These Libellers by an unadvised blabbing out of what they have done concerning Silencing do declare what they expect will be hatched at last amongst the united Brethren at London viz. an old imperious Classis revived again But it would be Prudence in them to tarry first for the generating warmth of Royal Authority which I hope will never be The Story of Mr. Holcraft is a Fiction as divers in Cambridge-shire do attest I shall not mention what his Judgment was of a contrary Nature concerning me not long before his death but he is now in Glory And it is an easy matter to fix Stories on People when they are dead when the Reporters know they are secured from having their Fictions contradicted The Story of the two grave Ministers I shall consider in its place They speak wickedly to say that I make Disturbances in the Country but it is their Wickedness Lying Slandering and a bloody Spirit of Persecution they manifest every where that creates the Disturbance Could they or the Magistrates either have found any thing against me save in the matters of my God it would have been done afore now for the exactest Scrutiny has been made in order to Indictments Now I come to consider the formidable Charge relating to my Principles and Doctrines I have observed they have laid down four places especially where they pretend these Doctrines have been delivered viz. Rothwell and thereabouts Kimbolton and thereabouts Wellingborough Cambridge and thereabouts The Members and Hearers that usually attend my Ministry in these four places may make but one work of it to confront their Testimony in each place respectively Accordingly I shall methodically digest their Charge with my Answers suited to these four Scenes and the rather because my Principles and Doctrines as they alledge were delivered at Rowell or thereabouts are these following And first I begin with Rowell 1. Our Lord Jesus preached not Terror Answ I remember no such thing nor does the Church but I believe it false and so do they 2. A sense of Sin enrages persons against Christ Answ A sense of Sin purely legal in a state of Nature has a tendency to Despair and pure Despair always enrages Souls against Christ and his Grace 3. The Devil of lying has filled the tongues of many Professors Answ I do not believe I said so from their malicious charging of me tho' this cannot be said of all blessed be God yet 't is too notorious there is a lying Spirit gone forth in the mouths of very many Professors especially their Mouths and Pens concerned in the Libel 4. Actually justified from Eternity Answ It was thus I preached or asserted it If by being justified from Eternity be meant our being justified in the Decree and Compact I judge that to be Truth and God's Decrees and Covenanting are his Acts. This I know I have been chiefly on my Guard in this Matter And when it was first charged upon me I was in London and heard of it only on my return home Yet I do not deny but at first I spoke of Eternal Justification in Foro Dei as Dr. Twisse Mr. Pemble and many of the transmarine Divines have asserted as Mr. Baxter himself does acknowledg yet always restrained it to the fore-knowledg of God his Decree and the eternal Compact 'T is true finding the Decree of Election no where expressed by the name of Justification I waved at last that term and kept rather to that of eternal electing Love and Grace because I would not keep on foot a vain strife about words to no profit only to the subverting of the Hearers 2 Tim. 2. 14. When I seriously weigh'd Isa 50. 8 9. compared with Rom. 8. 33 34. and divers other Scriptures I cannot yet but maintain and assert A virtual Justification of the whole Elect of God tho' not yet called in Christ their common Head ever since his Resurrection Especially when I was so confirmed therein by the excellent discourse of Dr. Goodwyn on that Subject in his Triumph of Faith And they that take away the Representativeship of Christ the Foundation of our Gospel introduce a new Scheme of Religion that I cannot find in the Bible I do not see what need there is of all this noise about words as long as I have constantly preach'd and affirm'd That elect Sinners are dead in Trespasses and Sins and under the declar'd Condemnation of Law and Gospel till they believe and that then and only then they are freed from that Condemnation which I take to be actual Justification by Faith As to Justification by Faith I need not put my self to the trouble to define it as long as I am well satisfy'd with the definition given thereof by the Assembly and Savoy Confession by which I shall stand and let this suffice for an Answer to the following malicious Charges 5. That Charge tacked to this viz. That God loved us from Eternity does very much confirm the Suspicions I long entertained that under the Notion of eternal Justification they fought against eternal electing Love and Grace Mutato nomine pro te Narratur These Jealousies were first fomented in my mind by observing that not