N00442:131
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.
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 Luk. 10.7. The Labourer is worthy of his Hire? Does not Paul say, in 2 Cor. 11.8. I took wages? It is no easy Employment, which they have Devoted themselves unto; But most of them can say with him, I profess, were it not for the Belief of the Greatness and Necessity and Excellency of the Truths I am to Preach, and for the will of God, and the good of Souls, I would be a Plough-man, rather than a Minister. If they are Faithful, they deserve more than ever yet you did for them. Had they been brought up to another Calling, or would they yet apply themselves to a meaner Trade, they might Live as well as any of you. You owe them • Living, ⟨p. 98⟩while they are in their Warfare for you; and yet you see, none of them do Sue or Strain, for any of the Dues which may be unjustly detained from them; the voluntary Agreements and Disbursements of their Parishes is all that they hitherto subsist upon. If they are prudently concerned about their Subsistence, 'tis because they have Read that word, in