can possbly without omnisciency have a feeling of those Visions daily conferred upon each of that 20000 and if a man cannot obey his own motions till Freinds have approved his Condition is endlessly perplexed the Saints in Heaven by a repercussion or Speculum hearing their Votaries on earth is nothing so intangling as the Universal Spirits communicating all the Revelations to the Body But this expedient have they hiâ— upon to keep private Revelations in subjection a pack of Gypsies or Pluto's Court may wish for such Intelligence but the Christian World the Pope himself and the Saints above are yet Strangers to this new way of Communication But supposing his Body be not capable of being the Rendezvous of all Revelations but be intrusted with a discerning Spirit to discover what comes from the true Light in any They ought to produce some deputation from those they represent and certain proofs that they cannot be Mistaken in this snuffing of Lights and smelling of Opinions as they should first prove to us that they have Revelations before they require our belief the same they should make out to their Freinds that the Light in the one is darkness if the other call it so but how can I justify my subjection to the Body when contrary to my inward Light is not my Light as certain to me as theirs to them and more certain than theirs can be to me or am not I more assured of my own feelings than I can be of anothers Relations doth the Spirit jest with me in Discoveries and is he in earnest with them if the Body judg me what must judg the Body or is it so high a Tribunal that there is no appeal from it had God intrusted the Body with 〈◊〉 vast a Power as legitimating Motions he would have provided we should have known what and where that body always is when it deter mineth duly and all other requisits to the submâ—â—â—ing my sensations to their Decisions If I write a thing by the Spirit and then submit that to the Judgment of the Body I shew contempt to God and blindness of Obedience nor can I expect God should Reveal himself to me when I submit his conveyings to anothers Corrections one Infallible hath not power over another Infallible nor doth the truth of my Inspiration depend upon having others of my Judgment It is the Impression from God and not anothers acceptation which is my security for certainly I must know my own Receits better than I can do either those or the fidelity of another but if twenty single ones be not infallible those twenty when collected into one body cannot make up one infallible nor can I be satisfyed that the Light in the body is more upright than when dispersed in the members these proceed according to their supposed Receits the others in lycensing thereof proceed by Art and Interest and if one part of the Body be lyable to mistakes why not the other but they have made a good advance by removing the Light from the Members into the Body the next step conveys it into one Infallible Head and they may pass for good Catholicks of a new Order Man and Forms used to be cryed down Canon 1 but now the Ruling part are zealous for them to support their own grandeur Opposers are to be kept under with the Power of God being without they ought not to be Judges in the Church being joyned in one with Heathens and Infidels The Church hath Power without the assent of such as dissent to determine c. Mr. Pen may retract his Book of Liberty of Conscience none are to enjoy it but the Foxonian party for to that purpose Fox spoke in a selected great Assembly though many Friends have Writ for Liberty of Conscience The Spirit of the Hat p. 41. I never liked the Word it is not a good Word no Liberty to the Presbyterians no Liberty to the Papists no Liberty to the Independants no Liberty to the Baptists c. Liberty is to be only in the Truth and saith he No Liberty out of the Power Their Viewing Books before Printing argues their Distrust and Confusion among Pretenders Canon 5 and is Destructive of their main Principles For my Inspiration ought not to be Licensed or Suppressed at anothers suggestion We have no Certificate that T. Ellwoods Book was allowed by the Body and some parts of it breath not their Air would they declare what Books they own and what Authors are Spurious it might be an Act of Justice and Charity to their Proselytes but then the procedure in Condemning what came from the Lord would be ominous to their whole Platform Their setting up a Ministry is an Eclipsing if not Extinguishing the Light and Inspiration in each Believer for their Genuine Consequent is That both Scriptures and Ministers are useless and herein they are sadly divided George Bishop as moved of the Lord declares against a Ministry the Spirit of the Lord in this day Tyran Hyp. p. 35. and in the days of the Apostles bears not the same proportion Then were Apostles Pastors Teachers Elders c. But in this day the Spirit it self is Pastor Teacher Elder c. So that if the Spirit move any to declare or speak that is the Apostle Teacher Elder c. I know no Pastor Teacher Elder c. But as I find moving in any to any of these things The eleven Brethren from the Lord defend a stated Ministry condemning Canon 6 those that would limit the Lord to speak without Instruments or by what Instruments they list rejecting the Counsel of the Wisemer and the Testimony of the Prophets that doing down the Ministry is a laying wast the Heritage of the Lord Canon 1 c. Keith attempts a reconciliation of these differences that their Ministry will always be dear and comfortable to us Im. Rev. p. 215. but not absolutely necessary being come to a Teacher even the Spirit of Jesus c. but leaning to the Non conforming side but how can the single Teachers be Inspired or be Infallible when the Body doth supervise and Correct that which they believe to be God's Spirit or if the Body be sensible of the Motions of Friends why hath it not a Prophetick glimpse of the Books and designs of Enemies but this setting up a Ministry and Canons is a receeding from their first claims and is inconsistent with T. E's Inspiration in each Believer 4. There are various other matters related to these by which we may gather their regard to Revelation they obey when no Inspiration is named supposing a man to be habitually Inspired To set down for the rareness there of one Extravagant of George Fox In the Romish Horse-leach which can scarce be parallelled at Rome the Fryars Case was not so peremptory All Friends every where on your Signs set not up the Image or Likeness of any Creature in Heaven or in Earth but by the Power of the Lord
the passage of the Chyle Vesputius or Columbus were the Revealers of America and the Discoverer of the Isle of Pines was such a Revealer as Thomas Ellwood and by this there will be plenty of books of Revelations Univer Gra. p. 24. The book of Creation being a sealed book till the Divine and Spiritual Illumination of the Holy Spirit of God do unseal it Reveal and open and make known the things that are therein contained CHAP. XIII Of the Texts of Scripture Produced by him TH. Ellwood representing the Holy Scriptures dark and unintelligible attempts to prove his Immediate Teachings from those dark texts which he saith cannot be understood without Immediate Inspiration and which we deny the having of 't is a manner of proceeding that makes the Scriptures confute themselves and supposeth men fools who must admit that which cannot be understood Yet so far to be understood as to be a proof against it self and no further other proofs of Inspiration are only in this case proper but seeing he hath no Evidences else let us try those Expositions his Spirit gives of some places This Prophecy he confesseth begun to be fulfilled at Pentecost but denyeth that it is yet ended Joel 2.28 p. 270. but Joel foretells not the reacting of old Prophecyes only that after its cessation for many years there should be another more plentifull Essusion of the Spirit then had been before St. Peter an Inspired Interpreter refers it to that very thing the Descent of the Spirit Act. 2.16 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this is that c. in the present tense and dare Thomas Ellwood sence it otherwise Well may they controll Expositions of men when they contradict that of the Spirit if it belong to all than the Papacy had it and Thomas Ellwood will lose his share we being flesh and he Spirit but the Apostle makes that very days Wonder to be the fulfilling of it which he uttered upon receit of the Gift of Tongues before other Miracles were wrought why is not the Spirit as Visible now as in that Chamber in Sion why do Quakers deny Prophecyes Visions Dreams strictly taken and insist for Revelation not there named Joel hath afterwards which Peter adapting to the Jewish State calleth the last days the Scripture sence thereof will clear it that last days refer to some determinate