An Apology for the True Christian Divinity

Table of Contents

TO
CHARLES II.
KING
OF
GREAT BRITAIN,
And the Dominions thereunto belonging:
ROBERT BARCLAY,

A Servant of Jesus Christ, called of God to the Dispensation of the Gospel now again revealed, and, after a long and dark Night of Apostasy, commanded to be preached to all Nations, wisheth Health and Salvation.

As the Condition of Kings and Princes puts Them in a Station more obvious to the View and Observation of the World than that of other Men, of whom, as Cicero observes, neither any Word or Action can be obscure; so are those Kings, during whose Appearance upon the Stage of this World it pleaseth the Great King of Kings singularly to make known unto Men the wonderful Steps of His unsearchable Providence, more signally observed, and their Lives and Actions more diligently remarked, and enquired into by Posterity; especially if those Things be such as not only relate to the outward Transactions of this World, but also are signalized by the Manifestation or Revelation of the Knowledge of God in Matters spiritual and religious. These are the Things that rendered the Lives of Cyrus, Augustus Cæsar, and Constantine the Great, in former Times, and of Charles the Fifth, and some other modern Princes in these last Ages, so considerable.

But among all the Transactions which it hath pleased God to permit, for the Glory of His Power, and the Manifestation of His Wisdom and Providence, no Age furnisheth us with Things so strange and marvellous, whether with Respect to Matters civil or religious, as these that have fallen out within the Compass of Thy Time; who, though Thou be not yet arrived at the Fiftieth Year of thy Age, hast yet been a Witness of stranger Things than many Ages before produced. So that whether we respect those various Troubles wherein Thou foundest Thyself engaged while scarce got out of Thy Infancy; the many different Afflictions, wherewith Men of Thy Circumstances are often unacquainted; the strange and unparalleled Fortune that befel Thy Father; Thy own narrow Escape, and Banishment following thereupon, with the great Improbability of Thy ever returning, at least without very much Pains and tedious Combatings; or finally, the Incapacity Thou wert under to accomplish such a Design; considering the Strength of those that had possessed themselves of Thy Throne, and the Terror they had inflicted upon foreign States; and yet that, after all this, Thou shouldest be restored without Stroke of Sword, the Help or Assistance of foreign States, or the Contrivance and Work of human Policy; all these do sufficiently declare that it is the Lord’s Doing, which, as it is marvellous in our Eyes, so it will justly be a Matter of Wonder and Astonishment to Generations to come; and may sufficiently serve, if rightly observed, to confute and confound that Atheism wherewith this Age doth so much abound.

As the Vindication of the Liberty of Conscience (which Thy Father, by giving Way to the importunate Clamours of the Clergy, the Answering and Fulfilling of whose unrighteous Wills has often proved hurtful and pernicious to Princes, sought in some Part to restrain) was a great Occasion of those Troubles and Revolutions; so the Pretence of Conscience was that which carried it on, and brought it to that Pitch it came to. And though no Doubt some that were engaged in that Work designed good Things, at least in the Beginning, albeit always wrong in the Manner they took to accomplish it, viz. by carnal Weapons; yet so soon as they had tasted the Sweets of the Possessions of them they had turned out, they quickly began to do those Things themselves for which they had accused others. For their Hands were found full of Oppression, and they hated the Reproof of Instruction, which is the Way of Life; and they evilly intreated the Messengers of the Lord, and caused his Prophets to be beaten and imprisoned, and persecuted his People, whom he had called and gathered out from among them, whom he had made to beat their Swords into Plow-shares, and their Spears into Pruning-hooks, and not to learn carnal War any more: But he raised them up, and armed them with spiritual Weapons, even with his own Spirit and Power, whereby they testified in the Streets and High-ways, and publick Markets and Synagogues, against the Pride, Vanity, Lusts, and Hypocrisy of that Generation, who were righteous in their own Eyes; though often cruelly intreated therefore: And they faithfully prophesied and foretold them of their judgment and Downfal, which came upon them; as by several Warnings and Epistles, delivered to Oliver and Richard Cromwell, the Parliament, and other then Powers, yet upon Record, doth appear.

