with Papists whâ—… assert Justification to be the making of one Just and so Confound it with Sanctification which the Spirâ—… of God makes to be distinct Acts tho' always unseparable As to Adoption in its nature it is God Numbering us among his Children a taking us from among the Children of Satan and Giving us a Right to all the Priviledges of Gods Children pray where is the falshood and danger in asserting they are Acts of God without us bringing Believers into 〈◊〉 new Relation unto God Christ and the Holy Spirit to whom they are Enemies and Strangers by Nature seeing at the same time we firmly believe that there is no Relative Change wrought by God on any Sinner in Justification or Adoption without a real saving inward gracious and universal Change upon the whole man by Sanctification which are as different by the Language of the Apostle Paul as Sanctification and Glorification is Rom. 8. And none are Justified or Adopted but Sanctified also all which is asserted in my Catechism if Keith's contentious Cavelling and Carping Spirit had allowed him to take notice thereof for none of us hold that God makes any his people or children without a real gracious Change as Pen and Keith would inviduously and falsely Calumniate us and our universally known Doctrine fairly published to the World and yet that renewing work is not properly Justification but Sanctification which is a gradual work whereby the Old man of sin and corruption is Crucyfyed and the New man of Grace Righteousness or Holiness is rrnewed and put on more and more and though Keith would make Peace of Conscience to be the Essence and Nature of Justification yet all Reformed Divines with the Apostle Paul make it a concomitant or rather a consequent Blessing to our Justification Rom 5.1 Being Justified by Faith we have Peace with God And whoever denied Regeneration to work a real change which my Catechism plainly asserts And that Justification Adoption and Sanctification may be Lost is not only the Doctrine of Quakers but of Pelagians Papists and Arminians too though Keith and Barclay own that some may Arrive to such a pitch and measure that they cannot Fall away now this measure must either be higher than Justification Sanctification or Regeneration or they contradict themselves in opposing Free Grace and denying the Perseverance of the Saints in Grace with most discouraging and comfortless arguments to Believers which imply many gross absurdities and concerning this Head Mr. John Brown our Country man in confutation of Barclay layes down our unanimous Doctrine and first animadverts all that we hold the Perseverance of none but such as are Regenerated and how false and absurd were it to say a Sinner Regenerated or made a Child of God to Day and yet be a Child of the Devil to morrow made meet for Heaven and yet go to Hell Pardoned and yet Damned 2. We do not hold a special and inevitable necessity of Perseverance though unwilling and lying in Sin as Enemies would insinuate to the prejudice of Truth as Quakers often have done 3. We do not maintain a Perseverance depending on the will of man but on the gracious Covenant The Everlasting Purpose of God the Unchangeableness of his Love and Efficaciousness of Christ's Death 4 That a Believer may fall away Back-slide and Depart from God by many degrees as 1 From Duty as Hearing Reading Praving Praising c. 2 Into Grievous Sins as Noah David Soloman and Peter 3 Inro great Doubts and Fears afâ—out their State 4 From Degrees of Grace as â—rom a Strong unto a Weakness of Faith â—heir Zeal for God and Religion may grow very cold they may fall from their First Love they may fall from their former measure of Fear And 5 they may Fall from the Truth of the Gospel from the Doctrine of Our Lord Jesus and embrace many gross and dangerous Errors and Believe a â—ye 6 They may fall from the Accidentals of their Gracious State as Sense of Favour Assurance of Gods Love Strength of Habits Measures of Comfort is oft times and may be remitted and lost And yet in the last place we Believe mentain and hold There can be no Total and Final Apostacy and Defection from a Regenerate State or the Essence and Habits of all Grace and this is not only our Doctrine but the Doctrine of all our Reformed Churches tho' K's Invidious Malice is most commonly set against the Reformed Church of Scotland verifying the Ancient and common saying Omnis Apostate sua Secte osor And every serious soul may easily conceive how comfortless and discouraging the Doctrine of Quakers must needs be to all Regenerated and Believing Souls if after Regeneration being in Covenant with God Sealed with the Holy Spirit of Promise Redeemed with the Blood of Jesus they may yet be Damned in the End this and many more are the Absurdities that attend this Ancient Pelagian and Arminian Error as 1 Is it not inconsistent with that Puffing up Doctrine of their Perfection they could never yet demonstrate from instances 2. It is inconsistent with the Immutability of Gods Love for whom He Loves He Loves unto the end for his Gracious purposes are Unalterable and his Will Irresistible Isa 4.1.31 They that wait on the Lord shall renew their Strength they shall mount up with Wings as Eagles they shall run and not be weary and they shall walk and not be Faint 3 It is inconsistent with the Stability of the Covenant that is well ordered in all things and sure and all its Mercies are sure Mercies hence called frequently an Everlasting Covenant Jer. 32 40. And I will I make an Everlasting Covenant with them and I will not turn away from them to do them Good but I will put my Eear in their Heart that they shall not depart from me And all Objecting Instances from Scripture must implye no Saving Faith or true Regeneration or their Fall was neither Final nor Total 4. It is inconsistent with the Faithfulness of Christs undertaking to God the Father in the Covenant of Redemption it destroys the Efficacy of His Death Let any Read Christs Prayer to God the Father in John 17. And he may soon be satisfyed there was a Select Number given unto Christ to redeem and Ransome 24. And Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am And he prays 15. And that God would keep them from the Evil. And he has engaged to God the Father that none that the Father bad given him should be Lost otherwise Christ might be Charged with Unfaithfulness And such as deny the Perseverance of the Saints must be ignorant of what Christ has done for the consirmation of the Gracious State of Believers 1 His Redeeming them from all the Demands of Divine Justice with his Precious Blood 2 Redeeming them from the power of Satan 3 From the Dominion of sin 4 He is gone to prepare a Place for them 5 He makes
a Competent maintainance or necessary Aliment by Quaker teachers however so freely and Voluntarily given without appointment of humane law and all compulsion be a Preaching the Gospel freely A True Copy of George Keith's Paper Delivered to Mr. George Layfield At POCAMOK in MARY-LAND KIND Friend George Lay-field my Dear Love in the Lord Jesus Christ Saluteth thee with Earnest Supplication and Prayer to God for thee that God who hath begun his good work in thee may perfect it until the Day of Christ and that the Precious Seed that God hath Sown in thy Heart may grow not only to be the greatest of Herbs but a great Tree bringing forth Fruit to Gods Everlasting Praise and to thy Souls Everlasting Comfort and Happiness As concerning the Catechism Published by F. M. I have diligently read and conâ—dered it and tho' it holdeth forth diverse true things yet it hath a great mixture of Error and many false and unsound hurtful things it doth contain which my present shortness of time in these Parts doth not permit me to mention in most particulars and as the same Catechism aboundeth with many Errors so it falleth exceeding short in not mentioning in the least many necessary Truths and Doctrines which are of great necessity to be taught unto people as belonging to the first Principles of Christian Religion which he altogether omitteth nor doth he in the least declare that he receiveth any one of these things delivered by him in his said Catechism from any inward opening or discovery of Gods Spirit in his Heart Nor doth he mention any one thing of his own experience of the work of God in his heart but as his Title Page sheweth his whole Work is but a Collection from others he mentions nothing in all his Catechism that people are to be turned or directed to God or Christ or the Spirit of God in them he telleth not People that it is God or Christ or the Spirit of God convinceth them and reproveth them for sins of all sorts as Lying Pride Envy Coveteousness Unbelief he doth not instruct People how they are to find God and Christ in their Hearâ—… and how they are to wait in silence 〈◊〉 mind and thoughts to hear God and Chriâ— speak inwardly unto them in their Heartâ— in the silence of all Flesh and how theâ— are to have God and Christ and the Hâ—ly Spirit to dwell and walk in them and tâ— teach them over and beyond all outwarâ— teaching he mentions very little of the Spirit at all and what he mentions of it is very Obscurely so that without breach of Charity I can freely say he is a great Stranger to the inward Dealings and Workings of Gods Holy Spirit in the Hearts of his People and whereas he mentions his Compassion over the Tender Souls in an American Desart ready to perish for want of a Vision in his Epistle to the Reader his Catechism can nothing help them in that respect for not one word in all his Catechism directeth People were to find the true Vision of God in any measure but on the contrary according to his and his Bretherens False Faith all true Divine Vision and Revelation and all Divine Inspiration is ceased since the Apostles Days both among Teachers and People and God hath committed His Counsel wholly to Writing the former ways of Gods revealing himself being ceased and they say further there is no inward voice or word of God in people but the Scripture is the only Word and only Rule all which is most false and hurtful Doctrine and doth more hurt where it is received then all his Catechism can do good And all the People in Virginia both English and Scots whom he seemeth to reflect upon for their Ignorance have the Holy Scriptures without and the Holy teachings and illuminations of God and Christ within to teach them what is needful to their Salvation if they will hearken thereunto far better then this Catehism of F M. which is defective and wanting of many Principal and necessary doctrines belonging to the Christian Faith In the first Page of his Catechism He saith God made the World out of Nothing but this is no Scripture Language and indeed in very many of his Answers he holdeth not to Scripture Language but useth the invented words of Mans Wisdom not according but contrary unto the Holy Scriptures May it not suffice to say God Created aâ— things by Jesus Christ as the