Antidote Against Quakerism, Letter
A LETTER ſent to G. W.
Beloved Friend.
TOuching one Query in the Diſputation, (whether if a man improve the Light within him, may he not be ſaved?) My Anſwer was, that if he improve it that is, make uſe of it in ſtudying the Scripture, and look up to God for a bleſſing, he may be ſaved, I judge it needful to acquaint you with my meaning how he may be ſaved. 'Tis this, God may (I do not ſay, certainly will, much leſs that be is bound, I diſown Pelagianiſme) ſo bleſs him, as to give him to ſee, embrace and endeavour to practice his whole mind revealed in the Scripture; that is, (to ſpeak with reference to you) to ſanctifie the Chriſtian Sabbath; ſeek juſtification by the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt imputed, repent if his ſinful nature, and ſinful motions of his heart; ſubmit to the Ordinances of Baptiſm and the Lords Supper, and in other things univerſally incline his heart to pleaſe him; thus may the Lord, through grace, ſave him. I was defective in the Diſputation, that I did not manifeſt this ſo weighty a matter. Yea, and that I did not manifeſt the Truth on the other ſide; which is this. For a Perſon to whom Scriptures are given, to practice no more then what the Light that is in every man doth dictate; rejecting the Scripture, as not obliging, in thoſe things that this Light doth not diſcover, is to fling away his own ſalvation.
Arg. 1. That Perſon that erres in the Doctrine of Juſtification by Chriſts Righteouſneſs only, and ſo ſets up ſomething elſe inſtead of this Righteouſneſs for juſtification, cannot poſſibly be ſaved, Gal. 5.4. But this Light that is in every man doth not dictate that juſtification is by Chriſts Righteouſneſs only.
Arg. 2. That Perſon that in many things lives and dies in allowed Rebellion againſt the mind and will of God revealed, cannot be ſaved. But having Scriptures, to practice no more then what the Light in every man doth dictate, is to live and dye in allowed rebellion againſt the mind and will of God revealed in many things.
1. This Light doth not dictate that the Chriſtian Sabbath is to be kept; but God in Scripture commands, Remember the Sabbath, that is, one day in ſeven, which the Lord ſhall chuſe; in Goſpel times, it is not the ſeventh from the creation: Let no man judge you for the Sabbath day, and if it muſt be one of the other ſix, which doth the Lord more clearly in Scripture point at, then the firſt day? To keep it holy, do no manner of work. To practice no more than what the Light that is in every man doth dictate, is as good as to ſay, I will not remember the Sabbath, I will work on that day.
2. This Light doth not dictate that Luſts, or firſt motions of ſinful principles, much leſs the principles themſelves are ſins, and ſo to be repented of; and that we are to fly to Chriſt blood for pardon, Rom. 7.7. But the Scripture ſends us to Chriſt for pardon for all ſin, calls to repent of all ſin; manifeſteth, that the firſt motion, to ſins are ſins, (thou ſhalt not covet.) That the Principles inclining hereunto are ſins: they are called ſin dwelling in us. To act no further then the Light that is in every man doth dictate is all one as to ſay, I will not repent of the firſt motions of my heart to ſin, nor of any ſinful principles in me; I will not fly to Chriſts blood for pardon for them.
3. This Light doth not dictate that Baptiſm by water is Gods will: But God in Scripture commands, Go Baptize. In what ſenſe, Philip, who could not be without the mind of Chriſt herein, may aſſure our Conſciences. Acts 8 36, 37. Look here is water. But to go no further then the Light that is in every man doth dictate, is as much as to ſay; doeſt thou Lord command, go Baptize? I will not baptize nor be baptized.
4. The Light that every man hath, doth not dictate that we ought to celebrate the Lords Supper; that is, to meet, to take bread, ſignifying the body of Chriſt by inſtitution, and give thanks, and break it, and give, and take, and eat in remembrance of Chriſt; to take Wine, and having bleſſed, give it, ſignifying Chriſts blood by inſtitution, and take, and drink to ſhew forth the Lords death. But the Scriptures manifeſt this in all particulars, clearly to be the mind and will of Chriſt, and to the ſanctified, 1 Cor. 1.2. God in the Scripture commands, 1 Cor. 11.24, 25. Take eat, do this. To practice no further then what the Light that is in every man doth dictate; is to ſay to a commanding God, I will not take, I will not eat. And this in theſe four particulars is Rebellion. Therefore that Perſon who having the Scriptures, will practice no more then what the Light that is in every man doth dictate, cannot be ſaved.
