The Snake in the Grass Further Discovered, Part 2 · Chapter 13
CHAP. XIII
The Quakers deny, and ſubvert all the Ordinances of the Goſpel.
THe Ordinances of God are thoſe means, SECT I in which God and his creature, Man, do hold and maintain a profeſſed and mutual converſe and communion, wherein all men are (as their duty) to draw nigh to God in their expreſs worſhip, and acknowledgements of the divine Being: and therein to expect from God, his gracious preſence with them, and his bleſſing them both with ſpiritual, temporal, and eternal bleſſings. And although God be not tied to this or that way, wherein to ſhine upon his poor creatures by his manifold goodneſs; yet he is far from being bound to the looſe and wanton humours of men. And havingIſa. 64 5 commanded ſome things to be done by us, as means in order to our being ſo bleſſed, and thereto annexedDeus non ſuperſtitione coli vult ſed pietate. God will not take ſuperſtition but piety for h…s worſh…p. Cicero many great and gracious promiſes of being ſo found of us: it is an affront of no mean nature to the divine Majeſty, and contempt of our own welfare; yea and implicite denial of our dependance on him, to neglect, much more to deny, moſt of all to diſdain thoſe his Ordinances, and to caſt reproach and ſcorn upon them. The eternal God who gives being to all things that are, and to whoſe being and bleſſedneſs it is beyond the reach of any, or all together to make the leaſt …ota or tittle of addition, owes us nothing, and whatever of his free bounty▪ he ſhall pleaſe to reach us with, it is not only ſuitable to Scripture revelation, but right reaſon alſo, that in order thereunto he ſhould chooſe his own wayes.
And although many enjoy plenty, and proſperity § 2 in the outward good things of this life, in all whoſe thoughts God is not, and who are utterforeign. In the way which pleaſeth his own mind Socrat. in Plato Viz▪ God will be worſhiped. Quicunque Deum aut Numen non agnoſcit, no …an…um ratione caret ſed etiam ſenſu. Avicen…a. ſtrangers to his worſhip; yet God will make them know one day, that they, not coming into the poſſeſſion of thoſe good things by the right door of his holy and religious Ordinances, they are but thieves and robbers. But for men to attempt, or expect ſpiritual bleſſings from God out of his own wayes, (ſo far as they are capable of underſtanding what they are, and how to reach them) is ſuch a direct oppoſition, and contradiction to a ſoul, truly addicted and diſpoſed to ſpiritual bleſſings, as would fill up a volume to enumerate its parts, and expreſs its folly: except you will ſay, that ſpiritual bleſſings have nothing, to do with a conformity to the will of God, and a holy complacency, and delight reſulting to our ſouls therein: and that they are made up of nothing but a ſelf pleaſing conceit, and fancy, that we have brought God to our own bow, and made him a ſubject and captive to our unbridled luſts; and ſo our bleſſedneſs hath been § 3 hitherto ſpell'd backward, but newly found out really Who acknowledgeth▪ not God▪ is void not only of reaſon, but ſenſe alſo.to conſiſt, not in our conformity to God, but his conformity to us.
Some of theſe Ordinances of the Lord have been written in natures Book, by the light of which men have been led to prayer, and ſome kind of thankful and reverend acknowledgments of God. More by revelation, which with reſpect to Ordinances had three ſteps: the firſt what was revealed before Moſes: the ſecond by Moſes: the third at the beginning of Chriſts adminiſtration. By Goſpel Ordinances therefore, I do not intend either thoſe (with their circumſtances) that were known and practiſed by the light of nature; nor thoſe which were under the Moſaical adminiſtrations, with their circumſtances: but thoſe Ordinances which were commanded by precept, or preſcribed by example in the New Teſtament: or which being of natural obligation, are therein formed with the ſubſtantial and additional reſpect to a Mediator already come in the fleſh, and aſcended in his humane nature into heaven.
