grounds which the Quakers doe and quite perverting them for the same use as the Ranters did which any spirituall understanding knoweth for certaine that they were never given forth by the holy Ghost for any such ends or uses but quite the contrary which were easie to demonstrate if it were needfull But let mee fall to question James Naylor a little as hee hath done us First Where the Scripture giveth any such directories for attaining unto life and power c. To wit That wee should onely give heed to that light within us and utterly desert all teachings of men save onely of themselves who onely direct us unto that light though it be but darknesse in comparison of what wee may learne from Scripture and from men likewise who teach us from thence by the Spirit of God Secondly Where doth the Scripture tell us that hee that is the light of the world and that inlighteneth every one that comuteth into the world doth inlighten all sufficiently and so as to guide them insallibly or that hee inlighteneth all alike and that immediately without the knowledge of the Scriptures or the teachings of men so as that they need not to teach one another saying know the Lord because all doe know him from the greatest of them even to the least of them Is the case so now that all know him what need is there then of the teachings of James Naylor and his complices if their light within them be sufficient it can teach them all that hee doth and all that he knoweth and how to eye it onely and to looke within for light and to desert and despise the teachings of men as so he doth and what else doth hee teach which is not taught by men from sacred Scripture and with more spirit and power then hee teacheth any thing and farre more rationally and convincingly in
observe that lying spirit then ruling in them and to love and obey and follow his motions and instigations and to looke no further but to obey the light there in their consciences whiles they make no conscience of any sinne but follow the lusts of their flesh and of their minde being by nature children of wrath even as others see Ephes 1.4 2.1 2 3. What is it else but to advise them to obey Satan and let him keep his hold whiles he hath it And what better way to perswade them to it can either Satan or the Quakers devise then to keepe them from searching the Scriptures or getting knowledge thereby to discerne of spirits and so then to perswade them that it is no other but the Spirit of God that worketh in them and giveth them light And what more politicke way can Satan devise to make them so beleeve then to moove and incline them to forsake their grosse sinnes and carry themselves in an humble selfe-denying posture like holy men for such who have been educated where the Scripture is read and the Gospell preached hee can hardly deceive them any other wayes to make them beleeve that hee is not Satan but the Spirit of Christ But when hee hath once done that hee can rule at pleasure and act them at pleasure in all other respects and puffe them up with spirituall pride and imperiousnesse and disdaine of others and to thinke themselves the onely spirited men above all others after Satan hath wrought a change in them and made them a little more active and spiritfull then formerly they were in their dead condition But then what ever lyes hee findeth most usefull for maintaining his kingdome hee easily perswadeth them they are truths of God and inspired into them by the Spirit of God which they thinke is in them For if ever hee get them up to that conceite of themselves that they are infallibly guided by the Spirit of God which is indeed infallible then they never care nor regard at all what the Scripture witnesseth nor what any man saith by way of contradiction to what they hold But are ready to cry out against them as blasphemers and resisters of the Spirit that doe but in meeknesse and wisdome from Scripture-grounds oppose their doctrines and wayes and blasphemies which they hold and maintaine being most implacably malicious against any that oppose them and call them but as they are a seduced people turned after Satan blasphemously reproaching the Ministers of God and all his Saints that approve not their doctrines and workes and wayes As hath been shewed before And how cleare a blasphemie is it to father such wicked assertions on the Spirit of God and to professe themselves mooved thereunto by the Spirit of God when if the Scripture be true it is certainly true that they are wicked lyes and therefore must needs proceed from the father of lyes and not from God And that they are lyes and that dangerous and blasphemous is clearely prooved already and I hope satisfactorily to any rationall apprehension Object But it will be said against all this that without all question there is something in these men more then ordinary and more then was in them before for they are so spirited for acting in their way and to maintaine their doctrines and principles and are found to be so quaint and wittie more then what they were or had before that it is cleare they are acted by some spirit or other which they are perswaded is the Spirit of God as appeares by their boldnesse and confidence and comming to the light and their zeale and selfe-deniall which for the most part is evident in them And therefore how can this be from any false or lying spirit which maketh them so bold and confident and that to come to the light that their deeds might be made manifest that they are wrought in God And they are so expert in Scripture as few Christians are like them and that as they thinke by inspiration from God they having not been so before but dull and uncapable and such as could learne nothing of that nature but were utterly non-proficients in the Schoole of Christianitie and knew