Scriptures declareth without adding to the Word of God Page Third He mentions no other Teacher but the Scriptures given to men to serve and Glorify God And thus according to him all these great Nations who have not the Scriptures are wholly left without all Teaching of God to Serve and Glorify him in the least measure but this is expresly contrary to Scripture which say concerning the Gentiles who had not the Law outwardly delivered in Scripture that they did show the work of the Law in their hearts and what was to be known of God was manifest in them for God had shown it unto them and when they knew God they Glorified him not as God and Christ the Light of the World hath enlightned every man that cometh into the World and teacheth every man in some measure to serve God which is to obey him otherwise they could not have sin if there were nothing in the Gentiles to require obedience or service of them unto God It had been much better in this Authour to have instructed People that they had some other helps and means of knowledge with the Scriptures and these some outward and some inward although it is to be granted that the Scriptures are the best of all Books outward yet there is the Book of Gods Creation and the Book of His Providence over all his Creatures that are no small helps and means in their place being duely used and together with God Christ and the Spirit are inwardly present to teach all People in some things to serve God and as every one is faithful in the little more is given to them Besides that the Writer of this Catechism should have joined the spirit of God Christ with the Scriptures as the Opener Interpreter of them informing people that the Scriptures are the Organ Instrument of Gods Spirit that Gods Good and Holy Spirit is the principal Author and cause of all true knowledge of God as he doth inwardly inspire and enlighten every one and that there is no true saving knowledge of God and Christ without the Spirits Inspiration and Teaching and that how much soever people read or hear the Scriptures if they neglect or turn away their minds from Gods inward teachings by his Word Spirit and Light within their hearts they remain Blind and Dark and Ignorant of God Page Third That he saith there are Three Persons in the God-head this is not Scripture Language to say Three Persons The Mystery of the Three to wit the Father the Son and the
Holy-Ghost who are One GOD is Great and Glorious and ought to be Reverently conceived expressed in Scripture words which the Holy-Ghost hath Taught but not in words of Mans Wisdom Page Ninth Tenth In mentioning the Offices of Christ being Three Viz. Prophet Priest and King he should have mentioned how that not only without us he did perform these Offices and now is both Priest and King in Heaven whither he is ascended but that also within us Viz. All true Believers in him he is both Prophet and King and Priest also who offereth up their Prayers unto God and by whom they have access unto God beside that Christ is not only King Priest and Prophet over his Church but Bishop Shepherd Physitian Captain and Husband c. as the Scripture declareth And that he saith Christ revealeth the Will of God to us by His Word and Spirit in Page 10. He delivereth this matter very barely and obscurely for he does not tell people where they may find the Spirit of God he doth not instruct them That the Spirit of God is in them to teach them and open the Scriptures unto them And tho' he delivereth diverse things in his Catechism concerning the New Covenant yet he neglecteth a Principal matter belonging to the same Viz. That God hath Promised in his New Covenant to teach His People Himself and to dwell in them and walk in them and that they shall be his Temple c. Page 10 11. Although he mention the death and Sacrifice of Christ for sinners yet he doth not well that he doth not hold forth that Christ died for all and tasted Death for every man as the Scripture expresly declareth which is a most great and weighty testimony of Gods universal Love for sinners Page Eleventh Tho' he say The Holy Spirit worketh faith in us and Uniteth us to Christ yet he doth this very barely and obscurely yea in contradiction to his and his Brethrens Doctrine who say all inward Divine Revelation and Inspiration is ceased since the Apostles Days if so then the Holy Spirit hath ceased to work or operate on mens hearts for his operation is not in the dark or in a blind and insensible manner but in Light and Demonstration sensibly and clearly revealing his power in them opening the eyes of their understanding and thence it is that the Spirit of God is called in Scripture the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation and that Spirit worketh in true Beleivers Page Eleventh That he calleth Regeneration a New and Spiritual Birth by the Spirit of God is true but this Contradicteth His and His Brethrens Doctrine who say they have no infallible Spirit and all Divine Revelation is ceased and that there is no immediate communion with God or his Spirit which is False Doctrine and contrary to Scripture and the Saints Experience who know that as they are Born of Gods Spirit so they are sensibly Fed and Nourished by the Spirit of God and Suck the Breasts of their Heavenly Mother Jerusalem from above and feel themselves embraced by the same as sensibly as the Child feeleth the Mothers Embraces and see and behold Her Beauty hear her voice and Language and all this is Spiritually and Inwardly known and witnessed in all True Believers Again that he saith True Believers are United to Christ is true and very comfortable but is in contradiction to His and his Brethrens Doctrine who say it is Blasphemy to affirm that Christ is really in the Saints for if he be not really in them by himself they cannot be United to him for true Union requireth the near presence of the things United one to another as the Body cannot be United to the Soul if the Soul be not really in the Body and all true Believers are United to Christ in Heaven by their being United to the measure of him in themselves as the Members of the Body are United to the Head by being United to a measure of the same Life and Spirit in them that is in the Head Page Eleven Twelve He defineth Effectual Calling to be A powerful call of God whereby he calls and draws sinners out of Sin into Grace which as it is true so is in contradiction to him and his Brethren who say All inward calling and speaking of God is ceased and there is no other Voice or Word of God but the Scriptures and yet he confesseth all have not that Effectual Calling who have the Scriptures Again he concradicteth by saying that God calleth and draweth sinners out of sin unto Grace and yet in Page Twelve saith All are still sinners And in Page Thirty saith The Godly cannot keep Gods commands perfectly And His Brethrens Doctrine is that the Saints sin in every Though Word and Deed. Page Fifteen He saith Justification and Adoption are acts of God without us and make only a Relative change but no real change and are compleated at once And in Page Sixteen He saith Justification Adoption and Sanctification once had can never be wanted all which are False and hurtful Assertions and contrary to Scripture for Gods Justifying Believers is his speaking peace to them in their Consciences and Absolving them from Condemnation as a Judge absolveth or cleareth an Accused Person and surely that is within and if not within he should have told where without if he mean in Heaven thiâ— can be no assurance nor comfort to any unless it be revealed and done also within in mens hearts Again that God maketh any men to be his Children without a Reâ—change is most absurd is not Faith and Regeneration a real change and none are made the children of God but by Faith and Regeneration and again to say that Sanctification and Justification cannot be lost is moâ—… absurd and serveth to flatter people iâ— great sins yea the greatest as if they were still Saints for according to this False Doctrine David remained a Saint and perfectly Justified when he committed Murder and Adultery and at this rate the worst of men may be Saints while such but the Scripture saith No Murderer nor Unrighteous Person can Inherit the Kingdom of God but they must be washed c. But if they still remain Saints after Murder they may inherit Gods Kingdom for all the Saints are in measure in Gods Kingdom Page Twenty-four Concerning the Sabbath he expresly Contradicteth the Scripture which expresly enjoyned the seventh Day to be kept and not indifferently one of seven Page Twenty-six He most grosly wrongeth and most falsely accuseth the People of God called in scorn Quakers saying that the Quakers and all Profane Persons are enemies to a Sabbath but it is no new nor strange thing that Gods People is numbred with Transgressors of the greatest sort seeing Christ our Lord and Head was so used by men high in an outward Profession and the people called Quakers own Christ to be the True Spiritual Sabbath or Rest of all True Believers the substance and thing signified by the
Jewish Sabbaths and New Moons and other Types and Figures of the Law yet they set apart the First day of the week from Servile Labour and spend it Religiously in Publick and Private Religious exercises as their Neighbours can witness among whom they live and give up noâ— only that Day but many other days anâ— times to the Worship of God and aâ—… careful to live to God all the days oâ— their life Page Twenty-eight What he delivereth in his Catechism concerning Ministers is most Lame and Defective He saith People 〈◊〉 to maintain their Miâ—isters that is a principal thing with him but he faileth iâ— these Three great Particulars 1. That he doth not inform people that none are true Ministers of Christ buâ— such as are really Holy and Godly Men and have a Living Experience of the work and dealings of Gods Spirit in their heart that so they may Preach their own Spiritual Experiences unto people as Daviâ— did who said Come and I will tell you whâ— God hath done for my soul and as these did who said What we have heard and seen anâ— handled of the word of Life we declare 〈◊〉 you 2. That he doth not inform People concerning the true Call of the true Miâ—…sters of God and of Christ who aâ— called and furnished by the Spirit of Chaist in the work of their Ministry to Preach and Pray but seeing he and his Brethren called Presbyterian Ministers deny this manner of immediate calling by the Spirit of God they run to the Church and Pope of Rome by that Dirty Channel and Conduit to have their Call conveyed to them for they know that their Presbyterian Church nor indeed any other called a Church hath been a Visible Church ever since the Apostles Days but only the Church of Rome hath called her self the Visible Church and they confess and say with us that the True Church of God hath been that Woman who hath fled to the Wilderness and hath not been always visible but