Have the commands of Chriſts no Authority over mens Conſciences? Or do his commands ceaſe to be his commands, for being written? Doth not Chriſt ſay, the word that I have ſpoken ſhall Judge you? Jo. 12.48. And is not he reſolved to take vengeance on them that obey not the Goſpel? 2 Theſ. 1.7.8. Truly theſe words, Repent, Believe, Baptize, Do this: Yea, and now (by reduction) Remember the Sabbath, are, though written, not only the words of Chriſt, but they are Goſpel alſo. Woe, Woe to thoſe Perſons at the day of Judgement, that are then found to have lived and dyed in Rebellion againſt Chriſts commands by theſe words. Theſe words ſhall Judge them, and for diſobeying the Goſpel, Chriſt will take vengeance on them. To conclude, blame was laid on Iſrael, that of a long time they had not kept the Paſſeover as it was written, 2 Chron. 30.5. But in Nehemiahs time, the People of God finding it written that they ſhould keep the feaſt of Tabernacles; on this motive, obeyed, Neh. 8.14. And tis ſaid, v. 17. There was great gladneſs. They were aſſured they pleaſed God in ſo doing. And the mother of our Lord was careful after the daies of her Purification to offer a ſacrifice, as it was written. Knowing it was written ſhe knew ſhe was bound, and heartily obeyed. Theſe inſtances are in things, the Light in all men doth not dictate, as it doth not dictate Juſtification by Chriſts Righteouſneſs, Repentance and Faith in Chriſts blood for pardon of ſinful motions of the heart, and ſinful Principles; the obſervation of the Chriſtian Sabbath, Baptiſm, and the Supper. The former things inſtanced, the Scriptures declare aboliſhed: Theſe the Scriptures no where reveal, they are aboliſhed. The God of all grace then, open your underſtanding to ſee your duty, and obey fully and not by halves; that following God fully with Caleb and Joſhua, you may be accepted of the Lord.
Your Truly well-wiſher in Chriſt Jeſus, St. Scandrett.
Thus it appears the words I delivered in the Diſpute, taken in a right ſenſe, are no way in themſelves derogatory to the Truth of God. I am willing to hear defective, becauſe I did not fully explain my words in the diſpute. But I cannot but complain of diſingenuity and falſeneſs, when I ſee p 4. They have given out that I ſhould ſay, (This Light within might, through the bleſſing of God, with a good improvement, ſave them that have not the Scriptures.) By what I have written, it is clearly otherwiſe.
Queſt. I deſire to anſwer one Query more, to give full ſatisfaction touching inward Light. 'Tis this, Is not the immediate teaching of the Spirit the higheſt and ſafeſt Rule to heaven? Is it not ſafer to walk by the immediate teachings of the Spirit in our hearts, than by the teaching of the Spirit in the Scripture? and to entertain the ſpirits teachings in the Scripture no further then they agree with theſe, than to entertain theſe no further than they agree with the Spirits teachings in the Scripture? This Query is weighty. And indeed the whole Controverſie ſtated anew. I muſt be large in the ſolution of it. Firſt, Therefore I ſhall open the Terms, then lay down my Anſwers.
1. Let us remember, nothing is a Rule to heaven but it Reveals Law and Goſpel, our whole Duty.
2. Let us underſtand the ways of the Spirits teaching.
1. He teacheth us Phyſically, by enlightning our minds. Thus Gods Spirit ſo aſſures our hearts that Jeſus is Chriſt, that there is no need in the leaſt we ſhould enquire of men the truth of it, 1 John 2.27. The Anointing which ye have received, abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you. John was confident Seducers ſhould never be able to perſwade them that Jeſus was not the Chriſt. Hence alſo Paul could curſe an Angel that ſhould preach any other Goſpel than what he had delivered. This Teaching is no Rule at all, but an help to ſee the Rule.
