Answer to George Keiths Libel, Answer

Answer to George Keiths Libel · Answer

p. 20A Short Anſwer, to George Keith's Lybel, Againſt a CATECHISM Publiſhed, by F. M. And left in the Hands of, Mr. George Layfield.

I Am not a little ſurpriſed to receive from the hands of Mr George Layfield a paper containing ſo many miſtakes, falſe, unjuſt, and invidous charges againſt a Catechiſm Publiſhed by F M. and the rather becauſe of his high pretences to an immideate miſion, and vain boaſting of an extraordinary Apoſtolick call, iuſulting over all others from unuſual high and enthuſiaſtick attainments compleat perfection, and unheard of experiences, which the moſt ſerious and Godly are ſtrangers unto and what they have any experince of moſt modeſt in diſcourſing of them and ſelfe denyed under their greateſt enjoyments I ſhall wave two things Firſt it's being delivered without a ſubſcriptionp. 21whereby it is to be looked upon as a Libel not …o be Anſwered, nor Regarded. Secondly, that complementing and flattering preamble, they have ever Condemned in others, and withal am glad … hear they have any Charity for any of a different Opinion from themſelves, which coming to hea… their Teachers will procure at any time. Firſt, He begins with a general Charge of many Errors, falſe and unſound things comprehended in the Cat…chiſm: And next, He aſſerts the Author to be guilty of many Omiſſions; and this from one pretending to Learning, who has diligently read and conſidered it, as he ſays, is ſo inſignificant and idle Imputation, which all modeſt, and ingenuous men, muſt never diſown; and that there are Omiſſions, wilful and deſigned Omiſſions, I ſhall never deny, for after it was firſt Compoſed, I did Compendize and Abreviate it, ofter than once, to ſuit it to the Capacities of ſuch for whom it was prepared, even young ones, to whom Quakers have had little regard hitherto, as to their Inſtruction in Religious Fundamentals: Neither have I ſeen any Writings of Quakers, even thoſe pretending to give accounts of their Principles, but juſtly may be charged with greater Omiſſions, then any yet diſcovered in the Catechiſm, Publiſhed by F. M. as the Doctrine of the Trinity, of Perſons in the God-head, the Ten Commandments, and the Lords Prayer, the Pattern of all Prayer; and George Fox his Received Catechiſm, induſtriouſly ſpread by Quakers, not only ſavours of Humane Learning, and words of mans wiſdom, but guilty of many weighty Omiſſions, and fills up a great part with ſtuff wherein there is no Religion; far leſs can they be called Fundamentals, as Salutations by words p. 22and Geſtures, Covering and Ʋncovering the Head, condemning Preaching in Steeple Houſes & Churches. Yea I appeal to the impartial, and unbiaſſed Reader, if the Catechiſm Compoſed by F. M. contains not more of the Principles of Religion, then one containing Quakers Principles, Compoſed by ſeveral Hands, as Crook, Pennington, Burroughs, Parker, Smith, and ſeveral others; now I refer my ſelf to every man, how invidious and unjuſt it is to Charge a Catechiſm compoſed by one with Omiſſions, while ſo many pretenders to immediate Revelations and Inſpirations, are guilty of ſo great Omiſſions, and vain Repeticions, and there is not a Book which I have ſeen writ by George Keith, but may as juſtly lie under this Charge, as my Catechiſm; & it were vain Oſtentation to diſown it. And for my own part, I have ever obſerved in all the Writings of men, Ignorance, Infirmity, and Imperfection, to magnifie the Excellency of the Scriptures above all Books of mens Compoſure; but it is no ſtrange thing to find Quakers quarrelling our ſuccinct way, of compoſing our Principles for young ones, becauſe they are oppoſite to ſo early Edification, which practice is very inconſiſtent with Scripture Precepts, and Preſidents of Training a Child when young, bringing up Children in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord; and Timothy knew the Scriptures from a Child; and the advantage of an early Inſtruction is witneſſed by the experiences of many Godly in all Ages, where attended with the Bleſſing of God, and purſued with Exhortation, until they arrive at a riper age: Now I leave all to conſider how inſignificant an imputation this of Omiſſion is.

p. 23Another general Charge is, that I have not declared from whence I have Received theſe things, and that I have owned in the Title Page of my Catechiſm, to be but a Collection from others: Theſe are heavy Charges with him, therefore ſhall anſwer them particularly. 1. Any that reads his Paper, may underſtand he is as guilty of that Omiſſion as any of his Neighbours, for he has not told from whence he had what is delivered in this Paper, and it was the beſt policy; for he durſt not aſſert it was from the Spirit of God, becauſe of the falſhood and malice it contains, as I ſhall make appear. 2. If they are the Truths of God, and agreeable to Scripture, it is eaſily determined from whence theſe Truths are, which were queſtioned by few, until G. K. whoſe Trade has been to Foment Contention, and ſtir up ſtrife in the Churches of Chriſt in the World; and whoſe Arguments are ſo ſlender and thred bare, that they ſcarce deſerve an Anſwer. 3. If I inclined to ſtuff my Doctrines and Diſcourſe upon all occaſions, with enlarged Accounts of Converſion or a work of Grace, with concomitant and conſequent Experiences of the Operations of Gods Holy Spirit, as Keith pretends to do, I might amuſe my Hearers; but Actions and Converſation are better demonſtrations of a work of Grace, then all Keith's vain boaſting Language, which with his ſelf magnifying Language, can be eſteemed nothing elſe then a Crying up and Preaching himſelf, inſtead of Chriſt; for though Paul oft declared his Converſion, and gloried in his Attainments, it was, that the Free Grace of God might be exalted, and ſelf abaſed; which Quakers are rarely acquainted with, either in Praying orp. 24Teaching, as many who have heard them always declare.

And becauſe Keith has ſhewn himſelf void of Charity, by ſhooting his invidious Thunderbolt at a diſtance, e're he knew or ſaw me, or I him, That I am infallibly a great ſtranger to the dealings of Gods Spirit on the hearts of his People; I am conſtrained to Juſtifie my Office, from thoſe Uncharitable Calumnies, and that Grace might be magnified, by giving this Relation, in the ſight of an All ſeeing and Omnipreſent God, that e're I Received the Impoſition of Hands, in that Scriptural and Orderly Separation unto my Holy and Miniſterial Calling, that I gave requiring ſatisfaction to Godly, Learned, and Judicious Diſcerning Men, of a work of Grace and Converſion wrought on my heart, at fifteen years of Age, by, and from the pains of a Godly Schoolmaſter, who uſed no ſmall diligence in Gaining Tender Souls to Gods Service and Fear; ſince which time, to the Glory of his Free Grace be it ſpoke, I have had the ſure Experiences of Gods various Dealings with me, according to his Infinite and Unerring Wiſdom, to my unſpeakable comfort, whereby all may ſee how far Grace is expected and deſired, with Gifts to qualifie for the Miniſterial Office; for not only was this required of me, but is expected of all Ordained by Presbyters; which experience ſhall enable me not to value what Keith, or any other Quakers ſhall ignorantly and groundleſly affirm, in judging raſhly of my State, for we are looked upon as of the World, and they only the People of God, as they commonly Cauterize us; but this is our comfort, we ſhall not be Judged in the Laſt Day p. 25by Quakers, who muſt as well as their Neighbours, give an account of their raſh and uncharitable judgings to a moſt Righteous Judge.

4. And that it is a Collection from the Scriptures of the Living God, I never will deny, but glory in it; it Keith mean from others, it is fa…, and there is …o mention of thoſe others in the … Page; & what hath Keith Publiſhed in moſt of his Books, but Collections, and many of them from the worſt of men, Hereticks long ſince conſured, with ſome wild, ſophiſtical, and unſcriptural Notions of his own, both repugnant to Scripture, and oppoſite to his Quaking Brethren: And Turpe est dectori eum cu…pa redarguit ipſum.

He aſſerts, I declare not that it is God, or Chriſt, or the Spirit of God, that convinceth or reproveth people of their ſins; but this is ſo falſe a Calumny, that none in charity can judge K…ith to be ſo great a Perfectioniſt as he proclaims himſelf to be; and this every one may be ſatisfied in, if they will but turn over to page 12 where it is plainly delivered, That God in Turning or Calling Sinners unto himſelf, does convince them of Sin and Miſery, Enlighten their Minds with the Knowledge of Chriſt, Renews their wills, &c. which is alſo the judgment of all my Brethren, and particularly of thoſe of the Westminſter Aſſembly, both in their Shorter and larger Catechiſm. And whereas he charges me with this, that I mention but little of the Spirit of God at all; and that this may appear as fal…e as the former, I refer my ſelf to every Reader, and eſpecially thoſe who have read and conſidered, better then Keith hath done; and let them turn over to the ſeveral pages, where I have made frequent mention p. 24duplicate page p. 25duplicate page p. 26of the Spirit of God, in ſo ſmall a Volumn, aſcribing to him that which was and is his peculia… work. 1. As being the Original Author, and Inditer of the Scriptures, page 3.2. As being one diſtinct from the Father and the Son, page 4.3 O… Chriſt's revealing the Will of God to us, by Hi… Word and Spirit. page 10.4. The Spirit of Go… applies to us the Redemption purchaſed by Chriſt, page 11.5. In the ſame page, being the Author of Regeneration, or the New Birth, according to the Scriptures, Joh. 3.6. The Spirits ſanctifying of us, page 15.7. That he teaches us to pray aright, and acceptable to God, page 41. From hence every one may learn, what credit to give to Keith's worth and Calumnies for the future; and though he conſtructs my Compaſſion over the tender Souls in a… American Deſart, to be a reflection againſt the Sc… and Engliſh in Virginia, I am ſatisfied, it has n… been ſo Received by them for whom it was intended, neither judged ſo by the Spirit of God, wh… much after the ſame manner pitties and compaſſi… nates the Ignorance of his own people, by the Prophe… Hoſ 4.6 My People are destroved for lack of knowledge. And I am perſwaded, Quakers ſhould n… have ſo great ſucceſs in drawing aſide ſilly Soul from the Truths and Ways of God, if it we… not for the abounding Ignorance of Virginia, an… other dark Corners of the World, who have no… yet received, and comprehended the Light ſhini… about them; and even their ignorance of th… Fundamental Truths contained in the Catech… And none deſerves more to be pitied for their … norance, than Quakers, and of the moſt Fundame… tal Truths, notwithſtanding of their high preten… p. 27…o the Spirit and Light within, as John Drummond, … Reputed and Received Quaker, a Reader of Keith's Books, with many others, who lately at my Houſe at Poccamok, before Keith and ſeveral other Witneſſes, publiſhed his groſs Ignorance of that Fundamental Article, That none could be Saved without Faith in Jeſus Chriſt; from which I underſtand ſince, that he had oft reproached me, drawing his own ignorant concluſions from thence. And if Quakers are ignorant hereof, what can they pretend …o know.

Another general charge is, That I nothing help the Ignorant, neither do I direct them to the true Viſion; but whoever will but conſider how many Fundamental Truths are laid down in the Catechiſm, for the Edification of the Ignorant, and plainly aſſerted, That Chriſt teaches his People with his Word and Spirit; and if this be not the true Viſion of God, Quakers muſt loſe themſelves, and be puzzled in finding of it: but he rather would inſinuate what harm it would do, if received; but this may diſcover how far men are for keeping ſinners in ignorance, by poſſeſſing their minds with a diſlike of this mean of Knowledge, which leads and directs ſinners to the Scriptures as the great mean of Knowledge, and profitable for inſtruction, containing all things neceſſary to be known by Chriſtians; and alſo to Chriſt and his Holy Spirit the Author and Efficient Cauſe of Knowledge, who can Enlighten without means, in a moſt immediate manner, but moſt ordinarily conveyes Knowledge by Means and Ordinances of his own Appointment concurring with his Holy Spirit, bleſſing and making them effectual to whom he pleaſes. And in p. 28Catechiſm many ſavoury truths delivered, no fins indulged, moſt du…ies relating to our general and ſpecial callings enjoined: Now …ow the receiving ſuch a form of ſound words containing poſitive Di… vinity, ſhould be prejudicial, and Kieth's works ſtuffed with Quibling, and Sophistical Controverſy, & his teachings filled with often repeated Calumny… againſt all the Reformed Churches, and Ʋn-ſcrip… tura… or unheard of Long-winded Similitudes, which amuſe the deluded, and ignorant, ſhould become profitable, let every one determine; and I am perſwaded, none has received or can receive injury therefrom, but by ſlighting and diſregarding it. And this my experience can teſtifie, that ſince the Catechiſm was oppoſed by Quakers, they have had a more univerſal, and kindly welcome, and reception. And here is no new Doctrine, but what Keith had oft ſeen in the Catechiſms of our Reformed Churches, which he had oft impugned with all his might and Sophiſtry; and his repeating his old Arguments, is only with vain Oſtentation, to ſhow himſelf among a poor, ignorant, and deluded people, and once poſſeſſing them with this, that what he delivers is immediately from the Spirit of God, he may deliver what he will, as infallible, and never to be queſtioned.

