Selected quad for the lemma: tradition_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
tradition_n	book_n	holy_a	scripture_n	2,474	5	6.0561	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A54199	Quakerism, a new nick-name for old Christianity being an answer to a book entituled Quakerism no Christianity, subscribed by J. Faldo : in which the rise, doctrine and practice of the abused Quakers are truly, briefly and fully declared and vindicated from the false charges ... made by that adversary with a key opening the true meaning of some of their doctrine ... / by one of them and a sufferer with them in all their sufferings, William Penn.	Penn, William, 1644-1718.	1672 (1672)	Wing P1347; ESTC R30094	154,759	271

ours can No but with respect to that Principle which it directs to and is able to tell a man All that ever he did The only Spiritual Glass and which the best of Writings fall short of Precepts and Traditions of Men Morn Watch p. 18. Truth 's Principles Title of Crook ' s Book Reconcil It is deny'd that ever any such Words were ever spoken or written of the holy Scriptures as Precepts and Traditions of Men for they contain the holy Precepts and Traditions of the Word of God who is God himself it is base and unworthy thus to mince and mis represent our Writings For Truth 's Principles it signifies no more then the Declaration of what we believe as the very beginning of the Book expresly proves That Light is in the Scriptures prove that or tell me what one Scripture hath Light in it Lip of Truth p. 7. Light risen out of Darkness Title of Farnsworth's Book Reconcil There is not Light in the Scriptures that is there is not Living Spiritual Essential Light in the Scriptures or by way of Excellency but a descriptive and declarative Light they carry with them of the true Light the Author of those excellent Things therein mention'd In which Sense alone do we understand Richard Farnsworth's Title God having caused his Light to spring out of Darkness and he being then the Witness of it testified to the Truth thereof by a Declaration to the World of what he knew in the Matter He did not say That Book was that Light for so it had never been before him that writ it and the Writings of it and what Casualities the Book was or is liable to would fal upon the Light though he bears Record to an Everlasting Spiritual Light that shines Within where his Book cannot be But rather that he knew and witnessed the Visitation of the Day-spring of God's Eternal Light of Life to the World he writ his Book to give Notice thereof calling it by that Name because his Subject treated on doth manifestly import so much not that the Book was that Holy and Eternal Light § 10. Let it suffice to all impartial People that we only desire to make a Difference betwixt the Writings and the Thing written of and to the Eternal Overthrow of our Adversaries not wholly without their own Help since they think the Titles we give our Books very Glorious in themselves most unworthy of them but proper to the Scriptures whom they say we slight Let it be consider'd that not one of those Books is destitute of Scripture but is either generally in a Scripture Style or particularly defended by plenty of express Scriptures cited therefore of Necessity they the Scriptures must also partake with them in Common of those famous Titles And thus far have they the Preference that they are quoted on purpose to give the Truth we write of greater Credit what is that greater Credit but to be exactly agreeable with themselves so that our Adversaries Argument amounts to thus much They therefore prefer their own Writings before the Scriptures because they in all their Writings earnestly endeavour by numerous Quotations to prove what they write to be according to the Scriptures Behold Reader how at one Blow we fall The whole Chapter of this Fallible Errable Uncertain Busie Priest with respect to his Charge of our preferring our own Writings before the Scriptures § 11. But there remain two Things to be considered before we close this Chapter First his untrue Inferences Secondly his base Comparison of us with the Papists with Design to render us Odious to all that abominate their Idolatry First That the Scriptures both are and ever were Superfluous for the Light within as they pretend was alwayes fitted to Inspire every Man and Woman in the same Manner and to all Intents and Purposes as they were inspired and written Which how just and true it is we do reserve the Examination of it to God's Witness in the Conscience of the Reader Only this much I will say that though all Ability was and is in Him whom we declare to be the Light of all Mankind to Reveal the whole Mind of God yet in as much as very few in all Ages were so resigned up to the Holy Conduct of it as they ought to have been the Lord hath put it into the Hearts of Many to stir up the Negligent and Sloathful by a Reminding them with that Counsel in outward Writings or other Verbal Testimonies which they had long slighted in themselves that it might Instrumentally work upon them unfeigned Repentance and Conversion to God