his last part in the world it 's likely he will use his utmost subtilty in deceiving Our great care therefore should be to preserve our selves from the errours of the wicked and to take heed of the leaven of such seducers how many cautions hath the Scripture given to us herein when Christ had foretold of those seducers Mat. 24. he bids Take heed that no man deceive you and believe them not this being the end of his forewarning us that we might be forearmed against them Heresies are reckoned amongst the fruits of the flesh Gal. 5.20 and are therefore sooner drunk in by people then the precious truths of the Gospel for we cannot receive these without the special help of Gods Spirit to let them in to our hearts how soon did the Arian heresie over-spread the world only one Athanasius visibly withstood it All the world wondered after the Beast and worshipped the same Rev. 13.3 4. Popery soon over-ran the West and North parts of the world and Mahumetanisme the East and South even there where those famous Asian Churches sometimes were seated are now the impure Temples of Mahomet no gangrene sooner over-spreads the natural body then errours and heresies do the Ecclesiastick body 2 Tim. 2.17 What care then should Christians have lest they be infected with the same Adde hereunto these are no lesse deadly to the souls of people then gangrenes or plagues are to their bodies such doctrines eat as doth a canker or gangrene saith the Apostle heresies may prove as damnable to men as moral wickednesse 2 Pet. 2.1 lesser errours indeed men may hold and yet be saved whilest they build upon the right foundation Though they build hay or stubble thereupon they may be saved yet so as by fire 1 Cor. 3 13. their spirits may be scorched their peace and comfort lost but to miscarry in the foundation is damnable who can reckon up the evil consequences of false doctrines they blind the mind and extinguish the true knowledge of God they harden the heart they undermine the comfort of Christians and destroy the Churches peace they mortally infect the inward vitals of Christianity and outwardly deprave the conversation corrupt principles wil at length produce corrupt practises they provoke the Lord to have a controversie with a people where they are tolerated Rev. 2.14 15 20. and will exclude men the Kingdome of heaven Gal. 5.20 21. Let not any Christian therefore look upon the errours and heresies of the times as things of small concernment but make it his great care to be preserved from the infection of them as men do in the time of pestilence to be preserved from the same I shall for the benefit of such humble and sincere Christians as fear the infection of the errours amongst us and are willing to use such preservations against them as the Scriptures afford collect from thence a few antidotes of special use for that end the blessing of the Lord accompanying them Directions showing how Christians may be preserved from the errours and hreresies of the times I. Labour to be rooted and grounded more in the truth if you would not be shaken with every wind of doctrine Col. 1.23 2 Pet. 2.14 it 's ungrounded and unstable Christians who commonly are seduced who never saw on what grounds they took up their Religion but take it on trust from others and then when they meet with such arguments against the truth as they cannot answer they yeild to errour whereas that may be neverthelesse a truth Mat. 22.29 though they cannot defend it therefore search the Scriptures more and labour to see how the principles of the Christian faith are established upon them and be not ashamed to learn your Catechismes wherein you have the fundamentals of Christianity extracted out of the Scriptures and plainly set down even in the Primitive times they had such first principles of the oracles of God Heb. 5.12 and forms of wholsom words 2 Tim. 1.13 for the better grounding of weak Christians and the greatest proficieoâ—â— did first begin there and therein are contained such truths as may exercise us in searching further into all our life time Luther that eminent servant of Christ professed himself a Scholar in the Catechisme Had the Quakers ever been well grounded in the first principles or rudiments of Religion how is it possible they should so soon have been turned from the truth and denyed the doctrine of Christs humanity of the holy Trinity of Justification of Sanctification of the resurrection of the dead c for my part I know but few of them if any that I can judge ever had any clear distinct knowledge of these things and could tell how they were confirmed by the Scriptures Let therefore weak Christians if they would not be seduced use this direction conscionably give diligence to be setled more in the truth and to get a clear knowledge of the great doctrines of the Gospel such things as be fundamental and necessary to be known unto Salvation are clearly set down in Scripture that weak Christians if they study them with humility prayer and diligence may attain the understanding of them as for more difficult points that they cannot yet comprehend let them not too much be troubled about them but waite till God reveale the same unto them and in the meantime it s far safer for them to adhere in such things to what is commonly received by the people of God and embraced by the Saints in all ages Cant. 1.8 to follow the footsteps of the flock of Christ then to be led away by pretenders to new-light the Scriptures having given so many Cautions to beware of seducers in the last times This first direction is given by the Apostle 2 Pet. 3.17 18. Beware lest ye also being led away with the errour of the wicked fall from your stedfastnesse but grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ II. Rest not in a notional embracing of the truth but receive it with love and obedience and labour to finde your hearts bettered therby and then you shall not so soon be induced to desert the truth and embrace errours when men receive not the truth with love they are soon brought to beleeve lies 2 Thes 2.10 but when men taste the sweetnesse of the wayes of God and are in love with Gospel truths for that goodnesse they find in them they will hold them fast such as have experimented the efficacy of the doctrines of faith changing and renuing their hearts quickning their spirits pacifying and comforting their consciences and quelling their corruptions will not be easily induced to exchange them for errours but it 's those that never found those benefits by the same that so soon part therewithal Let therefore the truths of Christ dwell in your hearts and season them as leaven labour to finde your hearts molded by the same and changed into the image of truth the more you grow in grace the more
