good things I have noted on Discursus Academicus his errours in this matter neither have I read in any Book of A. B. where she retracteth the foresaid errours and if the Ap. hath done it he should have told us of it Now to put a period to the first Subsection anent the essentials of Religion it is manifest I hope by what I have written to the impartial Reader that A. B. had no good skill of Religion were it but for one reason that she preferred Heathenism to Christianity by assirming that Heathens Turks and Jewes had more reason and Religion than Christians Pref. L W. p. 9.10 And that not one Christian is so much resigned to GOD or did understand true vertue so well as the Heathens did pt 3. p. 129. And since her Sentiments are against the Holy Scriptures and the essentials of Religion she hath not represented the same aright nor revived the Spirit of Christianity neither was she Divinely Inspired to publish the Gospel to the World which was the thing thus to be demostrated SECTION IV. SUBSECTION II. NUMBER I. Of Accessories in the General THe Ap. pt 1. p. 3 4 5 6 7 8. and 9. comprehends all the Doctrine of A. B. in the two general heads of the Essentials of Religion and her accessories which distinction I promised to examine in this place Sect. 4. Subs 1. Initio The word Accessory which is taken from the Latine word Accedo signifyeth ordinarily to come to to follow or add to any thing but in the English for the most part it soundeth ill to be accessory importing the abetting or partaking of a Crime In the civil Law it signifies an Adminicle or Addition to a statute of which it is required that it be not alien from or contrary but that it follow the nature of the principall to which it is an Appendix De regulis juris in sexto reg 42. But in Divinity few or none sound writters use the term Accessory in comparing points of Religion among themselves the ordinary distinctions are of Essentials and Integrals of things necessary and expedient Essential or fundamental points are the Doctrines clearly revealed in Scripture and upon which the Holy Ghost the Revealer hath put the caracter of necessity to be believed for Salvation as the sum of the Creed is The Integrals are other Doctrines taught by GOD to make up the whole as the several parts of Mans Body make the composition of Man intire so the uniform obeying all the Commandments of GOD make up the whole of Religion Again the Articles of Religion are either the necessary and indispensable means of obtaining the chief ends thereof to wit GODS Glory and Mans Salvation such as Faith Hope Love and Repentance or they are necessary by Reason of the Precept because commanded by GOD such as the Sacraments and the publick and ordinary Worship of GOD. And further all things commanded by GOD are called necessary and things injoined by the Church for Edification Order and Decency are said to be of positive right and expedience And some things not fundamental which are but darkly revealed in Scripture Christians may keep Peace and have communion together albeit they have different Opinions thereanent as in points of Discipline concerning which whoso would be fully informed he may read Isaak Causabon on the Epistle of King James the 6th to Cardinal Perron anent the Peace of the Church But A. Bs. Accessories can no wayes be reduced to any of the foresaid branches of the points of Religion as being either necessary true lawful or expedient which shall be manifested in the next number Neither is it obvious viewing all Christian Churches to find out a parallel to A. Bs. notion of Accessories but that which it mostly resembles is the decretals wherewith the modern Romanists have stuffed the Canon Law of which it is truely said that the Old Decrees had been good if they had wanted the Alae Wings and new additions forced upon them So her representing the Essentials of Religion and pressing of Piety had been good if she had understood them well and done it without diminution of any or adding extravagant flights and fancies to wing them throughout the whole World in her own conceit There remains yet to be discussed another sense of the word Accessories and that is in military terms Auxiliaries or additional forces are called Accessories but there can be no reasonable translation of this to A. Bs. purpose for the Truths of Religion contained in the Holy Scriptures are perfect and sufficiently able to serve their turn to defend themselves and to make the man of GOD perfect unto Salvation without such additions or auxiliariâ—es as she proposeth For they are but meer intruders coming uncalled over which a vigilant eye should be had lest if intertained or let alone they prove such auxiliaries as the Mammaluks did in Egypt and the Saxons in England who betrayed and subverted the Natives whom they came to aid because both their Principles and Interests were contrary to each other Obj. O but says the Ap. pt 1. p. 45. There is no such evil to be feared from A. Bs Accessories for they tend to advance the main ends