Therefore went God's Messengers forth Line upon Line and Precept upon Precept here a little and there a little But this I affirm and that in the Name of the Lord against the uttermost Strength of this Busie Priest that had those Prodigal● in all Ages lived up to that Measure of Divine Light the Talent God gave to every Individual there had not been any such need for those Messages Wherefore the Occasion of them was not for want of any sufficient Gift from God but because of their own Rebellion Nay they were the Testimonies of the very Light of Christ in the Prophets and Apostles who were Heirs and Children of Light which they gave forth at divers Times in their several Ages as God pleased to move upon their Spirits with respect to Mankind so that still it was the Light within which so reprov'd and exhorted But suppose that the World had not been so Rebellious neither will it follow but that a slow Improvement of the Heavenly Gift might have occasioned many Divine Exhortations yea the Exercises of Mens Spirits as Davids for Instance in reference to the Spiritual Travel might for the Benefit of others have been written Let us suppose the highest State of Deliverance and Praise Men are capable of arriving at in this World yet Epistles of divine Love Experience heavenly Praises c. might have been transmitted from Church to Church as of the Flock and Family of God Therefore I utterly deny that the Perfection of the Light 's Teachings makes the Scriptures superfluous much less the general best Attainments that have been and now are in the World § 12. But that any Man so conceited of his Abilities as J. Faldo should so basely mistake Reason and abuse his Reader as to infer from the Ability of the Light in It self whether obey'd or not obey'd the Uselesness of the Scriptures or Testimonies of holy Men to the World is Ground for just Censure and severe Rebuke for it were to say that because a Master is of himself able enough therefore all Books are superfluous The Scripture don't argue the Insufficiency of the Light since so the Instrument would rise against its Principal but the Insufficiency of the Creature in which condition Line upon Line and Precept upon Precept may by the Light within good Men be given forth to invite and encourage Man to yield Obedience to the Conviction

those they Preach to W. P. This is done like the Fox indeed He would suggest because we deny Hirelings that is Bargainers Men that make it their Trade that have no other will seek no other and yet preach perhaps but once a Week if then and bestow the Six Days that might be otherwise employ'd to Study for that Day instead of Preaching most of those Dayes that therefore we are such Cruel Hard-hearted People that is such as Preach and are Poor either through a numerous Family low Estate many Losses or a continual Attendance from Day to Day upon the Ministry they have receiv'd of God we will not minister to their Necessities for such as so receive any Assistance are Hirelings and we should contribute to make them so No no J. Faldo the Quakers are no such People but for all that they can do and I will renounce Thee and such as Thou art for Hirelings First in that you have not received the Living Heavenly Gift of the Ministry And secondly because you do generally Bargain will not preach without it and can basely leave an Honester People for a better Allowance This is Notorious therefore stop thy Mouth J. F. pag. 72. THE LUST sayes he all Desires that accord not to the Light within and proceed not from thence W. P. What accords not with the Light within is not of God and so far we own his Explanation but to say that all Desires about such ordinary things as are left to the common Understanding Prudence and Liberty of Man to do or not to do are Lust if they come not from the immediate Impulse of the Light within is his own Notion not the Quakers We do not subject that heavenly Principle to nor concern it with every Inferior and Frivolous thing belonging to this World J. F. pag. 75. CHRIST THE OFFERING says he the Light within W. P. This is no Quakers Expression and unless we are to answer for J. Faldo's Mistakes we are unconcern'd in it Only his Malice is manifest for he would by this insinuate that we deny Christ to be an Offering as in the Flesh and the Body then offered up to be concern'd in our Belief of the Offering But I do declare it to have been an holy Offering and such an one too as was to be once for all Therefore let none receive his Abuse of us for our Faith J. F. pag. 79. MEN-PLEASERS says he They who comply with Men though in things not only Lawful but also to Edification W. P. We Charge this upon him as an Arrant Lye We are so far from reputing such Men-pleasers that we account them Sober Courteous and Commendable Persons provided he means by Lawful and to Edification what we do otherwise he is not Honest to obtrude Matters in Question for our Meanings J. F. pag. 81. RAVENING BRAIN sayes he Studying and following after Divine Knowledge W. P. This is not fair The Word studying and following we own in a sense Studying that is Meditating Following that is