Some clear Testimonies unto the Truth, (as it is owned by the People called in derision Quakers collected out of the Works and Books of William Tindall Martyr.
CHAP. I.
Concerning Christs dying for all Men.
In his Prologue upon the Prophet Jonas.
WE be all equally Created, and Formed os one God our Father, and indifferently bought and redeemed, with one blood of our Saviour Jesus Christ.
CHAP. II.
Concerning both the Law and Gospel, being in Mans heart.
In the same Prologue upon Jonas.
AS the Law which fretteth thy Conscience is in thy heart, and is no outward thing; even so seek within thy heart the Plaister of Mercy, the promises of forgiveness in our Saviour Jesus Christ: according unto all the ensamples of Mercy that are gone before. And with Jonas let them that wait on Vanities, and seek God here and there, and in every Temple, save in their hearts: go and seek thou the Testament of God in thy heatt; sor in thy heart is the word of the Law, and in thine heart is the word of Faith in the promises of Mercy in Jesus Christ; so that if thou [Page 3] confess with a repenting heart, and knowledge; and surely believe that Jesus is Lord over all sin, thou art safe.
CHAP. III.
Concerning the outward and inward part of the Scripture.
In the same Prologue.
THE Scripture hath a Body without, and within a Soul, Spirit, and Life; it hath without, a Bark, a Shell, and as it were, an hard Bone, for the fleshly minded to gnaw upon; and within it hath Pith, Kernel, Marrow, and all sweetness for Gods Elect, which he hath chosen to give them his Spirit and to Write his Law, and the Faith of his Son, in their hearts.
CHAP. IV.
Concerning the Heathen, that they had the Spirit of God, and that Pharoh had the Spirit of Grace, before his heart was hardned.
In his Prologue upon Matthew.
ANd Paul Writeth Rom. 1. that the Heathen because when they knew God, they had no list to honour him with Godly living; therefore God powered his Wrath upon them, and took his Spirit from them, and gave them up to their hearts lusts to serve sin, from Iniquity, to Iniquity; till they were throughly hardned, and past Repentance. And Pharoh, because when the Word of God was in his Country, and Gods People scattered, throughout all his Land; [Page 5] and yet he never loved them, nor it; therefore God gave him up: and in taking his Spirit of Grace from him, so hardned his heart with covetousness, that afterward no Myracle could convert him, hereunto pertaineth the Parable of the Talents.
CHAP. V.
Concerning Good works through working of the Spirit of God, how that they help to continue us in the favour and Grace of God.
In the same Prologue.
LEt us Arm our selves with this remembrance, that as Christs works justifie from sin, and set us in the favour of God; so our own deeds [Page 6] through working of the Spirit of God, help us to continue in the favour and the Grace, into which Christ hath brought us; and that we can no longer continue in favour and Grace, than our hearts are to keep the Law.
CHAP. VI.
Concerning a believer, and spiritual Man that is renewed, how he needeth no outward Law.
In his Treatise on the Parable of the wicked Mammon.
AS thouneedest not to bid a Tree to bring forth Fruit, so is there no Law put into him that believeth, and is justified through Faith (as saith Paul in the first Epistle to Timothy chap. I.) neither is it needful: [Page 7] for the Law of God is Written and Graved in his heart, and his pleasure is therein.
And in another Treatise of his, called the Obedience of a Christian Man.
He now that is renewed in Christ keepeth the Law, without any Law written, or compulsion of any Ruler, or Officer, save by the leading of the Spirit only. Chap. Obed. of Subjects.
CHAP. VII.
Concerning Faith, how that the true Faith, is a feeling Faith.
In his Answer to Sir Tho. Mores Dialogue, 1530.
