Wisdom justified of her children from the ignorance and calumny of H. Hallywell in his book called, An account of familism as it is revived and propagated by the Quakers / by William Penn. Penn, William, 1644-1718. 1673 Approx. 201 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 71 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2007-01 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A54247 Wing P1395 ESTC R24458 08189515 ocm 08189515 41057 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A54247) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 41057) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1236:19) Wisdom justified of her children from the ignorance and calumny of H. Hallywell in his book called, An account of familism as it is revived and propagated by the Quakers / by William Penn. Penn, William, 1644-1718. 12, [3], 13-134 p. s.n.], [London? : Printed in the year 1673. Reproduction of original in the Huntington Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Hallywell, Henry, d. 1703? -- An account of familism. Society of Friends -- Apologetic works. 2005-08 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2005-10 SPi Global Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2006-07 Ali Jakobson Sampled and proofread 2006-07 Ali Jakobson Text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-09 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion Wisdom Justified OF HER CHILDREN , From the Ignorance & Calumny of H. HALLYWELL , In his Book , Called , An Account of FAMILISM , as it is Revived and Propagated by the QVAKERS . By William Penn. But all these things will they do unto you for my Names sake : Yea , the time cometh , that whosoever killeth you , shall think he doth God Service . But be of good Cheer , I have overcome the World. John 15. 21. and 16. vers . 2 , 33. Printed in the Year 1673. DUM CLAVUM TENEAM TO THE Justices of the Peace IN THE County of Sussex . A Certain Person in your Parts hath lately troubled himself and the World with a Book entituled An Account of Familism as it is revived and propagated by the Quakers ; and this dedicated to Sr. J. Covert , Knight and Barronet , &c. How ill he spent his time in Writing it , and how unadvised he was in Publishing it , an impartial Perusal of this small Discourse will briefly yet abundantly manifest . I come not to you for Protection ( a thing he and his Cause wanted ) but for Impartality and Justice ; Truth is sufficient to patronize and defend her own Cause from the Lash of Envy , without the weak Auxiliaries of Humane Force ; She gives Sanctuary to all that take to her for Refuge , but is all-sufficient to her own Relief from the deepest Pressure , and most inveterate Prosecutions of her implacable Enemies . And though the Evil Disposition of the World to receive her Apologies , seems to conspire with the Indefatigable Ende●vours of Her Adversaries to traduce Her ; yet her own Purest Innocency & Unwearied Patience hath ever in the End broke forth to that clear Conviction of its Opposers , as hath prov'd at once both their Confutation and their Shame . And let it seem no Riddle to you , that I write so assured of Truth on our side , There is no Objection our Adversary has made to the contrary , we shall not easily remove . Our Meaness in Quality , Breading , Literature and Fortunes in the World ( badges of Reproach with him ) will r●ceive an ample Parallel from the best Persons and Times , and is so far from making to our Overthrow , that if the Scripture and other Story be to be credited , they tell us , that not many Wise , Learned or Noble ; Not that they are excluded , but as Persons stumb●ed at the Cross of Christ , and the Simplicity of the Gospel , through the Power that Greatness and Pleasure have with them , they exclude themselves . But since Great and Rich Men have Souls to be saved as well as Poor , it is equally their Concern to inform themselves of that Way which most assuredly leads to the Rest that is Eternal . I confess the Variety of Sects in the World to be a great Discouragement , especially when we consider with what Confidence each Party pleads the Truth and Divine Original of his own Perswasion ; But Men are not to be satisfied with Pretence but Evidence : Education is too short , nor will Tradition reach far enough to ascertain any Man of the Verity of his Perswasion . Could the two first have done , there had been no need of Relinquishing the Roman Church , who was neither wanting in Pretences , nor an Education prejudic'd enough against all Reformation ; And if Tradition had been all-sufficient , the Direction of God's Unerring Grace , and the necessary Conviction of Mens Reasons , might have been spared . For if Men are to believe what is recommended for true , because Recommended , and not because True , we are to believe we know not what , and shall be to seek so far for a Reason for the Hope that is in us , that in Reality we can have no other Answer to give , then that such or such told us so , and therefore we believe it : But if the Ground of our Faith ought to be more sure and better founded , it will stand us greatly upon to examine , What is the Reason we have ▪ to render for our Faith & Hope in God , and that Belief we have of Holy Scripture ? If we erre here , our Building is insecure ; and the Danger is , that we shall not only one day loose our Faith , but , which is worse , our Souls too . This necessarily brings Man to a more Inward Search and Testimony , some Divine Principle in Man , planted by God himself , which gives to believe that God is , and that he is a Rewarder of them that fear him . This the best Heathens , as well as Jews & Christians , have highly venerated , and many are the Testimonies they have left upon Record , to the Divine Original , and excellent Use of it , both to know God , and our selves ; And truly it was this Holy Principle in all Ages that hath attended Mankind with those Checks , Reproofs and Directions , by which he hath had any Discerning of what should , from what should not be done . This is that which has given him the certain Sound and true Relish of what God has ever required at his hand , as said the Prophet Micah , God hath shewed thee , O Man , what is Good , and what he requires from thee ; to do Justice , love Mercy , and walk humbly with thy God , Mic. 6 , 8. In the Psalms thus , Thou givest thy Mouth to Evil , and thy Tongue frameth Deceit ; Thou sittest & speakest against thy Brother ; These things hast thou done , and I kept Silence ; Thou thoughtest I was altogether such an one as thy self , but I will Reprove thee , and set them in order before thine Eyes , saith the Lord. And the Apostle Paul tells us , What ever may be known of God is manifested within . And what can that be by which God so manifesteth himself , but what Moses called the Word nigh , in the Heart , that the Children of Israel were to obey ; That Job calls Light , which the Wicked rebel against , not loving the Wayes thereof : The like doth Christ in John , when he complained , that Men would not bring their Deeds to be examined by it . In all Ages hath the Almighty more or less pleaded his own Cause in the Consciences of all People by this Divine Principle of Light , however variously denominated ; And what ever Faith or Hope Man has , not grounded upon the Discoveries , Convictions and Directions of This , it is a by-rote Faith , Hope , and Religion . Therefore I beseech you to whom this Discourse , is more particularly dedicated , to consider of us , not by Tradition , Education , Religions establisht by Human Laws , or Imperial Decrees , but by that Understanding this Immortal Law and Everlasting Foundation of Virtue ( as Heathen Plutarch calls it ▪ will afford you to judge us by . It has been Man's Venturing to wade into the Holy Scriptures without this Divine Principle , that has caused so many fearful Miscarriages about Religion . Something in Man prompts him to Religion , but Man being not wholy guided by that which so inspires him with Religious Desires , hastily spoils all with the Intermixture of his own Fancies and Conceits ; and because He is assured that What first inclined him was Right , he sticks not to stile his own Inventions Orthodox ; and then Impatient of Contradiction , with a Fury , as great as his Ignorance , endeavours the Overthrow of what ever stands in his Way , and refuses to receive his Mark in his Forehead , or in his Right Hand . This has occasioned so much Trumpery in Religion ; Ceremonies , Shew , and meer Formality have swallowed up the greatest part of It : Now were Men brought to God's Heavenly Gift in themselves , it would reclaim and leaven the Mind , chain the Affections , and bring Religion into Holy and Sel●-denying Living , and erect an Holy Regiment in the Heart and Soul , by which the Heavenly ●mage would be renewed , and Man become as one born again , without which Translation , there can be no entring into God's Heavenly Kingdom . This the first Protestants made to be their Reason of their Revolt from Rome : For though 't is true , that they charged the Papists with making God's Tradition ( the holy Scriptures ) void by their numerous dark Traditions ; yet That which begot that holy Loathing of Rom's Superstitions , Idolatries and Will-Worship , was God's Grace in their Hearts ; & their best Argument against Rom's Assault was this , The Scripture which I believe from the Testimony of the Spirit of God in me , & which I can only understand from the Illumination thereof , owns no such thing , and therefore I reject it . Such as converse with Luther and his Followers , Zuinglius and his Followers , will find this to have been the Foundation of their whole Work. And our own Martyrology is full to our Purpose , particularly Tindal , Times and Philpot. I omit to mention a whole Cloud of Witnesses , because I intend not to dwell here ; only this I would be at , and I intreat you all to weigh it , If any thing can give to understand aright , and enable to practise those things of God , which it is necessary for Man both to know and do , then God's Light , Grace or Word in the Heart ? What else can give us to relish the Divine Authority of the Scriptures themselves , or to believe the Things therein treated of to be undeniable Truths ? Indeed , the Want of This has been a great Occasion of Atheism ; for Man making , practising and enacting That for Religion , of which People has had no Assurance in themselves : But if they should speak their Hearts , 't is more probable , They do not believe it , but instead thereof deride it , and so under a Shew of Religion , live as Men without God in the World. To prevent which , and to bring Men to the true Understanding of what God expects from them , in order to that great Account they are to give unto Him at the Revelation of his Righteous Judgments ( when he will judge the Secrets of all Men by Jesus Christ ) we do exhort all to Christ's Pure , Unerring Light in the Conscience , which is sufficient to daily Understanding & Duty , that what they believe and profess in Matters of so high Importance , They maybe convinced in their very Conscience , by the good Understanding the Inspiration of the Almighty gives , of the Truth and Necessity thereof ; and not suffer themselves to be carried away with the Torrent of Fathers , Councils , Synods , Doctors , Scholars , National Constitutions , &c. ( big and most times untrue , and too often empty Words ) without that inward Conviction and Testimony of God's Good Spirit in Your Own Consciences , the old Protestant , and only primitive Ground of Tru● Faith and Obedience . I know , and shall alwayes acknowledge , that in the time of Ignorance the Almighty winked , and that in every Age he has expressed his Regard to those under the various Forms of Religion ever in the World , who have been Sincere-hearted and of Sober and Conscientious Conversation ; But I must also tell you , that by how much the more , needless and unwarrantable Customs , Will-Worship and Human Religion built upon the dark and uncertain Conjectures of Men , are receeded from , and the Minds of People engaged in a diligent attendance upon that Divine Principle which only can clear up their Understandings , and give them an experimental Knowledge of the True God , and that Way of Worship and Service which may be most acceptable with him , by so much more certain will they be of the Truth of their Religion , in as much as they have over and above all external Record , the Assurance of Unquestionable Convictions in their own Consciences . Thus God , that made Heaven and Earth , knows , we came to receive that Knowledge of him , Which we now expose our selves to all Hardships , to mantain . We profest God ; but like our Neighbours , in Works we denyed him . We worshipt him after Men's Conceivings , insomuch that I may say , we worshipt the Unknown God in a False Way . No doubt but we were stockt with the Common Talk of Religion , but the Cross of Christ we were Strangers to . His Blood we extolled , whilst by Wicked Works we trod it under Foot ; And believ'd our selves Saved by it , Who were Uncleansed from Sin. The whole End of His Coming we esteemed the top of all Love ; but never knew enough of It , truly kindled in our Hearts , whereby to work such Faith and Resignation , as could give us Victory over the World. Thus were we , Jews-like Children of God whilst we crucifyed the Son of God ; and of the Seed of Abraham , whilst the Serpents Seed reign'd ; Heirs of the Kingdom , yet not born again ; Free , yet the Bondslaves of Vanity . Oh! at this time of day it was that God ●ound us out , and broke in upon our Souls with his Righteous Judgments for Sin , and laid Judgment to the Line , & Righteousness to the Plummet , within us , the Book of Conscience was Opened , and great Fear surprised us , and Deep Sorrow fell upon us , which brought that sudden and Strange Change , that made us both the Derision of Prophane , and Wonderment of Sober Men. The Author of the Account of Familism , for want of more Skill , and Seriousness , calls it the Hypochondria , as if it only had been a Flux of Melancholy overpowring the Strength of Reason , and carrying the Understanding captive at the Impetuosity of its Fancies . But having been thus made sensible of the Terrors of the Lord for Sin , and being brought into a True Understanding of that Religion and Worship which most please God , some of us were constrained , and in Conscience bound , to go forth into the World , and publish these Tidings of Judgment for Sin , and Conversion through Righteousness wrought by the mighty Power of God in the Conscience , that all might be awakened to try their Works , Faiths , Worships and whole Religions , whether they were of God or Men ; or they had been doing their own Wills , or the Will of God ; that so they might be brought to experience God to be a God nigh at hand , reconciled in Christ , blotting out Sin , and renewing a Right Spirit within , by which their Religion might not longer stand in the Traditions of Men , nor only Education of Parents , but upon the Convictions and Operations of God's Grace in the Conscience . And thus is all that Christ did without , brought nigh and home to the very Soul. The Seed of the Woman is known to Bruise the Head of the Serpent ; Christ , the Light , and Lamb that taketh away the Sins of the World , not only to take away Sins past through Remission , but Cleanse from the Nature , Root and Ground of Sin , by His Holy Blood , which sprinkles all Consciences that wait and walk in the Light ( the Just Man's Path ) from Dead Works , to serve the Living Lord God in Uprightness for ever . For this Cause are We brought out into the World ; & behold the Vessel we are embark'd in , our Lading and the Country we make for ! The Vessel , Truth ; the Lading , Faith and Good Works ; Our Souls , the Passengers ; and the Country , the Land of Everlasting Rest . This I could not but present you with , that no Endeavours of our Enemies may be able to lodge a False Character of us and our Principles with you ; Though I must faithfully tell you , that I should wrong my own Reason , as well as your Judgment , and speak against my Conscience too , if I should let in one Thought of this Man's Ability to do us any great Mischief with you : for , out of no Insult , but in Real Truth , I take Him for a very Unskilfull Pilot on our Coast , a Man unacquainted with our Concerns ; and a most Incompetent Person for an Antagonist . Accept ( for I can ask no Excuse for ) my Plainness , I have not fawned , I never could , and now much less : These Matters not only deserve , but require greatest Plainness . And Men that believe they shall have to do with God , after they have left having to do with Men , ought to act with greatest Circumspection and Sincerity . Remember your Original ; remember your End ; and know assuredly that but Breath is in your Nostrils ; and for every Deed done in this Mortal Body , whether it be good or whether it be evil , will God , the righteous Judge require an Account from You before his great Tribunal , where may you all be able to answer with Joy : I am Your Faithful Friend , William Penn , THE CONTENTS . CHAPTER I. HIs Epistle considered , page 13. CHAP. II. His Comparisons of us with ancient Hereticks considered , p. 21. CHAP. III. His Comparison between us and the Familists , p. 30. Of Christ's Ministration , p. 31. Of Revelation , p. 37. Of Miracles , p. 40. Of Forms of Prayer , p. 43. Of Baptism , p. 45. Of the Supper , p. 57. CHAP. IV. Of Holy Dayes , p. 63. Of Holy Places , p. 67. Of Tythes , p. 72. Of Gospel-Ministers , p. 81. CHAP. V. That Quakery is not Saduceism , as charged , p. 88. CHAP. VI. The People , called Quakers , not inconsistent with Government , p. 92. Swearing not lawful to true Christians , p. 96. CHAP. VII . Of the Nature and Sufficiency of the Light within , p. 101. CHAP. VIII . Of Lyes and Slanders promoted by him against us , p. 110. CHAP. IX . Of Perfection , p. 114. CHAP. X. Our Wayes of Conversion Scriptural , and justified , p. 117. The Conclusion to the Justices of the Peace , p. 131. ERRATA . READER , SOme Faults have escaped the Press , which thou art desired to Excuse and Correct ; the Book otherwise asks , and I hope , needs neither . Page , Line , Error — Corrected . 13 14 he I 35 5 and who 44 26 it be it to be 66 1 I I should 67 9 any . any thing . 71 28 a House Houses 91 28 object and Faith and blot out and Faith. 98 19 to to be   26 their his 100 22 Affirming Affronting 107 25 Jo. 1.1 . Jo. 1.1 , 5. 112 1 was done was not done . Wisdom Justified OF HER CHILDREN , From the Ignorance & Calumny of H. HALLYWELL . CHAP. I. His Epistle considered . THe Adversary we have to do withal begins his Dedicatory Epistle thus , The daily and Numerous Encrease of the Heretical Generation of Quakers in these Parts made me a little more then ordinarily inquisitive into their Doctrines and Perswasions ; which ●● found not only Destructive of Civil Government but Religion it self . 