other men and not a man as he dwells in the flesh of other men appears because he is described to be a man coming of the seed of Abraham of the Tribe of Judah of the family of David born of a particular woman the Virgin Mary not of other women and in that the great doctrine concerning Christ to be beleeved which the Scriptures speaks of was that Jesus of Nazareth that particular man was the Christ That he had a humane or reasonable soul besides his God-head or divine nature See Esay 53.12 Matth. 26.38 John 12.27 And that after this man Christ was crucified he arose again with the same individual body that suffered on the crosse though made more glorious appears by the many witnesses that testified it Acts 2.24 and 3.15 1 Cor. 15.1 2 3 4 5. 2 Tim. 2.8 indeed it was the great work of the Apostles to testifie it Acts 1.22 nor could these witnesses be deceived for 1 There were many that did see him the eleven Apostles and five hundred brethren at once 2 They not only did see him but heard him speak and did eat with him nay felt his prints and marks and himself affirmed he had flesh and bones still 3 And he continued fourty dayes among them besides the Angels from heaven testified the same thing Luke 24.3 5 6. Mark 16.6 and the very souldiers that kept watch bare witnesse to it Mat. 28.11 Further that this same individual person did ascend into heaven even above the visible heavens and is there present making intercession for us at the right hand of God and shall come again to judge the quick and dead at the last day See these Scriptures Mark 16.19 Luke 24.51 Act. 1.9 10 11. Rom. 8.34 Heb. 9.24 Acts 3.21 Acts 17.31 But some Scriptures those people do wrest to make for their purpose which lest they deceive weak ones by them I shall vindicate them 1. They speak much of that Scripture 1 Col Christ in you the hope of glory and of all those Scriptures that speak of Christs being living or dwelling in his people thereby to insinuate there is no other man Christ but Christ in us men Answ I shall not speak now of the nature of Christs in-dwelling or in-being in his people till I come to the fourth Section where I shall have occasion to open it more distinctly onely thus much for the present Christs dwelling in his people now is by his Spirit and not according to his humane nature for this the heavens do containe till he descend visibly to judge the world as he was seen to ascend Acts 1.11 Acts 17.31 But it is by his spirit he dwells now in his people which is infinite and fills all places and so doth not his humane nature being a created thing and finite see this cleer from Rom. 8.10 11. in v. 10. the Apostle speaks of Christ being in you in v. 11. he explaines the expression by shewing the manner of it by his Spirit dwelling in you And indeed we must thus have Christ in us by his Spirit or else we can have no assured hope of glory though the meritorious cause of our salvation and glory is Christs obedience unto death performed in his own person Eph. 1.7 11 14 c. yet we can have no evidence of our right to glory but by finding Christs in-being in us by his Spirit now so that these Scriptures are utterly perverted to make for their ends Further that Scripture 2 Cor. 5.16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh yea though we have known Christ after the flesh yet now henceforth know we him no more is as grosly abused when it is made to speak against that particular man Christ Jesus now in heaven c. for 1 This doctrine concerning the man Christ Jesus his Resurrection c. the Apostle had before asserted in many places as we shewed even now 1 Cor. 15. the beginning Rom. 1.3 4. c. and he doth not now destroy what before he built it was the great thing the Apostles were to testifie and witnesse to the world Acts 1.22 they were to be witnesses of his Resurrection this Apostle doth in more then twenty places in his Epistles testifie how that the man Christ indeed was risen from the dead and ascended into heaven c. therefore he doth not contradict in this place what he lays down in so many other places 2 And therefore we must enquire after another interpretation of that Scripture and it will clearly appear to be this The false apostles had vilified the Apostles Ministry that they might draw away the hearts of people from him according to the practise of the Quakers in these dayes for this is an old trick of Satan and one plea they had against him was this he had not conversed with Christ upon earth as had the other Apostles and therfore he was not so much to be accounted off The Apostle hints we are not to look on Christ under such outward relations as if there were so much benefit by being related to Christ in the flesh or by being in his bodily presence but we are to consider him as having compleated the work of our redemption having overcome death being raised up in glory and ascended into heaven and thus we should know him for the future this is the spring of a Christians comfort thus he speaks not against Christs being in the flesh still which other Scriptures clearly witnesse but against looking upon him under these carnal relations they stood in to him whilest he was upon earth this will appear more fully to be the Apostles mind by considering the various acceptation of the word flesh in Scripture which to avoid tediousnesse I omit here intending to speak of it in Sect. 6. where in proving the resurrection of our dead bodies I shall further prove the truth of Christs resurrection and that still he is really and truly in our natures in heaven even in the same particular body he had upon earth though glorified and indeed if this were not so the Apostles were false witnesses our faith is in vaine we are yet in our sins and they who are fallen asleep in Christ are perished 1 Cor. 15.15 c. Thus for the clearing of this second charge That the Quakers deny Jesus Christ come in the flesh overthrow his Incarnation Death Resurrection Ascension Intercession and coming to Judgement and thereby pull down the maine pillars of Christianity and overthrow the faith and comfort of Christians and that while they pretend to be more spiritual but are indeed deceivers herein turning all into Allegories and faining these things done in the true Christ to be but as a shadow of what is now really done in them From this it is clear the Quakers-christ and Ours is not the same they hold no other man Christ but in their consciences we beleeve our Christ is in heaven and do wait for him to come from heaven who was raised up from the