And after it pleased God to restore Thee, what Oppressions, what Banishments, and evil Intreatings they have met with, by Men pretending Thy Authority, and cloaking their Mischief with Thy Name, is known to most Men in this Island; especially in England, where there is scarce a Prison that hath not been filled with them, nor a Judge before whom they have not been haled; though they could never yet be found guilty of any Thing that might deserve that Usage. Therefore the Sense of their Innocency did no Doubt greatly contribute to move thee, three Years ago, to cause some Hundreds of them to be set at Liberty: For indeed their Sufferings are singular, and obviously distinguishable from all the rest of such as live under Thee in these two Respects.

First, In that among all the Plots contrived by others against Thee, since Thy Return into Britain, there was never any, owned of that People, found or known to be guilty, (though many of them have been taken and imprisoned upon such Kind of Jealousies) but were always found innocent and harmless, as became the Followers of Christ not coveting after, nor contending for the Kingdoms of this World, but subject to every Ordinance of Man, for Conscience Sake.

Secondly, In that in the hottest Times of Persecution, and the most violent Prosecution of those Laws made against Meetings, being clothed with Innocency, they have boldly stood to their Testimony for God, without creeping into Holes or Corners, or once hiding themselves, as all other Dissenters have done; but daily met, according to their Custom, in the publick Places appointed for that End; so that none of Thy Officers can say of them, That they have surprized them in a Corner, overtaken them in a private Conventicle, or catched them lurking in their secret Chambers; nor needed they to send out Spies to get them, whom they were sure daily to find in their open Assemblies, testifying for God and His Truth.

By which those who have an Eye to see, may observe their Christian Patience and Courage, Constancy and Suffering joined in one, more than in any other People that differ from them, or oppose them. And yet, in the midst of those Troubles, Thou canst bear Witness, that as on the one Part, they never sought to detract from Thee, or to render Thee and Thy Government odious to the People, by nameless and scandalous Pamphlets and Libels; so on the other Hand they have not spared to admonish, exhort, and reprove Thee; and have faithfully discharged their Consciences towards Thee, without flattering Words, as ever the true Prophets in ancient Times used to do to those Kings and Princes, under whose Power Violence and Oppression was acted.

And although it is evident by Experience to be most agreeable both to divine Truth, and human Policy, to allow every one to serve God according to their Consciences; nevertheless those other Sects, who for the most Part durst not peep out in the Times of Persecution, while these innocent People stood bold and faithful, do now combine in a joint Confederacy, notwithstanding all the Former Janglings and Contentions among themselves, to render us odious; seeking unjustly to wrest our Doctrine and Words, as if they were both inconsistent with Christianity and civil Society; so that to effectuate this their Work of Malice against us, they have not been ashamed to take the Help, and commend the Labours, of some invidious Socinians against us. So do Herod and Pontius Pilate agree to crucify Christ.

But our Practice, known to Thee by good Experience to be more consistent with Christianity and civil Society, and the Peace and Welfare of this Island, than that of those who thus accuse us, doth sufficiently guard us against this Calumny; and we may indeed appeal to the Testimony of Thy Conscience, as a Witness for us in the Face of the Nations.

These Things moved me to present the World with a brief, but true Account of this People’s Principles, in some short Theological Propositions; which, according to the Will of God, proving successful, beyond my Expectation, to the Satisfaction of several, and to the exciting in many a Desire of being farther informed concerning us, as being every where evil spoken of; and likewise meeting with publick Opposition by some, as such will always do, so long as the Devil rules in the Children of Disobedience; I was thereby farther engaged, in the Liberty of the Lord, to present to the World this Apology of the Truth held by those People: Which, because of Thy Interest in them, and theirs in Thee, as having first appeared, and mostly increased, in these Nations under Thy Rule, I make bold to present unto Thee.

Thou knowest, and hast experienced their Faithfulness towards their God, their Patience in Suffering, their Peaceableness towards the King, their Honesty, Plainness and Integrity in their faithful Warnings and Testimonies to Thee; and if Thou wilt allow Thyself so much Time as to read this, Thou mayest find how consonant their Principles are both to Scripture, Truth, and right Reason. The Simplicity of their Behaviour, the Generality of their Condition, as being poor Men and illiterate; the Manner of their Procedure, being without the Wisdom and Policy of this World, hath made many conclude them Fools and Mad-men, and neglect them, as not being capable of Reason. But though it be to them as their Crown, thus to be esteemed of the Wise, the Great, and Learned of this World, and tho’ they rejoice to be accounted Fools for Christ’s Sake; yet of late some, even such who in the World’s Account are esteemed both Wise and Learned, begin to judge otherwise of them, and find, that they hold forth Things very agreeable both to Scripture, Reason, and true Learning.

