A89735:168
The heart of N-England rent at the blasphemies of the present generation. Or A…
The heart of N-England rent at the blasphemies of the present generation. Or A brief tractate, concerning the doctrine of the Quakers, demonstrating the destructive nature thereof, to religion, the churches, and the state, with consideration of the remedy against it. : Occasional satisfaction to objections, and confirmation of the contrary trueth. / By John Norton ...
Cambridge: printed by Samuel Green, 1659
Chapter 3 › Their Opposition to Civil Order, is thus evinced.
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 Apostles seem not so to have expected any succession of Apostles. Hence in their life time, they appointed Elders in every Church, Acts 14.23. And left behind them, a prescribed form, as a directory of the Churches, concerning persons to be called by man into the Ministry successively, in the ages to come. 1 Tim: 3 Titus 1.
But though we have no promise of any such ministry, yet in the Scripture we have frequent prediction & caution of pretenders to immediate mission, of deceivers, false Apostles, false Prophets, false Teachers, Speakers of lies in the name of the Lord: with Command and directions to try them, not by their own profession, for that is no great thing, if the ministers of Satan transform themselves into the ministers of Righteousness. 2 Cor: 11.15. Nor so much by their Conversation, (for the trueth were not true if such ravening Wolves did not come in sheeps clothing:) as by their doctrine, by which fruit they are in an especial manner to be known. Mat. 7.16. John 2 Epist. 9, 10. Yea, and upon just trial, so far ought we to be from being moved by them, in point of our faith, as confidently to pronounce them Anathema's. But though we or an Angel from heaven, preach any other Gospel unto you, then that ye have received, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other Gospel unto you, then that ye have received, let him be accursed. Sceptics, & all others, are hence beseeched to consider what unmovednes and firmness in fundamentals Christ looks for, especially from those who would acquit themselves as Church-members, in reference to such deceivers.
But though we have no promise of any such ministry, yet in the Scripture we have frequent prediction & caution of pretenders to immediate mission, of deceivers, false Apostles, false Prophets, false Teachers, Speakers of lyes in the name of the Lord: with Command and directions to try them, not by their own profession, for that is no great thing, if the ministers of Satan transform themselves into the ministers of Righteousness. 2 Cor: 11.15. Nor so much by their Conversation, (for the trueth were not true if such ravening Wolves did not come in sheeps cloathing:) as by their doctrine, by which fruit they are in an especial manner to be known.