A23636:117
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. 9. It is a pure piece of trifling whereby he would baffle the Plea which some make, Viz. That their Ministers have their Call of the Church, and therefore it is mediate; by telling us that Ministers were before Churches, and that this is to run in a Circle: for though we place not the whole of a Ministers Call in this, yet his Cavil is empty, In order to the Calling of a Church, we grant that Ministers are before it, and are Helps under Christ in the Calling of it and such Christ used in the beginning of the Gospel, but these were called extraordinarily & immediately by Christ Himself: but such Ministers do not live for ever, and the Church abides when they are gone; and is now in a Capacity of Supplying it self, and so there is room for a mediate Call; and what Circle is there in this? There are Planters, & there are Waterers; and both Ministers.
Sect. 9. It is a pure peice of trifling whereby he would baffle the Plea which some make, Viz. That their Ministers have their Call of the Church, and therefore it is mediate; by telling us that Ministers were before Churches, and that this is to run in a Circle: for though we place not the whole of a Ministers Call in this, yet his Cavil is empty, In order to the Calling of a Church, we grant that Ministers are before it, and are Helps under Christ in the Calling of it and such Christ used in the beginning of the Gospel, but these were called extraordinarily & immediately by Christ Himself: but such Ministers do not live for ever, and the Church abides when they are gone; and is now in a Capacity of Supplying it self, and so there is room for a mediate Call; and what Circle is there in this? There are Planters, & there are Waterers; and both Ministers.
Sect. 10. One blow more at the Ministers to make sure work. These are Eye-sores of Quakers and all Heretics; if they were out of the way, who discover all their abuses, detect all their Fallacies & deceits, and establish people in the Truth; what might they not do? If then they cannot persuade them to lay down their Preaching, they will try if they can persuade the people that they owe ⟨p. 59⟩them no Maintenance, and if they can starve them out, the business is done.