Indies; fo here the Light of the Spirit is fufficient of it felf, even without the Holy Scriptures. But where it pleases G OD to afford them unto Men, Faith in CHRIST, as he was outwardly Born of a Virgin. &c, is neceffary,p. 41. The Holy Scriptures are not to be neglected, or difefteemed, because we are under the Teachings of the Spirit, neither are the Teachings of the Spirit to be defpifed or undervalued, because we have the Holy Scriptures: Thefe are not fufficient without that, but that is fuf. ficient without thefe: for that is the TRUTH it felf, but these are only Writings of the TRUTH; which is able of it self to make free, and was before the Scriptures or Writings were. If any Object that Text, fome not having the Spirit against the Univerfality of its Manifeftation, William Penn Anfwers,

Having has a twofold Ufe in Scripture, the one

as a Condemner, in which fenfe, none is at one time Vol. 2. p. 182. or another, without a Measure of the Divine

Light and Spirit to reprove them: and 2dly, the fo having it as to Enjoy and poffefs it as a Rule, Guide, and Invifible Minifter of Life; Comfort and Refreshment, in which fenfe the World has it not, that is received it not, as faith the Text, John 14. 16. Yet the very next Chapter fays, That it fhould convince the World of Sin. A Man may hear Reproof or Inftruction; yet not follow it, so that fuch as receive not the spirit, that ftrives with them, may be truly faid to be fenfual, not having the Spirit, because they receive it not to the Ends for which it was, or is fent.

p. 625. Is there no Sun in the Firmament? becaufe Men that are Blind, or Shut their Eyes cannot, or will not fee it; or is a School-Master unlearned or infufficient, becaufe any of his Lads play Truant and neglect his Reproof and Inftru&tions, &c.

This Authority I fubjoin to illuftrate the Difference between the Sufficiency and Efficiency of the Divine Principle, the firft of which, i. e. the fufficiency for all Men, we ever afferted; but never the laft, i. e. the Efficiency to any, except only fuch as obey its Divine Dictates.

REMARKS.

EEING Deifm denies the Neceffity of a Super natural Revelation, let me ask one Query, Whofe Principles establish fuch a Doctrine? Thofe Presbyterians who fay fuch Revelation is ceafed, or we, who affert both the Poffibility and Ne ceffity of it in the Chriftian Church to the End of the World, according to our LORD's promife at parting: Lo I am with you always even to the End of the World, i. c. by my Spirit, for as to his bodily Prefence, he was about to leave them; Nay, does not our Querift himself as much as the Quakers fet the Infidel World upon a Level with the Chriftian Church, at the End of his 5th Section, where Paraphrafing on CHRIST, the True Light, he has thefe Words, "And chiefly because he is the Author of Super"natural Knowledge, in all that enjoy it, even un "to Gentiles and Jews, without Ditindion." And moreover, DEISM denies revealed Religion, asthe Miraculous Incarnation of the Son of GOD, with all the Glorious Effects thereof. How can We be charg'd with pleading the Caufe thereof, when our Excelcellent Apologift, R. Barclay, p, 141, afferts, to deny or disbelieve fuch Revelation, when offered, is Damnable unbelief?

The very Ground, why fo many have fo flight an Apprehenfion of the Light of CHRIST, is be cause they have never known it, farther than in the Capacity of a Reprover of Evil; tho' thence it is plain, it comes from GOD, and ever leads to GOD, which made the Royal_PfalPfal. xliii. 3, mift thus Pray: O! Send out thy Light, and thy Truth, and let them lead me, let them guide me to thy Holy Hill, &c. Yet they feeling

only

only its Reproofs, conclude it unable to give either further Discoveries of GOD'sWill; or Power and Virtue to do it, but to all fuch I fay, TRY IT: you are

in it, and then youe Cafe, 'till you have walked

Witnefs

Truth of this faying of the beloved Athe beloved A-1 John 1. 7. poftle; If we walk in the Light, as

be

is in the Light, we have Fellowship one with another, and the Blood of JESUS CHRIST his Son, cleanfeth us from all Sin. And the Na

tions of them that are faved, fball walk Rev. xxi. 24. in the Light of it: The City of GO D,

v. 23. And the Lamb is the Light thereof. What higher Attainments can any Soul wifh for, than to be cleanfed from all Sin, (here) and faved from Wrath bereafter.

Tho.aKempis
Imitation of
CHRIST
Book 3. ch. 2.

I will clofe this Remark with that Reverend Addrefs of Thomas à Kempis to the LORD in the following Words, "Speak "LORD for thy Servant heareth "thee. Let neither Mofes, nor yet 66 any of the Prophets fpeak to me; "but do thou rather fpeak, O LORD my "GOD, who art the Illuminator and Infpirer of "all the Prophets; for THOU, without them, "can't teach me perfectly: but THE Y, with ❝out THEE, will profit me nothing.

SECTION

SECTION III.

QUERY III. Whether the QUAKERS, by denying the Holy Scriptures to be the primary Rule of Faith and Practice, and afferting the Spirit (or

(a) See R. Barclay's Apol. on the head of Scrip

tures.

ded in thofe

(c)

Light within to be fo, do (a) not plainly prefer what they fuppofe to be the Dictates of the Spirit to themfelves, before its Dictates to the Pro phets and Apoftles, which are recorinspired Writings?

And confequently afcribe a greater Authority to their own Speeches and Writings, than to thofe of the Prophets and Apoftles?

And whether this be not the true Reafon of their never reading the Holy Scriptures in their Meetings, tho they often read the Writings of those they call their Friends?

(d)

(e)

And whether this Principle be not the bigbeft Affront that can be of fered to thofe infpired Writings?

Nay, whether it be not worse than that Doctrine of Popery, that makes the Romish Church the only infallible Fudge of the Senfe of the Holy Scriptures? For that Spirit of Infallibility which the Papifts afcribe to their Popes, or pretended General Councils, every QUAKER afcribes to himself; and both fet up their Judg ment above that of the Prophets and Apoftles.

RE

REPLY

E believe the Holy Doctrines of the Old

WE and New Teftament, to be given by Divine

(a. b.)

Infpiration; and therefore of Divine Authority, and préferable to all other Writings extant, tho' we can't think it any Affront or Undervaluing of thofe Hea venly Oracles, that rare Gift to prefer the Mouth and Giver whence they came, and which alone can certainly expound, blefs and make them profitable to thofe Great and Good Ends, which the ALMIGHTY in his Mercy and Favour to the Chriftian Church, above others, has been graciously pleafed to vouchfafe and appoint these facred Oracles,

(b)

Forafmuch as the Pen-men of the Holy Scriptures, particularly of the New Teftament; were entrusted to tranfmit to Pofterity the Tranfactions, with Relation to the Birth, Miracles, Sufferings, Refurrection and Afcenfion of our Bleffed LORD, with the Precepts, Exhortations and gracious Sayings, that proceeded from His Mouth, whilft here on Earth; as alfo thofe excellent and E vangelical Truths revealed to them by the Light of the Glorious Gofpel; which they were commiffioned to Preach to the Nations, in thefe refpects, and as be ing Prime Minifters in GOD's House, and Perfons qualified by a much greater Measure of the fame Divine Spirit, to be the firft Witneffes and Difpenfers of that Glorious Difpenfation; their Writings challenge, and justly ought to have the Firft and Chief Place, as a Rule of Faith and Practice, next the Holy SPIRIT, by which they were infpired: and which leads us into an high Efteem of thofe excellent Writings, as being fo valuable an Effect of fo great a Cause.

W