Having anſwered his Generals, I proceed to examine his particulars; and he ſuffers not the firſt page to paſs without a Cenſure, becauſe I have affirmed, God made the World out of Nothing: and that this is not only true, and agreeable to Scripture, that to word and expreſ… it otherwiſe, were inconſiſtent with the Revelation of God, and it were to jump in with the Adverſariesp. 29of Gods Truth, for we cannot conceive of Creation, without ſaying it was made out of Nothing which all d…ſcribe to be, Preductio ex nihilo; therefore as many places of Scripture as but mention Creation, ſay as much as I have done, for which I am quarrelled. Did not Creation give the Firſt Being to all things that were made, and conſ…quently were all nothing before God commanded them to be, for was not Light nothing till God ſaid, Let there be Light? Further, if God made the World, he either made it out of his own Eſſence, or ſome pre exiſtent matter from Eternity, or produced it out of nothing. I preſume you will not be ſo abſurd as to aſſert any of the firſt two, not the firſt, for ſo the Eſſence of God ſhould become diviſible and corruptible; not the ſecond, for then ſome matter ſhould be Co-eternal with God, which were blaſphemy to affirm: And it is no ſmall argument of the Omnipotence of God, to declare and affirm, eſpecially to young ones, the World was made out of nothing, ſeeing they know not that it is implied in the word Creation; for becauſe of the Omnipotent Power of God in Creation, Acclamations of Praiſe are aſcribed to him, Pſal 33.6. By the word of the Lord were the Heavens made, & all the Host of them, by the breath of his mouth, Acts 4.24, In that joynt Acclamation of the Apoſtles, Lord thou art good, which haſt made Heaven, and Earth, and the Sea, and all that in them is: And it is no adding to the Word of God, while nothing is delivered but Gods Mind in his Word; though Keith next in his pretences to Nailer himſelf ſhould diſcover ſo much palpable weakneſs as to cenſure it again: And I have alſo aſſerted in my Catechiſm, that there is no work ſo peculiar to any of the Perſons of the Holy Trinity, but all of them have a hand in each; ſo that hisp. 30advice which he calls ſufficient, is prevented, if he ha… diligently read and conſidered it, as he has ſaid.

In page 3. He chargeth me for mentioning no other Teacher but the Scriptures to direct us to Se… and Glorifie God; this is no ſtrange imputation fro… Quakers, who notwithſtanding of all their fair pretences, yet have uttered many vilipending expreſſion thereof, calling it a dead Letter, a noſe of Wax, P… & Ink Divinity; & Keith in his publick Teaching… Accomack, compared it to a Letter wrote from an abſent Husband to his Wife, which as ſoon as he Return is to be laid aſide; any may eaſily apprehend wh… this Gentleman would be at, who alſo in his Bo… though he would make fools believe he commen… the Scriptures; yet immediately he accuſes it of … ſufficiency, and imperfection, and affirms there a… ſeveral things which the Scriptures Teaches not, … which we muſt have immediate Revelations; an… Daniel Acres, a Teacher in North Carolina, decla… to me, it bordered with Blaſphemy to call the Scriptures the Word of God But he further affirms, … ſhould have joyned the Spirit of God and Chriſt with the Scriptures, and that I ſhould not only hav… done it, but that it is really done, every Reader … find page 10 where it is taught, That Chriſt Reve… his Will by his Word and Spirit; neither dare any … ſert, I have ſaid it was only the Scriptures, exclud… Chriſt or the Holy Spirit of God; and yet we hav… ground from the Scriptures themſelves to affirm, … the Scriptures are a rule to which we are directed … the Spirit of God, & our Saviour too, and the ful…e and ſufficiency of the Scriptures for our direction, … aſſerted from the Spirit of God, though we are u… nimous in depending on the Bleſſing of God, preſence of Chriſt, and concurrence of his Holy Spiritp. 31to make the Scriptures effectual to our Salvation, with all other Means and Ordinances; yet the Scriptures are the Rule for our Inſtruction and Direction, though Chriſt, and the Holy Spirit of God the Opener up, and ſole Interpreter of the Scriptures to us, as all of us Teach, Believe and Own; which is evident, from our Praying before and after all our publick and private Adminiſtrations, which many Quakers are abſolute ſtrangers to, as John Porter, of Elizabeth River, who never was heard to Pray either before or after Teaching; this Savours of Opus Operatum: I ſay, the Holy Spirit of God endues us with skill to underſtand, apply and obey the Scriptures; ſo that Quakers confound the Rule, with the skill in making uſe of that Rule; but our judgment is fully delivered in anſwer to that Queſtion in the Aſſemblies Catechiſm. How is the Word made effectual to Salvation; and that all that read theſe Sheets may ſee how pernicious it is to quarrel our Doctrine concerning the Scriptures, let them peruſe thoſe following Scriptures; 1. Tim. 3.16. All Scripture is given by Inſpiration of God, and is profitable for Doctrine, for Reproof, for Correction, for Instruction in Righteouſneſs; and in the foregoing verſe, The Holy Scriptures which is able to make thee wiſe unto Salvation, through Faith which is in Jeſus. 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furniſhed unto every good work; and are we not directed to the Law and to the Testimony, but no where directed to the Light in all men, and conſequently in the Heathen and Reprobate, to be our Guide to Glory: Our Saviours advice favours and confirms our Judgment; Search the Scriptures, for in them you think ye have Eternal Life, and they are they that testifie of me. And we find our Lord in dealing with the Capcious Jews, appealing to the Scripturesp. 32as the Rule of Faith, and Judge of Controverties, ſaying, It is written, and Cites the Prophets oft for their Conviction, and charges them with ignorance of the Scripture, as the cauſe and ground of their Error, ſaying, Ye Err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God And though dim Natures Light, the Rellicks of one fallen from perfection, and the works of Creation, render all inexcuſable for their Ignorance of their Creator, yet are very lame, and inſufficient fully to teach their Duty, or to diſcove… all their ſins, or teach them the knowledge of God and his Son Jeſus Chriſt, our Redeemer, whom Quakers ſay is in all men; but can this Jeſus of their be the true Chriſt, and ſavingly in all men; ſeeing there are Nations and Kingdoms, who have not the leaſt remote or dim notions of Chriſt the Son of God, as Saviour, or Mediator between Sinners, and God, who was in Chriſt Reconciling the World to himſelf; and if ſo as Quakers affirm, then blinded Paga… Nations are in as brave a caſe, as the Churches o… Chriſt, to whom the Oracles of God are committed who are pronounced bleſſed beyond all others, … Gods Choſen Inheritance, and particularly from the great and tranſcending priviledge of enjoying … Revealed Will of God, to whom the Divine Oracles were committed, and blinded Nations were ou… Predeceſſors, within ſome few Centuries paſt.

And what Keith underſtands by ſilent waiting … God, which he calls a ſilence of mind and thoughts … I fear neither he, no… any Quaker for him, can ever demonſtrate from plain Scripture Teſtimony; and … is not the firſt time they have been puzled to tell … what it is, though ſome have preferred it to the Re… ding of the Scriptures, and a Mean appointed, … God, for right underſtanding of the Scripture; … p. 33this new notion of theirs is warranted no where in the Scripture; ſome of them have taken upon them to call it a ſilent poſture of the heart, without thinking good or evil; but this is ſo ſtrange a conceit, that it is inconſiſtent with the nature of the heart and ſpirit of man, which is in the judgment of moſt, and ſolid experience of all, ſo ſtirring and active a thing, that it is never at quiet or reſt, but always employed about either good or evil, and this ſo many as call a Spirit Res Gegitandi, ſay, is while man is aſleep; but further it is inconſiſtent with Scripture waiting, for herein there muſt be an exerciſe of the Graces of Faith, Patience, Hope, &c. Pſal 4.1. I waited patiently for the Lord, and he enclined unto me, and heard my Cry; here is both the exerciſe of Patience, and the uſe of Prayer, in the Pſalmiſts ſucceſsful waiting, and how this can be without exerciſing the heart about good or evil; this is much like the Commentary and vulgar gl…ſs of Quakers on that Text, Mat. 6.…6. When thou prayeſt, enter into thy Cloſet, and when thou haſt ſhut the door, or according to theſe able Commentators,) ſhut thy heart, which is an unfit frame for God, to whom we muſt open, and before whom we muſt pour out our hearts Another Inſtance of Scripture waiting, very unlike Quakers waiting you may find in Lam. 3 26. It is go…d that a man ſhould both hope and quietly wait for the Salvation of the Lord; and let every one be …umpire in this caſe, whether there can be the exerciſe of thoſe Graces, where the heart thinks neither good nor evil; and they are often puzled to ſatisfie us, whether their ſilent waiting be publick or private Worſhip; for if it is not done in Faith, it muſt be ſin, and conſequently no acceptable Service to God; if private or ſecret, it ought to be gone about with as great ſecrecy, and to go too publick p. 34with it, is viſible Hypocriſie to be ſeen of men. If publick Worſhip, it muſt tend to the Edification of others; but how the perfect ſilence, without all Admonition, Rebuke, Prayer, Inſtruction, or expreſſions of Praiſe edifies is unconceivable, and as they meet, ſo they diſperſe oft, without the leaſt motion to ſpeak, which demonſtrates how fruitleſs many ſuch Meetings are; and what they amuſe the World with their imaginary experiences of refreſhments from their ſilent Meeting, when nothing is ſaid, they muſt needs be like thoſe, which an Engliſh Congregation received from a Quaking Dutch, woman, Teaching in an unknown Language; and what reaſon we have of believing their boaſted of Experiences from negative imaginary Worſhip, and they regard not the Experiences of thouſands of the Godly, of raviſhings of Soul, and ineffable Joy and Comfort from Praiſing of God in ſinging of Pſalms, and from Communicating in the Supper of the Lord, as performed by us, and in moſt of the Reformed Churches.

