PREFACE TO THE READER.
Robert Barclay
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Such is the malignity of man's nature in his fallen state, and so averse
is he from walking in the straight and even path of truth, that at every
turn he is inclinable to lean either to the right hand or to the left;
yea, such as by the work of God's grace in their hearts, and powerful operation
of his Spirit, have obtained an entrance in this way, are daily molested,
and set upon on all hand; some striving to draw them the one way, some
the other: and if through the power of God they be kept faithful and stable,
then are they calumniated on both sides; each likening or comparing them
to the worst of their enemies.
Those that are acquainted with the holy Scriptures, may observe this
to be the lot of the saints in all ages; but especially those, whose place
it hath been to reform and restore the ruins of the house of God, when
decayed, or any considerable time have been liable to such censures: hence
those that set about repairing of the walls of Jerusalem, were necessitated
to work with the one hand, and defend with the other.
Christ is accused of the Jews a Samaritan; and by the Samaritans quarrelled
with for being a Jew. The Apostle Paul is whipped and imprisoned by the
Gentiles, and upbraided with being a Jew, and teaching their customs; the
same Paul is hated and ready to be killed by the Jews, for breaking the
law and defiling the temple with the Gentiles. The like hath also befallen
those faithful witnesses, and messengers, whom God has raised up in this
day to witness for his truth, which hath long been in a great measure hid;
but now is again revealed, and many brought to be witnesses of it who thereby
come to walk in the light of the Lord.
This people thus gathered, have not wanted those trials, that usually
accompany the church of Christ, both on the right hand and on the left,
each characterising them in such terms, as they have judged would prove
most to their disadvantage. From whence (as the testimony of the false
witnesses against their Lord did not agree, neither do these against us)
some will have us to be foolish, mad creatures; others to be deep, subtil
politicians; some to be illiterate, ignorant fellows; others to be learned,
cunning Jesuits under a mere vizard: divers professors will have us to
be only pensioners of the Pope, undoubtedly Papists: but the Papists abhor
us as heretics; sometimes we are a disorderly, confused rabble leaving
every one to do as they list, against all good order and government; at
other times we are so much for order, as we admit not men to exercise the
liberty of their own judgments. Thus are our reputations tossed by the
envy of our adversaries which yet cannot but have this effect upon soberminded
people, as to see what malice works against us; and how thee men by their
contradictory assertions concerning us, save us the pains, while they refute
one another.
True it is, we have labored to walk amidst these extremities; and upon
our appearing for the truth, we have found things good in themselves abused
on both hands : for such has always been the work of an apostasy, to keep
up the shadow of certain truths; that there-through they might shelter
other evils. Thus the Jews made use of the law and the prophets to vindicate
their abuses; yea, and to crucify Christ: an how much many Christians abuse
the Scriptures and the traditions of the apostles, to uphold things quite
contrary to it, will in the general be readily acknowledged by most.
But to descend more particularly: there be two things especially, both
of which in their primitive use were appointed, and did very much contribute
towards the edification of the Church: the one is,
1.The power and authority which the apostles had given them of Christ,
for the gathering, building up, and governing of his church, by virtue
of which power and authority they also wrote the holy Scriptures.
2 . The other is, that privilege given to every Christian under the
gospel, to be led and guided by the Spirit of Christ, and to be taught
thereof in all things.
Now, both these in the primitave Church wrought effectually towards
the same end of edification; and did (as in their nature they may, and
in their use they ought to do) in a good harmony very well consist together;
but by the workings of Satan and perverseness of men, they are made to
fight against and destroy one another. For on the one hand the authority
and power, that resided in the apostles, while it is annexed and entailed
to an outward ordination and succession of teachers, is made use of to
cloak and cover all manner of abuses, even the height of idolatry and superstition.
For by virtue of this succession, these men claiming the like infallibility,
that was in the apostles, (though they be strangers to any inward work,
or manifestation of the Spirit in their hearts,) will needs oblige all
others to acquiesce and agree to their conclusions, however different from,
or contrary to, the truths of the gospel; and yet for any to call such
conclusions in question, or examine them, is no less than a heinous heresy,
deserving death, etc. Or while the revelation of God's mind is wholly bound
up to these things already delivered in the Scriptures, (as if God has
spoke his last words there to his people) we are put with our own natural
understandings to debate about the meanings of it, and forced to interpret
them not as they plainly speak, but according to the analogy of a certain
faith made by men, not so much contrived to answer the Scriptures, as the
Scriptures are strained to vindicate it; which, to doubt of, is also counted
heresy, deserving no less than ejection out of our native country, and
to be robbed of the common aid our nativity entitles us to. And on this
hand, we may boldly say, both Papists and Protestants have greatly gone
aside: On the other hand, some are so great pretenders to inward motions
and revelations of the Spirit that there are no extravagances so wild,
which they will not cloak with it; and so much are they for one's following
their own mind as can admit of no Christian fellowship and community, nor
of that good order and discipline, which the church of Christ never was
nor can be without. This gives an open door all libertinism, and brings
great reproach to the Christian faith. And on this hand have foully fallen
the German Anabaptists, so called, John of Leyden, Knipperdolling, &c;.,
(in case these monstrous things committed by them be such as they are related,)
and some more moderate of that kind have been found among the people of
England, called Ranters; as it is true, the people called Quakers have
been branded with both of these extremes, it is as true, it hath been and
is their work to avoid them; and to be found in that even and good path
of the primitive church, where all were (no doubt) led and acted by the
Holy Spirit; and might all have prophesied one by on; and yet there was
a subjection of the prophets to the spirits of the prophets. There was
an authority some had in the church, and yet it was for edification, and
not for destruction: there was an obedience in the Lord to such as were
set over ; and a being taught by such, and yet a knowing of the inward
anointing, by which each individual was to be led into all truth. The work
and testimony the Lord has given us is, to restore this again, and to set
both these in their right place, without causing them to desroy one another.
To manifest how this is accomplished, and accomplishing among us, is the
business of this Treatise; which, I hope, will give some satisfaction to
men of sober judgments, and impartial, and unprejudicate spirits: and may
be made useful in the good hand of the Lord, to confirm and establish Friends
against their present opposers; which is mainly intended and earnestly
prayed for by
Robert Barclay.
The 17th of the 8th mo., 1674.