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A47166 Quakerism no popery, or, A particular answere to that part of Iohn Menzeis, professor of divinity in Aberdeen, (as he is called) his book, intituled Roma mendax Wherein the people called Quakers are concerned, whom he doth accuse as holding many popish doctrins, and as if Quakerism, (so he nick-names our religion,) were but popery-disguised. In which treatise his alleadged grounds for this his assertion, are impartialy and fairly examined and confuted: and also his accusation of popery against us, justly retorted upon himself, and his bretheren. By George Keith. Keith, George, 1639?-1716. 1675 (1675) Wing K194; ESTC R213551 62,351 126

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Fourthly Melancton in Annot. super Iohan. 6. So they who hear only the externall and bodily voice hear a creature and seeing GOD is a Spirit He is neither seen nor known nor heard but in Spirit therefore to hear the voice of GOD to see and know GOD is to hear the Spirit Again by the Spirit alone GOD is known and his voice is perceived it doth not justifie to have heard bodily or after a bodily manner because justification is to be regenerated by the Spirit of GOD. Again the same Melancton Super epist. ad Rom. Per Lutherum editam cap. 2. on these words the Letter and the Spirit For the Letter signifieth not the written sense or the history as Origen thought but all works and all doctrines that live not in the heart through the Spirit and Grace is letter The Law is letter the Gospell is letter the Historie is letter the Spirituall allegoricall Sense is letter yea all that which lives not in the ●eart through the Spirit and Grace is letter The Spirit is that by which the Spirit of Grace liveth in the heart the Spirit is the true love of God and of our neighbour which liveth in the heart which is the law written in the heart by the finger of GOD and not in the tables of stone The Spirit is the faith by which the gospell is truely and from the heart believed And here observe that if all be letter as well the words of the New Testament as of the Old which live not in the heart through the Spirit and Grace then it is manifested that every unregenerat man who is a Preacher is at best but a minister of the letter so that his ministry is letter he is not a minister of the new Testament but of the letter which killeth his ministry is nothing else but a killing letter and is good for nothing Now as to the second branch of his first article that the Scripturs are not a compleat rule of faith this he alleageth is a Popish doctrin mantained by Quakers But First I query how is it a Popish doctrin seeing according to I. M. his own confession some of the Popish Doctors yea many Old School-men as Aquinas Scotus Durandus all hold as it seemeth that the Scripture is the compleat rule of Faith wherein all supernaturall truths necessary to be believed are revealed pag. 76. yea in the same page he saith the Romanists are so farre from that Unity wherof they boast that they are broken into a multitude of Opinions touching the Rule of their Faith and Religion And indeed I M. in●inuateth elsewhere little less in his book then that as touching all the differences betwixt them and those of his profession the Popish Doctors are subdivided among themselves so as to contradict one another in those very points which I am apt to believe is a truth And if so then it is apparent that there is no doctrin held in common by Us and some of the Papists but the same is contradicted by others of them and so these others of the Popish Doctors agree with I. M. and his Bretheren wherein they contradict Us. But as I have already said page 2. that which indeed maketh a Popish Doctrin is that it be not only affirmed by Papists and that most generally but that it be contrary unto the Scripturs and by this rule we are most willing to be tryed whether he or we have most of the Popish stuff or Wares Secondly as to the charge it self That the Scripturs are not the compleat rule of Faith I do affirme that this charge doth not at all reach us called Quakers more then it reacheth any true Protestants which that I may make to appear I distinguish of Faith as it is common unto all Christians and as it is peculiar and proper unto some now as to common Faith I say the Scripturs are a compleat secondary rule of all principles both fundamentall or essentiall and integrall of common Faith so as there is no principle of Faith whatsomever that is necessary to be believed by all Christians in common whether essentiall or integrall but is sufficiently declared in the Scripturs so that as to common principles of Faith we say the Scripture is not a partiall rule as do those Papists who say it is but a compleat and totall rule and herein we agree with all true Protestants and doe with them reject all unwritten traditions as being any part of the rule of Faith Yet although we say the Scripture is a compleat rule we understand it in its own kinde to wit a compleat externall rule as when I say a compleat Chart or Map of Scotland or England I mean that it is as full as a Map needeth to be yet it is not so full as the Land it self is