nothing at all but were as deafe or dead men under spirituall ministrations And therefore how can this change come and how come they by this Renovation and this Spirit and zeale and boldnesse and confidence thus above ordinary And to plead for so many good things and sharply rebuke and reprove so many evill things Is it possible that this spirit should not be of God but a deluding spirit how can this be or come to passe I answer That it can be no other but a deluding spirit the which as I conceive they obtaine by such meanes and proceedings as I shall name and I desire they would search their owne hearts whether it be not so with them that so if they be deluded they might forsake and renounce that deluding spirit and so deliver themselves out of the snares of the Devill that are taken captive by him at his will and pleasure And first let them but examine themselves whether they were not of those that had heard the Scriptures read and opened and the truthes of God held forth by and from them which now they owne and witnesse too But whether they were not then of those that received not those truthes in love but had pleasure in unrighteousnesse And if so whether there be not cause of jealousie least God hath purposely sent them strong delusions for that very cause And secondly whether they were not first wrought up to an implacable malignitie against the Ministers in generall and against the most part of professors in so much as they did speake evill and gave forth reproachfull language against them calling them hirelings and Priests of Ball and covetous and carnall and such like language as they give them now which wee doe account as a degree of blaphemie for hee that speaketh evill of the Ministers of Christ speaketh evill of him And what is blasphemy but speaking evill of God or Christ or of his word or wayes or ordinances or people But if so and that they received that spirit within them upon acting according to such principles which they can never cleare from a degree of blasphemie May they not well be jealous that God hath delivered them up to the power of Satan to be spirited and guided and acted by him at his will and pleasure And is it not very likely that it is thus with them and that their blasphemies are the cause why they are so deluded with a false spirit in stead of the Spirit of God And is it not just with God thus to give them up that receive not his truth in love And how certaine is it that they never received the truth in love that love not the Messengers and Ministers of it but can so easily and bitterly Revile and Reproach them and not them onely but all
the Saints and servants of God almost over all the world accounting them all but Litteralists as hath been shewed in part and is easily demonstrated from divers of their books those of themselves onely excepted And is it not alwayes so with Satan in his trading with Witches that before hee granteth them a familiar spirit to be their servant hee ever ingageth them under a degree of blasphemie as to speake evill of God or Christ and of his holy Spirit and it may be to renounce and curse them in a fearefull manner And then hee knoweth that he hath them sure as quite from under the protection of God and so ingageth them in covenant and league with himselfe in a mutuall way for hee knoweth his libertie and commission from God and that hee is chained within such bounds and limitts that hee cannot passe For till the Lord hath delivered them up to his power and government hee cannot act them at his will and pleasure And hee well knoweth that hee must bring them under some degree of blasphemie or such a measure of sinne as will provoke the Lord to deliver them up to his will and pleasure else hee cannot doe them the least harme at all much lesse can he use them as Instruments for his owne service and to make them his slaves and vassalls to doe his drudgery and act for him in things that concerne his kingdome yea and such things likewise as hee could no wayes effect without their assistance as I might instance in many examples that I have read in Histories concerning divers Witches how it was with them in that case by their owne confessions to which Histories I shall referre the Reader But in my apprehension the case is just the same with these deluded people called Quakers For they being a people that beleeved not the truth so as to receive it in love but had pleasure in unrighteousnesse see 2 Thess 2.10 11 12. Though they heard the Word both read and preached and that with authoritie and power yet it did not profit them because it was not mixed with faith And so could not possibly worke them up to receive it in love because they having pleasure in unrighteousnesse the word was unto them unsavourie yea the savour of death unto death and therefore put away from them and not beleeved and embraced as they ought to have done In so much that not loving and receiving the word of truth they could not love and receive the Ministers and Messengers of it in regard they brought no glad tidings of peace unto them whiles they loved unrighteousnesse Upon which occasion of advantage Satan sent forth his Ministers first the prophane Ranters perswading them to forsake the teachings of men and to liften to that light within in their consciences for they were all taught of God to love one another and that light within was the teaching of the Spirit and that of men was but carnall nor the Scripture it selfe was but carnall and a dead letter and the Bible might be burnt and bought and sold and might be read all their life without any profit or benefit to their soules whereas that light and spirit within them was of an eternall nature and an infallible guide so that obeying that light they could not erre but should be sure of perfection