The Perfect Pharisee Under Monkish Holiness, Considerations
Some Considerations as to their Practises.
Pract. 1. Quaking.
THat there are such, those that have lived in these Northern parts, are sufficiently satisfied. And for the manner of it, the trembling of all the parts of their body grovelling upon the ground, foaming at the mouth, horrible noyse, running naked in the streets and markets▪ with other the like passions, are fully knowne; and the Narration of John G…lpin in Print▪ will give any that desires more particular information, a full account.
1. First, There are in Scripture three sorts of tremblings held forth. One is, when the Glory and Majesty of God hath been more extraordinarily revealed in Visions to the Prophets, as in Moses at Mount Sinai, Daniel, Habakkuk, &c. For this trembling under Visions of the Lords majesty; First, We doe fully and admire the glorious appearances of God unto and in those blessed Prophets. But secondly, We are fully convinced that the quakings of these men doe not proceed from any such Visions of God; For
1. By those that have been delivered out of their snares, it hath appeared to be a Diabolicall delusion, as is convincingly apqarent in the example of Gilpin.
2. Tis not Gods way to confirme such Blasphemo… Doctrine by any myracle, though the Scripture plainely foretells 2 Thes. 2. 9. that the comming of the sonne of perdition shall be after the working of Satan, in all signes and lying wonders. God will never set his seale, by any miraculous act of his, to the blasphemies of men. For Deut. 13. 1. If there arise amongst you a Prophet, or a dreamer of dreames, and giveth thee a signe, or a wonder, and the signe or the wonder come to passe whereof he spake unto thee, s…ying, let us goe after other gods; thou shalt not hearken to the words of that Prophet, for the Lord your God proveth you, to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soule.
3. Who knowes not that …alse Prophets have been under Sat…nnic…ll exta…ies? as Mahomet, John of L…yd…n, Knipperdolling; and amongst the Papists, multitudes of examples of pretended …aptures and ex…asies, which, we hope now will gaine no Pro clytes to their imp…ous Doctrines.
4. What glorious Visions and Revelations did Milner in L…nc…s…ire, one of these men, pretend unto? As that a sheet with fo…re corners should at such a time come downe from Heaven, &c. with many more; which said apish imitation of that Vision of Peter, together with all the rest of h…s presumptacus prophesies, God did lay very naked to the eyes of all, to be a meere delusion, and imposture of Satan. Deut. 18. 22. When a Prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow …nor come to passe, that is the thing which the Lord hath not s…oken, but the Prophet hath spoken presumptuously, thou shall not be afraid of him.
5. Lastly, we wonder how such bitter cursings and raylings, such Blasphemous and Anti-Christian Doctrines, should be the …ruit of the Visions of God in his majesty and glory. Surely they would strike downe the soule to more selfe-loathings and aba…ings, then that it should presently dare to rayle or avouch in it selfe perfection; when such Visions made Isaiah to cry out, I am uncleane: and Job, to abhorre himselfe in dust and …as…es.
Now as to the second sort of trembling, arising from sight of sinne, and sense of the wrath of God.
1. We g…ant, not onelyonly the Scriptures, but the experiences of many doe witnesse the terrors of God sometimes upon the soule for sinne.
2. Those workings of wrath upon the soule, we doe conceive▪ are vastly different from the tremblings and quakings of these mens. For first, Some of us doe know, that very youngW. C. children have been under these extasies amongst them. Secondly, Sense of sinne never caused foaming▪ and running naked in the streets, that we doe know of. Thirdly, By the Narration of Gilpin, you may clearely observe, that he was often under those quakings when he was purely possessed by Satan. Fourthly, Besides, it is looked upon by them (as we could instance in particular in some that have been long quakers) as a great attainement; and they have exceedingly desired to be in these fits of trembling; not as to the terrifying of the conscience, but as to the trembling of the body. 5. Lastly, we propose this to t…m, How comes it to passe, that many of their partners and companions, are owned by them as saints, and as brethren, who yet never had those fits of quaking? For if their quaking doe proceed from a true sense of sinne, how come they to be saints before they have attained it.
