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 29.

I Noted here what they pretend to own, viz. Praying in families, with reading and instructing of Children, and teaching according to the Apostles Doctrine▪ but contradict it, in their giving over the course of Family∣prayer, ordinarily, Morning, and Evening, and at Meals: nor do I hear they teach Children, but what leads them to an imitation of their new forms. R. F. * 1.1 as before, asketh me, touching that which they say they own; And art thou of∣fended at this?

Rep. 1. I am not offended at the practice pretended, but at the bare pretence of the practice, viz. at saying and not doing, and at back-slidings from the old and good ways of the Lord.

2. I am offended at R. F. his denying (as before) our raising Points, Reasons, Ʋses, Motives and Tryals from the words of Scripture, and yet justifying their teaching accord∣ing to the Apostles Doctrine: for sure, if all they reach be according thereunto, it will go near to fall under some of those heads, viz. of Motives, Tryals, Points, Reasons or Ʋses; and if they so teach one another in their families, why do they condemn us for teaching after that maner in the publique assemblies?

3. I am offended at R. F. his subtilty, or ignorant sim∣plicity (all along) that he puts off his Reader with answer to one part of the Contradiction, but not to the other; as in what followeth: I observed, they pretend to own all that is Gods, Baptism, the Lords Supper, Church-fellowship, Sab∣baths, &c. but (as I said) 'tis in a sense contradictious to the light that ever they had, have, or can have truly from Scri∣pture. This man speaks not to the latter part of the charge, but onely to the former: We do own that which is Gods free love and mercy to us, and all that is Gods; as Baptism, the Lords Supper, Church-fellowship, Sabbath.

Rep. Here are fair words, but what the sense and mean∣ing of them is, and how contradictious to Scripture, and the ordinary use of the terms and phrases, we may gather from what hath passed before.* 1.2

1. All Water-Baptism is dis-owned by them, and he that saith he owneth Scripture-Baptism (which comprehends the sign and the thing signified) and doth dis-own all Water-Baptism, he doth wittingly, or unwittingly contradict himself.

2. The Lords instituted Bread and Wine Supper they de∣ny, (as was shewed Part 1. Sect. 39.) contrary to the Scri∣pture; And he that saith he owneth all that is Gods and dis-owneth Bread and Wine, as instituted by Jesus Christ, (to be used by the Churches, as the outward visible sign and memorial of the Lords death to his second coming) is beside himself, as well as without his Book.

3. All forms of Church-fellowship (but their own) they deny; and that can be no true Church-fellowship of theirs, which dis-own the Scriptures from being the word of

God, and rule of their fellowship, and of their Church.

4. As for a day of Rest, one day in seven, it was a mercy* 1.3 of God to Israel of old, that he made known unto them his holy Sabbath, Nehem. 9. 14. and I think it is a mercy still, and a pledge of love, that Gods holy Sabbath (exchan∣ged since Christs resurrection from the seventh to the first day of the week) hath not ceased in any Age; for the stand∣ing Rule and Law of the fourth Commandment, obligeth to one day in seven (whether the last or the first of the seven, it is a mercy we have either) but doth R. F. and his fellows own the outward part or rest of the Sabbath, according to Gods command? not, that I finde in any of their writings, hear one for all, * 1.4 The worlds Sabbath is without them, and they have no rest but in a form without: The Saints Sab∣bath is within, where Christ is come to give them rest, and they are ceased from their own works.

5. It is the mercy and love of God to give a heart to look more into the inside of Ordinances, then upon the out∣side; but he that is unfaithful in the least, is unjust also in much; and he that breaks the least of God Commandments (as to the outward part of an Ordinance) and teach men so, shall be called or reckoned the least in the kingdom of heaven.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Page 30.
• * 1.2

  See Part 1. Sect. 3. 8.
• * 1.3

  The Sabbath a mercy, and a duty.
• * 1.4

  Several pa∣pers, pag. 19.