hid and that for about Twelve Hundred Years and so had no visible Officers or Ministers to call their successors And therefore they derive their Call and Authority by the Church and Pope of Rome as James Durham in his Commentary on the Revelations and many others whose Call and Ordination Dr. Owen so called hath refuted and these called Independent Ministers whereof John Owen was one have another poor shift and evasion saying they are called by the Church but if the Church was not visible for so many ages the Church could not call them the Ministers are before the Church and therefore cannot be called by the Church originally but all these poor shifts are in opposition to the inward Call and work and motion of Gods Spirit in the hearts of the Faithful which if they knew they would never run to such broken Cysterns to Draw Water 3. That he doth not inform people that all true Ministers of Christ as they have freely received so they freely give without desiring or bargaining for any setled maintenance nor exacting it by force as Presbyterian Ministers commonly do Page Thirty Nine Forty He doth very barely and obscurely and very defectively and in some things falsly deliver his Doctrine concerning Baptism and the Lords-Supâ—per he doth not distinguish Christs Baptism which is with the Holy Ghost and Fire from Johns Baptism that is with Water he barely alledgeth that Children of Believing Parrents Viz. Infants are to be Baptized he giveth no account by what Authority oâ— Call they Baptise for they have no other Call but by the Pope of Rome and they have learned that practice of Sprinking or pouring Water on a Childs Forehead and calling it Baptism from the Church of Rome which they call the Where of Babylon and 〈◊〉 concerning the Supper of the Lord he is also very defective and he and his Brethren usuâ— and assume an Authority to themselve to Consecrate and Administer the Supper because of their Ordination originally deriv'â— by the Pope but all good Christians maâ— and ought to Eat and Drink remembring Christs Death and may and do receive him by Faith together with their outward eating with Prayer and Thanksgiving and so fulfil Christs Institution without any Prelate Presbyter or Priest of the Popes making for all true Christians are a Kingdom of Priests unto God and have the Word and Spirit of Prayer that only doth and can Sanctify their Eating and Drinking c. If any Question the Truth of this Copy they may satisfie themselves by perusing the Original at Rehoboth in Pocamok Mary-Land A Short Answer to George Keith's Lybel Against a CATECHISM Published by F. M. And left in the Hands of Mr. George Layfield I Am not a little surprised to receive from the hands of Mr George Layfield a paper containing so many mistakes false unjust and invidous charges against a Catechism Published by F M. and the rather because of his high pretences to an immideate mision and vain boasting of an extraordinary Apostolick call iusulting over all others from unusual high and enthusiastick attainments compleat perfection and unheard of experiences which the most serious and Godly are strangers unto and what they have any experince of most modest in discoursing of them and selfe denyed under their greatest enjoyments I shall wave two things First it's being delivered without a subscription whereby it is to be looked upon as a Libel not â—o be Answered nor Regarded Secondly that complementing and flattering preamble they have ever Condemned in others and withal am glad 〈◊〉 hear they have any Charity for any of a different Opinion from themselves which coming to heaâ— their Teachers will procure at any time First He begins with a general Charge of many Errors false and unsound things comprehended in the Catâ—chism And next He asserts the Author to be guilty of many Omissions and this from one pretending to Learning who has diligently read and considered it as he says is so insignificant and idle Imputation which all modest and ingenuous men must never disown and that there are Omissions wilful and designed Omissions I shall never deny for after it was first Composed I did Compendize and Abreviate it ofter than once to suit it to the Capacities of such for whom it was prepared even young ones to whom Quakers have had little regard hitherto as to their Instruction in Religious Fundamentals Neither have I seen any Writings of Quakers even those pretending to give accounts of their Principles but justly may be charged with greater Omissions then any yet discovered in the Catechism Published by F. M. as the Doctrine of the Trinity of Persons in the God-head the Ten Commandments and the Lords Prayer the Pattern of all Prayer and George Fox his Received Catechism industriously spread by Quakers not only savours of Humane Learning and words of mans wisdom but guilty of many weighty Omissions and fills up a great part with stuff wherein there is no Religion far less can they
be called Fundamentals as Salutations by words and Gestures Covering and Vncovering the Head condemning Preaching in Steeple Houses Churches Yea I appeal to the impartial and unbiassed Reader if the Catechism Composed by F. M. contains not more of the Principles of Religion then one containing Quakers Principles Composed by several Hands as Crook Pennington Burroughs Parker Smith and several others now I refer my self to every man how invidious and unjust it is to Charge a Catechism composed by one with Omissions while so many pretenders to immediate Revelations and Inspirations are guilty of so great Omissions and vain Repeticions and there is not a Book which I have seen writ by George Keith but may as justly lie under this Charge as my Catechism it were vain Ostentation to disown it And for my own part I have ever observed in all the Writings of men Ignorance Infirmity and Imperfection to magnifie the Excellency of the Scriptures above all Books of mens Composure but it is no strange thing to find Quakers quarrelling our succinct way of composing our Principles for young ones because they are opposite to so early Edification which practice is very inconsistent with Scripture Precepts and Presidents of Training a Child when young bringing up Children in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord and Timothy knew the Scriptures from a Child and the advantage of an early Instruction is witnessed by the experiences of many Godly in all Ages where attended with the Blessing of God and pursued with Exhortation until they arrive at a riper age Now I leave all to consider how insignificant an imputation this of Omission is Another general Charge is that I have not declared from whence I have Received these things and that I have owned in the Title Page of my Catechism to be but a Collection from others These are heavy Charges with him therefore shall answer them particularly 1. Any that reads his Paper may understand he is as guilty of that Omission as any of his Neighbours for he has not told from whence he had what is delivered in this Paper and it was the best policy for he durst not assert it was from the Spirit of God because of the falshood and malice it contains as I shall make appear 2. If they are the Truths of God and agreeable to Scripture it is easily determined from whence these Truths are which were questioned by few until G. K. whose Trade has been to Foment Contention and stir up strife in the Churches of Christ in the World and whose Arguments are so slender and thred bare that they scarce deserve an Answer 3. If I inclined to stuff my Doctrines and Discourse upon all occasions with enlarged Accounts of Conversion or a work of Grace with concomitant and consequent Experiences of the Operations of Gods Holy Spirit as Keith pretends to do I might amuse my Hearers but Actions and Conversation are better demonstrations of a work of Grace then all Keith's vain boasting Language which with his self magnifying Language can be esteemed nothing else then a Crying up and Preaching himself instead of Christ for though Paul oft declared his Conversion and gloried in his Attainments it was that the Free Grace of God might be exalted and self abased which Quakers are rarely acquainted with either in Praying or Teaching as many who have heard them always declare And because Keith has shewn himself void of Charity by shooting his invidious Thunderbolt at a distance e're he knew or saw me or I him That I am infallibly a great stranger to the dealings of Gods Spirit on the hearts of his People I am constrained to Justifie my Office from those Uncharitable Calumnies and that Grace might be magnified by giving this Relation in the sight of an All seeing and Omnipresent God that e're I Received the Imposition of Hands in that Scriptural and Orderly Separation unto my Holy and Ministerial Calling that I gave requiring satisfaction to Godly Learned and Judicious Discerning Men of a work of Grace and Conversion wrought on my heart at fifteen years of Age by and from the pains of a Godly Schoolmaster who used no small diligence in Gaining Tender Souls to Gods Service and Fear since which time to the Glory of his Free Grace be it spoke I have had the sure Experiences of Gods various Dealings with me according to his Infinite and Unerring Wisdom to my unspeakable comfort whereby all may see how far Grace is expected and desired with Gifts to qualifie for the Ministerial Office for not only was this required of me but is expected of all Ordained by Presbyters which experience shall enable me not to value what Keith or any other Quakers shall ignorantly and groundlesly affirm in judging rashly of my State for we are looked upon as of the World and they only the People of God as they commonly Cauterize us but this is our comfort we shall not be Judged in the Last Day by Quakers who must as well as their Neighbours give an account of their rash and uncharitable judgings to a most Righteous Judge 4. And that it is a Collection from the Scriptures of the Living God I never will deny but glory in it it Keith mean from others it is faâ—… and there is â—o mention of those others in the 〈◊〉 Page what hath Keith Published in most of his Books but Collections and many of them from the worst of men Hereticks long since consured with some wild sophistical and unscriptural Notions of his own both repugnant to Scripture and opposite to his Quaking Brethren And Turpe est dectori eum cuâ—pa redarguit ipsum He asserts I declare not that it is God or Christ or the Spirit of God that convinceth or reproveth people of their sins but this is so false a Calumny that none in charity can judge Kâ—ith to be so great a Perfectionist as he proclaims himself to be and this every one may be satisfied in if they will but turn over to page 12 where it is plainly delivered That God in Turning or Calling Sinners unto himself does convince them of Sin and Misery Enlighten their Minds with the Knowledge of Christ Renews their wills c. which is also the judgment of all my Brethren and particularly of those of the Westminster Assembly both in their Shorter and larger Catechism And whereas he charges me with this that I mention but little of the Spirit of God at all and that this may appear as falâ—e as the former I refer my self to every Reader and especially those who have read and considered better then Keith hath done and let them turn over to the several pages where I have made frequent mention of the Spirit of God in so small a Volumn ascribing to him that which was and is his peculiaâ— work 1. As being the Original Author and Inditer of the Scriptures page 3.2 As being one distinct from the Father and the Son page 4.3 Oâ— Christ's