Obeying the Light and Spirit of God But because we deny the Dark and Heathenish Metaphysicks the prolix and abstruse Niceties of the School-men and affirm There is no way to become vers'd in the Things of God but by being an humble Student and diligent Disciple in the School of Christ that is to be taught of his Light Grace or holy Spirit Therefore all right Study and all right Wayes to come to the Knowledge of Divine Things we must be charg'd with the Denyal of Disingenuous Man J. F. pag. 86. TRADITIONS OF MEN that is says he The Scripture or Written Word W. P. Show us that in any Book that is subscrib'd by an acknowledg'd Quaker Tradition is a Delivering any thing down From one Generation to another and as such the word is Inoffensive but to say They are the Traditions of Men in the sense Christ reprov'd the Pharisaical Religion God forbid I had rather my Tongue were cut out of my Head O Base Man To abuse an innocent People thus grosly The Scripture is a Godly Tradition or Writing given forth by Inspiration and preserv'd through Generations which we read believe and desire to fulfil through the Power of God J. F. pag. 63 82 83 87. BABYLON Shaddows Spirit of Anti-Christ Outward Court that is says he all Ordinances Worship Faith Obedience that have any Form though Christ's and Gospel Forms being with them the Worship of Heathens not of Christians W. P. This Key opens into as many Forgeries as ever I knew one Key do in my Life Certainly were not this Man left of God for his Enmity he could never run into such extravagant Dishonesty What! Belye us in the Sight of all Indeed it turns upon himself For Visible Worship the Form of Godliness Faith and Obedience to every Ordinance of God we own profess and practise daily and publickly through the Power of our God in whose Name we renounce his Constructions and trample upon all his Malice black and enrag'd as it is J. F. pag. 89. THE VAIL IS OVER THEM that is says J. Faldo the Belief of the Man Christ Jesus which was of our Nature to be the Christ c. W. P. Let this be the Last though several more might be observed which at this time shall be consider'd in which we shall see that J. Faldo has done like himself and the Man we have all along taken him to be The Vail is over them it is a Scripture-Phrase 2 Cor. 3. 15. used by the Apostle to express the Darkness and Ignorance that to that time remain'd over the Understanding of the Jews in reading the Law and this Vail he makes us to interpret after this gross and absurd manner namely That the Vail is the Man Christ Wicked Man Did ever Quaker so irreverently express himself Give us his Name or tell us in what Book we may find it What greater Malice couldst thou have shown then thus unjustly to pervert the Scripture in our Name belying and abusing both As if because Christ's Flesh is called a Vail and the Ignorance of the Jews a Vail that therefore the Quakers must of Necessity mean by Vail in the first sense Vail in the second sense as if the Way to have the Vail rent were to deny the Man Christ Jesus which were to make Christ rend and destroy himself who as the Quickning Spirit alone rends all Vails of the Hearts of Unbelievers Nor indeed have I met with one Term absurd or un-intelligible unless the Scripture use such therefore 't is an Untruth to stile them absurd and a Contradiction in him to offer at Explaining any thing that is truly un-intelligible And that all the World may behold the Spirit of J. Faldo how Ill he governs himself against the Quakers which makes not a little for them let his following Epithetes and Expressions be well weighed I think they are so naked they want no Key and glad we are he found no such Subjects from us to

out of that Sense in which they were given forth and to an other End then that for which they were given forth which proves to us that the Sense and not the Words shows the End of their being so given forth The Scriptures are a Sealed Book to all but those who know them by the same Hand which Originally gave them So that however Common they may be in the World they are Strangers to them that understand them not And though Old respecting the Time when they were revealed to the Saints yet New to every Age so that we assert not a Revelation of New Things but renewed Revelation of those Things God made former Ages Witnesses of otherwise Men are no more benefited by them And to be benefited they must be made ours by the Spirit which made them the Holy Ancients § 7. In short No Man can understand Spiritual Things but the Spiritually Discerning None can so be without the Inspiration of the Almighty or Spirit of God This is Scripture Now the Author of those Queries and J. Faldo also Denying Inspiration they consequently deny themselves to be Spiritually Discerning and for Men not Spiritual to Judge of Religious and Spiritual Matters much less to Write of them and bid their Writings go and throw down Self-Will and exalt the Truth is Vain and Idolatrous For the Scriptures themselves consider'd meerly as such are unable much less Writings founded on the Authority of Self Will for it is the alone Priviledge