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 is made the Motive to Mens believing in him and Immediate Revelation is not once named He would have also the promise of sending the Comforter given without Restriction but in Scripture limitations must be given to general words according to matters c. concerned Joel 2.28 I will pour my Spirit upon all Flesh is not upon Horses Asses no nor the unconverted Indians John 14.26 He shall teach you all things is not giving
things as Christ had before outwardly delivered and if his inward Immediate Teachings might have been made out to Inquirers by outward Proofs If our Christian Religion was settled by such Eye and Ear Testimony and its whole Dispensation established by outward and sensible Evidences If the old Rule be true Ecclesia ab Apostolis Apostoli à Christo Christus à Deo that the Church received her Faith from the Apostles they from Christ and be from God as certainly this whole heap of Evidences is true and many more such might be added and their force can never be shaken Then Quakerism which tempts us with another kind of Christ and another Scheme of Religion is as Damnable and pernitious an Heresy as hath assaulted Christianity at any time The Introduction In which an Account is given Of the Quakers Original and Standing Page 5 Of their Temper in Debates Page 8 Of T. Ellwood's Learning and Honesty Page 13 Of his daring Confidence Page 18 The Contents CHAP. I. The State of the Case and the Manner of Proceeding Page 22 CHAP. II. How the Apostles came to the Knowledge of the Gospel Page 31 CHAP. III. Whether the Quakers be the Apostles Successours and receive the Knowâ—edge of the Gospel in the same manner as the Apostles did Page 40 CHAP. IV. Of the Quakers Renewed or Repeated Revelations Page 51 CHAP. V. Of their Immediate Revelations Page 63 CHAP. VI. Of their Partners and Competitours in Revelation Page 70 CHAP. VII Of their contradictory different and designed Revelations Page 102 CHAP. VIII Of their Expository Revelations Page 127 CHAP. IX Of their Demonstration of the Spirit and new Dispensation Page 147 CHAP. X. Of their Experiences Page 157 CHAP. XI How the Primitive Christians came to the Knowledge of the Gospel Page 162. CHAP. XII Of the Quakers hearing the Voyce of God and some other claims Page 166 CHAP. XIII Of the Texts of Scripture produced by T. E. p. 169. CHAP. XIV Of his Destructive Rules of expounding Scripture Page 176 The Conclusion Page 179 The Author living at a great Distance these Errata's have escap't which the Reader is desired to mend with his Pen Pag. 17. lin 1. r. the Catholicks Nov. p. 21. l. 18. Dreamers p. 23. l. 7. there upon p. 24. l. 21. withal a. ib. l. 34. sects or ib. l. 35. have p. 41. l. 10 end p. 46 l 32 an inference p 47 l 2 Porphory p 50 l 17 sole teacher p 55 l 17. lines p 61 l 11 dele some p. 78. in marg aginst l. 1. Principles of the Elect. p. 48. ib. aginst l. 3. Pen. naked Tr. p. 25. ib. against l. 5. In Mr. Jenner p. 173. p 80 l. 31 Inspired p. 81 in marg l. 11 Bozius p. 92 l. 21. dele and so p 100 l. 9. indisputably p 101 l 5 from ib. l. 13. dele of p. 104 l. 4. this p. 105 l. 6. contradictious p 114 l. 15. of Hon. p 117 l. 7. superfaetation ib. l. 27. this p. 123. Baptista catum Syritus p 126. in marg Valentin p. 127 l. 4. third Favour p. 128 l. 18. wake p. 129 l. 3 diation p. 131. l. 26 dele whole p. 132. ult no more p 133. l. 31. which is p. 135. l 25 ssed ib. l. 31 dele the. p. 139. l. 8. continues p. 141. l. 28 that their l. 36 Eben p. 145 l 6. tually than by p. 148. marg Oecum p. 159 l. 3. collatis ib. l. 17 invisible ib. l. 24 dumb p. 160. l. 6 powers p. 166. l. 11. dele in ib. l. 31. too general p 175. l. 19. Remanent p. 178. l. 4. Thus he ib. l. 15. in a. p. 180 l. 1. Aegyptian ib. l. 2. no nor p. 184. l. 24. meetings p. 186 l 7. dele which ib. l 16. condemned THE Introduction THE Divisions among Christians being fomented by the Enemy of Souls are as Industriously retorted upon the very Profession as they were vigorously promoted hereby some are encouraged to Separation and others hence take the Confidence to dispute the Truth of the Religion it self because of the various Sentiments of such as own it Celsus the Heathen Objected this early to which * Origen Con. Cels p. 117 118. Oringen gives a Satisfactory Reply And Valons the Arian pretending to be offended at the same was satisfied by the Oration of Themistius †Socrat. Hist Eccl. l. 4. c. 27. 1 Cor. 11.19 That there were fewer differences among Christians than among Philosophers Sozomen Histor Eccles l. 6. c. 36. The Apostle having fore-told that there must be Sects or Heresies instead of being an Argument against Christianity they prove one for it all Callings or Professions have their various Rules and Methods few Laws are made which meet not with various Expositions Exact Agreement seems more like a Design or Compact It is more possible to be at one in the ways of Errour And in darkness Men will stick closer together Whereas the more there is of Light and Truth Satan is the more concern'd against them and among such variour Educations Interests and Tempers it cannot be Morally expected but that some singular Sect-Masters will appear and toll in Proselytes And though our Differences are too many at present yet we can scarce pitch on any time during the Purity of the Church especially when Christianity was generally entertained wherein there were not as many different formed Parties as are now amongst us But whilst the sence of some Texts or Articles have been Debated the Sacred Scriptures themselves have meet with severe measure By some their Authority and Truth have been disputed by others their Phraseology and Style One while their Language is too plain not Courtly enough nor strewed with Rhetorical Flowers The Heathens Objected this betimes That the Pen-men were unlearned Arnob. L. 1. Ab hominibus indoctis rudibus Scripta sunt trivialis sordidus sermo est Barbarismis Solaecismis obsitae res vestrae vitiorum deformitate pollutae the Style ordinary or mean that there were Barbarisms and Incongruities in those Books that their address is fitted to the Generality or Common People Lactant. Lib. 5. C. 1. Haeo imprimis causa est Scriptura Sancta fide caroat quod Prophetae communi ac simplici sermone ut ad populum sunt locuti Nihil audire vel legere nisi expolitum volunt Minutius Faelix hath the like Cavil of Caecilius and in Clemen 's Recognitions L. 1. The like is insisted on Simpliciter absque ullo dicendi fuco This Weapon was made use of sometimes and Satan who is expert at the repeating his Old Stratagems hath new managed it in the mouths of Prophane Persons But his Arts also are many and his Methods contradictory He turns the Reverse as one while the Book of God is quarrelled at for plâ—inness anon it is rejected in regard of its Obscurity and Darkness Fiar lax Cap. 3. Sect. 15. p. 19â— Sure footing iâ— Christiâ—â—ly Sect 〈◊〉 p. 12. 〈◊〉 G.