period of time reason will tell us for that last days should signify all time is not possible for the now last are before the succeeding last and each taking his own for the last days nothing could be certain thus H. Nicholas applyed the last days to his Prophecy upon an hundred and twenty years agon New Law p. 11. Glory of Church 8. The Leveller took latter times to support his own fancy Howgil in 1661. called those the last days So did Truth Exalted in 1658. p. 1. but latter days is an Old Testament phrase Gen. 49.1 Num. 24.14 Isa 2.2 Referring oft to the last days of the Jewish Government within which Christ was to appear but to inlarge last days to all the periods of Christianity is very improper and will leave nothing determinate Thus Heb. 1.2 God hath in these last days c. i. e. not in our last which may not be the last by many hundreds but in those last a while before the throwing down of the Jewish inclosure St. Peters last days 2 Pet. 3.3 are followed v. 13. with looking for a new Heaven and a new Earth wherein dwelleth Righteousness that refers not to the day of Judgment when we look for no new Earth but to the state of Christianity the Jewish last days being out a new Holy State of Christianity should commence this is that World to come Heb. 2.5 which is not put in Subjection to Angels as the Jewish World was Christ the Everlasting Father Isa 9.6 is the Father 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of this Future 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Period Age World or State which is to be Everlasting never antiquated by any supervening Dispensation These two States of Moses and Christ are conjoyned 1 Cor. 10.11 the ends of the World are come 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 upon the Apostles the extreams of those two periods met the ends of those two States concentred and concurred So Heb. 9.26 he hath once in the end of the World not of this World Christ is not to die again but at the end of the Jewish World he dyed at the close or shutting up of that State and St. John surviving them all calls it the last hour all flesh refers to Gentiles as well as Jews some of all Ages some of all Sexes c. at the return of the Spirit of Prophecy should be so Inspired If T. Ellwood inlarge this to all he must confute St. Peters Present Tense he must produce visible Proofs of the Spirit as the Apostles did and lastly both as to this and other Texts shew his party to be wholly intrusted with the Revelations therein supposed Ephes 1.17 The Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation or the Wisdom and Revelation of the Spirit but Immediate p. 227. instant conferring is not named or if it was it had been sutable to that first Plantation or if you have it at present then we desire Evidences of such before we give Credit Dr. Ham. Grot. but the word either implyes ability of Exposition of the figures of the Old Testament or the foretelling Future things which man cannot find out but the Spirit still reveals to us gradually in Blessing the used means inlightning our minds c. Rom. 8.9 p. 232. All true Believers received and must receive the Spirit but it doth not require of Immediate instant Inspiration but the Spirit of Sanctification and Adoption v. 10 13. c. 2 Cor. 4.6 God hath shined in our hearts but it doth not say Immediately p. 232. the Gospel which is outwardly proposed is a Glorious Light when it is inwardly entertained but it was by the Ministry of Paul they received that Light Grot. v. 7. that Treasure being brought them in earthen vessels in the face of Jesus that is by Jesus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth a Person it is id omne quod sensibus exterioribus percepitur 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Theophil Gal. 1.16 p. 233. Thomas Ellwood crowds together several things which are not in that Text but the Apostle shews how he received the Gospel not of man by certain ear Testimony as St. Luke and St. Mark did but from Jesus Christ himself who called him and taught him Act. 9. 22. and 26. In me is either unto me or by me or if in me yet not so as to destroy Christs outward calling and commissionating him Ephes 3.3 7. p. 233. He sets this in the Margin without the Words which concern only the Revelation of that Mystery viz. the taking in the Gentiles to be Fellow heirs v. 6. which Revelation is oft referred to and implyed in Scripture 2
Repentance a Christian Life or Duty Christ who knew them the best speaks otherwise John 17.6 7 8. they have kept thy word they have known they have believed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrysost apud Theop. in locum having known by my words and by my Doctrine The Apostles were as certain knowing Witnesses of Christ as we can be of any matters of Fact and the Christian Religion was entertained upon their Testimony that they had been with seen heard and known Jesus God would not send that Religion into the World which was to be the perpetual Rule of all mankind and command others to trust the bringers upon their inward manifestations which would have exposed rather than have propagated Truth but what they spoke they attested as matter of Fact and Knowledge all the twelve having had personal converse with Jesus upon whom the Holy Ghost visibly descended audible voices were heard his Doctrine was delivered before multitudes of Witnesses men were perswaded by outward sensible even bodily evidences and not barely left to internal suggestions in which there may be great danger of Delusion And not only the Apostles Preached but all the Pen-men of the New-Testament wrote upon their certain knowledge S. Mathew S. John S. James S. Peter and S. Jude had personal Conversation with and attendance on Christ were able to testify both what they saw and heard S. Luke wrote part from his own knowledge and part from certain Information The like Antiquitie testifyeth concerning S. Mark S. Paul had that want of personal attendance and acquaintance supplyed by Christs appearing and speaking to him Acts 22.14 Cateches 10. 15. 26.16 and in many other places Hence Cyril of Jerusalem rationally infers That the Testimony of Paul being an Enemy and Persecutor before must needs be undeniable though some suspicious person should alledge that Peter and John 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 were Familiars and Domesticks yet the Testimony of Paul first an Enemy to Jesus and then a Martyr for him cannot be denyed And this he assigns as the Reason why Paul wrote more Epistles than the rest because being a Persecutor before his Doctrine could not be doubtful but commanding of our Belief and therefore when Quakers think there may be new Inspired Books now That the closing up the Ganon of Scripture is a limiting God from moving or Inspiring any men Quakerism no Popery p. 62. in any Age of the World to come to write any Book or Books which may be of equal Authority with the Scriptures They proceed upon gross mistakes for unless Christ converse on Earth again and Ellwoods Monstrous fancy of Repetition prove a real Certainty there can be no such Inspired Books as the new Testament gives us to be written in these Ages or unless there be another Dispensation viz. that of the Spirit yet to commence which Dream is the most of all Destructive to Christianity Thus was Christianity made known and settled in the World not by Philosophy or Rhetorick or any Humane Art but by two such Methods as Heaven and Earth cannot afford greater which S. John calls the Witness of men and the Witness of God the Witness or Testimony of men is this already given And Religion being entertained upon that Account to tell us of new Revelations now is a renouncing of the Faith of Christ which doth command Belief not only by inward teachings but outward proofs But lest this Witness of so many men might have been rejected as proceeding from Delusion or Design the Witness of God interposed in so Publick visible and audible ownings both of Christ and his Religion that the World was not capable of receiving more unexceptionable and convincing proofs And further as for the Teachings of the Spirit which T. E. only mentions they were of a different Nature from what he drives at the supervening of the Spirit was not to evacuate or obliterate what Christ on Earth had spoken The Testimony of the Apostles and the Spirit are conjoyned John 15.26 27. he conferring extraordinary gifts to engage men to believe what they delivered from their own personal or certain knowledge and where there were inward teachings there were outward powers to testifie thereof to others and still the Spirit did but pursue Christs teachings acted in his Name took of his and shewed it to them opened such things as they understood not re-called to remembrance such as they had forgotten and instructed in such things as before they