Meaning against its Will The Purer Primitive Times were wisely concerned for the preserving the Truth that they decreed in the Sixth General Council that it should not be lawful to introduce 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 any unusual way of speaking 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 any new invented Terms upon great Penalties and a modest regard to this Canon had prevented a world of Miscief and all this Blunder and Confusion which 〈◊〉 arbitrary Terms have produced among 〈◊〉 § 6. I will shut up this Head of Discourse with this modest Proposal Let this Matter be thus worded That Christ in his suffering and dying was considered by God and placed himself in the place and stead of all the Elect so that he made Satisfaction to the Divine Iustice for all their Sins the Benefits and Advantages whereof every individual Person shall partake of in that Order and Method and upon those Terms which the Wise and Holy God has prescribed in the Gospel Which Proposition you and I and all sober Persons in the City and Country would readily subscribe and leave these Gentlemen who it seems are at leisure to invent new Controversies to their own imperious Humours II. The Reporter has miserably imposed upon you in Matter of Fact nor has he shewn that due Regard to Truth which he and all of us owe to so great a Soveraign A few Instances I will give you that you may be convinced how little Reason you have to take him or his Narrative upon their bare Words 1. One Specimen of his Honesty you shall meet with at the Entrance of his Paper and its ominous to stumble at the Threshold lest he should break the Neck of his whole Discourse And thus in a pompous Stile he breaks into the Business After sundry Attempts made by the industrious Pacificators an Instrument was pitcht upon which gave Satisfaction to the most Learned of both Parties This Paper was sent by Six or Seven of the biggest Name among them who do or at least have gone under the Denomination of Presbyterians unto some Congregational Brethren and gladly embraced by them Now Sir do you not judge that this Instrument which gave such Satisfaction to and was so gladly imbraced by the Congregational Men had redintegrated the violated Union had reclaimed them who had deserted their former Station that all Distances were wholly removed and Jealousies and Suspicions of Socinianism on the one side and Antinomianism on the other were cured and that a Coalition between the Two Parties had hereupon ensued that they were all now got together again at Little St. Hellens I assure you Sir not one Word of this was true and that you shall truly learn from these Particulars 1. Whereas he affirms This gave Satisfaction to the most Learned of each Party what does he then think of Mr. Tho. Cole and Mr. Nath. Mather are not these to be reckon'd in the Number of the most Learned of that Party These great Persons will hardly return him Thanks for expunging them the Catalogue unless they judge him no competent Judge of their Learning 2. Whereas he tells us that it gave Satisfaction to the most Learned of each Party it appears it gave no Satisfaction at all For they of the Congregational Interest never intended to receive such Satisfaction as to return to a Re-union and this was openly avowed by one of that Number who was not of the least Name nor made the smallest Figure amongst them That they never designed to enter into an Union with the Presbyterians and of this I can produce incontestible Proof this Rational Jealousy was the Reason why Mr. G. Hammond refused his Hand to that Paper yet declaring if the Reporter says true he would gladly have done it if it might be a mean to restore Union which he had just Grounds to believe it never would and therefore refused The Truth is it was known from first to last through the whole Transaction of that Affair that this Expedient would never Retrieve the Union only if they could get any Advantage by it to put a Slur upon Mr. D. Williams this they would gladly embrace and then let the Union shift for it self 3. But will you see with your own Eyes how these Gentlemen were satisfied and how gladly they embraced the first Paper Thus it was After all the Pains taken after much Attendance great Courting of and Waiting upon them they obtained this Little this Noâ—hing or Nothing to the Purpose of Re-union They are glad to find so good an Agreement amongst us as this Paper doth express No doubt a little is better than nothing and so much Agreement as this comes to is better