As it is inconsistent with the Truth I bear, so it is far from me to use this Epistle as an Engine to flatter Thee, the usual Design of such Works; and therefore I can neither Dedicate it to Thee, nor crave Thy Patronage, as if thereby I might have more Confidence to present it to the World, or be more hopeful of its Success. To God alone I owe what I have, and that more immediately in Matters spiritual; and therefore to Him alone, and to the Service of His Truth, I dedicate whatever Work He brings forth in me; to whom only the Praise and Honour appertain, whose Truth needs not the Patronage of worldly Princes; His Arm and Power being that alone by which it is propagated, established and confirmed. But I found it upon my Spirit to take Occasion to present this Book unto Thee; that as Thou hast been often warned by several of that People, who are Inhabitants of England; so Thou may’st not want a seasonable Advertisement from a Member of Thy ancient Kingdom of Scotland; and that Thou may’st know, which I hope Thou wilt have no Reason to be troubled at, that God is raising up and increasing that People in this Nation. And the Nations shall also hereby know, that the Truth we profess is not a Work of Darkness, nor propagated by Stealth; and that we are not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, because we know it to be the Power of God unto Salvation; and that we are no Ways so inconsistent with Government, nor such Disturbers of the Peace, as our Enemies, by traducing us, have sought to make the World believe we are: For which to Thee I dare appeal, as a Witness of our Peaceableness and Christian Patience.

Generations to come shall not more admire that singular Step of Divine Providence, in Restoring Thee to Thy Throne, without outward Bloodshed, than they shall admire the Increase and Progress of this Truth, without all outward Help, and against so great Opposition; which shall be none of the least Things rendering Thy Memory remarkable. God hath done great Things for Thee; He hath sufficiently shewn Thee, that it is by Him Princes rule, and that He can pull down and set up at His Pleasure. He hath often faithfully warned Thee by His Servants, since He restored Thee to Thy Royal Dignity, that Thy Heart might not wax wanton against Him, to forget His Mercies and Providences towards Thee; whereby He might permit Thee to be soothed up, and lulled asleep in Thy Sins, by the Flattering of Court-parasites, who, by their Fawning, are the Ruin of many Princes.

There is no King in the World, who can so experimentally testify of God’s Providence and Goodness; neither is there any, who rules so many free People, so many true Christians: Which Thing renders Thy Government more Honourable, Thyself more Considerable, than the Accession of many Nations, filled with slavish and superstitious Souls.

Thou hast tasted of Prosperity and Adversity; Thou knowest what it is to be banished Thy native Country, to be over-ruled, as well as to rule, and sit upon the Throne; and being oppressed, Thou hast Reason to know how hateful the Oppressor is both to God and Man: If after all these Warnings and Advertisements, Thou dost not turn unto the Lord with all Thy Heart, but forget Him, who remembered Thee in Thy Distress, and give up Thyself to follow Lust and Vanity; surely great will be Thy Condemnation.

Against which Snare, as well as the Temptation of those, that may or do feed Thee, and prompt Thee to Evil, the most excellent and prevalent Remedy will be, to apply Thyself to that Light of Christ, which shineth in Thy Conscience, which neither can, nor will flatter Thee, nor suffer Thee to be at Ease in Thy Sins; but doth and will deal plainly and faithfully with Thee, as those that are Followers thereof have also done.

GOD Almighty, who hath so signally hitherto visited Thee with His Love, so touch and reach Thy Heart, ere the Day of Thy Visitation be expired, that Thou mayest effectually Turn to Him, so as to improve Thy Place and Station for His Name. So wisheth, so prayeth,

Thy Faithful Friend and Subject,

Robert Barclay.

From Ury, in my native Country of Scotland, the 25th of the Month called November, in the Year MDCLXXV.

R. B.

THESES THEOLOGICÆ.

TO THE
CLERGY,
Of what Sort soever, Unto whose Hands these may come; But more particularly

To the Doctors, Professors, and Students of Divinity, in the Universities and Schools of Great Britain, whether Prelatical, Presbyterian, or any other;

ROBERT BARCLAY,

A Servant of the Lord God, and one of those who in Derision are called Quakers, wisheth unfeigned Repentance, unto the Acknowledgment of the Truth.

