behaviour and good sound Doctrine some here I am sure deserve the like Commendation Some of these bewail what they cannot help The Preaching of so many ignorant conceited Men among them How can they Analyse that know not what an Analysis is Mr. Delaun His 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hath done such Men no small mischief who buy and read but cannot understand What have such to do with a Figure which the Learned Call Synecdoch c. Now mentioning that Gentlemen I have an opportunity to satisfy the World that tho once a Papist he was indeed a Protestant of him I had a large and true Account from one once his Schollar When he wâ—â— Papist in Ireland he would often read the Scripture and when inclineableâ— a Change he accidentally liv'd in the House of an Anabaptist which occasion'd his being such himself This sort of Men here shame some others who more Friendly converse together then other Contenders do Their Coffee-House is like Noahs Ark as I have often told them where are as to Principles in Doctrine Clean and Unclean Beasts Calvinists and Arminians and Antinomians too Singers and Anti singers Some for free Communicating others against it Not but that it could be wisht that their Friendships were greater and that in their Polemicals they would more forbear Personal Reflections A DIALOGUE BETWEEN A Wild Crispian and a Sober Christian Cp. I Am glad to see you my good Brother Ct. I understand not your Salutation for I look not on you aâ—â— Brother but as an Enemy to me and to my Lord Christ Cp. O you are greatly mistaken in me I doubt you do not know me for I am known to talk of nothing more then Christ exalted Ct. Yes and to do nothing more then to debase him and what you can to Dethrone him you take him in one Office I in all three as Prophet and King as well as Priest Cp. Why Man if you observe Providence my very Name may be my Apology for my Name is Crispian which is much like Christian Ct. Yes but you know every like is not the same If you would be witty indeed it might rather prove you to be but a half Christian Is not Christ in the Name Anti-Christ Jesus in the Name Jesuite which is more But what think you if I mention the same Name in Scripture for that that 〈◊〉 most opposite Cp. I â—ray what is that Ct. What think you of the Name God is it not the Name of the moâ—â— High Holy Glorious Being The Maker of all our Benefactour in time and etâ—râ—â—ty Cp. Yâ—â— and what them Ct. Yet is this Name given to the Devil a Name ab officio as well as natura the Hater of the most High the Murtherer of Souls the cursedâ—â— Creature that is Yet he is call'd The God of the World c. Ct. Come then Let us go from Names to Things I doubt you are one of them that assert The Conditionality of the Covenant of Grace with Believers and of Perseverance unto salvation Ct. No I am not but am well satisfied in what the truly Eagle Ey'd Man Mr. Capel hath said against it in a little thing worth Gold bound up with his Book of Temptations Yet all that assert Perseverance are and must be sound in sense whether in Phrases or no. Cp. What is your apprehensions about it Ct. That the word we render Covenant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is rendred Testament Mat. 26.28 And we call the Bible The Old and New Testament 2. That the word Covenant as we render it in Scripture must not imply a Condition as some Blead Gen. 9.9 10 11 12. Gods Covenant not to destroy all Flesh admits of no condition yet of a Sign the Rainbow and that Gods Covenant of Grace with Man is like this Covenant is evidenced by Isaiah As I have Sworn the Waters of Noah shall no more return to drown the Earth c. 3. Heb. 8.10 Where the Covenant is mention'd it is a promise of Grace for I cannot for my heart conceive How a thing should be the matter of a promise and condition of it too Or a thing be the condition of it self 4. God gives the Sign of this to all his own many ways if you will so call it 5. I therefore take what some call Conditions to be not properly but improperly so they are necessary Consequents of Justification and necessary Antecedents to Glorification Cp. Oh Sir I am pleas'd to the Heart to hear you talk so Orthodoxly I suppose you are a Calvinist and some say Calvin and Dr. Crisp are agreed Ct. Yes I am as surely a Protestant for that is the right Name as you are none But they that tell you Those two are one may as soon Reconcile God and Satan Cp. Good Sir some more sound Doctrine I hope you do not own Previous or Preparatory Qualifications to true Grace some Men talk of Ct. Yes I do and yet do not I am of their Opinion and yours too in this point Cp. This is strange and seems impossible I pray explain your self Ct. Mr. Norton in his Orthodox Evangelist spends I confess too much time about this thing and it is the greatest if not only