than going to Logerheads But are there any Expressions that intimate they are satisfied upon the Terms of this Paper to unite do they express any embracing of Communion with one another 2. I come now to a Second Instance of the Reporters regard to Truth where you will easily observe how by a wretched Synecdoche he has given you a part for the whole of a just Narrative This is called the Politicks of the Pismire which nibbles off the Grain at both Ends that it may never grow but come to nothing Or rather this Report is framed according to the Law of a Good Heroick Poem which our Criticks tell us must always commence at the middle of the Story This is the Method of our Reporter who enters upon his Report about the Middle of his Matter and therefore expect a pure Poetical Fiction He begins with the Mention of Pacification I think he should have informed his Country Friend That there was once an Union that this Union was broken and then who they were that made the Breach and upon what Grounds and how the Breach was pieced up again and then how it was without any visible Reason broken again and then he might seasonably have enter'd upon the Story of his so celebrated Attempts for Pacification Now Sir to supply the Deficiency of his Story I 'll give you a full and faithful Account of the whole wherein I shall inform you of nothing but what you know already § 1. In the Year 1691. After many Meetings of Ministers of both Persuasions after frequent Applications to the Throne of Grace certain Heads of Agrement were drawn up and assented to by about Eighty Ministers in and about the City of London and by some others in a little time This Agreement was solemnly transacted and seriously concluded with this Protestation As we Assent to the forementioned Heads of Agreement so we Unanimously Resolve as the Lord shall enable us to Practise according to them Amongst those Heads assented to the Eighth contains the Test and Standard of Orthodoxy and speaks thus As to what appertains to Soundness of Iudgment in Matters of Faith we esteem it sufficient that a Church acknowledge the Scriptures to be the Word of God the Perfect and only Rule of Faith and Practice and own either the Doctrinal Part
Brethren who with him objected against Mr. Williams his Book subscribe 〈◊〉 this Agreement and these Doctrinal Propositions Samuel Annesly Daniel Williams Isaac Chauncy Matth. Barker Edw. Veal Iohn Iames. Stephen Lobb Iohn Howe Vinc. Alsop Geo. Hammond Rich. Mayo Sam. Slater Geo. Griffith Tho. Cole Nath. Mather Rob. Trayle Rich. Tayler Dec. 19. 1692. This expedient was brought to a Meeting of the United Ministers who unanimously expressed their Approbation But for the Preface to these Articles the Articles themselves and the Words of the Approbation I must to avoid tediousness refer you to the Printed Paper § 8. To proceed The Two Sticks are once moâ— made One and the broken Bone being set by a skill Hand we hope will be the stronger not because it wâ— luxated but because it was skilfully restored Thâ— Matters are happily compromised Union and Peace covered and the United Brethren chearfully pursue tâ— great ends of their Union A great Disappointment tâ— gave to the Devil who rejoiced in their Divisions Aâ— now Dear Sir what are your Thoughts Can the â— nemy any more sow his Tares in the Field amongst tâ— good Grain Will not the Brethren hereafter take moâ— care of taking and giving Offences Will they nâ— henceforth watch lest any Root of Bitterness shouâ— spring up and give 'em Trouble I will noe to you few things 1. Here was the result of what Understanding thâ— all had in drawing up these Articles and they thougâ— they had sufficiently fenced their Union against all Invâ—sions from Socinian Arminian and Antinomian Opâ—nions 2. All Objections then made against Mr. Williams hâ— Book are accounted â—or All antecedent Quarrels aâ— buried in the Grave of this Agreement Whatever Coâ—troversies might arise from any thing Mr. Williams haâ— then written are from the Day of the Date hereof fâ—ever shut out of Doors 3. Therefore any new started Debates about Changâ— of Persons or Christ's taking upon him the Person of Sinners are void and of none Effect if Mr. Williams shalâ— hereafter write or preach any thing in Derogation of the subscribed Articles it will oblige him to make satisfaction but for his Book that has received its com-purâ—gation As the Law will not permit Suits to be immortal the Gospel forbids Controversies to be eternal 'T is only the Savage Creature the Hyaena that loves to