only well-meaning People violently with great Ignorance disputed the Point but Men of corrupt minds were the fiercest in the Contest And I further observed the Arguments they brought were the very same alledged by the Arminian Party to decry eternal Election and that made me the more willing oftentimes so to frame my method of Argumentation as made many honest People think I held an elect Person actually and declaratively free from the condemnation of the Law before Faith which was a mistake My saying and unsaying the same thing is but a Falshood charged upon me of the same piece with the rest The Country Divine the Libeller mentions was Mr. Chandler for with him I had discourse upon this Point and when he objected my timing of Justification I only replied I never told him yet when I timed it and continued on my Guard all the while 'T is true I asserted everlasting electing Love which he told me afterwards was one of my Blasphemies But I think he may as well charge it on the Book of God particularly two places Jer. 31. 3. Ephes 2. 4. which affirm it in plain terms 6. There must be no Works because God rested in Christ c. Answ What always was contended for which these Arminians and Amyraldists cannot bear was this that no Works must come into our Justification but Holiness as flowing from Faith I have always preached and pressed constantly affirming That they that have believed do maintain good works Tit. 3. 8. as hundreds can witness But perhaps these Prevaricators judge nothing to be preaching up of good Works unless they be urged as Terms and Conditions of our Pardon and Justification and Perseverance therein as the Terms of our eternal Blessedness 7. Search the Scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternal life but ye
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
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
testified against such notorious Forgeries some whereof were pretended to be delivered publickly others in private discourse accordingly therefore I shall divide them The first were alledged to be spoke more publickly 21. To preach Marks of Sanctification is a Doctrine of an old Covenant strain Answ If they had added legal Marks I would have stood by it and so I believe I expressed it But saving Faith has its saving Effects inseparably attending it which I often preach all Scriptures quoted to that purpose are expressive of the inseparable Effects of saving Faith 22. Sanctification is no Evidence of our Justification Answ I have often expressed it that some may mistake a legal Holiness for an evangelical one i. e. They are apt to conclude as I once my self was that when they have such a Catalogue of meer legal Qualifications to boast of then they think they may believe which I apprehend to be a seeking to be justified by the works of the Law But as for excluding Faith and its Effects from being Evidences I never did nor is it my judgment 23. Disciples grieve Christ when they mourn for Sin Answ But the truth of the matter is this I was thus glossing on that passage John 14. 1. Let not your heart be troubled That Christ seemed to be concerned that his Disciples were so grieved at the news of his departure And see good Reader how Malice has perverted it There needs no proof of so plain a matter therefore their ridiculous Confutation fights against a Man of Straw of their own setting up 24. God is the ultimate Object of a strong justifying Faith and Jesus of Nazareth the mediate Object of a weak Faith Answ I never used to separate the Godhead from the humane Nature What then I laboured to make out was this That weak Believers have not so full and distinct a view of the blessed Object of Faith as they that are more clear and strong in Faith This I think is so undeniable that it needs no further Proof than the stating of it thus 25. Christ and Believers are One in Intercession Answ That which was expressed in Prayer was this We are One with him viz. united to him who is our Intercessor This I think will appear afalse Doctrin to none but such as deny a Believer's Union to Christ 26. Believers dishonour Christ by relying on Promises Answ I then spake to this effect 'T is possible some may rely on the Letter of the Promise and not regard Christ in the Promise and they that do so do disrespect and dishonour Christ. Which Truth if these Libellers dare deny they are not fit to be talked with Thus far concerning the Charges of a publick Nature in Cambridge Now follows the Testimony of the Hearers concerning them WE whose Names are here under-written being present when Mr. Davis preached that Sermon in Cambridge when those erronious Doctrines were pretended to be delivered and hearing instantly of the misconstruction of his words through Ignorance and Malice did then while it was fresh in our memories bear our Testimonies against such notorious Falshoods and now testify the whole was false as charged and the matters true as stated in these Papers Jo. Craske James Toolidge Jo. Burges Thomas Greene James Speckman Andrew Craske Stephen Taylor George Godfrey Edward Rogers Joseph Juit William Bentchy Nicholas Spillman Henry Ellis Nathaniel Tench The three following false Charges were words wrested in private discourse which they put upon the Rack to make them confess what they please 27. To believe our Sins are pardoned is justifying Faith Answ To this purpose I have preached often To believe on Jesus for the pardon of Sin is justifying Faith And it was further added to this purpose That saving Faith doth accept of and rely on the pardong Grace that Christ hath already purchased Luke 14. 