2. He teaches us Morally or Objectively, propounding or ſetting before us Gods Mind or Will to embrace and walk by, 1 John 14.26. The Comforter ſhall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance whatſoever I have ſaid unto you. Theſe Teachings (which take in the things taught) are a Rule; for we muſt walk according to them. And of this way of the Spirits Teaching, muſt we underſtand the Queſtion.
3. Let us be informed what is the immediate teaching of the Spirit. There is a Mediate, which is done by Means; by the Scriptures, as in the laſt mentioned. The Spirit brings theſe to remembrance, and thus we hear a word behind us, ſaying, this is the way, walk in it, when we turn to the right hand or to the left, Iſa. 30.21. By the Miniſtry: Thus the Spirit of Chriſt in the Prophets, 1 Pet. 1.11. Teſtified to the Church beforehand the ſufferings of Chriſt. And by other means; even by the works of Creation, and the Light in every man, propounding the Creation to be conſidered, he helps us to conclude a God; thence, that he is to be worſhipped, &c. I ſay, Gods Spirit by theſe teacheth us; for in him we live, move, and have our being; without his help the world could not come into conſideration; without his help no ſuch Concluſion could appear hence deducible. By the uſe of Reaſon the Spirit teaceth the Heathen Moral Duties.
The immediate teaching of Gods Spirit muſt be that which is done without means. Thus God neither by Adams Reaſon, nor any Scripture, nor by the works of Creation; but immediately, by himſelf, taught him that he muſt abſtain from the Tree of Knowledge: And after his Fall, that the Seed of the Woman ſhould break the Serpents head. And afterwards enjoyned Circumciſion to Abraham, the Ceremonial Law to Moſes, ſpeaking to him face to face. Immediately by himſelf did he inſpire into the Penmen of the Scripture what they were to write, thereby to diſcover to his people what he would have them to do. When he put Propheſies into the mouths of his Prophets, ſending them with Denunciations againſt any; as the young Prophet againſt Jeroboam, Jonah againſt Nineveh; when he taught Paul the Goſpel by Revelation, all was by his immediate teaching.
The Terms opened, I ſhall now lay down what I judge the Truth touching this Point, in twelve Anſwers.
Anſw. He who is immediately taught of God, his whole Duty, hath higher honour, than he that is taught it by the Scriptures.
Anſw. 2. He that walks by the immediate teachings of the Spirit, cannot poſſibly err in ſo doing. Gods Spirit is a Spirit of Truth. But,
Anſw. 3. I know but one man, of all who ever were in the world, unto whom, Gods immediate teachings were the higheſt and ſafeſt Rule to Heaven: This was Moſes. Before the Scripture was written, God did immediately reveal to him the Moral, Ceremonial, and Judicial Law: The Ceremonial Law was their Goſpel: Here Moſes had the full, the then only, the infallible, the trying, the binding Rule, by immediate Revelation delivered to him. Therefore I conclude, Gods immediate teachings were to Moſes the higheſt and the ſafeſt Rule to Heaven. But can any man ſhew a ſecond? Adam had in innocency immediate revelation; it was but part of his Rule, and ſo no Rule of it ſelf to heaven. Had Adam obeyed Gods immediate prohibition, and violated the Law of Nature written in his heart, he had not retained his Innocency: bare forbearing that fruit would not have brought him to heaven. When afterwards, Chriſt was immediately revealed, ſuppoſe he had believed in Chriſt, but wholly neglected that remnant of the Moral Law that ſtill was in his heart, would that Faith have ſaved him? Single out any of the Prophets, who had immediate revelation, as to particular things; did not the Book of the Law written by Moſes, bind them? even thoſe Commands which could not all certainly have any neceſſary and apparent connexion with what Truths God immediately inſpired into them; that they viewing only what was immediately taught them, might herein ſee, and hence conclude all their duty; as to have no need of any recourſe at all to any thing Moſes wrote, to help them to know and perform any part thereof? David was ſo read, though a Prophet, in the Scripture, and thence learned to fear God, Deut. 17.19.