True Old Christianity neither Satan we may reasonably think hath long ago canvassed every word in the Sacred Book from thence to form Heresies and having run his round he doth oft new dress old Obsolete ones turning them into other shapes by some slender Additions to make them be the less discernible but whosoever will compare the Doctrines the Quakers with many of the rotten Condemned Hereticks with some Fancies of the Monks in later times of the Anabaptists Familists c. about the Reformation of the Seekers Antinomians Ranters Dellists and those other swarms of Locusts in this Kingdom will be forced to acknowledge that not only their Foundation is the same but that also many of their Opinions even their Phrases Words and Tearms proceed from the same Fountain Learned men do look upon them as so unreasonable and others do esteem them so Obstinate that either they are not worth medling with or that the attempts will prove fruitless But the Interest of true Religion and the good of those Souls for whom Christ dyed are so Sacred that no Endeavors to justify the one and to save the other ought to be Discouraged And whereas Hereticks have one while questioned about God at another time about Christ or the Holy Spirit sometimes the Holy Scriptures sometimes the Church the Sacraments or single Articles have been debated Quakers do ly under those sad Circumstances of having licked up the Vomit and imbibed the Errors about most of those Denying the Trinity and yet dividing the Godhead Denying Christs Body and Bodily Presence now in Heaven and our Redemption by him Confounding Christ and the Holy Ghost ingrossing Christianity to themselves so as to Paganize all other Christians and instead of them taking in the Heathen World to fill up those Vacancies they have thrust us from they being much more favourable to them as having Christ within them looking upon the Scriptures as dead Letters not the Rule either of Faith or Manners that they signify nothing to us without a new Revelation to impose them and a further one to Expound them With many the like Prevarications in the most Fundamental Articles of Religion and such Poysonous Doctrines require Warning and Antidotes from all hands This I have Related to shew the Occasion of this Tract and shall more particularly address my self to such of the Quakers as are well-meaning Persons like Absaloms men 2 Sam. 15.11 in the Simplicity of their Hearts following their Leaders but yet in Preparation of Mind being ready to embrace the Truth when fairly proposed and as I hope abhorring those Abominations which ly concealed under their Doctrines or are the direct Consequents of them The great prejudice those poor Souls ly under is That they are kept under with an Implicite Faith and scarce permitted to read Tracts against them which are supposed to be but Temptations to remove them from the Truth But if any such well designing Quakers shall meet with this I desire them seriously to lay to Heart these few following things which are not here set down to anticipate but either Briefly to represent what is proved in the following Papers or what might be more fully shewed especially in reference to that dangerous Delusion That the Light within every man is the Lord Jesus 1. That other Sects whom you Disown and Condemn have given out themselves to be Inspired as much as you do have spoken as well have continued as long have been as numerous have given as convincing Proofs as you can do and yet have been first Wandring then Fallen Stars and have come to nothing If you say That theirs were Counterfeit but yours True Lights that is a pittiful Begging the Question or If you say that their Light at first was Right but that they mistook in its use this still concludes nothing by what Arguments you would confute your Corrivals by the like we may confute you they falling as forcibly upon your selves as upon any others else 2. Consider that great Disservice which your trifling Expositions attempt to do unto Religion a tast of which we may take from your Inspired Allegorical Interpretations Recorded in Chapter the 8th The Everlasting Gospel The Tabernacle of David God Christ The Angels The Devil The Bottomless Pit The Beast with seven Heads Babylon The Mystery of Iniquity The Man of Sin The Mystery of Godliness Michael and the Dragon Fighting Antichrist The Third Heavens The Father of Lyes c. All these are made internal things so that a Quaker is well provided having within and carrying about with him all those certainly he must be an empty House that can entertain so many both things and persons and such a mixt Assembly 3. That other Nations have had their Enthusiasts there being a kind of Circulation of Errors Germany had its Anabaptists c. In the last Century and its plenty of Revealers in late times France had its Libertines Holland its Familists and what not and other Countryes had their share but the Scene at present of Fanaticism lies most in England for the Inquisition and Edicts suppressing as 't is likely the Alumbrados or Quakers in Popish Countryes they were I mean their Doctrines transplanted hither where in a Soil at that time well prepared for their reception and increase they took good Root and thence shot forth their Branches into other Nations nor must we think that Quakerism is the last Sect for though the very Dregs of many of the former are squeezed into it yet their own Divisions perpetual Changings the doating of some persons upon Novelties and the Craft of the great Enemy give us Reason to suppose that when men are grown weary of this he will prepare a new one for them 4. That you would Consider your own Alterations generally observed both in point of Doctrine and Behavior for they are a clear acknowledgment that you were mistaken at the first to challenge Divine Motions for many things and yet in a few years to recede from those Commands reflects upon the Spirit as changeable or your selves to have been Imposed upon but if you were truly Wise it would engage you unto a strict Examination both of your Foundation and the several things erected on it The old Marcionites changed thus Cottidie Reformant illud Tertuâ—â—l adv Marc. prout à nobis cottidie revincuntur daily altered their Opinions as the Arguments of the others discovered their weakness and indefensibleness So do you daily lick and new mold many of your Doctrines as you are beaten from Hold to Hold though you continue still enthralled in the main 5. That you would throughly examine the Truth or even Possibility of those two by you called Fundamental Principles 1. How your Light within can be the Christ the Savior of the World for it destroys the Reality and Truth of his Humane Nature and hereby you proclaim your selves to be Antichristian in denying or destroying his coming in the Flesh How can his Body or his Soul