In the next place he condemns our aſſerting and believing there are Three Perſons in the God head▪ It is no wonder to find ſo great and tranſcending a Myſtery, rather to be Reverenced, Adored, and Believed, then Reaſoned and Diſputed, as it has been miſtaken and quarrelled both by Ancient and Modern Hereticks in the World. I encline not to … up the groſs Errors of Ancient Hereticks concerning this Doctrine, as of Apollinarius, Arrius, Rhofinus Neſtori us, Sabelius, and others, and am not a li… concerned, that Quakers pretending to ſo great and ſo good things, ſhould joyn hand in hand with ſuch whoſe ſubtilties have been long ſince cunningly ſilenced and exploded; and that they by their frequent and ſcurrilous Barkings againſt ſo Fundamental … p. 35Truth, as Solomon Acles, who in Barbadees aſſerted this Doctrine to be a Presbyterian Fiction, and moſt others of that Gang I have converſed with, had moſt ignorant, and groſs Notions of a perſon, dreaming it to be ſome groſs, material, viſible and corporeal Subſtance, like unto man, and looked upon it, an abſurdity to apply any ſuch thing to God at all; and here I find one of their Learned and Litigious Champions, quarrelling Three Perſons in the God-head, or Divine Eſſence, and how ſuch men can be Reconciled among themſelves, I leave to thoſe that are concerned; I muſt confeſs, if I underſtood what Keith intends by this Charge ſo obſcurely delivered, I could with greater fulneſs and particularity anſwer; and waving that uncharitableneſs he was notoriouſly guilty of concerning me, and others, I conceive he only contends about words, by calling Three Perſons in the God head, not Scripture Language; but words of mans wiſdom, as all our Doctrines and Writings are commonly Calumniated by ſuch. And this I muſt Animadvert the Reader, that I am the more confirmed in that which I charged him with at my Houſe, that moſt of his Writings are quibling Controverſies, and his Debates a diſputing about words, little to the Edification of Souls, but tending to Foment Diviſions in the Churches of Chriſt upon Earth of which he had been a great Inſtrument already, by making perverſe Diſputings his Trade in the World, and to confirm it, he brings a ſublime and tranſcending Myſtery, rather to be adored and believed, then diſputed and brought under the Debate of men of corrupt minds; but 1. If words not expreſſed in Scriptures in the ſame Letters and Syllables, be words of mans wiſdom, and an adding to the Scriptures, the Words of the Living God, then all Expoſitions ofp. 36Scriptures, though agreeable to Scripture, if not numerically the ſame words, muſt be condemned and thruſt out of doors; and then what will become of moſt of Keith's Teachings, which are delivered in publick as immediately from the Spirit of God, yet ſtuffed to the amuſing rather than Edification of his Hearers, with unſcriptural, unuſual, and unheard of Alluſions of a Key, and loſing and finding a Key, as alſo of a Table and covering of a Tabling, with Trenchers and Napkins, and a Cupboard at Home, and no Meat in it, as alſo a Husbands Writing Letters to his Wife, while abſent, all which was delivered in Long winded Diſcourſes at Thomas Fooks his Houſe in Onankok, and Nuſswaddux, to numerous and mixed Auditories of men and women, rather offended then edified and affrighted from, then engaged to Quakers Principles, or Practices. 2. If I ſhould make it appear, that Quakers are as guilty of uſing words not to be found in the Scriptures, as any of their Neighbours, will not all men believe them very perverſe to Ce…ſure others for that which they practice themſelves, and conſequently from Keith's words a… to the words of the Scriptures; And 1. Let any be prevailed with, to obſerve the Writing of this Litigious Author, which is filled in every page with Humane Learning, and Scholaſtick Notions, making as much uſe of School Art in all his ſophiſtical Argumentation, as any that has put Pen to Paper, as he… himſelf owned the uſe of Humane Learning in all his Writings. 2 I ſhall inſtance to you from themſelves not only words, but ſentences and phraſes, which none could ever yet find or hear of, in or from the Scriptures, ſome whereof are Pens, others belong to Barclay, others are uſual and common in the mouth of moſt Quakers, as thoſe uncouch phraſes of Miraclesp. 37in Spirit, which Keith made uſe of at my Houſe; a meaſure of God, as if God were divided in parcels, from the Spirit in Ward by ravening the Seed in Captivity ravening comprehending brain, fleſhly comprehenſions, Traditional Read Knowledge, Vulturous Eye, with many others; and for words none more new and invented, without any foundation in the Scriptures, then ſome uſed by Quakers; as Vehicle of the Spirit, Fermentation of the Spirit, and many ſuch like. 3. How much is it to be Lamented, that the frequent Debates, and needleſs Janglings of Keith concerning this Subject, could not have ſufficed him; he muſt now upon his running Circuit, raiſe a new Debate, and Controverſy, about words, which is Cenſured in the words of the Holy Apoſtle, 1 Tim 6.4. He is proud knowing nothing, but doting about Queſtions, and Strifes of words, whereby cometh Strifes, Railing, Evil Surmiſings. 5. Perverſe Diſputings of men of corrupt minds, and deſtitute of the Truth, ſuppoſing that Gain is Godlineſs, from ſuch turn away, or withdraw thy ſelf: And all ſuch are Cenſured in the words of Holy Calvin, that Eminent man of God, Lib. 1. Cap. 13. The Hereticks bark at the name Perſon, and others too preciſe Carp at all words deviſed by men, and would have all to reſtrain not only their meanings, but their very words, ſtrictly within the bounds of Scripture; who are be Calvin Charged as unreaſonable; who quarrel words expreſſing nothing but what is teſtified and approved by Scripture, and what hinders, ſaith he, but we may in more plain words expreſs ſuch things as are myſterious to ordinary Capacities, where there are neceſſary grounds urging thereunto? ſuch, ſaith he, as quarrel this, muſt be reputed, to be grieved at the Light of the Truth, becauſe he quarrels this, that thep. 38Truth is made ſo eaſie & plain to be diſcerned; and the reaſon or ground given by this worthy Author, why the Churches of Chriſt are neceſſitated to uſe ſuch novelty of words, if they may be ſo called; is when the Truth is to be Defended againſt Rangle… who deride it with Quibbles; ſo the Old Fathers being troubled with Falſe Doctrines, were neceſſitated to expreſs themſelves in exquiſite plainneſs, leaſt they ſhould leave any crooked by ways to the wicked, to whom the doubtful Conſtructions of words, were hiding Holes of Error; therefore it was that the Fathers, in Confutation of Arius, were neceſſitated in aſſerting the Divinity of the Son, to call him HOMOUSION, or Conſubſtantial with the Father: And againſt Sabellius, who denied all Diſtinction between the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoſt, but what was Nominal; the Defenders of Truth were neceſſitated to ſay, there did ſubſiſt in the Unity of God, a… Trinity of Perſons, which is moſt ſuitable to, though… not rigidly the ſame with the Language of John, There are Three, and theſe Three are One Trinity, Tres Ʋnes, or Tres in Ʋno, Trinity.

Having offered theſe Generals, I come particularly to the Charge, for aſſerting there are Three Perſons in the God-head: All that Keith would ſeem to Alledge, is only that it is not Scripture Language; whereby he would ſeem to favour the great Fundamental Principle, moſt of his Brethren have been blaſphemouſly barking againſt theſe Thirty or Forty Years; and devoutly to ſay, There are Three in One: But it were to be wiſhed, that he, and all of them, would demonſtrate themſelves according to their uſual boaſting, more skilful in the Scriptures, then any of their Neighbours, by declaring freely, & ingenuouſly, what thoſe Three are called, that arep. 39but One God, and what Subſtantive, they joyn with the Adjective three, which is diſtinguiſhed in the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoſt; and then they would have dealt plainly without all Popiſh Equivocation, or Reſervation; which all that Read their Books, and frequently Converſe with them, will find the generality of Quakers as guilty of, as any ſubtile Jeſuit at St. Omers. For if this great and Fundamental Truth, would be made plain to the Edification of the Church of God, to which it is ſo highly neceſſary that God can neither be known, believed in, or called upon aright without it, then ſome denomination muſt be aſcribed, and given, differing from one another in Incommunicable Properties; for they muſt either be three ſomethings, or three nothings; the former being rejected, if three ſomethings, they muſt be either three Gods, three Eſſences, three Parts, of the ſame Eſſence, or three Qualities, or three Names, or three Manners, or wayes of Subſiſting; To aſſert to Three Gods, were inſufferable Blaſphemy: Though Joſiah Coal is as guilty of as great Blaſphemy in a Letter to George Fox, which as it came from a Quaker, was alſo Approved of by Pen himſelf, in his Anſwer to Mr. John Faldo, a Miniſter I lately ſaw in London; which for the Readers ſatisfaction, and abhorrence of all, I ſhall here Inſert.

Dear George Fox, who art the Father of many Nations, whoſe Life has reached through us thy Children, even to the Iſles afar off; to the Begetting of many again unto a Lively Hope; for which, Generations to come, ſhall call thee Bleſsed; whoſe Being and Habitation is in …he powtr of the Higheſt, in which thou Rules & Governs …n Righteouſneſs: And thy Kingdom is Eſtabliſhed in Peace, and the Encreaſe thereof is without End.

Let Pen, and as many as will dare to Juſtifie this, p. 40conſider the Language of the Righteous God: H… that Justifies the Wicked, and he that Condemneth th… Juſt, even they both are Abomination to the Lord.

But to return, To aſſert Three Eſſences, were to conceal Three Eſſentially Diſtinct, which were to fall in with the former abſurdity: To receive or be lieve three parts of the ſame Eſſence, or God head which were moſt inconſiſtent with that Oneneſs and abſolute Simplicity in the Nature of God, which cannot be conceived diviſible; and to call the three in one, three qualities or accidents, were to believe accidents in God, which were abſurd; and to aſſe… nothing elſe but three Names, were to fall in with the long ſince exploded Hereſy of Apollinarius, and to hold Faith repugnant to the Rule of Gods Word whence he has twice Three Names, and yet aſſerted to be but Three only; ſo that it muſt be Three Diſtinct Manners, Methods, or Wayes of Subſiſting, and is Termed in the Schools, Ens, and Modus Entis. And according to the unanimous Opinion of our Reforming and Reformed Divines: A Perſon in the God-head, is whole God, not abſolutely or ſimply conſidered, but by way of ſome perſonal Properties or a manner of Being, or Diſtinct Subſiſtence, haveing the whole God-head in it. Ʋſher, and Calvin, call a Divine Perſon, a Subſiſtence in the Divine Nature, which having relation to the other, is diſtinguiſhed from them, with Incommunicable Properties▪ So that though the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoſt, be really and eſſentially the ſame in Eſſence or Being, yet they have ſomething differing from one another; for if the Word, Joh. 1.1. had been ſimply, and abſolutely God without any thing peculiar to … ſelf, it had been improper, and amiſs to have ſaid, … was not only God, but with God. To which D… ctrine p. 41Tertullian agrees, ſaying, there is in God a certain Diſpoſition, or Diſtribution, which changeth nothing of the Unity of the Eſſence. I need not heap up theſe manifold Teſtimo…ies both of old, & New Teſtament, aſſerting Three in One, and One in Three; and if any quarrel the word perſon, they ſhall find this plain Scripture Language, Heb 1.3. ſpeaking of Chriſt the Second Perſon in the Trinity; ſaith, He is the Brightneſs of his Fathers Glory; and Expreſs Image of his Perſon, can any ſerious, and illuminated Reader paſs over this Text, without owning the word Perſon, to be Scripture Language, and that the Father is a Perſon, diſtinct in Perſon from God the Son; for he is not called the Fathers Perſon, Remark it Reader, but the Expreſs Image of his Fathers Perſon: And if none muſt be called a Perſon, but the Father, as ſome Quakers have ſaid, then what was Chriſt's Perſon, when Mediator, having two Natures of God and man, not mans perſonality, for ſo Divine Nature would have ſatisfied in the Perſon of the Humane Nature, which would imply no ſmall Abſurdities, or he ſhould be the Perſon of the Father, which were repugnant to the formerly cited Text: Our Mediator was without all Perſon. And finally, if the Father is a Perſon, and the Son the Image of this Perſon, why not the Holy Ghoſt a Perſon alſo, and Three in One, and One in Three

The Next Charge is, and that a Weighty one in P. 9, & 10. And that is for mentioning only Three Offices of Chriſt, as Mediatour, a Prophet, Priest, and King. And that Really, Savingly, and only to thoſe that Believe in him, and to whom He is Actually a Saviour; and that thoſe Three Offices include, All that Chriſt did, and was Requeſite to be done as Mediatour; None, even Kieth p. 42himſelf cannot deny, as he readily owned at my Houſe, all was Reducible to thoſe Three Offices, which are all we have mentioned in the Scriptures, and thoſe Three. are very Obvious and Plain.

1. He is called, and that Deſervedly, The Grea… Prophet of His Church, according to that Promiſe of, and Prophecy concerning him; A Prophet ſhal… the Lord your God raiſe up unto you, like unto hi… Brethren, Him ſhall ye hear in all things. And thi… Promiſe was fulfilled in his Coming, and Executing this his Prophetical Office, by being the Great Goſpel-Preacher to his Church, and People; Declaring the Way, and Means of Salvation, by a Mediatour, delivering the Will of His Father; This was Propheſied alſo of him in Iſaiah. 61.1, 2, 3. and Hebr. 3.1. He is called, the Apoſtle of our Profeſſion. And He is the Sole Teacher of the Mysterys of Salvation from the Father. Matth. 11.27 No Man knoweth the Father ſave the Son, and he to whom ſoever the Son will reveal him. And this Our Great Prophet do's not always immediately, elſe K's. Teachings and all the Teachings among Quakers, were moſt needleſs, and vain, but,

1 By the Holy Scriptures, Profitable for Doctrine, and able to make the Man of God, Wiſe unto Salvation.

2. By His Meſſengers, and Miniſters, whom he has commanded to Go, and Teach all Nations; and ſent to give Warning to His Churches, and People, Therefore from their Office, and Teaching, called Teachers.

And Laſtly, by his Holy Spirit in the Hearts of his People, where Chriſt dwells not Subſtantially, as Quakers ſay, but Spiritually by Faith; and ſo is united by Faith tho' Locally Diſtant, without thep. 43Preſence of the things United, as K. would inſinuate, and aſſert in his Paper. For if there can be a Moral Union, and Relation ſtanding firm betwixt a Husband, and Wife, the one in Europe, the other in America, and a Natural Union, and nigh Relation, between Parent, and Child, much more between Chriſt in Heaven, and believers on Earth, by a Spiritual, and indiſſolvible Union, by Faith, which is not an abſent Chriſt to Believers, with whom he is by Gracious, and Spiritual Influences in their Hearts; And K's. Subtle, and Sophiſtical Arguments from the General, and Univerſal Preſence of Chriſt as God, to his ſpecial and Gracious Preſence as Mediatour, will take Place with none, but Ignorant, and Deluded Quakers; for ſo the Devils in Hell, ſhould enjoy as great a Priviledge as Believers on Earth.

And alſo it is granted that he is the Eternal High-Prieſt of His Church, who Offered and gave Himſelf a Sacrifice once upon the Croſs for Sinners and by the Efficacious Merits of this Death, renders the Perſons and Services of his People acceptable unto God, not only Teaching them by His Holy Spirit, what to pray for as they ought; but alſo continues an High-Prieſt at the Right-hand of God, making continual Interceſſion for Believers, Heb. 7 15. Wherefore he is able to Save them to the uttermost, that come to God by Him, ſeeing he ever Liveth to make Interceſſion for us; all which is fully and ſoundly delivered in the Catechiſms, and Confeſſions of Faith of our Divines of the Weſtminster Aſſembly.

And Laſtly, He is the Sole King, Head and Lawgiver of his Church; by which Kingly Power, and Authority, he Appoints Laws and Statutes, for the Counſel and Direction of his people, even to the p. 42duplicate page p. 43duplicate page p. 44binding of Conſcience, with the whole inward man, in whom Chriſt does Rule, and Reign, even in and over ſuch as ſubject their Souls to his Government, ſuffering Chriſt to Reign over them

2 He Subdues and Conquers ſinners Naturally Rebels to himſel…, making them from an Un-willing, a Willing People, in the Day of his power.

