the Soul and antecedent to this Divine supernatural Power which is no other than Arminianism And to allow it one minute before Christ's uniting himself to the Soul is all one as to allow it him from his Cradle or all three together 12. A Man may simply without Self-design or Self-Interest aim at the Glory of God and yet be an Hypocrite still Answ This is attested by judicious or rather malicious N. A. All the occasion that he had for his false Testimony was that there was something spoke to this purpose That some may possibly perform some obedience to the Law not to get worldly advantage thereby or to gain the applause of Men but because God commands it yet seeking to be justified thereby it is not right but hypocritical because it is not done in Faith in the manner that the Lord requireth it and because it is seeking to be justified by the works of the Law The Apostle testifies for his Countrymen That they had a zeal for God viz. in obeying his Law but notwithstanding it was not according to knowledge because thereby they went about to establish their own righteousness and did not submit themselves unto the righteousness of God Rom. 10. 23. 13. The Law giveth 1. A little sight of Sin 2. A killing sight of Sin 3. An impious sight of Sin Answ Here also is a little mistake in the Information for it was not said an impious but an impure sight of Sin Thus I explained these three Heads 1. The Law abstractedly consider'd gives to the Sinner in a state of Nature in meer legal Convictions a short sight of Sin Reason Because they never seek out under the greatest conviction of Sin for any Righteousness better than their own to be justified by whereas if the Law abstractedly consider'd did give to a Sinner in a state of Nature a thorow-sight of Sin he would never so often as he doth lean upon a Justification by his own works nor pacify the rage of his Conscience with his own doings This the Law of God tho' perfect in itself cannot do to a Man in an unregenerate state in that it is weak through the flesh therefore God sent his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for Sin condemned Sin in the flesh Rom. 8. 3. 2 dly It is but a killing sight of Sin Reason This is plain from Scripture for to this the Apostle witnesseth when he says expresly the Letter killeth but the Spirit giveth life 2 Cor. 3. 6. which killing Letter he calls ver 7. The ministration of death ver 9. The ministration of Righteousness to which may be added as further proof Rom. 7. 9. 3 dly The Law in meer legal Convictions gives an impure sight of Sin First Reason The state is impure therefore all things in that state are impure too For Illustration thereof I may at least safely allude to those passages Haggai 2. 11 12 13 14. but more plainly proved from that as well as other places of Scripture Tit. 1. 15. Vnto the pure all things are pure but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure but even their mind and conscience is defiled Second Reason A Conviction of Sin in a state of Nature hath a tendency to irritate Sin the more proved from Rom. 7. 5. For when we were in the flesh i. e. in a natural state the motions of Sin or the passions or ferment of Sin which were by the Law viz. convincing or restraining did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death Whence it is evident 1. That the Law in a state of Nature by its Convictions doth ferment and irritate Sin 2. That Sin thus irritated doth work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death To which agreeth what is experimentally recorded ver 7 8. says the Apostle there For I had not known Lust except the Law had said Thou shalt not covet But did this Conviction diminish or extinguish his Concupiscence No but rather encreased it for it instantly follows ver 8. But Sin taking occasion by the Commandment wrought in me all manner of Concupiscence Yet it is true the Law by God's Ordination oftentimes restrains the outward Acts of Sin even then when Sin defiles the Conscience most with monstrous Unbelief and a violent establishment of a Man 's own Righteousness Now considering all this it is undeniably plain to me that the Law abstractedly consider'd in meer legal Convictions giveth to the Sinner an impure sight of Sin whether we consider the impurity of that state that defileth all things or the effects of such Convictions WE whose Names are under-written being constant Hearers of Mr. Davis in and about Kimbolton do testify and affirm That his Accusers have dealt injuriously with him in wresting his Words and perverting his Sentences that his Account is according to Truth and that the tenor of his Preaching amongst us has been to advance the Free-grace of God in Christ and to promote Gospel-holiness upon