be within every one of you make out this and it will be an equal Evidence for Transubstantiation but undoubtedly it dethrones Christ from Gods Right Hand and destroys our Faith our Hope and our very Religion even the whole Covenant of Grace all which are founded in the Reality of his Person as our Teacher and Redeemer and we may apply to you what the former Father urged ibid. quali habitu quonam impetu vel temperamento quo in tempore diei noctis ve descenderit in what Habit Manner Condition in what Hour of the day or night did he Descend who saw him descend who related it who asserted such a thing as should not easily be credited when asserted Proculus affirmed he saw Romulus ascend to Heaven but the Christ of God hath none to Witness his descent into your Souls but this strange Principle of taking the Light of Nature the Dictates of Conscience and the Treasures of Knowledge reposited in the Soul for the Son of the Most High God who also was the Son of Man tends to Repaganize mankind and your disowning Baptism wherein the Devil the World and even Gentilism it self were renounced is a fit preparation to make men Heathens a second time 2. Your other Principle of Perpetual Immediate Inspiration as to the whole Body of the Church in general Im. Rev. in the Title Page and to every Member thereof and to every true Believer in particular lays aside the necessity or usefulness of the Sacred Scriptures for what signifieth the Bible if it oblige none except it be renewed to them nor can then be understood until the Spirit come to expound it the having no written Book but Immediate Teaching in all would by your model have been far more beneficial and your Revelations about Worldly things Idem p. 6. as Plowing Digging going to a place abiding in it c. lays aside the use of your Reasons takes away the Comfortable trusting and relying upon Providence looks like a new way of knowing your Fortunes and exposes the Soul to the Delusions of Fancy and Evil Spirits whereby Satan may get that employment which is assigned to Reason become the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Coachman or Driver get into the Box and hurry you at his pleasure 6. That the great Testimonies of our Lords Prophetick Office are by himself given John 5.31 40. the first is in v. 33. Ye sent unto John and he bear Witness unto the Truth Pointed out the Person of Christ who was a man as truly as himself But Christ did not stand barely upon John's Testimony v. 34. no nor did he bear Witness of himself v. 31. But besides those which might have been rejected as the Testimonies of men he appealed to three undeniable Evidences that God spoke by him The first is in v. 36. the Works which the Father hath given me to finish the same Works that I do bear Witness of me that the Father hath sent me that is the Power of Miracles was one evidence of his being sent from God The Second is in v. 37. Mat. 3.17 17.5 John 12.28 The Father himself which hath sent me hath born Witness of me by those audible voices from Heaven he gave Credence that Jesus was his Beloved Son and commanded Hear him The third is in v. 39. Search the Scriptures for in them ye think ye have Eternal Life and they are they which testify of me unto which that Text Rev. 19.10 is like The Testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy or the punctual fulfilling in Christs Person Doctrine Life Death c. What had by a Series of Prophets several hundred years before been predicted concerning him proved him to be the true Messiah But Quakers pretending the Christian Religion to have been lost for above 1500 years then giving out themselves to be the onely true Christians that after the long night of thick Darkness p. 243. which hath covered the Earth and that general Apostacy the Gospel is now again Revealed by them give us no proofes of what they say except a train of Misapplyed words formerly used by other Enthusiasts and which for the future will not be forgot by their successors in the like claims but they produce no Divine Attestations not one hair turned black or white by them or if they did that alone would be no Evidence so certain is that Observation of Tertullian edicens multos venturos Adv. Marc. L. 3. signa facturos virtutes magnas edituros aversionem etiam Electorum nec ideo tamen admittendos temerariam signorum virtutum fidem ostendit ut etiam apud Pseudo-Christos facillimarum Christs foretelling that false Christs would come and work Wonders shews the uncertainty and rashness of Believing them upon that account the strongest proof is that of Prophecy that more sure word of Prophecy 2 Pet. 1.19 even more sure than the Voice from the Excellent Glory v. 17. and therefore Tho. Ellwood should produce as Determinate Prophecyes as those which limited the time of Christs coming to prove it to have been foretold that after 1548 years the so long lost Gospel was to be published in the same Demonstration of the Spirit as at the first and when that year in which our late Gracious Sovereign was Martyred is undeniably made out to be the precise time he must proceed by some certainly Divine Testimonies to prove that He and his party are the sole Persons whom God hath raised up for the Redelivery of the Gospel and that all other their Competitors are but raised up by Satan to darken those Truths which the Quakers now bring unto Mankind As for us we do not deny God's Gracious Communications nor restrain his Influences upon mens Souls he may by Angels or what ways of notice he please signify particular messages to some persons but it is the claim of Immediate Inspiration now in the conveying renewing or expounding matters of Religion which cannot be too much disowned as the Subverter of our whole Christian Dispensation and the Introducer of that dangerous dotage concerning the Seculum Spiritûs Sancti For the Prophecyes and Promises of the old Testament foretelling the coming of the Christ He accordingly coming at the time foretold and when come he being truely God and yet instructing us in the true nature of man which humane nature he then had still retaineth and for ever will retain his Person being seen heard and conversed with his Miracles done before Multitudes of people his Doctrine delivered by him whilst he was on earth and heard not onely by Disciples and Enemies but by 12 Select Apostles appointed purposely for that very end as Witnesses If the things of Jesus were transacted outwardly and publickly as the things of men are even his most concealed Transfiguration was done before 3 Ey-Witnesses If the History of Christ was recorded by such as were knowing Witnesses thereof If the Spirits inward Work chiefly consisted about such