of Religion and tho they be not warranded in the Scriptures yet they are neither hurtful nor damnable A. To answer which Objection shall be the subject of the following Number of this second Subsection anent her Doctrines NUMBER II. Of A. Bs. Accessories in particular IN this inquest all the Doctrines of A. B. relating to and depending upon the Essentials of Religion might be reviewed since the Ap. comprehends the whole of her Doctrine in these two Essentials and Accessories without noticing the third branch of the division namely Doctrines which tho not Fundamental or Essential yet may either further or prejudge the Essentials of Religion as they are either true or false proper to Religion or improperly mustered therewith but that being in a good part done already Subs 1. n. 6. wherein it is proven in seven Points that many of A. Bs. Doctrines which are nearly related to the Essentials of Religion are very erronious and disproven of the Holy Scriptures I proceed now to examine other Doctrines which she reckoneth not among the Essentials of Religion and so they must be indeed her Accessories 1. That Man before he sinned did feed upon the quintescence of things being altogether Spiritual he could flee in the Air and go to the Centre of the Earth and so it shall be with Man afterwards when Christ reigneth upon Earth with the Saints This Doctrine is disseminated throughout all A. Bs. writtings and approven be the Ap. pt 1. p. 46. 47. which is not so innocent as he represents it but is both hurtful and damnable For it contradicteth the truth of the History of the Creation of the World written by Moses in the Book of Genesis be the dictating of the Holy Ghost which accomodating to Vulgar Capacities mentioneth not as other
Divinely Inspired or to be led by the Spirit of God in writting to write by an Infallible Spirit as the Prophets and Apostles did who were the Amanuenses of the Holy Ghost 2. Though she durst not speak it out in plain Terms that she acclaimed no less than such a Spirit as the Prophets and Apostles had lest the Readers at the first sight had cryed fy upon her for Blasphemie but goes on in Clouds and Darkness never declaring in what Sense she was Divinely inspired yet I say on the matter she acclaimed no less for these Reasons 1. First because when it was objected to her by Divines that she had not such Knowledge as the Prophets had and wrought no Miracles she shifted to give any direct answer but slily strived to diminish their Credit and of the Holy Scriptures also alleadging that the Prophets knew not all things which they wrote that all of them wrought not Miracles that the Devil had opened the eyes of the blind and raised the Dead and that the Lord himself was mistaken I tremble relating it anent the Fig Tree Mat. 11.19 L. W. pt 1. p. 136. Ap. p. 168.203.204.205.206 and 222.223 All which Calumnies might be easily refuted but I leave that Task to those who are writting against them more Copiously 2. The very Title of her Book is Blasphemous to wit The Light of the World which is the Epithite given to CHRIST and his Apostles and in assuming that Title she equaliseth her self to them tho injuriously 3. It is evident that she pretended to such a Spirit as the Apostles had when she affirmed that she could write such a Book as the New Testament L. W. pt 1 p 133. Now if she could have so written then she could have done it either by a fallible or infallible Spirit if only by a fallible Spirit then it could not have been such a Book but if by an infallible Spirit then she acclaimed such a Spirit as the Apostles had which the Objector denyes Many more Instances might be adduced to this purpose but these may suffice 3. Thirdly I answer to the grand Objection that she pretended not to write a New Canon or Rule of Faith but only to expound the Scriptures giving but not granting that her pretensions did run no higher that same is too high The Quakers acknowledge that their Spirit is somewhat inferiour to the Prophets Quakerism no Popery p. 32.33 Mr. G. K. The learned Author whereof is no Quaker now Yea the Roman Church it self would be offended if any man should say that they coine new Tenets in Religion or that they did more by their Dogmatising then to expound the Scriptures and dispense the Churches Traditions but by a Prophetical Light and Divine influence as their doctrine in this point is well collected by Amyrald in Thes Salmur de aut Script n. 15.16 So for A. B. to pretend Divine Conduct to expound the Scriptures better than all others is too great Arrogancie Q. Will you not allow A. B. to have had more of Divine Conduct than you have done alreadie that possibly she had it only in some things which she did and taught as ordinarily every Godly Person hath in what he does aright A. I have granted enough in the said Terms and more I cannot because it is sufficiently proved that she was not Divinely inspired as the Pen-men of the Holy Scriptures were either to add to the Canonical Books or to interpret Scripture infallibly