not have the guilt of the least sinne to be charged upon him Cursed is he that continueth not in all things written in the Law to do them this Judg is of purer eyes then to behold any iniquity to approve thereof he that justifieth the wicked is abomination unto him and therefore he will not do it himself he is perfectly righteous himself his Law is perfectly righteous he will not be bribed any away nor respect persons and therefore they must have a perfect spotlesse righteousnesse that stand before him 2. Such is the impurity and sinfulnesse of the natures hearts and lives of the best men living that they cannot produce such a perfect righteousnesse before God as that before mentioned for besides the imputation of Adams sin and disobedience to all born of him by ordinary generation every man hath a sinful nature in him which till he be regenerated and converted doth carry him captive to sinne daily 1 Cor. 6.11 Eph. 2.3 Tit. 3.3 And this would condemne him though he should after conversion live never so perfectly unlesse the righteousnesse and satisfaction of a Surety and Mediatour be imputed to him And after conversion the best of the Saints whose hearts are renued and the dominion of sinne brought down in them do not live so free from sin but that in many things they offend all James 3.2 and if they should say they have no sin they deceive themselves and the truth is not in them 1 John 1.8 they may say with Job how shall a man be just before God he cannot answer him one of a thousand and with Solomon Eccles 7.20 There is not a just man upon earth that doth good and sinneth not which of all the Saints have not some blemishes recorded even after the Lord gave them testimony that they were accepted of him Noah Gen. 7.1 hath witnesse of God to be a righteous man in a sinful generation yet we read he sinned afterward chap. 9.21 Job had testimony of God to be a perfect man and upright fearing God c. and yet we read afterwards of his impatiency and he confesses his sinnes and vilenesse his perfection was in the sincerity of his heart having respect to all Gods Commandments not in his perfect freedome from the being of sin David after he was declared a man after Gods own heart how sadly did he fall and Solomon after he had seen God twice Pauls complaints are known Rom. 7.24 and Peters miscarriages not only after his glorious confession of Christ Mat. 16 but after the spirit was so plentifully poured on him in the day of Pentecost for Gal. 2. Paul charges him for not walking uprightly in a particular thing there mentioned and for dissimulation The Quakers object this is the time of their warfare and therefore as yet they had not attained to that perfection I answer it was after their conversion after they had more of the grace and Spirit of Christ then any proud Papist or Quaker now hath and for their warfare it 's true it was not over nor can ours be expected to be past so long as we are in the body all the dayes of our life here are the time of our warfare Thus for the second particular such a perfect righteousnesse is not to be found in any man living which may stand at Gods judgement barre 3. Such is the goodnesse of the Lord to poor man that he hath provided that for him in Christ that he could not have in himself even this perfect righteousnesse when we were found transgressours before God and so to be condemned he gives his Sonne to fulfil all righteousness for us he is made of God unto us righteousness 1 Cor. 1.30 he became sin for us that knew no sin that we might become the righteousness of God in him we are made righteous or justified by him as he was made sinne and guilty by us that is imputatively not inherently for he had no sin in him though he took guilt upon him What was impossible to be found in us because of the weakness of the flesh is now found in Christ for us who is the Lord our righteousness Jer. 23.6 Now here is a perfect righteousness he was for his person holy harmless and separate from sinners for his life there was no evil found in him he obeyed the Law perfectly and by his death did satisfie whatever the Law could demand there could not be a farthing more required of him else he had not risen againe and been released out of prison God gave Testimony he was well pleased in him 4. But now this righteousness thus wrought in the person of Christ must be made ours before we be justified by it and how can that be this the Papists scoff at saying can a man be beautiful by another mans beauty or wise by his wisdome can a malefactour be acquitted because another man is righteous and Quakers mock at our trusting to be justified and saved by him that died at Jerusalem But this righteousness of Christ may as truly be made ours and we justified by it as sometimes a debtor is discharged by his surety or friend paying the debt for him or a malefactour is acquitted when another undergoes the penalty of the Law for him To make this clear something must be considered as done on Gods part and something as done on our part 1. On Gods part there be these two things done to make this righteousness of Christ ours so as we may be justified by it 1 A mutual compact or agreement betwixt the Father and his Son that all that Christ should be do and suffer should not be for himself but for us in our stead and place as our surety he died for our offences he rose again for our Justification Reade Isa 53. throughout thence is he call'd the surety of a better Testament of the new Covenant Heb. 7.22 Indeed what need Christ do or suffer ought for himself he need not have been made under the Law he need not have died for his own sins being holy and without sinne but it was for ours 1 Pet. 3.18 Christ suffered once for sinnes the just for the unjust to bring us unto God c. This was a thing clearly held forth in the sacrifices of the old Law which were types of Christs sacrifice those beasts then slaine did die in the stead of the sinner himself This compact betwixt the Father and Christ is one ground of his righteousnesse becoming ours 2. There 's a new law of grace then made and promulgated by Jesus Christ in the Gospel unto sinners that all guilty sinners who shall in the sense of their sin and misery being under the condemnation of the Law and wrath of God make out to this city of refuge to the horns of this Altar to the obedience and satisfaction of this surety and here plead for mercy disclaiming all confidence in any righteousnesse in themselves they shall be pardoned accepted and justified nay shall be
sufficiently convince God would have us to heed his word more and try the spirits by that and the grosse and palpable blindnesse of such as want the direction of the Scriptures may shew God is not pleased to use this way of immediate revelations now nor indeed is it the work of God holy Spirit to discover things to us now immediately having already made a full discovery of them in the Scriptures but to open our eyes to see the wonderful things of his Law to apprehend those discoveries of God made in his word and to sanctifie our hearts so as they may close with those truths revealed and rellish them and to remove the natural enmity that is in as to the things of God 3. It hath pleased the Lord of his infinite goodnesse to give his holy Scriptures the Word of God for so now I will call them whether the Quakers will or no that this may be a direction and rule to us of faith and obedience how we are to believe in God and worship and serve him and to direct us to eternal salvation this is a special pledge of Gods love to us though the enemies of truth will not acknowledge it The Lord hath not done so to all Nations neither have the heathen knowledge of his Laws Psalme 147 19 20. and the end of writing them was that we might be directed in our faith and obedience John 20 last These things are written that ye might beleeve c. we are to try the spirits now by them whether they be of God as the noble Bereans did Acts 17.11 we are to go to the Law and to the Testimony Isa 8.20 to search the Scriptures John 5.39 or otherwise we shall be necessarily exposed to errour Matth. 