A23636:130
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. 5. Of God, His Decrees &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. 2. But all this Harangue was for nothing else, but to introduce the Discourse about God's being Light, and vent a few light-headed Notions about it. First he finds fault that in our Confession we omitted the Attribute of Light, and smells an ill design in it. Truly the Intrigue was merely this, The Reverend Divines intended only to express such Attributes as were proper and not metaphorical; and unto which all such Metaphors might be reduced: of this nature is that of Light, and is included in their saying, He is most Wise: and for G. K. to say, ⟨p. 65⟩It is no figurative or Tropical Expression, argues him either of grossest ignorance, or boldest Confidence.
Sect. 2. But all this Harangue was for nothing else, but to introduce the Discourse about God's being Light, and vent a few light-headed Notions about it. First he finds fault that in our Confession we omitted the Attribute of Light, and smells an ill design in it. Truly the Intreague was meerly this, The Reverend Divines intended only to express such Attributes as were proper and not metaphorical; and unto which all such Metaphors might be reduced: of this nature is that of Light, and is included in their saying, He is most Wise: and for G. K. to say, ⟨p. 65⟩It is no figurative or Tropical Expression, argues him either of grossest ignorance, or boldest Confidence.
And now he hath gotten the Notion of Light in his head, how strangely doth he plead for Immediate Revelations and Illuminations in such Seraphical terms as must needs transport his Reader. Well then, we are all in the Light as well as he. GOD is an Immense Light, and then, Hell it self dwells in His Light, and Devils must needs be full of Immediate Inspirations: and 'tis a Contradiction for a Quaker to tell us that we are in the dark for we live and move and have our being as much in the Light as he. But all this is Burlesque; a good distinction would cure him, were he capable of receiving it. Distinguish between Divine Light & natural, and their different way of Communicating themselves. The Sun is a natural Light, & Illuminates all the things that it shines upon: the Divine light, is the Infinite Omniscience & Wisdom of God; but though in Him it be infinite, yet He derives of it to the Creature, not naturally but voluntarily, not to all alike,