otherwise it behoved to be as bigg as the Land Again though I call it a compleat rule yet I deny it to be the Principall It is then a compleat Secondary rule and in this we differ exceeding widely and materially from Papists but as to that Faith that is not common and universall but only peculiar and proper to some if there by any such Faith I. M. must needs acknowledge the Scripture is not the rule thereof as for example when George Wishard Iohn Knox and severall others in our own Nation did prophecy some particular things not to be found in Scripture but which indeed They had by speciall revelation this our Scots Protestants do generally acknowledge and some have thought it a great honour to our Nation particularly Durham and the Author of the fulfilling of the Scripturs Now this speciaell revelation was the rule of that proper and peculiar Faith which those men had as touching those particular things whereof they Prophecied but the Scripture was not the Rule of this their peculiar Faith And indeed for this distinction of ommon and peculiar Faith the Scripture is plaine as where it saith Rom. 14.22 Hast thou Faith have it to thy Self This is that peculiar and proper Faith as is said unto which belongs that Faith whereby I or any other particular true Christian doeth believe that we are indeed the Children of God For that a man may have ane assurance of Faith that he is a Child of GOD is granted by true Protestants and yet the rule of this particular Faith can not be the Scripture seeing no Scripture in all the Bible saith that such a man by name now living is a Child of GOD for although the Scripture give true and certain markes of a Child of GOD yet it doth not tell me that I have these markes and so can not be the Rule unto me whereby to know or believe that I have them indeed But the Spirit himself beareth witnesse with our Spirits that wee are the Children of GOD. Rom. 8. And this Faith I say whereby a particular person doth believe that he is a true Child of GOD that he is regenerated and sanctified and
be so wide seeing what they doe against you is to bring you back again to the grossest part of Popery what we doe is but to move you foreward that you may leave behind and throw away those too many and hurtfull relicts of Popish principles and practises which hinder you from being a truely Reformed Church that so you may be indeed a Reformed Church and People unto GOD. And so farr as the Reformed Churches so called have forsaken any Popish principles and practises whatsomever in that we allow them and have unity with all the sincere and upright in heart among them which are but a very few in respect of the great multitudes of profane and scandolous Persons nor is it any thing of the Work of GOD that he hath wrought in any whether among Papists or Protestants so called that we seek to break down but indeed to cherish it and build it up But it is the work of the Enemie that our testimony is against and for the breaking of it down where ever it appears both in our selves and in others Finally whereas he saith that we Romanise in denying the Scripturs to be the compleat and principall Rule of Faith I have so sufficiently answered it above that I need say no more here Only for a testimony of our agreement with true Protestants against all Popish superstitions and traditions whatsomever this I affirm that whatever principle or practice in Religion is obtruded by Papists or any other upon the account of tradition that is not to be found declared and witnessed to in the Scripturs or can not by sound evidence of true reason be deduced from the Scripturs is to be rejected utterly and denyed by every true Christian which principle as it is verbaly owned by many Protestants I wish it were as realy practised among them and then it should be known how cordialy and realy we should joyn with them in all things against the common Enemie of true Reformation And as to his charity or rather indeed the defect of it wherewith he concludes this matter in expressing himself jealous that both Papists and Quakers could wish there were not Scripture in the World As it relates to us I shall only wish that the LORD may forgive him his hard thoughts conceived against us without any just ground and shall be so farr from thinking so of him or any of his B●ethren that they could wish there were no Scripture that I really believe they are glade that it is in the World For either they have a measure of sincerity and who have this will love the Scripture upon this good principle or they have not as indeed too many of them as I suppose by I. M. his own concession are of that stamp who are but mercenary and covetous men even whose GOD is their belly and mind Earthly things and yet these are glade to have the Scripturs not to conform their lives unto them but to make a trade of them Cauponantes Verbum Dei Making merchandise of the Word of GOD as the Apostle declareth 2. Cor. 2.17 SECT XI Wherein I. M. his acknowledgment concerning the Ministeriall Succession through the Church of Rome is briefly considered and the Imputation of Popery in that respect justly retorted upon him MAny other things I could have observed in his book that might have