A Survey of Quakerism, Postscript
A Poſtſcript.
READER, This ſad ſubject, with the threatned effects of ſuch a contagion in any of the Churches of Chriſt, may have a ſerious voice to us this day, if we could hear, or be awaked to read, from the ſin and diſtemper of others, and our own duty: concerning which I ſhall in a few lines further add ſome things, which thus ſeem to be convincingly pointed at.
Firſt, To be more deeply affected with ſuch a plague on the ſpirits of men, as we would be with the ſword, or peſtilence breaking forth in the Land; when withal it muſt be conſidered. 1. That it is no conſequent of ordinary ſins, but may be ſeen to follow ſome remarkable hight of reſiſting the Holy Ghoſt, and rejecting of the Word of Truth, in more bright diſcoveries thereof, than moſt parts of the Chriſtian World at this day have had. 2. That this Meteor of Quakeriſm doth ſo obviouſly threaten, and hath its proper aſpect on the Churches of Britain and Ireland, beyond any elſe of the Reformed Churches. 3. That in all times the abounding of ſpiritual plagues, in any place where the Truth did ſhine, are ſtill found to go before the ſaddeſt of temporal Judgments; and can there now be found ſuch threatning ſymptoms in any Church-hiſtory, or Records of ancient time, to have gone before the moſt deſolating ſtroke, which does not in ſome unuſual manner meet in our caſe this day? yea ſuch prodigies both of Error and Prophaneneſs, and the higheſt daring of the glorious God to his face, as cannot be inſtanced by any paralel ſince the firſt dawnings of Chriſtianity. 4. And ſhould not this alſo make it the more affrighting to us, that it ſpeaks with ſo audible a voice, where ſome great pretences to Religion may yet end, and what cauſe to fear, leſt many profeſſors in this time be under an irrecoverable woe in the matters of Eternity, when profeſſion is ſo much turned into the form of godlineſs without the power thereof; which ſhould be nothing elſe, when it is native, but as the ſhadow appearing, that muſt needs be, becauſe it cannot ceaſe to follow the body.
Secondly, As we muſt not deſpiſe or look lightly on ſuch an amazing ſight as that Party now is, ſo it ſhould concern us to guard alſo againſt any ſtumbling at ſerious godlineſs on this account, but how to improve the ſame, for being more fixed and confirmed in the good ways of the Lord; when it is ſo evident, 1. How one and the ſame ſpirit, and with one concurrence to the ſame work, moves in this Party, with the moſt flagitious and open perſecutors; and though under ſome different form▪ yet they do all vigorouſly unite in that common Intereſt, to counteract Truth and Holineſs, to decry the Scripture, caſt reproach on the great Ordinances thereof; and how to make that Miniſtry given by Jeſus Chriſt to his Church, contemptible and vile; which, as it may be ſeen, is the very ſame work, the moſt profligate Atheiſts are at, and ſo muſt have from one airth their Incitements thereto. 2. Whatever be of the falling in of ſome to that way, who once ſeemed to love the Truth and embrace it; yet is it not evident, as to moſt of this Party, how remarkable the earth hath been made to help the Woman, by drinking in ſuch a flood, as the Devil had caſt forth to ruine the Church, whilſt ſo many have thus parted with the Truth, of whom no known or convincing evidence could be given, that ever they had received it, but a moſt diſcernible tendency in their way to ſuch an infection, had broke forth before the ſpots of it from that ſmall regard they were known to have to the ſolid ſaving, and ſubſtantial Truths of the Word.