more righteous then if they had kept the Law in their own persons shall more abundantly please God He that beleeveth in Jesus shall be justified from all those things the Law of Moses could not justifie him from Acts 13.38 39. He that beleeveth shall be saved Mark 16.16 This Law of grace was enacted by the councel of heaven and is published in the Gospel this righteousnesse is revealed therein and freely tendred to all that will receive it and in thankfulnesse give up themselves to honour and serve their Surety and Redeemer from the sense and apprehension of this his love upon their hearts 2. On mans part there must be through the mighty operation of the Spirit of Jesus Christ accompanying the preaching of the Gospel the obedience of faith to this Law published The sinner being convinced of his own sin and unrighteousnesse and of the sufficiency and excellency of this righteousnesse of his Surety and the free tenders thereof in the Gospel must come in as with a rope about his neck with Benhadads servants humbly confessing his sinne and unrighteousnesse accepting of Jesus Christ heartily as his Surety and Redeemer taking the gift of his righteousnesse thankfully pleading for pardon justification and life through the same and giving up himself in thankfulnesse to love and serve his Redeemer Now these things being done it 's most easie to understand how this righteousnesse of Jesus Christ may so be ours though not inherent in us that we may be justified by the same how common is it amongst men for the debtor to be discharged of his debt and the bond to be cancelled upon some friends paying the debt for him yea may not thus a Malefactour be acquitted of some bodily punishment to be inflicted if a friend with the consent of the Magistrate shall suffer in his stead In the way of justification sinful man is much debased and hath nothing to glory in himself the grace of God is highly magnified which is Gods great designe in the work of mans redemption by finding out such a way to justifie and save man and we have more full assurance and consolation having now a perfect * It is in respect of Christs perfect righteousness imputed that beleevers are said in Scripture somtimes to be perfect and in respect of uprightness of heart c. but never in respect of any absolute compleat perfection inherent in them compleat righteousnesse to present before God which the best of men could never have found as before was shewed inherent in them even after regeneration and conversion And thus for the clearing up of this great doctrine of Justification From all this that hath been said it is most evident that the Quakers as they have another Man-Christ then him the Scriptures preach and another God then the true God who is one God in three persons so they have another Gospel then that which was preached by the Apostles and hath been received by the Saints and therefore are to be accounted accursed though they should in outward shew and appearance seem Angels from heaven Gal. 1.8 That this doctrine of justification is no enemy to Sanctification and holinesse of life as the Papists have formerly and the Quakers do now charge it shall be shewed fully in the tenth Section where we shall speak of the doctrine of Sanctification and prove the Quakers to be subverters of the same And thus much for the fifth general charge SECT VI. The Quakers deny the Resurrection of the body the last judgement Heaven and Hell IT must be here remembred which was before hinted that it is not the practise of Seducers ever to deny in down-right words the great and fundamental truths revealed in the Scriptures but often whilest they pretend to own the Scripture expressions they pervert and deny the truths themselves this is the most likely way to deceive people Now as this was manifest in many other weighty points before named so is it apparent in these fundamental doctrines of our faith the resurrection of the body the last judgement heaven and hell The Quakers have these in their mouths frequently and will speak of them but they look upon them as transacted in themselves now in a mystery sure it must be a mystery of iniquity and hold no other resurrection judgement heaven and hell but what is now in men As for the resurrection of the dead body they will not deny in words but the body shall rise but if it be asked what body they will reply the body is Christ thus have I been divers times answered by them but not our bodies of flesh bones c. these they say shall never rise again and they ignorantly wrest that Scripture for it 1 Cor. 15.50 Flesh and blood shall not inherit the Kingdome of God It is known to most in this Town that they have argued publickly against the resurrection of the dead bodie when they have been present at burials and therefore I need not adde further evidence to shew this is their opinion And as for the last judgement Nailer to F. B. p. 10. they have often affirmed Christ is now come in his Saints to judge the world and therefore they take upon them so freely to judge and censure all even such whose faces they have never seen before and they scoff at others that make the day of judgement a thing yet to come and to be at the last day James Nailer love to the lost p. 20. cites that Scripture See Nailer love to the lost p. 44. and 46. Heb. 6.2 where the Apostle speaks of the resurrection of the dead and of eternal judgement to defend their judging of men now this is all the judgement they speak of they own not a judgement after the dead bodies of men are raised up again And for heaven and hell they grant no other then what is now in men and indeed this will necessarily follow upon the former opinions for if the body shall never be raised and if the soul be no distinct being from God and is after its departure out of the body to be swallowed up into God and so God to be all in all it 's a vain thing to speak of judgement heaven and hell thus do these wretches pervert these great and fundamental doctrines of the Scriptures and whilest they pretend so much light within them they deny that which the blindest Nations in the world have acknowledged for there is no Nation so barbarous but hath beleeved an heaven and hell a future state of happinesse or misery after this life is done as will appeare more fully by and by For the confirmation of the weak in these weighty points of Christianity let me adde a few things First for the Resurrection of our bodies this being a fundamental doctrine of Religion whereon our hope and comfort doth depend Acts 24.15 1 Cor. 15.16 17 18 19. Heb. 11.36 and which hath much influence into an holy life and conversation Acts 24
