A Survey of Quakerism, Section 5
SECT. V.
A Fourth particular that calleth for ſome ſerious enquiry upon this ſubject, is what ſhould be the grounds of ſo ſtrange and prodigious a contagion of this way of the Quakers, as is at this day in the Church, whoſe Doctrine and Principles are ſuch as the very recital thereof might be judged a ſufficient antidote againſt its own poyſon; yea this after ſuch clear and bright times of the Goſpel: but here none needs be in the dark, if theſe things were ſeriouſly conſidered.
1. That where a form of Knowledg, and mens receiving of the Truth, but not in Love, comes ſome great length in the Church, there is then cauſe to fear, and foreſee ſome remarkable flood of Error, and Deluſion to follow; for in this the Scripture is expreſs, 2 Tim. 2. 10. and lets us ſee how nothing does more ripen the harveſt, to make the field white for the ſpirit of Error's putting in his Sickle, than moſt ſolemn times of the brightneſs of the Goſpel, if no ſuitable fruit be found thereof. Light is one of the greateſt Talents of the Church, that muſt bring either ſome remarkable gain, or loſs with it: nor need any wonder, ſeduction from the Truth bear ſome blacker dye now in thoſe days, and have a more ſingular addition of groſsneſs, even beyond all former times; ſince thus the Stroke and Judgment muſt keep proportion to a further degree of the Churches Exaltation, and more clear diſcoveries of the Truth, than former ages have known.
2. As the formentioned culpable, and provoking cauſe may at this day be diſcernable to all, ſhould the Holy Judgment of the Lord inflicted thereupon, be ſtrange to us in a viſible Tradition, and giving up ſuch a Party unto ſtrong Deluſion, with a withholding of the very exerciſe of their Reaſon and Judgment, that they do not ſee the Light, when it is moſt clearly ſhining forth before them; ſince this a convincing ſeal alſo to that Scripture, 2 Theſ. 2. 10. I confeſs, it is one of the marvelous things of God, and of the greateſt depths of his Judgment, whereby he makes himſelf known in the Earth, yea ſuch as may enforce on Atheiſts the conviction of a Deity, and that Dominion which the Holy God exerciſes over the ſoul; but ſuch as none can pretend cauſe for ſtumbling, where his unſpotted righteouſneſs doth ſo clearly ſhine forth on theſe grounds: 1. That ſo immediate a ſtroke, and judicial arreſt in delivering one over to the Power of this Plague, is not inflicted, but where ſome choice and conſent hath gone before, and is the very execution of that ſentence from the Lord, Rev. 22. 21. He which is unjuſt, let him be unjuſt ſtill: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy ſtill. 2. Since the greateſt contempt of God, which any can witneſs, is a not receiving the Truth when clearly offered; ſhould it be ſtrange, if that which is certainly one of the greateſt ſtrokes of God upon men, anſwer thereto, by giving up their Reaſon and Judgment to ſuch ſtrong deluſion? 3. If the Heathen, who did not glorifie God with the Light of Nature, were in his Righteouſneſs given up to a reprobate mind, to do that which was inconvenient, and morally abſurd, Rom. 1. 26. Need we then be in the dark if thoſe who diſhonour God under the revealed Light of the Scripture, be given up to ſuch ſpiritual wickedneſs, as to believe Error, and lies for the Truth? 4. Nor ſhould any wonder to ſee what confidence this Party now pretends to in their way, and though under ſo ſad a ſtroke of obduration, that may be ſeen by all others, yet how little it is felt by themſelves, ſince the want of Light and feeling is a part of that diſeaſe, and is a Judgment which walks in the dark, and gives the ſoreſt wound when the pain is leaſt felt; Men being thus judicially bound over, as under chains in the priſon, that they cannot once ſtir, until the laſt ſtroke be given.
3. When a previous diſpoſition, and tendence amongſt many, to ſtumble at the way of the Lord, is ſo manifeſt, this day, through the Church; ſhould their be cauſe to wonder, though it quickly Land here? Theſe things being conſidered, 1. That the motion is then down the hill, where it is not eaſie to ſtand; and inſtead of a humble ſerious enquiry after the Truth, under an awful Impreſſion of God, whoſe word it is, ſuch are upon another ſent, how to oppoſe the Truth againſt it ſelf, and have it made ſubſervient to their Byaſs. 2. The ground then needs not be prepared for this ſeed; there is ſo much within to make its entry, and acceptance eaſie, (for a ſnare enters not without a call); but where ſuch an impoiſoned Nature is, it muſt needs ſeek to ſtrengthen it ſelf by bringing in things ſuitable, yea, can ſuck that poyſon of Error out of thoſe Truths, that would ſeem the moſt proper antidote againſt it. 3. It is then men do inſenſibly wear at a diſtance from under theſe former Impreſſions which once they had of duty, and of the way of the Lord; ſo as ere they be aware, then Judgment is determined by a judicial ſtroke to what was before their deſire; things repreſenting themſelves ſuitably to that predominant humor which is within: yea it may be too clear, as a diſpoſition to ſtumble takes root in the ſoul, How paſſion and ſenſual luſts get ground, which as the Apoſtle ſhews, cannot endure ſound Doctrine, or a being ſearched by the word? 2 Tim. 4. 3. But thus are unawares ſucked up into this gulf and whirle-pit of ſome predominant luſt that leads them captive at its pleaſure.