22.29 They are now a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our steps Psal 119.105 and through the words of Gods lips we may be kept from the path of the destroyer Psal 17.4 in a word they are able to make wise to salvation to furnish to all good works they are profitable for doctrine reproof correction instruction in righteousnesse c. 2 Tim. 3.16 17. The Lord accompanying them with the blessing and efficacy of his Spirit And let not any ignorantly pretend it is a disgrace to the Spirit to be tried and regulated by an outward rule for gold may be tryed by a touchstone why may not any doctrine or revelation or practice now though pretended to come from the Spirit be tried by the Scriptures which we are more sure came from the Spirit of God they being a surer word of prophecy then any voice we can heare spoken from heaven 2 Pet. 1.18 19. 4. Now let the weakest Reader if he be not wilfully blinded judg whether these people be not extreamly ingrateful to God for his goodnesse in giving the Scriptures to deny this principal use and end of the Scriptures and whether hereby they declare not themselves enemies thereunto I might shew other uses and ends of the Scriptures that they subvert but this may suffice for this second particular to prove the charge that the Quakers be enemies to the holy Scriptures III. They make Scriptures to be but a declaration of the Saints condition an expression frequently to be found in their writings insinuating thereby as if they belonged not to us now Burroughs p. 30 Glory from North. p. 8 9. but concerned the Saints only in former times for so much its clear they intend by comparing this with the former particular they are the declaration of the Saints conditions in former times but they are no rule of faith and life to us what do they then concern us what need we regard them what benefit have we by them A most unworthy expression when God hath written to us the great things of his word and we account them a strange thing Hosea 8.12 as if they did not at all concern us and the Lord had not spoken those things to us but to others But as it delares their enmity against the Scriptures so is it a very false assertion There be some part of the Scriptures that do more concern us now in these last dayes of the world then they did the Saints in former times as many Prophetick Scriptures in Dauid and the Revelations and for other Scriptures the Apostle faith what ever was written was written for our learning Rom. 15.4 and for our admonition upon whom the ends of the world be come 1 Cor 10.6 11. The example of Christ and his Apostles teaches us to make use of the whole Wood of God they frequently cited the writings of Moses and the Prophets in the book of the Psalmes applying them to that generation why may not we then apply the same as also the writings of the New Testament for our benefit In Heb. 13.5 The Apostle applies that promise made to Joshuah to the beleeving Hebrews I will not have thee nor forsake thee See 1 Cor. 7.1 where the Apostle applies the promises made by the Prophet Jer 31.1 to the Corinthians and presses them to duty from thence and indeed to what end are they written down and by the gracious providence of the Lord preserved to this day but for our use and benefit it 's needlesse to adde more here that which was spoken in the former particular will also clear this IV. They call the Scriptures reproachfully a letter a dead letter c. as may be seen in their writings frequently which is but a piece of Popish Rhetorick for this hath been the language of Papists before them who have called them a dead letter divinity of ink and paper with many more such opprobrious tearms But whether we should beleeve Papists and Quakers in vilifying the Scriptures or credit the holy penmen their commendation of them judge ye David saith The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the soule the testimonies of the Lord are sure making wise the simple the Statutes of the Lord are right rejoycing the heart the Commandments of the Lord are pure enlightning the eyes c. and Psalme 119.50 Thy word hath quickened me The Apostle James 1.18 saith he begot us with the word of truth Paul saith faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God Rom. 10.17 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it 's not said by the personal word Jesus Christ but by the word that is preached by men not that we exclude the co-operation of Gods Spirit with preaching for we are workers together with God 2 Cor. 6.1 but that the word written and preached might have it's due place and commendation being mighty through God the power of God to salvation and therefore no dead letter It is a grosse perverting of that Scripture 2 Cor. 3.6 to alledge it for to prove the Scriptures to be a dead letter for the Apostle there compares the doctrine or ministration of the Law and the old Covenant with the ministration of the Gospel Covenant disputing against such as commended the
dead even Jesus which delivereth us from the wrath to come 1 Thes 1.10 Let all that professe the Name of Christ take heed of such as preach another Christ then whom they have received and look upon them as Deceivers and Anti-christs as for us we have not so learned Jesus Christ SECT III. The Quakers deny the Doctrine of the Trinity THis charge will not be denied by the Quakers for in this they speak out and do not seek to conceale their opinions they acknowledge not one God subsisting in three persons See Sauls errand to Damascus p. 12. and the sword of the Lord drawn c. p. 4. where this doctrine is called a lie by them Let me therefore shew this to be an abominable errour contrary to the doctrine of the Scriptures to deny three persons subsisting in one God and prove this fundamental article of our faith against their cavils This I cleare from Scripture by these gradations or steps 1. The Scriptures speak clearly that there is in the divine nature three in one or a Trinity in Unity whether these three may be called persons we shall discusse afterwards 1 John 5.7 There be three that bear record in heaven the Father the Word and the holy Ghost and these three are one Here is in this Scripture three numbred and their several names set down and yet it 's said they are but one not only agree in one as in the next verse but they are one See Mat. 3.16 17. Mat. 28.19 2 Cor. 13.14 John 14.16 Where are also three counted the Father and I saith Christ and the Spirit of truth and these are distinguished the Spirit is called another It might further be shewed as there be three numbred in Scripture and their several names set down so the Scripture speak also of distinct properties and operations peculiar to each of these three and incommunicable to other The Father begets and not the Son the Spirit proceeds and not the Father c. so the Sonne took flesh and not the Father nor the Spirit II. It 's most evident that this Trinity in Unity or three in one is not a meer notional thing subsisting in the minde and apprehension of man alone but eternally subsisting in the divine being it self it 's a thing founded upon Scripture as before was shewed not a fiction of reason it had been if there never had been any created minde to apprehend it Nor can it be only three names given to one and the same personal being for the Scripture gives more names then three to God there are ten several names given to God in the Old Testament as some observe besides those in the New Testament and further the Scripture