Confutation of the Quakers, Section 1
SECT. I. The Quakers proved to be enemies to the holy Scriptures.
IT is not denyed but the Quakers are pretended friends to the Scriptures, and do often tell us that they own them: Nor can it be conceived that the Serpent ſhould ſo far loſe his ſubtilty in deceiving, and become ſo fooliſh an enemy to the truth, as to provoke ſeducers in downright words to deny and diſclaime them, and that eſpecially in an age, wherein (through the mercy of God) the Scriptures are generally entertained with ſo high eſteem, and ſome Laws are in force to puniſh ſuch as ſhall offend in ſuch a groſſe manner. His deſigne therefore muſt be to undermine them by policy, whileſt he pretends ſome love unto them, as Joab ſpake peaceably to Abner, whileſt he ſmote him under the fifth rib, and Judas kiſſed Chriſt when he betrayed him.
Now that the Quakers are indeed real enemies to the Scriptures, whileſt they would ſeeme to be friends; I ſhall demonſtrate by ſeveral particulars.
I. They deny the Scriptures to be the Word of God (as all that have any knowledge of them can teſtifie) appropriating this title only to Jeſus Chriſt, as ſometimes the Swenkfeildians and others have done, yea, in diſgrace of them have ſaid, ſome part thereof is the word of the Devil.
Now that the weakeſt may perceive their errour and enmity againſt the Scriptures in this particular. 1. Let them conſider theſe few things.
1. There is nothing more common in our ordinary ſpeaking, then to call a ſpeech or a Sermon when they be Printed or Written, ſuch a mans ſpeech or Sermon, or the words that were ſpoken by a man, ſuch a mans words,Thus Nayler tells Jackſon p. 1. thou haſt printed my words. though they be written down; this ſpeech is ſo common, that there's no childe that learns to read, but if it cannot tell a word, will ask, what word is this? and therefore to deny the Scriptures to be the Word of God, is to inſinuate, they never came from God; if we underſtand this according to our common manner of ſpeaking; as when any deny ſuch a ſpeech, or ſuch words were not the words of ſuch a man, we underſtand thereby they never were uttered by him.
2. The Scriptures do frequently uſe the ſame manner of ſpeaking with us, in calling the Commandments, promiſes, threatnings, &c. recorded in the Scriptures the Word of God. The ten Commandments that were engraven on the two Tables of ſtone are called ten Words, foreign. See Deut. 10.4. in the Margin of your Bibles; and Exod. 20.1. God ſpake all theſe word and ſaid. The promiſes of God are called his word, Rom. 9.9. This is the Word of promiſe, at this time I will come, and Sarah ſhall have a Sonne. So 1 King. 6.12. the promiſe made to David is called the word that God ſpake to David. The threatnings are called the Words of God, Za…h. 1.6. my Words took hold upon them, that is, the threatnings denounced by the Prophets overtook them as one enemy doth another in flight. See Lam. 2.17. 1 King. 2.27. the threatning which God ſpake againſt the houſe of Eli, is called the Word of the Lord. Yea, this is the moſt uſual acceptation of this title [the Word of God] for its not given to Jeſus Chriſt by any of the holy pen-men of the Scriptures, but by the Apoſtle John only in his Writings, as Grotius obſerves.