4. A not keeping that diſtance from this contagion, which the Holy Ghoſt expreſly requires, hath given too viſible a riſe to the falling off of many to this horrid way of the Quakers; nor ſhould this be ſtrange to any: Why, thus the Lord is provoked to deſert and leave ſuch to themſelves, who do ſo far adventure out of his way; when it is ſo clear, 1. How expreſs the command is not to receive ſuch into their houſe, or give them a friendly ſalute, as they would not be partakers of their evil deeds, Tit. 3. 10. 2 Joh. 10. but ſhould be rejected as men void of, and enemies to the Truth, whoſe words eat like a gangrene. 2. That this is a peculiar mean of the Lord appointed for their reclaiming, to keep ſuch a diſtance as may witneſs that abhorrence, and holy indignation, which the Zeal of God ſhould have at ſuch a Party, ſo as they may be aſhamed; for it is ſure, Error and Hereſies would ſoon dye of themſelves, if they got not free vent, and too favourable a countenance from others. 3. Where men will paſs over thoſe bounds the Lord hath ſet in his holy Word, by an unneceſſary converſe with ſeducers from the Truth; Is it ſtrange, though the Devil have them at ſuch advantage, ſince he finds them on his own ground? And I doubt not, upon ſerious enquiry, but it might be eaſie to find the firſt riſe, and occaſion of moſt that are infected with this plague, hath been upon a familiar and … converſe with ſuch a Party: as one ſad … I may here mention of a young man in this Countrey, who would adventure on going abroad by Sea in a Ship, when the Maſter of it was a Quaker, having then no reſpect to that way: but upon ſome familiar converſe, when he had ſo far put himſelf out of Gods Protection, was quickly drawn, firſt to a liſtening, and then a liking of thoſe Principles, until he had fully drunk in that poyſon, which was the account he himſelf gave of the firſt riſe of ſuch a change.
5. A fifth ground why Quakeriſm ſhould in ſo ſtrange a manner be at this day contagious, is its diſcernable ſuiting to the Principles of the World, and that inbred Enmity that is by Nature in men againſt the way of God. When thus they are taught that all days are alike, and no need of outward Teaching, but by the Light within; yea to cry down the Miniſters of Jeſus Chriſt as hirelings, with moſt of the weigty duties of a Chriſtian, which to them are as an abomination: and when it is thus, can it be ſtrange, How many groſs, and viſibly profane are carried with this ſtream, or why the greateſt adverſaries of godlineſs are ſound to purſue thoſe with leſs heat and averſion of their way, and have more eaſie ſuiting therewith, than with the way of the Lord?
6. I muſt further add to thoſe forementioned grounds, that except men ſhut their eyes, a moſt viſible diſcovery of the immediate power and influence of the Devil, and his actual concurrence may be convincing to all who look ſeriouſly thereon; when it is ſo clear, 1. How this change they are under, who once turn that way, hath a rage and fury therewith, in their oppoſition to the Truth, beyond the ordinary rate of mens natural Enmity thereto; yea that without the leaſt ſhadow of provocation, they are driven by ſome violent preſſure, and incitement from ſuch an Impulſe as they ſeem to have no freedom in their own motions; but though before, of moſt diſcernably calm and ſober diſpoſitions, are then acted forth to thoſe ſtrange expreſſions of railing and reproach, as can leave it under no debate from what ſpirit they move, and how far they are from that wiſdom from above, which is firſt pure, and then peaceable. 2. This ſtrange appearance, and change ſuch are under, who once embrace this way of the Quakers, is ſeen to be by no moral ſwaſion, or conviction ſuited to a reaſonable ſoul; no receiving of the ingrafted word, or any diſcernable impreſs thereof to ſhew the Laws being written in their heart: but as hath been greatly obſerved by ſome, is by a ſtrange rude leap, and enthuſiaſtick impulſe, ſudden and violent, the Conſcience being made ſound, and whole before it be lanced, and their falſe peace broken. 3. It may be clearly ſeen, whatever Impulſe theſe pretend to for ſuch a change, that this is from a ſpirit of blaſphemy; even to a denying of Jeſus Chriſt, the bleſſed Head and Redeemer of the Church, except as a Principle within; yea from a leud and prophane ſpirit, ſuch as counteracts Holineſs in hearing, reading of the Scripture, praying, ſinging of Pſalms, ſanctifying of the Sabbath, the uſe of the Sacraments. 4. That it is from ſuch a ſpirit alſo (whatever pretences they have to follow a Light within them) as counteracts the moſt expreſs dictates of a natural Conſcience, in theſe notes of difference, which by the Light of Nature have in all Nations been betwixt Man and Man, to a denying that due reverence Children ſhould have to Parents, Servants to Maſters, Subjects to Magiſtrates. 5. And is it not here moſt diſcernably a ſtrange bewitching of their Judgment and Reaſon, who once fall in with that Party into ſuch abſurd extravagancies, both in their Tenets and Practice, as no reaſon can poſſibly comprehend, but that it is the very immediate power and working of Satan? Whilſt it is ſo clear, that this is ſuch a Religion and way as none can cloſe therewith, but by ingaging upon theſe two Principles to forego their Reaſon and Judgment, and all ſubjection to the Scripture of God: a Religion which is ſo far from rendring a reaſon of the ground thereof, with meekneſs, to theſe who ask, that it turns viſibly inraged upon the moſt ſober Chriſtian eſſay for bringing of it to the Light.