could not bear as about the Sabbath Circumcision Christian Liberty and the like Though I think that Christ in our Nature in discharge of his Prophetick Office Publickly and Audibly made known all the Essential Eternal Duties or all the parts of Everlasting Righteousness And possibly in strict speaking that Inspiration which the Apostles had ought not to be called Immediate especially not in every thing Because it was conferr'd but in pursuance of what our Lord had before orally delivered in matters of Duty for certain knowledge destroys not Inspiration nor Inspiration certain knowledge Nor is the use of former helps rejected but taken hold of by the Spirit Thus were the Apostles instructed thus was our Religion settled thus must our Saviours Prophetick Office be secured and his and the Spirits workings must not be confounded And T. Ellwood's Method of the Apostles coming to the knowledge of the Gospel is not the Method of God's making And let it be further considered if herein Satans policy do not appear what he cannot effect by Atheism and Prophaneness he attempts by Enthusiasm under the pretence of an higher Religion to root out the old one so Divinely and firmly settled for the taking away the rational motives to Faith and the sensible grounds of Religion And devolving the belief and understanding of Sacred things upon their pretended Revelations Witnessings and Experiences renders Religion both uncertain and indemonstrable And while Men observe the Differences Contradictions and Ungroundedness of such Claims they will be apt to entertain the like prejudices against the Christian Religion it self Supposing that it relies upon such grounds as their Witnessings and invisible Inspirations for so they bear the World in hand Fox love to Mankind p. 11. What the Apostles said we do by the same Power and Spirit And in a little time by such Arts Religion will be in danger to be fatally undermined all being rejected together as relying upon a like bottom But if T. Ellwood's Castle in the Air be erected it is not material though Christianity be blown up and if his Dreams be admitted he seems not concern'd what disservice is done to the other though blessed be Gods goodness he hath rooted his Gospel in a different manner as if purposely to prevent Satans transforming himself into an Angel of Light and those pretences to Inspirations which he hath all along fomented But though there were real Revelations now yet T.E. is the unlikeliest Person to be favoured with them For he first
none but false Apostles now John 20.9 our Lord pronounceth a blessedness on such as have not seen and yet have believed Some saw Christ and some saw the Apostles who had seen Christ c. The Doctrine of the Gospel was transmitted from certain eye and ear-witnesses who had Divine Inspiration also and so much as God thought necessary for his Church was written by those Divine Pen-men and is contained and conveyed down to us in that best of Books called the Bible But must the first settling a Dispensation be always continued Must those manners whereby Religion was propagated be perpetually maintained Then Miracles are as necessary in the present Church as in the Primitive the ten Commandments were delivered in Thundrings and Lightnings were those repeated every time the Law was read in their Synagogues and Houses The Holy-Ghost descended wonderfully on the day of Pentecost So Acts 4.31 8.17 10.44 11.15 15.8 19.6 and generally there was an outward evidence of him upon Believers but where have we now such Miraculous Convictions of his Presence Religion being once settled by Gods extraordinary Power needs not the daily renewing those Wonders and when other Miraculous gifts are ceased and Prophecy is fore-told to cease as well as Tongues and Tongues are undoubtedly ceased It is strange and looks like giving God the Lie to say that Prophecy is longer lived than the other The first bringing in a Religion requires other Methods of Conviction than are necessary afterwards for being entertained upon those Evidences The danger of Enthusiasm Discovered in an Epistle to the Quakers and committed to writing God continues it in a regular course men instructing men from these owned Oracles as is well proved in a late Treatise George Fox upon T. Ellwood's Principles may quarrel with Margaret Fell that she is not his Wife because not made out of his Rib as Eve was out of Adam's and Margaret Fell may retort that George Fox is not her Husband because he was not formed out of the Earth as Adam was The Israelites might refuse to Plough and Sow in Canaan expecting the same easie Maintenance afforded in the Wilderness And we may Object that now we are not to work only to expect and wait the Earth ought to yield us Fruit of its own accord as it did in Paradise T. E. needs the Breast and Spoon at forty years old as well as at four months and all Men and Women must come into the World in the same manner with Adam and Eve and this is the direct consequent of holding Nature and Religion always in the Cradle But though Quakers did not hear nor see Christ nor have had the Spirit visibly descend yet these Successors have the same inward Revelations with the Apostles If you prove it in the same manner they could you shall have another manner of return till then I shall be assured that God doth not multiply unnecessaries nor grant things to satisfie wanton Humours Whatever Immediate Revelations the Apostles had we have at this day the benefit of them in their Inspired Writings and God having conveyed them to us in an Intelligible Book it is not his Method to increase Revelations to represent that immediately to my Soul which he hath commanded me to read in a Book of his own Inditing Christ who raised Lazarus from the dead could by the very same Word have rolled away the stone that lay over him but he was not Prodigal of Miracles Where other means can be used Gods immediate Power will not be Arrested He therefore bids first Take ye away the stone John 11.39 which they obeyed v. 41. and then he speaks with Power Lazarus come forth If the Apostles had Immediate Revelations which I can read in my Bible for me to say I receive them in the same manner is a Delusion and to desire the receit is a Temptation But suppose that Ellwood's Book was writ by Revelation as his Hectoring Letter imports May the Honour be returned to that Powerful Arm which gave both the Weapon and therewithal skill and strength to use it And suppose the Expositions he gives proceed from the same Fountain still fresh vexations do arise for I am as much to seek how to understand his Book as an Epistle of St. Paul's If Paul's Revelation cannot be understood without a new one no more can Ellwood's the Successor must be like the Predecessor and therefore till he can either write so as to be understood or give us security that he writes by Revelation and withall assurance where to meet with another Inspiration to capacitate us to understand his Charity obligeth him to keep his sealed-up Notions to himself and not to trouble the World with waste Paper But upon what grounds is all this claimed Doth he know by Inspiration that all Believers receive the Gospel as the Apostles did No sure for he turns another way attempts a proof thereof from Scripture-promises but hereby he makes Quakerism a little imbodyed 'T is not so airy and slippery as formerly I may now look at it turn it about and handle it which leads to the third 3. The Proofs produced to make out this claim and they seem more like the coherence of a Quakers dream than the Logick of a waking Man p. 228. Thus he takes his rise As our Saviour prayed not for them onely but all such also as should believe on him through their word So what he promised concerning sending the Comforter he did not promise with Restriction and Limitation onely but with an extensive relation to all that should believe on him and inference that is strangely wide and destructive of his very design Is there no limitation because he observes none Nor no restriction implyed where not expresly given From a Prayer for all to infer a Promise to all especially when about different things is a loose way of Arguing Such a Writer may commence any thing per saltum and from Fisher's folly instantly jump into the Porphyry's Chair Christ's Prayers were always granted and his Promises fulfilled but his Prayer and Promise must not be confounded He made Intercession for Transgressors he Prayed Father Isa 53.12 Luke 23.34 forgive them for they know not what they do It would have been a closer deduction but untrue thence to infer that all Transgressors and all that know not what they do be the Ignorance never so culpable are forgiven But view the Prayer and it confutes this perverting gloss it was a Prayer for all Believers that they may be one that is John 17.21 live in all the Duties of Christian Unity Had Christ prayed for Immediate Revelation to all Believers in all Ages that had been to his purpose but it is not named nor concerned here And the very words of that Prayer in v. 20. plough up his Fancy For them also who shall believe on me through their word where the Apostles Word Doctrine Preaching and Testimony concerning Christ