3. But thirdly, Let us put the case that these their quaking do proceed from sight of sinne, and sense of wrath (though truely we are convinced to the contrary) yet we say, that this, which they call their great perfection, First, Is nothing but the startlings of a Legall conscience, farre short of the happy state of a soule made free by the blood of Jesus Christ. Secondly, Doe not the Devills beleeve and tremble by legall fights of sinne, and through sense of wrath, as also the damned soules in Hell; and shall we call this quaking their perfection? Thirdly, These quakings, under sense of sinne, can be at best, but an establishing of selfe-righteousnesse, while they are cryed up, and carried on to the neglect of the righteousnesse of Christ, imputed to the soule, through beleeving (not through working) as we have largely proved before, against their establishing of their owne righteousnesse. And so, what is Felix better for all his tremblings? And what are these quakings, but a fore-runner, and fore-taste of that eternall wrath of God, which is to fall shortly upon him, who resteth under the convictions and actings of the Law, but embraceth not the righteousnesse of the Lord Jesus, to be found in that at his appearing.
3. There is indeed a mention of trembling in a third sense in Scripture, as a Cor. 7. 15. where the Corinthians are said to receive Titus with feare and trembling, which they grossely apply to their case▪ as also▪ Ephes. 6 5. Servants obey your Masters with feare and trembling; which holds forth no more, then a reverentiall carefulnesse and obedience. These last we mention, lest they should charge us with passing over that which they presume to make so much for them.
In all this, Reader, we desire to professe, that our so large discovery of the nature of quaking, is not to discourage any poore soule, that under tremblings of spirit, is …onging for Christ; but to warne every man of the danger and seduction of these methods which establish such Doctrines and practises, as leade the soule into the covenant of workes, and leaves them there.
Pract. 2. Rayling, &c.
Their practice herein is notoriously knowne, to whomsoever hath had to doe with them; and our selves, some of us▪ have had a large measure of this revilings throwne upon us▪ In one Paper of theirs, which one of us hath, you have all these horrid raylings against the Ministers, calling them Priests, Conjurers, Theeves, Robbert▪ Anti-Christs, Witches, Devills, Sir-Simons, Serpents, Bloody Herodians, Searle… coloured Beasts, Babylons Merchants, Wolves, Dogs▪ Swine, Sodemites, &c. Reader, we are not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, no… of the reproach of men, because of it▪ But consider how fully they make good that of Jude 13. Raging Waves of the Sea, foaming▪ m… their owne shame, &c. though Michael the Aarchangel when disputing with the Devill, durst bring no Rayling accusation against him. But is not the condition of the Ministers of Christ in England▪ such, that we have reason to take up the complaint of David, Psal. 57. 4. My soule is amongst lyons, and I lye even amongst them that are set on fire, whose teeth are speares and arrowes, and their tongue a sharpe sword, their mouth is full of cursing and bitternesse, the poyson of Aspes is under their lips. Neither is it onelyonly mentioned as the Saints complaint, but as the strict prohibition of the spirit of God. Ephes. 4. 31. Let all bitternesse, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evill speaking be put away from you, with all malice. As also that of Timothy, 2 Tim. 2. 25. The servant of the Lord must be gentle towards all men, in meeknesse instructing th…se that oppose themselves▪ if God per adventure will give them repentance, to the acknowledgement of the truth. How clearely contradictory is the way of these men to the rule of Paul, when they in all their speaking to men▪ not of their way, or that oppose themselves, doe fly out in those bitter raylings, in calling them Devills, damned, and that they see the Devill in their Faces, and such like expressions? So 1 Peter 3. 4. The Apostle calls for meeke and quiet spirits, which in the sight of God are of great price. But we shall close up this with that of our Saviour, Mat. 7. …. Judge not that yee be not judged. And Mat. 5. 5. Blessed are the meeke, for they shall inherit the Earth.
Pract. 3. Their pretending upon all occasions to be sent by speciall Commission from God, as we shall instance in some cases following more particularly.
