Quakers adopt outward Government and Rules

By all which examples we are instructed how strongly we are to adhere to the Public Communion of the Church, and to suspect all pretended Inspirations which would draw us away from it.

But the Quaker-Notion of the Light within, and their pretence to Infallibility, as consequential to it, does totally root up and destroy all Church-Government and Order; for if the Light within be God, it must be self-sufficient, and not need the Rules or Directions of any other: and who can Dictate to Infallibility, or pretend to Limit it? Upon this ground the Quakers broke off from the Church, and refused to be under the Government of any outward Authority, but Resolv’d themselves each into his own Breast, to the Light there within, and to seek no further. And thus they stood several Years in the Infancy of their State, till they began to grow Numerous and Rich; and then they found the same necessity upon themselves which they had declaimed against in others, to set up Church Authority above the Light within particular persons, else all had gone into Confusion; though this laid them under all the objections they had made against the Church, and effectually overthrows their pretence to Infallibility, or the sufficiency of their Light within. Therefore I have made their church authority another Topic whereby to disprove, by their own Practice and Arguments, their pretended Infallibility; and I would have made a distinct section of this head of Church Government, but that the application of it being to this point of Infallibility, I have chosen rather to give it in the last Number of this Section.

Source: The Snake in the Grass by Charles Leslie, pg 58, 59. Second Edition, 1697

Infallibility and Church Government

But the Quaker-Notion of the Light within and their pretence to infallibility, as conſequential to it, does totally root up and deſtroy all Church-Government and Order ...

Source: Snake in the Grass, by Charles Leslie, pg. 58, Second Edition 1697

Quaker Notion of the Light Within

But the Quaker-Notion of the Light within and their pretence to infallibility, as conſequential to it, does totally root up and deſtroy all Church-Government and Order ...

Source: Snake in the Grass, by Charles Leslie, pg.

Quakers and the Church

(9.) O, therefore, let those Christians beware, who are led away with pretences to the Spirit in any men, not only against, but beside that which is written!

Who break the unity of the church, (which Christ calls the tearing of his own body to pieces,) and for sake the communion of their lawful bishops, (whom Christ has left as his own immediate representatives and vicegerents, and as the principles of unity in their respective churches,) upon pretences of extra ordinary inspirations in those teachers whom they have heaped to themselves; for extraordinary inspi rations are not to be credited unless vouched by miracles, which God always sent to attest his extraordinary commissions: and if they are pretended to come from him, and are not, then it is a demonstration that they come from the Devil.

And let us take this one mark more to judge when such inspirations are from God or from the Devil.

Those from the Devil generally tend to schism and rebellion ...

Source: The Snake in the Grass, by: Charles Leslie, pg. 56, Second Edition

English Civil War

(4.) I will clofe thefe Inſtances at the preſent, of the proof of the Quakers Infallibility rom their Prophecies. with that remarkable one of the Great Edward Burroughs. in the Time of the late. Uſrpation under Oliver concerning the Downfal of Rome, which he fid was Then to be: And upon that account Admoninhed the then uſurpers, and that, In the Name of the Lord, to carry their Arms in to all the Popiſh Countries, and to fet up their Standard at the Gates of Rome, as you will find P. 540: of his Works; for The Time is come (Says he) their Church cannot stand long. And as ſire as the Lord lives, so ſhall it come to pafs P. 535, 536,537.

There were many other Prophecies which they gave forth, with the ſame Blaphemous Assurance, in favour of the Ufurpers of thofe Days which, as they were Wicked to the higheſt degree, and Treaſonable, ſo were they as Falſe and prov'd ſo by the Event. But I shall have ocaſion to ſpeak of theſe more fully, when I come to treat of the Quakers Loyalty: And therefore I will for, the preſent, leave this Head, as suſſiciently prov'd by thofe Inſtances I have already given, that the Falſe-prophets of the Quakers are totally inconſiſtent with the infallibility which they pretend to.

Source: The Snake in the Grass by Charles Leslie, pg. 55 Second Edition,

Inherent Sufficiency

For if the Light Within be God, it must be self-sufficient, and need not the Rules and Directions of any other.

Source: The Snake in the Grass, by Charles Leslie, pg. 58 Second Edition

 

 

Government and Order

The Government and Order we have established among us - is no less than the Product of God's Power and Heavenly Wisdom.

Chr. Taylor's Answer to W. Rogers p.26 1682.

Source: Some of the Quakers Principles and Doctrines Anonymous, pg. 15 London, 1693