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 24.

ANother piece of unsoundness in their Doctrine of Ju∣stification, I had noted to be, That they deny Peter to have been in a state of Justification when he denyed Christ, contrary, as I said, to Christs Prayer, Luke 22. 32. I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not. R. F. * 1.1 undertakes the defence of this unsound Doctrine of J. Nayler, but how? He challengeth me for bringing a Scripture which speaks no such thing: now had my pen or Printer failed, the words would have led him to the right Verse; but he will needs out-face all with Luke 22. 23. (which speaks of the Disciples enquiry among themselves, which of them it was that should betray him) as if I had quoted the three and twentieth Verse, and not (as I did) the two and thirty: and hence he compares Judas denial and Peters together, with this groundless Aviso, (in this case) See how blinde thou art, was Judas in a state of Justification when he denied Christ and betrayed him? no more then Peter was when Christ called him Satan.

Rep. 1. Here R. F. goes further then J. Nayler, and shuts Peter out of a state of Justification, not onely when he de∣nied his Master, but when his Master called him Satan; so as by this addition, one would think they hold, That every act or sinful word, as act of a Saint, puts him out of the state of Justification: or, let honest men observe with what a shuffler I deal, and suspect him in all the rest of his writings for this deceitful trick.

2. Who will say that Judas was ever in a state of Justi∣fication? Who but those, that envy or extenuate the free grace of God, and the fulness thereof, will say that Peter was un-justified, when he gave carnal counsel to his Master, or when he denied him, out of frailty and self-confidence?

3. Let me judge the best of R. F. that I ought by Scri∣pture-rule, I must say, this contradictious opinion of his ariseth from his ignorance and prejudice together, of the

very nature and state of a Believers Justification before God; as may further appear by what followeth.

[But after Peter had repented of his denial of Christ, and wept bitterly, upon his return, and after he was united to the faith, then Christ prayed for him.]

Rep. 1. How confused, cross, and thwart this is to the Text I alledged, Luke 22. 32. let my sober truly conscien∣tious* 1.2 Reader weigh with himself.

First, Christ saith, [I have prayed] not, [I will pray.] Wo were it with Saints, if Christs prayers did not prevent their repentance and tears, returnings and unitings to the faith, as he expresseth it.

Secondly, The promise, that his faith should not fail, respects his very fall, and Satans winnowing of him as wheat; some grains of wheat, or substance of the grace of faith, there was then left in Peter, as the effect of Christs prayer: For, either Christs prayer was heard, or not; if any say, not, 'tis contrary to John 11. 42. I know (speak∣ing to his Father) that thou hearest me always: if it be yielded, as it must be, that Christ was heard, (not if Peter failed not, but that he might not fail) then Peters faith fail∣ed not totally, or altogether, howsoever it was shaken, sifted, or winnowed: and if it failed not utterly, he was, in that act of Christ-denial, in the state of Justification. And hereupon is R. F. (with J. N.) detected for a contradictor of Christ and of his Scripture-pure and faithful promise.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Page 14. Peters fallings in carnal counsel to his master, and of denial of him, puts him not out of the state of Justifica∣tion.
• * 1.2

  Luke 22▪ 32. vindicated.