A faithful rebuke to a false report lately dispersed in a letter to a friend in the country Concerning certain differences in doctrinals, between some dissenting ministers in London. Alsop, Vincent, 1629 or 30-1703. 1697 Approx. 121 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 32 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2005-10 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A25208 Wing A2910 ESTC R215794 99827563 99827563 31985 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A25208) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 31985) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1861:21) A faithful rebuke to a false report lately dispersed in a letter to a friend in the country Concerning certain differences in doctrinals, between some dissenting ministers in London. Alsop, Vincent, 1629 or 30-1703. 63, [1] p. printed for John Lawrence, at the angel in the Poultrey, London : M.DC.XCVII. [1697] By Vincent Alsop. Final leaf bears errata and advertisement. A reply to: Williams, Daniel. Gospel truth stated and vindicated .., and to Lobb, Stephen. A report of the state of the differences .. Reproduction of the original in the British Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. 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Users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a TCP editor. The texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the TEI in Libraries guidelines. Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Williams, Daniel, 1643?-1716. -- Gospel-truth stated and vindicated wherein some of Dr. Crisp's opinions are considered -- Early works to 1800. Lobb, Stephen, d. 1699. -- Report of the present state of the differences in doctrinals, between some dissenting ministers in London -- Early works to 1800. Dissenters, Religious -- England -- Early works to 1800. 2003-04 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2003-05 Aptara Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2005-03 Judith Siefring Sampled and proofread 2005-03 Judith Siefring Text and markup reviewed and edited 2005-04 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion A Faithful Rebuke TO A False Report : LATELY Dispersed in a LETTER TO A Friend in the Country . CONCERNING Certain Differences in Doctrinals , between some Dissenting Ministers in London . Exod. 23. 1. Thou shalt not raise a False Report . Jer. 20. 10. Report ( say they ) and we will Report it . LONDON : Printed for John Lawrence , at the Angel in the Poultrey . M.DC.XCVII . Dear Friend , IT 's grown of late the Mode with some to communicate their Sentiments , under the Colour and Cover of a Letter to a Friend in the Country . In complyance with the Humour , I have given mine ● same Inscription : But you shall excuse me if I imi●e not the Disingenuity , the Prevarication , the Parti●ty of the Reporter , though I comply with the Fashion general . Whoever makes a Report , ought to be un● the severe Law of Conscience , To speak the Truth , whole Truth , and nothing but the Truth ; that is , who●r will Report , ought not to make his Report ; for an ●●●torian must never be the Author of his History . I can afford to pass by the Reporters assuming Spirit , ●o determines who are the Most Learned of each Party , ●ause I know not by what Authority he ventures upon 〈◊〉 nor whether he be duly Qualified for such a Deter●ation ; tho' he has a Friend in the City , who has pro●med him all over the Town , A Learned Divine : ● shall I concern my self at his Reflections on those or seven Presbyterians ; who , he says , are of the BigNames amongst them ; hoping they can be content ●e of no Name , when the Name of the Lord Iesus ●st , may be glorified in them : Though perhaps they ● not so tamely suffer their Names to be trampled in Dirt by every insolent Scribler . I pass by also his temptuous Stuff , at those who meet at Little St. Hel● though you know it is the Body of the United Bre● who meet there ; of which Number he himself one with others , however now absented from the ● and the Union too ; and is now laudably imploy'd in misrepresenting them or some of them , Principal or Accessaries as inclining towards the Unitarians : Nor will it be worth the while to take notice of his affected Terms , Pursuances , Explosion , &c. for your great Wit● fancy now and then to be Pedantick , nor are they fo● little Fooleries to be accountable . But it will deserve a serious Remark , that since these Persons are resolved never to Unite with them , ye● they might have suffered the poor Presbyterians to live quietly by ' em . They might at least have let the Spark● of Contention silently die and be buried in their own Ashes , and not have blown them up into this Flam● in the Country , which they had kindled in the City Light indeed is pleasant , but I like not the Sparks an● Flames that come from a Forge . That little Artifice which the Reporter may glory i● is obvious , and needs not my Observation , that his Paper came out at a Juncture when he knew the Unite Ministers had Adjourned their Meetings , and so mig● hope to poison the Country , before they could prescrib● and send down the proper Antidote ; and that his Fir● balls might put you all in a Flame , before the Ministe● could rally to quench it . But you expect to be entertained with more substanti● Matters . I. And therefore I present you with the Substance of the Gospel of Christ , as he has presented it : We are all● Nature under the Curse of the Law , and destitute of Righteousness intituling to Eternal Life . This is our state a● condition : This is the Place in which we are : in which , we dye , we are undone eternally : For Vindicative Iustic which is essential to God , makes it necessary that the Wra● be inflicted , and that there be no Right to Eternal Life , wit● out a perfect Meritorious Righteousness . That all who believ● might escape the Wrath to come , and have Everlasting Life The Lord Iesus Christ undertakes for us , by making Satisf●ction both to punitive and remunerative Iustice : and that might do so , he put himself into our Place , State and Condi●●on : So that whereas we were Sin , and under a Curse , ●y this blessed Change Christ is made Sin , and a Curse , and ●e delivered from Sin , and the Curse , 2 Cor. 5. 21. Gal. 3. 3. Pag. 5. This he tells us is the Substance of the Gospel of Christ : which if it be , and sound at the Bottom , is the worst ●rawn up of any I ever read . ( 1. ) Out of his Substance of the Gospel , he has left Regeneration , Conversion , Repentance , Holiness , Sanctification a new Heart , and new Obedience , Good Works &c. A Blessed Report for the Country ! you are eased at least of one Moiety of your Work , though I question whether your Consci●nces will take his Security that this is the Substance of ●he Gospel which you are to Preach to the People . Woe ●o that poor People , whether in City or Country , who ●t down under such Preachers , who make this the Substance of their Preaching ; for though they may now and then , upon the by , hint a little at Repentance and so ●orth , yet that 's but Accidental to the Gospel ; the Sub●ance lies in what Christ has suffered for them ; 't is meer Accident what he is by the Spirit to work in them ; much more what is ( if any thing be ) to to be done by ●hem . ( 2. ) But suppose this were intended only as the Substance of the Gospel so far as we are to believe what Christ has done and suffered for Sinners without them , ●nd with God ; yet there 's something in this Draught ●hat gives cause of Suspicion to those who are of no ●ealous Inclinations : For whereas he informs us , that Christ suffered and satisfyed , that all who believe might ●cape Wrath to come , and have Everlasting Life : Here 's ●o necessity of Faith in order to Justification , no Be●eving necessary to Pardon of Sin , or Peace with God : No Faith needful to Union with Christ , that we may ●ave an Interest in his Righteousness , but only to escape ●rath to come , and the having Everlasting Life . Well! give me my Bible again ! I will subscribe without Equ●vocation to the Apostle , Rom. 5. 1. Being justified b● faith we have peace with God through our Lord Iesus Christ. ( 3. ) Be pleased to observe . He instructs you : Tha● we are all by Nature under the Curse of the Law , and dest●tute of a Righteousness that may intitle us to Eternal Life and that this was our Place , State and Condition : which we all own and lament as too true : but then he instruct you also , that Christ put himself into our Place , State and Condition : will you not , must you not conclude from hence , that Christ also was destitute of a Righteousness t● intitle him , and if himself , us too , to Eternal Life ? ( 4. ) Such an Inference is obvious ; but it will requir● more Application of Mind to discern the Fallacy i● these Words . So that whereas we were Sin , and unde● a Curse , by this blessed Change Christ is made Sin , and under a Curse , and we delivered from Sin and Curse ; here beg your most critical Attention . 1. We are Sin ; and under a Curse : can you with a● your Penetration , divine the Reason , why it 's said , w● are Sin ? That we are Sinners by Nature , that we are sinful is an acknowledged Truth ; but how are we Sin we are altogether delighted with Sin , we are under th● Condemnation of the Law for Sin , but that is no other than to be under the Curse : why must it be phrase● thus , we are Sin ? It was Poetically and Satyrically said That Alexander the Sixth was Non tam vitiosus quam vi●tium , non tam scelest us quam scelus : but we need to be taught how man was Sin ? Sin it self ? 2. You shall now see the Mystery of his Phraseology it was to mis-lead you into that Abomination ; tha● Christ was Sinful , that he was a Sinner : for if Christ was Sin in the same Acceptation that we are , then he was sinful , he was a Sinner , and the greatest Sinner tha● ever was in the World : That Christ was made Sin , Sacrifice for Sin , that he bore the Curse due to Sin , is so express the Language of Scripture , that he that denies th● former must disbelieve the latter : but what needed he say that we were Sin , and then that Christ was made Sin , unless he would insinuate that Christ was Sin in ●he same Sense that we were Sin , that is sinful ? but this is the Fruit of going to Cambridge to learn to Quibble . ( 5. ) Will you observe with me the last Words of his ●cheme , and Substance of the Gospel of Christ : By his blessed Change Christ is made Sin , and Curse , and we delivered from Sin and Curse . Ipso facto ! no doubt ; But I humbly conceive , without the usual Complement ●f submitting to better Judgments , That whatever Christ suffered , however he was made Sin , and Curse , yet here 's an Order setled by the Divine Will in which ●e Application of the Sufferings of Christ , and Satis●ction given thereon , shall be made : and that whoeer expects to partake of the Benefits thereof , ●aust by ●race Believe , Repent , and Accept of Christ , as God as offered him in the Gospel ; and that the Elect are ●ot justified from that Moment wherein Christ suffered ●nd gave Satisfaction to Justice for their Sins : This ●ght to have been more clearly worded before it had ●een proposed to , or imposed upon our Faith as the substance of the Gospel of Christ. ( 6. ) You would be satisfied , and so would I , why ●is Gentleman could not be contented to give us the Doctrine of Redemption and Satisfaction , as they are ●ady drawn up to our Hands in the Confession of Faith ● the Church of England , as in that of the Assembly at Westminster , or in that of the Savoy ; but that we must ●ve a super●oe●ation of Articles , new Schemes of Reli●on every New-Year , spawning of Creeds , and equip●ng of Confessions every Campaign , when the Thing ●s been done so of●en already , and much better ? for ●e that cannot allow him to be a faithful Reporter in ●atter of Fact , can much less trust him to pen for us ●atter of Faith. that he took on him the Person of Sinners : you must understand that he now refers to a certain Paper drawn up by some private Ministers , whereof you will hear more in due time ; Now their Words run thus : We conceive that the Doctrine of Iustification , and of Christ's Satisfaction , on which it depends , cannot be duly explained , and defended consistently with the denial of any Commutation of Persons between Christ and Believers : So then according to this Paper there must be some Commutation of Persons between Christ and Believers . But 1. He has foisted in those Words taking on him the Person of Sinners : 2. That the