A85315:182
Stablishing against shaking
Stablishing against shaking: or, A discovery of the Prince of Darkness (scarcely) transformed into an angel of light, powerfully now working in the deluded people called, Quakers: with a sober answer to their railings against ministers for receiving maintenance from their people. Being the substance of one sermon preached Feb. 17. 1655. at Shalford in Essex. / By Giles Firmin (pastor of the church there) upon occasion of the Quakers troubling those parts.Stablishing against shaking: or, A discovery of the Prince of Darknesse (scarcely) transformed into an angel of light, powerfully now working in the deluded people called, Quakers: with a sober answer to their railings against ministers for receiving maintenance from their people. Being the substance of one sermon preached Feb. 17. 1655. at Shalford in Essex. / By Giles Firmin (pastour of the church there) upon occasion of the Quakers troubling those parts.
London: printed by J.G. for Nathanael Webb, 1656
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Bishop p. 21. Sink down to that of God in every one of your Consciences, the light of Christ. In all their Books the Word of God written is made of no account.
But while the Quakers thus call on all men, to turn to that within them, (their Consciences) why do they so cry out upon the Magistrates for sending them to Bridewell and Prisons, since they do as the Light within them bid them? They practise their doctrine, but the Magistrates have the Light without them in the perfect rule, to guide Conscience within them. What a woeful Nation should we have where Consciences are so blind, erroneous, sleepy, benumbed, and some cauterized, if men should lay by the perfect rule, and go to that? the Prince of darkness would make strange work.
But while the Quakers thus call on all men, to turn to that within them, (their Consciences) why doe they so cry out upon the Magistrates for sending them to Bridwell and Prisons, since they doe as the Light within them bid them? They practise their doctrine, but the Magistrates have the Light without them in the perfect rule, to guide Conscience within them. What a wofull Nation should we have where Consciences are so blinde, erroneous, sleepy, benummed, and some cauterized, if men should lay by the perfect rule, and goe to that? the Prince of darknesse would make strange worke.
Conscientia est regula regulata, non regula regulans