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A45325
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Qvakers principles quaking, or, Pretended light proved darkness, and perfections found to be greatest imperfections in an answer to a written paper, subscribed with the name of Thomas Holme, and scattered through the country about Liverpool and Lancashire / modestly propounded by Ralph Hall ...
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Hall, Ralph.
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1656
(1656)
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Wing H423; ESTC R39227
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32,660
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37
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come to Judgement but my meaning is if we judge our selves we shall not be so judged as to be condemned of the Lord But to the matter in hand If the Law you speak of be the Law of God it cannot be repugnant to the Law of God lest as a standing Rule for men to walk by to the end of the world I need not prove what I mean here viz. Gods immutable and unchangeable Word the Scriptures which have been so clearly proved to bee one with God that I need not say any more than what I have already said but this I affirm that whatever pretended colour you put upon it if it be not Law and Testimony proof I shall give no credit to it for to the Law and to the Testimonies if they speak not according to this word it is because they have no light in them Isa 8.20 Secondly If it were the Law of Nature for all there might bee differences in judgement there would not be in Natural affection and therefore disciphering out some that Sathan had gotten into his power so as to bee led Captive by him at his will he sets this mark or brand upon them that all men might know them viz. without Natural affection Again if it were the Law of Nature it would lead us to acts and expressions of Human Civility for the best of Gods Saints were always ready to give civil Language and modest expressions to the worst of Gods enemies even to their Persecutors nay our blessed Saviour speaking to Judas saith Friend betrayest thou me with a kiss Matth. 26.49 50. But you dare not afford Civil deportment and Language to godly and holy men no not to the Ministers and Embassadours of the Lord Jesus Christ for fear of offending against this Law you say men ought to be guided by but the good Lord guide me by his Law written in the Scriptures and if it be his will give you both will and skill to judge aright of that Law written within and if it bee not according to Gods Law to look upon it as the delusion of the strong man armed that will be sure to keep the House till a stronger than he come in his power and throw him out Mark 3.27 I come now to the Second Admonition concerning that Light you say is within a man to which he only is to look I conceive it must either be First The light of Nature or Secondly The light that cometh by the illuminating Spirit of God or else no light at all but darkness put for light Isa. 5.20 But for the first of these viz. The Light of Nature you utterly disclaim it for you are no more Natural but Spiritual and that not only in part but in perfection I say as I said before I judge you not you stand and fall to your own Master But that you and I may the better judge our selves and of this light within us I conceive it will be our wisdom to try of what kind it is by observing whither it leads us and First If it lead us with joy and delight to the Assemblies of the Saints to the place where God hath promised his more special presence to the Church of God the ground and pillar of truth 1 Tim. 3.15 I should then look upon it as sometimes David did Even as a Lanthorn to my feet and a light unto my paths Psal. 119.105 but if any mans soul draw back Gods soul will have no pleasure in that man and If any man put his hand unto the Plow and look back he is not apt to the Kingdom of God But it may be you will object the thing I aime it viz. The joyning of your selves to our Churches you dare not do because there is corruption in them I answer it is truly desired of all Gods people that there were none But we know there will bee Tares among the Wheat though the Servants of the Lord of the Harvest would gladly have them plucked up and weeded out yet it is the Lord of the Harvest his Decree that they shall grow together till the Harvest not that hee hath an eye upon the Tares but lest whilst his servants going about to pluck up the Tares should pluck up the Wheat also Mat. 13.28 29 30. Secondly If this light lead us to the imbracing of Gods whole intire and individual word in the love of it if it lead us to close with Christ in sweet communion in those his Ordinances that are by him appointed not only for the begetting but also increasing and strengthening of Faith and all other Graces of his Spirit I mean the Sacraments of the New Testament so as we can receive Soul-refreshment and Grace-strengthening thereby I say if this light lead us this way I should be assured it were the Spirit of God otherwise I cannot but look upon it as a delusion of Sathan to which God had in Justice given me up because I would not embrace him in the tenders of his love in the Gospel and because I would not receive his Word in the love of it he had given me up to beleeve a Lye and to hearken to the Father of Lyes who though he transform himself into an Angel of Light yet goes about by all deceiveableness of unrighteousness to delude poor souls to their utter destruction and perishing I therefore desire that you and I might bâ— careful to try the spirits whether they be of God or no for many false spirits as well as false Prophets are gone out into the world 1 Joh. 4.1 I have but one word more and I have done methinks it should not bee the work of the Spirit of God to revile Gods Ministers and â—oyse Sâ—â—vants for indeed I finde it ranked amongst the works of the flesh Galâ—th 5.21 And else-where the Spirit of God ranks Revilers amongst such as shall not inherite the Kingdom 1 Cor. 6.9 10. and indeed your inhuman Raylings false and slanderous Accusations unchristian Judgings and Censures that you ordinarily pass upon all that are not of your Opinions what do they but render you to be a people that take to your selves that boldness that an Angel of God durst not do when hee was to deal in dispute with the Devil of Hell for saith the Text He durst not bring against him a rayling accusation but said the Lord rebuke thee Jude 9. I pray observe what a strange expression the Holy Ghost makes use of here an Angel of God an Arch-Angel the best of Created Creatures disputing with the Devil worse than the worst of men yet durst not I say durst not bring against him a rayling accusation but it is too apparent that men below the Angels of Heaven dare bring rayling accusations against those that are farre enough above Devils For God made man a little lower than the Angels Psal. 8.5 6. If I had not just occasion to blame you for your rayling accusations against them that cannot be denied to be your Fellow-Creatures if no more could be said for them But your bolt is shot against Gods choycest Servants and which I desire may be seriously considered Sathan is called The Accuser of the Brethren Revel. 12.10 these things considered I desire you and I may in good earnest examine our selves and if we finde our selves guilty judge our selves and a farre as you are found in fault I heartily with if it be the good pleasure of God you may bee truly sensible of it and return and joyn your selves to the Communion of the Saints in the Publick Ordinances of God that we may have as sweet Fellowship and Communion with the Father and the Son and with one another as ever we had before your going out from us by which you have declared your selves not to be of us for had you been of us doubtless you would have continued with us 1 Joh. 2.19 And with which I will conclude if either you or any man or men teach otherwise and consent not to wholsome words even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Doctrin which is according to godliness let him pretend as much humility as he can He is proud knowing nothing but doting about questions and strifes of words whereof cometh envie strife raylings evil surmisings 1 Tim. 6. â— 4. I desire this and all other Scriptures that are written may be as effectuall to you as sometimes the readâ—ng of the thirteenth Chapter to the Romans was to Saint Augustin and it shall rejoyce my heart I charge you that this Epistle be seriously read of all that you account to be the holy Brethren FINIS * Thi sense you seem â—o â—avoâ—r in your Paper