16. 1 Cor. 15.32 The devil did long since stir up his instruments to undermine the same the Sadduces Acts 23.8 denyed the resurrection Angels and Spirits and some amongst the Corinthians 1 Cor. 15.12 said There is no resurrection of the dead Hymeneus and Philetus 2 Tim. 2.18 said the resurrection was past already and overthrew the faith of some even as this generation of men now pretend it s already accomplished and past in them the body or Christ is now risen in them and hereupon deny the future resurrection of our dead bodies But it pleased the Lord out of his goodnesse hereupon to cleare up this doctrine more fully so that there 's no doctrine in all the Scriptures hath a clearer and fuller evidence for it self then this hath It was sufficiently laid down before in the Old Testament in many places See these instead of many Job 19.25 Isa 26.19 Dan. 12.2 Ezek. 37.12 but in the New Testament it 's not only positively laid down and asserted but proved by many Arguments against them that denied it Mat. 22.32 Christ proves it against the Sadduces and silences them by an Argument taken from Gods Covenant with his people he is their God in Covenant with them and not only with their souls but with their bodies also therefore they shall rise again he proves that same resurrection which was denyed by the Sadduces for he silenced them now it 's clear they denied the resurrection of the body of flesh c. See v. 23 24. other places might have been brought to have proved this truth more directly whereas this Scripture proves it but by consequence though clearly enough but the Sadduces only owning the five books of Moses Christ brings a proof from thence for it Exod. 3.6 But more especially the Apostle 1 Cor. 15. doth so largely prove this doctrine that if other Scriptures had been altogether silent about it this one Chapter had been sufficient confirmation thereof Let the Reader observe there three things that the Apostle principally treats of in that chapter 1. He proves the resurrection of the dead 2. He shews with what bodies they shall arise 3. What shall become of them which shall be alive at the day of the Lord. I. He proves the resurrection of the dead and he evidences that by six arguments 1 From the resurrection of Jesus Christ from v. 3. to 19. for if there be no resurrection of the dead then is Christ not risen but saith he Christ is risen therefore must the dead rise by vertue of their union with him Now that Christ is risen he confirms from the Testimony of the Scriptures ver 4. the Apostle names not what Scriptures but it 's cleare he intends Psal 16.8 and such like places then from those many witnesses that saw him verse 5 6 7 8. then from the evil consequences that would follow if Christ rise not the Apostles should be false witnesses and their preaching in vaine and the Corinthians faith should be in vain they should be yet in their sinnes and they that were fallen asleep should be perished 2 He proves the resurrection of the dead body because if it were not so Christians should be of all men most miserable verse 19. 3 He argues that all enemies must be overcome therefore death and if so we must rise again 4 He argues it from a practise amongst those persons that denied the resurrection probably the Corinthians those ancient hereticks who were baptized for the dead verse 20. and therefore their own practise might confute them 5 He argues it from the dangers and sufferings of the Saints verse 30 c. which they would not endure if there were no resurrection and reward after death Heb. 11.36 6 The denying the resurrection he shews would lead to all epicurisme and licentiousness then may we say let us eat and drink for to morrow we shall die thus he confirms the doctrine of the resurrection of our dead bodies The 2d. thing in this Chapter is to shew with what bodies the dead arise II. verse 35. He answers in the following verses not with such vile weak corruptible bodies as now we have but with incorruptible powerful glorious and spiritual bodies so Phil. 3.21 Our vile bodies shall be fashioned like to the glorious body of Christ himself and it follows as a reason of this change ver 50. Flesh and blood shall not inherit the Kingdome of God nor can corruption inherit incorruption Where observe the Apostle doth not overthrow what he before had built that is he doth not deny the resurrection of the dead body that it shall not rise at all as these deceivers would infer but it shall not rise in such a vile corruptible abject condition it were not capable of the glory of heaven then That this is the minde of the Apostle in these words appeares in that the Apostle doth not contradict himself and destroy what he had before built now having before proved the body shall arise again he doth not here deny it only he shews it shall not arise in such an abject and base condition as now it is in but in a more glorious condition and so he fitly answers the question propounded v. 35. with what body the dead shall arise It being also considerable that the word flesh is not in Scripture always put for the substance of mans body for the substance consisting of flesh blood and bones but frequently for the infirme weak state and condition of man as Esay 31 3. 1 Pet. 1.24 and thus the latter part of the verse shews it is to be taken here corruption shall not inherit incorruption corrupt frail flesh cannot inherit heaven it must be made a glorious spiritual body for its qualities and conditions when it is raised up again that so it may be capable of the happinesse of heaven III. The third thing the Apostle doth in this Chapter is he sheweth what shal become of them that shal be alive at the day of the Lord. v. 51. they shall not fall asleep but be changed or translated into a state of incorruption and immortality as it befell Enoch and Eliah in former times this also confirms the doctrine of the resurrection because those bodies that shall survive at the last day shall not be annihilated but only changed What clearer Testimony can be given to this truth then we have in this one chapter Many other places might be added as Acts 23.6 24.15 1 Thes 4.13 c. Phil. 3.20.21 Rev. 12. with other more but these may suffice But some object this is a thing impossible How can the dead body when consumed to ashes or dust and this driven away by the winde and scattered be raised up again the self-same body for substance Or when a body shall be eaten by wilde beast or fishes and they again eaten by men or by other creatures and their substances mingled and confounded how can these ever be distinguished and the selfe-same body that died