present in the middle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the swearing truly or performing what you swear that is good or right sâ—â—earing P. 114. having quoted a saying of Solon one of the Sages of Greece he adds to him Sosiades another of those seven wise men and quotes Stobaeus Serm. 28. whereas there is a heap of untruths in those few words For First 1 Edit Tiguri 1543. if I have Eyes in my Head there is not such a man named in that Sermon nor is it likely the Discourse being 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 De Ocio Concerning sloth no nor in the 25. Sermon concerning Swearing nor in the 26. concerning Perjury is such a person once named Much less was he one of the seven wise men of Greece take what Catalogue he will he will scarce find such a person the late one in Schâ—evelius gives seven other names but I suppose T F. had seen Sociad set down in the 13 Quakers Book against Oaths and for the better Grace he dubbs him another of those seven wise men Let him raise Hue and Cry to discover if ever there was such a Wise man and search with a Candle for him Suidas names none such Diogenes Laeâ—tâ—us where he is purposely reckoning them all up in his proaemium owns no such person nor do my Circumstances give me Information let him try if his Rider quoted p. 169. will befriend him Pag. 20. He calleth the Martyrs our Godly Martyrs as if they were the Quakers Martyrs when as they suffered upon an 100 years before his party appeared this is a most invidious saucy and unjust pretension to rob the Church of England of the Glory of her Martyred Reformers and withal to cast dirt upon the present Church as receded from her former Constitution But this he hath from his inspiring Tutor The new Protestant G. Keith Im. Rev. p. 132. the degenerate Protestant for the pure Primitive Protestants owned the true foundation with us though their Discovery of it was but little But why our Godly Martyrs are Quakers Protestants that they disown abundantly * Eccles his Challenge p. 2. from the Protestants to the Familists the Quakers deny you all †Keith Vniversal free Grace p. 5. all these how much soever pretending to a Reformation are the Daughters of Babylon ‡ Smiths Spiritual Glass opened p. 83. c. from the Pope to the Baptist they are all Born in one Womb. ‖ Barclay in Q. no Popery p. 103. Papists and Protestants are in the Root and Spring * Howgils Glory of the true Church p. 12 and 23. Protestants are in the Suburbs of the City of Rome †Parnells shield of the truth p. 39. Papists and Protestants spring from one Root And we Protestants wholly deny Quakers the having Communion with us and he cannot but know that strong Proofs are offered by several to evince that the Quakers are not so much as Christians Mr. Faldo Hicks Russel c. whose Service therein to the common Faith is commendable And it concerns all who hold the Lord Jesus the head Col. 2.19 to strive for that Faith once delivered Jude v. 4 against the Quakers who as far as in them lyes do take away our Lord Jesus and do not tell us where they have laid him giving us a suppositious Saviour a dead instead of our living Child Jesus an Image and Bolster of Goats hair in room of our true David and thus and Novatians both united against the Arians Socrat. Ec. H. L. 2. Sozo Ecc. H. L. 4. C. 19. and afterwards against the Macedonians But had T. E. designed to shame himself he could not have made an apter choice than to call such men our that is the Quakers Godly Martyrs to rescue them from such a Rape I might give an account of their Dignities and Callings in the Church that they compiled the Liturgy the Book of Ordination c. Dr. Heylins Ecclesia Restaurata p. 125. But the shortest way to discover their judgment will be to look upon the Articles of Religion drawn up and prepared much by Arch-Bishop Cranmer and agreed upon by the Bishops and other Learned and Godly men in the Convocation 1552. Several of which were Martyred and Suffered for those and the very like Articles And they are drawn up as it were in a foresight of and defyance of Quakerism there is as great a gulf between them as that between Heaven and Hell Article 1. Of Faith in the Holy Trinity 2. That the Word or Son of God was made very man 4. Christ sitteth in Heaven untill the last day 5. The Doctrine of the Holy Scriptures is sufficient to Salvation 6. The Old Testament is not to be refused 7. The three Creeds received any of which will stick in a Quakers Throat 11. Our Justification is by only Faith in Jesus 14. No man is without Sin but Christ alone 18. Eternal Salvation only by the name of Christ 20. Of the Church 21. Of the Authority of the Church 24. Of being called by men to Minister in the Congregation 26. Of the Sacraments 27. The Wickedness of Ministers takes not away the effectual operation of Gods Ordinances 28. Of Baptism 29. Of the Supper of the Lord. 30. Of the perfect Oblation of Christ made upon the Cross 36. Of Civil Magistrates and their Authority 37. Christian mens goods not common against Father Winstanley 38. Christian men may take an Oath 39. the Resurrection not yet brought to pass Vltim All men not to be saved against Winstanley also Never could man that observed the truth of what he wrote have called the Compilers of such Articles the Quakers Godly Martyrs But the man who went naked Faldo vind of Quaker no Christ p. 36. said his body was all forhead T. E. needs as much Brass to face out these Worthyes for Quakers Martyrs These few I have singled out as a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or tast what measure may be expected from such complexions The case of the Q. relating to Oaths stated p. 37. His other Authorities do much labour of the like Disease as is evidenced in a late sinewy Tract But why should they bring in some partial dismembred sayings of the Ancients seeing they will not be concluded by them in other matters So true is that in them which Mr. Chillingworth applyed to the Romanists You account them Fathers when they are for you and Children when they are against you Let him stick to his indemonstrable Revelation and play in and out there rather than meddle with Humane Learning thus unsuccessfully and worse But his talk of Inspiration confutes it self and his own Example is the best proof that as yet it hath not advanced beyond a Dream But if that be pleaded which he suggests That in the Country for want of Books In the Preface he was forced to take some few Quotations upon Trust but yet using much Caution in his Choice It is Replyed that