Evangelical Principles Witness our Hands Edward Marlin Stephen Richards William Custance John Conquest Samuel Gurrey Thomas Woodham Robert Elum John Wollaston George Hull These are said to be preached at Wellemborough 14. Such as preach up Qualifications are legal Preachers keep People in Bondage and are Enemies to their comfort Answ There has been and is too much preaching of such and such legal Qualifications not only antecedent to but abstracted from Faith Nay Faith itself is made no more of by them than a work of the Law and as for such I continue to maintain they are legal Preachers 15. People must beware of three sorts of Preachers Babylonish Graceless and such as mix the Law with the Gospel Answ Suppose it true I do not see how it can be charged as a Crime nor how can any understand my thoughts so as to know whom I mean But if Mr. King takes it to himself I shall heartily consent thereunto 16. Saints under the Old Testament had no spiritual life but in doing Answ This I asserted viz. That Saints since the giving forth of the Law at Mount Sinai had most of their spiritual life from their obedience thereunto And now I shall give my Reasons for my Assertion 1. Tho' I grant that all before the coming of Christ that were saved were saved the same way that the Saints now are viz. by the blood of Christ the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world yet whether they knew that way of salvation as well as Saints now is to me a Question especially when I weigh these Scriptures 1 Pet. 10. 11 12. Ephes 3. 8 9 10 11. 1 Cor. 2. 9 10. From which Scriptures with divers others well consider'd 't is evident to me there is a far greater discovery made now to the Saints in Gospel-days than to them before 2 dly I query whether they had not much of their Peace of Conscience from their Obedience and Sacrifices And this to me is undeniably proved from
was informed it was resolved upon by those Gentlemen upon their entering into the Union not to quit an hairs breadth of their Principles and Practices but only they consented Articles should be drawn in such a lax and loose Phrase that both Parties might fix their particular Sence upon it and shroud their different Sentiments under the universality of expressions If this Information be true it was just such an abominable piece of Jesuitical Equivocation as must needs highly provoke the displeasure of the Almighty and render them odious to Men If they thought thereby only to amuse a certain Generation of Men that have out-done them for many Years past in Politicks their Prudence hath been strangely overseen For they might easily perceive those quick-sighted Politicians could quickly see through their Fig-leaf-coverings and that their Nakedness would but the more appear to them If the Stratagems of Generals and the private Intreagues of States-men do but once take wind it tends rather to their Overthrow than Victory and Establishment 6. And lastly I dreaded the design of this Union on the part of many lest it should not be only a means framed for to jump into Benefices and consequently into Power over their Brethren when a favourable juncture of time should pave them the way but also a device of Satan to stop all the dawnings of new Light about Faith and Order For it is well known we are not arrived to perfection therein Nor shall not till the latter day glory is consummated And it is also as undeniably evident that that glory must come in by degrees and perhaps the first steps thereof must be advanced among a few despicable People And it hath always been observed the first dawnings thereof have been opposed by the majority of them that made a profession The grain of Mustard seed in its first growth in Christs and the Apostles days was attempted to be quasht by the learned Sanhedrim The Learning Power and Policy of the Church of Rome were engaged against poor Luther and the first Reformers The united parts wisdom and learning of the National Church were engaged to oppose Puritanism in its first rise And since the Learning Abilities Power Interest Reputation Holiness and Profession of the Puritan and Presbyterian Party have been employed to crush the Congregational Order in its first appearance From whence I observe 1. That the dawning of every step of Reformation began first among a few 2. That those few have been generally the most despicable that the power and wisdom of God might therein appear the more 3. That those few in their Testimony of Jesus were opposed by the majority of the same Profession And were always forced to swim against wind and tide of united numbers and confederacies armed with fleshly Powel Wisdom Policy Reputation and a Popular Vogue Read and weigh well the 2 d Psalm to this purpose It was the