but feigned friends to holinesse whatever they pretend Alexander the Great is said to have smitten one of his souldiers on the face for railing against his enemy saying to him I hired thee to fight and not to raile against him as little thanks may these men expect to receive from the Lord Jesus another day what ever friendship they pretend to him now and what ever enmity against sinne they professe seeing they do but build the things they would seem to destroy And thus for the tenth general charge against the Quakers SECT XI The Quakers shewed to be the common sink of all the Heresies of our times and a parallel betwixt them and former Hereticks IT hath been observed that after the Christian world had been infested for a long time together with multitudes of cursed errours and heresies at length Popery prevailing in the West and North and Mahumetanisme in the East and South they were all swallowed up in these two as in two great gulfes or common sewers of all that filthy puddle of false doctrine See Danaeus de heres cap. 95 96. In like manner we find amongst our selves that those filthy and abominable errours that have sprung up in these late years of tolleration so plentifully do most of them center in Quakerism and this is become the common sink of them all And indeed there are very few if any at all besides some grosly ignorant persons that have not made any profession of godlinesse who are now lead away by the Quakers but such as have formerly apostatized from the truth and been infected with the leaven of Anabaptisme or Antinomianisme Arminianisme or Socinianisme Familisme or Libertinisme c. So that this Serpent of Quakerisme hath threatned to devour up all these other Serpents and so to become the Dragon that persecutes the Churches in these Nations Now how justly may this render the way of Quakerisme suspected to the weakest and most simple of all in that those that follow it have long since left the way of truth and been unstable running after every new way of errour and scarse any one that hath been accounted a knowing and stable Christian doth follow after them It will not be unprofitable if I here annex a short parallel betwixt the Quakers and some wicked Hereticks in former times for hereby it may appeare that their doctrines are not such new and glorious truths as they would pretend them to be but old and accursed heresies newly raked out of hell and the very smoake of the bottomelesse pit If the reader shall see so much agreement betwixt them and the vilest enemies of the truth that have been in former times he will be convinced thereby ther 's little reason any should be taken with Quakerisme I shall begin with some of those Hereticks spoken of in Scripture and shew what agreement is betwixt the Quakers and them One would think the Quakers should not be guilty of any great complyance with the Pharisees seeing they so much reproach others with the nick-name of Pharisees but alack this is but such a trick as he playd that called his honest neighbour theife first that his neighbours accusation against him might not be credited there are many things wherein the Pharisees and Quakers notably agree The Pharisees were bitter enemies of Jesus Christ and conspired to destroy him and no lesse enemies to him are the Quakers they quite annihilate and destroy as much as in them lyeth his manhood For they deny that he hath an humane created soul so Richard Hubberthorne expresly in a letter sent to my self and can he be a man that hath not an humane soul and no better do they deal with his body for that they make never to have risen from the dead as was before shewed indeed sometimes they will say he arose from the grave as Hubberthorne in the letter aforesaid saith but in the next words he shewes it was in the same person in which he was when the world was made it seems this is all the Man-Christ they now own Further the Pharisees were zealous for the righteousnesse of the Law but enemies to the Doctrine of Justification by faith So the Quakers as was shewed before in the Section of Justification The Pharisees placed all their Religion in outward observances So the Quakers as was before shewed The Pharisees pretended much seeming sanctity gravity austerity when inwardly full of wickednesse So the Quakers would seem holy austere but are full of railing and bitternesse The Pharisees stood much on trivial things mint commine and annice So the Quakers upon cloaths hats thou yea nay c. The Pharisees trusted on their owne righteousnesse and despised others So the Quakers would be accounted the only holy persons and call others Dogges Swine Devils The Pharisees used much severity over their bodies abstinence fasting which God commanded not So the Quakers The Pharisees would be esteemed extraordinary for holinesse and have their sayings received for Oracles So the Quakers say they are perfect and what they speak or write all is infallible and must not be questioned The Pharisees were horrible corrupters of the Scriptures Matth. 