In the same manner he considered all men as[47] brethren. That is,
they were thus scripturally related to one another.
[Footnote 46: Luke x. 39.]
[Footnote 47: Matt, xxiii. 8.]
Another objection which has been raised against the Quakers on this
part of the subject, is levelled against their disuse of the titles of
honour of the world. St. Luke, it has been said, makes use of the terms
most excellent, when he addresses Theophilus, and St. Paul of the words
most noble, when he addresses Festus. Now the teachers and promulgators
of christianity would never have given these titles, if they had not
been allowable by the gospel.
As this last argument was used in the time of Barclay, he has noticed it
in his celebrated apology.--"Since Luke, says he, wrote by the dictates
of the infallible spirit of God, I think it will not be doubted but
Theophilus did deserve it, as being really endued with that virtue; in
which case we shall not condemn those, who do it by the same rule. But
it is not proved, that Luke gave Theophilus this title, as that which
was inherent to him, either by his father, or by any patent Theophilus
had obtained from any of the princes of the earth, or that he would have
given it to him, in case he had not been truly excellent; and without
this be proved, which never can, there can nothing hence be deduced
against us.
Pages:
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290