Nature to this the Prophecies and Promises refer and we must render to each their due in the work of our Instruction to the Son as well as to the Spirit T. E. hath made the most untrue and desperate choice that could be the Apostles to receive the knowledge of the Gospel by the Immediate Revelacion of the Spirit what is become of all the Promises of the Messiah John 4.25 I know that Christ when he is come he will tell us all things saith the Woman of Samaria But by Ellwoods model he is com'd and gone and hath taught the Disciples nothing why did Christ chuse the Apostles Live Converse with and betwixt three or four years Instruct them in the things of Gods Kingdom if they were no better for all those Divine Lessons which came from him whom never man spoke like unto what quarrels have the Quakers against Jesus of Nazareth Luke 24.19 that Prophet or ' Divine Teacher mighty in Deed and Word before God and all the People that they must lay aside his Person or his Office either substituting the holy Spirit in his place or making their great Idol the Light or Christ within to do all the necessary work of Instruction Cannot T. E. permit Jesus to be the great Law-giver and Teacher and then upon his bodily removal from the earth the Holy Spirit to descend and build upon Christ the Foundation but as far as in him lies in imitation of the Heathens quarrels among their Deities he must have the Spirit to drown the Word the outward incarnate Christ to signify nothing but the inward Manifestation to Communicate all Was it the Holy Ghost who assumed our flesh lived and preached and Sealed the truth of his Doctrine with his Blood or it was the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who performed all those things and of whose fulness we receive were they the Apostles of the Spirit or the Apostles of Christ Jesus who breathed on them gave them Authority and sent the Holy Ghost to inable them to execute their Commission Why do the Quakers thus confound the works of the Word and the Spirit like the Libertines qui nihil ponunt inter filium Dei Calvin adversus Libertin Cap. 10. Spiritum ejus discriminis but suppose they were right about the Holy Unity that there is no destinction of Persons in the Godhead but that they are only different names of the same one Subsistence yet T. E. hath laid a wrong Foundation for it was not this Spirit which inwardly did all But it was Jesus the Son of Mary be he but a piece of the Christ or have he an Heavenly body sheathed up within that which he took of the Virgin or however else for they know not what to make of him nor do with him The man Jesus who was as truly visible in Jewry as Ellwood was in the House of Pennington stands much in their way and hinders their Light or Christ within who called the Apostles taught and instructed them as appears from the Series of the four Gospels which we shall adhere to rather than to these who do but dream dreams while they conceit that they see Visions This being the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that which is the procreative cause of so many delusions viz. a Disregarding Christs Personal Prophetical Office and placing their supposed Spirit in his room I shall make a short Narrative how the Apostles came to the knowledge of the Gospel how Religion was delivered by Christ that it was settled in an outward Bodily and Sensible way and thereby Ellwoods account of the Spirits doing the work by his inward Immediate teaching will appear not only distant from truth but the very subverter of the Christian Religion God having at sundry times and in divers manners made known his Will unto the Fathers at the last in the highest Dispensation which is never to be out dated he spoke unto us by his Son whom he hath appointed Heir of all things that is by the God-man Christ Jesus who took our flesh and blood and was of the same nature with us this Son of God was God himself who came to visit the earth and be his own Interpreter yet still he discharged this Office whilst he was Tabernacling in our Flesh He was God with us instructing us in the likeness and true Nature of man of a Reasonable Soul and Humane Flesh subsisting And thus I suppose those Prophecyes were fulfilled Taught of the Lord or Taught of God he had the Spirit without measure he was the very Temple of God the Holy of Holyes in and by whom the Divine Oracles were made known to Mortals The Divine Majesty resided in this man Jesus all the former owned ways of Revelation came to attend him into the World to usher him into his Office and give Credence to what he spoke and yet excepting some short Sentences serving as Testimonials to him they were all silent while he was Teaching but still Jesus in Humane Nature took the Chair and was Gods mouth and voice unto mankind as might be more fully and advantageously shewed The Apostles conversed with Christ saw heard eat drunk and lived with him how oft is this referred to of their being Eye and Ear Witnesses of what he did and said he taught them by Sermons Parables Conferences explaining things privately to them during the whole Term of his Ministry and after his Resurrection And must his whole Prophetick Office be thought nothing and can such select Scholars be still non-proficients under so powerful and so diligent an Instructer other Quakers think contrarily to T. E. and let one Infallible buffet another Whilst Christ abode with them in his bodily appearance they had some knowledge till the manifestation of the Spirit they were ignorant of many things many is not all that is for their knowledge and for their life he saith elsewhere the very Disciples themselves while they followed Christ outwardly were truly Religious and another of them surely none will or can deny Idem p. 230. who profess Christianity but the Apostles Taylors Faithful and True Witness the Light c. p. 12. in some measure before Christs outward departure from them had the Comfort of the Holy Spirit in them and were both Believers and obedient Children in their measure c. What though the Apostles being involved in the fatal prejudices of their Nation were ignorant of some things as about the Kingdom of God the Resurrection c. must they therefore know nothing of Faith 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 Theâ—p 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 15. 26.16 and in many other places Cateches 10. 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 Canon of Scripture is a limiting God from moving or Inspiring any men in any Age of the World to come Quakerism no Popery p. 62. 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 enervates the written Word as will in its place appear and withal over-looks the Essential Word taking no notice of him whom God the Father sent into the World and sealed endeavouring to annihilate that Jesus as to his Prophetick Office however in whom the whole Covenant of Grace is founded and in and by and through whom all Blessings whatever are conveyed to us And this is a sad stumbling upon the very threshold a fit Pillar