Some of them came to Kendale Church, about a yeare agone▪ and pretended they had a Commission to pull downe the Steeple▪ Another Thomas Castley came in the time of the Preaching of one of us to the Congregation at Kendale▪ and had▪ he said, hisW. C. Commission from God to pull downe the Houre-Glasse. And the same man came a long mile, with no other Message from God (as he pretended) but this, to tell of one of us, Thou at an high Priest; which words having spoken, he went his way. Another time he came with a Message from God (as he pretended) to the house of the abovesaid one of us, at which time IW. C. was not at home; yet confidently affirmed to my Wife, that God had sent him and that I was at home. Againe also, the same man came with the like Message to my House, and said, that God had sent him to me, and that I was at home; but it being denied▪ he was by the Schoolemaster Mr. Turner, taken …ver to his house▪ where (by providence, being presently come home) I went to him, and asked him, What message …e had from God to me? whereat, he denied that he had any message to me from W. C.God at all. Mr. Richard Stookes Minister at Grayrig▪ told one of us that disco…rsing with Fox at a meeting appointed, concerning his immediate call; the said Fox affirmed, He was called by a V…yce from Heaven to Grayrig; and at his affirming the …ame▪ the simple deluded soules that were there with him, affirmed, they kn…w it to be true; he asked them, whether they saw any vision, or heard any voyce? they answered, No; but all the account they could give of it, was▪ That where… he was walking towards Firthban…e, suddenly he faced about, and said▪ he was commanded to …e to Grayrig. One of these people, when they were lately at Newcastle, told a Merchant there, Mr. H. T. having on his blacke cloathes, that he was a deceiver, &c. but being told he was no Minister, he shuffied pittifully▪ as …eeing how naked his mistake was layd. Concerning this horrid pretence of being sent of God, to the commission of abominable practises in Yorkeshi…e, we referre you to a Booke called▪ The Second Hearing of the cause betwixt the Quaerer and Anti-Quaerer, &c.
In the view of the Stories above-written, the Reader may make these Observations.
1. Is it the way of the Lord to call men immediately from Heaven▪ on purpose to tell onelyonly of an Houre-Glasse; and to have nothing to say, but to call a man Priest, with no other Message? Were ever the Prophets of God sent forth with such triviall messages as these? How fearefully is the glorious name of an holy God abused in this particular.
2. Is not this to bely the all-knowing God, to say in the name of the Lord▪ That one of us was at home, when he was not? And that he had a Message, which presently after he denied againe, being demanded what it was.
3. How emi…ent is that judgement upon the followers of these men, that they are delivered up to strong delusions to beleeve lyes themselves, and delude others▪ who confidently affirmed, that they knew that Fox was so sent as he peetended by an immediate voyce from God, and yet upon enquiry, denied they either saw shape, or heard voyce.
4. That this their pretence of being commanded, or sent forth immediately by God, is most wicked and vaine, and meerly their way to get populer applause or acceptance, is plaine. For,
1. If they be with-held in publique from delivering their message there (as they may pretend) yet why doe they not deliver it in private? or at other times? When they came to Newcastle, and were with us before the Magistrates, they delivered not their message there; and they might have had liberty with freedome to come to any of our Houses; nay, some of them were invited thither by some of us. How fully doe theyW. C. contradict themselves, and are faithlesse messengers to their master, neither true to God nor Satan.
2. If they were under such powerfull impulses of the spirit to speake, (as they pretend they are) that they cannot hold; we desire to know how they can now of late forbeare till our publique worship and exercise be concluded? At their first breaking forth it was otherwise; but since they have found that their speaking in the time of our publique worke, is punishable by Law, they can now be silent till we have closed up the worke. Certainely, such politique proceedings doe evidently make plaine, that their pretence of an extraordinary command, and strong impulses of the spirit, are absolute counterfeit, either against their owne consciences, or by the strong delusions of the Father of Lyes.
