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
the One and yet the most endeared Affection towards the Other But the Secret will manifest it self when thou shalt consider that all this is nothing but a Trial of Skill between the Apocryphal Story of Tobias and the Canonical History of Daniel Now that I may deliver thee from this uneasy posture of Soul I will set before thee the Mystery in a clear Light that so thou mayest be capable of using thy Eyes and therefore know I. That the true Reason of their severe Displeasure conceived against the Third Paper is that it has so clearly and fully born its Testimony against the Antinomians in the Fundamental Article of Iustification And thus it speaks We further declare as to to the special matters in difference concerning Justification That although the express Word of God doth assert the necessity of Regeneration to our entring into the Kingdom of God and requires Repentance that our Sins may be blotted out and Faith in Christ that we may be justified and Holiness of Heart and Life without which we cannot see God Yet that none of these or any Work done by Man or wrought by the Spirit of God in them is under any Denomination whatsoever any part of that Righteousness for the sake or on the account of which God doth pardon justify or accept Sinners or intitle them to Eternal Life That being only the Righteousness of Christ without them imputed to them and received by Faith alone From hence it is most evident that the Brethren have secured the Doctrine of Iustification against the Socinian Papal and Arminian Errors and themselves too from all even the least Suspicion of any Inclination that way with all impartial reasonable and indifferent Persons by the latter Clause Yet the former by which they were willing to give a fair Opportunity to the opposite Party to vindicate themselves from all Jealousy of leaning towards Antinomianism is the unpardonable Sin against Dr. Crisp which shall never be forgiven by the Reporter and his Brother Manuscript if they may carry the Keys of Admission and Exclusion Absolution and Condemnation at their Girdles II. As I have now given the secret Reason of their immortal Pike against the Third Paper so will I gratify the Reader with the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or secret Reason of their over-passionate Fondness to the former and that must be wholly ascribed to its Severity upon Mr. Williams And let it be observed that a few hard Words and Censures upon him shall at any time even in their most morose Hours purchase their Good Will and Friendship And this Paper having honoured them herein to the utmost could not fail of insinuating it self into their Favours Mark therefore the Conditions of his Peace and the Terms of being restored to some small degree of Acceptance If therefore Mr. Williams shall concur with us in what we have declared touching the Doctrine of Iustification and in the sense we have given of a Change of Persons between Christ and Believers and of Christ's undertaking the Displeasure of his Father for our Sins and shall give Satisfaction about any thing else that any Brother excepts against in the rest of his Writings agreeably to the abovesaid Articles and Confessions we shall so far acquiesee therein as not to make them the Matter of further publick Contest or Altercation amongst our selves Was ever a poor Creature thus tyed to a Stake to be baited by the English Molossi and every whaffing Whelp that could bark though not bite Must a Man stand in the Pillory all his Days there to be palted with rotten Eggs till they can find no more to throw at him how much more merciful were the Terms put upon the Men of Iabesh-Gilead by Nahash 1 Sam. 11. 2. he would only thrust out their right Eyes but these would cut off his right Hand too And now because the Brethren in their Third Paper exprest more Humanity durst not be so unreasonably cruel but proposed more moderate Terms the Former Paper must be cried up above the Skies and the Latter thrown down to Hell Reader thou shalt pardon me if I exercise thy Patience in making some Remarks upon the Conditions of Mr. Williams his Absolution the rather because they are wiser than to allow any for their own And first I will observe the Conditions required and then the Grace promised upon fulfilling the Conditions § 1. And for the Conditions required The Three former Conditions I will not mention to save time and Paper but the last Condition which is a Complex of many I will a little though gently examine If he shall give Satisfaction about any thing else that any Brother excepts against in the rest of his Writings Now here we have what he must give and then to whom he must give it and then how far he must give Satisfaction 1. What is it they expect Mr. Williams should give Satisfaction But what will satisfy he has given already â—ust and reasonable Satisfaction he has subscribed the Assemblies Confession of Faith he has subscribed the Article of Iustification drawn up by themselves 1692. he has subscribed the Article of Iustification in the Third Paper which satisfies all but Socinians Arminians Papists and Antinomians And must he satisfy them that are resolved nothing shall satisfy These Terms savour too much of Empire over Souls and Dominion over the Consciences and Faith of Men Let them tell him explicitly and plainly what will content them and not vex Men with indefinite unlimited Satisfaction 2. But to whom must he give this Satisfaction why truly to any Brother I wish they had confined their Number to About Twenty Thousand That had given some Possibility at least some little Hope that he might at last have given Satisfaction But to any Brother is really hard For in what Sense must he interpret Brother In a general Sense it may reach all Mankind in a much narrower it may include all Protestants Reformed at least But suppose it extends to none but Independents where there are no Clergy-Brethren nor Lay-Brothers it would find him picking Work for one Ten Years at least But what if these any Brothers should prove weak and injudicious What if cavilling and captious What if proud and imperious Their Character as well as Number would render it next to impossible to satisfy them and what if one will be satisfied and another dissatisfied this will suspend the Performance of the Promise for his Life and I know no way for him to satisfy all but by leaving the World to which I will never advise him least some other should be set up in his Place and Stead with whom to quarrel and of whom to demand Satisfaction and I am not sure but I may be the Man 3. How far must this Satisfaction extend To any thing else excepted against in the rest of his Writings I am glad however this allows no Exceptions against his Thoughts though the Manuscript has adventured upon that too Here 's a wide