5. So the Quakers as hath been shewed The Pharisees were rash censurers of others John 7.19 10.20 Mat. 11.19 So the Quakers The Pharisees would compasse sea and land to make a Proselite whereby he became twofold a child of hell more then before So the Quakers what an exact harmony is here twixt these two sects We read in Scripture of another Sect called Sadduces and with them also the Quakers have some agreement These pretend to righteousness taking their name from Sedek as Josephus shews which signifies just So the Quakers pretend hereunto The Sadduces deny the Resurrection of the body Mat. 22.23 Act. 23.8 So the Quakers Herein also they agree with Hymeneus and Philetus who made it past already acted spiritually in men here 2 Tim. 2.18 The Sadduces denied Heaven and Hell rewards and punishments in the world to come as Josephus reports So the Quakers as was before proved The Sadduces denied Angels and Spirits The Quakers deny the spirit or soul of man distinct from God for Hubberthorne against Sherl saith the Scriptures speak not of an humane soul Were it necessary I could shew their agreement with many ancient Hereticks in the ages succeeded the Apostles they agree with the Arians and Eunomians in denying Christ to have an humane soul with the Manichees in making the soul in a man a part of the being of God With Adamites in going naked With Antitrinitarians Jews and Turks in denying the Trinity yet the Turks though they deny the Trinity do own the Man Jesus Christ more then they for in their Alkoran they say he is a great Prophet and shall come to judge the world at the last day and therefore are better Christians then the Quakers They agree with Pelagians in their conceit of the sufficiency of the common grace given to all men With Socinians in
Law above the Gospel and call'd men from the grace of Christ to the works of the Law c. now the Law was but a dead killing letter pronouncing a curse and death not could it quicken spiritually there being no promise in it of writing the Law in our hearts but in the same place he commends his Ministry for the Ministery of the Spirit and of Life therefore this place makes nothing for this wicked cavil of those enemies against the Scriptures V. They equal their books and pamphlets though commonly stuft with non-sense and railing ever with wicked errors to the holy Scriptures then which what can be more disgraceful to the Scriptures and more abominable to all sober spirits This appears clearly to all that have but read their papers for thus they commonly write Moved from the Lord written from the Spirit of the Lord given from the Lord c. and they boast commonly that they speak from God immediately and infallibly as the Apostles did formerly Whether this doth not bring them under that curse Rev. 22.18 for adding to the Scriptures let them look to it VI. They sometimes plead the Church was a long time without the Scriptures and therefore they are not necessary now and if ten thousand of those books were burnt they might do well enough the light in them is sufficient c. This I testifie hath been objected to me and there be others can witnesse it with me For the former part it is an old Popish Argument against the necessity of the Scriptures and I shall only reply what hath been answered the Papists to this formerly Whitaker de perfec Script cap. 7. tells the Papists though of old time when God familiarly shewed himself to the Fathers and by himself manifested to them his will the Scriptures were not necessary yet after God did change the course of teaching his Church and would have the Word written then the Scriptures began to be necessary To the latter part I answer such an expression would suit the mouth of an Irish rebel rather then of any sober Christian and therefore let him repent and pray if perhaps the thought of his heart may be forgiven him VII They appear enemies to the holy Scriptures in their daily practices as their neglecting to use the holy Scriptures Their speakers speak not out of the Scriptures as did Christ Luke 4.17 who opened the book and took his text out of Esay 61.1 and in all his Sermons he opened the Scriptures and proved all things by the Scriptures nor do their speakers exhort people to search the Scriptures to give themselves to reading meditation This they that have been present testifie c. but to look to the light in their consciences let them shew where ever Christ or his Apostles gave such an exhortation to look to the light within them And for their disciples they follow not the example of the noble Bereans Acts 17.11 who searched the Scriptures daily whether those things were so but they take all spoken to them as given from God immediately and turn not to the Scriptures to try the doctrines they hear by the Law and testimony When they have no speakers they sit as mutes together looking on the ground or looking at the light within them as they say but not looking on the Scriptures nor conferring about them though sometimes they will read in their Assemblies their quaking letters or books besides some of them have offered to sell their Bibles Now the most ignorant may easily judge by all this what friends they are to the Scriptures I might adde hereunto if it were requisite to shew their enmity to the Scriptures their perverse wresting of the Scriptures in such a manner sometime as shews they have neither knowledge of the Scriptures nor any light of common understanding of men left in them G. Whitehead maintaining of perfection as the Papists do I brought him that place against it Eccles 7.10 not a just man upon earth that doth good and sinneth not he perverted it as if Solomon did speak of a man in an earthy condition Another when that cripture 1 Cor. 6.20 was used to prove that we are not only to give God internal worship and service but outward and bodily he replied the Church was he body that was to glorifie God Again when Paul Rom. 7. cryed out ob wretched man c. he had not the Spirit And that the same Apostle in 1 Cor. 11.14 did not at all condemne long hair And many of them have said that the Apostle 1 Cor. 9.14 saying even so hath the Lord ordained that they that preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel doth not plead for outward bodily maintenance but their living by faith or living spiritually on the Gospel were ever any people more blinded in the world then these how dreadful a judgement is this upon them for leaving the Scriptures and looking to the light in them which appears by these things to be meer darknesse I could fill many pages with such instances of their perverse wrest of the Scriptures but this will appear more fully in the following Sections Let me but summe up these things together and then let the Reader judge whether this first charge is not sufficiently proved against them The proof runs thus if to deny the Scriptures to be the Word of God and thereby to insinuate they never