'T is natural with Ignorance to be Proud , and Envy to slander . His Enquiry has been at our Adversaries Door , not ours . They that read him , and those Books that lately came out , may know his Informers without further Cost : But Book-Robbery , though to Untruth , is an old Priest-trick . If his Sort of rendring us Unconsistent with Government could incense the Civil Magistrate to our Destruction , we know very well Traducers would not be wanting . Truth has never been persecuted under that Name : Heresy is an old Blot the Devil has cast upon it , that it may become suspected with the Simple ; And Christians were of old worried in Beast Skins : Such Coverings the present Heathen Spirit has provided for us . But as we cannot but bless the Name of Almighty God , that he has brought us to the Knowledge of his good old Way of Truth in the Inward Parts ; So do we affirm it to be neither averse from Government , nor destructive of Religion ; right Government being according to it , and pure Religion being to keep our selves Unspotted from the World , and to do or suffer , which we have ever done : and God knows , to that is the Tendency of our Holy Principle , to wit , Moderation , Justice , Industry , Temperance and Upright Conversation . But the true English of this wicked Suggestion is no more then this , The Quakers and their Perswasion are inconsistent with Will-Worshippers , Hirelings , Men-Pleasers , Persecutors & Oppressors ; They give the World an Alarm for these things , and Round their Ears with the Necessity of walking in so streight and narrow a Way , as gives great Disquiet to the Libertin , and brings the Priests Qualification into great Question , and his Trade into absolute Danger . No wonder then , so many hard Names , are cast upon us , to deter such as are unacquainted with us ; and beget Scruples in them that are Well disposed to us . However , this Contentment his Paragraph gives , that notwithstanding all this Opposition , we daily and numerously , encrease , for which my Soul is greatly glad , and my Knees bow to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ , that he would continue to prosper and speed his own great Work of Redemption in the Earth . But he goes on . For what else can be expected from them who deny the Scripture to be the Word of God , and Rule and Guide in matters of Salvation . Answ . We do not deny the Scriptures to be the Word of God , and Rule and Guide in matters of Salvation , out of any Undervalue of them , but from that reverent Regard we have to Chr●st the Great and Eminent Word , who was with God , and was God , by whom all things were made , Who is the Way , Truth and Life , the great Prophet , Judge , Law-giver and Priest to his People , whose Lips preserve Knowledge . He is the New Covenant , Rule and Judge , and without him we can neither understand nor believe the Scriptures as we should do ; Nay , so far are they from being a Rule , &c. that a thousand Cases may happen wherein they cannot be a Direction to us . Nay , they may be burned , drowned , torn , lost , mistranslated , added to , diminisht , Men may be robbed of them , imprisoned from them ; but none of all this can or ought to be said of the Great Gospel-Rule : God has ever been Sufficient to his People in every Age ; And since they only are Children of God , who are led by the Spirit of God , and that it is the Spirit of God alone which leads into all Truth , It follows that the Law of the Spirit of Life , writ in the Heart , and not a Law writ on Paper ( a State less excellent then the Jews , whose Law was written upon Stone ) is the great Evangelical Rule of Living ; Ye●●re the Scriptures an Holy Declaration of th● Word of God , and of the Rule and Guide in ●atters of Salvation : And we reject for ever that Spirit which leads into those Principles and Practices , that in the least contradict the standing and permanent Truths therein mentioned ; For they were written by Holy Men of God , being inspired thereto , and contain Godly Reproof , Admonition , Exhortation and Prophecies , for the Edification of the Church , and perfecting the Man of God to every good Word and Work , through Faith in Christ Jesus ; and as such , many Directions , Precepts and Rules are therein laid down , yet they all refer to the Grace , Light , Spirit , Word or Anointing within , as That by which Man ought to be Ruled , governed and ordered to God's Glory and his own Comfort , as they first were who gave them forth ; for they were Witnesses of the Truth of what they writ . So that they are an Holy Declaration of the Way of God , and that Holy Principle which leads to it , and in it , without which the Book is sealed , the Scriptures are unknown ; and consequently not the Scriptures , but that holy Key of David is the Rule , how far , and which way we are both to understand , interpret , believe and practise them . This may be enough to shew the Disingenuity of our Adversary in representing us to his Knight ; For because We cannot give that Title and Office due to Christ himself from him to his bare Declaration , he would insinuate that we refuse all Conformity to the Holy Examples and Testimonies therein related and exprest , as if we were a most dissolute Crew of Libertines . But he tells us , that this Person ( whose Name I suppose we shall prove he has made too bold with ) so well knowing our obstinate and perverse Humor in the Discharge of his Trusts committed to him under his MOST SACRED MAJETSY , he could do no less then present him with this Treatise , that going under the Name and Protection of so worthy and accomplisht a Person , it may in some measure obtain its desired Effect , by putting a Stop to the growing Evil , and confirming those who are not seduced in the Truth of their Profession . A most non-sensical Expression . Answ . But I am willing to hope better things of him , then that be should go upon the Priest's Message , or turn their Knight Errant . But what 's the Matter that the Quakers are so Perverse ? They cannot say right Worshipful , because they think that of right belongs to God ; nor most sacred Majesty , that being fit for no mortal Man : Neither can they ly and flatter with Your most Obliged and Affectionate Servant , for they are more obliged to God then Man , and to one Man more then another . He either knew not , forgot , or sleighted the Rebuke of Paulinus to Sulpitius Severus , who said , It becometh not Christ's Free-Men to subscribe themselves Servant , &c. But it is nothing with such as our Adversary to Cog , Ly and Flatter ; 'T is one Part of his Manners . I would fain know what Rule he had for all this ? Did the Holy Prophets and Apostles teach him any such Trash ? Will he prate of Scripture for a Rule , and yet bridle his Flattering Tongue no better ? The Customes of the Heathens have entred the Profession of Christianity , and that Old Spirit under this New Trim goes off for a very Good Christian . Oh , but the Quakers are Obstinate in other Cases for all this ! Answ . Why so ? Because they will by all means stand to their Principles ; They will not play the Sycophants ; Threats do not fright them , nor Promises gain them ; They love their Conscience above their Conveniency ; and seek to please God rather then Men. Perhaps , this sort of Men , the Knight has found them , but could have wisht them more pliant to the Laws , it may be , that he might have some colour to be kind : must therefore this Busy-Body entitule his Name to all his own Follyes , Lyes and Slanders against us ? What can any moderate Person think but that the Patron of such a Discourse , has been an eminent Persecutor , whose Protection is so plainly called for to a Book that without doubt would have him so ? For my Part , I think the Knight ought to repute that Ignorant and Disingenuous Discourse so far from being a Testimony how much the Author is his most obliged and affectionate Servant , that for Interesting his Name and Power therein , he should hereafter look upon him as an Enemy to Him , his Name and Family . Before I conclude , give me leave to ask him , why he sought for Protection . Is his national Cause defended by Princes , Parliaments , Navyes , Armies , the Learned , Rich and Powerful Clergy , both Universities , the generality of the Gentry and Commonality so weak and gasping ; or are the poor , despised , traduced and trodden down Quakers so potent and terrible , that a Book of eight Sheets dare not peep out against them , but a big Title must be got to recommend and patronize it . But how Worthy soever the Knight be , that will not hinder my Proceeding to shew the Unworthiness of the Book , & therein of the Author , as well to his Patron as the despised Quakers . CHAP. II. Containing an Answer to his first Chapter , in which he pretends an Agreement to be between the Quakers and other Ancient and Modern Hereticks . The Comparison examined and proved defective . OUr Adversary , that he may the better prejudice his Reader against us , introduceth his Discourse with a Comparison of us , to the most noted and odious of the reputed ancient and modern Hereticks , doubtless hoping , that what he wants of Argument to render us such , may be supplied by that ill Opinion , Men have of those he brings us into parallel with . The first Man he thought fit to pitch upon is Simon Magus , a Man famous for his infamous Sorceries , with whom he wickedly yoaks that faithful Minister of God , George Fox , because , saith he , Simon Magus gave out that he was God the Father ; And George Fox before the Justices at Lancaster , that he was equal with God. Answ . There is no believing a decimating , persecuting Priest against a Quaker till he makes more Conscience of telling Lyes , who have given too many Demonstrations of their Desire to have us run down at any rate , to be credited by those who love Truth more then Partiality . George Fox denyes the Words , they were never so spoken by him , much less were they ever intended in that Way our Adversary takes and improves them ; For though there be not an Equality , yet there is an Unity , as testifyeth the Scripture ; Let the same Mind be in you , that was also in Christ Jesus , who being in the Form of God , thought it not Robbery to be equal with God. And He that sanctifieth , and they that are sanctified are all of One ; for which cause he is not ashamed to call them Brethren . Again , They that are joyned to the Lord are One Spirit ; and , He that doth Righteousness is Righteous , even as He is Righteous . To deny this is to deny the most Heavenly Benefit we have by Christ , namely Unity and Fellowship we have with the Father and with the Son. That it was an Unity , not an Equality , especially in the Sense he takes the Word , the faithful Narrative of that Proceeding , printed in the Year 1654. will further testify . How great then must this Man's Miscarriage be , who , to render a good Man an Impostor , turns Forger himself ? but God will reward him . The next Pair he pitches upon to prove his Assertion , is Maenander and James Nailer . The one for affirming Himself to be sent from the invisible Regions to be the Saviour of Man-kind . And James Nailer for asserting himself to be Christ and accepting Hosannah's and Divine Worship in the Streets of Bristol . Answ . What Maenander was I know not , and it is hard believing a Character of any Man , when it is given by his Enemy : But sure I am that James Nailer never asserted himself to be the Christ of God ; Neither did he ever deny Him that appeard at Jerusalem to be the Lord 's Christ , as his Writings plentifully declare , especially one Paper written by him to the then Parliament , when a Prisoner in Bride-wel . Christ Jesus the Emmanuel ( of whose Sufferings the Scriptures declare ) Him ALONE I confess before Men , for whose sake I have deny'd what ever was dear to me in this World , that I might win him , & be found in him and not in my self , whom alone I seek to serve in Body , Soul & Spirit , night & day , according to the Measure of Grace working in me ; even to that Eternal Spirit be Glory , and to the Lamb forever . But to asscribe this Power & Virtue to JAMES NAILER , or for that to be exalted or worshipped , TO ME IS GREAT IDOLATRY . So having an Opportunity given ( with Readiness ) I am willing , in the Fear of God the Father , in Honour to Christ Jesus , and to take off all Offences from every Simple Heart , without Guile or Deceit . His third Comparison lyes betwixt Photinus who is said to have denyed the Trinity , and G. Fox , as guilty of the same Error in his Account . Answ . I can find no such place in the Book so called ; Either our Adversary sets up for a New Controvertist , or he dishonestly shunned giving us the Page : But I am willing to believe , that he took it as he found it in some other Adversary ; for any thing reported or printed against a Quaker is ground enough for an envious Priest to accuse him . But what if G. Fox denyed the Unscriptural Expressions , viz. The Trinity of distinct and separate Persons ? must it necessarily follow that he denyed the Three that bear Record in Heaven , the Father , Word and Spirit ? We justly renounce those Barbarous School-Terms , as not suited to God's Heavenly Manifestations , but the dark Conceits of some Popish Doctors . His fourth Comparison is made between So●inus and James Nailer , in that the one denyed the Satisfaction of Jesus Christ , and look'd upon his Passion only as an Example . The other in that he affirmed , The End for which Christ did suffer , was to be a living Example to all Generations , Love to the lost , page 56. Answ . He has not truly delivered the Opinion of Socinus , whose Books shew ( however mistaken about Christ's Divinity ) that he ever esteemed his Death and Passion to have more in it then a bare Example : Nor has he faithfully dealt with J. Nailer in this Quotation ; For first I find not the Words as cited ; and next the Word ( ONLY ) is by himself omitted , which alone renders the Passage heterodox . Suppose then that J. Nailer writ , that Christ was in his Suffering a living Example to all Generations ; Is there no Difference between Christ's being in his Death and Passion Only our Example , which he charges upon Socinus , and Christ's being our living Example in Suffering , which he attributes to J. Nailer ? How can there be a Comparison , where there is so great a Disparity ? The First is denyed by all that own Christ : The Last is owned by all that do not deny Peter , who thus writ to the scattered Brethren , For even hereunto were ye called , because Christ also suffered for us , leaving us an Example that ye should follow his Steps . 1 Pet. 2.21 . His fifth Comparison he makes between the Valentinians & the Quakers . The Former , he sayes , arrogated to themselves a Knowledge beyond Christ and his Apostles ; The Latter impudently throw away the written Word of God , & delude the credulous Vulgar with new fangled Revelations ; which he thinks he has prov'd by two Inances . 1. That Th. Hollbrow a Quaker , to One that urged Scripture , answered , What dost thou tell me of Scripture , which is no more to me then an Old Almanack . 2. That Fox and Hubberthorn in a Book , called Truth 's Defence , say , The Scriptures are no standing Rule , and it is dangerous for ignorant People to read them . Answ . To the first I say , there is great Difference between one that was no Quaker , and one that was or is a Quaker ; We have examined the matter , and by all we can find , both that Saying is not true as charged , and it is of an ancienter date then the coming of any of our Friends into those , Parts therefore not the Saying of a true Quaker . To the second I return thus much , 'T is true there is such a Book , and it was written by G. Fox and R. Hubberthorn ; but he has not given us so much as one Page to direct us to the Passage : So that either People must read till they find it , or else take his Perversion for our Assertion . Unworthy Man ! does he think us such Wretches , that we deserve not common Justice ? Methinks Justice should not be denyed where so little Mercy is shewn . But to answer the Instance . Our Judgment about the Scriptures being the Rule , we have already delivered ; And in what sense it is Dangerous to read them , their own Book will declare . 'T is dangerous , say G. Fox & R. Hubberthorn , to read the Scripture in order to make War against the Saints , to give carnal Expositions upon them , & Meanings contrary to them , and to make a Trade of them ; but Blessed is he that doth read and doth understand them . If this prove that Sleight to Scripture , our Adversary would suggest them to be guilty of , then let us be condemned : But God's Witness in every unseared Conscience will acquit them , and judge him for corrupt Citation , and hard Speeches , who dares to cry thereupon , Are these not as Impudent Hereticks as the Valentinians ( whom he represents to have arrogated to themselves a Knowledge above Christ and his Apostles ) which , how true soever it may be of them , I am sure is False enough of us ; for those hideous Consequences he makes , are not deducible from any unperverted Saying to be cited out of Truth 's Defence . And least any should think , we deny with the Papists the Perusal of the Scriptures to Ignorant People , from what our Adversary sayes , know that they spoke of such Ignorant and Unlearned Persons , as in reading , wrested them to their own Destruction ; now unless it be not Dangerous to read to Destruction they are not chargeable wit● B●ame in that Matter . But who are the Knowing and Learned ? The Jewish Doctors ? and Greek Philosophers ? No , but Fishermen and poor Mechanicks discipled in Christ's School , for the Excellency of whose Knowledge Paul reputed his Gamaliel-Acquisitions but Dross and Dung : So that their Knowing and Learned are many times the Ignorant & Unlearned we speak of , whose Wisdom God will confound , and whose Understanding he will bring to nought . His last Comparison of us in this Chapter is with Marcus , an old Heretick . The Agreement he makes betwixt us , lyes in our mutual Pretences to Inspiration and Prophecy . For as he reports him to have abused many silly Women , under colour of conferring on them the Gift of Prophesying , and that he had a familiar Spirit by which 〈◊〉 brought himself into Credit with his deluded Followers ; So he tells us that he has had it confidently affirmed , That about the first rise of the Quakers in the North of England , several Persons by Gloves and Ribbands and divers Charmes were really bewitched by them . And doubtless many of their Quaking fits were real Possessions by the Devil . Answ . What Marcus was is nothing to us ; If he has done amiss , he has answered for it by this time . I confess , I am not over-fond of the Characters left us of ancient Hereticks , knowing what kind of Creatures the best Protestants are with Papists ; and what fearful Monsters several sober Separatists are reputed among some Protestants : But this I know , if what he hath said of several Ancients be no Truer then what he hath said of us , he has grosly abused their Doctrines and their Memories . For the Witchcraft of our Gloves , Ribbands and Charmes , 't is scarce worth my Notice ; his Folly in mentioning it , being a sufficient Reproof and Confutation to himself . A Story fit for none at this time of day , to report or believe , but a Man of his size . I thought they had been worn out by this time . But let the sober Reader judge which savours most of Satan's Design , this Idle yet Scandalous Story , or our Fearing and Trembling at the Word of the Lord , and those Terrors that broke in upon our Souls because of Sin and Iniquity ? 'T is but the old Spirit of Mockery that acted the Jews and Heathens against the Christians , and Papists against Protestants and too many Protestants of several Sorts , against some more reformed Separatists . For had the Reverent Fear of God possessed our Adversary's Heart in the writing of this Discourse , there had been no room for such Irreligious Scoffs against an inoffensive People . But the Devil , because he would be God , calls God the Devil , Christ , Beelzebub , Light , Darkness , and the Power of God , the Power of Satan , and the Fear and Trembling brought by the one , the Possessions and Witchcrafts of the other . Certainly such Men live in a dry Land , they see not when Good cometh . But what will not an Enraged Tything Priest do to destroy us , who ( he knows ) are Discoverers of such Deluders ? CHAP. III. His pretended Agreement between the Authors of Familism and the Quakers considered . His Objections answered . I Now come to consider the Reason of the Title of his Book , and what Ground he had to name us the Revivers & Propagators of Familism , with the most weighty Objections he makes against us ( if in Truth I may repute the strongest of them such ) and that with what Brevity , Truth and Faithfulness I can . The great Authors of this Doctrine of Familism , he sayes , were David George , and Henry Nicolas , but more especially the latter , as having more improved and disseminated the pernicious Errors introduced by the former . He bestows many severe Expressions upon them , more , I think , then becomes a Man of any Charity to give . I am not their Advocate ; But so much Splene and so little Reason against Dead Men can be neither Christian nor Manly . What he sayes they held , and how far we are concerned in it , it is our Business to enquire . § 1. Of Christ's Ministration . And first he tells us , that H.N. should say , that not only the Law of Moses , but the Ministration of Christ and his Apostles were only Temporary things instituted to bring Men to the perfect Reign of the Spirit ; and then , like Horn-Books and Primers to grown Understandings , to be thrown away , pag. 10 , 11. And that this is the full Sense of the Quakers , sayes our Adversary , Hear John Crook a Quaker ; We believe by the same Gift of Grace that there are several Ministratitions , and several Operations , according to 1 Cor. 12. And all by the same Spirit , as before and after the Law by Moses , and after by John the Baptist , and Christ and his Apostles . And by this Spirit were the Scriptures given forth , and the Holy Men of God did speak , prophesy , preach and pray , as they were moved ; and to answer the Service God had for them to do , they were to wait , as Christ commanded his Disciples , to receive the Promise of the Father — And therefore as it was the Practice of the People of God in old time , to wait for the Moving of this Spirit , that they might speak as it gave them Utterance in the Evidence and Demonstration thereof ; so do this People , called Quakers , now . Upon which our Adversary dares to observe , that we with the Familists , deny the Ministration of Christ to be the Ministration of the Spirit , and consequently a Blasphemous Derogation from the Honour of our Blessed Saviour , who said to his Apostles , Joh. 16.14 . He shall receive of mine , and shew it unto you . Answ . If our Adversary's Weakness has run him into this strange Parrallel , he is to be pittyed ; but if his Envy , he is severely to be rebuked . Will any Man that has Sense or Honesty say , it is all one to affirm that Christ's Ministration is an Horn-book that time casts off with Infancy ; and that it is a Waiting to receive the same Spirit Christ commanded his Apostles to wait for , as the Promise of the Father , and the peculiar Gift and Priviledge of his own Ministration ? Does not J. Crook expresly draw a Parallel between the Holy Men of God of old , and the Quakers of our time ; that as they then , so the Quakers now wait to be taught , moved and ordered by the same Eternal Spirit , through which all come to be baptized into One Body ? How was that then no Spiritual Ministration , when we desire to be conformed unto the Spirit and Holy Example thereof , not making this anew , but reviving that old and durable Ministration of the Spirit ? Therefore Blasphemous Derogations will return to our Adversary , as unduely charged upon us , with a Charge upon him of base Derogation from the Truth of our Belief . But he thinks that Humph. Smith has made much for him in thus Querying ; Whether should People be led in these dayes by Moses , according to his outward Ministration , or the Person of Christ ( limiting it to his Visible Appearance ) or the Spirit of Truth , which he promised to pour out after his Ascension ; which contains the Substance of what he quotes out of H. Sm. & to which he thus answers , There is no sober Christian can read this Passage without Anger and Disdain to see such wicked Wretches scoff , and fleeringly insult upon the sacred Person of our Lord Jesus ; The whole History of whose Life and Death in the Letter of it , they esteem no better then one of Aesop's Fables . Answ . But our Adversary will not so easily escape the Hands of the Just God ( whose is Vengeance ) for these Ungodly Defamations , as he well knows he may do ours : Anger , Disdain and Lyes become him , and it is little to be wondred that he should be guilty of them all against a Quaker . If H. Sm. had asserted that Moses could not be our Leader , neither the Visible Person of Christ , but the Spirit of Truth , he had not exceeded the Warrant of Scripture , nor the very Judgment of this Reviler . It is not two pages off that he quoted Joh. 16.14 . He shall receive of mine , and shall shew it unto you : Which , if I understand any thing , imports thus much ; That those things which they knew not whilst Christ was with them , after his Ascension the Holy Ghost should reveal unto them , as these two preceeding Verses fully prove . I have yet many things to say unto you , but ye cannot bear them now ; Howbeit , when the Spirit of Truth is come , he will guide you into all Truth , and he will shew you things to come . Nay , Christ himself sayes in the 7th Verse , Nevertheless I tell you the Truth , It is expedient for you that I go away ; For if I go not away the Comforter will not come unto you . And in the 14th Chapter he speaks thus , I will pray the Father , and he will give you another Comforter , 〈◊〉 will abide with you for ever , even the Spirit of Truth : So that the personal Ministration was manifestly transient , and temporary ; but That of the Spirit was to abide for ever . But I would not any should think it to be less Christ's Ministration , because the Ministration of the Spirit ; for the Lord is that Spirit , as his own Words manifest : Again , I will not leave you comfortless , I will come to you . Yet a little while , and the World seeth me no more , but ye see me : Because I live , ye shall live also ; For he that dwelleth with you , shall be in you . At that day you shall know that I am in my Father , and you in me , and I in you . And that this Comforter is Christ in his Spiritual Coming and Appearance , let it be further observed , that the same Word for Comforter ( 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ) in John 16.7 . is the Word used by the same Apostle in the first Verse of the 2d Chapter of his first Epistle for Advocate , when he sayes , We have an Advocate with the Father , Christ Jesus the Righteous . In short , the Dispensation of his Visible Appearance was but Temporary : It is expedient for you that I go away . But his Ministration , who so appeared , then dis-appeared , and after re-appeared in a Spiritual and unalterable Ministration , Lo , I am with you to the End of the World. And truly thus much our Adversary in Contradiction to himself , grants us , that the Ministration of Christ was indeed the Ministration of the Spirit . Now what Scoffs , Fleerings or Insults against the sacred Person of our Lord Jesus any can see in this Doctrine , to incite a sober Christian to Anger and Disdain , I leave to any but such an Angry and Disdainful Enemy to judge ? I cannot forget his horrible Ly of us , concerning the Scriptures , stolen probably out of an Anabaptists lying Dialogue lately printed against us . Prelaticks and Sectaries can sometimes agree against Quakers . Aesop's Fables have more worth in them , then all the Books that ever were written against the Quakers ; I do not at all doubt but there are Twenty Fables in Aesop that , well considered , would have taught them more Discretion and ( it should have been their own Fault if not ) more Honesty too , then any or all of them have shown in their utmost Endeavours against us . But that we have no more Regard to , nor Belief in the Holy Scriptures of Truth then in Aesop's Fables , is a Story more prophane and fabulous then any Fable in Aesop ; and God will recompence with a Vengeance this Defamer of an Innocent People , unless diverted by his unfeigned Repentance . §. 2. Of Revelation . He tels us the second thing wherein the Familists and Quakers are all one , is the Pretence of Immediate Revelation . Dav. Geo. and H.N. both pretend to receive their Doctrine from the Angel Gabriel . And W. Gibson , the Quaker , sayes , that the Gospel which they preach they have not received it from Men , nor from Books , nor from Writings , but by the Revelation of Jesus Christ in them , and then denyes the Scriptures of the old and new Testament to be the revealed Will of God. Answ . After what manner D.G. and H.N. received their Commission I know not , but sure I am that W. Gibson's Assertion is sound . Take away Revelation and the Gospel ceases of course ; Christ is put besides the Dignity of his Prophetical and Priestly Office ; the Promises of God will be broken ; and the most excellent part of the Scriptures , God's Traditions , made void . Who was it said , A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up like unto me , Him shall ye hear in all things . There is a Spirit in Man ; and the Inspiration of the Almighty giveth Understanding . As for me , This is my Covenant with him , saith the Lord , My Spirit that is upon thee , and my Words which I have put in thy Mouth , shall not depart out of thy Mouth , nor out of the Mouth of thy Seed , nor out of the Mouth of thy Seed's Seed , saith the Lord , from henceforth and forever . I will REVEAL unto them the Abundance of Peace and Truth — I thank thee , O Father , Lord of Heaven and Earth , because thou hast hid these things from the Wise and Prudent , and hast REVEALED them unto Babes — And no Man knoweth the Father but the Son , and he to whom the Son will REVEAL him . No Man can come unto me , except the Father which hath sent me , draw him — But God hath REVEALED them unto us by his Spirit . For the Spirit searcheth all things , yea , the deep things of God. For the things of God knoweth no Man but the Spirit of God. If anything be REVEALED to another that sitteth by , let the first hold his Peace . For when it pleased God to REVEAL his Son in me . For I neither received the Gospel of Man , neither was I taught it , but by the REVELATION of Jesus Christ . If any be other-wise minded , God will REVEAL it to him . As I said before , so again , Who uttered these excellent Sayings , and for what End ? If no Inspiration , no Understanding ; If no Revelation , no Knowledge ; And if the Spirit cease to teach ( as it can never teach , but by Inspiration or Revelation ) then the Administration of Christ and his Apostles is ceased indeed ; And so not the Quakers , but their Adversary overturns the Gospel-Ministration , as begun and preached by Christ and his Apostles . And be it known to all the World , we think Revelation no Disgrace to our Cause . Parrats may learn Scripture but can never experience it ; And those know little better who know not by Experience : They are unprofitable Canters indeed who confidently talk of what they never felt , and Idle Boasters who bo● up themselves unto the Reputation of Ministers and Christians , with a loud talk of their Travels , Tryals , Inspirations and Experiences , whom they plainly mock in their Posterity , concluding all blind because they cannot see . In short , Let it be the Character of the despised Quakers ( and we glory in it ) that all the Councils , Synods , Universities , Doctors , Scholars , and the most Unanimous Decrees , Learned Books , and what ever the Power and Art of the Spirit of Man can produce , will never be able to give , or rule that true Faith which overcomes the World ; For that which may be known of God is manifested within Man : And though outward Records may testify of , and direct to that Unerring Light and Spirit , by which Man comes both to know God , and to be made conformable to his heavenly Image ; yet nothing below the Discoveries , Convictions , and Effectual Operations of the Eternal Spirit , can give Man the certain Knowledge of God , nor that daily Ability by which alone he may be enabled to obey him . But he opposeth to us Miracles and Reason , insinuating that we have no more of the last then the first , and therefore not to be believed . To the first I say , we pretend to no other Religion , then what was professed and practised by the Apostles , and therefore need no new Miracles after that Manner to confirm that which has been confirmed by Miracles already ; especially by those who believe those Miracles : And to deny Revelation where there are no Miracles , is to discard many of the Prophets , and to deny the Pouring forth of the Spirit upon the primitive Christians . But above all , hear the Man's Interpretation of Deut. 18.22 . When a Prophet speaks in the Name of the Lord , if the thing follow not , nor come to pass ; that is , saith this horrible Perverter of holy Scripture , if he do no Miracle ; whereas the Verse intends no such thing . Is this to rant over the Quakers for Idiots , as if he were some Doctor of the Chair , that where the Scripture speaks of Prophecy , he should render it Miracle ; as if he that is a Prophet , is a Worker of Miracles , and that Miracles and Prophecy are equivalent ? But ( Argumentum ad hominem ) let us see how it will hold . He that is a true Prophet must necessarily work Miracles ; But the Priests of England cannot work Miracles ; therefore , the Priests of England are all False Prophets . A true Conclusion , yet false Premises ; A Paradox . Now for the Reasonableness of our Doctrine : He thinks a very mean Capacity can find none in it ; for how should there be any Reason in what they teach , when they themselves , sayes he , deny the Use of Reason . But none have less then they which pretend to so much . This Man dares swagger for Reason , and yet cryes out , Heresy , as soon as he sees it . His Reason is , the Authority of his Church , The SAY-SO of some University Doctor , finally , The Workes of some learned Men , and offer never so much Reason & Conscience against them ; and your Reason is Sophistry , and Conscience , Enthusiasm . The justest Separation in the World is with such but Schism , and which is the last Stratagem , such Persons must be Enemies to Caesar . But I may say of those Men , as Heraclitus said of their Fore-Fathers , If blind Men were to judge of Sight , they would say Blindness were Sight . God is the Fountain as well of Reason , as Light : And we assert our Principle not to be without Reason , but most Reasonable ; Whence it is frequent with us in our Reproof of Cruel Men , to say , they are Unreasonable , whether it be to Man or Beast , making good what the Prophet saith , For his God doth instruct him to Discretion and doth teach them . Again , Come & let us Reason together . And Tertullian will have the first Verse of John thus rendr'd ; In the Beginning was Reason , and that Reason was with God , and that Reason was God ; by that were all things made , &c. And this seems no forreign Interpretation , for in the 10th Verse of Jude we have sensual Men not having the Spirit , called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , Unreasonable Creatures , according to which the Apostle Peter speaks , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , to him that askes Reason ready to give it . Thus much ( to overlook our own Translation in Paul's second Epistle to the Thessalonians , where he calls such Unreasonable Men that have not Faith ) concerning Reason : So that it is very evident by our Adversary's denying , and the Quakers asserting an unerrable Principle to be in Man , and the Refusal of the one , and the Readiness of the other to be governed thereby , not the Quakers , but their Enemies are Unreasonable both in their Faith and Practice . §. 3. Of Forms of Prayer . Our Adversary spends two or three Pages in proving the Necessity of Bodily Worship , and he doth it so lamely , that if it were so much my Judgment to deny it , as it is to practise it , I know nothing he has said , to encline me to it . This he makes an Introduction to that Agreement , he sayes , there is between D.G.H.N. and the Quakers , in their mutual Renouncing both Bodily Worship and Visible Ordinances . For Bodily Worship , I need say no more , then that our publick Meetings judge him guilty of great Dishonesty . For his Visible Ordinances , we shall proceed to consider them . The first is concerning a Form of Prayer , hear him . With the like silly and weak Confidence they exclaim against Forms of Prayer , wheras our blessed Saviour ▪ taught his Disciples a Form. Math. 6.9 . After this manner therefore pray ye , &c. And least , sayes he , we should think that this was only a Pattern , Saint Luke Chapt. 11. expresses it , when ye pray , say , Our Father , &c. that is , do it in these Words . Moreover John taught his Disciples ; and one of Christ's Disciples desired that he would teach them : where we are told , first that John delivered a Form of Prayer to his Disciples . 2. That Christ's Disciples besought him that he would also give them some Form of his making . Answ . But can this Man have the Vanity to plead the Necessity of the Use of this Form , much less of those that are of Mens Invention and Appointment from those Quotations ? Has his Religion brought him no farther ? Can he believe that Matthew writ by the holy Ghost , and yet imply an absolute Reproof in his so much more commending Luke's account , which he thinks , requires the express Words , and not others like them ? But let it be considered , that this was a time of Infancy ; and that it was before the more full pouring out of the Spirit , is certain ; and that they knew not Gospel . Prayer as afterward , is undeniable . Besides , It is either Sufficient , or it is not ; If Insufficient , it reflects on Christ , beside who can supply its Defect ? If Sufficient , why do you use any other ? What ever it is upon our Principles , you must confess it be a setting of your Postes by God's Postes ; your Invention by his Institution . It is meer Deceit to attempt the Defence of the Popish English Mass-Book from Christ's Prayer . Prove your Forms to be of Divine Institution , and that God by his Spirit now requires them , and the Debate will end ; otherwise we reject the Allusion as improper and incoherent . The Spirit is not confinable to set Forms , though in times of Ignorance he hath administred Comfort in ▪ them by those who were sincere , and knew no better : But Forms are not therefore to be perpetuated ; for that were to obstruct the more free Operation of the Spirit , and our Expression by it : It is at best but a State of Weakness to be condescended to , but never to be pleaded for ; God's Spirit will be unlimited , as well as the Words he prompts us to , must never by another be confined . §. 4. Of Baptism . He sayes , we both deny Baptism ( by which I understand Water ) because Christ finding it among the Jews adopted it into his Religion ; a Ceremony neither burthensome nor offensive , and the only Door set open under the Gospel for Salvation . For which he brings three Scriptures , Matth. 28.19 . Go , and teach all Nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father , &c. To the same purpose by Mark , Chap. 16. v. 15 , 16. And Christ's Saying , Joh. 3.5 . Except a Man be born of Water and of the Spirit , he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. Answ . If Baptism was ever Jewish as our Adversary grants , then because Christ came to end all Jewish Ceremonies , Water-Baptism can bear no Evangelical Perpetuity . And if it should be objected , that it was used after the Pouring forth of the Holy Ghost , I answer , so was Circumcision , Vowes , Purification , Forbearing to eat things strangled and Blood ; And the common Practice of Christendom , so called , sufficiently tells us , what is become of those Observations . Using and Instituting are two things . The Apostles condescended where they never commanded . In the two first Scriptures , which contain a Commission , there is no Water mentioned ; That there is a Baptism of the Holy Ghost , I hope , all will grant ; That such a Baptism admits of no outward Water is plainly implyed : And that it was the Baptism of the Holy Ghost ( and therefore not of Water ) which Christ intended , I will briefly prove . First , this Commission was some of the last Words Christ spoak ; that it is to be fulfilled is certain ; that they could not do it without Power is clear ; that neither of those Chapters mentions any such Endowment must be granted . Whether then must we go to fetch that Account here omitted ? I would desire my Reader to turn to the first Chapter of Luke's Acts of the Apostles , where we shall find Christ's last Words to his constant Followers thus left upon Record ; And being assembled together with them , he commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem , but wait for the Promise of the Father , which , saith he , ye have heard of me . For John truly baptized with Water , but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many Dayes hence . When they therefore were come together , they asked of him , saying , Lord , wilt thou at this time restore again the Kingdom to Israel ? And he said unto them , It is not for you to know the Times or the Seasons which the Father has put into his own Power ; But ye shall receive Power , after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you , and ye shall be Witnesses unto me , both in Jerusalem , and in all Judea , and 〈◊〉 Samariah , and unto the uttermost part of the Earth . And when he had spoken these things , while they beheld he was taken up , and a Cloud received him out of their Sight . Now if the Promise of the Father was the Pouring out of the Holy Ghost , and if the Pouring out of the Holy Ghost be the Baptism of the Holy Ghost , and that the Baptism of the Holy Ghost was that which qualified them to be his Witnesses , as the whole place fully proves ; Then , Go , and teach all Nations , &c. in Matthew , and , Go ye into all the World , in Mark , must not have been spoken before these Words in the Acts , at least not to take place till they themselves had been baptized with the Holy Ghost ; and consequently the Baptism mentioned in that Commission , must not have been a Water-Baptism , as John's was , but that of the Holy Ghost which they were to be baptized with : so that the Order of the Words , at least in Execution , if not in Expression , must have been this , John indeed baptized with Water , but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many Dayes hence ; Then go ye and teach ▪ all Nations , baptizing them in ( or rather into ) the Name of the Father , Son and Holy Ghost ; And lo , I am with you alwayes unto the End of the World. Nor is this incredible , when we consider without their so baptizing , it had been utterly Impossible for them to have turned them from Darkness to Light , and from the Power of Satan unto God. And doubtless they might as well baptize with the Holy Ghost , as reconcile by the Word ; For where the one was , the Power of the other could not be wanting . For the third Scripture , though Water be mentioned , yet what Water will be the Question . That it is not meant of outward Water , I offer several Reasons . 1. To be born of Water and of the Spirit is no more , then to be born of Water or of the Spirit , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being here explicative ; For were it otherwise , and that by Water were understood External Water , this Absurdity would inevitably follow , that the Soul of Man which is Spiritual and Internal , could in part be regenerated by Water External and Elementary : But this place is excellently unfolded , by that notable Passage of the Apostle Paul in his Epistle to Titus , Not by Works of Righteousness which we have done , but according to his Mercy he saved us , by the Washing of Regeneration and Renewing of the Holy Ghost ; where we not only have the WASHING of Regeneration to parrallel being born again of Water ( which say we , must be as Spiritual as the NewBirth it produceth ) but also the Renewing of the Holy Ghost to answer being born again of the Spirit , That as the washing of Regeneration , or Renewing of the Holy Ghost , are Synonymous ; or Expressions to the same Purpose ; so being born again of Water , or being born again of the Spirit , are equivalent . But if our Adversary will have this Water to be material in Honour of his Baptism , Let him never refuse the like Liberty to us in Construction of that great Water-Baptist's own Words : But he shall baptize you with the holy Ghost and with Fire , that is , material Fire . My Judgment is , if that were the Church of Englands Baptism he had never been her Son , though such Sons are ready to Christian many with that Fiery Baptism . But if such an Interpretation be absurd , let him not esteem his own Rational : And if it must be the holy Ghost , or Fire , then let it be Water , or Spirit ; for indeed they are but so many Words , intimating the various Operations of one Divine Power . In short , John was but a Forerunner , therefore not to be perpetuated : He was the Water ( but Christ the great Spiritual ) Baptist ; The Former to decrease , the Latter to increase : And the least in Christ's Kingdom , which is not of this World , is greater then John ; not then his private State , but outward Administration . Paul ( whose Commission was larger then any Priests in England ) tells us , He was not sent to baptize ( with Water ) but to Preach ; And instead of enjoyning the Practice of it upon others , he thanks God that he baptized but very few himself , which surely he had never done , if it had been part of his Commission , or the durable Baptism of the Gospel ; For he had just Reason to suspect some disaffected would make that Ill-Use of his Liberty , that it was to ingratiate and set up himself , being conscious that he had no Authority for what he did . This he further gives us to believe in that pertinent Passage to our Purpose ; There is One Body , One Spirit , One Lord , One Faith , One Baptism , One God and Father of all . If more Baptisms then one , then more Bodies , Spirits , Lords , Faiths , Gods , and Fathers of all , who were above all , and through all , and in them all , unto whom Paul wrote . If this be absurd , and that there is but one Baptism , I hope , it will not be denyed to be that of the Holy Ghost , which is both most suitable to the Evangelical Ministration , and the peculiar Baptism of Christ Jesus our Lord. I shall touch upon one Passage more . The like Figure whereunto even Baptism also doth now save us ; as our modern Translation has it , From which , though our Adversary would infer that Water-Baptism is to be used , as co-assistant with the Answer of a good Conscience , to Salvation , I doubt not unanswerably to mantain from it our foregoing Assertion . This Verse admits of various readings in ancient Copies , and diverse Interpretations by learned Men. We shall a little disquisite the matter , that he may see we shall not refuse Learning where it may perform the Office of an honest Servant not an Usurper . