N00406:223
The principles of the Protestant religion maintained, and churches of New-England, in the profession…
The principles of the Protestant religion maintained, and churches of New-England, in the profession and exercise thereof defended, against all the calumnies of one George Keith, a Quaker, in a book lately published at Pennsylvania [sic], to undermine them both. / By the minsters of the Gospel in Boston, ; [Nine lines of Scripture texts]The principles of the Protestant religion maintained, and churches of New-England, in the profession and exercise thereof defended, against all the calumnies of one George Keith, a Quaker, in a book lately published at Pensilvania [sic], to undermine them both. / By the minsters of the Gospel in Boston, ; [Nine lines of Scripture texts]
printed by Richard Pierce, 1690
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
Sect. 1. His first Essay is against the Church considered as visible: and here he cavils at the description of the visible Church given by the Assembly; Viz. That it consists of all those throughout the world that profess the true Religion, together with their Children: insinuating that we hold that nothing of grace, or of the power of godliness is requisite to constitute a member of our visible Church: but this is all Railing, not understanding what we mean by Visible, nor what by Profession.
1. It is the visible Church they speak of, and he also after grants that there is such a thing: and what is it that makes it visible? it must be something that makes it discernible to others: Here then observe, 1. That there is inward Grace required absolutely to make any one a living member of Christ, &c. so of the Church of the first-born. 2. That this sincerity of heart is to give its evidence to others by an answerable life and conversation: There is a confession of the mouth, as well as a ⟨p. 129⟩believing in the heart, Rom. 10. 9. 3. These Fruits are they by which others are to judge of mens Sincerity, and accordingly to declare them to be visible members of the Church: this rule the Apostles themselves followed in their owning of men. 4. That such a profession may, be, where sincerity is not; and thus Hypocrites may belong to the visible Church; there were such in the primitive times, Simon Magus, Demas, & those, 1. Joh. 2. 19. were such. 5. There may be many Irregularities in the Conversation of such, which yet do not presently unchurch them; such there were in the Churches of Corinth & Galatia. 6. That when such are become scandalous, there are Church-censures appointed by Christ; and these can be administered to none but under the consideration of their being Members of the Church visible: thus Paul delivered Hymeneus &c. to satan.
1. It is the visible Church they speak of, and he also after grants that there is such a thing: and what is it that makes it visible? it must be something that makes it discernible to others: Here then observe, 1. That there is inward Grace required absolutely to make any one a living member of Christ, &c. so of the Church of the first-born. 2. That this sincerity of heart is to give its evidence to others by an answerable life and conversation: There is a confession of the mouth, as well as a