came from God if to deny the special use of the Scriptures to be a rule of faith and obedience and to make as if they belonged to the Saints formerly but did not concern us now if to give vilifying expressions to them and to call them a dead letter if to equal foolish and wicked pamphlets with them if to plead there 's no necessity of them if to practise to slight them and perversly to wrest them if any or if all of these together will prove the Quakers to be enemies to the holy Scriptures then the charge stands good against them Let the weakest hereby discern and see and not be deceived by them though they pretend in words never so fairly to the Scriptures And thus for this first charge SECT II. The Quakers deny Christ come in the flesh as also his Death Resurrection Ascension Intercession and coming to Judgement THe Apostle John in his second Epistle ver 7. speaks of many deceivers and Antichrists come into the world who confesse not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh and forbids to receive such into your houses and to bid them God-speed for such as do so are partakers of their evil deeds Let us therefore in the next place enquire whether the Quakers may be justly charged with this crime that if they be found guilty thereof all such as professe to be Christians may disclaime them and take heed of them as Deceivers and Antichrists I shall here first freely give Testimony for the Quakers and do acknowledge in their behalfs that they have the name of Jesus Christ
often in their mouths and in their writings and they will tell you in words they own Jesus Christ come in the flesh so that if this will prove them good Christians they shall passe free from this censure and not be charged with it But withal I shall not conceale the subtilty of Satan in deceiving in this as well as in the former particular as he will let these his instruments own the Scriptures in words whilest they deny them in deed and truth and are enemies to them as before was proved so whilest they professe in words to own Jesus Christ come in the flesh and speak of his Death Resurrection and Ascension c. they do in deed and in truth deny all these things Nor let any wonder at this they could not be deceivers else they are simple deceivers that will in plain and evident words say they deny Jesus Christ they disclaime his Incarnation Death Resurrection c. who would then be taken in their snares the simplest would espy what they are I finde not amongst all the ancient hereticks in the Church since the time of Christ to this day any that have in expresse words said Christ is not come in the flesh though open enemies such as the Jews deny it plainly yet none that have professed to be Christians Some deceivers have said Christ took on him an imaginary no real body some an aërial some a coelestial some a body but no humane soul some that his humane nature was swallowed up of his divine nature and several other heresies about it and these all do in effect deny Christ come in the flesh because they hold forth such a Christ as is no real and true man but none of them have denied it in expresse words and why should we think seducers should be more foolish in deceiving in these last dayes of the world then in former times Besides the Apostle John he calls such an one as shall not confesse Jesus Christ come in the flesh 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is a crafty cheater or juggler that will cozen you while you look on so some expound the word and therefore you must not think they wil in down-right words deny Christ but while they look you in the face and give you good words and say we own Christ come in the flesh and we are slandered by them that say ootherwise of us yet they do but cozen and cheat you for they nothing at all intend it And indeed if you examine the Quakers throughly and ask them what Christ it is they own now in the flesh they will confesse no other Christ but the Christ of the familists Christ in their flesh that in the conscience they own to be Christ but as for the man Christ now in the heavens him they own not as for a Christ who is a particular man personally distinct from other men that Christ that was of the seed of David the Sonne of Mary Jesus of Nazareth they own not him some have said he was the idol of the world they will grant that God took that flesh for a time but no humane soul with it and when that man died on the crosse he never rose againe in this same individual body that same particular man did not ascend into heaven is not at the right hand of God making intercession shall not come to judge the world c. but all this by an allegory is applied to themselves Christ in the flesh is Christ in their flesh dying and rising again in them and now Christ is come to judge the world while they take upon them with authority to judge and revile the servants and wayes of Christ This is the very doctrine of the Quakers concerning Christs Incarnation Death Resurrection Ascension coming to Judgement as may appear by these few testimonies I shall hear set down one of them in a printed paper called The sword of the Lord drawn c. p. 5. hath these words Your imagined God beyond the stars and your carnal Christ for so they reproachfully call the man Christ Jesus now in the heavens is utterly denied and testified against by the light c. In their book called Sauls errand to Damascus p. 8 9. 