consideration of these things aw'd me with the most dreadful fears and jealousies especially being not a stranger to the complection of times of professors and of the greatest number of the united brethren lest this union should prove a great mountain in the way of our Zerubbabel attempting to overwhelm the day of small things and I had grounds enough for my fears For I observed Professors lavishing their spirits forth into carnal joys and security and proposing to themselves great and carnal advantages I observed that the Leaders of the People were like the Sons of Zebedee for the right and left hand in the kingdom in a carnal sense They could not conceal the pleasant prospect they had of rich benefices and mastery as if the Kingdom of God and Glory of Christ consisted only in Meats Drinks and outward Accommodations The ultimate designs of some must be by a Grandee in a jovial laxness of Spirit discovered who when he thought himself perhaps sure of his company dropt their grand arcanum in words to this effect That tho they gave the Independents good words now yet when time served they must truckle under So that having considered these things it is not much to be wondered at if I was so shy to comply with the Union For which piece of stubbornness I was made a public example the other day at Kerterin I do not hereby in the least reflect upon my honoured brethren that coalesced with them in this union Probably their Charity were more extensive than mine in judging others were in earnest and I confess it is safest erring on Charity 's hand Or probably they might think that by frequent friendly debates with them about subject matters relating to the order of Gods house that might arise pro re nath an occasion would be given of affording them further light which charitable intention of theirs I should have the rather approved of had this been done without the formality of Articles and a certain airy pomp that attended that transaction But to the matter in hand Has not time proved it a tympanous affair Have they reformed one hair's breadth in their discipline admissions watch care admonitions and censures or in their understanding and preaching the truth as it is in Jesus Have not they rather gone ten degrees backward and some others many steps back with them But to add no more These are my reasons why I dissented from the Union I thought I saw disorders in the foundation thereof and feared the continued progress thereof would under the wings of a favourable juncture lick itself into the ensnaring form of a Lordly Classis This made me cautious to advise with them in any matter lest that should be improved to further such designs Yet notwithstanding all this I shall give the Reader some account how I came to have any thing to do with them I understood that they had received divers reports concerning me and there were some of them I had a deep respect for and I was willing they should be disabused and all of them delivered from this great sin of sinful credulity if possible Being also over-perswaded by the importunity of some Friends that I dearly loved I went the last Spring was twelve month to visit them at their meetings and there waited from 3 till past 4 under great indisposition of body resolving to defend whatever they should object against our Faith and practice according to my light therefore I acquainted a grave Elder with mine intention desiring him to propose it to them if he thought good But he judging it not seasonable and they being employed about other business there was nothing done at that time I cannot but remark by the way how it was reported by some of them I did not tarry there six minutes tho I continued amongst them from three till almost five I went to the Country and heard not from them till many months afterwards And then I received a Letter inquiring of me whether several things specified therein as to saith and practice were true or no. In my answer
of Christ will do When he is convinced of the Suitableness and absolute Necessity of this Righteousness to him and that nothing short of an Interest in it will satisfie his Conscience Also When he is convinced of his great Evil in leaning so long on his own Righteousness and the proneness of his Heart to do so still And Lastly When he is convinced of an evil Heart of Unbelief The Spirit convinceth of no Sin but Vnbelief Sure Mr. Jerry was under a great Mistake For it was this I inferred from John 16. 7 8 9 10. 