Change of Person between Christ and us in a general Sense but only in Opposition to the Opinion of his Adversary he wrote against for in that very Place he expresly affirms That Christ suffered and died in our stead That is Mr. Williams did not deny a Change of Person simpliciter sed secundum quid not universally but restrictively for the most universal Terms are not always universally to be understood But the Manuscript will not acquiesce in this Answer § 1. He therefore says That his denial of a Change of Persons between Christ and the Elect or between Christ and Believers is so express and full that he leaves no room for a distinction limitation or restriction c. To which I return this Mr. Williams has left room enough for all the Distinctions that are proper to the Matter in hand for thus he expresses himself Gosp. Truth p. 33. 2 Edit The difference lies in these Points 1. Whether there be a Change of Person between Christ and the Elect yea or between Christ and Believers This the Doctor affirms and I deny Whence I argue Mr. Williams denies nothing was concerned to deny nothing but what the Doctor had affirmed but the Doctor had affirmed a wild monstrous Sense of Change of Person between Christ and the Elect or Believers and therefore Mr. Williams did not could not deny any thing else according to all the Rules and Laws of pertinent Discourse Now then the Determination of what Mr. Williams denies must depend on the knowing what it was the Doctor affirm'd and for this see pag. 31. where he cites Dr. Crisp speaking thus Marke it well Christ himself is not so compleatly Righteous but we are as Righteous as he nor we so compleatly sinful but Christ became being made Sin as compleatly sinful as we Nay more we are the same Righteousness for we are made the Righteousness of God That very sinfulness which we were Christ is made the very sinfulness So that here is a direct Change Christ takes our Person and Condition and stands in our stead we take Christ's Person and Condition and stand in his stead So that if you reckon well you must always reckon your selves in anothers Person and that other in your Person And now you have it what is that Change of Persons which the Doctor affirms and Mr. Williams denies which had he not he had denied his Redeemer and betrayed the Gospel § 2. But the Manuscript comes upon Mr. Williams with his Logical Talent p. 8. The Negation of a Change is so general that unless no Change signify a Change and a Negative is of the same import with an Affirmative you will never be able to find him allowing of a Change of Person between Christ and us c. This case is very hard I confess for of all Morsels I never loved to swallow a Contradiction But the Question is where the Contradiction lies They that would find it between Mr. Williams and the United Brethren must seek elsewhere They affirm the same things If they will find it between Mr. Williams and Dr. Crisp they need not look far the Doctor affirms Mr. Williams denies but now to find Mr. Williams contradicting himself that would be sweet Why does not he own a Change and yet deny a Change he does so yet without any Contradiction to himself or the Truth There is nothing more nauseous to an understanding Reader than to see a Man Paratragaediate in Trifles and to raise a mighty Storm in a sorry Bucket of Water A Change and no Change Yea and Nay Did this Gentleman in good earnest never hear or read that single Terms or Propositions which are really contradictory must be spoken or intended Ad idem eodem modo eodem respectu eodem Tempore Suppose I should tell him Lazarus was dead and Lazarus was not dead he 'll cry out perhaps O horrid Contradiction O barbarous Nonsense But be not so fierce both are true he was dead before Christ raised him and not dead when Christ said loose him and let him go To what purpose then do they fill our Ears with the Din of an imaginary Contradiction which has no Ground but in the Fansy and Wind of their own Heads To conclude there may be an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 where there is not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a seeming where there is no real Contradiction Ay but our Manuscript thinks he has nickt it p. 9. He should have told us the sense in which his Adversary affirmed a Change But to what purpose should he tell you it when you stop your Ears or to what end shew you it when you are blinded with Prejudice or Wink very hard and will not see He has told it to all the World besides every one else can hear it see it or read it only he has not told it you because you do male audire i. e. are thick of hearing But what would they have this poor Man do will they allow him to hold his Liberty of Writing by no other Tenure than than that of Villanage what are the Conditions of his 〈◊〉 he has written for a whole Page together in what Sense his Adversary takes it and I have here given you enough you may have more if you please to open your Eyes and yet he has not told you one Word of it But this reminds me of a Passage I once heard from a Reverend and Learned Divine in the Pulpit who discoursing upon the Words of the Apostle Paul Rom 3. 28. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the works of the law and comparing them with â—hose of Jam. 2. 24. Ye see then how that by works a man â— justified and not by faith only Here as that Learned â—erson observed is a seeming Contradiction not by works â—nd yet by works by faith only and not by faith only for â—e clearing of which he prudently wav'd all the comâ—on Solutions and upon the whole thus determined â—hat if God should reveal contradictory Propositions to our Faith we were obliged to believe them both to be true This would be a compendious way I confess in salving Contradictions only it has an odd Inconvenience in it for â—hen God must give us other Faculties than these we now have for according to those poor ones we are at preâ—ent Masters of whatever God may oblige us to I am certain it 's simply impossible that both the Propositions â—an be true and I think too it 's as certain God can neâ—er reveal or oblige us to believe a Lie 3. But the Reporter in my Opinion has discharged more formidable Argument against the Paperâ—nd â—nd Mr. Williams too p. 6. For whereas the Third Paâ—er had said or the Cover to it That on our so happy â—stablishing the Doctrine of Iustification we need say but litâ—le to the point of Commutation of Persons And to speak a â—lain Truth That little they said was enough because â—hey had establisht the