been of service to us for our Vindication and an occasion further to clear the Truth but we not being so particularly concerned in them I have purposely forborn intending briefness also his frequent naming of us and classing us with Romanists Papists Iesuits c. with his many bitter expressions and insinuations I have waved it being chiefly before me to answere directly to th●se particular charges above mentioned Only in the Close I cannot ommit one thing and that is his opnely and professedly avowing that Ordination con●erted by Antichristian Ministers such as the Bishops and Popes of Rome even supposing them to be the Great Antichrist may be and is valid and that the Ordination of the first Reformers was such To this I have some things to say First If the Pope of Rome his Ordination and Cal● be valid which he conferreth and that the Protestants have no other but what was at first received from him and them to wit Popish Bishops then it may easily appear whether they or we be most a-kin to the Pope they owning expresly his authority seeing none can conferr Ordination but who hath authority so to doe we expresly and altogether rejecting and denying it as meer usurpation surely I. M. and his Brethren may henceforth be ashamed to call us the Popes Emissaries seeing we never directly ●or indirectly owned him or his call and yet so in the face of the World to print himself and his Brethren to be indeed the Popes Emissaries for Emissarie is one sent by the Pope as he confesseth his Ordination Call or sending to be seeing his is derived by them who had it first from the Pope And if an Emissarie of the Pope he is also an Emissarie of Papesse Ioan who is in the line of Papall succession by I. M. his confession Secondly it is a very strange thing how a Minister of Antichrist yea how he who is Antichrist himself the Great Antichrist as I. M. admitteth the supposition can make or ordain a true and lawfull Minister of Christ. If I. M. can show us any where in Scripture that Christ conferred this power to Antichrist we shall confess him to be a Minister of Christ but till then he must excuse us to hold him as in that respect at least a Minister of Antichrist But I. M. seems to come of with a distinction he gives pag. 379. not in so farr as Antichristian saith he but as retaining some of Christs Goods this distinction I fear will be found too Metaphysicall and fitter for men who have Philosophicall Consciences who can defend any thing by a distinction then men of plainness and simplicity but I ask I. M. how or in what relation doth the Pope hold some of Christ his Goods whether as Christian or Antichristian if as Antichristian the distinction destroyeth it self in making the members of the distinction to coincide as to say the Pope not as Antichristian holdeth some of Christs Goods and yet as Antichristian holdeth some of Christs Goods this were to make two contradictory propositions both true together which is absurd But if he say that the Pope as Christian holdeth some of Christs Goods then it followeth that he is both Christian and Antichristian together which is indeed as reall an impossibility as for one and the same man to be both a man and a beast in a strict and proper sence seeing Christian and Antichristian differ really as much as man and beast especially in the sense acknowledged that the Pope is so Antichristian that he is in the Abstract the Great Antichrist himself for to say that he who is in the least measure a true Christian
affirming that Water-Baptism is the Baptism of Christ and a standing Ordinance of the Church of Christ which the Quakers deny Twelfthly The Papists and I. M. with his Bretheren agree in affirming that INFANT-SPRINKLING is an Ordinance of the Gospell which the Quakers deny Thirteenthly The Papists and I. M. and his Bretheren agree in affirming that the partaking of the visible Signs of B●ead and Wine is a Sacrament or standing Ordinance in the Church of Christ Which the Quakers deny Fourteenthly The Papists and I. M. and his Bretheren agree that it is lawfull for Christians to swear which the Qu●kers according to the express command of Christ doe deny Fifteenthly The Papists and I. M. and his Bretheren agree that it is lawfull for Christians to fight and KILL ONE-ANOTHER in fighting which the Quakers deny Sixteenthly The Papists and I. M. and his Bretheren agree in the bloody Antichristian Tenet of PERSECUTION in affirming that the Civil Magistrat may lawfully Kill Banish Imprison and poynd men for their Opinions in matters of Worship and Doctrin which Doctrin the Quakers deny Seventeenthly The Papists and I. M. with his Bretheren agree in affirming it lawfull for men to Knell Bow and take off their Hatts One to another and in the use of vain Titles Complements and Cringeings c. all which things the Quakers deny Eighteenthly The Papists and I. M. and his Bretheren agree in asserting the lawfulness of Gameing Sporting Playing and all such● other things as Danceings Singings acting of Commedies useing of Lace Ribbands plating the Hair and such other kinde of Superfluities all which the Quakers deny I could have instanced severall other particulars some whereof are in the former part