All thoſe Goſpel Ordinances, according to the § 4 above-mentioned account, being ſo ſpiritual, and ſo ſuiting the grace of the Goſpel, ſtripped of thoſe coſtly and burthenſome members of the Moſaical diſpenſations, which the Appoſtle calls beggarly Elements, Gal 4. 9 Heb. 9. 10carnal Ordinances; how aggravated a rebellion muſt it needs be, to kick againſt them, and not endure ſo eaſie and ſo becoming a yoke? beſide its rich and plentiful Incomes.
I ſhall firſt prove, that the Quakers deny Goſpel SECT II Ordinances in general, and then in particular. You muſt not expect, on the firſt head, that I ſhall produce their denial of ordinances under the terms Goſpel Ordinances: but if I prove they deny all the things that are truly ſuch, it is as much as can be reaſonably expected. And we, ſay he, [Chriſt] hath triumphed over the Ordinances, and blotted them out; and they are § 2 George Fox great myſtery. … p 16.not to be touched, and the Saints have Chriſt in them, who is the end of outward forms: and thou art deceived who thinks to find the living among the dead. This is the Quakers chief Apoſtle, to whom they have all regard, as the firſt, among the firſt three of their Worthies. In the firſt place he abuſes the Scripture by a groſly falſe and directly contradictions Expoſition. The Scripture which moſt agrees with his words is in 2 Col. 14. blotting out the hand-writing of 2 Col. 14. opened.Ordinances; (he might have added the next words, that was againſt us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his Croſs) but theſe words were not for his turn.
The true meaning of the Text is, that Jeſus Chriſt § 3 by his death fulfilling what was ſignified by the typical Jewiſh Ordinances, and aboliſhing the Moſaical Diſpenſation, entred his houſe [his Church] to undertake the adminiſtration of its affairs, which he in all things diſpoſed as was ſuitable to the gracious nature of the Redeemer, and that glory of Gods goodneſs that now ſhines in the Face of Jeſus Chriſt. But will this great Prophet G. F. ſay, that the pure Goſpel-Ordinances are againſt us? contrary to us? or as the Jewiſh, ſtanding in the way of the Converſion of the Gentiles through their burthenſomneſs? Will he ſay, that Chriſt by his death aboliſhed his own proper Ordinances? Will he ſay, that he nailed them to his Croſs before they had a being, divers of them not being formed, till by his Apoſtles after his Reſurrection? Will he ſay, that he blotted out the Lords Supper, and nailed that to his Croſs alſo, as ſoon as he had inſtituted it? as if he delighted in a fickle humour, as the Quakers; and to give life to an Ordinance, and within twenty four hours put it to death: yea, to ingage his Diſciples thereby to remember his death as often as they did it, and yet aboliſh the Ordinance by his death, and ſo take away all opportunity of remembring his death thereby.
And that phraſe of the Angel, (ſeeking the living § 4 among the dead) becauſe they are taken with the ſound, is often uſed by them, though not only beſide the meaning of it, but contrary to the ſenſe of any Scripture: I am ſure it was never intended to prove Goſpel-Ordinances dead. You may hereby note what he denies, viz. outward forms, they are not to be touched; and his reaſon is an excellent one, the Saints have Chriſt in them. At another time he will ſay, Moſes, Abraham, and the Old-Teſtament Saints had Chriſt in them, and that in their own ſenſe; and yet, I hope, he will give us leave to believe, that it was their duty to obſerve Gods forms. But I wonder not, that they that hold not faſt the form of ſound words, are ſo eaſily perſwaded to let go the forms of ſound worſhip.
Let us hear another.
For this, I ſay, that the Father hath given his Son James Naylo…, Love to loſt. p▪ 52. §. 5.for a Leader and Guide to all Ages, and into, and out of all forms at his will, and in his way and time, in every Generation: and therefore it is, that all who know his will herein, cannot endure that any viſible thing ſhould be ſet up to limit his leadings in Spirit. Here you have the Tenet, and the pretended reaſon of it; all that know his will herein [that is the Quakers] cannot endure that any viſible thing ſhould be ſet up, &c. But what if Chriſt have ſet them up? If they can prove as ſtrongly that Chriſt hath pulled them down, and is departed from them, as we can that Chriſt did ſet them up, and is preſent with, and in them, we will quickly in that point turn Quakers. But alas! the proof that he hath done ſo, is but this; they limit his leadings in Spirit, that is, the Quakers fancies. But if he intended the Spirits leadings in a true ſenſe, it is very ſtrange that the Goſpel and Law of Works ſhould be both ſick of one diſeaſe: That which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. The Ordinances of the Goſpel were ordained to inlarge and raiſe the ſpirits of the Saints, but quite contrary they are found to limit, and impriſon the ſpirit. Sure it muſt be Satans ſpirit, and not Chriſts, to whom the Ordinances are ſuch Chains.
