Confutation of the Quakers, Section 7
SECT. VII. The Quakers are enemies to all the Ordinances of Jeſus Chriſt.
THe holy Ordinances of God, being inſtituted by our Lord Jeſus Chriſt the King of his Church, to the end, we might therein viſibly tender up to God that homage and worſhip that is due unto his Name; and that we might in them enjoy communion with himſelfe; as alſo that through them he might communicate the influences of his grace and bleſſing unto our ſoul: it cannot but be horrid impiety in any to attempt the violation of the ſame. How can it be otherwiſe reputed by any gracious heart, but high treaſon againſt the crown and dignity of our Lord Jeſus, thus to trample upon his inſtitutions and appointments? and a ſacrilegious robbing of God of that manifeſted glory due to him (which was the great end of his creating the world, and redeeming mankind?) As alſo extreamly prejudicial to the comfort and ſalvation of mens ſouls? Such therefore as ſhall attempt the undermining of the ſame (notwithſtanding what faire pretenſes they may make) cannot be otherwiſe adjudged then the open enemies of God, and the manifeſt confederates of Satan the Prince of darkneſſe for wherein can they gratifie that evil ſpirit more, then in caſting down the holy Ordinances of Gods worſhip and ſervice? This is evident, in that the devil doth enjoyne ſuch as are his ſworn ſervants and ſlaves (that is, witches) ſo ſoon as they be admitted into that curſed ſociety to renounce the Ordinances of God, to deny their baptiſme, to turn their backs off the Miniſtry of the Word, to caſt off prayer to God, &c. as hath been made to appeare by the publike confeſſions of many of theſe miſerable creatures, when they have been condemned to die for their wickedneſſe. If then the Quakers ſhall be found guilty of this crime, to be enemies to all the Ordinances of Jeſus Chriſt, the weakeſt Chriſtian may ſee ground enough to reject them and abhor their ways. This charge I ſhall therefore now make good againſt them, by inſtancing in theſe ſeveral Ordinances of Chriſt which they renounce and caſt off.
Firſt, for the miniſterial teaching and preaching of the word, this is an appointment of Jeſus Chriſt, Mark 16.15, 16. and to continue to the end of the world, Matth. 28.19, 20. therefore was care taken that after the Apoſtles there might be a conſtant ſucceſſion of Miniſters in the Churches or Chriſt in after ages, 1 Tim. 3. Tit. 1. But now this Ordinance is denied by the Quakers, they hold forth the light in them to be a ſufficient teacher, that there needs no other to teach but that, neither the teaching of the Scriptures, nor the Miniſtry of men. See Nailer, Glory ſoon the North, p. 2, 3. All people (ſaith he) ceaſe from their outſide lights, and return to the light of Chriſt in you. — And this light is not a chapter without you in a book, this is the more ſure word of prophecie, &c. G. F. in a paper to the Baptists, p. 8. You that look out at Teachers without you, conſider — you are ſtrangers to that Covenant by which all come to know the Lord, and need not that one teach another. Parnel, trial of faith, p. 7. Hearken to that in your conſcience, — thou that art willing to follow this, and be guided by this, ſhalt need no man to teach thee.
But it will be ſaid, they have teachers, and teaching among themſelves, how can they be judged enemies to this Ordinance then?
I anſwer, it's true, their principles and practiſes do herein contradict each other; and this no unuſual thing amongſt them to do thus. But I ſhall tell you, what one of their great friends replyed to this contradiction, when I charged them with it, ſaith he, Their teaching is but to take people off from other Teachers, that they may be brought to minde the light in them alone, and then they will ceaſe teaching. Good Reader, ſee what the deſigne of theſe men is, to bring thee and thy poſterity into the condition poor Indians are in (to have no other teaching) and ſo to leave thee. I hope thou ſeeſt by this what enemies they are to thy ſoul.
As for Prayer, this is alſo an Ordinance of God, 1 Theſ. 5.17. publick prayer in Church Aſſemblies, 1 Tim. 2.1, 15. ſecret in our cloſets, Mat. 6.6. private prayer in families Zach. 12.10, 12. Jer. 10.25. ſo for prayer and thankſgiving when we receive Gods creatures, 1 Tim. 4.45. Mat. 15.36.