new Revelation of the good old things which are the Essentials of Religion The first of those two we do not plead for but the latter And elsewhere p. 33. The same Eternal Life which first breathed them forth doth either again breath or speak them forth in us or sendeth forth of his Living powerful Influences into them as they have a place in our Minds and Memories this latter as more modest is below Ellwoods purpose But though he taketh the Words and Notions of Keith the Revelation is still Immediate for their Institutor hath prettily determined Truth lifting up its head p. 38. If you would hear then acquaint your seives with such as can speak from a Testimony within for as they Received what they have from the pure teachings of the Father so this second hand teaching will be a pure Teaching unto you but be sure you do not prefer this second Teaching before the first for now the Everlasting Word and Gospel must reveal himself to you or else you cannot be satisfyed Their own or others is first and second hand teaching but instructing from the Scriptures is not so much as third hand Teaching and the Scriptures are now out of date The Writings of the Apostles are to cease Truth lifting c. p. 30. when the Lord himself who is the Everlasting Gospel doth manifest himself to Rule in the Flesh of Sons and Daughters They have no New Essentials of Religion this I thought spoke in our Acception about Fundamentals till further Converse in their Works discovered the Deceit Keith Im. Rev. p. 5. for though one tell us that less than one half of the Scriptures is a full and perfect Testimony of all the Essentials yet he spoyls all in saying That the knowledge and beliefe of the History of Christ his outward Coming Pag. 229. Birth Life Death Burial Resurrection c. are such parts of our Religion and Faith as serve to make up the Intiredness or Fulness of it yet so as true Religion may be without the express Knowledge and Beliefe of them So that a man may be a Quaker Christian without the express knowledge of Christ in the outward either of his Name Nature Laws or Offices The great Mogul hath true Religion as much as George Fox This lays aside all that Jesus Was Did Taught and Suffered and contains all Heresies in its Bowels even to the denying the Lord who bought them And another hath writ a Folio to shew that men should not be concern'd about Faith or Creeds Bishops looking glass for the times but leave all to the Conduct of the Light But what then are their Essentials of Religion nothing of Jesus our Lord and Saviour nothing that is a part of the four Gospels True Christianity and Religion may subsist without the History of Christ in the Letter to wit Im. Rev. p. 243. In the Mistery of the Life of Christ in the Spirit So that a Turk is a true Christian though he never owned but hated Christ rarely allegorized till our whole Christianity is shrunk up into those four insignificant words as so used which are fit for nothing but a Quakers Posy And George Bishop crouds all into that Everlasting Truth viz. A looking glass for the times p. 235. the Principle of God in Man which is in every man a measure thereof to lead him and guide him which is able to lead him into all truth and to deliver him from evil and which will bring him to God These are the new made Essentials of Religion which the ancient Heroes knew not of who required from all Baptised persons the Profession of their Faith about Christ in the outward who scrupled the change of one Letter in the Creed but Quakers disowning visible Baptism have sent away the Creed therewith lest the retaining of it should upbraid them In the mean time the Devil hath ordered their Scene rarely The Light Christ within renders the Christ without much useless he who shed his Blood for them is no Essential of their Religion and their Inspirations supply the place of Scripture being preferred before it So that their two Principles Im. Rev. p. p. 43. the Light and Motions fairly lessen if not discharge the Essential and Written word of God Christ in Heaven and the Scriptures on Earth signifie little to these self-made Pagans who have enough within to carry them to all that Heaven which their Faith expects But to resume the claim of renewed and Repeated Revelations a Notion so strange that nothing but a search into their Writings can Discover the sense or design of it I must take the freedom to present their thoughts of the Holy Scriptures that by such preparatory tasts we may be drawn on to swallow this Camel of Repetition To begin with their Founder men must not walk by the Scriptures Winstanley in Truth lifting up p. 39. for this is to walk by the eyes of other men and the Spirit is not so scanty that a dozen ar twenty pair of eyes shall serve the World but every Son and Daughter have light within themselves You shall feed no longer upon the Oyl that was in other mens Lamps the Scriptures In the Title page now it is required that every one have Oyl in his own Lamp within himself Some walk by Example Mistery of God p. 35. The Saints Paradise p. 1.2 and have seen very little of the anointing in them some walk more in Spirit and Truth as the anoynting of the Father teacheth them teaching from Scripture is not but speaking from their own experience that is from God The like Notion breaths in T. E. Master Keith The old Revelations given unto the Saints cannot serve our turn the Faith of another man is not sufficient unto me but I must be saved by the Faith Knowledge and Experience given me of God of the self same things the Revelation of them given of God unto others cannot suffice me nor were these things recorded in Writ that I should sit down upon the History but to point us inward to that same Principle of life revealing and working the same things in us Pag. 34. c. We find it to hurt and deaden us to think any thoughts even from the Scriptures but as the Spirit influenceth if at any time we do it we find our selves rebuked and chastized of the Lord for it and in another place we must not obey Scripture without motions but we may obey motions without Scripture At this rate write others of them to cull out some few from among many G. W. and Fox in the gag for the Q. p. 14. what Paul wrote unto the Ephesians and Colossions doth not concern this Generation That is no Command from God to me which God hath given by way of Command to another Burroughs Works p. 47. neither did any of the Saints act by the Command which was to another every one obeyed their own Commands
the Spirits of Elect Men and Angels most advantagious for his own Glory and their Consolation 8. Anna Trapnel exceeds both the Quakers and most of the other Pretenders in excessive fastings Poetical Enthusiasms lucky hits upon several things that came to pass afterwards rapturous Devotions The cry of a stone Title Preface c. She was in the Visions of God by an Inspiration extraordinary and full of wonder England was the Valley of Vision the wise have stumbled at this freedom of the Spirit in our days as well as in the days of Christ and yet her Inspired Doctrines were contrary to the Quakers God spoke to her p. 3 4 9 16. 36 49. shewed her Visions and the new Jerusalem a light shone she was taken into the Mount of God She was anothers voice a voice within a voice Gods Heavens came down into her Earth 5. 7. 76. she fasted 9 11 14 days c. was told by the Spirit of the Soldiers coming to London p. 4.6 7. had a Vision of the Scots over-throw before Dunbar and of the Fight with Holland of the dissolving the long Parliament 10. calling the Jews of the breaking up the Representative had a Vision against Rowse the Chair-man 13. 