A23636:16
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.
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.
The Introduction.
IT is reported of Bellarmine, that great Atlas of the Papal Interest, that after his Death, there was a sharp Contest in the Lateran, whether his books should not be called in & burnt, as having in them as much exposed the cause by his over liberal Concessions, as supported it by his cunning Sophisms. And we are told that the Papists have hanged Erasmus between Heaven and Hell, because he profest himself a Catholic, and yet wrote too much like a Protestant. The Hands were Esau's, but the Voice Jacob's. And what Reason G. K. hath to expect the like treat at the hands of his brethren the Quakers, will be obvious to any that shall read his late pernicious Pamphlet pretended to be emitted for the Discovery of the false Doctrines of some particular sorts of Professors of Religion, but indeed to Bid Defiance to the True Religion, in the principal fundamental Articles of it, as they have been in all Ages and places acknowledged ⟨p. 2⟩by the Church of Christ; which he hath clothed in a rough Garment to deceive withal. For however he expresseth a right spirit of a Quaker, in his nonsense, fallacious way of declaring himself, and bitter Reviling of the Orthodox, which is enough to proclaim him one of that Society; yet might any Credit be given to his words, and the commonly received Sense put upon his Expressions, it is apparent •hat he hath mightily betrayed the Cause he undertook to patronize, and (setting aside his Billingsgate-Rhetoric, a gift seldom separable from these men) hath said more against their received Principles (if they ever had any) than against ours: For if he speak the Judgement of the Quakers, it is certain that G. F. and other Rabbi's of that Sect were mistaken, for they speak quite another thing; except he will tell us, we poor ignorants understand not the Language of their spirit, which regards neither Grammar nor Logic; and this is the Hercules's Club, where-with they are wont to knock all our Reasons in the head, and brain them at once.