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A90808 The holy scripture clearing it self of scandals: or, An answer to a book written by Richard Farnworth, who is commonly called a Quaker, bearing this title, Truth cleared of scandals. In this answer, you have the substance of a dispute at Harliston in Staffordshire, between Richard Faruworth [sic] and the author, in the yeer 1654. Written by Tho. Pollard, a member of the Church of Christ, gathered in, and about, Leichfield. Whereunto is added, Certain considerations and queries concerning those people called the Quakers; with desire of an answer. As also, a postscript, manifesting their folly in pretending a necessity of using the terms thee and thou to a single person. / By Henry Haggar, a servant of Jesus Christ, and of the congregation of his saints. Pollard, Thomas, fl. 1655.; Haggar, Henry. 1655 (1655) Wing P2775; Thomason E857_8; Thomason E842_10; ESTC R206619 43,888 64

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also prove me perverse And Job 42.5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear but now my eyes see thee Wherefore I abhorre my self and repent in dust and ashes From whence it is plain That Job did see imperfection in himself and repented of it but if Job had been wholly perfect then there was no need of repentance for to abhorre that which is good and to repent of that must needs be wickedness Secondly See what the Lord saith of David Acts 13.22 I have found David a man after my own heart And yet we never finde this man boasting of perfection but goes humbly to the Lord and earnestly begs of him Psal 19.12 13. Lord keep thy servant from presumptuous sins lest they get the dominion over me so shall I be innocent from the great offence And see Psal 18.1 How the Lord is his rock his fortress his God in whom he will trust And ver 29. For by thee have I run through a troop and by my God I have leaped over a wall And vers 30. As for God his way is perfect the word of the Lord is tried he is a buckler to all them that trust in him This whole Psalm David speaks out much of the Lords goodness to him but I do not finde one word of boasting Thirdly See what the Lord saith of Paul to Ananias Acts 9.15 He is a chosen vessel to bear my name and I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake Yet see what Paul saith of himself Rom. 7.18 I know that in me that is in my flesh there dwels no good thing for to will is present with me but how to perform that which is good I finde not For vers 21. When I would do good evil is present with me And saith Paul 1 Tim. 1.15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation That Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief By all which we may see that Paul hath not a word of such boasting but rather cryes out against the fleshly part how it attends him and oft-times keeps him from doing that which he would Fourthly we will see what is said of John who was an eminent Apostle who is called that Disciple whom Jesus loved and the Scripture saith He lay in Christ's bosome John 13.2 yet we finde that he and Peter Acts 3.12 to 17. said unto the people Ye men of Israel why marvel ye at this or why look ye so earnestly on us as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk No he tells them It is the God of Abraham of Isaac and of Jacob the God of our fathers hath glorified his Son Jesus whom ye delivered up His Name saith Peter through faith in his Name hath made this man strong not any thing in them it 's plain doth he set up but saith It was the man's believing in Jesus that prevailed with Jesus who gave him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all And in Chap. 4.29 they pray to the Lord for strength that they may speak his word with boldness By all which it 's plain That they had no dependance on themselves by their looking to the Lord the Rock of their strength and their Deliverer in their trouble And further see what John saith in his 1 Epist. 1.8 If we say We have no sin we deceive our selves and the truth is not in us Minde It is such a deceit that they that say so the Truth is not in them And James saith Chap. 3.2 In many things we offend all And now dear Friends we see what the Scripture saith of these men how high in the Lord's favour they were yet we do not finde that any of these holy men of God did so justifie themselves as this man Now consider Reader and the Lord give thee understanding If these men Job David Paul and John whose whole work it was as I may say to keep close to the Commandments of God to see how humbly they walked with God and how sweetly the Lord appeared to them in this their heavenly progress as the Scripture is full of Witnesses and that they did not boast of perfection This then we may learn that for these men in our days who boast of perfection and say they are free from sin and yet make it their whole work to turn away poor souls from the Truth I mean the holy Scripture and Ordinances that it's pride in them for they presume above what is written as to call the Scripture carnal and a dead Letter and say It will never bring a man to the knowledge of God Now that these are proud and presumptuous and self-willed see what Paul saith of the Scripture 2 Tim. 3.13 14 15 16 17. Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse deceiving and being deceived but to keep thee from these saith he continue thou in the things thou hast learned and hast been assured of knowing of whom thou hast learned them and that from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus And he further saith All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction in righteousness that the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good works By all which it 's plain That these men are of another mind then the Apostle Paul for he vindicates the Scripture and Ordinances in all his Epistles then I say it is wickedness in these men to speak against the Scripture and Ordinances as they do calling it a dead Letter and carnal and say That all that is gotten from the Scripture is but brain-knowledge Now dear Friends may we not see plainly how they strike at Jesus Christ in his Ordinances which do so lively represent him and which he hath born witness to himself and confirmed it to us to be a sure Word of Prophesie by many Signs and Wonders and Gifts of the Holy Ghost And further dear Friends let us not forget how wonderfully the Lord hath preserved this Word from the rage of Enemies not onely in the Generations past but our days have spoken out much to us If we look back to those days of profanation wicked toleration when nothing but superstition had countenance and many for conscience-sake were sore oppressed now for us to consider what we then did see instead of pure Ordinances and to take notice of what we now through mercy injoy we may say the Lord hath wrought for us wonderfully which being laid to heart it may encourage us to follow the holy Commandments of Christ Jesus though we be reproached and called Pharisees by these men for observing the Primitive Patern for do but try them by their Works and you will finde that they carry on a design for Satan as it appears by the
