A23636:69
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. 2. of New Revelations and Inspirations.
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.
But when he comes to interpret himself, •e pleads for the Immediate & extraordinary •ay of Revelation of these things, such as •he Apostles had, whose understandings Christ •pened at once, to understand the Scriptures, without ordinary helps, and upon whom the Holy Ghost came in cloven tongues, &c. which •s far another thing, and of which the Quakers can make no proof.
But when he comes to interpret himself, •e pleads for the Immediate & extraordinary •ay of Revelation of these things, such as •he Apostles had, whose understandings Christ •pened at once, to understand the Scriptures, •ithout ordinary helps, and upon whom the Holy Ghost came in cloven tongues, &c. which •s far another thing, and of which the Quakers can make no proof.
Sect. 4. The Fallacy of this Paragraph (& indeed of the whole Chapter) lies in his confounding Inspiration, Revelation, & Illumination, which ought warily to be distinguished. That Christ by His Spirit doth give to His Children another sense of the Excellency, sweetness and Glory of divine Truths than natural men have, we believe, and experience confirms; but what is this to Inspiration? Here therefore for once, let us observe the main differences between Inspiration and Illumination: Illumination is common to all Believers: Inspiration is peculiar to some, as Prophets, Apostles, &c. as hath already been observed and proved. Illumination ordinarily accompanies the diligent Use of the means; ⟨p. 28⟩