The Reviler Rebuked, To the church at Terling
TO THE CHURCH of CHRIST Which is at TERLING, Grace be with you, mercy and peace from God the Father, and from the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, the Son of the Father, in Truth and Love.
Beloved in our Lord JESUS,
AS you were obedient in my abſence while I was removed from you for a ſeaſon, ſo I have endeavored ſince my return, that the Truth of the Goſpel might continue with you; and therefore have I not given place, by ſubjection, no not for an hour, to any that have attempted to bring another Goſpel among you, though there is not another; but there be ſome that have troubled others, and would, by perverting the Goſpel, have troubled you alſo; Yet bleſſed and praiſed be God who hath kept you in the hour of temptation, and helped you to keep the Word of his Patience, and not deny his Name.
That you and yours may ever be preſerved, when this my earthly tabernacle ſhall be diſſolved, I have drawn up this REPLY, and do commend it to your diligent peruſal, charging you in the Lord, that you redeem ſome time for the reading of it; eſpecially, ſuch of you as have allowed ſpare hours for the reading of the Adverſaries Pamphlets.
It is above a year ſince the firſt of the Sect, called Quakers, came into the Town, and ſcattered his opinions. You had then cautions given you from the Lord. Remember them, I beſeech you, leſt you be carried about (as the ſtubble whisked andHeb. 13. 9. foreign whirl'd about here and there in a circle) with the wind of diverſe and ſtrange doctrines; diverſe in colour from the truth, and ſtrange to the Scripture-language, or meaning of the Spirit ſpeaking in the Scripture. Beware of wheeling to the right hand, or to the left. Take heed what you hear, and how you hear. Beware of the leaven of the Quaking Phariſees and Sadduces. It argues weakneſs at the beſt, and childiſhneſs in the beſt, if they be toſſed to and fro with every wind of doctrine. Children will run after a bubble in the wind, or on the water; a feather on the ground, or froth upon the waves: Be not like them, or as giddy hearers that have no mould but what the next Novelliſt caſts them into. Diverſe and ſtrange doctrines (ſuch as theſe men I deal with eſpecially open out of their packs) tend much to the unſetling of the judgement, and diſquietJohn 10. 5. of the conſcience. It is a Character of Chriſts ſheep to keep the ear cloſe to his voice; they know not the voice of ſtrangers, whereas goats will receive thoſe that come in their own name; and they whoſe names are not written in the LambsJohn 5. 43. Booke of Life, will wonder and wander after th… beaſt and theRev. 13. 8. falſe prophet; the Doctors and Doctrines of Antichriſt. But it is a good thing *Heb. 13. 9.(ſaith the Holy Spirit) that the heart be eſtabliſhed with grace. It is eminently ben…ficial againſt all diſtracting opinions, to have your ſouls and conſciences eſtabliſhed with the doctrine, faith and ſenſe of Gods free Favor in Chriſt, and with the experimental exerciſe of Grace in Goſpelworſhip. 1. The doctrine of his redeeming, purchaſing grace, his pardoning of ſinners, and reconciling them to himſelf, according to his free electing love, eſtabliſheth againſt the thoughts of our greateſt unworthineſs; for the free gift of Chriſt and his righteouſneſs for juſtification of life, reigneth over all your guilt, and the deſign of Grace is to bring all that obey the doctrine of Grace, into a kingdom of Grace, and to ſettle a crown of Life, and Glory upon the poor unworthy ſinner. Hold faſt to this, as not onelyonly it is free, but full. The Goſpel of our ſalvation is ſo full, as it anſwereth all the ſouls neceſſities; partly, from the fulneſs of the perſon the Son of God, our Savior, God and man, in whom the fulneſs of the Godhead dwelleth bodily; If there be all-ſufficiency of power, love, will, faithfulneſs in God to ſave, 'tis in Chriſt, yea, the fulneſs of Gods vindicative Juſtice is ſatisfied and glorified in him. This we teach for your heart-ſatisfaction and ſettlement: partly from the fulneſs of the covenant, whereby God makes over Chriſt and Life to us, which is heart-eſtabliſhing, as 'tis founded in the blood of Chriſt, as it is the efflux and iſſue of Gods everlaſting love, as all the promiſes are Yea, and Amen in Chriſt, and as the Covenant is of the nature of a Teſtament (which is more abſolute then ordinary contracts) in full forceHeb 9. 