The sandy foundation shaken, or, Those so generally believed and applauded doctrines ... refuted from the authority of Scripture testimonies, and right reason / by W.P. ...

To the Unprejudiced Reader.

IT was the fault of some in antient times, that they made void God's Law by mens Traditions; and certainly I may now assume the same complaint: for whilst I take a serious prospect of the Spiritual Nature, and tendency of the Second Covenant, which God Almighty, in the fulness of time, by his Prophets, prophesied to make and perfect; and also the accomplishment thereof by Jesus Christ, and what was brought to pass amongst those Primitive Believers; methinks I do not only see an utter abolishment of Ceremonial Worship, but the inscribing that Spiritual Law on the Heart, and in∣fusion of Holy Fear to the inward Parts, whereby each person became capacitated to know so much of God, as suited with his present state, from an infallible demonstration in himself, and not on the slender grounds of mens Lo-here-Interpretations, or Lo-there; for the Kingdom of God is within, where himself must be the Teacher of his People: But on the other hand, when from the noise of every parties pretentions to, and contentions for their own way, as most infallible, I am induced to an im∣partial examination of them; Alas! how have all adulte∣rated from the purity both of Scripture Record, and Primi∣tive Example? receiving for unquestionable Doctrines, the fallible apprehensions, and uncertain determinations of such Councils, whose Faction, Prejudice, and Cruelty soon parallel'd the foregoing heathenish Persecutions; and yet that the results of persons so incompetently qualified, should at this day in their authority remain unquestioned by the Nations, is matter both of astonishment and pitty; but an implicit Faith has ever been

the consequence of ignorance, idleness and fear, being strong impediments to a judicious inquiry, how far profest and im∣posed Opinions have their consistency with Reason, and the true Religion. But that which most of all deserves a lamentation, is, that Protestants, whose better Arguments have confuted the Plea of such as made Tradition, and mens Prescriptions un∣questionable in Circumstantials, should themselves by Print and Practice so openly declare and contend for its Authority in Essentials; as must be obvious to any that observe their zea∣lous Anathema's against whomsoever refuse a compliance with them in Doctrines, manifestly bottom'd upon mens nice Inven∣tions.

This is the right state of the Controversie that is maintained by us (contemptibly called Quakers) against the World, and the undoubted reason of our severe Treatment at its hands, the end of God Almighties raising us, being for no other purpose than to declare that which our eyes have seen, our ears heard, and which our hands have handled of the Eternal Word, in opposition to the private Opinions, Conjectures, and Interpreta∣tions of men concerning God and Religion, that all people might thereby be reduced to Faith in, and obedience of the Universal Grace which brings Salvation; which as it onely can restore sound Judgment concerning God, and effect Redemption from Iniquity, so its being relinquish'd by men, was the very ground both of their division in Judgment, and corruption in Manners.

That this hath been, and is our case, I shall produce an in∣stance, which is indeed the occasion of this Treatise.

Two Persons lately of Tho. Vincent's Auditory in Spittle-Yard, (who goes under the notion of a Presbyter) being desi∣rous to prove all things, and hold fast the best, visited our Meet∣ings, to understand if we were as really deserving blame, as re∣presented by our Enemies; where it then pleased Divine Good∣ness

to visit them with the Call of his Light, from the Inventions, carnal Observations, will-Worship, and vain Conversation of those to whom they formerly were related, that they might be made Children of the day; and though its appearance might be small, yet sufficient to discover them to have been Inhabitants of the Night, and can never be rejected, but it shall bring that condemnation which will further testifie it to be of God.

But their relinquishing his Congregation, so incenc'd this Pres∣byterian Preacher, as that his peevish Zeal transported him beyond, not only the moderation of Christianity, but the civility of education, venting his folly and prejudice much to this pur∣pose, That he had as lieve they should go to a Bawdy-house, as to frequent the Quakers Meeting, because of their erro∣neous and damnable Doctrines: And pointing to the Win∣dow, said, If there should stand a Cup of Poyson, I would rather drink it, than suck in their damnable Doctrines. He further exprest himself in this manner to one of them; If ever you go again, I will give you up, and God will give you up, that you may believe a lie, and be damn'd. Which storms of foul and railing accusations, proving ineffectual to shipwrack that little grain of Faith, his Hearers, as forgetting they hold their preaching by connivance, and the many appeals made by their non-conforming Brethren, for an Indulgence, came with this Caution to the Pater-Familias, (or he that was both Husband and Father to the concerned Parties) that he would exercise his Authority, as well to refuse them to all Quaker-Visitants, as prohibit them the liberty of their Consciences in frequenting our Meetings.

