ifcsellers and 5 mporters, i Chestnut St., | l'+ I 1 v-8 fSSSLOGIcIi SEMINARY ^ PrincetoB, N. J- i) \ V N A C A L M DEFENCE O F T H E DEITY O F JESUS CHRIST In Remarks on a Letter to a Dissenter at Exeter. By John Moor, of Tivertom L O N D 0 I4: Printed for John C l a r ic, z?^ /^^ Bible rf;?/;i Crown in the Poultry, ne,ir Cheap- fide, 1719- Price Six -Pence iiHTi A CALM DEFENCE Of the Deity of jfESUS CHRIST. S I R, g^^Jij S you are not altogether unconcern'd '■^''^^ in the Difturbance that has been in Exeter^ about fome novel Notions advanced and eagerly propagated there of late ; fo I cannot well deny my Remarks on a Letter, which I was led by you to the Perufalof, though a confiderable time after its Publication. (a) The Doctrine of the Trinityy particularly the Deity of Chrifl: which it attacks, is mentioned as a Matter of ahflmfe Speculation ; and fome- times to ferve a Turn, that the Errors about it may pafs, and be diffufed with lefs Obfervation, "'tis fpoken of as not deferving fo much Zeal and (t) UtUY K 3. A Ani- (4) Aniniadverfion, as not being Fundamental, or o^ fo great Concernment to Chriftians, as the com- mon and receiv'd Opinion makes it. Tho' yet the Author truly fays (a) That an honefl Mm and agoodChrifiian can hardly fatisfy his Confcience with- out making Inquiry into a SuhjeH offuch Momeyit and Importance as this. And good Men have been wont to fuppofe, the Dodrine under debate not only to be clearly taught in the facred Scriptures, but the Center and Support of revealed Religion, and that the mofl important Articles of Chriftian Belief have a neceflary Dependence upon it ; and to con- fider it as a particular Foundation of their Hope and Trufl, as what runs thro"* the Vitals of their Jieligion, regulates the whole of their Worfhip, and infers ftrongeft Obligations unto Love, Gra- titude, and Duty. Our Author Q) ivijhes that the Gentlemen ivho acled with fo much Zeal, had thought fit to ufe a lit- tle more Confideration. What Conftderation he him - felf ufed while he fo freely blames the forward Zeal of others, we are left to guefs, by his con- feUing, that a juft and full Account had not been laid before him. And what Prejudice had it been to him, or the Caufe he m.aintains, if he had fufpen- ded hisCenfure, and Infinuation, fo.piuch to the Di fadvantage of thofe, v>hofe Reafons and De- fence he had not heard ? H E w ell obferves, that (c) E'^Jery Chriftian has an Inter eft at Stake, when the Controverfy' is about the fufreme ObjeS of IVorJhip^ All are, without doubt, concern^ to know whom they are to wor- lliip, and in what manner ; and' the meanefh Tra'defnqn hath as good a Right to fearch into matters that concern Salvation, as the prfuundefi (0 Ltter ^ 4. (^3 Itid. p. 3. (c) Ibid. p. 4.. Phi' (5) Phihfophcr. Yet it is far from being necefiary, that eitlier the one , or the other, do fully under- ftand, and be able diftindly to explain all that is to be believed concerning that fame Objed: of Worfliip. We muft conceive it to be a felf-exi- ftent and eternal Being, and yet we are unable to comprehend and explain the Nature and Manner of Eternity and Seit-Exiftence. Indeed it lies as a juft Prejudice againft the Scheme thefe Gentle- man appear fo fond of, that in order to draw the Scriptures to give any tolerable Countenance to it, and divert the Proofs that are brought for the contrary, "'tis found necefiary to imploy all the Qtiirks of Wit, and Arts of Criticifm, that Men ot fuch Parts and Learning are Mailers of; w^here- as the Scriptures are defign'd to inftrud all forts of Men, even of the meaneft Capacities, in Things neceffary to the pleaiing of God, and the faving of their Souls. . Nor does it give me a v^ery fa- vourable Opinion of Arianifm, to find Mr. /^/;//^ ton fo little to rely upon Scripture Proof, as to labour with the Expence of fuch Pains and Lear- ning, to bring in fo many fpurious, fufpeifted, or adulterated Works of ignorant Antiquity to be receiv'd as infpired Writings, ot equal Authority with the Holy Scriptures, efpeciaiiy confiderii^g how often Defect of Argument is fupply'd by bold and precarious Conjecture ; and what Advantage is hereby given to the Enemies of reveal'd Reli- gion, who have taken Encouragement to treat the undoubted Oracles of Truth with Neglect and Contempt. Our Author flicws fome concern, (a) T^hat a Douht is fnadcy vchether CLriftiaus way bear or receive the Siicrivrieats jrom Minijiers^ of tbe Sounds nefs (O nefs of wbofe jfudgments in thefe Points they are net fully ^e-rfwaded. It will be acknowledge that there is a Ditference between not being fully pe)fwadedy were Sentiments are concealed, and having con- vincing Evidence, or plain and fufficient Grounds oF Suijpicion. People have without doubt a Right to be fatistyd in the Minifters they ftated- ly communicate with, or commit the Care of their Souls to, that they be found in the Faith. And if perfwaded in their Confciences that they fliall be in danger of being drawn into Errors, which will greatly prejudice their Edification, if not hazard the undoing of their Souls, they may well deiire to be excus'd from running fuch a needlefs Hazard, or having fuch a Miniftry im- posed upon ""em, and think it their Duty to prefer fuch an One, as they can with more Safety and Comfort attend upon. Efpecially confidering what an Inter eft is at Stake^ when the Controve-rfy is about the fipreme Objetl gf JVorjhif ; and when "tis no lefs than the Crime of Idolatry that is juflly feared, on the one fide or on the other. And whence it comes to pafs, (a) ll)at there is a Scru- fie only on one Side of the Divifion, I can^t well comprehend, except it be to lerve a prefent De- iign, to amufe the People by an artful Compli- ance, till the Party be formed and its Strength thought fufficient, at once to throw off the Dif- guife, and to crufli fuch as fhall think themfelvcs obliged to {land in Defence of the Truth and the Purity of Worfhip, when they may in earneft, as fcems to be threatncd, (b) find themfehes affeBed zvith the Omfequences. What was the Spirit of the anticnt ArianSy and what Outrages they com- mitted a^ainfc the Faith, is not unknown to fuch {a] LetttrP. ;. (») I'uid. as (7) as are not altogether Strangers to Ecclefiaflieal Hiftory. One would hope to find the Modern in a better Temper and Difpolition. However Per- fecution, or civil Penalties and Hardlliips on th© Account of Religion, ought on all Sides to be utterly difclaim'd, and God's Empire over Con-^ fcience to be left untouched. But while we (a) make a juft Allowance fvr different Ways of tbinkingj aiW forbear to condemn one another y it follows not that 'tis neceffary or warrantable for me ordina- rily to communicate with a Minifter, whom I believe to be in a dangerous Error, by means of which my Acceptance with God, and eternal In- tereft are like to be prejudiced. Nor can that be ternj'd or conflru'd a Perfecution, if I take the Courfe, that God and Reafon dired, to provide for my Safety. He has given me a Power to choofe for my felf, and made it my Duty to guard againft.manifeft Danger and Temptation, and ufe the bed: and moft likely Means for my Edification ; nor can I think it fafe, much lefs my Duty, to live under the Miniilry of a Soci- man or Jefuit, when Providence attbrds me bet- ter Help and Means for Salvation. (^) 1' H E like may he faid in a great ?neafure in reference to Prayer. What reafon can I have to confine my felf to the Miniftry of fuch as agree not with me in the fame Objed and Manner ot Worfhip, when I am at Liberty to join in fo fo- lemn a Part of Worlliip as Prayer, where my Mind may be eafy and my Aifedtions united ? clfe I muif be ever upon m\- guard, vmder con- tinual Fear, Diftruft and i)ifi;ra6tion. Befides that there can be little Comfort or Satisfaction in Prayer, when my Minifter addrefles not to the (,>) Utter !>■(>. (0 ^"^' . . BlelTcd (8) BleiTcd Jefus, but as a Creature, or another Be- ing than thefupreme God, and I flill confider and adore him as one with the Father. Now what (a) Diftretion is in that Worfiip, which is manag'd with fuch difunited Minds, and diflraded Affec- tions ? And how little ground for (b) amaz^ementy if Dijfentey's, ivho make the Scriptures the only Rule cf their Worjhipy Jhould be uneafy with Arian Mini-' /iersy under the plaulible Pretence that they may make ufe of Icriptural, though ambiguous, Ex- prefllons ? Nor can I fee reafon for the artful Infinua- tion, that Heats and (c) Outcries are fubflituted in the place of manly Arguments and clear Proof s^ when the juft Danger of Errors that fubvert the Faith, and tend to the Ruin of Souls, is reprefented. As wc want not manly Arguments, which we arc not afliamed to produce in Confirmation of the Truth ; fo we judge it not any Breach of Juftice or Charity to call that by the Name of Herefy, which overthrows, and Hands in oppoli- tion to a Truth of fo great Moment and Impor- tance. What is abfolutely (d) fundamental^ ' or abfo- lutely necejfary to Salvation^ we need not be very forward to determine^ nor what allowances a gracious God may make for the different Cir- cumftances. Education, and Prejudices of Men, who, while they ufe fome honeft Means for Infor- mation, fall into great Errors (yet how we can cxpedt to be (e) Santlifyed, and (f) made free, but by the Truth I know not) ; however this hinders dot, but fuch Errors may have a fatal Tendency in themfelves, and may greatly endanger the Souls of fuch as are entangled in 'em : Nor (a) Uttrrp^ 7. (/,) lU, (c) nid, f, S. (d) Ii,id. {, 8. 9. fl^ould (9) fhould we treat ^em as harmlefs things, tho' their deadly EfFeds fhould happen to be prevented by foveraign Goodnefs. 'Tis pollible that a Man may have the Plague, and efcape with his Life ; yet 'twoud be defperate Temerity and Prefump- tion, necdlefsly, to run among the infefted : Wc are not forward to pronounce damnatory Sen- tences, yet are willing to deliver our Souls, where are manifeft Symptoms of Danger. W E can^t be eafily drawn to believe, that a Difference in the great and main Articles of Chriflian Faith, is (a) a meer Difference in Ofini- on I and are not ignorant of the intemperateHeats and Paffions, that have been on that Side of the Divifion, which our Author feems willing to- excufe and fcreen, as (h) under very great Provoca- tions and Injury ; but this may be owing to Mifre- prefentation and the partial Accounts which were given him. And I would by no Means juftify or plead for Injuries or Provocations on either Side. Truth needs none of thefe Managements or Sup- ports ; but is really wounded and injured by 'em. 'i'ho'' our Neighbours may have entertain^ dan- gerous Opinions, we cenfure 'em not prefently, as Firebrands of Hell, but wou'd hope that the pernicious Influence and Effed upon their Hearts and Lives, may be mercifully intercepted, and the Prejudices, Miftakes and Failu^res they have been led into, may be pardoned ; yet think it not Wifdom to venture on a Precipice cr Tempta- tion, becaufe 'cis not impoflible to efcape. What has been fuggefted about Fundamen-^ tal Articles, may juftly fuperfede further Altera- tion and Difcourfe ,• and it has been obferved of what Moment in our Religion the Article {a) Let tr f. 8. (i-) Uii p. lo. B under (lo) under Debate is; far enough from being (a) built upn chfaire Hims, and doubtful Reafom'ngs, as is artfully pretended , when clear and pregnant Proofs have been fo often offered, Tome of which are now to be brought under Confideration. And tho^ we are perfwaded, we have primitive Antiquity on our Side, and that the Dodrine \\c defend was efteem'd a main Article of Chrif- tian Faith, as well before as after the fourth Century; yet we care not to embarrafs the Matter with that Difpute, but are content to appeal to the Holy Scriptures, and to have it decided there- by, fuppoling the Revelation made with fuffici- ent Piainnefs. To come then to the Point. Here, with that great Mafler of Reafon, Arch Bp. Tillotfuriy I fix my Foot : (b) That there are three Difterences in the Deity, which the Scripture fpeaks of by the Names of Father, Son and Holy Ghoft, and every where fpeaks of them as we ufed to do of three diftind Perfons. And therefore I fee no reafon why in this Argu- ment, we fliould nicely abftain from ufing the Word Perfoi?y nor can fee any juft Reafon to quarrel at this Term. And why may we not apprehend, that in the one Godhead there may be Diftindtions, which we do not clearly and fully underftand, fufficient to found the Dcftrine of a Trinity, and fuch di- ifind: Predications as we find in the Scriptures ? unlefs we prefumptucully imagine, that we fo difcindly know every thing that belongs to the Na- ture of God, as to be able readily to pronounce, •what is poiTible to be in it, and what not. What is agreed to be a Divine Revelation, fliould certainly be treated with Refped and Awe, and not made, upon any Terms, to comply with (a) Letter p. lo. (b) r/^rk^s, FJ, p. jSp. our (" ) our preconceived Notions. But we ought with Modefty and Reverence to inquire into the Mind of the mod: High, and humbly receive the Dif- covery he has condefcended to make of himfelf and his Will, to regulate all our Sentiments, and form ail our Schemes by that Revelation. That there are numerous, and to Appear- ance, very plain Texts of Scripture, alleged for the Proof of Chrifl's Deity, cannot but be ac- knowledged, tho' the Senfe of thofe Texts be diC- puted. It mayn't be amifs to take notice cf fome of them, which are wont to be produced, amidft the Multitude and Variety which Mr. Alayo and others have colleded, and well put together. What fhall we fay, when we fo often find him filled God, and that without Relcridion or Limitation ? When the incommunicable Title of Jehovah is fo frequently applied to him, ss neither the One nor the Other appear to be unto a Creature for Dignity of Nature or Office? (a) He is faid to be pofielfed in the Lord in the beginning of his Way, before his Works of Old, fet up from Ever] ailing, and (l^) his goings forth were from Everlafting. (c) He is ' called the wonderful Counfellor, the mighty God, the e- verlafling Father, (d) This is the true God, and eternal Life, (e) God over all, blefled for ever. (/) Beingin the Form of God, bethought it no Robbery to be equal with God. (g) He is the firfc and the laft, that was, and is, and is to come, the Alm.ighty. And fays of himfelf, (h) 1 fearch the Reins, and Hearts, (i) As I live, faith the Lord, every Kneefiiall bow to me. (k) H^ is the Begin- ning (n af^, the efficient Caufe) of the Creation of God. Ot nim 'cis iliid, (i) Thy Throne, O God (.»> Frr,v.yui22, :?. (0 Mic.y. 2. (c) Tfa. ix. 6- (d) \ John V. £o. (0 Rom. tx %. '/) i'!}:l. iuf^. (?) K«v. i 3 i!. (h) Rev. ill. 2j' {') Hw, xiv. 11 ■(\> I\«-. -ii. J.;. '■; H^:''. i.^. B 1 is C «2 ) is for ever and ever. That he is (m) the great Gcd and Saviour, (n) God manifeft in the Flefh , (o) God that redeemed the Church with his own Blood, (f) To him Glory is afcribed both now and for ever ; (q) and that by the whole Crea- tion, in Conjunfiion with the Father upon the Throne ; and no wonder, iince he is (r) Lord and Heir of all Things ; and (s) all the Angels are crder'd to worfhip him ; (t) with what So- lemnity did they do it, when Ifaiah faw his Glory and fpake of him ? (u) By him aH Things were created and for him. Nor is it of fmail Confideration that we are (w) vowed to him in the great Solemnity of Baptifm, as unto the Fa- ther ; and are required to (x) honour him even as we honour the Father. How can w^e now forbear concluding from thefe (r^nd fo many other plain Texts of Scrip- ture, that might be menticnM), that Deity in a proper Senfe belongs to the Son of God, conli- dering, v.hat with Men of Senfe mufl: be of great Weight, the n'janifefl Defign of this Revelation, to bring lapfcd and degenerate Mankind to the true Knov/ledge of God and their Duty ; to a- boliiii the Superfliticus Errors and Idolatries that had obtained in the World ; to lead unto real Holinefs, to an acceptable ferving and glorifying God, and to eternal Salvation ? I T feems wonderful, ii' no fuch Thing was intended, that fo little Caution is ufed to pre- vent the fatal Miflake, when it had been fo very eafy to obviate the Dangers, and keep Wife and good Men from running into Idolatry and Per- dition, v/ho have made the moil ferious and im- partial Inquiries, in order to the right Managing (•n) Tit.ii.li- C'^) I Trm-iiu 1 6. (c) ^SfsXx.2S. Q) 2Per. iii. i8. C-^) Rev. V. M, (f) Heb.i. i. CoL i. \s (0 H'^. i. 6. {') Ift.vl 3.5"- ?«/?« xii. 41. (**) Co/, i. 16. (*; ilf-ajr. xxviii. Ip. (x) jahny. ?i. their (13) their Pradice and Worihip, and the eftablifhing their Hopes of Eternity. Can this be thought congruous to the Wif- dom and Goodnefs of God, who is fo jealous of his Honour, and fuch a Lover of Souls ; when in a Manner the whole ChrilHan Church, thro' a Courfe of fo many Ages, has fetled in a Perfwalion and Pradice, fo injurious and dero- gatory to his Glory, and of fuch inevitable Danger ; when the Reformed Churches, un- der the Condud of Men of extraordinary Piety and Learning, and mighty in the Scriptures, which they made fo much their Study (as the profefl'ed Rule of their Faith, Manners and Worihip) fetled in the fame Belief> unable to efpy and efcape the fatal Deluiion ? Nor can it be deny'd, that vital Religion has eminently flourifli'd, and innumerable Souls, that ardently loved God and hated Idolatry, liv'd to his Praife and dy'd with Triumph, under the Influence of that Belief. Poor unhappy Souls! if all their Hope and Rejoycing in Chrift Jefus as their Saviour and their God, was but Delu- fion and Miftake, and their Faith but an Affront to that God, whofe Glory was dearer to them than their Lives. The Scriptures were manifeftly intended for the Ufe and Salvation of all Ranks of Men, and in necefl'ary Things accommodated to ordinary Capacities. Now how plainly does it feem there to be taught, that Chrill: is God in the true and known Senfe ? Or how could the Dodrine of his Deity be deliver'd in plainer Words ? Where- fore to fallen another Meaning upon them, and to wreft them to their Purpofe, both Avians and Socinians are forced to ufe a great deal of Artifice, to torture them with all the 1 'ricks and Engines of Criticifm ; to fearch whether a Word or Phrafe tha ^ ufed, can be found elfewhere to fignify t i^ another (l+) another Thing, and fo by any means be turned to another Senfe. By fuch a Method of Inter- pretation, and the heJp of Wit and Allegory, it will not be difficult for Men of fubtile Heads and lively Fancies, to explain away almoft any point of Divinity, or give another Turn to any Article ot Faith. But furely the Oracles of God, that are of higheft Authority, that treat a- bout everlafting Concerns, that will be the Rule of the laif Judgment, fhould be confulted with more Reverence and Humility ; nor wou'd it be lefs than Rudenefs, fo to treat the Laws of Men, or even the Writings of any Man of Senfe. But the grand Objedion againft the received Dodrine of Chrift^'s Divinity iSy That it is unin- telligibky and carries Ahfurdity in it. In anfwer to which I wou'd obferve two Things. I. That the Exiflence or Being of a Thing, may be certain and uncontefled, and we may be perfwaded of it upon the clearell: Grounds, when yet we cannot comprehend it, or give a fatisfadory Account of it to our own Minds. Who can tell us how the Parts of Matter are cemented, and hang together fo firmly i and yjet we doubt not of the Thing } Nay, we know not the Manner of the Operation of our own Souls, how Ideas arife and are formed in our Minds, or how our Wills ad with Freedom and Liber- ty ; which yet we feel in our felves, and are intimately aflured of. Reafon does oblige us to believe, that God is of himfelf, Vv-ithout any Caufe of his Being ; that he has been from Eternity without any Beginning; and that he has a certain Prefcience of future Contingencies : Yet thcfe Things are as inconceivable to us, as the Doc- trine under Debate, and we are utterly at a lofs when we come to account for them. There is neither Contradidion nor Abfurdity in fuppofing, that Ci5) that the Divine Nature contains what is unin- telligible to us, or what we do not fully com- prehend ; nor is it impoflible that there fhould be in it, what may be a fufficient Ground for luch Diftindions as the Scriptures mention. And what greater Abfurdity is it, to fuppofe, that God may for juft and weighty Reafons, fecure of his own Greatnefs, unite humane Nature to himfelf : than that there may be an intimate and vital Union between a rational Spirit and a hu- mane Body, which we are aflur^'d of, and is the Matter of our own Experience, tho^ we know nothing of the Manner of it. 2. Are there no greater Difficulties or Appear^ ances of Abfurdity on the other fide ? What 1 no Abfurdity in the Notion of a fupreme and inferi- our, a greater and a lefl'er God ? No Difficulty in admitting two Gods, a thing fo abhorrent to Reafon, and fo contrary to cxprefs Revelation, whereby we are cautionM and commanded not to have any more Gods but one ? No Difficulty in believing a Creature to be the Creator, or an immediate Inftrument in Creating the World ? Yet this fo much fliockt the Underftandings of fome of the Ancients, tainted with thefe Opini- ons, as forced ^em upon a precarious Fancy, with- out the leaft Foundation in Scripture, that God firft created the Word, and then created Mat- ter, which he formed into the various Orders of Being ; but cut of w'hat Alatter he formed the An- gels and Souls of Men I find not. Is there no Ab- furdity in fetting up another Objed of Worfhip both for Angels and Men, to whofe Service and Glory we mufl be all devoted, befides the Su- preme God ? and that uponfuch Terms as feem to countenance and excufe the Precences both of Papifts and Pagans in their Idolatries ? Is there no Difficulty in fuppcilng, contrary to the coii- ftant (i8) nity, one thing is worrhy of Notxe, that the ^nrient Church never call: upcn it a;iy Sufpicioii of Forgery, but wherever it appeared, it has been looked upcn as the genuine V/riting of St. yohri. The Context alfo feems to make ^ey. 7. ncceliary as ccnjoin'd to ^ue^\ 8. by Ayid in tiie beginning of it ; ar;d as T/jree that bear v:itnefs en Earth ftand in oppoiition to Three that bear ix)itnefs in Heaveny called the "Tefiimcny of God^ ver. p. \ And this leads to consider the Senfc oUhe Words upcn SuppifuJcn that they are the genuine H^ri- ting of St. John as otur Authour fpeaks. It is not diiputed V. nether [thefe Three are Or.e'] does Cigni- f)- their Confent and Agreement in Defign, and the Teflimony they give, cr whether [%v ^t^\^-s^ there is good Reafon to interpret this, as con-nodng fach a like Onenefs. Whereas he refers us to John xvii. II. Holy Futber keep thro' thy ow^i NunU, thofe ivhom thou haft given ?ne, that they may be cm, [ainv Cv^ as "Jje are ; and adds. Are we to thinks that our Saviour deftrd his Difdples jhould be kept to be one Being ? I anfwer, no more than when C'lrift Olid, Matt. V. 48. Be ye perfelt, as your Father ivhiih is in Heaven is perfect he required that his Difciples fhould equal God in his infinite Per- fections. [;6tf^«f, as] can denote here, as in many other Places, but a Similitude or Refemblance, not the fame perfect Union. So ver. 21. That they all may be one^ as thou Father art in me, and I in thee. There is not fuch an Union among Be- lievers, as to be mutally in each other, and yet they are not only one in AiFcCtion and Dclig!i ; bat are all animated and aded by the fame Spi- rit, or by one Spirit are all Baptiz^ed into one B)dy^ fo as ail to be under the vital Inlkience, Opera- tion and Conduct of that one Spirit, and to be brought to a more perfect Unity in Glory, the Tning Cnrill prays for ; and herein more fully to refemble and anfwer the Union between tl>e Father and Chriil ; this being pOiTibly the nearelt R :femblance and Similitude of it among CreatureS. I'his hinders not therefore, but feems rather ('O imph', that Ciirill's Onenefs with the Father, i*? C 2 0/ ( 20 ) of an higher Kind, and more exalted Nature than the Onenefs among Chriftians ; and whereas it necellarily inlers an abfolute and moft perfect Agreement in Will and Afledion, Chriftians fliould labcur, as far as they can, under the Guidance ot the one Spirit of Chrift, that unites them in one m-yftical Body, to imitate that glorious Pattern. Now that Chrift is one with the Fatlier in a peculiar and more diflmguilli^'d Senfe appears further by comparing, Jolm x. 3 8. ychn xiv. II. Beliezie the Wtrksj that ye may know ayid beliez'ej that the Father is in me^ and I in him. Tivxis the Learned Pr. IVhithy obferves upon the Words, [that it appears that Chrift fpeaks not of an Unity of Will and Concord only, i) From the Reafon allignedof the Security of the Sheep, the want of Power in any one, to fnatch them out of the Hand of Chrifl, beirgone in Power with the Father. For the Foundation of this Argument is not, that the Father's Will, but that his Pov er was above all. 2) From the Inference of the JewSy that by thefe Words he m.ade him.- (elf God, and fo was guilty of Blafphemy. Now this invidious Charge Chrift does not evade by faying, he only confpir'd with the Will ot God, as all true Prophets did^ but by appealing to the Works, Vv hich, fays he, I do by the Power of the Father rehding in Me, which plainly carries this to an Unity of Power, not of Will only. And then the Inference ot St. Chryfoftjm is undeniable, [« 'j i) J^v'aixii tlvTVy %vctnK'.v Q77 >y iffj*] and if tlie Pow- PT be the iame, the Ellence jTiuIt be fo.'] 2. (a) The fecond Argument to prove the Di- vinity of Chrift he fees Bt to m.ention, is, T'hat he is exfrejly called G,d in fever al Places of the Scrip- ture. Which he thinks he can eafily elude by two (tf) Litier f. 20. (2. ) Obfervations. i) (a) "That the Term God is fome- times apply'd either to Idols^ under Pretence offomething belonging to them, ivhich really does net, or to Creatures upon the Account oj a Charatier, which they rightful- ly pretend tOj and bear without blame, i) That the Scriptures evidently lead us^ to difiingtii^b Chrift's God- head from that of his Father. I fhaii readily attend, him in each of his Remarks. And he is not ig- norant that \\Q agree with him in the former, that as Idols were eileem'd Gods by their miftaken WorHiippers, and the Devil himfelf was taken for a God by Ufurpation and horrible Errors, both Angels and Magiftrates by fpeclal Dignity, and Authority inrrufled with them, have in an im.proper and figurative Senfe been filled Gods. Yen fuch as read the Scriptures with Care, and unprejudiced Minds, muil needs obferve that the Name and Characters of Divinity are every where afcribed and challenged, in quite another Manner, and utterly in another Senfe to the bieifed Jefus, than to Angels or Governours, or any mere Crea- tures. W E do not only urge that the Name and Title of God is frequent4y given to him, which in but a few Inflances is ^^lY^n to Creatures, but that ^tis given Vvithout any Limitation, or any Circumftan- ccs that fhculd determine to a figurative Senfe. When^tis faid. Let all the Gods ivorjhip him. I have made thee a Gcd to Phara h I have faid ye are Gods, butyejhall die like Men. No Body is at a Lcfs as to the Meaning of thefe Expreffion, or in Danger' of being led into the Opinion, that the moft High God is intended, or of worfhiping the Creature infleadof the Creator. But when we find that Chrifi: Jefus doth fo indifferently afiume, and hath fo often given him the l^itle cf Lord j^r ever \ and that the Name and Chara'clers, the Attributes and IVorjhip of the jupreme God are without Scruple or Reflriciiori of- ten apply' d to him ; what inevitable Danger oF Mif- take and Idolatry, if all this flioiild fignity no more than tiiat as a Creature, or being ot great derived Excellency and delegated Pow er,*he may be in fome improper Scnfc called a God? (a) Dr. Whitby well obierves, nothing is abfolutely in theScripture^and m the fing alar Number, called God tor any other Rea- fon,than that the Divine Nature is imparted to it. ' 1' I s therefore his fecond Remark which we are to conhder, and to be well aifured that the Scrip- tures di^Xm^mih Chrilf's Godhead l-'rom that of his Father, {o as to fatisfy that there is an unconteila- ble and utter Di/lance or Diiference between tne one and the other. Bat I muft confefs my felf at a Lofs where to iind it. Our Author produces two I'exts for it. The firft^^. i. i, 2. where it is faid, the Word zvas in the Beginning with GJ. Now adds he, (/') Was God the Wvrd the fame with him^with wkm he was '^ And why may he not be the fame in one refpecl and yet ditter in another, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God, ver. i. ? Why, according to the common Dodrine, may we not fuppofe that he was the flime in Nature and QiiQn- tial Perrcctions, tho' didina in Perfon ; or, that his Godhead was the fame- v/ith that of his Father, tho' he was in fome Senfe different from him, w ho in order of Subiiftence, and in the Way of Diilin- clion, bears the Name of God and the Father ? The other I'ext to prove that ChriiVs Godhead differs from that of his Father is, i^^A i. 8. quoted U)tA. vol. I fg^ 447. {i) Le::erp. 24.. from r^B) from Pfal. 45, 7. T/jy Throne, 0 God, is forever and ever. ver. p. T/wa haft loved Righteoujnefs and ha- ted Iniquity, therefore God, even thy God, hath anoin- ted thee with the Oyl of Gladnefs above thy Fellows, Now fays he, (a) Can he be the fupr erne God, who has cne to be a God to him^ and to befiow a Reward upon hi?n ? As if Chrifl: was not be confider'd as a com- plex Subjed:, of whom fome Things are evidently fpoken with reference to his divine Perfon, others with refped to his human Nature, and ethers that directly concern his Office as Mediator. And no wonder, ifthefe are not unufually intermixt, if even in the fame Place, as there is cccalion, fome Things are afcrib'd to him under one Confideration and Charader, and fome under another. Thus here it m.ay be intimated that he has a Throne and Do- minion, as God by Nature, which is for ever and ever, different from his mediatorial Kingdom, and that delegated Power which he is fliortly to refign. ' And can it feem flrange to any if our Lord Jefus, in anotherCapcity, and under a different Charader be the Subject of other or diirerent Predications; if while as God, his eternal Dom.inion be acknow- ledged, as Mediator in our Nature,he be capable of Re\\ ard, and be anointed with Joy above his Fellows ? ,3. As to the third Argumxnt from Rom. ix. 5:. H'^ho is over all God bleffed for ever^ his Ingenuity is to be acknov. ledged, in that he frankly allows this to be fpoken of Chrift, as *S'(;c////i-s" alfo does, aw^are how contrary to the apparent Senfe, and the Rules of true Cricicifm; "'tis otherwife interpreted by Mr. IVhiflon, and others, who perceiving the proper Charaders of Deity expreft, would fain have it to be fpoken of the Father by V/ay of Doxology. But our Author's llightly pafling it over Avith tlie Ob- fervation, (b) that be mufi he excepted who did put all (^4) Laser. 