THere are two manner of Faiths, an Historical Faith, and a Feeling Faith. The Historical Faith hangeth on the Truth [Page 8] and Honesty of the Teller, or on the Common Fame and Consent of many: as if one told me, that the Turk had wone a City, and I believed it, moved with the Honesty of the man: now if there comes another that seemeth more Honest, or that hath better perswasions that it is not so, I think Immediately that he lyed, and lose my Faith again. And a Feeling Faith is, as if a man were there present when it was won, and there were wounded, and had there lost all that he had, and were taken Prisoner there also. That Man should so believe that all the World could not turn him from his Faith: even likewise if my Mother had blown on her Finger, and told me that the Fire would burn me, I should have believed her with an Hystorical Faith, as we believe the Stories of the World, because I thought she [Page 9] would not have mocked me: and so I should have done, if she had told me that the Fire had been cold, and would not have burned: but assoon as I had put my Finger in the Fire, I should have believed, not by reason of her, but with a feeling Faith, so that she could not have perswaded me afterward the contrary. So now with an Historical Faith, I may believe that the Scripture is Gods, by the teaching of them, and so I should have done, though they had told me that Robinhood had been the Scripture of God, which Faith is but an Opinion, and therefore abideth ever fruitless, and falleth away, if a more glorious reason be made unto me, or if the Preacher live contrary.
But of a Feeling Faith, it is written, John 6. they shall be all taught of God, that is, God shall writ it in their hearts with his Holy Spirit, and [Page 10] also teftifieth Rom. 8. The Spirit beareth record unto our Spirit, that we be the Sons of God; and this Faith is none Opinion, but a sure feeling, and therefore ever fruitful, never hangeth it of the honesty of the Preacher, but of the Power of God, and of the Spirit: and therefore if all the Preachers of the World would go about to perswade the contrary, it would not prevail no more than though they would make me believe the fire were cold, after that I had put my finger therein. Of this ye have an ensample, Job. 4. of the Samaritanish Wife, which left her Pitcher and went into the City, and said, come and see a man, &c. but when they had heard Christ, the Spirit wrought, and made them feel, whereupon they came unto the Woman and said, We believe not now, because of thy saying, but because we have heard our selves, and [Page 11] know, that he is Christ, the Saviour of the World: for Christ's Preaching was with Power and Spirit, that maketh a man feell and know, and work too, and not as the Scribes and Pharisees preached, and as ours, make a man ready to cast his gorge to hear them, rave and rage as mad men.
CHAP. VIII.
Concerning the Inward Preaching, Teaching, and Speaking of the Spirit of God, unto the Soul, and inward reading and hearing, and that true Believers believe the Principles of their Faith, not because they are written in books, but because they are inwardly taught by the Spirit of God.
In the same Treatise of his Answer to Sir T. Moors Dialogue.
WHen thou art askt why thou believest that thou shalt be saved by Christ, and of such like principles of our Faith, answer thou wottest and feelest that it is true, and when he asketh how thou knowest that it is true, answer, because it is written in thine heart; and if he [Page 13] ask, who wrote it, answer the Spirit of God; and if he ask, how thou came first by it, tell him, whether by reading in Books, or hearing it Preached, as by any outward Instrument, but that inwardly thou wast taught by the Spirit of God; and if he ask whether thou believest it not, because it is written in books, or because the Priests so Preach, answer no, not now, but only because it is written in thine heart, and because the Spirit of God so Preacheth, and so testifieth unto thy Soul; and say, though at the beginning, thou wast moved by Reading or Preaching, as the Samaritans were by the words of the Woman, yet now thou believest it not therefore any longer, but only because thou hast heard it of the Spirit of God, and read it written in thine heart.
CHAP. IX.
Concerning the feeling of the working of the Spirit, and that none ought to think that his Faith is right, who hath not this feeling.
In his Parable of the wicked Mammon.
HOW dare a Man presume to think that his Faith is right, and that Gods Favour is on him, and that Gods Spirit is in him, when he feeleth not the working of the Spirit, neither himfelf disposed to any godly thing. And again, where the Spirit is there is feeling: sor the Spirit maketh us feel all things; where the Spirit is not there is no feeling.
CHAP. X.
Concerning Justification. How to be justified, is to be made inwardly righteous, good and holy; and when he pleadeth, that we are not justified by works, he meaneth by warks, the outward works; but doth not exclude inward righteousness, Regeneration, and Sanctification, from having any place or respect in our Justification; but doth indeed include it.
