The Snake in the Grass Further Discovered, Part 1 · Chapter 12

The Snake in the Grass Further Discovered · Part 1 · Chapter 12

p. 116CHAP. XII.

The Quakers hold it is a ſin, and the ſin of Idolatry, to believe and live according to the inſtructions and holy examples expreſſed in and by the Scriptures; except we have them by imme iate inſpiration, and at firſt hand as the Apoſtles received them.

I Am now come to the higheſt round of their SECT I Ladder, and I know not what one ſtep of ſin beyond it (except the unpardonable one) they could charge thoſe with, who walk by the light of Scripture day. Samuel, whole rebuke to Saul for his ſin in the matter of the Amalekites, was expreſſed in the keeneſt and higheſt terms; compared his ſin but to Witchcraft, Iniquity, and Idolatry. And if this charge againſt us were as true, as it is that they ſo charge us; it is high time to ſerve the Scriptures, as Hezekiah ſerved the brazen Serpent, And brake in peioes the Brazen Serpent that Moſes had made; 2 Kings▪ 18. 4.2 Kgs 18:4for unto th…ſe days the Children of Iſrael did burn Incenſe to it, and he called it Nehuſhtan, [that is Braſs nothing of a Deity in it but a little piece of Braſs So it were fit the Scriptures ſhould be demo…iſhed, as having nothing of divine authority ſtamped upon them. When I have eſtabliſhed this Charge by the mouths of two or three Witneſſes, it will be time to leave off pouring in more, where the meaſure is already running over. § 2W. D. diſcove…y of mans return p. 21.

All people may ſearch the Scriptures, and ſee how y…u have been deceived by your Teachers; who hav… cauſed you to ſeek your loſt God in carnal and dea… obſerva…ions: which they have not any Scripture for…. p. 117Who this loſt God ſhould be (except Jeſus Chriſt who is aſcended above the viſible Heavens) is not to be imagined by thoſe who are acquainted with the Quakers Tenets and Phraſes: as will appear more plainly where I treat on their Idolatry. And if ſo, as there is reaſon to believe; there are two grand parts of Idolatry we are charged with, in complying with the Scripture Precepts and Inſtitutions; as in Preaching, Prayer, Church-order, Baptiſm, Lords-ſupper.

The firſt is a falſe object of worſhip; which all § 3 of them that ever I met with in print or otherwiſe will not deny that to be, which is given to the man Chriſt Jeſus, who was crucified between two Thieves at Jeruſalem.

The ſecond is falſe worſhip for the matter, which is Idolatry, although it were intended to the true God as the object; the ſacrificing of Children was intended ultimately to the true God, yet it was groſs Idolatry, And they have huilt the high places of Tophet, which is in the Valley of the ſon of Hinnom,Jer. 31.Jer 31 to burn their Sons and Daughters in the fire; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my heart.

But you will ſay, how is this charge for walking § 4 according to Scripture inſtructions and examples, ſeeing he doth ſeem to adviſe to trying by the Scriptures, whether they do not thus? I anſwer, that they take not any thing in the Scripture to be obliging, but what comes by immediate inſpiration, as the Scriptures were given to the Prophets and Apoſtles; and whatever we do, however conſonant to the precepts there expreſſed, is all contrary to the Scriptures with them, as I have proved already, if not by immediate inſpiration and motion of the Spirit. If this be not clear, we ſhall pump clear by and by.

p. 104And this is Babylon the mother of Harlots, viz. § 5 Morning watch p 23.[to read and practice as the Saints did and the Apoſtles in the Scripture of the New Teſtament] and the abomination of all uncleanneſs;—That many Children have been brought forth of fleſh and blood, and of the will of man (that is, our choice and not paſſive obedience to the motions of the thing with in) which is the birth that perſecutes the Son and heir.—And not one of them muſt ſtand (though ever ſo ſeemingly glorious) f…r the day is come, and the true birth is born (the light within) whoſe right it is to reign; and his glory he will not give to another, nor his praiſe to Graven Images. If erecting and worſhipping God by graven Images be Idolatry, than the Quakers do charge us with Idolatry, for walking according to Scripture inſtructions and examples. He, who will take the pains to read this inſpired Author (though by an evil ſpirit) pag. 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23. will find it his ſcope to prove all Idolaers that ground their worſhip and order on the Scripture examples: and in page 17. he likens all profeſſions among Chriſtians this day to Nebuchadnezzar's Image, and though ſome are more ſhining and glorious in appearance as the head of Gold was beyond his legs of Iron; yet he calls all, part of the Image, and the Scriptures the Feet of Clay they had their ſtanding on. And in pag. 16. hath theſe words, Then ſearches the Scripture for words to prove their Image a lawful Son, and this is the bott…m and foundation of all Religions this day.