30. and several Visions to inform her that Oliver would be Protector which she was troubled at and fore-told Gideon's that is his being laid aside with many the like No Quakers have come nigh her Tyran detect p. 38. A Visitation of Love to the King c 4 5 p. 58.73 p. 20. p. 35. p. 15. for Ebbit's fore-telling the Firing of London was not believed by his Friends And Burroughs attempts to shew that the Quakers fore-saw the Kings Restoration came not near it She was for the Reign of Jesus destroying the fourth great Monarchy fore-told that all the Monarchies are going down Jesus was at hand Among the rest she fore-told we must have no more Kings and yet she was swallowed up of the Glory of the Lord. 9. The gifted Brethren who with the next are the most orderly of all the Pretenders else made use of this Engine by their Zealous Advocate c. Their Request was the most modest Not to lay aside the Ministers nor destroy Church-Order Blake's Embassage from the Kings of the East to his Highness Oliver Lord Protector p. 45. p. 47. they onely pleaded for an hour before or after Sermonâ— wherein they might exercise their Gifts they allowed the usefulness of Study that three hours in a day close employed therein would make a brave Preacher they offer to give Security to Preach sound and Peaceable Doctrine and begged but the liberty of a Tryal how beneficial their Model would prove offer upon misdemeanour to call in p. 42. and take back the Offenders Commission with a Dehortation to exercise any more for the present would have themselves not taken for absolute Ministers but Assistants they engage not to meddle with Administring the Sacraments or other proper Ministerial Offices with many such fanciful things in their Plat-form and yet the conceit of Inspiration together with acquired Abilities was the cause of it We leave Christs Work with you In the Epistle Churches the Spirit bid us do it the Word and Spirit and God himself is for us my Sons and my Daughters shall Prophesie p. 11. 23. p. 58. hear this day what the Spirit saith unto the Churches None must Preach by Notes we love to drink from the Fountain and yet they are for short work strive not to speak beyond the breathings of the Spirit p. 61. Hear what the Spirit saith to the Churches in England in this day of their Visitation p. 70. And the Socinians come somewhat towards this Model Cateches Eccles Polonicar in Praefatione though they deny Enthusiasms Divine Miraculous Inspirations or Prophetical Authority to be claimed by them yet they allow a great liberty of Prophecying that any one may Interpret who hath the gift of Revelation 10. The Congregation or People commonly called Considerers had recourse to this Trayte de la voye c. A Discourse of the way to the Kingdom though as sparingly as any of the others They were very much taken up in studying the Book of Nature saying that alone is enough for all men and that the study of the Prophets lay therein That Consideration was the Royal way to the Kingdom p. 76. They acknowledge the Trinity and Christs Incarnation p. 80. p. 52.90 100 used the Sacrament and the Lords Prayer meddled not with Worldly or State Affairs p. 74. were thrifty of their time Married such as they loved upon first sight 92. p. 52. were against the inclosing the Holy Spirit to any particular Sect of Men looking on the Creed as a sufficient instrument of Vnion among all Christians p. 4.88 But Immediate Inspiration was owned by them p. 4. The Voice of God that I heard said unto me Immediately God himself opened me by his Spirit p. 6. the way to the Kingdom resounding in my Heart Monck Rogers being so taken up with God p. 50. as not to remember the words a man just spoke to him is highly commended the Spirit of Wisdom and Vnderstanding hath appointed me to tell you and such lights as God infused into any of their hearts p. 72. they thought themselves bound to communicate to others p. 94. Here are Competitours sufficient that agree in one bottom though they build different and contradictory Doctrines upon it and all these likely an hundred to one and in this very Kingdom of late ten to one being the far greater number are all against the Quakers and therefore suppose the Scripture did not please me which of these Pretenders must I give Credit to The others whether old or late produce as good Proofs as T. E. can do and if I favour one side where the Evidences are equal I become partial and hold the Faith with Respect of Persons Do the Quakers say and witness their Inspirations The others do the like with an equal confidence Do they Experience it The rest come not behind them If their Refreshings perswade the Leveller and the late named Whore can use the same Topick and the Ranter is as brisk as any If some Scriptures befriend their Fancy the rest and all Hereticks and the Devil himself do bait their Hooks with wrested parcels of it In case then of different Revelations to which must I adhere Or shall I not suspend untill a third Revelation do determine which side is in the right Must we believe men meerly because they say so Or are yea yea and a few Solemn looks or wrings by the hand Evidences that the Spirit is secretly whispering They lay no Obligation on us to trust them rather than their Rivals In their Words Lives and Writings they seem at least Fallible like other men Thomas Ellwood must then produce better Evidences
think Immediate Teachings needful we cannot thence Infer them But if God had so conveyed himself he would have so ordered that all his Communications should have exactly agreed and have told us with whom we should find them Whether may not Quakerism be improved another come and Super-reform the Elders as they have done the Hat-men Mr. Jenner p. 86. The Quaker Woman at Dublin cryed up her span new light which the rest had never seen nor heard of and cryed down their old light as darkness pretending to have hers Immediately And 't is hard to discover how upon their principles they can confute her Rationally sometimes they stop the Mouths of such Tyran 15. Silent meet a wounder p. 10. as offer to speak in the name of the Lord. So Ann Mud c. Was pulled away by violence they are very curious in the time when the Spirit seizeth on them the 22. day of the 7. Month the word of the Lord came unto W. B. another is more exact On the 31st day of the 10th Month 1655. about 4 a Clock in the Morning the Word of the Lord came to Burroughs c the same could have gone on to Minutes Seconds c. Revelation also is challenged for bad Desings Hicks 1 Dial. p. 26. a Quaker Debtor replyed to his Creditor 't is revealed to me I ow thee nothing p. 27. Ellis Pseudo-christus p. 27 Studelys looking glass of Schism Messages have been pretended sent from God and the person hath been proved many miles distant when the dreamer came to declare it so Holbrow and Marshal were deluded Mary Gadbury pretended a Revelation to get some Cloath from Mrs. Woodward and such a Command must be embraced Schucker beheaded his brother Leonard by Inspiration and Enoch ap Evan upon partly such a pretence killed his Mother and his Brother Kays Answ to 18. Quae. p. 5. Q. Spi. Court p. 7.21 And two Quakers near Stokely in York shire their Conscience bidding them destroy Original Sin they Apprehending that their Mother was the fountain thereof Murdered her Fox challenged Inspiration for the Earths being flat Spirit of Hat 27. and that it was twelve a Clock all the World over and he kept part of his Commission concealed a long time Although I have not yet told it you I do now declare it I have power to bind and to loose whom I please At this rate he may keep an Instrument for Reconciling us to Rome dormant by him And Revelations have put them both upon hardships and going naked Idem p. 20. But all these contentions are nothing to such Inspirado's they are yet Whole and Sound in the true Church unity stands in Diversityes as if they had taken the word of the Valentinians Tertul. adve Valcutin who take Diversity as a Charisma or gift Concerning in Faldo Q. no Christ p. 56. nec unitatem sed diversitatem and Pennington licks all right the doing the same thing the thinking the same thing the speaking the same thing this doth not unite here in this state in this nature but the doing the thinking the speaking of it in the same life yea though the doings or thoughts or words be divers yet if they Proceed from the same Principle or nature there is a true unity felt therein where the life alone is Judge And by this salvo all these Contradictions hurt their unity no more than taking an Oath doth prejudice their not Swearing CHAP. VIII Concerning their Expository Revelations III. THe third which these Privado's of Heaven enjoy is They have Expository Revelations so T. E. p. 238. the Scriptures are understood only and alone by the openings and discoveries of that Holy Spirit by which they were at first revealed those Divine Mysteries are Mysteires indeed and remain so as a sealed book until Christ the Lamb doth open them p. 239. nor can the Doctrine of the Gospel or the Mysteries of Gods Kingdom be known to man but by the Revevelation of the Holy Spirit Revelation is necessary yea of necessity even to understand the Scriptures the true sence man can never attain unto until the Holy Spirit Reveal it to him to the like purpose he writes p. 251 253. and 255. that the Spirits helping to understand the Scriptures is by its teaching the true sence and meaning of them by opening discovering and making known the Mind and Will of God therein exprest This is Revelation But there is a great Craft in this procedure for he beginneth with Immediate Revelation but after he Ommitteth the Word Immediate and slideth into Revelation in General But what makes he Requisite on our Part to receive this boon from the Spirit 't is summ'd up into a narrower room than the Essentials by Keith viz. waiting p. 220. desiring and waiting p. 240 but especially humane Learning is disbanded from the least concern except Translating T. Es. Spirit cannot Translate a Greek Chapter but it can Infallibly Expound an English one that is it can do nothing discernible but it can do all things Indiscernible This gaping way of Expounding was taught by Winstanley New Law of Right p. 111 all Expositions upon others words shall cease they shall wait with a quiet silence upon the Lord Till he break forth within their Hearts and give them words and Power to speak You must get into the Holy Silence Silent Meeting p. 8. 