16. by the death of the Teſtator, written not onelyonly in the Scriptures [the Old Copy and the New] but in the hearts of Believers.Heb. 8. 10. God begins with promiſes and writes them, and then his Commands are all inlayed and inamel'd with the promiſes. ThisHeb. 6. 17. Covenant is confirmed by an Oath, to ſhew the immutability of his counſel, and to ſettle the hearts and hopes of them, that flee thither for refuge, with ſtrong conſolation. In a word, the Covenant of Grace excludes works, as any condition of life, for it is the declaration of Gods way of ſaving by Grace, according to the Election of Grace; which if it be of Grace (as it is) thenRom. 11. 6. is it not at all of works. Theſe meditations are heart-eſtabliſhing, you will ſay, in wavering times; and all Doctrines agreeable to the fulneſs of Chriſt and his Covenant, are ſo. David found it ſo, ſo may you. It was a ſoft pillow to David [God 2 Sam. 23 5.hath made with me an everlaſting Covenant, ordered in all things, and ſure] on his Death-bed, whereon to reſt his head, ſo it will be to all that take hold on it, and mix it with faith: For, ſecondly, it is not the Doctrine of the Goſpel abſtractly conſidered, but as believed, that will eſtabliſh you. Faith eſtabliſhethCol. 1. 23. by its object, acts, reflections and fruits. Continue in the faith grounded and ſetled, and be not moved away from the hope of the Goſpel which ye have heard. Conſider, brethren, what you believe, and in whom ye have believed. Chriſt and his righteouſneſs without you, is a ſure foundation for your Faith toIſaiah 28. 18. build upon: He that believeth on him ſhall not be aſhamed, unſetled, beaten off. Faith gives you an evidence of things not ſeen, and makes things abſent, preſent. Every act of Faith tends to your eſtabliſhment, having ſome certainty in its boſom and bowels, and ſo much as ſtrives againſt doubting, and that ſhall not miſcarry in the iſſue and event: But reflections of Faith help on yet more to ſtedfaſtneſs; When you know you do1 Pet. 3. 21. believe, then you have the anſwer of a good conſcience, wherewith comes peace and liberty; Peace with God is diſcerned, and peace with Conſcience is ſetled hereby in much ſerenity, with liberty of acceſs to the Throne of Grace, and of making your Appeals to God, by vertue of Chriſts blood ſprinkled on the Conſcience, and by reaſon of the Acquittance which Chriſt received for the Believer at his reſurrection; His diſcharge is ours, and hence the other benefits which Faith brings along with it, of Ʋnion with Chriſt, Communion with God, Juſtification, Redemption, Adoption and Sanctification. But if with the Doctrine and Faith of the Goſpel, there comes thirdly, the Grace of ſenſe, or the ſenſe of Gods grace and love in all that is taught and believed, how is the heart eſtabliſhed by the holyRom. 5. 5. Spirit that is given us? This Spirit is both the ſeal of what is paſt, the witneſs of what is preſent, and the earneſt of what is to come; making all that is in reverſion as ſure to us, as that which is already in our poſſeſsion. Adde unto this, fourthly, Experimental exerciſe of grace in all Goſpel-inſtitutions, and what eſtabliſhment ſhall your hearts want now or hereafter? Communion with God in Goſpel-Ordinances gives reſt and ſatisfaction, when we finde the effect of Water-baptiſm, and of Infant-baptiſm in Chriſts blood, and the Spirits regeneration; when we diſcern the effect of Bread and Wine-Lords-ſupper in Chriſts preſence at his Table; and the quicknings of his Spirit in our ſinging Davids Pſalms and Scripture-ſpiritual ſongs, uſe of publique (as private) Prayer, miniſtery of the Word, &c.
