A CENSURE OF THREE Scandalous Pamphlets I. A Defence of Dr. Crisp against the Charge of Mr. Edwards of Cambridg by Esquire Edwards in Wales II. Reflections on the Authors of the late Congregational Declaration against Antinomianism and Trepidantium Malleus by the A. Club. III. A Sermon preached Jan. 30. last by Canon Gilbert in Plimouth with a tedious Preface of Mr. J. Y. Haud timeo si jam nequeam defendere crimen Cum tanto commune viro Vlys Gen. 19.7 I pray Brethren do not so wickedly LONDON Printed and are to be sold by A. Baldwin in Warwick-lane 1699. A Friendly Epistle to Esquire Edwards concerning his Defence of Dr. Crisp against the just Charge of Mr. Edwards of Cambridg that Orthodox moderate Conformist GREAT SIR THAT you are a Gentleman a studious one and of unusual Accomplishments natural and acquired cannot and therefore shall not be denied but chearfully granted by me I meddle not with your late large Book with its superfluous Branches Baxterianism Barefac'd for which fault Dr. Chamry was against its publication as we are credibly informed I and other zealous Anti-Baxterians are both troubled and ashamed when we see 1. That any Advocate for Dr. Crisp should thus appear against Baxterianism For which sound Calvinists will give you no thanks knowing you often oppose not Error with Truth You confirm these Men in their Notions when they read your more wild ones 2. That you in that Book drop such words as these They the Baxterians like the Writers against Dr. Crisp mistake Mens sense and misrepresent their words Thus you became rather their Compurgator than Censurer 3. That you should charge Mr. Baxter as a Writer against sound Conformists and Nonconformists about Justification c. and yet vindicate Dr. Crisp much more corrupt than he and more opposite to the Authors you cite This fills us all with amazement that you so strangely forget your self 4. That you have impos'd on us in citing some Authors against Mr. Baxter particularly Bishop Vsher's Body of Divinity p. 58. when it is well known Bishop Vsher told Dr. Bernard on his Death-bed He was not the Author of that Book but that much of it was taken out of Mr. Crook 's Catechism That there were excellent things in it and if any one would be at the pains to cut off some Excrescencies and make some good Additions he might take the credit of the whole See Bishop Vsher's Life By the way was it like a Disputant to write against Mr. Baxter's Doctrin of Vniversal Redemption to tell us plainly That you never saw that Book of his bearing that Title tho you heard it was printed since his death Yes by Mr. Read Again you bring in Mr. Baxter's Objections Christ did not for us do the Duty of a Husband or Wife or Father and cite Mr. Traughton to less purpose when you might do it to better P. 116. Christ says that blind seeing Man that had the Eyes of Angels tho not of Cats and Dogs was habitually dispos'd to do all the Work and perform every Duty for us in that Relation in which it pleas'd the Father to put him and this was virtual Obedience c. Luther Rediv. Part. 2. Was not also your tedious endless Citation of Mr. Herbert Palmer's Memorials of Godliness inexcusable Almost all the Book You say he was an old Presbyterian Puritan and an abhorrer of Baxterianism which say you is a Paradox among some tho not all of them Why a Paradox I know not above four Baxterians among the Ministers in a County where once Providence cast my Lot 5. That you seem to treat Mr. Baxter with less rudeness than Mr. Edwards What is an unexceptionable Calvinist worse with you than a Neonomian And which is worse you damn the Baxterians and little less Calvinists as if lost by a Covenant of Works Yet we are glad seeing you would meddle in these matters 1. To see so many good Strokes in that Book and in a better Style than in some other Books Many things you mention are too bad too true You say right of Barkly the Learned Quaker He linkt the Papists and Baxterians together and himself with both about Justification P. 22. Let others answer for themselves and Master this is not my Work 2. That you are so good an Example to our Gentry who spend their time in Pleasure Hunting Whoring Drunkenness When you are so sober so serious so contemplative I take you to be a pious but melancholy Man 3. That you are so zealous against Quakerism in your Comparison between Quakerism and Baxterianism I hope now the fit or temptation to turn Quaker so much talk't of is over I leave that Book and apply my self to you about your Defence of Dr. Crisp against Mr. Edwards of Cambridg bound up with it You Sir call this famous Divine and so all of us that own the sound Doctrine he pleads for