17. For all things are now ready The Apostle declareth that the first thing he preached to the Corinthians as the foundation of their Faith was That Christ diedfor their Sins according to the Scriptures 1 Cor. 15. 3. And this they had been commanded to believe I never said that nothing was true Faith but what amounted to that degree of positive unwavering and sensible believing that our Sins are pardoned But this is certain that God giveth to many of his Children great persuasion of the pardon of their Sins and who dare deny that to be justifying Faith I do grant that Formalists and wicked persons may have a false presumption of the pardon of their Sin but this doth not impeach the Faith of God's Elect at all I only contend for that Faith that is of the operation of the Holy Ghost which purifies the heart lip and life I think it hath not been so well done of our latter Divines to depart from that definition of Faith given always by our first Reformers who as they lead the Van so no doubt they had most of the Spirit of Christ I judge it a safe way to form a definition of Faith from the holy Scriptures of Truth rather than from the dark low Experiences of weak Believers This may be explained as low as is consistent with Truth for the comforting of doubting Souls See the Apostles definition of Faith Hebr. 11. 1. with many other places and this Faith the Scripture presses us to Hebr. 3. 6. 10 22 35 c. and this was the Apostles Faith Gal. 2. 20. 28. Faith is nothing but a Persuasion that my Sins are pardoned Answ This hath been answered already and so I pass it by 29. Believers may not take Comfort in the actings of their Graces Answ This I do not remember but believe it to be an untruth For no doubt persons have peace and joy in believing and that is the acting of grace The exercise of Faith and other graces as flowing from it is very comfortable But this I have opposed and others contend for that inherent qualifications without Faith can be the actings of grace or bring any true comfort to the Soul WE whose Names are under written being then present at the discourse between Mr Hunt and Mr. Davis in Cambridge did hear Mr. Hunt with great prejudice wrest Mr. Davis ' s Words and ' Sentences and did then oppose and contradict him in so doing And we do protest the Particulars are true as Mr. Davis stateth them and false as the Informers do Jo. Craske Thomas Greene James Coolidge Henry Ellis The following Charges are miscellaneous being chiefly Sentences dropt in private discourse miserably rackt and tortured by the Libeller and not so affixed to places 30 Charge Whatever is supernatural is saving Grace Answ That that was said was this All saving Grace is supernatural And the Bedford Gentleman was then contradicted when he wrested it 31. Zeal is to be preferred before Judgment Answ This also was a wresting of words in private discourse and the occasion was this One in discourse with me at Kimbolton who it seems was highly conceited
any Witnesses ready nor could I till I knew what and who would evidence against me so that I had no publick way left me but this of Printing which I chose rather prudentially to have Recourse unto My 3d Reason and a very weighty one for not appearing was because I understood there was a great enraged Assembly gathered together that waited to make a Riot therefore I durst not go to affront and disturb the Government under which I enjoyed such Peace and Tranquility I had fresh in my memory how many Citizens suffered about the Guild-Hall Riots Besides I was advised by a Magistrate to this course It is more than probable if I had appeared there then it would have been of dangerous Consequence Yet when I understood the Rabble was gone away I went to them and having entred my Protest against their Proceedings left them Had they given a candid Answer to the Proposals made to them by the Messengers of the Church they might have received a speedier Answer It was proposed to them Whether they came as a Presbyterian-Classis or as Messengers of Churches or as Friends or lastly as avowed Opposers As a Classis we should have slighted them as we did as Messengers of Churches they confess they did not come If they had come as Friends they would never have come after that manner If they had been above-board and said they came as Opposers we should have defended the Truth against them to their teeth as the Lord should have enabled us provided it had not been in a tumultuous Assembly One little Gentleman there present would have proceeded to have past Judgment upon us there presently but I would have him seriously consider the judgment the Scripture passes upon his Actions in the late Tryals John 10. 