3. This ſad ſubject, with ſuch ſhaking winds as now blow almoſt from every airth on the Church; ſhould it not preſs us to ſome further length, than moſt ſeem to ſatisfie themſelves with, in a ſure and ſolid founding on the Scripture; when it is ſo clear, that none can oſſuredly know the Scriptures being the Word of God, but may have a ſufficient antidote againſt this deadly poyſon; and by theſe great Demonſtrative evidences thereof, muſt thus know, 1. That it is undoubtedly a full and perfect Rule, ſuch as the whole race of the Saints to this day could not have wiſhed it another thing than it is, for their Counſel and Conduct within time; and takes off all poſſible ground, for the adding either Traditions, or any Revelation thereto: yea, that it is ſuch a Rule as manifeſts it ſelf with that ſufficiency of Light to all, as none can reject this one evidence but theſe whoſe eyes the God of this World hath blinded; ſince there is no want of Light in the Truth it ſelf, but from mens blindneſs, and a defect in the …iſive faculty. 2. It is thus they aſſuredly know, how it is no dead Letter by that Divine Power and Efficacy thereof, and to be no Hiſtorical Rule, which is ſharper then any two-edged ſword, to a dividing aſunder the ſoul and ſpirit with the joynts and marrow, Heb. 4. 12. that gives Law to the Conſcience, makes it tremble, and ſearches in to the moſt ſecret receſſes of the hearts of men. 3. Thus alſo we know the Holy Ghoſts ſpeaking in and by the Scripture, to be no private voice, and ſuch an Impreſſion as comes in a divided way, or by bearing witneſs to the Truth and Authority of the Scripture in any other way than by the Scripture, and an imparting thereto its Power, Efficacy, and Majeſty, and enabling us to know and diſcern the ſame. 4. That ſuch are theſe great ſupernatural Truths revealed there, as could only have been revealed from Heaven; and never poſſibly could have been once thought of, or conceived in the mind of Man by any reaſonings, or natural helps, without Divine Revelation; ſo as it is no pretended Light within, can let us know what are the things of God, further than it is derived from the Scripture. 5. And is it not thus known alſo what an undoubted certainty is in the verification of theſe ſupernatural Truths, in the experience of the Saints, as they can know they live or breath▪ which is not witneſſed to ſome individual perſons only, as if from any advantage of Nature and Edification they might have it; but in every time, in all the Churches of Chriſt, yea by the whole generation of the Saints, hath ſtill with the greateſt oneneſs of conſent been undeniably atteſted: when it is ſo clear alſo, How much a great part of profeſſedChriſtians is wholly ſtranger thereto, and how it is no leſs above mens reach by Nature, to know or diſcern what thus belongs to the ſtate of the Saints than for a Beaſt to know what concerns the ſtate of Man: and what advantage ſhould it then be, as this Party pleads for all perſons to follow a Light within themſelves?
Fourthly, Though we muſt own no ſuch auſtere mode: or appearance of Mortification, as this Party of the Quakers ſeek to amuſe the World with, being viſibly ſtretched beyond the Rule of the Word, yea ſo falſe and ridiculous a ſhew of ſtrictneſs therein, as is a reproach to ſerious Religion: yet is it a clear and indiſpenſable Duty to guard againſt conformity to the World, in theſe ſad extravagant faſhions of the time; ſo as Chriſtians may let their Moderation be known to all, and their faith of the Lords being at hand, may commend the Truth by that true adorning, which is in the hidden man of the heart and a meek and quiet ſpirit, not by plaiting of the hair, or putting on of apparel. 1 Pet. 3, 4. Which oft as a publick ſign ſtand at the door, to let others know what pride, lightneſs, and vanity dwell there; as though they had not an eternal ſalvation to work out with fear and trembling, or did not believe the third of Iſaiah, from the 16. verſ. to the cloſe, to be the Scripture of God, and to have the ſame Authority, the ſame theratning Aſpect in this generation, whic in had then on Iſrael: yea is this a being accountable in the Improvement of what ſome have beyond others of the World as a Truſt put under their hand, now when it is ſuch an hour of great Tribulation on the Churches? I confeſs this ground I have laſt mentioned, is ſuch as may cauſe many in this age fear they be under a ſad miſtake in their Claim and Title to Heaven; and hath oft put me to wonder what kind of peace many have on this account, who ſeem to out-run others in a profeſſion of the Truth: Since, if the Scripture be undoubtedly ſure, and no falling to the ground of the leaſt Tittle thereof, ſhould not theſe clear diſcoveries, which are there, he as that hand-Writing on the Wall, to make their knees ſmite one againſt another. 