a Self-Justitiary and tell us That the Truth and that in Fundamentals hath been from Dr. Crisp 's Works maintâ—…n'd and defended fully That Mr. Edwards 's Doctrin Justification by Faith justifies the Papists Charge against us of Schism from the Church of Rome and Council of Trent and that you will maintain that any Jesuit might unequivocally and safely as well as gladly subscribe What Man is Justification by Faith Popery What shall I do To cite is to confute and therefore I will save the Reader 's Time and Money not to answer such little very little trifles Your Discourse of Fountain Vnion in Election virtual by Redemption manifestative in effectal Calling is unlearnedly and too much Crispianly exprest tho it is true you tell us before of being made actual Members of the Head in time I should think you being a sober Gentleman had written this Book too soon after a fit of Sickness or the Vertigo or the Calenture or had you been a profane Gentleman after a Night's Debauch P. 3. You say Our Author Mr. Edwards and his Jesuitical Fraternity jumble Justification and Sanctification together promiscuously That the Doctor Dr. C. separates them not but as to their Ends and Designs No! why were they sanctified too from Eternity from the Womb in the height of all Wickedness Manasseh when he used familiar Spirits Saul when he breathed out Slaughter against the Church What is imputed Sanctification good Doctrine already This is beyond Crisp Why such a trite Proverb so often repeated Ab Equis ad Asinos What is it from the Baxterians to the Crispians I pray our late Preachers of imputed Sanctification to consider as Christ's Righteousness is so imputed to us for Justification that no subjective Righteousness of ours can justify So if Christ's Righteousness be imputed to us for Sanctification no subjective Righteousness of ours could sanctify There would be no room for inherent Righteousness Sanctification or Holiness were the Elect in the height of all their Wickedness in a state of Unregeneracy sanctified as well as justified was there
our Prefacer of K. Charles He did no Evil Perhaps he could do none for so Sir Orlando Bridgman in the Trial of the Regicides urged it The King can do no Man wrong He that can do no Man wrong can he do any Man right Was it some may say that when the Father's Head was on the Block the two Son's Heads had not been there too I am not more confident of any one thing I ever studied of History then that K. Charles was a Popish Perjur'd Bloody Arbitrary Tyrant As for our Prefacer's Citations 1. Some I doubt are untrue and others want proof 2. Men will too much talk like Courtiers whose Minds cannot be known by their words 3. Some very good prudent Men did think favourably of K. Ch. the 1st's Cause and Family 1. Till the Discovery of â—hat deep Plot by Dr. Oates declared by the Parliament to be true 2. Till they saw the after Proceeding of K. Charles the â—d and his Death 3. Till they saw the open defiance of our Laws by K. James I would appeal to the Consciences of some Men if I thought they had any whether they do or â—an believe what they write of that worst of Kings C. 1st tho â—ot Men. 4. Besides when Men are in Misery as the King was in the Isle of Wight they then are like wild Beasts taâ—ed So he might talk honestly and piously and easily decoy well meaning credulous Persons who are then through pity ready for such impressions 5. Yet I think their fluid Charity perhaps not fix'd is more justifiable than their Prudence or mature Judgments So it hath been as before with the Censurers of Dr. Crisp his Doctrine some close all They hope he was a good Man 6. Yet after all I care not what any Man said but what he ought to say I therefore â—o to the merits of the Cause And for the Church-Men who are angry with 〈◊〉 of us that hope Oliver is in Heaven or the greateâ— Parliamentarian Fighters they themselves must haâ—… own'd so much over their Graves if but lately Deaâ— tho they justified themselves and proceedings to thâ— last If the common Plea be good here That is 〈◊〉 that is in the least degree a remove from Despair and thâ—… you may say of any Man You hope he is in Heaven thâ—… you are not sure to be in Hell Say next you hope the greaâ—… Turk when he dies will go there That you hope to 〈◊〉 till a hundred Years old and to find a great prey not â—…ing sure to the contrary I will not digress else I woâ—… lay open the vanity of this Notion or blind Charity I care not for Milton's Iconoclastes tho I think he haâ—… written a great deal of Truth but whether honestly 〈◊〉 no I leave others to judg I do believe both he and 〈◊〉 Lord Lambert were Roman Catholicks or Scepticks