2S' (b) ,k. Things (H) "Things under him^ will not be fo eafily admitted is a fuliicieni Rt'^ly to fo pregnant a Text by others, whatever fliitc he may make to fatislyhis own Rea- fon and Confcience with it. Tno' Mr. Woiflm-dX- fo attempcs co evade the Force oi'it (if fuppos'd to be fpoken of ChrifO after the fame Manner; {a) yet he fuggefts, that the Epithet hleffed is always appropriated in Scripture to the f upreme God^ and almoft always in Antiquity alfo, according to the Language of the Jew'ijh Nation ; and that the Phrafe, God over all^ is both \n Scripture, and Antiquity , fingly and diredly apply \i to him. And whereas God blejfedy or hkfjed j\r evermore^ is obferved fcarce to occur above iour times in the New Tefcament, and ftill manifeftly denotes the moil high God, and apply \i to him, Rom. i. 25. as diflinguiflied from all Creatures w^liatfoever ; how can we but acknowledge the Force ot the Ar- gument, and conclude from thele exalted and dif- tinguifhing Titles fo freely g\Nt\\ to Jefus Chrif}, that he is God in the proper Senfe, and one with the Father, thefe being not perional Properties, but Characters belonging to the Nature or God ? Thus {h) Dr. Wbithy fays, from the Beginning, thefe Words have been uled by the Fathers as an Argument of Chrift^'s Divinity ; and TheophyLiH ;^ \v]£^v Ji y^TcLi^viTeti "AfwO" are T» ridvA^ tojt Xe^foi' ^ 'my7zt>v Qtov c^j/ajcmji/tJcj/?©-, from hence is Arius confuted and put to Jhame^ St. Paul proclaiming Chrifi to be G'.d over all. 4. W E cannot but think it a good Argument, and a clear Proof of the Deity of Chrifi, that the Creation of the V/orld is fo often, and in the (Irong- efl Terms attributed to him. To avoid this our Author wouM have the (c). Father conjiderd as the primary Creator^ and that the Son did create by a * I I I »»— — — B— .— ^— ' (-«) ?rm$ ^4ith i>. 6 7. 0 Fa/, vol, 2. /•. 53. CO Letnr'^'26. Power (25) Povier derived from his Father. But he tells us not whether that derived Power be finite or infinite ; whether an infinite Power can be derived and im- parted, except the Divine Nature, to which it leem infeparably to belong, be communicated ; or whether a finite and fecondary Power can fig- nify any thing in a proper Creation, which the Scripture reprefents as immediately performed by God himfelf, who commanded, and it was done. Befides there appears fo much Abfurdity in the Notion of an Inftrument in Creation, as led fome of old (we obferved before) to the Grounds and extravagant Conceit, that God provided a Chaos of Matter for the Word to work upon, and frame the Beautiful and magnificent Fabrick of this World out ok j but why fhould we affed to be wife above what is written ? The Scripture plainly tells us, both, (a) that God made all 'ThingSy and that Qi) the Word was God, that all Things were ?nade by him, and that without him was not any thing made that was made. So that Arch Bp. Ttllotfon after Auflin^ concludes, if the Word was made, he made him- felf. (c) By him all Things were created that are in Heaven and that are in Earthy vifihle and invijihle^ whether they he Thrones or Dominions .t or Principalities or Powers, all Things were created by him and for him. If it be faidr that [cO'ctuT?] implies his acting only by a delegated Power, ^tis known and can't be denyM, that the fame ExpreiTion is ufed with refped to the Supreme God^^^) Ofwho/n and to whom are all T'hings^ Does the Lord of Hofl:s challenge this as his peculiar Prerogative, (e) I am the fir ft, and I am the laft, and befides me there is no God ; Of Chriil; alfo "'tis affirm- ed, that (/) he is the Beginning and tlje End, the fiyfi and the laft (the firft Caufe and the lafl End) Is God faid to {g) have made all Things for himfelf I (d) Rft/. IV. II. {h) John i. 1. 2. (') CaL i. 6, (d) R9m. xi, 36, (e) If*. 4iv. 6. (/; Rcv> Jtxii, 13- C^) f r«t;. xvi. 4. D 'cis (2(J) 'tis alfo faid of Chriil Jefus, that as aUT'hiiigs vjefe made by Imn^ fo all Tubings were made for him. And can we well imagine that the whole Creation fliould be for a Creature, the Univerfe defign'd for its Glory ? Very remarkable 'tis, that the in- fpir'd Writer of the Epiftie to the Hebrews, does Ch.i. lo. without Difficulty or Hefitation, with- out any Explication to limit or qualify the Senfe, apply diredly to him, what, Pfal cii. is confelTed- ly addreil: to the Supreme God. And thou Lord in the Beginning haft laid the Foundation of the Earthy and the Heavens are the Work of thy Hands ; T'hey Jballferijhy but thou rejnaineft yet. He that was before the Mountains were brought forth, and before the Earth and the PVorld were formed, muft be allowed in the Prophet's Account, Pfal xc. 2. Froin Everlafting to Euerlafing to be God. How do we come to be aflur'd of the Exigence of a God, who is the fu- preme Objed of our Worlliip, but by the fenfible Proof he has given of his Being and Perfections in the Works of Creation ? (a) For the invifible "things of Injn from the Creation of the World are clearly feen^ being underjlocd by the things that are made, even his eternal Power and Godhead. He was known to Ifrael of Old, and is diilinguifii'd as the proper Obje(5t: of our Adoration by this Character,the Maker of Hea- ven and Earth. Ifa. xliv. 24. lam the Lord that ma- keth all things, that flr etc heth forth the Heavens alone, that fpreadeth abroad the Earth by my f elf. Thus He- z,ekiah confeifes, (b) thou art the God, even thou alone, thou haft made Heaven and Earth. Thus Nehemiah ix. V. Thou^ even thou, art Lord alone, thou haft inade the Heaven of Heavens with all their Hoft, the Earth and all things that are therein, and the Hfl of Hea- ven worjhippeth thee, 5. The next thing he confiders as alleged in Proof of Chrift's Divinity, is his Omnifcience ; an (-; Km,i. 29, (h) 2. Kin^j. jtixn. Argument' (27 ) Argument not eafily baffled by the fubtle Attempts made in Order to it. It can't fcarce efcape the Re- mark of a fober and condderate Chriftian, that Solomon the Wifeft oi Men, and under the Condud of Infpiration, affirms in a moll folemn Addrels to God, I Kings viii. 39- T^^ou, even thou, only knowejf the Heart of aU the Children of Men ; and this the moft high appropriates as his Prerogative. Jer. xvii. 10. / the Lordfearch the Heart, I try the Reins, even to give every Man according to his IVays. Now behold . Ghrift Jefus ftands forth,and a{lumes,\vithout Scru- ple, and in the cleareft Expreffions, what the -great God challenges fo peculiarly to himfelf, Rev.h. 25. lam He thatfearcheth the Reins and Harts, and I will give to every one of you according to your IVorks.^ Iso wonder therefore that this is fo often remarked and acknowledge by the Difciples of Ghrift, Joh. ii. 24, 2 5 . "Joh. xxi. 17. And that in a very different Man- ner from what the Woman oijekoah's Compliment to David's Prudence and Sagacity does impart, 2 Sam.xiv. 20. which I know not with what Decen- cy our Author could bring into Comparifon there- with. Nor may we prefently prefume to rob him of thisGlory upon the flight and precarious Suggeftlon, that fuch a Knowledge might poiTibly l^e imparted to him, as alfo to fome other Prophets. But did ever any Prophet challenge the Prerogative to himfelf, m. knowingHeartsin theExprelfions that arc imploy d, on purpofe to fet forth the Omnifcience of God ? Thirf. are however two Texts of Scripture cf- fer'd in exception to this plain Argument. John viii. 28. As my Father has taught me, I fpe^tk thefe Things. And Matt. xiii. 32. But of that Day and that Hmr knov^eth no one, no not the Angels that are in Heaven, neither the Son, hut the Father. Now who pergeivps not, that tho' Chnft be One with the Father,^ and the Fulnefs of the Godhead dwell in him, yet he is a'ifo Man and Mediator, and that corjiidenng him D 2 ^5 (28) as a Prophet, fent and commifTiony to reveal the Will of God, he was to reveal only that which his Father taught,him and which he had in Commiflion Tima-HAi \ft>c ^0 ^^liver and make known, and that s«oc, «>>•« o' «f ^s he was the Son of Man,under which t^l^afcld, but Character he fpeaks here of himfelf, v. It as *ii>nirant 4S 26. hc kncw no more than was com- Man. Greg. Naz. ^ niLinicated and imparted to him. As to his having a rational Soul, which our Author would here bring in doubt, it has been con- fider'd before. And methinks "'tis but little Evi- dence of the Goodnefs of the Caufe thefe Gentle- men are engaged in, when for the Support for it, they are driven to deny even the true Humanity of Jefus Chrift, and to call in Qiieflion his having a reafonabie Soul, (a) (Verily he took mt on bim the Na- ture of Angels^ hut betook on him the Seed of Abraham ; wherefore in aWThings it heho'ved him to he made like un- to his Brethren, that he might he a merciful and faithful High-Priefl (h). So the one Mediator hetween God and Men is the Man Chrifl Jefus. (c) Now, fays he, is my Soul troubled, when he was about to fuifer ,* and as our blefl'ed Lord very often a flumes, and feems to delight in the Name ot the Son of Man, which he cou^d not be, without a humane Soul : So (d) God has appointed a Day in which he will judge the World in righteoufnefs by that Man whom he hath Ordained.) But fuch and worfe Abfurdities muft be fwallowed, in denying Things plainly revealed, under pretence of their being (in fome refpeft) Unintillegible. Our Author urges that according to our interpretation, {e) Chriji's anfwer to his Difcipleswashut a mere Eva- Jton,and without doubt being inquijitive to know that time^ they would be ready to fay, IVeU, Lord, if thou do ft not know it as thou art Man^ yet tell us as God. A fancy indeed ! Unworthy of his Judgment r.nd Sagacity 1 (d) Ueb. u. i6,lj. (b) I Tm. ii. 5. (0 'j<'hn x;i. 17. (d) ^ifs xvih 8 J. (e) Leuer f. a{i. As (29) As if when they found that Chrift had it not in his Power and Commiflion, as Son of Man to re- veal it, they fhould think themfelves concerned, fur- ther to importune him about it. Thus we fee how tar this is off being (a) a Demonftration of the Mif- take of our Opinion. 6. I come now to jconfider what is of very great Weight and Importance in it felf, and what every Chriftian is concerned in, and that is the Worfhip which is due, and to be paid to our Lord Jefus, God over all bleffed for ever. When the Contro- verfy is about the proper Obje(51: or Worfhip, in which every Chriftian has an Intereft at Stake, we can^t be blam'd if we are upon our guard, and be not prefently by the flight of Men drawn tp wor- fliip and ferve a Creature befides the Creator; and if we have not the Prefumption upon flight Pre- tences to condemn, as Idolatrous, w hat is, and has been the common Pradice of the Chriftian Church. That a Civil Refped and Worfliip is to be given in different Degrees to Perfons in Power, no Body de- nies ; but from hence to argue or infer, that no proper divine Worfhip is due to the Lord that bought us, God, manifefted in the Flefh ; or to fuppofe that this may ferve to anfwer, and invali- date the Pleas from Scriptifre and Reafon, for the Sentiments and Pradice of the Chriftian World, is what w^iil not be eafily admitted. Nor can it be allowed that ChriPchasa Right to our Worlhip up- on no other Ground or {b)Reafonjhut the rmreGift and Command of the Father, which I take to be the Au- thor's Meaning, and direct Anfwer to the Argu- ment. We may here perceive what a Shift our Au- thor is driven to in this Matter, when he betakes himfelf to^^-Z/^^rw/^f's main Argument for theWor- iliip of Angels, Saints, and Relicks, Pfxcix. 5. And will needs have it that the Footftool is commanded ('0 Litter p, ay. (0 ^«'^«- 29. to (3°) to be wor(hipped,when not only Pifcator and Groti- usy but Muts alfo (a Popifh Commentator) allows the rendring it to the fame Senfe with our Tran- flation, worfhip at his Foot-ftool [Deum ^pud Sea- beUum]y as agreeable to tlie Hebrew, and that this is the proper rendring of the Hebrew Phrafe, and the Senfe ot the \b] will appear to any that confider that the fame Expreflion is ufed in ver. 9. of this ve- ry Pfalm pn*? nnntpni] and rendered by us, asalfo by the Septuagint, worfiip at his holy ///7/jplainIy ex- preftj Pfa. cxxxviii. 2. Iwillworjhip towards thy Holy Temple. So i Kings viii 44. Pray unto the Lord to- wards the City, and towards the Hufe that I have built^ the true Reafon of DanieFs opening his Windows to- Tu^r^j Jerufalem, "when he prayed, Dan. vi. 10. T o bring this Matter into a fuller Light,it may be obferv^djthat our Author'sNotion feems to ftate the Bufinefsof religious Worfhip upon the Foot of a mere pofitive Command, fo that tliC Pagans and Papifis are Idolaters, only for want of God'sPrecept for their Worftiip ; whereas the Scripture charges with Idolatry upon the account of doing Service to them ivho by Nature were no Gods; and/c^r worjhipping andferving the Creature with, or be fide the Creator^im.^ w KTKmvin]Rom. i. 25. Gal.iv.S. Nor can it beima- gin'dthatGodfliould iaterpofe to warrant any Wor- iliip by Precept, which the Light of Natures does condemn : Politive Commands are not wont to in- terfere with and crofs moral Duties. I'he formal Objed of religious Worfliip is ftill the fame, and Reafon,or Matural Light,may be fufficient todiredt to it, oratleafl determine what is not a ht and pro- per Objcd ; but the Cafe is diiferent with refped to the Means and Manner of Worfhip, w^here is Room andOccafion for theDiredion of a particular Inflitution or Command. And thus as God has an unqueftionable Right, it may be expedient for him to determine and appoint, ho\s',and in what Man- - ..... j^gj.^ C3' ) ner, we may acceptably ferve him,- while yet we can^t think ourfelvesat Liberty to worll^ip or ferve another with, or befides him,without viplating the Rights of our great Creator, and our Natural Obligations. Thus he does often appeal to (a) Reafon; as fufficient to condemn the Idolatries in Practice ; and (b) declare, that he will not give his Glory to another ; and (c) that the Gods that have not made the Heavens and the Earth fhall perifh. As for afubordinate and inferiorSort of religious Worfhip, to be paid to an inferior Sort of Deities, or fubordinate Powers, I fee no Foundation for it in Scripture j and ^tis manifeil that under this Pre- tence Idolatry has been introduced and commonly pradiced ; that this hath been made to counte- nance tha Superftition of Papijls i^ndHeathenSyand proved the Occaficnor Matter of the fatal Mif- take in the World on this Subjed. 'Twas fuch a kind of Worfhip with the Devil had the Impudence to ask of Chrifl:, and which had been given him among the Nations,acknowledging that his Power- and Dominion was but derived and fubordinate, Luke iv. 6. It is delivered unto me. But Chrift an- fwers (not what fome might have imaging ; thou art an Apoftate and unclean Spirit, and fo unfit to be Worfhipped ; or 'tis not due to thee, becaufe my Father has not injoined it, but ver. 8.) Get thee behind me^ Satan, thoujhah worjhip the Lord thy God, and him only Jh alt thou ferve, declaring, as in many other cafes, not what is of positive and arbitrary Inflitution, but moral Duty and natural Right. Religious Worfliip may be taken to import a Subjection of Soul to the Being we addrefs it, and is due only to God, who alone has a Right and immediate Accefs to it. And there are two fpecial Branches of this WorHiip, or this is wont particu- larly to be given in folemn Adfts of Adoration and d'lYQdi (30 dired Invocation ; nor are thefe to be addrefl to any other but him, whom we profefTedly devote our felves, and yield our Hearts to, and do believ- ingly look for our Help and Salvation from. The Gofpel, we confefs, direds to the worfliipping and addrefling the Father thro^ Jefus C/mfiy by the Holy Spirit, and this common Method of Chri- ftian Worfhip is congruous and fuited to the known Difpenfation of Grace ; but befides this, it does al- fo lead to a dired worfhipping of Jefus Chrift, as one with the Father, to a devoting our felves, and a fubmiting our Wills and Confciences to him, as our rightful Owner and fovereign Lord, as being our Creator and Redeemer, and our Saviour. In this Qiiality, not as an Agent or Embaffador but as a Sovereign, he demands Obedience, and pro- claims Peace and Pardon to rebelliousSubje(5cs,and while we profeffedly take him for our Saviour, we acknowledge him to be our Lord and our God. That we owe fuch a dired Worftiip and Homage to the blelfed Jefus, and have clear and abundant Warrant for it, will appear, if we confider. (i). In general we aredireded to homur the Son even as we honour the Father, and he that hunotireth not thus the Son, honoureth not the Father which fent him, Jo. V. 23. And fhallwe come off with the Pretence, that we honour him truly, tho^not with the fame or like kind of Honour with the Father ? muft we not truly, honour our Rulers, and which of them, nay which of the glorious Angels, has God at any time commanded, that we fliould honour even as we honour himfelf ? (2). As for proftrate Adoration, and folemn Af- cription of Glory, the whole Church both in Hea- ven and Earth is reprefented as paying this Ho- mage to him jointly with the Father. / heard, fays St. John, Rev, v. 1 1, 1 2, 1 3 . T'he Voice of many Angels round about the 'Throne^ (jt. frying with a loud Vice ; fVo'ihy C 33 ) tVorthy is the Lamb that was (lain , to -receive Poiver^ and Riches, andJVifdom, and Honour, and Glory, and Bleffing. And every Creature which is in Heaven and en Earth, &c. heard I, faying, Blejjing, Honour, Glory, and Power, be unto him thatfitteth upon the "Throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. (3). CHRisTjefusisalfo to be worftiipped by di- ted and folemn Invocation. "Tis mentioned as the common Character and Practice of Chriftians, i Cor. i. 2. tocaU upon his Name. And what is un- queftionably fpoken oi: God, Joel.ii. 32. is without Hefitation apply^'d to Chrift, Rom. x. 1 3 . IVhofoe^ ver Jhall call upon the Name of the Lord, jhall be fa^ ved. Nor may we addrefs our Prayers diredly to any other but him, who is the Obje(5bof our Faith and Trufl:, Rom. x. 14. If we are by him to believe in God, he doesalfo, Jo.xv^. i. require that we believe in him jointly with the Father, and demands a Truft and Confidence in himfelf, which are not due to a Icfs Perfon, than to him, who is One with his Pather. (4). He is alfo the proper or fupreme Objed of Religion,, as that fignihes a Devotednefs to the Ser- vice and Glory of him whom we Worfliip. And as in the folemn Rite of Baptifm, we profefs to do this : fo, Rom. xiv. 7, 8, 9. None ofiisliveth unto him- felf, and no Man dyeth to hi?nfelf; for whet her we live, we live unto the Lord-, or whether we dye, we dy e unto the Lord ; whether we live therefore or dye we are the Lord's. For this End Chrifl both died and rofe, and li- ved again^ that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. There is doubtlefs a Difference to be made, be- tween the formalRcafon of Divine V/orfhip,w^hich is infinite Perfedion ; and the fpeciai Motives and Confiderations, that may induce and quicken to a particular giving of the WorHiip. UiitoGod abfo- iutdycoafider'd ivS Adoration paid, upon the Mani- "^i^^^'H' E feilatioa (3+) feftationofhis glory in Creation, Rev.iv. ii. Thou art worthy^ O Lcrd, to receive Glory and Honour and. Power, fir thou hafi created allTbings. A grand Mo- tive to the paying Adoration to Jeilis Chrift is Re- demption, Rev.v. 12. IVcrthy is the Lamb that. was flain to receive Honour, Glory and Bieffing. Upon this Motive we are to devote ourfelves to him, fo as not to live to ourfelves, but to him who died for us and rofe again, 2 Cor. v. ly. But then lie wou^'d not be capable ot this high Refped, he wou'd not have right to demand it,\verehenot one with the Father, and truly cur God. Indeed w hen we confider, that it was He that made, and has redeemed usy that there is no other Name whereby we muft befaved, that he is to be our Judge for Eternity; what Homage or Service can we think too much for him ? No won- der that every Knee mufl bow to him, and every Tongue confefs that he is Lord. True, but it will be faid, unto the glory of God the Father, who has exalted him, and given hi?n a Name above every Name ; I grant it, but with this Confideration, that tho' he had an original Right to the Government of the World, and to be the Judge of it, as belonging to the Di\ine Nature; yet not to have the immediate and fole Exercife of this Power committed unto him, and put into his- Hands, and that in our Na- ture, but by Confentand Agrecmient, or by a vo- luntary Difpenfation, and by his Father's Gitt and Appointment. 7. As for Baptifm, the Nature and Defign of it have been takenNotice of in the preceeding Article, and has been always I think reckoned an important part of Chri[l:ianWorfi:iip, wherein particular Homi- age is paid to Father, Son and Holy Ghoft, as in the Bufinefs of our Salvation ading under diflindCon- liderations, and condefcending to afllime diflind Offices.The dillindForm therefore of Adminiflra- tion has been always obferv'd with greatCare inthe Church, as fignifying the peculiar Faith of Chrifti- ans. (35 ) ans, and a folemn Covenant Tranfailion between God and believing Penitents, wherein Father, Soji and Spirit are conlider'd, not fimply as three Per- fons in the Godhead, but as related to Man for the Ends of theCovenant,undertakmg each to perform his proper Part. And the Perfons baptized recog- nizing their joint Intereft in him, do profefledly dedicate and devote themfeives to Father, Son and Holy Ghoft, expeding to be fav^d by the Father's Grace, thro' the Mediation of Jefus Chrift, under the Condud of the Holy "Spirit; and as Circumci- lion of old, Baptifm under the Gofpel,can be nolefs than a Sealof theRighteoufnefs of Faith. Muft we not therefore conclude, that Baptifm, when fo great a Weight is laid upon it, M7r.xvi.i5. is Some- thing more,than a mere Form(a)of entring into the Cbriflian Religion ; whereof the Father is the Author ^ the Son the Pdlifier^and the Spirit the Confirmer'?^ Alasl that thefe Gentlemen, finding it neceflary for the Intereft and Support of their Opinion,fliould make fo little Scruple cf lowering and fpcaking fo (lightly of the folemn Inftitutions and more importantCon- cerns of Religion, that happen (or feem) to ftand in the Way ! Had this only been intended, how eafy had it been for the Scripture, fomewhere or other to have made this plain Expreflion of it, and obviated the common and dangerous Miftake of the Chriftian World, in fo folemn an Ordinance, of conftantUfe and Practice; believing that theThree into whofe Name we are Baptized, be that One God, to whofe Faith and Service we are Vow'd and Confecrated ? Nor in this View does there feem to be any great Occafionfor the ufe or fuch a Form. (/') T\\^tthe Ifraelites were baj)tiz,ed unto Mofes in the Cloud, the Apoflk ohferves i Cor. x. 2. but how different a Thing is it to be fo Baptized, n.s to pafs under the Conduct of M'fes rliorou^li the E 2 Sea Sea and the Wilderne fs, and to be Baptized into the Name of Mofes, indifferently ; and in conjundion with the Name of God, and that in a facred Infli- tution, and fpecial A6t of Devotion, to be pradifed in all Generations. Our Author ispieafed further to compare this with what is faid, i Tim. v. 21. (a) /charge thee before Gody and the Lord ^Jejus Chrifi^ and the ekcl Angels ; but hpw odd mujft this feem to any confiderate Perfon who perceives the Difference between a Charge ^ix^n before fuch Witneffes as might put fomeAwe upon the Mind, and awaken Diligence, and a mofl lolemn Ad of Religion re- ferrM indifferently to Three, as the joint and pro- per Objedof it, fignify'd a profeiTed Devotedaefs to each of them. Nor may the folemn Benedidion (h) 2 Cor. xiih 13. be fo flightly pafled over, or well thought to import lefs than a Prayer to Jefus Chrift together with the Father and the Holy Ghoft, for their imparting fpecial Grace feverally in the dif- tind Relation they bear to Chriflians, which can't be ask'd or expeded from any mere Creature. 8. T H E laft Argument Our Author mentions, and that as mofi plaujible according to our Tranflntion is ta- ken from Phil. ii. J, 6, 7. Let this Mind he in you which was alfo in Chriji JefiLs, who being in the Form ofGody thought it no Robbery to be equal with God : hut made himfelfofno Reputationy <&c. I think it needlefs here to do any more^ than conlider what he oifers to in-^ validate the Argument from this Text, in which hefeems willing particularly to triumph, but asfar as appears upon llender Evidence. He fird remarks after Dr. Hummondy that the [to] in the beginning of the 7th verfe^ feems not fo well to agree wich the Apofde'sMeaningjas expreft in ourTranflation, and this theDr. thinks \s the only Argument that makes it probable that the Phrafa [thought it no R bbery'] iliould be otherwife conflruei However he judges («} Letter. p. 3 J, {b) l^id^ that (37) , that either the [*^^ct] may be rendered Zy^Q (and thus it lignifies in i Cor. viii. 6. and is fo rendered by the Author himklf^p. ii.) or if it be rendered [ii4t] the Senfe is. He was God, and without any In- jury equal to his Father, but for all this, or notwith- ftanding this, he vilify 'd himfelf, &c. Which the Dr. takes to be the clear Rendring ot thePlace. But it is the Meaning of the Exprelfion [i;t ilp tk^^j^ i|yj5,m7o] that is efpecially contefted. And here by the Way, (a) the Author does either mifreprefent or miftake JDr. Whitby, in faying, that 'tis only to be met voith in Plutarch and Heliodorus, in both which Writers it jignifies to covet earnefily ; Whereas the D/s Words are. This Greek Phrafe is only to be met with in Plutarchy fays Grotius, tho* I cant find it there, and in Heliodorous, in which WriterjdTc. meaning plainly the latter only. The Truth is that there is no great Reafon to rely upon the Authority of this Helio- dorus in the Matter. He flourifh'd not till towards the End of the fourth Century, and in his Youth w rote a loofe and lewdRomance ; out of which this is taken : But then it is obfervable, that even the Phrafe hemakes ufe of is[«f ^nt^iMic mimv^indlminSAT^ and once [ix a^myfjut hy^'vir\ which every one that underftands the Greek fees to be very different from theApofde^sExpreffion Nor do[a,^'jfo.yfwi 3ini tii^*adLyyA\ lignify the fame Thing, the former de- noting [Acium rapiendi] the Acl of Robbery, the latter [froedam raptam'] thePrey orPurchafe of Robbery. Now if theApoftle's Phrafe had been [iKA^Tiay^^ w>ms«t»] we might po/Tibly have foJow'd Heliodorus, and ren- dered it he took it not for a Prey.