dig up dead Bodies out of their Graves and none ought to be ambitious of the Woman of Endor's Excellency that she would not let Samuel sleep quietly among the â—ad 9. Notwithstanding the late Re-union the United Brethren soon found there was some Dissatisfaction in 〈◊〉 Breasts of the Reconciled Brethren who gradually â—drew from their Assemblies and common Meetings â— not only so but set up another opposite Meeting â— Neighbouring Place at the very Hour and on the â—e Day that the United Brethren assembled at Dr. Anâ—ey's Some few of them would now and then drop when they had occasion to serve themselves of the â—ion and commonly there was One or Two to spy 〈◊〉 their Liberty whether meerly from their own Inâ—ations or Ordered to that unworthy Imployment their Principals and if they could pick up any thing â—y conceived might be grateful at Pinners-Hall they â—uld not fail to give Advice of it while the poor incent Presbyterians were seriously consulting the Hoâ—â—ur of their Lord and promoting the Interest of Reliâ—â—â—n without respect to Party or Faction Nevertheless the Brethren went on in the way of their â—ty and though they had but slender hopes of retrieâ—g their Brethren to Reason were willing to call them â—pes still rather than to sit down and sink in utter â—espair And therefore not standing on Points of Hoâ—â—ur as if they who first departed without cause should â—st seek to return they were willing rather to imitate â—eir gracious God who first invites the Sinners to Reâ—nt and Turn though the Sons of Adam were first in â—e Revolt They thought it more Glorious to yield in â—der to Peace than to be stiff though in a just War â—here being therefore a Brother yet left of the other â—umber who had not quite fallen off one that had â— excellent Talent in dressing up Creeds and Articles â— was imployed or imployed himself to bring in rude â—raughts of new Articles and they were rude â—â—deed In May 1695. Another Attempt was made for Peaceâ— If peradventure they might recover the Dissenting Breâ—thren into the Bosom of the Union and Articles weâ— framed of different Natures by some of which they eâ—â—deavoured to clear themselves of the least Suspicion 〈◊〉 Arminianism by the others they were desirous the Diâ—senters should purge themselves of all Suspicion of inclâ—â—ning to the Antinomians The Paper then sent to the other Party was as foâ—â—lows WE the United Ministers in and about London coâ—sidering of a way to preserve the Union and preveâ— any mistakes and remove any Prejudices that may arise amoâ—â— us to interrupt the said Union Do declare that we do stâ—â— adhere to the Terms thereof and do still submit our selves 〈◊〉 the Holy Scriptures as the perfect and only Rule of Faith 〈◊〉 Practise And do own the Doctrinal Part of those commoâ— called the Articles of the Church of England or the Confâ—â—sion shorter and larger Catechisms compiled by the Assemâ—â— at Westminster or the Savoy Confession and do Renouâ—â— and Testify against all Opinions and Doctrines dissonant theâ— from As for Instance amongst many others 1. That there is no definite Number of Persons elected frâ— all Eternity whom God will by his appointed Means certaâ—â—ly Save and bring to eternal Life Leaving the rest 〈◊〉 fall under a just Condemnation for their Original and Actâ— Sins especially for their Neglect and Contempt of the Meâ— of Salvation 2. That Christ dyed equally for all Men not intending 〈◊〉 final Salvation of some more than others 3. That Men have it in their own Power by the use of thâ— Natural Faculties of Reason and Will unassisted by the espeâ—â—al Light and Grace of the Holy Ghost to perform all that necessary to Salvation or that his special efficacious Ligâ— and Grace is not necessary to their Conversion Perseveranâ— and final Salvation 4. That any of them whom God hath foreknown predestiâ—ated called effectually according to the purpose of his Grace â—all fall away either totally or so as not to be finally saved 5. That Faith Repentance a Holy Conversation or any Act or Work done by us or wrought by the Spirit of God in â—s are any part of the Righteousness for the sake of which 〈◊〉 on the account whereof God doth justify any Man or intitle â—im to Eternal Life § 10. The United Brethren when they had thus giâ—en their Jealous Brethren this over-abundant Satisfactiâ—n of their Innocence as to any Tincture of Arminianism â—y their subscribing Articles turn'd into all possible â—hapes and Forms did think it Reasonable that the Disâ—enting Brethren should a little answer their Expectation â—lso by a more express Renouncing some