aâ—… Deists doing the work of such I once conversed with 〈◊〉 Lord Lambert in his Garden on the Island nigh Plymoâ—… and could hardly tell what he would be at in Religion 〈◊〉 when I saw him on the 15th Psalm I there found a Behâ—… menistical strain and believ'd he intended to bring our Râ—ligion into Contempt What Bedlow swore is well knoâ—… and he said he brought him Letters from Thâ—… Milton lost his Paradise the Protestant Religion but neâ— reâ—ain'd it more But did nothing that Rushworth saâ—… deserve our Prefacer's Consideration Obj. But it shall be done in time When It is high tiâ—… if ever And he might have let alone this magisterial dogâ—…tical Assertion till that time that we might see all in a pieâ—… What is a Machin when taken in its parts for my paâ—… I not only can but do hear patiently any Man that shâ—… talk two or three Hours together to prove the infamâ—… Martyr-maker to be a glorious Martyr if he so belieâ—… but for Men to assert and assert without proof and be 〈◊〉 patient of hearing Objections they are not fit for Converâ—… â—o doubt this destroyer of his Country doubted not but â—ishop Williams of Ossery his Prophesy should be fulfill'd in â—is Book against Non-Resistance written in the 2d Year of the War That the King should reign till he had put all his Enemies â—…der his Feet God heard the K. when he said if I have â—…ed innocent Blood let my Honour be laid in the Dust As for the keen severe Reflections our Prefacer makes â—n those who mâ—ke a Calves head Feast every Martyrâ—om day I justify them not but if I must be either at â—heir Feast or some Mens Fast that day I know which 〈◊〉 would choose for good chear sake tho I will not tell eâ—ery Body much less the Prefacer lest I should be reâ—ected on in his next Turkish-slavish-Book His other â—rother N. Y. that true English-man lately dead is beâ—ond his Censure now This Sermon being printed must never be preach'd â—ore tho with a new Text how often soever it hath been â—reach'd already Must two hundred Pounds a Year be â—…id to a repeater of Sermons tho his own and the Trade â—…ntinue durante Vita He that preach'd his Daughters Diâ—…nity once about standing in â—inging Psalms let him â—…nsult her again and it may be he will no longer up â—…d down preach Pro and Con and turn his Cap as the â—ind blows Will not his Head when he dies serve for â—other thing now on the Steeple Hath the Martyr-â—aker's Picture before the Pulpit set up by Mr. Prefacer â—ade them both giddy That King Charles was the Author of his Image is â—utly asserted by our Prefacer as stoutly denied by Men 〈◊〉 all Parties but never was by me for 1. Colonel Crook told me he saw the Copy of it under 〈◊〉 King 's own hand and he never doubted him the Auâ—…or Now tho I confess this proves him not the Auâ—…or yet it is a great help and confutes some who â—…estion whether ever the King saw it The Testimoâ—… of an Adversary goes far he was one of the greatest Enemies the King had and one of the best Friends his Highness the Protector had 2. What will the denyers get by this who cannot deny the Conference between the King and Mr. Hindersham and other Epistles of his which prove he was a good Scholar and so far a wise Man What if his Brother Juliaâ— and his Brother Trajan were both great learned Men doth that excuse their Tyrannies and other Villanies No tho their good Morals be added to all as not given to Women or Wine c. Their learning unsanctified not enthusiastically manag'd was but as Judas and the Jews Lanthorns and Torches by which Christ was betray'd 3. Doth any Man that knows Bishop Gauden's Stile think this like it And for what a late Writer says Mr. T. of the Earl of Anglesy leaving it under his hand in a Book That he knew it was not the King 's c. and this Mr. Millington testifies 1. Is it likely King Charles the first and
then no spot in them Which our Divines apply to Justification when Believers You say The whole I have seen against Dr. Crisp will no more avail to Salvation than the Turkish Alcoran I will make it good should any Man be saved by the Principles of these Semi-justitiaries his Hosannahs in Heaven would be but mere hypocrisy season'd with a proud pharisaical vain-glorious Spirit Therefore you say Mr. Edwards in writing against Dr. Crisp is not far from the Sin against the Holy Ghost And pag. 4. There is not the least tincture of common Morality in all his pitiful Pamphlets On you go The shaking of my Dog's Tail is more pleasing to me because more of Integrity in it What a comparison is here Can you not vindicate the young Tobie but you must think of the old one and his Dog Where are some throwing away Integrity to the Dogs and