Confutation of the Quakers, Title page – Dedication
A FULL DISCOVERY AND CONFUTATION Of the wicked and damnable Doctrines of the Quakers. As alſo, a plain Vindication and confirmation of ſundry fundamental points of the Chriſtian Religion, denyed or corrupted by the enemies of the Truth in theſe Times. Publiſhed for the benefit of ſuch weak Chriſtians, who are not ſo able to diſcover and oppugne the dangerous doctrines of ſubtil Seducers, when coloured over with fair words and pretences, and ſo are more apt to be taken in their ſnares. Whereunto is annexed an excellent Diſcourſe proving that ſinging of Pſalmes is not only lawful, but an Ordinance of God. By JONATHAN CLAPHAM, a ſervant of Chriſt in the work and labour of the Goſpel at Wramplingham in Norff.
2 Theſ. 2.10, 11, 12.
— Becauſe they received not the love of the truth, that they might be ſaved;—God ſhall ſend them ſtrong deluſions that they ſhould believe a lie. That they might be damned, &c.
LONDON. Printed by T. R. & E.M. for Adonirem Byfield at the Bible in Popes-head Alley, near Lumbard-ſtreet. 1656.
The general heads of the following TREATISE.
SEct. 1. The Quakers proved enemies to the holy Scriptures.
Sect. 2. The Quakers deny Chriſt come in the fleſh, alſo his Death, Reſurrection, &c.
Sect. 3. The Quakers deny the doctrine of the Trinity.
Sect. 4 The Quakers hold equality with God, and the ſoul to be one being with God.
Sect. 5. The Quakers corrupt the doctrine of Juſtification.
Sect. 6. The Quakers deny the Reſurrection of the body, the laſt Judgement, Heaven and Hell.
Sect. 7. The Quakers are enemies to all the Ordinances of Jeſus Chriſt.
Sect. 8. The Quakers pretend to miracles.
Sect. 9. The Quakers are no truly mortified perſons, notwithſtanding their pretences thereunto and how Popiſh Monks have out-ſtripped them therein
Sect. 10. The Quakers doctrine tendeth not to deſtroy ſin, though they raile againſt ſin and how they deſtroy the true doctrine of Sanctification.
Sect. 11. The Quakers he common ſink of all the Hereſies of our times, and a parallel betwixt them and former hereticks in many particulars.
Sect. 12. The Quakers enemies to all civility and good manners.
Sect. 13. The Concluſion, by way of admonition to Chriſtians to beware of the hereſies of the Times, and in particular to avoid the Quakers as pernitious enemies to the Chriſtian Religion, and to the ſouls of men, and to have no communion with them.
TO HIS HIGHNESSE The Lord Protector Of England, Scotland and Ireland, and the Dominions thereof.
SIR,
IT is a queſtion much controverted in theſe times, whether Jeſus Chriſt, beſides his ſpiritual Kingdom in his Chrurches, and in the hearts of his people, is to have an outward Political Kingdom in the world? and there are not a few of godly, wiſe, and ſober Chriſtians that do conclude affirmatively for the ſame, and that (as it ſeems to me) upon undeniable authorities from the holy Scriptures. But this being granted, it will prove a matter of no leſſe difficulty to determine by whom this kingdome ſhall be adminiſtred, whether by our Lord Jeſus himſelf in perſon reſiding here upon earth; or by his Delegates, or officers to whom he ſhall commit the rule and government under himſelf? The former hath yet received ſmall entertainment in my heart, as ſeeing little clear Scripture evidence for it (whatever others may ſee) but rather it ſeeming to claſh with ſome other weighty doctrines of the faith more clearly grounded on the Word, and to be attended with ſuch inconveniences, as the Authours of this opinion know not well how to remove: But for the latter, it need not ſeem ſo incredible; for ſeeing Jeſus Chriſt hath already ſo long exerciſed his ſpiritual Kingdome, and regiment in his Churches, by Officers and Delegates thereunto appointed by himſelf; why ſhould it then ſeem ſtrange to us, if his outward political Kingdome ſhould be adminiſtred in like manner? and (as I judge) this ſeemes to have far clearer teſtimony from the Scripture then the former. But are not we in a great ſtrait yet to finde out, who are theſe Officers or Delegates to whom Jeſus Chriſt hath committed the government of this outward Political Kingdome in the world? whether to his Churches and Saints (under that reduplication) as ſuch, or to the Civil Magiſtrate? I am not unwilling to acknowledge my own miſtake, (and poſſibly it may be the miſtake of ſome honeſt hearts, who are zealous now againſt the preſent powers upon this account) that I have ſometimes inclined to the former, although I never had thoughts of acting againſt any eſtabliſhed Government, for to bring about my conceptions in ſuch things, ſure it is moſt dangerous and unwarrantable for private perſons to do ſo; The ground of my miſtake was an aſſertion received amongſt many wiſe and holy men, and therefore the leſſe queſtioned by me; that the Magiſtrate was no Officer of Jeſus Chriſt as Mediatour; whereupon I concluded, ſeeing that Jeſus Chriſt as Mediatour ſhould have an outward Political Kingdom upon earth, and the Magiſtrate as ſuch, was no Officer in that Kingdome, that there muſt be ſome other hands, into which this power and Dominion muſt be committed, and who then might lay better Scripture claim to it, then the perſons above named?