for nothing but a Monstrous Fabrick But to use his own words Had he not been a Quaker he could not have given such an Answer CHAP. III. Whether Quakers be the Apostles Successors and receive the Gospel in the same manner as the Apostles did II. THE other Pillar is as rotten that the Apostles Successors or all Believers do receive the knowledge of the Gospel in the same manner as they did In which three things are couched 1. That all Believers or the Quakers are the Apostles Successors 2. That these Successors receive in the same manner as the Apostles 3. The proofs produced to make out this claim 1. That all Believers or Quakers are the Apostles Successors if the first then he argues for all Parties as well as for â—imself and their Revelations will out-weigh his a Turk is a Musulman or Believer in the light within him withall he makes Christ to have a Monstrous Body if all Believers be the Apostles Successors But his Charity without question designed the latter by using the first Person We and Us The Apostles Successors p. 228 truly the Apostles Successors in Faith and Doctrine p. 230 233 but he should first have proved it and not have begged the question The Lamb's Officer p. 11. The Apostles Successors a great Humility Lately they were higher even true Prophets and Apostles now they are dwindled into Successors not Apostoli but Apostolici They succeed them in Inspiration Infallibility Divine Commission Discerning of Spirits he does well to add in Faith and Doctrine Pray proceed you succeed in their Chairs in their Bishopricks in their Power of binding and loosing and prove it all by succeeding in their Miraculous Powers But how do you succeed the Apostles You differ vastly among your selves what time the Apostacy entred into the Church but stating it as some do to commence at the entry of the first Century Smith's Spiritual glass opened p. 36 Keith's Universal Free Grace 92. then for 1548 years the Gospel Dispensation was lost and is now revealed Christs Spiritual Dispensation is now again revealed in this day after the Apostacy And so many years make an hiatus large enough to disturb Succession 'T is not the Apostles but Winstanley whom you succeed In the year 1648 God did cause a branch to spring forth out of the root of David which was filled with Vertue J. Whitehead in Mr. Faldo's Q. no. Christ p. 16. for the Covenant of Life and Peace was with him he spread forth many Branches which did partake of the fatness of the Root the weary came to rest under his branches with him was the Word of Reconciliation And to that purpose the Blasphemous Harangue proceedeth so that you do but succeed that Leveller as Whitehead did in 1655. Ibid. Being a branch of this Tree viz. the branch afore-said the life of its Root caused me to blossom and bring forth fruit c. It is the Spirit of Winstanley whereby you are Acted and whether that be the Spirit of God deserves your diligent enquiry But supposing with the Socinians that Doctrinal Succession is sufficient without Personal we can discern no likeness between their and your Doctrine You Allegorize that Baptism and the Lords Supper which they practised you set up that Christ within whom they saw ascending into Heaven there to abide till the day of Judgment You make but small esteem of those Scriptures which they wrote or commended as able to make the Man of God wise unto Salvation They did eat and drink with Christ you have scarce allowed him to be a distinct Person from you They make Christ the Redeemer of Men you must have him to Redeem himself even a lost God and a lost Christ They expected Justification by the suffering Jesus that you make a Doctrine of Devils and will be saved by your own Works or by a Christ within you They believed Christ to be made a Sin-offering for them you entertain him but as your Pattern They believed their dead Bodies should rise again you do style it a Carnal Resurrection with several such irreconcileable differences between their Doctrines and yours There are other Fathers whom you succeed even many of the old Hereticks as might easily be shewed but especially Henry Nicholas is your Grand-father the Life and Spirit of Familism runs through your writings you have taken many things from the Libertines Swenckfeldians and Anabaptists the Antinomians also as Saltmarsh in his Sparkles of Glory and others of them contributed towards your Original for those and other Sects agree much in one bottom that of Immediate teaching these prepared the Materials out of which your Father Winstanley formed the most part of your Opinions which being thrown together in a confused manner you fancy the result to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Image fallen down from Jupiter and prettily style your selves the Successors of the Apostles in Faith and Doctrine by Immediate Revelation But supposing out of an excess of Charity that you are the Apostles Successors The next is more Prodigious 2. That these Successors receive in the same manner as the Apostles in the same manner he prints in a different Character p. 228 230 233. to shew the stress lyeth there and he affirms it to be no presumption ungodliness or absurdity in those who are the Apostles Successors in Faith and Doctrine to expect to receive the knowledge of the Gespel in the same manner as they received it p. 228 230 233. Expect and think what he please Sober men can judge the thought to be no less than madness and the thing a meer impossibility for unless Christ be now on Earth or T. E. was alive when Christ was on Earth and did personally attend him he cannot have received as the Apostles did no not though it was possible daily to repair to Jacob Behmen's Theosophick School of Pentecost But T. E. hath out-gone that Father who being 1300 years nearer Christs time might have been sooner qualified for it he hath seen Christ on Earth heard Paul in the Pulpit and by this token then he saw Rome in its Glory Did S. Mark know the Gospel in the same manner as S. Matthew Or came S. Luke to it by the same means as S. John 1 John 1.1 The one saith That which we have seen looked upon and handled The other Luke 1.2 They that were eye-witnesses have delivered them unto us And if the difference in coming to the knowledge of the Gospel was so early then Quakers can receive like 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
But though he taketh the Words and Notions of Keith the Revelation is still Immediate for their Institutor hath prettily determined If you would hear Truth lifting up its head p. 38. then acquaint your selves 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. 301. 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 Relâ—gion 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 lâ—oking 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 alâ—egorized 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 A looking glass for the times p. 235. viz. 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. Râ—v 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 Winstanley in Truth lifting up p. 39. To begin with their Founder men must not walk by the Scriptures 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 and have seen very little of the anointing in them Mistery of God p. 35. The Saints Paradise p. 1. 2. 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. Burroughs Works p. 47. 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 neither did any of the Saints act by the Command which was to another every one obeyed their own Commands an excellent Engine towards God and man no Act of Parliament can bind a Quaker except he be expressly named George Whitehead Thomas Ellwood c. You by name must do so and so this becometh the Majesty of the Quakers Smiths morn Watch. p. 75. Smiths Demonstrat passim in their papers The Scriptures are other mens Traditions other mens lives and Labours the Spirit of God must try all Spirits the Scriptures are but a report
