N00442:140
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 ever you would see the Spirit of Antichrist, and of Deceiving, you may see it in the Spirit of Quakerism. For my own part, I expect a world of Malice and Railing from that Spirit which I have thus been Detecting of. When I was preparing one of my Little Books for the Press, a Devil from the mouth of a possessed person threatened me with much Disgrace for what I was about; whereupon immediately, George Keith Printed a Ridiculous Pamphlet, on purpose to Revile That very •ook. But I have now more cause than ever, to look for all sorts of Calumnies from George Keith and his Associates; especially, if Mr. ⟨p. 107⟩Cheiney have given them their true portraiture, when he says, For Pride and Hypocrisy, and Hellish Reviling against the painful Ministers of Christ, I know no people can match them; and if they should use the way, Mr. Hicks in his Dialogue mentions, when he says, (and offers to prove it) One of your Friends, meeting with a person that had writ against you, tells him, That if he did write any more against them, they would Print any thing against him, that any person would Report, be it what it would. If the Quakers want any Assistance for the good work of adding to my Crown by their manifold Calumnies, Let 'em call in all the Adversaries of New-England for their help; they'll all be so charitable as to give it. And if Massachuset will not afford enough, let them Travel to Connecticut, where they will doubtless find some Orlando Furioso that will count it worth his while to •yringe one Pamphlet after another, that they may prove me an Impudent Youth. I have now run the venture of such a Persecution; and I shall not swee• away my short Life in endless Replies unto those that resolve like the Scold, They will have the last word; but every stone they throw at me, I will take and wear as a Pearl bestowed by my Glorious Master, the Lord Jesus Christ, upon me; and if I may rescue any one poor Soul from the Snares of Death, I shall count my self abundantly recompensed for all that these can expose ⟨p. 108⟩me to. As Jerome could say, Gratias ago Deo, quod Dignus sum, quem mundus oderit: So I can truly say it, I bless God I have the Honour to be by the Quakers buffeted and spit upon.