All which we could not for the Truth-sake let pass in silence, and therefore did require him to let us have a publick meeting, in which we might have liberty to answer on the behalf both of our selves and Principles; which after some demur, was gran∣ted,

the day he appointed, and at the second hour in the after∣noon. But that he might not want the applause of many voices, and doubtless to prevent our Friends, (as I am informed) be∣spoke his usual Auditory to be there at one; and as a man that would not over-spend himself, or incur a non-plus for want of Seconds, he had his Third and Fourth, two wit, Tho. Dan∣son, Tho. Doolittel, and — Maddocks, who at their times (and often out of them) did interpose, to whom Geo. White∣head mostly answered; nor had there any thing been spoken by another, but from their own example.

The matter in controversie will be related in the beginning of this Treatise, as a necessary Preludium, or Introduction to the following Discourse; The manner of it was so gross, that I know not how to represent it better, than by the levity and rude∣ness of some Prize; Laughing, Hissing, Shooving, Striking, and stigmatizing us with the opprobrious tearms of Confident Fellow, impudent Villain, Blasphemer, &c. And, as the usu∣al refuge of shallow Persons (when they have little else to say, to prepossess their Hearers with prejudice against the Principles of such as do oppose them) he questioned much whether I was not some Jesuite; Not remembring, or at least unwilling to let the people know, that none have been, nor are more instant in the vindication of that Doctrine he and his Brethren did assert, (to wit, God subsisting in three distinct persons) than the Jesuites; So that, if I should not as well reflect a scandal upon their learning by a comparison, as he did upon my Principle, I could more truly invert Jesuitism upon himself: In short, they neither would keep to Scripture tearms them∣selves, nor suffer it in others; but looking upon G. White∣head's explanation of their Tearms, and reduction of their Matter (if possible) to a Scripture sense (thereby fitting it to the Auditories apprehension) to be an indirect way of answer∣ing

(as that which nakedly did expose their tradition all folly to the vulgar) T.V. in an abrubt manner fell to his prayer in which he falsly, and with many strangly affected whines, ac∣cused us for Blasphemers unto God; and that he might prevent the clearing of our selves, he desired the people, when he had finish'd, to be gone, giving them an example by his and three Brethrens retreat: But we being desirous further to inform the people of our innocency, they did not only (as before) en∣deavour to pull us down, but put the Candles out, though se∣veral persons of good esteem, continued, whilst we spoke in vin∣dication of our selves, from the invectives of our Adversaries.

The people still remaining undispersed, T.V. came very palely down the Stairs (having a Candle in his hand) requi∣ring their dismiss, at which time he promised us, at our request, another meeting; but as one that knew not well what he said, or never purpos'd to perform what he promis'd, has given us since to understand, he can't in Conscience spare us so much time; yet to satisfie G.W. and my self, in private, he could agree; which surely can't be tearm'd another meeting, since then it must relate to the proceeding one; But how near the relation is betwixt an accusation before hundreds, and a satis∣faction before none, must needs be obvious to every unbyas'd per∣son: — Our Right should have been altogether as publick as our Wrong: — For which cause we were necessitated to visit his Meeting; where on a Lecture day (after a continued silence during all his Worship) we modestly intreated we might be clear'd from those unjust reflections before his Congregation, leaving a Disputation (if he could not then attend it) to some more seasonable opportunity: But as one, who resolv'd inju∣stice to mens reputation, as well as cowardize, in baulking a de∣fence of his own Principles, he slunck most shamefully away; nor would any there, though urg'd to it, assume his place to vin∣dicate

his practice towards us, or his Doctrine then deliver'd.

Reader, What's thy Opinion of this savage entertainment? Would Socrates, Cato, or Seneca have treated us with such unseemly carriage, whom they call Heathens? I suppose not: And well is it for the truly sober and consciencious, they are not lyable to those severe lashes, and that peevish usage, which are the inseparable Appendixes to a Scotch Directory, whose cold and cutting gales ever have design'd to nip and blast the fairest Blossoms of greater Reformation. So much for History.

And what remains, is to inform the Reader, that with great brevity I have discust and endeavoured a total enervation of those Cardinal Points, and chief Doctrines so firmly believed, and continually impos'd for Articles of Christian Faith; 1. The Trinity of separate Persons, in the Unity of Es∣sence. 2. God's incapacity to forgive without the fullest satisfaction paid him by another. 3. A justification of impure persons, from an imputative Righteousness. Which Principles, let me tell thee, Reader, are not more repugnant to Scriptures, Reason, and Souls-Security, than most destructive to Gods Honour, in his Unity, Mercy, and Purity.

Therefore I beseech thee to exterminate passion from her pre∣dominacy, in the perusal of this abridg'd Discourse, since it was writ in love to thee; that whilst 'tis thy desire to know Love, and fear God Almighty above mens Precepts, thou mayest not miss so good an end, by the blind embraces of Tra∣dition for Truth. But in the nobility of a true Berean, search and inquire; letting the good old Verity, not a pretended Antiquity, (whilst a meer novelty;) and solid Reason, not an over-fond credulity, sway the ballance of thy Judgment, that both stability and certainty may accompany thy determinati∣ons. Farewel.