Wading through the Scriptures without a Divine Principle's Directions

As every one ought carefully to beware what he admits for a Principle, before he has certainly found it on a strict Examination true of itself by its own Evidence, lest he only believe it so upon the Authority of others, (as a late worthy Author hath well observed); so though none in the World, I am perswaded, have more vehemently cried out against Mens wading in the holy Scriptures without a divine Principle’s Directions than the People call’d Quakers; through which Activity, they tell us, Men (mixing their own Fancies with the Spirit’s Dictates, which prompts them with Desires after Religion) spoil all their Undertakings; and then with a Fury as great as their Ignorance, endeavour the Overthrow of whatever stands in their way, and refuse to receive their Mark in their Foreheads, &c. Yet have none in the World more err’d in this respect, than the most noted Leaders of the same People, to the Ruin of their own Reformation ...

Source: A Charge of Error ... Henry Pickworth, pg. 5. London, 1715.