N00777:52
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.
Letter: Boston, 25 d. 10 m. 1699. A LETTER, Containing a Remarkable HISTORY, OF AN Impostor.
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.
The Exact Agreement, between Samuel the Doctor, and Sam the Dunce, was a diverting Surprise to all that saw it. Hereupon, a Minister of the Town, visited the man himself, and proffered him a Piece of Eight, for every material Sentence, that he could produce, of his own Discourse, about, The Royalties of Faith, which could not be produced from the Author, and in the Order, and with his Flourishes, and Expressions, that were most Peculiar; and he set before him the Cheat and the Crime, that there is in Preaching Stolen Sermons. Indeed, because the man had no Academical Education (Except one should suppose at Samourgan, a certain ⟨p. 40⟩famous Academy in Lithuania,) it was to no purpose, to quote unto him the saying of Synesius, Magis impium esse mortuorum Lucubrationes, quam vestes furari; but I did in Plain English tell him the Dishonesty of the matter. He not only Denied, that ever he had used or seen any of Dr. Bolton's works, (though he was also detected of Stealing Three or Four more Sermons, out of this very Book!) but he also called the Great and Dreadful God to Witness, That the Discourse he delivered, was the pure effect of his own Industry and Invention; adding, That he had no other way to give Satisfaction, but by Preaching on any Text, that Minister should give him. The Minister told him, That he was astonished at his horrid Wickedness and Atheism, and that if he were to be believed in this thing, all Humane Proof of any thing must come to an End. He proceeded; That he had out-gone, all the Cheats that ever had appeared among us, for being so hardened in Impiety and Stupidity, as to Deny a Fact, wherein he was as plainly Detected, as ever any Thief, that was taken with the Stolen Goods about him. And he concluded; Miserable Man, Do you ask me for a Text to Preach upon? I have a Text, more than one, for you, to Think upon. Go Preach, if you dare to do it, upon that Text, Psal 101.7. ⟨p. 41⟩He that telleth Lies, shall not tarry in my sight. Preach, if you dare to do it, upon that Text, Psal. 50.16. Unto the Wicked God saith, what hast thou to do, to declare my Statutes? Preach, if you dare to do it, upon that Text, Rev. 21 8. All Liars shall have their Part in the Lake. And if you dare carry on your Impiety so far, Preach upon that Text,