revealing the Will of God to us by Hiâ— Word and Spirit page 10.4 The Spirit of Goâ— applies to us the Redemption purchased by Christ page 11.5 In the same page being the Author of Regeneration or the New Birth according to the Scriptures Joh. 3.6 The Spirits sanctifying of us page 15.7 That he teaches us to pray aright and acceptable to God page 41. From hence every one may learn what credit to give to Keith's worth and Calumnies for the future and though he constructs my Compassion over the tender Souls in aâ— American Desart to be a reflection against the Scâ— and English in Virginia I am satisfied it has nâ—… been so Received by them for whom it was intended neither judged so by the Spirit of God whâ—… much after the same manner pitties and compassiâ—nates the Ignorance of his own people by the Propheâ— Hos 4.6 My People are destroved for lack of knowledge And I am perswaded Quakers should nâ— have so great success in drawing aside silly Soul from the Truths and Ways of God if it weâ— not for the abounding Ignorance of Virginia anâ— other dark Corners of the World who have noâ— yet received and comprehended the Light shiniâ— about them and even their ignorance of thâ— Fundamental Truths contained in the Catechâ—… And none deserves more to be pitied for their â—…norance than Quakers and of the most Fundameâ—tal Truths notwithstanding of their high pretenâ— â—o the Spirit and Light within as John Drummond 〈◊〉 Reputed and Received Quaker a Reader of Keith's Books with many others who lately at my House at Poccamok before Keith and several other Witnesses published his gross Ignorance of that Fundamental Article That none could be Saved without Faith in Jesus Christ from which I understand since that he had oft reproached me drawing his own ignorant conclusions from thence And if Quakers are ignorant hereof what can they pretend â—o know Another general charge is That I nothing help the Ignorant neither do I direct them to the true Vision but whoever will but consider how many Fundamental Truths are laid down in the Catechism for the Edification of the Ignorant and plainly asserted That Christ teaches his People with his Word and Spirit and if this be not the true Vision of God Quakers must lose themselves and be puzzled in finding of it but he rather would insinuate what harm it would do if received but this may discover how far men are for keeping sinners in ignorance by possessing their minds with a dislike of this mean of Knowledge which leads and directs sinners to the Scriptures as the great mean of Knowledge and profitable for instruction containing all things necessary to be known by Christians and also to Christ and his Holy Spirit the Author and Efficient Cause of Knowledge who can Enlighten without means in a most immediate manner but most ordinarily conveyes Knowledge by Means and Ordinances of his own Appointment concurring with his Holy Spirit blessing and making them effectual to whom he pleases And in Catechism many savoury truths delivered no fins indulged most duâ—ies relating to our general and special callings enjoined Now â—ow the receiving such a form of sound words containing positive Diâ—vinity should be prejudicial and Kieth's works stuffed with Quibling and Sophistical Controversy his teachings filled with often repeated Calumnyâ— against all the Reformed Churches and Vn-scripâ— turaâ— or unheard of Long-winded Similitudes which amuse the deluded and ignorant should become profitable let every one determine and I am perswaded none has received or can receive injury therefrom but by slighting and disregarding it And this my experience can testifie that since the Catechism was opposed by Quakers they have had a more universal and kindly welcome and reception And here is no new Doctrine but what Keith had oft seen in the Catechisms of our Reformed Churches which he had oft impugned with all his might and Sophistry and his repeating his old Arguments is only with vain Ostentation to show himself among a poor ignorant and deluded people and once possessing them with this that what he delivers is immediately from the Spirit of God he may deliver what he will as infallible and never to be questioned Having answered his Generals I proceed to examine his particulars and he suffers not the first page to pass without a Censure because I have affirmed God made the World out of Nothing and that this is not only true and agreeable to Scripture that to word and expresâ— it otherwise were inconsistent with the Revelation of God and it were to jump in with the Adversaries of Gods Truth for we cannot conceive of Creation without saying it was made out of Nothing which all dâ—scribe to be Preductio ex nihilo therefore as many places of Scripture as but mention Creation say as much as I have done for which I am quarrelled Did not Creation give the First Being to all things that were made and consâ—quently were all nothing before God commanded them to be for was not Light nothing till God said Let there be Light Further if God made the World he either made it out of his own Essence or some pre existent matter from Eternity or produced it out of nothing I presume you will not be so absurd as to assert any of the first two not the first for so the Essence of God should become divisible and corruptible not the second for then some matter should be Co-eternal with God which were blasphemy to affirm And it is no small argument of the Omnipotence of God to declare and affirm especially to young ones the World was made out of nothing seeing they know not that it is implied in the word Creation for because of the Omnipotent Power of God in Creation Acclamations of Praise are ascribed to him Psal 33.6 By the word of the Lord were the Heavens made all the Host of them by the breath of his mouth Acts 4.24 In that joynt Acclamation of the Apostles Lord thou art good which hast made Heaven and Earth and the Sea and all that in them is And it is no adding to the Word of God while nothing is delivered but Gods Mind in his Word though Keith next in his pretences to Nailer himself should discover so much palpable weakness as to censure it again And I have also asserted in my Catechism that there is no work so peculiar to any of the Persons of the Holy Trinity but all of them have a hand in each so that his advice which he calls sufficient is prevented if he haâ— diligently read and considered it as he has said In page 3. He chargeth me for mentioning no other Teacher but the Scriptures to direct us to Seâ— and Glorifie God this is no strange imputation froâ— Quakers who notwithstanding of all their fair pretences yet have uttered many vilipending expression thereof calling it a dead Letter a nose of Wax Pâ—… Ink Divinity Keith in his publick Teachingâ—
intercession in Heaven for them 6 He promises his Holy Spirit to abide in them to compleat his begun work in them and establish them all which is abundantly confirmed from Scripture 5 The Final and Total fall or Apostacy of Regenerate Saints is inconsistent with the Nature of Grace which is an Incorruptible Seed that cannot be totally extinguished where e're it is planted of God And farther it much weakneth the Faith of the Saints their Hope and Confidence in Gods Preservation of them from Falling which the experience and confidence of the Apostle Paul testifies they firmly Believe Rom. 8.35.38.39 and that in their deepest Tryals and sharpest Afflictions Finally it Robs the Regenerated Children of God of their Spiritual Joy and Holy Consolation in the Holy-Ghost by filling them with Perpetual Fears Anxiety and Doubts about their State And we find Keith insinuating this That the Doctrine of Perseverance Flatters men in great sins for tho' the Godly cannot Fall Finally nor Totally yet as we have said they may Fall into many Evils provoking to God and injurious to their own Peace and comfort which they are ever watchful against lest they should lose the sense and comfort of Gods Special Love and Favour any measure or degree of Grace or Holiness which would be most Wounding and Grievous to them and so far from Flattery but this his Calumny is like unto the rest And I dare refer my self to Quaâ—…s themselves if Universal Grace saving and divine Light the Spirit of God and Christ Substantially present in all men even the most ignorant wicked and Profane and absolute Perfection in some be not more soul-deluding and self-Flattering Doctrine then the Perseverance of the Saints once Regenerated whose sins and infirmityes humbled and makes them constantly watchful and so it is evident it destroys the promise of Gods Establishing confirming Spirit and leaves the Catholick Church of God which the Gates of Hell cannot prevail against upon a most Ticklish Foundation and Lyable to to come to nothing it would annul all Christian Communion and Fellowship for according to Quakers opinion one may be a Saint to day and in Christian Fellowship and may Fall away and be Damned to morrow it renders our Pardon comfortless seeing after Pardon we may perish Eternally and destroyes the Hope and Faith of Life Everlasting seeing no man can firmly believe it until he have the Enjoyment of it The next grand Charge that highly offended many of that Gang is concerning a Question in my Catechism concerning the Sabbath in the Answer I affirm Quakers and Profane Persons are Enemies to a Sabbath and now I am satisfied to have an opportunity of showing my reasons to the World how just and not invidious this my Charge was though I mentioned no other Enemies in Judgment besides Quakers and notwithstanding of all reasons given to Keith and others at my House they seem still to be dissatisfied but it is for the most part the peculiar Temper of such as Rangle and oppose all Reasoning And that I may referr my self to the Censures 〈◊〉 the more unprejudiced and rational and I am so far from Recanting Denying or Giving any submission for the Charge that I am the rather confirmed it was most just and deserving and that withouâ— all shadow of the guilt of a Calumny and that foâ— these following reasons 1. Because I never met wiâ—… any others that in realâ—ity opposed this Doctrine be sides that Party and though I might hear commâ—… Fame accuse others and meeting with none of the Writings