Primitive Christianity REVIVED IN THE Faith and Practice Of the PEOPLE called QUAKERS Written in Testimony to the present Dispensation of God through Them to the World That Prejudices may be removed the Simple informed the Well-enclined Encouraged and the Truth and its Innocent Friends Rightly Represented By William Penn. This People have I formed for my self They shall shew forth my Praise Isa 43. 21. LONDON Printed and Sold by T. Sowle near the Meeting-house in White-Hart-Court in Gracious-Street and at the Bible in Leaden-Hall-Street near the Market 1696. THE EPISTLE TO THE READER Reader BY this short Ensâ—â—ing Treatise 〈…〉 perceive the Subject of it viz. The Light of Christ in Man as the Manifestation of Gods Love for Mans Happiness Now for as much as this is the Peculiar Testimony and Characteristick of the People called Quakers their great Fundamental in Religion That by which they have been distinguished from other Professors of Christianity in their Time and to which they refer all People about Faith Worship and Practice both in their Ministry and Writings That as the Fingers shute out of the Hand and the Branches from the Body of the Tree so true Religion in all the Parts and Articles of it Springs from this Divine Principle in Man And because the Prejudices of some are very great against this People and their Way and that others who Love their Seriousness and commend their good Life are yet through Mistakes or want of Inquiry under Jealousie of their Vnsoundness in some Points of Faith and that there are not a few in all Perswasions which desire earnestly to know and enjoy God in that sensible Manner this People speak of and who seem to long after a State of Holiness and Acceptance with God but are under Doubts and Dispondings of attaining it from the want they find in themselves of inward Power to enable them and are unacquainted with this Efficacious Agent which God hath given and appointed for their Supply For these Reasons and Motives know Reader I and so often trod upon and treated as the Off-scouring of the Earth are the People of God and Children of the most High Bear with me Reader I know what I say and am not high minded but fear For I write with Humility towards God though with Confidence towards thee Not that thou shouldst believe upon my Authority nothing less for that 's not Act upon Knowledge but Trust But that thou shouldst try and prove what I write For that is all I ask as well as all I need for thy Conviction and my own Justification The whole indeed being but a spiritual Experiment upon the Soul and therefore seeks for no implicite Credit because it is Self-evident to them that will uprightly try it And when thou Reader shalt come to be acquainted with this Principle and the plain and happy Teachings of it thou wilt with us admire thou shouldst live so long a Stranger to that which was so near thee and as much wonder that other Folks should be so blind as not to see it as formerly thou thoughtest us singular for obeying it The Day I believe is at hand that will declare this with an uncontroulable Authority because it will be with an unquestionable Evidence I have done Reader with this Preface when I have told thee First That I have stated the Principle and opened as God has enabled me the Nature and Virtue of it in Religion Wherein the common Doctrines and Articles of the Christian Religion are delivered and improved and in which I have endeavoured to express my self in Plain and Proper Terms and not in Figurative Allegorical or Doubtful Phrases that so I may leave no room for an Equivocal or Double Sence but that the Truth of the Subject I treat upon may appear Easily and Evidently to every common Vnderstanding Next I have confirmed what I have writ by Scripture Reason and the Effects of it upon so great a People whose uniform concurrence in the Experience and Practice thereof through all Times and Sufferings since a People challenge the Notice and Regard of every serious Reader Thirdly I have written briefly that so it might be every ones Mony and Reading And much in a little is best when we see daily that the Richer People grow the less Mony or Time they have for God and Religion And perhaps those that would not buy a large Book may find in their Hearts to give away some of these for their Neighbours Good being little and Cheap Be serious Reader be Impartial and then be as Inquisitive as thou canst and that for thine own Soul as well as the Credit of this most misunderstood and abused People And the God and Father of Lights and Spirits so bless thine in the Perusal of this short Treatise that thou mayst receive real Benefit by it to his Glory and thine own Comfort Which is the Desire and End of him that wrote it who is in the Bonds of Christian Charity very much and very ardently Thy Real Friend William Penn. CHAP. I. Sect. 1. Their Fundamental Principle Sect. 2. The Nature of it Sect. 