12 13. Tho' they declared at Kettering they would conceal their matters till they came to the United Brethren at London yet two of them in their return home not only exposed us in Preaching but one especially at Hitchin published Heads of the Accusations even to my Friends A third being my former Acquaintance carried it like a just Man I am sorry he was one of them however I overlook it in him and for his Christian Carriage and Justice render him my publick Thanks Some weeks after this Transaction I received from London a Copy of what was deposed against me at Kettering in matters of Faith and Practice I shall expose it to the World verbatim because I know there is a great noise about it as most conceive more dreadful of it than it is together with the Witnesses Names that they may have the publick Honor they aspire to The Laws of Language and of the Land allow me to call them Informers who witness against a Man in matters of Religion but the Reverence I bear towards some of them forbids me that Term. Then I shall print-my Answer digested together with their Accusations into some general Heads Under every general Head I shall make bold to make some Reflections to evince what Truth of the Gospel is struck at annexing thereunto a short Defence thereof and it is as followeth A True Copy of what was deposed at Ketterin at their Visitation THat the Elect were actually justified from Eternity and are as much belov'd of God whilst in Rebellion against him as after Conversion and that God is reconciled to all that he will be reconciled unto Attested by Mr. Bland Mr. Ley and Mr. Chandler who wrote it from his own mouth and offered to produce Testimonies under the hands of Mrs. Seaton Mr. Acock and Mr. Nickolls We are justified ever since Christ's death Mr. Bland 't was also said that Mr. Hunt would confirm the same We asked Mr. Davis's Friends whether Mr. Davis did preach that we are actually justified before Faith And they owned that they could not deny it and one said they hoped they should own it to the death The Law doth not prepare for Conversion the Spirit of God doth not make use of the Law in order to Conversion Attested by Mr. Chandler Mr. Tomlins of Ampthil and Mr. Holledge of Kimbolton Mr. D. objected in his Sermon But the Law is said to convert To this he answer'd That it is the Law of the Gospel which is this I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy Mr. Chandler The Law cannot convert because the works of the Law are under a curse to the Soul Witnessed by Mr. Chandler who engaged to produce the Testimony of Mr. Acock of Caysoe The Law gives an impious sight of Sin Mr. Moor and Mr. Holledge Witnesses All that the Law doth is to drive Persons further from Christ and make some go away and hang themselves Mr. Ley. Mr. D. preached Believe not others who prophesie Lyes in the Name of the Lord who ever wears a rough Garment to deceive and tell you of John Baptist's preparing the way and preaching his Roughness his Repentance his preparatory Works and you must bring these Qualifications they prophesie Lyes in the Name of the Lord Persons Misery is their Qualification Mr. King who took it in writing from his own mouth Such as preach up preparatory Works are legal Preachers hinder Peoples comfort and keep them under bondage we should begin with high confidence in Christ and hold it fast unto the end Mr. King Here is the Redeemer Ay saith the Soul but I must be humbled more and pray more I say you may repent and be damned for this is slighting the Gospel Do you know how much you would have before you come to Christ Mr. Negus Sinners must come to Christ immediately and be united to him in all their Sins and Filth Mr. Carlile Some hold there must be preparatory Works which is a stumbling block Mr. Ainscomb The Spirit convinceth of no Sin but Unbelief Mr. Terrey the Minister Faith is a Persuasion that our Sins are pardoned Mr. Chandler Mr. Bland A Person may sincerely desire after Holiness and yet be nothing nay they may desire Christ to reign over them and yet not be savingly convinced When then are you savingly convinced You are savingly convinced when you can believe Christ died for you Mr. Robert Page At Willingham he preached That Christians must not try themselves by marks and signs of Grace this is as if a person should shut the doors and windows of his house to let in more light and produced Matth. 12. 38 39. to reprove this way of Heart-examination which he said lay with awe upon his spirit and he could not but mention it viz. An evil and adulterous Generation seek after a sign Adding Oh Generation of Professors I may say of Preachers that seek after a sign Mr. Marshall Mr. Gunton Some will tell you you must examin your selves whether you be in the Faith or no But I say look for no marks but a risen Jesus seek no other Mr. Negus Some will put you upon trying your state by such marks as Sincerity Universal Obedience Love to the