But I do retract my errour in that particular (for I dare not ſay with the Papiſts and Quakers, I am infallible and cannot erre,) and do acknowledge the Magiſtrate to be an Officer of Jeſus Chriſt as Mediatour, and therefore in this external Political Kingdom of Chriſt, the rule doth belong to him, and not to the Saints as Saints; though withal I doubt not but the Lord Jeſus will in theſe laſt dayes raiſe up ſuch to be Magiſtrates, as ſhall be Saints and nurſing fathers to his Churches, governing more for the honour of Chriſt, and for the welfare and benefit of his Churches then formerly, and then ſhall the kingdoms of the world become the Kingdomes of the Lord, and of his Saints.
That which induced me to be of this judgement for the Magiſtrate to be an Officer of Jeſus Chriſt in this outward Political kingdom (though he is no Officer in the ſpiritual Kingdom of his Church, as the Eraſtians contend) was the ſerious conſideration of ſuch Scriptures as theſe, Prov. 8.15, 16. Mat. 28.18 Iſa. 49.13. Pſalme 2.8, 10, 11, 12. Pſalme 72.10, 11. and indeed Chriſt having undertaken the work of mans redemption, the Father hath delivered up the whole creation unto him in order to his managing of that work, and therefore muſt Magiſtracy belong to him as Mediatour, Rom. 14.9. Luke 10.22. John 3.15. Eph. 1.20, 21, 22. It were a work of no great difficulty to anſwer the arguments brought to the contrary, and is already done by ſome.
Now this being granted, as it doth ſtrongly confirme the title of the Magiſtrate to his rule and government, againſt all that would, under any pretext, challenge it from him: So it may ſeriouſly minde him to conſider from whom he hath received his power and authority, and to whom he muſt one day be acountable for it, and therefore to uſe it (not only for the promoting of the civil good and benefit of men, but) eſpecially for the advantage of the ſpiritual Kingdom of Jeſus Chriſt, and the intereſt of his Churches; for it was in this reſpect, that Chriſt had this power given to him by the Father, he gave him to be head over all things to the Church; and ſure Chriſt expects that thoſe to whom he commits this power, as his Vice-gerents upon earth, ſhould uſe it for the ſame ends, the Father did firſt betruſt it into his hands for. And how clear is it in Scripture, that all thoſe godly Princes and Magiſtrates ſpoken of therein, did make it their firſt and chiefeſt care to promote Religion, and to ſee that the Worſhip of God was maintained in purity, and that the Church flouriſhed in their Dominions; not that they were Officers in the Church, and might themſelves adminiſter in the holy things, this was rebuked in ſome of them; but that they had an external care about the ſame, as ſometimes that Chriſtian Emperour Constantine of famous memory ſaid, he was Epiſcopus foreign not foreign (Euſeb. lib. 4.) an overſeer of things without, as thoſe nurſe-fathers, Hezekiah, Joſia, Aſa, Jehoſhaphat were; but not an overſeer of things within, as Uzziah would have been.