counts them as distinct in subsistence and not only in name John 8.17 18. Christ and his Father are counted for two witnesses now one person cannot be two witnesses though he have two names Nor doth this Trinity subsist in the divine nature only as wisdome justice and goodnesse are in God for these attributes of God are no otherwise distinguished then according to mans apprehension of them because our finite and compounded understandings cannot comprehend the glorious perfections of a single and infinite essence but by distinct properties or attributes in themselves they do not differ one from another the same also may be said of Gods decrees but now this distinction of three in one is founded in the very divine being it self as before was shewed Nor yet further are we to understand this three in one to be only three manifestations of God grounded upon some offices or external dispensations to the creature in time there hath been more manifestations of God to man then three since the creation God was manifest various wayes to his people to Moses in the bush and in the mount to Israel in the wildernesse in the pillar of fire and cloud to the Patriarchs to the three children to Daniel to John c. Besides this distinction was in God from eternity before there was any creature made to manifest it unto Christ is the eternal Sonne of God distinct from the Father eternally and before he was made flesh the Spirit was distinguished from Father and Sonne from eternity and not only when he was manifested in descending on Christ in the likenesse of a dove or by falling on the Apostles in fiery tongues See Prov. 8.21 to 31. Mic. 5.2 Joh. 1.1 2 3. Joh. 17.5 Col. 1.15 Gen. 1.2 2 Pet. 1.21 Mat. 1.20 these are all to be exploded as dangerous errours and have been ever rejected by the Church III. Hence it will follow that this must be a Trinity of persons or subsistances in the same divine being three persons subsisting in one God nor let any cavil at the word person for it is a Scripture word Heb. 1.3 if they will stand to the received translation if any will plead the word is more properly rendred there subsistence then person we will not stand upon that so they acknowledge three subsistances in the same divine being for this is all we argue for but how vainly is it to except against the word person so commonly received amongst the people of God and not scrupled at by any but such as have erred dangerously in other things what is a person if we look upon the notation of the name but per se una a thing that hath a subsistence by it self or if we respect the definition of the thing we understand no more by it but an intelligent compleat incommunicable independent subsistence and according to our common custome of speech the word person doth expresse more excellency then the word subsistence singly taken doth the former we ever apply to a reasonable being the other we use to apply to inferiour creatures a beast may be said to subsist though it is no person IV. Yet is there no multiplication of the God-head for still we acknowledge one God one simple undivided essence Deut. 6.4 Isa 44.6 8. Isa 45.21 22. John 10.30 1 John 5.7 If any shall object how can these things be it seems a contradiction for to say there is three persons and yet but one divine being and therefore shall reject this doctrine because they cannot comprehend it I answer it were extreame arrogance for a poor worm to do thus to reject what God hath clearly held forth in his Word because he cannot comprehend it what Art or Science is there in the world but there are many mysteries in it that novices cannot comprehend and can we expect to be more knowing in the things of God that are so high and mysterious above the reason and understanding of man Let sober spirits count it their safest way to beleeve what is clearly revealed by God though they cannot yet comprehend the nature of such mysteries Neverthelesse we do not count it a contradiction to say there is light heat and power in the Sun and yet there are not three Suns but one or that in the soul
there is the vegetative sensitive and rational faculties and yet there are not three souls in man but one why should it seem then a contradiction to believe three persons to subsist in one only God Now let the Reader from hence see what impudence it is in these Quakers to call this doctrine a lie and how dangerously they erre in denying the Trinity what is this but to deny the true God who hath manifested himself thus to be one in three as before they denied the Man Christ and were proved enemies to the Scriptures this errour tends to ouerthrow all faith and Religion and is pernicious to mens salvation for we must believe in God as he reveals himself in his Word and no otherwise and worship and serve him accordingly if we will be saved It was hatched by the enemies of truth it hath been defended on purpose to overthrow the personal Deity of Christ whereby the infinite value of his merits is taken away and to undermine the personality of the Spirit which is so fully evidenced by the divine attributes appropriated to him in Scripture and therefore have the purest Churches of Christ ever disclaimed communion with such as deny the doctrine of the Trinity accounting them subverters of the fundamentals of Religion And thus for this third particular SECT IV. The Quakers hold they are equal with God and that the soul is one being with God THere is nothing may more plainly evidence to the weakest and most ignorant that this wicked Sect is of the Devil the Prince of darknesse what ever they boast of the light of Christ then this wicked Tenet that they dare maintain equality with God and the soul to be one being with God or a part of God as the Manichees of old and Familists have done This doctrine the Devil sought to instil into our first parents at the beginning ye shall be as Gods knowing good and evil Gen 3.5 What Christian spirit that apprehends the infinite Majesty and holinesse of God and its own basenesse and vilesse but will abhor the very mention of this opinion yet is this maintained and defended by this generation of men In their book called Sauls errand to Damascus is mention made that it was attested at a quarter Sessions at Lancaster that some of them affirmed themselves to be equal with God and that afterwards the same thing was acknowledged before many witnesse nor do they deny this publick evidence was given against them though they would shuffle about it while they covertly plead for the same thing p. 2 5 6. 