But for the more full convincement of the weak and ignorant, … ſhall adde a few Scriptures, where this phraſe [the word, the word of God, or the word of the Lord] cannot poſſibly be applyed to Jeſus Chriſt, but muſt neceſſarily be underſtood of the doctrines, precepts, promiſes, threatnings, &c. written in the Scriptures, and promulged by God, or his Meſſengers; let theſe Scriptures be conſidered, where for more evidence ſake, it's call'd the word of Gods mouth, or of Gods lips; See Jer. 9.20. Eſay 45.23. Ezek. 3.27. Pſalme 17.4. Sure theſe places ſpeak not of Chriſt himſelf the eternal Word, but of a word ſpoken in time. In other Scriptures it's call'd the word that God ſpake, Exod 20.1. Iſa. 24.3. Luke 22.…1. Let the Reader obſerve this place. And Peter remembred the word of the Lord (what word was this? It follows) how he had ſaid unto him, before the cock crow, thou ſhalt deny me thrice. Obſerve it, this is called the Word of the Lord, though Peter did not receive it and heed it, ſo as to be kept from ſin by it, further yet, Pſalme 19. and Pſalme 119. where the Prophet is taken up wholly in commendation of the Word of God, he ſhews you what word he ſpeaks of by the variety of expreſſions that he uſes, Law of God, Precepts, Judgements, Statutes, Ordinances, Commandments. Beſides, we have not only the Word of God, but words of God mentioned in Scripture, Exod. 20.1. John 3.34. Pſalme 12.6. how can they expound this of Chriſt, except they make many Chriſts? and we reade not only of the Word Chriſt, but the work of Chriſt, Col. 3.16. Beſide, we finde mention in Scripture of a written word, Eccleſ. 12 10 Jer. 36.6. Heb. 13.22 Rev. 22.19. there might be hundreds of places more collected if need were, to make out this thing. How vainly do theſe men then cavil againſt us for calling the Scriptures the Word of God, ſeeing it is the uſual language of the holy Scriptures?
3. Had theſe poor people any knowledge of the original languages, wherein the Scriptures were written (of which it's ſtrange they ſhould be ignorant, when they pretend extraordinary gifts in other things, as of knowing mens ſpirits, of being infallible, of working miracles, &c.) they might finde that there are ſeveral words uſed in Scripture that our tranſlators render the Word of God, there is foreign and there is foreign; now though the former title be given to Chriſt, yet the latter is not, and therefore ſuch places wherein the latter is uſed, can with no colour be expounded of Chriſt (as in Rom 10.17. Eph. 5.26. Eph. 6.17. Heb. 6.5, &c.) whatever they pretend of the former.
4. Let it be conſidered in what reſpect Jeſus Chriſt is called the Word, and in what reſpect the Scriptures be called the Word; and it will appear this title will with greater propriety of Speech agree to the Scriptures then to Jeſus Chriſt, for Jeſus Chriſt is only figuratively called the Word of God; that he might through that ſimilitude he hath to a word, be more cleerly repreſented to our underſtandings; as the word is the image and reſemblance of ones minde, ſo is Jeſus Chriſt the expreſſe image of his Fathers perſon, Heb. 1. (though no tranſient image as our words be, but co-eſſential, and co-eternal) or as the word makes known what is in the minde and heart, ſo hath Chriſt made known the minde of God unto us; others underſtand he is called the word alſo, becauſe its he of whom the Word ſpeaks, to him give all the Prophets witneſſe, &c. others, becauſe he made all things by his Word, he ſpake, and they were made. But now in none of theſe reſpects; (nor any other that can be further named) is Chriſt properly the word, but figuratively. But now the doctrines, precepts, &c. of the Scriptures, may in a more proper ſenſe and without figure, be called the word of God, becauſe ſpoken by God; The Lord hath ſpoken theſe things by the mouth of his holy ſervants, which have been ſince the world began, Luke 1.70.
5. Whereas they call ſome part of the Scriptures the word of the devil, intending thereby that in Gen. 3.1, 4, 5. and ſuch like places. I anſwer they were the words uttered by the devil originally, but now as they be recorded by the penmen of the holy Scriptures, and ſo have a truth of hiſtory in them, they be the words of God, and therefore their malice againſt the Scriptures only appears herein.
6. It would be obſerved how ignorantly theſe men do contradict themſelves, in denying the Scriptures to be the Word of God, and yet granting them to be a declaration of Gods minde; let them tell what a word is? but a declaration of ones minde: cannot a childe know that if a man ſpeaks words to another, he declares his minde to him? what a ſimple contradiction is this to be found in men that pretend to be infallible? but any thing ſhall be ſaid or done to take down the authority of the holy Scriptures, and to leſſen the reverence due to them.