There is an opinion entertained amongſt many in theſe dayes, (and ſome of them good men too) that the Magiſtrate ought to meddle only with matters of the ſecond Table, not taking inſpection of things appertaining to the firſt; that he is only to maintaine civil peace amongſt men and outward righteouſneſſe, not heeding Religion or the Worſhip of God at all, as he is a Magiſtrate; If this once be received by Magiſtrates, Jeſus Chriſt will be little beholden to them, they muſt as well protect the worſhippers of Mahomet, as of Chriſt ſo long as they keep the peace, and live in civil honeſty amongſt men; theſe men beleeve not the Magiſtrate to be Chriſts Officer as he is Mediatour and head of his Church, if they did they would be of another mind. But enough is ſaid againſt this woful aſſertion by Mr. Cotton bloody tenet waſhed; by the Elders of N. Eng. in the Synod, Anno 1646. and by Mr. Cobbet in his book dedicated to your Highneſſe ſome few yeares ſince. And the bleſſing of the Lord upon the care of the godly Magiſtrates in N. E. hath been as a Seal to atteſt the Lords acceptance of what they have done there about this particular.
The premiſes conſidered, I ſhould humbly offer to your Highneſſe, (may my preſumption herein be indulged) eſpecially two particulars wherein you may imploy that great power wich our Lord Jeſus hath betruſted you with, as his Delegate, for the promoting that great end, for which all power was firſt given to him by the Father, to wit, the ſpiritual good and welfare of his Church.
1. That you would pleaſe to put forth your endeavours towards the uniting of the people of God in theſe Nations, who diſſenting in leſſer matters, do yet maintaine the fundamentals of Religion, in whoſe ſpirits the vitals of Chriſtianity are ſtill preſerved, and in whoſe lives the power and practiſe of godlineſſe doth yet appear. And in order hereunto, that you would by your authority call together a few of the moſt judicious godly, and peaceable of ſuch Diſſenters, and lay your moſt ſolemn charge upon them that they would after (their fervent invocation on the Name of the Lord for direction and aſſiſtance in ſo great a work) ſtudy an holy and peaceable accommodation and agreement (ſo farre as may be in their principles, but eſpecially) in ſuch neceſſary Church practiſes, as the Churches of Chriſt amongſt us, may walk together with more Chriſtian love and unity. I ſhould hope (notwithſtanding former diſappointments) the Lord would at laſt give them hearts to know what concerns their and the Churches peace, after they have had ſuch ſad experience of the evil fruits of our diviſions. And that then you would commend ſuch a pacificatory agreement to the Chriſtian people of theſe Nations, and give ſome more ſpecial encouragement to thoſe who ſhall be ſo tender of the Churches peace and union, as to practiſe according to the ſame. This were a work worthy of a Chriſtian Magiſtrate, who by his office is to be an healer, Iſa. 3.6, 7 and would give you the honour even to many generations, to be called the repairer of the breach, and the reſtorer of paths to dwell in.
II. That you would pleaſe to put ſome reſtrictions unto that (almoſt) boundleſſe Tolleration now amongſt us, whereby Seducers take liberty to broach ſuch curſed doctrines as are a diſhonour to the Name of Chriſt, and reproach and infamy to the Chriſtian Religion; ſuch as directly tend to the undermining of the profeſſion and power of godlineſſe, and to the deſtruction of ſouls. Nothing can be more evidently contrary to the ſpiritual welfare of the Church, the promoting whereof is the principal end of the Chriſtian Magiſtrates power, (and not only the procuring of a civil good, which thing I cannot but often hint) then the free Tolleration of ſuch pernitious and heretical doctrines. It is not a thing unknown, That ſeducers have been more dangerous enemies to the Church then bloody perſecutors, where perſecution hath ſlain its thouſands, the deadly poiſon of falſe doctrine hath ſlain its ten thouſands; and when the one hath killed mens bodies, the other hath murdered mens ſouls; the Church hath ever thriven under perſecution (the blood of the Martyrs being the ſeed of the Church, but it hath been brought very low under Hereſies. If Magiſtrates be the Churches Nurs-fathers (as the Scripture ſpeaks,) ſure their Office not only obliges them, to take care that her children have the milk of the Word diſpenſed to them, but that (as much as in them lieth) it be diſpenſed purely and ſincerely without the mixture of poyſon to deſtroy them. Magiſtrates are called Shepherds. Iſa 44, 28. and that with reſpect to the Church, and therfore ſhould protect her from ravenous Wolves: they are called Gods, but they ſhould be poor gods, if they took no care of Religion. What ample teſtimonies hath the Lord given to David, Solomon, Aſa, Jehoſhaphat, Hezekiah, Ioſiah for their care of Religion? nor will the names of Conſtantine, Theodotius, Iuſtinian ceaſe to be precious in and for their care of the Church of Chriſt. Even the Heathens, Ariſtotle and Plato acknowledge (from the light within them, that the chiefe care in a Common-wealth ſhould be about Religion. But I preſume not to add more words for this, there being ſo much already ſaid in thoſe three Treatiſes before mentioned for the ſame, and in particular againſt tolleration of ſeducers, all contrary arguments that have been made, being therein fully anſwered.