3 In defending of his Church from all their Enemies, aſſuring them, the Gates of Hell ſhall not prevail againſt them.

4 He reſtrains the Fury, and rage of, and Finaly, executes his Wrath on all His, and their Enemys.

And we never did diſown that the ſpecial Fruits of all theſe Three Offices are wrought in the heart of Believers; which is inconſiſtent with that Prophet, Prieſt, & King in all men according to Quake… Doctrine, while the Scripture affirms, they are Reprobate, in whom Chriſt is not. And it is plai… the Quakers common Chriſt, is not the true Mediatour and Meſſiah, who only dwells in the hearts o… Believers by Faith, and not of Infidels that do not ſo much as know by any kind of knowledge, a… yet they are Enlightned by him, as they ſay, with … ſufficient, and ſaving knowledge. How unneceſſa… muſt it be to multiply Offices in our Mediatou… ſeeing all are reducible to thoſe Three? and muſt he not be a Man of a Perverſe Spirit, and contentio… mind, that would raiſe a Debate upon this head and K's Evaſion and Quibble for this is extreem… ſilly, and weak; for (ſaith he) the Commands … Gods Moral Law are reducible to two; yet … branched out into Ten; for the firſt Diviſion … the Divine Commands, was by God himſelf into t… Tables or two Commands; yet the ſame G… p. 45makes the Enumeration or Diviſi… … to ten; but no ſuch Warrant can be produced for this Enumeration or Multiplication of Offices in our Mediator; for it were as impertinent, and idle, as if every Duty required, and every Sin prohibited in every Command, were a new Command; and there ſhould be thrice ten inſtead of ten; and what muſt be thought of thoſe that multiply Offices in Chriſt, calling every thing that Chriſt is called a new Office in the Mediator, as a Father, a Shepherd, an Husband, Phyſician, &c. Whence he is called the Way, a Rock, a Door, a Vine; all which denote no new Offices, but ſignifie his Richneſs, Fulneſs, Benefits, Love and Favour to Believers, denoting that Spiritual Relation to Believers, and Chriſt's uſefulneſs to them in all Eſtates and Conditions.

His next Charge, Page 10, 11. I have affirmed Chriſt Died, or was Sacrificed for Sinners. Now let any determine whether this Anſwer does not ſet forth the Fruit, and Satisfaction of Chriſt's Death for Sinners; for if he Died for Sinners, and for our Sins, is it not enough to us; for if we had not been Sinners, we ſhould not have ſtood in need of Redemption: and if ſinners were Redeemed, no others did want it. And tho' he ſeems to reprehend it with Scripture Language, yet his Charge is more obſcure, and defective, then that he finds fault with; either that quarrelled at muſt be true, or falſe, or deficient; if true, why Cenſured, if falſe, let Quakers ſpeak their minds plainly; if deficient, there muſt be ſome for whom Chriſt Died, beſides Sinners. If I have not multiplied words, to humour captious and critical Quakers, I hope I ſhall never have cauſe to repent it, where I Studiouſly avoided all prolixity, and endeavoured all ſuccinctneſs and brevity.

p. 46But to return to the matter in hand concerning the Nature, Efficacy, and Extent of Chriſt's Redemption, we have to do with many Adverſaries, whoſe various Sentiments are not to be reconciled either among themſelves, or with the Holy Scriptures: for ſome ſay, Chriſt Died abſolutely for all, and every individual ſinner, and in Laying down his Life, did equally intend the Salvation of all; others ſay, he Died for all conditionally, from a foreſeen condition of Faith; ſo it was only a conditional Salvation, or Redemption, wherein not one was abſolutely Redeemed; this by ſome is called a poſſible Salvation; whereby they explain Univerſal Redemption to be nothing elſe, then Chriſt's Pacifying an Angry God for all, and leaving all in a poſſibility of Salvation if they will; others of a middle ſort, ſay, he Died abſolutely for the Elect of God, but conditionally for the Reprobate: But the moſt unanimous, and received Doctrine of the Reformed Churches, is, That whom Chriſt Died for, he abſolutely and compleatly Redeemed; and that was ſome Select and Choſen Number, given him of God the Father, to Lay down his Life for them, as our Lord himſelf hints plainly to us in John 17. at large, of which ſays he, No… was Leſt.

That I may diſcover the abſurdities of the former Opinion; conſider firſt, Chriſt's abſolute Redemption for all, and every individual Sinner: For 1. So Christ ſhould have intended to have ſaved thoſe that were actually in Hell, and condemned to Eternal Flames, before his Death, under an Irrevocable Sentence of Wrath. 2. What a Diſhonour were it to God to ſay, he intended, and at ſo dear a rate, as the Death of his own Son, to go about the Redeeming of thoſe whom he knew from all Eternity ſhould be infalliblyp. 47Damned; can it be imagined, Chriſt intended to Save ſue? 3. If all men and women, were abſolutely Redeemed, all ſhould be infallibly Saved, for Salvation ſuppoſes Redemption, and Redemption ſecures Salvation; but it is evident to all, the ſmalleſt number ſhall Enter in at the Strait Gate 4. If God ſhould purpoſe and intend the Salvation of all abſolutely, and yet the ſmalleſt number eſcape Eternal Wrath, what ſhould the purpoſes and intentions of God be more then the purpoſes, and intentions of his Creatures that can be fruſtrated, diſappointed and come to nought?

Let us view the abſurdities and inconſiſtencies that flow naturally from the univerſal, cnuditional Redemption, whereby all are left under a poſſibility of Salvation, if they will; and 1. If ſo, then it would have been poſſible, for all to have been Damned, and not one Saved; for if man had but reſiſted as it was in his Power, becauſe not abſolutely Redeemed, then Chriſt might have Died really for nothing, and have ſeen no Fruit of the Travait of his Soul: And, let ſerious Souls conſider what an inſignificant Death, and fruitleſs inefficacious Redemption ſhould he have Paid. 2. If a conditional Redemption, and a poſſibility of Salvation was all that Chriſt Died for, I would Enquire, Who it is that performs the Condition, God or man; if men can believe or repent of themſelves, then the Conditional Salvation, might avail them ſomething; but he cannot believe, it is Gods ſpecial Gift, Epheſ. 2. And man cannot repent, for it is his grant, 2 Tim

1 What will a Poſſibility of Salvation for all men avail, and a conditional Redemption ſignifie, if all men are not left alſo in a Poſſibility of believing and Repenting alſo, if, and when they would.p. 483. If a conditional Univerſal Redemption, be all the Redemption accompliſhed by Chriſt, then it is as impoſſible for man to be ſaved, as if he had not bee Redeemed at all; ſeeing it is as impoſſible for ma… to perform the Conditions, as it is for him to redee… himſelf; and all may ſee if this be Quakers un… verſal Redemption, what a poor, lame, ineffectua… and half Redemption they believe in, and build upon for their Salvation; as Barclay has declared, in Publiſhing his Ʋniverſal Redemption, ſufficiently confuted, by Mr. Brown; not anſwered … he was Removed off the Stage, by Death.

And ſuch as tread the middle path, holding an… abſolute, Redemption of Gods Elect, and only … a Conditional Salvation of the Reprobate; They hold (1.) A Twofold manner of Redemption, which we have no ground for in the Scriptures all that are Redeemed, being Redeemed alike.

2 If ſo, the greateſt part of Mankind are left in as bad a ſtate, as if they were not Redeemed at all.

If we conſider the Merit of Chriſts Crucifixion and Death, materially in regard of its Sufficiency, Dignity, Worth, and Merit, by Reflecting on the Perſon who Suffered and Died, and of the manner how he Accompliſhed it, with Faithfulneſs, and that moſt Willingly, and Chearfully, that it was no leſs Price then the Death of him, who was God, Equal with God the Father; The Ranſome muſt be owned, and believed, of Infinite Value, and Worth, Merit, and Dignity, and ſo not only a compleat, and ſufficient Satiſfaction for the ſins of the whole World, but was in it ſelf a compleat Ranſome, for the Offences of a Thouſand Worlds. And ſo if we conſiderp. 49the Sufficiency of his Price, and Ranſome, he Died for all, he Offered a Sacrifice, and gave an Atonement that was enough for all, he gave himſelf a Ranſome for all, and Taſted Death for every man; further we aſſert, and believe, that all Nations, Kingdoms, Tongues, and People were Redeemed by Jeſus Chriſt; ſo according to the School diſtinction, He Dyed, for, Generibus Singulorum, for, All kinds of men, not for Singulis Generum, not for, Every Individual Man and Woman according to Johns Viſion, Rev. 5.9. For thou waſt ſtain, and haſt Redeemed us to God, by thy Blood, out of every Kindred, and Tongue, and People, and Nation, ſo that all and every one that is or ſhall be Redeemed, are Redeemed by Jeſus Chriſt, who is the only Saviour, and no Name given under Heaven whereby we can be Saved, but by the Name Jeſus; ſo he is the Saviour of all. And this we dare moſt boldly and Warrantably affirm, that Chriſts Death is Efficacious for the Salvation of all, whom he died for, and not one of theſe Predeſtinated to Eternal Life, ſhall Periſh, but be brought Infallibly to Glory; Rom. 8.30. Whom he did Predeſtinate them he alſo Called, and whom he Called, them he alſo Juſtified, and whom he Juſtified, them he alſo Glorified. From which Scripture, none can be Ignorant, unleſs they wilfully ſtop, and Blind the Eyes of their underſtandings, what an inſeperable connection is between the Means, and the End, and all flowing from the Everlaſting Purpoſe, and immutable Predeſtination of God; and as many as Chriſt Died for, ſhall be infallibly Saved, and to whomſoever he has purchaſed Salvation, to as many he has Purchaſed all the Means and Conditions, of Salvation, as Faith, Repentance, and all thep. 50Holy Graces of the Spirit of God; for ſaith the Spirit of God, as many as were ordained to Eternal Life, Believed; neither dare we believe ſuch an ineffectual Redemption, as Quakers hand in hand with Arminians, and Pelagians do hold, which only leaves man in a poſſibility of Salvation, if the ſinner will; but may be, the moſt of Chriſts Redeemed ones, go to Hell notwithſtanding; while Chriſt, John 17. Speaks of his Redeemed and Ranſomed ones, as thoſe Select Ones, whom the Father had given him out of the World, for whom, that is the World, He would not ſo much as Pray, far leſs dye; and Keith himſelf owns in his Malicious Uncharitable Book, Against New-England Miniſters, that there are thoſe for whom it may be ſaid, Chriſt Dyed not. And ſo this muſt be the Gentlemans Poſition, Chriſt dyed for all, and dyed not for all; which is a plain conradiction; and farewel Keith's univerſal Redemption, which if it had not evaniſhed in a contradiction, was uncomfortable, and ineffectual to the greateſt number of Redeemed ones.

I Remember in the beginning Keith ſays, I ſpeak very little of the Spirit of God at all, which I have already ſhown in the moſt convincing, and particular manner to be Falſe, by directing the Reader to the particular Pages, and now I am to ſhow he contradicteth himſelf, by owning in ſeveral Queſtions, and Anſwers, my aſſerting, The Spirits Operations, in calling Effectually, in Regeneration, in Working Faith in us, and Ʋniting us to Christ? But while he is neceſſitated to own this; He affirms it, To be inconſistent with, and contradictory to, my … and My Brethrens Doctrine; which he endeavours to confirm, by a far fetched, and inconſequential reaſon, becauſe we deny all extraordinary immediate, andp. 51Objective Revelation, ſuch as the Apoſtles had; and tho' we diſown this Doctrine of theirs, how it ſhall Follow, we renounce, all the ſpecial Gracious, and ſaving operations of the Spirit of God, in and by the uſe of means, and Ordinances of Gods own appointment, and ſometimes immediately, where External means of our Salvation are Wanting; in the Regeneration, Sanctification of Souls, & in making them meet for himſelf in Glory; I leave both to Natural and Gracious Souls to Determine.