That I may ſhew you the Quakers Babel, let us § 6 hear Iſaac Pennington's Light ſpeak contrary to the Light of G. Fox. When Iſrael was bent to ſeek after Iſaac Pennington concerning Ʋnity p. 1.the Lord, and applied their hearts to wait upon him in faſting and earneſt ſupplications, wherein my heart hath often had the teſtimony that they were accepted of him, and had many times the ſeal of his preſence and power among them; yea my heart did truly unite with, and enjoy the Lord in what was then given forth, and I can never deny the truth and worth of that Diſpenſation, though I know it was ſwallowed up by the breaking forth of a more lively Diſpenſation. This he ſaith he found about the beginning of the late troubles. How doth this agree to G. Fox's nailing all thoſe forms to Chriſts Croſs at his death, and then blotting out theſe Ordinances? § . P. 38. I deny that God did ever or will ever reveal himſelf by any of thoſe things thou calleſt the means of Grace. C. Atkinſon.But yet I. P. will needs have them ſwallowed up now, though he gave them leave to live 1600 years, more mercifully however than G. who would have them ſtifled in the womb, or crucified ſo ſoon as born. But Pennington is ſo cruel by that time he arrives to p. 38. that he ſaith, Such of the people of God—as do not follow the Lord perfectly out of the City of abomination, [viſible worſhip]—but be found in any part thereof when the Lord cometh to judge her, the Lord will not ſpare her, nor the ſpirits of his deareſt people, who are found there, &c.
Both by the Scripture, and their own confeſſion, Chriſt did not long ſince dwell in thoſe Ordinances, which we call Goſpel-Ordinances, and the Quakers, Babylons forms, and abominations. Until they ſhew us better grounds for Chriſts remove, than the ſecret witneſs of the Spirit within them, which we can prove to be a ſpirit of deluſion, by Scripture, reaſon, and ſenſe it ſelf, let none who follow not Chriſt blind-fold, have the worſe opinion of Ordinances for all the Quakers talk. I now come to particulars, and begin with the Goſpel-Miniſtry.
They deny and ſubvert the Miniſtry of the Goſpel, SECT. III railing on the Miniſters as the vileſt perſons, and verieſt Cheats in the world; making ill uſe of thoſe Scripture words, Smite the Shepherd, and the ſheep ſhall be ſcattered. Next to the Scripture, they lay not their batteries againſt any thing ſo much as againſt the Miniſters of the Goſpel, and have ſo little honeſty as to take up all that is to be found on any one, or any that pretend to be the Miniſters of Chriſt, and caſt it in the faces of all, without diſtinction, as equally guilty. And for their more particular attempts, thoſe who are the moſt faithful and ſerious, are the objects of their greateſt fury. I ſhall not blot paper with their railing.
Firſt, They deny all Miniſtry that hath a mediate § 2 …arn…l's Shield &c. p. 16.Call to that Office and Imployment. And their Call to the Miniſtry we deny, which is mediate.
But who can witneſs an immediate Call from God—and ſpeak it [the Goſpel] as they are moved by the Holy Ghoſt—and ſuch travel from place to place, and have no certain dwelling place; this Miniſtry we own and witneſs. Thou art corrected by the Scripture, and the Fox mystery &c. p. 48.Apoſtle corrects thee, who ſaith, I have not received it of man, nor by man, and bid others look at Jeſus the Author of their Faith. Their writings are abounding with matter of this nature.
