A Survey of Quakerism, Section 6
SECT. VI.
IN the fifth place, let us conſider on this ſubject, what might be of moſt ſpecial uſe to guard and preſerve all who profeſs the Truth againſt this horrid and ſpreading contagion, now in theſe times: for clearing of which ſome few Preſervatives I would ſeriouſly offer.
1. To live much by Scripture, and have more near intercourſe therewith, as that alone rule, without which none can write one line in Religion aright, but according to the ſame; and is ſo marvelouſly ſuited to enlighten, and take the wayfaring man through all theſe ſnares here by the way; ſo as the whole race of the Saints, ſince the beginning to this day, could not poſſibly have wiſhed it another thing than it is. Oh! what do ſuch part with, that can part with this guide which reveals the whole Counſel of God, and ſhews us what is good, lovely, and juſt, gives Law to the inward man, and commands his very thoughts; yea that which the God of Truth hath magnified above all his Names? Sure it is, if ſuch blaſphemers knew what converſe a ſerious humble Chriſtian hath oft found this way, with Jeſus Chriſt, and which his ſoul knows well to be no dream or ſhadow; they ſhould rather wiſh their words choaked them in the throat, than to adventure to ſpeak at the rate they uſually do. I know this quarrel they have therewith, which Ahab had with the Prophet Micajah, that it propheſieth ſad things to them, and therefore they muſt hate it, and ſeek a new Light, becauſe this is their torment; for it's ſure, the Scripture, and Quakeriſm are no more compatible to lodg in one heart, than the noon-day and mid-night can meet together; but their appeal herein is caſt, for whether they will or not, by this word they muſt be judged in the day of the Lord.
2. That great Counſel of the Apoſtle, 2 Tim. 1. 13. I would preſs on Chriſtians at this day, for holding faſt the form of ſound words, as one great intent of the Scripture, to give the Church a full model, and ſtandard of ſaving Doctrine, whereon every one may know how he foundeth. Now this great duty is the more preſſingly called for in ſuch times, when moſt ſatisfie themſelves with ſome looſe notions of the Truth, and to know things at random, who ſeem but little concerned to be ſtable, and rooted in the faith, ſo as to know that cloſe contexture, and dependance of the Truths of God in the Scripture; and how they are linked in the neareſt tye and correſpondence, as there can be no eſſay for corrupting of one part, but muſt have the ſame tendence againſt the whole; yea, thus reach a thruſt at the very life and being of Religion. It will be rare to find ſuch as are in earneſt for a ſolid founding on the great Foundation-Truths, and Principles of the Word, and to feed much thereon, to have ever become a prey to deluſion and error.
3. A third ſafe Preſervative againſt this contagion, ſhould be more deep and ſerious thoughts, How horrid a way this of Quakeriſm is? And to conſider, 1. What the Apoſtle ſhews, 2 Pet. 2. 2. that ſuch damnable Hereſies bring ſwift deſtruction therewith. 2. How hopeleſs the recovery of ſuch prove, and how rare 'tis to bring them of, who are once Priſoners to an erring Conſcience, or to ſee them either ſeek or find out a way of eſcape: theſe being Trees twice dead pluckt up by the root.
3. The very near approach of this to that ſin againſt the Holy Ghoſt, where there is a falling once into thoſe deſtroying Hereſies which ſubvert the Faith, eſpecially where ſome remarkable work of the Spirit hath gone before to enlighten and convince, as we ſee Heb. 6. 4, 6. For it is impoſſible for thoſe who were once inlightned, if they ſhall fall away, to renew them again to repentance. 4. And what an awful Impreſſion ſhould this alſo have on men, that ſuch as are thus ſubject, and reject means of conviction, are condemned of themſelves, as the Apoſtle ſhews, Tit. 3. 11. Since they chuſe Deluſion, and will not hearken to the Truth, thruſting the Word from them, whereby they judg themſelves unworthy of erernal life.
4. It ſhould be a ſingular guard alſo againſt this way for Chriſtians to walk humbly, and have ſuch a diſpoſition much their ſtudy in theſe times; while it is ſo clear, 1. That the moſt ſolid, and eminently fixed Chriſtians, in the Church, who have ſhined moſt brightly, even to the ſetting of their Sun, have ſtill been the moſt humble. 2. That this is a remark ſeldom fails, where deluſion and error get place, a ſwelling, and being lift up under much ſelf-confidence and eſteem might be viſibly ſeen to go before; nor is it eaſie to find an inſtance of a ſober, humble prefeſſor of the Truth plunged in this gulf: it is a ſad mark the Scripture hath ſet at their door who know not this, Behold the ſoul which is lifted up is not upright, Habbak. 2. 4. 3. I may ſay there ſhould need no diſpute againſt this horrid way of the Quakers, were mens eyes kept more within themſelves, and in the humbling ſight of a body of Death, under which the choiſeſt of the Saints have been ſtill kept moſt preſſed, yea nothing hath helped them to ſhine more brightly, and to a tranſmitting of their remembrance with the moſt ſweet and fragrant ſavour to after-ages, than this.
5. To attend on the Miniſtry of the Word, and a cloſe keeping by that Ordinance given by Jeſus Chriſt to the Church, ſhould be found a bleſſed Preſervative againſt this way; and therefore are they ſo ſtrictly conjoyned by the Holy Ghoſt, Eph. 4. 11. & 14. He gave ſome Paſtors and Teachers, for the perfecting of the Saints, &c. and that we be not henceforth children toſſed to and fro; and it's ſure, if men ſhut not their eyes, they cannot but behold, that where once any begin to fall off here, there is no ſtanding or getting their ground farther kept, till either Error or Atheiſm hath made them a prey. This is no perſonal Intereſt I plead, but the Ordinance of Jeſus Chriſt, though never more trampled upon by the World than at this day; And I hope, with much confidence it can be ſaid, that many ſuch of the Miniſters of Chriſt yet are, whom Quakers do, in the moſt hateful Terms that can be expreſſed, Revile as Hirelings, Baals Prieſts, who yet would bear ſuch contempt and opprobry, and a ſad outward Lot with much joy, ſo they might get acceptance for their Work; and as Embaſſadors of Chriſt, whoſe Commiſſion they carry, and can ſhew his credential Letters for the ſame, to all with whom the Scripture hath any weight, might find acceſs to drive on that great Intereſt of Reconciliation betwixt God and Sinners.