In the Parable of the wicked Mammon.
SO now by this abide sure and fast, that a Man inwardly in the heart, and before God, is Righteous and good, through Faith only, before all works: Notwitstanding, [Page 16] yet outwardly and openly before the People, yea, and before himself is he Righteous through the work: that is, he knoweth, and is sure, through the outward work, that he is a true believer, and in the Favour of God, and Righteous and good, through the mercy of God; that thou mayest call the one, an open and outward Righteousness; and the other, an inward Righteousness of the heart (so yet) that thou understand by the outward Righteousness, no other thing, save the Fruit that followeth, and and a declaring of the inward justifying and Righteousness of the heart; and not that it maketh a Man Righteous before God, but that he must be first Righteous before him in the heart; even as thou mayeft call the Fruit of the Tree the outward goodness of the Tree, which followeth and uttereth [Page 17] the inward natural goodness of the Tree.
Again in his Answer to T. Mores fourth Book.
That thing which maketh a Man love the Law of God, doth make a Man Righteous, and justifieth him effectually, and actually; and maketh him alive, as a Workman, and cause efficient.
CHAP. XI.
Concerning the Sabbath.
In his Answer to T. More his first Book.
AND as for the Sabbath a great matter! we be Lords [Page 81] over the Sabbath, and may yet change it into the Monday, or any other day, as we see need: or may make every tenth day Holy-day, only if we see a cause why, we may make two every Week, if it were expedient, and one not enough to teach the People. Neither was there any cause to change it from the Saturday, than to put difference between us and the Jews; and lest we should become Servants unto the day, after their superstition. Neither needed we any Holy-day at all, if the People might be taught without it.
CHAP. XII.
That Magistrates may Preach, and that every Man that is well taught may Preach, or Teach, in case of necessity; as when the ordinary Preachers are ignorant, and Preach false Doctrine, and that Women may Teach.
In his exposition on Mat. 5.
ALL Kings and all Rulers are bound to be Salt and Light, not only in example of living, but also in Teaching of Doctrine unto their Subjects, as well as they be bound to punish evil doers. Doth not the Scripture testifie that King David was chosen to be a Shepherd, and to feed his People with Gods Word? It is an evil SchoolMaster, that cannot but beat only; [Page 20] but it is a good Schoolmaster, that so teacheth, that few need to be beaten.
Again, moreover every Man ought to Preach in word and deed unto his Houshold, and to them that are under his governance. And though no Man may Preach openly, save he that hath the Office committed unto him; yet ought every Man to endeavour himself, to be as well Learned as the Preacher, as nigh as it is possible. And every Man may privately inform his Neighbour; yea, and the Preacher and Bishop too, if need be: For if the Preacher Preach wrong, you may, any Man, whatsoever he be, rebuke him, first privately; and then (if that help not) to complain further; and when all is proved, according to the order of Charity, and yet no amendment had: then ought every Man that [Page 21] can to resist him, aud to stand by Christs Doctrine, and to jeopard Life and all for it; look on the old ensamples, and they shall teach thee—when we have proved all that Charity bindeth us, and yet in vain; then we must come forth openly, and rebuke their wickedness in the face of the World, and jeopard Life and all thereon.
And in Answer to T. M. 1. Book.
If Baptism be so necessary, as they make it, then love thy Neighbour as thy self, doth teach Women to Baptize, yea and to teach, and to rule their Husbands too, if they be beside themselves.
Again, in his Answer to Mores 4 th Book.
If a Woman learned in Christ, were [Page 22] driven into an Isle, where Christ was never Preached, might she not then Preach and teach to Minister the Sacraments, and make Officers? the case is possible, shew you what should let, that she might not, love thy Ncighbour as thy self, doth compell.
CHAP. XIII.
Concerning Philosophy, how it is not needful to understand the Scripture.
In his Parable of the Wicked Mammon.
