Keach, Benjamin (1640-1704)

A Dialogue between a Young Professor and a Quaker [from the Grand Impostor Discovered: Or, The Quakers Doctrine weighed in the Ballance, and found wanting. A Poem, By way of Dialogue: wherein their Chief, and most Concerning Principles are laid down, and by the Authority of Gods Holy Word clearly Refuted. By B. K.]

London

Printed for B. Harris [etc.]

1675

"True faith within, doth but apply, / Unto the soul, the soveraign remedy; / 'Tis as a door, or like a window bright, / Which to dark souls lets in the precious light"

PROFESSOR
When Enemies we Reconciled were,
This very thing th'Apostle doth declare;
And yet are we reproach'd continually
For owning of this Gospel-Mystery,
Which easie is to those who knowledge have,
And will the Truth of Holy Writ receive.
Debts may be payed off for prisoners poor,
Yea the last farthing of their former score,
And yet in Goal the prisoner may abide,
Although the Creditor be satisfied;
For till his Bolts and Chains all loosed be,
And door is ope he can't have liberty.
Thus 'tis with man he doth in prison lye,
Though Christ by's death Gods wrath did pacifie;
Man being at first for breach of holy Laws,
Giv'n into Satans hand, this is the cause,
Of his sad wo, although his Ransom's down,
The strong man holds him fast till he's orethrown;
Christ as mans surety for mans sin must die,
And he moreover also must untie
Mans prison-bonds, the strong man he
Must quite o'recome before the prisoners free.
Man's alienated in his carnal mind,
From God and Christ, till Jesus he do bind
The strong man Satan, and doth ope the door,
Loosing the soul, whom sin had bruised sore;
For as a fruit and effect of Christs death,
He light receives from God, and is brought forth
By th'operation of the glorious Spirit,
And so partakes of that which Christ did merit
And purchase for him by his precious blood,
I wish these things were better understood.
True Faith and Love, and right Regeneration,
Concomitants are they of Christ his Passion:
Christ's Bloud and Merits, must the soul apply,
As that which doth appease and pacifie
Gods wrath for sin; for 'till true faith is wrought,
The soul from death nor prison can be brought,
An inward work with power there must be,
Before the soul's set forth of slavery:
But don't mistake and in confusion run,
To say that which makes peace, and doth alone,
Yea pay the debt and satisfie for sin,
Is that you call the light of Christ within,
True faith within, doth but apply,
Unto the soul, the soveraign remedy;
'Tis as a door, or like a window bright,
Which to dark souls lets in the precious light,
VVhich from the son of righteousness doth flow,
Distinguish better you must learn to do,
Between cause and th'effect, or else you will,
The minds of men with evil notions fill.
I find you backward to make clearly known,
The principles which other Quakers own;
Christ doth within, one plainly testifies,
Offer to God a living sacrifice;
By which Gods wrath and Justice is appeased,
The Lamb also in whom God is well pleased.
Another Quaker plainly doth assert,
Is humility and meekness in the heart,
Of Gods dear child, that's Mediator too,
The wrathful anger to asswage in you:
Your Christ it seems is but a quality,
And outward being or existency.
'Tis very clear you do not judge he hath,
And 'tis as evident you place your faith,
On a mysterious Sacrifice within,
And not on Christ, who suffered for sin,
On your own works, and inward holiness,
You fix and fasten and do lay the stress,
Of all your hope of being justified;
And thus by you Christ Jesus is denyed,
And the foundation of true hope is raced,
And in the room of all by you is placed:
The light of Conscience or of common grace,
But what a sad and lamentable case
Will you be in, (who for perfection plead,
And judge you do no other Saviour need)
If any sin in you there's found to be?
Since perfect holiness inherently,
Must be in man, or such a one imputed,
Which doctrine by the Quakers is refuted.
Thus you establish your own righteousness,
And yet would have us think nevertheless,
You don't make void the holy law of Faith,
But ground your hope as holy Scripture saith:
But why do you, then cry all good men down,
Who vindicate the faith which I do own?
And truly Sir I do not see why you,
Cry down the Papists, as I hear you doe;
Pope and Socinians, both with you agree,
In some main points of your Divinity.
Was not your Doctrine (friend) devis'd at Rome?
For many think from thence at first it come,
And your Religion truly I confess,
I fear is Popery in a new dress;
(The Devil he knows how, as heretofore,
To cut out a new Cloak for the Old Whore.)
Some Jusuitical crafty design,
Gods Truth in England thus to undermine.
Papists by their good works and sanctity,
Think they do merit Heaven, and say we,
Your Doctrine doth hold forth but little less,
Though you your selves do differently express,
And will not say by works you hope to Merit,
But seem for to ascribe it to the Spirit,
Or to the pow'r of Jesus Christ within,
And that which merits Life, and saves from sin.
And shall we think the Papists will deny
That which on this Account you testifie?
Will they not say, 'tis by Gods power and might
They act, and do all good, or what is right?

Architecture::Window Architecture::Door

Searching "soul" and "window" in HDIS (Poetry)

01/25/2006