of those commonly called the Articles of the Church of England or the Confession or Catechisms shorter or larger compiled by the Assembly at Westminster or the Confession agreed on at the Savoy to be agreeable to the said Rule This Agreement was the Honour and Strength of the Dissenters and in the Practice of which they made the greatest Figure in the Eyes of all wise Men They became the Rejoycing of their Friends the Envy of their Enemies to whom they had formerly been a Scorn In the Practice of this Union they walked together â—eaceably holding Communion in Prayer Preaching â—he Word and Sacraments mutually strengthning the Hands of each other consulting counselling and adviâ—ng and assisting one another and one of the great â—lessings of this Union was that they contributed to the Relief of their poorer Brethren in the Country supporting and encouraging them in the Work of the Lord. § 2. But a little before this 1690 a new Impression of Dr. Crisp's Works with an Addition of some Sermons came into the World which was judged by some to contain divers strange Doctrines ether evidently Erroneous or of dubious Construction creating a suspicion in some tender Minds lest some Doctrines were openly vouched or secretly couched in them which might disturb the Harmony of the Confession they had signed and without great Care and Caution might weaken if not dissolve the Union § 3. This awaken'd some of the more Zealous among the United Brethren to consider of some proper Expedient to obviate the growth of those Errors Amongst and before the rest Mr. Williams a Brother of the Union composed a Book stiled Gospel Truth Stated and Vindicated wherein some of Dr. Crisp ' s Errors are considered c. A Book to say no more ingeniously Penned exactly Methodized the Truths and Errors fairly Stated and for ought I can see piously designed To this Book upon its first Edition several Ministers gave their Judgment thus far That he had in all that was material fully and rightly stated the Truths and Errors c. and in 〈◊〉 second Edition many more gave their Iudgment of it in thâ— same Words § 4. But now Sir as if Aeolus had opened all the Treasures of his blustring Winds or a Flood-Gate had been drawn up to let in the Sea upon us such a Storm of Passion such Indignation against the Author and his Book broke out as had almost overset the United Brethren with their Union if Providence had not timously interposed by a powerful Word Peace be Still For upon the 17th of October 1692. a Paper waâ— brought in to the Brethren at Dr. Annesly's Meetingâ— House importing a heavy and high Charge against thâ— â—uthor and his Work subscribed by Six Brethren Isâ—ancy Geo. Griffith Tho. Cole Nath. Mather Rich. Tayâ— Rob. Trayle Accusing him amongst other things fall in with the Antinomians under Colour of opposing â—em for setting up a way of Justification by Evangeliâ— Works That he denies the Covenant of Grace toâ— made with Christ with some others and a Reserve more Objections and Articles of Impeachment to â— alledged in due time Now Sir Whilst its fresh upon my Memory let â—e beg your Patience while I make and your Pardon â—at I do make some short Observations upon this â—aper 1. I will observe to you that among the many and â—ievous Crimes laid to his Charge they never objected â—at he denied a Change of Persons between Christ and us 〈◊〉 that he denied Christ's taking upon him the Person of Sinâ—ers and yet now all the Quarrel centers in this one â—ing that which I note it for is that you may employ our piercing Head in considering what should be the â—eason that all the Weight all the Stress is â—aid upon this 2. Observe further That the Phrase of Change of Perâ—ns between Christ and us and his taking upon him the â—erson of Sinners are Terms wholly unknown to those â—onfessions and Articles which were made the Test of â—oundness in the Faith by the united Ministers Nay â— you have the Leisure search the whole Body of Conâ—essions of the Reformed Churches from Helvetia to Tranâ—ylvania thence to America and you shall not find these Terms Phrases or Expressions in any one of them 3. Hence you will infer that Mr. Williams cannot upâ—n that Account be judged erroneous by any of the Reformed Churches seeing he has not as it does not appear that he has contravened any of their Doctrinal Articles nor can he or ought he to be censured by the â—ody of the United Ministers because he never subscribed to these Expressions inasmuch as