N00442:130
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
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.
If after all you will be of the Gadding Tribe, and will venture in, it were just that God should permit the Devil there to take possession of your Hearts: the Devil may Pretend, as he did when he seized a Woman at a stage play, That he finds you on his own ground? so that I cannot forbear calling upon you, in the words of Moses, Depart, I pray you from the Tents of these wicked men, Lest ye be consumed in all their sins.
If after all you will be of the Gadding Tribe, and will venture in, it were just that God should permit the Divel there to take possession of your Hearts: the Divel may Pretend, as he did when he siez'd a Woman at a stage play, That he finds you on his own ground? so that I cannot forbear calling upon you, in the words of Moses, Depart, I pray you from the Tents of these wicked men, Lest ye be consumed in all their sins.
In the mean time, you have Reason to be Thankful, for such Holy, Humble, Able, Painful, & prayerful Ministers as God has generally blessed these Churches with: and I exhort you, as you would approve yourselves worthy to wear the Name that was begun at Antioch, ⟨p. 97⟩that you do not forget that Command of our Lord, in Heb. 13.17. Obey them that have the Rule over you, and submit your selves; for they watch for your Souls. They gladly spend their Time, their Strength, and their All, to Serve you, in your best Interests; and all the Discouragements you give unto them, the Glorious Lord Jesus Christ in Heaven says, Ye did it unto me! See Mat. 10.40. and Luk. 10.16. The more that the Quakers call them as William Pen has taught them, A cursed Stock of Hirelings, the more cause have you to countenance them; and if they must be Dogs, yet the Sheep are Fools if they part with them, because the Wolves call them so. To Preach for Hire, is a vile thing; but for you to give Hire unto them that Preach, for what they do, is but just; Has not our Lord said, in