Your ſouls, brethren, cannot but finde it eminently helpful to be eſtabliſhed with this Goſpel-grace: Firſt, you have hereby an Antidote againſt all poiſon of diverſe and ſtrange Doctrines. Your hearts are as ſhips well-ballaſted againſt all contrary winds. The Doctrine of Free-grace, rightly underſtood, believed and adhered to, doth at once diſpel and ſcatter all Popiſh and Arminian fogs. The fulneſs of Chriſt believed, lays open the emptineſs of Quakeriſm. The Covenant and Promiſes, graſped by Faith, are as the little ſtone, which, they ſay, the Bee takes up to flie with in a high wind, ſo as the biggeſt blaſts ſhall not daſh you to the ground. Let who will ſay, that Chriſt doth not juſtifie by a righteouſneſs without us, the Scripture ſaith, We are made the righteouſneſs of God in him; 2 Cor. 5. 21.and the Grace of Faith carries out the Soul for righteouſneſs and life in another, viz. Chriſt: of this the Spirit, with the Conſcience and Experience of Believers beareth witneſs. Let the poor Quakers ſay that the Scriptures are not the word of God; the heart, that believeth and experienceth the power of the Scripture changing and transforming, will finde him a liar and blaſphemer. Let them ſay that will, they have no ſin dwelling in them, and their warfare is at an end; a gracious heart will ſlight and deſpiſe theſe Contradictions to all the Experiences of the Saints held forth in Scripture. Let them ſay there is no Baptiſm of water, or let them call the Lords Supper (as uſed by the Churches) a humane Invention, becauſe they have found no comfort in it, or by it; the heart eſtabliſhed in the faith of the Inſtitution, will give them the lie; and although he findes not theſe ſeals always alike efficacious, yet he knows and believeth them always to be the Lords Ordinances, and to have a promiſe of efficacy annexed to them, which God will make good at his day and hour, and not at our ſeaſon.
Secondly, The fears which falſe doctrine terrifieth the Conſcience withal are removed, and made to vaniſh. Fears of nonacceptance by reaſon of daily failings in duties; fears of falling away totally and finally, are expelled by the pure doctrine of faith, and of juſtification by grace alone, and by nothing inherent in us, as a habit, or adherent to us, as an act, &c.
Thirdly, There is this advantage, all pretended Revelations are caſt off, dreams are not hearkned unto, leading from the Scriptures. The faith of a Promiſe makes things as ſure to your ſouls, as if God had ſpoken immediately from the Clouds. The ſenſe of Gods Love is as ſweet as a rapture into the third Heavens. Moſes and the Prophets are as ſure to a gracious heart, as if one aroſe from the dead; for he could not bring up greater Truths or ſtronger Arguments of perſwaſion then are found in the Scriptures; he could not ſpeak more pathetically, with higher ſtrains, and ſtronger lines, with more majeſty of ſtile, and elegancy of phraſe, or ſweeter floods of eloquence, or with more plainneſs and godly ſimplicity, then the Spirit expreſſeth himſelf in the Scripture, holding forth all along an evidence and demonſtration of himſelf, with holy harmony and efficacy.
Fourthly, When your hearts are eſtabliſhed with Goſpelgracious Doctrine, Faith, Senſe and Experience thereof, you are fortified against all powerful temptations. Sometime the ſoul is tempted to forſake Ordinances, but faith of that promiſe, that the houſe of Jacob ſhall not ſeek God in vain, keepsIſaiah 45. 19. the heart cloſe to means of Gods appointment. Sometime the Chriſtian is tempted to go to a ſecond Baptiſm, or to deny Water-baptiſm altogether; but the Experience of Chriſts bleſſing Infant-Baptiſm, and the un-warrantableneſs of Rebaptization keeps him from theſe extremities. If you be tempted to abſent your ſelves from the Lords Table, or leave Church-fellowſhip, the Promiſe and Experience of the Love of God in the uſe of theſe Ordinances, aws and keeps you in order. When Chriſt, until his ſecond Coming in the clouds, and viſible Glory, is lookt at as ſpiritually preſent with his own Inſtitutions, they are neither truſted to, nor neglected. Sometime you have been tempted to go hear known Seducers, but an eſtabliſht heart will not ſtep out of doors, unleſs he hath the more ſpecial call, to bear witneſs againſt them, and to ſtrengthen others.