shall it have no better place there than in the Dog's Tail Why no touch of the Birds muting They were unkind Birds that did this to Toby senior who had once good Eyes but to do this to Toby junior was worse whose Eyes or Sight was never right but a poor purblind dimsighted or if you will blind Creature from the Womb or at least the Cradle You say Knight of the Post Arminianizing Palate But where is the proof A Mentiris may serve the turn here I hope this Censure of yours may be my Apology in vindicating Mr. Edwards for I have charged Dr. Crisp higher than he hath done and I assure you without sinning against Light You and your Master have paraphras'd on some Scriptures so wildly and that you under the Titles of the Books as Mr. Masters in his Spiritual House P. 107. They set up Post by my Post and Threshold by my Threshold So says he will Men bring a Bason instead of a Font and a new Directory instead of an old Liturgy After all your bitterness Who is the Rogerus Lestrangus Redivivus you write of you or thâ— worthy Divine But R. L. is not dead by the way With what face can you say Dr. Crisp was sounâ— one with Dr. Owen and others and with our Reformers When it is so well known 1. The Assembly of Divines made a woful Outcrâ— on the sight of Dr. Crisp's Books and employ'd Mr. Anthony Burges to answer him whom he followe◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as much as Mr. Williams hath done anâ— more than Mr. Edwards 2. Mr. Lobb now with God to the last charg'â— Crisp as a Blasphemer who vindicated the Doctrin 〈◊〉 our Reformers 3. One would think you never read Dr. Owen 〈◊〉 make him one with Dr. Crisp Dr. Owen in his Diâ—course of Justification so much shunn'd that extreaâ— that 1. Mr. Baxter as is fam'd was not displeaseâ— with the Book 2. Mr. Williams ex abundanti hatâ— prov'd that Dr. Owen's Doctrin was most opposite 〈◊〉 Dr. Crisp's 3. Our Congregational Divines have prov'â— the same out of Dr. Owen's Writings and Dr. Goodwin's That both were Enemies to Antinomian oâ— Crispian Abominations and there I refer the Reader And seeing Sir you offer a meeting to prove Dr. Crisp's Orthodoxy and challenge any of his Accuserâ— to appear I accept your Challenge and that I wilâ— prove that Dr. Crisp was an Enemy to Repentance froâ— the 298 299 300 Pages of his Book where he say David sinn'd in having Sin a burden c. The Answers given me I laugh at the Doctor spoke of Sorrow to desperation to excess No this Sorrow was never lawful Now the Doctor supposeth iâ— might be lawful before the time of Sacrifice not after or if after not since the great Sacrifice was offer'd up Or that David was a Type of Christ and so Sin might be a burden to him This was the Answer of Mr. L to a scrupulous Antinomian who found this Instance of David lying in the way of their cursed Doctrin 1. Then am I justified in my Charge and Dr. Crisp condemned for a notorious Heretick for if David did this only as a Type of Christ who bore the burden of our Sins then he did it not as a penitent Believer or as a Member of Christ or Child of God 2. Then as the Doctor says He is in this to be no President to us If it were lawful for David before the great Sacrifice was offer'd up it is not so for us under the Gospel For we are not say I Types of Christ O Diabolism none but the Devil and Dr. Crisp ever threw this Dirt upon true Repentance which hath gotten a good Name among all Men the worst of Heathens and Men profane I heard one of them say in the Pulpit That David spoke not of himself but of Christ when he said Mine Iniquities are gone over my head they are a heavy burden I cannot look up Some such Preachers are fitter to preach on a Ladder than in a Pulpit O ye adorers of this Idol Crisp you are like them that worshipped Wood and Stone Who had Eyes and saw not c. being a senseless brainless Man And they that make such Idols are like unto them Sirs be Men and do not act like Egyptians who worshipped Dogs Cats and Calves I say it again on mature thoughts Socinus preached not more dangerous more damnable Doctrine than Dr. Crisp The great God pardon Mr. H Dr. B Witsius and others for their favourable character of Dr. Crisp whereby they have undone many a Soul tho I firmly believe they never read over all the Book or did it with a running eye God forgive Mr. Williams and Mr. Edwards too for publishing their blind charity about the Doctor and all on this hope that he practis'd not his own Doctrine And whereas it is often said Mr. Williams hath been the Man that hath thus heated me against Dr. Crisp I declare nothing is more remote from truth but I have rather heated him and I am sure he repented of his imprudent unadvised