The reviler rebuked: or, A re-inforcement of the charge against the Quakers, (so called) for their contradictions to the Scriptures of God, and to their own scriblings,: which Richard Farnworth attempted to answer in his pretended Vindication of the Scriptures; but is farther discovered, with his fellow-contradictors and revilers, and their doctrine, to be anti-Scriptural, anti-Christian, and anti-spiritual. By John Stalham, a servant of the great bishop and shepherd of souls, appointed to watch his little flock at Terling in Essex.

Section 49.

THeir discourse, papers and practise is notorious enough, in opposition to civil honor, required in Scripture.

R. F. * 1.1 answereth, Civility and Honor we own, and knows to whom honor is due, to whom it is not.

Rep. But who will believe him, if none make it out by Argument better then he doth? and if his practise be no better then his doctrine, it is like to prove but poor honor, and not such as the Scripture requireth.

1. Saith he, If I honor a proud man for his pride, I dishonor God in so doing &c.

Rep. Who calls (that calls from Scripture) for honor to any for their pride, and covetousness and oppression? This is but a shift of R. F. Is not the ordinance of superiority, in State, Church, Family, set up among men to be honored? and cannot men set up by that ordinance, be honored, but* 1.2 they must be honored for their sins? Sin we all know, is a reproach to any person, as to any nation. But the relation wherein God hath set them above others is an honor to them, put upon them by God himself, and are not they to be honored, as, and so far as he hath honored them? viz. as Magistrates, as Ministers, as Parents, as Masters, considered abstractly from their bad qualities? and onely lookt upon in their place of superiority representing God, and bearing his image of authority, which though lost by the fall, yet God hath given back, in some respect, to all men; Hence the Rule, 1 Pet. 2. 17. Honor all men; all men, as men, not Beasts; and some men, as preferred by the Lord before other. But saith R. F.

2 All men that are joyned to the Lord, and walk in union with him, and his seed, I honor and love, and this I speak in sincerity.

Rep. This is no demonstration of giving civil honor, or knowing what belongs to it, which was-by him at first pro∣fessed. Did R. F. not onely speak, but act this in sincerity, yet there is an ignorant simplicity mixed with his sincerity, while he thinketh, that love to Saints must exclude his love to other men; and if he can love his enemies, as he saith,* 1.3 civil honor is a branch of love to be given to them that are not joyned to the Lord and walk with him, though they be his enemies; which of the martyrs refused to give civil honor to their persecuting enemies, when called before them? But saith R. F. again,

3. To follow foolish idle fancies, to worship men with cap and knee, and flatteries, as the Serpents seed do, and which thou pleads for, we do that deny, and against it testifie.

Rep. Here he still mingleth the corruption of the act, with the act; as if they could not be separated. If onely he denies foolish, idle complements, for insinuation sake, and in a way of flattery, that we deny also; but to judge the

honor of cap and knee (taken by it self, and given to men of place) as inseparable from folly, fancy, flattery, is to deny a part of that civility and honor which himself seemed in ge∣neral to allow.

4. How can ye believe, that seek honor one of another, and seek not the honor that comes of God alone? Joh. 5. 44.

Rep. As 'tis a sin to be ambitious of honor among men, and a compound sin, to be careless of Gods honor, while we hunt after our own, and that by indirect means; so 'tis a duty to go one before another in giving honor, Rom. 12. 10. yea, 'tis a duty and no sin, to take the honor that God hath given to the place and relation wherein he hath set us. Preferring of creature and self honor, and to hold up that with neglect of Christ, rather then take that honor which God gives to every man, upon receiving of Christ, is that which our Lord condemns in that place of John; But sup∣pose* 1.4 a Magistrate, Master, Parent, hath not received Christ, that Scripture doth not interfere with the fifth Command∣ment: nor simply forbid receiving honor one of another; but onely such as the worlds friends give and take upon a worldly account, and not with respect to the ordinance of God, who hath stated, and ordered it, where, how, by whom, and to whom it is to be given, and of whom it is to be received. R. F. addeth;

5. What the Scriptures do allow, we do know, without thy ranking together.

Rep. I had mentioned some Scriptures, concerning civil Titles of honor, given to Magistrates, Ministers, Fathers, Masters, which this man denies not but that the Scriptures do allow, and he and others know, but he doth not say, he alloweth what he knoweth; Now to him that knoweth what is good, and approveth it not, and makes not confession of it when called to it, to him it is sin, with greater aggra∣vation. I shall now unto the rank of Titles, bring in a File of Scriptures for civil gestures of Reverence, and due de∣portment of the body; to know whether they will allow them or no, and practise accordingly; if not, the whole File shall discharge against them, another day for their pride, negligence, and contempt. In Scripture we shall