flaw in that sound Learned Book I believe with them it is Gods if not frequent or common yet sometimes way and work and experience proves it but I believe with you it is not his constant work As when Three Thousand were prickt to the Heart immediately converted and baptiz'd I doubt not but the greatest Adulterers Swearers Drunkards that sit down unconverted profane hearers sometimes arise Converted Pardoned ones God suddenly touching and turning their wills And the Kingdom of Heaven is as a Grain of Mustard-seed the least of all Grains Yet grows up to a great Tree that the Birds of the Air lodge in the Branches of it The greatest Oak was once an Acorn and the greatest Giant once an Infant crying in the Cradle and the greatest Schollar once learning his Letters Cp. I hope you own the Elect were ever beloved when in the highth of all their wickedness and that God hath no more to lay to their charge then to the charge of any Saint in Heaven p. 368. Ct. No by no means for the Scriptures say plainly Rom. 9.25 23 24 25 26. There was the Love of purpose or good will for they are said to be prepared unto Glory thou call'd both Jews and Gentiles then his People which were not a People and her beloved which was not beloved And they which were not my People are call'd the Children of God in the same place shall it be said c. Can words be plainer Yet you say they were ever beloved ever a People ever the Children of God Where God is said to Love with an everlasting Love a priori it is of purpose or good will a posteriori it is with Complacency and so beloved Cp. I grant indeed God delighted not in their Sins but Persons Ct. O rare
some of them think it a disgrace to come after Weavers Taylors who made the Pulpits stink of them long agoe It is easy for Men to write Polemical or Practical Books and run to this Author and that Author and make Collections here and there Then take down Pool then some Critick Leigh or any other then Books of the Subjects they Write about When one would think for Men of reading sense and years Their Heads should be their Libraries c. But I must not approaching too near any thing that looks like boasting lest my Friends in the Countrey should think I have been so long in London that I am trouble with the London disease Where Men are charged high 〈◊〉 what is said openly by almost all Eaquire all is denied For lying it is worse then bad The private hearers here are no more judicious then in obscure Corners abroad Every Quack in Physick or Divinity or other thing if he runs to London finâ— it as fit a Receptacle for him as any place whatever To see some Mâ—â— have some of the greatest Congregations in the City whom all know are fit to be sent to School yet these be Censurers of their Brethren and Talkers forsooth of able Men and rousing Men What I pray is that Men of good Lungs that make disfigur'd faces and speak to God as if talking with their Fellows c. To the great grief of the Learned Men that hear them or converse with them And yet these shall Condemn Tradesmen Preaching too I am also told by this work I shall lose many Fâ—iends in the City I Answer It is a great Question whether I have many Friends here to lose I have had many in the place from whence I came and may again have more elsewhere I value Friends Non numero sed pondere My few here may be better then some Mens Many One old true Protestant is worth Ten Innovators Some object They like not this way of writing all should be considered by Arguments from Scripture I answer 1. You like not this way nor the other neither when against your darling corrupt Notions 2. Many wise Men like this way well if you do not an historical Account of Men and their Notions is used by all Is Mr. Lob's Book to be dispised about the jugling Tricks of Arminians and Socinians because he confutes not by Scripture their Doctrine he mentions 3. Must Men run all the same way This is done so well already that much acnnot be added done by a curious Hand 4. Yet I have insistâ—â— upon the chief things from Scripture Look again Many Books said to be New Books have little new but the Title old stale Arguments are mentioned without end I shall not trouble you with an Account what clapt a Supersedeous upon my not appearing sooner only acquaint you that this was ready for the Press almost three Months past For the Controversy now on foot so far as it relates to Matters of Fact I make my self no Judge I have proposed a fair way as the Digladiators both own to bring the Matter to a fair Issue To appoint a convenient Time and Place to debate these Matters agreeing upon Articles before hand to manage all That a Moderator be chosen who shall have Power to appoint to both their time of speaking and to silence hard Words so may we know these Matters of Fact asserted by some denied by others Now we