Burroughs againſt Griffith, p. 19. ſword drawn. p. 1.II. They deny the Scriptures to be a rule of faith and life; and hereby ſeeking to overthrown the great uſe and end of the Scriptures, they are clearly manifeſted to be enemies to the Scriptures.
This charge will not be diſowned by them, for many of their pamphlets manifeſt their denial of the Scriptures to be a rule of faith and life, therefore it reſts on me to prove that they are enemies to the Scriptures herein, and this will appear in theſe particulars.
1. Without ſome ſtanding rule and direction given by God, we know not how to beleeve in God aright, nor worſhip and ſerve him acceptably, and thereby attain eternal life; ſuch as have no ſtanding rule and direction, worſhip they know not what, as Chriſt ſpeaks of the Samaritans, John 4. They erre, not knowing the Scriptures, as Chriſt ſaith to the Sadduces, Matth. 22.29. The Heathens that wanted the rule of the word, what dark apprehenſions and miſconceivings had they of God, and the things of God? how utterly ignorant of many myſteries of faith? how beſotted in worſhipping falſe gods, and deceived variouſly in their ſearching out the chief happineſſe of man? Man ſince the fall hath loſt the knowledge of God; and is ſtricken with blindneſſe, being able only to grope after God as the Sodomites for Lots door, ſo the Apoſtle phraſeth it, Acts 17 They feel (or grope) after him; and beſides the darkneſſe of mans minde, the ſeducements of Satan are ſuch (who can transform himſelf into an Angel of light) that if we have not ſomething to try the ſpirits by, we may ſoon be deceived, and therefore to have a rule or direction for mans faith and obedience is moſt neceſſary, ſeeing man is a reaſonable creature, and is not acted by a brute impulſe, but as a free and underſtanding agent, muſt act what he doth knowingly, and with Councel.
2. It's as certain that there is no other way ſufficient to direct man to beleeve in God aright, and to worſhip and ſerve him acceptably, and therby attain happineſſe, but the holy Scriptures. As for traditions of men (which the Jews formerly, and now the Papiſts equal with the Word of God) they lead men further from God and happineſſe. And for the light in the conſcience, (which the Quakers ſo highly cry up) though it may convince men there is a God, as we ſee by the Heathens that have no other teacher but it, yet is it unable to give a man any cleare diſtinct knowledge of God, only a groping knowledge (as before was ſaid) nor can it teach a man ſo much as the name of Chriſt; for which of the Heathens know this by the light in the conſcience? much leſſe the great myſteries of Chriſts incarnation or taking on him fleſh, of his death, and the new Covenant founded on it, his Reſurrection, Aſcenſion, &c? And for matter of practiſe, though it will witneſſe againſt groſſe ſins and impieties, Rom. 2.14. yet how unable is it to convince of original ſin, (the firſt entrance of ſin into the world and death by Adam) and of concupiſcence (or the motions of ſin in the fleſh) that it is ſinne when not conſented to, which the Papiſts deny to be ſinne (and it's likely the Quakers alſo, or elſe they would not affirm they are perfectly freed from the very being of ſin.) Paul expreſſely ſaith, he had not known it to be ſinne but by the Law, Rom. 7.7. (it ſeems then the light in his conſcience could not diſcover it.) How groſly ſuch have been miſled that have given up themſelves to heed that light (neglecting to uſe the Scriptures for their light and rule) appears ſufficiently in the printed relation of Gilpin and Toldervy; and by the deluſions, that this whole company are given up to by God, that pretend to follow it. Further, as for ſuch ſpecial and immediate revelations of the ſpirit, that others have boaſted of as their guide and direction; the woful miſcarriages of ſuch Enthuſiaſts that have pretended thereunto, may ſufficiently convince, God would have us to heed his word more, and try the ſpirits by that; and the groſſe and palpable blindneſſe of ſuch as want the direction of the Scriptures may ſhew, God is not pleaſed to uſe this way of immediate revelations now; nor indeed is it the work of God holy Spirit to diſcover things to us now immediately, having already made a full diſcovery of them in the Scriptures, but to open our eyes to ſee the wonderful things of his Law, to apprehend thoſe diſcoveries of God made in his word, and to ſanctifie our hearts ſo as they may cloſe with thoſe truths revealed and relliſh them, and to remove the natural enmity that is in as to the things of God.