I had no Warrant for including them under the publick Charge though my Answer does 〈◊〉 way exclude them 2. All the Quakers I ever conversed with in Europe or America declared this aâ— their undoubted Judgment that all Dayes were alike under the Gospel and none of perpetual Observation as a Day of Rest and further That they were as free to Work or Labour in their several Callings and Trades on the First Day of the Week called now the Christian Sabbath or Day of Rest under the Gospel as any other Day of the Week oâ— which I gave and am able yet to give several Instances And I am lately informed of several Servants oâ— Quakers otherwise Educated who have made complaint to Magistrates of their Masters causâ— them to follow their daily Labour and a Witneâ— yet alive can declare being on a Sabbath at Thomas Everdens House perceived no manner of Worship with his Family but great diligence in dispatching one of his Servants with Necessaries for Building a Sloop I have met one of them with a Gun in the Wood on the Sabbath or First Day of the Week whâ—… we were going to the Publick Worship of God I such are not to be looked on without any just Aâ—cusation of an invidious Calumny Enemies to 〈◊〉 Sabbath let the World judge 3. They need no make so gâ—…at a noise and clamour at this Charge forhowever others may remain ignorant yet it is not unknown to Keith how oft by several others Quakers have been ranked in with several others Enemies of the Sabbath long before I had any acquaintance with their principles as by Mr John Brown in his Latine Treatise concerning the Sabbath also Mr. Matthew Crawford in his Learned defence of the Morality of the Fourth Commandment called Exercitacio Apologetica therefore this charge is not mine only but of as many as Treat of that Subject 4. If I can produce their own Word charging them with as much as I say will it not appear how unjustly they seem to to be offended at my charge and if any would peruse that small but angry Pamphlet of Quakers soberly answered by Mr. Mitchel of Aberdeen and they shall find it confidently asserted that all Days are alike and are told from Rom. 14.6 Gal. 4.10 11. To Reprehend all such as observe one day of Seven as a Day of Rest and that all Weekly Observation of a Day is Abolished under the Gospel And how Keith comes in now of Late to â—ell us of their keeping the first Day of the Week without being first reconciled to his own Brethren both in Practice and Judgment And it yet remains for him to declare By what Authority or from what Command they keep that Day and not another whether it is commanded of God or only an Ecclesiastick and Humane Constitution which until proved to be the Vnanimous Judgment of Quakers must be looked upon to be the Private Judgment of Keith only But he is Pleased to say That Quakers keep the first Day of the Week and spend it in the Religious Exerâ—ise of Publick and Private Worship but this is said and not Proved for the contrary is know to most who resort to and frequent their House where they discern no more Worship in many 〈◊〉 their Families than in the Families of Indians Aâ— He Appeals to their Neighbours as Witnesses but 〈◊〉 of their Witnesset have affirmed the contrary and bâ— they
Accomack compared it to a Letter wrote from an absent Husband to his Wife which as soon as he Return is to be laid aside any may easily apprehend whâ— this Gentleman would be at who also in his Boâ—… though he would make fools believe he commenâ— the Scriptures yet immediately he accuses it of 〈◊〉 sufficiency and imperfection and affirms there aâ— several things which the Scriptures Teaches not 〈◊〉 which we must have immediate Revelations anâ— Daniel Acres a Teacher in North Carolina declaâ—… to me it bordered with Blasphemy to call the Scriptures the Word of God But he further affirms 〈◊〉 should have joyned the Spirit of God and Christ with the Scriptures and that I should not only havâ— done it but that it is really done every Reader 〈◊〉 find page 10 where it is taught That Christ Reveâ— his Will by his Word and Spirit neither dare any 〈◊〉 sert I have said it was only the Scriptures excludâ—… Christ or the Holy Spirit of God and yet we havâ— ground from the Scriptures themselves to affirm 〈◊〉 the Scriptures are a rule to which we are directed 〈◊〉 the Spirit of God our Saviour too and the fulâ—e and sufficiency of the Scriptures for our direction 〈◊〉 asserted from the Spirit of God though we are uâ—nimous in depending on the Blessing of God presence of Christ and concurrence of his Holy Spirit to make the Scriptures effectual to our Salvation with all other Means and Ordinances yet the Scriptures are the Rule for our Instruction and Direction though Christ and the Holy Spirit of God the Opener up and sole Interpreter of the Scriptures to us as all of us Teach Believe and Own which is evident from our Praying before and after all our publick and private Administrations which many Quakers are absolute strangers to as John Porter of Elizabeth River who never was heard to Pray either before or after Teaching this Savours of Opus Operatum I say the Holy Spirit of God endues us with skill to understand apply and obey the Scriptures so that Quakers confound the Rule with the skill in making use of that Rule but our judgment is fully delivered in answer to that Question in the Assemblies Catechism How is the Word made effectual to Salvation and that all that read these Sheets may see how pernicious it is to quarrel our Doctrine concerning the Scriptures let them peruse those following Scriptures 1. Tim. 3.16 All Scripture is given by Inspiration of God and is profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction for Instruction in Righteousness and in the foregoing verse The Holy Scriptures which is able to make thee wise unto Salvation through Faith which is in Jesus 17 That the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto every good work and are we not directed to the Law and to the Testimony but no where directed to the Light in all men and consequently in the Heathen and Reprobate to be our Guide to Glory Our Saviours advice favours and confirms our Judgment Search the Scriptures for in them you think ye have Eternal Life and they are they that testifie of me And we find our Lord in dealing with the Capcious Jews appealing to the Scriptures as the Rule of Faith and Judge of Controverties saying It is written and Cites the Prophets oft for their Conviction and charges them with ignorance of the Scripture as the cause and ground of their Error saying Ye Err not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God And though dim Natures Light the Rellicks of one fallen from perfection and the works of Creation render all inexcusable for their Ignorance of their Creator yet are very lame and insufficient fully to teach their Duty or to discoveâ— all their sins or teach them the knowledge of God and his Son Jesus Christ our Redeemer whom Quakers say is in all men but can this Jesus of their be the true Christ and savingly in all men seeing there are Nations and Kingdoms who have not the least remote or dim notions of Christ the Son of God as Saviour or Mediator between Sinners and God who was in Christ Reconciling the World to himself and if so as Quakers affirm then blinded Pagaâ— Nations are in as brave a case as the Churches oâ— Christ to whom the Oracles of God are committed who are pronounced blessed beyond all others 〈◊〉 Gods Chosen Inheritance and particularly from the great and transcending priviledge of enjoying 〈◊〉 Revealed Will of God to whom the Divine Oracles were committed and blinded Nations were ouâ— Predecessors within some few Centuries past And what Keith understands by silent waiting 〈◊〉 God which he calls a silence of mind and thoughts 〈◊〉 I fear neither he noâ— any Quaker for him can ever demonstrate from plain Scripture Testimony and 〈◊〉 is not the first time they have been puzled to tell 〈◊〉 what it is though some have preferred it to the Reâ—ding of the Scriptures and a Mean appointed 〈◊〉 God for right understanding of the Scripture 〈◊〉 this new notion of theirs is warranted no where in the Scripture some of them have taken upon them to call it a silent posture of the heart without thinking good or evil but this is so strange a conceit that it is inconsistent with the nature of the heart and spirit of man which is in the judgment of most and solid experience of all so stirring and active a thing that it is never at quiet or rest but always employed about either good or evil and this so many as call a Spirit Res Gegitandi say is while man is asleep but further it is inconsistent with Scripture waiting for herein there must be an exercise of the Graces of Faith Patience Hope c. Psal 4.1 I waited patiently for the Lord and he enclined unto me and heard my Cry here is both the exercise of Patience and the use of Prayer in the Psalmists successful waiting and how this can be without exercising the heart about good or evil this is much like the Commentary and vulgar glâ—ss of Quakers on that Text Mat. 6. â—6 When thou prayest enter into thy Closet and when thou hast shut the door or according to these able Commentators shut thy heart which is an unfit frame for God to whom we must open and before whom we must pour out our hearts Another Instance of Scripture waiting very unlike Quakers waiting you may find in Lam. 3 26. It is goâ—d that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the Salvation of the Lord and let every one be â—umpire in this case whether there can be the exercise of those Graces where the heart thinks neither good nor evil and they are often puzled to satisfie us whether their silent waiting be publick or private Worship for if it is not done in Faith it must be sin and consequently no acceptable Service to God if private or secret it ought to be gone about with as great secrecy and to go too