Commutation those Brethren speak of , is between Christ and Believers ; and therefore I am convinced that this Reporter will never be trusted in his Arguings , or repeating of other Mens Words . § 3. And to what end does he thus needlesly multiply Terms of Art without any apparent necessity , that the Controversy has of ' em ? All that the Case of Sinners required for Satisfaction to Divine Justice , was a Substistute , or Sacrifice to be offered for our Sins ; for the Substitute to take on him the Punishment due to them ; but to take upon him the Person of Sinners ; as the Phrase is new and uncouth , so it 's to me unintelligible , till they who have invented it shall interpret it , and if ever they should be so ill advised as to give it a fixed Sense , they must either make it signify no more than that Christ died in our stead ; or else enlarge it to such a Breadth as will admit all the Extravagancies of Antinomianism . § 4. For I will make a fair Motion , or propound a modest Question : This Phrase of Christ's taking upon him the Person of Sinners ; Does it signify more or less , than Christ's taking on him our Sins , and suffering for them in our Place and Stead ; or does it signify neither more nor less , but is just adaequate and commensurate to , and with it ? If it signifies less , then it limits and narrows the End of Christ's Sufferings , and will be a Sense only serving the turn of a Socinian ; If it signifies more than that , then it comes of evil and leads to evil , even to the Dreggs of Antinomianism ; but if it signifies neither more nor less than Christ's standing and suffering in our Place and Stead , when he offer'd himself to God ; then I embrace it , subscribe it with my whole Soul. But then what need is there to pester and vex the Christian Faith with a Word which signifies neither more nor less than that old Term which has obtain'd so long in the World , that we cannot be deceived in it : whereas this new Phrase , Christ suffered in , or took upon him the Person of Sinners , is a Phrase to puzzle and confound Mens Understandings . § 5. I think therefore we ought in the first place to inquire what they mean by the Person of Sinners ? and then to inquire about Christ's taking it up . Does it import that all Sinners are united , and are to be supposed , conceived , considered as one Person ? and so Christ died , suffered , satisfied for that one Person ? very good ! then I perceive we are tackt about to the Tents of the Arminians , and do suppose that Christ died for all equally : for if all Sinners be one , or to be reputed as one Person , and Christ took upon him that one Person , it will be difficult for all their divi●ing and prescinding Skill to make it out how he died for one , and not for another , seeing all these Sinners , as in Christ's Eye , are but one single Person . Now I do not once conceive that this is their Sense , for they are too far gone the other way : but by this way of expressing my self , I would provoke and tempt 'em to fix a tolerable meaning upon the Phrase ; though it were more reasonable that they should choose a sound Phrase for a sound Meaning , than torture an incorrigible Phrase into an honest Meaning against its Will. The Purer Primitive Times were wisely concerned for the preserving the Truth , that they decreed in the Sixth General Council ; that it should not be lawful to introduce 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , any unusual way of speaking , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , any new invented Terms , upon great Penalties ; and a modest regard to this Canon had prevented a world of Miscief , and all this Blunder and Confusion which 〈◊〉 arbitrary Terms have produced among 〈◊〉 § 6. I will shut up this Head of Discourse with this modest Proposal : Let this Matter be thus worded : That Christ in his suffering and dying was considered by God , and placed himself in the place and stead of all the Elect ; so that he made Satisfaction to the Divine Iustice for all their Sins ; the Benefits and Advantages whereof , every individual Person shall partake of , in that Order and Method , and upon those Terms , which the Wise and Holy God has prescribed in the Gospel : Which Proposition you , and I , and all sober Persons in the City and Country would readily subscribe , and leave these Gentlemen , who it seems are at leisure to invent new Controversies , to their own imperious Humours . II. The Reporter has miserably imposed upon you in Matter of Fact , nor has he shewn that due Regard to Truth , which he and all of us owe to so great a Soveraign : A few Instances I will give you , that you may be convinced how little Reason you have to take him or his Narrative upon their bare Words . ( 1. ) One Specimen of his Honesty , you shall meet with at the Entrance of his Paper ; and its ominous to stumble at the Threshold , lest he should break the Neck of his whole Discourse . And thus in a pompous Stile he breaks into the Business : After sundry Attempts made by the industrious Pacificators , an Instrument was pitcht upon , which gave Satisfaction to the most Learned of both Parties : This Paper was sent by Six or Seven of the biggest Name among them , who do , or at least have gone under the Denomination of Presbyterians , unto some Congregational Brethren , and gladly embraced by them . Now , Sir , do you not judge that this Instrument which gave such Satisfaction to , and was so gladly imbraced by the Congregational Men , had redintegrated the violated Union , had reclaimed them who had deserted their former Station ; that all Distances were wholly removed , and Jealousies and Suspicions of Socinianism on the one side , and Antinomianism on the other were cured , and that a Coalition between the Two Parties had hereupon ensued ; that they were all now got together again at Little St. Hellens ? I assure you , Sir , not one Word of this was true ; and that you shall truly learn from these Particulars : 1. Whereas he affirms This gave Satisfaction to the most Learned of each Party : what does he then think of Mr. Tho. Cole , and Mr. Nath. Mather ? are not these to be reckon'd in the Number of the most Learned of that Party ? These great Persons will hardly return him Thanks for expunging them the Catalogue , unless they judge him no competent Judge of their Learning . 2. Whereas he tells us that it gave Satisfaction to the most Learned of each Party : it appears it gave no Satisfaction at all : For they of the Congregational Interest never intended to receive such Satisfaction , as to return to a Re-union ; and this was openly avowed by one of that Number , who was not of the least Name , nor made the smallest Figure amongst them , That they never designed to enter into an Union with the Presbyterians : and of this I can produce incontestible Proof ; this Rational Jealousy was the Reason why Mr. G. Hammond refused his Hand to that Paper , yet declaring , ( if the Reporter says true ) he would gladly have done it , if it might be a mean to restore Union ; which he had just Grounds to believe it never would , and therefore refused . The Truth is , it was known from first to last through the whole Transaction of that Affair , that this Expedient would never Retrieve the Union ; only if they could get any Advantage by it , to put a Slur upon Mr. D. Williams , this they would gladly embrace , and then let the Union shift for it self . 3. But will you see with your own Eyes how these Gentlemen were satisfied , and how gladly they embraced the first Paper ? Thus it was ; After all the Pains taken ; after much Attendance , great Courting of , and Waiting upon them , they obtained this Little , this No●hing , or Nothing to the Purpose of Re-union : They are glad to find so good an Agreement amongst us , as this Paper doth express : No doubt , a little is better than nothing , and so much Agreement as this comes to , is better than going to Logerheads : But are there any Expressions that intimate they are satisfied upon the Terms of this Paper to unite ? do they express any embracing of Communion with one another ? ( 2. ) I come now to a Second Instance of the Reporters regard to Truth , where you will easily observe how by a wretched Synecdoche , he has given you a part for the whole of a just Narrative . This is called the Politicks of the Pismire , which nibbles off the Grain at both Ends , that it may never grow , but come to nothing : Or rather , this Report is framed according to the Law of a Good Heroick Poem , which , our Criticks tell us , must always commence at the middle of the Story ; This is the Method of our Reporter , who enters upon his Report about the Middle of his Matter , and therefore expect a pure Poetical Fiction . He begins with the Mention of Pacification : I think he should have informed his Country Friend ; That there was once an Union ; that this Union was broken ; and then who they were that made the Breach , and upon what Grounds ; and how the Breach was pieced up again ; and then how it was without any visible Reason broken again ; and then he might seasonably have enter'd upon the Story of his so celebrated Attempts for Pacification : Now , Sir , to supply the Deficiency of his Story , I 'll give you a full and faithful Account of the whole , wherein I shall inform you of nothing but what you know already . § 1. In the Year 1691. After many Meetings of Ministers of both Persuasions , after frequent Applications to the Throne of Grace ; certain Heads of Agrement were drawn up , and assented to by about Eighty Ministers in and about the City of London , and by some others in a little time . This Agreement was solemnly transacted , and seriously concluded with this Protestation : As we Assent to the forementioned Heads of Agreement , so we Unanimously Resolve , as the Lord shall enable us , to Practise according to them . Amongst those Heads assented to , the Eighth contains the Test and Standard of Orthodoxy , and speaks thus : As to what appertains to Soundness of Iudgment in Matters of Faith , we esteem it sufficient that a Church acknowledge the Scriptures to be the Word of God , the Perfect and only Rule of Faith and Practice ; and own either the Doctrinal Part of those commonly called the Articles of the Church of England ; or the Confession , or Catechisms shorter or larger , compiled by the Assembly at Westminster ; or the Confession agreed on at the Savoy , to be agreeable to the said Rule . This Agreement was the Honour and Strength of the Dissenters , and in the Practice of which they made the greatest Figure in the Eyes of all wise Men : They became the Rejoycing of their Friends , the Envy of their Enemies , to whom they had formerly been a Scorn . In the Practice of this Union they walked together ●eaceably , holding Communion in Prayer , Preaching ●he Word , and Sacraments ; mutually strengthning the Hands of each other , consulting , counselling and advi●ng , and assisting one another ; and one of the great ●lessings of this Union was , that they contributed to the Relief of their poorer Brethren in the Country , supporting and encouraging them in the Work of the Lord. § 2. But a little before this , 1690 a new Impression , of Dr. Crisp's Works , with an Addition of some Sermons came into the World , which was judged by some to contain divers strange Doctrines , ether evidently Erroneous , or of dubious Construction , creating a suspicion in some tender Minds , lest some Doctrines were openly vouched , or secretly couched in them which might disturb the Harmony of the Confession they had signed , and without great Care and Caution , might weaken , if not dissolve the Union . § 3. This awaken'd some of the more Zealous among the United Brethren to consider of some proper Expedient to obviate the growth of those Errors : Amongst and before the rest , Mr. Williams , a Brother of the Union , composed a Book stiled , Gospel Truth Stated and Vindicated , wherein some of Dr. Crisp ' s Errors are considered , &c. A Book , to say no more , ingeniously Penned ▪ exactly Methodized , the Truths and Errors fairly Stated , and for ought I can see , piously designed . To this Book upon its first Edition , several Ministers gave their Judgment thus far ; That he had ( in all that was material ) fully and rightly stated the Truths and Errors , &c. and in 〈◊〉 second Edition many more gave their Iudgment of it in th● same Words . § 4. But now , Sir , as if Aeolus had opened all the Treasures of his blustring Winds ; or a Flood-Gate had been drawn up to let in the Sea upon us ; such a Storm of Passion , such Indignation against the Author and his Book , broke out , as had almost overset the United Brethren with their Union , if Providence had not timously interposed by a powerful Word ; Peace , be Still ! For upon the 17th of October , 1692. a Paper wa● brought in to the Brethren at Dr. Annesly's Meeting● House , importing a heavy and high Charge against th● ●uthor and his Work , subscribed by Six Brethren , Is●ancy , Geo. Griffith , Tho. Cole , Nath. Mather , Rich. Tay● , Rob. Trayle . Accusing him , amongst other things , fall in with the Antinomians , under Colour of opposing ●em : for setting up a way of Justification by Evangeli● Works : That he denies the Covenant of Grace to● made with Christ , with some others , and a Reserve more Objections , and Articles of Impeachment to ● alledged in due time . Now , Sir ! Whilst its fresh upon my Memory , let ●e beg your Patience while I make , and your Pardon ●at I do make some short Observations upon this ●aper . 