Charity and I hope the aforemention'd have or will of their greater Error here Say next We hope Socinus was a good Man This were less absurd if they did Mr. Hoskish in his Imputation of Sin tells us that dreadful Story I mention'd in my Vindiciae when I then testified against Crisp's Abominations that in discourse he declared Believers were not bound to be troubled for their Sins and said Tho David was so he was not bound to be so and did it for want of being better acquainted with the Covenant of Grace I knew Mr. Hoskish well and dare not question his Veracity Good God! Was ever such a Heretick such a Blasphemer such a foolish kind of Antiscripturist counted a Christ-exalter till now I have endeavour'd with others to pull down the Walls of this Jericho and with some success Cursed say I be the Man who buildeth her Walls any more I am ready to sweat in writing such Heresy and dunstical Divinity and by passages elsewhere will I prove my Assertion If I do it
irresistible Grace in Conversion God takes away the opposition the stubbornness of the Will this is taking away the Stone then gives a principle of Grace this is his giving a Heart of Flesh and then inclines to walk in ways of Obedience Adam was made upright and obeyed he was not made so by doing this and that Duty He was made good and then did good for the time of his Station God â—ath a love of Benevolence or good Will before Men are turned when they have not the Image and Superscription of God but Satan on them but no Love of Complacency till in them is a conformity to his Nature when a homogeneous not a heterogeneous Nature no Beast could be found to be a fit Wife for Man God gives him an Eve so Mr. A. against S. Now I doubt not but the greatest of Sinners may in the â—reaching of the Word be prick'd at the Heart on a â—udden his Will turned for God and against Sin and â—e pardoned should this Man going home ride or â—ross the Waters and break his Neck or be drown'd â—ho he had not one quarter of an Hour for secret Prayer or reading or counselling others he would be â—mmediately carried by the Angels into Abraham's Bosom for his Seed was in him he was born of God And this Mr. Williams I am sure will not deny noâ— I think to do Mr. Baxter right he neither were he alive I solemnly profess I cannot remember one word in all his Books to the contrary who have read more of them than any of his Followers I can meet with tho none of late years except his Life and Vniversal Redemption A Censure of a Scandalous Pamphlet against the Authors of the Congregational Declaration and my self THere coming out lately What shall I call it Not an Answer sure where is not one real or pretended Argument against the Congregational Declaration but a Libel against the Reverenâ— Authors and me I find my self concerned to consider this as well as Esquire Edwards's Defence being directly struck at here and but indirectly there The Composers of this Libel as is agreed on aâ— hands are the Reverend Assembly of unlearned Tradâ—smen the A. Club and now the celebrated Lunatiâ—… applies himself to the wise Men of Gotham to vindicate Trepidantium Malleus with whom they begin then Mr. Mead Mr. Nesbet Mr. Lobb Mr. Griffith Mr. Taylor The Fable of Box was answered three Years since in my Reply to W. C. his Censure of mâ— Mr. Keith and Mr. Lesly As I then said I say iâ— now I offer five Pounds to any that shall prove I waâ— in Box or any such place one hour Is it nothing tâ— print Men Lunaticks and celebrated ones too because once they were plunged into deep Melancholy for a long time Mr. Mead is charged with taking a House and Garden surreptitiously Where I pray hath he did himself and the stoln Goods Are they not upon the spot If other Mens Goods had been so some of this Company needed not to have absconded or gone to Goal for not paying Men their due or spending other Mens Money in Taverns and Coffee-houses in idle Pranks when they should be industrious in their Shops to pay every Man his own Must a Man of Mr. Mead's known Worth Integrity and Usefulness have a Hue and Cry sent after him as a Cheat by such as have been notoriously such How he is cleared by that Gentleman most concerned in that Affair as well as others is not convenient now to relate Let any sober dissatisfied Men if any such there be come to me or him about it It is not convenient in Print to answer Men about these things at large who can only rave not reason I am sorry if this publick Defamation hath been any unhappy occasion of Mr. Mead his late Distempers Such a thing I confess may catch as Tinder doth Fire on Melancholy and the usual Distempers of old Age. If he dies are not these Men