But every Chriſtian Reader may diſcover, in this perſon, a moſt Arrogant Spirit, to pretend to know my Principles, and Opinions better than I know them my ſelf, and with impudent falſhood, to affirm and declare, I have Publiſhed an Account of Principles I do not believe; and that they are repugnant to my Brethrens Doctrine; ſeeing our publick Confeſſions of Faith, and Catechiſms known to the whole Chriſtian World, ſayes the ſame things, and particularly in the Deſcription of Effectual Calling, which is further confirmed in all our common places, and Bodies of Divinity, and in all the practical Pieces, treating of theſe Subjects, as Mr. Allen of Converſion, Mr. Burgeſs, and Mr. Cole of Regeneration, and many others; and I am ſatisfied, how oft I have delivered in publick my Opinion in theſe matters. I muſt needs declare, it is an evil Principle, and unfair Undertaking for any to take upon them to Publiſh Principles, and contradict Principles, of thoſe he is an …ſolute ſtranger unto; and it is the true Character of a Deceiver, to poſſeſs others with prejudices againſt …ur Principles, only by miſrepreſenting of them, and …aſtening Principles on us, which we abhor. And …s to all inward Revelation, or ſpeaking of God to …e Souls and Hearts of Believers, I never read norp. 52heard of any of our Divines, abſolutely deny or diſown i…: And I have upon all occaſions, publickly Taught, and Do, and ſhall in the Strength of Jeſus Chriſt, firmly believe, and that unto the end, the Aluminating, Sanctifying, Mortifying, Quickning Operations of the Holy Spirit of God, in the hearts of every ſound Believer, in reſtoring the Corrupted Soul to the Forfeited Image of God; ſo it is evident, how inclinable Keith is to Calumniate, and miſrepreſent us, upon all occaſions. How great muſt the Ignorance of Quakers needs be, who cannot, or their perverſneſs be that will not, diſtinguiſh between Enthuſiaſtick, Immediate, Extraordinary and Objective Revelations; from the Spirits Gracious and Spritual Illumination of his mind, impreſſing thoſe Truths made known, and Revealed in an ordinary way, by Means of Heavens Appointment; giving them Efficacious Grace to ſee, Embrace, Cloſe with, and make Saving Application of them to their heart…, and Grace to obſerve the ſame in their Lives; which ordinary and extaordinary Operations they confound together, as they do the Univerſal, or General Preſence of Christ, with his ſpecial, ſaving, and gracious Preſence, holding him to be in all, after the ſame manner. And whereas he has aſſumed boldneſs to affirm, we call it Blaſphemy to ſay, Chriſt is really in the Saints. All the Anſwer this deſerves, is, that it is Notoriouſly Falſe, and a groundleſs Calumny; For all of us firmly believe, That unleſs the Spirit of Chriſt be in us, we are none of his; and Chriſt is in us, except we be Reprobate, and he dwells in all Believers; … from Pauls words, it is by Faith, Eph. 3.17. as … declared, and that fully from that Text, Coloſ. 1.27. Chriſt in you the Hope of Glory. And it is no contradiction to affirm, and believe that God hathp. 53called Sinners out of Sin, unto Grace, yet at the ſame time to feel, and aſſert, that all have ſin remaining in them; for it is no hard matter to diſtinguiſh betwixt Sinners being under the Power, Dominion, and Slavery, or Drudgery of Sin; and a Sinners having ſome Relicks and Remainders of Sin, and Corruption in them, whereby even in Believers there is a conſtant and ſpiritual Warfare raiſed in the believing Soul, whereas formerly the Strong Man kept the Houſe, the Apoſtle gives us this diſtinction; Sin ſhall not have Dominion over you, you are not under the Law, but under Grace; and the ſame Apoſtle, even after his Converſion, complains of his own ſinful, wretched Corruption, and at the ſame time Triumphs in the Victory obtained, for in the next breath; Thanks be to God who has given us the victory; and if Sin in ſome meaſure be not cotemporary with ſaving Grace, or Converſion, what muſt become of Quakers univerſal ſufficient, and ſaving Grace, and all the multitudes of them, I have ever ſeen, muſt according to their own Opinion, be void of Converſion, Grace and Juſtification; for Sin have been eaſily diſcernable in all, neither did ever any of them produce one inſtance for their abſolute perfection; and yet none of us aſſert, that the Saints Sincerity, Thought, Word and Deed, as Keith falſely words it; yet it ſtrictly, and ſpiritually taken; all are attended with Infirmities. I am quarrelled, for aſſerting in my Catechiſm, page 25. This Juſtification and Adoption, are Acts of God, without us, and and work only a relative Change; and that Juſtification, Adoption and Sanctification once had cannot be Loſt. As to the firſt, Juſtification is according to the Judgment of all Pro…eſtant Divines, a gracious Act of Gods Love, in ap. 54Judicial Way, upon the account of Chriſt's Imputed Righteouſneſs, acquitting, and abſolving the ſinner from Guilt, and conſequently from Condemnation. I hope Quakers will not jump in with Papiſts, wh… aſſert, Juſtification to be the making of one Juſt, and ſo Confound it with Sanctification, which the Spir… of God makes to be diſtinct Acts, tho' always unſeparable. As to Adoption in its nature, it is God Numbering us among his Children, a taking us from among the Children of Satan, and Giving us a Right to all the Priviledges of Gods Children; & pray where is the falſhood, and danger, in aſſerting, they are Acts of God without us, bringing Believers into … new Relation unto God, Chriſt, and the Holy Spirit, to whom they are Enemies and Strangers by Nature; ſeeing at the ſame time we firmly believe, that there is no Relative Change wrought by God on any Sinner, in Juſtification or Adoption, without a real, ſaving, inward, gracious, and univerſal Change upon the whole man by Sanctification, which are as different by the Language of the Apoſtle Paul, as Sanctification and Glorification is, Rom. 8. And none are Juſtified or Adopted, but Sanctified alſo; all which is aſſerted in my Catechiſm; if Keith's contentious, Cavelling, and Carping Spirit had allowed him to take notice thereof; for none of us hold, that God makes any his people, or children, without a real, gracious Change, as Pen and Keith would inviduouſly and falſely Calumniate us, and our univerſally known Doctrine, fairly publiſhed to the World; and yet that renewing work is not properly Juſtification, but Sanctification, which is a gradual work; whereby the Old man of ſin and corruption, is Crucyfyed, and the New man of Grace, Righteouſneſs or Holineſs, is rrnewed and put on, more and more; andp. 55though Keith would make Peace of Conſcience to be the Eſſence, and Nature of Juſtification; yet all Reformed Divines, with the Apoſtle Paul make it a concomitant, or rather a conſequent Bleſſing to our Juſtification, Rom 5.1. Being Juſtified by Faith, we have Peace with God. And whoever denied Regeneration to work a real change, which my Catechiſm plainly aſſerts. And that Juſtification, Adoption and Sanctification may be Loſt, is not only the Doctrine of Quakers, but of Pelagians, Papiſts and Arminians too; though Keith and Barclay own that ſome may Arrive to ſuch a pitch and meaſure that they cannot Fall away; now this meaſure muſt either be higher than Juſtification, Sanctification, or Regeneration, or they contradict themſelves, in oppoſing Free Grace, and denying the Perſeverance of the Saints in Grace with moſt diſcouraging and comfortleſs arguments to Believers, which imply many groſs abſurdities; and concerning this Head, Mr. John Brown our Country man, in confutation of Barclay, layes down our unanimous Doctrine, and firſt animadverts all that we hold, the Perſeverance of none, but ſuch as are Regenerated; and how falſe and abſurd were it to ſay, a Sinner Regenerated, or made a Child of God to Day, and yet be a Child of the Devil to morrow, made meet for Heaven, and yet go to Hell, Pardoned, and yet Damned. 2. We do not hold a ſpecial and inevitable neceſſity of Perſeverance, though unwilling, and lying in Sin, as Enemies would inſinuate to the prejudice of Truth, as Quakers often have done. 3. We do not maintain a Perſeverance depending on the will of man, but on the gracious Covenant, The Everlasting Purpoſe of God, the Unchangeableneſs of his Love, and Efficaciouſneſs of Chriſt's Death.

p. 564 That a Believer may fall away, Back-ſlide and Depart from God by many degrees, as, (1) From Duty, as Hearing, Reading, Praving, Praiſing &c. (2) Into Grievous Sins, as Noah, David, Soloman, and Peter. (3) Inro great Doubts, and Fears af…out their State. (4) From Degrees of Grace, as …rom a Strong unto a Weakneſs of Faith, …heir Zeal for God, and Religion, may grow very cold, they may fall from their Firſt Love; they may fall from their former meaſure of Fear. And (5) they may Fall from the Truth of the Goſpel, from the Doctrine of Our Lord Jeſus, and embrace many groſs, and dangerous Errors, and Believe a …ye. (6) They may fall from the Accidentals of their Gracious State, as Senſe of Favour, Aſſurance of Gods Love, Strength of Habits, Meaſures of Comfort, is oft times and may be remitted, and loſt. And yet in the laſt place, we Believe mentain and hold, There can be no Total and Final Apostacy, and Defection from a Regenerate State, or the Eſsence, and Habits of all Grace, and this is not only our Doctrine, but the Doctrine of all our Reformed Churches: tho' K's Invidious Malice is moſt commonly ſet againſt the Reformed Church of Scotland; verifying the Ancient and common ſaying, Omnis Apostate ſua Secte oſor. And every ſerious ſoul may eaſily conceive how comfortleſs, and diſcouraging the Doctrine of Quakers muſt needs be, to all Regenerated, and Believing Souls; if after Regeneration, being in Covenant with God, Sealed with the Holy Spirit of Promiſe, Redeemed with the Blood of Jeſus, they may yet be Damned in the End, this, and many more are the Abſurdities that attend this Ancient Pelagian, and Arminian Error, as [1] Is it not inconſiſtent with that Puffing up Doctrine p. 57of their Perfection, they could never yet demonſtrate from inſtances. [2.] It is inconſiſtent with the Immutability of Gods Love, for whom He Loves He Loves unto the end, for his Gracious purpoſes, are Unalterable, and his Will Irreſiſtible, Iſa. 4.1.31. They that wait on the Lord, ſhall renew their Strength, they ſhall mount up with Wings, as Eagles they ſhall run, and not be weary, and they ſhall walk and not be Faint. [3] It is inconſiſtent with the Stability of the Covenant, that is well ordered in all things, and ſure, and all its Mercies, are ſure Mercies; hence called frequently, an Everlaſting Covenant. Jer. 32 40. And I will I make an Everlasting Covenant with them, and I will not turn away from them, to do them Good, but I will put my Eear in their Heart, that they ſhall not depart from me. And all Objecting Inſtances, from Scripture, muſt implye no Saving Faith, or true Regeneration, or their Fall was neither Final, nor Total. [4.] It is inconſiſtent with the Faithfulneſs of Chriſts undertaking to God the Father in the Covenant of Redemption, it deſtroys the Efficacy of His Death. Let any Read Chriſts Prayer to God the Father in, John 17. And he may ſoon be ſatisfyed, there was a Select Number given unto Chriſt to redeem and Ranſome. 24. And Father I will that they alſo whom thou haſt given me, be with me where, I am. And he prays, 15. And that God would keep them from the Evil. And he has engaged to God the Father, that none that the Father bad given him, ſhould be Loſt; otherwiſe Chriſt might be Charged with Unfaithfulneſs. And ſuch as deny the Perſeverance of the Saints muſt be ignorant of what Chriſt has done for the conſirmation of the Gracious State of Believers. (1) His, p. 58Redeeming them from all the Demands of Divine Juſtice, with his Precious Blood. (2) Redeeming them from the power of Satan. (3) From the Dominion of ſin. (4) He is gone to prepare a Place for them. 5 He makes interceſſion in Heaven for them. (6) He promiſes his Holy Spirit to abide in them, to compleat his begun work in them, and eſtabliſh them, all which is abundantly confirmed from Scripture.

5 The Final and Total fall or Apoſtacy of Regenerate Saints is inconſiſtent with the Nature of Grace which is an Incorruptible Seed, that cannot be totally extinguiſhed where e're it is planted of God And farther, it much weakneth the Faith of the Saints, their Hope and Confidence in Gods Preſervation of them from Falling which the experience and confidence of the Apoſtle Paul teſtifies they firmly Believe Rom. 8.35.38.39. and that in their deepeſt Tryals, and ſharpeſt Afflictions. Finally, it Robs the Regenerated Children of God, of their Spiritual Joy, and Holy Conſolation in the Holy-Ghoſt, by filling them with Perpetual Fears Anxiety, and Doubts about their State. And we find Keith inſinuating this, That the Doctrine of Perſeverance Flatters men in great ſins; for tho' the Godly cannot Fall, Finally nor Totally, yet as we have ſaid, they may Fall into many Evils provoking to God, and injurious to their own Peace, and comfort, which they are ever watchful againſt, leſt they ſhould loſe the ſenſe and comfort of Gods Special Love, and Favour; any meaſure or degree of Grace, or Holineſs, which would be moſt Wounding, and Grievous to them, and ſo far from Flattery; but this his Calumny is like unto the reſt. And I dare refer my ſelf to Qua…s themſelves,p. 59if Univerſal Grace, ſaving and divine Light, the Spirit of God, and Chriſt, Subſtantially preſent in all men, even the moſt ignorant, wicked and Profane, and abſolute Perfection in ſome, be not more ſoul-deluding, and ſelf-Flattering Doctrine, then the Perſeverance of the Saints once Regenerated, whoſe ſins and infirmityes, humbled, and makes them conſtantly watchful; and ſo it is evident, it deſtroys the promiſe of Gods Eſtabliſhing & confirming Spirit, and leaves the Catholick Church of God which the Gates of Hell cannot prevail againſt, upon a moſt Tickliſh Foundation, and Lyable to to come to nothing; it would annul all Chriſtian Communion and Fellowſhip, for according to Quakers opinion, one may be a Saint to day, and in Chriſtian Fellowſhip, and may Fall away, and be Damned to morrow; it renders our Pardon comfortleſs, ſeeing after Pardon we may periſh Eternally, and deſtroyes the Hope and Faith of Life Everlaſting, ſeeing no man can firmly believe it, until he have the Enjoyment of it.

