A89735:245
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.
Their Sentence of Banishment as Circumstanced, by an Impartial and equal eye, may be looked upon as an Act which the court was forced unto See defended, in defence of Religion, themselves, the Church, and this poor State and People from Ruin: which the principles of confusion, daily and studiously disseminated by them, threatened to bring all unto, if not seasonably prevented. Exile from a wilderness, from a place of exile; though voluntary, from a place; confinement whereunto would indeed justly be counted exile, is an easy exile.
Their Sentence of Banishment as Circumstanced, by an Impartial and equal eye, may be looked upon as an Act which the court was forced unto Se defendend, in defence of Religion, themselves, the Churche, and this poor State and People from Ruine: which the principles of confusion, daylie and studiously disseminated by them, threatned to bring all unto, if not seasonably prevented. Exile from a wildernes, from a place of exile; though voluntarie, from a place; confinement whereunto would indeed justly be counted exile, is an easie exile.
Object: If it be the trueth of God which is pleaded for, it is below the trueth to stand in need of the defence of man, God can defend the cause of Religion without his help.
Answ. Whether this objection, savour more of Enchantment, then an argument, i. e. whether it be looked upon as a mere argument or doth not rather give cause, to call to mind the witchcraft practised ⟨p. 55⟩sometimes upon the Galatians, is with the Reader whose senses are exercised in discerning good & evil to consider. That a malefactor (especially such who chooseth sin rather then suffering) pleadeth for impunity, why should it seem strange? But to attempt the representing of the application of the remedy of iniquity, as iniquity. Antichristianism, persecution, is indeed a device: and that as empty of reason, as full of transgression, A piece of the sophistry of the Prince of darkness, to charm that sword into a perpetual scabbard by a fallacy, the dexterous & vigorous use whereof, puts away the evil committed from, and for the time to come, prevents the committing of evil in Israel. But Christians, especially Church-members, should not be ignorant of his devices. 2 Cor: 2.11.