1. That riches, and what any hath received beyond others of the World, is not theirs, but is a Talent in Truſt, to Trade with for the Maſters uſe; for which each muſt be accountable according to their meaſure, Mat. 25. 15. Luk. 19. 15. VVhat a ſound will that once be, which is haſtening on all. Come give an account of your Stewardſhip? 2. That it is clear on what Negatives this dreadful ſentence, Matt. 25. 41. Depart from me ye curſed, &c. is there ſtated; and what is intended by that parable, Luk. 16. 19. of the rich man, of whom no ſuch account is given us, as a glutton, or notoriouſly wicked; but that in his life-time be had his good things, though with a ſmall regard to ſuch a caſe as Lazarus's. 3. And is it not thus clear, why then there is ſuch a hardly being ſaved for the Rich, as is expreſly by our great Maſter told, Matt. 19. 24. Luk. 18. 26. It being ſo rare an inſtance for ſuch to be keeped humble, or truly faithful in that truſt, yea keeped off ſome ſnare thereby, that plungeth men into eternal perditions? Oh how many have riches weighing them down to the pit! and what a dreadful noiſe is now there: VVe have loſt a heaven and eternity of joy, for things of the earth, which were but for a moment, and are now gone! But it ſeems moſt in this day ſhut their eyes, and cannot ſee what Light ſhines ſo clearly in the Scripture about it. Elſe I am ſure, it were not conceivable how they could own any true claim to that bleſſed Inheritance above, in ſuch a way as they embrace and improve their Intereſts here in the earth; whilſt ſo much more ground may he to fear, their account for the fruit and product of this Talent in any ſuitable proportion to the meaſure received, ſhall be found no other at their appearance before Jeſus Chriſt the great Judg, than a hiding it under the earth, or putting it in a napkin.
Fifthly, Let it diſcourage or weaken the ſpirit of none who now follow the Lord, that it is ſuch a thick darkneſs on the Church; and that when perſonal ſufferings are ſo ſore on the one hand, there ſhould be on the other ſuch aſſaults to darken and ſubvert the Truth: Since there is much more to countervail all, if we ſeriouſly conſider, 1. That it is ſure, if there be a ſafe founding on that foundation of the Prophets and Apoſtles, then may ſuch as have imbraced the Doctrine of the Reformed Churches, and received it in love, have a ſweet and ſecure calmneſs amidſt the raging fumes of this time, as knowing aſſuredly, they build on the ſame Foundation, and no other, and are in that good and old way, in which the Saints in all ages have revealed the Spirit, and been ſealed to the day of Redemption. 2. Is it not clear alſo, if there wanted not an obſerving ſpirit, and our eyes were not ſo much withheld from ſeeing the Glory of theſe times, there wants not ſuch great convincing diſcoveries of a Godhead, and ſtately acts of Providence, as might ſilence our complaints with wonder and amazement; to ſee that marvelous way the Holy God takes in building his Houſe, … unfolding his deſign, and bringing forth his Word, in moſt ſurpriſing appearances both of Judgment and Mercy; and whilſt we wait, and wonder he comes not one way, when we are ready to ſtint our thoughts, he comes very remarkably another way, to let all ſee his faithfulneſs fails not, if man had but eyes to perceive the ſame. 3. Should not the Tribulation of theſe days be a confirming Seal to the Truth and Doctrine of this Goſpel, more than a ſtumbling-block to diſcourage or ſhake the ſpirits of any; ſince it is ſure, ſalvation by Jeſus Chriſt is not more plainly diſcovered, than the Worlds hatred and oppoſition to his way yea to what Hight it ſhould come, and in what different ways and manner the Truth and its followers ſhould ſuffer. 4. Whatever ſore wreſtlings now are, when the Waters ſeem more to riſe and ſwell, than to have any diſcernible abatement; yet it is well, we may know by the cleareſt Scripture-Light, that the ſtrongeſt difficulties when overcome, yeeld the greateſt victory, and ſhall be not only matter of joy here, but to all eternity, they having with patience and hope endured, and got well through ſuch a throng of Temptations, and aſſaults in adhering to the Truth. O that Glory which is coming, where each of the Saints ſhall then get an account of the way of the Lord, and whole ſeries of Providence towards them in their journey, ſo as to ſee no way could have been ſo unſpeakably fit, and ſafe for them, and thus become matter of praiſe joy, and admiring for ever, evermore!
FINIS.
End of the text · Robert Flemming, A Survey of Quakerism (1677)