10. Hubberthorn in his book against Sherlock p. 30. doth most ignorantly and blasphemously alledge that place for this Phil. 2.5 6. Let this minde be in you which also was in Christ who being in the forme of God thought it no robery to be equal with God where the Reader may see how he imitates Satan in corrupting the Scriptures both by leaving out the following words which must necessarily be known before the minde of the Apostle be understood viz. but made himself of no reputation took on him the forme of a servant humbled himself c. the sentence is not compleat without taking in these words and also perverting the scope and drift of the Apostle in that place who is pressing humility ver 3. and urging it from Christs example who though equal with God yet humbled himself it is far of from the Apostles mind there to perswade us to beleeve we are equal with God he is pressing humility they that desire to see fuller evidence for their holding equality with God may see Sword drawn p. 3 and also the many testimonies which the Ministers of New-castle bring for it in their first book p. 3 4. That they hold the soule to be one being with God or a part of God See also testimony for it in the book last cited p. 6. and Sword drawn p. 3 4. Hubberthorne in the book before named p. 29. saith there 's no Scripture which speaks of an humane soul then it seems the soul or spirit in man which the Scripture speaks so much of must either be God himself or the Devil One of them living in these parts did in discourse with my self argue as strongly as he could for the soul to be one being with God and though he did afterward give me the lie in the publick Assembly for reporting it of him yet I have now eight several witnesses of credit to prove the same thing and manifest him to be the liar besides what arguments passed betwixt us which clearly evidenc he pleaded for it Another of them argued with me that the soul after its departure out of the body which say they rots in the grave and never rises again is taken up into God and is one being with him urging that Scripture for it God shall be all in all For confutation of these things I need not say much they are so grosse and horrible Concerning the first Equality with God let but the Reader peruse these Scriptures Isa 40. v. 12 almost to the end of the chapter where the Lord makes a challenge twice repeated v. 18 25. To whom will ye liken me or shall I be equal saith the holy one and in the other verses sets forth his Greatnesse and Majesty he measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and meateth out heaven with a span and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountains in a ballance c. The Nations are as the drop of a bucket to him c. All Nations are before him as nothing yea lesse then nothing and vanity He sitteth upon the circle of the earth and the inhabitants thereof are as grasse-hoppers He bringeth Princes to nothing c. See much more to the same purpose there Read also Job 38.39.40 all the three chapters and this opinion will be sufficiently confuted Oh what arrogance is this for poor wormes to make comparison with the Infinite Eternal Almighty Glorious God But perhaps they will say they equal not self nor the flesh unto God that is to perish but the spirit or soul which is one being with or a part of the divine essence like some in these times which have made reason to be God I shall speak something therefore for the confutation of this 1. The Scriptures speak of the soul or spirit of man to be a created thing made in time Isa 57.16 Zach. 12.1 Psal 33.15 and can this be one being with the eternal uncreated God 2. Many Scriptures speak of the sinfulnesse of the soul Micah 6.9 Lev. 4.2 Ezek. 18.20 James 4.5 2 Cor. 7.1 and can a sinful polluted creature be one being with the holy God 3. Many Scriptures speak of the destruction and death of the soul its perishing in hell Mar. 10.28 Mat. 16.26 Prov. 4 32. and can that soule that perishes in hell be a part of the being of God 4. The Scripture distinguishes betwixt Gods Spirit and ours Rom. 8.16
16. 1 Cor. 15.32 The devil did long since stir up his instruments to undermine the same the Sadduces Acts 23.8 denyed the resurrection Angels and Spirits and some amongst the Corinthians 1 Cor. 15.12 said There is no resurrection of the dead Hymeneus and Philetus 2 Tim. 2.18 said the resurrection was past already and overthrew the faith of some even as this generation of men now pretend it s already accomplished and past in them the body or Christ is now risen in them and hereupon deny the future resurrection of our dead bodies But it pleased the Lord out of his goodnesse hereupon to cleare up this doctrine more fully so that there 's no doctrine in all the Scriptures hath a clearer and fuller evidence for it self then this hath It was sufficiently laid down before in the Old Testament in many places See these instead of many Job 19.25 Isa 26.19 Dan. 12.2 Ezek. 37.12 but in the New Testament it 's not only positively laid down and asserted but proved by many Arguments against them that denied it Mat. 22.32 Christ proves it against the Sadduces and silences them by an Argument taken from Gods Covenant with his people he is their God in Covenant with them and not only with their souls but with their bodies also therefore they shall rise again he proves that same resurrection which was denyed by the Sadduces for he silenced them now it 's clear they denied the resurrection of the body of flesh c. See v. 23 24. other places might have been brought to have proved this truth more directly whereas this Scripture proves it but by consequence though clearly enough but the Sadduces only owning the five books of Moses Christ brings a proof from thence for it Exod. 3.6 But more especially the Apostle 1 Cor. 15. doth so largely prove this doctrine that if other Scriptures had been altogether silent about it this one Chapter had been sufficient confirmation thereof Let the Reader observe there three things that the Apostle principally treats of in that chapter 1. He proves the resurrection of the dead 2. He shews with what bodies they shall arise 3. What shall become of them which shall be alive at the day of the Lord. I. He proves the resurrection of the dead and he evidences that by six arguments 1 From the resurrection of Jesus Christ from v. 3. to 19. for if there be no resurrection of the dead then is Christ not risen but saith he Christ is risen therefore must the dead rise by vertue of their union with him Now that Christ is risen he confirms from the Testimony of the Scriptures ver 4. the Apostle names not what Scriptures but it 's cleare he intends Psal 16.8 and such like places then from those many witnesses that saw him verse 5 6 7 8. then from the evil consequences that would follow if Christ rise not the Apostles should be false witnesses and their preaching in vaine and the Corinthians faith should be in vain they should be yet in their sinnes and they that were fallen asleep should be perished 2 He proves the resurrection of the dead body because if it were not so Christians should be of all men most miserable verse 19. 3 He argues that all enemies must be overcome therefore death and if so we must rise again 4 He argues it from a practise amongst those persons that denied the resurrection probably the Corinthians those ancient hereticks who were baptized for the dead verse 20. and therefore their own practise might confute them 5 He argues it from the dangers and sufferings of the Saints verse 30 c. which they would not endure if there were no resurrection and reward after death Heb. 11.36 6 The denying the resurrection he shews would lead to all epicurisme and licentiousness then may we say let us eat and drink for to morrow we shall die thus he confirms the doctrine of the resurrection of our dead bodies The 2d. thing in this Chapter is to shew with what bodies the dead arise II. verse 35. He answers in the following verses not with such vile weak corruptible bodies as now we have but with incorruptible powerful glorious and spiritual bodies so Phil. 3.21 Our vile bodies shall be fashioned like to the glorious body of Christ himself and it follows as a reason of this change ver 50. Flesh and blood shall not inherit the Kingdome of God nor can corruption inherit incorruption Where observe the Apostle doth not overthrow what he before had built that is he doth not deny the resurrection of the dead body that it shall not rise at all as these deceivers would infer but it shall not rise in such a vile corruptible abject condition it were not capable of the glory of heaven then That this is the minde of the Apostle in these words appeares in that the Apostle doth not contradict himself and destroy what he had before built now having before proved the body shall arise again he doth not here deny it only he shews it shall not arise in such an abject and base condition as now it is in but in a more glorious condition and so he fitly answers the question propounded v. 35. with what body the dead shall arise It being also considerable that the word flesh is not in Scripture always put for the substance of mans body for the substance consisting of flesh blood and bones but frequently for the infirme weak state and condition of man as Esay 31 3. 