3. Their usuall charge in publique against us, is that we a… Deceivers, and doe teach lyes in the name of the Lord; yet when they are charged to produce any one tittle by us delivered that they particularly can call a lye, there is nothing that they doe ordinarily produce, or can except against us, but will presently runne to such expressions as these; Thou wearest long Robes, and Prayest standing in the Synagogues; and therefore they tell us in the name of the Lord, we Preach lye…: this wa… fully apparent lately before the Magistrates of Newe…stle, where John Audland, Stubbes, and the woman their partner, were called, and challenged to instance in any one particular of the Doctrine delivered by either of us, which they durst affirme toS. H. W. C. be a lye, but had no syllable against it to object; and as we could instance in many other cases.
4. But would you lastly, see their folly in pretending to an immediate light, take this following Story; George Fox meeting with …ne Mr. Nichols in Carlile, told him, that he was an Hypocrite &c. he replying▪ asked him, if he knew his heart? he sayd, he did. He asked him againe, and Fox affirmed againe, he did. He then asked him, if he knew his Name Fox answered, I know by thy questions thou art an Hypocrite, shuffling so lamentably to evade his question. To whom Mr. Nichols answered, Dost thou know my heart and not know my name? And so shaked him off as a most notorious Impostor.
Reader, they that live in the Countries where these people come, or doe reside, doe know, we might discover much more of their Principles and Practises, then what we have done▪ We might pleade against them the fruits of their casting off the Word and way of God; and the more, because they justifie them in stead of mourning for them. Such as George Fox▪ his cur…ing of Mr F…therstone: Miles Ralhead, his cursing of master Walker Minister of Kendale very lately in the presence of master Archer▪ and Mr. Cooke. Christopher Atkinson, (a grand leader of this people and a Propheticall Impostor) …or a good while together, his very immodest familiarity with (to say no more) a woman of his way, in the sight of a godly Minister at Kendale M. Wa…oe. The wife of Edmund Adlington of Kendale going naked (November 21. 1653.) through Kenda'e streets &c. but these we have named are the very badge of their profession; and we are satisfied that this will suffice to enforce that rule of the Apostle upon every watchfull heart [from such turne away.]
VVe shall now adde the reason of our Title; and how fully that title of Pharisee which they ordinarily give to others will fall upon themselves, will thus appeare.
1. The Pharisees it is f…nowne, did seperate themselves from the rest of the People, upon an account of a conceit they had of their owne surpassing holinesse: This is the very reason of their Name, as Luke 18. 9. Christ spoake that Parab…e about the Publicans and Pharisees, unto certaine that trusted in themselves, that they were righteous, and de…ised others. How fully is this the spirit of these men? all that are acquainted with their Principles and Practises know. Not any (whatsoever being owned of them as Saints) but such as walke in their way, ptonouncing damnation to all others. Let them Reade and consider Isay 65. 5. They which say, stand by thy selfe, come not neere to me, for I am holier then thou; these are a smoke in my Nose, and as a fire that burneth all the day.
2. Their undeniable conformity to the Pharisees is in their knowne rash censuring, John 7. 49. When the people had spoken to the prayse of the Lord Jesus, the Pharisees presently censure, saying, This people who knoweth not the Law are Cursed. What is this but the ordinary Phrase of Quakers, i… pronouncing every one cursed and damned▪ that is not of their way. Iohn 10. 20. There was a division amongst the Iewes, and many of them said, he hath a Devill, and is mad. So Iohn 9. 16. Mat. 11. 19. Behold a man gluttenous, and a Winebibber. No man dare say, that Christ sinned in excesse, as to meat and drinke, but onelyonly this was their Pharisaicall slander, because of his lawfull use of meat and drinke. Here you have them againe perfectly acted, in pronouncing others cursed, and rashly judging the lawfull use of meats, &c. and appearing the most absolute successors to Pharisees.
3. Mat. 23. 13. Christ is there charging the Pharisees for shutting the Kingdome of Heaven against men, which is known to be by putting people upon a righteousnesse within them, in opposition to that of Christ. And how fully this is the very businesse of Quakers, we referre you to that Position of theirs in pag. 10. of this Booke. But we shall adde that, Mat. 5. 20▪ Except your righteousnesse exceed the righteousnesse of the Scribes and Pharisees, yee shall in no case enter into the Kingdom of heaven.