14. they say That Christ in the flesh with all he did and suffered therein was but a figure and nothing but an example some of them in these parts have publickly before many witnesses denied the Resurrection of the dead body and if so then Christ is not risen and there 's no such man as the man Christ Jesus now in heaven B. L. in conference with my self denied Jesus Christ to take to himselfe an humane soul so Hubberthorn in a letter to me though he took flesh upon him The same person being asked by W. S. what became of the body of Jesus when it was not to be found in the grave answered it perished Another of them said Thou hopest to be saved by the Christ that died at Jerusalem but I trust to a Christ within me pointing to his breast when that testimony of Christ which he gave concerning his Resurrection was urged to some of them in Luke 24.39 The disciples supposing they saw a spirit and that it was not Christ himself he said unto them behold my hands and my feet that it is I my self a spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see me have they have scoffingly answered where was his blood that was spilt upon the crosse they have often urged Christs appearing to his Disciples the doors being shut to argue that Christ rose not with a corporal body of flesh and bones though at the same time he bid unbeleeving Thomas behold his hands and reach his finger and thrust it into his side They frequently speak of a Christ in their conscience as the only Christ for no other man Christ they will acknowledge There needs no further proof of this charge let but any one that desires further satisfaction concerning it ask them as I my self have often proved it by experience in conference with them whether they acknowledge a man Christ personally distinct from other men now residing in the highest heavens who is to come to judge the world at the last day they will tell you they own the same Christ that ever was for they deny not his divinity but for his humanity they will shufle you off and not speak to that and thereby prove themselves Anti-christs because they confesse not Christ in the flesh c. I need not spend many words in the confutation of these things there is no sober Christian that hath received any thing of the knowledge of Christ but his heart wil abhor these doctrines at the very mentioning of them I shall only refer the Reader to some Scriptures that may establish his faith in the truth about these particulars Concerning Christs being really and truly a man See John 1.14 Gal. 4.4 1 Tim. 2.5 That he was a particular individual man personally distinct from all
Romish Antichrist 2 Thes 2 4. as is in these men who dare boast they are equal with God that they are infallible perfectly free from the being of sin who dare write their pamphlets ordinarily as given from the Lord from the Spirit of God immediately that dare scorne all others not of their way and judge them as ungodly hypocrites blinde c. do these things argue holy and mortified persons how full of lying of false accusing c. are their writings what bitter enemies are they to the wayes and servants of Christ and in reproaching and vilifying them out-strip the persecuting Prelates and their party in former times who seeth not that the devil hath raised up these to act the part of that wicked crew who are now brought under the hatches for their enmity is chiefly if not only vented against the same people and ways that were persecuted formerly by the prelatical party Obj. But some will say they are no drunkards no adulterers c. such ways they hate Answ 1. Suppose it be so no more is the devil a drunkard glutton adulterer and yet his spiritual wickednesses his pride malice envy lying false accusing of the Saints c. are no lesse crimes then drunkennesse gluttony c. and in these things the Quakers appear as eminently the children of the devil as any do Julian the Apostate as it 's reported of him was a temperate just and strict man but a most wicked enemy of Jesus Christ 2. But for such fleshly lusts we have no great experience of their conversations most of them being strangers here and therefore we cannot so well discover such things if they were guilty of them yet for the time they have been in these parts we have sufficient conviction that they may be guilty of such filthinesse of the flesh as well as of such filthinesse of spirit as was before mentioned There hath scarce been known a more vile wretch then Christopher Atkinson who sometimes was acknowledged by themselves the chiefest of their Sect who after he had professed repentance for his filthinesse and leudnesse comitted with the woman he hath since married yet escaping out of prison he practised greater villany then before for being at an Inne called the George in Thurton within five or six miles of Norwich as I was informed by two credible persons who were occasionally at the same Inne at that time he there offered ten shillings in hire of an whore and fell in love with a young girle whom he suited so as he did cry and whine for her he told such lies concerning himself and otherwise shewed himself so vile that it was apparent he was no novice in such actions for no man on a sudden arrives to the height of wickednesse I might annex the story of those two Quakers spoken of in the book put forth by Gilpin and of him that being condemned to die for incest in York-shire poisoned himself in prison But these being done in more remote parts I shall not insist upon them Now let not any say it 's a common thing for some wicked persons to be found amongst such as are most holy and therefore these few examples should not condemn the rest of them for they are men that pretend to be perfectly free from the being of sin to be infallible c. and therefore the fall any one shews their doctrine to be lies besides what spiritual wickednesses reigns amongst them generally was shewed before and they are not ashamed to defend such actions as tend directly to lead men to such filthinesse as going naked c. How clear is it then from all this that these people are no truly mortified persons what ever they pretend 3. That mortification which they professe to have consists but in some external things which God never required as voluntary humility neglecting of the body which things are called will-worship Col. 2. in putting away outward ornaments not wearing ribbons refusing titles of honour to be called Master not putting off the hat using the words of yea nay thou in their wilful sufferings for opposing and vilifying Ministers in much fasting and abstemious use of the creatures c. Now as for these it may be said Who hath required these things at their hands What are those when they are enemies to the crosse of Christ and to the righteousnesse of faith as was shewed in the Section of Justification when they place righteousnesse in such observations not knowing the mortification of the corruptions of the heart as was before proved when they are ignorant of and enemies to an inward and spiritual work of grace and regeneration upon the heart as shall be made to appear in the next Section alas how easie is it for any carnal heart to learn such outward observances and place their righteousnesse in them and yet even in externals they sin against their own principle