Man-slayers No wonder they spare no Man when Mr. Gouge who lately was by these Men magnified as the best if not only Gospel-Preacher in the City is now call'd a Drunkard and Murderer He sees now how he was taken in his Policy who by permitting Jack to speak in his Meeting place to prevent a Storm that he might not be accounted an Enemy to free Grace hath thus occasioned one I doubt he finds in this sense 't is not true That true Repentance is never too late Mr. Nesbet comes next What if he were a Beggar c. must none such write against Crisp a Work fitter for him had he been so to answer poor beggarly Arguments and Phrases of a poor Scholar indeed Nam genus proavos quae non fecimus ipsi Vix ea nostra voco He that could call Mr. Nesbet a mean or contemptible Man would by that thing prove himself so Mr. Lobb comes next to be arraigned tried and cast He is made a Man of Contention and yet once magnified for his faithful Report That he was also a Favourite of K. James They that thus charge him now were Men that encouraged him in it then â—s the Securer of their Liberty I hope these vile Men contributed not to his Death also Trepidantium Malleus and these Mens Names are written in large Characters Mr. Griffith Mr. R. Taylor in small ones and the reason privately given is We were Knaves and they were Fools and such a false Character is given of one of these for easiness of Temper and flexibility that all cry out Shame on it who for the contrary might make an Archbishop or a Judg. Mr. G. say they thought others had subscribed What then Dear Hearts Is it not enough he subscribed to the Declaration as good and sound They say they know none that own the Antinomian Nâ—tions there censured but some of old in Germany I would all such were in Germany and London rid of them They know not What then Will it follow we know not Can some of them say the Teâ— Commandments I doubt it they are old Laws or read a Chapter in English as becomes a Man The design of this Paper as he that runs may read is to bring Ministers and the Ministerial Function into Contempt to make way as is conceiv'd for their own speaking as well as Jack's in time Hence they call Mr. Lobb Dunce Blockhead c. compare them all to Porters and Tinkers and tell of the Wickedness of one and another and all the while the Plague-Sores of Debauchery have been long running on them Tho they begin with us and name plainly I only follow and will put all under fictitious Names What Letters shall I put them in if in great ones they must pass for Knaves only if in small ones for Fools only Well they being both shall have of both sorts Mr. CALVMniator Mr. STALLion Mr. FRAud Mr. DVLman Mr. MAGpy 1. Let them read Trepidantium Malleus intrepidanter malleatus and my Defence
before they go on 2. Let me know one way or other my Accusers and for what a Posse Comitatus is rais'd against me by Men baptized into Crisp Is it because I cry of his Book as the Prophet There is Death in the Pot Call it not Sirs a savoury Book What Savour but that of Death can it send Or is it that I have cautioned you against a Jack as dangerous and more ignorant Let these Men please themselves they do not much disturb me and I doubt not some will think I am now with Domitian meanly imployed Paul no doubt was a dull Legal Preacher to him for whose sake Mattocks are brought to erase the Foundation of the Ministerial Function He is for a while honour'd by them as a King but is he not what is said of the King of Spain Rex Asinorum I doubt not but in a little time these little Animals will rise up in Rebellion against their little Man and he shall be the Rogue Drunkard These are Men of crazy Intellectuals tho said to be some of Christ's best sound Members One reply'd They have been well fluxt to be sound Are they more like Epicurus his Swine or Christ's Sheep O sad Case that when some Ministers were followed they could not take a Cup without trouble Now is a time of Liberty Have not some made their Antinomianism a Cloak for Deism or Atheism To say There is nothing in Religion worth suffering for cost One dear in the City who after in terror of Mind did stare with drops of Sweat at his Fingers-ends and so rav'd till he cut his Throat and died Simon Thorvy as Baker in his Chronicle and others tells us boasted that by his Wit he should make void any Law of Christ God so afflicted him with a fit of Sickness that his Animal Spirits were so wasted that after his Recovery he was forced to learn to read Letters again like a Child Some say there is no need of much Wit to be profane but this is not always true we see Give one another good Counsel yet be sober more ways than one study that