Anſ. 4. It makes for our ſafety, to look up, earneſtly to pray, and uſe all means for the Illumination of Gods Spirit; that the eyes of our underſtanding being enlightned, we may know what is the hope of the Fathers Calling, and what the riches of the glory of his Inheritance in the Saints. Unto Believers God doth thus reveal that which Eye hath not ſeen, nor Ear heard, nor can enter into the heart of man to conceive. Hereby 'tis, they ſee Eye to Eye; that is, brightly; Faith being the Evidence of things not ſeen. They ſee the King in his Glory. And this he doth accompanying the Miniſtration of the everlaſting Goſpel, Luke 4.18. He hath ſent me, ſaith Chriſt, to preach recovering of ſight to the blind. The Goſpel therefore is called the Miniſtration of the Spirit. This we muſt attend upon, as Lydia did, that we might have our hearts opened; and may be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the Love of Chriſt which paſſeth knowledge. This we may hopefully watch for; God hath covenanted, I will put my Laws into their minds: and purpoſed, to deſtroy the face of covering caſt over all people.
A. 5. And for our furtherance in holineſs, let (me ſtep a little out) we are to look up for Gods gracious Spirit to ſanctifie, aſſiſt and comfort us. He is the Spirit of Faith and Love, as well as of a ſound mind The Spirit of Holineſs. And Gods Covenant is to put his Laws into our hearts as well as into our minds. This obtained, we ſhall be Veſſels meet for our Maſters uſe. God hath likewiſe covenaned to put his Spirit into the hearts of his people, to enable them to walk in his Statutes. Without him we can do nothing. But ſtrengthened with all might according to his glorious power, nothing ſhall be too hard for us. If God be for us, who can be againſt us? We ſhall be able to do all things through Chriſt ſtrengthening us. And hath not the Son of God promiſed to ſend the Spirit as a Comforter? Gods Spirit doth ſhed abroad Gods Love in the hearts of Believers; doth make known to them the things freely given them of God; doth witneſs with their Spirits that they are the Children of God; doth ſeal them. If we obtain the Spirit in this operation of his; though we had even never ſo much deſponding, ſhut up againſt all comfort and hope, we ſhould preſently find ſtrong Conſolation; for when he giveth quietneſs, who then can make trouble? As we ſtand in need of, ſo we may with good hope look up for Gods Spirit to ſanctifie, aſſiſt, comfort us.
A. 6. (To return again) When we are at a loſs at any time for Gods will and the way we ſhould walk in, we may very ſafely look up for the Mediate Objective Teachings of Gods Spirit, to be directed. As heretofore, when Gods people wanted direction in a particular caſe, they enquired of God, (as in the caſe of going to War, or the like) God did immediately ſhew them his will; ſo now have Gods people good grounds to believe that God will mediately teach them, and reſolve all their doubts in neceſſary things, if they heartily ſeek it of him. Chriſt hath ſaid, The Spirit ſhall bring to your remembrance, Acts 15. Gods Church was troubled with a doubt neceſſary to be determined [Whether the Gentiles muſt be circumciſed?] Peter brings an Argument from experience, to prove, they need not. James minds his Argument, v. 14. Simeon hath declared how God at the firſt did viſit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his Name. And to this, ſaith he, agree the words of the Prophet. Who brought this to his mind? Here we ſee it fulfilled▪ that the Spirit brings ſutable Scriptures to remembrance to teach Gods people in doubtful caſes. This is the mediate objective Teaching of the Spirit.