and of eternall life Now these poore ignorant unstable soules finding it true that they had not received any great benefit nor life and comfort by the word and ministrations of men in any other way or ordinance of so long time They immediately embraced and received their doctrine and so fell in with them to despise all ordinances and ministrations of men and even the Scripture it selfe and fell to reviling them and calling them carnall and hirelings and traders with the Word and such as looked onely for gaine from their quarter and such like language as is notoriously knowne But then their spirit within taught and lead them to such prophanenesse and excessive open wickednesse as to commit adultery and fornication and to father the same on the Spirit of God as moved by him which was outragious blasphemy such horrid impietie that no man almost that ever knew what belonged unto common civilitie could for shame owne them or their wayes or doctrine but cryed out shame against them But Satan perceiving his doctrine and kingdome to decay by reason of this excesse of wickednesse Hee put his Ministers into another garbe and also some little refined his doctrine in some inferiour points provided alwayes that his maine might stand to wit against the Scriptures and the teachings of men and ordinances c. and that they should onely listen to that light and spirit within For this they still preach and father blasphemously on the Spirit of God But then for much of outward prophanenesse they cry out against as much as possible and as if they were indeed the Ministers of Christ and plead extreamely for perfection professing themselves to have already attained it And Satan hath so farre moulded them as to make some shew of holinesse and of humilitie and righteousnesse in externall things and hath so farre deluded them as that some of them thinke and are fully perswaded that they are perfect and free from sinne and that it is certaine that it is no other but the spirit of God that hath so moulded them and that dwelleth in them and acteth and mooveth them so that what ever they are taught or mooved unto by that Spirit they dare not disobey nor cannot beleeve that it is not true or just c. Nay though an Angell from he even should teach them contrary in so much that they are bold and consident in the maintenance of their doctrines and ceremonies and wayes as if they were certainly witnessed by the Spirit of God as is publicity knowne And so being deluded themselves they are the more powerfull to delude others for Satan acteth them at pleasure and they are spirited by him to preach and pray and promulgate his doctrine in all places where they come and that with life and power even subverting whole houses and beguiling many unstable soules First By working them up to a dislike of the Ministers and then of all ordinances and then of the Scriptures as all but carnall and dead and vaine and unprofitable unto them as is easie to doe with those who never loved them And then they bring them one step further to wit to reproach and despise them and speake evill of them which is a degree of blasphemy And then they are left to the power of Satan by the Justice of God and so are spirited by him and familiarly taught by a spirit within and acted and mooved at his will and pleasure and yet doe confidently beleeve it is the Spirit of God that sometimes speaketh with an audible voyce and they obey accordingly And thus poore soules they are led blindfold with the strongest and strangest delusions that ever
that in every place the Spirit witnessed that bonds and afflictions aboad for him And Agabus signifyed the same to him And in those dayes it is said of some that they were full of the holy Ghost and wisdome Steven being so full that his face shone and Philip was caught away from the Eunuch that he saw him no more yet hee was found at Azotus preaching the Gospel And the holy Ghost said Seperate Paul and Barnabas for the worke whereto I have called them But I was yet short in these things having not yet attained so much acquaintance and familiaritie with God And I hardly know how so to walke in the Spirit that I shall not fullfill the workes of the flesh lesse or more I have not yet attained to such a degree of faith as to aske what I will and it shall be given mee though I have a promise for it of him that cannot lye but many times my faith failes and I begin to sinke and come short of attainement of what I earnestly desire to wit the best of things and the best gifts and things needfull and lawfull to aske and desire after I have not yet learned so full as I ought to cast all my care on him whom I know careth for mee but am many times too much troubled with cares of this world I have not yet learned to keepe my heart with such diligence but the Issues thereof are sometimes evill I am too much troubled with carnall thoughts and vaine Imaginations which sometimes produce Idle and vaine words and actions of which I know I must give an account at the day of Judgement I am too much addicted to love the world and the things in the world though I well know that if any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him And though I allow not my selfe in any of these things but desire and pray to him that hath power to helpe and deliver mee in these Respects that I may get victory and full conquest yet I have not attained it unto this day And whether the wisdome of God hath so determined it that it shall yet be thus because his power is made perfect through weaknesse as hee said to the Apostle or it be because of the weaknesse of faith or coldnesse of my desires after this conquest I cannot well determine yet I am resolved by the grace of God to presse on forwards and to fight the good fight of faith whiles I shall