1. I will observe to you , that among the many and ●ievous Crimes laid to his Charge , they never objected ●at he denied a Change of Persons between Christ and us : 〈◊〉 that he denied Christ's taking upon him the Person of Sin●ers ; and yet now all the Quarrel centers in this one ●ing ; that which I note it for is , that you may employ our piercing Head in considering what should be the ●eason that all the Weight , all the Stress is ●aid upon this ? 2. Observe further , That the Phrase of Change of Per●ns between Christ and us , and his taking upon him the ●erson of Sinners , are Terms wholly unknown to those ●onfessions and Articles which were made the Test of ●oundness in the Faith , by the united Ministers . Nay , ● you have the Leisure , search the whole Body of Con●essions of the Reformed Churches from Helvetia to Tran●ylvania , thence to America , and you shall not find these Terms , Phrases or Expressions in any one of them . 3. Hence you will infer that Mr. Williams cannot , up●n that Account , be judged erroneous by any of the Reformed Churches , seeing he has not ( as it does not appear that he has ) contravened any of their Doctrinal Articles ; nor can he , or ought he to be censured by the ●ody of the United Ministers , because he never subscribed to these Expressions , inasmuch as they 're not to be found in any of those Articles which made the Standa●● of Soundness in the Faith. 4. And let me observe this further , that amongst 〈◊〉 Six Persons that gave in the Charge against Mr. William one Moiety of them never entred into the Union ; a●● it 's strange upon what Principles they should char●● Mr. Williams as breaking that Union , when they the●selves had never enter'd into it . After this short , but necessary Digression , I will no● re-assume my Narrative . § 5. Matters standing in this dubious Posture , and v●sibly inclining to a scandalous Rupture , some Brethre● of a cooler Temper ( and there were always such amo● the differing Parties ) moved that an equal Number 〈◊〉 the Brethren , and of each side , might be chosen to a●vise and consider if any healing Expedient might 〈◊〉 found out to beget a right Understanding between th● litigant Parties : It was done , the Ministers convene● and after many servent Prayers for the Spirit of Lig●● and Love , the Result was this ; That Nine Articl● were drawn up and subscribed by the chosen Brethre● by Mr. Williams and Mr. Chauncy , and when brought 〈◊〉 the Body of the united Brethren , it received their Approbation . § 6. Amongst the Nine Articles then agreed on , 〈◊〉 shall only mention part of the Third and the Fift● Articles , because these relate to our present Controversies . 3. Article , Of Christ the Mediator . The Lord Iesus Christ by his perfect obedience , and Sacrifice of himself , which he through the Eternal Spirit once offe●ed up to God , hath fully satisfied the Iustice of his Father . 5. Article . Of Iustification , &c. Those whom God effectually calleth , he also freely justifieth ; 〈◊〉 by infusing Righteousness into them , but by pardoning their ●●ns , and by accounting , and accepting their Persons as ●ighteous , not for any thing wrought in them , but for ●●rist's Sake alone ; nor by his imputing Faith it self , the Act of ●elieving , or any other Evangelical Obedience to them , as ●●eir Righteousness , but by imputing the Obedience and Satis●●ction of Christ unto them , they receiving and resting on him ●nd his Righteousness by Faith , which Faith they have not of ●●emselves , it is the Gift of God. § 7. These things thus setled , they proceed to a for●al and solemn Agreement . 16 Decemb. 1692. This day the Brethren who endea●oured to accommodate the Controversy , did with Mr. Wil●iams , Mr. Chauncy , and the other Five 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 mo● made One , and the broken Bone being set by a skill Hand , we hope will be the stronger ; not because it w● luxated , but because it was skilfully restored . Th● Matters are happily compromised , Union and Peace covered , and the United Brethren chearfully pursue t● great ends of their Union : A great Disappointment t● gave to the Devil , who rejoiced in their Divisions . A● now , Dear Sir , what are your Thoughts ? Can the ● nemy any more sow his Tares in the Field amongst t● good Grain ? Will not the Brethren hereafter take mo● care of taking and giving Offences ? Will they n● henceforth watch lest any Root of Bitterness shou● spring up , and give 'em Trouble ? I will noe to you few things : 1. Here was the result of what Understanding th● all had , in drawing up these Articles , and they thoug● they had sufficiently fenced their Union against all Inv●sions from Socinian , Arminian and Antinomian Op●nions . 2. All Objections then made against Mr. Williams h● Book are accounted ●or : All antecedent Quarrels a● buried in the Grave of this Agreement : Whatever Co●troversies might arise from any thing Mr. Williams ha● then written , are from the Day of the Date hereof , f●ever shut out of Doors . 3. Therefore any new started Debates about Chang● of Persons , or Christ's taking upon him the Person of Sinners , are void , and of none Effect ; if Mr. Williams shal● 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-pur●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 ●ad . 9. Notwithstanding the late Re-union , the United Brethren soon found there was some Dissatisfaction in 〈◊〉 Breasts of the Reconciled Brethren , who gradually ●drew from their Assemblies and common Meetings , ● not only so , but set up another opposite Meeting , ● Neighbouring Place , at the very Hour , and on the ●e Day that the United Brethren assembled at Dr. An●ey's : Some few of them would now and then drop when they had occasion to serve themselves of the ●ion , and commonly there was One or Two to spy 〈◊〉 their Liberty , whether meerly from their own In●ations , or Ordered to that unworthy Imployment their Principals ; and if they could pick up any thing ●y conceived might be grateful at Pinners-Hall , they ●uld not fail to give Advice of it , while the poor incent Presbyterians were seriously consulting the Ho●●ur of their Lord , and promoting the Interest of Reli●●●n , without respect to Party or Faction . Nevertheless the Brethren went on in the way of their ●ty , and though they had but slender hopes of retrie●g their Brethren to Reason , were willing to call them ●pes still , rather than to sit down and sink in utter ●espair : And therefore not standing on Points of Ho●●ur , as if they who first departed without cause , should ●st seek to return , they were willing rather to imitate ●eir gracious God , who first invites the Sinners to Re●nt , and Turn , though the Sons of Adam were first in ●e Revolt . They thought it more Glorious to yield in ●der to Peace ; than to be stiff , though in a just War. ●here being therefore a Brother yet left of the other ●umber , who had not quite fallen off ; one that had ● excellent Talent in dressing up Creeds and Articles , ● was imployed , or imployed himself to bring in rude ●raughts of new Articles ; and they were rude ●●deed . In May , 1695. Another Attempt was made for Peace● If peradventure they might recover the Dissenting Bre●thren into the Bosom of the Union , and Articles we● framed of different Natures ; by some of which they e●●deavoured to clear themselves of the least Suspicion 〈◊〉 Arminianism ; by the others they were desirous the Di●senters should purge themselves of all Suspicion of incl●●ning to the Antinomians . The Paper then sent to the other Party was as fo●●lows . WE the United Ministers in and about London , co●sidering of a way to preserve the Union and preve● any mistakes , and remove any Prejudices that may arise amo●● us to interrupt the said Union ; Do declare , that we do st●● 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 commo● called the Articles of the Church of England ; or the Conf●●sion , shorter and larger Catechisms compiled by the Assem●● at Westminster , or the Savoy Confession ; and do Renou●● and Testify against all Opinions and Doctrines dissonant the● from : As for Instance , amongst many others . 1. That there is no definite Number of Persons elected fr● all Eternity , whom God will by his appointed Means , certa●●ly Save and bring to eternal Life . Leaving the rest , 〈◊〉 fall under a just Condemnation for their Original and Act● Sins , especially for their Neglect and Contempt of the Me● 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 th● Natural Faculties of Reason and Will , unassisted by the espe●●al Light and Grace of the Holy Ghost , to perform all that necessary to Salvation ; or that his special efficacious Lig● and Grace is not necessary to their Conversion , Perseveran● and final Salvation . 4. That any of them whom God hath foreknown , predesti●ated , called effectually according to the purpose of his Grace , ●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 ●s , are any part of the Righteousness , for the sake of which , 〈◊〉 on the account whereof , God doth justify any Man or intitle ●im to Eternal Life . § 10. The United Brethren when they had thus gi●en their Jealous Brethren this over-abundant Satisfacti●n of their Innocence as to any Tincture of Arminianism , ●y their subscribing Articles , turn'd into all possible ●hapes and Forms , did think it Reasonable that the Dis●enting Brethren should a little answer their Expectation ●lso , by a more express Renouncing some odd Notions which savoured pretty strongly of the other Extreme . And it 's an unquestionable Truth that some of them had ●ented such strange Doctrines , that it gave Umbrage to ●hem that there might be found among them one or two ●r so , that had dipt very deep in those Crispian Hetero●●xies : and therefore for a Trial , they transmitted to ●hem these Seven following Propositions . On the other side [ we renounce these Doctrines . ] ( 1. ) THAT Men are under no Obligation to make use of their Natural Faculties , with such external means of Salvation as God affords them ; praying in hope , for his gracious Assistance , in order to that blessed End. ( 2. ) That God hath not made Offers of Grace by Christ , 〈◊〉 all within the Sound of the Gospel , testifying that whoever believeth shall be saved , without excluding any , and commanding them to believe accordingly . ( 3. ) That any are in the Sight of God Iustified or entituled 〈◊〉 Eternal Life , before they are effectually Called , or while ●hey continue Unregenerate , or in Unbelief . ( 4. ) That any may expect Pardon without Repentance . ( 5. ) That continued Repentance towards God , and Fai● in our Lord Iesus , and Holiness of Heart , and Life , are 〈◊〉 in the Nature of the Thing , and by the Gospel Constitution ●●cessary to Salvation . ( 6. ) That the Moral Law is not of use to unregener● Men , to awaken their Consciences to fly from the Wrath come , and drive them to Christ , or that it is not a Rule Life to them that live under the Gospel as well as others . ( 7. ) That Believers falling into grievous Sins , do not i● curr God's displeasure thereby : or that they may expect ●●●surance otherwise , than by the Evidence of those Graces which the Promises of Salvation are made , and by the Test●●mony of the Spirit of Adoption witnessing with our Spir● that we are the Children of God. We have thought it our Duty to bear our Testimony agai● all these erroneous Opinions , or any other contrary to the pla● Tenour of the Gospel of God : And we do further protest ●●gainst all undermining one another in any matter of Churc● Discipline and Government , and do heartily desire to mai●●tain Communion with