N00777:18
A warning to the flocks against wolves in sheeps clothing. Or, A faithful advice,…A warning to the flocks against wolves in sheeps cloathing. Or, A faithful advice,…
A warning to the flocks against wolves in sheeps clothing. Or, A faithful advice, from several ministers of the Gospel, in and near Boston, unto the churches of New-England, relating to the dangers that may arise from impostors, pretending to be ministers. : With a brief history of some impostors, remarkably and seasonably detected written, by one of the ministers in Boston, to assert that advice, and prevent future mischiefs. : [Five lines of Scripture texts]A warning to the flocks against wolves in sheeps cloathing. Or, A faithful advice, from several ministers of the Gospel, in and near Boston, unto the churches of New-England, relating to the dangers that may arise from impostors, pretending to be ministers. : With a brief history of some impostors, remarkably and seasonably detected written, by one of the ministers in Boston, to assert that advice, and prevent future mischiefs. : [Five lines of Scripture texts]
Boston: printed by B. Green and J. Allen, 1700
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
An HISTORY, Of Some IMPOSTORS, Remarkably and Seasonably detected, in the Churches of New England; Written to maintain the Advice Published by some of the Pastors in those Churches relating to Impostures, and prevent all future Mischiefs from them.
IT was a notable Discipline, by which the Reformed Churches in France, preserved themselves, from the Intolerable Mischiefs, arising by the allowance of Unworthy Preachers: Their National Synods every Time they Sat, would publish a Roll of those Unworthy Preachers, that could be found creeping in among them, and with a description of their Feature, and Stature, and other circumstances, like what uses to be given in an Hue in Cry, this Roll would notify the Crimes laid unto their charge, and admonish all People to beware of Entertaining them.
The Churches of New England, have Heretofore been in such Good Order, that no man could be Ordained and Received as a Pastor in them, without the Concurrence of the Churches in the Vicinity, and a very solemn and public Action. But a Good Order ha's never yet been provided among us, that no Untried, and Unfit person, shall set up for a Preacher, and run about from Town to Town, getting into the too much unguarded Pulpits, and threatening our Holy Religion, with no little Inconvenience. Now to prevent and redress, this Inconvenience, it ha's been by some Considerate persons desired, That something like the French Roll may be Exhibited unto the Churches of New-England, which may Exemplify some few of the many Cheats, that have gone to Impose upon them. It is unreasonable to complain, That the Crimes of those Cheats are thus openly Exposed; for, I beseech you, Sirs, are they not as openly Committed? Men are too insensible, of the horrible Villainy and Blasphemy, in the Crimes of those Fellows, who set up for Teachers to the people of God, when God knows they are wicked Vagrants and Varlets, designing to abuse the Honest people; if they imagine it, a severe Thing, to stigmatize them, in the view of all the affronted Churches. The Faults of the Penitent, indeed should be Concealed;