The next grand Charge, that highly offended many of that Gang, is concerning a Queſtion in my Catechiſm concerning the Sabbath; in the Anſwer I affirm, Quakers and Profane Perſons are Enemies to a Sabbath, and now I am ſatisfied to have an opportunity of ſhowing my reaſons to the World, how juſt, and not invidious this my Charge was, though I mentioned no other Enemies in Judgment, beſides Quakers; and notwithſtanding of all reaſons given to Keith and others at my Houſe, they ſeem ſtill to be diſſatisfied, but it is for the moſt part, the peculiar Temper of ſuch as Rangle, and oppoſe all Reaſoning: And that I may referr my ſelf to the Cenſures … the more unprejudiced, and rational; and I amp. 60ſo far from Recanting, Denying, or Giving any ſubmiſſion for the Charge, that I am the rather confirmed, it was moſt juſt and deſerving, and that withou… all ſhadow of the guilt of a Calumny, and that fo… theſe following reaſons. 1. Becauſe I never met wi… any others that in real…ity oppoſed this Doctrine be ſides that Party, and though I might hear comm… Fame accuſe others, and meeting with none of the Writings, I had no Warrant, for including them under the publick Charge, though my Anſwer does … way exclude them. 2. All the Quakers I ever converſed with in Europe or America, declared this a… their undoubted Judgment, that all Dayes were alike under the Goſpel, and none of perpetual Obſervation as a Day of Reſt; and further, That they were as free to Work, or Labour in their ſeveral Callings and Trades on the Firſt Day of the Week, (called now the Chriſtian Sabbath, or Day of Reſt, under the Goſpel,) as any other Day of the Week; o… which I gave, and am able yet to give ſeveral Inſtances: And I am lately informed, of ſeveral Servants o… Quakers, otherwiſe Educated, who have made complaint to Magiſtrates, of their Maſters, cauſ… them to follow their daily Labour; and a Witne… yet alive, can declare, being on a Sabbath at Thomas Everdens Houſe, perceived no manner of Worſhip with his Family, but great diligence in diſpatching one of his Servants with Neceſſaries for Building a Sloop & I have met one of them with a Gun in the Wood on the Sabbath, or Firſt Day of the Week, wh… we were going to the Publick Worſhip of God; I ſuch are not to be looked on, without any juſt A… cuſation, of an invidious Calumny, Enemies to … Sabbath, let the World judge. 3. They need no make ſo g…at a noiſe, and clamour at this Charge p. 61forhowever others may remain ignorant, yet it is not unknown to Keith, how oft by ſeveral others Quakers have been ranked in with ſeveral others, Enemies of the Sabbath, long before I had any acquaintance with their principles: as by Mr John Brown, in his Latine Treatiſe, concerning the Sabbath, alſo Mr. Matthew Crawford in his Learned defence of the Morality of the Fourth Commandment, called Exercitacio Apologetica; therefore this charge is not mine only, but of as many as Treat of that Subject. 4. If I can produce their own Word, charging them with as much as I ſay, will it not appear how unjuſtly they ſeem to to be offended at my charge; and if any would peruſe that ſmall, but angry Pamphlet of Quakers, ſoberly anſwered by Mr. Mitchel of Aberdeen; and they ſhall find it confidently aſſerted, that all Days, are alike, and are told from Rom. 14.6. & Gal. 4.10, 11. To Reprehend all ſuch as obſerve one day of Seven as a Day of Reſt; and that all Weekly Obſervation of a Day is Aboliſhed under the Goſpel; And how Keith comes in now of Late to …ell us of their keeping the firſt Day of the Week, without being firſt reconciled to his own Brethren, both in Practice, and Judgment; And it yet remains for him to declare, By what Authority, or from what Command they keep that Day, and not another; whether it is commanded of God, or only an Eccleſiastick, and Humane Conſtitution, which until proved to be the Ʋnanimous Judgment of Quakers, must be looked upon to be the Private Judgment of Keith only. But he is Pleaſed to ſay, That Quakers keep the firſt Day of the Week, and ſpend it in the Religious Exer…iſe of Publick, and Private Worſhip; but this is p. 62ſaid, and not Proved; for the contrary is know to moſt who reſort to, and frequent their Houſe where they diſcern no more Worſhip in many … their Families, than in the Families of Indians: A… He Appeals to their Neighbours as Witneſses, but … of their Witneſset have affirmed the contrary, and b… they can attest to a Worſhip which can be neith ſeen nor heard, it paſses my skill to Determine.

Laſtly, As many as know Quakers in Engl… Scotland, and Ireland, cannot be ignorant, how … ther from Obedience to God or Man, could … perſwaded to obſerve the Firſt Day of the We… but would keep open their Shops, and follow th… ſeveral Callings; for which they were often dra… to Priſons, and their Goods carryed away; th… was not done in a Corner, but manifeſt & know to all. And tho' Keith blamed me, for not cha… ging Mr. John Calume, as an Enemy, as well as they but had not the leaſt reaſon for ſo doing, for I ha… oft converſed with Calumiſts, and Read the Writing of his Followers, who ſtoutly defended the Moral… of a Sabbath, or the Fourth C…mmand. And wh… ever over zealous miſtake that Eminent Man … God was under, when he Wrote his Inſtituti… yet in his Expoſition on Genoſis, about Eight… Years after he Wrote his Inſtitutions, owns … Morality of the Fourth Command, and it could … be ceremonial, ſeeing the Inſtitution of a perpe… Sabbath, was before all Ceremonies, and that … was Calums laſt Sentiments, is not only Evid… from that Commentary, but alſo from the Princip… and Practices, of the Reformed Churches of Fr… and Geneva, of which Callume was the Firſt R… mer. Now all theſe things duely conſidered, & … together, I leave it to any to determine, how … p. 63they are wronged in being reckoned with, or numbered among the Enemies to a Sabbath; which has ſet their peeviſh Spirit in a flame againſt my Catechiſm, and ſtirred up their Venom againſt me, which I ever ſhall little regard

In page 28 I am Charged with Deficiency, concerning Miniſters, and that in three things: and I am ready to own I have wilfully Omitted twice three things concerning Miniſters Qualifications, and Call; and pray where is the crime. ſeeing there are ſo full Treatiſes by others on that Subject already Publiſhed; and all I intended in my Catechiſm for Young Ones, was only to lay down the ſeveral Duties of Miniſters and People; and if I had been guilty of an Omiſſion in that Enumeration, he might have found fau…t; but I muſt take notice of an invidious Parentheſis, that Peoples Maintaining their Miniſters is a main thing with me. Let the Reader examine my Catechiſm, and he ſhall not find ground for this malicious Reflection; for it is expreſſed in as few words as any other Duty without in ſiſting thereon, and this was the expreſſion of an abſolute Stranger to me, and my practice in Relation to a Maintainance, to which I am bold to aſſert, I have been ever undenied as Keith, or any of his Brethren. And whatever others have done, I dare affirm, I never bargained with any people about a Maintainance; and have oft refuſed mony when freely offered, and never Enjoyed any Maintainance, but what was moſt freely offered to me; though I …eny not to the Magiſtrate, a power of Determining Maintainances, when Neceſſity requires it; and none ſo unwilling to pay it as perverſe Quakers, though I could wiſh it were voluntary Offerings; yet this partial Author would inſinuate, as if Presbyterians only p. 64were Guilty; exacting Maintainance by force; whereas he cannot be ignorant, that the Maintainance of Miniſters in Scotland, are not to be compared to what Prelates have, whether Popiſh or Proteſtant, neither for quantity, nor manner of Exacting. And it is obſervable, that the Quakers have been brawling and barking unreaſonably againſt all who receive Maintainance, as Hirelings; but the greateſt Champions among them, were never able to defend ſo bad a Cauſe, as they have been tenacious in for a long time; though now of late, they ſeem to change their Tunes, and own a Maintainance, providing it be voluntary, and not by Compulſion, as Barclay has owned, who has taken upon him to Publiſh Quakers Principles, though he never produced any Commiſſion for it; and I am perſwaded, he will find it as hard a matter to procure their univerſal Conſent, and Approbation to all he has Wrote; but a Miniſters Maintainance among Quakers muſt be voluntary, and free, for they would never Exact it by force, for two Reaſons. 1. Becauſe they never had the Government ſolely in their Hands, for in Penſilvania they are a mixed people; neither would the Infancy of that Plantation bear it; beſide that, their forme Railings would have Retorted upon themſelves. 2 Becauſe of the multitude of their Teachers, and the Weakneſs of many of them, that dare not claim a Right to any ſuch Maintainance, as many ſilly women, and ignorant Mechanicks. And it muſt be for meaſure or quantity, a neceſſary Competency, or Aliment, as Barclay calls it; but muſt Quakers o… be Judges of this Competency, or ſhould the Give, or rather the Civil Magiſtrate to determine it according to the ſeveral Abilities of the People: And conſider what narrow and niggardly Souls theſe peoplep. 65have, who would allow no more to the Miniſters of the Goſpel, then common Charity obliges them to give to the moſt common beggar that goes from Door to Door, even a neceſſary Competency, and Aliment; whereas Miniſters ſhould have ſuch a Maintainance as they may not be neceſſitated to intangle, and incumber themſelves with ſecular Affairs, and be diverted from their holy Office, and Miniſterial Calling, whereunto they have been Called, and to which they are to be Separated according to the Command of God, concerning Paul and Barnabas; and further, they ought to have ſuch an Honourable Allowance, as they may not only Live anſwerable to their Station, and be able to maintain Duties to Hoſpitality, which Quakers Competency, and neceſſary Aliment, will never render them capable to perform: And it were no hard matter to prove, that many Quakers, even Keith and Barclay themſelves, whoſe Birth, Education, Travels and Eſtates are known to many yet alive, have had much more given then their neceſſary Aliment.

And I know not what Evaſion can be found for K's Hundred Pound Per Annum ſetled on him by the Government in Penſilvania, Exacted of a mixed People, who neither hear him, nor enjoy any benefit or advantage from his School-Keeping, which is their only ſhift and Back-Door, they would fly out at; which will never Blind the eyes of the Rational; for School-Keeping has a peculiar advantage attending it ſelf, without any Publick Tax by compulſion, as they call all our Mentainances. And I Dare be bold to ſay, in behalf of Presbyterians whom he would chiefly ſeem to reproach, that they are as little concerned about mentainances as any of the Reformed Churches, and p. 66value them not, when they come in competition with theirs And have not the Miniſters of the Reformed Church of Scotland, theſe Thirty years paſt, have ſuffered Perſecution, even unto Death i… ſelf, for preaching the Goſpel under ſo much want, that they have been neceſſitated to Labour with their own hands, and betake themſelves for a time to Merchandiſing, and yet never would dare to lay aſide the Preaching of the Goſpel. And it is not unknown, how little Miniſters have had of Mentainance in Maryland, either voluntary or compelled; And Quakers themſelves, own they have Stock Purſes, out of which they Supply their Teachers, and others; and what call you this but a Maintainance; and it is moſt eaſy when they come abroad, to conceal their Plenty at home, that the Stock Purſes may be the more Liberal unto them, as I doubt not but thoſe of Maryland, & Virginia too, were in his Late Travels, which was the leaſt he could have, for he gained but few Proſelytes. And let all Judge how inconſiſtent their preſent practices are, with their former unreaſonable pratling againſt every thing that looked like a Maintenance, urging as K. ſtill does that Text, Freely ye have Received, Freely Give, which was the Advice of Our Saviour to his Apoſtles, when he enabled them to go forth and work Miracles, Heal the Sick, G…ea…nſe the Leper… Raiſe the Dead, Caſt out Devi's, of which they ſhould make no Merchandize; tho' they were Commanded to Preach the Goſpel as they go along, telling them that the Time of the Promiſed Meſſiah, was now come, who was ſetting up his Kingdom in the World, and to whoſe Laws ther were to be obedien…. This Doctrine they were to confirm by Mi…acles,p. 67which he gives them a Charge, they ſhould work freely, without receiving any Reward for them; that the Miracles being uſed to their private uſe, and profi…, might not loſe their End, which was the confirmation of their Doctrine; now it hereby was underſtood they ſhould reci…ve no neceſſary Maintenance, the Apoſtles might Rationally Judge, they had need then to provide well for their journey; no, as, if Our Lord had ſaid, Provide neither Gold, nor Silv…r, nor Braſs in your Purſes, nor Scrip for your Journer, neither two Coats, neither ſho…s, nor ſtaves; and the reaſon added, for the workman is worthy of his Meat, and elſe where, is worthy of his Hire, and pray what is Meat, and Hire, but the beſt of Maintenance; and it is obſervable, the Command for going abroad ſo bare, in the 10 of Matthew was only a Temporary Command for that ſhort Journey; for in Luke; they were commanded to take both Purſe and Scrip, ch 22 If they were commanded to take none of theſe things and yet to go abroad, and Preach the Goſpel, confirming the ſame with Miracles, they muſt have received maintenance, or they muſt have periſhed if their Journey had been long; but Our Lord deſigned thereby (1) To give his Apoſtles an experience of depending on his Good Providence and (2) Alſo teach people, That the Labourer is worthy of his Hire; and l…t Keith conſider that in reſpect of God all things is free, therefore his School-keeping ſhould be free alſo. And it is not to be doubted, that our Saviour took Mentainance himſelf, ſometimes asking, ſometimes taking without asking, what he ſtood in need of, as Water from the Samaritan Woman, and the Ears of Corn on the Sabbath. And it is to be admited with whatp. 68Impudence Quakers plead againſt the Apoſtle Paul in denying the lawfulneſs of Miniſterial Receiving a Maintainance, ſeeing he gives ſo particular a Precept, Gal. 6.6. Let him that is Taught in the Word, Communicate unto him that Teacheth, in all good things; and if this be the Command of God, it muſt be Sin in the people to omit it. But the ſame Apoſtle pleads for, and reaſons the caſe fully, 1 Cor. 9. wherein he has many convincing Arguments againſt all Quakers in the world; proving firſt, That the Maintaining of Miniſters and Families is warrantable, from 4, 5, 6 verſes. 2. In the following Verſe he declares the Law ſays as much, both the Law of God and the Law of Nature, built upon Equity, pleads for it, 8, 9, 10 verſe. 3. Common Equity and Juſtice pleads for it, verſe 11. If we have ſown to you Spiritual Things, is it a great thing, if we ſhall Reap your Carnal Things; yet all Pauls forbearing at ſeveral times to partake of Peoples Carnal Things, did not at all demonſtrate the unlawfulneſs thereof, but only his prudential declining of that he had really a Right unto as expreſſed, verſe 12.