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ( some has it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ; the modern Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ( Augustin has it Vos , and our old Books , saith Zegerus ) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ( which Vatabalus makes the truth relative to the Type Flood . And saith Grotius , Vox 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 est communis utrique relat● , i. tam figurae tribuitur quam rei per figuram significatae , signifiing Type and Antitype , or the thing signified by the Type ) Erasmus hath it , cui nun● simile sive respondens Baptisma , so that Baptism may answer as the thing typified , not another Type ) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , sayes Dr. Hammond ( a famous Man of the English Church ) is certainly best renderd Antitype ; yet there be ●wo different senses , sometimes Contradiction ; thus Zenophon and Hesychius . Then Destruction was by Outward Water , now Salvation by Inward ; otherwise pro or in lieu of another , as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , he that supplies the Consul's place , so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ( as in an old Coppy in Oxford ) is the Ark inward , supplying the place of the Ark outward . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , which Capellus understands to be Baptismum internum , quo fimus mortis & resurrectionis Christi participes . Hujus interni baptismi typos aliquot habemus in V.T. imprimis autem arcam diluvii et arcam Noae . By Inward Baptism ▪ we are made Partakers of Christ's Death and Resurrection . Of this Inward Baptism we have several Types in the old Testament , of which Noah's Ark was one . Grotius refers us to these Scriptures for an Apostolical Exposition , Rom. 6.3 , 4. Ephes . 4.5 . Gal. 3.27 . Col. 2.12 . all which refer to Man's being baptized into Christ's Death , his putting on of Christ , and to the One Lord , One Faith , One Baptism . And indeed Beza shewed them the Way , who will have it , that the Baptism which answered to Noah's Ark , was not material Water , but the Power of Christ within , wich preserves us cleansed , and enables us to call on God with a good Conscience . Nor is Doctor Hammond of a different Judgment in this Case , who not only will have 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rendred Antitype , but the Baptism that is that Antitype , answering to Noah's Ark , to be the Inward Washing of Men's Consciences from Pollution , and delivering them from the Deluge of Sin and Destruction . Not only from all this do I conclude , the Baptism mentioned in that place to be the Antitype , or Truth answering to the outward and typical Salvation of Noah's Ark ; but for those Reasons which were with me , before my Perusal of these Authors , and which I shall now briefly offer . First , If 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 were but a Type or Figure , one Type would answer another , which is not proper . 2 dly , It were both to suppose , that the Gospel were a State of Figures ( which is the Substance of all ) and of such Figures too as are less demonstrative or significant ; for what is that Sprinkling , Baby-Baptism ( for Dipper or dipped I suppose our Adversary to be neither ) to the Worlds Deluge and Noah's Ark. 3 dly , The Baptism in the Text must be such a one as hath Efficacy enough in it to save , which outward Water can't do ; Besides , the Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , or saveth , hath Relation to Noah's Ark , wherein the eight Souls were saved ; Therefore the Antitype , or Truth answering to That , as Type . 4 ly , It is such a Baptism as saves by the Power of Christ's Resurrection , answerable to Rom. 6.3 , 4. Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ , were baptized into his Death ? that like as Christ , was raised up from the Dead by the Glory of the Father ; even so we also should walk in Newness of Life . 5 ly , And this the Parenthesis in the Verse undeniably proves , being an Illustration of the Baptism intended , not the putting away of the Filth of the Flesh , but the Answer of a good Conscience towards God , or as some have it , interrogatio , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , Inquisition or Enquiry , alluding to the Oracle URIM and THUMMIM , by which Men have Boldness and Access to God ; so as to render the Verse , Cui etiam ex adverso oppositus , nos servat Baptismus , non is quo carnis sordes abjiciuntur , sed is quo fit ut bona conscientia Deum interroget per resurrectionem Christi , i. e. To which the directly Opposite Baptism also now saveth us , not That by which the Filth of the Flesh is cast off , but That by which it is effected , that a good Conscience may ask God by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ . From all which , two things result ; First , that the Verse ought to be thus rendred , Answerable to which Figure Baptism now also saveth us , not the putting away of the Filth of the Flesh , but the Account of a good Conscience to God , by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ . And indeed the most disputable part of this Verse is abundantly confirmed on our side , by the Simplicity of the Ancient English , French & Spanish Translators . And I wonder that any Man of common Sense , not greatly abused by Prejudice or Custom , can think , that the Baptism mentioned , should be that of Water , when the middle of the Verse provides this material Distinction , not the putting away of the Filth of the Flesh ( the Effect of Outward Water ) but the Answer of a Good Conscience to God ( the Fruits of the Holy Ghost alone ) to that very End that People should not think so ; I mean , that it was a Water-Baptism . 2 ly . It may not be improper for us to observe , That if one Verse hath such Variety of Copies , Readings , Transpositions & Senses , as hath been noted , beside what we could yet produce , that they are at a miserable pass for an Universal , Living , Constant and Unerring Rule , who esteem the present Scriptures such , exclusive of the Spirit , which Time , Variety of Transcribers , Translators , Interpreters & Expositors have rendred so Uncertain . But if we had been unprovided of all this to our Defence , what has our Adversary to do to charge us with a Discontinuance of Water Baptism , till he had first clear'd his own Opinion from Popish Innovation and Invention ? What Scripture or pure Antiquity has he for INFANT ▪ BAPTISM , one of the Unscriptural and Senseless Ceremonies of his Religion , about which such as he makes more Stir then that of the Holy Ghost ? A Man may guess what a Christian he is , and how well he is versed in Christ's Doctrine , who can call a little Water shed by a Priest's Hand the Door into God's Kingdom . How much is this short of the Romish Priest's making his God , who sayes , the Bread is Christ after Consecration , since Christ , who is God over all , Blessed for ever , saith , He is that Door ; which H. Hallywell will have his Infant-Water - Baptism to be . §. 5. Of the Supper . But he saith of us and the Familists , By the same Diabolical Spirit , wherewith they are possessed , they lay aside the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper as a thing too Carnal . In Opposition to which he produceth Matth. 26.26 , 27. How that Christ took Bread and blessed it , and brake it , and gave it to his Disciples , and said , take , eat , this is my Body ; Then he took the Cup and gave thanks , and gave it to them , saying , drink ye all of it . St. Mark Chap. 14. repeats the very same , and sayes , they all drank of it ; But St. Luke Chap. 22.19 . and St. Paul 1 Cor. 11.24 . added these Words [ do this in Remembrance of me ] which import both a Commission and Direction to use and continue them . Answ . 'T is granted , that Christ eating the Passover with his Disciples , He did familiarly represent that Flesh & Blood , which he gave for the World , that whosoever eat thereof should have Life Eternal abiding in them . Nor is this strange ; For it was his Familiar Way o● opening his deepest Mysteries , and recommending the most excellent of all his Commandments , witness his Discourse concerning the Blessed Unity of Christ & his Members , by the Similitude of a Vine and its Branches ; And both his Washing his Disciples Feet , & requiring them to follow his Example . That this Practice was enjoyned his Disciples , is not warran●ed from Matthew , Mark or John. Luke indeed has these Words , do this in Remembrance of me , as our Adversary observes : But that they should be Paul's also , as he affirms , is both an abuse of the Scriptures , and them that read them ; For these are the Apostle's Words , as often as ye eat this Bread and drink this Cup , &c. which amounts to no more then this , when ye do eat this Supper do it worthily ; so that there is no Command to do it , though as often as they did do it , they were exhorted to do it discerningly : As often as you do it ; and Do it often , are differing Sayings . And that Luke's Words do not perpetuate it , especially as now used , I shall prove . First , If it be but a Sacrament or Sign , as saith our Adversary , then can it not of right continue longer then till the Thing signified shall come . Do this till , that is , when that is come , till the coming of which , the Sign was to be used ; there remains no longer any Institution . Now between all Types and Antitypes , Shadows and Substances , Parables and Morals , there must needs be some Resemblance , or else the End of their being used will be lost to them , for whose sakes they were appointed : For instance , Christ is called a Door , because no Man comes to the Father , but through him ; A Lyon , from his Strength & Dominion ; A Lamb , because of his Innocency ; A Vine because of that excellent Fruit he brings forth ; and lastly , he calls himself by the Name of Bread , because of that inward Strength & Nourishment such receive that feed Spiritually upon him : wherefore the Substance shadowed out , by this outward Bread & Wine , is no other then Christ , as the Bread that came down from above , and that Flesh and Blood which all were to eat and drink of that would have Eternal Life ; mentioned at large Joh. 6. So that admitting of a Command , it must be thus read , Do this till I come , who am the Heavenly Bread , & Flesh and Blood , that give Eternal Life to them that feed thereon ; which Bread the Apostle very well understood , when in the foregoing Chapter to the Corinthians he thus delivered himself , I speak as to wise Men , Judge ye what I say , The Cup of Blessing which we bless , is it not the Communion of the Blood of Christ ? For we being many are One BREAD , and One Body , for we are all PARTAKERS of that ONE BREAD , 1 Cor. 10.15 , 16 , 17. And this Christ himself intimated in the following Verse to that Passage out of Matthew , But I say unto you , I will not drink henceforth of this Fruit of the Vine , untill that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's Kingdom . And I query if that was not made good , on the Day of Pentecost , when scoffingly , yet truly ( like Caiaphas in another case ) several Spectators said of the Disciples , They were full of New Wine ? which was the beginning of the Restauration of that Kingdom of God to Israel , that the Disciples a little before so weakly queried after . In short , The Father's Kingdom is within , Luk. 17.20 . What was that Fruit then that was to be drunk anew in that Kingdom ? Certainly it came from himself , the true Vine , and must be of a Spiritual and Inward Nature , like to the Kingdom . To conclude , If Bread and Wine be but a Sign ; And if things signified ought to resemble their Signs ; And if Spiritual Bread and Wine mostly answer those Visible Signs ; And if they are to be had in the Kingdom of God ; And if the Kingdom of God be within ; And that who eat not that Bread , and drink not that Wine , have no Life in them ; Then because the Apostles had Life Eternal in them , and we a measure of the same in us , Christ , the Heavenly Bread and Flesh , and Wine & Blood , was then and is now come , and consequently , the Shadows of those good things ( as to any Institution ) were and are at an End : And as there is but One Spirit , and One Lord , One Faith , One Baptism , One God and Father , One Heavenly Kingdom , One Holy Body ; So but One Bread , and but One Cup , and but One Communion and Fellowship , and that is with the Father and the Son , by the Holy Ghost . But here , as in the case of Water-Baptism , it will be objected , why were they then afterwards used ? Answ . The Practices of good Men , though in things temporary , are many times to greedily received , and too long doted upon by those who desire to be reputed their Followers . Any thing once becoming customary is hard to be left ; Several Jewish Ceremonies the Holy-Ghost thought fit to be dispensed with for a Season , that were never to be perpetuated . But what has our Adversary and the several sorts of Protestants in the World to do with Baptism and the Supper , and deny that Qualification and Commission the Apostles had ? They will never stand our Enquiry about their Call , which they know , we have great Cause to scruple , indeed to deny ; For all must or should know that it was either Immediate , or Mediate and Successive . If Immediate , then they must necessarily confess to a Commission upon Inspiration , & then Quakers . If Mediate and Successive , then either beside the Church of Rome , or through the Church of Rome ; Not beside the Church of Rome , because she cannot prove any regular Ordination , or uninterrupted Succession , either as to Faith or Discipline . If through the Church of Rome , then they own the Ordination of a Church they renounce , and grant Her the Keyes , whom they have writ against for these six score Years , under the Name of Whore of Babylon , and Mother of Harlots , and all Abominations of the Earth . Can that which you account a corrupt Fountain , bring forth clean Streams ? Will Men seek Ordination at the hands of that Church , they resolve to employ it against ? Has she forfeited her Religion , and not her Power ? When did ever God make over his Authority by such an Entail ? If Mens Errors and Vices do not un-minister them , It will follow , that they may be Ill Christians , but very good Ministers . For Shame never renounce the Roman Church as False , if her Ordination must be True ; For what has Power to make a Minister , must be allowed to have Power both to instruct and conclude him in what he is to minister : Wherefore never let any own her to have Heaven's Keyes of Church-Authority , and then deny her as Heretical ; For where-ever any Church or People are truly such , that Church or People have thereby forfeited all Right thereunto : And as the contrary Opinion has long enricht the Popes Coffers , so the Unwary Concessions of some certain Protestants thereto , have too evidently given away a great share of that good old Cause . I have dwelt longer upon these Particulars , then my Adversary's Weakness could deserve at my Hands , but their Information hath induced me to it , who are assaulted by the envious Endeavours of our several Adversaries , that daily seek , how to mis-represent us , and our most Evangelical Principles . CHAP. IV. His third Chapter examined , which consists of the Holiness of Times , Places , Things and Persons under the Gospel . §. 1. Of the Sabbath-Day . His Accusation is , that these Familists and Quakers put no Difference between one Day and another , the Sabbath no more then another Day ; That many times they follow their usual Trades on a Sunday . Answ . What the Familists did is nothing to us ( if they did so ) But sure I am he has abused the Quakers ; For 't is well known , that in what Country soever they live , they follow the Practice of the Apostles , in Assembling together on the first Day of the Week : They do it constantly and reverently . Who most prophane that Day , the Quakers , or the Sons and Daughters of the Church of England , Their Feasts , Drunkenness , Wantonness , Gaming , and other Recreations , as they call them , are so many Demonstrations , to help every common Understanding to a Resolution in the Point . And to say , That we many times follow our usual Trades on that Day , is a plain Untruth , the whole World knows better , though we do not Judaize ; For Worship was not made for Time , but Time for Worship : Nor is there any Day Holy of it self , though Holy things may be performed upon a Day . But he tells us , yes ; For the fourth Commandment being as Moral as the rest , and that requiring a Sabbath-Day , the Sabbath-Day is perpetual also . Answ . But this hurts us not , since the Jewish Sabbath is not observed by the Church of England : But if a Sabbath-Day be Moral , because mentioned in the fourth Commandment ; Then because the Jews seventh-day-Sabbath is there particularly mentioned , Their Sabbath must be only Moral , and consequently Unalterable . But he sayes , No ; For that the Apostles and succeeding Church of God , may very reasonably dispose of us in matters of this Nature ; And it is obligatory from the Ten Commandments , every one of which is moral , and binds all Christians still ; and therefore the Church of England ( though these rebellious Quakers disown their Mother ) doth make it part of her Liturgy . Answ . If it be as Moral as all the rest , as it must be if it be Moral , because of its being there , they could no more dispense with it , then with any of the other Commandments : To call that Day Moral , and make it Alterable , is Ridiculous . 'T is true , the Apostles met upon the First Day , and not on the Seventh ; but as that released us from any pretended Morality of the Seventh , so neither did it confer any Morality upon the First ; yea , so far were they from it , that not one speaks any such thing ; but Paul much the contrary : Let no Man judge you in Meats or in Drinks , or in respect of an Holy-Day , or of New Moons , or of the Sabbath-Dayes , which are a Shadow of things to come , but the Body is of Christ . The outward Sabbath was Typical , of the great Rest of the Gospel , which such come to , who cease from their own Work and in whom the Works of God's new Creation come to be accomplisht . And though I , acknowledge the other Commands to be Moral , yea , and Time too , both respecting God's Worship , and the Creatures Rest ; yet there is no more Reason for the Morality of that Day , because amongst those Commandments , then for the Ceremoniousness and Abrogation of several Moral Precepts , because scattered up and down among the Ceremonial Laws , recorded in Leviticus . I grant , the Apostles met on that Day ; But must it therefore be Moral ? Certainly , the Scriptures Silence in this particular must either conclude a great Neglect against those Holy Men , in not recommending & enjoyning more expresly both Water , Bread , Wine and Holy-Dayes in their several Epistles to the Churches ; or warrant us in our Belief concerning the Temporariness of those things . Let not our Adversary reproach us for not believeing that to be durable , which was weaning off and vanishing in those dayes ; but soberly consider , that the Practice of the best Men , especially in such cases , is no Institution , though sometimes it may be an Example . But I perceive he makes bold , like an Irreverent Son with his Ghostly Fathers , who through his Reflections upon us , severely rebukes them . Has he so quickly forgot the Book of Sports , and who put it out ; when not to prophane this Sabbath with Dancings , Ryots and Revels had been enough to render a Man an Enemy to Caesar , and a schismatical Puritan to the Church ? If he be not satisfied with this , I refer him to Calvin's Institutes , Bp. Ironside , and Dr. Peter Heilin , concerning the non-morality of the Sabbath ; and a great Wonder it is , that John Calvin and Peter Heilin should be of an Opinion in any . §. 