A. 7. But what warrant have all men, nay, Gods people now, to expect a Revelation of all Truths neceſſary to ſalvation, by the immediate objective teachings of Gods Spirit? It is not for us to expect and promiſe our ſelves or others this, if the Lord hath no where promiſed it. Can it be proved, when Chriſt ſaith, The Spirit ſhall lead you into all truth, that this is to be underſtood without means? without the Scripture? When God ſaith, They ſhall teach no more every man his Neighbour, and every man his Brother, ſaying, know the Lord; for they ſhall all know me: The ſenſe is, they ſhall not teach as the unconverted are to be taught, who believe not, who have no ſaving knowledge of God at all: So they who have received the anointing, need not, as doubting and unbelieving perſons, that any teach them that Jeſus is the Chriſt. Can it be proved that the words are to be underſtood in that ſenſe, as to exclude the Miniſtry from edifying the Body of Chriſt till we all come in the unity of the Faith? This Aſſertion, That God is pleaſed objectively and immediately by his Spirit to reveal to all men, or to his own people at leaſt, all Truths, and all Duty neceſſary to Salvation, ſo that they need not mind the Scripture; but only wait for theſe immediate objective Teachings: is the Wile of Satan, whereby evil men take people off from what they acknowledge the full and the only Rule, to lead them into a thouſand Errours. I prove it an Errour by theſe Arguments following:
Arg. 1. God hath promiſed, that in order to his peoples inſtruction in matters neceſſary to Salvation, his Word ſhall concur with his Spirit to the end of the world. Therefore 'tis not his pleaſure to teach his people theſe neceſſary Truths immediately, or without the word; much leſs to teach all men. The promiſe we have, Iſa. 59.21. As for me, this is my Covenant with them, ſaith the Lord, my Spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, ſhall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy Seed, nor out of the mouth of thy Seeds Seed, ſaith the Lord, from henceforth and for ever.
Arg. 2. God never, from the beginning of the world to the Apoſtles days, ſo taught his Church; much leſs all men: Therefore 'tis without reaſon, to imagine, he doth ſo now. Not in Innocency; for the Moral Law he taught Adam by that Light he was created with; which Moral Law contained neceſſary Truths to his Salvation. In Moſes's days, though he himſelf was ſo taught, yet none elſe; the Church was taught mediately by Moſes his Miniſtry. In the Apoſtles days, the Church was taught by their Miniſtry. The Apoſtles themſelves had immediate Revelation; the Prophets alſo: but, 1 Cor. 12.29. Are all Apoſtles? Are all Prophets?
Arg. 3. Excepting Moſes, there cannot a man be ſhewn, to whom God by immediate Revelation diſcovered all Duties neceſſary to Salvation: Paul might ſeem the moſt likely; but though the Goſpel was ſo manifeſted to him, yet not the Law; this was partly by the Law of Nature, partly by the conſideration of the works of Creation, eſpecially by the Scriptures. How fond is the Conceit then, that the whole Church ſhould now be ſo taught?
Arg. 4. Had it been Gods purpoſe in Goſpel times, to teach all men; nay, to teach his whole Church immediately all their Duty; then would he not have provided for this end, Scriptures; inſpiring his word into Holy men, and moving them to write it, and enduing them with the Spirit of Propheſie, and the Spirit of Miracles, to render them credible; that without heſitancy his Church might embrace the word wrote by them, for the undoubted Truth of God.
Had this been Gods pleaſure, he would not have appointed a Miniſtry, and that to continue to the end of the world; for this very end to inſtruct his Church in thoſe Truths that are neceſſary to Salvation. Go, preach, ſaith Chriſt, I am with you always, to the end of the world. And he gave ſome Apoſtles, ſome Paſtors and Teachers for the work of the Miniſtry, for the edifying of the Body of Chriſt, till we all come into the unity of Faith. Did God provide Scripture, and appoint Miniſters, with an intent not to uſe them? but to do all immediately by his Spirit, without them? When God gives Means, he doth not ordinarily work without means, but by them. It is worth obſervation, where the Scripture and Miniſtry are vouchſafed, the Heathen attain only to know Moral Duties; nothing of Chriſt. Is it not becauſe God concurs to teach them, with the means they have, the Law of Nature; but doth not ſupply the want of means, they have not, to teach them immediately Jeſus Chriſt? Where therefore he hath given Scriptures and the Miniſtry, he doth not ordinarily teach without them. Men may as well expect God ſhould ordinarily preſerve life and ſtrength without Bread.