I am e'en tired with ſearching theſe ſulphureous § 6 Veins of the Pit and Mine of Quakeriſm, the root of all which is the deified light within: If you have not enough of this ſmoak to ſatisfie you, it is the bottomleſs Pit it riſes out of, I will give you two ebullations more and and leave you ſatisfied or to get better ſenſes.

p. 101So amongſt the words you find how the Saints in Morning watch p. 45.ſome things walked, and what they practiſed, and then y…u ſtrive to make that thing to your ſelves, and to obſerve it, and do it as near as you can; and here you are found tranſgreſſours of the juſt Law of God; who ſaith, thou ſhalt not make to thy ſelf any graven Exod. 20. 4.Exod 20:4Image, nor the likeneſs of any thing. And it follows, now what difference is there in the ground betwixt you and the Pope? though in the appearance there ſeem to be ſuch a greate ſpace.

The Quakers having thus ſtript the holy Scrip SECT. II tures of their divine beauty and authority; both name and thing; plucked out their very heart and ſtrength: let us reſume the particular Arguments, produced to prove that they deny the Scriptures; and look on them at one view, ſo ſh…ll we better diſcern their united teſtimonies and ſtrength.

They who Deny the Scripture to be the word of God. Equal their own writings and ſaying with the Scriptures, and prefer them before the Scriptures. Deny the Scriptures to be a rule of faith and life, or a Judge and determiner in religious controverſies. Take men off from reading the Scriptuses, and looking into them for inſtruction and comfort. Deny the Scriptures to be any means, by which we may come to kn…w God, Chriſt, or our ſelves. Affirm the Scriptures t… be no means, whereby to reſi…t temptation, and that they are dangerous to be read, Deny the Scriptures to be read to any profit, any farther then they are beforehand experienced by them that read them. Put or render the Scriptures, and the Spirit of God in oppoſition to each other. Affirm the doctrines, commands, promiſes, holy examples expreſſed in the Scriptures (as ſuch) to p. 120be not at all binding to us. Hold it is a ſin, & the ſin of Idolatry; to believe and live according to the inſtructions and holy examples expreſſed in, and by the Scriptures: except we have them by immediate revelation as the Apoſtles. They who do all theſe things mentioned in the foregoing particulars, deny the Scriptures. But the Quakers do all theſe things mentioned in the foregoing particulars therefore the Quakers deny the Scriptures.

If any one, or all theſe arguments together will prove what they are brought to confirm; it is proved: if it be not I ſhall for ever diſpair to prove any thing

For as much as the holy Scriptures being our § 3 compaſs on earth, and our evidence for Heaven; are moſtly ſtruck at by the Prince of Darkneſs, and grand enemies of Souls: eſpecially the two great Antichriſts, the Roman Biſhop and Church; and the new Upſtarts, who hold the light within every man to be the Saviour, Light, Righteouſneſs, all: who do not only as other erroneous, or heretical perſons; a little eclipſe, or pervert the light of the Scriptures: but attempt to pull it down out of the Firmament or render it a dark and uſeleſs body; but as it receives Light from their Idol: the one party to ſet up the Pope at Rome, as abſolute in matters of Religion. The other to ſet up the Pope within, as abſolute, and more than he; in the little world of every individual man. I ſhall within theſe following parallel lines, give you a view (though but in part) how both theſe adverſaries do openly ſpit their venom, and diſcharge their ſhot againſt the holy Scriptures. And conſidering how they in moſt things jump together, in the contempt of, and detracting from the Scriptures, you may p. 121conclude, that although the Jeſuite was not the firſt contriver of the Quakers grand notion of the Light within to be Chriſt: (which I am verily perſwaded of to be true) yet that he was a promoter of the building erected on that foundation, we may eaſily gueſs by his mark on ſo many parcels of it; yet I muſt ſay that the Romaniſts, were much more ſound in their opinions of the Scriptures until about Luther's time, wherein the Proteſtants were too hard for them at thoſe weapons. I give you the mind of the Spirit of God expreſſed in the middle collumn, the Quakers Tenets on the left, and the Jeſuites and Papiſts on the right hand.

PART II.