A23636:73
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.
To what purpose he (p. 16.) concludes his long Section with a Comparison taken •rom humane sciences, which are taught only •o such as have innate principles in them upon which Teachers build, we know not, •f it be (as it seems) to prove that men have the seeds of all Divine Truths in their natural light, and therefore the Revelations of God's Spirit are only the drawing out of these Principles into exercise, by the mere improvement of their Reason, and discovering only that the knowledge whereof they had in them seminally before; it labours of two faults, Falsehood and Impertinency. Falsehood, inasmuch, as, tho' the light of nature hath in it the Remains of many Theological notions, and tho' man, as a reasonable Creature, is a Subject capable of receiving the impression of Revelations, yet there are no seeds of Evangelical Truths in the hearts of men; nor is there, any witness antecedently in the Consciences of men, to assert to the Truth of them; the credit of them wholly depending upon divine Testimony. Impertinency, because it serves not to prove new Inspirations, but rather to prove them needless; ⟨p. 20⟩the mere Excitation of the light within, b• his inward Teachings, being (on this prince ple) sufficient; we hope he will not deny […] manifest difference to be between Inspiration and Excitation: nor is the Text he allegeth (Act. 17.) any thing to his purpose• if he would prove new Revelation from it▪ for the Apostle is there only endeavouring t• convince 'em, that the light of Nature woul• (if attended) inform them of the vanity o• Idolatry, of the Being of the eternal God, o• the Incongruity of their manner of worshipping Him; & this in order to his preparing o• them to hearken to the Revelations of the Gospel.
To what purpose he (p. 16.) concludes his long Section with a Comparison taken rom humane sciences, which are taught only o such as have innate principles in them pon which Teachers build, we know not, f it be (as it seems) to prove that men have the seeds of all Divine Truths in their natural light, and therefore the Revelations of God's Spirit are only the drawing out of these Principles into exercise, by the meer improvement of their Reason, and discovering only that the knowledge whereof they had in them seminally before; it labours of two faults, Falshood and Impertinency. Falshood, inasmuch, as, tho' the light of nature hath in it the Remains of many Theological notions, and tho' man, as a reasonable Creature, is a Subject capable of receiving the impression of Revelations, yet there are no seeds of Evangelical Truths in the hearts of men; nor is there, any witness antecedently in the Consciences of men, to assert to the Truth of them; the credit of them wholly depending upon divine Testimony. Impertinency, because it serv's not to prove new Inspirations, but rather to prove them needless;