2. Place of God's Worship . He is very angry with us for denying a more then ordinary Sanctity to Places , and sayes , that we esteem a Church no more then a Stable ; That the Jews , Heathens and Turks have their Synaguoges , Temples and Mosches to pray in ; That Christ went to a-Prayer-House , Luke 6.12 . and Act. 16.13 . Where Paul and others went out to a River's side , where an Oratory was reported to be . Answ . We value the true Church more then a Stable , but we value a good Stable before a False Church , as such . But I suppose he means by Church , an House ; and then I must tell him , that I prefer a Stable better then no House , but a good House better then a Stable . But why is a Stable such an Ill-favoured place ? Has he forgot that the Head of the true Church first lodged in one , when there was no room for him in a whole Synagogue , yet room enough for a Company of Cavilling , Murdering Scribes and Pharisees ? There is no doubt but the Jews had Synagogues enough ; for it was out of them the Apostles were to be haled , because of their Testimony against those that were in them . 'T is true , the Heathens had Temples , & the Turks have their Mosches : I like the Comparison and the Proof very well ; For I take some of your Steeple-House-Guests to be as good Christians , as some of the worse sort of them . It was the old Heathenish Spirit which under the Cloak of Christianity , both erected those stately Edifices , instituted that Pompous Worship , and exacted those vast Revenues , that have burthened the World these many Ages ; whilst the pure Apostolical Spirit , and Religion have been as driven into a Sack ▪ cloth and Wilderness Estate . That Christ went to a Prayer-House , and that Paul and the Church met in an Oratory by the River side , is a pretty Rattle for Children , and may pass as unquestionably with those who are willing to be cheated , as the Story of St. Denyse's Body , that went a Mile without his Head , and St. Wimfrid's Head a great Way without her Body to a Papist . But he affirms , that the first Christians had distinct places to meet in , and that they called them Churches . Answ . Christ went not to the Synagogue or the Temple to eat the Passover ; 'T is certain that the Twelve met in an upper Room , upon their return from Christ's Asscension ; and it is said , when the Day of Pentecost was fully come , they were all with one accord in One Place , at what time that excellent Glory appeared ; but here is no mention made of either Temple or Synaguoge : One would have thought those Conventicles ( for so they were then call'd and since ) should not have born away the Glory and Honour of that Holy Solemnity from those Cathedral and Canonical Places : what sullen Separation did the False Jew then repute it , as well as the False Christian now the like Practice . Certainly this ran retrograde to the grain and humor of that Age ; And the poor Apostles therefore esteemed as great Phanaticks , and as much reproached as any of the Quakers in this . I must also confess , they continued daily with one accord in the Temple , but they broke not Bread there , that was done 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , that is , in the House , if he will have it so , instead of from House to House ; to be sure , it was not from Church to Church , as he would have the House called ; for then we should understand the following Verse thus , and the Lord added to the Church daily such as should be saved , that is , to the House . But I see no Reason why he should fall so hard with his Criticisms upon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and let 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the same Verse alone ; For , as Valla and Erasmus well observe , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is as well rendred per singulas domos , or domesticatim , i. from house to house , as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 per singulos dies , sive quotidie , i. daily , or from day to day , But he will needs have it that the Apostle * 1 Cor. 11. meant by Church the House , when he said , have ye not houses to eat and drink in , or despise ye the Church of God ? His Reason is , if it may be thought one ; because the Apostle in the eighttenth Verse sayes , when ye come together ▪ in the Church ; & in the twentieth Verse , when ye come together into one Place ; So that the Word Church signifies the Place . Ans . When ye come together in the Church , signifies no more then in the Congregation or Assembly , or among your selves as a Church ( observe well the Margent ) And to make the Church allude to Place in the twentieth Verse , is a base Wresting of our Adversaries ; for there is no Greek Word there for Place . But he thinks he has one Argument more , from Paul's greeting Priscilla and Aquila , and the Church that is in their House . And again , sending S●lutation from them ; Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord , with the Church in their House . Answ . If this be to prove a House to be a Church , I never saw the like . It seems we must read , after his dialect thus , Greet Priscilla and Aquila , and the House that is in their House . But in Contradiction to all this , he tells us in the next page , By the Church at such a Man's House must be meant the whole Congregation of the Saints assembled at such a Man's House ; and truly , Reader , I think so too . But if the Saints met make the Church , then the House is not the Church , nor indeed can ● Housesmeet together in a House . But now I will tell this Defamer of us , that though we have no stately Basilicos or Palace-Churches , as some call them , beautifyed with Painture , Images . Flaggs , carved and ingraved work , and built to the East , in Imitation of the Heathen Idolatrous Temples ; yet , like unto the Apostles and primitive Christians , we assemble from House to House , and if he will have it so , there are several convenient Publick Places on purpose to meet and perform divine Worship in . §. 3. Of Tythes . His next Section , and as became a careful greedy Hireling , by much the largest of any in his Book , is employed in the Defence of the Priests Maintenance , the sine qua non of their Calling . His first Argument is , That God will have a Rent and Tribute paid him . That thus he dealt with the Children of Israel , from whom he reserved a Tyth to himself , & that in Abraham's time Tythes to Melchizedeck were paid , after whose Order Christ was made a Priest . Answ . The Tythes that were paid Melchizedeck , were but of the Spoils Abraham took from his Enemie● ; and that not by Compulsion but Choice . Melchizedeck was King of Salem , King of Peace , Priest of the most high God : He freely administred Bread and Wine to Abraham to refresh him ; and when he had done , prayed and praised God for him without Bargain or Hire : Whereupon Abraham gave him the Tyth of all , as a Token of his Thankfulness . Now let the Priests of England prove themselves to be of Melchizedeck's Off-spring , Men of Peace , Priests of the most high God , and let them but minister to us of the Living Bread and Wine , and wrap up all with such Prayers and Praises to God for u● , as he will accept ; and when all this is done , if we refuse them the Tyth of our Spoiles , let us be recorded for Ungrateful Men : But whilst Priests are Men of Contention , Hirelings , that seek Gain from their Quarter , prepare War against them that put not into their Mouths , are not Priests of the most high God's Anointing , and who instead of giving us Bread and Wine , oppress us unto Death for a 4 d. Easter-Reckoning , and in lieu of Prayers and Praises to God for us , Anathematize , Whip , Imprison and Banish us for Impostors , Hereticks , Men inspired by Satan , and such like , let it not be wondred at that a poor Quaker has a Testimony against such a Priest ; and that he rather chuseth to dy ( unjustly his Prisoner ) then pay Tythes to him , that is an Usurper of the Name , Authority and Office of a True Evangelical Minister . And for his Instance of the Land of Canaan , it brings no Obligation upon us . England is no Canaan , neither as to its Acquisition , nor Distribution ; When the Saxons came into England , God reserved no such Rents . And if it be well argued of the Apostle , that because the Law is changed the Priesthood is also ; Then certainly it is no ill Consequence , that the Way of Maintenance must be changed too , at least as to Institution . But sayes our Adversary , in the Apostle's Words , The Lord hath ordained , That they which preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel . Answ . We are contented with this , but the Priests are not . They cannot prove themselves Ministers of the Gospel , unless by that never failing Argument of human Law & Force , if yet that can prove them such . Besides , here is no Stint or Method ; What or How ? It is l●f● to God's Witness ; but that they dare not leave themselves with : Earthly Powers must first make them Ministers , & then get them Maintenance . But here 's not a Word of Paul's Working with his own Hands , nor Christ's explanation , of the Labourer is worthy of his Hire , to wit , that he should eat what is set before him , and Melchizedeck - like , bless the House if worthy : Nor do I hear of so much as one Itinerary-Preacher , who to be sure carried no Tythes upon his Back , as the Priests of our Dayes do into their Barn ; they suited , excommunicated , imprisoned none unto Death for Hires sake . He that minds God more then his Belly , shall never want for his Belly ; for the Authority of Him in whose Name he goes , makes sufficient way for his Subsistence , without the Force of Imperial Decrees ; The Cattel upon a thousand Hills are the Lord 's . The primitive Christians payed no Tythes that we read of ; yet they forbore not to administer freely to the Necessities of those who were faithful Labourers and Travellers amongst them . The Law that setled that Maintenance , was the Law in the Heart , and the Witness of God in the Conscience , to which Paul particularly desired to be made manifest . 'T is true , about four hundred years after Christ the then Christians began to lay up the Tythe of their Substance , towards the Maintenance of such Members and Ministers of the Church , as wanted ; But this was out of their own free Will , not as setled Maintenance , nor by Compulsion , as our Country Man Jo. Selden , a learned Antiquary , tells us . But our Adversary sayes , that Christian Emperors , Kings , Princes , and other Nobles , by the all-wise Providence , inspiring their Hearts , have given Houses , Lands and Tythes for the Maintenance of the Ministers of the Gospel , and secured such Possessions . And therefore , such are Sacrilegious and Robbers of God , who with-hold them ; Such Tenths being as much the Minister's as the Ninths are the Peoples . Answ . I perceive the Priest allows Inspiration for Tythes , Though we are Familists , Quakers and Phanaticks for abetting the Doctrine of Inspiration in the Worship of God. O Mercinary , O Hireling and Irreverent Saying ! that God should be more concerned for Carnal then Spiritual Things , and inspire Men about Tythes , and not about Divine Worship . Who but a Dark and Mercenary Priest could have uttered so impious an Expression ? I grant that when Austin came into England , he desired Tythes of Ethelbert , as I take it , King of Kent ; But the King's Care of his People , & the Averseness of their humor to all Encroachments , disappointed the Monk. However , Time bringing forth Murd●r and Adultery , They brought forth Tythes . For Off a killing Ethelbert , gave a Tenth of his Goods to pacify his Ghost . And Edgar being greatly in love with Ethelwold's Wife , to obtain his End , murdered him ; upon which the Pope sending forth his Bull , Edgar to appease him , confirmed to the Church the Tenth of all the Fruit of his Field and the Cattle , to them and their Successors . And as Murder and Whoredom introduced them , so the Cunning and Coveteousness of the Clergy have continued them ; For when the Heptarchy became a Monarchy , the Priests evermore would thrust in for a Share with the Conqueror ; and this Wrong Way came Tythes to be the Priests Right , as he calls it . But let this pretended Protestant answer me , if he dare . Was the Church then degenerated or no ? Was it not a Time of Popery ? Did not the first Martyrs except against her ? Was it Lawful for Princes to give away other Mens Goods upon the account & for the pretended Expiation of their Sins ? Could the giving of them attone ? Is it not an acknowlegding of the Pope's Power to absolve ? Is it not a buying or bribing off the Guilt of Sin against Almighty God , by Gifts to a Mortal Man , and those extorted from poor People too ? Is this protestant Doctrine ? But above all , is this instituting Tythes upon Inspiration ? Hell her own self was the Founderess of these things . He may remember that there is better Antiquity for that Voice , the Ancients report to have been heard that Day Constantine conferred those large Endowments upon the Church , then for the Institution of Tythes and Rich Benefices ; I mean that Voice through the Heavens , This Day is Poison poured into the Church . Since which time it has been observed by the best Princes , Wisest Counsellors , and most moderate Clergy-Men , that the Enrichment & Impovering of Church Officers , has been the Kanker of the Church , and the Moth of the State. 'T is not my Business to write a History ; but I recommend to the Inquisitive Reader , Wickliff's Remonstrance , The Plow-Man's Complaint , Chaucer's Plow-Man's Tale , walter Brute , and W. Thorpes Examination in the Martyrology ; Pareus : History of the Waldenses , and Jo. Selden , Men that ought not to pass for , or be reputed Phanaticks , especially by such who call themselves Protestants . I shall only say 1st , That they were the Peoples wholly . 2ly , It is now the Peoples Labour , more then the Priests Land , that brings the Encrease : And Men ought not to be constrained to pay those , they never hired ; nor to labour for those that profit them not . 3ly , They were given to expiate Murder and Adultery , and uphold an Idolatrous Clergy , upon Protestant Principles , and therefore to be removed , as were the high Places and Groves , Idololatrously dedicated among the Jews . 4ly , Because it is most reasonable for a Man to believe according to his own Conscience , & not according to another Man's Conscience ; It is Unrighteous to persecute a Man for not maintaining that Religion , which in his Conscience he believes to be false , as wel as that it is the badge of a False Religion to persecute for Maintenance . 5ly , Though they may be confirmed by some Princes , yet considering the End to which they were given , to wit , for the Maintenance of a certain sort of Religious Order , now exploded , whose Successors these are not ( & so the ancient Constitution broken ) we can't see any Reason why they should remain , unless any thing commanded is to be obeyed , because Commanded , and not because in it self Lawful . Two things I cannot but observe . First , That he affirms , The Clergy of England have not a Tenth , much complaining that every one snips from them , cujus contrarium verum ; For they not only snip , but slice from every Body else . I commend to his Perusal a Pamphlet , entituled , Omnia comesta a Belo , where he will find a very particular Account of the Revenues of Arch-Bishops , Bishops , Arch-Deacons , Deans , Canons , Prebends , Rarsons , Vicars , petti-Canons , Singing Men , Choristers , Organists , Gospellers , Epistlers , Virgers , Chancellers and their Attendents , Delegates , Registers and their Clarks . Gentlemen - Apparators , Inferior Apparators , Proctors , &c. I doubt not but FIFTEEN HUNDRED THOUSAND Pounds a Year , will be the modestest Accompt that Computation will admit of , which is but double the Revenue that former Monarchs have had for the Maintenance of their Family , Crown and Dignity , their Civil Justice , Armies , Navies and costly Embassyes . If all this be to resemble Christ Jesus and his Apostles , the Scripture has given us a very wrong Account of him and them . The 2 d. thing I would observe is this , That he has the Ignorance and Confidence to argue from the Super-excellency of Christ's Ministration to that of Moses ; That the Maintenance of the Ministers of the Gospel should proportionably exceed the Maintenance of the Priests under the Law. Answ . But certainly he is one of the first Men , that made this wilde Interpretation of the Glory of the latter House excelling the Glory of the former , as if Christ's House were outward , or his Glory either . Would he have one outward Temple figure out another ? as if Christ should bring in another Levitical Law to excell that of Moses . Certainly the New Jerusalem , after this Man's rate of Disputing , must be an outward Structure of material Saphyres , Emraulds , Jaspers , &c. But there is a Pope and a Mahomet in his Belly , whether he knows it or no ; For these Fleshly Conceits first set them to work upon their Pompous Worship , neglecting the Holy , Pure , Self-denying & Spiritual Religion of Christ Jesus and his Apostles , who neither practised nor set up any Shadowy and Ceremonial Worship , not settling themselves in Splendid Livings , to lead Easy , Quiet and Voluptuous Lives . Freely they received , freely they gave ; not as our Adversary ridiculously understands it , that they gave their Miracles , but sold their Preaching : Indeed the Spirit of a Pompous Anti-Christ , who pleads for State , under a Self-denying Gospel . Christ's Kingdom is not of this World , and yet he pleads for the Grandeur of a Worldly Worship , Ministry and Maintenance ; we may allow him therefore and his Tribe to be Worldly Christians , but not true Followers of that Jesus , who said , when he was in the World , I am not of the World ; which leads me to the next Section concerning the Ministry . §. 4. Of Ministers of the Gospel . In Defence of the Church of England's Ministery he tells us , that they have first the Testimony of their own Conscience , that they are furnished to that Office. 2ly , the outward Call of the Church by Imposition of Hands and Prayers . Answ . If the Ministers of the Church of England have the Testimony of their Conscience , it must be either a True or a False Testimony . If a False , then not truly called , upon our Adversary's Principles : If True , then Infallibly so , and consequently , both every Man hath an Infallible Witness in his own Conscience , and the Preparation and Call of this Witness is the Inward Call to the Ministery ; Now how this can be without Revelation and Inspiration I know not . But it seems , Ministerial Qualification must be judged of by the Witness in the Conscience , which is the Overthrow of the Priest's Cause and Doctrine : But I deny , that the Priests act upon this Inward Testimony ; for they are afraid of being made manifest to the Conscience : And when we urge this Inward Manifestation , they cry out with our Adversary , Enthusiasm , Familism , Quakerism ! But if this must be the alone Judge of Qualification , let him for Shame give over Vilifying our publick Labourers , and Incensing our Superiors against us , who honestly plead Conscience in the Case , and us for Refusing the National Priesthood , which we believe in the Presence of God , Angels and Men , to be not so qualified ; For Covetousness , Bargaining , Stealing their Neighbours Words , Preaching their Experiences , not their own , not knowing experimentally whereof they affirm , nor turning People to Righteousness , but persecuting them that love it , and daubing Sinners with untempered Morter , are altogether inconsistent with it . For their Outward Call , it is too notorious to answer . By what Flatteries , Bribes , and Shifts some of them are said to get their Places . How basely they back-bite , undervalue and undermine one another for Advantage , How ready to leave them for fatter Benefices , with abundance more of this Ungodly , Anti - Christian Stuff . The World is so well informed from their own Practice , that it saves me the Labour of any further Discovery . For the Laying on of Hands , it is well known to be a Jewish Ceremony ; And we read that Saul and Barnabas preached before the Apostles laid Hands upon them . Besides it is not every Body's Hands will serve , they must be Men inspired upon our Enemies Concessions , and not every Foul Fist : Nor did it give Authority , but as many other Jewish Ceremonies , it was made use of to express that Mission which had a more Inward and Spiritual Ground . They were named Apostles from one of the meanest Offices that belonged to the Temple ; not Lord Primats , Lord Arch-Bishops , Lord Bishops , May it please your Grace , May it please your Lordship , Right Reverent Fathers in God , &c. These things came from the Pope , and thither they will and must return . To conclude ; because our Adversary tells us , that the Church , from the Dayes of the Apostles has had a successive Apostleship and Ministery to confer ; whether he will or no , he must imply , that there has been a true Apostolical Church ever since , which is to give the Lye to the Holy Ghost that prophesied of a falling away and a great Apostacy . 2 Thes . 2. 