Truth Held Forth and Maintained, Title page – Preface
Truth held Forth AND MAINTAINED According to the Teſtimony of the holy Prophets, Chriſt and his Apoſtles recorded in the holy Scriptures.
With ſome Account of the Judgments of the Lord lately inflicted upon New-England by Witch craft.
To which is added, Something concerning the Fall of Adam his ſtate in the Fall, and way of Reſtoration to God again, with many other weighty things, neceſſary … People to weigh and conſider.
Written in true Love to the Souls of my Neighbours, all Men, which includeth that Love to them, … by Thomas Maule.
Printed in the Year 16…
… PREFACE
Friendly Reader:
AMong the many Writers in this Age, who profeſs themſelves Goſpel Miniſters, great i… the number of falſe Prophets, and word… teachers, whoſe Doctrines, Principles & Practices are inconſiſtant with the Doctrines Principles, and Practices of the holy Prophets and Apoſtles in days paſt, who brought, glad tidings of Peace to …he ſouls of many People, who were turned from Darkneſs to Light, and from the Power of Satan to the Pow-God, Acts 26.18. even ſo, ingmeaſure, is it with true Goſpel Miniſters in this day, who turn Peoples minds to the inward manifaſtation of the gift of Gods Spirit, which miniſters Life to them that hear and obey, unto them its life indeed; for the gift of God is Life eternal; and as every true faithful Miniſter of Chriſt, hath received the gift of God freely, they miniſter freely from he ſame, as good St…wards of the manifold Grace of God, d…ing unto all men, at they would have all m…n do unto them, not ſtriving for Maſterſhip, but are gentle unto all men, and apt in teach, patient in …, inſtructing thoſe that oppoſe themſelves. 2 Tim. … 24, 25. that … by the Church may be edefied; for the true Miniſters of Chriſt are Servents to Chriſt, and not Maſters own, …, as many Anti-chriſtian Teachers are, … H…itage, … Perſons in admiration for advantage; but the true Miniſters of Chriſt are men of ſorrow, deſol…ed, and rejected o… mend as he was, they are not made miniſte…s by the mill of …, but by the will of God, and blameleſs, as the Stewards of God, not ſelf willed, nor ſoon angry, nor given to Wine, nor ſtrikers, …or are they greedy of filthy Lu…re, but lovers of Hoſpitality, and ſober, Juſt, holy, temperate, holding faſt the faithful Word, as they have been taught, that they may be able by ſound Doctrine, both to exhort, and convince the gain-ſayers; for there are many unruly and vain Talkers and Deceivers, even as thoſe in days paſt, whoſe mouths muſt be ſtopped, for they ſubvert whole Houſes, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy Lucre ſake; and as in that day, they had a Prophet of their own, ſaid, the Cretians are alwayes Lyars, evil Beaſts, flow bellies Tit. 1.7.8, 9, 10, 11, 12. even ſo as by Luther, and others, who have left their Teſtimonies agreeable with what is found incorded in the Scriptures of Truth, which give a true account of the Doctrine, Principles and Prectices of the many Teachers in this age, who will not preach … Mony. This witneſs is true, wherefore rebake th… ſharply, that they may be found in the Truth, for they profeſs they know God, but in Works they deny him, Tit. …. By which, is it not manifeſt that the love of Money (which is the root of all evil) is in them that will not prench without Money? what better are they, the… the … and falſe Prophets we read of, Jer. 14.14. Do they … bare rule by their means in all Nations, where … ſee… for their gain each from his Quarter? Iſa. …. …. Do they … preach for hire, and divine for Money M…. 3.11. And do they not preach peace ſo long as men keep paying, but when any come to ſee their deceit, and cannot put into their mouths, then they preach open war … And have not the falſe Prophets, Anti-chriſtian … and hired Prieſts, deſtroyed …he lives of many thouſands of People for their obedience to the faith, which work, by conſent of the Magiſtr…, hath had its day in New-England, when they put to …ath four of the People called Quakers at Boſton, (concerning the which an Account will hereafter follow) which was by the Prieſts accompliſhed, by the conſent of the then Rulers; for without the conſent of Power, the Prieſts could not Perſecute, which they wait to do as Troops of Robbers wait for a man, ſo have the company of Prieſts murdered in the may by conſent, Hoſ. 6.9. So that by their fruits men may know them, Luke 6.13. Mat. 7.13, 16. for they are tryed which ſay they are Apoſtles, and are not, and they are found to be Lyars, Rev. 2.2. Come from among them▪ and do not pertake of their ſins, that ye may be free from their Plagues, which the Lord is bringing upon the Whore and the falſe Prophets & Teachers, which … wrought Iniquity againſt the Lord and his choſen People.
From my dwelling Houſe at Salem in New-England, 1ſt. 3d. Mon. 1690. Thomas Maule.
Humane Learning I have not,
God doth to me afford,
His Teaching by his Spirit good,
To underſtand his Word.
T. M.