as they did neither was she led by the Divine Spirit as an ordinary Officer in the Church to interpret and apply the Scriptures which is Preaching since she was not fitted for that end by the means of Gods appointment nor yet observed the Rules thereof Neh. 8.8 Ezra the Scribe with the Priests and Levits read in the Book of the Law distinctly and gave the sense and made the People to understand the reading Timothy the Evangelist was enjoined Reading 1 Tim. 4.13 and since his Days all Holy and Wise Men who interpret the Scriptures pray to God for the Direction of his Spirit which indyted them that they may Prophecie according to the Proportion of Faith Rom. 12.6 They compare Scripture with Scripture and look to the Scope of the place they study the Languages in which the Scriptures were first written Histories likewise and Customs of several Countries Proverbial Speeches and famous Writters of them which are often cited and frequent Allusions made thereto in the Holy Scriptures they read the Creeds Confessions of Faith Catechisms and Systems of Divinity of the Orthodox Churches both Ancient and Modern they search for Truth by the Literal Sense of the whole Scriptures pondering well whether or no the speech be in Terms proper to the things treated of or borrowed from other things which is called a figurative Speech By these and the like means the settled and ordinary Teachers and Expositors of the Scriptures doe begging the blessing of God Humbly and Assiduously endeavour to be fitted for the great and Sacred function of labouring in the Word and Doctrine But A. B. does not so much as pretend to use these means nor yet to expound the Scriptures by the true Rules but on the Contrary she laid by the Scriptures and contemned all Systems of Divinity and other helps of Learning Therefore she was not fit or qualified to expound the Scriptures even as an ordinary Teacher So since A. B. was not led by the Spirit of God to write her Books and expound the Scriptures either in an Ordinary or Extraordinary way It remains then that she performed these things by no other Faculty but by Guessing and vain Divination nor can I add a Fourth Member to this Tripartite Division tho possibly the fertile Brain of a new Ap. will gender one shewing how one can be led by the Spirit of God to write not by an Infallible Spirit nor as an Ordinary Teacher nor yet to be a Meer Guesser or pretender to it which as the Roman Proverb was Let the credulous Jew believe not I. To put a Period to this long Section I shall produce all the pretended Reasons which the Ap pt 3. p. 240 and 241. Alleadgeth for proving A. B. to have been Divinely Inspired and shall answer them severally as if they had been Objected against my Conclusion on this Head Obj. 1. Her Doctrine was conform to the Scriptures therefore she was Divinely Inspired A. 1. Denying the Antecedent for her Doctrine was mostly contrary to the Scriptures as God willing shall be Manifested in the next Section 2. I deny likewise the Consequence because a persons Doctrine may be conform to the Scriptures who had no extraordinary Inspiration Obj. 2. She was Unlearned and yet exceeded the greatest Divines A. 1. She exceeded them only in Vanity 2. George Fox was unlearned so he gave it out that all his Divinity was revealed to him among the Hils of Lancaster And Jacob Bhemen the pretended illuminated Sutor wrote seventeen Books
Sacraments have we not as luculent Precepts for the constant use of them as of any other duties Mat. 28.19 Go teach all Nations baptising them c. 1 Cor. 11.23 I have received of the LORD that which also I delivered unto you and V. 26. As often as ye eat this Bread and drink this Cup c. A. B did snatch the Objection against the baptising of Infants from the Socinians and Anabaptists which is most frivolous that it is not commanded in express terms in the Scriptures Origen who lived in the second Centurie writting on Mat. 6.5.6.7 Assureth us that the Church had it always and that by tradition from the Apostles Yet are we more sure that it is a clear consequence from the Scriptures which being natural from the Text and undistorted doth ever import a Scriptural truth As we read Mat. 22.29 Our Saviour charged the Saducees anent the great Article of the Resurrection That they did err not knowing the Scriptures albeit not the express words of the Text Exod. 3.6 which he cited were directly against them but the consequence thereof so upon this sound foundation Infant Baptism is firmly grounded for the Sacraments are not only Signs but likewise Seals of the New Covenant and they to whom the gracious promises and conditions of the Heavenly Charter belong have a right also to the Seals appended thereunto Gen. 17.7.10 The Promise is to Thee and thy Children said GOD to Abraham Baptism comes in the place of Circumcision which was administred to Children when eight days old The right Preaching of the Word and Administration of the Sacraments are the ordinary means of our Salvation and undoubted marks of the