3. Called by several Names Sect. 4. They refer all to this as to Faith and Practice Ministry and Worship § 1. THat which the People called Quakers lay down as a main Fundamental in Religion is this That God through Christ hath placed a Principle in every Man to inform him of his Duty and to enable him to do it and that those that live up to this Principle are the People of God and those that live in Disobedience to it are not God's People what ever Name they may bear or Profession they may make of Religion This is their Ancient First and Standing Testimony With this they began and this they bore and do bare to the World § 2. By this Principle they understand something that is Divine and though in Man yet not of Man but of God that came from him and leads to him all those that will be lead by it § 3. There are divers ways of speaking they have been led to use by which they declare and express what this Principle is about which I think fit to Precaution the Reader viz. They call it the Light of Christ within Man or Light within which is their Ancient and most General and Familiar Phrase also the Manifestation or Appearance of Christ the Witness of God the Seed of God the Seed of the Kingdom Wisdom the Word in the Heart the Grace that appears to all men the Spirit given to every Man to profit with the Truth in the inward Parts The spiritual Leaven that Leavens the whole Lump of Man Which are many of them Figurative Expressions but all of them such as the Holy Ghost hath used and which will be used in this Treatise as they are most frequently in the Writings and Ministry of this People But that this Variety and Manner of Expression may
to be according to Godliness and therefore we have long exhorted all that their Moderation may be known unto all Men for that the Lord was at hand to enter into Judgment with us for every Intemperance or Excess and herein we hope we have been no ill Examples or Scandal unto any that have a due Consideration of things § 8. We cannot in Conscience to God observe Holy days so called the Publick Fasts and Feasts because of their Human Institution and Ordination and that they have not a Divine Warrant but are appointed in the Will of Man § 9. Lastly We have been lead by this Good Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ of which I have treated in this Discourse according to Primitive Practice to have a due Care over one another for the Preservation of the whole Society in a Conversation suitable to their Holy Profession First In respect to a strict Walking both towards those that are Without and those that are Within that their Conversation in the World and Walking in and towards the Church may be blameless That as they may be Strict in the one so they may be Faithful in the other Secondly That Collections be made to supply the Wants of the Poor and that care be taken of Widows and Orphans and such as are helpless as well in Council as about Subsistance Thirdly That all such as are intended to Marry if they have Parents or are under the Direction of Guardians or Trustees are obliged First to declare to them their Intention and have their Consent before they propose it to one another and the Meeting they relate to who are also careful to examine their Clearness and being satisfied with it They are by them allowed to Solemnize their Marriage in a Publick Select Meeting for that Purpose Appointed and not otherwise Whereby all Clandestine and Indirect Marriages are prevented among us Fourthly And to the end that this Good Order may be observed for the Comfort and Edification of the whole Society in the Ways of Truth and Soberness Select Meetings of Care and Business are fix'd in all Parts where we Inhabit which are held Monthly and which Resolve into Quarterly Meetings and those into one Yearly Meeting for our better Communication one with another in those things that maintain Piety and Charity that God who by his Grace has called us to be a People to his Praise may have it from us through his Beloved Son and our Ever-blessed and Only Redeemer Jesus Christ for He is Worthy Worthy Now and Ever Amen Thus Reader thou hast the Character of the People called Quakers in their Doctrine Worship Ministry Practice and Discipline Compare it with Scripture and Primitive Example and we hope thou wilt find that this short Discourse hath in good measure Answered the Title of it viz. Primitive Christianity Revived in the Principles and Practice of the People called Quakers FINIS BOOKS Printed and Sold by T. Sowle next to the Meeting-House in White-Hart-Court in Gracious-Street And at the Bible in Leaden-Hall-Street near the Market 1697. SAmuel Fisher's Works in Folio The Works of the Long Mournful and Sorrowful Distressed Isaac Penington's Folio William Bayly 's Works Quarto The Works of that Memorable aud Ancient Servant of Christ Stephen Crisp containing also a Journal of his Life giving an Account of