of God's Power and Spirit and no Writing whatever distinct from it can perform that Great and Mighty Work in Man § 8. And for Equaling our Writings with the Scriptures because we assert Inspiration and that what we have received and do declare of the Things of God is from the Revelation of his Spirit in our Hearts it is a Foolish Inference Truth was and is Truth all the World over and there was and is but One Way to come to it in all Ages I mean Inspiration The Scriptures are True and our Writings are True but will it therefore follow that we bring them upon a Vie Is this your Disputant But to determine this Case He should first have prov'd if he could what Power God gave to the Ancients and what to Us. How much of his Spirit to those Ages and what to This or else he loseth himself If he can Experimentally tell what were their Discoveries and Experiences and what are Ours he would be a Proper Judge But to think to run us down by Exalting them or to lessen what we are by Increasing their Praise is an old Artifice of the Devil and Sober Men will be more True to Themselves and Just to the Matter then so to censure us Cannot one Man be another Man's Brother and not the Elder Brother Doth it follow that because God has made what we know our own by his Holy Inspirations and Operations that therefore we put our selves upon the Comparison with the Ancients If true Christians fill up or add to Christ's Sufferings yet behind why should their Writings be shuffled out of all Relation to the Scriptures There may be a Relation where there is not an Equality much less a Preference and that we do assert against all Opposers § 9. But now let us see what he says of our setting the Scriptures beneath our own Writings and I will take his own Way to do it The Characters of the Scriptures given by the Quakers as says J. Faldo Characters of their own Teachers Writings and Sayings given by them Feeding Death with Death The Letter which Killeth Declar. from the Minist of the Word p. 7. The Voice of the Son of God was utter'd forth by him by which the Dead was rais'd F. H. Life of E. B. p. 20. Seeking the Living among the Dead J. Parn. Shield His Words Ministred Grace to the Hearers Fox jun. Life E. B. A Mistake for he dy'd before E. B. Reconciliation Death is a State without the Living Experimental Knowledg of God and his Work in the Heart And that State will talk of the Fame of Wisdom as saith the Scripture and that from the Scripture that is from or in the words of Scripture being Ignorant of the true Sense of the Scripture thinking there to have Life which Literal Knowledg it feeds upon and contents it self with where Nations have lain Apostatized from the Life of God and Power of Godliness The Letter Killeth that is the Literal Knowledge or rather their Imaginations from the Letter not being Divinely Inspir'd so as to understand it by which Men buoy and lift up themselves as Christians in the World and yet are Strangers to the inward sensible Work of God And it does Kill the Soul with respect to that true Life the Spirit and Power of God begets in all right Christians through whom the Voice of the Son of God has does and will utter it self to the Ends of the Earth for the Raising the Dead in Trespasses and Sins as that worthy Servant of God did which is now with his Lord. This disreputes not the Scriptures but those who make a wrong Use of them nor is there any Comparison betwixt Reading what God's Spirit requires immediate Hearing his Voice and being sensible of his present living Touches upon the Soul Writings are but holy Things at second hand a Living Ministry is the very Life Power and Spirit present and more immediate In short the Testimony of F. H. we prefer not before the Testimony Luke gives of holy Stephen We prefer the Scriptures before all Writings but before God's immediate Power we dare not do Paper Ink and Writing the same pag. 7. A Shield of the Truth Title J. P's Book Reconcil What 's this to the purpose We say that the Scriptures or the Writings not the Things written of mark that are Paper Ink and Writing which was spoken abstractively and upon a Comparison of them with the Word of God that was with God and was and is God over all blessed for ever Doth any Man think that we believe greater things of J. Parnel's Book By no means He call'd not his Book consisting of so much Writing Ink and Paper a Shield of Truth but that of which it treated was the Truth and with respect to the Controversial part of it as it was writ in Defence of the Truth it might be tearm'd a Shield in which sense the Scriptures by him urged have the upper-hand of his Writing by whose greater Authority with Men he abets and maintains the Doctrine contended for Shews you I suppose the Light your own Faces which the Scriptures cannot do Scorned Quak. accounts p. 20. A Spiritual Glass opened Smith ' s Cat. c. Morn Watch. Reconcil This can be no way hard to reconcile For when we say the Scriptures cannot show Men at all Times and in all States their Conditions but the Secret In-shining Light of God alone we are not so unworthy as to intend that any Book of