here thou must needs judge very many that thou didst never know or hear of and so art guilty of this sin in speaking evil of them that thou knowest not And thirdly thou givest all men to understand that thou ownest not the word of God for thy rule in condemning all that follow the Ordinances as they were delivered by Christ equally with those that observe traditions of men in the worship of God as Pope Prelate and other sprinklers do And again thou sayest Where did any of us water-baptizers cast out devils and drink any deadly thing and it not hurt us And where did we shake the room when we assembled And where did we give the Holy Ghost All such unlearned questions as these I shall answer in a few words thus These things at the first namely Miracles were for the confirmation of the Gospel and so we may see the Law was at the first confirmed by Miracles read Exod. 20.18 with Heb. 12.18 to the 22. so we finde Baptism was confirmed by Miracles Mat. 3.16 17. with Luke 3.21 22. and so was Prayer Preaching and Laying on of Hands at the first confirmed to us by Miracles and that it was for this end to confirm the Gospel read Heb. 2.3 4. How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord and was confirmed to us by them that heard him God also bearing them witness both with signs and wonders and with divers miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost according to his own will And this is such satisfaction to us that it is the word of God that we need not look for a new confirmation of it but we have recourse to all the Commandments and Ordinances of Christ as they are written and read Mark 16.17 18 19 20. and you will finde those signs were onely to confirm the word But it lies upon you Farnworth and all those that go about to destroy the holy Scripture and Ordinances thereof I say it lies upon you to shew us such a confirmation of that which you bring and then we may come to give more credit to your words But for many of these Questions I do not look upon them worth answering But one word to you of the Church of Christ I pray you let us minde what Israel did in the dayes of Hezekiah when liberty was proclaimed by the King that the Passeover should be kept at Jerusalem we finde that the people did not look for a new confirmation but they had a care to keep it in such sort as it was written And we finde that by reason of wicked Kings that was before the practise of it was lost in such sort as it is written from the dayes of Solomon to the reign of Hezekiah there was many yeers during the reign of about fourteen Kings was I say this practise lost as it is witnessed 2 Chron. 30.5 compared with vers 26. yet we finde notwithstanding what they had observed in the dayes of Tyranny yet I say when liberty was proclaimed they had then a care to keep it in such sort as it was written without looking for a new confirmation it being before confirmed unto them And see how this their practise pleased the Lord vers 27. Their voice was heard and their prayer came up to Heaven O! may not we in these dayes learn much from these words have not we lived in the dayes past under Tyrants and by their means the Ordinances of Christ as they were practised by him and his Apostles I say by reason of former Tyranny it hath not been of a long time observed in such sort as Christ hath commanded but now hath the Lord brought us to a day of liberty and that by establishment O then in the first place let us give the Lord praise who hath dealt so bountifully with us as to set us at liberty from so great Oppressors Secondly Let us learn to keep the Commandments and Ordinances of Christ according to his appointment Thirdly Let us be sure that we fight against false worships with spiritual weapons and no other wayes Fourthly Take heed of setting up your selves or your own practices in the worshiping of God to infringe the liberties of others and for thy help herein minde that sweet counsel of Christ Mat. 7.12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you do ye even so to them for this is the Law and the Prophets Fifthly Labour to walk humbly before God and thankfully to God continually speaking well of his Name it is the onely way to enjoy greater mercies from him We of this Nation have as great if not greater cause of returning praise to the Lord then Israel had O that we could in the fear of the Lord weigh our mercies with those spoken of by David Ps 107. And we may say that what the Lord then did for Israel he hath now done for England I desire the Reader to weigh those words well and we may plainly see that it is our duty to praise him for his goodness and declare his wonderful works done in our dayes to the sons of men O that we were wise to observe the dealings of God and his mercies bestowed upon us in this generation Sixthly You that profess to know God and Christ of what ranke or imployment soever ye be labour to be of a peaceable spirit as much as in you lies live peaceably with all men for let me tell you if any be otherwayes minded in thirsting after blood such I say will be very unfit to follow Christ at his coming who is the prince of peace And I pray you minde what Paul saith Tit. 3.1 2. Put them in minde to be subject to principalities and powers to obey Magistrates to be ready to every good work to speak evil of no man to be no brawlers but gentle shewing meekness to all men And again consider what Paul saith Rom. 13. When Rulers are for the punishing of evil doers and for the praise of them that do well then ought every one professing Christ to be subject not onely for wrath but also conscience sake O what cause of rejoycing have the Lords people to see how time after time there is a generation of men laying out themselves to deprive the Lord's people of this liberty that we at this day enjoy Consider how the Lord hath found out instruments all along to be as a wall between you and them O praise the Lord for such instruments Now in the next place I shall give an Answer briefly to that saying of Paul Christ sent me not to baptise but to preach 1 Cor. 1.17 I answer briefly first It is clear that Paul was an Apostle of Jesus Christ as is undeniable if so then he was as much concerned in the commission Mat. 28. 19. as any other then minde those words and you will finde preaching and baptizing joyned together And Paul commanded to preach the whole counsel