in him and to whom He is Actually a Saviour and that those Three Offices include All that Christ did and was Requesite to be done as Mediatour None even Kieth himself cannot deny as he readily owned at my House all was Reducible to those Three Offices which are all we have mentioned in the Scriptures and those Three are very Obvious and Plain 1. He is called and that Deservedly The Greaâ— Prophet of His Church according to that Promise of and Prophecy concerning him A Prophet shalâ— the Lord your God raise up unto you like unto hiâ— Brethren Him shall ye hear in all things And thiâ— Promise was fulfilled in his Coming and Executing this his Prophetical Office by being the Great Gospel-Preacher to his Church and People Declaring the Way and Means of Salvation by a Mediatour delivering the Will of His Father This was Prophesied also of him in Isaiah 61.1 2 3. and Hebr. 3.1 He is called the Apostle of our Profession And He is the Sole Teacher of the Mysterys of Salvation from the Father Matth. 11.27 No Man knoweth the Father save the Son and he to whom soever the Son will reveal him And this Our Great Prophet do's not always immediately else K's Teachings and all the Teachings among Quakers were most needless and vain but 1 By the Holy Scriptures Profitable for Doctrine and able to make the Man of God Wise unto Salvation 2. By His Messengers and Ministers whom he has commanded to Go and Teach all Nations and sent to give Warning to His Churches and People Therefore from their Office and Teaching called Teachers And Lastly by his Holy Spirit in the Hearts of his People where Christ dwells not Substantially as Quakers say but Spiritually by Faith and so is united by Faith tho' Locally Distant without the Presence of the things United as K. would insinuate and assert in his Paper For if there can be a Moral Union and Relation standing firm betwixt a Husband and Wife the one in Europe the other in America and a Natural Union and nigh Relation between Parent and Child much more between Christ in Heaven and believers on Earth by a Spiritual and indissolvible Union by Faith which is not an absent Christ to Believers with whom he is by Gracious and Spiritual Influences in their Hearts And K's Subtle and Sophistical Arguments from the General and Universal Presence of Christ as God to his special and Gracious Presence as Mediatour will take Place with none but Ignorant and Deluded Quakers for so the Devils in Hell should enjoy as great a Priviledge as Believers on Earth And also it is granted that he is the Eternal High-Priest of His Church who Offered and gave Himself a Sacrifice once upon the Cross for Sinners and by the Efficacious Merits of this Death renders the Persons and Services of his People acceptable unto God not only Teaching them by His Holy Spirit what to pray for as they ought but also continues an High-Priest at the Right-hand of God making continual Intercession for Believers Heb. 7 15. Wherefore he is able to Save them to the uttermost that come to God by Him seeing he ever Liveth to make Intercession for us all which is fully and soundly delivered in the Catechisms and Confessions of Faith of our Divines of the Westminster Assembly And Lastly He is the Sole King Head and Law-giver of his Church by which Kingly Power and Authority he Appoints Laws and Statutes for the Counsel and Direction of his people even to the binding of Conscience with the whole inward man in whom Christ does Rule and Reign even in and over such as subject their Souls to his Government suffering Christ to Reign over them 2 He Subdues and Conquers sinners Naturally Rebels to himselâ— making them from an Un-willing a Willing People in the Day of his power 3 In defending of his Church from all their Enemies assuring them the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against them 4 He restrains the Fury and rage of and Finaly executes his Wrath on all His and their Enemys And we never did disown that the special Fruits of all these Three Offices are wrought in the heart of Believers which is inconsistent with that Prophet Priest King in all men according to Quakeâ— Doctrine while the Scripture affirms they are Reprobate in whom Christ is not And it is plaiâ— the Quakers common Christ is not the true Mediatour and Messiah who only dwells in the hearts oâ— Believers by Faith and not of Infidels that do not so much as know by any kind of knowledge aâ—… yet they are Enlightned by him as they say with 〈◊〉 sufficient and saving knowledge How unnecessaâ—… must it be to multiply Offices in our Mediatouâ— seeing all are reducible to those Three and must he not be a Man of a Perverse Spirit and contentioâ— mind that would raise a Debate upon this head and K's Evasion and Quibble for this is extreemâ— silly and weak for saith he the Commands 〈◊〉 Gods Moral Law are reducible to two yet 〈◊〉 branched out into Ten for the first Division 〈◊〉 the Divine Commands was by God himself into tâ— Tables or two Commands yet the same Gâ—… makes the Enumeration or Divisiâ—… 〈◊〉 to ten but no such Warrant can be produced for this Enumeration or Multiplication of Offices in our Mediator for it were as impertinent and idle as if every Duty required and every Sin prohibited in every Command were a new Command and there should be thrice ten instead of ten and what must be thought of those that multiply Offices in Christ calling every thing that Christ is called a new Office in the Mediator as a Father a Shepherd an Husband Physician c. Whence he is called the Way a Rock a Door a Vine all which denote no new Offices but signifie his Richness Fulness Benefits Love and Favour to Believers denoting that Spiritual Relation to Believers and Christ's usefulness to them in all Estates and Conditions His next Charge Page 10 11. I have affirmed Christ Died or was Sacrificed for Sinners Now let any determine whether this Answer does not set forth the Fruit and Satisfaction of Christ's Death for Sinners for if he Died for Sinners and for our Sins is it not enough to us for if we had not been Sinners we should not have stood in need of Redemption and if sinners were Redeemed no others did want it And tho' he seems to reprehend it with Scripture Language yet his Charge is more obscure and defective then that he finds fault with either that quarrelled at must be true or false or deficient if true why Censured if false let Quakers speak their minds plainly if deficient there must be some for whom Christ Died besides Sinners If I have not multiplied words to humour captious and critical Quakers I hope I shall never have cause to repent it where I Studiously avoided all prolixity and endeavoured all succinctness and brevity But to return to the
matter in hand concerning the Nature Efficacy and Extent of Christ's Redemption we have to do with many Adversaries whose various Sentiments are not to be reconciled either among themselves or with the Holy Scriptures for some say Christ Died absolutely for all and every individual sinner and in Laying down his Life did equally intend the Salvation of all others say he Died for all conditionally from a foreseen condition of Faith so it was only a conditional Salvation or Redemption wherein not one was absolutely Redeemed this by some is called a possible Salvation whereby they explain Universal Redemption to be nothing else then Christ's Pacifying an Angry God for all and leaving all in a possibility of Salvation if they will others of a middle sort say he Died absolutely for the Elect of God but conditionally for the Reprobate But the most unanimous and received Doctrine of the Reformed Churches is That whom Christ Died for he absolutely and compleatly Redeemed and that was some Select and Chosen Number given him of God the Father to Lay down his Life for them as our Lord himself hints plainly to us in John 17. at large of which says he Noâ—… was Lest That I may discover the absurdities of the former Opinion consider first Christ's absolute Redemption for all and every individual Sinner For 1. So Christ should have intended to have saved those that were actually in Hell and condemned to Eternal Flames before his Death under an Irrevocable Sentence of Wrath. 2. What a Dishonour were it to God to say he intended and at so dear a rate as the Death of his own Son to go about the Redeeming of those whom he knew from all Eternity should be infallibly Damned can it be imagined Christ intended to Save sue 3. If all men and women were absolutely Redeemed all should be infallibly Saved for Salvation supposes Redemption and Redemption secures Salvation but it is evident to all the smallest number shall Enter in at the Strait Gate 4. If God should purpose and intend the Salvation of all absolutely and yet the smallest number escape Eternal Wrath what should the purposes and intentions of God be more then the purposes and intentions of his Creatures that can be frustrated disappointed and come to nought Let us view the absurdities and inconsistencies that flow naturally from the universal cnuditional Redemption whereby all are left under a possibility of Salvation if they will and 1. If so then it would have been possible for all to have been Damned and not one Saved for if man had but resisted as it was in his Power because not absolutely Redeemed then Christ might have Died really for nothing and have seen no Fruit of the Travait of his Soul And let serious Souls consider what an insignificant Death and fruitless inefficacious Redemption should he have Paid 2. If a conditional Redemption and a possibility of Salvation was all that Christ Died for I would Enquire Who it is that performs the Condition God or man if men can believe or repent of themselves then the Conditional Salvation might avail them something but he cannot believe it is Gods special Gift Ephes 2. And man cannot repent for it is his grant 2 Tim 1 What will a Possibility of Salvation for all men avail and a conditional Redemption signifie if all men are not left also in a Possibility of believing and Repenting also if and when they would 3. If a conditional Universal Redemption be all the Redemption accomplished by Christ then it is as impossible for man to be saved as if he had not bee Redeemed at all seeing it is as impossible for maâ— to perform the Conditions as it is for him to redeeâ— himself and all may see if this be Quakers unâ— versal Redemption what a poor lame ineffectuaâ— and half Redemption they believe in and build upon for their Salvation as Barclay has declared in Publishing his Vniversal Redemption sufficiently confuted by Mr. Brown not answered 〈◊〉 he was Removed off the Stage by Death And such as tread the middle path holding anâ— absolute Redemption of Gods Elect and only 〈◊〉 a Conditional Salvation of the Reprobate They hold 1. A Twofold manner of Redemption which we have no ground for in the Scriptures all that are Redeemed being Redeemed alike 2 If so the greatest part of Mankind are left in as bad a state as if they were not Redeemed at all If we consider the Merit of Christs Crucifixion and Death materially in regard of its Sufficiency Dignity Worth and Merit by Reflecting on the Person who Suffered and Died and of the manner how he Accomplished it with Faithfulness and that most Willingly and Chearfully that it was no less Price then the Death of him who was God Equal with God the Father The Ransome must be owned and believed of Infinite Value and Worth Merit and Dignity and so not only a compleat and sufficient Satisfaction for the sins of the whole World but was in it self a compleat Ransome for the Offences of a Thousand Worlds And so if we consider the Sufficiency of his Price and Ransome he Died for all he Offered a Sacrifice and gave an Atonement that was enough for all he gave himself a Ransome for all and Tasted Death for every man further we assert and believe that all Nations Kingdoms Tongues and People were Redeemed by Jesus Christ so according to the School distinction He Dyed for Generibus Singulorum for All kinds of men not for Singulis Generum not for Every Individual Man and Woman according to Johns Vision Rev. 5.9 For thou wast stain and hast Redeemed us to God by thy Blood out of every Kindred and Tongue and People and Nation so that all and every one that is or shall be Redeemed are Redeemed by Jesus Christ who is the only Saviour and no Name given under Heaven whereby we can be Saved but by the Name Jesus so he is the Saviour of all And this we dare most boldly and Warrantably affirm that Christs Death is Efficacious for the Salvation of all whom he died for and not one of these Predestinated to Eternal Life shall Perish but be brought Infallibly to Glory Rom. 8.30 Whom he did Predestinate them he also Called and whom he Called them he also Justified and whom he Justified them he also Glorified From which Scripture none can be Ignorant unless they wilfully stop and Blind the Eyes of their understandings what an inseperable connection is between the Means and the End and all flowing from the Everlasting Purpose and immutable Predestination of God and as many as Christ Died for shall be infallibly Saved and to whomsoever he has purchased Salvation to as many he has Purchased all the Means and Conditions of Salvation as Faith Repentance and all the Holy Graces of the Spirit of God for saith the Spirit of God as many as were ordained to Eternal Life Believed neither dare we believe such an ineffectual Redemption as Quakers hand