3. It hath pleaſed the Lord of his infinite goodneſſe to give his holy Scriptures, the Word of God (for ſo now I will call them, whether the Quakers will or no) that this may be a direction and rule to us of faith and obedience, how we are to believe in God, and worſhip and ſerve him, and to direct us to eternal ſalvation, this is a ſpecial pledge of Gods love to us, though the enemies of truth will not acknowledge it, The Lord hath not done ſo to all Nations, neither have the heathen knowledge of his Laws, Pſalme 147 19, 20. and the end of writing them was, that we might be directed in our faith and obedience, John 20, laſt, Theſe things are written that ye might beleeve, &c. we are to try the ſpirits now by them, whether they be of God, as the noble Bereans did, Acts 17.11. we are to go to the Law and to the Teſtimony, Iſa. 8.20. to ſearch the Scriptures, John 5.39. or otherwiſe we ſhall be neceſſarily expoſed to errour, Matth. 22.29. They are now a lamp unto our feet, and a light unto our ſteps, Pſal. 119.105. and through the words of Gods lips, we may be kept from the path of the deſtroyer, Pſal. 17.4. in a word, they are able to make wiſe to ſalvation, to furniſh to all good works, they are profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, inſtruction in righteouſneſſe, &c. 2 Tim. 3.16, 17. The Lord accompanying them with the bleſſing and efficacy of his Spirit. And let not any ignorantly pretend, it is a diſgrace to the Spirit to be tried, and regulated by an outward rule, for gold may be tryed by a touchſtone, why may not any doctrine or revelation or practice now, though pretended to come from the Spirit, be tried by the Scriptures, which we are more ſure came from the Spirit of God, they being a ſurer word of prophecy, then any voice we can heare ſpoken from heaven, 2 Pet. 1.18, 19.
4. Now let the weakeſt Reader (if he be not wilfully blinded) judg, whether theſe people be not extreamly ingrateful to God for his goodneſſe in giving the Scriptures, to deny this principal uſe and end of the Scriptures, and whether hereby they declare not themſelves enemies thereunto. I might ſhew other uſes and ends of the Scriptures that they ſubvert, but this may ſuffice for this ſecond particular, to prove the charge, that the Quakers be enemies to the holy Scriptures.
III. They make Scriptures to be but a declaration of the Saints condition (an expreſſion frequently to be found in their writings) inſinuating thereby as if they belonged not to us now,Burroughs p. 30 Glory from North. p. 8, 9. but concerned the Saints only in former times, for ſo much its clear they intend by comparing this with the former particular they are the declaration of the Saints conditions in former times, but they are no rule of faith and life to us, what do they then concern us? what need we regard them? what benefit have we by them? A moſt unworthy expreſſion, when God hath written to us the great things of his word, and we account them a ſtrange thing, Hoſea 8.12. as if they did not at all concern us, and the Lord had not ſpoken thoſe things to us, but to others. But as it delares their enmity againſt the Scriptures, ſo is it a very falſe aſſertion. There be ſome part of the Scriptures that do more concern us now in theſe laſt dayes of the world, then they did the Saints in former times, as many Prophetick Scriptures in Dauid and the Revelations; and for other Scriptures the Apoſtle faith, what ever was written, was written for our learning, Rom. 15.4. and for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world be come, 1 Cor 10.6, 11. The example of Chriſt and his Apoſtles teaches us to make uſe of the whole Wood of God, they frequently cited the writings of Moſes and the Prophets in the book of the Pſalmes, applying them to that generation, why may not we then apply the ſame, as alſo the writings of the New Teſtament for our benefit? In Heb. 13.5. The Apoſtle applies that promiſe made to Joſhuah to the beleeving Hebrews. I will not have thee nor forſake thee. See 1 Cor. 7.1. where the Apoſtle applies the promiſes made by the Prophet, Jer 31.1. to the Corinthians, and preſſes them to duty from thence; and indeed to what end are they written down, and by the gracious providence of the Lord preſerved to this day, but for our uſe and benefit it's needleſſe to adde more here, that which was ſpoken in the former particular will alſo clear this.