leave to us the power of Tryal and the Liberty â—â— Judgment For if each must follow the Light we are Innocent who do but follow our own Convictions and our case is infinitely more safe for all partyes agree that the Light of Scriptures by which we are guided is Divine but your new Light may prove false or Darkness for any assurance you can yet give us to the contrary There are all these Co-claimers who both say and shew as much as Quakers and so each single party are an equal ballance to them much more all of them together do strangely out-weigh the Quakers next to youngest claims unless the Rule be now inverted verum quodcunque prius and what is latest must necessarily be truest which could only hold until a fresher Sect suppose the sweet Singers of Israel or any such pretty name do start up and out-date the Quakers but though all the other Competitors were in the wrong that doth not infer T. E's Friends to be in the right for they may be equally mistaken with the others in the like Bottom unless they can produce some indisputable Divine Amulet or Preservative which the others cannot Nor can I find any solid Reason why I should belive the English and disbelieve the Spanish Alumbrados when their Doctrines are much alike and their Evidences are exactly equal And further one of these who can set as good a face on his cause and use as brisk a confidence and who excels Thomas Ellwood as much as one of the two Witnesses in the Revelations exceeds the Witnesses in general viz. Lodowick Muggleton from his supposed Spirit pronounceth a Sentence and a Curse upon the Quakers 3d Q. Quibbles p. 32. Because I saith he have passed Sentence upon the Quakers they shall never grow to have more Experience in Vision and Revelation but shall wither which Curse from their Proteus like changing the Disciples of Muggleton may conclude to have seized on them Others that are Juniors or Co-temporary with the Quakers from their Spirit Condemn the Quakers The cry of a Stone p. 20. So Anna Trapnel Let them tell him viz. Oliver of his Sins and tell him with Humility and tears not as those deluded Spirits that go running about the streets and say We have such Visions and Revelations who come out with their great speeches of Vengeance Judgment and Plagues Oh but thine that come from thee thou givest them Humility Meekness Bowels Tears Thou art called only a Form they call thâ—â—ves a Christ Oh p. 50. some poor Creatures call themselves Christ because of this Oneness with Christ when thy sweet wine comes forth then they bring in their false Wine p. 68. The Secretary of the Confiderers prayed God to preserve him Discourse of the way c. p. 62. p. 68. for ever having the Spirit of the Quakers he had high thoughts of their way at the first till he did discern the tracts of the evil Spirit that guided them several Instances of which he enumerates and saith The Spirit of Wisdom appointed him to tell those things to make them better advised in the choice of true ways and in the distinctions of Lights p. 72. And I have heard of a single Devoto herded with none of the former with the greatest Confidence affirm That God had Revealed to her that the Quakers would leave their Errours and return to the Church and Truth again But beyond these because we in these Kingdoms may be interested and partial not passing right judgment the Illuminados in another Country who not being engaged against ours deserve more regard do expressly declare the Quakers to be Impostors and I suppose their Opinions in other points of Religion to be more sound in that they deluded the Learned and useful John Amos Comenius The late German Enthusiasts are the persons His Revel edit per J. A. C. 1659. p. 189. In Dr. Spencers vulgar Prophecyes p. 6 7. and their Condemnation of the Quakers I shall transcribe from a worthy hand my Circumstanstances not affording me as yet a sight of the Book They tell the World that by how much the nearer that great day of the Lord is the more evidently and familiarly doth he excite his Prophets and that they understand the frequent possessions Witch-crafts and fanatical Enthusiasms of the Quakers Satanicas esse praestigias quibus opera Dei obfuscare nituntur ut olim James Jambres Mosi resistêre to be the delusions of the Devil whereby they endeavour to obscure the works of God as James and Jambres withstood Moses of old all these Condemnations of the Quakers from the Spirit should have force with them who acknowâ—ed Revelations at this day What if the Quakers be more numerous than some others of the like Kidney That is no Argument of Truth else others would soon wrest it from them as some places so some times are more prepared for productions of Monsters than others and the late unhappy times had piled up such Materials that it was easy for the Quakers to arrive at that Height by starting up as the scum and froth of them all Montanus spread his Poyson through Phrygia Donatus through Africa the Messalians through Syria Pamphylia c. And Arius through the World The Familists T. E's Grandfathers are next to gone and I hope his Inspirations will run the same Fate and expire like theirs and the Company called Considerers foretell your extinction Traite de la Voye Au Royaume p. 18. time shall make you of the number of things past CHAP. VII Concerning their own contradictory different and designed Revelations WOuld a man be tamely satisfyed with Keiths Confutation that the Enthusiasts against whom Luther wrote were not true Enthusiasts as the Apostles were Quakerism no Popery p. 20. but such as under a pretence of Enthusiasm both taught and practised evil things and baffle each in the former list thereby he must allow me with equal reason to turn it upon themselves that Quakers are not right Enthusiasts as the Apostles were For it confutes themselves as much as others and is a Conviction on either hand equal with mentiris Bellarmine But supposing my temper or other motives incline me to overlook the rest and become favourable to T. E's Friends so as to Fancy or Wish that they really have what they pretend my next Inquiry is to whom must I turn to the Conforming or Non-conforming Quakers to some single teachers or to the Body of Antient Friends and how can I infallibly know where that supposed Body lodgeth or who are the Members of it or when these little talkative Oracles speak by Inspiration and when by their own afflatus I would have a Reasonable Religion understand what to believe do and pray and then proceed accordingly but if the Spirit that guides be inshrined in such a Body against which so many prejudices lie the case of those Souls is very sad whose Directions flow from so foul a
