or three are gathered together in his Name to worship him and call upon his Name there is he in the midst of them And this place of Assembly we cal a Church because the Church or People of God do there assemble to his Service and 't is a Scripture term too though you know it not for as there is a Church in God and in Christ Jesus 1 Thes 1.1 1 Thes 1.1 that is persons devoted to Gods service in and through Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 11.22 So there is a Church of God 1 Cor. 11.22 The place namely where such persons do assemble and joyn in Divine Worship But since you cry down all distinctions as savoring of humane Learning whereby the naked truth of things might be clearly and distinctly seen as they are in themselves without conjunction with other things it is no marvel you are so blinde as not to distinguish men from houses persons from places the servants of God from the places of his service Quest 23 What Scripture is there to have a Clark to say Amen and to have groats a piece of the world for his trade Answ 'T is the duty of all good people to say Amen to every good Prayer or what is spoken tending either to Gods glory or their own good Psal 106.46 and this you shall finde both commanded and practised in the Scriptures Neh. 8.6 2 Pet. 3. ult Rev. 22.20 if you do but consult the Marginal Texts I may therefore rather demand of you why do not rather all the people say Amen then you ask of me why one man doth so And for the Groat he receives yearly of some persons in the world who are not all of the world as you uncharitably censure them I conceive it is not to be so much for saying Amen as for many other Offices wherein he is useful both to Pastor and People Quest 24 25 26. What Scripture is there for taking money for burying the dead or to have ten or twelve shillings for Preaching a Funeral Sermon or to take money for marrying man or woman Answ For our pains in laboring in the Word and Doctrine 5 Tim. 5.17 18. the Apostle gives this general rule The Labourer is worthy of his wages and what their wages is for their particular pains and labours in this or that Ministerial Function whether more or less is not of our choosing but partly the liberality of Founders and Benefactors partly custom amongst all people in all Christian Countries hath setled it Quest 27 When did any that was sent of Jesus Christ to Preach the Gospel sue men at the Law Answ We confess that to be contentious and ready to go to Law for every small trespass is a fault and far from the quality of faithful charitable and good members of Christs Church whether Ministers or People 1 Cor. 11.16 for if any list to be contentious we have no such custom nor the Churches of God But many such differences may arise betwixt party and party concerning temporal rights properties and interests as cannot well be decided without suit of Law Act. 19.38 So that it is not always a fault in it self to go to Law and sue one another but when it is done either contentiously or uncharitably and they that are guilty in this kinde let them answer for themselves And now for your conclusion Conclusion you say If thou be a Minister of Jesus Christ which exerciseth a pure conscience towards God and man clear thy self from the guilt of these things and answer them in writing by the Scriptures or Saints Examples oâ— else in siâ—â—nâ—e confess thy self guilty and one of those Christ cryed woe against acting the same things now as they did then filling up the measure of thy Fathers iniquity which said they were Jews and were not but were of the Synâ—gogue of Satan Answ Your challenge is very highly bitter and rayling both against me and all of my profession and calling and you rail in Scripture tearms too whereby you tâ—ke the garments of Gods Holy Spirit the Spirit of meekness and love and put them upon the Devils shoulders who is the reviler and accuser of his brethren Rev. 12.10 But I dare own my calling in spite of all the venom that the Devil and all his Instruments can spit against it and will be ever ready to maintain my integrity in the conscientious Exercise thereof in despite of all that oppose it your rayling Scripture woes and curses are very much misapplyed you have mistaken the object Prov. 26.2 The curse causless shall not come Prov. 26.2 You shoot out your arrows even bitter words at the mark they cannot hit the venom whereof is so far from being dreadful to me that it ministers rather cause of spiritual joy and exultation remembring the words of my Lord and Master Mat. 5.11 12. Mat. 5.11 12. Blessed are yee when men revile and persecute you and say all manner of evill against you for my sake falsly rejoyce and be glad for great is your reward in heaven for so persecuted they the Prophets that were before you I have according to your desire answered your several questions in writing I will not retort your uncharitable application of Scripture woes and threatnings against your self least I should become guilty with you of the same sin but rather with all meekness beseech you in the fear of God seriously to weigh and consider what I have said and the Lord give you a right understanding in all things 2 Tim. 2.7 There remains yet one conclusive question which you ask so peremptorily as if it were impossible to give you an answer