FRIENDS,

Unto You these following Propositions are offered; in which, they being read and considered in the Fear of the Lord, you may perceive that simple, naked Truth, which Man by his Wisdom hath rendered so obscure and mysterious, that the World is even burthened with the great and voluminous Tractates which are made about it, and by their vain Jangling and Commentaries, by which it is rendered a Hundred-fold more dark and intricate than of itself it is: Which great Learning (so accounted of) to wit, your School-divinity(which taketh up almost a Man’s whole Life-time to learn) brings not a Whit nearer to God, neither makes any Man less wicked, or more righteous than he was. Therefore hath God laid aside the Wise and Learned, and the Disputers of this World; and hath chosen a few despicable and unlearned Instruments (as to Letter-learning) as he did Fishermen of old, to publish his pure and naked Truth, and to free it of those Mists and Fogs wherewith the Clergyhath clouded it, that the People might admire and maintain them. And among several others, whom God hath chosen to make known these Things (seeing I also have received, in Measure, Grace to be a Dispenser of the same Gospel) it seemed good unto me, according to my Duty, to offer unto you these Propositions; which though short, yet are weighty, comprehending much, and declaring what the true Ground of Knowledge is, even of that Knowledge which leads to Life Eternal; which is here witnessed of, and the Testimony thereof left unto the Light of Christ in all your Consciences.

Farewel.

R. B.

The First Proposition.

Concerning the true Foundation of Knowledge.

Seeing the Height of all Happiness is placed in the true Knowledge of God ([1]This is Life eternal, to know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent) the true and right understanding of this Foundation and Ground of Knowledge is that which is most necessary to be known and believed in the first Place.

The Second Proposition.

Concerning Immediate Revelation.

Seeing [2]no Man knoweth the Father but the Son, and he to whom the Son revealeth him; and seeing the Revelation of the Son is in and by the Spirit; therefore the Testimony of the Spirit is that alone by which the true Knowledge of God hath been, is, and can be only revealed; who as, by the moving of his own Spirit, he converted the Chaos of this World into that wonderful Order wherein it was in the Beginning, and created Man a living Soul, to rule and govern it, so by the Revelation of the same Spirit he hath manifested himself all along unto the Sons of Men, both Patriarchs, Prophets and Apostles; which Revelations of God by the Spirit, whether by outward Voices and Appearances, Dreams, or inward objective Manifestations in the Heart, were of old the formal Object of their Faith, and remain yet so to be; since the Object of the Saints’ Faith is the same in all Ages, though set forth under divers Administrations. Moreover, these divine inward Revelations, which we make absolutely necessary for the building up of true Faith, neither do nor can ever contradict the outward Testimony of the Scriptures, or right and sound Reason. Yet from hence it will not follow, that these divine Revelations are to be subjected to the Examination, either of the outward Testimony of the Scriptures, or of the natural Reason of Man, as to a more noble or certain Rule or Touchstone: For this divine Revelation, and inward Illumination, is that which is evident and clear of itself; forcing, by its own Evidence and Clearness, the well-disposed Understanding to assent, irresistibly moving the same thereunto; even as the common Principles of natural Truths move and incline the Mind to a natural Assent: As, That the Whole is greater than its Part; That two contradictory Sayings cannot be both true, nor both false: Which is also manifest, according to our Adversaries Principle, who (supposing the Possibility of inward divine Revelations) will nevertheless confess with us, that neither Scripture nor sound Reason will contradict it: And yet it will not follow, according to them, that the Scripture, or sound Reason, should be subjected to the Examination of the divine Revelations in the Heart.

The Third Proposition.

Concerning the Scriptures.

From these Revelations of the Spirit of God to the Saints, have proceeded the Scriptures of Truth, which contain, 1. A faithful historical Account of the Actings of God’s People in divers Ages, with many singular and remarkable Providences attending them. 2. A prophetical Account of several Things, whereof some are already past, and some yet to come. 3. A full and ample Account of all the chief Principles of the Doctrine of Christ, held forth in divers precious Declarations, Exhortations and Sentences, which, by the moving of God’s Spirit, were at several Times, and upon sundry Occasions, spoken and written unto some Churches and their Pastors: Nevertheless, because they are only a Declaration of the Fountain, and not the Fountain itself, therefore they are not to be esteemed the principal Ground of all Truth and Knowledge, nor yet the adequate primary Rule of Faith and Manners. Nevertheless, as that which giveth a true and faithful Testimony of the first Foundation, they are and may be esteemed a secondary Rule, subordinate to the Spirit, from which they have all their Excellency and Certainty; for as by the inward Testimony of the Spirit we do alone truly know them; so they testify, that [3]the Spirit is that Guide by which the Saints are led into all Truth: Therefore, according to the Scriptures, the Spirit is the first and principal Leader. And seeing we do therefore receive and believe the Scriptures, because they proceeded from the Spirit; therefore also the Spirit is more originally and principally the Rule, according to that received Maxim in the Schools, Propter quod unumquodque est tale, illud ipsum est magis tale. Englished thus: That for which a Thing is such, that Thing itself is more such.