11. That the first Sin the Spirit savingly convinceth a Man of is his own evil Heart of Unbelief and his Evil in trusting to his own Righteousness But see how strangely it is wrested What will not Envy and Prejudice put a Man upon For any to look to their Sanctification was an hindrance to their closing with Christ 'T is true in a good sence they have no Holiness afore they close with Christ and what should they look for that to bring with them they cannot possibly have afore they come ANIMADVERSIONS The Reader may easily perceive that the tendency of all these Charges under this general Head is to support Two Principles I. That there must be antecedent Works as Conditions of Justification Or at least II. There must be antecedent Works to fit and prepare us for Christ The First Principle I cannot fall in with for these ensuing Reasons Reas 1. God Justifies us freely as well as he Chose us freely and Christ died for us freely God chose the Elect and Christ died for them without any regard had to foreseen Conditions Rom. 9. 11. with 13. 15. Rom. 5. 6 8. So he also Justifies Rom. 9. 16. So Rom. 3. 24. Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus Reas 2. The Word of the Lord says That God Justifies the Elect not as Saints nor as reformed Sinners but as ungodly Sinners Rom. 4. 5. But believeth on him that justifies the ungodly Therefore he does not Justifie upon precedent Conditions Reas 3. To make the Works of the Law to be the Conditions of our Justification is to seek to be Justified by the Deeds of the Law I which the Word of the Lord expressly condemns Rom. 3. 20 28. Gal. 2. 11. 3. 11. Reas 4. If the Sinner may be allowed to have the Works of the Law as Conditions of his Justification then he has ground of boasting in himself But the Law of Faith that receives Justification freely as a free Gift Rom. 5. 16. excludes all manner of boasting from the Creature Rom. 3. 27. Where is Boasting then It is excluded By what Law Of Works Nay but by the Law of Faith Reas 5. The perfect Law or Promise of an infinitely Holy Righteous God must needs require Perfect Conditions Therefore Imperfect Obedience cannot be the Conditions of Justification Reas 6. Whatsoever is not of Faith is Sin and all Works done before Faith put on the Nature of Sin and that that is sinful cannot be the Conditions of Justification Reas 7. They that are performing Conditions in a State of Nature are under a Curse Gal. 3. 10. For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse And how can that that is under a Curse be the Cndition of Justification Reas 8. This Doctrine of Antecedent Conditions of Justification as it is contrary to the Word of God so it is contrary to the Doctrine of the first Protestant Reformers and also expressly contrary to the Tenth Eleventh Twelfth and Thirteenth Articles of the Church of England which most of the Dissenting Ministers in the Kingdom have subscrib'd to Neither can I be for the Second Principle Viz. That there must be antecedent Qualifications at least to fit us and prepare us for Christ Before I give my Reasons I shall first tell what the Question is not And then what it is 1. The Question is not Whether an Elect Soul may not often be under the Convictions of the Law before Grace cometh For that we all agree in 2. Or Whether God doth most commonly lay hold of a Sinner by his Grace when he is under strong Convictions of Sin by the Law For this I readily assent to 3. Or Whether since Actual Justification as it is an Act of God terminated in the Conscience is an Actual Discharge there for the sake of Imputed Righteousness that it is necessary there be the same moment an Actual Conviction or Arraignment by the Law in the Conscience which is called a Sight of Sin to make the Soul see its need of the Righteousness of the Lord Jesus But the Question is Whether legal Convictions do prepare and fit the Soul to receive Christ i. e. By enabling the Soul the more or making the Soul the more willing to receive Grace antecedent to the State of Grace And this I do deny All the aforesaid Arguments against Conditions of Justification are edg'd against such antecedent Qualifications also However I shall add a few more Arguments Arg. 1. The Word of the Lord says That God walks by the same rule in Calling as he did in Election and the Eternal Compact 2 Tim. 1. 9. Who hath saved us and called us with an holy calling not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began Whence it is convincingly evident That as he hath chosen the Elect and promised them all Grace in Christ their Common-Head before the Foundation of the World without any regard had to their fore-seen Qualifications not according to their Works So he also saveth them with an holy Calling in time without the least regard had to their then previous Works For it is not of him that willeth nor of him that runneth but of God that sheweth mercy Rom. 9. 16. See further Eph. 2. 8. Arg. 2. The Spirit is as free in Application as the Father in Election and the Son in the Work of Redemption and therefore the Spirit in Conversion regards not antecedent Qualifications Arg. 3. 