N00442:97
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.
IX. Assert, That the Death of the Lord Jesus Christ, was not intended by God, for the Salvation of all Mankind.
Allow, That the price paid by our Lord in His Death, was indeed sufficient for all Mankind; and that the Benefit of it is tendered and proffered unto all indefinitely, If they will believe: yea, that His Death is the thing that has procured this Tender and Proffer for the World. But, yet it was not the secret ⟨p. 73⟩intent, either of God or Christ, that His Blood should purchase Life Eternal for all the Children of Men. Ask of them, whether our Lord by His Death has not bought Faith for them that have it, even the Faith which qualifies them for Benefit by his Death? Is there any Believer, that can dare to say concerning his Faith, The Blood of Christ never bought it for me? Well then, If the Blood of Christ as purchasing Salvation, were intended for all Mankind▪ was not the Blood of Christ as purchasing the Condition of Salvation so intended? But, how comes it then, that all Mankind have not that Faith which is the Condition of Salvation? They will say, 'tis merely because the Sinner says, I won't; but what will they say, when they must own, that our Lords Death is to purchase the Sinners being overcome to say, I will? Ask them further, What the virtue and success of our Lords Death depends upon? Is it wholly left unto the Free-will of Man? Man will then be the principal in his own Salvation. Yea, this I say; if the Number of persons Interested in our Lords Death, be not fixed and settled, it were possible, That no man at all should ever be the better for it! Horrible to be spoken! And Simon Peter were no more beholden to the Merit of our Lord, than Simon Magus was. Ask them, whether they can be so Absurd (though they have as large a Gift at Absurdity as any people in the world) as to think, That God ⟨p. 74⟩