N00406:76
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.
His following Rhapsody in commendation of the Quakers silent Meetings we leave to themselves; for our own parts we have no such way of the Communion of saints, and yet let not any think that we deny the sweetness of retired Communion between God and the ⟨p. 29⟩fouls of His People in secret prayer, meditation &c. his language therefore about it toucheth us not.
To what purpose he (p. 16.) concludes this long Section with a Comparison taken from humane sciences, which are taught only to such as have innate principles in them upon which Teachers build, we know not, if it be (as it seems) to prove that men have the seeds of all Divine Truths in their natural light, and therefore the Revelations of God's Spirit are only the drawing out of these Principles into exercise, by the meet improvement of their Reason, and discovering only that the knowledge whereof they had in them seminally before; it labours of two faults, Falsehood and Impertinency. Falsehood, inasmuch, as, tho' the light of nature hath in it the Remains of many Theological notions, and tho' man, as a reasonable Creature, is a Subject capable of receiving the impression of Revelations, yet there are no feeds of Evangelical Truths in the hearts of men; nor is there, any witness antecedently in the Consciences of men, to assert to the Truth of them; the credit of them wholly depending upon divine Testimony. Impertinency, because it serves not to prove now Inspirations, but rather to prove them needless; ⟨p. 30⟩the mere Excitation of the light within, by his inward Teachings, being (on this principle) sufficient; we hope he will not deny a manifest difference to be between Inspiration and Excitation: nor is the Text he allegeth (Act. 17.) any thing to his purpose, if he would prove new Revelation from it; for the Apostle is there only endeavouring to convince 'em, that the light of Nature would (if attended) inform them of the vanity of Idolatry, of the Being of the eternal God, of the incongruity of their manner of worshipping Him; & this in order to his preparing of them to hearken to the Revelations of the Gospel.