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A48858
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A defence of the report, concerning the present state of the differences in doctrinals, between some dissenting ministers in London, in reply to a book, enbtitled, A faithful rebuke of that report
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Lobb, Stephen, d. 1699.
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1698
(1698)
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Wing L2722; ESTC R215527
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59,724
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97
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of Integrity soundness in the Faith and successful Labourers in the Vineyard of our Lord But I will make no other Return than to assure him it 's my prayer he may see and consider what he has done and that the Lord will soften his heart and forgive him As for what he saith of the Reporter I will not repeat one word of it only I will accquaint you with what little Reason my Brother had to Insinuate as if the Reporter had been a favourer of Dr. Crisp's Errors and what Obligations he lyeth under to clear himself fom the suspition of Antinomianism for such indeed is the Nature of Error that how distant soever some Heresies are in their appearances from each other they frequently center in one and the same Point To evince what I have here suggested 't will be sufficient to propose what my Brother saith of the Reporters Zeal for Dr. Crisps and make my Reply Faithful Rebuke The Proposal of a full Testimony against Antinomianism is the unpardonable Sin against Dr. Crisp which shall never be forgiven by the Reporter p. 57. Reply 1. That my Answer may be the more clearly understood it must be noted that I speak of the Person who is by my Brother taken for the Reporter whether he be Right or not in his Conjecture and by the Rebuker I mean the Man that is Famed to be so This premised I affirm 2. That there is not the least pretence for his insinuating that the Reporter is a favourer of Dr. Crisps Notions but there are divers reasons for my insisting on it that my Rebuker is not free from the suspition if not liable to a charge of giving Countenance to them and so stands bound to clear himself 1. It 's well known unto me That when the Reporter did about seventeen years ago write against Antinomianism with a particular Reference unto some assertions of Dr. Crisp my Brother gave him sufficient encouragement to expect his Mid-wising it into the World by a Praefatory Epistle which upon some noise made on the mention of the Doctors Name he declin'd to do When my Brother shall call to mind what he wrote in a Letter to Φ Χ He can't I presume but remember that what I here intimate tho' so long ago is very true 2. When a New Impression of the Doctors Works with an addition of some Sermons came into the World about seven or eight years since the Reporter was desired to set his Name to the Attestation before it but He apprehending it would be taken for granted at least by the Common People that His Name would stand there as an approval of all the Notions in that Book and ensnare many to a closure with the very Errours my Brother now seems to declaim against Refused to set his Name unto it And yet he himself notwithstanding the Antinomian Heresies Horrid Opinions and Abominable Doctrines that He chargeth his Congregational Brethren with in his One and twenty Positions pag. 25 26. did set his Hand unto the Attestation before Dr. Crisps Book And there it still remains without a publick recalling it And I think he can't easily forget when and where he was charged with it and call'd upon to give satisfaction but was so Inflexible that no other could be obtain'd than that the Charge was Rude and Ignorant and so braved it out 3. The Reporter is one never like to make any Apologies for the Doctors Notions as differing from the common Belief of Protestants But this Brothers Hand is set to a Plea for them In a Preface before Mr. Flavels blow at the Root Subscribed by the Rebuker we have the following defence of those very points wherein Dr. Crisp forsook the Orthodox For it is there declared 1. That the Difference between Dr. Crisp and other good Men seems to lye not so much in the Things which the one or the other of them Believe as about their Order and Reference to one another This is one passage that my Brother has Subscribed which clears it That if He did it with consideration and sincerity He could not look on Dr. Crisp to hold either Antinomian Heresies or any other horrid Opinions but that as to the things themselves the Doctor is of the same Faith with my Rebuker which thing once granted makes it evident that there could be no such powerful reasons to influence Mr. Ws. to write against the Doctor as my Brother suggests p. 16. for when Differences are only about the Order and Reference of one thing to another where as to the Things themselves there is an Agreement then it becomes the Duty of those Brethren who in these lesser matters differ from each other to exercise mutual forbearance and it must be in Mr. Ws. and those zealous Brethren who did set him on this Work a Violation of the Rule of Christian Love and Forbearance to make this Strife whence it must unavoidably follow that 't was Mr. Ws. who made the First breach on the Union and that my Rebuker so long as his Name abides to this Preface can never clear him 2. You will say There may be Agreement as to the things themselves and yet about their Order and reference to one another very material difference I grant it may be so Tho' for my own part I do look on the difference between the Orthodox and Dr. Crisp to be much greater than this sort of Palliating Preface will allow it to be and that whilst my Brothers Name continues without a Retractation to be before the Doctors Book and under this Preface 't will be a Snare to multitudes especially seeing He adds his further sense in these words 3. But we reckon that notwithstanding what is more Controversible in Dr. Crisps Writings there are much more Material Things wherein they cannot but Agree and would have come much nearer each other even in these things if they did take some Words or Terms in the same sense What can be said more fully in Favour of Dr. Crisps Notions Did ever the Reporter talk thus I 'll go further if there be any thing dangerous in the Doctors Writings as I believe there is what can be said more to ensnare poor People to receive that as Sound and True Did Dr. Chauncey ever say more Shew me where he has at any time said so much 'T is true he brings in the Antinomian saying as much as he can in his own defence but he also if I mistake not tells you that you are not to look for his Judgment there but where he brings in Calvin moderating between Neonomian and Antinomian Once more 4. Whereas my Brother doth in his Rebuke p. 25 26. insinuate as if the Cataingâ—â— of Artinoâ—ian Heresies horrid Opinions and abominable Doctrines had been offered to the Congregational that they might give satisfaction to the Vnited Brethren but would not tho' to this day did I never hear 't was tendred to the Congregational for their Purgation there is reckoned amongst these