MAny are not ashamed to rail and blaspheme, saying how should he understand the Scripture, seeing he is no Philosopher, never hath seen his Metophysick. Moreover, they blas pheme, saying, how can he be a Devine, and wo tteth not what is [Page 23] subjectum in Theologia. Nevertheless as a man without the Spirit of Ariristotle or Philosophie, may by the Spirit of God understand Scripture, even so by the Spirit of God understandeth he, that God is to be sought in all the Scripture, and in all things, and yet wotteth not, what meaneth Subjectum in Theologia, because it is a term of their own making.
CHAP. XIV.
Concerning Hereticks, that they should not be corporally punished.
WHereas T. More alledged that S. Paul gave two Hereticks to the Devil, which tormented their flesh, which was no small punishment, and haply he slew them: W. Tindall answereth, "O Expounder of the Scripture! like [Page 24] Hugo Charensis, which expoundeth Hereticum hominem de vita, take the Heretick out of his life: we read of no pain that he had whom the Christians Excommunicated and gave to Sathan to slay his flesh, save that he was ashamed of himself and repented, &c.
A Testimony of John Frith, another English Martyr, against outward and bodily compelling and punishing of them that believe not aright.
In his Answer to the Lord Rochester Bishop.
To say that Christ would have his Disciples to compel men, with Prisonment, Fetters, Scourging, Sword and Fire is very false, and far from the mildness of a chaste Spirit, although my Lord approve it never so much; for Christ did forbid his Disciples such Tyranny, yea rebukes them, because they [Page 25] would have desired, that Fire should descend from Heaven and consume the Samaritans, which would receive not Christ: but with Violence will God have no man compelled unto his Law. Paul also testifieth, 2 Cor. 1. that he had not rule over the Corinthians, as touching their Faith. And again, As no man can search the heart, but God only, so can no man judge or order our Faith but God only through his Holy Spirit.
Collected faithfully by me G. K. out of the Works of W. Tindall and John Frith, who are called Worthy Martyrs, and Principal Teachers of the Church of England, in the Title Page of the Book Printed at London by John Day, Anno 1573.
COme hither all you called Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Independents, Baptists, and any others, and let us try your Faith, whether it be the same, with that of the Antient Protestants, as also we are willing, that our Faith be put to the tryal, that it may appear, whose faith is most agreeable to the faith of Antient Protestants and Martyrs; one of the most eminent whereof was this William Tindal: who above one hundred years ago, was a principal Teacher of the Church of England, and died a Martyr.
1. First, his Faith was, that as we are all Created of one God, so we are all indifferently bought with one blood of our Saviour Jesus Christ, so tbat Christ his shedding of his blood, is as universal for men, as the work of their Creation: and this is our Faith who are called Quakers, to wit, [Page 27] that Christ hath tasted death for every man, and that he hath dyed for all according to the Scriptures. But whether is this your Faith yea or nay?
2. Secondly, his Faith was, that both the Law and the Gospel, are in the Hearts of Men, and is none outward thing, and that we should seek within our hearts the Plaister of Mercy, yea that we should seek the Testament of God in our hearts, and the Word of the Law, and of Faith, and that we should let them go who seek God here and there, and in every Temple save in their hearts: and this is our Faith, who witness unto the Words in the Heart, and bid people seek God within them, and Christ within, and not without them, in Temples made with hands, or outward Observations. But whether is this your Faith, yea or nay?
3. Thirdly, his Faith was, that the Scripture had a body without, a bark and shell, and as it were a [Page 28] hard bone, but within it had a Soul, Spirit and Life, &c. and this is our Faith, who say, the Letter killeth, and the Letter of the Scripture is not the Word, but the Life is the Word that is within, and is no outward thing: But whether is this your Faith yea or nay, who say the Letter is the Word, and deny the Word originally to be in the Heart?
Fourthly, his Faith was, that the Heathen once bad the Spirit of God, and that Pharoah, before his heart was bardened, had the Spirit of Grace, and this is our Faith who say, the true Light which is Spirit, doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world, sufficiently unto Salvation, and that a manifestation of the Spirit is given unto every man to profit withal. But whether is this your faith yea or nay? who deny the saving Light of Christ to be Universal.