We acknowledge, that all the true Miniſters of § 3 Chriſt ought to have an immediate Call, ſuch as conſiſts in grace, and gifts, and diſpoſition to that worthy Office and Imployment; and ſuch as have not this immediate Call, we account unworthy of the thing and name: but the Quakers pretended immediate Call, is far from the Apoſtles, as I have proved at large on the point of Inſpirations, neither are the Miniſters of Chriſt now, Apoſtles, as they were. But if we call for the Quakers proof of their immediate Call, hear what Farnworth ſaith: As for pretences, Farnworth againſt Stalham, p. 22.we do not pretend that we are immediately call'd, but we witneſs that we are. And what is their Witneſs? their own fancy, and their own ſay-ſo; and we witneſs, that ſuch Witneſſes will carry the Cauſe no where but in the fools Court, who the wiſe man ſaith, believeth every word.
And G. Fox's proof is as much to the purpoſe, not § 4 of man, the call of the Apoſtle, while we pretend not to be Apoſtles. And bid others look at Jeſus the Author of their Faith; as if that Text intended a a Faith that they were called to be Apoſtles, which ſpeaks of the faith of all believers, who received it by the mediate Miniſtry of the Goſpel. For being moved by the Holy Ghoſt, which is by them made an Eſſential mark of a true Miniſter, we allow; but yet affirm, That thoſe who are moved by the Commands of the Spirit in the Scripture, are moved by the Holy Ghoſt, eſpecially when the Authority of God therein prevails with them.
As for having no certain dwelling place, and leaving § 5 houſes, lands, and poſſeſſions, let them repair to William Pen, and others of their Miniſters, for an Anſwer to it, who have large poſſeſſions, and brave habitations, ſuch as few Miniſters▪ whom they diſclaim (eſpecially the poor Non-Conformiſts) enjoy, and will not ſo eaſily (as Pen's phraſe is) be fohb'd out of them, as they fob others out of the truth of the Goſpel.
But indeed will you deny that the Elders that were… 6. ordained in every City by the appointment of Paul, T… …. ….and by the hand of Titus, had any mediate Call? or thoſe ſpoken of, Acts 14. 23 And when they had ordained Acts 14. …3them Elders in every Church, and had: prayed with faſting, they commended them to the Lord on whom they believed. If you will not believe theſe had a mediate Call, I deſpair of your believing any thing but what you liſt.
Another ground of their denying our Miniſtry is, SECT. IV that they teach from the Scripture. And the Word is immediate, and all the Miniſters of Chriſt preach the Fox myſtery, … c. p 44.immediate Word, and wait for it, and the outward written words with ink and paper are mediate: So then, the written Word being preached from, makes a man no Miniſter. And of this ſort are they that have their W. D p. 30.preaching to ſtudy, and to ſeek at other mens mouths, or from the letter, but have it not from the mouth of the Lord. If the Scripture be not the mouth of the Lord, there is no ſuch thing as Gods mouth. And here is the difference of the Miniſters of the World, and the Parnel's Shield of the Truth. p. 17.Miniſters of Chriſt,—the one of the Letter, the other of the Spirit.—For they are meer Deceivers and Witches, bewitch people from the truth, holding forth the ſhadow for the ſubſtance, and what is the Chaff to the Wheat?
Here is not a bare denial of thoſe to be Chriſts Miniſters, § 2 who preach the Word of God out of the Scriptures, but charging them with Witchcraft; and what are the inſtruments of their Witchcraft, but the holy Scriptures? moſt horrid doctrined and yet theſe wretches will tell you, they honour the Scriptures, and a Scripture Miniſtry. But this is not all, the tide riſes yet higher. And ſo he [the Devil] takes Scripture to maintain his kingdom, and this he delivers by the mouth of Miniſters, which he fonds abroad to deceive the Nations, leading people in blindneſs, &c. Theſe words are plain, and no parable; therefore I leave you to behold, without a glaſs, the vileneſs of theſe miſleaders.