and thus 't is Prefac'd Quest Thou sayst They must be learned men and brought up in Scholastick ways and by that means they must open the Scripture because thou sayst they were first given forth in Greek and Hebrew which you call the Original and therefore ignorant men cannot understand them But answer me this question Whether the Scriptures as they are written in English be true as Christ and the Apostles spake them forth and if they be true as they are in English what need any other Language be learned by an English man to know them Answ First what I have said is no other then a truth undenyable that the Scriptures were given forth in Hebrew and Greek which we doe truly call the Original And as by learned men they are translated so by learned men who understood both the Translation and the Original which are most fully and clearly understood As waters be more clear and pure in the Fountain then in the stream so the holy Scriptures are more clear and intelligible to them that see them in the Fountain and read them in the Original then to those who only can see and read them in the stream as they are derived unto them from the hands of the Translators And I must here tell you withall that it is
the cursed tares of many and strong delusions for that subtil Serpent full well knows how both easily and powerfully to insinuate his Lyes and Errors into mindes unsetled and not grounded in the knowledge of the Truth So that most truly is that complaint of the Lord by his Prophet Hosea verified of this people Hos Hos 4.6 4.6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge even for lack of what they so much boast of That grand Enemy the Prince of Lyes hath taken them in the very Net themselves have made even in the snare of self-conceited knowledge and holiness Rom. 1.22 whilest supposing themselves wise they became fools And pretending to the Spirit of God whom they rightly know not they are intrapt by the Spirit of Error and miserably seduced to the ruine of their souls Hence it is chiefly though not only hence through ignorance intermixt with pride that the Devill hath made so great a harvest of tares overgrowing and choaking the pure wheat of Truth Matth. 13.25 No Age of the Church having ever been so fruitful in Heresies and Errors whilest the ever blessed Name of the Spirit of God is abused by persons most impudently pretending to him that yet remain ignorant of him for had they known this Lord of life it had not been possible the spirit of Delusion could have prevailed so far with them as to infix so many Lyes Impostures and Blasphemies upon his score as therefore Saint Paul directed the Athenians to the knowledge of the true God whom they ignorantly worshipped Act. 17.23 and so their pious intentions through ignorance degenerated into gross Idolatries so it cannot but be an office both seasonable and charitable as also of great benefit and present necessity plainly to set down and deliver the true Orthodoxall Doctrine of the Holy Ghost his Impressions and Workings on the soul of man that so men may have a right understanding of this ever Blessed Person of the Godhead so much mistaken and his Sacred Name to the high offence of his Majesty so much profaned by impudent and false pretences A DISCOURSE OF THE Holy Spirit § 1 THE Doctrine of the Holy Ghost in respect both of his Person and Office is by the Nicene Creed thus clearly and fully set down I believe in the Holy Ghost the Lord and giver of life who proceedeth both from the Father and the Son who together with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified who spake by the Prophets To give you my Comment upon this Text were but to hold a candle to the Sun the Doctrine delivered is so clear and perspicuous All that can be said upon this Article of our Christian Faith is reducible to four heads 1. Of the Person of the Holy Ghost in himself 2. Of his Office or Workings on the mindes of men 3. Of the trial of the true from false spirits 4. Of the means to be made partakers of the Spirit of Truth The two first are doctrinal and speculative points for the rectifying and fitting the understanding rightly to conceive and believe aright this Article of Christian Faith The two last are practical and applicatory for the guidance of our actions and Christian performances according to this belief § 2 The more clearly to understand the Doctrine of the Spirit of God it will be necessary to use the light of some distinctions for so the naked and plain truth of any thing is most clearly and distinctly seen when namely 't is divided and distinguisht from its conjunction with other things of the same or like name and nature which is the ground of that old Maxime Qui bene distinguit bene docet The way to teach well or clearly to deliver any truth is rightly to distinguish that truth from other truths that are of near affinity thereunto either in name or nature or in the words of the Apostle which is the language of the Spirit of Truth Rightly to divide the Word of Truth 2 Tim. 2.15 2 Tim. 2.5 which was one of those many qualifications of the Apostles of Christ wherewithall they were immediately inspired by this Spirit of Truth for the propagation of the Gospel intimated in that he descended from Heaven upon them in cloven or divided Tongues § 3 And