'T is in Christ Jesus we are God's Workmanship created to good works Eph. 2. 10. Therefore there is no power for Good Works antecedent to our actual Union with Christ Arg. 4. The first Work of God Souls are put upon is Believing Joh. 6. 28 29. And we are pressed in Scripture to other good Works after Believing Tit. 3. 8. Therefore there can be no previous Qualifications preparatory of Faith Arg. 5. Faith it self is receiving a free Gift as freely given Rom. 4. 16. Eph. 2. 8. Therefore ex Naturâ rei excludes all manner of such antecedent Qualifications Arg. 6. The Promise was by Faith that it might be sure to all the Seed Rom. 4. 16. Even to the Gentile Seed who had no manner of Qualifications to bring For the Scripture saith expressly they had not so much Qualifications as to follow after righteousness
dependeth wholly upon our Obedience as the condition to which it is promised and therefore it puts us into a condition or State of Life Imperfect and subject to Change as Obedience it self is that we are not perfectly justified till Obedience be perfected 7. That by their Obedience Believers serve God and are fitted for Heaven and their Afflictions are Paternal Corrections to quicken them and to purge them but not inflicted as effects of the Curse 7. That Believers by their Obedience obtain continue and perfect their Right to Heaven and that their Afflictions are Fruits of the Curse of the Law Christ having purchased only that it should not Damn us but left it to the Father to Punish us for Sins in this Life as he shall think fit 8. We are made partakers of Christ's Righteousness and the Benefits thereof by Faith and that Faith is a trusting in the Promise of Life for the sake of Christ's Righteousness 8. That Faith in its whole Latitude is believing and obeying the Gospel that by this we are made partakers of the Benefits of Christ he having only purchased this Grant or Law that they which Obey him shall be Saved not that his Obedience should Save them 9. That Justification is the acceptance of a Sinner with God as Righteous through the Righteousness of Christ imputed to him whereby he hath a full right to Eternal Life 9. Justification is nothing else but the Pardon of Sin i. e. the not exacting the punishment of Sin due by the Law of Works and an acceptance of Man so far and so long as he performeth the Conditions of sincere Obedience These I unfeignedly Assent and Consent to These I Declare and protest against Rich. Davis Richard Davis BEhold the present controversie rightly Stated and tho many of the present Adversaries seem to approve of the Old Protestant Scheme and to be shie of the other yet let their Principles Doctrins and Expressions be persued close and you will catch them in the Neonomian Scheme and many of those they call Anti-Nomian flow genuinely from the Old Protestant Scheme I shall add no more but heartily Pray that the Spirit of Truth would guide us into all Truth as it is in Jesus Amen And that the World may know what my Judgment is in Matters of Faith I do heartily declare my Assent unto and Approbation of these following Articles I. Of the Scripture THE Holy Scripture of the Old and New Testament are the Word of God and the only Rule of Faith and Life II. Of God There is but one only the living and true God who is a Spirit Infinite Eternal and unchangeable in his Being Wisdom Power Holiness Goodness and Truth There are three Persons in the God-head the Father eternally begetting the Son eternally begotten of the Father and the Holy Ghost eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son the same in Essence equal in all the incommunicable and communicable Attributes of the Divine Nature III. Of God's Decree The Decrees of God are his Eternal Purpose according to the Council of his Will whereby for his own Glory he hath fore-ordain'd whatsoever comes to pass which Decrees he executes in the Works of Creation and Providence IV. Of Creation The work of Creation is God's making all things of nothing by the word of his Power in the space of six Days and all very good and after other Creatures he Created Man Male and Female after his own Image in Knowledge Righteousness Holiness with Dominion over the Creatures V. Of Providence God's Works of Providence are his most Holy Wise and Powerful Preserving and Governing all his Creatures and all their Actions VI. The Covenant of Works When God Created Man he entred into a Covenant of Life with him as the common Head and Representative of all Mankind upon condition of perfect Obedience forbidding him to Eat of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil upon pain of Death which Covenant our first