each other , according to the Heads Agreement which we have assented to . And if any thi● hath been done or spoken by any of us , through mistake or ina●●vertency that may cause any just Offence to the Prejudice the aforesaid Union ; we are ready upon better Informati●● to rectify the same , still desiring and resolving mutually , Brotherly Forbearance towards one another , in any less Points wherein we may differ . And now , Sir , do you , and let the impartial World judg● whether these Dissenting Brethren did not owe a Sati●●faction to the United Ministers , as well as the Unite● Brethren to them ; and whether there were not mo●● pregnant Reasons to suspect some of them inclining 〈◊〉 Antinomianism , than they could pretend to Reasons 〈◊〉 suspect any of these Veering towards Arminianis● And yet , to the Amazement of all considerate Person● though the Five first Articles were received ; the Seve● last were wholly rejected . I say this further , It was not without cogent Reasons ●at the United Brethren after they had given such fre●uent and incontestible Demonstrations of their Sound●ess in the Faith , against all Arminian and Socinian Er●ors , and were still ready to give all further reasonable ●roofs thereof , did try these Dissenting Brethren , whe●her they were sound in the Faith , in Opposition to the Antinomian Heresies ; especially when some of the big●est Name amongst them , from the Press and Pulpit had ●isseminated such horrid Opinions as filled all intelligent ●ersons with equal Astonishment and Indignation ; Now ●ir , because most of you in the Country are innocent ●n these matters , and perhaps not many of you have yet ●eard what abominable Doctrines the Wantonness of ●ome Mens Fancy in this City doth produce ; I will give you a little Taste of some few of them , with this Caution , that you would implore the special Grace of God to fortify your Souls with that Antidote , least this ●ittle Taste should prove your Bane and Poyson . 1. To talk of a Gospel Threat is at best a Catachresis , and nothing else can save it from being a Bull. 2. Pardon is rather the Condition of Faith , and much more haveing a causal Influence thereunto , than Faith and Repentance are of Pardon . 3. It was Sin as to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that Christ bore ; the Fault of Sin was laid on Christ ; the Sin it self as opposed to Guilt ; Christ was reputed a Criminal , not only by Man , but by God. 4. As to the Elect there was never any Guilt upon them , in respect of the Righteous Judgment of God , in foro Dei , but that which accompanied the Letter of the Law , setting in with Conscience . 5. Union with Christ is before Faith , ( at least Naturâ ) and we partake of the Spirit by Virtue of that Union . 6. Justification in regard of Application , must be before Believing . 7. The first Application , ordine naturae saltem , is to ungodly Man , eo Nomine , that he may believe . 8. We believe that we may be justified Decla●●tively . 9. It is denied that God requires Faith as an indispe●●sable Qualification in them , whom he will justify 〈◊〉 Christ's Merits . 10. All that a Believer can pray for , is the furth●● Manifestation of Pardon , for he knows that all his S●●● are pardoned . 11. A Believer is to work from Life , and not 〈◊〉 Life . 12. It 's a great Truth , that God sees no Sin in a B●●liever . 13. Sin can do no real Hurt to a Believer . 14. God is not displeased with his People , and is 〈◊〉 angry with the Persons of Believers for their Sins . 15. Legal Convictions before saving Faith are no mo●● than Sin ; it 's but the filthy , Conscience polluting , Gu●●● of Sin. 16. All imperfect Holiness is Sin. 17. Turn ye , turn ye ; why will ye die ? is but the T●●umph of the Law over a dead Sinner . 18. The Eternal Life in which the Angels were cr●ated and confirmed by Christ , differs from that Etern●● Life which Believers have in Christ : The one is Creature Life , or a created Life ; the other is the Ete●●nal Life of God communicated in time . 19. Believers are as Righteous as Christ ; I mean no● in a way of Similitude , but in a way of Equality . 20. Christ's Incarnation was no part of his Humiliation . 21. We Coalesce upon believing into one Mystical person with Christ , which is distinguisht from Legal Union which is before Faith. I doubt not but by this time , you are abundantly sa●fied that the United Brethren had Just Reasons to 〈◊〉 and of the Dissenters , and might reasonably expect ●om them , that they should clear themselves in these ●oints , when they had given such Offence to the Uni●●d Brethren , who had over and over , given them all ●anner of Satisfaction , in all points wherein they could ●etend any Suspicion of them , to be leaning toward ●e Arminians : But alas ! no Satisfaction could be ob●ined , they were inflexible ; and would not comply in ●y one of the Seven Articles proposed to them ; and ●us the Breach became beyond the United Brethrens ●aking up . III. In this Melancholick Posture of Affairs , pray ●ell me what could the United Brethren do more than ●o sit down in a Sorrowful Silence , and commit them●elves and their Cause to God , whose Cause indeed it ●as ; yet comforting themselves that they had the Te●timony of their own Consciences that they had pur●ued the things that made for Peace , though without ●uccess . In this Juncture , there were some Brethren piously disposed , and with sincere Intentions no doubt , who would be doing something , though they little knew what that something should be , or what would be the Success of it ; and that would make another Attempt for Union ; and these were they whom our Reporter calls , and may they deserve to be so called , the industrious Pacificators . Now these acting upon their personal Account , and without Instructions or Directions from the Body of the United Ministers , held many Meetings , had many Debates , the Product whereof was a Paper signed by Nine of those Brethren who had put their Names to Mr. Williams his Book ; some others who had not subscribed that Book , only express'd themselves thus ; We are glad to find so good an Agreement amongst us , as th● Paper doth express . But this poor Paper produced no real Effect , both because some of the leading Men of the Dissenters , woul● not , or did not sign it ; and because the Paper grew into small Credit , when it was known , and it was soo● known , that some of those whose Names were affixt t● it , disowned that they had put their Hands to it , no● had impow'red any to do it for them , and by what way or by whose means their Names were put to the Paper they could give no Account . After some considerable Time of Expectancy , finding no real Effects of this Paper , no Approach made by the other Party towards Re-union , the Body of the United Ministers judg'd themselves concerned to take the Matter into Consideration ; and appointed some of their own Number to prepare Matters , who drew up somewhat , which being presented to them , after mature Deliberation , they put their Thoughts into tha● Form , which is now called the Third Paper ; of which I will give you some Entertainment , when I have firs● premised a few Things . ( 1. ) The Body of the United Ministers did not , could not look on themselves as concluded or bound up by the former Paper , because it was managed without their Privity , and however without their Order . ( 2. ) Therefore they proceeded upon the whole matter as intire and clear in it self , not prepossessed by , or prejudiced against it , but as free , and in their own Power to resolve as God and their own Consciences should direct them . ( 3. ) And yet they carried it with a decent respect to those of their Brethren who had engaged in the drawing up the former Paper , and accordingly retained as much of that Paper as they safely could , and drew-up this other in Conformity to the former , saving in some Expressions and Phrases , which were either judged of dubi●s Sense , or dangerous Consequence . ( 4. ) They well knew that those Brethren who had a and in penning the first Paper , laboured under some conveniencies in that whole Transaction , from which ●ey were now set free . For 1. Their own strong Pro●ensities to Peace , might possibly lead them to swallow own some harsh Expressions , and to accept of Peace ●on very hard Terms . 2. There were some Persons 〈◊〉 the other side , who being much given to the Poli●●cks , and great Intrieguers , might easily over-reach ●ch as proceeded with Plainness and Integrity of Heart , ●d suspected not to be out witted by those , to whom ●ey were no ways inferiour in Learning , or any useful ●nowledge . ( 5. ) Those Brethren who had their Heads , and ●ands , and Hearts too , in drawing , dressing and sign●g the former Paper , when they had heard the Reasons ●d Arguments of the whole Body , where all matters were ●anaged , not in a hasty and Precipitate way , but with ●e greatest Calmness , by slow Paces , with great Li●erty , and Freedom of Debate and being now dis-in●mbred from the Counterpoize of Oppositions or In●uations ; might , and did see just Reasons to alter the ●rase , and new model some Expressions , which had ●ept into the former . ( 6. ) And hereof you may be fully assured , inasmuch those individual Nine Brethren , who for , and in ●pes of Peace , had signed the former Paper , had their ●ands , and Heads , and Hearts too , in the forming , ●ording , and assenting to this Third : Nor did they ●rein alter their Judgments , or vary in the least from ●eir zealous Desires of Peace and Union , only they ●w saw , this last Paper was the same in all Things ●ith the former , saving in some few Passages and Expres●ns , which carried a Face of some dangerous Tenden●es ; which , however they might escape the Notice of private Brethren , could not pass the Observation of many discerning Heads , who with utmost Applicati● set themselves to prevent any Inconvenience that mi● arise to the Truths of the Gospel . ( 7. ) Lastly , the Controversy lying chiefly in so● School Terms , or Jargons of Art , and of very late 〈◊〉 trivance ; such as A Change of Persons between Christ 〈◊〉 us ; which may possibly be capable of receiving a so● Meaning , and yet is more sounding towards a dan●●rous Sense ; the Brethren did unanimously agree to gr● as much as the sound Sense could bear , and modes● to wave and pass by the other , which was liable to interpreted to a Sense and Sound of Malignity to 〈◊〉 whole of the Gospel ; and they are now more fully 〈◊〉 swaded that they were in the Right by the Reporters ●●tions , and those of the Manuscript exemplified in the 〈◊〉 port , if that was not of the Reporters Invention , wh● to me is not material . IV. Proceed we at last to the Consideration , and 〈◊〉 amination of the Reporter's Objections , with those the Manuscript . The present Controversy ( says the Reporter , p. 3. ) is about Church Order , but Doctrinals ; and may be reduce● Two general Heads , viz. Christ's Satisfaction , and the Pe● Sanction of the Law ; though hitherto , the greatest Strug● has been about the First , unto which my Papers confine me● Methinks I need not observe to you , that they rese● more Heads of Contention under Deck , to be cal● above-board , when they have occasion for them : 〈◊〉 that if this impertinent Quarrel were at an end , ab● the Change of Persons ; they have another ready , and 〈◊〉 knows how many Legions more , to keep up the Strug● and that we shall never want either the Ball of Cont● tion to keep us in Breath , or the Bone of Content● to set us together by the Ears . Hitherto ( says he ) greatest Struggle has been about the former . Yes ; Hith● what shall be hereafter , who can divine ? Like ●se Pettyfoggers , Qui lites litibus serant Mortalibus im●taliter : However it be , I am heartily glad that he reduced the Controversy to Two Heads ; if they ●ve not like those of the Hydra , that where one was 〈◊〉 off , Two more succeeded in their place and 〈◊〉 . But he asserts , that hitherto the greatest Struggle has ●n about these Two : whereof the First is about Christ's ●isfaction . But herein you will need better Informa●●● , and a truer Report : for never , hitherto , have the ●ited Brethren , nor any one of that Number , given least Occasion to any to struggle with them about 〈◊〉 Point ; but they have clearly stated , vigorously ●intained that great Fundamental ; and for this they ●appeal to whatever of Impartiality and Honesty is in this lower World. They appeal to the Thirty ●e Articles ; to the Assemblies Confession ; that of Savoy ; to the shorter and larger Catechisms , and to ●ir own Papers publisht in 1692 to which they have ●reely subscribed , and never yet in the least departed , 〈◊〉 by the Grace of God , will they ever depart , no not ●h their Lives . ●Nay , I will speak a great Word : None has ever more ●arly stated this Truth , than Mr. Williams ; for which ●fer you to his Gospel Truth , 2 Chap. Though our Sins 〈◊〉 imputed to Christ with respect to the Guilt thereof ; so 〈◊〉 he by the Father 's Appointment , and his own Consent , ●me obliged as Mediator to bear the Punishment of our Ini●ies , and he did bear those Punishments , to the full Satisfa●n of Iustice , and to our actual Remission when we ●eve , &c. Now , Sir , because you well understand the Socinian ●ntroversies in all Points , and therefore in this , pray me if he has not in these Words obviated whatever ●asions the Socinians make use of , to avoid the Argu●nts brought to confirm this Truth : 1. The Guilt of Sins imputed to Christ. 