first that we mistake not the creature for the Creator Distinct 1 God over all blessed for ever we must remember that a spirit is either Create or Increate or more plainly sometimes the word Spirit is in holy Scripture applyed to the creature sometimes to the Creator § 4 There are several kindes of created spirits as 1. Those glorious Inhabitants of the highest Heavens the holy and blessed Angels Heb. 1.14.2 Are they not all ministring spirits c. Heb. 1.14 2. Those cursed inhabitants of the neather Hell the chained Devils 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ephes 6.11.3 the Apostles styles them Ephes 6.12 spiritual wickednesses or wicked spirits 3. The souls of men which quicken and enliven these our frail and mortal bodies every man being composed of two natures a body and a soul or flesh and spirit Gen. Get. 2.7 2.7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the earth meaning his body and breathed into his Nosthrils the breath of life meaning his soul and so man became a living soul or living by his soul or spirit created or infused by God into his earthly body 4. The life and animation of each sensitive creature therefore we read Psal Psal 150.6 150.6 Let every thing that hath breath or spirit prayse the Lord All these are several kindes of created spirits some more some less pure fine and spiritual § 5 But there is an increated Spirit also who being neither made or created in himself is the great Maker and Creator of all spirits and of all things who being the prime Fountain and Original of all beeings is so eminent and transcendent a Beeing that as he is in himself he only knows himself nor is it possible for us or any creatures who derive their beeing from him to attain the perfect knowledge of him and therefore is he pleased in his holy Word wherein he reveals himself unto us to describe himself by the names and properties of his excellent and most eminent kinde of creatures which are spirits so that God is tearmed a Spirit Analogically because Angels or Spirits are the purest finest quickest most active and intelligent beeings But that we may not rank God with Angels or Spirits for he hath no match or equal we must learn this one general rule in Divinity Whatsoever is spoken of God in the Scriptures and withall is applyable to any creature must be understood of God eminenter by way of eminency and transcendency as the Prototype and grand Exemplar of that perfection which is applyed to the creature As here Angels are Spirits and the souls of men are spirits but God is not a Spirit at they are spirits for he
is the Fountain the Original and all perfect pattern of the Perfection and Purity of all created spirits therefore tearmed the God of the spirits of all flesh Numb 2.16 Heb. 12.9 Numb 22.16 and the Father of spirits Heb. 12.9 § 6 That we may according to the Catholick Faith worship one God in Trinity Distinct 2 and the Trinity in Vnity neither confounding the Persons nor dividing the Substance we must rightly distinguish betwixt the Substance and the Persons or betwixt the Essence and Subsistence of God which is necessarily to be remembred and observed in relation to the Article of Faith in hand For sometimes God is tearmed a Spirit Essentially in respect of his essence nature or God-head sometimes Personally the tearm being applyed to this or that particular Person of the Godhead Joh. 4.24 1. Essentially Joh. 4.24 God is a Spirit that is he is such a God whose essence nature or beeing is eminently and transcendently pure and spiritual 2. Personally Matth. 3.16 Matth. 4.1 Ephes 4.30 so here and in many other places the tearm is peculiarly appropriated and applyed to the third Person of the Trinity who is tearmed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Holy Spirit or the Holy Ghost for Ghost and Spirit is the same the one an old English word the other a Latine § 7 This Name and Attribute the Holy Spirit as it is particularly applyed to the third Person of the Trinity expresseth and sets forth unto us his Person and Office his Personal subsistence in himself and his Office or working in relation to us 1. His Person in the tearm Spirit 2. His Office in the Attribute Holy Sanctus dicitur quia sanctificat Spiritus quia spiratus He is called the Holy Ghost from his Office which is to sanctifie or make holy and the Spirit from his Person which is spired or proceeding § 8 First the Holy not holy only in respect of his Person as is also the Father and the Son which is implyed in that celestial Trisagion perpetually sung by the Quire of Heaven to the glory of this ever blessed Trinity Esai 6.3 Holy holy holy Lord God of hosts c. Holy three times to denote the holiness of all the three Persons of the Godhead Holy Father Holy Son Holy Ghost But the Holy Particuliarly and pecularly in respect of his Office which is to sanctifie and hallow most especially the hearts of men as to God the Father is appropriate the Work of Creation who is therefore called the Almighty the Omnipotence or Almightiness of God being most apparent in the Creation of all things And as to God the Son is appropriate the work of Redemption who is therefore called the Word of God Joh. 1.1 and the Wisdom of the Father 1 Cor. 1.24 Gods manifold Wisdom being made apparent in the Redemption of mankinde