^ he did not covet and fnatch at it as a very defirable 'Thing ; but when 'tis [«K A^Tctyiilv vyncuTv] the dired and properMeaning ieems to be, he did not efleem it an Aci of Robbery, or account it an Injury, [7^ ^pett itf-«t ^i(f\ to be equal to Godj or to be like the mofl High. Confiderin^ alfo that . (e) Letter pa^e 3 s. tllQ (38) the Appoftle ufeth the Verb [nylofxttt'] fever al times in this fame Epiftle, in the fame Senfe we have gi- ven of it. And as Dr. Hammond and others juflify our Tranflation herein, and account it moft Juft and Natural ; (o Dr. Edwards thinks it in a manner paftDifpute. And thoYome are content to admit the other Senfe,as unwilling poilibly to give them- f elves, or others, too much trouble in aMatter of* ni- cer Obfervation, or to avoid wrangling, yet fecure of the Main and more important Thing in Con- troverfy, they ^ivt fuch a jufl Interpretation, as no way interferes with,or injures our Lord's Claim to an Equality with his Father. Thus Abp: Tillotfm,- (a) That he was not only with God^ before he njfumed Humane Nature^ but alfo was really God; St. VviuUelh us: Let this Mind be in yoii which was alfo in Chriflje- fuSy who being in the Form of God;, did n^-t arrogate tcr himfelfto be equal with Gody (taldng this to be the Meaning of the Plirafe as u fed by Plutrach) : i, e. He did not appear m the Cjlory of his Divinity, wiiich was hid under a Veil of human Flcfh and Infirmity. So that iFhis being made in th« fafliion of a man does lignifv that he was really Man by his Incarnation ; then furely his l>eing in the Form of God, when he took upon hirti the LikeneiVof Man, and the Form of a Servant, muft in all rea-' fon fignify, that he was really God berbre he became Man, for which Reafon the Apoftle did not doubt to fay, that God w'as manifefted in the Flefh. Having thus with all the Fairnefs I could, confider'd what has been urg'd in anfwer to thofe Eight Arguments, which our Author faw fit to take Notice of, for the Deity of Chrifl:, I proceed now to obferve what he offers in oppolition to it; the rather for that be appears very confident in his own Notion, but infinuates that wx are far enough trom having fuch clear and folid Proofs for our O- pinion (39) pinion, which yet the Reader may make fome Judgment of, by what has been already laid before him, and which he will do well impartially to confider. (a) His firft and principal Text is, i Cor. viii. 4, 5, 6. We know that an Idol is nothing in the Worlds and that there is no other God but one. Fortho' there be that are called Gods, whether in Heauen or in Earthy as there be Gods many, and Lords many ; yet to us there is but one God the Father, of whom are all "things , and we in orjlr him, and one Lord J ejus Chrift, by whom are allthingSy and we by him. If we obferve the manifefl Scope of the Apollle here, it will appear that there is but fmall Occafion for the Warmth and Tranfport our Author exprefles in asking {b). Can any Mortal give a Reafon why, ij he had been of the Mind of your fevere Cenfurers, he Jhould not have exfreffed himfelf thus ; But to us there is but one God the Father, Son and Holy Ghcfl ? Methinks our Author without fo much Emotion might have confider'^d, that it was not the Apoftle's Defign here, nor did the Subjed he was upon oblige him to give an Account ot the Myftery of the Tri-.^ nity ; nor was he under any Neceffity of reprefent- ing theDifterences or diftindRelations conceivable in the Divine Nature ,• but the Thing which he does purpofeiy ailert, as bed anfvvering the End he had in view is, that there is but one God, in oppofition to the Polytheifm of the Gentiles, or the Opinion and Worfliip of many Gods, that was then fo generally fpread thro' the World. Had he been of the Mind of the Author, mufl he not have faid. Whereas there are many that are called Gods and Lords,many had in Veneration among the deluded Heathens: To us Chriflians there are but two Qods, One fupreme and unoriginated,and the other fub- ordinate and inferior ; a Being of glorious Per- fections, and a God alfo by Office and delegated Power ? How much more natural and agreeable to his (+°) his Purpofe, and to the grand Defign of the Gof- pel, which was to abolifh the Idolatrous Worfhip of many Gods, to affirm. To us there is but One God the Father, and one Lord Jefus Chrift, who is not a another God, tho' in fome Refped diffe- rent from the Father ; tho^ he be Man, yet being infeparably and immediately united to the divine Nature, he is to be confiderM, not as excluded fron% Deity, but as one God with the Father, by whom ail Things in the prefent State are managed and immediately adminiftred ? And the Apoftle's fay- ing, To us there is but one God, no more excludes Chrift from being God with his Father, the God of Chriftians, than by adding, "there is hut one Lord, ex- cludes the Father from being the Lord of Chrifti- ans ; [Deut. vi. 4. the Lord our God is one Lord'] or any more than Gods faying, Ifa. xliii. 11. Bejides me there is no Saviour, excludes Chrift from being the Sa- viour. Thus (a) Dr. IVhitby produces plain Paffages both from Origen and Novatian before the Arian Controverfy, arguing in the fame Manner from this Text. Besides the Works here attributed to the Father and Chrift, argue them, tho^ in fome Senfe diftinct, to be the fame God. The Dr. therefore adds, i.) Chrift is herefliled that one Lord by whom are all things^ i. e. by whom all things were created^which are in Heaven, and which are in Earth. Eph. i. 9. Col. i. 16. and by the Work of Creation is the Godheadknown. Rom. i. 20. and this is the very Defer i^tion elfewhere made of God the Fa-^ ther, that it is he by whom are all things, Rom. xi. 3 j^ Heb. ii. i o, 2 .) All things were created not only by this Lord, but [fii aZ-jTiv] for hi?n alfo, Col. i. 16. the very thing the Apoftle here afcribes to God the Father. More- over except we take him in this Senfe, he feems to give Advantage for a juft Reply to be made m excufe of the Heathen, who held one felf-exiftent fupreme God, but thought many other inferiour Gods and (a) In Itc. Lords (+1 ) Lords had a Right to a lower and fubordinate Wor-* £liip,as conftituted and appointed by Hini,in Power and Authoi^iry under him. At leaft to level his Dif- courfe and Reafoning, againft their Opinion and PrsLdicCy one might have expeded, that he would rather have fhewed them,or attempted to prove that the Gods many and Lords many, which they paid Service to, under the great God, were not indeed fuch as he had authoriz'd and appointed ; but that Chrifl Jefus was the only inferiour Deputy Lord, or God by office, whom he commanded to be worfhip'd* (a) As for his /peaking of the Father in this Teict in contradiEion to jfefus his Son, whom he ft He s the One Lord ; befides what has been already obferv'd, that he fpeaks not of him as another God, tho"* in fome Refped differing from the Father ; we may conii- der that he fpeaks of him under another Charadler^ as in our Nature ordainM a Mediator. Thus i 'tint, ii. 5. 'There is cne God, and one Mediator between God and Men, the Alan Chrifl Jefus^ who having the Ful- nefs of the Deity dwelling in him, is fitted as a Day's-Man that takes hold of both, to adjuft the Difference between God and Men, and thus with- out Inconiiflence or Abfurdity, God was in Chrift- reconciling the World to himfelf. Thus alfo Eph, iv. 4, 5, 6. where our Author fuggefts, that {h) God-- head is peculiarly attributed to the Father, no more appears to be intended than that, whereas the Fa- ther is often reprefented as fupporting the Majefty and Rights of the Deity ,• Chrifl Jefus, God mani- fefted in the Flefh, and fo of a diltinft Conliderati- on from the Father, is one Mediator and one Lord, unto whom all Judgment is committed ,• and into whofe Faith, as but one and the fame Faith all Chriflians are enter^'d by one Baptifm. What has been offered may be eafily apply 'd to Jo, xvii. 3. This is life Eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jefus Chrifl whom O) Ltttcr /. n, 12, (0 Ihid, F than ( 4^ ) thou hafl fent. The Author's Argument from thi> Text is/^) If the Father to whom CJjrifi here f peaks, - be the only true God, how can Chrifl be the only true God • alfo ? I anfwer becaufe Chrifi and the Father are one, Jo. X. 30. Nor can thefc Words be reafonably fup- pofed to exclude him from a true Divinity, who iS in Scripture ftiled [0 dhti^voi 3t3?] the true God, i Jo. V. 20. [See IVhithy in /oc] True therefore is the Glofsof Grotius that he is ftiled the only true God in exclufion of thofe, whom the falfe Perfuafion of the Gentiles had introduced ; not fo as to exclude the other Perfons. In this Senfe the Word only is frequently appIyM to God in the old Teftament,' Deut. xxxii. 12. [wJei©- f^cor©-] the Lord only was their Guide, and there was no falfe Gods with them \i^ii i6?^o7ei©-] ; and yet the Angel, inwhorn his Name •was, went with them, andfavedthem^ Exod. xxiii. 21. Jfa, Ixiii. p. I a?n the Lord, and bejides me there is no Saviour, If a. xliil 11. Nor does [^ov®-, only] as ufed in the New Teftament exclude all others, Jo. viii p. Jefus ivas left alone, and the Woman in the midfl [x^-pt- A#iV3« /wof©-],* alfo I Cor.ix,6. or I only and Barnabas, {yif/.opQ- lya )y Btt^vdCdi] I fee therefore no Reafon why (b) Rom, xvi. 27. To God only wife ; and Rev, XV. 4. Thou only art holy, Chrift ftiould be thought to be excluded ? (c) Nor is it fo manifeft that the Title \yAV7iK^.Tvo~\ Almighty, which feems in this latter Place given him, is never attributed to the Son, when not only here, but Rev. i. B. he feems plainly to be called the Almighty, both becaufe it is Chrift that is fpoken of in the Context, and for that the other Part of theDefcription there made of him, is unqueftionably claim'dby him, ver.xi. 18. and chap. xxii. 13. mentioned as the diftinguifh- ing Charader of the Lord of Hofts, Ifa. xiv. 6. nor is it fo, plain that the (d) Song o/Mofes and the Lamb muft import that Mofes and the Lambfiyrg ^ (a) Lentrp. 13. (b) Ihid. f. n, (c) ly^d. (rf) litd. (43) it, when we find that in the other Songs of this Book inftead of the Lamb's finging, both Angels and Saints make him the Subjed of their Songs, and addrefs their Songs to him, and that jointly with the Father. Rev. v. p. 12, 13. [I may add, that if in this, John xvii. 3 . the Father be taken as -^fpoken ofi not itriCtly in a relative Senfe, but eflen- • tialiy for the whole Godhead, as feems in many other Places to be, and as I confefs I incline to underitand it, and Jefus Chrift whom he hath fent, to be diredly fpoken of the MefTiah, the Man Chrift in Union with the divine Nature, in which Capacity he makes this Prayer ; the Senfe will be very clear. This is the Way to eternal Life, that Men, forfakmg all falfe Gods, acknowledge thee to be the only trueGod,and acknowledge me to be the true Meffiah; the Redeemer and Saviour of loft Souls. And it is worthy of Remark,- that to know Chrift Jefus as fent of God, is made neceffary to -Salvation, as well as to know the Father ; nor can God be favingly known but in Chrift Jefus, whom whofoever hath k^n^ hath feen the Father alfo ; and to whom like Honour and Worfhip is to be paid as is given to the Father.] • Our Author having thus urg'd his Exceptions ^'-againft the Deity of Chrift, is yet loth to quit the '.: Argument without takingNotice ot thofd Paftages of Scripture, wherein the Father is faid to be grea- ter than the Son. And that he is fo in a true and -proper Senfe v/ho doubts ? Thofe who adhere to the common Faith do acknowledge that of the Son of God confider'd relatively, is inferior and fubor- dlnate to the Father, when yet his eifential Glory and Perfe(^tion is the fame, and he can't be proper- ly a lefter or inferior God. A Father is always con- iider'd in that Relation as above his Son, and yet 'his Son not inferior to him, in the Nature, Proper- ties and Endowments oFa Man, much lefs is a Son ©f one Kind and- Nature, and a Father of another. F 2 Chrift (44) Chrift Jefus alfo as Man united to the Godhead, as well as wearing the Chara(S:er of Mediatory or in that Quality and Confideration, is iefs than the Fa- ther. No wonder therefore 'tis faid, i Cor. xv, 24, 27, 28. M^hen he jJmll ha%'e deliver d up the King- dim to Gcd even the Father y who has left and com- mitted the Adminiilration of it to Jefus Chrift un- to that Day, hejhall himfelf alfo be fubjeEl unto him that put all "Things under him^ that God jnaybe all in all; even to the Man Chrift Jefus, and to all both An- gels and Saints, brougnt to Perfection of Glory and Happinefs in and by him. There are yet two thmgs, the aftonifhing Love of God in Jefus Chrifl:, and the Value of his Sacri- fice ; the Glory of which he might well forefee would be thought to be eclipfed ; and which with others would be after all, apt to flick in the Minds of conliderate and good Men, who are feniible of their Obligations to redeeming Grace, and build their Hope of Salvation upon an Atonement of in- finite Worth. And how can they forbear being a- larmed, and juflly prejudiced againft a Notion, which appears to them really to tend toleflen men's Efteem of Chrifl Jefus and his Loye,and their Senfe of Obligation to him ? Muft they not be upon their Guard, when fuch an Attempt is made to darken the Glory of the Son of God, and Tap the Foundation of their Comfort and Hope? Can they t)e eaiily brought to thinji the Condefcenfion of a Being of great Excellency, and his SutFerings to be more confiderable, and that even with refped to Propitiation and Atonement, than what they ad- mire and are ravifli'd with in the Blefled Jcius, ■whom they conl]der m the glorious Cpnffitution pf his Perfon as God-Man ? What tho' the Deity be impaflible, and fuffer'd not real Pain or Altera- tion, when Chrifl bore our Sins in his Body on the Crofs ? His holy Soul felt the Sting and Bit- ternefs of Death, was in greatefl Agonies of Sor- row (45) row and Diftrefs ; and in the Opinion of fuch as fuppofe its Pre-exiflence in a State of higheft Glory, underwent fuch like Changes as our Author ima- gines in the Being, he fuppofes to fuffer in Flefh. But that which gave greateft Virtue and Price to his Obedience and Sufferings was the infiniteDig- nity of his Perfon, not the mere Pain which the humane Nature felt. How aftonifhing is theConfi- deration that God was manifefted in the FlefU ; that tho' the Deity it felf was not capable of Mife- ry, yet the Luflre of its Glory was veird, and it was truly concerned and interefled in the Sufferings of the Humane Nature, which "'twas the mod a- mazing Condefcenfion fot it to alfume. So God loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son ! He fpared not his own Son ! This entertains the Wonder andSongs of Angels, and theTriumphs of Saints, and will do fo to Eternity, while Devils and harden'd Unbelievers fret and gnafli their Teeth. What our Author is pleas'd to fybjoin about the Holy Ghoft, has been provided againft in the preceding Difcourfe, and tho' the Deity of Chrift has been more particularly coniider'd and defended, yet there want not fufficient Proofs or Induce- ments to believe the fame of the Holy Ghoft, who is joined together with the Father and Chriil in the Solemnity of Baptifm, as to whom we are to devote our felves, by whofe Grace we are fandi- fy^'d, and under whole Conduct we are to bebrought to Salvation, (a) Lying unto Imn is called lying unpo God. {b) Know ye net that ye are the T'emple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleph in you ? It is God only that has a Right to have a Temple confecrated to him, wherein he may efpecially have hisReiidence, difplay his Glory, and have Service and folemn " Oblations prcfented to him. It is from (c) him Grace is defir'd and pray ''d for, in Conjun6:ionwith • C'') ^^^ ^-3, 4- 0) iCor. iii. 16. Hj^. i. p. {c) aCor- xiii, i^.Rtv I 4 $. thq (40 the Father and Chrifl:. (d) And thefe three are One. It was the ( Hei. i. 1. Sum.xi'. 6. (f) Heh. in. 7. 2 P*t. i. >r, C?) Hee,ix. 14. (fc) T/il. cxxix. 7. (') i Cor. li. lo. (k) G«». i. 2. '0 ?«* XXVi. I J. (w) Rom. vui. 1 I. («) Il^id, (0) Jehn Hi. j , 6, >; 7fl/j»i. Xi. U) lYafc'UV. 4. ir)Rom.\i\L H» (0 H«^. ii. 4» ' ^ Wilh to tf) C47) Will, and {a) diflributeth to every Man his Gifts and Graces feverally as he pleafes : (b) He enter'd into the Prophet Ez^ekiel and fpake with him. How ; remarkably does the Manner of Expreffion, ^ohn xvi. 13. and elfewhere denote andlignify his being a Perfon, tvhen the Spirit of Truth is come : {\%mQr m mHVf/.(L] Now how can we, upon the Evidence of thefe and the likeTexts and Confiderations, de- ny that the Deity does alfo properly belong to the Holy Ghoft ? or forbear being touch^'d and deeply concerned at the Contempt and open Aftront of- fered him in the Notions by fome entertained ? Will the Appearance of fome DifEculty prefently juftify or warrant an Attempt to wreft and baffle plain Revelation ? How ftrangely do Men fome- times treat the moft facrcd Things, and what Methods do they try under Prejudice, Bigotted and Prepoffefled in favour of a darling Scheme ? But it is objeded that (c) hcwever flaufihk our Anfwers mayfeem to the Arguments for the Sons being inferior to the Father ; yet thofefor the Inferiority of^ the Holy Ghofl "xili net admit of any fuch EvafioHy fence he is neither Alan nor Mediator. And why, if the Scripture mentions fome Differences in the Divine Nature, and fpeaks of them as we ufe to do of Perfons, may we not fpeak of them accord- ing to that Revelation, and fuppofe there is a cer- tain Order in their Subilance and Operation, or a fort of Subordination which we call relative, when there is no proper Subordination in the Godhead, nor is one Perfon interior to another in refped ot Nature and Efl'ence ? (e- feiidedj Third and Fourth Parts. By John Moore, of Tiverton. L 0 N D 0 N: Printed for jo h xN Clark, at the Bible and Crown in the Poultry, near Cheapfide. M.DCC.xxi. Price IS. 6 d. The C A L M D E F E N C E Of the D E I T Y of ■}ESUS CHRIST Continued & Maintained, ^c. SIR, F I had not thought the Intereft of Religion nearly concerned in the late Difputes about the Deity of our BlefTed Lord Jefus, I lliould hardly have been drawn out of my Retire- ment, and from more delightful Work, into the Field of Contro- verfy, which I have always had an averlion to : efpe- cially pbferving with what uncharitable Heats, and ungenteel Artifices, it is wont to be managed. Some concurring Circumftances of Providence over- ruled, and led me into the Debate ; which I was willing to carry on with fuch Calmnefs, and fair Methods, as become the Defenders of Truth ; and which I never found to be a real Difadvantage or ■ - B Pre- Prejudice to it : whatever Direrfiorr and EntertaiiT^ inent, angry Reflections and ill-nacur^d Turns of Wit may give to corrupt Minds, that have little' value or relifh for it. Methinks it fliould be in- different to the Wife and Conii derate, in what way we muft be faved ; and that we fliould be prepared Xo make impartial Enquiries into the Will of God about it, without being prepofieffed in favour of an Opinion, merely becaufe it had the Advantage of being firft in the Mind, or comes with the flattering Air of Wit or Novelty. But how unkind and dif- ingenuous, by Slander, or fly Infinuations, to feek the Ruin of his Reputation, or to expofe him to Scorn and Contempt, w^ho differs in Opinion from me, and merely upon this account ? If that be the fole Ground of Quarrel, he has on his part the fame reafon to be angry with me. The Interefl of Truth is not ferv'd or promoted by Methods of In- jury and Provocation ; but fecure of its Caufe and intrinfick Worth, attempts to make its Conquefts by fair and candid Propofals, and the Force of flrong and convidive Proof. I Hope therefore I fhall be excus'd, if I ven- ture not upon thofe Indecencies and Terms of Re- proach, which the common way of Controverfy may feem to warrant, and fome take for an Ornament in their Writings. It may fatisfy the Judicious, without making Pvcprizals of that kind, to examine and give a juft Anfwer to the Exceptions that have been made to my Defence of the Deity of Chrifl, in a Book plaufibly entitled, * Plain Chrifuanity defended, ^d and ^th farts. The Gentleman it feems intended to fpirit up this Defence of himfelf, under Difguife, without appearing as the Author of the Letter. A piece of Management thought not improper for the Advantage of the Caufe. Nor is it lefs Artifice, to *PlChr, P48, 52. fet (5) fet out the receivM Dodrine of the Trinity as of * abftmfe Speculation, and pafs his own upon the Unwary, under the Notion of flain, Cbriflianity, Somewhat ftrange ! that the Generality of learned and ferious .Chriftians fhould upon the moft diHgent Search, be yet fo little apprized of this, as to re- jed it as unfcriptural and abfurd, and ftill condemn it as a dangerous Error ! The common Faith has hitherto flood the tryal of Oppofition. Neither Wit nor Induflry, Power or Policy, Craft or Learn- ing, have been wanting in fuch as have fet them- feh^es againfl it. And tho' fometimes it has been difgraced and opprelTed, yet it has again foon re- covered its Lufire and Credit, and maintained its Ground againft Argument and AfTauIt. Nor is it a fmall Eafe and Satisfadion to my Mind, amidft Controverfies and Difputes, after feverer Enquiries, to find my Belief confonant to that of the far great- eft part of Chriftians, who conftantly profelled and contended for this Dodrine, bottomM their Hope and Comfort upon it, regulated their Worfhip and Pradice by it, and w^ent to Heaven with Triumph and Aifurance. As for the Suppofitions of good Men about this matter^ I fee no reafon to flight, or have them in contempt, tho' I build not my Faith upon them. And tho"* fome Doctrines of the greateft Im- portance, fuch as the Refurredion, and even Crea- tion, as well as that of the Trinity, be of difficult Explication i this can't be admitted as a fufficient Argument againft ^em, any more than againft many things in Nature which are as unintelligible to us. Befides, it may be thought but reafonable and mo- deft in them that urge this, as a grand Objec5l:ion againft the Faith generally profeffed, firft to clear their own Scheme of the apparent Abfurdities it is chargeable with. * Let. />. 3. Ba Whereas (4) Wh e r e a s our Author ^ 'wifloes that all Writers upon this Comrouefify uould endeavour to feyve the Defign of Charity^ which he pretends to promote ; he has my hearty Concurrence : nor \v/)uld it have been any Impeachment of his Prudence, or Inconfiftency with the Defign, to have forborn the giving unfair Turns to innocent Expreffions, and catching at Occafions of uncharitable Cenfures. I Still think it little for the Credit of the Opinions of late revived, that Men of Learning, who fhew a Fondnefs for them, find it neceflary in the Defence, to employ all the Quirks of Wit, and Arts of Criticifm they are Mafters of, to draw the Scriptures into a feeming Compliance. Yet it can- not be amifs, fo far to comport with the Example, as to rnanifeft of how little Service they are to the Caufe they are ufed for the Support of. Nor need it be marked as a * Qiiirk of the Defender's JVit, to fay that it gave him not a very favourable Opinion of Arianifm, to find Mr. Whiflon fo little to rely upon Scripture-Proof, as to labour with the Expence of fo much Pains and Learning, to bring in fo many fpurious, fufpedted, or adulterate Works of igno- rant Antiquity, to be received as infpired Writings of equal Authority with the Holy Scriptures, con- fidering what Advantage is hereby given to the Ene- mies of Revealed Religion ; whenas he did not in the leaft fuggeft, that the Letter was to he fufpeEied of agreeing with him in thefe Notions. What was offer u in the ll Defence to fhew the Peoples undoubted Right, to be fatisfyM in the Mi- nifters, they ftatediy communicate with as^ found in the Faith, and not to run a needlefs hazard of being drawn into Errors greatly to their prejudice, under the' Conduct of fuch as are juR;ly fuppos'd to be in * PI. Chr. p. 4. t PI. Chr. p. 5 II PI. Chr. p. 6. t them ( 5 ) them ; the Author acknowledges jto htrue, uponfup^ foftiion of Peoples being convinced of their running a great hUT^ard : but then, fays he, the Qtiery is, whether Chri- flians can have any fufficcient reafon to apprehend, they /ball run ftich a haz,ard in the Cafe before us ? To which I anfwer. That they are obhged to ad according to their prefent Light and Convidions, and not accor- ding to his Senfe and Opinion in the Cafe, who is pleafed to fuppofe that they cannot have a fuificient reafon for fuch Apprehenfion. But why Ihould he not in Charity fuppofe, that they had ufed honeft Endeavours, and proper Means, in their Station and Circumftances, as well as himfelf, and thofe of his fide, to be rightly informed, and to arrive at the Knowledge of the Truth ? • Or w^hy fhould they be fufpeded of Infincerity, tho' they take not his Judg- ment to be the Standard of their Opinion and Prac- tice, who thinks they cannot have fujficient reafon ? If fome have aded with Weaknefs and Indifcre- tion, in breaking Communion with particular Perfons or Churches, upon fmaller Matters, or Niceties in Controverfy ; it follows not, that thg- Denial of Chrift's proper Divinity, which fo nearly affeds Chri- ftian Worfhip, may not be a fufficient Caufe to ceafe ftated Communion with a Minifter, in the opinion of fober and fincere Chriftians : which is far from being applicable (juftly) to every controverted Point, (however Liberty of Confcience ought not to be infring'd, even ' in the Weaker and lefs Judicious ; or Impofition al- lowed under pretence of Unity or external Unifor- mity, or wanting better Information.) Nor need this prefently be condemn'd as breaking the Communion of the Church ; or it be thought a Crime or Abfurdity, for Perfons of fo different A pprehenfions, to worfhip in different Aifemblies, provided they do not uncha- ritably cenfure, much lefs attempt to perfecute each * PlaChr, ;.5, other. other. A Man may highly value, and live in the Communion of the Church, altho^ for juft Reafons he judge it not lawful, or expedient, to fettle in the Communion of this or the other particular Church. It is true, that the Communion of the Church ought not to be ftated upon other Terms, than what Chrift has appointed and made neceflary, who is the fole Lord of it. But as this is well enough confiftent •with the Right that ev^ery Man, and every Chriftian Society, has to judge for themfelves ; fo it no way interferes with, or abridges, the Liberty which every Man has, to chufe, and fix under the Miniftry he thinks in his Confcience, upon mature Confideration, to be moft for his Edification, Safety, and Comfort. Nor is there any reafon to fear, that the prudent Exercife of this Liberty will he the ready ii^ay to crumble the Chriftian Church into Faclions and Parties^ where no Tricks or fadious Methods are ufed to fpread pri- vate Opinions, or uncharitable Attempts made for mutual Impofitions. Our Author then need not be fo angry at my ap- prehending, that the Letter feem'd to threaten, that fuch as encouraged People in their Doubts (about communicating with Minifters thought to be fallen into dangerous Errors) might find themfelves affeEicd 'with the Confequences, when Avians, or others from among themfelves, divided in their Sentiments, having formed their Parcy, might take the fame meafures, and in theT turn feek to crudi their Opponents. If it feemed to me as well as fome others to have this Afped, V. here is the Crime ? That Methods of Vi- olence and Perfecution were ufed by the Arians of old, when they got the upper hand, and the favour of the Civil Powers, is not deny'd. And tho' it be fkid, tiiat the reputed Orthodox began, that could not, by the Rules of Charity, juftify the fevere Reprizals, \vhich indeed, as he obferves, were on both fides dif- rraceful to the Religion they p'cfijfed. There will be lefs (7) iefs room for Apprehenfion, and Pretences to Cha- rity will find more credit, if even under fuppofed Pro- vocations, contemptuous Refledions be forborn, and a Ciiriflian Temper maintained ; if inftead of bitter Refentments, and fummoning the Horrors of a Spanijb Inquifition to create Animoiity and fix a frightful Idea, proper and feafonable Endeavours be ufed, to allay Pallions and intemperate Heats. Tho this Gentleman confefles that 1 frankly dif claim Perfecution, yet he will needs harbour fome Jealoufy of me, becaufe I difdaimed not what was done at Exe- ter to Mr. Hallet and Mr. Pierce as Perfecution : but I hope he'll excufe me from divining ; a little Charity would have easM him of the unkind Jealoufy, confi- dering that theDefence was gone for the Prefs before their Ejectment. Nor have I any reafon to appre- hend the World's Cenfure, which he has the Civility to prompt, for my Ihare and condud in the Advice given to the Gentlemen of Exeter -, or fhould be a- fhamed to give the World account of it upon jult and necelTary Occafion. When I argue for the Liberty of Chriflians to judge for themfelves, what Miniftry to lit under, * without being confinM to fuch as agree not with them in the Objed and Manner of Worfhip, but willing to join in fo folemn a Part of Worfhip asr Prayer, where their Minds may be eafy, and theit Affedions united ; he fays, f T'here are two Mi flakes here of the Point in hand : (i.) In fuppojing the Letter would have Men confine themfelves to a particular Mi^ niflry ; whereas it pleads for their not confining themfelves y and that they fhould he ready to attend the Miniftry of any^ t}ho in the main order their IVorfhip according to the Scrip- tures. (2.) In going upon the fuppofition of Peoples being uneafy ; whereas the Defign of that part of the Letter, is to ft?ew them they have no reafon to be uneafy. For if the * Def. f 7. t Pl.Chr. /;. 