Confutation of the Quakers, Section 13
SECT. XIII. The concluſion by way of Admonition to beware of the errours of the times, and in particular of Quakeriſme; with a commendation of ſome antidotes, by way of preſervative againſt the ſame.
WE have many predictions and frequent warnings in the holy Scriptures of the hereſies and ſeductions of the laſt times; Chriſt himſelf tells us, Mat. 24.11.24. that falſe chriſts, and falſe prophets ſhall ariſe and deceive many, and if it were poſſible, they ſhould deceive the very Elect; and the Apoſtle Peter, 2 Ep. 2.1. doth alſo warne, That falſe prophets ſhall ariſe, and ſhall bring in damnable hereſies, and many ſhall follow their pernicious wayes, by reaſon of whom the way of truth ſhall be evil ſpoken of; and the like admonitions are given by the Apoſtle Paul, 1 Tim. 4.1. and 2 Tim. 2 1, &c. as alſo by the Apoſtles John and Jude.
There is no ground then that Chriſtians ſhould be diſcouraged at theſe over-flowing floods of errours that the Serpent now caſts out of his mouth to drown the Church; nor at the rage and violence of the enemies of the truth amongſt us; think it not ſtrange concerning theſe things, as if ſome ſtrange thing had happened unto us; the Scriptures muſt be fulfilled, that have told us before of thoſe things; and the Church of God in former times have had the ſame trials; hereſies muſt be, though woe to them by whom they come, or by whom they are countenanced. We may expect yet greater tryals, and ſtronger ſeducements, if no timely remedy be uſed by Chriſtian Magiſtrates to reſtraine ſeducers from ſpreading their ſeducing doctrines. The Scriptures ſpeak of the powerful working of Satan accompanying deceivers, and a power of working (ſeeming) miracles being given to them, and of ſtrong deluſions. As the Quakers are but ſimple deceivers in compariſon of the Papiſts, and other hereticks in former ages; ſo we may fear they ſhall be much more out-vied by ſuch ſeducers, as are yet to come in following times; when Satan is to act his laſt part in the world, it's likely he will uſe his utmoſt ſubtilty in deceiving. Our great care therefore ſhould be to preſerve our ſelves from the errours of the wicked, and to take heed of the leaven of ſuch ſeducers; how many cautions hath the Scripture given to us herein? when Chriſt had foretold of thoſe ſeducers, Mat. 24. he bids, Take heed that no man deceive you, and believe them not, this being the end of his forewarning us, that we might be forearmed againſt them; Hereſies are reckoned amongſt the fruits of the fleſh, Gal. 5.20. and are therefore ſooner drunk in by people, then the precious truths of the Goſpel, for we cannot receive theſe without the ſpecial help of Gods Spirit to let them in to our hearts; how ſoon did the Arian hereſie over-ſpread the world, only one Athanaſius viſibly withſtood it? All the world wondered after the Beaſt, and worſhipped the ſame, Rev. 13.3, 4. Popery ſoon over-ran the Weſt and North parts of the world, and Mahumetaniſme the Eaſt and South; even there where thoſe famous Aſian Churches ſometimes were ſeated, are now the impure Temples of Mahomet; no gangrene ſooner over-ſpreads the natural body, then errours and hereſies do the Eccleſiaſtick body, 2 Tim. 2.17. What care then ſhould Chriſtians have leſt they be infected with the ſame? Adde hereunto, theſe are no leſſe deadly to the ſouls of people then gangrenes or plagues are to their bodies, ſuch doctrines eat as doth a canker or gangrene, ſaith the Apoſtle; hereſies may prove as damnable to men, as moral wickedneſſe, 2 Pet. 2.1. leſſer errours indeed men may hold, and yet be ſaved, whileſt they build upon the right foundation; Though they build hay or ſtubble, thereupon they may be ſaved, yet ſo as by fire, 1 Cor. 3 13. their ſpirits may be ſcorched, their peace and comfort loſt; but to miſcarry in the foundation is damnable; who can reckon up the evil conſequences of falſe doctrines? they blind the mind, and extinguiſh the true knowledge of God; they harden the heart, they undermine the comfort of Chriſtians, and deſtroy the Churches peace, they mortally infect the inward vitals of Chriſtianity; and outwardly deprave the converſation, corrupt principles wil at length produce corrupt practiſes; they provoke the Lord to have a controverſie with a people where they are tolerated, Rev. 2.14, 15, 20. and will exclude men the Kingdome of heaven, Gal. 5.20, 21. Let not any Chriſtian therefore look upon the errours and hereſies of the times as things of ſmall concernment, but make it his great care to be preſerved from the infection of them as men do in the time of peſtilence to be preſerved from the ſame
I ſhall for the benefit of ſuch humble and ſincere Chriſtians, as fear the infection of the errours amongſt us, and are willing to uſe ſuch preſervations againſt them as the Scriptures afford; collect from thence a few antidotes of ſpecial uſe for that end, the bleſſing of the Lord accompanying them.