If others be Partakers of this power over you, are not we rather: Nevertheleſs we have not uſed this power, but ſuffer all things, leſt we ſhould hinder the Goſpel of Chriſt, and this was the reaſon why he wrought, with his own Hands; and Laſtly the Apoſtle concludes with the Neceſſity of Miniſters living by the Goſpel, they Preach from the Ordination of God 14. Even ſo hath the Lord Ordained, that they that Preach the Goſpel, ſhould Live of the Goſpel. But if Quakers all this while, are only againſt Superfluous Maintenances they have loſt their Labour, for we pleaded not for ſuch, not for any other accidental Abuſes, that throughp. 69Corruption of time, hath been introduced; but any that know their Quibbling, and Tenacious Temper, are ſatisfied they will never yield the Cauſe, until they are the ſole Judges of that Superfluity.

Another thing in this Charge, which needs an Anſwer: And that is concerning the Call and Ordination of Miniſters, which I did not intend to Treat of at all in my Catechiſm Publiſhed for the inſtruction of Young Ones, and if this Point be one of the Quakers Firſt Principles they ſhould be more diſtinct and clear in proving the Call, and Ordination of their Maſculine and Feminine Teachers, which they are Pleaſed to Call Immediate, Extraordinary, and Apostolick, of which K in a vain manner Publickly and Privately, has Boaſted and Affirmed the ſame, at my Houſe: And in his Paper charges all others, That they Run to the Church or Pope of Rome, for their Call and Miſſion, and this he would ſeem (to the Ignorant) to Reaſon ſo Profoundly, as if it would confound all gainſayers, but,

I ſhall Firſt Examine Quakers Immediate Miſſion, the Call ſo much talked of, but never yet proved, by any demonſtration, but their own words, which ſhall never be wanting to Falſe Teachers, who go about to Decieve; and I am perſwaded Quakers, muſt have no ſmall conceit of themſelves, who expect their bare words, ſhould have more Credit with Men, then Chriſt, or his Apoſtles expected theirs ſhould have received in the World in their Day; for they brought in no ſuch ſlender, but more Convincing Teſtimonies, able to perſwade all, as Nicodemus confeſſeth of Chriſt, No man can do the works that thou doeſt or Miracles, except God be with him. And this we Believe, and that withp. 70Warrant from the Word of God, that we are to believe no Immediate or Extraordinary Miſſion, or can, even from the Higheſt Pretenders without Extraordinary, and Anſwerable Demonſtrations; as Our Saviour, when John ſent His Diſciples to be informed, Whether he was the Promiſed Meſſiah? and our Lord, who might have eaſily diſpatched them with words, bids them, Go and tell him, The Lame Wa…k, the Sick are healed, and the Blind receive their ſight; and Let him, not truſt Words, Leſt Seducers, ſhould take an Opportunity, and Advantage thereby to deceive. And when Quakers are purſued hotly about Miracles, they Smilingly ſay, John the Baptiſt wrought … Miracles, and yet his Miſſion was Extraordinary, and immediate, as K. Alledged at my Houſe,; and o… improved it, and Particularly againſt the N… England Miniſters; and they ſuppoſe, they have gained the Day; but methinks, K. as I told him, and all others may juſtly be aſhamed of Producing this all an inſtance for the Future; for, tho' John wrought no Miracles, yet being Co-temporary with our Lord Jeſus, and his Apostles, and they who wrought many Miracles, confirmed this Miſſion, that he was the Promiſed Elias; but the Immediate Miſſion of Quakers never was confirmed, either by their own, of by the Miracles of others; tho' ſome of them have preſumed boldly on Miracles, which Propheſeing Miracles, As the Eating Quaker in England, (Juſtly made the Monument of Gods Wrath, and Monſter of Mankind) For daring to imitate Our Lord in that Miraculous Action of His Faſting, Forty Da… and Forty Nights in the Wilderneſs. And Solomo… Ackles who Boaſtingly challenged Miniſters to Faſ… with him, and Juſtly Puniſhed for his Ʋnchriſtian, an… hold Arrogance. Another once in Barbadoes, top. 71king upon him, to Prophecy the Death of a Child, which in all humane Probability was beyond all expectation of Recovery; but GOD to confound his Boldneſs, and diſcover him to be a Deceiver, was pleaſed to restore the Child, who Lived in health for many Jews, and the Quaking Prophet was neceſſitated ſhamefully to Publiſh his Recantation, wherein he affirmed, he had Belyed the Spirit of God. And if ſo, it is no Wonder they Belye their Neighbours; but any man may ſee how they come off with their Lying Wonders, and ſo ſhall come off in the End, with their immediate Miſſion: but it is at Length, come to this, that you muſt recieve their Verbal testimony, or remain altogether diſſatisfyed, about their Extraordinary Call, tho' ſome as Keith informed us, at my houſe run that Self-Confounding, and Univerſal Gulf of Miracles in Spirit, a New invented Phraſe, of worſe then mans Wiſdome, far from the Language of the Spirit of God, whoſe Saving Operations are not Miracles at all, to the Spirit of God, and if Miracles, they are Gods Properly, and not Quakers, but this with many more Phraſes of heirs, has no Foundation in the Scriptures And we deſire to know how many of them ever Spake with Tongues, who were not Taught them in the School, or Learned them of others. Farewel then immediate Miſſion, if you take it not upon the Words of a Quaker.

And that Presbyterians, and Independants, and then only, as he invidiouſly expreſſes it, ſhould run to the Church of Rome and Pope for to derive the miſſion, …ll, and ordinition from thence; is the groſſeſt ca…ny, and moſt notorious Lye, that could be batched …ut of hell; and muſt be of Satan the Father of Lyes: …ut if K had aſſerted this, of ſuch has hold no ordination, but from the hands of a Biſhop or Prelate, hep. 72might have had ſome plea for his charge; for Rome, and all that Party ſufficiently know, there are none ſo oppoſite to, nor ſo faithful, and Zealous againſt them as Diſſenting Proteſtants were; no not Quakers themſelves, who would not have been ſo great at the Engliſh Court, in the late Reign, if they had; therefore a Noted Perſon lately gained from Rome, affirmed, The Diſsenting Protestants, were the Bulwarks of the Protestant Intereſt in Europe. And I muſt greatly ſuſpect, what K told me, at my Houſe, as another Lye, and Calumny, that Mr. John Cotton, of Hampton, in New-England, acknowledged in a Publick Diſpute, that He derived his Ordination from the Pope, and the rather, becauſe he abuſed me, upon his Return, to Mr. Davis, affirming the ſame thing of me; that, I owned cur Miſſion, and Ordination, from the Pope of Rome; but I am confident, his own Conſcience could not but witneſs the contrary to his Face [But it is to be Feared, it was not the Firſt time, he had Learned to Baffle Conſcience in more Weighty Matters] For I not only Abhorred, Diſclaimed, and Denyed it; but Poſitively, and Plainly, Affirmed, Our Miſſion was from Jeſus Chriſt, and Warranted from the Scriptures. Hence I give caution to all, not to be Credulous of K's words, however ſo confidently affirmed; but he were no fit Deciever, if nor Poſseſsed with a Spirit of Lyes, and Calumnys But we can eaſily Juſtify ourſelves from this Aſperſion thrown invidiouſly upon us by Quakers, and particularly, by K. in all his Publick, and Private Diſcourſes, and alſo in ſome of his Writings, repeated over and over, with an empty noiſe of Words for … we ſhould ſay with Calvin, that he and others o… our Primitive Reformers were Evangiliſts, extraordinarilyp. 73Raiſed, and Immediately Called of God, in that great Exigence of the Church, in calling the People of God out of Popiſh Darkneſs, and Superſtition, in bringing them out of Babylon; yet this will prove but a ſlender Argument for Quakers holding Extraordinary Calls, and immediate Miſſions, to be Gods ordinary and uſual uninterrupted way to the end of the World; becauſe it might be allowed of in that juncture of the Neceſſity of the Church; for though our Lord himſelf, the King of his Church, at the beginning of the Promulgation of the Goſpel, Called ſome in an Extraordinary Manner; though at the ſame time, they had an External Call from Chriſt as man; yet as ſoon as the Chriſtian Church began to Encreaſe, he Commands them to uſe ſecond Means for that Calling, and Separation of others to the Holy Office of the Miniſtry in an Ordinary and Holy Separation to that Sacred Work, as Paul and Barnabas was commanded to be Separated, and there was Caſting of Lots uſed in ſupplying the number of the Apoſtles; and the Apoſtle Paul commands Timothy, and Impowers him to Ordain Elders in every Church, and not to neglect the Gift that was given him by Prophecy, with the Laying on of the Hands of the Presbytery, who are Commanded to Lay Hands ſuddenly on no man without ſufficient proof of his Parts, and Piety. And further, for their direction in this Scriptural and Orderly Separation and Ordination, God has laid down all the Qualifications of Miniſters of the Goſpel; which Quakers can never find in all their Teachers, eſpecially of the Feminine Sex.

As to our Reformers receiving their Ordination, Miſſion and Call from Rome, and conveying it to us, which would ſeem to be the firſt great puzling andp. 74confounding Argument. I ſhall anſwer it in theſe following particulars. 1. I would inquire of all Quakers, whether God in that great defection and univerſal Corruption of the Church, under Romiſh Idolatry, had then a Church in the World, though in the Wilderneſs; to deny all Churches, whether Viſible or Inviſible, really belonging to God, & Jeſus Chriſt, were to overthrow many Promiſes of God to his Church, of Building her upon an immoveable Rock and that the Gates of Hell ſhould not prevail againſt her, and it is inconſiſtent to ſay, God had a Church among the Jews under their Defections, and Failings away to Idolatry, and Superſtition: Now where Chriſt has a Church, though Inviſible & in the Wilderneſs, there are the Eſſentials of Religion, Ordination, and Church-conſtitution, tho' much infected with Error, and corrupted with Romiſh Superſtition, and theſe Eſſentials are ſtill Gods, and to eſteem his and not theirs, who are the chief Inſtruments, Heads, and Authors of all the Corruptions, under that Defection to whom only and properly belong thoſe Errors, Corruptions, Idolatries and Superſtitions they have invented and introduced to the Church; And yet the ſoundeſt of Divines believe, that upon all Reformations, which undoubtedly are originally and efficiently of God; a people, or particular perſons leaving and Renouncing the Abominations of Antichriſt, and their ſubmitting to, and embracing the Truth of the Goſpel, and the Purity of all Ordinances, and Worſhip, abandoning the Pope as their Head, and Subjecting themſelves to Chriſts Kingdom, they are ipſo facto, Conſtituted Churches of Jeſus Chriſt, and the Goſpel Truths, Ordination and Ordinances, VVord and Sacraments they adhere to, are not theirs, nor from thoſe they Separated from,p. 75is Keith ignorantly and invidiouſly aſſerts; but they are ſtill the Lords, and belong to Jeſus Chriſt; for even in the Church of Rome, and under Antichriſt, there were Ordinances of Jeſus Chriſt, VVord and Sacraments, Praying Preaching, and Praiſing of God; tho' much vailed and corrupted; and conſequently they had Miniſters or Officers to Diſpenſe theſe Ordinances, who undoubtedly had ſome of the Eſſentials of Ordination, which was the Lords, and nothing was properly Antichriſts, but Antichriſtian Corruptions, of which he is Author; for differentia constituit ſpeciem: ſo that we no more have Ordination from the Pope, upon Reformation, then we have Baptiſm, and the Lords Supper, Reading and Praiſing; and Quakers have Prayer, Teaching the Scriptures, and their new Obſervation of the Firſt Day of the VVeek.