8. TVoY- (8) Wovjh'ip he direBed to the Father thro' the Scn^ this is what all Chriftians may well be eafy with. I anfwer^ He either miftakes the Drift of my Difcourfe, or clouds the matter in Ambiguity. As to the hrft, If by being ready to atteitd a Miniftry he mean only an Occafional Attendance^ he^Jl find my Reafoning not directly le- velled againft that ; but if he intends, what I ex- prefs^'d, ftatedly to communicate^ the Cafe is clear, that if Perfons happen to be under a Miniftry, which is become juftly fufpeded to 'em, and judge it will. be dangerous, and to their difadvantage to fettle un- der it, they may defire to be excufed from running a needkfs haz^ard, and may prefer fuch an one, as they can with' more Safety and Comfort attend upon, as my words are; implying manifeftly, that to be barr'd, or not allow 'd fuch a Liberty, would bean injurious Confinement. As to the other Point ; TaeU/ieaJinefs does not arife from the Worfliip's being directed to the Father thro"* the Son ; nor does fuch a general Expreffion fuffice to make eafy, (in the mouth of a Minifter, who is known to deny the true and proper Deity of Chrift, and therefore) fuppos'd by the Un- fatisfy^'d, not to be ufed in the true and intended Senfe of Scripture, but in a Senfe very injurious to his Honour. Nor can Perfons be eafy or fate in pre- ferring, and chuiing ftatedly to join in a Commu- nion, where tho' Worihip is profeffed to be directed to the Father thro' the Son ; yet that Worfhip which they beheve in their Confciences is due and neceft'aryv and required by the Word of God, to be directed immediately to Jefus Chrift, is denyed, rel:ufed, or not given. The one, tho' lawful and the more or- dinary way of Worfhip, muft not exclude, or be thought fufHcient without the other, iince both are enjoin'd, and to be pradis'd in the Aft'emblies of Chriftians. I pafs, as unconcern'd in, the * Reflexions our *Pl.Chr. ^.9. ■ ' ** Author (9 ) "Author makes upon that Management and Way of Writing, which he appears fo well acquainted with, and which I think foreign to the Argument. Nor was it very candid in him to infinuate that we thought to cany the Caufe by calling Men Arians^ and charging them ivith damnable Herejtes^ without giving proof or inftances of this in the Defence, whatever occafion was offer 'd. I Was not indeed forward to determine what is"ab- folutely fundamental, or abfolutely necellary to Salva- tion, fuppofingwith * Mr. Chiliingworth, ' That maybe fufficiently declared to one (all things confider'd) which (all things conliderM) to another is not fuffi- ciently declared. And confequentiy that may befun- damental and neceflary to one, which to another is not fo. Which Variety of Ci re um fiances makes it impoflible to fet down an exad Catalogue of Fun- damentals.' Nor was it for me to determine, what Allowances a gracious God may make, for the different Cifcumflances and Prejudices of Men, who ufe fome honeft Means for Information, tho^ they fall into Error. But our Author's Jealoufy grows, and prompts Expoftulation upon this. JVhy does he think nve ufe only fome honeft Means, and that his oivn fide are the only Men v)ho ufe all honeft Means ? And what if I charitably think that favourable Allowances will be made, where fome honeft Means are ufed, tho not all ? I know of no great harm in the Suppofition on the part of Sincerity, tho' there be ftill the fame difference between Truth and Error, and God is the alone Judge of the allowances to be made, who is not governed by our meafures. Nor do I pretend to know by whom all Means are employed, tho' if fome Inftances be confider'd, there will pofTibly appear no extraordinary reafon to boaft. I Am ftill of the m^ind, that a Difference in the great Articles of Faith, cannot in juft Eftimate be * Chillmgiv. S^h Way, />. 103. C an (10) an hannlefs, or mere Difference In Opinion.- As a-it/c- ked Life is certainly to be condemnM ; fo are Opihioas that iubverc tlie Faith, witliout which we can exped but little Hoiinefs. If the denying the Refurrection of the Body is to be efteem^'d of fuch a nature and tendency ; the denying the Deity of Chrift may poffi- bly be thought not of lefs coniequence, as fen.iibly affeding the Vitals of Religion, or the Life and Hope and Worfliip of Chriflians, as fuch. But fays the Author, //' he thinks his Notions -main Articles of the Chriflian Faith ^ ^tis nmch he cannot fet thern doun in plain Scripure-AJjertions. Which he is pleas'd again and again to fuggeft ; but without juft reafon. For with- out advancing any private Notions of my own under fuch a Charadter, the great Articles I plead for and defend, I can and often do fet down in plain Scrip- ture Expreflions ; ("viz..) ^ That the Lord our God is * one Jehovah, that befides him there is no other God ; * that as the Father is true God, fo the Son alfo is * true God, over all bleifed for ever/ As for the Con- fequence, it may be fecurely left to form itfelf, and appears in our Lord's AlTertion, / and my Father are ei^e. What intemperate Heats and Paflions appeared, on either fide of the Controverfy, I was free to con- demn, and fhew my diflike of, and fhould have been furpriz'd at the Author's AfTurance, in wholly ac- quitting his Party, if I had not been accuftomed to his manner. He does not tell us, that he was pre- fent at the Debates ; but fays, By all the Accounts I have received^ they are ferfeBly innocent : fubjoining this only reafon. For I cannot hear that they ever judge any Mans Eft ate for his Opinion. As if Men might not be guilty of Heats and Indecencies, notwithftanding this wl^ther true or no. But when he adds, that by an artful and malicious Reprefentation I ivould' have them to appear guilty^ I am at a lofs for the Candour, or Innocence of the Charge. The Fa^fts were plain enough (II ) enough before many WitnefTes to juftify the Repre- fentation ; and as for the Malice of it, I am fecurc and perfectly unconcerned, and fcorn to retort the uncharitable Cenfure. T K o' I yet fee no reafon to doubt that the Doc- trine we maintain, was the Belief of the beft, and moft antient Churches, and efteemed a main Article of Chriftian Religion in the Ages preceding the Council of NkCy I thought myfelf not concern^ to engage in the proof of this, in anfwer to the Letter. It has been formerly and of late done by Perfons of great Abilities and Learning : nor is it a fmall plea- fure to perceive an Harmony and Concurrence in the fame Faith. But being confeiledly a matter of Re- velation, I am content to feek it in the Holy Scrip- tures, and to leave the Decifion of the Controverfy to itheir Sentence. We may then attend our Author's Remarks on what I faid p. lo. Here, with that great Mailer of Reafon * ABp Tillotjon, I fix my foot ; That there are three Differences in the Deity, which the Scrip- ture fpeaks of by the Names of Father, Son, and Holy Ghofl, and every where fpeaks of them as we ufe to do of three diflind Perfons : And therefore fee no reafon why in this Argument we fliould nicely abflain from ufing the word Per/on, f nor can fee any juft reafon to quarrel at this Term. Upon this he fummons up fome of his ftrongefi: and mofl popular Reafons grounded upon the Notion of Perfonality, which he would have to be apply 'd to the Divine Three, in the fame manner as to us Men, and thinks to load the common Faith with in- extricable Difficulties on this account, 'fhe fame Ar^ guments, fays he, that evidence thefe to he three diftinEl Perfons y do as fully evidence them to he three diftinB Be-* ings. If he thinks he can make a difference here, I ♦ Works in fol. f, 547. f lt>id. ^.589. C 2 'Would (12.) v:ouId dejire him to let me kmv: what that difference is. Jfhe talks of Perfons in a different Senfe from that in which we always ufe the word^ he ought clearly to define it. 1 life the word Perfons in ffeaking of this matter^ juft as I do when I fpeak of any Perfons. I anfw. He is at liberty to do fo, and to alDOund in his own Senfe ; but that his Senfe ftiould be made a Standard for the reft of the Ciiriftian World, will not be fo eafily agreed. He well knows the common Sentiment has been ftated upon a fomewhat different foot ; and that thofe, who have equally oppos'd the Sahellian and Arian Schemes, have not fpoken of Perfons in this matter, juft as they do of any Perfons. But while they have confider'd the diftind perfonal Charaders, Relations, and Offices of Father, Son, and Spirit, as reprefented in Scripture, againit th^ Sahellians^ have as carefully guarded againft the^^n^^ Inference,that there- fore they are three real difierent Beings, or Subftances. A middle way has been generally taken by the Learn- ed as the true Scripture- Account, apprehending a certain Diftinction among the Divine Perfons, and not that they are but three different Names, and yet be- lieving them to be one in Nature and Perfedion, as well as in Affedion and Confent. The truth is, the word ^^z^^ feems to be ufed ambiguoufly in this Debate, while fome take it in a more general Senfe, as fignifying any thing that hath' Exiftence, and is the Subjed of certain Modes and Predications ', and others confine it to a ftrider, fo as to denote a real and feparate Subftance. Hence if Perfonality be allowM to import Latelligent Beings thefe latter prefently infer, that Perfons muft fignify different Subftances , and becaufe among us Men three Perfons are three feveral Subftances, theretbrc the Divine Perfons muft be feveral and divided Sub- flances. But we can't be always fafe in reafoning from what we experience in our Nature, to what muft be in the Divine. That which creates difficulty ( IJ ) in this matter feems to be, that we can carry our Conceptions, and Reafonings, no farther than we have Ideas to fupport them. Now thefe are agreed to ajrife either from Sen fat ion or Refledion ; nor are we capable of forming any other, than what one or both of thefe do furnifh us with. There are things in Heaven, which yet appear not to us, which have not enterM into the Heart of Man. When St. Paul had been there in Spirit, he could not utter or ex- prefs ^em by any words in ufe among us on Earth, which match the Conceptions we have of what is within us, or from without follicits and affe(^s our Senfe. Our Knowledge here is very narrow,, accom- modated to the Gircumftances of our prefent State, and can't be extended beyond the Reach of our pre- fent Ideas : how eafily therefore may we miflake, when we venture to pronounce what is, or is not, competible to the Divine Nature, fo infinitely above our own ? And what Prefumption to determine, that "'tis impoilible there fhould be in it, what may be a fuiEcient ground for fuch Diil:in(5lions, as the Scriptures mention ; tho' Father, Son, and Spirit may be one in Subftance, and not three feparate Sub- ftances as three Men are ? Our prefent Conceptions are form'd upon our Experience, nor are we fo well acquainted with the Nature of God, as to be able to frame a jufl Idea of all that is in it, or belongs to it. Revelation itfelf gives us no new Ideas, amidfl: the great Difcoveries it makes ; but fuiting itfelf to our prefent Capacity, and Condition, is content to let us have Notices of what as yet is incomprehenfible to us. ^ * Among * finite Beings it is not to be expected, becaufe not * poffible, to find any exad Refemblance of that which is infinite, and confequently is incompre- * henfible ; becaufe whatever is infinite, is for that * Tiilotfons Works fol, p. 530. * reafon ( 14 ) * reafon incomprehenlible by a finite Underflanding ; * which is too Ihort and Jfhallow to meafure that * which is infinite : and whoever attempts it, will * foon find himfelf out of his Depth. ^ And that it * ought not to offend us, that thefe Differences in * the Deity are inconiprehenfible by our finite Un- * derftandings, becaufe the divine Nature itfelf is fo ; ' and yet the Belief of it is the Foundation of all * Religion." I F in our Souls, the only Nature within our Knowledge, that bears the Image of the Divine, we find the diflind Faculties of vital Power, Under- flanding, and Will, the former operating and ex- erting Itfelf in and by the other ; yet as we cannot hence conclude, that there are fuch Faculties pro- perly and formally in God, fo nor that "tis impoflible there fhould be fome Differences in the Deity, analo- gous to thofe Powers in us, which thefe are but a Shadow, and faint Refemblance of, and which, in that infinitely fuperior Nature, may be much more confiderable, yet well confiftent with the Unity thereof T H AT which the Scripture fets forth with great- eft Plainnefs, and which we may believe without fuz.-z>ling ourfelves about the 77ianner, is, that there is but one only true and living God , that as the Fa- ther is God, fo the Son is God, that the proper Charaders of Deity belong alfo to him ; that yet they are to be confiderM as diflind, and fuftaining different Relations. And in reference to this, we need not nicely abftain from the Word Perfon, tho' the Scripture appear not diredly to ufe it; and tho' it be not intended to fignify to the full, and in all refpeds, what Perfon, in relation to Men, doth ,• as fev/ of thofe things predicated of Men, when ap- plied to God, do. And we may allow, all that is ♦ Tilloffon^ Works fol. p 55)0. wont wont to be comprized in the Notion of Perfon, with reference to the Father, Son, and. Spirit, fo far as is confiftent with their being one in Sub fiance and Perfection. But if becaufe they are fpoken of a$ diflinft Perfons, we niuft take them to be feparate Subflances, they muft be different Gods, contrary to Realon and the plained Revelation, f Mr. NeU foii^s learned Friend obferves, ' That the Notion of a Perfon and an intelligent Beings in relation to the Creatures, is the fame, becaufe each fuch in^ telligent Being is fuppofed to have but one Suhjiftence"-' But the Notion of a Perfon and an intelligent Being, in relation to God, is not the fame, neither can they * be reciprocally fpoken the one of the other ; for tho' each divine Perfon by himfelf is an intelligent Being, yet the divine intelligent Being is not one Per-- fon only ; becaufe God, who is that divine inteHi-' gent Being, is reprefented to us in Scripture, as having not one Suhfiftence only, but a Plurality of Stihftftences : fo that the Notion of a Plurality of Suhfiftences enters into the Idea of God^ or the divine intelligent Being. But our Author fays, * / never find in all the Scripture, that the ivord God^ in the Jingular Number^ is put to exprefs a complex Notion of more Perfons than one. I anfwer ; I know not whether I wellunderlland his Meaning about a complex Notion ; but do think, that in many places, both of the Old and New Teilament, the word God does fairly fignify and comprize the Perfons both of Father and Son : For inftance, I fee not why in Gen. i. i. where "'tis faid. In the Beginning God created the Heaven and the Earth ; the Word that was in the Beginning, and was God', fhould not be underflcod to be included ', by whom all things were created that are in Heaven and in Earth, and without whom, was not any thing made. t True Script. Do^. part 2. ^. 4. ^ Pl. Chr. ;». iz, that ( i6 ) that was made; i John I 3. of Avhom ^tis faid, He^. 1. 10. And thoUy Lordy in the Beginning hafi laid ths Foundation of the Earth ; and the Heavens are the Work of thy Hands. Nor will it, I fuppofe, be objeded, that Elohi7n is a Word of the plural Number, which is joined with a Verb of the fingular, fince thofe who are againft a Plurality of Perfons as denoted, would conftruft it fmgularly ; and it is known, that what we render Creator, Eccl.xiui. is [ 'iwin-nN ] thy Creators, in the Hebrew : and what we render Maker in j^^ liv. 5. and Pfal. cxWx. 2, is Makers in the Hebrew j tho' the fame Word be often applyM to God in the Singular ; as Pfal. xcv, 6. Ifa. li. 13, &c. So that th^'m If a xliv. 24. Jehovah is faid to make all things, to^ ilretch forth the Heavens alone, and fpread forth the Earth by himfelf, this excludes not the Word that was in the Beginning with him, but probably intimates a Plurality of Perfons creating ; yet thofe Perfons are but one Creator, becaufe they are but one God, have but one Deity, and abfolute divine Power by which they create, jointly concur- ring, or the fame in all Operations ad extra. See alfo Gen. i. 26. chap. iii. 22. * Ifa vi. i, — 8. Another Inflance may be, Rom.xiv, it, 12, Every Tongue fhall confefs to God ; fo then every one of «s fhall give an account of himfelf to God; alledged as a Proof, that we fhall all ftand before the Judg- ment-feat of C/^r/^, ]ver, 10. the God in Unity with the Father, to whom every Knee muft bow, and every Tongue confefs, from 7/'2z. xlv. 23. It is of a diftind Confideration, and alters not the Cafe, that Judgment is committed unto the Son of Man by Grant and Donation, (as will after be fhown) fince -f this Mediator be not God manifefted in Fiefh, * PI. Chr. p, 16. \. Nelf. True Script. Poa. p 295* God ( 17 ) God as well as Man, the AfTertion would not be clear, nor the Proof" juft. Whereas our Author * futs it to me^ v^hether 1 think the Scheme of the Archbijloop (of the Father^s being the Fountain of the DeitjO ^^^^ poffihly be defended: He is not ignorant, that it has been defended by many of great Judgment and Learning, and f that "'tis fpoken in a rhetorical and popular way, of which there may be a fair and candid Interpretation. But my Defence being not concerned diredly in it, I fee no occaiion here for infifling upon it. Nor do I fee much reafon to follow hitn, in the Remarks he is pleafed to make, upon fome of thofe Texts of Scripture I mention'd for the Deity of Chrift, amidft a multitude and variety colleded by Mr. Majo^ and others. It was the Defence of this that I had undertaken in anfwer to his Letter, which I w'as content to confider. If I had gone upon a fuller, and more general Proof, he might reafonably fuppofe, I fhould have taken another Method, and infifled on thofe Texts, upon which the cleared and ftrongeft Arguments might be built. And it was popular enough in him, to except againft fome of more doubtful Interpretation, upon ^vhich no ftrefs was intended to be laid, or Doclrine to be built, but as in conjunction with others more plain and certain. I Therefore obferved II, to open the way to the intended Defence, that it cannot but be acknow- ledged, that there are numerous, and, to appearance, very plain Texts of Scripture alJedgM for the Proof of Chriil^s Deity, tho" the Senfe of thofe Texts b^ difputed. And farther iijt, that there is a great difte- *PlChr.;;. 12. t Placeus t^ikcs notice of Crellius. Vexat id quod a quibuf- dam e noftris oratorie & figurate difturxi eft, Fatrem effe Fontem Divinitatis — Hoc eft quod nos iimpliciter et magis proprie dicere folemus, Filium et Spiritum S. effe a Patrs. 'Difput. tar, 5. ^.29. 'H Calm Dcf. f. 11. HI! Ibid. p. 16. D tehee ( i8 ) rence between the conjund Force and Evidence of many T exts of Scripture togetlier, Wxhich mutually inlighten and fupport one another, in the Teftimony they give to an important Truth ; and the Evidence of fome fingle PaiTages, arbitrarily feleded, and fe- parately coniider'd. He might have forborn his Wonder, and critical Remark upon the ExpreiTion, he is faid to be pof- feifed by the Lord, Prov. viii. 22. the in^ by the Error of the Prefs only, being put for by. Nor was I ig- norant of the trouble, which the Septuagint Tranf- lation, in ufe amiong . the Greeks y gave fome of old, by rendring it, he created me^ departing manifeilly from the Senfe and Import of the original HebreiVy which few of them underftood. And yet even [_s)cii^ if not by the fault of Tranfcribers, put for [litliyT^ or i;'.r.;^'/c] was thought capable of another Senfe; and the LXXII in Zach.xm. 5. render [^^rirr^] the fame w^ord in a different Conjugation, fignifying poffidere me fecit y l_iyiun)oi y^.'] begat me. But tho the Antients had thisTranflation in ufe before the fourth Century, I can no way comprehend, how thie faid, nor does the Scripture allow it to be fliid, if my Body be wounded, that God's cwiz Body is hurt, or that what is perform 'd by my Spirit, is done by the Spirit of God. But if that Evafion ferve not, he tells us, he prefers the Pleading of the Manufcripts^ ivhich have the Church of the Lord which he redeemed. But the common Reading being eftablifhed upon the Agreement of fo many good Manufcripts, * which Dr. Mills upon good reafon prefers and adheres to, there appears little ground to depart from it, where the Caufe does not need it ,* befides that, the Church ofGcd, not of the Lord, is the conftant Stile of the New Teftament, the latter Phrafe not appearing to be once ufed. As for the Honour, Glory, and Worfhip, given to Chrift by Angels and Men, that 'tis only by the Father's^ Gift, as he fo often fuggefts, 'twill be fully confider'd afterwards. That, ^Ifa. vi. 8. There were more P erf ons than one prefent^ Whom fhail I fend ? and who will go for us ? I readily grant ; but find not, that there were more Gods than one prefent. The Expreffion rather implies, One God in a Plurality of Perfons. IThought indeed, from thofe numerous, and to appearance very plain Texts of Scripture, wont to be produced (fome of which I mentioned) which fet forth Chrift under the diftinguifliing Titles and Cha- racters of God, we could not well forbear conclu- ding, that Deity in a proper Senfe belongs to the Son of God. And that it feems wonderful, if no * In loco Prolegom. f, 145. col 2. fuch .< ^i ) fuch thing was intended, that fo little Caution is ufed to prevent the fatal Miflalce. But our Author (after obferving that the Notion of three Perfons being one God, is never once laid down in the Scriptures^ which hath been ah^ady accounted for) pretends "'tis Cau- tion enough, that when it (the Scripture} gives the 'Title cf God to Chrijly 'tis not to he underfiood as tho' he were God in the fame Senfe ivith the Father, But how does this appear ? If by the fame he means as we do, in as true and proper fenfe, what Proof to convince us that 'tis not {o to be underfiood ? That the Scripture always iiififts upon it^ that there is hut one God, we do not only allow, but often urge j and that it declares that this one God is the Father, we deny not, but add, that the fame Scripture declares alfo the Son to be God, and the God cf Ifrael : yet take not this to be fufficient proof, or ground to conclude, that becaufe . Father and Son are two diftind Perfons, therefore they are tvv'o different Gods. 'T I s evident, that the Caution which he pretends was given, proved not fulHcient, when (as I took no- tice) in a manner, the whole Cnriflian World ; when the Reformed Ciiurches in thefe latter Ages, profef- fedly making the Scriptures their Study, the Rule of their Faith and Manners, fettled in this Belief, un- able to efpy andefcape the fatal Delufionj when under the innuence thereof Religion eminently HouriOiM, and innumerable Souls that ardently loved God and hated Idolatry, lived to his praife, and died with triumph. What fays he to this? Why,iirfl he would fain infinu- ate,what he will not findfo eafy to prove. That this is a wrong Perfuafon, introduced under, and a part of, the grand Apofiacy, to be reformed upon the Reformation, provided his Opinion betaken for the meafure. Then he quarrels with the Vvcrd/^if^/, by w^hich furely I intended not, as I plainly intimated, that Men in this Belief mull perifh ; but that it could not but be of dangerous confequence, to be deceived in the Objed of of their Worfhip, and the Ground of their Hope. What iho'the Father has been addrejVd to as the Supreme ObjeEi cf Wvvjhip ; will that exempt from Danger of Idolatry fnch as rake Chrift alfo to be true God, and v/ordiip him accordingly ? At length he comes off thus : His popdar Harangue might be eaftly taken up by Papifti\ and turned again fi himjelf infavtur ofTranfub- flantiation. (There would be more colour for this, if the Scripture did fay as much in favour of Tran-' fubftantiation, as of the Deity of Chrift.) How eafilf may they argue from the Opinion of fever al Ages ^ nay, from the Opinions of fuch famous Men as Wickliff and Ins Folloivers, cr c/John Hus and Jerom of Prague, whoni he vjill aliOv: for Martyrs (not furely for Tranfubftan- tiation) and who yet all believed that DoBrine. A little ReBedion will fhew the Sophiftry of tiiis. Tranfub- ftantiation is fo far from having been the general and condant Doctrine of the Chriftian Church, that it came not in till the ninth Century, and was fcarce eftablifti'd till the eleventh ; Times of greateft Ig- norance and Superflition, by the confeiTion of the Pop'iih Hiftorians themfelves. Whereas that of Chriil^s Divinity has not only been generally received all along the better and more learned Ages of Chri- ftianity, but from time to time maintained agamft the moft violent and fubtile Oppofition. Little Plea could be made from Scripture for tii-e former, found- ed upon a few words, that were manifeftly to be un- derftood in a figurative fenfe, diredly crofTing the Reafon and found Senfes of Mankind in a Cafe plain- ly fubjed to their Judgment : the latter, of mere Revelation, delivered in the plainell Terms, fupp or ted by a very great number of Texts, not to be wrefted to another Meaning but by notable Methods of Ar- tifice, and clearly above the Decifion of human Sci- ence. That TVickliffand Hus and others, in the firft Dawnings of Light, after Ages of the groffeft Dark- ilefs, gave alarm to the Nations funk into Vice and horrible ( 14 ) horrible Superflition, and attempted fon:e Reforma- tion, we gratefully acknowledge the Mercy of Pro- vidence in ; the" the Abfurdities of Tranfubflantia- tion were not fo fully feen, being not then the Sub- ject of Controverfy. But when the Reformation came to be eflablifli^d amidft furprizing Increafes of Light and Learning, not only this, but much lefs Errors of Popery were difcarded. And tho' by the Policy of Hell, old Herelies were then revived and propagated with Craft and Liduflry, to difturb the glorious De- fign, and the Godhead of Chrift particularly difpu- ted and eagerly oppugned ; yet this generally then obtain 'd, and was fettled, as a prime Article in the ConfefHons of the Reformed Churches. Nor, it may be, have there appeared, fince the Apoftles time. Men of greater Piety and Knowledge in the Scrip- tures, than thofe under whofe Conduct this was done. Our Author grants the Truth of what I had ob- ferved. That we may be perfuaded of the Exiftence or Being of a thing upon the cleared grounds, when yet we cannot comprehend it, or give a fatisfadory account of it to our own Minds ; but denies that there are any clear Grounds to believe the thing at all^ either in Reafon or Revelation. Here I muil: remind, that the main thing under debate, is, whether Deity does pro- perly belong to Jefus Chrift ; and ^tis fufUcient if we find clear grounds for the Affirmati\'e in the Scripture, without running into Explications of the Trinity, or nicely fetting out the Charaders of Divine Perfona- lity. He adds. The Scripture refrefents the Father^ Son, and Holy Ghoft to he three diftinci Perfons or Beings (how and in what fenfe, hath been conflder'd a little be- fore) hut fays not they are only three DiflinEiions in the fame ^ Divine Nature : (nor are the words, three diftinEl Perfons or Beings^ the words of Scripture.) Tiie only queftion here is, If the Scripture afcribe the fame divine Perfedions to Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft, and ( ^5 ) and declares that there is but one God ; whether it be impoffible or a Contradidion, that there fliould be fucli Diftindions in the Divine Nature, as may be a fufficient ground for diftind perfonal Attributions and Predications ? And unlefs this be plainly proved, our Debate is little concerned. Yet how this can be done, without pretending to determine what can, or cannot, be in the Incompreheniible Nature of God, I know not. A little Refledion upon the Shortnefs ot our Underllanding, may prevent our being pofi- tive and peremptory, in matters fo m.uch above us. And why fhould the Nature of the fupreme God feem incapable of fuch an Ahafement^ and emptying of itfelf as the Scriptures attribute to that divine Perfon, who took upon him our Nature ? If Love that palTeth Know- ledge, and Goodnefs divine, will difplay its Glo- ries in fuch an aftonifliing Condefcenlion, we need not dilpute and quarrel at its meafures, lb much above our Thought, as the Heaven is abov^e the Earth. And why fhould it be impoffible for the Na- ture of God to be united to the Nature of Man, under the diftincl Confideration and Charadter of the Word, the' it be not incarnate in the relation of the Father, or the Holy Ghoft, and without being fub- je6t to the Changes and Paffions incident to the hu- man Nature ? I cannot yet perceive the Abfurdity of fuppoling, that God may, for juft and w^eighty