remaine in this tabernacle but I will get victory through Jesus Christ my Lord and life and onely Saviour who alone is able to make mee Conquerour in these respects for power belongeth unto God And I know him in part in whom I have beleeved and that hee is able to give mee victory I shall not deny but he is fully able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him and to guide them infallibly and leade them into all truth But I will not neglect either to reade the Scriptures or exercise my selfe in prayer unto God nor the teachings of men but shall be glad to learne of the meanest Christian that can teach mee further then I have attained I will not scorne to learne at James Naylor if he can teach me any truth of God of which I am ignorant though he would much disdaine to be taught by mee or by men whomsoever as so I cannot but judge in regard hee blameth and despiseth such who run after men and heape up teachers as being resolved for his part that he is infallible and without sinne or imperfection having the Spirit of God which is infallible and of power sufficient to inable him fully to doe the will of God yea to doe it on earth as it is done in heaven As so no man that knoweth God but will acknowledge his power and wisdome is all-sufficient if he so pleaseth And therefore the question doth not lye whether the Spirit of God be an infallible guide yea or no But whether James Naylor and others be infallibly guided by that infallible Spirit yea or no in all things that they doe Now though I shall confesse that what hee speaketh or writeth being mooved thereto by the Spirit of God is infallibly true and it may truly be called the word of God if the Spirit of God hath spoke it by him Yet when he speaketh or writeth that which is not true but quite contradictions to the Law and testimonie and that I know it so to be I shall never confesse that hee was mooved thereunto by the Spirit of God but that he hath done it presumptuously out of the vision of his owne heart or by Satans instigation And therefore when he dareth be so presumptuous as to disparage the Scriptures reproaching them that call them the word of God And when hee directeth men rather to the light within which in some for the present is clouded with darknesse rather then to the Scriptures for their guide to direct them to eternall life I dare not confesse he was mooved thereunto by the Spirit of God And so when hee directeth men still to eye their light within and to own it as sufficient without any word at all of the teachings of men And when he blameth Ministers of the word of God for taking of a Text and preaching from it as sometimes Christ and his Apostles did I shall not confesse hee was mooved thereunto by the Spirit of God And when hee blameth men for praising and singing of Psalmes in the Spirit unto God as the Apostles did I shall never beleeve he was mooved thereto by the Spirit of God nor that he was ever so merry I meane in the Lord as to rejoyce and delight so to expresse himselfe by singing of Psalmes as the Saints of God are many times and as for that end they were given forth and ordained of God and held forth by David and others And when he blameth men so much for having a Law without and morrall as well as the same Law written in their hearts and for having light and a word without as well as that within And a Church without and a Christ without and in heaven as well as within in their hearts As so he doth in his Epistle to all the faithlesse generation of the world and all that desire to know in what saith and hope they live and what faith and hope they deny I can never beleeve that hee writt this profession of faith being mooved thereunto by the Spirit of God Nor can I beleeve that their refusing to give honour to whom honour is due and feare to whom feare and shewing love to whom love is due is from the Spirit of God Nor can I ever beleeve that their uncivill uncourteous and brutish carriage and their harsh opprobrious disgracefull language and darke and dismall countenances so farre off from the least shew of love and amiablenesse is from the Spirit of God Nor can I ever beleeve that their
the cleare evidence and demonstration of the Spirit And doth hee not herein teach men to despise his teachings also Have all a like measure of the Spirit and of power and of understanding But such who have more both can and ought to communicate it and to administer it what in them lyeth to such who want it or have the lesse But they that have it not cannot possibly administer it nor obtaine it neither but as it pleaseth God to give it forth unto them mediately or immediately And have all the people a like measure of light or are they alike capable or comprehensive of it though it be taught them precept upon precept and line upon line here a little and there a little as it were by drops distilled into them let wise men judge Are there not some people spoken of in Scripture that were a people of no understanding therefore hee that made them would have no mercy on them and hee that formed them would have no compassion on them And are there not some spoken of in Scripture that are sensuall having not the Spirit Jude And is not the manifestation of the Spirit given to every man to whom it is given to profit withall and whom shall they profit if all be alike qualified and need no teaching And is there not diversities of gifts of that selfe same Spirit and all for edifying of the body of Christ till wee all grow up to a full stature which is not yet attained no not by Naylor himselfe for all his boastings of his infallibilitie and purenesse from sinne And I doe beleeve that he keepeth within compasse and as free from any notorious sinne in the sight of men as hee possibly can and that for credit of his doctrine