of the light in them as by wearing such ruffian-like long haire so Fox and Duesbury two great and principal men amongst them have done that light in them might teach them its a shame to do so 1 Cor. 11.14 4. And even in these external shews of mortification they been have far out-stripped by many others the Pharisees of old see Montagu Acts and Monuments of the Church cap. 7. have sometimes made vows of continence abstinence watching and praying for ten years together during all which time they would not come near any beautiful woman and when necessity compelled them to sleep they would lie upon narrow planks or upon stones or thorns that they might sooner be awakened to prayer reading and meditation they pretended revelations and inspirations their ordinary fastings were two dayes in the week the third and fifth dayes wherein the wholly abstained from meat till the stars appeared but in their extraordinary fasts they used greater severity over the flesh they would shew great austerity in their common deportment and would hazard their lives before they would recede from their way The Essens another Sect amongst the Jews did yet go beyond the Pharisees shewing a wonderful gravity and austerity in their carriages detesting not only prophannesse but lawful pleasures and delights abstinence continence and mastering their affections they esteemed a chief point of piety for marriage they cared not for it nor for the company of women getting of wealth and growing rich they despised to swear any oath was a capital crime they were so addicted to contemplation that some of them did not eat in three dayes time some in six when they did eat brown bread and salt was their ordinary food and when they exceeded they had green hearbs their apparel was poor and simple only to preserve from cold and heat they turned the Scriptures into allegories as the Quakers do following the example of the Egyptian wise men saith Philo they pretended to revelations and prophetical inspirations maintained community of goods torments of body they regard not but endured with courage and constancy
Christ and ours not the same ib. E To hold Equality with God a blasphemous errour pag. 19 It comes from the Devil pag. 20 What care Christians should have to be preserved from errours pag. 72 73 Directions how to be kept from errours pag. 74 75 76 77 78 79 H Local Heaven and Hell proved pag. 35 36 37 Hereticks oft pretend to much holines and mortification pag. 54 Parallel betwixt former Hereticks and Quakers pag. 62 63 64 Civil honour and respect due to men proved and Objections answered pag. 66 67. I In dwelling of Christ in beleevers opened pag. 27 The doctrine of Justification cleared and vindicated pag. 27 28 29 30 How corrupted by Papists and Quakers pag. 24 25 26 Last Judgment proved pag. 35 Dreadful Judgments of God against Hereticks to be duly considered pag. 78 K An outward Political Kingdom of Christ upon earth besides the spiritual Kingdom in his Church Epist Ded. Necessity of being grounded in the knowledge of the things of God pag. 74 L Light in all men what it is and whether sufficient to conversion and salvation pag. 57 58 Lust harboured in the heart will expose men to errours pag. 77 M Magistrates Officers of Christ as Mediatour in his outward Political Kingdom Epis Ded. Magistrates â—re chiefly to use their power for the spiritual benefit of the Church and not only for a civil good Ep. Ded. Magistrates ought to restrain Seducers Ep. Ded. They are to be keepers of both Tables Ep. Ded. Miracles wrought by false prophets in the last days pag. 44 45 Directions that people be not deceived by such pretended miracles pag. 46 47 48 Mortification and holinesse consists not in out-side shews pag. 52 53 Ministry of the Word men must cleave to it if they would not desert truth pag. 77 O Gospel Ordinances instituted by Christ. pag. 38 39 40 Their continuance proved pag. 42 43 P Papists and Quakers agree in twenty particulars pag. 64 Pharisees and Quakers agree in many particulars pag. 65 Necessity of prayer to be kept from errours pag. 76 R Resurrection of the body proved and the manner of it opened pag. 32 33 c. Righteousnesse of Christ how made ours and we justified thereby pag. 24 S Scriptures proved to be the Word of God pag. 1 2 Scriptures the rule of faith and life pag. 3 4 5 Scriptures concern us as much as the Saints in former times pag. 6 Scriptures no dead letter pag. 6 Necessity of the Scriptures to us pag. 7 8 9 Sanctification its cause nature arguments end and helps opened pag. 44 45 Soul not a part of the being of God pag. 18 Meeting-places of Seducers to be shunned pag. 76 T Tolleration of all Religions more destructive to the Church then persecution Ep. Ded. Doctrine of the Trinity cleered and confirmed pag. 16 17 What an evil to deny it shewed pag. 18 Truth must be entertained with love and affection or else men will soon desert it pag. 75 V Union of Christ and beleevers opened pag. 24 W Scriptures perversely wrested pag. 10 FINIS BOOKS Printed and are to be sold by Adoniram Byfield at the Bible in Popes-head Alley neer Lumbardstreet A Commentary upon the three first chapters of Genesis by that Reverend Divine Mr John White late of Dorchester in fol. An Exposition upon the sixth seventh eighth ninth tenth eleventh twelfth thirteenth chapters of Ezekiel by Mr. William Greenhill being the second Vol. in 4. An Exposition upon the fifteenth sixteenth seventeenth eighteenth ninteenth chapters of Ezekiel by Mr. William Greenhill being the the third Vol. 4. The humbled sinner resolved what he should do to be saved or faith in the Lord Jesus Christ the only way of salvation by Mr. Obadiah Sedgwick in 4. A short Catechisme by Mr. Obadiah Sedgwick The Riches of grace displayed in the offer and tender of salvation to poor sinners upon Rev. 3.20 by Mr Obadiah Sedgwick in 12. The Reasons of the Assembly of Divines concerning Presbyterial Government 4. The Assemblies larger and lesser Catechisme in 4. The tenth Muse several Poems by Mrs. Anne Bradstreet in 8. Hidden Manna or the Mystery of saving grace by Mr. William Fenner in 12. Safe conduct or the Saints guidance to glory at the Funeral of Mrs. Thomasin Barnardiston by Mr. Ralph Robinson 4. The Saints longing after their heavenly country a Sermon by Mr. Ralph Robinson A Sermon at a Fast by Mr. Na. Ward FINIS