A23636:104
The principles of the Protestant religion maintained, and churches of New-England, in the profession…
The principles of the Protestant religion maintained, and churches of New-England, in the profession and exercise thereof defended against all the calumnies of one George Keith, a Quaker, in a book lately published at Pennsylvania, to undermine them both / by the ministers of the Gospel in Boston.The principles of the Protestant religion maintained, and churches of New-England, in the profession and exercise thereof defended against all the calumnies of one George Keith, a Quaker, in a book lately published at Pensilvania, to undermine them both / by the ministers of the Gospel in Boston.
printed by Richard Pierce, 1690
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Introduction › Reflections on Chapt. 4th. of Ministerial Gifts &c.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Sect. 5. That because we pretend not to Inspiration, therefore we lay no claim to these spiritual gifts, is an Argument as vain as the author: Are there no Spiritual gifts but Inspirations? are there not diversities of them? see 1. Cor. 12.4, 5. Rom. 12.6, 7.8. His Inference, That hence We plainly confess that we have no infallible Discerning who is gracious, we assent unto; and yet we do believe we can discern of this as much as G. K. or any of his friends: and his Charge that we plead that all spiritual gifts are ceased, is notoriously false, for we try men by them; and we are sure that these may continue, notwithstanding the Cessation of Inspirations; nor can he infer the Contrary, till he prove (which he never will) that all spiritual Gifts belong ⟨p. 47⟩to the head of Inspirations: Hence neither doth it follow, that we must deny an •nward Call to the ministry; since there are other Criteria by which it may be judged of, a sufficient Directory for which, we have in •he Scriptures, and have a power of Reasoning & Judging without immediate Revelation. For him therefore to urge, That All that is •ot by Inspiration [Church, Ministers, Ordinances, Worship] must needs be of man's making, •s insolent: Must every thing that is not by Inspiration be Man-made? Hath not Christ •eft Institutions for His Church in His Gospel, •hat may sufficiently inform them in their Duty? It is the Quakers that make Churches, and Ordinances, silent-meetings &c. under a deluded pretence of Inspiration, without any Scripture Warrant.
Sect. 5. That because we pretend not to Inspiration, therefore we lay no claim to these spiritual gifts, is an Argument as vain as the author: Are there no Spiritual gifts but Inspirations? are there not diversities of them? see 1. Cor. 12.4, 5.