N00442:104
Little flocks guarded against grievous wolves. An address unto those parts of New-England which…
Little flocks guarded against grievous wolves. An address unto those parts of New-England which are most exposed unto assaults, from the modern teachers of the misled Quakers. : In a letter, which impartially discovers the manifold heresies and blasphemies, and the strong delusions of even the most refined Quakerism; and thereupon demonstrates the truth of those principles and assertions, which are most opposite thereunto. : With just reflections upon the extreme ignorance and wickedness, of George Keith, who is the seducer that now most ravines upon the churches in this wilderness. / Written by Cotton Mather. ; A character of the ring-leaders among the Quakers. ; [Four lines from Timothy]Little flocks guarded against grievous wolves. An address unto those parts of New-England which are most exposed unto assaults, from the modern teachers of the misled Quakers. : In a letter, which impartially discovers the manifold haeresies and blasphemies, and the strong delusions of even the most refined Quakerism; and thereupon demonstrates the truth of those principles and assertions, which are most opposite thereunto. : With just reflections upon the extream ignorance and wickedness, of George Keith, who is the seducer that now most ravines upon the churches in this wilderness. / Written by Cotton Mather. ; A character of the ring-leaders among the Quakers. ; [Four lines from Timothy]
Boston: printed by Benjamin Harris, 1691
Letter › Assertion 11: XI. Assert, That a Sinless perfection in this world, is not attainable:
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.
XI. Assert, That a Sinless perfection in this world, is not attainable:
It is true, Godly men are such as, Do no iniquity, and they, Do not Commit Sin. But let 'em understand, that this refers only to a Choice of Sin, and a Course of Iniquity. Let them ⟨p. 78⟩know, you don,t plead that Wickedness may live but you plead that Repentance mayn't die whil• we live. Tell 'em that they do but inflame the most Cursed and Hellish Pride, while they Nourish a vain opinion of Perfection here. Let them know that such as the Scripture sometimes calls the Perfect, are the Sincere, and not the Sinless ones. Show them in, phil. 3.11. Not as tho I were already perfect. Ask them, whether Paul, who was then an old Believer, and an old Apostle too, were not as perfect, as any Quaker, yea, or any Christian, in our Days! Point them, to ver. 15. Let us, a• many as be Perfect, be thus minded. Ask them, whether well-grown Saints are not there called Perfect Ones; and yet, whether the most Perfect must yet be thus Minded, as you Read before, Not as tho I were already Perfect. Ask them, whether Holy David did not Cry out▪ Psal. 143.2. Enter not into Judgement with thy Servant, for in thy sight shall no Flesh Living be Justify,d. Quote 'em Eccl. 7.20. There is not a Just man upon Earth, that doth good and sinneth not. And Jam. 3.2· In many things we offend all. And accept not of Quibbles for Answers to such a plain Conviction. If they will yet make a Pother, Let loose Paul again upon them. Let 'em hear the complaint of Paul, in