A23636:85
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.
Let us not wrangle before we know what it is for. The Dispute here is about the Judge or Rule of Controversies in Religion: and observe, 1. That it is only about Matters of Religion. 2. That Judg, and Rule here intend one and the same thing, viz. the Standard by which things are to be tried and judged. 3. It refers to Controversies, i. e. where principles are in debate. Now we'll suppose two kinds of Controversies, one between men & men, one party and another, each pretending to have truth on their side. The other between a man & himself, having a debate in his ⟨p. 36⟩own mind, and not being as yet settled: The Question then is, What (as a Rule) is to set men down, & put an end to these Debates? and let us go together as long as we can.
Let us not wrangle before we know what it is for. The Dispute here is about the Judge or Rule of Controversies in Religion: and observe, 1. That it is only about Matters of Religion. 2. That Judg, and Rule here intend one and the same thing, viz. the Standard by which things are to be tryed and judged. 3. It refers to Controversies, i. e. where principles are in debate. Now wee'll suppose two kinds of Controversies, one between men & men, one party and another, each pretending to have truth on their side. The other between a man & himself, having a debate in his ⟨p. 36⟩own mind, and not being as yet settled: The Question then is, What (as a Rule) is to set men down, & put an end to these Debates? and let us go together as long as we can.
Sect. 1. He seems here to bid fair for an Agreement, at least in the first sort of the Controversy, i. e. between men & men, for we have only outwardly to deal one with another; and he assures us that the Scripture is the Touchstone by which the Doctrine is to be tried; and then surely it must judge and determine, or what is the Advantage of Trying? Only he spoils all by telling us, They have a greater proof, viz. the inward Testimony of the Holy Ghost. We would only for the present ask him, (though that is not all we have to say to him) whether this inward Testimony be greater (as a rule) to judge another by, & set him down? and this because his words import that we are to judge by the Scripture whether the Testimony be from the Spirit or no; for in what other way can the Spirit of the Prophets be subject to the Prophets? else when a Quaker comes to tell us he hath a Revelation, and this is a Testimony above the Scriptures, it would be impudence in us to search the Scripture, if the thing revealed be so or no.