for it is a mysterie which the very Angels themselves desire to look into 1 Pet. 1.12 Even so the work of Sanctification is appropriated to the Holy Ghost who is therefore called the Holy One Gods holiness being most apparent in purifying and sanctifying the unhallowed souls of men Bonav Isai 10.17 And the light of Israel shall be for a fire and his Holy One for a flame Spiritus Sanctus est lumen illuminans sanctus sanctificans flammaque inflammans The Holy Ghost is that Divine light which illuminates our darkened understandings A Holy one who sanctifies our souls and polluted hearts that sacred and celestial fire which inflames our cold earthly affections even as of old he enlightned sanctified and enflamed the mindes of the Apostles of Christ which was signified by his Descension not only with a rushing winde which purifies cleanses and changes but also in Tongues of fire which warms and enlightens Act. 2.23 § 9 The Spirit not only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of a spiritual Nature but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Spirit expressing his Personal Essence received from the Father and from the Son by spiration and procession Even as the second Person of the Trinity receives his Personal Essence from the Father only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by Generation and is therefore called the Son of God The Son is of the Father alone not made nor created but begotten So the Holy Ghost receives his Personal Essence from the Father and from the Son 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by procession or spiration and is therefore tearmed the Spirit of God The Holy Ghost is from the Father and from the Son not made nor ereated nor begotten but proceeding proceeding from the Father and therefore often tearmed the Spirit of the Father proceeding from the Son Joh. 15.26 and therefore often tearmed the Spirit of the Son Gal. 4.6 proceeding both from the Father and the Son and therefore tearmed the Spirit of God Rom. 8.14 § 10 And yet further in either of these tearms the Holy and the Spirit both the Personal Essence and also the Office of the Holy Ghost is implyed For 1. he is therefore called the Holy not only in respect of his Office as before but also in respect of his Personal Essence Lib. 7. cap. 3. for therefore saith Isidore in his Originals is he called the Holy because he is the Co-essential and Consubstantial holiness of the Father and the Son 2. He is therefore tearmed the Spirit not only in respect of his Personal Essence as before but also in respect of his Office which is to inspire and infuse his divine and celestial blessings into the Souls of men § 11 Touching the manner of this blessed Spirits spiration from the Father and the Son we must say as the Prophet Isaiah doth of the Sons generation from the Father Isai 53.8 Who shall declare his generation 'T is not onely ineffable not to be declared but unconceiveable also The heart of man conceives it not neither can the tongue of men or Angels express it Inter illam generationem hanc processionem distinguere nescio Aug. non valeo non sufficio quia illa ista est ineffabilis that is to distinguish betwixt the Generation of God the Son and the Procession of God the Holy Ghost is impossible because both the one and other be for the manner thereof unspeakable Isid ibid. Hoc autem interest saith Isidore inter nascentem filium c. betwixt the Son of Gods generation and the Spirit of Gods procession there is this difference indeed That the Son is from the Father alone but the Holy Ghost is both from the Father and the Son procedens non genitus c. proceeding not begotten to distinguish him from the Son proceeding not unbegotten to distinguish him him from the Father the which we are to observe lest contrary to the true Catholick Faith we should admit either of two Sons or two Fathers in the ever blessed Trinity or any way confound the several Persons therein as if they were not distinct each from other really but nominally only
the people of and so deceive the simple Q. 6 Shew me what Scripture you have which speaks that the Apostles sprinkled Infants Q. 7 Shew me what Scripture you have to stand praying in the Synagogues before Sermon and after and whether the Apostles did so Q 8 Shew me by the Scriptures where the Apostles went into the world and gave the people of the world Davids Psalms to sing in meeter these things which you now practise answer them by the Scriptures or the Apostles practises without consequence or imagination Q. 9 Whether a man shall overcome the body of sin while he is upon the earth or no. Q. 10 Whether the curse be not upon him that preacheth an other Gospell then Christ and the Apostles yea or no Q. 11 Whether any naturall man can preach the Gospell or no. Q. 12 Whether that any of the Ministers of God was made Ministers by the will of men or no shew me it by the Scriptures Q. 13 Shew me it by the Scriptures whether a man shall grow up to that condition that he need no man teach him but the Lord or no. Q. 14 Whether they be not Antichrists and disobey Christ that have the chiefest places in the Assemblies stand praying in the Synagoges called of men Masters which Christ did forbid his disciples to act such things and cryed Woe against those that did act