Laſtly, Let your hearts be eſtabliſht with Goſpel-grace, and it will produce a well-ordered converſation to the end of your days; it will make patient in affliction; joyful in ſuffering; even under darkneſs and in deſertion the heart is willing to wait, and is made ready for Heaven; for it ſtirs up to watchfulneſs, to have grace in exerciſe, and the ſoul in preparation for death, and then it cannot want boldneſs at the day of Chriſts appearing.
Why then, my Brethren, dearly Beloved, and longed after, my joy and crown, ſo ſtand faſt in the Lord, my dearly Beloved; ſee that none of you fail of the grace of God; Be not as reeds ſhaken with the wind, but as unſhaken rocks and pillars in your profeſsion. Prize and preſs after more of heart-eſtabliſhing grace; to this end, Hold faſt the purity of Doctrine about Juſtification, Election, Redemption, the Covenant of Grace, and the whole pattern of ſound and wholeſom words in the Scriptures, and in the Churches Confeſſions of Faith conſonant to the Scriptures. Be active in faith upon the Author and Finiſher of your Salvation. Be obedient to the Spirit, who witneſſeth and ſealeth the Truth, and ſheds abroad the Love of God in your hearts. Make much of your Experiences, built upon and backt with promiſes: cry not woe unto them, as ſome upon their revolting to Quakeriſm have done. Set before you the example of ſtable Chriſtians, as ſo many Jerome's, ſtanding like old wellrooted Oaks, and breaking the winds of Doctrines and Oppoſitions which aſſault them on every ſide. Decline infectious company: ceaſe to hear the inſtruction that cauſeth to erre from the words of knowledge: Beware of a blinde-zealousaffecting of any man. Take heed of curioſity, and a itching deſire of Novelty, or of knowing any new way to Chriſt and Heaven? Stand in the paths and enquire for the old and the good way, that ye may walk therein. Maintain a humble ſpirit, daily abaſed in the ſight and ſenſe of heart ſinfulneſs and inſtability: The Lord will teach and root the humble. Exerciſe a clear Conſcience in profeſſion and communion with the Saints and Churches. The myſtery of Faith is held in a pure Conſcience; when men put away a good Conſcience, or prefer a natural Conſcience before a Conſcience purified by Faith, they make ſhipwrack of the doctrine of Faith. Let Gods power be lookt after, in and with Gods own Form. The Kingdom of God may be among men, when 'tis not within their hearts; ſo Luke 17. 21. Chriſt ſpeaketh to the Phariſees, enemies of his Goſpel; The kingdom of God is among foreign. i. e. foreign, in medio veſtri, Bez.you, i. e. was preached in the midſt of his enemies, and working upon others hearts, while they were not aware of it. They madly wreſt the reading of the words [within you] who apply it to a Kingdom of Grace begun, in the enemies of Chriſt, by the light in every man, and would thereupon have all Christs outward Forms, and poſitive Inſtitutions laid aſide; But what God hath joyned together, power and form (where and to whom he pleaſeth) do not you ſeparate You have not hitherto been like theſe ſheep which eat no graſs more greedily then that which rots them. If our new Teachers, and their diſciples boaſt of an aſtoniſhing Power coming along with their doctrine, remember 2 Cor. 6. 7. The word of Truth, and the Power of God (whereby Christs Miniſters are approved) do go together. If power goes forth with a word of falſhood, 'tis Antichriſts power, which is after the working of Satan, not the Lords. It will be ſad with any Churchmember, under Gods inſtitution and form, to fall ſhort of his2 Theſ. 2. 9. power: But while you uſe his Ordinances in Faith of a promiſe of Chriſts power annexed to them, you are and ſhall be more wrought up to, and brought under the power promiſed. And that I may be partaker of the Goſpel-power, as Priviledges with you; yea, that this Reply (as weak as it is) may be accompanied (according to the truth of it) with the mighty power of the Lord, Let it be your prayer, as it is and ſhall be mine, who am, through grace,
Your Loving Brother, and Faithful Paſtor, JOHN STALHAM.