Now this Ordinance the Quakers are enemies to, as appeares by their practiſes, the chiefeſt of their followers have for a long time diſuſed prayer in their families, when they ariſe or go to bed, though formerly ſome of them have been ſeemingly conſcientious therein; they neglect giving thanks when they receive the creatures, and pray not for a bleſſing on them; falling to, as ſwine without looking up to heaven. And for their ſpeakers (though of late they have uſed it more then in former times, as they have in policy more then in honeſty reformed many other things, that they ſaw were an offence to people, and kept them from following them, yet) they are not true friends to prayer, Nailer p. 3. of his Glory from the North, mocks ſuch as pray for a ſight of ſin and repentance, ſaying, the light in them would diſcover it, &c. and in many other books of theirs this may be ſeen; and what then ſhould Chriſtians pray for, if they may not pray for grace? beſides when their teachers pray here; it's teſtified by many which have heard them; They never pray to God in the Name of Jeſus Chriſt; (and what prayer can they make then?) but as if they were in the very perſon of Chriſt, (as indeed they hold God to dwell as eſſentially in them as in the Man Chriſt Jeſus) they uſe ſuch expreſſions as Chriſt himſelfe uſed, John 17. not praying to God through Chriſt, but as if Chriſt (perſonally inhabiting in them) did himſelf ſpeak to his Father, and not ſuch ſinful worms as they are; alſo they never ſpeak in the plural number, as if the people ſhould joyn with them; but ever in the ſingular, I pray thee, I thank thee; and ſo though they ſhould acquit themſelves of this charge, yet they leave all their followers under it, as being ſuch Heathens as know not God, nor call upon his Name, and ſo liable to that curſe, Jer. 10 25.
Water-baptiſme, and the Lords Supper are other ſtanding Ordinances inſtituted by our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, Mat. 28.19. John 4.1. Acts 8.36. 1 Cor. 11.23, &c. and theſe are to continue to the end of the world, till all Nations be brought into ſubjection to Chriſt; and then muſt the end come; til Chriſt come again (not in Spirit, for ſo he was already to thoſe to whom theſe things were ſpoken,) but in perſon as the Son of man in his glory, &c.
But theſe pretious Ordinances are utterly caſt off by the Quakers (as their practiſe evidences it; and their books ſpeak it plainly (ſee the paper againſt the baptized people, p. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.) they own no baptiſm with water, but that of the Spirit alone, no Lords Supper, but feeding on Chriſts fleſh and blood by faith, when in the mean time they alſo deny Chriſt to have a real body of fleſh and blood, though glorified.
Singing of Pſalmes is another Ordinance of God, Mat. 26.30. Col. 2.16. Jam. 5.13. But this is denied utterly by them, they have written two pamphlets formerly againſt my ſelf for vindicating this Ordinance. Let the Reader know, if they publiſh a hundred of ſuch like anſwers to this Treatiſe as thoſe two againſt my vindication of ſinging; I ſhall not trouble my ſelf to write one line in reply to them, as judging it altogether needleſs.
Church-communion is another Ordinance of Chriſt, when Chriſtians walk together in the fellowſhip of the Goſpel, and in all the Ordinances of Jeſus Chriſt, as appears by the Apoſtle planting of Churches in every place where the Goſpel was entertained, and Chriſts owning of them by writing to them, Rev. 1. and this Ordinance was to continue to the end of the world, Rev. 22.16, 1 Tim. 6.3, with 1 Tim. 3.15. but the Quakers deny there ever could true Church be found ſince the Apoſtles time to this time. Burr. againſt Grif. pag. 26.
For the Lords-day, it is known they are no friends to it, they make all days alike, many have profeſſed againſt it, and the known practiſes of their followers evidence, they make no conſcience thereof, although in the fourth Commandment God requires the keeping holy of a ſeventh day, or one day in ſeven; and Chriſt ſaith, Matth. 5. He that breaketh one of theſe leaſt Commandments, and teachteh men to do ſo, ſhall be leaſt in the Kingdome of heaven; and it's evident the Apoſtles and primitive Saints met together every firſt day of the week, and they found the Lord was with them in ſo doing; and in our own Nation God hath ſo bleſſed the faithful obſervation of this day to the encreaſe of piety and godlineſſe, that no Chriſtian can deny it; but now the devil cannot ſubvert this day by games and ſports, which he attempted formerly; he tries if he can do it, by denying it to be an inſtitution of Chriſt. As for Chriſtian conference, a duty ſo pleaſing to God, Mal. 3.16. it appeares they are little friends thereto by their ſitting mute when they meet together.
I might inſtance in other appointments of God; inſtructing their families in the fear of God, teaching them the knowledge of Chriſt, &c. this though ſtrictly enjoyned in the Scriptures, Deut. 6.7. Eph. 6.4. Prov. 22.6. and commended by the godly examples of many precious Saints recorded in Scripture, as Abraham, Timothies mother, &c. yet hath been derided by ſome of them; what can we teach them, (ſay they) God muſt do all, &c. beſides, to this day there are ſome Maſters, who ſuffer their families to do any thing upon the Lords days, either ſleep at home, or walk about the fields, &c taking no more care of their ſouls then if they were to die as beaſts (as indeed they hold as before was ſhewed;) thus do the Quakers appear evidently to be enemies to all the holy Ordinances of Chriſt.
But becauſe it is a common plea in theſe apoſtatizing times, that all outward Ordinances are aboliſhed, Chriſtians are not bound to worſhip God in them now; they were but for the firſt times of the Goſpel, &c. I ſhall adde a little for the eſtabliſhment of the weak that they may not by the craft of Seducers be brought to caſt of the precious Ordinances of Jeſus Chriſt.