therefore with this Assertion That if Justification be an immanent Act of God as God absolutely considered it is an Act of Eternity But if a transient Act of God considered as Judge and an Act of his revealed Will 't is an Act of Sin The Law doth not prepare for Conversion The Spirit of God doth not make use of the Law for Conversion I Answer The Law or the Covenant of Works doth not prepare for Conversion That the Spirit of God doth not make use of the Law in Conversion is an addition of their own Mr. Davis objected in his Sermon But the Law is said to convert To this he answered That it is the Law of the Gospel which is this I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy c. The Law cannot convert because the works of the Law are under a curse to the Soul To the best of my remembrance I framed my Objection thus It is written Psal 19. 7. The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the Soul Answer By this Law is meant the Doctrine of the Gospel or the great Law of distinguishing Grace held forth in the Gospel puts forth converting power which was proved by comparing this with Gal. 2. 19. Rom. 8. 2. together with Rom. 9. 15 16 and 18 as also with 2 Tim. 1. 9. lastly with Rom. 3. 27. from all which places 't is evident the Gospel converts a Soul Rom. 1. 16. I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ it is the power of God to salvation to every one that believeth So 1 Cor. 4. 15. For in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the Gospel 'T is also evident from the holy Scriptures That as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse Gal. 3. 10. How then can the works of the Law convert a Soul The Law giveth an impious sight of Sin My judgment is That Convictions of the Law in a state of Nature are impure because the state is so and the effect thereof in such a state are impure also Rom. 7. 5 7 8. see more under Head 14. All the Law doth is to drive persons farther off from Christ and make some go away and hang themselves This is put with a false grain too This I preached That the Law convincing and condemning a Man for Sin in a state of Nature hath a tendency to drive Souls to despair and that is far enough from Christ And some forced with the terrors thereof have executed themselves witness Judas Mr. Davis preached Believe not others who prophesie Lyes in the Name of the Lord. Whosoever weareth a rough garment to deceive and tells them of John Baptist ' s preparing the way and preaching up his roughness his preparatory works and that you must bring these qualifications they prophesie Lyes in the Name of the Lord. Persons misery is their qualification I am not concerned how they wrest matters But this I affirm That they that preach up the preparatory works as qualifications that must recommend persons to Christ so far they depart from their Commission and so far they prophesie Lyes in the Name of the Lord. And if there be any thing that makes persons the Subjects of God's free mercy it is misery The Physician is not for the whole but the sick Such as preach up Preparatory Works are Legal Preachers hinder Peoples Comfort and keep them under Bondage We should begin with high Confidence and hold it fast unto the end Such as are afore-mentioned are Legal Preachers hinder Peoples Comfort and keep them under Bondage The Gospel commands Sinners to believe and to be strong in Faith whether they attain to it or no. The Gospel hath no Degrees of Commands As first commanding a more imperfect Faith mix'd with a great deal of Unbelief and then a more perfect Faith and less Unbelief The Imperfections of our Obedience must not be the Measures of Gospel-Commands I never said Sinners must arrive to such a degree of Faith before it can be saving But this I do affirm That the Gospel doth require of Sinners to believe in Hope against all Hope And there are several Instances in the New Testament of such great Faith at first And the Word of God commands us to hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast to the end Heb. 3. 6 14. chap. 10. 19 22. and likewise ver 35. There is the Redeemer Ay saith the Soul but I must be humbled more and pray more I say you may repent and be damn'd for this is slighting the Gospel Do you know how much you would have afore you come to Christ I Answer I shall not mind their wrested Sentences But this I have preach'd and this I will stand by That Souls that delay their Obedience to the Gospel-Command of believing on the Lord Jesus Christ under pretence that they are not humbled enough and qualified enough for Christ do slight the Gospel I also say further That there are many that have had legal Repentance enough that are now in Hell It is said Judas repented and yet he perished ☞ Sinners must come to Christ immediately and be united to him in all their Sins and Filth This I know I have preached as my Judgment That Sinners must come to Christ as Sinners and not as made Saints first And the Gospel biddeth them come immediately To day if ye will hear his voice harden not your hearts Heb. 1. 