N00027:195
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, teacher of the Church of Christ at Boston. Who was appointed thereunto by the order of the General Court. ; [Four lines from Revelation]
printed by Samuel Green, 1659
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.
CHAP: 4
Of the Remedy against Heretical doctrines, and in particular, against the doctrine of the Quakers.
Notwithstanding▪ manifold evils prevailing, & threatening yet the Prophet will not admit that […] […] no Balm in Gilead, that there is no Physician there. Though Christ hath not ⟨p. 46⟩seen good to exempt his with a preservative from exercise by temptation, yet hath he so provided, as to supply them with a defensative against the evil of temptation. There was not more sickness amongst the people, then there was healing virtue in the Disciples gift, Mat: 10.1. A venomous Serpent may he brought into Crete, or Ireland, but (may report be credited) no such can live there. The wiles of the Devil are Serpentine and malignant, yet not to be compared to the wisdom of Christ. The Serpent's head is poisonous, but thanks be to God through Jesus Christ, his malignity is both antidated & antidoted. I will put enmity between thee & the woman, between thy seed & her seed. It shall bruise thy Head. Gen. 3.15. The Saviour of his people hath smitten Satan long ago in his intellectuals. His plots are foreseen, and the remedy hath prevented the disease. T▪o Christ belongs the prerogative of being the only Politician. Now a complete Polity exhibiteth means sufficient, as to the sufficiency of means, for the defence of the Law, and of all those that are loyal subjects thereunto. Would the Patient but regularly attend the prescript, there is no stratagem can infest the Churches, in reference whereunto we may not still boldly say; yet there is hope in Israel concerning this thing. Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: According to this time, It shall be said of Jacob, & of Israel, what hath God wrought? Num. 23.33 mine eye affects my heart.