they 're not to be found in any of those Articles which made the Standaâ—â— of Soundness in the Faith 4. And let me observe this further that amongst 〈◊〉 Six Persons that gave in the Charge against Mr. William one Moiety of them never entred into the Union aâ—â— it 's strange upon what Principles they should charâ—â— Mr. Williams as breaking that Union when they theâ—selves had never enter'd into it After this short but necessary Digression I will noâ— re-assume my Narrative § 5. Matters standing in this dubious Posture and vâ—sibly inclining to a scandalous Rupture some Brethreâ— of a cooler Temper and there were always such amoâ— the differing Parties moved that an equal Number 〈◊〉 the Brethren and of each side might be chosen to aâ—vise and consider if any healing Expedient might 〈◊〉 found out to beget a right Understanding between thâ— litigant Parties It was done the Ministers conveneâ— and after many servent Prayers for the Spirit of Ligâ—â— and Love the Result was this That Nine Articlâ— were drawn up and subscribed by the chosen Brethreâ— by Mr. Williams and Mr. Chauncy and when brought 〈◊〉 the Body of the united Brethren it received their Approbation § 6. Amongst the Nine Articles then agreed on 〈◊〉 shall only mention part of the Third and the Fiftâ— Articles because these relate to our present Controversies 3. Article Of Christ the Mediator The Lord Iesus Christ by his perfect obedience and Sacrifice of himself which he through the Eternal Spirit once offeâ—ed up to God hath fully satisfied the Iustice of his Father 5. Article Of Iustification c. Those whom God effectually calleth he also freely justifieth 〈◊〉 by infusing Righteousness into them but by pardoning their â—â—ns and by accounting and accepting their Persons as â—ighteous not for any thing wrought in them but for â—â—rist's Sake alone nor by his imputing Faith it self the Act of â—elieving or any other Evangelical Obedience to them as â—â—eir Righteousness but by imputing the Obedience and Satisâ—â—ction of Christ unto them they receiving and resting on him â—nd his Righteousness by Faith which Faith they have not of â—â—emselves it is the Gift of God § 7. These things thus setled they proceed to a forâ—al and solemn Agreement 16 Decemb. 1692. This day the Brethren who endeaâ—oured to accommodate the Controversy did with Mr. Wilâ—iams Mr. Chauncy and the other Five
sortiri Here is Learning enougâ— in all Conscience the Mischief is 't is but a scrap boâ—rowed out of Calvin's Lexicon Iuridicum and will neveâ— do the Business of him that quotes it for that Term 〈◊〉 Surrogate he might have fetcht it nearer hand from Dâ—ctors Commons and for his suffectus in locum alterius yoâ— have it interpreted Consul suffectus est qui pro alio substtuitur sic enim appellabatur qui in demortui Consulis locuâ— sufficiebatur Ab ordinari is autem consulibus non autem suffâ—ctis Anni computabantur id circo minor eos honor mâ—nor Laus sequebatur Now what is their parallel betweeâ— this Suffectâ—s Consul and our blessed Lord Jesus as surrgated and placed in the room of Sinners This Substitute not in Being till the former be dead This Substituâ—â— was of less Honour than the Former nothing was reâ—koned in his Name but in the others and thereforâ— though he might Sortiri Officium yet not Naturam 〈◊〉 supplied the Office but acted not in his Person he wâ—â— substituted in locum alterius non in Personam alterius I have observed all along and shall now once for alâ— give you my Observation That this Reporter begaâ— at first to hint a Change In a while he smoothly slidâ— into a Change of Persons between Christ and us Then insensibly he steals into Christ's taking upon him the Person of Sinners And at last he silently comes to Christ's dying in the Person of Sinners And I note it for no greater end but that I may requite his Civility with a little Thred of the Civil Law as I find it Tit. digestorum de verb. signif No. 177. Natura Cavillationis haec est ut ab eviâ—denter veris per brevissimas mutationes disputatio ad ea quae videnter falsa sunt prâ—ducatur This is the Nature of Cavilling when from some things evidently true the Disputation is lead by short Changes to those as evidently false Sir It 's time high time that I ease you and my self of this trouble and I will effectually discharge you when I have left with you a few Queries which you may consider at your Leasure § 1. Do you understand the true Reason why these Gentlemen in the City will not be persuaded to settle the true Notion of Christ's taking on him