And so without all question Satan is willing to cloake them with any externall righteousnesse and with good words and doctrines and faire speeches to deceive the hearts of the simple and especially on this condition that hee may but stablish their doctrine and draw men off from the use of meanes and ordinances and from the teachings of men and to neglect the Scriptures For this would still continue and increase his kingdome unto all generations for where the Scriptures are not knowne nor the ordinances administred in power and puritie his kingdome is in peace and hee ruleth at pleasure in the children of disobedience and persecuteth the Elect and keepeth them in ignorance as is well knowne to all that know any thing What blindnesse and darknesse and sottish ignorance is in all places where the Word is not preached nor the Scriptures minded and searched and knowne So that give him but the reception of this doctrine and it is the best foundation for his kingdome that can be laid It is just suitable to that doctrine of the Papists to wit that ignorance is the mother of devotion and upon that they forbid that lay-people should meddle with the Scriptures in their own mother tongue which hath been a meanes to keepe them in such ignorance that their Priests have lead them and kept them so long in such grosse Idolatry and superstition to their utter destruction both of their soules and bodyes doe but paralle the cases and they are just the same and from the same spirit and principles which is a blacke author Hee well knoweth that where the Scripture is knowne and accounted of as the word of God his kingdome must downe in the hearts of the Elect and therefore it is that hee would have it sleighted as but a dead letter and as unusefull unto them till they have the Spirit But the Scripture would teach them how to obtaine the Spirit and how to obtaine wisdome if any man lacke namely to aske it of God which is none of Naylors directions but quite the contrary I never heard nor saw it in any of his bookes that ever hee advised men that lacke wisdome to aske is of God Jam 1.5 6. nor men that lacke the Spirit or desire greater measures of it to aske it of God though it is promised to them that aske him c. if they seeke him with all their heart hee will be found of them Luk. 11.13 1 Cor 28.9 And this is the directory of the Spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive But hee adviseth them to seeke it within before they have it and to follow and love that light within them which yet for the present is but grosse darknesse for ought hee knoweth A most grosse directory hee might as well bid some men follow and observe and obey the Devill for he ruleth Thirdly And againe in what part of Scripture is the Gospell called the Letter or the preaching of the faith the preaching of the letter answer if you can how much more is it not called a dead Letter Fourthly And where is it said in Scripture that God is not to be worshipped with reverent gestures of the body as well as in spirit and truth Fifthly And where doth the Scripture forbid praying praising and singing with the mouth and voyce as well as with the heart and with the understanding and Spirit Sixthly And where doth the Scripture forbid the assembling together of the Saints and faithfull for worshipping of God and for spirituall ministration in his sacred name of the Word and Sacraments which Christ hath appointed for their edification as the Churches of the Saints did in the primitive times and were so enjoyned by the holy Apostles Seventhly And where saith the Scripture that every one that commeth into the world hath an unction from the holy One and knoweth all things and needeth not that any man teach him but is the same anoynting teacheth him of all things Nay where saith the Scripture that all the Elect have it now for the present or at their comming first into the world But if none of these things be asserted in Scripture how shall James Naylor make his doctrines feizible amongst rationall creatures much more amongst the Elect For hee is not sent to deceive the Elect but such onely as have not received the truth in love but had pleasure in unrighteousnesse as hath been said before For it is not possible to deceive the Elect totally and finally though they may for a time be lead away with the errour of the wicked and fall from their owne steadfastnesse Eightly And let mee inquire further did not the Saints that were at Ephesus and the faithfull in Christ Jesus that were the Elect of God chosen in Christ before the foundations of the world In times then past to wit before they were quickned I say did they not walke according to the Prince of the power of the ayre the spirit that worketh in the Children of disobedience Ar But if this be true that the Elect of God before conversion be under the power and government of Satan as the most predominant and ruling spirit then within them Qu What a directorie is this to them to eye and