9. 10 and then the Spirit will Instruct you But the Rule is Elder then the Quakers Hildegardis in that her Nonsensical Vision Related to Arnold Arch-Bishop of Colen determines qui autem Vult bene Vigilare hunc intellectum Percipiat Biblio patrum Tom. 15. p. 622. c. He that will make or wait well shall have the Vnderstanding of her Vision And the Libertines and Swenck field the Familists and all the herd not so much as Anna Trapnel but they all are against learning and for T. Es. easy way of Inspiration or Ministers to have no help but to speak all from the light within So that there is nothing of Studying Praying Reading Meditating or Confering Required on our Part but a Supine desiring and Expecting Reasoning is outdated by Yawning and brains are Superseded by Meer Attendance Quakerism Nuzzles up in sloth and Idleness they may Rest day and night and have the Law writ in their Hearts without Exercising themselves in it their terms are so easy they will have Proselytes Danger of Enthusiasm p 71. but saith one Jacobs Venison could not be right it came so soon to hand To which we may add he lyed in saying the Lord his God brought it to him when it was his Mothers Art This waiting Prostitutes and layeth the soul open to every Impression what starts up first is thought a Divine Irradition The Devil loves a house so garnished and Empty and whilest Saul was thus waiting he started up in the Room and likeness of Samuel their Inspirations are both Writing and Seal to
Inspired I shall sin in so tame an assenting to your naked Proposals and God who Commands us not to believe every Spirit but try them will never damn me for searching and Examining what is pretended to come from him He that Injoyns us to search his own Revelations will not be displeased if we use the severest Caution about others he who questions must needs be in a safer state than he who easily believes and he that compares and weighs will be freer from Errour than he who waits and Entertaines the first comer Their two Principles of Christ the Light and Immediate Teaching are either Inconsistent or the one is superfluous for in making but one Essential they Invalidate one of their two Principles How do they understand their great Text. John 1.9 that Christ is a saving Light in every man if by Immediate Revelation then the light doth not discover all things but needs another to discover it self If the Light Interpret it in Reference to it self as most Properly it should all Power in Heaven and Earth being given unto it Then something is known without Inspiration Immediate If he makes them both one then he confounds Keiths two Principles Hath any Quakers known the Idioms Customs Proverbs Rites Histories c. of Scripture by an Instant Discovery I think that they are least learned and most Inspired men either could not expound or would sadly differ if an Experiment was made of their Ability an Externall Proposal hath hitherto been the means of conveying Christianity If any Heathen did suddenly become an Inspired Christian this might befriend them but their English'd Hai Ebr Yokdan was not so And the Quakers are men who read and hear and withal fancy and so form their Notions Whither may not a man hit upon those sences by Study for which they Challenge Inspiration to single out Doctor Hammond as the fittest because he hath Premised a Discourse to his Annotations on the New Testament in Opposition to their very Pretentions Is there not one True Paraphrase or Interpretation in that book Say so and you Confute your selves for Doctor Hammond Expounds the seventh Chapter to the Romans to be understood of a man in an unconverted Estate and Keith owns that as the Right sence using the same term metaschematismos O no Popery p. 39. 40. an usual figure the Apostle Rom. 7th from verse 14 to 25 describing not his present Condition but the Condition of others and himself as they were in the strugling c. Whence it follows that either a man may attain to the true sence of the Scripture without Inspiration or may have it though he do not know but Disown and Write against it which is not likely the Impression of the Spirit in such matters being strong and curious but in either way we are sufficiently secure and God will not damn any for want of that which floweth meerly from his Grace I cannot discover how I can understand the Quakers Books for though they seem to use inferences so that I may consult my Reason yet they being usually writ from the Spirit of the Lord I need an Inspiration to understand them as much as any Verse in the Bible and another to ascertain them to be Divine and so all the former difficulties recur a Papist is much more modest for though he make his Church or its Head Infallible yet he will confess his single self Fallible and Infallible claims needing Infallible Evidences we can never be certain of your Inspirations without Publick outward Demonstrations of them Truth loves calmness and the still voyce Lo here or there is Christ are not its Watch-word modest demands go furthest when backed with strong Proofs I have the Liberty to try and judge rational Expositions whereas your Inspired ones impose upon me but the Design is erafty it is a kind of Sacriledge to Dispute that which saith It comes from God So that this pretence insconces them rendring those moving Oracles Sacred and Venerable and 'T is better to buy their Divine Living Testimonies than a dark Lettered Bible But I am at a loss to know whether their Receits are for their own use or to Benefit and Oblige mankind Other Quakers made the Spirit the Judg the Instructer the Rule the Guide c. Thomas Ellwood hath got him a further Office to be the Expositor but can his Inspirations which die if he do not speak or write them be plainer than those in Scripture which are given to all and have the advantage in Design in Continuance in so many Expositions already upon them some of which must be Divine by T. Ellwoods Doctrine Peter was sent to Cornelius Ananias to Paul c. There was a mistake certainly in such outward conveyances and attestations the shortest and the safest cut had been to direct them to within it would have saved charges their vitious Circle also intangles me for I cannot discover whether they know the Spirit or the Scriptures first they say They know these to be the Scriptures by the Spirit but then how do they know there is a Spirit that they must not prove from those Scriptures whether do they believe the Scriptures before the conferring these Expositions or no if before then they believe they understand not what nor wherefore if after then the gloss is conferred before the Text Secret things are made known to Infidels and Pearls are thrown before Swine But T. Ellwood doth not walk in that way he prescribeth others to instance in two or three which fall short of Inspired Expositions p. 35. may not improbably refer to that great Persecution raised upon Stephens Death p. 40. Goodwins Antiquities produced about the Pharisees who the Elect Lady was p. 47. in what Relation John stood to her or how far her Temporal Power might extend does not appear In a Discourse of Inspiration as sole Expositor he is faln to it may not improbably does not appear and borrows some Aegyptian Jewels let him blot these out for they cut the throat of his Book Universal free Grace p. 75. Keith is more sober these plain Testimonies of Scripture needs no explication nor application of mine what more plain and evident can more emphatical and significant expressions be used by men and he gives some good ways of interpreting Scripture used by us that general Maxime of understanding Scripture Idem p. 15. is That its words are to be understood in their whole Latitude and extent where no Cogent Reason moves to the contrary they pass from the sence which the words plainly import p. 31. and seek out another sence to the words not from any necessity but because it pleaseth not their Corrupt Judgment plain and full Scripture Proofs p. 39. there is abundant matter in the words or before or after to evince the truth we are to take the most usual and proper signification of the word p. 43. p. 15. 46. 53. 61. 68. 101. 102.