Parents being left to the freedom of their own Will broke and so fell from the Estate wherein they were Created by sinning against God and all Mankind descending from Adam by ordinary Generation sinn edwith him and Fell with him in his first Transgression VII Of Sin by the Fall The Sinfulness of every Man descending from Adam by an ordinary Generation consists in the Guilt of Adam's first Sin the want of Original Righteousness and the Corruption of his whole Nature which is commonly call'd Original Sin together with all Actual Sins whereby he is opposite to all Good and bent to all Evil and liable to God's Wrath the Curse of the Law Death and all Miseries Spiritual Temporal and Eternal The remainders of this Original sinful Nature acts even in the Saints when their State is changed through Grace VIII Of Christ Christ Jesus the Eternal Son of God became Man being conceived in the Womb of the Virgin Mary by the Holy-Ghost and thereby taking our Nature upon him continueth to be God and Man in two distinct Natures and one Person for ever IX Our Lord Jesus Christ both in his humbled and exalted state executeth the Office of a Prophet of a Priest and of a King to his Church X. Of the Prophetical Office of Christ Christ executes the Office of a Prophet in the times both of the Old and New Testament in revealing by his Word and Spirit the whole Mind and Will of God for Man's Salvation XI Of the Priesthood of Christ Christ executeth the Office of a Priest in once offering up himself a Sacrifice without Spot to God to be a Reconciliation for the Sins of all them that shall be Saved and in making continual Intercession for them at the Right Hand of the Majesty on High XII Of the Kingly Office of Christ Christ as our Redeemer executeth the Office of a King in calling out of the World a People to himself in Ruling and Defending them and in restraining and conquering all his and their Enemies XIII Of the Covenant of Grace The Covenant of Grace was made with Christ as the second Adam and in him with all the Elect as his Seed and was made manifest by freely providing and offering to Sinners a Mediator and Life and Salvation through him XIV Of Iustification Those whom God effectually Calleth he also freely Justifieth not by infusing Righteousness into them but by pardoning their Sins and by accounting and accepting their Persons as Righteous not for any thing wrought in them or done by them but for Christ's sake alone not by imputing Faith it self nor any other Evangelical Obedience unto them as their Righteousness but by imputing the Obedience and Satisfaction of Christ unto them They receiving and resting on him and his Righteousness by Faith which Faith they have not of themselves it is the Gift of God And this Faith is not a dead Faith but worketh by Love and is accompanied with all other saving Graces XV. Of Faith Faith in the General is a giving credit
to the whole revealed Mind and Will of God in his Word and upon his own Authority but as it is a saving Grace it is a work of the Spirit whereby a Sinner doth see and behold Christ in all his Excellencies and is persuaded and enabled to look to him to go forth from Sin and Self to lay hold of Christ and to rest and relie on Christ and his Righteousness for Acceptance with God and Eternal Salvation XVI Of Effectual Calling Effectual Calling is the powerful Voice of the Son of God by his Spirit accompanying his Word whereby a Sinner is enabled to accept of Christ upon his own Terms according to the Promise of the Gospel therefore it relates to Faith XVII Of Assurance Assurance is not a bare conjectural and probable Persuasion but the infallible certainty of Faith founded upon the Testimony of the Spirit of Adoption witnessing with our Spirits that we are the Children of God altho many Believers have not attained to this Assurance yet it is the Duty of all to seek after it and those that have attained to it may have it divers ways shaken and diminish'd through Sin and Temptations XVIII Of Perseverance The Perseverance of the Saints depends not upon their own Free Will or inherent Grace already received but upon the Immutability of the Love of God in the Decree of Election the Efsicay and Merit of the Intercession of Christ The Nature of the Covenant of Grace and the abiding of the Spirit of God Altho true Believers cannot fall finally and totally yet they may fall into grievous Sins and may continue in them for a while whereby they grieve the Spirit lessen their Comforts wound their Consciences scandalise others and do come under the Rebuke of God's fatherly Corrections for their Recovery and Amendment XIX Of Adoption Adoption is an act of the free Grace of God in and for his only Son Jesus Christ whereby all those that