his Convincement Travels Labours and Sufferings in and for the Truth Price Bound 5 s. A Collection of the several Writings and Faithful Testimonies of that suffering Servant of God and patient Follower of the Lamb Humphry Smith Price Bound 2 s. 6 d. A Collection of certain Epistles and Testimonies of Divine Consolation Experience and Doctrine Written by that Faithful Patient and Long-suffering Servant of Christ William Bennit Price Bound 1 s. 8 d. The Memory of the Righteous Revived being a brief Collection of the Books and Written Epistles of John Camm and John Audland Together with several Testimonies relating to those two Faithful Labourers Price Bound 2 s. Truth Vindicated by the Faithful Testimony and Writings of the Innocent Servant and Handmaid of the Lord Elizabeth Bathurst Deceased Price Bound 1 s. Baptism and the Lord's Supper Snbstantially Asserted being an Apology in behalf of the People called Quakers concerning those Two Heads By Robert Barclay Price Bound 1 s. A Catechism and Confessiion of Faith By R. Barclay Price Bound 9 d. No Cross No Crown A Discourse shewing the Nature and Discipline of the Holy Cross of Christ By W. Penn. In Two Parts The Fifth Edition Price 3 s. An Address to Protestants of all Perswasions more especially the Magistracy and Clergy for the Promotion of Virtue and Charity In Two Parts By W. Penn a Protestant The Second Edition Corrected and Enlarged Price Bound 1 s. 6 d. An Account of W. Penn's Travails in Holland and Germany for the Service of the Gospel of Christ by way of Journal Containing also divers Letters and Epistles writ to several Great and Eminent Persons whilst there The Second Impression Corrected by the Author 's own Copy with some Answers not before Printed Price Bound 2 s. A Brief Account of the Rise and Progress of the People called Quakers in which their Fundamental Principle Doctrines Worship Ministry and Discipline are plainly Declared to prevent the Mistakes and Perversions that Ignorance and Prejudice may make to abuse the Credulous With a Summary Relation of the former Dispensations of God in the World by way of Introduction By W. Penn. Price Bound 1 s. A Call to Christendom By W. Penn. Price Stitch'd 3 d. Tender Counsel and Advice c. By W. Penn. Price Stitch'd 3 d. The Harmony of Divine and Heavenly Doctrines Demonstrated in sundry Declarations on Variety of Subjects Preached at the Quakers Meetings in London by Mr. W. Penn Mr. G. Whitehead Mr. S. Waldenfield Mr. B. Coole Taken in Short-hand as it was delivered by them aud now Faithfully Transcribed and Published for the Information of those who by reason of Ignorance may have received a Prejudice against them By a Lover of that People Price 1 s. 6 d. Primitive Christianity Revived in the Faith and Practice of the People called Quakers Written in Testimony to the present Dispensation of God through them to the World That Prejudices may be Removed the Simple Informed the Well-enclined Encouraged and the Truth and its Innocent Friends Rightly Represented By W. Penn. Price 1 s. Rabshakeh Rebuked and his Railing Accusations Refuted containing I. Some Reflections upon a late Sheet Entituled An Essay towards the allaying of George Fox his Spirit by way of Introduction II. A Reply to a later Book Entituled A Discovery of the Accursed Thing c. Enlarged both written by Thomas Crispe III. A Display of some amongst many of his Self-contradictions and Tautologies by way of Conclusion By E. P. Price Stitch'd 6 d. A Diurnal Speculum containing I. A plain and easie Method to find out those things that are most useful to be known Yearly And may serve as an
not occasion any Misapprehension or Confusion in the Understanding of the Reader I would have him know that they always mean by those Terms or Denominations not an other but the same Principle before mentioned Which as I said though it be in Man is not of Man but of God and therefore Divine And one in it self though diversly expressed by the Holy Men according to the various Manifestations and Operations thereof § 4. It is to This Principle of Light Life and Grace that this People refer all For they say it is the great Agent in Religion That without which there is no Conviction so no Conversion or Regeneration and consequently no entring into the Kingdom of God That is to say there can be no true sight of Sin nor sorrow for it and therefore no forsaking or overcoming of it or Remission or Justification from it A necessary and powerful Principle indeed when neither Sanctification nor Justification can be had without it In short there is no becoming Virtuous Holy and Good without this Principle no acceptance with God nor Peace of Soul but through it But on the contrary that the Reason of so much Irreligion among Christians so much Superstition instead of Devotion and so much Profession without Injoyment and so little Heart-Reformation is because People in Religion Over-look