in hand with Arminians and Pelagians do hold which only leaves man in a possibility of Salvation if the sinner will but may be the most of Christs Redeemed ones go to Hell notwithstanding while Christ John 17. Speaks of his Redeemed and Ransomed ones as those Select Ones whom the Father had given him out of the World for whom that is the World He would not so much as Pray far less dye and Keith himself owns in his Malicious Uncharitable Book Against New-England Ministers that there are those for whom it may be said Christ Dyed not And so this must be the Gentlemans Position Christ dyed for all and dyed not for all which is a plain conradiction and farewel Keith's universal Redemption which if it had not evanished in a contradiction was uncomfortable and ineffectual to the greatest number of Redeemed ones I Remember in the beginning Keith says I speak very little of the Spirit of God at all which I have already shown in the most convincing and particular manner to be False by directing the Reader to the particular Pages and now I am to show he contradicteth himself by owning in several Questions and Answers my asserting The Spirits Operations in calling Effectually in Regeneration in Working Faith in us and Vniting us to Christ But while he is necessitated to own this He affirms it To be inconsistent with and contradictory to my 〈◊〉 and My Brethrens Doctrine which he endeavours to confirm by a far fetched and inconsequential reason because we deny all extraordinary immediate and Objective Revelation such as the Apostles had and tho' we disown this Doctrine of theirs how it shall Follow we renounce all the special Gracious and saving operations of the Spirit of God in and by the use of means and Ordinances of Gods own appointment and sometimes immediately where External means of our Salvation are Wanting in the Regeneration Sanctification of Souls in making them meet for himself in Glory I leave both to Natural and Gracious Souls to Determine But every Christian Reader may discover in this person a most Arrogant Spirit to pretend to know my Principles and Opinions better than I know them my self and with impudent falshood to affirm and declare I have Published an Account of Principles I do not believe and that they are repugnant to my Brethrens Doctrine seeing our publick Confessions of Faith and Catechisms known to the whole Christian World sayes the same things and particularly in the Description of Effectual Calling which is further confirmed in all our common places and Bodies of Divinity and in all the practical Pieces treating of these Subjects as Mr. Allen of Conversion Mr. Burgess and Mr. Cole of Regeneration and many others and I am satisfied how oft I have delivered in publick my Opinion in these matters I must needs declare it is an evil Principle and unfair Undertaking for any to take upon them to Publish Principles and contradict Principles of those he is an â—solute stranger unto and it is the true Character of a Deceiver to possess others with prejudices against â—ur Principles only by misrepresenting of them and â—astening Principles on us which we abhor And â—s to all inward Revelation or speaking of God to â—e Souls and Hearts of Believers I never read nor heard of any of our Divines absolutely deny or disown iâ— And I have upon all occasions publickly Taught and Do and shall in the Strength of Jesus Christ firmly believe and that unto the end the Aluminating Sanctifying Mortifying Quickning Operations of the Holy Spirit of God in the hearts of every sound Believer in restoring the Corrupted Soul to the Forfeited Image of God so it is evident how inclinable Keith is to Calumniate and misrepresent us upon all occasions How great must the Ignorance of Quakers needs be who cannot or their perversness be that will not distinguish between Enthusiastick Immediate Extraordinary and Objective Revelations from the Spirits Gracious and Spritual Illumination of his mind impressing those Truths made known and Revealed in an ordinary way by Means of Heavens Appointment giving them Efficacious Grace to see Embrace Close with and make Saving Application of them to their heartâ— and Grace to observe the same in their Lives which ordinary and extaordinary Operations they confound together as they do the Universal or General Presence of Christ with his special saving and gracious Presence holding him to be in all after the same manner And whereas he has assumed boldness to affirm we call it Blasphemy to say Christ is really in the Saints All the Answer this deserves is that it is Notoriously False and a groundless Calumny For all of us firmly believe That unless the Spirit of Christ be in us we are none of his and Christ is in us except we be Reprobate and he dwells in all Believers 〈◊〉 from Pauls words it is by Faith Eph. 3.17 as 〈◊〉 declared and that fully from that Text Colos 1.27 Christ in you the Hope of Glory And it is no contradiction to affirm and believe that God hath called Sinners out of Sin unto Grace yet at the same time to feel and assert that all have sin remaining in them for it is no hard matter to distinguish betwixt Sinners being under the Power Dominion and Slavery or Drudgery of Sin and a Sinners having some Relicks and Remainders of Sin and Corruption in them whereby even in Believers there is a constant and spiritual Warfare raised in the believing Soul whereas formerly the Strong Man kept the House the Apostle gives us this distinction Sin shall not have Dominion over you you are not under the Law but under Grace and the same Apostle even after his Conversion complains of his own sinful wretched Corruption and at the same time Triumphs in the Victory obtained for in the next breath Thanks be to God who has given us the victory and if Sin in some measure be not cotemporary with saving Grace or Conversion what must become of Quakers universal sufficient and saving Grace and all the multitudes of them I have ever seen must according to their own Opinion be void of Conversion Grace and Justification for Sin have been easily discernable in all neither did ever any of them produce one instance for their absolute perfection and yet none of us assert that the Saints Sincerity Thought Word and Deed as Keith falsely words it yet it strictly and spiritually taken all are attended with Infirmities I am quarrelled for asserting in my Catechism page 25. This Justification and Adoption are Acts of God without us and and work only a relative Change and that Justification Adoption and Sanctification once had cannot be Lost As to the first Justification is according to the Judgment of all Proâ—estant Divines a gracious Act of Gods Love in a Judicial Way upon the account of Christ's Imputed Righteousness acquitting and absolving the sinner from Guilt and consequently from Condemnation I hope Quakers will not jump in
say God had a Church among the Jews under their Defections and Failings away to Idolatry and Superstition Now where Christ has a Church though Invisible in the Wilderness there are the Essentials of Religion Ordination and Church-constitution tho' much infected with Error and corrupted with Romish Superstition and these Essentials are still Gods and to esteem his and not theirs who are the chief Instruments Heads and Authors of all the Corruptions under that Defection to whom only and properly belong those Errors Corruptions Idolatries and Superstitions they have invented and introduced to the Church And yet the soundest of Divines believe that upon all Reformations which undoubtedly are originally and efficiently of God a people or particular persons leaving and Renouncing the Abominations of Antichrist and their submitting to and embracing the Truth of the Gospel and the Purity of all Ordinances and Worship abandoning the Pope as their Head and Subjecting themselves to Christs Kingdom they are ipso facto Constituted Churches of Jesus Christ and the Gospel Truths Ordination and Ordinances VVord and Sacraments they adhere to are not theirs nor from those they Separated from is Keith ignorantly and invidiously asserts but they are still the Lords and belong to Jesus Christ for even in the Church of Rome and under Antichrist there were Ordinances of Jesus Christ VVord and Sacraments Praying Preaching and Praising of God tho' much vailed and corrupted and consequently they had Ministers or Officers to Dispense these Ordinances who undoubtedly had some of the Essentials of Ordination which was the Lords and nothing was properly Antichrists but Antichristian Corruptions of which he is Author for differentia constituit speciem so that we no more have Ordination from the Pope upon Reformation then we have Baptism and the Lords Supper Reading and Praising and Quakers have Prayer Teaching the Scriptures and their new Observation of the First Day of the VVeek And we would gladly know from what part of Gods Word is it or can it be made to appear that upon every Defection and Corruption of the Church God will Beget and Create New Churches in an immediate manner under the Gospel more man under the Law For after the Defections of Israel and long continuance in Idolatry upon their Repentance and Reformation from all their Coruptions and Abuses they were Re Established 〈◊〉 Adâ—…itred unto all the Ordinances and Priviledges of the Church of God and what does Keith think of them and their Reformation dâ—are he affirm they had all their Ordination and VVorship from Jereboam Who made Israel to Sin and other chief Idolaters so it will unquestionably