The Fourth Proposition.

Concerning the Condition of Man in the Fall.

[4]All Adam’s Posterity (or Mankind) both Jews and Gentiles, as to the first Adam or earthly Man is fallen, degenerated, and dead, deprived of the Sensation or Feeling of this inward Testimony or Seed of God, and is subject unto the Power, Nature, and Seed of the Serpent, which he sows in Men’s Hearts, while they abide in this natural and corrupted State; from whence it comes, that not their Words and Deeds only, but all their Imaginations are evil perpetually in the Sight of God, as proceeding from this depraved and wicked Seed. Man therefore, as he is in this State, can know nothing aright; yea, his Thoughts and Conceptions concerning God and Things spiritual, until he be disjoined from this evil Seed, and united to the Divine Light, are unprofitable both to himself and others: Hence are rejected the Socinian and Pelagian Errors, in exalting a natural Light; as also of the Papists, and most Protestants, who affirm, That Man, without the true Grace of God, may be a true Minister of the Gospel. Nevertheless, this Seed is not imputed to Infants, until by Transgression they actually join themselves therewith; [5]for they are by Nature the Children of Wrath, who walk according to the Power of the Prince of the Air.

The Fifth and Sixth Propositions.

Concerning the Universal Redemption by Christ, and also the Saving and Spiritual Light, wherewith every Man is enlightened.

The Fifth Proposition.

[6]God, out of his infinite Love, who delighteth not in the Death of a Sinner, but that all should live and be saved, hath so loved the World, that he hath given his only Son a Light, that whosoever believeth in him should be saved; who enlighteneth every Man that cometh into the World, and maketh manifest all Things that are reproveable, and teacheth all Temperance, Righteousness, and Godliness: And this Light enlighteneth the Hearts of all in a Day,[7] in order to Salvation, if not resisted: Nor is it less universal than the Seed of Sin; being the Purchase of his Death, who tasted Death for every Man; for [8]as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

The Sixth Proposition.

According to which Principle (or Hypothesis) all the Objections against the Universality of Christ’s Death are easily solved; neither is it needful to recur to the Ministry of Angels, and those other miraculous Means, which, they say, God makes use of, to manifest the Doctrine and History of Christ’s Passion, unto such who (living in those Places of the World where the outward Preaching of the Gospel is unknown) have well improved the first and common Grace; for hence it well follows, that as some of the old Philosophers might have been saved, so also may now some (who by Providence are cast into those remote Parts of the World, where the Knowledge of the History is wanting) be made Partakers of the Divine Mystery, if they receive and resist not that Grace, [9]a Manifestation whereof is given to every Man to profit withal. This certain Doctrine then being received (to wit) that there is an Evangelical and Saving Light and Grace in all, the Universality of the Love and Mercy of God towards Mankind (both in the Death of his beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Manifestation of the Light in the Heart) is established and confirmed against all the Objections of such as deny it. Therefore [10]Christ hath tasted Death for every Man; not only for all Kinds of Men, as some vainly talk, but for every one, of all Kinds; the Benefit of whose Offering is not only extended to such, who have the distinct outward Knowledge of his Death and Sufferings, as the same is declared in the Scriptures, but even unto those who are necessarily excluded from the Benefit of this Knowledge by some inevitable Accident; which Knowledge we willingly confess to be very profitable and comfortable, but not absolutely needful unto such, from whom God himself hath with-held it; yet they may be made Partakers of the Mystery of his Death (though ignorant of the History) if they suffer his Seed and Light (enlightening their Hearts) to take Place (in which Light, Communion with the Father and Son is enjoyed) so as of wicked Men to become holy, and Lovers of that Power, by whose inward and secret Touches they feel themselves turned from the Evil to the Good, and learn to do to others as they would be done by; in which Christ himself affirms all to be included. As they then have falsely and erroneously taught, who have denied Christ to have died for all Men; so neither have they sufficiently taught the Truth, who affirming him to have died for all, have added the absolute Necessity of the outward Knowledge thereof, in order to the obtaining its saving Effect; among whom the Remonstrants of Holland have been chiefly wanting, and many other Assertors of Universal Redemption, in that they have not placed the Extent of this Salvation in that Divine and Evangelical Principle of Light and Life, wherewith Christ hath enlightened every Man that comes into the World, which is excellently and evidently held forth in these Scriptures, Gen. vi. 3. Deut. xxx. 14. John i. 7, 8, 9. Rom. x. 8. Tit. ii. 11.