Directions ſhowing, how Chriſtians may be preſerved from the errours and hrereſies of the times.
I. Labour to be rooted and grounded more in the truth, if you would not be ſhaken with every wind of doctrine;Col. 1.23. 2 Pet. 2.14. it's ungrounded and unſtable Chriſtians who commonly are ſeduced, who never ſaw on what grounds they took up their Religion, but take it on truſt from others, and then when they meet with ſuch arguments againſt the truth as they cannot anſwer, they yeild to errour, whereas that may be nevertheleſſe a truth,Mat. 22.29. though they cannot defend it; therefore ſearch the Scriptures more, and labour to ſee how the principles of the Chriſtian faith are eſtabliſhed upon them; and be not aſhamed to learn your Catechiſmes, wherein you have the fundamentals of Chriſtianity extracted out of the Scriptures, and plainly ſet down, even in the Primitive times they had ſuch firſt principles of the oracles of God, Heb. 5.12. and forms of wholſom words, 2 Tim. 1.13. for the better grounding of weak Chriſtians; and the greateſt proficieo… did firſt begin there, and therein are contained ſuch truths as may exerciſe us in ſearching further into, all our life time; Luther that eminent ſervant of Chriſt profeſſed himſelf a Scholar in the Catechiſme. Had the Quakers ever been well grounded in the firſt principles or rudiments of Religion, how is it poſſible they ſhould ſo ſoon have been turned from the truth, and denyed the doctrine of Chriſts humanity, of the holy Trinity, of Juſtification, of Sanctification, of the reſurrection of the dead, &c? for my part I know but few of them (if any) that I can judge, ever had any clear diſtinct knowledge of theſe things, and could tell how they were confirmed by the Scriptures. Let therefore weak Chriſtians (if they would not be ſeduced) uſe this direction, conſcionably give diligence to be ſetled more in the truth, and to get a clear knowledge of the great doctrines of the Goſpel; ſuch things as be fundamental and neceſſary to be known unto Salvation, are clearly ſet down in Scripture, that weak Chriſtians, if they ſtudy them with humility, prayer and diligence, may attain the underſtanding of them; as for more difficult points, that they cannot yet comprehend, let them not too much be troubled about them, but waite till God reveale the ſame unto them; and in the meantime its far ſafer for them to adhere in ſuch things, to what is commonly received by the people of God, and embraced by the Saints in all ages,Cant. 1.8. to follow the footſteps of the flock of Chriſt, then to be led away by pretenders to new-light, the Scriptures having given ſo many Cautions to beware of ſeducers in the laſt times. This firſt direction is given by the Apoſtle, 2 Pet. 3.17, 18. Beware leſt ye alſo being led away with the errour of the wicked, fall from your ſtedfaſtneſſe, but grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt.
