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

II. A Prophetical Account of several Things, whereof some are already past, and some yet to come.

III. 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. Yet because they give 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 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.[45] Seeing then that we do therefore receive and believe the Scriptures because they proceeded from the Spirit, so the very same Reason is the Spirit more Originally and Principally the Rule, according to the received Maxim in the Schools, Propter quod unumquodque est tale, illud ipsum est magis tale: That for which a Thing is such, that Thing itself is more such.

[45] John 16. 13. Rom. 8. 14.

§. I.

We confess indeed there wants not a Majesty in the Style, a Coherence in the Parts, a good Scope in the Whole; but seeing these Things are not discerned by the natural, but only by the spiritual Man, it is the Spirit of God that must give us that Belief of the Scriptures which may satisfy our Consciences; therefore some of the Chief among Protestants, both in their particular Writings and publick Confessions, are forced to acknowledge this.

Calvin’s Testimony that the Scripture certainly is from the Spirit.Hence Calvin, though he saith he is able to prove that, if there be a God in Heaven, these Writings have proceeded from him, yet he concludes another Knowledge to be necessary. Instit. Lib. 1. Cap. 7. Sect. 4.

“But if (saith he) we respect the Consciences, that they be not daily molested with Doubts, and hesitate not at every Scruple, it is requisite that this Persuasion which we speak of be taken higher than human Reason, Judgment, or Conjecture; to wit, from the secret Testimony of the Spirit.” And again, “To those who ask, that we prove unto them, by Reason, that Moses and the Prophets were inspired of God to speak, I answer, That the Testimony of the Holy Spirit is more excellent than all Reason.” And again, “Let this remain a firm Truth, that he only whom the Holy Spirit hath persuaded, can repose himself on the Scripture with a true Certainty.” And lastly, “This then is a judgment which cannot be begotten but by an Heavenly Revelation, &c.”

The Confession of the French Churches.The same is also affirmed in the first publick Confession of the French Churches, published in the Year 1559. Art. 4. “We know these Books to be canonical, and the most certain Rule of our Faith, not so much by the common Accord and Consent of the Church, as by the Testimony and inward Persuasion of the Holy Spirit.”