The Seventh Proposition.

Concerning Justification.

As many as resist not this Light, but receive the same, in them is produced an holy, pure, and spiritual Birth, bringing forth Holiness, Righteousness, Purity, and all these other blessed Fruits which are acceptable to God; by which Holy Birth (to wit, Jesus Christ formed within us, and Working his Works in us) as we are sanctified, so are we justified in the Sight of God, according to the Apostle’s Words, [11]But ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified, in the Name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. Therefore it is not by our Works wrought in our Will, nor yet by good Works, considered as of themselves, but by Christ, who is both the Gift and the Giver, and the Cause producing the Effects in us; who, as he hath reconciled us while we were Enemies, doth also in his Wisdom save us, and justify us after this Manner, as saith the same Apostle elsewhere, [12]According to his Mercy he saved us, by the washing of Regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Ghost.

The Eighth Proposition.

Concerning Perfection.

[13]In whom this holy and pure Birth is fully brought forth, the Body of Death and Sin comes to be crucified and removed, and their Hearts united and subjected unto the Truth, so as not to obey any Suggestion or Temptation of the Evil One, but to be free from actual sinning, and transgressing of the Law of God, and in that Respect perfect. Yet doth this Perfection still admit of a Growth; and there remaineth a Possibility of sinning, where the Mind doth not most diligently and watchfully attend unto the Lord.

The Ninth Proposition.

Concerning Perseverance, and the Possibility of Falling from Grace.

Although this Gift, and inward Grace of God, be sufficient to work out Salvation, yet in those in whom it is resisted it both may and doth become their Condemnation. Moreover, in whom it hath wrought in Part, to purify and sanctify them, in order to their further Perfection, by Disobedience such may fall from it, and turn it to Wantonness, making Shipwreck of Faith; and [14]after having tasted of the Heavenly Gift, and been made Partakers of the Holy Ghost, again fall away. Yet such an Increase and Stability in the Truth may in this Life be attained, from which there cannot be a total Apostasy.

The Tenth Proposition.

Concerning the Ministry.

As by this Gift, or Light of God, all true Knowledge in Things Spiritual is received and revealed; so by the same, as it is manifested and received in the Heart, by the Strength and Power thereof, every true Minister of the Gospel is ordained, prepared and supplied in the Work of the Ministry: And by the leading, moving, and drawing hereof, ought every Evangelist and Christian Pastor to be led and ordered in his Labour and Work of the Gospel, both as to the Place where, as to the Persons to whom, and as to the Times when he is to minister. Moreover, those who have this Authority may and ought to preach the Gospel, though without human Commission or Literature; as on the other Hand, those who want the Authority of this Divine Gift, however learned or authorized by the Commissions of Men and Churches, are to be esteemed but as Deceivers, and not true Ministers of the Gospel. Also, who have received this holy and unspotted Gift, [15]as they have freely received, so are they freely to give, without Hire or Bargaining, far less to use it as a Trade to get Money by it: Yet if God hath called any from their Employments, or Trades, by which they acquire their Livelihood, it may be lawful for such (according to the Liberty which they feel given them in the Lord) to receive such Temporals (to wit, what may be needful to them for Meat and Clothing) as are freely given them by those to whom they have communicated Spirituals.

The Eleventh Proposition.

Concerning Worship.