gather strong Resolutions to take Solomons advise to wit to cast our bread upon the waters In regard that after many dayes wee shall finde it And to give a portion to seaven and also to eight in regard wee know not what evill shall be upon the earth And the advice also of our blessed Saviour to make our selves friends with the unrighteous mammon that when wee faile they may receive us into everlasting habitations Now to cast our bread upon the waters and to expect to finde it after many dayes would seeme very unlikely But though our Communicating to the Ministers or giving to the poore seeme as unlikely as that in our apprehensions for yeelding us any returne yet wee need not feare the promise of Christ is cleare wee shall in no wise loose our reward in regard wee doe it in a good intent either out of love to the Ministers or compassion to the poore or in love and obedience unto Christ or because they belong to him or for the furtherance of the Gospell and the glory of God yea though wee be not certaine that they are any such men yet if wee be not certaine to the contrary let us account it as our duty and let not covetousnesse sway us to the contrary for it will be to our losse if wee neglect our duties 3 Object A third Objection may be raised to wit That in many places the Ministers are provided for by tithes and other wayes so as they need not to us for any such communication the poore are provided for in another way according to equalitie so as wee have many of us that are Christians little occasion at all to expresse our thankfullnesse to God for his increasing of us in these respects of Communication and Distribution And therefore wee may well beleeve that our vocall and cordiall thankfullnesse to God in such a case may serve the turne Answ I answer that if wee put apart by it selfe as the Lord hath increased us with a full purpose of heart to expresse our gratitude for such his mercies when occasion is offered for workes of pietie or workes of charitie The Lord will finde us occasions suitable for disbursing the same in due time If hee that seeth our hearts see us willing and obedient and cordially thankfull as wee ought to be And so will finde us occasion to lay up our treasure in heaven where neither moth nor canker can corrupt neither theeves dig through and steale And there is one argument which might make us earnest and very diligent in seeking occasions to distribute and communicate if wee were but as wise in our generation as the men of this world If wee can beleeve what Christ hath promised us and if wee cannot doubtlesse it is our shame and will be too our losse And that is this to wit It is evident and needeth no more proofe that the men of this world are earnest and diligent in seeking how to lay out their moneys for gaine and profit and rather then let it lye rusting by they will be content with a very little as six or eight or ten in the hundreth and that for a whole yeare but in case they heare of a good bargaine either of land or merchandize how industrious they will be to buy it themselves and to prevent others and sometimes to defeat and beguile their neighbours to get it before them or take it out of their hands and very injuriously being so covetous of it But Christ hath promised us not onely ten in the hundreth but an hundreth for ten nay an hundreth fold in this present life besides in the world to come life everlasting for what ever it be that wee forsake or part withall for his sake and the Gospell And yet wee are such fooles in these respects that if occasions and necessities and it may be shame it selfe doe not finde us out and almost compell us thereto wee seldome seeke any such occasions but are likemeere unthrifts in these respects In so much that our constant practise yea I may say of the generalitie of Christians is as though wee did not beleeve any truth at all in these plaine and faithfull promises of our blessed Saviour For else without question wee should be more diligent in seeking and more glad in finding such occasions and opportunities of doing good and of communicating And I am afraid it tendeth greatly to our detriment here and in the life to come For the manifest wisdome of the men of this world in their generation and things of this life shall certainly rise up in Judgement against us and condemne our folly for having a price in our hands and opportunities offred us and neglecting to take them whiles wee have time And knowing also both the uncertaintie of riches and of our time and lives as wee cannot but know and see by experience And considering also that wee cannot deny but if wee take it not and be obedient and free and liberall in these respects wee neglect our duties both to God and men The Lord grant us more solid wisdome in these respects then is yet exemplified amongst the best of Christians else our reckoning will be poore when wee come to account how wee have traded with our Talents lent us for this purpose with direction how to use them for the glory of God and the good of men yea for the advancement and furtherance of the Gospell of Christ and for the proofe and exemplifying of the naturallnesse of our love and the truth and visibilitie of our Christianitie and unfained faith and obedience unto God And let us consider a little further to wit What love and respects the Ministers of the Gospell both doe and ought to exspect from us and that not in word and in tongue onely but in deed and in truth Especially considering that wee ought to account them as spirituall Fathers whom wee ought to love and to obey and honour as such if wee be children spiritually begotten And it is but naturall to us that wee should so doe so that wee can hardly doe otherwise if wee be not bastards And wee are necessarily ingaged if wee expect their blessings of us to be effectuall To make them savourie meate that their soules may blesse us as Isaac said to his sonne Esau For it is not bare verball formall blessings that will be efficacious to cause the blessing to rest in our houses and on all that wee have But it must be their faithfull cordiall soule-blessings that can be effectuall or that wee may trust unto to be certainly efficacious as blessings indeed For how can wee expect any such cordiall soule-blessings from such whom wee make not any savorie meate such as their soule loveth if wee shew no love either to God or the Lord Jesus Christ or his faithfull Embassadors and servants how shall they blesse us in faith how can they beleeve that God will make their bleslings efficacious and blessings indeed to such covetous worldlings