this Principle and leave it behind them They will be Religious without it and Christians without it though this be the only means of making them so indeed So natural it is to Man in his degenerate Estate to prefer Sacrifice before Obedience and to make Prayers go for Practice and so flatter himself to Hope by Ceremonial and Bodily Services to excuse himself with God from the stricter Discipline of this Principle in the Soul which leads Man to take up the Cross deny self and do that which God requires of him And that is every Mans true Religion and every such Man is truly Religious That is he is Holy Humble Patient Meek Merciful Just Kind and Charitable which they say no Man can make himself but that this Principle will make all them so that will embrace the Convictions and Teachings of it being the Root of all true Religion in Man and the Good-Seed from whence all Good Fruits proceed To summ up what they say upon the Nature and Virtue of it as Contents of that which follows they declare that this Principle is First Divine Secondly Vniversal Thirdly Efficacious In that it gives Man First The Knowledge of God and of himself and therein a sight of his Duty and Disobedience to it Secondly It begets a true Sence and Sorrow for Sin in those that seriously regard the Convictions of it Thirdly It enables them to forsake Sin and Sanctifies from it Fourthly It applies Gods Mercies in Christ for the forgiveness of Sins that are past unto Justification upon such Sincere Repentance and Obedience Fifthly It gives the Faithful Perseverance unto a Perfect Man and the Assurance of Blessedness World without End To the Truth of all which they call in a Threefold Evidence First The Scriptures which give an ample Witness especially those of the New and better Testament Secondly The Reasonableness of it in it self And Lastly A General Experience in great Measure But particularly their Own made credible by the good Fruits they have brought forth and the Answer God has given to their Ministry Which to impartial Observers have commended the Principle and gives me Occasion to abstract their History in divers Particulars for a Conclusion to this little Treatise CHAP. II. Sect. 1. The Evidence of Scripture for that Principle John 1. 4 9. Sect. 2. It s Divinity Sect. 3. All things created by it Sect. 4. What it is to Man as to Salvation § 1. I Shall begin with the Evidence of the blessed Scriptures of Truth for this Divine Principle and that under the Name of Light the first and most common Word used by them to express and denominate this Principle by as well as most apt and proper in this dark State of the World John 1. 1. In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God Ver. 3. All things were made by him Ver. 4. In him was Life and that Life was the Light of Men. Ver. 9. That was the true Light which Lighteth every Man that cometh into the World § 2. I have begun with him that begun his History with the beginning of the Creation of God the most beloved Disciple and longest Liver of all the Apostles and he that for his excelling Knowledge and Wisdom in heavenly Things is justly entituled John the Divine He tells us first what he was in the Beginning viz. The Word In the beginning was the Word And though that shews what the Word must be yet he adds and explains that the Word was with God and was God lest any should doubt of the Divinity of the Word or have lower Thoughts of him than he deserved The Word then is Divine and an apt Term it is that the Evangelist stiles him by since it is so great an Expression of the Wisdom and Power of God to Men. § 3. All things were made by him If so he wants no Power And if we were made by him we must be new made by him too or we can never enjoy God His Power shews his Dignity and that nothing can be too hard for such a sufficiency as made all things and without which nothing was made that was made As Man's Maker must be his Husband so his Creator must be his Redeemer also § 4. In him was Life and the Life was the Light of Men. This is ou◠Point The Evangelist first begins with the Nature and Being of the Word From thence he descends to the Works of the Word And lastly then he tells us what the Word is with respect to Man above the rest of the Creation viz. The Word was Life and the Life was the Light of Men. The Relation must be very near and intimate when the very Life of the Word that was with God and was God is the Light of Men As if Man were next to the Word and above all the rest of his Works for it is not said so of any other Creature Man cannot want Light then no not a Divine Light For if this be not Divine that is the Life of the Divine Word there can be no such thing at all as Divine or Supernatural Light and Life And the Text does not only prove the Divinity of the Light but the Vniversality of it also because the Man mentioned in it is Mankind Which is yet more distinctly express'd in the 9th verse That was the True Light which lighteth every Man that cometh into the World Implying that he that lighteth not Mankind is not that True Light and therefore John was not that Light but bore witness of him that was who lighted every Man to wit the Word that took Flesh So that both