are justified are received into the number of his Children have his Name put upon them the Spirit of his Son given unto them are under his fatherly Care and Correction admitted to all the Liberties and Privileges of the Sons of God made Heirs of all the Promises and Fellow-heirs with Christ in Glory XX. Of Sanctification Sanctification is the Work of God's Grace whereby they whom God has before the Foundation of the World chosen to be Holy are in time through the powerful Operation of the Spirit applying the Death and Resurrection of Christ unto them renew'd in their whole Man after the Image of God having the Seeds of Repentance and of all other saving Graces put into their Hearts and those Graces so stirred up increased and strengthned as that they more and more dye unto Sin and rise up unto Newness of Life in the lively Actings and Exercises of Faith XXI Of Repentance True Gospel Repentance is a saving Grace wrought by the Spirit of God whereby we are enabled thorough believing on the Lord Jesus Christ for Life and Salvation to turn from Sin unto God XXII Preparatory Works Works done before Faith however good in themselves yet are vain fruitless sinful and not pleasing to God and therefore can't make us any ways meet for the receiving of Grace XXIII Of Good Works Good Works are then only Good when they are the Fruits of Faith and they ought to be carefully maintain'd by Believers not that they may thereby be justified or continued in a justified State but that they may glorifie God and answer the Ends of their Redemption by Jesus Christ XXIV Of the Moral Law The Moral Law holds the Elect during their Unregeneracy under its condemning Force 'till they believe and is unto all Believers a Rule for Obedience which they are enabled to conform unto by the Power of God's Grace XXV Of the State of Believers after Death and their Resurrection The Souls of Believers immediately after Death are made perfect in Holiness are received up to Heaven and behold the Face of God in Light and Glory Their Bodies in the mean time resting in the Grave till the Resurrection are then Re-united to their Souls in Perfect Blessedness and full Enjoyment of God forever XXVI Of the Last Iudgment God has appointed a Day wherein he will Judge the Quick and the Dead in Righteousness by Jesus Christ to whom all Power and Judgment is given of the Father for the Glorifying his Divine Mercy in the Salvation of the Elect and of his Divine Justice in the Eternal Damnation of the Wicked and Disobedient FINIS An Answer to some part of that Pamphlet Called A Plain and Just Account of a Plague being at Rothwell c. Wherein it will be manifest that they that gave the Account gave a very unjust Account in some Matters as in others they Charge as Errors the great Truths of the Gospel of our Lord. By Rob Betson Pastor of the Church of Christ in Wellingborough OH that my Head was a Fountain of Tears that I could Weep Day and Night for a Generation of Men professing love to Christ and Souls and yet their Mouths are full of Revilings and their Pens dipt in Gall as the first Page testifieth and several other places in the Book wherein they act like that Orator Tertullus in Acts 24. 5. We have found this Man a pestilent fellow and a mover of Sedition among all the Jews throughout the World and a Ring-leader of the Sect of the Nazarens c. Thus he accused and the Jews assented saying That these things were so vers 9. And thus do the Writers of this Pamphlet accuse God's Servant Mr. Davis with many others which I question not but they are dear to our Lord Jesus But yet the People are ready to say all is true that can be spoken yea this I observe these Men will believe the Reports of the worst of Men against him when they will not believe their nearest Friends that speak for him tho what they speak they have seriously weigh'd which sheweth them to be of their minds Jeremy complaineth of Chap. 20. 10. Report say they and we will Report it But I believe the Lord in his own time will vindicate the Faith and Order of that Gospel which is now opposed by a Generation of Men that have not the Power of Godliness However I earnestly intreat all that fear the Lord to cease Reviling and take Paul's Counsel Ephesians 4. 31 32. Let all Bitterness and Wrath and Anger and Clamor and evil speaking be put away and be ye kind one to another And if you yet be in doubt take Gamaliel's Counsel Acts 5. 38 39. For we are very willing that whatever there is that is not of God should fall and we are also sure that whatever is of God you cannot overturn it therefore pray have a Care you be not found fighters against God And pray weigh very seriously what Mr. Davis hath written in answer to what is charged against him for I do trust that in