A23636:135
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.
He here arraigns the Assembly for that in Confess. cap. 26. sect. 3. they say, that the Communion of saints with Christ doth not in any wise make them partakers of the substance of His God-head; and endeavours to prove the contrary to be true. But observe, the Assembly in this Article oppose the Swenkfieldian Doctrine, that a believer is Godded with God, and Christed with Christ: and this is the thing that G. K. is here to prove, or he does nothing. That we are made partakers of the divine nature, that we have near and intimate Communion with God and Christ; that we receive grace out of Christs fullness, and that God is our portion, we believe.
He here arraigns the Assembly for that in Confess. cap. 26. sect. 3. they say, that the Communion of saints with Christ doth not in any wise make them partakers of the substance of His God-head; and endeavours to prove the contrary to be true. But observe, the Assembly in this Artitle oppose the Swenkfieldian Doctrine, that a beleever is Godded with God, and Christed with Christ: and this is the thing that G. K. is here to prove, or he does nothing. That we are made partakers of the divine nature, that we have near and intimate Communion with God and Christ; that we receive grace out of Christs fulness, and that God is our portion, we beleeve.
But a right Conception of the Mystery of our Union and Communion with God and Christ, will soon detect his Fallacies: Union is the ground of Communion; and therefore, such as is the Union: such is the Communion. Now this Union is one of the Gospel Mysteries, Eph. 5.32. only this much we know to our present purpose; 1. That it is an Union between two, Viz. Christ and ⟨p. 68⟩Believers. 2. That these two are made one by this Union, Joh. 17.21. 3. That they are so one, as that they are still two Persons, two distinct in nature; It is an Union, but not a Confusion; they are so one, as the Husband and Wife are one, who are two persons, but one in Relation, and the fruits of it,