A89735:214
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 4: CHAP: 4. Of the Remedy against Heretical doctrines, and in particular, against the doct…
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.
Distinguish between questions of docility or teachableness tending to confirm us in the truth: and questions of scepticism tending to hold the mind in an irresolution concerning the trueth. Affectation of uncertainty in matters of religion, is against religion. Certainty is of the nature of faith. Doubting & Faith are opposite. To reduce trueth unto the hazard, and promote error unto the hope of a question, is to render error & trueth of equal credit. An antireligious levelisme leading unto Atheism: and if the trial be before corrupt reason, as the judge: it is a notable stratagem to represent trueth for error, & error for trueth. The serpents art in managing the first temptation was by way of question: Yea, hath God said?
Distingwish between questions of docility or teachablenes tending to cofirme us in the truth: and questions of scepticisme tending to hold the mind in an irresolution concerning the trueth. Affectation of uncertaintie in matters of religion, is against religion. Certainty is of the nature of faith. Doubting & Faith are opposite. To reduce trueth unto the hazzard, and promote errour unto the hope of a question, is to render errour & trueth of equall credit. An antireligious levelisme leading unto Atheisme: and if the triall be before corrupt reason, as the judge: it is a notable stratageme to represent trueth for errour, & errour for trueth. The serpents art in managing the first temptation was by way of question: Yea, hath God said?
Gen: 3.1. Uncertainty between two Opinions was the cause of Israels halting: Advantageous indeed unto Baal's followers, but an evil unsufferable unto the holy spirit of Elijah, zealous that the people of God should walk upright. No marvel the state was distracted whilst religion was unsettled. So far as the way whereby we should serve God is a question, it is out of question, we cannot serve God. Scepticism in all points of faith is deservedly abhorred,1 but especially in fundamentals. Monstrous births (saith Plato) are not brought to light, neither are portentous disputations, and monstrous opinions to be suffered in the Common-wealth.