IV. They call the Scriptures (reproachfully) a letter, a dead letter, &c. as may be ſeen in their writings frequently, which is but a piece of Popiſh Rhetorick, for this hath been the language of Papiſts before them, who have called them a dead letter, divinity of ink and paper, with many more ſuch opprobrious tearms, But whether we ſhould beleeve Papiſts and Quakers in vilifying the Scriptures, or credit the holy penmen their commendation of them, judge ye, David ſaith, The Law of the Lord is perfect, converting the ſoule, the teſtimonies of the Lord are ſure, making wiſe the ſimple, the Statutes of the Lord are right, rejoycing the heart; the Commandments of the Lord are pure, enlightning the eyes, &c. and Pſalme 119.50. Thy word hath quickened me. The Apoſtle James 1.18. ſaith, he begot us with the word of truth, Paul ſaith, faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God, Rom. 10.17. foreign; it's not ſaid by the perſonal word Jeſus Chriſt, but by the word that is preached by men, not that we exclude the co-operation of Gods Spirit with preaching, for we are workers together with God, 2 Cor. 6.1. but that the word written and preached might have it's due place and commendation, being mighty through God, the power of God to ſalvation, and therefore no dead letter.
It is a groſſe perverting of that Scripture, 2 Cor. 3.6. to alledge it for to prove the Scriptures to be a dead letter; for the Apoſtle there compares the doctrine or miniſtration of the Law and the old Covenant, with the miniſtration of the Goſpel Covenant, diſputing againſt ſuch as commended the Law above the Goſpel, and call'd men from the grace of Chriſt to the works of the Law, &c. now the Law was but a dead killing letter, pronouncing a curſe and death; not could it quicken ſpiritually, there being no promiſe in it of writing the Law in our hearts; but in the ſame place he commends his Miniſtry, for the Miniſtery of the Spirit and of Life; therefore this place makes nothing for this wicked cavil of thoſe enemies againſt the Scriptures.
V. They equal their books and pamphlets (though commonly ſtuft with non-ſenſe and railing, ever with wicked errors) to the holy Scriptures, then which, what can be more diſgraceful to the Scriptures, and more abominable to all ſober ſpirits? This appears clearly to all that have but read their papers, for thus they commonly write, Moved from the Lord, written from the Spirit of the Lord, given from the Lord, &c. and they boaſt commonly, that they ſpeak from God immediately and infallibly, as the Apoſtles did formerly. Whether this doth not bring them under that curſe, Rev. 22.18. for adding to the Scriptures, let them look to it.
VI. They ſometimes plead the Church was a long time without the Scriptures, and therefore they are not neceſſary now, and if ten thouſand of thoſe books were burnt, they might do well enough, the light in them is ſufficient, &c. This I teſtifie hath been objected to me, and there be others can witneſſe it with me. For the former part it is an old Popiſh Argument againſt the neceſſity of the Scriptures and I ſhall only reply what hath been anſwered the Papiſts to this formerly. Whitaker de perfec. Script. cap. 7. tells the Papiſts, though of old time, when God familiarly ſhewed himſelf to the Fathers, and by himſelf manifeſted to them his will, the Scriptures were not neceſſary; yet after God did change the courſe of teaching his Church, and would have the Word written, then the Scriptures began to be neceſſary. To the latter part I anſwer, ſuch an expreſſion would ſuit the mouth of an Iriſh rebel, rather then of any ſober Chriſtian, and therefore let him repent and pray, if perhaps the thought of his heart may be forgiven him.