Reafons, fecure of his own Greatnefs, unite human Nature to his own in the Perfon of the Son. Having examinM his Objections againft the com- mon Dodlrine, we may obferve in what manner he attempts to clear his own Scheme of the Abfurdities it is charged with. And is there no Difficulty in admitting two Gods? a thing fo abhorrent to Rea- fon, and fo contrary to Revelation, which exprefly forbids the having any more Gods than one. But where (fays he) is the Repugnancy fi^^^'^g '^s own hut one God in the moft flriEi Senfe of the IVord ? The E truth (16) truth is, the Scripture appears to me, to h'e fo crofs to this Conceit, that it gives me a fufficient Prejudice and Averficn to any plauiible Scheme, or Explication, that is advanced, if it leads me to have any more Gods than one ; You may tell me again and again, we own but one fupreme God, we take the other to be a dihrerent and fubordinate God, yet properly God alio, and not in a figurative Senfe. You may fay what you pleafe ; but it flicks with me, that the fupreme God has told me, I muft have no other God belides himfelf. Ycu will, it may be, undertake to anfwer for me, by your prudent Dif- tindion ; but I fhall fcarce lenture to truft it, and pay Worfliip and Allegiance to another God, e'er my Maker and undoubted Sovereign make the Dif- tindion, and tell me in what Senfe, and how tar he will part with his Glory to another. As there appears not, in thofe Texts of Scripture that fpeak of the Unity of the divine Nature, the leafl Excep- tion or Reverfe, in favour of any inferior or fubor- dinate Deities ; fo ^tis the manifeil Defign and End of them, to prelude and take off from the Acknow- ledgment and Service of fuch, there being much lefs danger of running into the Opinion and Wor- fhip of many fupreme Gods, which the Theology of the Gentiles did hardly allow. In fhort, while you own, and the Scriptures mofl plainly declare, that Chrift is God, I muft conceive him to be the fame, or one, with the fuprem^e God, or elfe another God : but that fupreme God has exprefly declared, that there is no God cKq befides him j that he knows not any other ; that before him there was no God formed, neither ftiall there be after him, Ifa. xlv. 5,21. chap. xliv. 8. chap, xliii. lo. This not only aws me into Silence, but fatisfies my Mind, and fe- cures my Regards. As for the Difficulty of owning a Creature, or another Being than God, to be the Creator of the World, (^7) World, (to whom the HotTiage of all the Creatures mud be immediately due) it will come to be farther confidered afterward, in its proper Place. But our Author thinks it mcfl proper to fpeak of him as the Son, not as a Creature. Whereby he ouns his king derived from^ the Father in an ineffable manner ; but dijiinguijh'd from the Beings zve call Creatures. As if he v/ho de- rives his Being and Power from another, or, in other w^ords, is a voluntary Production, can be any other than the Creature of that other. For if the Deri- njation were by Neceffity of Nature^ Dr. Clark cannot but acknowleage, it v/ould be in Reality and Selj- Exiftence (the moft peculiar Property of the fupreme God) not Filiation; id Ed. f. 246. And what vvill it fignify to give him the Name of Son, and tell us, he is diftinguuVd from the Beings we call Creatures, without fpecifying hov/, and in what Senfe he is diftinguifh'd, or what is tlie diftincc Nature of thofe Beings, he will call Creatures ? If he be fancy 'd (as what may not a Man fancy ?) to be diftinguifn'd only from other Creatures, by the Honour of being made firft, and ufed as a fort of Inflrument in produ- cing them, he will not by this be diriinguiflied from them in Quality of a Creature, but of Order only and Privilege. Nor is it any more intelligible to me ai:ter clofeft Tryal and Application of Thought, and after the boaited Plainnefs of this fort of Chriftianity, that there (hould be a middle Being between God and a Creature, between finite and infinite, that is, nei- ther one nor t'other; than that there fliould be three Differences in the incomprehenfible Nature of God, mark'd by the Names of Father, Word, and Spirit. Befides, it feems ftrange and unaccountable to me, that I fiiould be required, upon pain of Damnation, to believe in, and live devoted to the Service and Glory of I know not what Being, whom E 2 I ( 28 ) \ I muft not conceive to be either God or Creature only am told that he is called Son. Nor is it more intelligible to me, notwithftand- ing the pretended Plainnefs of this Scheme, how a Creature fhould exercife a creating (that is, an in- finite) Power. But, fays he, why may not the fupreme Being he able to communicate to ancther, a Power of cre- ating ? PoiUbly it may be as well asked, why he may not communicate Self-Exiilence and Eternity, or any other divine Perfections to another ? I am fure the Scripture does every where fet forth the great God, as the only Maker of Heaven and Earth, as diflingui filed from all others by this Character, and as demanding our Homage upon this account. Nor does it any where tell us, that he has commu- nicated Creating Power to any (Creature, or) Being of a difierent Nature from himfelf. To fuppofe this in the Cafe cf Chrift Jefus, is to fuppofe what the Scripture fays not, and to beg the thing in queftion againft ftrong Evidence to the contrary. If the fu- preme God communicated Creating Power, did he after this do nothing, but leave the Management of the Creation to that other, to whom he had derived, and entrufled it ? Is he no farther concerned in us, than in that he gave another the Power to make and govern us, and immediately to receive the entire Homage due from Creatures ? Was God properly a Creator at all, when it was another that created all, tho' by a Power derived from him ; when it was not properly his Work, but the Work of another, "whom he did only impower and order to do it ? It is by a Power derived from God, that we perform the common Actions of Life ; yet it is not God that does thefe Adions, they properly belong, and are to be afcribed to the immediate Subject of that Power. Neither does it feem conceivable, that the Creating Aft, or the Produdion of Being from nothing, fhould be divided between a fuperior and fubordi- nate (>9 ) Bate Agent ; or that there ihould be Occafion, or the leaft Pretence of Reafon, for God^s making one Being firll, that he might employ his InftrumentaUty in making the reft. How much more reafonable to beheve, that as Creation could not be but by his Power, who made all things for himfelf ; £b he would referve entirely to himfelf the Glory, the De- pendence, and Regards of his Creatures ? I T was farther objected as matter of Prejudice a- gainft the Scheme, that, contrary to the plaineft Decla- rations of Scripture, it fuppofes the great Mediator to be neither true God nor true Man : but this is, it feems, no Difficulty at all to the Author ; to whom ra- ther it looks indeed fomev.)hat like anAhfurdity^that hefhould be a Mediator betij^een himfelf and Men. And were we in the Sentiment of the SaheUians, making the Father and Son to be the fame Perfon, there might be Pre- tence for fuch an Objedion ; but what Abfurdity in fuppcfing the Man Chrift Jefus, related to, and in- feparably united with the divine Nature, as diftin- guifhed in the Son, to bear the Character, and per- form the Office of Mediator, between the fupreme God and his revolted Creatures ? What Incon- fiftency, or fo much as Incongruity, in conceiving, that dillindt divine Perfons, by Difpenfation and Agree- ment, aflume, and perform the part of diftind Offices? But however, methinks, our Mediator might be allow ''d to be a true Man, and to have a rational Soul 5 yea, fays our Author, If the Logos, or Word, ixas the Soul of the Man Chrift Jefus, will not that he raticmil enough to make a Man ? Very like, if a glo- rious Angel were the Soul of a Man, it might be rational enough : and fo might the Being, which he yet ventures not to oali a Creature, did he in earneft prove that the one or the other were properly a hu- man Soul. But to aflert or imagine, that it does become fo, merely by animating organized Fleili in human Shape, agrees not any way with Scripture or Phi- (JO) Philofophy, nor is the Fancy warranted or coun- tenanced by the Language of either, but rather con- founds the Nature of things, making all Spirits to be of the fame Kind or Species, which feems to be utterly uncapabie of Proof; and w^ho can fay, that an human Soul becomes of the Nature of Angels^ when divefted of Flefh ? That human Nature is often in Scripture, by an ufual and eafy Figure, {ig- niiied by Flefh, which denotes that part of it that is vifible, and falls under the notice of Senfe, can- not well be denied ; tho' confidered and taken fepa- rately by it felt, it is not Man. Ex gr. Ali Flejlo is Grafs. All Flejh fnall come to thee. No Flefh jhali be juflified. All Flefh had corrupted their IVay^ Pfal. Ivi. 4. I will not fear what Fleflo, that is, ver. 11. I will not be afraid what Man can do unto me. Thus, the Word was made Flefh ^ importing, that he took not the Nci- ture of Angels, or a mere human Body, but the Na- ture of Man, with its common Infirmities. ' Our Saviour {fay^ * Archhifl)op Tiliotfon) is frequently in Scripture and exprefly faid to be a Man^ which could ui no propriety of Speech have been faid, had he only aflumed a himian Body ; nor could he have been faid to have been made in all things like unto us^ Sin only excepted, iiad he only had a human Body^ but not a Sotil. For then the Mean- ing mud have been, that he had been made in all things like unto us, that is, like to a Man, that only excepted, wiiich chiefly makes the Man, that is the Sotil : and the Addition of thofe Words, Sin only excepted, had been no lefs flrange ; becaufe a human Body without a Soul, is neither capable of being faid to have Sin, or to be without it.* Wor- thy Mr. Withers did not amifs obferve, f ' That the Herefy of Avius confided in three things, (i.) In affirming the Son of God was but a Creature. * Works fol.;». 553. t Mr.P/Vrc^'s Weft. Inquif. fj. 104, 105 ' (2.) (SI ) (2.) That there was a time when he had no Ex- iftence. (3.) That his fuperangelical Nature ani- mated his Body inftead of a rational Soul. Thefe were the pecuhar diftinguilliing Opinions olf that Man/ How far our Author is concern^ in 'em, I need not curl oufiy enquire, (not forward to faftea a Charge cf Arianifm upon fuch as difown it, as he fometimes groundlefly fuggefts.) He now fees fit to declare for the laft, tho' he fpeaks with more Re- ferve, in reference to the former, not much differing from the Language of the Semi-Arians^ in the Paf- fage a little before confidered. I think it mvfl popr to fpeak of him (Chrift) as the Son, not as u Crea-r ture ; vjhereby I oivn his king derived from the Father in an ineffable manner, hut difiinguifo him from the Beings we call Creatures. I leav^c it to himfelf to fliew% and to others to guefs, whether this will exempt him from being truly a Creature, with refped to God, from whofe Power and Will he derived his Being, tho' above the Rank of inferior Creatures. However, if his ^^2^ be not neceiTary, or derived by neceflity of Nature, Cc^ll him a Son, or an higher fort of Creature, muft not the Self-exiitent God be before him ? and muft there not be fome time or moment before his Produdion, or Exiftence ? Avhich how to diilinguifh for Ariush\_h -r^ol?, on k^c lv'\ Inhere vjas a time when he was not, they may do well to tell us, who would be thought not to be in his peculiar Opinions. And fince they fo often de- mand Explications of us, it feems not unreafonable to expea, that they fhould tell, what is to be un- derftood by Chrifl's being begotten, of the Father, in diftinclion from them, that are Sons of God by Creation, and prove their Senfe from Scripture, and not put us off, by faying it is ineffable ; or elfe what Advantage have they in this, as well as other Points, as to plain Chrifiianity f Ad- ( 3V) . Advancing to the Examination of thofe Texts of Scripture, which our Author was pleas'd to take notice of, as wont to be alledged in Proof of Chrift's Divinity, I obferv'd a great Difference between the conjund Evidence of many Texts of Scripture, and the Evidence of fome fingle Pafl'ages, arbitrarily fe- leited, and feparately conlidered ; yea, which^ fays he, / take to be really a Confeffion, that he has no Place in Scripture^ that does feparately declare his main Article of Chriftian Faith. A llrange Inference ! when I had quoted feveral Texts that feparately declare it ; but however, where a Multitude and Variety of Texts concur, to give teftimony to an important Doctrine, I take that Doctrine to be better eilabhfhed, than if (ignified in one or two Texts only in exprefs Words, what he fo often infifts upon. The exprefs Words of Chrift are urged for Tranfubftantiation ; 'This is my Body. Is it therefore an Article of Faith with him ? or does he believe it the more in the lite- ral Senfe ? He thinks he can eafily avoid the Force of the Argument. If it was in exprefs Words faid in Scripture, the Father, Word, and Holy Spirit are Qiie God 'y is he not acquainted with thole, that can prefently furnifh wath evafive Anfwers, and have Arts in readinefs, to elude the plaineft Texts ? We are told, that God is a Spirit. The Socinians fmile at the Proof of a lingle Text, however exprefs, and containing a Dodrine of moment, and can readily enumerate feveral Senfes in which {jvivfj-ct] Spirit^ is found, different from that, which w^e juftly believe to be the true and intended. But the truth is, I fcarce know any thing more fully, and more expredy declared in the Scriptures, than the Dodrine I am engaged in the Defence of. That there is but one God, and that Chrift Jefus is true God. And tho' this, or the other Text aparc, ihould be capable of another Meaning, and of being evaded ; yet the conjunct Force and Evidence of a very great num- ber (33 ) ber of Texts, pregnant with the fame Doflrine, and running through the whole Syftem of Gofpel- Truth, mufl differently affecl, and weigh much with the Judicious and Coniiderate. (i.) The firft Text our Author mentioned, as a grand Argument for the Dodtrine we maintain, is I John. V. 7. Tho', I faid, for what reafon this is fet in the Front, and made fo grand an Argument, can^t efcape Remark by fuch as know, that no extraordi- nary Strefs is laid upon it, tho' it will not be eafily parted with ; which may confifl: well enough, with its being commonly made %ife of by thofe vjho plead for the DoBrine^ and its being chofen by fome as a proper Text for Sermons upon this Controverfy. As for its being genuine, I obferv^'d how much had been alledg'd by Men of great Judgment and Learning in defence of it. Not only Gahard, and the famous Dr. Hammond, among many others, but Dr. Mill, and Mr. Martin^ of late, had, after the moft careful Refearches, given the World fufficient Sa- tisfaction about it. He would have this pafs for an equal degree of Confidence, with what he had ex- prefTed on his fide, in faying, That it was pafl all Controveify, that it was not genuine. It might pofli- bly be fo with him, and his Friends ; but why might I not apprehend, the folid Reafons, offered in proof of the Text, capable of giving Satisfadion, when I perceivM it fo general among fuch as had confider'd 'em ? far enough from afferting, that it w^as paft all Controverfy. He thinks, if I had looked into the Anfwer to Mr. Martin'^ Piece, I might have had a different Opinion of it. I can tell him, that I had done this, and that I have aifo perufed Mr. Martins Examination of that Anfwer, and that I fee not yet reafon to alter my Opinion. I can tell him too, notwithftanding his little Infinuation to the contrary, whicli he might think for his Purpofe, that I had carcfuily read the Authors I meation'd, F and (34) and others upon the Subjed, and Dr. Mill particu« larly once and again, that I might form the beft Judgment I could, upon the Probabilities offered on either fide. I had Socrates alfo before me, when I wrote, and I fairly quoted, what he, as an Hifto- rian, relates : If he blundered in the Application, neither I, nor the Text under debate, are concerned in the Blunder. A s for the Quotations out of T'ertuUian and Cy-^ priahy as a Proof that the Text was read in their time, long before the Rife of the Arian Controverfy, they have been fo well clearM and fupported by the judicious Remarks of Dr. Mill and Mr. Martin^ againft the Objedions that have been made, that I fee but ht- tle reafon to be moved by them ; tho' the Author jnake bold to be' of another Mind. And tho' I did not with him boldly alfert the Preface to the feven Canonical Epi files to be plainly conviBed of Forgery ; yet I men- tion'd it as doubtful, thinking Dr. Mill's Reafons againfl it fufficient Ground to fufped it. However, I juftly took notice, that Mr. Martin maintains it, and takes fome pains to prove it genuine, who ftill believes, that \\\s Anfwers to the Objedions de- fcrve Confederation. And for its being antient, he fays, ''^' * This Preface is found in the Bibles of eight or nine hundred Years old ; the Latin ' Churches have received it with their Bibles in all * Countries, and at all Times j and no Perfon that ' we know of, in its pafl'age thro' fo many Ages, * and among fo different Nations, has charged it ' with being fpurious.- The Clouds of Suf- * picions and Doubts were not formed around it, ' till our Days."* Mr. Siit^ivn was content to conjec- ture, that it was compofcd by one oF thofe whom Charles the Great employ 'd to correft the Bible, in the Clofe of the eighth Century. But that thofe ♦ AliYt. E>fam. p. 22, 19. learned ( ?? ) learned Men, appointed by that great Prince to make the Revife, fliould not have Greek Manufcripts to confult ', fliould be fo fupine, in the Management of fuch an important Charge and Defign^ as httle to regard 'em ; or fliould prefume to put this Text in their Bibles, without the Warrant and Authority of proper Manufcripts, feems not of eafy beliet, ex- cept with fuch as have efpoufed an Opinion, which they are loth to admit of any thing in prejudice of. Our Author ^grants, that the Pajjage began to appear in the Latin Tranflation foon after the iniddle of the fifth Cenmry ; however, adds, ivhich cannot be thought any great Argumeyit of its' being authentick : in- finuating a Charge of the mod criminal nature upon the Orthodox, which he has not the leaft Proof of ; which the vigilant and fubtile Arians of thofe Times appear not to fuggefr, and which they would not have faiW to expofe j "uiz.. the dired adding to the Scrip- tures, a Paflage of fo great Importance, which had not been found there before ; which could not efcape notice, which muft needs alarm, and which they fo little needed to fupport their Dodrine. Thus Dr. j Bently obferves ; ' If the fourth Century knew the * Text, let it come in, in God's Name ; but if that *^ Age knew it not, then Arianifm in its height, * was beat down without the Help of that Verfe. ^ And let the Fad prove how it will, the Dodrine * is unfhaken/ The truth is, this was adually done by many worthy Writers, without being ac- quainted with, or making ufe of this Text. As for theDodor's Manufcripts, when I fee his Performance, I fhall be able to make a better Judgment. The Paflage did not only appear foon after the mid- dle of the fifth Century, as is acknowledged i but upon fuch a folemn occalion, and in fuch circumflances, as *Pl.Chr.^:L5. t Anf. to 2 Let. in Emh Anf. to Mart, DifTert. p 12, F 2 can- no cannot but weigh n^uch with the confiderate and im- partial. By the Edid of King Hunerick^ the cruel Avian Perfecutor, the African Bifliops were fummon'd to defend their Doctrine by the Scriptures, in a pub- lick difpute with the Avian Bnliops; when this could not be avoided, under juft apprehenfion of the con- fequence, a great number (near 400) met at Carthage, An. 484. a Confeflion of Faith was drawn up with great caution, and carefully examined, where this fa^ mous Text was particularly urged : Now, can it be imagined, that in fuch an Aflembly, a Matter of fuch Moment, wherein feveral Bifliops of great worth ap- pear to be particularly concerned, fhould be managed with fo little difcretion, as to lay fo much (Irefs up- on a Text in St. Johns Epiille, which was not there to be found, or was a late addition ; which the Ari-^ am might fo caiily confute, and fhew the Fraud of, to their confufion, already under hardfhips, and the , noted a- mong them for his Piety, that very day committed to the flames. Hov/ever, the ten Bifhops that were chofen to manage the difpute, prefented themfelves at the place appointed, but were rudely treated; and, when they began to fpeak, were, it feems, en- tertained with outcries, and blows too; But it was not upon this occafion that the Text hrll: appeared i for, befides its being quoted by C\pyian fo long be- fore, it was exprefsly cited by Eucheriu^, fometime Biiliop of Lyons in France, a mjatter of fifty Years be- fore, as Mr. Emlyn confelTes, and which he finds not any other way to evade, than by feigning, or fancy- ing, it to be an laterpol^cion : And what Argument may (?7) may not eafily be eluded, if precarious and unprov- ed fuppofitions, of that nature, will be taken tor an- fvver ? It'^s ftill worthy of remark, that it appears not in thofe elder times to have any fufpicion of For- gery caft upon it ; but, wherever it appear 'd, it has been look'd upon, as the genuine Writing of St. John, 'Tis in this latter Age, that the Anti-trinitarians, finding it neceilary for their purpofe, flick not to affirm, that it is fuppofititious. As for the Greek Manufcripts, upon which the Prints of the New Teftament were form'd, though they at prefent ap- pear not, whether mif-laid, or conceard, there ap- pears no reafon to doubt, that fuch there were, for which I need only refer to Dr. M7/, Mr. Martin^ and Mr. Nelfons learned Friend. We may now rather proceed to confider the fenfe and import of the Words. 1 took notice^ fays our Au- thor, that a great ftrefs is laid by fome upon the Word \lv'\ I "Jo. V. 7. and "jo. x. 30. One, fay thefe Men, that iSy one Thing. * / fiewed there is no neceffity of fuch an Interpretation, hut that the fame Expreffion is ufed, where it is not poffihle it fhotild he rendered One thing. 'This, Mr. Moore could not anfii-er, and therefore he prudently took no notice of it. However prudent he might fancy this Sort of Refiedion to be, I am at a lofs for the Juftice of it, when I not only took notice of it, but, as I apprehended, made a plain Anfwer. W^hatever ftrefs he fupposM fome to lay upon the Word [^v] ia the Neuter Gender, he does not find me to lay any * Dr. Clark obferves, ^o. x. 50. our Saviour affirms, that He, and his Father, are not h^ [not one Perfon ; but ^V] one and the fame Thing in Effefl', as to the exercife of Power* And TeYtull'ian, and other Writers, commonly diftinguifli, that they are not [anus] one Perfon; but [unum] one and the fame Thing. Script, 'DoB. p. 2. TertuUian againft Fraxeas, fays. Qui tres unum funt, non unus ; quomodo diftum eft, Ego & Pater unum fumus, ad fubftanti^ unitatem, non ad nunieri firigularitatem. Concluding, that the Father and Chrift are E*f] wnum, one Thing, that is, One in Subftance. fuch ( 3n fuch flrefs barely upon the Expreflion ; for I granted, that in i Cor. iii. 8. it lignifies One in Confent and De- fign, and that the Phrafe is to be interpreted accord- ing to the fubjeft Matter, and Circumftances of the Place, where it is ufed. I deny'd it not the fame Senfe and Signification in this, which therefore he needed not to quote Bez,a for ; only obfervM, that this being fuppos'd, yet fomething farther might be imply ^d, yea, that fomething more feems plainly to be imply'd ; and that is, that the T'hree in Heaven do not only agree in their Teilimony, but that there is a peculiar Reafon and Ground for their fo agreeing ; and this probably intimated and intended by the change of the Phrafe, ^uer. 7. [^Ve/^] into [^-ri h h^] 'ver. 8. where, of the latter T^hree^ it could not be affirm'd, as of the T'hree in Heaven, that they are One in Nature, but only One in their Teftimony ; and this, though the Complurenfian Edition give not the fame difference in the Phrafe, as others, which might be an eafy flip in the Copyer of that Manu- fcript. So that, though there be yto neceffity^ that the Word [a,/] do always fignify One Thing, yet, that be- ing the primary and more natural fenfe of the Ex- prefHon, it is but reafonable to take in that fignifica- tion, if nothing oblige to the contrary ; efpecially, if the Subjed-matter and Circumlknces dired and determine to it. Nor fhould we think it fufKcient, in the interpretation of holy Scripture, to give fuch a fenfe, as a Phrafe, by it felf, may be capable of, though perhaps it may bed fuit our private Opinion, or ferve our prefent purpofe ; but what, upon juft confideration, we take to be the real and intended Meaning. It was farther argued, from ^ohn x. 30. I and my Father are One; and Johnxvn. 11. 21. That they may he One, as ive are ; the Word [^'' ] mufl be under- ftood to fignify and denote another kind of Onenefs, than meerly in Confent and Defign. When Chrifl prays. ( 39 ) prays, ^ohn xvii. 22. [iV^t Zm 'iv, y^^Jo^ mit^ h iTm^ thac they maybe One, as we are One ; our Author asked. And are zve to think^ that our Saviour dejtr^d his Difciples fhould be kepT to be one Being ? I reply'd, that the word [^-^^Swc] as, can denote here, (as Mat, v. 48. and many, other Places) b?^ a Similitude, or Refemblance, not Equality, or the fame perfed Union : And fo, whea there appears a neceffity of giving it this Senfe, it ought to take place ,* and w^hen he can fliew the fame neceility for this Conftrudion, that it can denote but a Similitude, 7^/;/2 V. 23. it may be admitted : In the mean time, it is not fufficient to fay, the IVord may be taken fo, when there is no neceffity. . "i When he fays. The two Unities, which, I think, are here compared (Jo. xvii. 21, 22.) appear to him to he things^ that carry not in them any Refemblance at aU ; for an Unity of Concord is entirely a different thing from an Unity of Being : he feems to miftake my Meaning, or con- ceal the force of my Reafon. He finds not, that I compared an Unity of Concord with an Unity of Be- ing ; but, fuppofmg that there is an Unity of Being among the divine Perfons, an Unity of Concord is a neceflary refult of it. I Observ^'d, p, 19, that, even among Believers, there is more, than a bare Unity of Concord and De- fign, fince they are animated and aded by one and the fame Spirit, which is a reafon of their agreeing* in one Defign. Now this Spiritual Unity among Believers, which infers Unity of Concord, refembles, or is a fhadow of, the Union between the Father andChrift; and fo I added, this being poffibly the neareft refemblance and fimilitude of it among Crea- tures, which hinders not, but rather implies, that Chrift*s^ Onenefs with the Father is of aa higher kind, of a more perfed and exalted Nature, than the Onenefs among Chriftians. And indeed the things which are fpoken of, as belonging to the Nature of God, cannot be ordinarily attributed to Creatures, but ( 40) but in aa analogical fenfe, and iii way of Refeftl^ blance. As for Dr. Wl:nth]'s^ interpreting the Glory, which Chrift gave his Di lei pies, ver. 22. to lignify the Power of working Miracles ; that hinders not, but that there is to be acknowledge an higher and nearer Union a- mong them : the fame Dodor obferving on ver, 20. that thefe words, ^uiz,. that they may he one, as thoUy Father^ art in me^ and I in thee, are to be interpreted, not of an Union of Concord, but by the participa- tion of the Spirit of the Father and the Son, is proved. See Note on Chap.' 14. 20, &c. which Note de-^ ferves to be confulted. I Took notice of two Arguments from the Doctor, that Chrift is One with the Father, in a di- ftinguifn'd fenfe, 'viz.. One in Effence, not in Con- cord only. I From the Security of the Sheep in the hand of Chrift, being One in Power with the Father, and therefore One in Elfence, as Chryfoftome fays. 2. From the Inference of the j^eu'j, that by this he made himfeif God. He anfwers to the firft. They may be One in the exeuife of their Power', or farther, as that Po" Inftead of clearly denying the Inference, as, it fcems, in all Reafon and JuFiice he ought, he firR repels the charge of Blafphemy, either by fhewnig, that he was not obnoxious to their Law, by calling himfeif the Son of God, fince others, of an interiour rank, were called Gods ; or by an Argument trom the lefs to the greater, ( t as the Dodtor obferves) ruer, 35,35. If he called them Gods, unto ii^ho??! the Word ofGod'came, and the Scripture cannot be broken ; fay ye cfhlm, whom the Father hath fanBif/d, andfent into the World, thou blafphemefi, becaufe I faid, 1 am the Son 0/ God ? q. d. If they were called Gods, ui a more im- proper, and in a typical Senfe, who were fome time employed as God's Meilengers and Servants, and had fome temporary AlTiftances of his Spirit; can ye thmk me worthy of blame, as arrogating to my felt an Ho- nour, and a Power, that is not my due,when I teil you only the Truth, that I am, in reality, and in the moil proper Senfe, the SONOFGOD^^sho am come into the World upon the moft glorious Defign^accordmg to my Father's Will, with the Power of the Spirit refting up- on me without meafure, and really dwelling m me ? And then farther adds, ^er. ^l^l^-Ifido not the Works of my Father, believe me not, &c. q. d. Wonder not that I faid, / am the Son of God, and that I and my Fa- ther are One, when ye fee me do thofe Works ot Om- nipotence, which fhew, that I have the fame Power \ See jfblthfs Note on John x. 34, 35, G ^^i^^ (40 with the Father, that || what things foever he doth, thefe alfo doth the Son likewife. 