The Weapons of Quakerism the Weakness of Quakerism, To the reader
To the Judicious READER.
THou will perhaps say, that this Treatise is but an Illade after Homer, or a thirteenth Enclo; So much already to so good purpose being written on this Subject: I therefore hold my self obliged to answer this Objection, by rendring thee an account of the Reasons that moved me to this undertaking; which were, the dangerousness of, though but the least infection, by this deadly Disease. The Proximity, or nearness of the Contagion. The wonderful readiness of its Patrons to broach Books, and Papers, bearing the Names of Answers of whatsoever is said, or written in opposition to it. That Quakerism is most dangerous, and the embracing thereof, of a lamentable and dreadful Consequence; none that seriously compare its Principles with those of Christianity, can be ignorant. I say, that compareth seriously, for others who have their Eye only, ad verum corricem; taking an overly view of the outside of things, may perhaps judge this difference not so great, and the Consequence of the Reception of Quakerism not so dismal. And apprehend that the worst things of Quakerism are only some ridiculous Stoicisms, and antick Toys, which, notwithstanding requite all the want of Civility, and good manners with sport and laughter, which thereby accreweth to the beholders. But by this their sloth, and neglect to compare the Doctrine of this Party with the Scriptures, they render themselves more capable to swallow down their poisoned wills, and eat out of the Pot filled with nothing but death. For as Ignoti Nulla Cupido, as a man cannot greatly love that which he knoweth not, though it be good, so neither can he sufficiently hate it, be it never so evil. Indeed their carelesness, and negligence meriteth no less. For certain it is, that bitter is no more contrary to sweet, darkness to light, than the Doctrine of Quakers is to that of Christ; being no other thing but a hodge-podge of the damnable Heresies, with which Christianity hath been from its infancy assaulted, and wrested, with to so good success, that few, though otherwise most audacious, have ventured to Patronise them, under their proper names, and genuine colours; but only under a mask and vizard, and new names and titles; all which are to be found in their Doctrine mixed, and compounded together, as if the Enemy of Mankind, mindful of that common saying, Ut quod non Possunt, singula juncta valent, had Collected in one body, all his broken and foiled Troup…: having somewhat changed his manner of Order, and Marshalling thereof, with which he may make the last one fall.
The truth of this could easily be evinced, were this a place convenient, and the Sequel will afford many instances, by which the Reader may judge of the rest. Moreover, supposing that Quakerism were far less noxious than it is, seing in every corner of the Land, there be many of its Defenders swarming among all people, it cannot be judged unnecessary to give an Antidot against it, more than to write Rules against any infectious D…sease, raging in a Land. Even although many things of this kind were already extant; especially seing these Papers, with which I present thee, are both without Prolixity, and also discover some things of great concernment, which, for any thing I know, were never so fully, or directly handled by any others, which, I hope, may in part justifie my undertaking. But the thing most moving me to trouble the World with any Treatise of this kind, was, that no sooner did any Piece in opposition to Quakerism, see the light, but presently there came forth another, bearing the name of a Refutation thereof. At this I did not a litle wonder; for after a most impartial, and serious weighing of their Principles, in the ballance of the Sanctuary, I found them (to say no more) directly opposite to the holy Scriptures. I therefore, with all seriousness, perused severals of the most elaboured Pieces, which had not been as yet answered; comparing them with these, against whom they wrote. After all which, my thoughts were quite altered; for I left off to admire their promptitude of answering, and fell to wonder at their impudence, seing in every point, they in stead of Confuting, Confirm what their Adversaries say against them. In short, all the best of their answers, are either a quite omission, and passing by the substance of what is brought for the overthrow of their Doctrine, or at best meer shifts, or else a most audacious asserting of these things In Ter…o…s, which are s…fficient in the estimat of all Christians, to render the Maintainers thereof more abominable than worst of Pagans, though they were but only inferred by a long threed of consequences, which the Eternity of Christs Manhood, and the Souls being a pa…t of God, no less loudlie than impiouslie asserted by them, sufficiently witness. These, I say, they either directly maintain▪ even in their