N00027:199
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.
Heretical doctrine is not only a sin, but profession of a doctrine which is both all sin, & a way of sin. The speaking of lies against the Lord and his trueth, destructive to the souls of men, and all this in the name of the Lord. Heretical doctrine consists in the blaspheming of the trueth as it is in Jesus, as a lie, and publishing of a lie in the place thereof. The first born of Satan, ⟨p. 47⟩not a little aggravated in respect of its propagation by apostates, viz. those tongues which formerly bare testimony to the trueth, now bent against it, and for opposite errors. Thine own nation & the chief Priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done. If the people of God did well upon the hearing though of but single blasphemy, to manifest deep detestation thereof, by the rending of their clothes; should we at the publishing of such a compiled System & frame of heresy, which containeth many blasphemies, be found insensible: would not their pious zeal rise up in judgement against us? It is from the Spirit of trueth, to open our eyes to discern the Spirit of error.
Heretical doctrine is not only a sin, but profession of a doctrine which is both all sin, & a way of sin. The speaking of lies against the Lord and his trueth, destructive to the soules of men, and all this in the name of the Lord. Heretical doctrine consists in the blaspheming of the trueth as it is in Jesus, as a ly, and publishing of a ly in the place thereof. The first born of Satan, ⟨p. 47⟩not a little aggravated in respect of its propagation by apostates, viz. those tongues which formerly bare testimony to the trueth, now bent against it, and for opposite errours. Thine own nation & the chief Priests have delivered thee unto mee: what hast thou done. If the people of God did well upon the hearing though of but single blasphemie, to manifest deep detestation thereof, by the rending of their cloathes; should wee at the publishing of such a compiled Systeme & frame of heresie, which containeth many blasphemies, be found insensible: would not their pious zeale rise up in judgement against us? It is from the Spirit of trueth, to open our eyes to discern the Spirit of errour.