the Divine Nature and Vniversality of the Light of Christ within are confirmed together CHAP. III. Sect. 1. How this Scripture is wrested Sect. 2. That 't is a Natural Light Sect. 3. That it Lighteth not all Sect. 4. That 't is only the Doctrine and Life of Christ when in Flesh all answer'd and its Divinity and Universality proved § 1. BUt though there be no Passage or Proposition to be found in Holy Scripture in which Mankind is more Interested or that is more clearly laid down by the Holy Ghost than this I have produced yet hardly hath any place been more industriously wrested from its true and plain Sence Especially since this People have laid any Stress upon it in Defence of their Testimony of the Light within Some will have it to be but a Natural Light or a Part of Man's Nature though it be the very Life of the Word by which the World was made and wrapt within those Verses which only concern his Eternal Power and Godhead But because I would be understood and treat of things with all plainness I will open the Terms of the Objection as well as I can and then give my Answer to it § 2. If by Natural be meant a Created thing as Man is or any thing that is requisite to the Composition of Man I deny it The Text is expresly against it and says the Light with which Man is lighted is the Life of the World which was with God and was God But if by Natural is only intended that the Light comes along with us into the World or that we have it as sure as we are Born or have Nature and is the Light of our Nature of our Minds and Understandings and is not the result of any Revelation from without as by Angels or Men then we mean and intend the same thing For it is Natural to Man to have a Supernatural Light and for the Creature to be lighted by an uncreated Light as is the Life of the Creating Word And did People but consider the Constitution of Man it would conduce much to preserve or deliver them from any Dilemma upon this account For Man can no more be a light to his Mind then he is to his Body He has the Capacity of seeing Objects when he has the help of Light but cannot be a Light to himself by which to See them Wherefore as the Sun in the Firmament is the Light of the Body and gives us discerning in our Temporal Affairs so the Life of the Word is the glorious Light and Sun of the Soul Our Intellectual Luminary that informs our Mind and give us true Judgment and Distinction about those things that more immediately concern our Better Inward and Eternal Man § 3. But others will have this Text read thus Not that the Word enlightens all Mankind but that all who are Enlightned are Enlightned by him thereby not only narrowing and abusing the Text but rendring God Partial and so severe to his Creatures as to leave the greatest part of the World in Darkness without the means or opportunity of Salvation though we are assured from the Scripture That all have Light that Christ is the Light of the World and that he dyed for all yea the Vngodly and that God desires not the Death of any but rather that all should repent and come to the Knowledge of Truth and be saved and that the Grace of God has appeared to all Men c. § 4. There is a Third Sort that will needs have it understood not of any Illumination by a Divine Light or Spirit in Man but by the Doctrine Christ Preached and the Life and Example he Lived and led in the World and which yet neither reach'd the thousandth Part of Mankind nor can consist with what the Apostle John intends in the beginning of his History which wholly relates to what Christ was before he took Flesh or at least what he is to the Soul by his immediate Inshinings and Influences 'T is most true Christ was in a Sence the Light of the World in that very Appearance and shined forth by his heavenly Doctrine many admirable Miracles and his Self-denying Life and Death But still that hinders not but that he was and is That Spiritual Light which shineth more or less in the Hearts of the Sons and Daughters of Men. For as he was a Light in his Life and Conversation he was only a Light in a more excellent Sence then he spoke of to his Disciples when he said Ye are the Lights of the World But Christ the Word enlightned them and enlightens us and enlightens all Men that come into the World which he could not be said to do if we only regard his Personal and Outward Appearance For in that Sence it is long since he was that Light but in this he is continually so In that respect he is Remote but in this Sence he is Present and Immediate else we should render the Text That was the True Light which did lighten instead of which Lighteth every Man