Arg. 5. Immediate teachings were extraordinary things: Therefore not to be expected by all men; nor ordinarily, and for continuance, by the Church. Look on them in Abraham, in Moſes, in Samuel, or any of the Prophets, they were extraordinary. Thoſe perſons choſen above any for God thus to reveal himſelf to: The Revelation at certain times only, 1 Sam. 3. The Lord called Samuel, and to him denounced Judgment upon Elies Houſe. It was ſo extraordinary, that all Iſrael, v. 20. from Dan to Beerſheba, took notice of it, and hereby knew that Samuel was eſtabliſhed a Prophet of the Lord. And v. 21. It is ſaid, God appeared to him again in Shiloh. This was no ordinary thing. Daniel's and Ezekiel's Viſions no ordinary things; nor were Joſeph's, and Nebuchadnezzar's, and Pharaoh's Dreams, nor John's Revelation. Every one, nay, every Believer muſt not look that the Sun ſhould ſtand ſtill at his Prayers, or the Sea be driven back for him. This were to confound ordinary with extraordinary.
Arg. 6. He that is by the Spirit immediately taught the Goſpel, can ſay, I received it not of man, neither was I taught it, but by Revelation of the Holy Ghoſt. But every Believer cannot ſay ſo: Therefore every Believer is not immediately taught the Goſpel.
Arg. 7. If immediate teaching be a ſufficient Rule to Heaven, then Believers need not hear the Word, or read the Scriptures: But God commanding Believers (Be ſwift to hear, Remember the Law of Moſes my Servant. Ʋnto the word of Propheſie ye do well to attend. Thou ſhalt read, Deut. 17.10.) puts them not upon a needleſs duty.
Arg. 8. If every Believer hath immediate teachings, then every one of them can write Gods mind as infallibly as the Pen-men of the Scripture. Then every believer may add to the Scripture, and enlarge the Churches Canon. Whereas, Heb. 1.1. God did deliver the Churches Canon by parts, foreign, but now by his Son; which oppoſed to the former, diſcovers the whole Canon is by Chriſt delivered; no more parts, that may be added, are now to be expected.
Arg. 9 They that hold this, muſt either ſay, God immediately reveals the ſame Truth and Duty that are contained in the Scripture, or divers from theſe: If the ſame, this is to ſay, God doth that of which there is no need at all, becauſe 'tis done already: that he doth that in an extraordinary way, which he hath already done in an ordinary: He feeds Iſrael with Manna, after that they are furniſhed with the Corn of Canaan. If divers, this is to ſay, there is another way to heaven beſide that that is laid down in Scripture. But it is acknowledged, that Gods will laid down in Scripture is a full Rule, an only Rule.
Arg. 10. Satan caſts evil motions into us; the Spirits are to be tried; falſe Teachers to be convinced: Therefore 'tis falſe that we need not mind the Scripture, but only wait for immediate teachings. Having already proved Satans acceſs to believers, the Antecedent is clear. The Conſequent I thus make good.
1. If we cleave not to the Rule given, the Scripture, and try by it, 'tis eaſie for Satan to prevail with us to embrace his injections for good. If our firſt Parents, in a ſtate of perfection, and knowing it was the Devils Counſel, not holding to the Rule given, were prevailed upon; much more may we, who are not always ſo ſure 'tis Satan, when he is buſie with us, and who have not attained to Adams perfection.
2. Spirits cannot ſo well be tried, falſe Teachers cannot at all be convinced, by immediate teachings, as a Rule. By the Scripture they may. Two things in order hereunto, are to be examined; the Doctrine of the Spirits, and the Lives of the Teachers. Suppoſe then a Jew ſhould teach, the Meſſiah is not come pretending immediate Miſſion and Revelation for this: G. W. to convince him, tells him, 'tis a falſe Doctrine; for I am ſent and taught by the Spirit immediately, that he is come. The Jew laughs at him, and tells him he is deluded: G. hath no more to ſay. But when Apollos took the Jews to task, Acts 18.28. He mightily convinced them, and that publickly, ſhewing by the Scripture that Jeſus was Chriſt. Again, If a man walks naked in the Market-place, crying out againſt ſin, if another kills himſelf by Faſting; if a third gives himſelf up to commit Fornication; and all theſe pretend immediate Revelation their warrant, it is not ſufficient to their Conviction, for a man to tell them, I am immediately taught of God; that in you theſe are ſins. The other will deride, you fancy your ſelf ſo taught of God, but you know not the depths of the ſpirit as I do. I am a Propheteſs, ſaith Jezebel, Rev. 2.20. But Gods word written in the Scripture plainly condemning theſe things in all, convincingly ſhews them odious every where, and is enough to ſtop their mouthes that dare plead for their Lawfulneſs.