but that which was delivered by the Apostles as certain eye and ear Witnesses of it and to confirm that certain Testimony of theirs God superadded the Demonstration or Evidence of the Spirit and Power which by an Hebraism may be conjoyned Evidencing the Spirit by Power Theo. in loc 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Power of Miracles were an Evidence that the Spirit owned and confirmed their certain Testimony or we may take Spirit and Power as two distinct Proofs of their outward attestations 1. Spirit the Evidence of that consisted in shewing the Old Testament Prophecyes were fulfilled in Christ this Origen makes the demonstration of the Spirit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 L. 1. con Cels apud Dr. H. in Loc. c. Prophecyes that are able to give assurance of the things that belong to Christ and thus Rev. 19.10 the Testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy the Series of all the Prophecyes so wonderfully fulfilled are an Evidence for him or it may take in the New Testament Prophecyes which are an Evidence for Christ The Revelations were by him committed to an Angel and so to John or Spirit may refer to those visible Demonstrations when the Blessed Spirit visibly descended upon Christ and the Apostles and so are that Immediate Evidence the Spirit gave to Christ Dr. Ham. or that Record the Spirit bore so clearly explained in Dr. Patricks Witnesses to Christianity Power that hereby are meant Miracles is indisputable 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Origen ubi Supra those Miraculous stupendious actions whose footsteps yet remain per figna virtutes c. by the Holy Spirit and by the Signs and Powers done by him we bring you Arguments or Evidences that we speak the truth Oecum in loc Ita. Grot. c. that by the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is meant either sanationes healings in particular or Miracles in general will be evident by a little observing its use Mar. 9.39 no man which shall do 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Miracle in my name spoke with reference to such as did cast out Devils in the Name of Christ and did not follow him Mat. 7.22 in thy name have done 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 many wondrous Works answerable to those preceeding Prophecying and casting out Devils Luke 10.13 if the mighty Works 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 had been done in Tyre and Sydon 1 Cor. 12.28 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 after that Miracles As Mat. 11.21.23 13.54 58 14.2 Mar. 6.2 5 14. 9.39 Luc. 5.17 6.19 19.37 Act. 2.22 8.13 passim in all which and many other places too long to be set down it signifieth Miraculous Works or that Divine Power which was the Evidence or Seal of the Holy Ghost The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is not only set single but with others that do expound it Rom. 15.19 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 through mighty Signs and Wonders by the Power of the Spirit of God that is those Signs wrought by the Power of the Spirit and Evidences of it Better Signs of his Divine Commission than the Bells and Pomegranates were to the High-Priest c. 2 Cor. 12.12 Truly the Signs of an Apostle were wrought among you in all Patience in Signs and Wonders 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in mighty Deeds These are the Signs of an Apostle and yet our new Apostles and their Successors do no such things and fully 1 Thes 1.5 Our Gospel came not to you in word only but also in Power and in the Holy Ghost and in much assurance that is in the Power of the Holy Ghost which is a plerophory or which gives much assurance by transposing the words of which many instances are in Grot. on John 35. But Quakers have words meerly without Signs or Wonders or certain Sensible Testimonies or Humane Learning One of them acknowledgeth they can give no outward Evidence seeing our Opposers require of us Q. no Popery p. 62. 63. to show or evidence unto them some Infallible 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that we have the Spirit of God I would have J. M. to know that the same difficulty recurreth as to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Scriptures it being a thing which cannot be shown or made to appear by any Evidence unto the carnal mind which yet is evident unto the Spiritual that is like the old Hereticks they are the Spiritual others not of their mind are the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Animal or Carnal but his Evidence for Inspiration is far inferiour to the Scriptures Authority And in that very Text Rev. 14.6 produced by T. Ellwood of the Preaching the Everlasting Gospel after the Apostacy there is no mention of Demonstration or Inspiration c. nor was there any need thereof the corrupt Church among much dross preserving those very Books whereby her Errors were detected and that was when all Learning began to revive true Religion and Learning moving in equal lines 2. But Quakers have the demonstration Qu. looking glass A true Narrative though they slight the Miracles thereby implyed some attempts have been made thereto by Charles Baylyes stroaking Richard Andersons Cursing the Womans pretending to raise the interred Corps which were reinterred when her folly had appeared In Mr. Jenner p. 93. Nicholas Kate of Harwell said That when the fulness of time was come Sober Answer to Speed p. 76. New Law p. 37. he should work Miracles which yet is not come to pass but the fulness of time with such bears a strange date the fulness of time is when the first man hath filled the Creation full of his filthiness and all places stink with unrighteousness but visible Miracles failing they turn it another way they work Invisible Miracles or Miracles in Spirit so did Ignatius Loyola and doubtless to reach to the Soul to quicken it to cure its Diseases Pennington's naked truth p. 28. is greater than the outward and was signifyed by the outward They work Miracles in a Spiritual way T. Ellwood makes Tongues to be be but mediums to convey their Message to others p. 231. 3d. Qâ—il p. 75. as if he durst out-face the Apostle who declares them to be a Sign to such as Believed not 1 Cor. 14.22 Keith prettily daubs it over that they witness the Power working Miraculously in their Hearts Im. Rev. 〈◊〉 200. raising to Life the dead Souls c. and these are the 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