2. The fecond Argument for Chrifl*s Divinity, which our Author took notice of, is, that He is ex- f re fly caU'd God in feveral Places of Scripture : And he is pleas'd to fuggeft, thai: I ivem czier very fu- ferfidaUy what ivas cfier'd in the Letter on this Head. Some weak Readers may pofTibly take this upon truft^ but I am perfuaded, on a review^ the more judicious will find little reafon for fuch a Remark. Tliat others, bejide the fufr erne God^ arefometime called God, ufcn the accctmt of their fpecial Dignity and Au- thority^ as he fpeaks, w^hich is the Sum of the plau- {ible reafoning of the Letter, need not be difputed. Nor is it deny'd, that Angels and Magiftrates, in a popular and more improper way of fpeaking, or, in a figurative Senfe, have been ftiled Gods, on the account of fome diftant Refemblance, fome partial Reprefentation, or fome Charaders of Refped put . upon them by him, who yet, in the compleat Idea and proper Senfe, is the only true God. But now the Charaders of Divinity are every where afcrib'd and challengM to the Blefled Jeflis, in quite another manner, than to fuch, otherwife call'd Gods. Yea,' fays he, as Chrift is tranfcendently above all Angels and Governours^ he may have this "Title in a mote eminent Senfe. But I take not the queftion to be, whether Chrift has an higher Right to this Title, than others, as he expreffes ip] whether "'tis given him in an higher or lower Senfe , but whether it is given him properly, and in the jufl latitude of the Idea ? Otherwife, tho* he may, as others by a Figure, or by way of Allu- (ion, be call'd God, he may be far enough from be- ing truly fo. We farther urge, that as the Name and Title of God is frequently given to him, which in but a few I! John V. 19, Inllances (« ) Inftances is given to Creatures; fo 'tis given with- out limitation, or any Circumflances that Ihould de- termine it to a figurative Sente : whereas it is not apply M to any others, but in fuch a i-panner, as ma- nifellly to prevent danger of niiftake. Nor will any body be at a lofs, when Mofes is Jhid to be a God to Pharaoh ; ye are Gods, but jhall die like Men, &c. how to interpret the Expreffion, w^ithout fuppofing the great God to be intended, or others to be let up as Ob- jeds of Divine Worihip. But our Author is not content only to fay, the Name i^ given to Creatures ma- ny times in the Scriptures ^ perhap as many as it is to Chrift ; but ventures roundly to affirm, there is as much limitation, "with reference to Chrifi, to prevent our apprehending him to be the fupr erne Gcd, as there is with reference to any others. That this fhould be fpokeii with fo little Heiitation, with fo little Guard and Decency, may feem fomewhat ftrange and fhocking to fuch as do but confider, (i.) That no other Proof is here ofter'd for this, but faying, T'he whole Scripture is a limitation^ which determines, that there is but one God, and that the Father of our Lord Jefus Chrifi is he : whereas this is no other than a begging the thing in queftion, that Chrift muft be excluded from Deity, becaufe the Father is God ; when his being cailM God's OWN SON, in fuch a peculiar and appropriate Senfe, plainly diftinguifhes him from all others, and is far enough from being as much limit a-- tion as there is to any others ; when the ^ews knew not how elfe to underftand his faying, that God was his own Father, but as making himfelf equal with God, "John V. 1 8. when his being the Son of the liv- ing God, is wont to be made an Argument of his Deity, inftead of being taken as a Limitation exclu- ding him from it as much as any others. (2.) That the Name of God (and Jehovah) is fo far from being given to Creatures as many times as to Chrifi, that per^ haps it appears not at all to be given to any of them, G 2 in ( 44 ) in fuch a Manner, as to Chrift, but that there is fome fpecial Mark of Diftinition : And that befides his having the Name of God given him, divine Per- feftions are afcribM to him in Scripture, and pecu- liar Marks of Divinity, which fee him above the Rank of Creatures. (3.) That inilead of deiigning as much Limitation with reference to Chrift^ to prevent our apprehending him to he the fupr erne God^ as to any others, the Scriptures manifeftly fet him up, as the Objed of our Devotion and reUgious Worihip, and demand our Adoration and Services for him, which they ex- prefly forbid to be paid to any others, which fets him at an utter diftance from any others, that, in an improper Senfe, may be call'd Gods, under this Li- mitation, Worihip them not i worfliip God. (4.) T'hat the coramon Sentiment and Apprehenfion of Chrillians, in this Matter, are very different from his, who, after ferious Enquiry, and diligent Exa- mination of Scripture, unable to find fuch Limita- tion, have flill apprehended and behev'd, that Chrift is there call'd God, in the ftrict and proper fenfe of the Word, and fo as no others are. That Chrift Jefus doth fo indifferently affume, and hath fo often given him the Title ol LO RD JEHOVAH, (God's peculiar Name, as Pfahn Ixxxiii. 18. which the LXXIFs Tranflation oppofes not) our Author tells us, need not give any Diflurhance ; for it is not unufual in the Scripture for one P erf on, when he reprefents another, to affume the Stile and T'itle of that other. But I am at a lofs for a juft Inflance of this Nature. For a Meflenger to fpeak, in the Name of him that fent him, the Words that he had put into his Mouth, is a very difterent thing from alTuming the proper Title and Stile of that other. And I much doubt, whether the Scripture, or any good Writer, has any Example of this kind ; and fuppofe it not allowable for a Judge, acting in the King's Name, and by his Comniij(i^n, or for m Ambaifador, to fay, .(45) fay, I am George^ King of Great Britain^ &c. He that appeared on Sinai, faid, I am ?/;£■ L O R D THY GOD; 'Thou floalt have no it her Gods before me. I£ Chrift Jefus, in quality of his Father's Reprefenta- tive, might fay, I am ^ E HOVAH, thy God, why not, alfo, I am G O D the Father ? Dr. Whitby feems well to have cleared this Matter, on "^ohn i. i. vvhence I took notice of his Obfervation as juft, (which I had not only my felf made before, but found it ob- fervM by the antient Writer f Irenaud ' that nothing * is abfolutely in the Scripture, and in the Singular ' Number, cail'd God, for any other Reafon, than * that the divine Nature is imparted to it. \ Which happen\i, it feems, fo much to fhock our Author's temper, as made him forget the common meafures of Prudence, as well as Jullice in the temerity of his Cenfure. He is pieas'd to fay, "The Docior is not guilty of fo great an Abfurdity, and he has wrong cited himinfeveral refpeBs, unlefs he ufes a different Edition from mine. I'he word abfolutely is not ujed by the Do- Bor, but is an Addition of the Calm Defender's. "The Docior talks of the New Teilament only, and, inftead of that, our Author makes him fpeak; of the Scrip- tures in general. 'The word God is certainly ufed in thefingular Number therein (in the New Teftament} for fuch as were not properly God ; 2 Cor. iv. 4. zThef. ii. 4. Ads xii. 22. Finally, thofe Words, that hach not the Divine Nature imparted to it, are not the Do- Elor's, and I cannot but wonder at our Author^ s ufing them. Has Chrifi, according to his Opinion, the Divine Nature imparted to him ? Sec. Certainly otir Author did not confi- der here what, he wrote. What may not be expected from his Candour, who appears fo willing to take an Advantage ? What if he had not the feccnd Edition t Neque igitur Dominus, neque S]3intus Sandus, neque Apoftoli, eum qui non effet Deus, dehnitive & abfolute De- nm nominafTent aliquando, nifi eflet verus Deus. Itstk^, lib. ^. of / ( 4^ ) of the Dodor before him, whence I made the Quo- tation, but the firli:, as he fays, f. or the Page had happened to be miflaken ; it had been but juil: and reafonable in him to confult the other Edition, before he had charged me diredly with fo many Fal- fities, and fupprefs'd evil Surmifings^ till he had the patience to examine. However, after ail, there ftand the Words in the Doclor, and in the Page, juil; as I quoted them , and I find them to be the fame, even in this Edition, only a little before in the preceding Page, and in the Reader's View. But I lliall for- bear to return the civility of his Com.pliments, and to fay, 'T/ J hehvj a Man of Honour and Confckme. Cer- tainly this Author did not confider what he wrote. Yet I fuppofe his Readers upon this, will hardly he fo cre- dulous and fupine, as to take his Quotations and confi- dent Aifertions upon truft, and without Examination. A s for the Abfurdity chargM upon the Obferva- tion, no Shadow of it appears from the Scriptures he mentions. 2 Cor. iv. 4. The God of this World, 1 T'hef. ii. 4. T'he Man of Sin^ foewing himfelf that he is Gvd. Acls xii. 22. It is the Voice of a God, and not cf a Man. For, though the word God be there in the lingular Number, it is neither ufed abfolutely, nor in fuch Circumftances, as to leave the lead room for danger of mifapplying it. Nor am I concern'd in his reafoniiig about having the Di^jine Nature imparted to it. As the Expreilion was the Dodor's, I took not the liberty to alter it, underftanding by it, what, if I had exprefs'd in my own Words, would have been. That none in the Scripture is abfolutely, and in the lingular Number, cali'd God, who has not, or ia not Partaker of, the Divine Nature. He proceeds to argue from John i. i. T'he Word was v)ith God, and the Word was God. Now, fays he, and is not that God, who was the Word, plainly diftinguifh^d from the God, zvith whom, in the Beginning, he was ? Was God the Word the fame with him, with whom he was? . ( 47 ) . ^as ? and complains, that I took notice only of the latter Qpery-, \vhich was for no other reafon, but becaufe I took them to be both of the fame Import, or at leaft imply'd and refer'd to in the Anfwer I made. And why may he not be the fame in one re- fpedt, and yet ditfer in another ? So God, the V/ord, may be plainly difiinguifo'd from the God, with whom he was, not in refped of Nature and Deity, but as a diflind: Perfon. And who pretends, that the Son is the fame Perfon with the Father ? He iniifts, the fame numerical Being cannot differ from itfelf; if there- fore the one ReffeEi be that of his Effence, he cannot differ from him in any Refpecl : which feems to be but playing with a Word, or taking the thing for granted, which ihould be provM, and then arguing irom that Suppofition. If by the fame numerical Be^ ing, he will needs underlland the fame Perfon^ it can- not differ from it felf ; but if by Being, the Nature and Eflence of God be denoted, how does he know, that there cannot be more Perfons,than One, in it, that may differ from each other ? except he has fuch an exact Meafure and perfed Knowledge of the incom- prehcnfible Nature of God, as to be able fecurely to define, w^hat is poflible, or not poilible to be found in it. A Man, fays he, 7?7ay diflinguiflo the feveral At- tributes of the fame Being in Ms T'houghts ; hut he cannot fuppofe the fame Being to he the SuhjeB and notnhe Sub- ject of the fame Attributes, For my part, I know not any body that makes fuch a Suppofition ; but can, in my Thoughts, eafily diftinguifli the Attributes and Perfections of the Divine Nature, from thofe Differences therein,which the Scripture fpeaks of,un- der the notion of diflind Perfons-^ He adds, 'Tisim- pofjibkj that the fame Effence fl)ould he both begotten and unbegotten. But why may not the Father beget the Son in the fame Effencc ? However, the manner of Genera- tion, or of the Father's begetting the Son, is not the fubje(S of our Debate i nor am I any more concerned to (48) to explain or account for it, than he, whofe own Scheme likewife acknowledges, pi ly. the Sony's be- ing derived from the Father^ in an ineffable Manner. As for his faying, he has no notion of a diflincl Perfon, that does not imply a dijiinS Being ; I have fpoken be- fore fo diftindly of this Matter, as may fuperfede farther Difcourfe about it in this Place. I H A D faid. Why may we not fuppofe, that his Godhead was the fiime with that of his Father, tho' he was in fome fenfe different from him, who in or- der of Subliftence, and in way of Diilindion, bears the Name of God, and the Father? And what have I herein advanced that is new, that is fnock- ing to the Reafon of Mankind, or difagreeing to the common Faith of Ciiriftians? Vvhat, that is not generally taught, and received, as plainly re- vealed in the Scriptures ? Whence then the fudden (not to fay unmanly) Outcry ? Is this the Chriftian Religion ? Is this the DoBrine of the Gofpel ? Is this a fundamental Article of our Faith ? ckc. It might perhaps be thought popular and moving, and make fome impreflion on weak Minds, how httle foever I am concern^ in it. For after all, it appears clear in Revelation, of great and diffufive Influence in Chriftian Religion, that there is but one God, that Jefus Chrift is God, that he and the Father are fpo- ken of as different Perfons. But our Author thinks it for his Purpofe to repeat a few more Queries^ which the Letter put upon this 'Text in John, which he pretends Mr. Moore had not wouchfafed to anfwer ', though I thought "em fufficient- ly anfwer'd, as far as there was any occafion. However V\\ gratify his Importunity. Says^ he. Does the Evan- gelifi dejign to tell us, That the IVvrd was with himfelf? Anf. No. IVho ever talks after that rate ? Nobody that I know. Why ivas not the Exprejjton, And the Word was with God, entirely left out ? Becaufe it was incongruous to his Defign, and he hereby fitly ex- preffed (49 ) prefTed the Diflindion between theFather andtheSon. Does it add any thing to the Senfe^ provided the next Ex^ prejjton is thus to be underflood^ And the Word was the fupreme God ? Yes, a great deal, to aflure us, that the Father and Word, however diftinci in ano- ther refped, are yet one and the fame God. What- e'ver the Meaning is, of being with God, according to thefe Men, was it fcffihle that he Jloould be otherwife than with him, if he had the fame individual Effence with him ? Anf. No, by no means. Since he thinks thefe Queries of fo much weight, as to repeat, and inculcate them, I was unwilling again to pafs them without plain and categorical Anfwers. The other Text w^hich he alledg'd againfl Chrift's being God, in the lirid Senfe, tho"* he be called God, is Pfal. xlv. 7. cited Heb. i. 8, p. Thy 'Throne, 0 God, is for ever and ever ; God, ihy God^ hath anointed thee, dscc. adding. Can he be the fupreme God, who has one to be a God to him, and to be flow a Reward upon him ? Then fays, Mr. Moore's Anfwer here is exceeding fuperficial. As if Chrill: was not to be confidered as a complex Subjed, of whom fome things are evidently fpoken with reference to his divine Perfon, others with refped to his human Na- ture, and others that diredly concern his Office as Mediator. Which, if well weighed, and compared with what he has offered to invalidate it, will appear not fo fuperficial, as he would have it thought. The Obfervation 1 take to be juft, of neceifary Ufe and Application in feveral Cafes. It is fo with refpecl to Man, that is alfo a complex Subjedt. If a Perfon be affirmed to be of fuch a Bulk, or Weight, or Tallnefs, ^tis plainly meant of his Body : If he be faid to perceive, to underftand, to be con- feious, ^tis fuppofed to be intended of his intelli- gent Mind. Such Expreffions are commonly allow ""d and underftood ; nor is there much danger of any one's|^imaginin^ hence, that Thought belongs to him H ID. ( 50 ) in reference to his Body, or Gravity to his Soul. A Man may be alio conliciered under the Notion of an Husband, or in Qiiaiity of a Magifirate, and be the Subjed of very difrerent Predications, with re- fpect to thofe difterent Characters and Relations : And what is fpuken in reference to one, may fome- tuTiCS not be truly faid of him, in reference to the other , nor is there in fuch Cafes much Danger of MiPiake. Who fees not, that fome things may be fpoken of our Saviour, as he is Man, as he is the Meffiah, or as vefted with the OiHce of Mediator, which belong not to hnn merely as God ? Why may he not ui fuch a Capacity and Condition, have his Father to he a God to Imn, and receive a Re- ivavd from hm^ without Impeachment of his Di- vinity ? With this plain Diftinction we may fe- curely attend our Author's Reafoning, remembring that the thing which he labours to prove, is. That the Son is a difierent God from the Father ; that tho' he be called God, yet he is not the fupreme Gcd. But ijoby, fays he, fljould the Father he our Sa- ^iGur's God ? 1 anfvver ; Conildered as Man and Mediator, he ads by his Authority, and receives the promifed Reward from him for his Service. TVhy is Chrifl's divine Nature nenjer called the God of his hu- man Nature? As the Scripture has not the Ex- preffion, fo I can find no Senfe in it, that the Deity fhould be the God of the Humanity. How zvill he anfwer vshat is aliedgd in the Letter, that the Head of Chrift, this complex Perfon is God ? As Chrift is Man and Mediator, he is fubjed to the Father. A Man may meafure the Height of the complex Per- fon, called Ja?nes, without taking the Dimenfions of his Mind. Thus upon my Principles our Saviour 7nay he juflified^ in faying^ My Father is greater than I. But to fay the I does not mean his complex Perfon, , is ahfurdy and opens a Gap for Equivocations .- No more than to fay, My Neighbour is greater than I \ meaning meaning, in refped oi: bodily Scatnre, or Dignity or Office, without intending to affirm, that he is oF a different, or more excellent Nature. So a Man may be jvftified in faying^ n Child is greater than h;m- jelf\ meaning than his little Finger. Anf. Not unlikely, if his little Finger were himfelf. "And methinks there is '^. wide Difference between the Man Chriirs faying, I am greater than niyfelf; which is no way allowable in Propriety of Speech ; and his faying. My Father is greater than I. B V r farthery as to that 7e:::t (which indeed 'cis time to Gonfider) Chrifi is there fpokenofas Gdi. But this is the thing in queftion, and which weexpec^ted the Proot of. That he is there fliled God, and ac- knowledg'd to be truly fo, is not queftioned ; but whether he be fpoken of precifely under that Ccn~ fideration, and not rather as Mefliah and Mediator, acting under that Character, and as veiled with that Office : And while this is here fo plainly fignified, in that he is faid to be anointed, irC this Scripture is far enough from leading us into a dangerous Error^ by /peaking in an unguarded manner. Nor is there much more danger of Miftake, under fuch a Limi- tation, and in fuch Circumftances, tho'' the Words were rendered, 0 Gvd^ thy God hath anointed thee: wiiich therefore, thofoUovj'd by the French^ Dutch, T're- mellius^ and^ Eeza^ yet without their fa:vouring, or going into our Author^s Senfe. The tt'Uth is, wiiat- ever the Hebre-^jj may be thought to bear, the proper and grammatical rendring is, God, thy God j and fo "'tis rendred by the Septtiagint, Syriack, and vulgar Latin; by Arias Mont anus, our Tranflarion, the Ita- lian at Geneva, the Spanifi, &c. And as there ap- pears not the leaft Necellity for the other rendring, * Former Edit, of Beza, Fol. As the CawL Edit. Fol. Anno l()42. have it'' as we render, God thy God, So Tve7',ieUiuss Tranflation of the Syr, New Teftamcnr. . H 2 fo ( 51) fo It IS not countenanc'd by any old Tranfl^tion. If, however, it ftiould be admitted, (which I fee little reafon for) that Chrift ]s here fpoken of as God, as Z^r. Whitby notes upcn the Place, that he is God of God^ according to the Nicene S)mhol, it may iignify only his Subordination, as Son; not any In- feriority ot Nature : Nor can any more be inferrM, than that he is the Son of the Father, who is the jfirfl; in Order among the divine Perfons, confecrated by him to the Office of Mediator ; not that the Father is a different and an higher God. I T o Q K notice, that even in the fame Place, as there is occaiion, feme things are afcribed to Chrift under one Confideration and Character, and fome under another. Our Saviour's Queftion to the Pha- rifees. Mat. xxii. 45. If David call him Lord, how is he then his Son 1 fhows this. It may be thus here in- timated, that he has a Throne and Dominion, as God by nature ; which is for ever and ever, diffe- rent from his Mediatorial Kingdom, which he is ihortly to reiign. And why this may not he, as I fuggeilcd, I find not our Author to offer any cogent Reafon. Only he would have me to produce the Pla- ces of Scripttire, where this Doctrine is plainly and cler.rly exprejfed ; adding, his Argument from this Text will not pro've it. But this was not the thing I was upon, or the Matter of Debate, but incidental on- ly, and w hat it was fuliicient for my purpofe barely to fuggefl. Yet it need not feem Arange or un- leafonable to fuppofe, that He who in the Beginning was Gcd (which we are fometimes told is a Title of Office, and fignifies Dominion) had, antecedently to his Death and Exaltation, the Right of Dominion over the things created by him, and for him ; by whom they do confifl:, and who upholdeth all things by the Word of his Power, HeL i. 3. Than which, what can be fpoken more magnificently of the Al- mighty ? He who made the VVorld may be thought .to in) to govern it. Who will not take the Riglit of Cre- ator and Preferver to be different from that which refults only from an arbitrary Grant ? He thinks the Ohfewation might have been fparedy if the Scope of the Apoftle had been conjtder'd ; which was to frove^ that Chrifl had obtained by Inheritance a more ex- cellent N^me than the Angels ; and therefore is made fo much better than they, ver. 4. As if the Inheri- tance might not come by natural Right, as well as Gift. What hinders, but that he^ w^ho was Heir by Nature, and by Creation, might be particularly de- clar'd fuch upon fpecial occafion ; and, upon Perfor- mance of the Work he undertook, as Mediator, have a Name given him, above every Name ? However, though I fuggefted, that this poflibly might be inti- mated, which I was under no neceiTity to prove, I denyM not, that the Dominion here mentioned might be meant of his Mediatorial Kingdom, which he has by the Father's Grant, and is to be refign'd at the laft Day. But then I am fo far from apprehending it inconfiftent with Chrifl 's Deity, that I fee not how he would be capable of fuch a Throne and Domini- on, except he be God, as well as Man. The next Argument the Letter propofes to an- fwer, is Rom. ix. 5. Who is over all, GOD blejfed for ever. And fays, the Apoflle's IVords will ferve for a full Reply, I Cor. xv. 27. When he faith. All "Things are tut under him, it is manifefl, that he is excepted, who did put all Things under him. This pofUbly might pafs w^ith him for a Shift and Evafion, to whom it * inuft he necejfary fo to explain any particular Paffage, as to make it conjiflent with the Opinion he has undertaken to maintain, and will fuppofe to be according to the Tenoiir of the Gofpel. It is a Satisfadion to find, that the common Faith labours not under the neceflity of treating the Holy Scripture in this manner, of ex- ^ PLChr. f 35, plaining (54) plaining away the obvious and apparent Senfe, and forcing it into fome fpecious Conliilency. No doubt but hs is excepted, ixbo did put all Tubings under him j Kor does any body pretend, that the Son is ov^r tkiQ Father, or that the Father is put under him ; yet that hinders not, but that the plain Characters of Deity are in this Text apply M to Jefus Chrift. To lliy, that then there are tvjo abjolute fupreme Beings^ is to obtrude a Confequence, which weutterly difown,and have plainly difcover'd to be groundlefs and unjuir. Our Author indeed thinks, there is fw great Diffi- culty in allowing the 'Term God to be given to him. A wonderful ConceiTiou ! when he makes no Scruple to allow it to Creatures, even of an inferior rank. But, after ail, he has not been able, that I can find, to al- ledge any Text, where the word God is abfolutely^ and in the fingular Number, apply 'd to any other, but the Almighty. The ajferting him to he over all, fays he, is agree- able to the Scriptures^ which every where attribute this to the Gift Qj the Father : yet neither 'does this Text fay, nor can he produce any other, that fays, he is God over all, by the Gifr of the Father. I^hat this is the proper Character of the fupreme God, Ephef. iv. 6. hunfelt will confcfs ; but in what Scripture (not to fay Cbriflian, or fo mucli as Gentile Writer) does he and the Title [o (>ln'rffi,v]c-:v :^or, God over all] ufed to denote a God oi an inferior Rank, or any oth^ than the moft High ? unlets he may be allow 'd to underftand it thus in this Text, which is more than will be eafily granted. Nor does he quote any Place in the New Tefla- inent, where [^vAoTT^^^^blefled] is afcribed to any other, but the fupreme God : The Appellation appears to be appropriate to him, not only in the common ^ Language of the Jewifh Nation, and almoft all Anti- quity, (if w^e may believe * Mr. Whifton) but diredly * Prim. Faith, p 7. and ( ^s ) mA exprefly, Mark xiv. 6i. An thou the Chriji, the Son oj the Blelled ? And though among a great Number of Places, where ["^IID] is by the Ssptuaginc ren- der'd.[ei;.;7i:r'^] there be five mention'd by our Au- thor, Gen. xxiv. 31. Dent.vn. 14. Ruth h. 20. i Sam, XV. -13. Chap. XXV. 33. (for in the fixth, Gejt. xxvi. 2p, the word is k-A 9r;/xVo') in which the word is not ap- propriated to the Bieiled God; yet even there Qi;At- r^T^.cj is not ufed abfolutely, as in the Text : nor do I fee it any where fo ufed in the Scripture, but as apply'd pecuharly to him ; much lefs as it is here, ^- bkjfed forever. Neverthelefs, though this, or the otlier Wordy or Phrafe, fingly and apart fhould be found capable of fome otlier Senfe, or Meaning, (a method of interpreting Scripture too often attempted to elude the Force of any particular Pajlage, that {lands in the way) yet thefe ExprefTions together, in conjunction, feem not capable of being apply M to any other,, but the fupreme God. The Evidence of this is fo full and glaring, as to induce not only Mr. IVhifion, and mofl of the Arians and Socinians, in fa- vour of their darling Opinions, but our Author alfo, to take relugein an odd and precarious rendring of the Words, by way of Doxology to the Father: whereas he had before freely own'd, what Socinus al- fo could not but confefs, that the \\'ords v/ere fpo- ken of Jefus Ghrift. He was particularly prefs'd, and concluded, by the Obfervation, (a Difficulty which our Author is prepared to break thorough, to make it confiftent with his Scheme) that [^.a? Ivx'.-' TTTcO <^^^ ^^ hkjfi^d, is fuch an unufual and unnatural * The conftarst Epithet and Periphrafis of the great God (fays Dr. WlMy in he) in the Old Teftament; i Chror. xvi. 36. Pfalmxh. 13. and Ixxxix. 52. and alfo in the New. This was fo evident to Bvjidmus, the Scclnlw, thcit he faith, this Epi- thet is fo pecuhar to God the Father, that it is never attri- buted in the New Teftament to any other ; but wherefoe^^ex-. we find this Phrafe, God hlejfed for ever, it is always afcribed to the Father. ^ Ex- {56) Expreflion, as is not to be admitted. And as in the New Teftament, the certain and conftant manner of exprefling the Doxology, blejfed be God, is by fetting [ei/Ao^'KTrV] bkjjedy before God; Luke i. 68. 2 Cor. i- 3. Eph.i. 3. I Pet. i. 3. fo ^tis alfo in the LXXIl's Tranflation of the Old Teftament ; though the Ex- preflion occurs in a great number of Places, yet I find not fo much as one, where this order is not ob- fervM. Befides, the other Circumftances of the Text do fo manifeftly determine the application to Chrift, that, upon the whole, neither the Orthodox nor Avians appear heretofore to have fix'd on this novel Device, and method of Conftrudion. Whereas I obferv'd, that the Expreflion, hlejjed for evermore, manifeftly denotes, in the New Tefta- inent, the moft high God, and is apply'd to him, Rom. i. 25. as diftinguifliM from all Creatures w^hat- foever ; our Author fays, that in 2 Cor. xi. 3 1. 