2. Christ bore the Punishme● of our Iniquities . 3. And this was according to his F●●thers appointment and his own Consent . 4. This P●●nishment he bore to the full Satisfaction of Justice . To our Actual Remission when we believe . About what then is all this Struggle , or rather Squabbl● why Sir , 'T was lately they objected to Mr. William that his Righteousness would not go ; 't was Clipt within t● Ring : Witty enough in all Conscience ! but now su●●ceeds the Coining Age , and they have Stampt or Cou●●terfeited some new Phrases , Terms , Expressions , su● as Christ's taking on him the Person of Sinners , dying in t● Person of Sinners ; and raising a huge Dust about the● they call it a Struggle about Christ's Satisfaction , when i●●hing less : And I am afraid this False Coine w● not go . Will you observe with me , as we go along , how u● easy these Gentlemen sit under all the Old Confessions Faith , all the Articles of Religion , drawn up to be bo● Instruments of Peace and Truth . I will for a Mome● leave you to your Meditations , and a little freely d●●course with them . Come , Gentlemen ! Will the A●●cle of Satisfaction as propounded by the Church of E●●land , please you ? O , no! we are weary of that : Th● were Episcopal ! Will that content you which was co●●piled by the Assembly at Westminster ? Least of all ! Th● were Presbyterians ! Will then that of the Brethren at 〈◊〉 Savoy satisfy you ? They were Independent ! No! 〈◊〉 have had enough of that ! Well! Will that Arti● drawn up by your own selves in 1692. make you eas● No! We have occasion for some other Phrases ! W● is it I beseech you ? Will a Change of Person quiet yo● Yes ; in our own Sense ! Then again I beseech you t● us what that is ? Why that it be interpreted to sign● Christ's taking on him the Person of Sinners ; and that died in the Person of Sinners . And how long will that c●●tent you ? I can tell you that ! till the next Croc● comes in your Heads to invent another , and then the ●tress of Peace and Truth shall be laid upon that : I per●eive we may as well bind Proteus , as fix your Desulto●y Humours , or as the Comaedian expresses it , Canem ●ugitivum Agninis Lactibus alligare . For this has been our Method all along ; you draw up a Proposition , ●ou hope Mr. Williams will boggle at it , he subscribes . ●hen study another ; Invention is fertile : It 's done ; ●nd Mr. Williams subscribes to that too ! Then invent a ●hird , a Fourth , and so on till he refuses , and then you ●ave gained your Point , and done your Business : Mr. Williams shall be an obstinate Heretick . It 's now high time to examine their Objections , whe●er against Mr. Williams for the Papers sake , or against ●e Paper for Mr. Williams's sake , it 's not very clear ; or whether against both , for Divisions sake , I am not con●ern'd ; nor will I promise to confine my Answers to the ●rguments against either ; but yet I think I shall chief●● confine my self to those Levelled against him , and ●ot wholly waving what they say against this Third Pa●er ; though in Truth there is but one Paper that the ●nited Brethren are concerned to own and justify : ●nd the Reason of my procedure is plainly this ; I have ●o warrant to vindicate the Brethren , they are more ●ble to answer for themselves , which if they think such Report deserves it , they will certainly do ; and for Mr. Williams , I need none of his Leave or Allowance ; ●r any Man may defend the common Cause of Christi●nity , or answer any Arguments brought against it , ●ithout his Permission or Commission . Mr. Williams as asserted and publickly owned that Christ died in our ●ead [ Vice nostrâ , loco nostro . ] And more fully as I ●uoted him , Gospel Truth , Chap. 2. Now the Manuscript 〈◊〉 the Report answers : ( 1 ) That our modern Innovators ( does he mean them●lves ? ) have assumed to themselves a Priviledge of impo●g an heterodox Sense on sound Terms and Phrases : And that these Words [ in our place and stead ] do not with many now a days signify a Surrogation , or a proper Change of Persons in a legal sense , but import no more than [ for our good . ] To which disingenuous Objection I return thi● Reply : § 1. It is here then acknowledged , that these Word● of Mr. Williams's are sound and orthodox , ; and wha● would these unreasonable Men have him do ? how shal● he speak to please them ? must he use heterodox Term● and Phrases ? and then qualify them with a sound Meaning ? They that revile him for speaking soundly , because others put an ugly Meaning upon his Words , how would they have reviled him had he spoken heterodoxly , and then thought to salve all with a good Meaning ? Let Mr. Williams speak the Words of Truth and Soberness , and preach the Doctrine which is according to Godliness , and let the Uncharitable judge what they please . § 2. But have these Modern Innovators usurp'd this Priviledge , to impose an heterodox Meaning upon sound Words ? Then it will follow that these Men , who without cause have put an evil Meaning upon Mr. Williams his Expressions , are Modern Innovators ; nay , malicious Slanderers : And they are guilty of a more heinous Sin , that they usurp the Priviledge of God to judge the Heart ● Charity thinks no evil ; that is , where none appears ; an● where has it appeared that Mr. Williams reserved any Heterodox Sense under those Holy and Wholesom● Words . And what if these Words [ in our place and stead ] do not with many now a days signify a Surrogation ? how can Mr. Williams help that ? If Surrogation signifies [ in our place and stead ] it s very fair ; for I would always have the more dark Term explained by the more clear and familiar , and not that which is plain by the more dubious and dark : I should think the Light should comment better upon Darkness , than Darkness would inter●ret the Light. Still he carries on the Charge ! These Words do not sig●ifie a proper Change of Persons in a legal sense . I answer : ●ho can tell that , till they shall tell us , what a proper ●hange of Persons in a legal sense , does signify its own self ? ●t them agree , if they can , to fix what the meaning of proper Change of Persons in a legal sense , does import , and ●en it may be judged whether [ in our place and stead ] ●oes signify as much as that comes to . But the Caviller proceeds ; in our place and stead ( with ●me ) signify no more than for our Good : why 't is impos●ble they should : That which Christ suffered in our ●ead was for our good ! to bear the Punishment of our ●ns , to satisfy Divine Justice was certainly for our good ! ●hat by his Death and Sufferings , he delivered us from ●e greatest Evils , Hell and Wrath ; and that he pur●ased for us the greatest Blessings , Heaven and Glory , ●as most certainly for our good : So that he argues ●us ; If for our good , then not in our stead ! But I will inert the Argument ; If in our stead , undoubtedly for our ●od ; and therefore for our good because in our stead . ( 2. ) The Manuscript gives a Second Answer : The ●nglish Socinians declare that the Hinge of the Controversy ●tween them and us , turns not on the Words [ in our stead ] ●at the Men of the Racovian way consider our Saviour as ●ffering for us , and in our stead . Take this Reply . § 1. 'T is all the better ! I had rather have them speak ●onestly , though with a knavish meaning , than speak ●d mean both like Knaves . § 2. But pray , Sir , ( I direct my self to you , Mr. Ma●script ) If the Socinians will put an unsound Sense up●n sound Words , will you quit the sound Phrase because ●ey put a wretched Sense on 't ? What other Remedy ●ill you advise us to ? Why our wise Gentlemen have ●und out an Expedient that shall out-wit them ; for if ●ey think to evade [ in our place and stead ] they have another ready , viz. That in the Sufferings and Death of Christ there was a Commutation of Persons : But this wil● not do the Feat ! For Socinus and Crellius , will grant there was such a Change of Persons ; and what will they do now ? Why here 's a new Phrase ready to put in it● place , viz. That Christ died in the Person of Sinners ; or that he took on him the Person of Sinners . Not too fast that would have served for next time . But assure your self , Sir , though your Invention be never so fruitful i● new Phrases , the Socinians are as pregnant in Equivocations , and Interpretations to elude and evade the new Terms ; and you must be put to the needless trouble to make new Intrenchments as they distinguish you out o● the old , and so on till you have not one Foot of Ground to 〈◊〉 . See now to what a wretched pickle you have reduced your self , and which is more , the Cause and Truth of Christ. The Socinians have by a false Gloss driven you from that old excellent Phrase [ in our place and stead ] you retreat to [ a Change of Persons between Christ and us . ] They put a false Gloss upon that , and then you retire to Christ's [ dying in the Person of Sinners . ] Do you think they cannot give a false Construction of that too ? and so you must make and coin new Terms and Phrases in infinitum . § 3. I will therefore in Charity ( if you are pleased to ●ccept it ) recommend an easy Expedient to you : I● you suspect that any under a sound Expression conceals an unsound Meaning , ask him , if he understands it properly in a legal Sense , or no ? ask him , if he means that Christ suffered in our stead as a Sacrifice to satisfy God's Iustice ? and there you have driven him to the end of his Equivocations , for which Mr. Williams has given you the only proper Draught in the place I have already exemplified . And beyond this you cannot go , unless you will have recourse to the Rack or Spanish Inquisition , which is a Remedy worse than the Disease . § 4. I add one thing more : If both these Phrases , Christ's suffering and dying in our place and stead ; and that other , A Change of Persons between Christ and us , be liable to be thus practised upon by Men of great Wit and little Conscience ; and that no Terms can be found out so plain , but crafty Heads will suborn them into an evil Meaning , I would then a Thousand times sooner chuse , to adhere to this Phrase , Christ suffered and died in our stead and place , [ loco nostro , vice nostra ] than to that other , In the Sufferings of Christ , there was a Change of Persons between Christ and us : For the former has had its Signification strongly fixed and setled , by long usage and prescription ; whereas this latter is but of Yesterday , and scarce Two Persons , no not the Inventers , are agreed amongst themselves , what Sense to stamp upon it . Again , the plainest Christians have a tolerable Understanding of the former ; whereas the other does but amuse and confound them : Nor is it so dangerous to the Main of the Cause , to mistake in the one as in the other ; for he that by Christ's suffering in our stead intends he suffered for our good , speaks the Truth ; but he that mistakes in the Sense of Commutation of Persons , may err the whole Heavens , and mis-lead himself and others into the Dreggs of Antinomianism . In a Word therefore ; The Socinians are Subtle , and have put a false Gloss upon Christ's dying in our stead ; shall we therefore discharge that Phrase ? so have they put a false one upon Commutation of Persons ; shall we therefore by the same Reason discharge that also ? Why , they have put as absurd a Sense upon the Term Satisfaction ; which with them signifies no more than Satisfaction made to the Will or Wisdom of God : must we therefore relinquish that too ? Then we give them up the whole Cause : How much more advisable would it be , to keep to the old Land Marks , and adhere to what Mr. Williams with all that are sound in the Faith , have asserted ; That Christ suffered and died in our place and stead , as a Sacrifice to satisfy Divine Justice ; and then let the Socinians , and whoever have a wicked Mind , try their Skill in evading and eluding it . ( 2. ) A Second heavy Charge against Mr. Williams is , That he absolutely denies a Change of Persons between Christ and the Elect : to which the united Brethren in their Third Paper ( as he calls it ) give a clear Answer ; That it could not be intended as a denial of a 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 ●hose of Jam. 2. 