A89735:182
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.
Their Doctrine carrieth meat for its followers in the mouth of it: so that its contagious influence in a short time, upon the tumultuous nature of the discontented and irregenerate multitude, needs not so much to be discovered, as to be antidoted. That these persons canonize themselves as the Saints of the most High, is a strong delusion. And if they also by virtue of a forged Saintship, be heard entitling themselves unto the Kingdom: and thereby; unto the dignities & estates of all who are not of their mind, it will not be found more irrational, then Satanical: not more strange, then pernicious. It may well be looked at as a Serpentine and inebriating stratagem, to make the power, honours, & possessions of the godly, and others also who are not of their way: to become lawful prize, and plunder to the ravening lusts of their proselytes. For what then remaineth, but that a sufficient number accepting of their doctrine agree together to possess themselves of all that falleth within the compass of their rapine. 'Tis true, the Devils tempting of Christ with all the Kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them, All these things will I give thee: could take no effect with Him. But upon the trial thereof with men of John of Leiden's spirit, the subtle tempter hath found better success.
Their Doctrine carryeth meat for its followers in the mouth of it: so that its contagious influence in a short time, upon the tumultuous nature of the discontented and irregenerate multitude, needs not so much to be discovered, as to be antidoted. That these persons canonize themselves as the Saints of the most High, is a strong delusion. And if they also by vertue of a forged Saintship, be heard intitling themselves unto the Kingdom: and thereby; unto the dignities & estates of all who are not of their mind, it will not be found more irrational, then Satanical: not more strange, then pernicious. It may well be looked at as a Serpentine and inebriating stratageme, to make the power, honours, & possessions of the godly, and others also who are not of their way: to become lawfull prize, and plunder to the ravening lusts of their proselytes. For what then remaineth, but that a sufficient number accepting of their doctrine agree together to possess themselves of all that falleth within the compass of their rapine. 'Tis true, the Devills tempting of Christ with all the Kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them, All these things will I give thee: could take no effect with Him. But upon the tryall thereof with men of John of Leyden's spirit, the subtill tempter hath found better success.