that cometh into the World And that the Evangelist might be so understood as we speak he refers to this as an Evidence of His being the Messiah and not John for whom many People had much Reverence for verse 8. he saith of John He was not That Light but was sent to bear Witness of That Light Now comes his Proof and our Testimony That was the True Light which lighteth Every Man that cometh into the World which was not John nor any else but the Word that was with God and was God The Evangelist did not describe him by his Fasting Forty Days Preaching so many Sermons Working so many Miracles and Living so Holy a Life and after all so patiently Suffering Death which yet Christ did thereby to prove him the Light of the World but says the Evangelist That was the True Light the Word in Flesh the Messiah and not John or any else which lighteth Every Man that cometh into the World So that Christ is manifested and distinguished by giving Light And indeed so are all his Followers from other People by receiving and obeying it There are many other Scriptures of both Testaments that refer to the Light within either expresly or implicitely which for Brevity's sake I shall wave reciting but the Reader will find some Directions in the Margent which will guide him to them CHAP. IV. Sect. 1. The Virtue of the Light within It gives discerning Sect. 2. It manifests God Sect. 3. It give Life to the Soul Sect. 4. It is the Apostolical Message Sect. 5. Objection Answered about two Lights Sect. 6. About Natural and Spiritual Light Not two Darknesses within therefore not two Lights within Sect. 7. The Apostle John answers the Objection fully The Light the same 1 John 2. 8 9. § 1. THe Third thing is the Virtue and Efficacy of this Light for the end for which God hath given it viz. To
been so treated in the Primitive Times nor indeed is it only about Doctrines of Religion for our Practice in Worship and Discipline have had the same Success But this is what I earnestly desire that however bold People are pleased to make with us they would not deceive themselves in the great things of their own Salvation That while they would seem to own all to Christ they are not found disowned of Christ in the last Day Read the 7th of Matthew it is he that hears Christ the great Word of God and does what he enjoins what he commands and by his Blessed Example recommends that is a Wise Builder that has founded his House well and built with good Materials and whose House will stand the last shake and Judgment For which cause we are often plain close and earnest with People to consider that Christ came not to save them in but from their Sins and that they that think to discharge and release themselves of his Yoke and Burden his Cross and Example and secure themselves and Complement Christ with his having done all for them while he has wrought little or nothing in them nor they parted with any thing for the love of him will finally awake in a dreadful surprize at the sound of the last Trumpet and at this sad and irrevokeable Sentence Depart from me ye Workers of Iniquity I know you not Which terrible End may all timely avoid by hearkening to Wisdom's Voice and turning at her Reproof that she may lead them in the Ways of Righteousness and in the midst of the Paths of Judgment that their Souls may come to inherit Substance even durable Riches and Righteousness in the Kingdom of the Father World without end CHAP. X. Sect. 1. Of the true Worship of God in what it stands Sect. 2. Of the true Ministry that it is by Inspiration Sect. 3. The Scripture plain in that Case Sect. 4. Christ's Ministers True Witnesses they speak what they know not by Report Sect. 5. Christ's Ministers they affirm Preach freely 't is one of their Marks § 1. AS the Lord wrought effectually by his Divine Grace in the Hearts of this People so he thereby brought them to a Divine Worship and Ministry Christ's words they came to Experience viz. That God was a Spirit and that he would therefore be worshipped in the Spirit and in the Truth and that such Worshippers the Father would seek to worship him For bowing to the Convictions of the Spirit in themselves in their daily course of living by which they were taught to eschew that which was made manifest to them to be evil and to do that which was good they in their Assembling together sate down and waited for the Preparation of this Holy Spirit both to let them see their States and Conditions before the Lord and to worship him acceptably and as they were sensible of Wants or Shortness or Infirmities so in the secret of their own Hearts Prayer would spring to God through Jesus Christ to help assist and supply them But they did not dare to wake their Beloved before his time or approach the Throne of the King of Glory till he held out his Scepter or take thought what they should say or after their own or other Mens studied Words and Forms for this were to Offer