VII. They appear enemies to the holy Scriptures in their daily practices, as their neglecting to uſe the holy Scriptures; Their ſpeakers ſpeak not out of the Scriptures as did Chriſt, Luke 4.17. who opened the book, and took his text out of Eſay 61.1. and in all his Sermons he opened the Scriptures, and proved all things by the Scriptures; nor do their ſpeakers exhort people to ſearch the Scriptures, to give themſelves to reading, meditation,This they that have been preſent teſtifie. &c. but to look to the light in their conſciences, let them ſhew where ever Chriſt or his Apoſtles gave ſuch an exhortation to look to the light within them. And for their diſciples, they follow not the example of the noble Bereans, Acts 17.11. who ſearched the Scriptures daily whether thoſe things were ſo; but they take all ſpoken to them as given from God immediately, and turn not to the Scriptures to try the doctrines they hear by the Law and teſtimony: When they have no ſpeakers, they ſit as mutes together, looking on the ground, or looking at the light within them (as they ſay) but not looking on the Scriptures, nor conferring about them, though ſometimes they will read in their Aſſemblies, their quaking letters or books; beſides ſome of them have offered to ſell their Bibles. Now the moſt ignorant may eaſily judge by all this what friends they are to the Scriptures.
I might adde hereunto (if it were requiſite) to ſhew their enmity to the Scriptures, their perverſe wreſting of the Scriptures, in ſuch a manner ſometime, as ſhews they have neither knowledge of the Scriptures, nor any light of common underſtanding of men left in them. G. Whitehead maintaining of perfection (as the Papiſts do) I brought him that place againſt it, Eccleſ. 7.10. not a juſt man upon earth that doth good and ſinneth not; he perverted it, as if Solomon did ſpeak of a man in an earthy condition. Another, when that cripture, 1 Cor. 6.20. was uſed to prove that we are not only to give God internal worſhip and ſervice, but outward and bodily, he replied the Church was he body that was to glorifie God. Again, when Paul, Rom. 7. cryed out, ob wretched man, &c. he had not the Spirit. And that the ſame Apoſtle in 1 Cor. 11.14. did not at all condemne long hair. And many of them have ſaid, that the Apoſtle, 1 Cor. 9.14. (ſaying, even ſo hath the Lord ordained that they that preach the Goſpel ſhould live of the Goſpel,) doth not plead for outward bodily maintenance, but their living by faith, or living ſpiritually on the Goſpel; were ever any people more blinded in the world then theſe? how dreadful a judgement is this upon them for leaving the Scriptures, and looking to the light in them, which appears by theſe things to be meer darkneſſe? I could fill many pages with ſuch inſtances of their perverſe wreſt of the Scriptures, but this will appear more fully in the following Sections. Let me but ſumme up theſe things together, and then let the Reader judge whether this firſt charge is not ſufficiently proved againſt them. The proof runs thus, if to deny the Scriptures to be the Word of God, and thereby to inſinuate, they never came from God; if to deny the ſpecial uſe of the Scriptures to be a rule of faith and obedience; and to make as if they belonged to the Saints formerly, but did not concern us now; if to give vilifying expreſſions to them, and to call them a dead letter; if to equal fooliſh and wicked pamphlets with them; if to plead there's no neceſſity of them; if to practiſe to ſlight them and perverſly to wreſt them; if any, or if all of theſe together will prove the Quakers to be enemies to the holy Scriptures, then the charge ſtands good againſt them. Let the weakeſt hereby diſcern and ſee, and not be deceived by them; though they pretend in words never ſo fairly to the Scriptures. And thus for this firſt charge.