A23636:166
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 Cap. 6. of Christ's dying for all, &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. 3. He well knew that Universal Redemption, without sufficient help, would render his Doctrine ridiculous; here therefore he tells us, how a sufficiency of means is afforded to all men; and First, That Christ by His Death procured for all men an inward principle of divine grace, light, life, &c. the Contrary to which is true; He purchased these only for his Elect, for whose sakes He died. The Scripture makes a difference between his being head of the Church, Eph. 5.23. and his being head over all things to the Church, Cap. 1.22. But supposing a purchase, what benefit can they have by it if it be not applied? Well, he will give an account of that too, as good as he can, (p. 100) Where outward means fail, God supplies this with inward teachings, and some other secret ways of Providence: and are these sufficient to lead men to Salvation, or bring men to Christ? The Apostle then must use a fallacious Enthymeme, Rom. 10.14, 15. And how perversely doth he interpret Christ to be the word spoken of, Rom. 10.8. which is evident by the Context to mean the Scriptures? called the Word of Faith, because it is an instrument of begetting it, vers, 17. he interprets it of Christ coming in the flesh, both of Jews and Gentiles; and is that all the Incarnation ⟨p. 90⟩which he allows to Christ? He seems to be of another mind, (pag. 59.) but indeed we know not when they own any thing. And it was once the received Doctrine of the Quakers, That there is no other Incarnation of Christ, but only as He dwells in us; which how subversive it is to our hopes of Salvation, let the serious judge.
Sect. 3. He well knew that Universal Redemption, without sufficient help, would render his Doctrine ridiculous; here therefore he tells us, how a sufficiency of meanes is afforded to all men; and First, That Christ by His Death procured for all men an inward principle of divine grace, light, life, &c. the Contrary to which is true; He purchased these only for his Elect, for whose sakes He died. The Scripture makes a difference between his being head of the Church, Eph. 5.23. and his being head over all things to the Church, Cap. 1.22. But supposing a purchase, what benefit can they have by it if it be not applyed? Well, he will give an account of that too, as good as he can, (p. 100) Where outward meanes fail, God supplies this with inward teachings, and some other secret wayes of Providence: and are these sufficient to lead men to Salvation, or bring men to Christ? The Apostle then must use a fallacious Enthymeme,