must only enquire when the last Paper will be answered and so might this Controversy take no more Air. One replied This might have been done but that the first Aggressor appearing in Print must be so met with which is true for once But is the Advice now too late I beseech them to think of it I Pray my Reader to consider if there were so many Flaws in that one and but one Sermon I heard from the Reverend Linen-Draper how reasonable it is to think many more are in other wild Discourses of his where he makes not so great a Preparation expecting not such an Auditory yet see the Misery of uncatechised Heads This was applauded by the rude illiterate Mob some of which have the Impudence to ask us What think you we cannot judge of a Minister and his Ability No no more then of a Physician or a Lawyer Such may be a Quack an Emperick as far as you or I know We therefore choose such as are approved of by Men of the same Employ so should we by Ministers of known worth If you must choose your Pastor I hope you must not ordain him they that do it must look well to it That they lay Hands suddenly an no Man and therefore they are judge of their Abilities not you to say We have chosen him and will have him I once lived with a conceited Country Farmer who would tell me If he were in my place he would make the People quale and that he knew one who broke a piece of the Board on which he leaned in his Pulpit O Sirs What do you mean I would often tell him that was a Preacher for him but a Stage-player for me In a place where once I lived was a Man much followed he could Expound the hardest places of Scripture on a suddain One put him that place The Children of Israel shall be many days without a King and without a Priest and without an Ephod and without a Terephim He began without Civil or Ecclesiastical Government as for Ephods and Teraphims Weight and Measures I shall not say much of them He once as is said patching up a Sermon out of Dr. Featly and Dr. Dun their Works one being asked how he liked it said It was featly done A preaching Mealman once told me You must have Ten Shillings a Day when we sometimes have but Twelve Pence To whom I replied This is just as if a Quack in Physick should thus discourse with a Physician And said I Old H. How could'st thou in conscience take the Shilling you should have returned two Groats again Bless me thought I when I heard our Reverend Linen-Draper If this be Gospel I never heard the Gospel preached till now and hope I never shall hear such Gospel more If any ask Why confute I not more what he said because not worth it Must I prove Christ to be a Law-giver c. Or prove Christ gave Commands c. He and Elijah the Barber-Prophet desire it that they may be taken notice of These cry Peace Peace where there is no Peace and sew Cushions under Mens Elbows If Dr. Crisp had been by David he would have informed him better and we had had wonderful Psalms no doubt for David was not well acquainted with the Covenant of Grace c. Luther Thunders against the Antinomians so called in his days in his Table-Talk and yet some have the confidence to tell us Luther was one himself The Man of Sin is call'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without Law a Downright Antinomian Jude describes
them to the Life who turn the Grace of God into Wantonness read the whole Chapter Our Mechanick Preachers who think above all Men they pay it off frequently tell us I have the Seal of my Ministry What a madness is this Yet you will not allow the Church of England to bring forth a Convert and thus plead their Ministry to be of God Paul having proved his Call antecedently to this rejoyceth in this May not a Man be converted by a Man that hath no Call not Common Sense an aukward way of applying every thing Did God send that Fool But I doubt these pervert Men did not convert them The Writer of the Life of Francis Siles Bishop and Prince of Geneva begins thus Heaven made a rich Present to the World on such a day when F. S. was born He converted many Heretic s to the Romish Faith So these Converts such To see Men to look as is said of Flavius Vespatian as if straining â—n a Close stool and hear such Eructations of the Carrion they have eaten themselves and corrupted others with to hear abominable Heresies begotten by a weak corrupt Head on a vile unsanctified Heart this may be called Gospel for a little and but a little while I still pray my Reader if he be a Member of the Church of England not to judge of our Meetings by such Assemblies as these I condemn He that would give an Account of a Kings Palace or of his Country House would not run to the House of Office or put his Nose over the Jaques of a House and describe the Air and all by it Here the Dissenters Deposuerunt feces I could say much of the Folly of yours Men I knew Such a Chapter of