An Apology for the True Christian Divinity / Being an explanation and vindication of the principles and doctrines of the people called Quakers

by Robert Barclay

§. V.

The Decay of the Church.For the particular Churches of Christ, gathered in the Apostles Days, soon after beginning to decay as to the inward Life, came to be overgrown with several Errors, and the Hearts of the Professors of Christianity to be leavened with the old Spirit and Conversation of the World. Yet it pleased God for some Centuries to preserve that Life in many, whom he emboldened with Zeal to stand and suffer for his Name through the ten Persecutions: But these being over, the Meekness, Gentleness, Love, Long-suffering, Goodness, and Temperance of Christianity began to be lost. When Men became Christians by Birth, and not by Conversion, Christianity came to be lost.For after that the Princes of the Earth came to take upon them that Profession, and that it ceased to be a Reproach to be a Christian, but rather became a Means to Preferment; Men became such by Birth and Education, and not by Conversion and Renovation of Spirit: Then there was none so vile, none so wicked, none so profane, who became not a Member of the Church. And the Teachers and Pastors thereof becoming the Companions of Princes, and so being enriched by their Benevolence, and getting vast Treasures and Estates, became puffed up, and as it were drunken with the vain Pomp and Glory of this World: And so marshalled themselves in manifold Orders and Degrees; not without innumerable Contests and Altercations who should have the [79]Precedency. So the Virtue, Life, Substance, and Kernel of Christian Religion came to be lost, and nothing remained but a Shadow and Image; which dead Image, or Carcase of Christianity (to make it take the better with the superstitious Multitude of Heathens that were engrossed in it, not by any inward Conversion of their Hearts, or by becoming less wicked or superstitious, but by a little Change in the Object of their Superstition) not having the inward Ornament and Life of the Spirit, became decked with many outward and visible Orders, and beautified with the Gold, Silver, precious Stones, and the other splendid Ornaments of this perishing World: So that this was no more to be accounted the Christian Religion, and Christian Church, notwithstanding the outward Profession, than the dead Body of a Man is to be accounted a living Man; which, however cunningly embalmed, and adorned with ever so much Gold or Silver, or most precious Stones, or sweet Ointments, is but a dead Body still, without Sense, Life, or Motion. In the Church of Rome are no less Superstitions and Ceremonies introduced, than were either among Jews or Heathens.For that Apostate Church of Rome has introduced no fewer Ceremonies and Superstitions into the Christian Profession, than were either among Jews or Heathens; and that there is and hath been as much, yea, and more Pride, Covetousness, Uncleanness, Luxury, Fornication, Profaneness and Atheism among her Teachers and chief Bishops, than ever was among any Sort of People, none need doubt, that have read their own Authors, to wit, Platina and others.

[79] As was between the Bishop of Rome and the Bishop of Constantinople.

Whether, and what Difference there is betwixt the Protestants and Papists in Superstitions.Now, though Protestants have reformed from her in some of the most gross Points and absurd Doctrines relating to the Church and Ministry, yet (which is to be regretted) they have only lopt off the Branches, but retain and plead earnestly for the same Root, from which these Abuses have sprung. So that even among them, though all that Mass of Superstition, Ceremonies, and Orders be not again established, yet the same Pride, Covetousness and Sensuality is found to have overspread and leavened their Churches and Ministry, and the Life, Power and Virtue of true Religion is lost among them; and the very same Death, Barrenness, Dryness and Emptiness, is found in their Ministry. So that in Effect they differ from Papists but in Form and some Ceremonies; being with them apostatised from the Life and Power the true Primitive Church and her Pastors were in: So that of both it may be said truly (without Breach of Charity) that having only a Form of Godliness (and many of them not so much as that) they are Deniers of, yea, Enemies to, the Power of it. And this proceeds not simply from their not walking answerably to their own Principles, and so degenerating that Way, which also is true; but, which is worse, their laying down to themselves, and adhering to certain Principles, which naturally, as a cursed Root, bring forth these bitter Fruits: These therefore shall afterwards be examined and refuted, as the contrary Positions of Truth in the Proposition are explained and proved.

For as to the Nature and Constitution of a Church[80] (abstract from their Disputes concerning its constant Visibility, Infallibility, and the Primacy of the Church of Rome) the Protestants, as in Practice, so in Principles, differ not from Papists; The Protestant Church how they become Members thereof.for they engross within the Compass of their Church whole Nations, making their Infants Members of it, by sprinkling a little Water upon them; so that there is none so wicked or profane who is not a Fellow-member; no Evidence of Holiness being required to constitute a Member of the Church. Nay, look through the Protestant Nations, and there will no Difference appear in the Lives of the Generality of the One, more than of the Other; he, who ruleth in the Children of Disobedience, reigning in both: Christianity chiefly consists in the Renewing of the Heart.So that the Reformation, through this Defect, is only in holding some less gross Errors in the Notion, but not in having the Heart reformed and renewed, in which mainly the Life of Christianity consisteth.

[80] i. e. National.