the Person of Sinners dying in the Person of Sinners For I find that the true Reason why some do not subscribe it is because they do not understand it and yet on the other side there are some who say they understand it too well to subscribe it there are yet some who affirm that the Words have only this honest plain Meaning that Christ suffered and died in the place and stead of Sinners to make Satisfaction to Divine Justice for them and for their Obligations to his violated Law but then should they declare as much all the Design would be defeated and utterly blown up for then Mr. Williams would certainly subscribe it § 2. Pray Sir inform me Quo Warranto By what Right do these Gentlemen impose such hard Terms of Union and Communion Why must all the World be Hereticated that dare not subscribe to these Apocryphal Phrases which neither Scripture nor Ancient Fathers nor General nor Particular Councils nor Synods nor Assemblies nor Nation reformed nor single Churches ever brought into their Creeds Confessions or Articles of Faith to be the Standard or Test of Orthodoxy or the Terms of Communion And I am the more earnest in this Query because the Dissenters formerly have complained heavily That some things were imposed on them as necessary to Communion which were nâ— ways necessary to Salvation § 3. And I would be satisfied how it comes to pass that if these Terms insisted on be necessary to support the Doctrines of Satisfaction and Iustification they themselves never once mentioned or moved or insisted on them that they might be inserted into the Heads of Agreement upon which they united in 1691. nor into those Articles debated agitated at Great Pinners-Hall and afterwards agreed to at Little St. Hellens where yet the highest hottest and greatest Names of the Contenderâ— did subscribe to the Articles of the Person of the Mediator and of Iustification when yet not a Word or Syllable oâ— Christ's taking on him the Person of Sinners dying in thâ— Person of Sinners c. was once spoke of and therefore conclude were never then thought of 1692. § 4. I wish you could inform me whether they have received any new Revelations or made any new Discoveries of these great Secrets and the indispensible necessity of these new Notions Whether they are become 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Adepts in the Rosacrucian Mysteries 〈◊〉 have found out the Philosopher's Stone to turn all Antinomianism into pure Gold or whether the true Reason of all this Pother be not that they are resolved to beat their Brains till they have found out some terrible Term that shall check Mr. Williams his Faith and gravel his Conscience that so he may be discarded for Non-subscriber Though I am pretty confident if 〈◊〉 understand him he 's both wiser than to be bubled and made a Cully and honester than to be hectored out of his Understanding § 5. I would propound it as a Moot Point whether â—e Socinians who have blasphemously degarded the â—erson of Christ into a God by Office though a meer Man by Nature or the Antinomians who own him a God by Nature yet affirm him to have been a Sinner â—he greatest of Sinners nay sinfulness it self do more â—erogate from the Honour of our Redeemer he that â—enies me to be a Man does less reproach me than he â—at affirms me to be the greatest Villain And it might â—rther be queried whether it was not the absurdest â—ing in the Heathens to confess that their Gods were â—oly Dan. 4. 8. the Spirit of the Holy Gods and yet to â—ll such Stories of their Rapes Adulteries and Thefts â—at bear the greatest contrariety to Holiness § 6. Whether therefore it be not equally a Duty to â—oviate the Deâ—estable Doctrines of the one as well as â—e other If this be a Day as the Reporter p. 4. assures 〈◊〉 it is wherein Socinianism is Rampant it 's a Day too â—herein Antinominism is no less Triumphant And thereâ—â—re the United Brethren like wise men have provied against both whereas some like Foolish Mariners â—ontent themselves to stop one leak in the Ship though will as certainly be sunk by the other If therefore â—word was so wise as to set a Hedge a Bar a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 about 〈◊〉 Doctrine of Christ's Satisfaction why should not Pruâ—ence advise to set a Hedge about the others And First would have a Hedge a Thorn Hedge set about the â—octrine of God's Holiness that he be not made the â—uthor of Sin as some Mens Principles inevitably do â—nd I would have a Bar a Barriere stronger than that Flanders against the French set about