All true and acceptable Worship to God is offered in the inward and immediate moving and drawing of his own Spirit, which is neither limited to Places, Times, or Persons; for though we be to worship him always, in that we are to fear before him, yet as to the outward Signification thereof in Prayers, Praises, or Preachings, we ought not to do it where and when we will, but where and when we are moved thereunto by the secret Inspirations of his Spirit in our Hearts, which God heareth and accepteth of, and is never wanting to move us thereunto, when Need is, of which he himself is the alone proper Judge. [16]All other Worship then, both Praises, Prayers and Preachings, which Man sets about in his own Will, and at his own Appointment, which he can both begin and end at his Pleasure, do or leave undone as himself sees meet, whether they be a prescribed Form, as a Liturgy, or Prayers conceived extemporarily, by the natural Strength and Faculty of the Mind, they are all but Superstitions, Will-worship, and abominable Idolatry in the Sight of God; which are to be denied, rejected, and separated from, in this Day of his spiritual Arising: [17]However it might have pleased him (who winked at the Times of Ignorance, with Respect to the Simplicity and Integrity of some, and of his own innocent Seed, which lay as it were buried in the Hearts of Men, under the Mass of Superstition) to blow upon the dead and dry Bones, and to raise some Breathings, and answer them, and that until the Day should more clearly dawn and break forth.

The Twelfth Proposition.

Concerning Baptism.

As there is [18]one Lord and one Faith, so there is one Baptism; which is not the putting away the Filth of the Flesh, but the Answer of a good Conscience before God, by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. And this Baptism is a pure and spiritual Thing, to wit, the Baptism of the Spirit and Fire, by which we are buried with him, that being washed and purged from our Sins, we may walk in Newness of Life; [19]of which the Baptism of John was a Figure, which was commanded for a Time, and not to continue for ever. As to the Baptism of Infants, it is a mere human Tradition, for which neither Precept nor Practice is to be found in all the Scripture.

The Thirteenth Proposition.

Concerning the Communion, or Participation of the Body and Blood of Christ.

The [20]Communion of the Body and Blood of Christ is inward and spiritual, which is the Participation of his Flesh and Blood, by which the inward Man is [21]daily nourished in the Hearts of those in whom Christ dwells; of which Things the breaking of Bread by Christ with his Disciples was a Figure, which they even used in the Church for a Time, who had received the Substance, for the Cause of the Weak; even as [22]abstaining from Things strangled, and from Blood; the [23]washing one another’s Feet, and the [24]anointing of the Sick with Oil; all which are commanded with no less Authority and Solemnity than the Former; yet seeing they are but the Shadows of better Things, they cease in such as have obtained the Substance.

The Fourteenth Proposition.

Concerning the Power of the Civil Magistrate in Matters purely Religious, and pertaining to the Conscience.

Since God hath assumed to himself the Power and Dominion of the Conscience, who alone can rightly instruct and govern it therefore [25]it is not lawful for any whatsoever, by Virtue of any Authority or Principality they bear in the Government of this World, to force the Consciences of others; and therefore all Killing, Banishing, Fining, Imprisoning, and other such Things, which Men are afflicted with, for the alone Exercise of their Conscience, or Difference in Worship or Opinion, proceedeth from the Spirit of Cain, the Murderer, and is contrary to the Truth; provided always, that no Man, under the Pretence of Conscience, prejudice his Neighbour in his Life or Estate; or do any Thing destructive to, or inconsistent with Human Society; in which Case the Law is for the Transgressor, and Justice to be administered upon all, without Respect of Persons.

The Fifteenth Proposition.

Concerning Salutations and Recreations, &c.

[26]Seeing the chief End of all Religion is to redeem Man from the Spirit and vain Conversation of this World, and to lead into inward Communion with God, before whom, if we fear always, we are accounted happy; therefore all the vain Customs and Habits thereof, both in Word and Deed, are to be rejected and forsaken by those who come to this Fear; such as the taking off the Hat to a Man, the Bowings and Cringings of the Body, and such other Salutations of that Kind, with all the foolish and superstitious Formalities attending them; all which Man has invented in his degenerate State, to feed his Pride in the vain Pomp and Glory of this World; as also the unprofitable Plays, frivolous Recreations, Sportings and Gamings, which are invented to pass away the precious Time, and divert the Mind from the Witness of God in the Heart, and from the living Sense of his Fear, and from that evangelical Spirit wherewith Christians ought to be leavened, and which leads into Sobriety, Gravity, and Godly Fear; in which, as we abide, the Blessing of the Lord is felt to attend us in those Actions in which we are necessarily engaged, in order to the taking Care for the Sustenance of the outward Man.

AN

APOLOGY

FOR THE

True Christian Divinity.

PROPOSITION I.

Concerning the true Foundation of Knowledge.