2 ly . That , if the Ministry of the Church of England be lawfully descended , and are true Successors of the Apostles , and so primitive Ministers , they must be Apostolically qualified ; but they are not so Apostolically qualified either as to the Work of God in themselves , the Gift of the Holy Spirit , daily Inspiration , the Effect of their Ministry , that Patience , Meekness , plain-Dealing , Perseverance , Godly Hospitality , continual Labour , & self-denying Conversation : consequently not lawfully descended , nor true Successors of the Apostles & primitive Ministers . Nor do we think it such an intollerable Presumption , for Mechanicks and Tradesmen to preach the Gospel , as he would have it ; For we well remember , that those who believed and followed the Son of God , were reproached by the Scribes and Pharisees , the Learned and National Teachers of the Jews , for Illiterate Persons , crying out in that Day , Have any of the Rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him , but this People who knows not the Law , and are cursed ? It was that Generation that called him and his Disciples so often , This Fellow , Away with this Fellow , This pestilent Fellow , after the rate our Adversary doth treat us , as we may have occasion anon to observe . In short , Peter & John were found Unlearned . Ouzelius in his Animadversions on Minutius Felix , saith , that as the Gentiles did object to the Christians their rude Style , Ill-bred Language , & destitute of all Address or civil Salutation , calling them Rusticks & Clowns ; so did the Christians by way of Irony & Contempt , term them the Well-bred , the Eloquent , and the Knowing ; This he proves by ample Testimonies out of Arnobius , Lactantius , Isidorus , Pelusiota , Theodoret , and others . In the Constitutions of Clemens Romanus ( as supposed ) it is enjoyned , abstain from all the Books of the Gentiles . Also the Council of Carthague had an express Canon against Reading Heathen Authors , then Aristotle , and all that Philosophy , which fits Priests at both Universities . Gratian hath also such like Passages as these , by way of Complaint . We see , that the Priests of the Lord , neglecting the Gospels and the Prophets , read Comaedies or Play-Books and sing Love-Verses , &c. Cardan tells us , that Gregory , though a Pope , burnt several Lascivious Latin Authors , as Caecilianus Affranius , Naevius Licinius , &c. Nor had Plautus , Martial and Terence , now School Books , escaped him , could he have helped it . In like manner Gregory Nazianzen the Father , suppressed several Greek Authors , as Diphiles , Apollodenus , Philemon , Alexis , Sappho , &c. And Petrus Bellonius , that inquisitive Traveller , when at Mount Athos , where lived 6000 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Monasteries , he did not so much as find ( no nor in all Greece ) one Man acquainted in the Conversation of these parts ; For though they had several Manuscripts of Divinity in their Libraries , yet not one Poet , Historian o● Philosopher . That they Anathematized such Priests as studied Poesy , or transcribed Books not treating of Religion . And Dominicus a Soto , strongly pleads not only the Liberty of every Man 's Teaching any Good that he knows , but that it is his Duty to teach it . Machiavel assures us , the first Promoters of Christianity , commanded all Poets and Historians which treated of the Gentiles vain Conversation and Worship to be burned . Farther , concerning the Illiterateness , Meaness and Novelty , the Gentiles did object against the Christians , see Dr. Cave's Primitive Christianity . By all which it appears , that the Quaker-Preachers are never the less Orthodox for being ignorant in Human Science , since the most Orthodox Preachers have been generally such , and that both before and after the coming of Christ . In short , that Ministry which is Experimental and Powerful , for the Turning of many from D●rkness to Light , and from the Power of Satan unto God , is the only True and Evangelical Ministry ; and such an one we both own , and enjoy , blessed be the Name of our God for ever . CHAP. V. His fourth Chapter considered : Quakery ( as he calls it ) no S●duceism , as he would suggest . His Measures of us Wrong . HIs great Ill-Will to the Quakers , puts him upon flinging any thing upon them that he thinks will stick ; at least that he would have to do so . We must this Turn be , with all Familists , Saducees ; but the fierce Will of the Man has precipitated him into a strange Mistake : Hear him . H.N. owns No other Immortality then the Continuance of his Doctrine , nor Judgment-Seat of Christ , nor Heaven , nor Hell but what are in this Life . The Quakers ( sayes he ) do the like ; for T. Foster sayes in a Book , Called , a Guide to the Blind , that the second Appearance of Christ is in Spirit , to end Sin and finish Transgression . Now if this proves the Agreement , I never saw the like ( taking for granted what he represents H.N. to have held , in which I know he belyes him ) Is there no Difference between saying , that Christ's second Appearance is in Spirit , and denying Immortality , Eternal Judgment , Heaven and Hell ? O Hiddious Consequence and Comparison ! But why is it such false Doctrine to say that Christ's second Coming is Spiritual ; shall he ever come so Fleshly as before ? Is not he glorified ? After what Manner was it he promised to come , when he said , some standing here shall not tast of Death till they see the Son of Man come in his Kingdom . I will not leave you Comfortless , I will come to you ; yet a little while and the World sees me no more ; but ye see me , because I live ye live also . He that is with you shall be in you ? And when the Apostle Paul said , Though I have known Christ after the Flesh , yet henceforth I know him so no more ; When it pleased God to reveal his Son in me . I ask , if this was not both a Second and a Spiritual Appearance ? Certainly it must be an other Appearance from the former , therefore a Second : and it must be a Spiritual one , because it is Unreasonable to believe that Christ as to his Bodily Appearance could be all this to his Disciples & Followers ; therefore , His Second Appearance is Spiritual . And for Judgment , Immortality , Heaven and Hell in this Life , were not our Adversary a Sensless Novice in these Matters , his own Doctors would teach him , That there shall be no other Judgment , Immortality , Heaven or Hell hereafter , then what every one has some measurable Sense or Earnest of in this Life . From hence he is so Unjust to us and H.N. too , as to give out to the World , We both deny all future Immortality , Judgment , Heaven or Hell. I have declared the Utmost of the Thing , and doubt not but Time will make him greatly ashamed of his Undertakings . But G. Fox the Saducee ( sayes he ) holds the Soul is a Part of the Essence and Being of God ; therefore his Conclusion is unquestionable : or to that purpose . I am very ready to think the Devil grievously angry with that good Man , and indeed he has Reason for it ( if I may say , That the Devil can have Reason for any thing he does ) for he has s●rowdly Brow-beaten his Cause in the World , and a Great Instrument has God made him of Noble , and Valiant , and Durable Acts among the Sons of Men : And we shall so much the more Respect and Honour him , by how much Untoward Spirits seek to bear him down in the Minds of People . But to answer our Adversary : How comes it he never quotes when he cites , I mean , page his References ▪ Does he think we are bound to peruse a Folio to defend any Passage from his Random-Reflections ? What is he for a Man , that he treats us so a la neglegence ; with his contemptuous Neglect ? Does he conceit People beholding to him for his Slanders without Proof , or that any thing against a Quaker is Evidence enough ? But I will tell the Man , he mistakes G.F. for the purport of his words are to show , That the Life God breathes into the Soul of Man , by which Man comes to live to God , is something of the Divine Being ; not that the Soul as a Created Capacity , without that Inspiration , is part of God , or of his Divine Being , and so far Candor ( that keeps the Eye clear ) would have let him see , had not Prejudice , and a Desire of Misrepresenting , and running us down , hurried him beyond the Bounds of all Moderation : Nor is he alone in the Matter ? For many learned Rabbies and modern Orthodox Divines ( as they are called and reputed ) have affirmed the same . Let it be Truth for their sakes , if not for his . In short , Were we of the Mind he would have People to think we are , of all Men none would be so Miserable : What! Suffer in this World , because of our Faith and Hope , in the Life of the other , and yet deny the very 〈◊〉 End of that Hope Faith , 〈◊〉 Eternal Life , which alone bear us over the Troubles of this Temporal one ? I am perswaded all moderate Persons will think better of us . CHAP. VI. He endeavours in his Fifth Chapter , to prove us Inconsistent with the Good of Civil Magistracy . Our Adversary's Reason too short for his Envy . Swearing not Lawful . HAd not this Chapter been found among the rest , I might perhaps have taken him for some Zealous Church-man , vexed only at the Increase of the poor Quakers , on a meer Religious Score . But when I see him wilfully Mistaking , and purposely Charactering them Enemies to Government , and that to the Insecurity of Civil Magistrates , I perceive what he would be at , and that nothing will serve him below our Throats . He has multiply'd Words unnecessarily , these two , HANG THEM , would have both explained and perhaps gratified his Mind better . He delivers it as a Fundamental of the Quakers Religion , That they testifie against Proud and Lofty Magistrates , who Rule not for God , but themselves ; to which , as a dangerous Doctrine , he opposeth the Apostle Peter's Exhortation ; Submit your selves to every Ordinance of Man for the Lord's sake , whether to the King , as Supream ; or unto Governours , that are sent by him for the Punishment of Evil-Doers , and for the Praise of them that do well ; crying out , Is not this a Doctrine fitted to stir up Sedition and Rebellion ; And that such are only Magistrates in our Account that are Righteous in our Esteem . If a Magistrate be Wicked , Obedience , sayes he , is still due to him . Answ . True , but not to that which is Wicked ; for that were to open a Door to all the Impiety a Nero could be guilty of . But what Contradiction is there betwixt the Apostles Language and the Quakers ? Can any sober Person think , the Apostle Peter exhorted the Churches to believe Evil Magistrates to be Good ones ? or prove Lofty Magistrates who rule not for God fit to be obeyed therein ? This were to understand , as if the Apostle meant , That such as rule not for God , Punish Evil-Doers , and Praise them that do well ; A Contradiction . If our Faith be Dangerous , the Scripture must be in Question . Must a Reproveing of Evil be a Disowning of Magistracy ? It seems then that Magistrates are not to be reproved , let their Practices be never so exorbitant . Is there no Difference between our Dislike of the Injust Act of a Julian ; and our Rebellion against Just Authority ? If shewing Men th●i● Evils , be Disrespect , and a Reprehension of them as Unchristian , be Rebellion ; we must read Religion backwards . But God deliver all Magistrates from such Counsellours , and us from such Enemies . But that which is very remarkable , is the Contradiction he gives himself , and the Injustice he shews to us ; who in one page sayes , we would destroy all Magistrates , not of our own Opinio● ; and in the very next gives it for our Judgment , though with great Dislike , that Magistrates ought not to impose Opinions in matters of Religion , as if we were such Wretches , as to deny that Power unto Magistrates , which we would tyranically use our selves . But he thinks he has enough against us in this Expression , All Governours ought to be accountable to the People , and to the next succeeding Rulers , for all their Actions which may be enquired into upon occasion . This ( sayes our Adversary with a great Rant ) borders upon Treason , respecting his Majesty , the King of England .. Answ . But what if he was not then in England , but a sort of People that held this very Principle , and who had sworn to God , before Angels and Men to mantain it , and broke their solemn Oaths ? Was it not , Argumentum ad hominem , to such a Generation ? And does not our Adversary know , that there are Elective Governments in the World , and annual Choice of Officers in our own Country , that are accountable both to the People and their Successors ? But since he has brought the King of England's Name on the Stage , upon this Occasion , I shall briefly tell him and the World , two things , and let Men relish them as they please . First , That it is not for the Interest , or Honour of his Government , for any to be over officious in the enlarging his Prerogative beyond those bounds , the excellent fundamental Laws of England have circumscribed the whole Government with . No Princes Crown in Europe stands more firm then his , upon English Law ; The Law gives both Right and Might . It has been the part of such as dare not trust their Lives and Actions with the Law , to whisper unlimited Power into the Ears of Prines ; but their ultimate Aim was not their Soveraigns Greatness , but their own Protection . We are no Sycophants , yet we fear God , and honour the King , 2 ly , It is not our Business to meddle with Government ; but to obey or suffer for Conscience sake : can our Adversary ask more ? Several of us have been the faithful Servants both of Him and his Father , and God knows , their Kindness is not changed with their Religion , though it admits not of their former way of shewing it . And this I may truly say in general , That not only our Principle leads to no such Nice and busy Medlings , but we are actually unconcerned in any such things : We speak not this out of Fear or Flattery ; the Truth has placed us far above both ; but knowing the World will never be good till every one mends one ; and that God's Grace has therefore universally appeared , and yet doth in the Hearts of Men , It 's both our Desire , Duty & Practice to endeavour after that Holy , Righteous and Innocent Life it leads to , and that as well for others as our selves . Of Swearing . But he sayes , Inasmuch as we refuse to swear before a Lawful Magistrate , we contradict the Word of God , and throw away the greatest Tye any Prince hath upon his Subjects , Insinuating , as if we had been dabling with the Jesuit in this matter . Answ . 'T is strange that such an Illiterate sort of Mechanicks , and Rustick Rabbyes ( as he is pleased to call us ) should hold such Correspondence with one of the most learned Classes in the World : But as there is more Difference between us ▪ and the Papists , then the Protestants & the Papists , by how much the Protestants have many things that are Popish , and we have not ; so have I ever found these silly thred-bare Slanders , to be the Refuge of Shallow Heads , and Weak Causes . But I would have all know , as I have else-where said , The Ground of Swearing is either through Distrust of Honesty in Him that swears , or Weakness in Him to whom the Oath is made . The first takes in all the Swearing that is now in the World ; the last those Oaths God condescended to make to the Jews . So that it is either an extraordinary way of Evidence to awe Witnesses into Truth , or an extraordinary Way of Promising to work Belief in the Incredulous . Now Incredulity and Dishonesty are both Unchristian ; For as none are Christians , but those who are buried with Christ by Baptism , and are raised up unto Newness of Life ; so in that pure Law of the Spirit of Life , Swear not at all , is recorded . And so far is this from Contradicting the Word of God , that the great Word of God hath so enjoyned us , for all our Adversary's Paraphrase upon it , to wit , Swearing in Communication ; for the Swearing prohibited , was such as the Law allowed , as Bp. Sanderson well observes , It was not needful that Christ should forbid , what was forbidden in it self , or was alwayes Unlawful , which Swearing in Communication was & is , as by the third Commandment , Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain . Christ brought forth a Righteousness that needed it not ; for that Grace , Faith and Truth , which came by Jesus Christ , take away the Necessity of an Oath . Consequently so far as any are in that Incredulity or Dishonesty which needs it , so far they are not the Followers and Disciples of Christ , nor qualified with his Evangelical Righteousness . Indeed 't is a shameful thing , and very dishonourable to the Christian Religion , that they who pretend themselves to a Christian Society , should be so un ▪ Christ-like , to want and use the scareing and affrighting Asseverations dispensed with in some of the weakest times of Knowledge , by which to assure one another of their Faith and Truth . In such Cases where is their Evangelical Link and Tye of Unity ? Certainly a true Christian 's Yea should be Yea , and Nay , Nay ; that is , in Answer to all Questions , whether it relate to matter of Evidence or Promise , they should speak the Truth , and mean and do what they say ; which is enough . This Truth is so natural , that it is familiar with some to say , I had rather take his * Word then the other's Oath ; which shews , how much Honesty is more credible then Swearing . This made the primitive Christians not only Refuse to Swear by the Fortune of Caesar , but to swear at all , telling their Judges in their Answers , It was Unlawful for a Christian to swear . And Bp. Gauden himself assures us , that they were so strict and exact , that there was no need of an Oath among them ; Yea they so kept up the Sanctity and Credit of their Profession among Unbelievers , that it was Security enough in all Cases to say , Christianus sum , I am a Christian ; And that if any urged them further , they repeated this as the only Satisfaction they would give : The Veracity of their Word . And that he might further shew , how dishonourable and needless a thing it was for Good and Holy Men , and true Christians to Swear , he brings in the Whole Body of the Essaeans , several wise Heathen , & Christian Fathers ; Indeed it was a primitive maxim , Non oportet ut vir qui Evangelice vivit , juret omnino . It behoves not that a Man of an Evangelical Life should swear in any Case . And this Doctrine was closely follow'd by Crysostome , Theophylact , and several other ancient Christian Doctors . Nor were the Heathen wholly insensible of the Truth of this Matter , as Bp. Gauden further informs us out of Polybius That the better and simpler Ages of the World rarely used any Oaths at all , no not so much as in Judicature ; but after Perfidy and Lyes encreased , Oaths encreased , as a Remedy to restrein those Mischiefs . To which let me add , That some of the ancient Sages , Socrates and Xenocrates , knew , urg'd , and also practised a Life beyond an Oath . So that if those who are truly discipled , redeemed and renewed by the Power and Spirit of Christ Jesus , need no Oath ( Nay , that it is a Questioning of their Veracity , and an Affronting of their Profession to offer them one ) and if the Lying , familiar Swearing , Forswearing , and fraudulent Dealing of Wicked Men make their Oaths of little or no Credit ( as saith the Bishop out of Lactantius and Austin ) certainly it will be much better to prevent Swearing , and punish Lying with the Penalty due to Forswearing : which suggests an unanswerable Return to that familiar Objection , But how do we know that ye are those Honest Men ? For we have not only the same Answer the ancient Christians had to give , with this severe Rebuke , That ye are the Reproach of Christianity , who under that good Name act those vile Impieties the nobler Heathen judged , and the loosest have not out-done ; but we have this further to offer : Dispense with our Consciences in not-Swearing , and punish our Untruth when ye find it , as severely as ye do their Perjury . What more can be desired , since Truth-speaking fulfils the Law , and Punishing False-speaking satisfies it ? CHAP. VII . Of the Light Within . IT is Matter of sad Complaint , that a Man should write of so excellent a Subject as the Light Within , and shew so much Darkness in treating of it . But lest he should say , That our uncertain and various Expressions , for such he esteems them , put him besides all Faith in it , we shall endeavour to make appear their Consistency , both with themselves , and the Scripture of Truth . He quotes Tho. Foster , in his Guide to the Blind , p. 1. thus , God is the Light. p. 7. as a Man forgetting himself , Christ Within is Man's true Light to walk by ; And in p. 9. As doubting whether that would hold Water , sayes , The Spirit of Christ in Man is the true Light and Guide , and this Light enlightens every Man that comes into the World. But ( says he ) if James Nayler may be Judge , our Friend Thomas ( he was so , though thou art an Enemy , and a Mocker of his Memory ) is very much mistaken ; for in his Book , called , A Door opened to the Imprisoned , p. 2 , 3. he sayes , That the Light of the Word is God's Love to the World ; and this Light is not given to any till they come out of the World. And that George Whitehead in The Seed of Israel's Redemption , p. 20. sayes , That the Light Within , is a Measure of the Lord's Life and Light. Answ . To the first Quotation , there can be no Cavil ; for 't is plain Scripture , God is Light , 1 John 1.5 . And it was the Apostolical Message so to preach , That God is Light , and in him is no Darkness at all . The second is also most true ; for Christ is Man's true Light , that was the true Light which enlightens every Man , &c. And that it was for Man to walk by , both Christ and his Apostles prove , I am the Light of the World , he that