the Prophecy of the Prophet Deuteronomy and carried out drunk between two Men. No question in the Spiritual Court for his Folly or Prophaness Nor of Mr. G. nigh the place I once lived of whose Folly there is no end I adjure you charge not the Independents tho too many be guilty no more then your own Bishops easie Ordination The late Scottish Eloquence Presbyterians are so much charged with is answered well by another You will find he that said if he said it in Prayer If he that provideth not for his own be worse then an Infidel What art thou if thou providest not for us thy People Was not alone in such Folly and Impudence But perhaps this Story may as much be questioned as that one of them said If ever Jesus Christ was D. it was when he made the Lord's Prayer which W. C. twits me with no doubt out of that Book Read the Answer to the Scottish Eloquence and see how some Passages are false others want Proof and Accusers guilty of the censured Folly Might I not be bold to ask some Tradesman who desire to be preachers to do good as they pretend Do you not as Ely's beggarly Sons desire to be put in the Priests Office to get a Morsel of Bread Conscience What sayst thou It is a heavy Charge laid on many Independents as if they were like the old Donatist and denied Salvation to any but to those of their own Conventicle Whereas he that reads Mr. Cotton Jeremy Burroughs his Irenicum perhaps one of the best Irenicums that is will find their Souls loathing any such Thoughts Neither find I the Ministers of this City Carolopolis may I call it as Rome was designed if rebuilt to be called Neropolis this way guilty This is but the idle Talk of the Masters of our Ceremonies they doubt not the Salvation of Men in the Church of England Obj. Why leave they it then 1. Many of them were never in it and therefyre cannot strictly be said to letve it 2. If I run from an Hospital where many die of the Spotted Fever I run to save my self yet I will not say they are all dead Men that are there 3. Would I part with both or one of my Eyes Arms or Legs and say I may live and deserve the Denomination of a Man notwithstanding This is the common but foolish Plea If there be many good Christian in the Church of England it is good News and we hope it is true we are assured there are many more good Christians out of it To tell us of the Publick Wisdom is Folly they cannot hear Who knows where it will end We see what the Publick Wisdom in France hath done and what the Publick Wisdom hath done in England and was like to do again had not King James bid us farewel If you were to court a Woman who must be your second self when you should look to her Piety good Nature Skill in Domestick Affairs and good Portion too Would you look only to her fine Dress and Trinklets to her Top-knots c. They think you may as well make new Credenda as Agenda and add to the Belief as well as Commandments and as well seek to help Christ out in his Prophetick as Priestly Office and that you may as well bring new Revelations as new Injunctions They think it no small Sin to part with their Christian Liberty tho the Magistrate himself should call for it a thing purchased by the Blood of Christ and that we are commanded to stand in They believe the Command of not Offending the Week c. was not pro tempore nor intended by God till the Magistrate shall command and swear you to not to regard this Command of God In Ceremonies they think Imposition is on God to accept as well as Man to offer Bold Presumption They observe That those who would make iudifferent Things necessary soon make necessary Things indifferent If their Days be observ'd God's Day is neglected Lying Swearing Drunkenness are made no Sins where non-observance of a Humane Ceremony is made a great one They think not you can make a thing sinful and then damnable if Men comply not that was not made so by God I ask Hath Bishop Davenant said less in his Book De fraterna Communione When the other Reformed Churches drove out the Pope they let him carry all his Garments with him but these did not No Coalition was ever attempted between them and Rome as between you and Rome Obj. Our Prayers prevent Confusion Think of it again Whose Prayers are confused yours or ours I remember in a place where I spent some considerable time came a Tooth-Drawer for so much Money promised one Man to give him ease that his Teeth should never pain him more He was as good as his word for he made every Tooth drop out of his Head Lock Men up in their Chambers it keep them from going out of their Houses and say It is the way to prevent Drunkenness in Taverns or Ale-Houses We are often but weakly told how the Jews changed the Passover Posture from walking to sitting But will you dare say it the Church hath Power to make void God's Law if to add to it That David a King made