of this Treatise included but this may serve abundantly to prove the matter in hand for since it cannot be denyed but that I. M. and his Bretheren doe agree in those before mentioned particulars and that joyntly in opposition to the Quakers who then can deny but that there is more affinity betwixt I. M. and the Papists then betwix● the Quakers and them And if I. M. and the Papists agree in many more particulars and that more weighty against the Quakers then he himself can alleadge the Quakers doe with Papists against him then let the Rational Reader judge whether he had any reason to upbraid us with affinity with Papists to whom he is farr more near a kin As for his Popish charges against us we have vindicated our selves from them let him if he can clear himself from these he is here charged with If he confess the agreement but affirm that both he and Papists are right in these things and we wrong in denying them However this will be hence so farr apparent that he is more one with Papists then we and therefore had no reason to accuse us of Popery But as to these particulars both I and some others of my Bretheren have already proven how they and Papists doe in these agreements against us contradict both Truth and Scripture and that in severall Books already published which lye at their door unanswered SECT XIII Containing the Conclusion by way of Epilogue wherein the whole is briefly resumed and the falsness of the Accusation as well as the justness of our Retortion clearly presented to the view of the Serious and Impartial-Reader THe Summe of what is said results here that the Quakers doe as much yea more then any Protestants deny these Gross Abominable Idolatrous and Superstitious Popish Doctrins upon the occasion whereof the Reformation first tooke place and therefore in no true respect can be said to return to Popery But upon the contrary the principles doctrins and practises of the Quakers are a further step of Reformation from Popery in many things wherein Protestants adhere to them who have only cut of some of the grossest branches and fruit that was most obviously putrified but we strick at the very root and foundation of i● The root and ground of Popery and all Apostacy standing principaly and fundamentaly in this one thing to wit a forsaking neglecting over-looking and despising the gift of GOD the spirit of GOD the inward Anointing which should be the constant immediat and only guide of Christians as that whereby is signified their daily dependence relying upon and trusting to the Lord above and beeing ruled by him and a setting up exalting and following mans own will spirit and wisdom as he stands in his faln degenerat state in which great error and Apostacy Papists and Protestants are one in the root and spring however subdivided in the branches and streames as will appear by this short resumption of the former particulars First in that both Papists and Protestants doe not derive the ground of their knowledge from the inward immediat objective revelation of GOD 'S Light and Spirit manifesting to and revealing in them the things of His Kingdom as all the holy men of GOD ever did But all the knowledge of GOD they have and consequently the very ground and foundation of their Faith is built upon ane externall testimony and is by meer hear-say tradition and the report of others and not by any intuitive infallible Knowledge in themselves So here the testimony of man is set above the immediat witness of GOD. But the Quakers doe the contrary Secondly Beeing strangers then to this inward testimony they have invented in their imaginations severall strange and wild notions of GOD darkned and clouded the clear knowledge of Him with many heathnish and barbarous terms distinctions and nycities the useless fruit of mans faln carnal wisdom who confess themselves not led by GOD'S spirit Which terms have no resemblance to the plain simple testimony of these good men who by the leadings of GOD'S spirit wrot the Scripturs which terms as of a Trinity a word not to be found in all the Bible of seperat distinct persons the Quakers in opposition to both Papists and Protestants reject as beeing such as are neither revealed in them by the spirit nor testified of in the Scripturs Thirdly The Ministry both of Papists and Protestants is a MAN-MADE-MINISTRY founded upon a traditional succession qualified by natural and acquired parts performed by the art and wisdom of man to which they neither judge the inward and immediat call of GOD'S Spirit nor the assistance and influence of His Grace a necessary qualification So here is man with his faln natural wisdom set up and exalted but the Grace Spirit and Power of GOD despised neglected accounted at best but as an accidental and no essential qualification But the Quakers doe the contrary Fourthly The Worship both of Papists and Protestants is a voluntary will-worship stands in mans will and traditionall appointments of meats and drinks diverse washings and carnal observations wherein consists the substance of both their worships which they go about at their own times seasons and in their own strength not minding the Spirit of GOD to act move lead or order them therein nor judging