followeth me shall not walk in Darkness , but shall have the Light of Life . Again , if ye walk in the Light , as He is in the Light , &c. God is Light , and Christ is Light ; and since there is no knowing of God or Christ but by the Manifestation of Light ; and that none know the Father but those to whom Christ , the Light , reveals him ; therefore Christ is Man's true Light , without which Man can never know either God or Christ . For his 3 d. Quotation , I see no Contradiction in it to the two former , unless Christ can be without his Spirit ; for if the Spirit of Christ dwell in any Man , Christ dwells in that Man. This Language the Apostle used to the Romans Chap. 8.9 , 10 , 11. If the Spirit of God be in you . Again , If the Spirit of Christ be in you ; yet again , If the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus dwell in you ; all which are Synonymous , or to one and the same Purpose . For Shame , thou a Scholar , a Graecian , a Disputant , that makes such sorry Cavils ; might not the Jews and Heathens have made the same Exceptions against the Apostle ? But 't is an old Devil-Trick to besaint and extoll the Holy Ancients , whilst they hugg the Spirit that murdered them , and with it persecute the Truth in this Age ; so Cunning is the Devil , and so Blind is the World. But let us see how much more Honest he is in his next Quotation , then Rational in the three former . That the Light of the World is God's Love to the World , I find in James Nailer's Book ; But that the Light is not given to any till they come out of the World , is a direct Ly to our Principle , and a putting an absolute Forgery upon his Book ; For he sayes , That God has given his Light to the World , that therein is his Love manifested , that such as follow it in its Leadings out of the World , have the Nature of Sons : But Sonship is that which cannot be had whilst in the World's Nature ; therefore they are to come out of the World's Wayes , to follow the Light , which visits Man in the World's Wayes , in order to bring him out of them , and here the true Sonship is received ; so that the Son-ship and not the Light , is that which cannot be had in the World. Now what Contradiction can this be to our Dishonest Adversary's honest Friend , Thomas , who said , that the light enlightened every Man that comes into the World ? Sure I am it is a plain Instance of our Adversary's Disingenuous and Injurious Practice . For G. Whiteheads Words , The Substance of them is to be found in Joh. 1.14 , 1● . The Word was full of Grace and Truth , and of his Fulness have all we received , and Grace for Grace . But he sayes . H.N. teaches that every Godly Man is God Incarnate , and Christ Incarnate , and that this is the Doctrine of the Quakers ( sayes he ) I prove . First because T. Fo●ter in his Guide to the Blind , pag. 13. saith , The Light , which is Christ within , is not Natural , but Sufficient to Salvation . Now I appeal to the whole World , what Affinity there can be between H. N's Words and Th. Fos●er's . Is God incarnate or Christ incarnate to be found in his Assertion ? Nor will I pass my Word for his right Quotation of H.N. What he quarrels at here I know not . Would he not have Christ manifested within ? Or would he have him Natural , in Opposition to Spiritual ? Or would he have his Light and Spirit Insufficient to Salvation ? If he intends any of these , he crosses express Scripture , blasphemes , against God , a●d frustrates the very End of the Gospel ; If none of them , why was this Passage cited ? But he thinks G.F. has made much for his Purpose , who in his Great Mystery , p. 207 , 210. saith , Christ is not distinct from the Saints , and he that eats the Flesh of Christ hath it within him . And what of all this ? Is Christ divided from his Saints , Was he not in them of Old the Hope of Glory ? He that 's with you shall be in you . And at that day ye shall know , that I am in my Father , and you in me , and I in you . For the other Part , I wonder he cited it : Certain it is , That unless Men eat the Flesh of Christ , they have no Life in them . Now how a Man can be said to eat any thing , and not have it within him , is a Distinction past my Understanding But Geo. Fox saith , p. 206. If there be any Christ but He that was crucified within , he is a False Christ ; and He that hath him not within , is a Reprobate . Answ . Our Return to this will be very short . 1st , By Christ crucified within , he does not deny that he was once crucified without ( as the same Page proveth ) ▪ as our Adversary would insinuate . 2ly , There can be no False Doctrine in it , unless the owning of Christ being crucified within through Wicked Works , necessarily should imply our Denying that he was ever crucify'd without ; from the Danger of which Consequence the Scriptures of Truth sufficiently secure us . Heb. 6.6 . Seeing they crucify'd to themselves the Son of God afresh . Also Rev. 11.18 . 3ly , And that such are Reprobates in whom He lives not ; remember that unanswerable Passage 2 Cor. 13.5 . Examin your selves , whether you be in the Faith ; prove your own selves : know you not your own selves , how that Jesus Christ is IN YOU , except you be Reprobates ? But sayes our Adversary , Ric. Stubbs , a Quake● ▪ told Eliz. Wetherly ; That the Jesus who was born of the Virgin , and dyed at Jerusalem , was a False Christ and an Antichrist . But this needs no long Answer ; for it is an absolute Untruth , raised by the Devil within , and his Envious Emissaries without , to bring us the poor despised People of God into Infamy with all who have any Reverence for the Name of Christ ; And God will plead our Innocency in this Mans Conscience , by that Holy Light which he blasphemously saith , leads down to Hell and the Devil , carrying Man , like an Ignis Fatuus , into Bogs and Ditches , causing him at last to fall into the Pit of everlasting Destruction . For this I would have all the World to know , that God , Who is the Searcher of the Heart , and Tryer of the Reins , who alone sheweth unto Man his Thoughts , is the great Spiritual Light , John 1.1 , ● . And 't is as such , ●hat he setteth Man's Sins in order before him , as saith the Apostle , Whatsoever makes manifest is Light , Ephes . 5.13 , And saith the same Apostle , Whatsoever may be known of God is manifest within men ; for God hath shewed it unto them , Rom. 1.19 . Such as bring their Deeds unto this Light , may know whether they are wrought in God or no. And for this End hath the Eternal Word enlightened every Man that cometh into the World , that he may come to the Light , and walk and grow up in it : For as all have given unto them out of his Fulness Grace for Grace , so from his Fulness of Light hath he given all Men Light for Light ; not a meer natural Capacity or creaturely Understanding , but that Divine Light or Gr●ce , which is able to teach , sanctifie and govern the Soul to God's Glory , and its own Everlasting Happiness : In the Word by whom all things were made was Life , and that Life was the Light of Men ; And as it was then , so is it now the Condemnation of the World , that Men love Darkness rather then Light , because their Deeds are Evil. Some , with the Pharisee prefer their Formal , Literal and Ceremonial Religion ; and Others , their Pleasures , Pastimes & Worldly Honour and Profit , before this Inward Pure Light and Law of the Spirit of Life , the Leave● of the Kingdom , and Truth in the inward Parts , which frees from Sin , and brings into the Heavenly Liberty of the Sons of God. And we do testifie in the Name of God , that it is only by this Measure of that Divine Fulness , which above One Thousand Six Hundred Years ago was manifested in the Flesh , that any Man or Woman can ever come to a right Sight , Sense , Relish and Enjoyment of the Blessed End and Effects of his Gracious Appearance , Heavenly Gospel , Mighty Miracles , Holy Life , Death and Sufferings , his Powerful Resurrection , Glorious Ascension , and Constant Mediation and Intercession . And that all Knowledge , Faith and Worship , not grounded upon this internal Sight , Sense and Operation of this Divine Measure of Grace , Light and Truth in the Inward Parts , are but Historical and Pharisaical ; making up but the Jew outward , and Christian outward , who are not Children of the Free-Woman , nor Heirs according to the Promise . And if for this blessed Testimony we must be thus abused , defamed , and set at nought by the Black-robed-Rabbies of this World , as they did against the Prophets and Christ , God will be our abundant Recompence , who is the Author of that Good Reformation begun , and will , I hope , be the Finisher of it , to his own Immortal Honour , and our Unutterable Rejoycing , World without End. CHAP. VIII . Of some of our Adversary's Lyes and Slanders . HIs next Chapter containing a short Account of the Quakers Pretences to Immediate Revelations , hath been already effectually considered ; only I shall take notice of two or three Particulars . First , That he would have the Sadness and Dejection of those that turn Quakers , and the Zeal and Fluency of those that Preach among them , to be the Effect of the Hypochondria . Answ . This shews what an easie Religion our Adversary lives in , who yet knows not the Terrors of the Lord : How unfit is he to Warn Men ? He that ever knew God's Word to be as a Sword , an Hammer , an Ax , a Consuming Fire and Everlasting Burnings against Sin and Iniquity ; the Pangs of a New Birth , and how hard it is to become a True Disciple through the d●ily Cross , he would never have made such a frothy , dark and envious Construction of our serious Convictions : But God's Fire will one day burn up his peaceable Habitation ; and in that Day of Alarm , he and the rest of his J●vial Crew , shall know the Meaning of these Words , They that pierced him shall see him , and all the Kindreds of the Earth shall wail because of him . But whatever Disease we have his frequent and sensless Scoffs at us , and our Holy Way , shew that the Spleen is very prevalent in him . For his Reflection on Edw. Burroughs , it will do him no Harm ; his Soul is with God , and his Memory shall out-live his Enemies Hate . And for this Ranting Scribbler , he is not worthy to carry his Books after him . For his Gentle-man of New-Castle , who affirmed , Some Quakers came to Kendal Church , and said , They had a Commission from the Lord to pull down the Steeple-House ; And another in Sermon-time to pull down the Hour-Glass , I must tell him , That we know no such thing , and if he were a fair Adversary , he would have told us , who this Gentle-man was , and who the Quakers , that we might have informed our selves of the Truth of the Matter ; though we have great Cause to conclude it a down-right Forgery . For the other , it is altogether as likely to come of the same Stock ; but if such a thing ever were , I dare say , the Priest was in a worse Taking then the Quaker ; however , it was no Theft , because they all saw it was done for that End : And every Body knows , the Priest can tell how to call for another Glass ; for the Truth is , some of that Profession can hardly preach without them ; for they elevate them above his Quaker's Hypochondria . That the Wife of one Williamson should call Ja. Milner the Eternal Son of God at Apleby , is an arrant Falshood ; for we have particularly enquired , and can find no such thing . That a Woman at Weighton in York-shire of that Goatish Herd ( as he is pleased to call them ) went Naked to another Woman's Husband's Bed , and bid him open his Bed to her , for the Father had sent her , is a Slander hatcht in Darkness : We deny it in the Name of the Lord God ▪ And I charge this disingenuous Man , if he has any Regard to his Reputation , or those he belongs to , to prove , if he can , the Truth of this Story . And that he should at last call this , A Taste of the Quakers deluded Dreams , melancholick Phancies , Impostures , Injections , everlasting Errors and Deceits , is the top of what Impudence and Forgery , Man can well be guilty of against his Neighbour . But why our Goatish Herd above all others ? Unjust and Uncivil Man ! Look at Home for Shame . How often are Quakers brought to Ecclesiastical Courts for Uncleanness ? We know they are too often summoned thither for Tythes : It would be almost endless to tell the Stories of both Priests and People's Wickedness that follow them ; one would think that no Church of England Man , that knew any thing of the present Age , or that thought we did , could believe that forging one unclean Lye against the Quakers , should invalid their Religion , who believes his own to be true , notwithstanding those numerous Incests , Adulteries , Fornications , Concupiscences , Murders , Lyes , Perjuries , Dissimulations , Thefts , Injuries , and such like , that have been , and daily are committed by his Dear Fellow-Communicants , The Sons and Daughters of the Church of England . Let him therefore draw in his Horns , and leave off pushing at us with his Forgeries and Defamations ; and Repent of this Ungodly Way of dealing with us , that he may find Mercy to his Soul. CHAP. IX . Of Perfection . I Perceive , the Man would fain say something of every Controverted Head , held by the Quakers , ●hough as little to Purpose as may be . There is but one thing commendable in his whole Chapter , and that is its Brevity . He stumbles at the very Entrance , and never recovers himself to the End. The Quakers talk much of Perfection from Sin , in this Life , and that they have already attained to it . Quote , he scorns , his Word is Credit enough , at least he would have it so ; but to let him go on . This , says he , is the Pharise's Litany , God , I thank thee , I am not as other Men are . The Antinomian Liberty , the Doctrine of Dell , Saltmarsh , Town , & all Antinomians and Familists ; And that Malice and Railing perpetually make up the greatest part of the Quakers Speaking to the People . But what of Argument can be found in such meer Assertion and Reflection , I leave with sober Men to judge . He neither understands , Antinomians , Familists , nor Quakers . And truly I am ready to think him some raw , unfledged , ungraduate , who by this Essay aims at that Proof of his Abilities , as may induct him to some Fat Benefice ; or else One that thought we deserved no larger Testimony of his Ability , Honesty and Discretion in his Endeavours against us . In short , A perfect Principle we plead for , and press the Necessity and Benefit of Man's Conformity to it ; That though it be a little Leaven , it is able to leaven the whole Lump ; That this Grace brings Salvation from Sin , by the Power it gives them that obey it , to mortifie Sin ; else what a Riddle would those Scriptures make , that speak of Sanctification throughout in Body , Soul and Spirit . That He that 's born of God , sins not . Old things are done away , behold all things are become new . I write unto you Young Men , because ye have overcome the Wicked One. Be ye Perfect , as your Heavenly Father is Perfect . Unto a Perfect Man. Let us cleanse our selves from all Filthiness of Flesh and Spirit , perfecting Holiness in the Fear of the Lord. The God of all Grace make you perfect , &c. Wherein not only a Perfection from Sin , but the going forward to a perfect Man in Christ , is exhorted to , and prayed for ; therefore not inobtainable To conclude , We do not teach People the Perfection of our Persons , but the Principle of God , and our Experience of its Converting and Translating Power . Christ is stronger then the Devil ; And for this was and is he manifested , To end Sin , and destroy the Works of the Devil ; a Doctrine the Church of England teaches in her Baptism . Nor do we say , That every Man is perfect from Sin as soon as he is convinced of Sin : No , there is a great War , a long Wilderness to travel through , many Enemies to subdue , and Difficulties to surmount ; and those Enemies are mostly those of a Man 's own House . We therefore exhort all to wait for God's Arising , that his Enemies may be scattered , that witnessing a Victorious State over Hell and Death , by the Power of Christ Jesus , such may obtain the New Name , which is written in the Lamb's Book of Life , and promised to all that Over-come : Which is far from that Ungodly Rantism he would fasten upon us and our Principles ; And I doubt not but Time , Patience and our Blameless Conversation shall dispel those Mists , Malice and Ignorance may have raised to darken and blemish the ●eputation of our Practice , Persons and Principles in the World. CHAP. X. His Ninth and Tenth Chapter of the Wayes and Arts that the Quakers use in gaining Proselytes , with the Advantage their Way has over other Heresies , honestly considered , and briefly confuted . THe first Artifice he sayes , we use , is , To come in Sheep's Clothing . Now what is this Sheep's Clothing ( sayes he ) but only the Innocence and Purity of the Christian Doctrine ; when as their main Purpose is to devour credulous Souls . Answ . If we have the Sheep's Clothing , and if the Sheep's Clothing be the Purity and Innocence of Christian Doctrine ; then is our Doctrine Innocent , Pure and Christian . And since he avers the Doctrine of the Church of England to be so remote and opposite , this Character must necessarily imply , that her Doctrine is Hurtful , Impure and Antichristian . But what have we Seduced People to ? Drunkenness , Whoredom , Perjury , Wantonness , Idleness , or any such Unseemly or Irreligious Practice ? Let him tell me who of us are less Serious , less Moral , or worse Livers then we were before . But the Truth of the Matter is this ; Our Way of Devouring Peoples Souls , as he calls it , is that which hinders the Hireling P●iests from Devouring the Peoples Pockets , and endangering their Souls too , who teach for Hire , and divine for Money , and make Religion but a Stalk to Preferment , who have the Shell without the Substance , the Form without the Power : From such , in obedience to God's Spirit , we have turned away ; and because we have dared no longer to put into their Mouthes , their Covetous Spirit has swelled , notwithstanding their Pretences , and their Sheep-Skin burst , and an arrant Woolf has come forth ; no true Sheep , but a Sheep-Fleecer , and a Sheep-Sucker , of their Blood , whose Innocency and Patience have plainly proved them such . But the Wolf and the Fox's Skin have been always good enough for us ; any thing to disguise , and make the Dogs fasten and worry to Death . Our Conscience they call Enthusiasm ; and our solemn Confession , Collusion and Equivocation ; our Perseverance is reputed Obstinacy ; our Plainness , Singularity ; our Industry , Worldly-mindedness ; and our Retired-Living , Penuriousness ▪ our Rebukes of Evil they will have to be Censoriousness ; and our Disregard of Company , Pride and Sullenness . Whatever God by his Light has made Conscience to us , there are a sort of Men , that have so little Conscience , as to construe it all backwards , rendring us instead of Honest Conscientious Men , A Pack of Fraudulent , Cheating Fellows : But we cannot help it , if Men will Rage , they must ; Their Shame and our Patience will the more appear . He sayes , Our Second Stratagem is , to bring the People out of Love with their Pastors , who have the Care of them . Answ . I know not a Quaker in the World that would not administer both Food and Rayment , to the worst Persecutor , as a necessitous Creature : But I hope , they would suffer , unto Death , before they would contribute either to him as a Priest ; No , God's Witness in our Consciences never said Amen to their Ministry . They have the Scriptures , true ; But the Word of Reconciliation that brings to God , and of which they declare , they want . I know that some of them can talk well ; so can some Mountebanks And Comedians . Do they witness the Truth of what they speak ? Their Heads know , but do their Hearts feel the Operation of That Truth they will sometimes in Words declare ? Have they travelled the Way , and traced the many anxious Steps of that new Birth , which is the only Door into the Heavenly Kingdom ? But alas ! Oxford and Cambridge make them , and their Parents and Patrons prefer them ; a good round Maintenance is mostly their Aim on all hands : Tell them of the Necessity of an Inward Work , that it is the Spirit of God that only makes a Man a Minister of God , and that the Anointing which true Christian-Men receive , is Sufficient to their Instruction , and presently the Cry is , Donatism , Pelagianism , Familism , Brownism , Jesuitism , Quakerism , or any other Name that begets Jealousie , Undervalue and Hatred . In short ; we do believe that the setled Ministers of the World , are so far from being Beneficial to People , that on the contrary , they excercise their minds with a sort of unexperienced , unauthoriz'd Preaching , from the secret Strivings , Discoveries and Leadings of that Spiritual Minister of the Everlasting Covenant , which is able to bring Man into that way of Holiness , without which no Soul shall ever see the Lord : And this is the true reason why we are turned unto God's Minister , Christ Jesus , who says , Learn of me : of whom God said , this is my beloved Son , hear him ; & reject the Ministry of Man. Our Third Artifice by which he sayes , we gain our Proselytes , is decrying all Human Learning , & Use of Reason : That we are the most sottish & Ignorant Sect that ever appeared in the World ; Yet for our own turn we will be nibling at it , as G.W. in mentioning a Moth-eaten Manuscript mentioned by Beza in his Annotations . Answ . We have already said enough to defend Christianity , from the absolute Necessity of Human