follow that neither we our Ordination Doctrine VVorship nor Sacraments while warranted from the Authoâ—ly of Gods VVord are from Rome the Pope or any Prelate in the VVorld as Quakers after the manner of Satan would Accuse the Brethren Thus Keiths invincible Armado is beat to pieces whereby he thought to have overthrown all Churches who have obeyed Gods Call and are come out of Babylon And we are confident that a great part of our Teachings are Christian Experiences to which we oft publickly do Appeal for Confirmation of what is delivered and many Preachers have a peculiar way of Preaching their own Experiences And finally as he begins so he closes shuts up his Paper with groundless False Calumnies and invidious Reflections affirming I assert and alledge False things concerning Baptism and the Lords Supper and First concerning Baptism he saith First I do not distinguish between Johns Baptism and Christs In answer to this I Freely assent to any and all the distinction made in the Scriptures which is not in Substance or Essence but in Fruit and Efficacy and the same distinction I still make between our External Administration and Christs Efficacious Blessing thereof for what John said we and all Ministers of the Gospel to the end of the World must still acknowledge we Baptise with Water but Christ and he alone Baptiseth with the Holy Ghost and with Fire And if the Baptism Administred by Christs Disciples in His Name Authority and Presence was Christs and no doubt it was the same with Johns for Substance as you or any other may Read John 2.22 23 24 26. verses For 1. That Baptism wherewith Christ and His Disciples Baptised in the Land of Judea was Water Baptism 2. It was an outward visible and discernable Baptism to Spectators saith Johns Disciples to him Rabbi he that was with thee beyond Jordan the same Baptizeth and all men come unto him it is observable that it was not the Baptism with the Holy Ghost and with Fire as distinct from the outward Ordinance for it is said John 4.2 Jesus himself Baptised not but His Disciples yet it is called his in the 1 v. of this chap. and in the 22. v. of the former chap 1 Because done by his Disciples 2 By his Command and Authority And it was the same Baptism his Disciples and Apostles performed in all and Every Church where they Preached the Gospel according to that last Commission of Our Lords immediately before His Ascension Matth 28. and last Go Teach and Baptise al Nations and Lo I am with you to the end of the World Hence Four things are observable in this Text. 1 That Teaching of Nations yea All Nations by external means and instruments is a Standing and Perpetual Ordinance in the Church of Christ to the end of the World 2 That as many as are Called Ministers of the Gospel are also Commissionated To Baptise also Go Teach all Nations Baptising them 3 That Water Baptism or the External Ordinance is that Enjoined or Commanded in the Words and not the Baptism with the Holy Ghost and with Fire for it is enjoined to meer men who can do no more then John could do who Professed he Baptised with Water and yet we believe many who were Baptised by John received also the Holy Ghost otherwise a very empty and insignificant Ordinance and unprofitable to all if nothing else was reaped thereby but Sprinkling or Washing with Water and yet the Outward Mean Ordinance and Administration was from John and the fruit efficacy and blessing was from Jesus Christ and it is bold impudence and Arrogant Presumption for any to pretend to Baptise with the Holy Ghost and with Fire which is Christs peculiar Work and Prerogative And Keiths answer here unto in his Book is void of all satisfaction to any Intelligent Person for he affirms tho' no man Baptize with the Holy Ghost efficiently yet they may instrumentally we who use the outward mean Instrument and Ordinance may through the Blessing of God and Efficacious Presence of Christ's Spirit and undoubtedly are made Instruments of the Inward Grace Life and Advantage of that Ordinance but how Quakers can be Instruments of Baptizing Spiritually who are opposite to and ridicule the outward Ordinance which is the only proper means and instrument of Gods own Appointment I cannot resolve unless they
will take Gods place by working without Means and contrary to Means or they imagine to work Effects by unsuitable causes and attain an end by improper means as if a man intended to Merchandize by Labouring in the Ground intend for Europe from America and yet Steer to the South or by Planting Tobacco to imagine to Reap Corn for I am perswaded that such as in Faith Administers the outward Ordinance of Baptism and that purely according to the Divine Institution Praying and Depending on God for his Blessing and Christ for his Vertue and Presence are in the most probable way of being Instruments of the Grace of Baptism so that this Baptism is a standing and perpetual Ordinance to the End of the World which is clearly inferred from the Promise annexed which is perpetual and Lo I am with you to the End of the World as durable as Teaching it self which the after practice of the Apostles and Servants of Christ to this day Confirm should be continued until Christ's Second Coming notwithstanding of all Gainsayers He further would insinuate That we Learned and Received Sprinkling of Children from the Church of Rome but it is easy to make appear they go hand in hand with Rome in more things than we do who are known to all the Followers of Antichrist to walk more opposite to and in abhorrence of their Principles and Practices then any others for their Universal Redemption their Free-will their denying Perseverance their possible Perfection in this Life their Vilipending the Scriptures and denying it to be the Rule and their holding the Pope of Rome not to be Antichrist and their Denying the Morality of the Fourth Command they have raked and picked these with many more out of that filthy Sink and stinking puddle of Romish Corruption and as for our Sprinkling in Baptism it is not so repugnant to Scripture as perverse Quakers do imagine For Water in Baptism Represents the Blood of Jesus Christ and why not sprinkling the Sprinkling of the Blood of Christ which is so clearly expressed by the Apostle Paul to the Hebrews but neither Infant Baptism nor Sprinkling is 〈◊〉 Controversy between Quakers and us for 1 They are against the Baptism of Old as well as Young 2. They are against Washing or Dipping as well as Sprinâ—ing therefore I wave both And next I shall make appear That George Keith is guilty of a double falshood concerning Baptism in his Book 1. In opposition 〈◊〉 Scripture to say with his Brethren that Water â—aptism was only for Johns Dispensation and conseâ—ently Abolished or abrogated in Christ whereas 〈◊〉 was continued all the time of Christ's Life and 〈◊〉 he was Dead and Gone and still does without all interruption as any may read in the Acts of the Apostle 2 He contradicteth himself and his Brethren too in saying that only it stood in force in Johns time and abolished immediately yet some may be Sent of the Lord and Instructed to Baptise with Water and if they can prove they are Sent of the Lord should be gladly Received but Hiâ— Labor hâ—… Opus est for how they go about to prove this they have never yet told us Now let his Friends and Followers consider and examine what this man would be at for it is abolished and yet they may be called by the Spirit of God to Administer it can it be supposed that the Spirit of God will call any to Administer that Worship that is Removed and Abolished by God and His Holy Spirit were not this to make God and His Holy Spirit who are Essentially one to Clash with themselves which were Blasphemy to affirm He impugnes Water Baptism with all his might as not now warranted by Scripture and yet will Justifie a Call and Mission to Administer Abrogated Worship and from the same Argument why not Called and Sent to perform all the Abrogated Services Rites and Sacrifices under the Law as Circumcision the Passover and all Legal Sacrifices and so from a pretended Call to set up again the Mosaical Worship This would be a brave Spiritual Work indeed and to make this appear to be the Judgment of others of that Party as well aâ— his own he acknowledged at my House A Quakeâ— once Baptised with Water and was approved of for it Is Water Baptism not warranted by Scripture but Abolished since Johns Dayes and yet performed and approved of by those who are Enemies thereunto from an imaginary and unknown Call and Mission which would be to introduce the grossest Enthusiasâ— in the World and an open door to all wild fancies and imaginations Let Keiths Friends and Followers beware of this mans principles and Books And concerning the Lords Supper he asperses us all but I doubt not to make it convincingly appear that he both contradicteth Scripture and his Brethren too 1 He contradicteth Scripture in undervaluing this great Ordinance as no Special Divine Spiritual Gospel Ordinance but Jumbles it in with the common and dayly Eating and ordinary means of Believers an high indignity to this Ordinance and the Author of it repugnant to Scripture and inconsistent with the sure and certain experience of thousands of the Godly who have Eat at the Table of the Lord to their unspeakable comfort and transporting Consolation more then they reaped by their ordinary Meals so that Christian Experience witnesseth against them and confutes all their Quibling Arguments and Sophistical Quirks and my own experience of the Grace Blessings and Benefits of this Great Special and Solemn Ordinance shall be an unanswerable Argument to me against all Hereticks in the World And it is also strange with what impudent Spirit they can call the Supper of the Lord no Special Ordinance distinct from Ordinary Meals For 1 Our Lord oft Eat with Mixed Multitudes but in this Ordinance with a Select Number of his own even his Apostles 2 He never did Celebrate that Ordinance but once and that was in the very Night wherein he was Betrayed a great Argument of his Love and Faithfulness to his Church 3 He Instituted it immediately after the Passover and that Hymn that was usually Sung after the Passover was deferred till after the Administration of the Lords Supper to signify the Abrogation of the one and Institution of the other in its Room and Place 4 At what other Meals did ever Our Lord say This is my Body and as oft as you do it do it in Remembrance of me 5 Those that make their Ordinary Meals to be the Lords Supper which is a new notion of K's they alter the Elements at your Pleasure which are Signs instituted of God the Bread to signify his Flesh and Wine to signify his Blood and they Arrogantly Presumptuously appoint others Fish Flesh and what ever comes in the way far from the practice of the Apostle Paul in the Church of Corinth who delivered nothing to that Church in this great Ordinance but what he received of the Lord Jesus the Author of it