Only I crave leave to adde this further, that I am not pleading now againſt thoſe leſſer errours amongſt us, which will be ſo long as we are imperfect and know but in part; I ſhould deſire in behalf of ſuch as ſo erre, we might ſhew mutual love and forbearance, waiting, if any be otherwiſe minded, till the Lord reveal the ſame unto them: but againſt ſuch groſſe and damnable doctrines as were before named. Nor do I here call for fire to conſume ſuch as be ſeduced by ſuch doctrines, but I cry earneſtly for pity and compaſſion to be ſhewed toward them, to pull them as firebrands out of the fire. It cannot but move our bowels to ſee ſome of our dear relations, friends and neighbours, to drink in greedily ſuch poyſonous principles (through the cunning craftineſſe of Seducers that lie in wait to deceive) as we know aſſuredly, if the Lord give them not repentance to the acknowledgement of the truth, will damn their precious and immortal ſouls; and to ſee other weak ones ſtumbled; and the efficacy of the Goſpel ſo much impeded in the bringing home ſouls to God, which hath been ſo prevalent a means in the hand of the Lord, till the pretious and fundamental truths of Chriſt have been called in queſtion, and denyed by wicked deceivers amongſt us. We cannot but cry aloud to God and man whileſt we are eye-witneſſes of theſe things. It's true, Jeſus Chriſt is able without the help of men to maintain his own truths, and to call home, and preſerve his Elect ones, and we doubt not but he will do it where means fail, even by miraculous providences and teſtimonies from heaven, but this is no warrant to us to neglect Gods appointed means; every one is to contend in their places for the truth, nor can we expect miracles till theſe ordinary means fail.
May it pleaſe your Highneſſe to look into the following Treatiſe, and you may ſee the abominable doctrines of thoſe people amongſt us called Quakers, faithfully preſented to your veiw; although I doubt not but you have ſufficient knowledge of them already, yet I would humbly minde you of them, whileſt your other weighty employments divert your thoughts otherwiſe; and incite you, out of your tenderneſſe to the honour of Jeſus Chriſt, whoſe Delegate you are; out of your love to the Churches and people of God, for whoſe ſpiritual welfare you have this great power committed to you; and out of compaſſion to the periſhing ſouls of ſeduced people; to put ſome ſtop to thoſe ſeducers now in your Dominions, that they may not have ſuch freedom and licenſe by word and writing to broach ſuch damnable doctrines; then which no duty can be more incumbent on you, as you are an Officer of Jeſus Chriſt in his political Kingdome, which we hope, he is about to eſtabliſh in the world more gloriouſly then in former ages.
The Lord of heaven and earth bleſſe your Highneſſe with the continuance of his gracious preſence with you; keep your heart cloſe with himſelf in theſe back-ſliding times; and enrich you with all graces, that may fit you for the faithful diſcharge of your duty in ſo high and eminent a place; that as you have done valiantly in the high places of the field, ſo you govern as righteouſly and happily in the gates of the City. Which is, and ſhall be the prayer of him, who is
The leaſt and unworthieſt of the ſervants of Chriſt Jonath Clapham.