them Q. 15 Whether they be not Antichrists and of the Devill and no Ministers of Christ which do not abide in the doctrine of Christ Q. 16 Whether they be not seducers which draw people from the anointing within them and tell them they must be taught of a man when as the anointing teacheth them and they need no man teach them but as the anointing teacheth and the promise is to him that doth abide in it eternally Q. 17 Whether they do not bewitch the people which draw them from the spirit within to serve the ordinance of the world and traditions of men without as the Galatians were bewitched Gal. 3.1 Q. 18 Whether they be not deceivers which tell the people those are the Ordinances of God which God never commanded and draw men from the spirit within them to follow their imaginations and inventions Q. 19 Whether you have the same spirit which was in Christ the Apostles and Prophets which gave forth the Scriptures seeing you are contrary to the Scriptures and follow your own inventions and traditions and so erre from them Q. 20 Whether ever Christ and his Apostles did first Baptize and then preach faith and repentance twenty or thirty years after Q. 21 Whether ever Christ or the Apostles did retain 100 or 200. l. a year for preaching the Gospell Q. 22 What Scripture is there to limit God to a place calling it a Church whereas the Church is in God 1 Thess 1.1 Q. 23 What Scripture is there to have a Clark to say Amen and have groats a peece of the world to maintain his trade Q. 24 What Scripture is there for taking money to bury the dead Q. 25 What Scripture is there for taking 10 or 20 s. for preaching a funerall Sermon Q. 26 What Scripture is there for taking money for marrying man and woman Q. 27 When did any that was sent of Jesus Christ to preach the Gospell sue men at the Law If thou be a Minister of Jesus Christ which exerciseth a pure conscience towards God and towards Man clear thy self from the guilt of these things and answer them in writing by the Scriptures or Saints examples or else in silence confessethy self to be guilty and one of those that Christ cryed woe against acting the same things now as they did then filling up the measure of thy fathers iniquity which said they were Jews and were not but were of the synagogue of Satan Thou sayest they must be learned men and brought up in Scholasticall wayes and by that meanes they must open the Scriptures because thou sayest they were first given forth in Greek and Hebrew which you call the Originall and therefore ignorant men cannot understand them but must have your meanings interpretations and dimensions of your own brain and thus you deceive the simple But answer me this question Whether the Scriptures as they are written in English be true as Christ and the Apostles spoke them forth and if they be true as they are in English what need any other language be learned by an English man to know them R. H. THE QUAKERS Severall Questions WITH The Answers Returned R. H. FOR what relative title to give you without offence I understand not I received you paper of many strange scrupulous Questions And though it be most true that one fool may aske more Questions then 100. wise men can answer as the common proverb goes yet we are taught by a more authentick proverb Prov. 26.5 sometimes to answer a fool in his folly lest he be wise in his own conceite I say not this to upbraid your person but with reflexion on the follies and errours displaid in your severall questions which will appear I beleeve in the following answers if you read them as becomes a good Christian without prejudice partiality or obstinacy of minde but with the spirit of meeknesse 1 Thess 5.21 and a desire to try all things and hold fast that which is good Quest 1 Whether your Gospell be the same which the Apostles preached and if it be why go you to Oxford or Cambridge when the Apostle saith the Gospell he preached was not after man-neither was he taught it by man Answ We preach the same Gospell the Apostles preached but do not attain the knowledg and understanding of this Gospell by the same means the Apostles were eye-witnesses and ear-witnesses of the sayings and doings of Christ which is the sum of the Gospell the mysteries whereof they understood by immediate revelation from heaven being both publickly visible Act. 2.1 2 3 4. and miraculously inspired with extraordinary gifts of the Spirit inabling them both more fully to understand and more powerfully to preach the Gospell then any mortall man could ever hope for since But we do neither pretend to any such sublime and eminent gifts neither do we or ought we to depend upon any such immediate and miraculous revelation from heaven Schooles they had at Bethel 2 King 2 3. at Jericho v. 5. and Elishas College was so full that they inlarged it 2 King 6.1 and at Naioth 1 Sam. 14.20 and upon the hill of God 1 Sam. 10.5 10. but do use those ordinary means and helps which God in his mercifull providence hath in all ages afforded his people viz. by study and industry in the Schools of the Prophets Neither go we to Oxford and Cambridge to learn the Gospell we preach but to learn the knowledge of those tongues and languages arts and sciences which are that externall means enabling us to understand and open the meaning of the Gospell by the good