Arg. 11. I ſhall adde this. The ſpirit doth not immediately reveal the whole Bible to Believers; therefore, he doth not reveal immediately to them all their duty. For, 'tis their duty to believe all that is there taught, to practice all that is there commanded. The Scriptures a binding Rule to prove this. Thus it appears, immediate Revelation of our whole duty is not vouchſafed: therefore have we no warrant to expect it. To look for it is preſumption; to fancy we have it is to pride our ſelves in a Lye; and will cauſe to deſpiſe the Scripture.
Anſw. 8. To refuſe the teachings of Gods ſpirit in the Scripture unleſs ſo far as they agree with immediate teachings within, cannot be ſafe. It is to limit and tempt the Lord, to impoſe upon him; as ſaying, thou ſhalt immediately teach me firſt, or I will liſten to nothing in thy Scripture. According to this, an Heathen coming amongſt us and reading or hearing the Goſpel muſt not entertain it, becauſe it was never immediately taught him by the ſpirit. A Child muſt not obey any thing of the Scripture till it be firſt immediately taught him. But, If any ſhall take away from the words of the Book of this Propheſie, God ſhall take away his part out of the Book of Life, Rev. 22.19. Curſed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this Law to do them, Deut. 27.26. The Scriptures are binding.
Anſw. 9. It cannot but be very ſafe to attend unto, and obey the Teachings of Gods Spirit in the Scriptures. There is no inward Revelation can be more ſure. As to us, the Scriptures are a more ſure word of Prophecy, and unto it we do well to give heed. And Bleſſed is he that Readeth, Rev. 1.3. If through the aſſiſtance of Gods Spirit, with ſincerity, integrity, conſtancy a man walks according to Scripture Rule, he cannot poſſibly miſs of Salvation.
Anſw. 10. The Holy Ghoſt will not be offended to have any of his other teachings tryed by his teachings in the Scripture. This he approves in the Bereans, ſafely may we therefore embrace what is agreeing with the Scripture; ſafely reject what agrees not with it. Gods will laid down in Scripture being the only Rule.
Anſw. 11. To make immediate teachings without tryal, our Rule, is to expoſe our ſelves to a thouſand errors.
Anſw. 12. The teaching of Gods Spirit in the Scripture is the higheſt and ſafeſt Rule to heaven. It is moſt ſafe to walk by this. It is not ſafe to refuſe the teaching of the Spirit in the Scripture, becauſe we find not immediate Teachings that agree therewith, but very ſafe not to entertain immediate Teachings of the Spirit until we know they agree with Scripture, becauſe we are enjoyned to try the Spirits. And now by all that hath been ſpoken hitherto, it eaſily appeareth that Quakers have have no ſaving Rule, by which they walk, no ſound foundation on which they build. We are built on the Doctrine of the Apoſtles and Prophets laid down in Scripture. This is our Rule, this is our foundation; here we fetch all Doctrines for our Faith, hence all directions for our practice. But what is their Rule, their foundation? If they ſay the Light in every man; then they muſt fetch all their Doctrines, all their directions hence. But this is ſand; for it reveals but a ſmall part of their duty, and not a word of Chriſt. This failing, they uſually fly to immediate Revelation. If this be their Rule, their foundation; they muſt receive hence all Doctrine, all direction neceſſary to ſalvation. If they receive ſome only, 'tis but a ſorry foundation; they cannot build on it, for full direction. If they look for the knowledge of all Doctrines, all Duties hence; they build on a Caſtle in the Air, a meer fancy; for though God can, he doth not, he never did immediately teach his Church all they were to believe and practice.