106. where no cogent reason moves to the contrary With several of the like Nature so that he hath destroyed Thomas Ellwoods notion of the obscurity of the Scripture and Expository Revelations of its sence Having Considered their Doctrine let us briefly view their Practice in a tast of some few out of many of their Inspired Expositions and this sad Account we may give of them That if they had been hired to subvert true Religion they could not have done it more effectually by transforming Histories and Prophecies as those in Daniel the Revelations c. into internal things and making them vanish in frothy Allegoryes Phil. 3.21 New Law p. 42. p. 40. Changing vile Bodies is when Oppression and Injustice shall cease 1 Cor. 2.15 The Spiritual mans Judging is according to the Law of Equity and Reason But it is different from T. Ellwoods Inspiration Job 1.6 Beelzebub sat among the Sons of God that is among the five Senses Saint Parad. p. 29. Fire in the Bush p. 35. 1 Cor. 15.24 Putting down all Rule is destroying all Government and Ministry 2 Cor. 12.3 The Seed or Birth is that 3d. Im. Rev. p. 11. Heavens in which Paul on Earth saw and felt things unutterable John 14.2 the spreading Power of Christ in all New Law p. 22. is the Fathers House in which are many Mansions p. 132.134 the New Covenant is Christs spreading himself in mankind Psal 24.1 Humble Request to Lawyers c. p. 2. p. 6. p. 4. Univer Gr. p. 55. p. 44. Noble Salutation p. 9. Saint Parad. p. 45. the Earth is the Lords that is mans Christs speech to the young man to sell all concerns all people Isa 2.4 Ezech. 36.34 35. Belong to the taking-in of Commons Heath and wast Land for all poor people The Light within is the Everlasting Gospel which the Angel Preached The Tabernacle of David is explained by the slain Image of God in man or as another words it it is Gods own Eternal Witness in men God himself is the tree of Life and the Gospel Christ is the Image of God in Man he breathed in him the Breath of Life then the Lamb was not slain Im. Rev. p. 71. Christ is the true Jew inwardly the Circumcision in the Spirit the publick Worship in the Spirit and Truth Angels are Heavenly Principles and Graces Looking glass p. 4. Saint Parad. p. 66 67. p. 129. p. 37. Howgils Glory p. 7. Saints Paradice p. 19. Some Principles p 68 and men taken up into God as Moses and Christ were The Lambs Book of Lise is his Divine Nature and Spirit The proud Flesh is the Devil or Father of Lyes Rev. 12.1 The Woman cloathed with the Sun brought forth the Holy Child Jesus that is Jesus was Born after Johns Banishment into the Isle of Patmos the Bottomless Pit is Corrupt Flesh the Form of sound words is yea and nay or thou as T. Ellwood seems to intimate p. 27. there is no Devil but Flesh and outward Objects Dan. 73. the four Beasts are the four Powers which are to be destroyed Fire in the Bush p. 74. p. 23. that is Magistracy Ministry Law and Propriety the Beast slain Dan. 7.11 is all imaginary selfish power hear what the Spirit speaks Dan. 9.24 the finishing transgression True Christian Faith p. 58. New Law p. 32. c. is having the mind truly turned to the appearance of God in Christ within Rev. 13.1 the Flesh is the Beast with seven heads but differently expounded by T. Ellwood p. 243. Rev. 3.7 8. the Beasts having power over Tongues is fulfilled by Masters of Arts Truth exalted p. 8. Batchelors of Arts Vice-Chancellors over Colledges and others Saint Parad. 126. The Light interpreted these two Texts Rev. 9.4 green grass is the tender Sons of Christ Matth. 12.31 that old pusling Text Sin here is the Serpent the Holy Ghost is the anointing or Spirit Ruling in Flesh the two Witnesses N. Law p. 80 are Christ in one Body and Christ in many Bodyes or as another will have them to be Christ the Light within and Immediate Revelation which have been slain in man Babylon is the great City of Fleshly confusion the Mystery of Iniquity Univ. Gr. p. 5 and the Man of Sin are the first Adam New Law p. 43. p. 94. Fire in the Bush p. 11. Im. Rev p. 8◠the Mystery of Godliness is the second Adam Michael and the Dragon do fight in mankind the Battle between them is in the Heart the Temple of God 2 Thes where the man of Sin sits is mans Heart there he is Worshipped in the degenerate State p. 194. Antichrist not a Person or persons particular but a Spirit True Christ p. 185. the very Spirit of Satan the Sin against the Holy Ghost is Sinning against that Beloved Son Im. Rev. p. 194. Truth lifting p. 50. Fire in the Bush p. 58. or Body in whom the Father dwells Bodily time is Monarchy times are Popery and Reformed Episcopacy the dividing of times is Presbytery Independency and State Government These are enough to cloy Thus the men of Revelations do expound CHAP. IX Of their Demonstration of the Spirit and new Dispensation IV. TO appear like the Apostles Successors the better Univer Gr. In the Title they challenge the Evidence and Demonstration of the Spirit of Truth worded by T. Ellwood p. 244. thus that the Gospel should be preached in the Demonstration of the Spirit and Power after the Apostacy as well as before And this belongs to them who are emerged out of the Apostacy and are the Church returned out of the Wilderness Some Princ. p. 48. Smiths Gospel tydings p. 36. they fancy themselves to be like the Apostles they Witness the Spirit of God fallen upon them as formerly among the Apostles the Gospel is now Preached in the same Power as formerly but their claim is ill bottomed and their demonstration indemonstrable First therefore we shall search into the sense of that phrase Secondly give the Quakers opinion of Miracles Thirdly Supposing that their Principles were right thence infer that Miracles are as necessary now as ever 1. As for the meaning of Demonstration of the Spirit and Power 1 Cor. 2.4 't is misunderstood by T. Ellwood if he think they have it like the Apostles Words and this Demonstration are by the Apostle opposed not with enticing words Ver. 1.4 5. with excellency of Speech or Wisdom that is with Oratory or Philosophy and Quakers bring no more than Words and those misapplyed and inward heats like the Disciples of Marcus c. but their internal sentiments or Consolations are not the Scriptures Power Demonstration is not a thing of outward words or inward feelings 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nomine utitur Beza in his shorternotes in Locum quo significatur probatio quae fit certis necessariis rationibus Demonstration is a certain proof by necessary