3 7 8. Nor do I know where they must leave their Sins afore they come to Christ In that moment they are United to Christ is the Change made they do not continue in a filthy State any longer Yet I do not see how their State is changed or they can leave their Sins before an actual Union with Christ Some hold There must be Preparatory Works Which is a Stumbling-block I Answer That such as do preach up Preparatory Works as afore-mention'd do lay Stumbling-blocks in the way of Sinners A Person may sincerely desire after Holiness and yet be nothing Nay he may desire Christ to reign over him and yet not be savingly convinced Answ I do think it is possible a Person may have sincere desires after that which the New-coin'd Divinity calls the Lesser Holiness afore Faith as Conditional of their Justification and yet be nothing because they seek to be Justified by the Works of the Law And so it was with the Jews Rom. 9. 31 32. Rom. 10. 20 21. And it is possible they may desire Christ to reign over them to subdue many of their Iniquities to this intent that for their subdued Iniquities they might be Justified When then are you savingly convinced You are savingly convinced when you can believe Christ died for you Robert Page attested as affectionately in this as when he witnessed Mr. Bear was one of us when he is not But to the Matter in hand I judge then a Soul savingly convinced when he is so convinced of Sin and Misery that he sees nothing but the Righteousness
Wings as their great Patron and Defender we shall ask their Advice when we think it meet Advice must be free given when asked and not imposed Imposed Advice is an act of Authority One of which said Christ Murthered himself Here is no particular Evidence and it is a down-right Falshood after a great Noise about it In the Notes of his Sermon produced it was thus Christ as High-Priest had in charge given him to kill the Sacrifice and by virtue of Office he killed the Sacrifice and himself was the Sacrifice Down with Works down with Law This was father'd upon Mr. Bere who is none of us but hath been an approved Preacher above this 30 Years who saith he did say so in point of Justification and he will stand by it and so he may for the Word of God doth stand by him in it Another Christ went about his work Blindfold from that place of Scripture Who so blind as my Servant Which another Interpreted thus Christ is blind so as to see no Sin in his People To this charge there is no particular Evidence and the Person Charged is not Named and we know nothing of it Therefore I need do no more but step over it Another thus When People are under Convictions they will go to the Minister and he will exhort them to Read and Pray and Repent but these are the black marks of Hell This last spoken by Mr. Rowlett I enquired of him and he saith he remembers no such thing However this I will maintain they that put awakened Souls upon Working before Believing Act beside the Commission given forth by Jesus Christ Accusation 9. Mr. Davis pretended to Visions for Preaching a Funeral Sermon at Oundle he told the People c. That I pretended to Visions is very false But what if I had said I had seen Visions How should they know it was but Pretence Mr. Clark in his Examples giveth divers Modern Instances of several Godly Persons that saw Visions and why might not I as well as they Tho I do not say I have seen any but the Matter at Oundle was plainly thus I hearing when I was from Home on Thursday from Mrs. Clark's Son that his Mother was not expected to Live that Night I came home that Night and found some of my Acquaintance were Dead nigher home whereupon that Night after Mid-night I was sunk into serious Meditations of the Glory of Heaven and upon that part of their Glory that they were not only Blest there with perfect Holiness but also with Eternal constant Beatifical Visions of the imputed Righteousness they were cloathed with Amongst other Meditations I thought I saw by Faith how bright then the Spirits of Just ones Above shone in that Righteousness and amongst them those Friends lately Dead as I heard And her I concluded Dead from a strong Impulse I confess which I suppose might arise from the Account her Son gave me of her in the day-time and knowing her to be a very good Woman I did by Faith conclude and see she made one in the bright Company above whereupon that Scripture was Suggested into my Mind with great pleasantness Esa 57. 