Fifthly, His Faith was, that Goodworks through working of the Spirit of [Page 29] God, are absolutely needful to continue us in the favour of God, and in a justified state, and this is our Faith, but whether this is your Faith yea or nay, seeing many of you say, David continued in the favour of God, and justified, while he committed Murder and Adultery.
Sixthly, His Faith was, that a Believer needed no outward Law nor Rule, for he keepeth the Law, by the leading of the Spirit only, and this is our Faith, but whether is this your Faith, yea or nay, who say the Scripture, (which is outwardly) is the only Rule, and will not acknowledg the Spirit within to be the Rule.
Seventhly, his Faith was, that the Scriptures are to be believed that they are of God, because of the Inward Testimony and teaching of the Spirit of God, and that the true Faith is a feeling Faith, & a sure feeling, & who have this Faith, are taught of God himself, as immediately as when a man is taught that the fire is hct, by putting his finger in it, here the fire teacheth him immediately, that it is hot, and he needeth no man to tell him, and this is our Faith in all these parculars, who witness unto the immediate Teachings of God by his Spirit in our hearts. But whether is this your Faith yea or nay, [Page 30] who deny spiritual feeling and sense to be essential to true Faith, telling people they must not seek to live by spiritual sense and feeling, but by Faith; as also telling them, that Faith may be without assurance. This is contrary to, Will. Tindall his Faith, and contrary to the Scriptures Testimony, which calleth Faith and Guidence, a Seeing, a Handling, all which imply both spiritual Sence and Assureance.
Eighthly, His Faith was, that men were to believe the Principles of their Religion, not because they are written in books but because they are inwardly taught by the Spirit of God, and this is our Faith, but whether is this your Faith, yea or nay, who say, the Scriptures are the formal object of Faith, and the first Rule or moving Cause by way of object, to make us believe, and who say, immediate Revelation is ceased, and is not the general priviledge of all true Believers.
Ninthly, His Faith was, that the Working of the Spirit was to be felt, and was to be known by feeling, and that none should think his Faith right, who hath not the feeling of the Spirit, and this is our Faith, but whether is this your Faith, yea or nay, who deny tbe feeling of the Spirit, properly so called, and mock and deride us when we [Page 31] speak of feeling, and when ye ask us, how know ye that you are moved & led by theSpirit to such things, we answer, by our feeling, which bath certainty, and evidence in it that is sufficient. This Answer ye reject, as Fanatical, Heretical, and what not?
Tenthly, His Faith was, that men are justified by an inward Righteousness wrought by the Spirit of God in the beart: and this is our Faith, but whether is this your Faith, yea or nay, who deny that any are justified by an inward rigbteousness in their hearts, although wrought in them by the Spirit of God.
Eleventhly, His Faith was, that the first day of the Week, was not commanded by God to be kept boly, but the Church keepeth that day, because of convenience for instructing the people, and worshiping God: and this is our Faith, but whether is this your Faith, yea or nay, who say, that day is of Gods commanding to be kept as a Sabbath.
Twelfthly, His Faith was, that Magistrates may Preach, and every man may Preach or Teach, who is taught of God, in case of necessity, and that Women may teach: and this is our Faith, but whether is this your Faith, yea or nay, vvho would monopolise it unto the Clergy, or a certain order of Literate Men.
[Page 32] Thirteenthly, His Faith vvas, that Philosophy and School. learning was not needful to understand the Scripture, nor to be a Preacher or Divine: and this is our Faith, but vvhether is this your Faith, yea or nay, who lay so great stress upon Philosophy and School-Learning, that ye permit none to be Preachers, or Doctors of Divinity who have not them.
Fourteenthly, His Faith vvas, as also the Faith of John Frith, another Principal Teacher in England, and Martyr, that Hereticks were not to be punished with Prisonment, Fetters, Scourging, Sword and Fire: and this vvas the Faith of many others in that day, and this is our Faith; but vvhether is this your Faith, yea or nay, whose chiefest Arguments against us, the people in derision called Quakers, have been Prisons, Banishings, Scourgings, spoiling of Goods, and such like carnal and violent ways.
Writ by me George Keith, one of these People, in derision called Quakers, who am a true and cordial Protestant.