1 Pet. 1.24 and thus the latter part of the verse shews it is to be taken here corruption shall not inherit incorruption corrupt frail flesh cannot inherit heaven it must be made a glorious spiritual body for its qualities and conditions when it is raised up again that so it may be capable of the happinesse of heaven III. The third thing the Apostle doth in this Chapter is he sheweth what shal become of them that shal be alive at the day of the Lord. v. 51. they shall not fall asleep but be changed or translated into a state of incorruption and immortality as it befell Enoch and Eliah in former times this also confirms the doctrine of the resurrection because those bodies that shall survive at the last day shall not be annihilated but only changed What clearer Testimony can be given to this truth then we have in this one chapter Many other places might be added as Acts 23.6 24.15 1 Thes 4.13 c. Phil. 3.20.21 Rev. 12. with other more but these may suffice But some object this is a thing impossible How can the dead body when consumed to ashes or dust and this driven away by the winde and scattered be raised up again the self-same body for substance Or when a body shall be eaten by wilde beast or fishes and they again eaten by men or by other creatures and their substances mingled and confounded how can these ever be distinguished and the selfe-same body that died
1. Neither can they shew us in Scripture where ever hats were worne therefore it s not likely we should read of putting them off as for that place in Dan. 3.21 where mention is made of the three children being cast into the fire with their coats hosen hats the word there translated hats signifies any kind of covering or garment it coming from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to cloath or cover and therefore in the Margin of your books the Translatours render it turbants which were the garments worne upon their heads in those Easterne Countreys for they weare no hats but because such a word as that is not known amongst the vulgar they retain in the text the word hats which we weare on our heads and not turbants Secondly though we find not in Scripture examples of putting off the hat because hats were not worne yet we find other testifications of honour and respect given to superiours according to the custome of each Countrey as standing up bowing the knee or the body which are approved in Scripture as before was shewed how ridiculous is it then to make it unlawfull to put off the hat when those other actions be approved and lawfull But there are some other Scriptures which the Quakers often urge against the giving or receiving honour of men which must be answered as that John 5.44 How can ye believe which receive honour one of another and seek not the honour that cometh from God onely To which I answer Christ doth not here condemne all giving or receiving honour one of another for in other places it is commanded and commended as was shewed before Rom. 12.10 1 Pet. 2.17 c. but he forbids loving the praise and honour of men more then the praise of God which was the sinne of those people John 12.43 and this kept them from believing they knew if they believed in him they should be reviled cast out of the Synagogues and lose the honour they had amongst men such an honour as this we are far from pleading for and had rather be trampled upon by men as we have been formerly by the Prelates and now are by the Quakers then lose the praise of God but what is this to the denying such civil honour to men as these Scriptures before named require There is another place that those people do much pervert to make for them which is James 2.9 If ye have respect to persons ye commit sinne To which I reply 1. There is indeed a respecting of persons which is sinfull as when in judgement men respect persons not regarding the equity of the cause but because such a man is rich potent or honourable sentence is passed on his side and the poor man oppressed in judgement this is forbidden Deut. 1.17 Thou shalt not respect persons in judgement but shalt heare the small as well as the great See also Levit. 19.15 So likewise out of the case of judgment there may be a sinfull respecting of persons as when private persons shall highly esteeme love and honour persons that be rich and great in the world though vitious and ungodly and shall contemne the precious Saints when poore and low in the world this is sinfull respecting of persons I might adde also respecting of persons in election to Magistracy and in religious matters for this is also sinfull and the Apostle James doth condemne respecting of persons onely in some of these cases here named 2. But then there is a lawfull respecting of persons which is so far from being a sinne that it is a duty to do it namely when we acknowledge the dignity and excellency of others and by some outward signe testifie the same this was proved by those precepts and examples before named and many more might be added if it were needfull Thus the Prophet Elisha 2 Kings 3. is said to regard or respect the presence of Jehoshaphat King of Judah Nay God himselfe is said to be a respecter of persons Gen. 4.4 5. The Lord had respect to Abel but unto Cain he had not respect and Gen. 19.21 the like is said of Lot many other places might be given but enough is said for the clearing up of this duty Now from all this it appeares that as the Quakers are fallen from Christianity in that they deny the true Christ and the Christian faith So they are fallen from humanity in thus denying all good manners and wherein can they come nearer to bruit beasts then in casting off humanity and civil demeanour Though they would cover over such actions with the guilded shew of humility yet doth it directly tend to overthrow all government and authority amongst men for take away outward honour and respect from superiours and what government can subsist long amongst men Thus having shewed the Quakers to be so far degenerate that they are no Christians nor scarsly men Its time for me to put an end to my discourse concerning them and to trouble my self nor the reader further with them SECT XIII The conclusion by way of Admonition to beware of the errours of the times and in particular of Quakerisme with a commendation of some antidotes by way of preservative against the same WE have many predictions and frequent warnings in the holy Scriptures of the heresies and seductions of the last times Christ himself tells us Mat. 24.11.24 that false christs and