The Snake in the Grass Further Discovered, Part 1 · Chapter 11
CHAP. XI.
The Quakers put, or render the Scriptures, and the Spirit of God in oppoſition to each other.
I Could produce a thouſand inſtances of this crime SECT. I againſt the life and being of the Scriptures, committed by the Quakers as their principle and duty. This wickedneſs, is their open high-way, and beaten road. If the Scripture had not been the word of the Spirit of God, the revelation of his mind and will; whoſe holineſs and authority had its being from God its author; the frame of it agreeing to the nature and will of God: we would not think it worthy the name of Scripture, in that peculiar ſenſe which it hath obtained among Chriſtians. But if once we knew it oppoſite, and an adverſary to the Spirit (ſo far at leaſt) that it muſt come to a parting: and they that cleave to the teachings of the Spirit, muſt forſake being taught, comforted, &c. by the Scriptures: and they that cleave to the Scripture teaching by the Spirit, have forſaken the Spirit of God and his teachings: we would own our ſuch profeſſion to be a denying the Scriptures, yea, ſhould take our ſelves bound in ſo many words to deny it; and ſend it as far out of the way as may be, as dangerous to the juſt prerogative of the Spirit of God.
And if thoſe who profeſs what I ſhall inſtance had any honeſty in them; they would tell the world they utterly deny the Scriptures to be, what the Chriſtian world hath accounted them: and in plain and open words and teſtimonies, as far as they can produce; exhort and move them to lay them aſide, and have no more to do with them: nor give them one good word, leaſt the adverſary to the Spirit ſhould in the hearts and lives of men be exalted againſt him.
For the proving of the Charge at the head of this Chapter, take the words of James Naylor the § 2 Quakers proto-Confeſſor. For all the Saints have their commands in Spirit, but yours is in the Letter; Naylor's love to the loſt, p. 8.and ſo of another miniſtration; for the literal miniſtration is done away in the ſpiritual. Here you have the commands in Spirit, or by the Spirit put in oppoſition to the Letter, which is with them the written Word, or the Scripture: and ſo far in oppoſition, that as heat being oppoſite to coldneſs, and light to darkneſs; the one (ſo far as it prevails) expelleth the other, by its contrariety and oppoſite qualities: ſo the ſpiritual miniſtration, or miniſtration of the Spirit baniſhes and expelleth that of the Letter, as its enemy and contrary.
But if you will have a prodigious inſtance, a nonſuch for Blaſpheming the Spirit of God in the Scriptures▪ read what follows, out of a great Writer of theirs William Smith. And reading in the Scriptures, that there were ſome who met together and exhorted Morning Watch. p. 22, 23.one another, and were edified and comforted one in another; they obſerve and do as near (as they can) what they read of the Saints practice; and ſo conceives a birth in the ſame Womb [the Scriptures] and brings it forth in the ſame ſtrength as others do—and they make haſte thither, and open their eyes to look at the things which are ſeen [the Scriptures] and this is pleaſing to the carnal mind, &c. They [Worſhip, Order, Ordinances, Faith, Practice, underſtood by the written Word] muſt all come under the ſeverity of his judgment, becauſe they are Baſtards and not Sons; for theſe adulterous births have provoked the Lord and grieved his Spirit.
It would amaze a Chriſtian and ſound mind, to read § 3 what is contained in the two pages in the Margin quoted, of vilifying and reproach to the Scriptures, and the Doctrines from thence received: Traditions Ib. 22▪ 23of men, earthly root, darkneſs and confuſion, Nebuchadnezzars Image, putrefaction and corruption, rotten and deceitful, all out of the life and power of God, Apoſtacy, the Whores Cup, the mark of the Beaſt, Babylon the Mother of Harlots, Baſtards brought f…rth of fleſh and blood, the birth that perſecuts the Son and Heir, viz. [the Spirit of God or light within] Babylons Brats and Children, Graven Images, contrary to him [the everlaſting powerful God] &c. If this be not oppoſing the Spirit of God to the Scripture, and rendring them adverſe to each other; the Devil himſelf muſt deſpair of inventing words to expreſs it by.
I conclude the proof of this Charge with the words § 4 Naylors love to the loſt, p. 30.of Naylor. And of this ſort are they who have their preaching to ſtudy and to ſeek at other mens mouths, or from the Letter; and have it not from the mouth of the Lord. Then with him, and the Quakers who are of his mind▪ what we have from the Scriptures, we have not from the mouth of the Lord. I would know of the Quakers, what they will make of the mouth of the Lord? Do they take it to be ſome part of his body, which is like our mouths the Organs of ſpeech? We have thought hitherto that God being a Spirit hath no mouth at all; only to expreſs things to our underſtandings, he ſpeaks by ſimilitudes taken from ſuch things we are acquainted withall: and ſo whatſoever God reveals his mind by, may be called his mouth.