relate to the Law given by Moses much more shall we not escape if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven for John saith The Law came by Moses but Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ John 1.17 Reas 2. Grounded on vers 28. We receiving a Kingdom which cannot be moved let us have Grace that we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear But now the Question between Farnworth and my self was Whether he was in the possession of these priviledges he sa●● he was But Reader consider I pray you weigh the words a little with what he hath before affirmed and you will finde he lyes and speaks not the Truth First it is clear That these promises are to a visible Church as the Law was given to a visible Church then he denying a visible Church he cannot have any right to these promises as he is a visible man Secondly If these Hebrews had been in the possession of these things that is to say the new Jerusalem then for the holy Ghost to have warned them to take heed of refusing him that spake from heaven had been in vain Thirdly Then they needed not that exhortation To hold fast Grace as the Margin reads it vers 28. That we may serve God acceptably for that were fully done already if in the possession of it Fourthly The Scripture saith All lyars are without then they are not possessed of this enjoyment and that Farnworth is a lyar is plain else he would never say That all Ordinances ceased when Christ ascended and That Christ hath not a visible Church and see what lyars shall be possessed of Rev. 21.8 They shall have their part in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone for ever which is the second death Fifthly If they and onely they are blessed that do his Commandments and they shall have right to the Tree Life then there is nothing but Curses Woes and Misery to all them that make it their work to keep poor souls out of these promises by perswading them to a slight esteem of the Ordinances of Christ And here is the pride of these men discovered that will boast of priviledges before they have any right to them In the next place I shall speak a word of perfection And this I say That I own a perfection in Christ to be attainable in this life thus that is to say by believing in Christ and obedience to Christ add this James tells us That Abraham's faith wrought with his works by works was faith made perfect And Abraham believed God and it was imputed to him for righteousness and he was called the friend of God Jam. 2.22 23. Now I say this faith that worketh by love perswadeth that soul wherein it is to yield obedience to Christ and God the Father is fully satisfied with his Son in the behalf of such a one Now I say that such a one may slip through infirmity or neglect of duty to God but see what Iohn saith to such 1 Ep. 1.9 If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to for give us our sins to cleanse us from all unrighteousness And this is by Iesus Christ whom God hath set forth to be a propitiati-through faith in his blood to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past through the forbearance of God To declare I say at this time his righteousness that he might be just and the justifier of him which believeth in Iesus And truly Reader for my part I know no way to attain perfection but by believing in Christ and yeilding obedience to Christ and this I own the Gospels preaching doth fully hold out the great love of the Father in giving his Son to die for us which Gospel being preached is the means of faith and is a perfect rule for all to walk by But for a perfection in glory to be attained on this side the Grave this I utterly disown As also what Farnworth said to me at Harliston That the resurrection and eternal judgement was then past in him I own not but disown for I believe the resurrection of the dead both of the just and of the unjust as Paul saith Act. 24.15 And now Reader you having a view of these men that their principles are very unsound and why I say these men because what Farnworth then affirmed others of his company stood by to maintain And in a few words I shall give you briefly what one Daniel Bott a brother in the Gospel resident at a Town neer Tamworth in Warwickshire who was once deluded by them but now through mercy is brought back to the joy of his heart and rejoycing of the Lord's people and this I received from his own moth That the said Farnworth and others did press him to lay aside the form of Scripture and he would they said have visions and revelations immediately Now consider Reader whither would they plunge a poor soul if they can once bring him to slight that form of sound words and that form of doctrine which was delivered unto us And further he saith to me That he heard one George Fox say these words I am that eternal Spirit that gave forth the Scripture and he told me He did believe that Fox did think when he spake this that there was none present but these of his own judgement And I assure the Reader this that I cannot gather that the said Daniel doth speak any thing out of malice for I judge the man to the best of my understanding one truely fearing God and one that can say much of their delusions and that they are false Prophers by their endeavouring to turn him from consenting to the wholesome words of Christ and that doctrine which is according to godliness Now Reader if thou dost throughly consider what is before laid down that this Farnworth did stand by to maintain you may plainly see what spirit this poor man is possessed with and if it be the work of the Spirit of Truth to lead his into all Truth then this man is led by an evil Spirit and this appears in its operation and by the evil fruit it brings forth you may see what the Tree is And this is evil to say That all that is gotten from the Scripture is but brain-knowledge and a great deal of such-like stuffe he is filled with If any man make search into them by questioning them else let them alone in their road of speaking and they will present a fair gloss before you This I have experience of And now Reader to his principles that he saith in the beginning of his book he owns as worship in the Spirit he owns he saith Ans To this if the way of worship that Jesus Christ hath commanded and hath promised to be present with them that so worship him to the end of the world be spiritual worship which worship is plainly laid down in the Scripture then all that refuse to take the words of