Learning , either to understand or vindicate it ; and so false is his Assertion , that since Prophecy has ceased in the Church , secular Learning hath been of greatest Use and Benefit to Religion , that there is nothing more true then the contrary , as it is commonly understood , promoted and practised in the World. I would fain know , how , many Rabbies , Greek and Latin Philosophers yielded themselves Proselytes to the Christian Religion , though they had his Presence , Ministry , Miracles , Death and Resurrection amongst them , who was and is the Author and Master of it ? If such Learning be so great a Friend to Truth , How comes it that the greatest things have fallen to the Share of Poor and Illiterate Men ; And that such have been most apt to receive , and boldest to suffer for it ? Why not Rabbies rather then Fisher-Men , which was before the Pouring out of the Spirit of Prophecy ? And for what Reason should so many learned Academies , since the pretended * Ceasing of it , be overrun with such Foul Idolatries , Gross Superstitions and flagitious Living , as 1200 years past will witness . Nay , on the Occasion of any Reformation with whom is there more to do , and who harder to be brought to yield then Universities have been ? Scripture and Story give it clear against him . Not that I would be thought to oppose a Sort of Learning neither ; It has been Man's Erring from his Divine Guide , that has made way for those numerous Theses , Distinctions , Books and Controversies the World for Ages , hath been infested with . Such are the Obscure , Unintelligible , and Unprofitable Metaphysicks of the Heathen , too greedily received , and mischeiveously increased by Fathers , Councils , School Men and our modern Universities to the corrupting of Christian Doctrine , and disputing away the Benefit of Christian Life . An unbounded Curiosity and Phancy have been the Womb that hath brought forth so much troublesom and unprofitable matter ; which began with a Degeneration of Philosophers : True Philosophy in the beginning of it being no more , then the Way of Holy Living , by the Mortification of Passions . But Learning , as Religion , failing by Corruption of Men , is now degenerated into quite another thing . Socrates taught proper Speech and good Life , and such a Course of Learning turned to daily Practice and Profit ; severely forbidding all Curiosities and Niceties as what turned not to Good Life , which he reputed the best Science ; And Plato would have the Poets banished out of his Common-Wealth , as corrupting it with Fables : thus was Learning , as Religion once pure and Simple . In short , all right Learning is to be divided into these two , True Knowledge and proper Language . This Knowledge relates first to God , and that 's only to be received from the Spirit of God ; and 2 ly , the things of this Life ; and therein the Spirit of Man has a large field to act in , to the Enlargement of its own Understanding , and Benefit of the whole Creation , as subject to God's Grace , as , knowing the Nature and Order of things in the Creation , Building , Improvement of Land , Medicine , Chyrurgery , Traffique , Navigation , History , Government , with many other honest , useful and profitable Arts and Inventions for the help and good of Man-kind . And if Man had kept in God's Counsel , the many superfluous and unnecessary Arts and Inventions that are in the World , had never been brought forth by him ; and time will work them out , as it brought them in , so that what is Plain , Honest , Serviceable and of good Report , shall be preserved for the good 〈…〉 he Creation . As for Language , it must be granted that there is a Propriety and Decency in Language : But as Men have followed the out-side of Religion , and left the Substance behind , so have they done with Learning ; They have neglected Matter , the most beneficial part of Learning , and devoted themselves to an Excess of fine Speaking ; of which Bp. Wilkins in his real Character complains not without a Cause , when he sayes , that this grand Imposture of Phrasing , hath eaten ●ut all solid Learning . Yet Language is very convenient for Men's converse with Books and Nations of a different Tongue ; However , we utterly deny them to be absolutely necessary to the true Knowledge of the Mysteries of God's Kingdom . So that the true English of the Quakers denying all Reason and Learning is this ; We refuse to commend or practise unnecessary Studies , nice Controversies , voluminous and intricate Disputations , Obscurity of Language , Affectedness of Style , Excess of Elegancy , beliveing , that Learning as well as Religion stands in need both of great purging , and reducing : and that those Subjects and Employments , which are most serviceable and beneficial to Man-kind , and agreeable to God's Grace , digested into easy and familiar Methods , and treated on in the plain and ordinary Way of Speaking , best deserves Man's time and regard . And for his Reflection upon G. Whitehead , It no further deserves our notice , then that he flung a greater upon Beza , whose Learning , he makes a little to bold with . To say no more of his Moth-eaten Manuscript then this , That the best Copies he has had for his Rule , has been near a kin to such Moth-eaten Manuscripts ; And if such a Manuscript was the Holy Scripture , as I believe it was , he was too bold , and Irreverent , as well as Unwary and Foolish , in calling it a Moth-eaten Scripture , thereby implying it to be a Moth-eaten Rule ; not that I take it to be his Rule , who has so fearfully erred & strayed from the holy Precepts and Exhortations of it . The 4 th . thing by which he reports us to proselyte People is , to deceive and associate first with Women , therein imitating the Devil . Answ . First we deny it , as being like the rest of his idle Stories , and those that not only in the Primitive Times by the Heathen , but in several Ages since , and Degrees of Breaking-forth of Truth and Reformation from Apostate Generations , have been by them fastened upon the sincere Professors thereof , as Waldenses , Lollards , Hugonots & Protestants themselves in their first day as well as more modern Dissenters . We must take our share , it is no new nor strange thing . But supposing it to be true , that our Endeavours are first directed towards the Women , I see no Evil in our Beginning to Undeceive , where the Devil began to Deceive . If they are so easie to be perswaded , why not to Good as well as to Evil ? But these idle Shifts and pittiful Reflections , deserve rather to be disdained then considered . Lastly , For our pretending to higher Degrees of Holiness , and Cracks , and Boasts of Inspirations , with Our * Bewitching Language , which is nothing but Canting , and Scripture Phrase fitted to feminine Fancies ; by which ( he sayes ) we have the Advantage of all other Heresies , I return thus much . Answ . It is our Faith , that God , who made Heaven and Earth , will judge the Secrets of all Men by Jesus Christ ; so that it is not only my Duty , but my Interest to speak the Truth of my Conscience in this Matter . We dare pretend to no higher Degree then we have attained ; but we must make a Difference between what we were whilst under the Ministry of Man , and what we are , since our being turn'd to God's Powerful Word in the Heart , Christ's Ministry : We should be False to God , Injurious to our Neighbour , and Smother and Belye our own Convictions , if we should not say , That we have found our Judge near us , our Guide , Law-giver and Rule very ●igh unto us ; and those Infirmities , Temptations and Corruptions , God has , by this Heavenly Grace , given us Power against ( by which we have known that Mortification of Sin , and Conformity to the Will of God ) which the utmost of our former Profession could never free us from . And if this Plain and Christian Confession must be called by all those Hard Names our Adversary finds for our Honestest Intentions , we must , as we have done , recommend our Cause to God , and his Holy Witness in all Consciences , and him to be judged by him , to whom we desire to stand and fall in all we say , do and take in hand ; to whom alone we owe the Honour of our Experiences and Preservations . However , the Irreverence of the Man deserves both our Notice , and the Reproof of all that read him ; What! Is Scripture-Language become a Cant ; and a sober and seasonable Use of It , Canting fitted to feminine Fancies ? But we think it not more his Folly , Contradiction & Blasphemy , to speak with that Contempt of the Holy Scriptures , and his pretended Rule , then an Advantage he gives our Cause to tell the World , that of all others the Quakers speak & preach the Scripture-Dialect . But it is the Mother Tongue of such frothy Minds so to prophane ; and for all their pretended Respect to the Holy Scriptures , the Spirit and Life that belong unto them , are made but Matter of Jeer and Mockage : They would not be thought to undervalue Christ , the Scripture , nor his Religion , but with the hight of Formality seem to Reverence and Applaud them all , yet Persecute to the Death those that are his Holy Off-spring , by the Spirit of Regeneration ; which shows their Esteem of Christ , Scripture and Religion , to be but a kind of blind-fold Respect ; and that indeed their very Spirits turn within them against that which is truly Christ-like , Scriptural and Religious . The Devil ever understood his Interest better then to persecute Truth under that Name ; yet for all his fair Pretences to Saintship , he constantly became a fierce Devourer of those that have been the Children of the Truth : And I may truly say to this Opposer , That for all his Religion , Learning , Church-Communion , and that stir he maketh against us , as a Crew of Hereticks and Impostors , he knows not what Spirit he is of , who has writ a Book , rather to Abuse , then Inform us , and instigate the Civil Magistrate to Destroy us , then by solid Argument to Refute or Reclaim us . He that has but half an Eye may see his Aim was not so much our Conversion , as Disgrace , and if possible , our utter Ruin ; But till our Adversary's Labours prove as Dangerous to us as his Design ( no doubt ) was Wicked , we have little Cause to dread the Success of his Attempts . And that he may see a little of himself , if he thinks himself worth looking upon ; Let him be pleased to take a view of some of those many Reviling , Scoffing , Rude and Contemptible Epithetes he is pleas'd to bestow on us , an entire Body of People . Heretical Generation of Quakers ; Slaves to Pride , Covetousness , Lust , possest by the Devil & a Diabolical Spirit ; Apostates , Phanaticks , Spiritualists ; Black , impure hearts and mouthes ; bewitched with their Sorceries and Inchantments ; Impertinent Cavilling Fellows ; Rebellious Quakers ; Cheats and Mountebanks ; A Beastly & Quaking Generation ; Juglers ; Quaking & Impudent Hereticks ; a Sottish Sect ; Illuminados , Inspirados ; Their Cheats & Impostures , Enthusiastical Hereticks ; A Goatish Herd . And of our Principle thus , Their Light leads to Hell and the Devil , and carries a Man like an Ignis Fatuus , causing him to fall into the Pit of everlasting Destruction ; who are led by this , are made obnoxious to all the Impostures and Injections of the Devil , and to lye under everlasting Errors and Deceits . To all which I have no other Answer then what it is to itself ; for it contains that Charge against its Author , that I shall leave him to clear himself from , both to God and the whole World ; only I cannot be so wanting of Civility to the Person he dedicated his Book to , as not to let him know , that it is unworthy of his Quality and Repute amongst Men , to have his Name used to the Protection of so much Rudeness , Irreligion and Abuse . I cannot think so meanly of him , as that the Endeavours of so Scurrilous an Author should excite him to any Severity against that poor People he has so basely wronged : For such a thing were not only beneath that place he holds amongst Men ; but would be to intitle himself to all our Adversaries Shameful Miscarriages , & encourage him to persist in what it greatly behovs him to Repent of : which God grant for his Mercy sake ; which is my whole Answer to his Ill Treatment of us , & worst Wish I have for him . A Conclusion to those to whom the Discourse is Dedicated . SInce then it is so evidently proved by Scripture , Reason and Undoubted Presidents , that it is no new or unwonted thing , for National Churches to be deceived , notwithstanding they have been endowed with Power , Learning , Nobility , Wealth and Worldly Glory ; And that it hath pleased Almighty God in the most signal Reformations that have been wrought upon the World , to employ a sort of Plain , Simple and Illiterate People : Let not our Meanness , Plainness and Simplicity be any Argument with you against us , in the Mouthes of that Decimating Tribe , whose Trade it is to Oppose that Reformation , which in Conscience can neither own nor pay them ; The old Enemies of God's Appearance in the World , who therefore dread a Free and Universal Preaching , because the Ingrossment of it to themselves , has proved so profitable . Be Gamaliels at least , I beseech you , and fight not their Battels : If we are not of God , we cannot stand ; And if of God ▪ they must fall . Leave us therefore with our Spiritual Weapons to decide this Controversie , without interposing your Worldly Power . 'T is strange that we should be such Ignorants , and Hereticks too , whilst they bless themselves with the Name of Learned and Orthodox , and yet dread the Consequence of being left by you , to a fair Field with us . Are not their Universities , Bishops and Dectors enough to silence such Illiterate Whifflers , as our Adversary is pleased to call us , without the Argument of your Carnal Sword ? Certainly they ill deserve Fifteen Hundred Thousands Pound a Year , if at last You must do the Business for Them : What less can we expect from the worst of Persons and Causes ? But as this Employment is below the Dignity of their Office , who are publick Magistrates , and much too narrow for that Universal Influence it should have for publick Good ; so remember that great Saying of the late King , to the then Prince of Wales , Always keep up solid Piety , and those Fundamental Truths , which mend both Hearts and Lives of Men , with impartial Favour and Justice . Your Prerogative is best shown and exercised in remitting , rather then exacting the Rigour of Laws , there being nothing worse then Legal Tyranny . Again , A Charitable Connivance & Christian Toleration often dissipates what rougher Opposition fortifies ▪ Which had been the Saying and Counsel of King James before him . It is a sure Rule in Divinity , That God never loves to plant his Church by Violence & Bloodshed . And in his Expositions on Rev. 20. he saith , That Persecution is the Note of a False Church . Heresie must be cut off with the Sword of the Spirit , saith Jerom. The Church doth not Persecute , but is Persecuted , saith Hillary . If you will with Blood , with Evil & with Torments defend your Worship , it shall not thereby be defended , but polluted , said Lactantius . I will conclude with Chrysostom ; It is not ( saith he ) the Manner of the Children of God to Persecute about their Religion , but an evident Token of Antichrist . So let your Moderation be known unto all Men , the Lord is at hand . I am a Friend to all Men , who would have Vice Punisht , Conscience Tolerated , and Righteousness Establisht , whose End is Peace & Assurance forever . The 16th of the 5th Moneth , 1673. William Penn. Notes, typically marginal, from the original text Notes for div A54247-e180 Psalm 50.19 , 20 , 21. Joh. 8.12 . 1 John 1.5 , 6 , 7. Job 32 ▪ 8. Notes for div A54247-e3200 Jer. 31.33 , 34. Hebr. 8.10 . Jam. 1.27 . John 14. Acts 7.37 . Tit. 2.11 , 12. John 3.19 , 20 , 21. Rom. 8 , 13 , 14. 1. Joh. 2.27 . Read Quakerism a New Nick-Name for old Christianity . from pag. 24. to p. 202. also Reason against Railing from p. 24. to p. 47 pag. 3. Phil. 2.6 . Heb. 2.11 . 1 Joh. 3.7 . pag. 3. Jam. Nailer ' s Pos● . L. Faith. pag. 4. 1. Jo. 5. Pag. 4. Pag. 4 , 5 , 6. pag. 6. Pag. 7 ▪ pag. 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14. pag. 15. vers . 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20. Math. 28.20 . pag. 13. Pag. 16. Deut. 18.18 . Job 32.8 . Isa . 59.21 Jer. 33.6 . Matth. 11.25 , 27. Jo. 6.44 . 1 Cor. 2.10 , 11. Chap. 14.30 . Gal. 1 , 12 , 16. Phil. 3 , 15. pag. 16 , 17 , 18. Pag. 18. Isa . 28 ▪ 26. Isa . 1.18 Joh. 1. ● . 1. Pet. 3.15 . p. 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25. P. 26 , 27 , 28. Acts 1.4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9. Chap. 3. v. 5 , Math. 3.11 . 1 Cor. 1.15 , 16 , 17. Ephes . 4.4 , 5 , 6. Pag. 28 , 29. Jacob Capell . Salm. Sàc. ling. Profess . in loc . p. 30 , 31. Jo. 13.5 , 14. Acts 2.13 . A Sad ▪ contr . mon. Burd . J. Reynold . J. Jewel . A. Willet . pag. 34.37 , 38 , 39. Col. 2.17 , 18. pag. 34.42 ▪ 43 , 44 , 45. p. 47 , 48 , 49. Act. 1 , 13. Act. 2.1 , 2 , 3 , 4. Act. 2.46 . * Vetabl . Ecclesiam vel congregationem . Clarius , Ille conventus in Ecclesiam non ea causa fit hoc quod facitis in contemptum Ecclesiae Dei redundat , et eorum pudorem qui minus habent . Zeger . Confunditis eos qui non habent quod offerant et manducent . Cameron . Ecclesia hic privatis aedibus non opponitur . Dei Ecclesiam contemnere est pudore afficere tenui●res , qui magnam Ecclesiae partem constitu●bant . Locus loco opponitur grammatice , non logice . i. e. Church or Congregation . The Church is not opposed to private Houses . To despise the Church is to make ashamed the Poor of it . Rom. 16.3 , 5. 1 Cor. 16.19 . From pag. 51. to 69. Gen. 14. Heb. 7.12 . 1 Cor. 9.14 . Gratian. Caus . p. 16. R.C. Dec. Seld. c. 6. p. 80.81 . Seld. p. 67. Bp. Jewel on Hagg. Hodie venenum infusum in Ecclesiam . Cobham , Bernard , Tindal , Frith , Charl. V. Emp. p. 70 , 71 , 73 , 74. Rev. Joh. 7 , 48.49 . Mat. 11 , 24 , 26 , 61 , 71. John 9.29 . Act. 22.22 . chap. 24.5 . chap. 4.13 . Const . Clem. Rom. li. 1. c. 6. Conc. Carth. dist . 37. Cap. Episc . ●ac . Laur. de . lib. gent. pag. 40 , 41. Card. de . Sap. l. 2. Pet. Bell. Obser . l. 1. c. ●5 . Ib. 40. Dom. Sot. in 4 Cent. dist . 5 q. 1. Art. 10. p. 154. Mach. disp . lib. 2. c. 5. p 75.76 , 77 , 78. Mat. 16.28 . Jo. 14.17 , 18 , 19. ●erk . Sanders . pag. 82. pag. 90 , 91 , 92. 1 Pet. 2.13 , 14. p. 93. See Bp. Gauden of Swearing . The Foundation of Swearing now is the Wickedness of Men. p. 36. Bp. Rob. Sanderson De Jur. Oblig . pag. 141. * As the Thief in Essex , who robbing a Quaker in Company with another , and using them fairly , desired them not to stir , till they were got clear of the Road ; upon which said the other man , I 'l swear ; you swear , you 'l swear through an Anvil and back again ; will the other promise ? Thieves know Honesty , though they do not practise it . p. 99 , 101 , 102 , 103. John. 1.9 . Joh. 8.12 . 1 Joh. 17. Col. 1.27 . Joh. 14.17 , 20. John 6.53 , 54. Psal . 7.9 . Jer. 11.20 . Amos 4.13 . Jo. 3.21 . Joh. 19.14 . pag. 107 , 108 , 109 , 110 , 111. pag. 112 , 113 , 114 , 115. 1 Thes . 5.23 . 1 Jo. 5.18 . and c. 2.13 . Mat. 5.48 . Ephes . 4.13 . 2 Cor. 7.1 . 1 Pet. 5.10 . pag. 117. pag. 119. pag. 120 , 121. But why is it ceast ? because ceast t● you Sons , of the Night ? Did not Christ promise to be with his to the End ▪ Either that is not so , or his being with them endues them not with the Spirit of Prophecy ; Was it not Apostolical , & in the first Churches ? Why not now ? Is it less wanted ? Is Christ not that to his Church he was ? A Blind Argument indeed ! because the Priests of Man's making have it not ; therefore none have it . I will pour out my Spirit upon thee and upon thy Seed , & thy Seed's Seed unto all Generations . Isa . 5 9. These Men were only versed in their own Tongues ; They were many of them Mechanicks and Tradesmen . Answering , among the Gentiles , to the Prophets , and Apostles among the Jews and Christians ( though far short of them ) So that Learning and Philosophy , like to Religion , are now so changed , the Ancients would be at a Loss to know them : Another thing has possest it self of the Name of each ; For to be a Philosopher , or Lover of Wisdom , which was to eschew all Evil , & Learning , which was to unlearn every ill thing , as Socrates said , are now turned to dark and unprofitable Contests , Elabourate and Unserviceable Studies to stuff Men's Heads . pag. 122 , 123. pag. 125 , 126 , 127 , * Rainerius the Monk , and a terrible Enemy to the poor Waldenses , made the same Complaint against them . They used , sayes he , to teach first what the Disciples of Christ ought to be , and that none are his Disciples , BUT THEY THAT IMITATE HIS LIFE And that the Popes , Cardinals . &c. because they live in Pride , Avarice and Luxury , &c. are not the Lawful Successors of Christ , in that they walk not up to his Commandments . Thus , sayes the Monk , they win upon the People . P.P. Per. Hist . Wald. Epistle , pag. 6 , 7 , 29 , 32 , 33 , 35 , 40 , 41 , 53 , 77 , 94 , 206 , 111 , 117 , 121 , 110 , 109. pag. 103 , 111 , 115. Bp. Sanderson highly honours and characterizes the Light ; he calls it the Eternal Law of Righteousness , and a Rule sufficient to good Life . See his Book in Latin● entituled , De Oblig . Jur. promiss . I intreat you to read a late Piece of Dr. Caves , called , Primitive Christianity , in which the Poverty , Simplicity , Meanness , Manner and Place of Worship , Maintenance , Ministry , objected Novelty , &c. of the Ancient Christians are related . Jer. Proam . lib. 4. Hilar. contr . Auxent . Lact. lib. 5. cap. 10. Relig. Uris . pag. 192.