Barclay, Robert (1648-1690)

An Apology for the True Christian Divinity

1676, 1703

"This is also abundantly proved by the Experience of all such, as being secretly touched with the Call of God's Grace unto them, do apply themselves to false Teachers, where the Remedy proves worse than the Disease; because, instead of knowing God, or the things relating to their Salvation aright, they drink in wrong Opinions of him; from which it's harder to be intangled, than while the Soul remains a Blank, or Tabula rasa."

This is sufficiently verified in the Example of the Pharisees and Jewish Doctors, who most of all resisted Christ, disdaining to be esteemed Ignorant; for this vain Opinion they had of their Knowledge, hindered them from the true Knowledge; and the mean People, who were not so much pre-occupied with former Principles, nor conceited of their own Knowledge, did easily believe: Wherefore the Pharisees upbraid them, saying, Have any of the Rulers of Pharisees believed on him? But this People, which know no the Law, are accursed. This is also abundantly proved by the Experience of all such, as being secretly touched with the Call of God's Grace unto them, do apply themselves to false Teachers, where the Remedy proves worse than the Disease; because, instead of knowing God, or the things relating to their Salvation aright, they drink in wrong Opinions of him; from which it's harder to be intangled, than while the Soul remains a Blank, or Tabula rasa. For they that conceit themselves Wise, are worse to deal with, than they that are sensible of their Ignorance. Nor hath it been less the device of the Devil, the great Enemy of Mankind, to perswade Men into wrong Notions of God, than to keep them altogether from acknowledging him; the latter taking with few, because odious; but the other having been the constant Ruine of the World: For there hath scarce been a Nation found, buth hath had some Notions or other of Religion; so that not from their denying any Deity, but from their Mistakes and Misapprehensions of it, hath proceeded all the Idolatry and Superstition of the World
(pp. 16-7)

Writing::Tabula Rasa

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At least 18 entries in ESTC (1676, 1678, 1701, 1702, 1703, 1710, 1729, 1736, 1737, 1765, 1775, 1780, 1789, 1800).

A translation of Theologiae vere Christianae apologia (a reprinting and defense of Barclay's Theses theologicae [1675]).

See Theologiæ verè Christianæ apologia, Carolo Secundo, Magnæ Britanniæ, &c. Regi, à Roberto Barclaio, Scoto-Britanno, oblata. ([Amsterdam]: Typis excusa, M.DC.LXXVI. pro Jacob Claus, bibliopola, habitante Amstelodami, op de oudezijds achter-burgwal, in de vergulde Drie-hoek. Veneunt prætera, Londini, apud Benjamin Clark, in George-Court, Lumbard-street. Roterodami, [apud] Isaacum Næranum, op het Steyger. Francofurti, [apud] Henricum Betkium. Et in quibusdam aliis locis, [1676]). <Link to ESTC>

Text found searching in An Apology for the True Christian Divinity, As the Same Is Held Forth, and Preached, by the People, Called in Scorn, Quakers: Being a Full Explanation and Vindication of Their Principles and Doctrines, by Many Arguments, Deduced from Scripture and Right Reason, and the Testimonies of Famous Authors, Both Ancient and Modern: With a Full Answer to the Strongest Objections Usually Made Against Them. Presented to the King. Written in Latin and English, by Robert Barclay, and Since Translated Into High Dutch, Low Dutch, and French, for the Information of Strangers. The fifth edition in English. (London: Printed and sold by T. Sowle, in White-Hart-Court in Gracious-street, 1703). <Link to ESTC>

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10/08/2006