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

§. XII.

Answ.But this being an Objection once and again urged against the Primitive Protestants by the Papists, we need but in short return the Answer to it that they did to the Papists, to wit, Whether Miracles be now necessary to confirm the Gospel?That we need not Miracles, because we preach no new Gospel, but that which is already confirmed by all the Miracles of Christ and his Apostles; and that we offer nothing but that which we are ready and able to confirm by the Testimony of the Scriptures, which both already acknowledge to be true: John Baptist and divers Prophets did none.And that John the Baptist and divers of the Prophets did none that we hear of, and yet were both immediately and extraordinarily sent. This is the common Protestant Answer, therefore may suffice in this Place; though, if Need were, I could say more to this Purpose, but that I study Brevity.

§. XIII.

To this I answer, That this was a good Step out of the Babylonish Darkness, and no Doubt did proceed from a real Discovery of the Truth, and from the Sense of a great Abuse of the promiscuous National Gatherings. Also this Preaching of the gifted Brethren, as they called them, did proceed at first from certain lively Touches and Movings of the Spirit of God upon many; but alas! Their Loss and Decay.because they went not forward, that is much decayed among them; and the Motions of God’s Spirit begin to be denied and rejected among them now, as much as by others.

The Scriptures give no Call to Persons Individual.But as to their pretended Call from the Scripture, I answer, The Scripture gives a mere Declaration of true Things, but no Call to particular Persons; so that though I believe the Things there written to be true, and deny the Errors which I find there testified against, yet as to those Things which may be my particular Duty, I am still to seek; and therefore I can never be resolved in the Scripture whether I (such a one by Name) ought to be a Minister? And for the resolving this Doubt I must needs recur to the inward and immediate Testimony of the Spirit, as in the Proposition concerning the Scriptures is shewn more at large.

§. XIV.

§. XV.

The two first they reckon necessary to the Being of a Minister, so as a Man cannot be one without them; the Third they say goeth to the Well-being of one, but not to the Being; so that a Man may truly be a lawful Minister without it, and ought to be heard and received as such. But we, supposing a natural Capacity, that one be not an Ideot, judge the Grace of God indispensibly necessary to the very Being of a Minister, as that without which any can neither be a true, nor lawful, nor good Minister. As for Letter-learning, we judge it not so much necessary to the Well-being of one, though accidentally sometimes in certain Respects it may concur, but more frequently it is hurtful than helpful,A poor Laick instructed the learned Taulerus. as appeared in the Example of Taulerus, who being a learned Man, and who could make an eloquent Preaching, needed nevertheless to be instructed in the Way of the Lord by a poor Laick. I shall first speak of the Necessity of Grace, and then proceed to say something of that Literature which they judge so needful.

Proof 1.First then, as we said in the Call, so may we much more here, if the Grace of God be a necessary Qualification to make one a true Christian, it must be a Qualification much more necessary to constitute a true Minister of Christianity. That Grace is necessary to make one a true Christian I think will not be questioned, since it is by Grace we are saved, Ephes. ii. 8. God’s Grace alone doth constitute a true and lawful Teacher.It is the Grace of God that teacheth us to deny Ungodliness, and the Lusts of this World, and to live godly and righteously, Tit. ii. 11. Yea, Christ saith expresly, That without him we can do nothing, John xv. 5. and the Way whereby Christ helpeth, assisteth, and worketh with us, is by his Grace: Hence he saith to Paul, My Grace is sufficient for thee. A Christian without Grace is indeed no Christian, but an Hypocrite, and a false Pretender. Then I say, If Grace be necessary to a private Christian, far more to a Teacher among Christians, who must be as a Father and Instructor of others, seeing this Dignity is bestowed upon such as have attained a greater Measure than their Brethren. Even Nature itself may teach as that there is more required in a Teacher than in those that are taught, and that the Master must be above and before the Scholar in that Art or Science which he teacheth others. Since then Christianity cannot be truly enjoyed, neither any Man denominated a Christian without the true Grace of God, therefore neither can any Man be a true and lawful Teacher of Christianity without it.