greatest Miracles of which the outward were but a figure William Shewen almost bids defiance to them we read not of very many converted by outward Miracles which are not of absolute necessity in the Church True Christians Faith p. 150. 157. but the inward are the greater Miracles which Christ promised that those who believed in him should do So that they do no Wonders Title of a Book Truth exal p. 11. yet have Silent meetings which are a Wonder to the World and do Preach the Gospel again with the Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven And at this Rate they may say or be any thing Demonstrate though they cannot shew having the Power but not the thing 3. Supposing the Quakers Principles true Miracles are more necessary now than ever For 1. God wrought Miracles to convince Unbelievers and in the Quakers Charity we are no better come you un-Christians saith the curious Pen of Fox William Shewen calls us 2d Quib. p. 66. titular and nominal Christians through his whole Book Christians according to the Letter Pennington concerning persec Pref. Barclay in Q. no Popery p. 106. who are as great Enemies to the Spirit and Power as ever the Jews were Worldly literal Christians both Papists and Protestants now being such Miracles are infinitely necessary to disabuse and to remove us from the Letter into the Spirit a mistaken Christianity being more obstructing and prejudicial than meer Heathenism 2. If Miracles were necessary when the Scriptures were Writ which are a dead Letter a Sealed Book and worse then are they much more necessary when Inspired Expositions thereof are given To allude to T. Ellwoods terms of shell and kernel c. God would not give a Demonstration the shell was his and leave us at a loss whether the kernel was his also if he send Evidences along with the bark rind c. he would do the same much more with the Substance The Apostacy continuing 1548 years we need signs that this is the same Doctrine with the old especially if the Scripture the Repository of that Doctrine cannot be understood without Inspiration there being many Pretenders we need a Sign more at the unsealing than at the sealing of that Book if to receive the Letter much more to understand the Spirit the sence when given as from God needs most of all his Attestation to it for the pretending to give an Inspired Exposition of the Scriptures is more than the bringing new Scriptures and needs greater Attestations as much as the sense is better than the Letter And Thomas Ellwood knows not what he hath but if he have Revelations they must be new ones for Revelation being necessary to understand the Scriptures those Expositions Thomas Ellwood receives must be new the Repetition is the reacting the old but then the Exponding is the conferring new which are not to be found within the Bible 3. The debate being whether or no they be Inspired upon their grounds nothing can end it but the interposing of Gods Power For to say They Witness it is a begging the Question and to credit those Witnessings will expose to delusions to produce Scripture disowned by them as the Rule is improper and concludes nothing being it cannot be understood without Inspiration when produced or if it could still it concludes as equally for any other Pretender as for them 4. He who abrogates a Divine Law must produce greater Authority for so doing than that by which at first it was instituted Thus Christ taking down or altering that way of Worship which had been set up by a Power of Miracles in Moses produced greater Evidences than Moses that he was sent from God And that Quakers do abrogate Christs Commands is evident from slighting his Sacraments c. Thus Shewen concerning Baptism and the Disciples and Apostles having Baptized some proceeds not discerning the times and seasons True Christians Faith p. 79. and the divers Dispensations of God towards mankind since the fall nor perceiving the end of them lays hold of the shadow and figure instead of the Substance c. Allegorizing and abrogating Christs Institutions 5. He who brings a newer and an higher Dispensation must produce visible Evidence for so doing in this indeed the Quakers are much divided Some making theirs a new Dispensation new Heavens and a new Earth Pennin Conc. Persecu Pref. Idem in Faldo Quak. no Chris p. 17. New Law p. 14. the former Dispensation was swallowed up by the breaking forth of a more Lively Dispensation This Fancy runs through the Works of Winstanley the Ministration of the Spirit is now rising up claims its due right by course And having received it from God he thus writeth there are seven Dispensations 1. to Adam 2. the Seed of the Woman from Adam to Abraham Mistery of God p. 21. 3. From Abraham to Moses 4. From him to Christ. 5. God in Christ. 6. God in the Flesh of his Saints as before in Christ which holds till the day of Judgment which is the 7th these he contracts into three Moses New Law p. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 120. Christ the Spirit and as Moses gives way to Christ so that single Body Jesus gives way to the Holy Ghost or spreading Power in Sons and Daughters and this begun in 1648. and every such Dispensation is a full period or term of Time Mistery of God p. 38. 40. Im. Rev. p. 18. p. 49. others makes theirs to be an higher Improvement of the former Dispensation the more Gospel times that were to come in the latter daies A spiritual Ministry a Gospel Ministry a powerful Ministry is come and coming or they would have it a reviving the Dead Universal free Grace 92. or a restoring of the former lost Dispensation Christs Spiritual inward and powerful appearance is now again revealed in this day after the Apostacy but every several way of stating makes it high Howgils Glory of the true Church 32. for the Everlasting Gospel was a thing beyond above and before the Writings of the new Testament and it requires the Spirits owning it before any should entertain it for it is a mighty alteration from a Bodily Christ without to an Invisible one within and if the Man Christ wrought Miracles much more should Christ the Spirit Act. 2 22. the visible Christ was a man approved of God by Miracles Wonders and Signs which God did by him in the midst of them as they also knew the new Invisible Christ hath nothing to approve him but words and fancyes but either at bringing as Moses at reviving as Elias or at changing as Christ of a Dispensation Miracles were necessary and though John the Baptist wrought no Miracles yet his coming was Prophecyed of by Esaias and Malachy nor did he bring in a new Dispensation only he prepared for it but the Quakers pretending to the highest Dispensation that of Christ in the Spirit which is never to be out-dated are to do