And it will follow that the Scriptures are his mouth, as eminently as any thing, yea all things in the world, and more. For God ſpake by them to us, more than by all other things: he ſaith to Jeremy, Jerem. 15. 19. Thou ſhalt be as my mouth. As thou ſpakeſt by the hand of Moſes. 1 Kings. 8. 53 2 Sam. 23. 2.The Spirit of the Lord ſpake by me, and his word was in my tongue. Hear the rod. &c. Is it not a frequent phraſe in the Scripture? As ſaith the Scripture. They believed the Scripture. And what is that? but God ſpeaking by the Scripture, and believing what God ſpake by the Scripture. But now is made …om. 16. 26.manifeſt, and by the Scriptures of the Prophets; according to the …mmand of the everlaſting God, made known unto all Nations for the obedience of faith. What more plain that the Scriptures are the mouth of the Lord, or thoſe means by which the Lord doth manifeſt his mind to men. But the Quakers will not have it ſo, and therefore it muſt not be ſo. But they who …nquire of, or at the Scriptures for the mind of the Spirit, run another way than that the Spirit walks and is to be found in; and ſin againſt the Spirit of God. And that you may ſee how they ſet the Spirit and Scripture together by the ears, Naylor ſaith further,
For thoſe only are the Children of God, who are Love to loſt &c. p. 25.led by the Spirit of God; ſo far is true as truth it ſelf; but as the old Serpent, he never heads a ſaying with the Scripture, but he brings in a lye at the end and tail of it, to whom they who are led by the Letter were ever enemies,
Here you have two great Commanders or Leaders § 5 brought into the field, as the moſt hoſtile implacable Enemies; whoſe followers, from the time there where any, were foes each to other. And what can render the Spirit and the S…ripture more oppoſite, than that whoſoever follows the Letter, is a foe to him that follows or is led by the Spirit? And the Leaders are the formal cauſe of it too; and therefore it was ever ſo, and is as inſeparable as natural cauſe and effect. It this be all true, wellW. Pen Sp of truth, &…. might W. P. ſay, We livingly witneſs, againſt all the dry cavelling Letter-mongers in the world.
Having frequently met with that Scripture, SECT. II 1 Cor▪ 3, 6. By them produced to prove the Scriptures to have a contrary tendency to the Spirit; I ſhall here open it, and ſhew their miſtake. The words are, Who alſ… hath made us able Miniſters of 1 Cor. 3 6. opene… 1.the new Teſtament; not of the Letter but of the Spirit: for the Letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth …ife.
Whereas they would have us by the Letter, to § 2 underſtand the whole written word as written; that is the body of the Scriptures both of the Old and New Teſtament, Law and Goſpel without diſtinction: and by the Spirit, the inward immediate teachings of the Spirit of God, they are in both miſtaken. For, it is as certain as that the following words are truth, that by the Letter here is meant the Law, as given forth by God from Mount Sinai; and by the Spirit, the Covenant of Grace; eſpecially as expreſſed in the New Teſtament, under the adminiſtration of the Reedemer.
But if the miniſtration of death, written and engraven Ver. 7. Ver 9.one ſtones was glorious, &c. for if the miniſtration of condemnation be glory, &c.
Th…ſe paſſages expreſs and explain the ſame § 3 thing called the Letter in the 6. Verſe, and that it was the Law, given forth by God, before it was written; (not only as written) the matter and manner of which was glorious (but in terribleneſs) inſomuch that Moſes ſaid, I exceedingly fear Heb. 12. 21.and quake, and it was death for any to touch the Mountain; yea the Iſraelites were ready to dyeExod. 20. 19. with fear at the appearences of God on that Mount Sinai, at the giving forth of the Law.
And, as the manner of giving it forth by God, ſo § 4 the matter of it was mortal; nothing but death was written in the forehead of it, going alone. The Law worketh wrath. That is, the Law of meerRom. 4. 15. Rom. 7. 11. 12. Commandments. And the Commandment which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death: for ſ…n taking occaſion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it ſlew me. Thus it is plain what is meant by the Letter; the Law of meer Commandments as given forth on Mount Sinai.
That by the Spirit is to be underſtood the Covenant § 5 of promiſe in the hand of the Mediator, is as certain: and not of the Scripture, or written Word in general: for in the 6. Verſe it is oppoſed to the Letter, of the New Teſtament, not of the Letter; that is, the Goſpel, not the Law: and it is called the Spirit in three reſpects;
Firſt, As the New Teſtament or Covenant of promiſe, (eſpecially in the hand of Chriſt) promiſeth and conveyeth ſoul quickning grace in a good meaſure to ſanctifie and enable, and diſpoſe the ſoul to keep the Laws of God.
Secondly, As by the New Teſtament or Covenant, life and ſpirit, comfort and refreſhment is put into the hearts of poor drooping ſinners, under the ſenſe of the ſeverity of the Law, and their liableneſs to the puniſh of it.
Thirdly, And chiefly, the intent and mind of § 6 the Spirit in the terrible diſpenſation of the Law of Works, was by diſcovering mans woful eſtate; to make the promiſes of the Goſpel, or the new Covenant ſweet and welcome, and to put ſouls on embracing the redemption through Chriſt. So that the matter of the pure New Teſtament or Covenant in the hand of the Mediator; was that which God eſpecially aimed at to promote by the Letter or the meer Law of Commandments; in which alone there was not the leaſt appearance of mercy or mans welfare implied.