strange Fire to pray but not by the Spirit to ask but not in the Name that is in the Power of our Lord Jesus Christ who pray'd as well as that he spoke like one having Authority that is Power a Divine Energy and Force to reach and pierce the Heavens which he gives to all that obey his Light Grace and Spirit in their solemn Waitings upon him So that 't is this Peoples Principle that Fire must come from Heaven Life and Power from God to enable the Soul to pour out it self acceptably before him And when a Coal from his holy Altar touches our Lips then can we Pray and Praise him as we ought to do And as this is our Principle and that according to Scripture so is it Blessed be God our Experience and Practice And therefore it is we are separated from the Worships of Men under their several Forms because they do not found it in the Operation Motion and Assistance of the Spirit of Christ but the Appointment Invention and Framing of Man both as to Matter Words and Time We do not dissent in our own Wills and we dare not comply against His that has called us and brought us to his own Spiritual Worship in Obedience to whom we are what we are in our Separation from the divers Ways of Worship in the World § 2. And as our Worship stands in the Operation of the Spirit and Truth in our inward Parts as before expressed so does our Ministry For as the Holy Testimonies of the Servants of God of Old were from the Operation of his Blessed Spirit so must those of his Servants be in every Age and that which has not the Spirit of Christ for its Spring and Source is of Man and not Christ Christian Ministers are to minister what they receive This is Scripture now that which we receive is not our own less another Mans but the Lord's So that we are not only not to Steal from our Neighbours but we are not to Study and speak our own words If we are not to study what we are to say before Magistrates for our selves less are we to study what we are to say for and from God to the People We are to minister as the Oracles of God if so then must we receive from Christ God's Great Oracle what we are to minister And if we are to minister what we receive then not what we Study Collect and beat out of our own Brains for that is not the Mind of Christ but our Imaginations and this will not Profit the People § 3. This was recommended to the Corinthians by the Apostle Paul 1 Cor. 14. that they should speak as they were moved or as any thing was revealed to them by the Spirit for the Edification of the Church for says he Ye may all Prophecy that is ye may all Preach to Edification as any thing is revealed to you for the Good of others and as the Spirit giveth Vtterance And if the Spirit must give Christ's Ministers their Utterance then those that are his are careful not to utter any thing in his Name to the People without his Spirit and by good Consequence they that go before the true Guide and utter words without the Knowledge of the Mind of the Spirit are none of Christ's Ministers Such certainly run and God has not sent them and they cannot Profit the People And indeed how should they when it is impossible that meer Man with all his Parts Arts and Acquirements can turn People from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan to God which is the very End and Work of the Gospel-Ministry It must be Inspired Men Men
Gifted by God taught and influenced by his Heavenly Spirit that can be qualified for so great so inward and so Spiritual a Work § 4. Ministers of Christ are his Witnesses and the Credit of a Witness is that he has heard seen or handled And thus the Beloved Disciple states the Truth and Authority of their Mission and Ministry 1 John 1. 1 3. That which we have heard which we have seen with our Eyes which we have looked upon and our hands have handled that declare we unto you that your Fellowship may be with us and truly our Fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ I say If Christ's Ministers are his Witnesses they must know what they speak that is they must have experienced and past through those States and Conditions they Preach of and practically know those Truths they declare of to the People or they come not in by the Door but over the Wall and are Thieves and Robbers He that has the Key of David comes in at the Door Christ Jesus and has his Admission and Approbation from him anointed by him the alone High Priest of the Gospel-Dispensation He it is that breaths and lays his hands upon his own Ministers he anoints them and recruits their Cruice and renews their Horn with Oyl that they may have it fresh and fresh for every Occasion and Service he calls them to and engages them in § 5. Nor is this all but as they Receive freely freely they Give They do not Teach for Hire Divine for Mony nor Preach for Gifts or Rewards It was Christ's Holy Command to his Ministers to give freely and it is our Practice And truly we cannot but admire that this should be made a Fault and that Preaching for Hire should not be seen to be one yea a Mark of False Prophets when it has been so frequently and severely cried out upon by the True Prophets of God in former times I would not be Uncharitable but the Guilty are desired to call to mind who it was that offered Mony to be made a Minister and what it was for if not to get Mony and make a Trade or Livelihood by it and what answer he met with from the Apostle Peter Acts 8. 