2. That Text I would have Preached upon for her Funeral Sermon if another had not been appointed me However I ventured a little at the close to insist upon this Subject and gave some of the substance of the precedent Story as my Reason for it wherein I think I might use these words That it was imprest upon my mind she was Dead and that by Faith I saw her in Glory which the mistaken Witnesses that know little of Faith took to be other Visions It appeared by the Sequel that she was then Dead and if Dead then in Glory as I thought What need the Learned Assembly make such a Pother and ado about this I would fain hear their weighty Reasons why the Servants of God now may not see Visions as formerly Doth not Zuinglius write of himself that when he was urged by the Cavelling Priests to produce a Parallel place of Scripture to prove that This is my Body was a Sacramental saying was after much perplexity of Mind directed in a Dream to that portion of Scripture Exod. 12. 11. latter part which the Scoffing Papists made as much a Maye-game of then as the vain and jovial Professors do of this Accusation 10. That he Anoints the Sick with Oil is confessed both by himself and Friends c. That we Anoint the Sick with Oil we do confess and continue still to think it is a Duty from God's Word The Story of the Deceased Person I grant with some variation of Circumstances is true She did not then in the Administration of the Ordinance as I hear profess any great confidence of Faith but only testified her willingness to be obedient to the Command of the Lord Jesus neither did I hear that any of her Relations did I think I might say in Preaching or Praying and that not amiss That God upon the finishing of the work of any of his Children given them to do will have them home to their Father's House and will deny all Means and his Blessing to all his own Appointments which must needs be true else his Children would never Die But what needs all this insolent Triumphing Is this becoming Christians I am perswaded it will be but short When the Apostles were endowed with extraordinary power for Miracles yet there was a Case came before them that even they through the power of Unbelief could prevail nothing in If Modesty did not forbid me I could Ballance this one with twenty or thirty astonishing Instances however I submit to the Rebuke which has cost me many thoughts of Heart and hath brought me to these Considerations 1. Whether God in the Sick or in the Administrators requires only a meer Faith of Relyance or Expectance leaving the Issue to his Blessed Will Or 2. Whether he doth not require in both a positive Faith that it shall be so without the least doubting or wavering and that none dare presume to engage in it before they have arriv'd to such a Faith I hesitate and wait for the Counsels of the Almighty before I proceed further Also my Judgment in this Ordinance I shall when I have time draw up Accusation 11. He Re-baptized one formerly Baptized by Mr. Browning namely the Brother of one Mr. Chambers As to this it 's true there was a Brother of that Name Baptised according to our Practice but it was never enquired whether he was Baptised by Mr. Browning or any Body else We whose Judgments are for this Practice neither Preach it Press it nor Impose it but walk according to our Light which we think we have a liberty to do What then hath the Assembly at London to do with our private Practice As to my particular Perswasion concerning Baptism I shall take another time to lay it down The chief managers of the Evidence at Kettering as I understand
was Mr Chadler and Mr. King Never was Captain Hilton more busie and active One should have thought Mr. Chandler should have received some Check from a sore Providence that befell him a few days before But where will not Pride and Fury drive Thus I have Indulg'd the Curiosity of some Men with what was done at Kettering and of others with an Answer thereunto The Fable tells us That the Mountains were in Travail The Rumour thereof dispersed every where People flock'd together from all Parts to see this Prodigious Birth At last to their Disappointment out comes a ridiculous Mouse which ran away Now the Mouse is let lose into the World but not without both Marks and Fetters It is enough that I have diverted thus far from the weighty Service of Christ This Diversion I should not have been guilty of had not great necessity and importunity called me thereunto I am aware this will be one of Satan's designs by irritating me to Reply's and Rejoynders not only to stir up my Passion and mingle Self therewith but to make me neglect that weighty necessary Work of Preaching the Gospel and feeding the Flock of God over which he hath made me Overseer the Lord help me to be upon my Watch in that matter Yet I do not say but I may meet them again in their full career of Wickedness or at least defend the Gospel again when the Lord shall give me a special Call therunto and tho I am Rash and Ignorant yet my Learned Brethren engaged in the same Cause I hope will not be Offended if I maintain my Post in the strength of Christ as he shall assist me However this I am resolved in the strength