A catechism and confession of faith, approved of and agreed unto by the general assembly of the patriarchs, prophets, and apostles, Christ himself chief speaker in and among them: which containeth a true and faithful account of the principles and doctrines, which are most surely believed by the churches of Christ in Great Britain and Ireland, who are reproachfully called by the name of Quakers; yet are found in the one faith with the primitive church and saints, as is most clearly demonstrated by some plain Scripture testimonies (without consequences or commentaries) which are here collected, and inserted by way of answer to a few weighty, yet easy and familiar questions, fitted as well for the wisest and largest, as for the weakest and lowest capacities

Front matter

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Chap. I

Of God^ and the true and saving knowledge of him'.

Quest. SEEING it is a thing unquestioned by all sorts of Christians, that the height of happiness consisteth in coming to know and enjoy eternal life, what is it in the sense and judgment of Christ?

Ans. This is life eternal, that they might j^^^ ^^ o know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.

Q. How doth God reveal his knowledge?

A. For God, who commanded the light to shine 2Cor.4. 6» out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God> in the face of Jesus Christ.

Q. How many Gods are there?

A. One God. Eph. 4. 6.

We know that an idol is nothiug in the world, ^^^^ q^q and that there is none other God but one. But to us there is but one God.

Q. What is God?

A. God is a Spirit. John 4 24

Q. Among all the blessed, glorious and divine excellencies of God, which are ascribed and given to him in the Scriptures; what is that which is most needful for us to take notice of, as being the message which the apostles recorded in special manaer to declare of him now under the gospel? lJohnl.5. '^' ^^'^^9 then, is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

Q. What are they that bear record in heaven? ch. 5. T A. There are three that bear record in heaven,

the Father, the Word and the Holy Ghost3 and these three are one,

Q. How cometh any man to know God the Father, according to Christ's words? l.uk.lO. 22. A. All things are delivered to me of my Fa- ^ * * * ther, and no man knows who the Son is, but the Father, and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him. John 14. 6. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the Father but by me.

Q. By whom, and after what manner doth the Son reveal his knowledge?

ICor. 2. 9, A. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor 10 11 12. ' ' ' ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of

man, the things which God hath prepared for

them that love him! but God hath revealed them

unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all

things, yea, the deep things of God. For what

man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit

of a man which is in him? even so the things of

God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

Now, we have received, not the spirit of the

world, but the Spirit which is of God, that we barglay's gateghism. 9-

might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, johnl4.2^ whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, &c.

CHAP. n.

Of the rule and guide of Christians^ and of the Scriptures,

Q. Seeing it is by the Spirit, that Christ reveals

the knowledge of God in things s;jiritual; is it by

the Spirit that we must be led under the gospel?

A. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spi- Romans a

9 14 rit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. '

Now, if any man have not the Spirit of Christ,

he is none of his. For, as many as are led by

the Spirit of God^ they are the sons of God.

Q. Is it an inward principle then, that is to be the guide and rule of christians?

A. But the anointing, which ye have received j John 3. of him, abideth in youj and ye need not that any ^-^^ man teach you, but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie; and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

But as touching brotherly love, ye need not iThes.4. 9. that I write unto you; for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.

Q. 1 perceive by this, that it is by an inward anointing and rule that christians are to ,be taught: is this the very tenor of the new covenant dispensation?

Heb. 8. 10. A. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel, after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and

verse 11. write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people. And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord, for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.

John 6. 45. And they shall be all taught of God.

Q. Did Christ then promise, that the Spirit should both abide with his disciples, and be in them?

John 14. A. And I will pray the Fatlier, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knowelh him: but ye know him; for , be dwells with you, and shall be in you.

Q. For what end were the scriptures written?

Rom. 15. 4. A. For whatsoever things were v/ritten aforetime, were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

Q. For what are they profitable?

A. Thou hast known the holy scriptures, which 2 Tim. 3, • I • 1 1

15. 16. 17, are able to make thee wise unto salvation, through

I faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works,

Q. Wherein consists the excellency of the scriptures?

A. Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the ^ peter 1. scriptures is of any private interpretation. For ^^'> ^^* the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man, but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Q. The scriptures are then to be regarded, because they came from the Spirit, and they also testify, that not they, but the Spirit, is to lead into truth: in what respect doth Christ command to search them?

A. Search the scriptures, for in them ye think jqJ^^ 5. o9. ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me.

Q. I perceive there was a generation of old, that greatly exalted the scriptures, and yet would not believe, nor come to be guided by that the scriptures directed to: How doth Christ bespeak * , such?

A. Do not think that I will accuse you to the john 5. Father; there is one that accuseth you, even Mo- ^^i^^^^.-. ses, in whom ye trust. For had ye believed Moses, ye v/ould have believed me; for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?

Q. AVhat ought such then to be accounted of, notwithstanding of their pretences of being ruled by the scriptures? 2 Peter ^» ^^ which are some things hard to be under-

^' ^^' stood, which they that are unlearned and unsta-

ble, wrest, as they do also tlie other scriptures, unto their own destruction.