last peices, or else can never be brought to disown them. Of which dealing, the Sequel will give diverse undeniable instances, which indeed is the main Scope of this discourse. Among these Authors, I bestowed most thoughts upon Robert Barclay His Vindication of his Apology, which I found made up of untruths, perversions▪ false suppositions. As for example, to Vindicat and urge most of the places of Scripture brought in His Apologie; as the foundation of his Doctrine, he supposeth that from the same texts his Adversarie inferred our contrary doctrine, and thinketh it sufficient to desi…e his Adversary to prove our Doctrine from these places. These are the proper Elements of this Composition, but to make up a fourth, he knowing that by all men the Quakers were accused of ma…chless rayling, taketh the Start, and filleth no small pa… of his book, accusing His Adversarie, as an unparalelled railer: The ground of which accusation is, that his adversarie, as occasion serveth, telleth his Reader, that the Quakers, and this Apologist, among the rest, were no less grosse and abominable than Arrians, Socinians, Pelagians, Papists, Libertins, Anabaptists, and the like. His Symbolizing with which he adventureth not to deny: Which although at other times he doth, yet groundleslie, as these Papers will in part, and more fullie, an entire Colation of Quakerism with the Principles of these Sects, will demonstrate to any, who hath but the least Spunk of ingenuity, and Candour. I forbear to say, although I could, that our Vindicator is no novice in the very Crime, of which he so oft accuseth his adversarie. However the matter be, he might have forborn his accusations of that which he knew his Brethren, to be of all Men most guilty, which, not to mention others, Burroughs answer to Bennets queries, and Hub…erthorns reply to Sherlok, evidently witness, Quis tulerit Grachos de sedi…one querentes. The like I say of Geo: Keith in his book, intituled, Truth defended (evil enough, I am sure) For in it he never speaketh to the purpose, or toucheth what His Adversarie Mr. John Alexander had said, or else marreth in stead of mending the matter: for others, I forbear to speak of them, these mentioned being the most learned of their Authors. Neither can I expect any better dealing, than these and the like have met with, and altho they, as some of them have begun to do al…eady, upbraid me with the infirmity in which divine Providence hath stated me, they will instead of doing their business hereby, only shew to the World, that they have been too docil of a bad Lesson, taught them by the Phari…ees long ago. John. 9. Neither do I intend at present to trouble my self and others, with whatsoever they shall give under the name of an answer, seing the badness of their cause will not permit them to give any better, than What they have given to others: In which, they have been so unhappie, that one would have thought, that they of purpose verified that saying of the Poet, Causa patrocinlo non bona major erit. And although they say, that this is only but a shift to save me the labour of a reply. I value it not, but appeal to all the Reformers. Confessions of Faith, yea and all the Reformed Churches, as sufficient …mpires in the case. Yea and in many points to all Christians of whatsoever profession, except the Socinlans, who retain nothing of Christian Doctrine, but only arrogat to themselves the name. Neither let them say with Rob: Bar: Vind: Sect: 6▪ That our Doctrine is contrary to that of some of the reformed Churches, in most weightie points, as for example Election, and Reprobation and the like; because in these we oppose the Modern Lutherians, seing (as Wendelin in his Exercitations, and in special Exerc. 16, 17, 18. Hath fully evicted) the Modern Lutherians are altogether opposit in these points to the ancient Lutherans, such as Herbrandus, Hesnusius, Brentius, and most of all Luther Himself: And therefore are so far as touching these points, from deserving the name of Reformed, that they ought to be accounted their capital adversaries. But not to prefix a long preamble to a short discourse: In a word, I say, that as the Doctrine of Quakers is a heap of Non such Bl…sphemies▪ so their defences are mera foreign, Subtertuges so naked and sillie, that one would admire, how any rational man could satisfie himself with them, but
Qui bibit inde, furit, procul hinc discedite, queis est
Cura bonae mentis, qui bibit inde, furit.
He straight runs mad who drinks hereof,
Flee hence, who ever had
A Love unto your precious Souls,
who drinks hereof runs mad.
Touch not, taste not, handle not the unclean things. For which end I present thee with these Sheets, of which that thou may reap profit, and advantage to thy Immortal Soul, standing in hazard from the infection of the Mortal disease of Quakerism, is▪ and shall be the earnest Prayer of thy Servant, to serve thee in the Lord.
William Jamison.