famous Book of Mr. Perkins Dedicated to some of you viz. To all ignorant Persons in the Kingdom of England You see what it is by the poor Draper for Men not to move within their own Sphere or for you to interfere with other Mens Work You could not meddle with the substrate matter or Doctrine of the Book you revile no more than your Lord and Master This Christ-Exalter is like Pilate a Christ-Crucifier who said What I have Written I have Written and so what he hath said he hath said without giving any reason to any that fairly and privately desire it Is this your Gamaliel at whose Feet you sit and hear Impudence and Folly pass for Sense and Demonstration If ever I am printed as a Lunatick by these Men more as twice already I intend to print the ingenious Lampoon mention'd in my Apology about the Draper's Birth and Life who now refuse to sheâ— it to any Man And for these Libellers let them remember the old Romans hanged Men that could not give a satisfactory Account for not payment of Debts and a piece of their Bodies were given to their Creditors let not Men talk of suffering for their Consciences who suffer for their God-pieces None of these trouble themselves with the Learning of Antichrist's Doctors as Mr. Vnworthy Branch phraseth it The old Antinomians as Thomas Taylor in that valuable Book Regula vitae describes them pretended to act as if the Golden Age say I were return'd again Sponte sua sine lege fidem rectumque colebat but soon were Ranters as if Subjectum Pelion Ossae scandalous Men on a sudden come to have Peace not of God's sending no doubt their building on their sandy Foundation will fall to the Ground in the day of Trial their Lamps without Oil will soon go out For Men who are in the chase of worldly Pleasures to cry not indeed Lord Lord but Christ Christ will have a woful repulse I know you not you workers of Iniquity These Men perpetually declaim against the Baxterians and damn them to boot O horrid Censoriousness and Wickedness and yet at the same time corrupt the Doctrine of Justification much more than they in denying the presence of Faith as well as instrumentality in Justification as Crisp doth in plain words Reader it is worth thy Consideration to remember that Arminius himself owned Calvin's Doctrine of Justification as he tells the World in his just Man's Defence and I knew a great Arminian defending this Doctrine against an accurate Baxterian opposing it That for my part I cannot forbear thinking and saying that Arminian sound here was less Corrupt tho he denied Predestination irresistible Grace in Conversion and Perseverance than the Baxterian sound in all these Points but corrupt in this one of Justification which toucheth the very heart of Religion and true Christianity However we three managed our Controversy not in the London but Christian way and Manner without Bitterness or Uncharitableness But my Work is now with the Crispians and about their making Repentance no Duty but Sin One of the most ingenious favourers of Dr. Crisp told me lately He knew not what to say to the three Pages I censure about David and shaking his Head said I know not what to say for the Doctor there And I hope every Man of sense must grant me this that if Repentance be a necessary indispensable Duty without which no Man can be saved Dr. Crisp is one of the foulest Hereticks that ever appear'd in the World worse much worse say I again and again than Socinus If Repentance or having Sin a burden be legal and abominable and Faith only a perswasion we are Justified Rantism comes next Mr. Williams that Man of a sounder Heart than Head is so well pleas'd with the Congregational Declaration against Antinomianism that he hath lately writen his End to Discord wherein he like a Christian and Gentleman that is to say like Mr. Williams tells them he is sorry he or others suspected them guilty of Antinomianism and that they have now purg'd themselves of any such Charge and tells them had they done this sooner many late Books against them and Controversies had been prevented And therefore now no doctrinal Controversies between Presbyterian and Congregational Brethren remain to justify any further Division This is his Opinion I am sure he owns always and to all Men as he hath done in print that the giving of the first Grace is not Conditional and where that is given there is promis'd Perseverance Now let such Men talk what they will of Conditions they must be sound in sense whether in Phrase or no they are hedged in they cannot help it Mr. Lob and he met together some Months since and as I hear were agreed to write one against another no more Mr. Lob put him on this last Work and no doubt had