Little Flocks Guarded Against Grievous Wolves, Title page – To the reader
LITTLE FLOCKS Guarded against GRIEVOƲS WOLVES.
AN ADDRESS Unto those Parts of New-England which are most Exposed unto Assaults, from the Modern Teachers of the misl…d 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.
1 Tim. 1. 6, 7.
Some having swerved, have turned aside unto vain jangling; desiring to be Teachers of the Law, understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.
Boston, Printed by Benjamin Harris, & John Allen, at the London-Coffee-House. 1691.
TO THE READER.
ALtho it hath been fully proved that Quakerism is Paganism; nevertheless, one that appears safely in Print, as an Advocate for the Quakers, with a most Remarkable Ingenuity goes to demonstrate, That the Name of Christians belongs unto the Quakers, inasmuch as the Etymology of that worthy Name agrees unto them; he Learnedly tells us, the true Name is foreign, which is in English, Christs Asses; & such he says, they be, while they patiently undergo all manner of Reproaches and Revilings. I am willing to accomodate that Author, with granting him the two latter syllables of the Name which he seems to challenge for himself and his Friends. But when I read this ridiculous claim, it caused me presently to Examine, Whether I had not in the following Discourse laid more Load upon the Creatures, than belong'd unto them; and upon a Review, I find that I have rather abated of their Just Load; their Tenets are worse than I have Represented them. So that I shall hereafter desire their Load may be rather adjusted by Mr. Lodowick an ingenious person lately recovered out of Quakerism, who has published a challenge to the Quakers, to defend the gross things, which he tells them they know in their Consciences to be their opinions; and concludes, Your Rhode-Island Quakerism is but Antichristian Paganism; and subtil Idolatry, which the more Enigmatical it is, is the more pernicious; and as such to be turn'd from by all that would Inherit the Kingdom of God.