finde bowings of the knee, and body of several kindes; some from base fears, as Sauls to the devil, 1 Sam. 28. 14. some* 1.5 of base flattery, as Joabs to David, 2 Sam. 14. 22. Cushies to Joab, 2 Sam. 18. 21. of Davids subjects to Absalom, and Absaloms to them, 2 Sam. 15. 5. Some of Idolatry, such as Amaziah acted when he bowed himself to the gods of the Edomites, 2 Chron. 25. 14. all these kindes we know, if R. F. doth not; and we disallow the practise, upon such reasons, (though we approve of the history of the Scripture as true) because they were against a Rule of Scripture: but how (by the way) will these rise up in judgement against those that deny what is required by a Rule? If some have bowed for wicked ends, some to Idols, some to devils; how will they condemn the stiff knees, and stout stomachs that will not afford it for the ends, and to the persons which the Lord hath designed, and marked out, as honorable? There* 1.6 are bowings of the knee and body, which the Scripture makes mention of with approbation, being agreeable to the Law and Rule of the fifth Commandment. Such as that of Abrahams bowing to the heathenish children of Heth, Gen. 23. 7. in a civil neighborly way: And bowings to Rulers and Magistrates, as Jacobs sons to Joseph, Gen. 43. 26. 28. according to Josephs two dreams, of their sheaves bowing to his; and of the Sun, Moon and stars, making obeysance to him: Davids bowing to Saul, though a wic∣ked man, 1 Sam. 24. 8. as well as Mephibos••eths, Abigails,* 1.7 Araunahs, and Nathans bowing to David, a good man, and pious Prince: Again, there want not instances of respect and honor given to the Prophets, and Ministers of the Lord, as that of the great woman, or Lady of Shunem, to the Prophet Elisha, 2 Kings 4. 37. of bowing to the elder in years, or hours; scarce a quarter of an hour it may be, was Esau born before Jacob, yet he gives him the respect and honor of his Primogeniture, Gen. 33. 3. of bowing to the rich, as Ruth to Boaz; Ruth 2. 10. of the wife to the hus∣band, as Bathsheba to David, 1 Kings 1. 16. and 31. of the son to the mother; as Solomon to Bathsheba, 1 Kings 2. 19. These and many more, if R. F. knowes, and allowes not; he disdaineth Scripture proof and testimony; if he allowes,

why is the civil obeysance of the upper or lower part of the body, head, loins, or knee, denied to any such relations? Blessed is he that condemns not in practise, that which he alloweth in judgement; or that disalloweth not in judge∣ment, that which the Scripture countenanceth, and com∣mandeth. Yet we have not all that R. F. can say for himself and his companions.

6. Where doth the Scripture say, put off your Hats, and flatter with your tongues?

Rep. Here again, he would not seem to oppose the respect due to men, but as it is done in a way of flattery (which car∣riage is of all to be abhorred) but dutiful honor may be gi∣ven without dissimulation; and if these men be perfect, why are they no better examples? The Quere about the Hat, I have spoken to in the former Section. The fifth Commandement requireth all tokens of civill respect, and honor; the putting off the Hat, is a token of such respect: Be curteous, saith the Apostle 1 Pet. 3 8. put not off huma∣nity, by denying this piece of common civility. Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honor the face of the old man, and fear thy God. I am the Lord, Levit. 19. 32. If greater signs of honor then uncovering the head be required, we are not to boggle at the lesser. But,

7. Saith R. F. Where doth the Scripture say, respect the rich, and dis-respect the poor? Are you not partial, &c.

Rep. Where do you finde any doctrine of this tendency delivered? The Word would have poor and rich respected as God made them both his creatures, Prov. 22. 2. And as he maketh poor and maketh rich, himself will be magnified, 1 Sam. 2. and yet his order, set among men, regarded: As for respecting persons for self-ends, and carnal considerations, Let R. F. and every one look to his own heart, and learn to be poor in spirit. Let the Brother of high degree (in the* 1.8 world) rejoyce in that he is made low, in spirit: Let the Brother of low degree (in the world) rejoyce in that he is exalted, in Christ. Degrees there are of Saints, as Saints: and Saints, as men, are capable of different degrees of estate, and place in the world; every one of them must know the place, and station, wherein God hath set him, and demean

or carry himself accordingly. If any man think otherwise, and teach it, and consent not to wholesom words, the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is accord∣ing to godliness, he is proud, or a fool, as 'tis in the margent, 1 Tim. 6. 3, 4. knowing nothing, doting about questions and strifes of words, &c. Let R. F. and his fellows read on and tremble, lest they be branded and stigmatized with such Characters, for their multiplied perverse Disputings; and Scripture-contradictions.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Page 2••
• * 1.2

  Civil Honor due to supe∣riors.
• * 1.3

  To all, as men.
• * 1.4

  John 5 44. vindicated.
• * 1.5

  Gestures of honor some bad, base and Idolatrous.
• * 1.6

  Some, civil and good maners.
• * 1.7

  2 Sam. 9. 8. 1 Sam. 25. 23. 2 Sam. 24. 20. 1 King 1. 23.
• * 1.8

  James 1. 9, 10 opened.