And we would gladly know from what part of Gods Word is it, or can it be made to appear, that upon every Defection and Corruption of the Church; God will Beget and Create New Churches in an immediate manner under the Goſpel, more man under the Law; For after the Defections of Iſrael, and long continuance in Idolatry, upon their Repentance and Reformation from all their Coruptions, and Abuſes, they were Re Eſtabliſhed & … Ad…itred unto all the Ordinances, and Priviledges of the Church of God; and what does Keith think of them, and their Reformation, d…are he affirm they had all their Ordination and VVorſhip from Jereboam, Who made Iſrael to Sin, and other chief Idolaters; ſo it will unqueſtionably follow, that neither we, our Ordination, Doctrine, VVorſhip, nor Sacraments, while warranted from the Autho…ly of Gods VVord, are from Rome, the Pope, p. 76or any Prelate in the VVorld, as Quakers, after the manner of Satan, would Accuſe the Brethren. Thus Keiths invincible Armado is beat to pieces; whereby he thought to have overthrown all Churches, who have obeyed Gods Call; and are come out of Babylon. And we are confident that a great part of our Teachings are Chriſtian Experiences, to which we oft publickly do Appeal for Confirmation of what is delivered, and many Preachers have a peculiar way of Preaching their own Experiences.

And finally, as he begins, ſo he cloſes & ſhuts up his Paper with groundleſs, & Falſe Calumnies, and invidious Reflections; affirming, I aſſert and alledge Falſe things, concerning Baptiſm, and the Lords Supper, and Firſt concerning Baptiſm, (he ſaith) Firſt, I do not diſtinguiſh between Johns Baptiſm, and Chriſts; In anſwer to this, I Freely aſſent to any, and all the diſtinction made in the Scriptures; which is not in Subſtance, or Eſſence, but in Fruit, and Efficacy, and the ſame diſtinction I ſtill make between our External Adminiſtration, and Chriſts Efficacious Bleſſing thereof: for what John ſaid, we and all Miniſters of the Goſpel to the end of the World, muſt ſtill acknowledge; we Baptiſe with Water, but Chriſt, and he alone, Baptiſeth with the Holy Ghoſt, and with Fire, And if the Baptiſm Adminiſtred by Chriſts Diſciples, in His Name, Authority and Preſence, was Chriſts and no doubt it was the ſame with Johns for Subſtance, as you or any other may Read John 2.22, 23, 24, 26. verſes. For,

1. That Baptiſm wherewith Chriſt and His Diſciples Baptiſed in the Land of Judea was Water Baptiſm. 2. It was an outward, viſible, and diſcernable p. 77Baptiſm to Spectators; ſaith Johns Diſciples to him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, the ſame Baptizeth, and all men come unto him: it is obſervable, that it was not the Baptiſm with the Holy Ghoſt and with Fire, as diſtinct from the outward Ordinance; for it is ſaid, John 4.2. Jeſus himſelf Baptiſed not, but His Diſciples; yet it is called his, in the 1 v. of this chap. and in the 22. v. of the former chap (1) Becauſe done by his Diſciples. (2) By his Command, and Authority. And it was the ſame Baptiſm, his Diſciples, and Apoſtles, performed in all and Every Church, where they Preached the Goſpel, according to that laſt Commiſſion of Our Lords, immediately before His Aſcenſion, Matth 28. and laſt Go Teach, and Baptiſe al Nations, and Lo I am with you, to the end of the World. Hence Four things are obſervable in this Text. 1 That, Teaching of Nations, yea, All Nations, by external means, and inſtruments, is a Standing and Perpetual Ordinance in the Church of Chriſt, to the end of the World. 2 That, as many as are Called Miniſters of the Goſpel, are alſo Commiſſionated To Baptiſe alſo, Go Teach all Nations Baptiſing them. 3 That Water Baptiſm, or the External Ordinance, is that Enjoined, or Commanded in the Words, and not the Baptiſm with the Holy Ghoſt, and with Fire; for it is enjoined to meer men who can do no more then John could do, who Profeſſed he Baptiſed with Water, and yet we believe many who were Baptiſed by John, received alſo the Holy Ghoſt, otherwiſe a very empty, and inſignificant Ordinance, and unprofitable to all, if nothing elſe was reaped thereby, but Sprinkling, or Waſhing with Water; and yet the Outward Mean, Ordinance, and Adminiſtration, was from John, p. 78and the fruit, efficacy and bleſſing, was from Jeſus Christ, and it is bold impudence, and Arrogant Preſumption, for any to pretend to Baptiſe with the Holy Ghoſt and with Fire, which is Chriſts peculiar Work, and Prerogative. And Keiths anſwer here unto in his Book, is void of all ſatisfaction to any Intelligent Perſon; for he affirms, tho' no man Baptize with the Holy Ghoſt efficiently, yet they may inſtrumentally; we who uſe the outward mean, Inſtrument and Ordinance, may through the Bleſſing of God, and Efficacious Preſence of Chriſt's Spirit, and undoubtedly are made Inſtruments of the Inward Grace, Life, and Advantage of that Ordinance: but how Quakers can be Inſtruments of Baptizing Spiritually, who are oppoſite to, and ridicule the outward Ordinance, which is the only proper means and inſtrument of Gods own Appointment, I cannot reſolve; unleſs they will take Gods place, by working without Means, and contrary to Means; or they imagine to work Effects by unſuitable cauſes, and attain an end by improper means; as if a man intended to Merchandize, by Labouring in the Ground, intend for Europe from America, and yet Steer to the South; or by Planting Tobacco, to imagine to Reap Corn; for I am perſwaded, that ſuch as in Faith Adminiſters the outward Ordinance of Baptiſm, and that purely according to the Divine Inſtitution, Praying, and Depending on God for his Bleſſing, and Chriſt for his Vertue, and Preſence, are in the moſt probable way of being Inſtruments of the Grace of Baptiſm; ſo that this Baptiſm is a ſtanding and perpetual Ordinance, to the End of the World; which is clearly inferred from the Promiſe annexed, which is perpetual; and, Lo I am with you to the End of the World, as durable as Teaching it ſelf, which the afterp. 79practice of the Apostles, and Servants of Chriſt to this day Confirm, & ſhould be continued until Chriſt's Second Coming, notwithſtanding of all Gainſayers. He further would inſinuate, That we Learned and Received Sprinkling of Children from the Church of Rome; but it is eaſy to make appear, they go hand in hand with Rome in more things than we do, who are known to all the Followers of Antichriſt to walk more oppoſite to; and in abhorrence of their Principles and Practices, then any others: for their Univerſal Redemption, their Free-will, their denying Perſeverance, their poſſible Perfection in this Life, their Vilipending the Scriptures, and denying it to be the Rule, and their holding the Pope of Rome not to be Antichriſt, and their Denying the Morality of the Fourth Command, they have raked and picked theſe with many more out of that filthy Sink, and ſtinking puddle of Romiſh Corruption; and as for our Sprinkling in Baptiſm, it is not ſo repugnant to Scripture, as perverſe Quakers do imagine: For Water in Baptiſm, Repreſents the Blood of Jeſus Chriſt, and why not ſprinkling, the Sprinkling of the Blood of Christ, which is ſo clearly expreſſed by the Apoſtle Paul to the Hebrews; but neither Infant Baptiſm, nor Sprinkling is … Controverſy between Quakers and us; for 1 They are againſt the Baptiſm of Old as well as Young. (2.) They are againſt Waſhing or Dipping as well as Sprin…ing; therefore I wave both. And next, I ſhall make appear, That George Keith is guilty of a double falſhood concerning Baptiſm, in his Book. 1. In oppoſition … Scripture, to ſay with his Brethren, that Water …aptiſm was only for Johns Diſpenſation, and conſe…ently Aboliſhed, or abrogated in Chriſt; whereas … was continued all the time of Chriſt's Life, and … he was Dead and Gone, and ſtill does withoutp. 80all interruption, as any may read in the Acts of the Apoſtle 2 He contradicteth himſelf, and his Brethren too, in ſaying, that only it ſtood in force in Johns time, and aboliſhed immediately; yet ſome may be Sent of the Lord, and Inſtructed to Baptiſe with Water, and if they can prove they are Sent of the Lord, ſhould be gladly Received; but Hi… Labor, h… Opus eſt; for how they go about to prove this, they have never yet told us. Now let his Friends and Followers conſider and examine, what this man would be at; for it is aboliſhed, and yet they may be called by the Spirit of God to Adminiſter it; can it be ſuppoſed, that the Spirit of God will call any to Adminiſter that Worſhip, that is Removed and Aboliſhed by God and His Holy Spirit; were not this to make God and His Holy Spirit, who are Eſſentially one, to Claſh with themſelves, which were Blaſphemy to affirm? He impugnes Water Baptiſm, with all his might, as not now warranted by Scripture; and yet will Juſtifie a Call, and Miſſion to Adminiſter Abrogated Worſhip; and from the ſame Argument, why not Called and Sent to perform all the Abrogated Services, Rites and Sacrifices under the Law, as Circumciſion, the Paſsover, and all Legal Sacrifices; and ſo from a pretended Call, to ſet up again the Moſaical Worſhip? This would be a brave Spiritual Work indeed; and to make this appear to be the Judgment of others of that Party, as well a… his own; he acknowledged at my Houſe, A Quake… once Baptiſed with Water, and was approved of for it. Is Water Baptiſm not warranted by Scripture, but Aboliſhed ſince Johns Dayes, and yet performed and approved of by thoſe who are Enemies thereunto, from an imaginary, and unknown Call, and Miſſion, which would be to introduce the groſſeſt Enthuſiaſ… p. 81in the World, and an open door to all wild fancies, and imaginations? Let Keiths Friends and Followers, beware of this mans principles, and Books

And concerning the Lords Supper, he aſperſes us all; but I doubt not to make it convincingly appear, that he both contradicteth Scripture, and his Brethren too: 1 He contradicteth Scripture, in undervaluing this great Ordinance, as no Special, Divine, Spiritual & Goſpel Ordinance; but Jumbles it in with the common and dayly Eating, and ordinary means of Believers: an high indignity to this Ordinance, and the Author of it, repugnant to Scripture, and inconſiſtent with the ſure, and certain experience of thouſands of the Godly, who have Eat at the Table of the Lord, to their unſpeakable comfort, and tranſporting Conſolation, more then they reaped by their ordinary Meals; ſo that Chriſtian Experience witneſſeth againſt them, and confutes all their Quibling Arguments, and Sophiſtical Quirks; and my own experience of the Grace, Bleſſings, and Benefits, of this Great Special, and Solemn Ordinance, ſhall be an unanſwerable Argument to me, againſt all Hereticks in the World. And it is alſo ſtrange, with what impudent Spirit, they can call the Supper of the Lord no Special Ordinance diſtinct from Ordinary Meals. For, (1) Our Lord oft Eat with Mixed Multitudes; but in this Ordinance with a Select Number of his own, even his Apoſtles: (2) He never did Celebrate that Ordinance, but once, and that was in the very Night, wherein he was Betrayed: a great Argument of his Love, and Faithfulneſs to his Church. (3) He Inſtituted it immediately after the Paſsover, and that Hymn that was uſually Sung, after the Paſsover, was deferred till after the Adminiſtration of the Lords Supper, to ſignify the Abrogation of thep. 82one, and Inſtitution of the other in its Room, and Place. (4) At what other Meals, did ever Our Lord ſay, This is my Body and as oft as you do it, do it in Remembrance of me? (5) Thoſe that make their Ordinary Meals to be the Lords Supper, which is a new notion of K's, they alter the Elements at your Pleaſure, which are Signs inſtituted of God, the Bread to ſignify his Fleſh, and Wine to ſignify his Blood; and they Arrogantly & Preſumptuouſly appoint others, Fiſh, Fleſh, and what ever comes in the way, far from the practice of the Apoſtle Paul, in the Church of Corinth, who delivered nothing to that Church in this great Ordinance, but what he received of the Lord Jeſus, the Author of it retaining all, the Eſſentials both for matter, and manner, waving only ſome occaſional, and accidental Circumſtances, therefore Adminiſters it in Bread and Wine. 2 He Reflects on us, by charging us with Popiſh Conſecrations, but in this, and many things elſe, he cannot be ſo Ignorant, as Malicious; for he knows, we abhor all Popiſh Conſecration; And all we do, is only to Pray to God for a Bleſſing on the Elements, that God would be pleaſed to vouchſafe his Gracious Preſence, and Sanctify the Elements of Bread and Wine, making his own Ordinance Effectual, for the Spiritual Nouriſhment of Believers: and as we Eat Bread, and Drink Wine, ſo we may Feed by Faith, and Spiritually upon Jeſus Chriſt, and what Popery is here, let the World judge. All this K has ſeen in our Directory for Publick Worſhip.

Laſtly, In his Book, he Quarrels our Eating in this Ordinance ſo Sparingly, and would ſeem to approve of a Plentiful Meal, and a full Stomach, and commend the Quantity; but I am ſure this isp. 83not Spiritual, but Carnal: Arguing to the Pampering of our Fleſh; and Flatly contrary to the Apprehenſion Paul gives to the carnal Corinthians, even Eating at the Lords Table, to the Nouriſhment of their Bodies; which was a great and Sinful abuſe of that Holy Ordinance, 1 Cor. 11.22. What have ye not Houſes to Eat and Drink in, or deſpiſe ye the Church of God; ſhowing that Eating the Lords Supper, is another thing then Eating at home, only to the Nouriſhment of our Bodys, for which the Holy Ordinance of the Lords Supper was never inſtituted.

FINIS.