II. Reſt not in a notional embracing of the truth, but receive it with love and obedience, and labour to finde your hearts bettered therby, and then you ſhall not ſo ſoon be induced to deſert the truth, and embrace errours; when men receive not the truth with love, they are ſoon brought to beleeve lies, 2 Theſ. 2.10. but when men taſte the ſweetneſſe of the wayes of God, and are in love with Goſpel truths for that goodneſſe they find in them, they will hold them faſt; ſuch as have experimented the efficacy of the doctrines of faith, changing and renuing their hearts, quickning their ſpirits, pacifying and comforting their conſciences, and quelling their corruptions, will not be eaſily induced to exchange them for errours; but it's thoſe that never found thoſe benefits by the ſame, that ſo ſoon part therewithal; Let therefore the truths of Chriſt dwell in your hearts, and ſeaſon them as leaven, labour to finde your hearts molded by the ſame, and changed into the image of truth, the more you grow in grace, the more you ſhall be eſtabliſhed and kept from falling into the errour of the wicked, Heb. 13.9. 2 Pet. 3.17, 18. And let your obedience to the faith appear to all, Rom. 16.19. He that doth the will of God ſhall know more thereof, John 7.17. and ſhall be eſtabliſhed therein. It is the great evil of many profeſſors in this age, they covet to fill their heads with knowledge and light, letting their hearts be empty of holineſſe and grace, they are much in ſearching after new lights, high notions and diſcoveries of ſmaller concernment; but little in working upon their ſpirits the great and ſaving truths of Chriſt, and in practiſing known Commandments; it's no wonder if ſuch prove apoſtates; they whoſe hearts are deceitful under truth, may ſoon be deceived by errour. Can we judge that theſe perſons who deny the doctrines of Chriſts humanity, of juſtification, of the reſurrection, &c. ever lived in the power of theſe truths, received down the comfort of them, and had their hearts formed into holineſſe by them? if they had, they would have been hereby fortified againſt ſuch ſeducers as tempt them to deny theſe doctrines; for my own part I muſt profeſſe, whilſt my faith is acting upon theſe great and precious truths of the Goſpel, and the comfort and ſweetneſſe of them is now flowing into my ſpirit, I cannot mention theſe filthy and abominable errours, but it is with higheſt deteſtation and abhorrence. Let this therefore be the care of every Chriſtian not to reſt in a bare notional knowledge, but to get a ſanctifying, experimental, and practical knowledge of the things of God.
III. Be much in prayer that God would give you the ſpirit of Truth, and thereby guide and keep you in the truth, Joh. 16.13. In times of infection you uſe not to ſtir out of your houſes, till you pray God to keep you and your families daily; had you as ſenſible apprehenſions of the infections and mortall contagion of the hereſies now raigning amongſt us, you would be as much in prayer to God for to keep you and yours daily from them; but all the admonitions in the Scripture will hardly perſwade people to believe their danger herein;2 Pet. 2 1. 1 Tim. 3.17. are not hereſies damnable and extremely infectious and contagious as gangrenes and plagues, our own experiences in theſe times abundantly teſtifies it? if one perſon in a family be infected with hereſie, all the reſt ſoon learne it of them; even young ones commonly drink it in, (its more rarely ſeen that any good is ſo ſoon learnt by them) and if one houſe be infected, ſuch as live neare thereto, or converſe with them, they are alſo indangered. What need therefore to be much in prayer to God, to keep us in theſe infectious times, wherein (if it were poſſible) the very elect ſhould be deceived; we had need to commend our ſelves to him who is able to keep us from falling, Jude. 24.
IV. Expoſe not yourſelves to the tentations of Seducers, tis in vain to pray to God to keep you from the infection, if you wilfully, againſt the expreſſe Word of God, run into the company of Deceivers; you are bidden to avoid them, Rom. 16.17. to turn away from ſuch, 2 Tim. 3.5, 6. to beware of them, Mat. 7.15. not to go after them, Luke 21.8. if they come to you, not receive them, nor bid them God-ſpeed, 2 Joh. 10. What wilful diſobedience to all theſe cleer commands is it, when people will venture to go into the company and frequent the meetings of ſuch ſeducers? if Satan take ſuch among his own, how juſtly may God give them up to him as his own; this is contrary to the example of the primitive Saints. The Apoſtle John would not ſtay in the ſame hath where Cerinthus the heretick was; nor would Policarp entertaine acquaintance with Marcion, but termed him the firſt-born of the Devil; Ireneus tells us, the Apoſtles and their Diſciples were ſo full of holy fear, that they would not communicate with them in the world, who had adulterated the Word. If you ſay we may go and hear whether they broach ſuch errors or no, what hurt in this? we muſt try all things, and hold faſt that which is good. I anſwer, may you not as well ſay, you will go into the peſt-houſe, and ſee whether the perſons there be infected with the plague, before you will beware of them, how many poor and weak perſons are infected with their errours before they can diſcern what errours they hold? And whereas the Apoſtle, 1 Theſ. 5.21. bids, prove all things, hold that faſt which is good. He intends it of the prophecyings ſpoken of in the former verſe; all things ſpoken by the Prophets in the Church, ſhould be proved by the Scriptures, whether they be ſo or no, and not received only becauſe they ſay they are of God (as the Quakers receive what their teachers deliver to them, without trying them by the Scriptures, which they deny to be the rule of faith and life) but this place makes nothing for the hearing of convicted hereticks, and open enemies to the Church. If thou beeſt therefore an humble and ſincere Chriſtian, that makeſt conſcience of the commands of the Lord, then ſhun deceivers, turn away from them, go not to their meeting, if they come to thee, receive them not into thy houſe, nor bid them God-ſpeed; but if thou wilt run upon tentations, thou haſt no promiſe of God to keep thee; it was the devils deceit to perſwade men, God will protect them out of his way, Mat. 4.6.