24. Ye see then how that by works a man ● justified , and not by faith only . Here as that Learned ●erson observed , is a seeming Contradiction , not by works , ●nd yet by works ; by faith only , and not by faith only : for ●e clearing of which , he prudently wav'd all the com●on Solutions , and upon the whole thus determined ; ●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 ●hen God must give us other Faculties than these we now have ; for according to those poor ones we are at pre●ent Masters of , whatever God may oblige us to , I am certain it 's simply impossible that both the Propositions ●an be true ; and I think too , it 's as certain , God can ne●er reveal or oblige us to believe a Lie. ( 3. ) But the Reporter , in my Opinion , has discharged more formidable Argument against the Paper●nd ●nd Mr. Williams too ; p. 6. For whereas the Third Pa●er had said ( or the Cover to it ) That on our so happy ●stablishing the Doctrine of Iustification , we need say but lit●le to the point of Commutation of Persons . And to speak a ●lain Truth , That little they said , was enough , because ●hey had establisht the Doctrine of Justification upon its ●roper Basis , namely , Divine Revelation , upon which bot●om God himself had establisht it , and then it stands unmoveable , and the Gates , the Power and Policy of Hell ●all not prevail against it . Now hearken to the Report of ●is Canon , a great Report without Ball. It 's impossible to establish the Doctrine of Iustification on its ●ue and proper Basis , any otherwise than by clearing the point of Commutation of Persons . Impossible ! what a huge Opinion have these Men of ●he vast extent of their Intellectuals ? They can admea●ure it to a Hairs Breadth , just where the possible ends ; and where the impossible begins : It had been more modest to have qualified the Word with [ for ought I know , or 〈◊〉 apprehend ] but if that great Doctrine cannot possib●● be establish'd upon its Basis without clearing the Poi●● of Commutation of Persons ? why do they not , why hav● they not long since cleared it ? Dr. Crisp has cleared i● and to say Truth , though he be erroneous , yet he spea● clearly , we see his Sense ; but these Gentlemen spea● dubiously , darkly , at best but in the Twilight , an● whether there be a sound Sense under those obscur● Phrases , we know not , nor perhaps they neither . This Doctrine had need be well setled , and in ord●● thereto the Basis of it well cleared ; for I have ever t●ken it to be Articulus stantis , out cadentis ecclesiae : If th● Article fails , the Church fails and falls with it ; and 〈◊〉 were better the whole World should fall than either Give me leave to offer a few things to his high Con●●dence . 1. He that will build a Castle in the Air , must b● content with a Foundation of Air to support it ; and 〈◊〉 that will form an Imaginary Notion of Justification , mu●● provide a Basis in his own Imagination , for it to rest u● on . If indeed Justification admits no Faith , as Dr. Cri●● has contrived it , then we must admit his Pedestal to se ●e it upon ; To reckon our selves in Christ's Person , an● Christ in ours , which is his Commutation of Persons , but 〈◊〉 the Holy Ghost unites the Soul to Christ by Faith , i● no such impossible thing to conceive how both our Si●● may be imputed to Christ , and his Righteousness to th● be lieving Sinner . 2. This great Doctrine of Justification is already se●●led upon Divine Revelation , there it has stood from th● Beginning , there it shall stand to the end of Time , an● Things , and needs not the presumptuous Fancies 〈◊〉 towring Wits to place it on a more from Bottom . Bu● are we not brought to a sine pass ? we must trust Go● no farther than we can see him ; believe no more tha● we can understand a Reason for ; that is , we must whee● about to the main Principle of the Socinians , to admit no more into our Creed than we can comprehend : He that will settle the great revealed Doctrines of Religion on a humane Foundation overthrows it . The Scripture has sufficiently revealed the Doctrine of Justification , to be through Christ's Righteousness accepted of God , received by Faith ; and for this Commutation of Persons in their Sense , it knows nothing of it . Let not therefore this Gentleman be so over-officious ●o erect a Basis for Justification of his own Head , or of wiser Heads than his ; the Holy Spirit has done that already , left putting forth his daring Hand to stay the Ark , which he dreams begins to totter , he should meet with the fate of presumptuous Uzzah . 3. I would ask this modest Question : Where has this Doctrine of Justification been setled all this while , since the Reformation ? since the purest Primo-Primitive Times ? What! has it hung , like Mahomet's Tomb , in ●he Air ? or floated , like the Ark , upon the Water ? No! It has stood firm and unmoveable upon Scriptural Foun●ations , against all the Assaults of Papists , Socinians , Ar●inians , and Antinomians : It has stood visible in the Ar●icles of the Church of England ; in the Confessions of the Assembly at Westminster ; in that of the Savoy , in the Ca●echisms shorter and larger , and yet this uncouth Phrase never yet heard of : It is strange to me , that Councils General , and Provincial Synods , Assemblies of Holy Learned Men , should so often , so strenuously assert , and confirm by the Word of God , this great Truth , and yet never once dream of Dr. Crisp's Commutation of Persons , ●pon which to superstruct the Doctrine of Justification . Nay , I would intreat these Gentlemen to look at home ●nd inquire whether any particular Congregation of ●hat denomination soever , did ever insert any of these Terms amongst their Credenda , even that to which he ●ay belong , or over which he may preside , and yet I will presume they have the Doctrine of Justification Orthodoxly propounded , judiciously explained , and solidly confirmed without these Innovations and strange Term of Commutation of Persons , Christ's taking on him the Person of Sinners , or dying in the Person of Sinners . 4. This Phrase , the Change of the Person of Christ ; may have , and truly has , an honest and sound Sense ; in which it may be of some good use to explain the Doctrines of Satisfaction and Justification ; and it is that which the Right Reverend the Bishop of Worcester , with Grotius against Crellius do put upon it . Reason of Christ's Suffer . Edit . 1. p. 144. viz. the Substitution of one Person in the room of another , and pag. 143. A proper Redemption may be obtained by the Punishment of one in the Room of another ; which is neither more nor less , than that Christ suffered and died in our room and stead . And this is it , which the former and latter Papers , which Mr. Williams , and all others do freely own , and that which is denied , is only such a Sense of the Phrase as his Antagonist asserts ; 〈◊〉 therefore Christ's dying , by way of Change or Exchange be all they would have , 't is no more than what is granted in that other Expression , he died in our place and stead but if they must have a further Sense , we are afraid o● Nonsense ; if they must have a higher Reach , we are afraid of an Over-reach ; and therefore let them tell us how much larger a Sense they have some secret Services for , and when we know , it will be told them whether we judge it Orthodox , or otherwise . ( 4. ) Casting my Eye upon the Manuscript I meet with a small Cavil against Commutation of Persons as i● stands either in the Third Paper , or in Mr. Williams and if it be indifferent to him whether of them be misrepresented or reproached , it shall be as indifferent to me , if either of them be set right or vindicated . Now the Words he cavils at ( as he quotes them ) run thus It is apparent , that Commutation of Persons is to be understoo● in a legal or judicial Sense ( as we may call it ) : He by Agreement between the Father and him , came into our room and stead , to answer for our Violation of the Law of Works . At which he cavils thus : [ As we may call it ] not that it is really so in a legal or judicial Sense , only we may so call it . To which I reply . 1. As we may call it , is not opposed to Reality , and the Criticks do commonly observe that there is a sicut veritatis , as well as similitudinis ; and we must expect when the Humour takes him to cavil at the Apostle , who Heb. 7. 9. uses a like Phrase ; And as I may so say , Levi also , who received Tythes , paid Tythes to Abraham : The Phrase there does not deny the Truth of the thing ; but is a Form of Speech wherewith we usually mollify an Expression , which to tender Ears may seem a little harsh and strange : such as these Terms , Legal and Iudicial , might do to vulgar Understandings . He that will answer another Man's Words ought faithful●y to quote them , and oblige himself to a syllabical Exactness : But I perceive this Answerer wears not such a ●crupulous Conscience : Not that it is really so , only we may so call it : Now his not and his only , are either his own Text or his own Comment , and let him see to it to ●econcile them to Truth , for the Words may carry this Sense : As we may call it , i. e. As we may lawfully call ●t ; and not as his Gloss bears , only we may so call it , which ●s either a gross perverting of the Meaning , or a bold ●alsification of the Words . But I have an answer worth Two of this ; and will produce their Great Master in this very Case , thus qualifying his own Words , Gosp. Truth , p. 31. 2 Edit . Thus , ●ays Dr. Crisp , in giving Christ , God is pleased ( as it were ) ●o make a Change ; and yet none questions but that Do●tor thought the Change as proper , as literal as they can ●esire , or Words can be found to express . But will they ●ive us the liberty to interpret the Doctor 's , as he does Mr. Williams's Words ; God is pleased as it were to make a Change : yea , not really or properly to make a Change ; ●ut only as it were : and so we shall have glost away the ●eloved Phrase of Change of Persons . But still the Manuscript proceeds in his objecting Faculty ; A Commutation in a Legal Sense , is the same with 〈◊〉 proper Surrogation ; and what is a proper Surrogation , but a placing one Person in the room and place of another And thus God placed his Son , and the Son so placed him self in our room and stead , and he was a Sacrifice to satisfy Divine Justice : Are they not all agreed ? One would think so ! Ay , but there is more at the Bottom what is that ? why , where the surety puts on the Person and stands in the Quality , State and Condition of the Debtor , and lies under the same Obligation to answer for him . I wish I were worthy to advise this confident Man not to insist so strictly upon that Notion , of Debt and Debtor : For if he supposes Sin to be only a Pecuniary Debt and that the Sinner stands only obliged as such a Debtor he has betrayed the Cause he seems so zealous to defend and yielded it up irrecoverably to the Socinians ! And this is that which the Learned Author of the Reasons of Christ's Sufferings , p. 269. has warned him of long since : The true state of the Controversy ( says he ) has been rendred more obscure by the Mistakes of some , who have managed it with greater Zeal than Iudgment , ( he had never seen the Report nor Manuscript ) and by this means have shot over their Adversaries Heads , and laid their own more open to Assaults . It 's easy to observe that most of the Socinians Arguments are levelled against an Opinion , which few who have considered these things do maintain , and none need think themselves obliged to do it . That Christ paid a rigid and proper Satisfaction for the Sins of Men , under the Notion of a Debt , &c. The Sinner therefore is to be considered as a Malefactor , who has forfeited his Life to Justice , and here the Surrogation and Substitution of Christ intervenes , who has by Agreement between his Father and him , offered himself as a Sacrifice to Satisfy Divine Justice . But still says the Manuscript , in this Paper , ( the ●hird ) Christ's putting on the Person of Sinners , and his undertaking for them the Obligations of the Law of Works is ●ft out . To which I will return these things : 1. If Christ's ●tting on the Person of Sinners be left out : It 's better out ●an put in , till it be known what it signifies . 