A DEFENCE OF THE REPORT CONCERNING The Present State of the Differences in Doctrinals between some Dissenting Ministers in London in REPLY to a Book ENTITULED A Faithful Rebuke of that Report If I Build again the things which I Destroyed I make my self a Transgressor Gal. 2.18 The Wisdom that is from above is first Pure then Peaceable Gentle and easie to be Entreated Jam. 3.17 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The best way of Revenging an Injury is not to imitate or resemble him that did it Marc. Antonin Lib. 6. § 6. LONDON Printed for Nath. Hiller at the Prince's Arms in Leaden-Hall-Street over against St. Mary Axe 1698. TO THE READER Reader WHEN the Report was Published I being in the Countrey on my Return several made Enquiry touching my Thoughts of it to whom my Answer was That whoever was the Author I knew the Matters of Fact therein contained to be True and Believed the Doctrines Explained and Asserted in the Healing Paper and pleaded for in the Report to be agreeable to Gods Word and that I should be willing if at any time called thereunto to do my most for their Defence Some Weeks after the Report had been Abroad a Brother who once according to the Talent wherein he excell'd wrote in Vindication of the Common Faith sent forth a Rebuke to the Report wherein both for Matter and Manner he has expressed himself quite otherwise than formerly he had Written or his Truest Friends at this time expected and has really given the Protestant Religion in the Article of Christs Satisfaction a most sensible Wound These Controversies I doubt not upon an Apprehension that none but the Enemy to Religion will be hereby the Gainer are very grievous to many sincere Christians who when they shall consider how much the Truth by this Collision will be cleared the most Important Doctrines of our Holy Religion be more throughly understood more Firmly Believed as well as more Irrefragably Defended against the Opposition made unto it will Admire the Divine Wisdom and Adore the Riches of Glorious Grace in bringing so much Good out of these Mischievous Divisions which have been and are amongst us As for my own part notwithstanding the hard Censures of my Reverend Brother I cannot forbare telling thee That I desire with my whole Soul to bless and praise the Lord for the insight he has given me into the Mysteries of Christs Gospel since this Controversie hath been stated and that I do now plainly see how the very Truths we were through an unjustifyable Supineness in danger of loosing will hereby be the more clearly Discovered and effectually Secured Discourses from the Pulpit even when about the most Evangelical Parts of Christianity having been of late Years rather adjusted to move the Affections than inlighten the Judgment are but a slender Fence unto Truth And an Observance how they who are sound in the Faith through a Zeal for Populacy have neglected that Close Study which is necessary to a through understanding the Important Doctrines now under debate hath emboldened the Adversary to Oppugn them and with the greater Vigour to attempt the exposing the present Ministry amongst us and to speak freely one Reason why our Brethren are so much confounded with the Noise of Common Terms and Phrases at this time Controverted and so casily Imposed on is their Disuse of such Studies But it 's hoped that these Contests will provoke our Brethren to make more diligent Enquiries into the Doctrines of Satisfaction and Justification as it has already roused up some Great Men to resolve on a Defence of the very Points now exagitated amongst us For as I have heard thus much of one very Learned Person so I did the last Night receive the ensuing Letter from another in which you 'l observe enough to convince you it is from one of the first Rate among the Learned whose Sagacity and Sharpness is Conspicuous and his Resentments Deep And as the Truth by these Methods will be abundantly cleared so the surest Foundation for a solid and lasting Union will be laid For whatever my Censorius Brother suggests to the contrary 't is the resolution of the Congregational Brethren to do their most for PEACE which they are sure can never be lasting if at the Expence of Truth but let our Presbyterian Brethren joyn with us in the Defence of some Protestant Truths now in danger they will find us to go so far as 't is possible with a good Conscience for Peace and Communion with them That these Great Blessings may be obtain'd is the fervent Prayer and shall be the constant Endeavour of Novem. 4. 1697. S. L. The Letter I mention I will here insert exactly as it came to my hands Books Printed for Nath. Hiller at the Princes Arms in Leaden-hall-street over against St. Mary Axe THE Divine Institution of Congregational Churches Ministry and Ordinances As has been Professed by those of that Persuasion Asserted and Proved from the Word of GOD. By Isaac Chauncy M. A. A Discussion of the Lawfulness of a Pastors Acting as an Officer in other Churches besides that which he is specially Called to take the Oversight of By the late Reverend Mr. Nath. Mather To my Reverend and much Esteemed Friend Mr. Stephen Lobb SIR I Could heartily have wished that there had been no Occasion administred for those Accusations wherewith the Presbyterian and Congregational Divines have of late mutually charged one another And though I do verily believe that the Latter are as remote from all Friendliness to Antinomianism as most of the Former are from being Tainted with Arminianism or the having Embraced the Dogmata of Socinus yet some Crude Writers of each Party whose good Opinion of themselves doth far exceed their Knowledge in those Controversies have had the misfortune to speak less accurately than the avoiding the being thought Infected with those Heterodoxies would have exacted of them But as for your Rebuker I will venture to say that he hath not only Departed from the Received Opinions of most Protestant Divines but that he hath Trespass'd against all the Rules of good Breeding and Modesty in his Pedantick as well as Insolent way of Writing For tho' I have not the vanity to pretend the being very Conversant in the Socinian and Arminian Controversies yet I dare affirm that the phrases which he assumes the liberty to Ridicule as well as to Oppose are those that they of the greatest character for Learning who have Written either against the Remonstrants or them of the Racovian Belief have both used and judged necessary to be adopted into their Debates not only as a Fence about the Received Faith and a Barrier against Irruptions upon common Christianity but as such without which the Doctrines of Christs Satisfaction and of our Justification could neither be Orthodoxly nor Intelligibly expressed And were it not that I intend to Imbarque in this Dispute in case it be further supported on his part I could at present easily expose