V. Harbour not any ſinful luſts in your hearts, allow not of any ſecret ſin; it's ſin that makes God give up men to errour, 2 Theſ. 2.10, 11, 12. becauſe they have pleaſure in unrighteouſneſs; and it's ſin that makes a man like a piece of wax, ready to receive the impreſſion of any errour; they who are not ſound in the fear of God, may eaſily become unſound in the faith of God. Hymeneus and Alexander, 1 Tim. 1.19, 20. firſt put away a good conſcience, then made ſhipwrack of the faith; the women that were led captive by ſeducers, 2 Tim. 3. were ſuch as were laden with divers luſts; if the heart be corrupt and love ſinne, it will ſtrongly encline a man to entertaine corrupt, principles that will give liberty unto ſin; how ready will a wicked heart be to cloſe with the wicked errours of the Quakers, that there is no reſurrection of the fleſh, no heaven and hell, but what is now in this world; that after death nothing remains or with the Libertines opinion, that ſin is no real evil, but to him that thinks it evil; to him it is evil, (as Joſ. Salmon in his touches of good and evil ſpeaks) or with the Atheiſts opinion, that there is no God, &c. look therefore to your hearts to keep them pure, if you would not be given up to impure errors; love no ſin if you would leave no truth.
VI. Cleave more to the Miniſtry of the Word and the faithful diſpenſers thereof, if you would not fall into errours; let not any ſay, I plead more in this for the honour and benefit of Miniſters, then for the good of peoples ſouls,So Heb. 13.7, 9. for the ſpirit of God hints this direction, Eph. 4 14. in v. 11. you read God hath given to his Church Prophets, Apoſtles, Paſtours, Teachers, and in the following verſes is ſhewed the end thereof, for the work of the Miniſtry, for the edifying the Church, and perfecting the Saints, and v. 14. to prevent being toſſed to and fro, and carried away with every wind of doctrine, by the ſleight of men, and cunning craftineſſe of deceivers. This is one great end of Gods giving Miniſters to his Church to prevent their being deceived by ſeducers; one great part of their work, is to confute gain-ſayers. There is ſcarce any deſert the truth, but they firſt deſert the Miniſtry! men firſt begin to have itching ears, and ſeek new Teachers, and then embrace lies and fables, 2 Tim. 4.3, 4. how diligent therefore are ſeducers to undermine the Miniſtry, and ſteal peoples hearts from them; if the wolves can draw the ſheep from the ſhepherds, they will ſoon devour them. What deſignes have they againſt the office, maintenance, and perſons of Miniſters to bring them down, and eſpecially againſt the moſt faithful and induſtrious in the Miniſtry, think not therefore you can be long preſerved from theſe ravening wolves, if you ſtragle from your ſhepherds, but learn to keep cloſe to your faithful Miniſters. If it be asked, who are thoſe Miniſters we are to adhere unto? for many lay claime to this office now. I anſwer in two words; 1. Thoſe whom God hath ſo viſibly owned, and ſet his ſeal to by bleſſing their Miniſtry to the convincing, converting, comforting and confirming ſo many thouſands of his Saints in England, thoſe whom God hath uſed as inſtruments under him to maintaine the profeſſion and power of godlineſſe in the Nation for many yeares, that have by their doctrine, converſation and ſufferings adorned the Goſpel of Chriſt; can any but the hardened enemies of the truth call theſe Anti-chriſtian? whoever is not blinded by Satan, may ſee theſe to be the Miniſters of Chriſt. 2. Thoſe whom the devil and his inſtruments hath moſt oppoſed and maligned; whom the Popiſh Prelates ſilenced, fined, impriſoned, baniſhed; whom the Malignant Caveleirs hated, curſed and plundered, whom all drunkards, ſwearers; and profane perſons would have ſuppreſſed; and whom apoſtates (the moſt bitter enemies of all the reſt) do now with ſuch implacable hatred and malignity proſecute and moleſt. Theſe are the Miniſters of Chriſt; there need no other arguments to prove it.