I have already proved, that not only we ought, § 3 but Chriſt and his Apoſtles did teach out of the Scriptures; therefore (by the Quakers account) they were alſo as bad as they charge us to be, witches, and deceivers, &c. O but there is another inditement againſt us, we are not infallible. How can ye be Fox Myſtery, &c. p. 72.Miniſters of the Spirit, and not of the Letter, if ye not infallible? There is none but God alone abſolutely infallibly. And for certainty of what we teach, we dare weigh with the Quakers at any time. But ſure I am, that I never met with one of their Teachers yet, in Writing or otherwiſe, but I found him more than fallible, even fooliſh, contradicting the Spirit of God ſpeaking by the Scripture, contrary to the cleareſt reaſon, and themſelves alſo.
But more than all this, We are Hirelings, preach § 4 for Hire, and take Hire for preaching. And a main queſtion for a ſcrutiny into the truth of our Miniſtry is, Whether is your Goſpel free, and without Charge; yea Fruits of a Faſt. p. 21.or nay? This is the nail they find will drive: People love a Cheap Goſpel, they that will ſell them ſuch a one ſhall buy their ſouls into the bargain, and vaſſalize their underſtandings to their moſt corrupt dictates.
To preach for Hire we call a Vile iniquity, to § 5 receive Hire for preaching we dare not condemn: becauſe Chriſt hath ſaid, The labourer is worthy of his 10 Luke. 7. 2 Cor. 11 8.hire. And the Apoſtle ſaid, He took wages of other Churches to ſerve them [the Corinthians;] It is ordained, 1 Cor 9. 14.that they that preach the Goſpel, ſhould live of the Goſpel. And ſo hath the Lord ordained. So that a Miniſters maintenance for preaching the Goſpel, is Gods Ordinance. The Apoſtle exhorts Timothy, To give himſelfe to the work of the Miniſtry, as it is the duty of every one-ordinarily imployed therein. And is God and Chriſt a hard Maſter, to oblige his Miniſters to give up themſelves to that work, and let them and theirs ſtarve for it?
But moreover, you may know (if you pleaſe) that there are thouſands this day in England, who § 6 preach the Goſpel in poverty and diſtreſſes, and cleave to their work when ſtripped of their wages; which number there needs not one Quaker to make up; yet take heed you commend them not for it.
Another objection is, we ſtudy for our Sermons. § 7 What is ſtudy but meditation, and ſearching to underſtand the truth, and to get it into our heads and hearts? if this be a ſin, obedience to God is ſo. And the Apoſtle bids Timothy (who had excellent2 Tim. 2. 15 gifts, and was brought up from a child in the holy Scripture) ſtudy to ſhew thy ſelf approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be aſhamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth. Then it ſeems it is no idle task to preach like a workman, and divide the Word of truth aright, and that we may be approved to God, and free from ſhame among men, we muſt ſtudy.
But that which turns us all off hand-ſmooth is, SECT. V That till we are taught by the light within immediately, we cannot ſpeak one word of truth, but all lyes, though the matter we deliver be the higheſt truth. And all be in the Satanical deluſions, Fox great myſtery, p. 5. p. 62.that be not in the immediate teachings from the Spirit. But the greateſt profeſſors upon the earth are there of the Devil, that ſpeaketh the words of truth, but not as they are in it; as ſo ſaith Chriſt to the Jewes, they were of their Father the Devil, they ſpeak of themſelves—they ſpeak of themſelves as the Devil doth, but abide not in the truth, but a lyar from the beginning. The Devil ſpeaks a lye from himſelf, that is a truth, for no body need teach the Devil to lye. But how will it follow, that whatever any man ſpeaks of himſelf is a lye? then it ſeems for a man to be firſt in telling any thing, true or falſe, 'tis a lye, whereas we uſe moſt to ſuſpect the truth of that which comes by a ſecond, or third hand, or more: but the concluſion is, what we have not by immediate inſpiration, and teach it, we ſpeak it of our ſelves, and therefore are devilliſh lyars. § 2
The learned Fiſher will help the Fox at a deadVelata quaedam revelata, p. 7. Jer. 5. 2. lift, and piece his tale. And to ſuch wiſe ſayers and knowers as theſe—God ſaith, though ye ſay God lives, yet as I live ye ſwear falſly; and why falſly? was not that a truth that God lives? but not a truth truly teſtified unto by them (… any more than what is teſtified in foro hominum, in mens Courts, by ſuch as being not eye witneſſes thereof, have it only by hear-ſay from others) becauſe they witneſſed to it but in ſtoln words.