false prophets shall arise and deceive many and if it were possible they should deceive the very Elect and the Apostle Peter 2 Ep. 2.1 doth also warne That false prophets shall arise and shall bring in damnable heresies and many shall follow their pernicious wayes by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of and the like admonitions are given by the Apostle Paul 1 Tim. 4.1 and 2 Tim. 2 1 c. as also by the Apostles John and Jude There is no ground then that Christians should be discouraged at these over-flowing floods of errours that the Serpent now casts out of his mouth to drown the Church nor at the rage and violence of the enemies of the truth amongst us think it not strange concerning these things as if some strange thing had happened unto us the Scriptures must be fulfilled that have told us before of those things and the Church of God in former times have had the same trials heresies must be though woe to them by whom they come or by whom they are countenanced We may expect yet greater tryals and stronger seducements if no timely remedy be used by Christian Magistrates to restraine seducers from spreading their seducing doctrines The Scriptures speak of the powerful working of Satan accompanying deceivers and a power of working seeming miracles being given to them and of strong delusions As the Quakers are but simple deceivers in comparison of the Papists and other hereticks in former ages so we may fear they shall be much more out-vied by such seducers as are yet to come in following times when Satan is to act
you shall be established and kept from falling into the errour of the wicked Heb. 13.9 2 Pet. 3.17 18. And let your obedience to the faith appear to all Rom. 16.19 He that doth the will of God shall know more thereof John 7.17 and shall be established therein It is the great evil of many professors in this age they covet to fill their heads with knowledge and light letting their hearts be empty of holinesse and grace they are much in searching after new lights high notions and discoveries of smaller concernment but little in working upon their spirits the great and saving truths of Christ and in practising known Commandments it 's no wonder if such prove apostates they whose hearts are deceitful under truth may soon be deceived by errour Can we judge that these persons who deny the doctrines of Christs humanity of justification of the resurrection c. ever lived in the power of these truths received down the comfort of them and had their hearts formed into holinesse by them if they had they would have been hereby fortified against such seducers as tempt them to deny these doctrines for my own part I must professe whilst my faith is acting upon these great and precious truths of the Gospel and the comfort and sweetnesse of them is now flowing into my spirit I cannot mention these filthy and abominable errours but it is with highest detestation and abhorrence Let this therefore be the care of every Christian not to rest in a bare notional knowledge but to get a sanctifying experimental and practical knowledge of the things of God III. Be much in prayer that God would give you the spirit of Truth and thereby guide and keep you in the truth Joh. 16.13 In times of infection you use not to stir out of your houses till you pray God to keep you and your families daily had you as sensible apprehensions of the infections and mortall contagion of the heresies now raigning amongst us you would be as much in prayer to God for to keep you and yours daily from them but all the admonitions in the Scripture will hardly perswade people to believe their danger herein 2 Pet. 2 1. 1 Tim. 3.17 are not heresies damnable and extremely infectious and contagious as gangrenes and plagues our own experiences in these times abundantly testifies it if one person in a family be infected with heresie all the rest soon learne it of them even young ones commonly drink it in its more rarely seen that any good is so soon learnt by them and if one house be infected such as live neare thereto or converse with them they are also indangered What need therefore to be much in prayer to God to keep us in these infectious times wherein if it were possible the very elect should be deceived we had need to commend our selves to him who is able to keep us from falling Jude 24. IV. Expose not yourselves to the tentations of Seducers t is in vain to pray to God to keep you from the infection if you wilfully against the expresse Word of God run into the company of Deceivers you are bidden to avoid them Rom. 16.17 to turn away from such 2 Tim. 3.5 6. to beware of them Mat. 7.15 not to go after them Luke 21.8 if they come to you not receive them nor bid them God-speed 2 Joh. 10. What wilful disobedience to all these cleer commands is it when people will venture to go into the company and frequent the meetings of such seducers if Satan take such among his own how justly may God give them up to him as his own this is contrary to the example of the primitive Saints The Apostle John would not stay in the same hath where Cerinthus the heretick was nor would Policarp entertaine acquaintance with Marcion but termed him the first-born of the Devil Ireneus tells us the Apostles and their Disciples were so full of holy fear that they would not communicate with them in the world who had adulterated the Word If you say we may go and hear whether they broach such errors or no what hurt in this we must try all things and hold fast that which is good I answer may you not as well say you will go into the pest-house and see whether the persons there be infected with the plague before you will beware of them how many poor and weak persons are infected with their errours before they can discern what errours they hold And whereas the Apostle 1 Thes 5.21 bids prove all things hold that fast which is good He intends it of the prophecyings spoken of in the former verse all things spoken by the Prophets in the Church should be proved by the Scriptures whether they be so or no and not received only because they say they are of God as the Quakers receive what their teachers deliver to them without trying them by the Scriptures which they deny to be the rule of faith and life but this place makes nothing for the hearing of convicted hereticks and open enemies to the Church If thou beest therefore an humble and sincere Christian that makest conscience of the commands of the Lord then shun deceivers turn away from them go not to their meeting if they come to thee receive them not into thy house nor bid them God-speed but if thou wilt run upon tentations thou hast no promise of God to keep thee it was the devils deceit to perswade men God will protect them out of his way Mat. 4.6 V. Harbour not any sinful lusts in your hearts allow not of any secret sin it 's sin that makes God give up men to errour 2 Thes 2.10 11 12. because they have pleasure in unrighteousness and it 's sin that makes a man like a piece of wax ready to receive the impression of any errour they who are not sound in the fear of God may easily become unsound in the faith of God Hymeneus and Alexander 1 Tim. 1.19 20. first put away a good conscience then made shipwrack of the faith the women that were led captive by seducers 2 Tim. 3. were such as were laden with divers lusts if the heart be corrupt and love sinne it will strongly encline a man to entertaine corrupt principles that will give liberty unto sin how ready will a wicked heart be to close with the wicked errours of the Quakers that there is no resurrection of the flesh no heaven and hell but what is now in this world that after death nothing remains or with the Libertines opinion that sin is no real evil but to him that thinks it evil to him it is evil as Jos Salmon in his touches of good and evil speaks or with the Atheists opinion that there is no God c. look therefore to your hearts to keep them pure if you would not be given up to impure errors love no sin if you would leave no truth VI. Cleave more to the Ministry of the Word and the