2. And for the other Expression ; Christ's undertaking answer for them the Obligations of the Law of Works : Is at left out too ? and not a Word put in their Place , that peculiar to a proper Satisfaction ? Pray then let 's read the ●ords as he has quoted them , p. 6. Christ , by Agreement●●ween the Father and him , came into our room and stead , answer for our Violation of the Law of Works . What is ●e nice difference then between Christ's answering for 〈◊〉 Violation of the Law , and answering for us the Viola●on ? or what the critical difference between Christ's ●●swering for them the Violation , and answering their●●iolation ●●iolation of the Law of Works : He that answers for 〈◊〉 the Violation of the Law , answers for my Violation the 〈◊〉 Law ; but this it is to be Hypnewcriticks in The●gy , when it 's often ridiculous even in Philology . But the Eye that sees all other things , sees not it self ; ●d this Manuscripturist , that could discern the More the Eye of the Third Paper , could not see the Beam at was in his own : Let the Impartial judge ! The First ●●per expresses it self thus : Christ putting on the Person , ●●d coming into the room and stead of Sinners to answer for ●m the Obligations of the violated Law of Works : The ●hird Paper thus : — To answer for our Violations of the ●●w of Works : But this faithful Person repeats it thus : answer for them the Obligations of the Law of Works . The ●bligations of a Law , as it stands intire , is one thing , and 〈◊〉 Obligations of a Law as violated , is clearly another , 〈◊〉 where Passion prevails we must not expect Imparti●ty , especially if any thing of Mr. Williams falls under ●onsideration . I will close this Head with this short Note : It is freely granted that Christ suffered and died for the Persons 〈◊〉 Sinners ; that he suffered and died for the Sins of the Persons ; that he suffered and died in the room and stea● of their Persons ; that he suffered and died to make Satisfaction to the Iustice. to the vindictive Iustice of God : Nay he lives in their Persons by Faith ; and lives for ever 〈◊〉 plead for their Persons on the Throne ; and yet all th● is nothing , unless it be granted that Christ died in the Person of Sinners too : which they are resolved he sha●● do , whether he or the Scriptures will or no. ( 6. ) I had almost forgot a Passage in the Manuscrip● for which I ought to have begg'd Pardon , because 〈◊〉 contains so much Learning : In p. 7. What more comm● amongst the Learned than Subrogatum & suffectum in locu●alterius , ejus Naturam sortiri : Here is Learning enoug● in all Conscience ! the Mischief is , 't is but a scrap bo●rowed out of Calvin's Lexicon Iuridicum ; and will neve● do the Business of him that quotes it : for that Term 〈◊〉 Surrogate , he might have fetcht it nearer hand from D●ctors Commons ; and for his suffectus in locum alterius , yo● have it interpreted , Consul suffectus , est qui pro alio substtuitur ; sic enim appellabatur qui in demortui Consulis locu● sufficiebatur : Ab ordinari is autem consulibus non autem suff●ctis , Anni computabantur ; & id circo minor eos honor , m●nor Laus sequebatur . Now what is their parallel betwee● this Suffect●s Consul ; and our blessed Lord Jesus , as surrgated and placed in the room of Sinners ? This Substitute not in Being , till the former be dead : This Substitu●● was of less Honour than the Former ; nothing was re●koned in his Name , but in the others ; and therefor● though he might Sortiri Officium , yet not Naturam ; 〈◊〉 supplied the Office , but acted not in his Person ; he w●● substituted in locum alterius , non in Personam alterius . I have observed all along , and shall now once for al● give you my Observation : That this Reporter , bega● at first to hint a Change : In a while , he smoothly slid● into a Change of Persons between Christ and us : Then insensibly he steals into Christ's taking upon him the Person of Sinners : And at last he silently comes to , Christ's dying in the Person of Sinners ; And I note it for no greater end , but that I may requite his Civility , with a little Thred of the Civil Law ; as I find it , Tit. digestorum , de verb. signif . No. 177. Natura Cavillationis haec est , ut ab evi●denter veris per brevissimas mutationes disputatio ad ea , quae videnter falsa sunt pr●ducatur . This is the Nature of Cavilling , when from some things evidently true , the Disputation is lead by short Changes to those as evidently false . Sir , It 's time , high time that I ease you and my self of this trouble , and I will effectually discharge you , when I have left with you a few Queries , which you may consider at your Leasure . § 1. Do you understand the true Reason why these Gentlemen in the City will not be persuaded to settle the true Notion of Christ's taking on him the Person of Sinners ? dying in the Person of Sinners ? For I find that the true Reason why some do not subscribe it , is because they do not understand it : and yet on the other side , there are some who say , they understand it too well to subscribe it ; there are yet some who affirm , that the Words have only this honest plain Meaning , that Christ suffered and died in the place and stead of Sinners , to make Satisfaction to Divine Justice , for them , and for their Obligations to his violated Law : but then , should they declare as much , all the Design would be defeated and utterly blown up , for then Mr. Williams would certainly subscribe it . § 2. Pray , Sir , inform me Quo Warranto ? By what Right do these Gentlemen impose such hard Terms of Union and Communion ? Why must all the World be Hereticated that dare not subscribe to these Apocryphal Phrases , which neither Scripture nor Ancient Fathers , nor General , nor Particular Councils , nor Synods , nor Assemblies , nor Nation reformed , nor single Churches ever brought into their Creeds , Confessions , or Articles of Faith , to be the Standard , or Test of Orthodoxy , or the Terms of Communion ? And I am the more earnest in this Query , because the Dissenters formerly have complained heavily , That some things were imposed on them as necessary to Communion , which were n● ways necessary to Salvation . § 3. And I would be satisfied how it comes to pass that if these Terms insisted on , be necessary to support the Doctrines of Satisfaction and Iustification ; they themselves never once mentioned or moved , or insisted on them , that they might be inserted into the Heads of Agreement , upon which they united in 1691. nor into those Articles debated , agitated at Great Pinners-Hall , and afterwards agreed to , at Little St. Hellens , where yet the highest , hottest , and greatest Names of the Contender● did subscribe to the Articles of the Person of the Mediator and of Iustification , when yet not a Word or Syllable o● Christ's taking on him the Person of Sinners , dying in th● Person of Sinners , &c. was once spoke of , and therefore conclude were never then thought of ; 1692. § 4. I wish you could inform me , whether they have received any new Revelations , or made any new Discoveries of these great Secrets , and the indispensible necessity of these new Notions ? Whether they are become 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , the Adepts in the Rosacrucian Mysteries , 〈◊〉 have found out the Philosopher's Stone , to turn all Antinomianism into pure Gold ; or whether the true Reason of all this Pother be not , that they are resolved to beat their Brains till they have found out some terrible Term that shall check Mr. Williams his Faith , and gravel his Conscience , that so he may be discarded , for Non-subscriber . Though I am pretty confident , if 〈◊〉 understand him , he 's both wiser than to be bubled and made a Cully , and honester than to be hectored out of his Understanding . § 5. I would propound it as a Moot Point , whether ●e Socinians , who have blasphemously degarded the ●erson of Christ , into a God by Office , though a meer Man by Nature : or the Antinomians , who own him a God by Nature , yet affirm him to have been a Sinner , ●he greatest of Sinners ; nay , sinfulness it self , do more ●erogate from the Honour of our Redeemer ? he that ●enies me to be a Man , does less reproach me than he ●at affirms me to be the greatest Villain . And it might ●rther be queried , whether it was not the absurdest ●ing in the Heathens to confess that their Gods were ●oly , Dan. 4. 8. the Spirit of the Holy Gods , and yet to ●ll such Stories of their Rapes , Adulteries , and Thefts , ●at bear the greatest contrariety to Holiness ? § 6. Whether therefore it be not equally a Duty to ●oviate the De●estable Doctrines of the one as well as ●e other ? If this be a Day ( as the Reporter , p. 4. assures 〈◊〉 it is ) wherein Socinianism is Rampant ; it 's a Day too , ●herein Antinominism is no less Triumphant . And there●●re the United Brethren , like wise men , have provied against both , whereas some , like Foolish Mariners , ●ontent themselves to stop one leak in the Ship , though will as certainly be sunk by the other : If therefore ●word was so wise as to set a Hedge , a Bar , a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , about 〈◊〉 Doctrine of Christ's Satisfaction ; why should not Pru●ence advise to set a Hedge about the others , And First would have a Hedge , a Thorn Hedge set about the ●octrine of God's Holiness ; that he be not made the ●uthor of Sin , as some Mens Principles inevitably do : ●nd I would have a Bar , a Barriere ( stronger than that Flanders against the French ) set about the Divine Ju●ice , that Men may not dare to represent him as a Ty●nt , in making so many Millions to Damn them Eter●lly , to Damn them without respect had to their De●erits : Especially I would have a strong 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pla●d about the Doctrine of Iustification ; and that Faith made indispensably necessary to it , in all the Adult : And I am the more urgent in this Matter ; for if Faith be not necessary to Iustification , perhaps it may not b● so to Salvation : because if God can delight and tak● Complacency in an unbelieving Sinner , an impeniten Wretch that hates Him , his Son and Spirit , and all hi● Ways , and Laws , for one Minute , there 's nothing i● the Nature of the thing that hinders , but he may tak● Complacency in him to Eternity . But if this Gentleman will hedge about this Doctrine as I take him to be a good Hedger ; if I were worthy to advise him , he should never set a Hedge of Human Invention , about a Doctrine of Divine Revelation . Le● the Garden and the Hedge be both of a Piece , and le● him never think that the Doctrine of the Gospel will eve● be secured by his own ●ond Contrivances . § 7. Whereas this Reporter with his Brother Manuscript have pretended such a marvellous Kindness , if no● Foundness , and to be so desperately enamoured of th● First Paper , they are grieved and afflicted , and I know not what , that it was rejected ; and yet that Paper expresses a Bearing with one anothers Infirmities , and different Sentiments about Logical or Philosophical Terms , or meerly . Humane Forms of Speech : why they should make such a hideous Out-cry and Hubbub about Christ's taking o● him the Person , dying in the Person of Sinners ; when these are meer Humane Forms of Speech , at best ; as Humane denotes Infirm , though not as it signifies Rational . I would be satisfied further , why that first Paper did not think it reasonable or just to charge upon any Brother such Consequences of any Expression or Opinion of his , which he himself shall disown ; and yet Mr. Williams shall no● have the Benefit of the Clergy to explain his own Words , and such Consequences must be forced on him and them , as the Words do not admit , and the Author does abhor . § 8. Seeing the great struggle has been not about the Satisfaction of Christ , as the Report misrepresents it , but about some odd Phrases and Expressions , in which 't is cloathed , especially these of Christ's suffering in the Person of Sinners , &c. whether if this be a sound and safe Way of expressing that great Doctrine , it will not endure to shew its naked Face , in some other of the learned Languages ? and if you please , make an Experiment how well it will look in Latin ; Christus passus ●est in Personâ Peccatorum , seu peccantium : How do you like it ? what do you think of it ? again