Here is then the proof, that we ſpeak more than we know; and therefore lye. This is indeed pretty near a lye; but that they who live in the light of the Creation, and read, and believe, and know the Scripture to be the Word, or the Words of God, and affirming no nicer a truth, than that God liveth, ſhould lye; becauſe they know it not by immediate Inſpiration, is very ſtrange: He that lives, may know from thence that God lives, who holdeth every ſoul in life that lives.
But the meaning of the Text may be (and I will truſt the ſober Readers judgment to decide it betwixt us) that they did not believe the Lord lived, and ſwearing what they thought untrue, or doubted of, they therein ſwear falſly, or that they dared to ſwear to a falſhood, and yet abuſe the Name and Ordinance of God to confirm it. But I deſire thoſe who give credit to ſuch Teachers as infallible, and inſpired immediately from God, to try by the inſtance I am now upon, whether we are not likely to ſpeak more rightly concerning God from the Scripture, than their Teachers without book? In the Quotation of this Text, Fiſher hath falſified (beſide his Expoſition) in three plain caſes, for they ſay, he writes ye ſay, for the Lord lives, God lives; there is both taking away a word, and changing another, and makes God ſwear too, where there is not a word or tittle of it in the Text, and ſo adds to the Word of the Lord theſe words, yet as I live. This is ordinary from theſe inſpired Teachers, and to tell us God ſaith ſo, leſt we ſhould take them to be his own words, adds to the boldneſs of the perverting the Scripture. I could write a Catalogue of a thouſand ſuch faults in the Quakers citing of Scripture, ſome adding, ſome leaving a word or two out through careleſneſs, or wilfulneſs. I have, from what is here evident, reaſon to ſay to you, as the Apoſtle to the Galatians, O fooliſh [Quakers] who hath bewitched you? CertainlyGal 3 1. it muſt be a ſtrong deluſion that thus blinds you; He feedeth on aſhes, a deceived heart hath turned him aſide, Iſa. 44. 20.that he cannot deliver his ſoul, nor ſay, is there not a lye in my right hand?
The next Ordinance I ſhall prove them to deny is, a Goſpel-Church. And the Church ſo gathered into Naylor love to the loſt. p. 17.God, is the Pillar and ground of truth, where the Spirit alone is Teacher. The Goſpel-Church is a Church which hath other Teachers, and not the Spirit alone; but ſuch a Church is not James Naylor's, nor the Quakers. The Church wherein the Apoſtles were, ſure had ſome Teachers beſide the Spirit; whereas the Apoſtles gave themſelves to preaching of the Word. And Elders were ordained in every (particular)Acts 14. 23 1 Cor. 4. 17. 1 Cor 12. 28. 1 Pet. 5. 2. Church. As I teach in every Church. God hath ſet ſome in the Church, firſt Apoſtles, ſecondly Prophets, thirdly Teachers. The Elders are exhorted to feed the Flock of Chriſt which is among you.
Prieſt (that is the Miniſter) he brings in, ſaying, § 2 We utterly deny all their ways and doctrines, who exclude Fox great myſtery. p. 32.all teachings of man. Anſw. Contrary to the Prophets, who bid people ceaſe from man, whoſe breath was in their noſtrils; a Text hugely to the purpoſe. But moſt will conclude, that theſe Authors do not ſpeak the minds of the Quakers, for that they have more Teachers than all others. Men-Miniſters, Women-Miniſters, and any one of them, when there is a motion to it.
It is confeſſed, that in point of fact it is ſo; but it § 3 is a moſt palpable contradiction to their profeſſed Principle. I ſhould be glad to hear they were more true to it, that the Light within might be their only Teacher, and they would let others alone, till that turned them Quakers. But Satan is cunning, and can give a diſpenſation, where it may ſerve ſo greatly to the promoting of his Kingdom. Sometimes they have ſilent meetings, as is known to moſt; then they ſay they attend to the Teacher within, which is ſufficient, and by which they find more comfort often, than when there is ſpeaking.