'tis ap- ply'd to God, as diftinguifh'd from our Lord Jefus Cbrifl^ which I utterly deny in the Senfe I intended, and muft be fuppos'd to intend, as the meaning of the Text : for, though in the latter Place the Father, under the Character and Relation of a Father, be di- fringuifli'd from Chrift ; yet not fo, as in the former^ where, by the Character of blejjed for ever, God is confider'd apart from, and ftands in oppofition to^ Creatures : but it is not under this Confideration^ that the Father is diftinguifh'd from Chrift. That we muft conclude, from thefe exalted and diftinguifhing Titles, fo freely given to Jefus Chrift, that he is God in the ftrid and proper Senfe, I fee no reafon yet to doubt,while we reft content zvith plam Revelation. And as we need not puzzle our Minds a- bout unrevealed things, or infift on bold and unne- ceflary Explications j fo nor be much concern^'d at our Author's difregarding the DiftinBion between fer- fonal Properties and CharaBers, belonging to the Na- ture of Godj till he can prove an Inconfiftency. "Theo^ fhylaB's (57) phylaEFs Remark, that hence Arius is conftited, find put to fhame, St. Paul proclaiming Chrift to be God over all, is not lefs juft for his living in the ele- venth Century : Nor did I give it fmn Dr. Whitby, as he confidently affirms ; but for him farther to fug- ged:, that I quoted not the Dodor right, faying, ' From the Beginning thefe Words have been ufed * by the Fathers, as an Argument of Chnfl's Divi- ^ nity, ' * is methinks too bold an Attempt upon his Reader ^s patience; particularly, when he adds, 1 hardly believe Dr. Whitby ^0 injudicious^ as tofuppofe All the Fathers from the Beginning ufed this as an Argument : whereas neither I, nor the Dodor, ufed the" Word AIL And yet, how many he quotes in his Annota- ons on this Text, even before the Nicene Council, following the learned Dr. Bull, || is very remarkable ; t None ever faying, that any did then adually a- fcribe them (the things here fpoken of Chrift) to any other Ferfon. |1|| As for us, who do in earneft believe the Authority of the Holy Scriptures, let ' us take all our Dodrines and Opinions from thofe clear Fountains of Truth, not difturb'd and dark- ned by fearching anxioufly into all the pofTible Senfes, that the feveral Words and ExpreHions of Scripture can bear, and by forcing that. Senfe upon them, which is moft remote and unnatural, and, in the mean time, wilfully overlooking and paffing by that Senfe, which is moft obvious and eafy to the common Apprehenfion of any unbiafs'd and impartial Reader." (4.) The next thing our Author took notice of, as alledg'd in proof of the Deity of Chrifl, is, that the Creation of the World is afcrib'd to him. And we cannot but efteem it of great weight, fince "tis done fo frequently, and in the flrongeft Terms. Who * Dr. Whithy in loc. Vol, z. p. 53. 2 Edit._f. 52 pr. Edit. II Bull. Defen. Fid. Nk, p. 128. t Dr. fVhith i^loc* as above, 1111 Archbiihbp T'iloifon^ f^l p. 549^ I can { 58 ) can forbear concluding, that II the invifihle T'hings of him from the Creation of the World are clearly feen by the 'Things that are ?nade, even his eternal Pcuoer and God^ head ? What plainer and more convincing Evidence, tvhat more illuftrious Notices can \ve have, of the divine Being and Perfedlions, than the Works of Creation and Providence, which bear the mofl fenfi- ble marks of Omnipotence and unerring Wifdom ? Now fince * in the Beginning -was the Word, Jince the World '^^as made by him, and without him was not any 'Thing made, that was made ; why miay we not with AfTurance infer, that the Word is God, or that in the Beginning he was God ? Muft we not confider him, as the proper Objed of our Adoration, as worthy of our Homage, when we deriv'd our Beings immediately from him, and he does ftill f u-phold us, and all Things hy the Word of his Power ? Can we think our felves excus'd from the Submiffion and Acknowledgements of Creatures, by being told, that he created, and doth fuflain all Things, only by a derived Power, as the Inftrument of a fuperior Being? Did the Scrip- ture any where tells us of an Inltrument in Creation^ or Philofophy inftrudl us in the Nature and Opera- tion of it, we need not be at a lofs to conceive, what now feems to pafs all Underftanding. A s for Chrifl's ading by a derived and delegated Power, if hereby is meant only, that the Operation was properly and immediately the Father's, in vir- tue of which the World was produc'd, as the Mira- cles wrought by the Apoftles, wherein their Faith and Prayer might be concern^, but not their Power properly empIoyM or exerted ; then any Angel, or ineer Man, might be fuch an Inftrument. But if Chrift was the immediate Subjed of the Power, and really poffefs'd of Omnipotence, no lefs being neceflary for the creating of the World, in the com- ii Ronu i. 20, * John i. i. iii. lo. t ^^^» i* 3« men ( ^9 ) . mon Opinion of jew^ and Heathens as w^ll as Chrl- ftians, I fee not but Deity muft belong to him in the trueft Senfe ; the thing we are pleading for. Nor need wc look for an higher Power, or worfiiip an- other and an higher God, than him, who by an in- herent Vertue in himfeif made the Heavens and the Earth, and all things in them. Nor can the moft High give us a greater and better Proof of his Ex- igence, of his Eternal Power and Godhead, or de- mand our Homage upon a better Right, than that of Creation. It is by this that he has been known and rever'd in the World. * T'hou^ even thou art Lord aJone^ thou hafl made Heaven^ the Heauen of Heavens^ with all their Hoji, the Earth, and all things that are therein.-^. And thou prefeyvefl them all, and the Hofi of Heaven ivor/bippeth thee. Thou art the JEHOVAH. I thought it then reafonable to ask. Whether an in- finite Power can be derived or imparted, except the Divine Nature, to which it feems infeparably to be- long, be communicated ? To which he replies. And is not this a wife Queflion ? Muft not our Author by the Divine Nature here neceffarily mean the individual Na^ tare of him that communicates it ? And is it not a flat Contraditlion to fay, that any one does communicate his own individual Nature ? As wife as the Queflion is, I fee he cares not to anfwer it, but quibbles, and feelcs to raife a Dull about the words individual and communicate, to cloud the Senfe, and divert the Rea- der's Attention. He knows well enough, that we take nx)t the Son to be the fame individual Perfon with the Father, and yet Partaker with him of the fame undivided Godhead ; in which he finds it not fo eafy to prove any Inconfiftency or Contradidion; And whether infinite Power do not infeparably be- long to the Divine Nature, is flill a queftion; whe- ther it can be communicated any more than Self- *Neh.9. d,7. ira.57. i(^, I z Exiftence, (do) Exlflence, or any other Property of the Divine Na- ture ; or whether any can be the Subjed of it, that has not the Divine Nature. That God made the World immediately (fays he) is not /aid in the Scripture ; nor do I find it jaid in Scripture, what he is fo fond of faying, that the Sok did create by a Power derived from the Father- Yet fuch Expreffions are ufed, as in the plain and obvious Meaning feem to import no lefs, than that God made the World immediately- * / am the Lord that maketh ALL things, that ftretcheth forth the Heavens ALONE ^ that fpreadeth abroad the Earth BY MY SELF, f Which ALONE fpreadeth out the Heavens. \\ He commanded, and it was done- *^ He faid^ Let there be Light , and there was Light- No appearance of room for an In- flrument, no intimation of any fuch thing. He did it by him.felf ; yet he was not fo alone in the Begin- ning, but the Word was then with God, and without him was not any thing made, tha^was made- |||| The Lord pcjjtjjed me in the Beginning of his Way, before his Works cf old. Wfoen he prepared the Heavens, I was there ; when he appointed the Foundations of the Earth, then 1 was by him- But, fays our Author, Mr. Mocre aUs very pru- demly in paffing by the Texts li/ged, Heb- i- 2. By whom alfo he ynade the Worlds^ ; Eph. 3 • 9.. where God is faid to make all things., ^^'^ by Chrijl The truth is, I thought I had in fhort given a fufficient Anfwer ; yet refufe not a little farther to clear the Matter- Since he argued from the Force of the Prepofition lJ)d'\ ^vith a genitive Cafe, I reply'd. If it be faid that [^'rttlS] implies his ading only by^ a delegated Power, ^tis known, and cannot be deny 'd, that the fame ExpreiTion is ufed wdth refped to the Supreme God, Rom- II. 35. He fuppofes I cited Cul. 1. 16, * Ifa. 44. 24. t Joh 9. 8. II Pfal. 35. 9. ** Gen. I. 3. lill Prov. 8, as, az>29, 30* where where the ExprefTioii is, i^v dvl^p iitli^r^ ta 7ia,/Jct:\ j^y him were all things created i but I refer 'd to Jo. i. -^^ lo. C'-Ttti'lct Si dvja \-y,v{\c] All things were made by him. Compare this with P/^/. 33- 6. By the Word of the Lord It^ ^^^y(f> t^ >tv^U^ were the Heavens pt(ide^ Heb. 1 1. 3. ^he Worlds were made by the Word of God, C,^')M' 3«».3 As thefe latter Expreffions feem to fignify Cre- ation, perform'd properly by the Word, without the leaft notice of Inftrumentality ; fo in Rom- 11. 3d. Of him, and by him bi ^^V, x-cct «/>' Avii'] are all things- Heb. 2-10. For whom are all things, and by whom are all things, i^ °y ^ ^J'7* ^*'' Ji ^ izi Tx^ficil the Prepofition [//«] manifeflly denotes, or relates to, the principal Caufe- Thus alfo, Rom- 6. 4. Chrifl was raifed by the: Glory of the Father, L^^ 7?; ^n'.^l or, by his glorious Power, Eph. i. ip- * Dr- Whitby, fpeaking of the Expreffion, Heb- 1-2- By 'whojn he ?nade the Worlds, affirms that the Greek Fathers unanimoufly fay, C^«1o K^\iKo-^iKov ^ ^ovjTv^'} this fhews the Divinity of Chrift. j Athenagoras (in the fecond Century) ufes [^po^3 as well as C=^*^J in reference to the Sony's Operation, ii», 6cc.] ^ Of or from him, and by him, were all ' things made, the Father and Son being One, the ' Son being in the Father, and the Father in the ' Son.' I am at a lofs to underfland our Author, when he fays farther j Now, if he would fpeak home to the pur- pofe, and make a Parallel between God and Chrifl, he muft fearch for fome flace, where Chrifl is faid to have created all things by the Father ', for upon that the Strefs of the Argument lies. For I was not making a Parallel between God and Chrift ,* but fhewing that Chrift is God, and that it is no prejudice to his Divinity, that in the Bufmefs of the Creation, the word U^^^ "^ In loc. p. 510. 2 Edit. t ?• 3^. Edit. Ox. by hy^ is ufed of him, It being alfo ufed with refped to the Father's Operation : nor was there any occafion 1 fhould attempt (fo odd a thing as) to invert the Order among the Divine Perfons ; or fappofe that Chritl: is not truly God, or his Deity not proved by his creating all things, except he made them by the Father. That * God made the Earth by his Power, and ejlahl'ifloed ' the Wvrld by his Wifdom, we m.ay fe- curely believe, without iuppofing his Word, his Wifdom, his Power, to be Inilruments or inferiour Agents, by Nature difFcrent from himfeif. Creation being the join-t Work of Father and Son, whofe Power and Wifdom do not really differ, infers not any other Subordination, but that of Order. As to what he refers me to, in anfwer to Arius deteBed, Part I- p- 14, 15, 16' I can find nothing there, but ^vhat is here clearly anfwered- I obferv'd as very remarkable, that the infplr'd W^riter to the Hebrews does, Chap, i- 10. without Difficulty or Helitation, w^ithout any Explication to Jimit or qualify the Senfe, apply direitly to Chrifl, what Pfal. cii. is confefifedly addrefs'd to the Supreme God : And thou. Lord, in the Beginning haft laid the Foundation of the Earth, and the Heanjem are the Work of thy hands '; they floall perifhy but thou remaineft, &c. And our Author conFeiTes, that the Argument has not been fully anfivered. He is not ignorant that various Arts have been tryed to elude the Force of it, that both Socinians and Arians have ufed all their skill, and taken a great deal of Pains, to avoid it. How un- happy, that they never lighted on the Him he lately received ? But to abate Mens 'Triumphs from this Text, and prepare the way -to the novel Interpretation, that they are henceforth to receive, he defires the Rea- der to obferve, that 'tis not eafy for us, in fome Cafes, to * Jer. X. 12. account (^3 ) account for the Manner in which the Writers of the Nevi T'eftament do cite Pajfages from the Old. Suppofe this fhould be true, we cannot hence infer or imagine, that they did miilake in their Citations, that they did mifapply them, or turn them to a Senfe which was not intended. He inllances in Hofeaxu i- And called my Son out of Egypt. Let a Man read^ fays he, what follows there, and he will, l/e apt to think, that\{- rael is to he underfiocd in the common Senfe, &c- It this alfo be allowM, yet it hinders not, but the Paflage is juflly apply M to Chrift- Will any Man now be fo abfurdy as upon this account to argue, that the Children of Ifrael were the Chrift ? No, doubtlefs ; the Abfurdity is too manifeft for any body to fall into it, and the thing related is certainly true, both with refpeti to Ifrael and Chrift, that God brought the one and the otlier out of Egypt. Whether therefore this be fpo- ken only of Chrift, or rather alfo perhaps of Ifrael^ as a Type of him, the Application is both right and fafe. Ifrael and David were Types of Chrift, and therefore ^tis not unufual for Chrift to bear the Name of each in the Old Teftament : Ifa. xlix. 5. Ez.-ek.xxxw. 23. * Jerom obferv'd in reference to this Pail'age, Ea qua rvTrt^Z^ pracedum in aliis, juxta veritatem & adimpletionem referuntur ad Chriflum. Such things as were typically before fulfilled in others, may in refped of the Truth, and perfecl Comple- tion, be referred to Chrift. Yet he would have it thought, 'That the Argument may he made as ftrong fair that, as mine is in the prefent Cafe ; for thai^ the words in PfaL cii. do not appear more plainly to he fpoken of the Supreme God, than the other do of the Children ■ of IfraeL Whereas there is not the leaft Ground for this. Cer- tainly, the words are not fpoken typically of God, to have their full Accomplifhment in Chrift, and if ^ Pocock in loc« they they belong peculiarly to the Supreme God, hov7 can they be fafely apply M to Chrift, unlefs he be ac- knovvledg^'d and conlider'd as fuch ? Grotius, who fee ed willing to favour the Socinians in the Inter- pretation of this Place, fuppofes that the Apoftle does accommodate unto the MefTiah what was fpoken of God, and thinks it a fufficient Argument to prove that the Words were not fpoken of the Mef- fiah, becaufe they were fpoken of God. And the Sccinian Commentator obferves. All the Words of the Pfalm being manifeftly fpoken of the High God, and no word in the Pfahn declaring Chrift to be that God, of neceflity, if thefe Words be applyM unto Chrift, he muft be fuppofed to be the High God fpoken of. The firft Remark our Author makes as neceffary to his intended Expofition, is, T'hat the Writer of the Efiftle is to be under flood all along from the fifth Verfe to the end of the Chapter^ to cite the Words of the Old T'e-- flnment^ as the Words of the Father of our Lord Jefus Chrift ; and adds. How evident is this ? But this is fo far from being evident to me, that it feems not to be true, or to hold any farther than in the fifth, fixth, and thirteenth Verfes. He faith ^ in ver. 7. plainly fignifies the Holy Ghoft, or the infpired Wri- ter of the Pfalm ; faith, as may appear to fuch as look into the Places whence the feveral remaining Paflages, t/er. 7, 8,5;, 10. are quoted, and the Man- ner of Exprefllon is plainly alterM ; yet whether this be fo or no,- the Argument will not be much affeded. He tells us, Some of the Pfalms are. plainly interlo- cutoryy as Pfal. xxiv. Let this be now fuppos'd, whe- ther the Inftance he gives be right or no. If any appear to be plainly fo, it will be eafily allowed. But will it follow, that when our Author w^ants, or has a mind to have it fo, that this muft be admitted, even where there is no plain Proof or Appearance of any fuch thing ? Grant me what I defire, and FU prov© ( ^5 ) prove what I pleafe. Give him the liberty to do three things, (i ) To fuppofej without the leaft Truth, that the loid Pfalm is interlocutory. (2-) That ^tis a Dialogue betw^een the Father and Chrift. And, (3 ) That he may at pieafure determine what Words are fpoken by the Father, and what by Jefus Chrift j and then it will follow, that the Wo rdsci- ted mHeh.'h 10, ii, 12. are to be ccnjider'd as the Father's Jnfwer to Chrift- This with the help of I'hc'PAViie;'! t/wu fialt remain, (for C^^^i^i''^/ ] thou remain- eft, the common Reading both of the Septuagint and the Citation in //fi^- i. agreeable enough to the i^^- treii:^ confonant to the Syriack, and alfo to what fol" lows l"^ cTi rtUT&? it'] thou art the fame) and the Au- thorns Senfe too put upon the W^ords, which is more than all the refl, gives him the aflurance to conclude, that this Text does not in the leafl cppofe his Scheme ; and that if others think onfy, that it ii^ili hear, an Argu- ment cant be fairly fetch' d againfl him from it. A won- derful Difcovery ! that none of the former Oppofers of our Lord's Divini.ty dream.t of, to bafRe the Ar- gument hence, which they were intent upon, and found fo neceifary for their Caufe, as to attempt all manner of ways to do it- In my opinion, 'tis a fuf- ficienc Prejudice againfl his Interpretation, at leaft "'tis not to be boafFed of, that as it is wholly preca- rious, and without pretence of proof ,* fo perfectly new, and unknown to the Chrlftian World before, yet in a very important Article, and nearly affeifling our Religion. What may \ve not make of the Holy Scriptures, if we fcruple not to turn and wreft 'em at this rate, and prefume arbitrarily to pafs our Fan- cies and new-coined Senfes upon 'em as we have occafion, or to ferve a prefent Defign. 1 T may fuffice now farther to remark, that the whole io2dP/^/?;?anfwTrs its infcribed Title, [^ Pfalm oj the AffliEied] that 'tis a continued Addref$ to the Supreme God under the Name or Title of Jehovah K (through ( 66 ) (throughout the Pfalm^ except ijer. 24.) that there appear not any Footiteps of fuch an interlocutory Difcourfe as our Author is willing to imagine ; that as the cliftreired Church fays, "ver. 24. 0 my God^ take me not avj^ay in the midjl of ?ny Days ; and adds, 'Thy 7 ears are tbrougho/jt all Generations : fo the Addrefs is manifeiiiy continued, rer- 25. Of oldy or, in the Be- ginning thou hafl laid the Foundation of the Earthy Sec. And this fuitable to the Expreiiions before in 'ver. 11, 12. that [^^ Kvyil ThGu, 0 Lord, the word by which the Greek TranQation renders Jehuvah every place- in the Pfaim, is put in, not without reafon, both by the LXXII, and alfo by the Apoftle ; yet how a- grecable to our Author's Notion, that the Father fhould fay to Chrift, Thcu^ 0 Jehovah^ he may con- fider : that in fine, tho his nice Suppofitions fhould pafs and be allowed, yet after all, the Creation of the World is afcribed to our Lord Jefus in fuch a manner, in fuch ftrong and exprefs Terms, as make even the Sodnians^ who are feldom at a lofs for fubtile Eva(ions, to confefs, that if Chrill: be the Perfon fpoken of, he mufl: be the High God. And where do we find the Almighty fpoken of, or the Work of Creation attributed to him in more proper and deci- five ExprefTions ? Nor can it be thought unwarrant- able, or without eood reafon, that what is fpoken of God in this Pfilm, is apply 'd to Chrift, being confi- derM here as the Redeemer and Saviour of his af- flided Church, and for that the calling of the Ge?i- tiles is here predicted, and the creating of a new People, which properly belongs to the Days of the Meiliah, and expounded by the Jews in relation to the World to come, or the new State of the Church then to take place. (5.) As for the next Argument from the Omnl- fcience of Chrift in proof of his Divinity, it will pofTibly be thought not of lefs weight and conlide- ration from what appear 'd in his Anfwer^ which I fairly ( ^7 ) fairly examiii'd. Nor will the prudent Reader the lefs regard what / faid on this Bead., for his calling ic flight and Juperficial. 'Tis doubtlels worthy cf Re- niark, that the wifeil: of Men, under Condud of Infpiration, affirms in a moft folemn Addrefs to God, I Kings vni. ^^. 'Thou, even thou only htovxfl the Hearts of all the Children of Men ; and that the moft Pligli aifumes and challenges, as his Prerogative and pecu- liar Glory, fer. xvii. lo. / t])e Lord fearch the Hearty I try the Reins, enjen to give every Man according to his Ways. Now if Chrift Jefus do, without any diffi- culty or fcruple, without ufmg the leait precaution to guard againft Miftake, challenge this Honour to himfeif, in the fame Expreilions, and to the fame Purpofe, and fay, Rev. ii. 23. Ail the Churches foall know^ that J AM HE, 'which fearcheth the Reins and Hearts, and I will give unto every one of you according to your^ Works ; how reafonable and neceilary to con- clude kom this, in conjundion v/ith other peculiar mrd diftingui filing Characters of Deity, that he is God in the proper Senfe ? Our Author fays, God is able to impart the Know- ledge of the Heart to others, as he did in feme Cafes to the Prophets. Of this no queftion is made , but did ever any Prophet challenge the Prerogative ot knowing Hearts, in the Expreilions that are employed on pur- pofe to fet forth the Omnifcience of God ? To this he replies, / never thought that any Prophet had that Knowledge which Chrift had ; why may not he that can impart the conftant Knowledge of the Heart of one Man^ impart the Knowledge of the Hearts of all Men ? But if the Knowledge of the Heart was imparted to the Prophets in fvme Cafes, why might they not challenge the Prerogative in thofe Cafes ? And tho Chrift's Knowledge be more full and extenfive than any or all the Prophets, yet that feems not to make any dift'erence as to the kind of it, and the manner of imparting, that being but by Revelation, or notice K 2 from ( 68 ) from another, not by Penetration or direct Intuition. How much more proper then for him to have faid^ by Divine Vouchfafement "'tis given to me, to un- derfland what is in your Hearts, this Knowledge is imparted to me by him that fearches the Heart; than without hefitation to aflume the appropriate Stile of the moftHigh, and fay, I AM HE that SEARCH- ETH the Reins and Hearts ? How reafonable for him to have made fome Diftinclio.n to prevent Dan- ger of imaagining, tliat he made too bold with the Character, and mtrenchM upon the Honour of the great God ? No wonder that his Difciples are em- boldened to fay, Joh. xvi. 30. Now ixje are fire that then kmiveft all things. ABs i. 24. Thou, Lord^ which knoweft the Hearts of all Men. Joh. xxi. 17. L^rd, thoii hivwefi all thing':. Is this their free and unlimited afcribing to the Blefl'ed Jefus, not only the Know- ledge ofHearts, but abfoiute Qmnifcience, and that in the mod folemn and awful Cafes, with any De- cency to be compared with the Woman of Tekoah's fawning Compliment to David? 2 Sam. xiv. 17, 19,20. Or may ve fafely venture to take the Senfe, and ex- pound the Force of their moil ferious and conliderate ExpreiTions upon fuch Occafions, from thofe of a crafty Woman, that knew how to give flattering Ti- tles to Princes, and call this comparing one pan of Scriptt-re with another ? Nor can her words, however hyperbolical and fulfom, be in reafon thought to fig- nify more, than David's great Sagacity to penetrate the Defigns of fubtile Courtiers, and his exader Knowledge in the Affairs of State. There are neverthelefs two Texts efpecially, wherein he imagines that our Saviour dees inofl exprefly dif claim this abfoiute Omnifcitnce j Joh. viii. 28. Ye flmll know that I am he, and that I do nothing of my f elf, but as my Father has taught me^ I f peak thefe things. And, Mciy^ xiii. 32. Of that Day and Ehur knoweth no one, (or no Jvlan) m^ nor the Angels that are in Heaven^ neither (69)- ueither the Son, but the Father; or, as in Mat. xxiv. ^6, But my Father only. I took what I offcr'd upon this to be a pertinent and full Anfwer j but he tells me, 7 left out the firfl fart of the "Text., and jumbled the lat- ter part of it ijuith another. I iliall therefore, to con- tent him, didinctly confider each of them, which I faw not then any need to do. A s to the former, Jefus faid to the Jews., ver. 24. If ye believe not that I am He, ye foall die in your Sins. They then faid. Who art thou i He replies, Even the fame that I faid unto you from the Beginning 'y plainly that he was the MeiFiah that was to come : and adds in this ver. 28. When ye have lift up the SON OF MAN, then fljall ye know that I AM HE, and that I do nothing of myfelf, but as my Father hath taught me, I do thefe things. How could he more explicicely declare, or what more proper Exprellions could he ufe to fig- nify, that he fpake of himfelf as Son of Man, and Mejftah, come to execute the CommilTion he had re- ceived from his Father, and that he exadlly followed his Inftrudions? 'Tis urged, Wuat needed the Father to teach the Human Nature of Chrift ? Was not his Divine Nature fifficient for that ? He has the fame reafon to ask, why the Father is faid to raife up Chrift from the Dead, when yet he himfelf fays, Deflroy this Body, and in three days I will raife it up again. There ap- pears not the leaft Inconiiftency in this, when being lent of the Father^ he did thofe things which were according to his Will, and performed the Duties ot the Charader he bare, and the Office he was vefted with. So that 'cis no Impeachment of his Omni- fcience as God, that under another Confideration, as Man and MeiTiah, he was taught of his Father, and took his Inftrudions from him. A s to the other Text, about which a great deal of noife has been made. Mar. xiii. 32. I obferv'd, that Chrift;, as he was the Son of Man, under which Cha- ( 70 ) Charader he fpeaks here of himfelf, ver. 26. knew no more than was imparted and communicated to him. And it is not unufual in Scripture for the Man Chrift Jefus to bear the Name of Sen of God, Luke i. 35. Therefore that Holy TWm^, which fmll he born of thee, fiall be called the SON OF GOD. Now what wonder that this Jefus, born of the Virgin, called the Sm of God, fliould be ignorant of foir.e things, then not revealed to him, or necell'ary to be known, when we are exprefly told. Chap. ii. 52. that Jefus increafed in Wifdom and Stature ? ' To pre- *■ elude, fays * Dr. Hammond, the Curiofity of Men, and to engage their Vigilance, Chrift is pleafed to tell them, that no Difpenfation ot Code's, either by Man, viz,. Daniel, or any other Prophet, or by Angel, or which is highefr, by the Son of Man, had order'd us thus to know the T'imes or the Seafons ; this being no part of the Prophetick Office of any Man, or within the Commiilion of Chrift himfclf, to reveal this Secret to them/ This Matter be- ing clear and plain, we need be little moved by what our Author fuggefts to cloud and puzzle it. Says he, Chrifl was not the Father, and therefore if he knew of that Day and Hour himfelf he could not confifiently with T'ruth fay, the Father only knew it. I anfwer, This goes upon a wrong Suppofition, that Chrift cannot be God, becaufe the Father is God ; or that he is another God different from him, becaufe he is ano- ther Perfon. Chrift indeed w^as not the Father, but had God for his Father ; and when he fays, that his Father only knew the Day of Judgment, he doubt- lefs fpeaks of his Father as God. Omnifcience be- longs to him not merely or properly, on the account of his being the Father of Chrift, but on the account of his being God ; and confequently the word only, cannot in reafon be conftrued here to fignify more, * In loc. than ( 71 ) . than to exclude all oth.ers h'om this Knowledge, that differ in Nature and Being from the Father, and are not God. But did the Father, S^n, and Holy G ho fl, all three, know of that Da) and Hour ? If they did, ivhat 'Truth can there he in his faying, no one but the Father knew it ? I anfvver, the word Firher here cannot be underilood to exclude, or (land in oppofition to Word and Holy Spirit, who differ net in Nature and Knowledge from him ; but diflinctly denotes his Relation to the Man Chrift in Union with the Word, that holy thing born of the Virgin, therefore called the Son of God. The Father as God knew it, and none but God. T o ii'hat purpvfe is this Ohfervation, of his freaking of himfelf as the Son of Man ? Does net that Term denote his whole Perfon in both his Natures ? I anfwer, Tho that Term is, or may be ufed, confufedly and in general, to fignify his whole Perfon ; yet it may, and fomeiinies does particularly and precifely denote Chrift 's human Nature, or the Man Chrift Jefus in diftinction from his Deity : and fo does not always, if at all, denote exprefiy and diftincrly the whole^ of that which belongs to the Perfon of Chrift; that Perfon being a complex Subjed, in w^hich two diffe- rent Natures are united. Thus the Ohfervation is to good purpofe, fince what he fpeaks of himfelf, as Son of Man, may be very true with refped to his human Nature, and yet cannot be juftly apply M to , his divine Nature, as was fliev^n before. And thus in the Inftance he gives, Jch.'nl 13. Even the Son of Man, which is in Heaven ; 1 fee not but the Perfon called the Son of Man, having two diftin<5t Natures, might be truly faid to be in Fleaven in refpecl of his divine Nature ; when yet, as Son of Man, and in regard of his human Nature, he was actually upon Earth, or the Man Chrift was not then locally in Heaven. Such further Queries to embarafs the matter in debate, as Between whom does Chrifl mediate ? Didc (7^) Did he fend himfelf? Was he taught by himfetf? Sec, appear little to concern it, and are anfwered elfe- \vhere. When our Author urged, that the Difcipies be- ing inquifitixe to know that Day, would be ready td fay, Well, Lord, if thou doft not know it as thoii art Man, yet tell us as God ; I thought it unworthy cf his Judgment : as if when they found, that he had it not in his Power and Commiffion, as Son of Man, to reveal, they would be concerned farther to importune him about it. He now infifts, if they knew him to be God, * muft not his Anfwer be a mere Evafion, when he tells them, he did not know it as Man only ? I anfwer, by no means ; if the Man Jefus knew it not, if it had not been revealed to the Man Jefus, to whom they addreded their In- quiry in needlefs Curiofity, and he had no Warrant or Commiffion to reveal it, how could they exped or fuppofe he fhould tell it ? What he fubjoins is more plauiible, and more worthy of Confideration ; ^Tis a vafily different thing for Chrifl to fay abfolutely, he did not knozv the Day and Hour ; {which is not true^ if he knew it either as God or Man) and for him to fay, tho he knew ity he had not Power or Co7nmi[fion^ as Son of Man^ to reveal it. To which I fay two things, i. That "'tis no way unwarrantable, or inconliftent with ftrideft Truth, and Propriety of Speech, for the Man Chrift to fay abfolutely, he knew not, when in truth and reality the Man Chrift knew it not. 2. That this manner of Speech is not lingular, and appropriate to this Place and Subjed ; there are o- ther Inftances of fuch abfolute Negations, which yet muft be conftrued and underftood with fuch like Limitations. When our Lord fays, Joh. xvn, ii. JSfow I am no inore in the World, I co?ne to thee ; who imagines, that tho the Man Chrift Jefus, the Son cf * PL Chr. p.47- God^ (73) Gad, he pajfed into the Heavens, Heb. iv. 14. which rnufi receive him^ until the ^Tirnes of Reftimtim of all things^ Acts iii. 21. that yet Chrid is ^o confined within the " Heavens, as not, in refped of another Nature, to be really prefent in the World ? TVhere two or three are gathered together in his Name, he is prefent in the midfl of them, Mat. xviii. 