we are told , p. 7. of Christ's sustaining the Person of Sinners : Now , good Sir , what is sustinere Personam alterius ? What then can these Expressions signify , but that Christ wore the Mask , the Vizor , the Disguise of Sinners ? That he was Personatus Histrio ? Like a Stage Player , that puts on the Person of a King , when indeed he is but some sorry Fellow ; now what a wretched blasphemous Representation of all the Love and Goodness of our glorious Redeemer is this ? which yet shone forth in his Cross though much eclipsed by his dreadful Sufferings . You may possibly have read Salmasius his Defensio Regia ; which he enters upon , with the News , De parricidio apud Anglos in personâ Regis , &c. To which , I. Milton , who wrote and understood Latin , as well as the great Critick , makes this Return : Quid quaeso , est parricidium in personâ Regis admitter ? Quid in Personâ Regis ? Quae unquam Latinitas sic Locuta est ? nisi nobis aliquem forte Pseudo-Philippum , narras , qui Personam Regis indutus , nescio quid Parricidii apud Anglos patraverit . Whatever excuse they can make for the English Phrase , I know not ; but this I know , it 's pretty hard to damn all the World for an Anglicism . § 9. Tell me freely , what do you think of that strange Spirit that runs through the whole of the Report , and Manuscript ? They would both make us believe how grieved , how afflicted they are that this Third Paper was sent , and the former rejected , by the Body of the United Brethren , p. 5. this is one thing that grieves the Offended Brethren : and another Passage increaseth their Sorrow , &c. And p. 7. we cannot but be grieved to observe , &c. and p. 11. they have added to the Grief of the offended Brethren : Now do not you in the Country fancy from these Expressions , that they have been melted and drowned in Floods of Grief and Sorrow ? And why then did they not grieve to make the Breach in the Union , to break it again , when it seemed to be closed up ; in all which they were certainly the Aggressors : And why did not they advance one single Step towards the Re-union , upon the signing of the First Paper ? They had time enough between that and the sending of the other : which may remember you of what you read in some Naturalists , that the Crocodile weeps over his Prey and then devoures it . Of the same Temper you will interpret the Reporter's strange Transport of Passion , with which he concludes : To the All Wise God , be render'd Honour , and Glory , that the indefatigable pains of the Pacificators have issued out in so happy an Agreement of the most Godly , Learned , and Iudicious Ministers in and about this City , &c. To which he should have added ; — Et quorum pars ego Magna fui . Yea , no doubt , an indefatigable Pacificator , who was first imployed to Lowze Mr. Williams his Book , that he might pick Quarrels with it ; and as little question of his Godliness , Learning and Iudiciousness ; but these Tears , these Praises are all Mo●kery . And these Doxologies are like the Modern Te Deums , which take Pay on both Sides , and are calculated for any Elevation ; and will serve indifferently Paris and Vienna . I have much more to observe to you , and Paper would sooner fail me than Matter ; but I will spare you , and indeed my self ; If you blame me for Writing , thank your self , from whom I received the first News and Sight that there was such a Creature as the Report , to your self therefore justly belongs the Answer . Now I am aware they will say , that you are no real Person , but like Letters which they use in Law-Cases , for which any in the Alphabet will serve the turn , but because I know you well , as you me , I recommend you to the Protection of the Almighty , and with you , I. and B. &c. Yours in all Faithfulness . A POSTSCRIPT . READER ! THOU mayest possibly wonder that the Report and Manuscript should bear so hard upon the Third Paper , and yet so graciously smile upon the First : and what sufficient Causes there can be conceived , to justify their height of Passion against 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 ●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 Field for Exceptions ; for Mr. Williams has written a pretty many things , and it were hard , if Ten Thousand Men , having Ten Thousand Sentences to except against , could not make Earnings of it for three Lives , and the longest Liver of them , and so they have entailed the fibble frabble to succeeding Generations . You have heard the hard Terms required , will you § 2. Now hear the Favours promised upon his fulfilling the Conditions : We shall so far acquiesce therein as not to make them the Matter of farther publick Contest or Altercation amongst our selves . O quantum oh quantillum ! What a World of Work must he do for such sorry Wages ! what severe Penance for this hungry Absolution ! Will they acquiesce ? O no! but so far only ! How far ? pray , that he may know the worst on 't ! they will make no further Contest : Well , but if they make no further , they may keep the old or the present Contests a foot still ; but will they promise to make no further Contest ; not to raise new Objections , pick new Quarrels ; but be content with the old ones ? I mistake ; They will make no further Publick Contests ; but Private Whisperings and evil Surmises , and insinuated Slanders , and clan●estine Reproaches may be multiplied , whilst Mr. Williams lives , and 't is to be feared , will feed upon his Carcase , and survive his Dust and Ashes . To shut up this ungrateful Subject ; those very Brethren , who from amongst the Presbyterians had some , concern in this First Paper , after having heard the Debates and Reasonings of the United Brethren , being satisfied that they had gone beyond the Bounds of Moderation , did ingenuously ( to say no more ) joyn with their brethren of a more benign Temper , in the Third Paper , which is that Crime , amongst some others , which these Bigotts will never forgive . III. Give me leave , Reader , to bestow one thought more , upon the Manuscriptors tragical Harangue , upon Mr. Williams's pretended Contradiction : A Change and no Change ! what , a Negative of the same import with an Affirmative ! Yea and Nay , Words of the same Signification ! Crimen inauditum Cai Caesar ! But did he never hear or read of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ; a Gift and no Gift ? I make no question but he had heard of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ; a Marriage and no Marriage : and though there might be some Solaecism in 't Theotogically , yet it was no Grammatical or Logical Contradiction : and if the one of these does not offend his tender Ears , nor the other grate upon his tender Conscience , he might have spared his pompous Rhetorick upon a Change and no Change ! Nor indeed in this Case ; does a Change signify no Change : Nor is a Negative of the same import with an Affirmative : Nor yet are Yea and Nay , Words of the same Signification ( as he childishly Fancies ) but that there may be a Change ( in a certain Sense ) which is well consistent with no Change in another Sense , without the mortal Hazard of a Contradiction ; even as he that may be said to be Married and yet not Married , may be said also with equal Truth , to have Changed , and yet not Changed his Condition : Of which some may have heard on both sides of their Ears . IV. Reader , Thou hast heard much noise about that Book , Gospel Truth stated and vindicated , &c. and of the Subscription to it by some Ministers ; I could wish thou wouldest be so true to thy self , and just to the Subscribers , as to view with thine own Eyes how far the Subscription extended ; for this is the pretended and assigned Reason of their Fire and Faggot , with which they have presented it and them : It was no more than this : They judged that he had in all that was material , fully and rightly stated the Truths and Errors therein mentioned . Now if the things be not rightly and fully stated , in all that is material , why have not these Gentlemen , with all their Acuteness and Exactness , stated them better ? The same Quarrel they had formerly raised against the Book and the Subscriptions , or rather against the Author and Subscribers , which most Men thought had been composed , and full Satisfaction given , and in which the opposite Party did acquiesce ; as appears from the printed Transactions of Dec. 16. 1692. But it seems they reserved some Seeds of further and future Quarrels in their own Breasts , and had smothered some secret sparks of Contention under the Ashes of their Compliance , which now after some Years they have blown up into a greater Flame : But if they were then satisfied , why are they now dissatisfied ? And whence is it , that in the First Paper , they have changed the former Declaration into this other : That the Generality had given their Names only to a short Abstract of Truths , and Errors which they had seen ( and since is much enlarged ) and not to the Book it self , which they had not seem . Reader ! Mr. Williams , and the Generality of the Subscribers do hereby demand Justice of the Authors of this Assertion ; and they doubt not thou wilt do 'em Right , upon this Evidence : 1. The Author doth protest there was never yet any Abstract , short or long , of the Truths and Errors , since they were first stated . 2. That the State of the Truths and Errors was seen by all that Subscribed , and Printed before any one Subscribed . 3. Whereas there were Sixteen who Suscribed the First Impression , and Three and Thirty who gave their Names to the Second ; there were three or Four of the First Sixteen who had read , not only the State of the Truths and Errors , but the Book it self : And therefore ●he Author and Subscribers do humbly and modestly ask , ●y what Construction , by what Interpretation it can be ●id , that the Generality gave their Names , &c. unless Twelve Ministers could be the Generality of Nine and Forty ? which we must leave to be adjudged by those of ●hese Gentlemen who are so versed and skilled in Mer●hants Accounts . I will conclude with this ; If these Contenders will go on to exact so much , and yield so little for the Sake of Union ; they sell their own Innocency and the Churches Peace for nothing . ERRATA . PAg. 3. l. 27. for Stuff , read Huff . p. 6. l. 23. for delighted read defiled . p. 24. l. ult . for wholly , read for the most part . p. 27. l. 11. for any one read most . p. 47. l. ult . read Hypercriticks . p. 48. l. 26. for their , read shere . FINIS . BOOKS Printed for John Lawrence at the Angel in the Poultrey . THE Life of the Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter . Published by Mr. Matthew Sylvester . Folio . Mr. Pool's English Annotations ; with the Additions of Content to each Chapter : And a Concordance written by Mr. Sam. Clark The Third Edition : In Two Volumes . Folio . Mr. Giles Firmin's Review of Mr. Richard Davis his Vindication giving no Satisfaction . 4to . Mr. Lorimer's Apology for the Ministers , who Subscribed only unto the stating of the Truths and Errors in Mr. William's Book Shewing that the Gospel which they Preach , is the Old , Everlasting Gospel of Christ : And vindicating them from the Calumnies , wherewith they ( especially the younger sort of them ) have been unjustly aspersed by Mr. Trail's Letter to a Minister in the Country . 4to . Mr. Lorimer's Remarks on Mr. Goodwnin's Discourse of the Gospel : Proving that the Gospel Covenant is a Law of Grace ; answering his Objections to the contrary , and rescuing the Texts of Holy Scripture and many Passages of Ecclesiastical Writers both Ancient and Modern , from the false Glosses be forces upon them 4to . Sir Heward's Free Discourse , wherein the Doctrines that make for Tyranny are displayed ; the Title of our Rightful and Lawful King William vindicated ; and the unreasonableness and miscievous Tendency of the odious Distinction of a King de Facto and de Iure , discovered . 8vo . Remarks on a late Discourse of William Lord Bishop of Derry , concerning the Inventions of Men in the Worship of God. Also a Defence of the said Remarks against his Lordship's Admonition . By I. Borse . 8vo . Mr. Slater's Earnest Call to Family Religion ; beiing the substance of 18 Sermons . 8vo . Mr. George Hammond's , and Mr. Matthew Barker's Discourses of Family Worship . Written at the Request of the United Ministers of London . 12ves . An Account of the Life and Death of Mr. Philip Henry , Minister of the Gospel near Whitchurch in Shropshire . Who died Iune 24. 1696. in the Sixty Fifth Year of his Age. 12 ves .