It was before proved that theſe Ordinances were inſtituted by Jeſus Chriſt the King of his Church (as we ſhewed in each of them ſeverally) and that with expreſſe intimations of the continuance of them, not only for that preſent age, but for all following times to the end of the world; who then dare to take upon him to abrogate the ſame? The Laws and Ordinances of men are not aboliſhed, but by the ſame power that firſt enacted them, now what one Word of God can theſe men bring for the repeal of any one Ordinance of the Goſpel? may not they on the like account make the great Commandments of beleeving, repenting, &c. be temporary Commandments, and not concerning Chriſtians in theſe times? and why ſhould not the other nine Commandments be aboliſhed as well as the fourth, which requires a ſet ſtinted time for Gods ſolemn worſhip and ſervice, even every ſeventh day, or as well as any other outward Ordinance commanded by Jeſus Chriſt in the Word? Certain we are, there be the ſame grounds and reaſons for continuance of theſe Ordinances of God now, as were at firſt for the inſtitution of them. Is not God to be viſibly worſhipped and adored by us as well as formerly? and if ſo, it is more fit we ſhould do it in the way of his appointments, then in any way of our own invencieus; have not we ſtill need of Ordinances, wherein to enjoy communion with God? we have no ſuch immediate converſe with God now, as to ſee him face to face, but only as we behold him in the glaſſe of his Ordinances, whileſt we are preſent in the body, we are abſent from the Lord, (2 Cor. 5.6.) only while we are waiting on him in his Ordinances he promiſes to meet us and be with us ſpiritually, and we finde many ſweet viſits and manifeſtations therein; we have ſtill need of the communications of his grace and the influences of his Spirit, ſome needing converſion and illumination, others confirmation and ſtrengthning, all further increaſings of God, that we may more and more grow up to perfection; and are not the Ordinances given to us for theſe ends? and not only till one come to perfection, but till all (even the whole body of Chriſt) attaine thereunto, Epheſians 4 10, 11. It's one great difference betwixt the Ordinances of the Law; and thoſe of the Goſpel, that the one was to be aboliſhed, but the other to continue, 2 Cor. 3.11. indeed legal Ordinances and obſervations were to be done away, 2 Cor. 21.22. ſuch as touch not, taſte not, handle not; thoſe carnal Ordinances which ſtood in meats, and drinks, and certaine waſhings, &c. were but till the time of reformation, till Chriſt came in the fleſh, Heb. 9.10. but the Goſpel inſtitutions of Chriſt were to continue to the end of the world, to the ſecond coming of Chriſt, till all Nations be brought in, and the body of Chriſt compleated, as before was ſhewed; and the ſame Apoſtle that ſpeaks ſo much againſt legal Ordinances, yet commends the Corinthians for keeping thoſe Goſpel Ordinances, which he having received from Chriſt, had delivered unto them, 1 Cor. 11.2, 23. Theſe are to continue in the moſt glorious times of the Church, Iſa. laſt, Jer. 3. Zach. 14. Rev. 11.15, 19. And when God poureth his Spirit on his people more abundantly, it's to help them to walk in the Ordinances and Commandments of Chriſt, not to lead them out of them, Ezek. 36.27. The Ordinances of God are reckoned among the foundations of Religion, Heb. 6 1, 2. therefore take away them and you pull down all Religion, the building will fall down if the foundation be once removed. But I adde no more, the experience that we have had of the bleſſing of the Lord upon his Ordinances for the convincing, converting, quickning and comſorting of very many ſouls; as alſo of the malice and rage of Satan againſt them, both in former times of perſecution, ſtirring up ſome to corrupt them and ſuppreſſe them, and in theſe preſent times of liberty, ſtirring up others to vilifie and decry them, may ſufficiently confirm Chriſtians againſt this temptation of caſting off Gods holy Ordinances. And it is obſervable, that though the devil hath been induſtrious to pull down the Ordinances of Gods worſhip; yet he hath laboured to arrogate this honour to himſelf; though he would not have God worſhipped, yet will he have ſolemn worſhip from his confederates tendred to himſelf; he hath his ſet weekly times to be worſhipped in, and ſolemn meetings, and aſſemblies of witches to adore him; he will have them pray to him, be baptized to the Devil, and take a new name; and he hath his abominable feaſts in imitation of the holy Sacramental feaſts appointed by Chriſt in his Churches, and will oft himſelf make ſet ſpeeches to exhort them unto evil, as the Miniſters of Chriſt exhort to holineſſe; this is teſtified by many credible perſons that have been ear-witneſſes of the confeſſions of thoſe curſed creatures, which have been actors in thoſe devilliſh worſhips. Let every one therefore fear to caſt off the holy Ordinances of God, leſt in the juſt judgement of God, he be thus given up to worſhip the devil. And thus for this ſeventh general charge, that the Quakers are enemies to all the Ordinances of Jeſus Chriſt.