4. Mat. 23. 15. There Christ pronounceth a woe to the Pharisees, for compassing Sea and Land to make one Pro…elyte, which so made, is two-fold more the childe of Hell, then before. Considering the blasphemies of these men before alledged, and their wandring up and downe to carry on that designe of poysoning mens hearts with their Doctrines; any Reader will see the fulnesse of the parallell.
5. Mat. 23. 23. You have another woe pronounced against the Pharisees by Christ, for tything Mint, &c. but neglecting the weightier matters of the Law, &c. How evidently is this the frame of these men who laying all the weight upon triviall observances of Hats, Thou, Cloathes, &c. doe wholly neglect the great mysteries of Faith, righteousnesse of Christ▪ and Ordinances of the Gospel? Thus they straine at a Gna…, and swallow a Camell.
6. Mat. 23. 27. 28. A woe pronounced to the Pharisees for making cleane the outside of the cup, being whited sepulchres, outwardly appearing beautifull, but within full of hypocrisie and iniquity. How fully doth this set out the condition of these Quakers, as if it were a Prophesie of them? who are inwardly so full of cursing and bitternesse, and being onelyonly cloathed with some seem seem…g…y beautifull raggs of the Law, doe put from them the very righteousnesse of Christ imputed, and deny the Principles of the Gospel.
We have the rather given you the Description of them out of this Chapter, because it is their presumption▪ and usuall …rse from this Chapter, to perswade the credulons world, that the Ministers are these Pharisees. But alas, how fully doth it make these men naked and open, and pull off the fig-leaves of their hy…oc…i…e We might also adde that, Mat. 23. 5. All their workes (as the Pharisees then) they now doe, to be seen of men, …ise whence is it, That no place will serve them to vent their messages in (though but to particular persons) but in the meeting-houses or Synagognes? No place heares of their Religion so much as streets, and market Crosses: For though they Pray not at all, as constant experience is a most convincing witnesse, (no, they are the Heathen that know not God, and the Families that call not on his name) yet, what of Religion is pretended to by them, is most in crying up their owne holinesse, and Pharisaically despising and scorning others publiquely in the streets and market places. And though they be not called Master, and Rabbi, yet they fully doe affect the whole of that Pharisaicall vanity, in crying up themselves as extraordinary Prophets, accounting themselues the onelyonly Rabbies or Authenticall Doctors of truth in the world. We could acquaint the Learned, from Jewish Antiquities with many other affectations of the Pharisees, their minicall gestures, hypocriticall carryages in the streets, wherein these men are a most exquisite picture of them. But we rather leave them, as they are plainely set forth in these Seripture discoveries for Monkish Holinesse, which we also attribute to them: He that shall compare their neglect of Apparell, the pretended frequent Fastings, their dissemb…ng seperation from the world (though James Nayler being asked, how he left,W. C, and gave away his Estate, when he entred into this way, said, in the Publique Sessions at Appleby, He gave it to his Wife? a pretty shift) their counterfeiting Visions and Revelations, the laying weight of justification, upon their outward observances, and many other things of the same nature; we say, he that shall compare them in these things, with Popish Monkes and Fryars, will questionlesse conclude, That as their way in these things, is clearely the superstition of Monkes and Fryars, so we have not been injurious in giving that Title to all the pretences of their holinesse: Nay we could produce instances of Visions, Revelations, Fastings, &c. in that shaven generation, which might let these people know, their perfection they boast of, leaves them many Leagues short of this kinde of perfection which hath more fully been attain'd to by that Popis… Rabble.
And now Brethren, you, for the establishing of whose Faith in a speciall manner we have Published this, having forewar…ed you of grievous Wolves entring in upon you; not sp…ring, but endeavouring to make havocke of the Flocke, and of the Faith once delivered to the Saints. We commend you to the Lord, and the Word of his Grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an Inheritance amongst all them that are sanctified.
FINIS.
End of the text · Thomas Weld, The Perfect Pharisee Under Monkish Holiness (1653)