of Grace not to stop at every Stone thrown I am perswaded all their attempts will be to their own Overthrow As for me I have committed my self with the Cause that I manage to him that is able to support and maintain all If there be any Errors I maintain I care not how soon they fall tho I fell with them Nay if I could be convinced that I Erroneously worded any Matter I should soon publickly declare against my own Wording It is not my own Honor I seek but the Honor of him that sent me and I hope I am always ready to Bury my own Honor in Shame provided I could secure thereby his Name from Dishonor and Contempt I should think hard of no Confession of mine that should give Glory to God But if it be the Truth of Christ I am Assaulted for as thereto I am perswaded it is then all the attempts against it will be in vain his Truth is like himself Eternal and will abide Stedfast bright and Insuperable when I and my Opposers are Mouldred to Dust and Ashes In Parting I shall again recommend to them Gamaliel's prudent Advice viz. To let us alone for if this Councel be not of God it will fall of it self But if it be of God it shall stand in spight of all their Rage and Persecution and they themselves will at last be found fighters against God As I have declared to the Reader what Principles I consent to and declare my approbation of so I shall now declare what Doctrins I cannot consent to but declare my Abhorrence of and they are those Principles Methodised by Dr. Chancey in the beginning of a late Tract of his in Answer to Mr. Dan. Williams's Book thus Entituled Some of the Paradoxes contained in the Neonomian Scheme Printed at London Anno. Dom. 1677. But this is unquestionable that all Doctrins and Inferences lean on some Foundation-Truths and it 's as evident that these Doctrins that are of the Superstructure may be discerned by the Foundation they lean on and the Foundation by them reduce any Doctrin to its own Fundamental and then it will appear in its own proper hew and Colour Therefore for a Conclusion I shall lay down the Fundamentals of the Gospel being the Foundation Principles of the Old Protestant Doctrin in one Column and the Fundamentals of the late invented Gospel in an opposite Column it being the very Scheme word for word Drawn up by Mr. Troughton in his Lutherus Redivivus THESES Neonomian Anti-Theses 1. THe Protestants have hitherto Taught that what Christ did and suffered for Sinners he did as a Common Person as a Head and Representative of the Elect and a Surety for them 1. BUt they say Christ was not a proper Head Representative or Surety but that he did all meerly as a Mediator i. e. as one endeavouring to Compose the difference betwixt God and Sinners 2. That Christ as their Head and and Surety fulfilled the Law of Works in their stead 2. That Christ undertook not to fulfil the Law of Works which Man had broken nor to satisfie it but that he fulfilled the peculiar Law of a Mediator i. e. so much Obedience and Sufferings as it should please the Father to lay upon him 3. That Christ by bearing the Curse of the Law delivered Man from the Curse And by obeying the Precepts purchased for them Life which the Law had promised and by the superminency of his Obedience additions of Blessedness to that Life 3. That Christ by his Obedience and Sufferings did neither satisfie the Law nor purchased what the Law has Promised but only gave to God a valuable consideration or recompence that he might justly wave and not execute the Law of Works but give Man a new and milder Law of Grace or terms of Life according as the Father or Son should agree 4. That this Righteousness of Christ whereby he fulfilled the Law is imputed to Believers for their Justification i. e. for that Righteousness God grants them pardon of Sin and a firm gift or grant of Eternal Life 4. That therefore Christ's Righteousness or Obedience cannot be imputed to Men for which they should be accepted and Justified it not being the Obedience due to the Law given to them but to his own peculiar Law of a Mediator But Christ's Obedience did purchase that God should appoint Men new and mild conditions of Life instead of sinless Obedience and Death for the failure of it 5. This Righteousness of Christ is that alone which we must oppose to the wrath of God by which we must stand before him in Judgment for which alone Heaven is given and all things necessary to bring us thither 5. That the Righteousness of Christ hath only purchased the removing of the Law of Works from being a Covenant of Life by which we must Stand or Fall but that our right to Life and the favour of God peace of Conscience and hope of Heaven do depend upon our obedience to the Gospel which Christ hath purchased should be accepted for our Righteousness by which we must be Judged 6. That by this Rsghteousness imputed Believers are perfectly Justified i. e. freed from all the Curse of the Law and certainly Entituled to Eternal Life 6. That our Justification or right to Life