true Church The Ap. pt 2 p. 154. to 159. Alleadgeth what he can to justifie A. B. in this which doth not satisfie 1 That she was above Ordinances Which is a vain boasting and contrary to GODS direction Gant 1.8 2 That she durst not go to the Popish Churches for fear of her life She could not be in alike hazard every where and how doth that excuse her for teaching that no Bodie needs go to Church or partake of the Sacraments 3 That she wrote a Book in defence of the Sacraments against the Quakers The Quaker who offended her was rebuked therefore by his Partie and they were reconciled with A. B. And at the best she contradicteth her self in this Point POINT VII Of Pastors and Church Government THe supposed Gentle-woman and pretended Illuminated A. B. and her Defender or Ap. transforming themselves into Angels of Light S. V. pt 1. p. 112 in all their writtings about Religion have indulged the swing of their absolut and independent free will in nothing more than in their ranting and railing at the Pastors of CHRISTS Flock and the Church Government For thus they write that it is unlawful for any to make it a trade or office to teach others S. V. pt 1. p. 115. L. W. pt 3 p. 90. The office of a Priest is an enemie to the resignation of Souls to GOD and Ap. pt 1. p. 53. All the evils of Christendom comes from the Pastors and all the Peoples degeneracie from their Guides I could adduce many more passages to the purpose but it is needless when the Ap. pt 2. p. 158. declares that the L. W. which is the chief of A. Bs. Books the Key and Rule of all the rest was written on purpose against the Pastors because of the degeneracie of the Roman Church Hereupon it may be reflected without debaiting if she was not injurious to write so against all the Pastors of the Church of Rome without exception of any how can it be thought true that she wrote against the Pastors of that Church only since she declares the Pastoral-Office it self to be unlawful and declaims as much against Protestants as Papists and besides them all Pastors in Christendom not excepting any either in the Greek or Abassine Churches or any where else in the World But on the matter it self how contrary is their Doctrine to the Holy Scriptures Whereby we are well instructed that the Alwise GOD who made Man a social Creature naturally inclined to society and thereby needing both Laws and Government did always prescribe Laws to Mankind and for the benefite thereof positively appointed the Government both Civil and Ecclesiastick and by a special designation Pastors and Church-Officers for his own immediat service and the Salvation of Peoples Souls Eph. 4.11.12.13 He gave Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the edifying of the Body of CHRIST till we all come in the unity of the Faith and of the knowledge of the SON of GOD unto a perfect Man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of CHRIST Heb 5.4 No man taketh this honour upon himself but he that iâ— called of GOD as was Aaron Where the true Pastor is there the true Church is and when the Shepherd is smitten the Sheep are scattered abroad Mat. 26.31 So it is one of the main Policies of Satan for destroying the Church altogether to endeavour to bring all the Pastors under contempt as a fit mean for subverting the office it self and consequently to ruin the Church of CHRIST Such railing against all Pastors and the Sacred Function it self is as A flood of water cast out of the mouth of the Old Serpent the accuser of the Brethren for To drown if he could the Woman who is cloathed with the Sun that is the Church of GOD. Rev. 12.9.10.15 The accute Ap. when he readeth this part of the Advertisement may possibly say that the language savours of too much passion and the inference is too hard for may not A. Bs. words bear a more favourable interpretation such as that of the Disc Academ p. 16. 23. That Pastors and Church Government Sacraments and the publick Worship of GOD have no certain connexion with Mans Salvation nor are they certain necessary and infallible means of recovering the love of GOD and A. B. one where or another of her writtings mentioneth the Office of Pastors as a thing that may be reformed and to say that Sacred Offices or means ordained by GOD for his own Glory and Mans Salvation may be reformed is a more moderat Sentiment to hold their phrase than that they are simply unlawful and should be quite abolished Hereto it is answered that I designed in this Censure to evite all hard words as much as possible could be without prejudice of truth which is herein defended yet it is allowed as a maxime among moralists either in speaking writting or other actions to sharpen reason not by our own passions or affections but by these which the cause requireth I called her writting on this point against the Pastoral Office Ranting because her language to that purpose is the same with that of the wild Sect of the Ranters and railing which is calumniating or a wrongous caracterising and ascribing undue epithites to