18 19 20. The Lord Touch the Hearts of those that are giving Mony to be made Ministers in order to live by their Preaching that they may see what ground it is they build upon and repent and turn to the Lord that they may find Mercy and become living Witnesses of his Power and Goodness in their own Souls so may they be enabled to tell others What God has done for them which is the Root and Ground of the true Ministry and this Ministry it is that God does Bless I could say much on this Subject but let what has been said suffice at this time only I cannot but observe that where any Religion has a strong Temptation of Gain to induce Men to be Ministers there is great Danger of their running faster to that Calling than becomes a true Gospel-Minister § 1. Object But does not this sort of Ministry and Worship tend to make People careless and Spiritual Pride in others may it not give an occasion to great Mischief and Irreligion Answ By no means For when People are of Age They of right expect their Inheritances and the End of all Words is to bring People to the Great VVord and then the Promise of God is Accomplished They shall be all taught of me from the least to the greatest and in Righteousness pray mark that they shall be Established and great shall be their Peace To this of the Evangelical Prophet the beloved Disciple agrees and which is a full Answer to the Objection These things have I written unto you concerning them that Seduce you But the Anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you and ye need not that any Man teach you but as the same Anointing teacheth you of all things and is Truth and is no Lye And even as it hath taught you ye shall abide in him In which Three things are observable 1st That he writ his Epistle upon an extraordinary Occasion viz. to prevent their Delusion 2dly That he asserts a nearer and superior Minister than himself viz. The Anointing or Grace they had received and that not only in that particular Exigency but in all Cases that might attend them Thirdly That if they did but take heed to the Teachings of it they would have no need of Man's Directions or fear of his Seducings At least of no Ministry that comes not from the Power of the Anointing Though I rather take the Apostle in the highest Sence of the Words 2 Thess 4. 9. Thus also the Apostle Paul to the Thessalonians But as touching Brotherly Love ye need not that I write unto you For ye your selves are Taught of God to Love one another But Helps are useful and a great Blessing if from God such was John the Baptists but remember he pointed all to Christ John 1. 26. Lo the Lamb of God! I Baptize you with VVater but he shall Baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with Fire Mat. 3. 11. And so the true Ministry does And while People are Sensual and under such an Eclipse by the Interposition of Sin and Satan God is pleased to send forth his Inlightning Servants to awaken and turn them from the Darkness to the Light in themselves that through Obedience to it they may come to be Children of the Light John 12. 36 and have their fellowship one with another in it and an Inheritance at last with the Saints in Light for ever And as it is the Way God has taken to Call and Gather People so a Living and Holy Ministry is of great advantage to VVatch over and Build up the Young and Comfort and Establish the feeble and simple Ones But still I say the more Inward the less Outward The more People come to be taught Immediately of God by the Light of his Word and Spirit in their Hearts the less need of outward means read Isa 16. 19 20. which is held by all to be a Gospel Promise and the Sun and Moon there as general understood to mean the external Means in the Church Compare them with John 1. 13. Rom. 1. 19. 1 Cor. 2. 11 15. 1 Thes 4. 9. 1 John 2. 20 27. Rev. 21. 22 23 24. All which points at what we assert of the sufficiency and glorious Priviledge of Inward and Spiritual Teachings And most certainly as Men Grow in Grace and know the Anointing of the Word in themselves the Dispensation will be less in Words though in Words and more in Life and Preaching will in great Measure be turned into Praising and the Worship of God more into Walking with than Talking of God For that is VVorship indeed that Bows to his Will at all Times and in all Places The truest the highest Worship Man is capable of in this World And
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