faithful dispensers thereof if you would not fall into errours let not any say I plead more in this for the honour and benefit of Ministers then for the good of peoples souls So Heb. 13.7 9. for the spirit of God hints this direction Eph. 4 14. in v. 11. you read God hath given to his Church Prophets Apostles Pastours Teachers and in the following verses is shewed the end thereof for the work of the Ministry for the edifying the Church and perfecting the Saints and v. 14. to prevent being tossed to and fro and carried away with every wind of doctrine by the sleight of men and cunning craftinesse of deceivers This is one great end of Gods giving Ministers to his Church to prevent their being deceived by seducers one great part of their work is to confute gain-sayers There is scarce any desert the truth but they first desert the Ministry men first begin to have itching ears and seek new Teachers and then embrace lies and fables 2 Tim. 4.3 4. how diligent therefore are seducers to undermine the Ministry and steal peoples hearts from them if the wolves can draw the sheep from the shepherds they will soon devour them What designes have they against the office maintenance and persons of Ministers to bring them down and especially against the most faithful and industrious in the Ministry think not therefore you can be long preserved from these ravening wolves if you stragle from your shepherds but learn to keep close to your faithful Ministers If it be asked who are those Ministers we are to adhere unto for many lay claime to this office now I answer in two words 1. Those whom God hath so visibly owned and set his seal to by blessing their Ministry to the convincing converting comforting and confirming so many thousands of his Saints in England those whom God hath used as instruments under him to maintaine the profession and power of godlinesse in the Nation for many yeares that have by their doctrine conversation and sufferings adorned the Gospel of Christ can any but the hardened enemies of the truth call these Anti-christian whoever is not blinded by Satan may see these to be the Ministers of Christ 2. Those whom the devil and his instruments hath most opposed and maligned whom the Popish Prelates silenced fined imprisoned banished whom the Malignant Caveleirs hated cursed and plundered whom all drunkards swearers and profane persons would have suppressed and whom apostates the most bitter enemies of all the rest do now with such implacable hatred and malignity prosecute and molest These are the Ministers of Christ there need no other arguments to prove it VII Consider seriously the many eminent testimonies God hath given from heaven against hereticks and apostates against despisers of his Ordinances and Ministers and against the errours and heresies broached by them God hath in all ages borne some signal testimony against them which being duly observed might be a very effectual means to preserve from the errours of those times It might be shewed in what age and by what persons most of these now supposed new lights but indeed old exploded heresies newly revived and brought from hell were first broached what successe they had what fearful judgements befel the Authours of them how truth prevailed against them and this might much tend to establish Christians against seducements thereunto but this would require a volumn to do it In the primitive times many wonderful testimonies God gave against several enemies of his truth Simon Magus who was the first arch-heretick and by his Sorceries deceived much people and contended with the Apostles themselves in working miracles as the Egyptian Sorcerers did with Moses he attempting to flie in the aire was by the prayers of the Apostles brought tumbling down and miserably perished Cerinthus was killed by the fall of an house Montanus hanged himself Manes had his skin torn off his flesh Arrius his bowels gushed out Nestorius his tongue rotting and consuming in his head the earth opened and swallowed him up What standing monuments are these of Gods wrath against hereticks yet are many of their wicked errours revived in these days if these testimonies of Gods wrath against them were duly considered it might make people to this day more fearful of drinking in their abominable doctrines In the first times of Reformation from Popery the devil stirs up the Anabaptists to hinder that work and they were more bitter and malignant enemies to the first Reformers and greater obstructers of the work of God then the Papists and what signal tokens of Gods wrath were shewen against them by giving them up to such vile affections and practises as preparing them for destruction there were say some * Pontanus one hundred and fifty thousand of them slaine What a warning might this be to people to beware of the leaven of Anabaptisme now spreading amongst us When the Churches of Christ in N. England were infested with Antinomians Familists and Anti-ordinanced men betwixt whom and the Quakers is great agreement how did the Lord give signal testimony against them by those prodigious births of Mrs. Hutchinson and Mrs. Dyer are not these land-marks to warn people to take heed of suffering ship-wrack upon such rocks of errour And amongst our selves in England God hath many ways appeared against the raging enemies of his truth and Ministers risen up in these late years some are so given up to be blinded and infatuated that they have lost the understanding and reason of men and are become brutish in their wayes others casting off the profession of godlinesse are given up to vile affections and practises what abominable errours and delusions have some swallowed down gredily and what remarkable judgements of God have befallen others It would require a large volumne to record the history hereof These things if duly considered might be serious admonitions to all to take heed of deserting the truths Ordinances and Ministers of Christ I adde no more these directions if conscionably used might through the blessing of the Lord be special preservatives against the infection and contagion of the errours of our times Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy to the only wise God our Saviour Jude 24.25 be Glory and Majesty Dominion and Power now and ever Amen FINIS A TABLE Shewing some principal Doctrines of Religion cleared and confirmed in the former Treatise with other useful things B BOwing to Superiours and other gestures of Civil honour justified from Scripture pag. 68 69 C How Hereticks deny Christ come in the flesh pag. 11 Christ proved a true and real man and personally distinct from other men pag. 13 Christ his death resurrection and ascension proved from Scripture pag. 12 Christ dwells in us by his Spirit not by his humane nature pag. 14 What it is to know Christ after the flesh pag. 15 The Quakers