Seeing the Height of all Happiness is placed in the true Knowledge of God, [27](This is Life Eternal, to know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent) the true and right understanding of this Foundation and Ground of Knowledge is that which is most necessary to be known and believed in the first Place.

He that desireth to acquire any Art or Science, seeketh first those Means by which that Art or Science is obtained: If we ought to do so in Things Natural and Earthly, how much more then in Spiritual? In this Affair then should our Inquiry be the more diligent, because he that Errs in the Entrance, is not so easily brought back again into the Right Way; he that misseth his Road from the Beginning of his Journey, and is deceived in his first Marks, at his first setting forth, the greater his Mistake is, the more difficult will be his Entrance into the Right Way.

The Way to the true Knowledge of God.Thus when a Man first proposeth to himself the Knowledge of God, from a Sense of his own Unworthiness, and from the great Weariness of his Mind, occasioned by the secret Checks of his Conscience, and the tender yet real Glances of God’s Light upon his Heart; the earnest Desires he has to be redeemed from his present Trouble, and the fervent Breathings he has to be eased of his disordered Passions and Lusts, and to find Quietness and Peace in the certain Knowledge of God, and in the Assurance of his Love and Good-will towards him, make his Heart tender, and ready to receive any Impression; and so (not having then a distinct Discerning) through Forwardness embraceth any Thing that brings present Ease. If either through the Reverence he bears to certain Persons, or from the secret Inclination to what doth comply with his natural Disposition, he fall upon any Principles or Means by which he apprehends he may come to know God, and so doth center himself, it will be hard to remove him thence again, how wrong soever they may be: For the first Anguish being over, he becomes more hardy; and the Enemy being near, creates a false Peace, and a certain Confidence, which is strengthened by the Mind’s Unwillingness to enter again into new Doubtfulness, or the former Anxiety of a Search.

Jewish Doctors and Pharisees resist Christ.This is sufficiently verified in the Example of the Pharisees and Jewish Doctors, who most of all resisted Christ, disdaining to be esteemed Ignorant; for this vain Opinion they had of their Knowledge, hindered them from the true Knowledge; and the mean People, who were not so much pre-occupied with former Principles, nor conceited of their own Knowledge, did easily believe. Wherefore the Pharisees upbraid them, saying, [28]Have any of the Rulers or Pharisees believed on him? But this People, which know not the Law, are accursed. This is also abundantly proved by the Experience of all such, as being secretly touched with the Call of God’s Grace unto them, do apply themselves to false Teachers, where the Remedy proves worse than the Disease; because instead of knowing God, or the Things relating to their Salvation aright, they drink in wrong Opinions of him; from which it is harder to be disintangled, than while the Soul remains a Blank, or Tabula rasa. For they that conceit themselves Wise, are worse to deal with than they that are sensible of their Ignorance. Nor hath it been less the Device of the Devil, the great Enemy of Mankind, to persuade Men into wrong Notions of God, than to keep them altogether from acknowledging him; the latter taking with few, because odious; but the other having been the constant Ruin of the World: For there hath scarce been a Nation found, but hath had some Notions or other of Religion; so that not from their denying any Deity, but from their Mistakes and Misapprehensions of it, hath proceeded all the Idolatry and Superstition of the World; yea, hence even Atheism itself hath proceeded: For these many and various Opinions of God and Religion, being so much mixed with the Guessings and uncertain Judgments of Men, have begotten in many the Opinion, That there is no God at all. This, and much more that might be said, may shew how dangerous it is to miss in this first Step: All that come not in by the right Door, are accounted as Thieves and Robbers.

Epictetus.Again, How needful and desirable that Knowledge is, which brings Life Eternal, Epictetus sheweth, saying excellently well, Cap. 38. [Greek: isthi hoti to Kyriôtaton: ισθι ὁτι το Κυριωτατον], &c. Know that the main Foundation of Piety is this, To have [Greek: orthas hypolêpseis: ορθας ὑποληψεις], right Opinions and Apprehensions of God.

This therefore I judged necessary, as a first Principle, in the first Place, to affirm; and I suppose will not need much farther Explanation or Defence, as being generally acknowledged by all (and in these Things that are without Controversy I love to be brief) as that which will easily commend itself to every Man’s Reason and Conscience; and therefore I shall proceed to the next Proposition; which, though it be nothing less certain, yet by the Malice of Satan, and Ignorance of many, comes far more under Debate.