But at a Meeting, not far from my dwelling, there § 4 was the ſtrangeſt Teaching that, I believe, was ever heard of among pretended Reformers; and I had it from a man of note among them, who was one of the Meeting. There declared, not a man, but a woman, (that's ordinary) not an Engliſh woman, but a Dutch woman, (that is not ſo frequent) not in Engliſh, but in Dutch, this was orderly, according to the Popiſh Maſs, and prayers in an unknown tongue to the people. But the ſtrangeſt thing of all was, he told me, that although not one of them underſtood Dutch, nor could the Dutch woman interpret into Engliſh (at leaſt ſhe did not) they knew ſhe ſpake by the Spirit. I asked him how? He told me, becauſe they all found refreſhings. So have children many a time at Puppet-plays. What a paſs are theſe people come to, who yet deny all Teachings by man?
But that you may not doubt the truth of the ſtory, § 5 there being a Diſpute (or ſomewhat ſo called by ſome) between me, and George Whitehead, the Quakers Champion, I did before all the Audience charge them with this thing, my Informer a Quaker being there, and many more Quakers who were at that Meeting: but none dared to deny one word of the Charge, only George Whitehead ſaid, it may be there was ſome body there that underſtood Dutch.
But what have they to ſay, think you, to this contradiction of their Principles in Teaching? Why, it is not they, but the Man Chriſt, or the Light, or the Spirit that teaches; and if ſuch light replies will not ſerve turn, you may go ſomewhere elſe to be ſatisfied for them. But beyond all contradiction, if the Churches, and Churches mentioned, and owned in the New Teſtament, be Goſpel Churches, the Quakers deny a Goſpel Church; for all of them had men who taught them, at leaſt they did not deny any ſuch helps.
But we will produce a teſtimony or two more, to ſee § 7 if we can make a further diſcovery. For the Church Parnel Shield of the truth, p. 34.is but one, and the Temple of God we own, which is at new Jeruſalem, the City of the living God. I have read of the Church at Jeruſalem, before it was deſtroyed by the Romans, and of the Churches at Corinth, in Theſſalonica; Epheſus; and many places more. And I have read of the Church called Jeruſalem, which is above, and the City of the living God; but never yet of the Church which is at new Jeruſalem: this is none of the Churches the Apoſtles ever built, or ſet in order. But let it paſs as a rumour till farther confirmation. § 8
The holy Ghoſt made the Officers of the Church Overſe…rs Great myſtery. &c. p 8.—the Overſeers to be inviſible, for they ſaw with an inviſible eye, and ſo they was in the Spirit, which is inviſible, and not in the fleſh, Strange Officers to as ſtrange a Church.
Queſt. Which is the fold of the ſheep? Anſw. The Iſaac Penningtons Queſtions, p. 49.wiſdom, life, and power of the Father, even the ſame that is the ſhepherd.
Object. Is not the Church the fold? Anſw. This in the Church, or the Church in this, is the fold; but not out of this.
Seeing this is the beſt account we can get, I muſt § 9 repair to William Smith, who telleth us, That all we do according to Scripture patterns, is but building of Babylon, and that I am ſure is not Zi…n: and this is the ſcope of many pages in his Morning Watch. Morning watch.But I have proved them to deny all forms and viſible things in Religion and worſhip, upon the general head; but the Goſpel-Church is a form. In whom all the building is fitly framed. I am ſure that is a ſtrangeEph 2. 21. building without any form; but to be framed and and formed is one and the ſame thing with being put into a form. For though I be abſent in the fleſh, Col. 2. 5, 19.yet am I with you in the Spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the ſtedfaſtneſs of your faith in Chriſt. And not holding the head, from which (not in which only) all the body by joints and bands having nouriſhment miniſtred and knit together, increaſeth with the increaſe of God.
So that a Goſpel-Church is a number (for foreign is a name of many gathered together) united according to Chriſts from, firſt to him, then one to another, for mutual edification in the things of God. But this the Quakers utterly deny.