VII. Conſider ſeriouſly the many eminent teſtimonies God hath given from heaven againſt hereticks and apoſtates, againſt deſpiſers of his Ordinances and Miniſters, and againſt the errours and hereſies broached by them. God hath in all ages borne ſome ſignal teſtimony againſt them, which being duly obſerved, might be a very effectual means to preſerve from the errours of thoſe times. It might be ſhewed in what age, and by what perſons moſt of theſe (now ſuppoſed new lights, but indeed) old exploded hereſies newly revived and brought from hell, were firſt broached, what ſucceſſe they had what fearful judgements befel the Authours of them! how truth prevailed againſt them! and this might much tend to eſtabliſh Chriſtians againſt ſeducements thereunto; but this would require a volumn to do it. In the primitive times many wonderful teſtimonies God gave againſt ſeveral enemies of his truth; Simon Magus, who was the firſt arch-heretick, and by his Sorceries deceived much people, and contended with the Apoſtles themſelves in working miracles (as the Egyptian Sorcerers did with Moſes) he attempting to flie in the aire, was by the prayers of the Apoſtles brought tumbling down, and miſerably periſhed; Cerinthus was killed by the fall of an houſe; Montanus hanged himſelf; Manes had his skin torn off his fleſh; Arrius his bowels guſhed out; Neſtorius his tongue rotting and conſuming in his head, the earth opened and ſwallowed him up. What ſtanding monuments are theſe of Gods wrath againſt hereticks, yet are many of their wicked errours revived in theſe days, if theſe teſtimonies of Gods wrath againſt them were duly conſidered, it might make people to this day more fearful of drinking in their abominable doctrines. In the firſt times of Reformation from Popery, the devil ſtirs up the Anabaptiſts to hinder that work, and they were more bitter and malignant enemies to the firſt Reformers, and greater obſtructers of the work of God then the Papiſts; and what ſignal tokens of Gods wrath were ſhewen againſt them, by giving them up to ſuch vile affections and practiſes, as (preparing them for deſtruction) there were (ſay ſome*Pontanus) one hundred and fifty thouſand of them ſlaine; What a warning might this be to people to beware of the leaven of Anabaptiſme now ſpreading amongſt us? When the Churches of Chriſt in N. England were infeſted with Antinomians, Familiſts, and Antiordinanced men (betwixt whom and the Quakers is great agreement) how did the Lord give ſignal teſtimony againſt them by thoſe prodigious births of Mrs. Hutchinſon and Mrs. Dyer? are not theſe landmarks to warn people to take heed of ſuffering ſhip-wrack upon ſuch rocks of errour? And amongſt our ſelves in England, God hath many ways appeared againſt the raging enemies of his truth and Miniſters, riſen up in theſe late years; ſome are ſo given up to be blinded and infatuated, that they have loſt the underſtanding and reaſon of men, and are become brutiſh in their wayes; others caſting off the profeſſion of godlineſſe, are given up to vile affections and practiſes; what abominable errours and deluſions have ſome ſwallowed down gredily? and what remarkable judgements of God have befallen others? It would require a large volumne to record the hiſtory hereof. Theſe things, if duly conſidered, might be ſerious admonitions to all, to take heed of deſerting the truths, Ordinances, and Miniſters of Chriſt. I adde no more, theſe directions if conſcionably uſed, might (through the bleſſing of the Lord) be ſpecial preſervatives againſt the infection and contagion of the errours of our times. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to preſent you faultleſs before the preſence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wiſe God our Saviour, Jude 24.25.be Glory and Majeſty, Dominion and Power, now and ever. Amen.
FINIS.