N00406:91
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.
What though the Spirit witnesseth in us that this is the Rule, doth it hereby become ⟨p. 37⟩no Rule, or an inferior one? how absurd!
Sect. 3. Here also he begins fair, and would make us believe he is good natured, for he gives the Scripture a preference to all other Writings, and for that reason allows it to be a sufficient outward Standard; and one would think that were enough to try Controversies between men and men, and determine them, though his Reason is but awk; viz. Because Scripture-Writers had greater Measures of Wisdom &c. so that he allows them a gradual difference of Revelation, and not specific, which may be judged of by what hath been already said, and what is it to us how or in what measures God revealed Himself extraordinarily to His Prophets, who pretend to no such Revelation at all? It sufficeth, that the lowest degrees of these Revelations were infallible, and therefore one Scripture is not less so than another: Nor shall we trouble our selves to prevestigate his Rabbinical Fopperies about the different degrees of Revelation, by which (no doubt he hath raised his credit much with the poor blind Quakers; whereas indeed, if a man had studied to make himself a Fool in print, he could not easily have done it more effectually; and though we grant, That God revealeth Himself gradually to His servants, ⟨p. 38⟩and to some more than to others; yet his Citation of Exod. 6. 3. proves not what he brings it for; it intends not that the Fathers did not know the Name Jehovah, (we find the Contrary, Gen. 22. 14. 26. 24. 27. 20.) but that He did in His providence rather exemplify Himself by the name of Almighty, in Protecting and defending of the Patriarchs, but now He would most eminently display that of Jehovah in the completing of the promises which He had made unto them.