20. The Nature and Extent of his Government and Adminiftration is fuch, as ne- cefTarily demands and fuppcfes a more general, and an effedual Prefence in the World. It appears after all, fomewhat fhocking, that thefe Gentlemien, after difowning the Omnifcience of Chrift, which is an eflentlal Perfedion of Deity, make fo little difficulty of denying him true Humanity, or at leaft making him a Man of another Nature, and of a different Kind from all the Men that ever were, or ever will be. But they muft be excufed in this, as in many other things, which they would hardly do, but in compliance with the Neceffities of a Scheme which they have efpoufed ; and this is not denied to be one of the peculiar Opinions of Arius. Now what Definition does our Author give us of a Man ? Says he, / under f and thereby no ?mre than fuch Bodies as we have inhabited and governed by intelligent and reafonable Subfiances. If he wall needs underftand it fo, who can help it ? I believe it will not be eafy to find this Definition in any approved Writer. Can he prove, or is he fure, that all Spirits or intelligent Subfiances are of the fame Kind ? or that Angels do not fpecifically differ from human Souls ? Does he find in Scripture, or elfewhere, fo much as one In- ftance of any other intelligent Spirit animating and informing fuch Bodies as w^e have, than a human Soul ? Our Lord took not on him, or united to himfelf the Nature of Angels ; but he took the Seed of Abraham, it behoving him in all things to be made like unto his Brethren. But, fays our Author, two things /hew how little this is to his purpofe 5 i. 'That the h all ( 74 ) all things vjhevein he is faid to he made like to his Bie-* thren, is explained Heb. ii. i8. to refer to his Sufferings and T'emptations. That they refer to this, will be eafily granted, his Sufferings and Temptations being feme of thofe things wherein he was made like unto us ; but were theie the all things ? He durfl not fay this, but is obliged to add, 2- 'That he ivas made like unto nSy in his having FltJIo and Blcod as zve have ; which is exprefly mentionM in reference to his Death upon the Crofs for us, tho the infpir'd Writer does not there fo exprefly mention his reafonahle Soiil^ that being not the vilible and immediate Subjed of that Death. But muft we hence conclude, that he had not fuch a reafonable Soul ? when yet this alfo feems plainly imply M ; nor could he be in all things like unto us without it, or fo truly allyM to us as "'twas expe- dient for the Redeemer of Mankind to be, that be- ing a main and moll: confiderable part of human Na- ture, tho not fo immediately necellary to be there di- reftly mentioned. That he was made in all things like unto us, is mofc plainly alferted ; but our Au- thor would have it to be only in fome things, ex- cepting and excluding that, upon the account where- of chieHy we are Men. But we have had this mat- ter already under conlideration before *• (5.) We advance now to the fixth Argument the Letter took notice of, for the Deity of Chrift, the Worftiip we are warranted and required by the Scripture to give him. This muil be regarded as of grand Importance and Confideration in Religion. Here every Chriflian has an Inter efl at Jlake^ and is immediately concerned. Nor is there any thing * Origen, in his Anfwer to Celfus, takes votice cf the Word's y affuming both a human Soul and Body, p.i-jo. hi J^i ;^ ozoy,//cct « o -^'^X^' wherein ( 75 ) wherein the great God appears more jealous : This Glory he will be diftinguiHi'd by, and by no means allow to any other. Chriftian Religion was defignM and fitted to difgrace and root out the Idolatries, that the Nations under fpecious Pretences had been feduced into j to retrieve the Honour, to reftore and fettle the Worfhip of the God that made the Hea- vens and the Earth. How fhocking ! and how fad ! to imagine, that the End of its Inftitution fhculd be fo little underflood and anfwer'd, as that the Gene- rality of its ProfefTors, in a manner throughout the World, and from one Age to another, iliould wor- fhip an inferior and different Being, as the Supreme God ! An Idolatry which the wifer Heathens could fcarce be charged v/ith ! That the Reformed Churches, who fo carefully, and with fuch a jealous Zeal, threw out the Superflitions that had crept into the Chriflian Worfhip ; and after the moll diligent Refearches, and Concern to adjufl and conform it to the Rule of Holy Scripture, fiiould yet unanimoufly agree in a barefacM Idolatry ! Unhappy and fatal Miftake ! after fuch prudent and av:G¥v-ed Endeavours to come to a true Underftanding of the Mind of God, and eftabhfh the Purity of his Worfhip ! Our Author, without the leaft occafion from my Defence, fuggefts, that fuch as difpute for the Deity of Chrift on the Article of Worfhip, being pinched 'with their Anfwer^ prefently run in a Circle ; whereas the truth is, if we prove that the Worfhip of the Supreme God belongs to him, we certainly gain our point : and if by other Arguments independent on this, we firfi prove him to be the Supreme God, we make no fcruple to challenge for him the Worfhip that belongs to him as fuch, without danger of run- ning into a Circle, or giving the leafl colour for fuch a Charge. "^Tis the former way of arguing that is now under Debate- L 2 As ( 7^ ) As for Beltannine^ firit Argument tor the Worfliip of Angels and Saints, from P/^/-xcix. 5. IVorJInp his Footfiool, which was con(ider'd in anfwer to the Let- ter ; our Author is pleafed now to fay, / demed not that they zvere to ivorfljip at his Footftool : hut the thing that I infifi on is^ that a religious RefpeB was hereby paid to the Place for God's fake- The ExprefTion is to me ambiguous, and I am at a lofs how to underfland it- If he means that the things appropriate and fet apart by Gcd^s Appointment for his fpecial Service, were to be accounted facred, not to be prophaned and proflitute to common Ufe, I have no Controverfy w'ith him or Mr. Mede about it ; but if he thinks, that becaufe the People were to worfhip at his Foot- ftool, that the Footftool therefore itfelf was to be worihipped, I fee not the ieaft ground for fuch a Surmife or Interpretation. As the Expreflion im- ports not any Command for paying Worfhip to the Footflool, but only an Order or Direction to w^orrtiip God there, or towards that Place, i AV;;^; viii. so- p/^/Z-cxxxviii- 2. fo we find not any Inftance or ap- proved Pradice of fuch Worfhip. I obferv'd that our Author'^s Notion feemed to ftate the Bufinefs of religious Worfhip upon the foot of a mere pofitive Command ; fo that Pagans and Pa- pifts are Idolaters only for want of God's Precept for their Worfhip : whereas the Scripture charges with Idolatry upon the account of doing fervice to them who 'by Nature are no Gods, Gal. iv- 8- Rom. i- 25 « •^ The formal Objed of religious Worfhip is ftill the fame, and Reafon or natural Light may be fuiHcient to dired to it, or at Ieaft decermine what is not a fit and proper Objeft j but the Cafe is difte- rent with refped to the Means and Manner of W^or- fhip, where there is room and occafion for the Di- reflion of a particular Inftitution or Command- To this he replies, I diftingtiifh between the religious JVor- £)ipy which re/lilts naturally fiom the PerfeBions of Gody an4 (77) find his Relations to us, and the particular Way and Man- ner in which this is to be paid ; the fir ft of thefe cannot ^^ the fecond may reft upon the foot of a were pofitive Com- mand. So far then we are agreed ; but I am at a lofs how to underlland him in the Application of this to the Cafe. T'hat we are to worfljip the Supreme God, does not defend merely upon a fofitive Command ; that we are to worftoip him thro Chrift the Mediator, or that we are to pay a fuhordinate IVorfhip to Chrift, which is to terminate upon the Supreme God his Father, can depend upon nothing hut a mere pofitive Command. The whole Strength of the Anfwer appearing to lie in this, it may be more diftindly confiderM. We muft clearly diftinguifb between the formal Objed of Worfhip, and the Means and Manner of the Worfliip direded to that Objed ; or between the thing worlhipped, and the way of worfhipping. That God is to be worfhip- ped, furely depends not upon a mere poiitive Com- mand, but that he will be worihipped in this or the other way, where the Light of Nature is not fufH- cient to dired, muft be learned from the Difcoveries he has made of his Mind, and depends upon his po- fitive Order. Thus particularly that he will be worfhipped by a Mediator, may be well (ignified by his poiitive Precept. But could our Author imagine, that his Readers v/ould take, worfhipping Gcd thro Chrift, and paying a fubordinate Wcrfioip to Chrift, to be Expreffions of the fame Senfe and Import, without his offering the leaft Proof of that which is the thing in queftion ? Code's People of old had his pofitive Command for worfhipping him by Sacrifices ; fhall we hence infer or fuppofe, that a fubordinate Wor- fhip was to be paid to thofe Sacrifices by Divine Ap- pointment } He was willing handfomely to flide in his Notion of paying a fubordinate Worftoip to Chrift, which methinks we fhould find very plain and ex- prefs Scriptures for, in a matter of fo great moment, when there appears fo great care every where to fe- cure ( 78 ) cure and appropriate religious Werlliip to the Al- mighty ; and this Bufinefs of a fubordinate Worihip to be paid to a new and inferiour Deity, was new and unheard of in the Church before. And one would reafonably expetl, that it iliould be very clear- ly ftated, and the Bounds of it carefully fix'd, to prevent Danger of miftake, and applying that Wor- fliip to Chrift, w^hich is due only to the Supreme God. Can it be faid, there was no Danger of fuch Miftake, w^hen the Chriftian World has manifeftly run into it, when innumerable, after the moft anx- ious Enquiries, have not been able to efcape it ? If our Worfliip is to be regulated by Divine Command, vhat can be niore exprefs and decifive than, T'hou jhalt W'jyfiip the Lord thy God, and him only jlmlt thou fewe ? No exception or allowance made for ferving an inferior or fubordinate God, any more than for oft'ering Sacrifice to any fuch, Vvhen the Ifraelites were ordered not to facrifice to any God, fave the Lord, Exod. xxii. 2 0. H E adds. Which (fubordinate Worfloif) is to termi- nate upon the Supreme God his Father. But where does the Scripture plainly tell us this, or fpeak any thing of it ? If we mud pay fubordinate Worfhip to Chrilt, is he not the proper Objedl of that Wor- ship? And is it not a very different fort of Wor- fhip from that which is to be paid to the Supreme God ? If fubordinate Worfliip belong to Chrift, and he be the Objed: of it by his Father's Appointment, muft it not properly terminate on him ? Can fubor- dinate Worlliip in fair Conftrudion and good Senfe, be faid to terminate upon the Supreme God, when 'tis not this, but a Worfhip of another nature, and a higher kind, that is to be given him thro Chrift? This to be fure he referves and demands for himfelf, tho he fliould be fuppofed to allow a fubordinate and lower fort of Worfhip to another. Nor do I fee but I may worfliip God thro Chrift, without making Chrift ( 79 ). Chrift the Obje(5l of my Worfhip, or giving him any real religious Worfhip at all; tor "'tis one thing to be a Means of Worlhip defigned for, and terminated upon another, and another thing to be made the Objed of Worfliip. Whence methinks there is juft occafion to doubt, whether thefe Gentlemen do di- redly and in a proper fenfe worfhip Chrift himfelf, while they make him only the Means or iSIediator of the Worfliip they deugn for, and offer to a fupe- rior Being. As to Pagans and Papifts, fays our Author, /?^/?- pofing their IV. yjloip is dejlgnd to terminate upon the Su- preme God,, I think it is mo ft true, that the only thing which makes them Idolaters, is the want of God's Precept for their Woyflnp, If the Apoftle had thought fo, it had been as eafy for him to have given this as the true and only Reafon of charging the Gentiles with Ido- latry ; and to have urged that they had no Command for worlhipping their inferior Gods : when yet he grounds his Charge upon another bottom, as doing fervice to them, who by Nature were no Gods. They feem plainly to have erred in the Objed of their Worfhip, in that they worfhipped and ferved the Creature befide the Creator, and not only in the Manner of their Worfliip, this latter being properly the Subjed of a pofitive Command, and to be regu- lated by it, whereas the formier is of a moral and unalterable Nature. But do not the Papifts plead, in excufe of the Worfhip they pay to Angels and Saints, that it redounds to the Honour of God, who has exalted them to a State of Dignity and Pr^hemi- nence, and made them Inftruments of great Good to us upon Earth ? And might not this be thought to imply, and be equivalent to a pofltive Command of worfhipping them ? Yet as St. Peter utterly refufed it when ofter'd by Cornelius, ABs x. 25, 2<5. fo when John fell down before the feet of the Angel to W'or- fhip him. Rev- xxii. 8,p. he faid^ See thou do it not, worflyip hvcrfhip God ; intimating that God is the only Object: of Religion, and that not fo much as any outward Aft of Adoration, which may be juftly conftrued to {ignify and exprefs religious Worfliip, can warrant- ably be ufed unto any but the Supreme God, what- ever Charafter of Dignity or Ufefulnefs may be put upon them, or Pretence made of terminating it upon God. Our Author conceives that the Ifraelites zvere guilty of Idolatry y in paying their Worfl)ip towards the Calves of Dan and Bethel, which they had not the Warrant of a pojitive Command for, inflead of doing it towards the Temple. And if this were admitted, it alters not the Cafe. A pofitive Command might fix the Man- ner of Worfliip, while they kept to the right Ob- ject ; but if they worfhipped the Calves themfelves, their Pradice was Idolatry upon another account, as a Violation of the Moral Rule and Law of reli- gious Worfliip. As to what was offered from GaL iv. 8. he fays, TJ/e do Service to him only who is by Nature God, We pay no Service hut what terminates upon him^ and is ac- cording to his exprefs Command, If I hire a Servanty and engage him to quit all other Majiers, andferve me only, does he aSi inconfiflently with this Engagement ^ when by my Order and Appointment he ferves my Child ? I an- fwer. No; if in Attendance on a Child, he does the Service in your Family, which therefore is properly yours : but if you confign him to the Service of your Son, that has a Family and Intereft of his ow^n, he therefore ads not inconliftently with his Engage- ment, becaufe this is done by Compad and mutual Confent ; but his Service is then to be coniider'd as transfer'd, and to be perform^'d not properly and perfonally to you, bu.t to your Son, whofe immediate and proper Servant he is become. But religious Worfliip how^ever is of another nature, due only to him who is God by Nature, and is not capable of being (8i) being transfer 'd ; nor can it be imaginM that God fhould warrant any Worfliip by Precept, which the Light of Nature does condemn : that he fhould countenance or excufe from the Guilt of Idolatry, the worfhipping of a Creature, on pretence of ter- minating the Worfhip on himfelf « Whereas I rendered Rom. i. 2). worfhipping the Creature vjith or hefide the Creator, he will needs tall it attempting to mend our Tranflation^ (a thin^- w^hich he is not wont to fcruple.) But is this ren- dring harfh or unnatural, or inconfiftent with the Scope of the Place, or fo much as ftrange and unu- fual ? Tho fuch as are addided to Idolatry, are wont to be mad upon their Idols, and to worfliip the Creature 7nore than the Creator, which po/Iibly may- be here intimated ; yet this is not the formal Reafon, or the proper Ground of charging Men with Idola- try, but their fetting up another, or a falfe Obje(5i: for their Worfliip, in the room of the only true one, mentionM partly before 'ver. 23. more fully here. Who changed the 'Truth of God into a Lye^ and worfiipped andfervedthe Creature be/ide the Creator; oppofing God as Creator to all Creatures whatfoever, without the leaft notice of any middle or other Being, that comes not within the compafs of this Difluidion, to which Worfliip might be due. Nor is it fo much as pre- tended that E^^p*"] may not well be fo rendred, as i Cor. iii. 11. [t^p* rov Kil/xyiyorl than or befide that ivhich is laid. GaL'i.Syp, C^^p 0 7m^x\dC{'i'J than or befides 'which ye have received, &c. As Athanaftus conflruds it to this Senfe, * obferving that the Arian$ as well as the Gentiles l^^ >t]i(Tzt hct]piviiaj 'Zo-z^k tvv icjioztvja. -7* 'zyciv]ct ^Ji'l worfliip the Creature l/ejtde God the Creator of all things : fo f Origen alfo, fpeaking of the Idolatry of the Perjians in worfliipping the Sun * Contra Arianos» Oratione quarta, t Contra Celfum, lib. 7. M and (8i) and the Creatures of God, adds^ C^Tn? ^i^^v elmy>^ivijctfj ^fa.(Tyju^jCcti y.ii ha I f,(v it'/ 7 n j{ I i (Pi I ^a^^.tvv y^hy.VTvl which is forbidden us, who are taught not to ferve the Crea- ture bejides or together zvith the Creator. ' Dr. Whitby ' upon the place notes, in the 23 (8S) confefTed ; but that he was but a Servant and an Ar- gent, and nothing more, and that Worfhip is due to him under no other Confideration, cannot be al- lowM, againft the plaineft Declarations of Scripture, •which ftill fets him forth as God, over all, blejjed for evermore. And it was obferved, that he does not merely as an Agent or Ambaflador, but as a Sove- reign demand Obedience, and proclaim Peace and Pardon to rebellious Subjects. We proceed then to the four things that were Urged in the Defence, for giving dired Divine Wor- fliip to Jefus Chrift. (i.) In general we are direded to honour the Son even as we honour the Father ; He that honouveth not the Son, honouveth not the Father that fern him^ Joh, V. 23. ""Tis a tender point, and of the laft confe- quence, to give due Honour and Worfhip to the Son. If we refufe or negled to do this, the Father ac- counts not himfelf honour'd, nor will be pleafed with the Refpeft and Worfhip we pretend to yield him. The Expreflion here feems manifeftly, and up- on firft view, to denote an equal, or at leaft the fame kind of Sacred and Divine Worfhip, to be given to the Son, with that which is given to the Father ; and to give him another kind of Honour, is not to honour him at all, even as we honour the Father. I had occafion to take notice *, that the word \_y^^?^ as] in Mat. v. 48. as in many other places, can denote but a Refemblance or Similitude ; and our Author is willing to believe that this is one of thofe ma~ ny other places : If then he can make it appear that it can here denote no other, and that there is like neceffity of conftruing it to this Senfe, as in the place I mentioned, it will readily be admitted ; but till then, it ought in reafon to be left to its proper Force and Signification. He thinks that the foregoing * Def, p. ip. tffordi (89) words quite o^erthrozv the Inference drawn from this Text : The Father judgeth no Man, but hath committed all Judgment to the Son, that all Men fhouid iionour the Son, even as they honour the Father. And can that Honour^ which is the ccnfequence of the Father's Grant^ he equal to the Honour which is due to the Father^ who makes the Grant^ andfcr whofe fake the Hcmur is to be paid ? If he means here, (elfe the Remark iigni- fies nothing: to his purpofe) that the Honour to be given to the Son is merely the Confequence of the Father's Grant, and ?nerely for his fake, without re- fped to the Dignity of his Perfon ,• he not only takes civilly for granted, what is utterly deny'd, but what can by no means be drawn as a juft Inference from the foregoing words. Were not Chrift God in our Nature, he would neither be capable of fo great a Truft, nor ©f the Honour that attends it. That the Govern- ment of the World is by Difpenfation and Agree- ment devolved on him, that all Judgment is commit- ted to him, and left in his hand ,• is fo far from being a reafon for a leller and inferior fort of Honour to be given hinij that 'tis a plain and convincing Proof, and certain Ground for honouring him, even as we honour the Father. . The Father's Right to Divine Worfliip was efta- blifti'd and acknowledged before ; but the Son's ap- pearing in the Likenefs of iinful Flefh, and in the Form of a Servant, might be thought fuch a Dimi- nution of his native Glory, as that Men might be apt (as we find they ilill are) to yield him "but a lower kind of Refpect and Honour, than what is confeffed to be the Father's Dae : wherefore the fole Adminiftration of tmngs in the World, and in the Church, is entrufted with him, that inftead of lofing by his Condefceniion and Abafement, he might here- by come to have the fame Honour diftindly paid him, as is given to the Father, under diftind and pecuhar Motives. Thus the Father's committing N all (90) all Judgment to the Son is not here^ as he Tuppofes^ made the formal Reafon of that Honour that is paid to him, but a fpecial Argument and Confideration mo- ving to it, and enforcing it. And this Authority is coniign'd to him, or given him, not AS, but BE- CAUSE he is the Son ot Man ; for merely as Man, he could not exercife fuch a Power, and it was not fit he fhould fuffer a Diminution of his juft Honour, by becoming Man. Becaufe therefore of his Incar- nation, and his becoming the Son of Man, he had Authority yielded or given him to execute Judgment alfo. Thus tho he appeared in the Fafhion of a Man, the Jews might be convinced, that he was not guilty of a Crime in making himfelf equal with God, and challeiiging the fame Honour that is to be paid to the Father, ver, i8, &c. I had faid, and fhall we come off with this Pre- tence, that we honour Chrift Jefus truly, tho not with the fame or like kind of Honour with the Fa- ther ? Muft we not truly honour our Rulers ? And which of them, nay, which of the glorious Angels has God at any time commanded, that we fhould ho- nour even as we honour himfelf? He anfwers, 'Tis obvious earthly Rulers are fallible, a Refewe is neceffary to be made ; yet I hope they are truly to be honoured, tho not obeyM without Referve. He adds, that I laid not the Strefs 'where I ought, upon the Univerfality of the Dominion of the Son. Nuvj there is no Ruler whom God has made it the Duty of all Men to obey. Nor indeed did I lay the Strefs upon that, or take the queftion to be, whether fome, or all Men, were to obey Chrifl ; but whether all Men were to honour him with the like or fame Honour which they pay to the Father. (2.) The next Argument taken from proftrate A- doration, and folemn Afcription of Glory, by the whole Church, to Chrift Jefus jointly with the Fa- ther, Rev,v, 11,12, 13 • is briefly anfwer'd, that Chrifl is ( 90 2i there conjider'd as the Lamh^ and as (lain ; and confe- quently if it proves any things it f roves too much : which goes upon the Suppolition that he is there worlliip- ped hit as the Lamb, and as {lain, or loleiy upon this account ; whereas that is not to be confider'd as the principal Ground and formal Reafon, but as a mod proper Inducement, and obhging Motive to the ren- drmg him a diflind and pecuHar Worfhip. He who appeared as a Lamb flain, with the Memorials of his Death, was yet to be regarded as God, or ceafed not to be, God over all bleffed for ever- (3,) That Jefus Chrift is to be worfliipped by di- reft and folemn Li vocation, he fays, he makes no doubt i but as I fee not how any but the great God can well be complimented with this Honour, fo nor that his reafon for allowing it to Chrift is fufficient, or fuch as implies no doubt in him, who only fays, / fee not how we can come to God by him as a Mediator^ without fomewhat of this nature. Our Author does not tell us what he means by fomewhat of this nature ; but I take dired and folemn Invocation to be a thing very different from coming to God by him as Mediator : for 'tis God himfelf we make our Addrefs and Prayer to, while we hope to be heard and accepted thro the Death and Interceffion of Chrift : but we do not on- ly pray to God, and come to him by the Mediator, but the Scripture warrants our praying unto Chrift himfelf: The Pradice of St- Paul, i Cor. xii- 8,9, io» I T'heff. iii. 11, 12. 2 Theff-ii- 16. iii. 16. The Pradice of Chriftians, by which they are defcribed, ASis'ix, 14,21. 1 Cor.'i. 2,8cc, However, our Au- thor intimates an Inclination to underft^nd with Dr. Hammond the w^ords i Cor. i. 2. l^^^ ^)ca,\^,'Apoi? tvovo^o. 7-« xt/pit] who call upon the Name of our Lord Jefus Chrift, not to fignify their calling upon his Name^ but their being called by his Name. And whereas Dr. Whitby has quoted feveral Places from the Septuagint to fhow that this Phrafe is not fo ufed in their N 2 Tranf. (90 Tranflatioii ; he thinks the firft mentioned by him, Gen.'w* 16 » L-vro? h'/.Tij^v ^^hKc^c^i -rt^ovofxa, y,upj«] may he tranflated, He hoped to he called hy the Name of the Lord. Now tho it might poffibly bear this Senfe in this one place, which is neither fo natural, nor fo agreeable to the Hebrew^ the other appears to be the conllant Meaning in a great number ot places where the LXXII ufe it * ; and when they exprefs that Avhich our Author micntions, they alter the Phrafe, as f Ija- iv. I. Let us be called by thy Name^ i^o oi'oy.a to cwy xeAAi?a;£y i(p' rm^^l the fame difference is obferved in the New Teftament, as Acisvu. 55). compared with^^^ XV. 17. As for 5^(?t/ ii. 32. apply 'd without hefitation to Chriir, Rom.x. 13. he fays, IVhere i; the Ahfiirdhy of fuppofing the Father to he this Lord of ally vhofe Name is caied tipOft ? I anfwer, in' that the Suppolition agrees not with the Apoftle's Argumaent, who in the whole Chapter treats of Faith in Chrifl, who is the Foun- daticn that is laid in Zion, Rom- ix- 3 3 • from Ifa- xxviii. i<5. fo interpreted i P^^^. ii. d, 7. M^hofcever helieveth in him floau net he aflyamed^ ver. 11. In prooi of this the Apollle adds, ver. 13. from ^of/ii. 32. (y/hich manifellly refers to the Tim.e of the ^leiHah, and the Calling of the Gentiles) For whofoeier JJmll call upon * For SatisfaBion the Reader may corjult for \_\^.:", ^Z,^^- to "cvofjicr yvo'i^- T« .5^;,] Gcn. iv. z6. — xili. 4. — xxvi. 25. I Chr. xvi. 8. Pfal. Ixxix. 6. — Ixxx. 18. — xcix. (5. — cv. i. — cxvi. 4, 13. Ifa. Ixiv. 7. Jer. x. 25. Lam. iii. 55. JoqI ii. 32. Zach. xiii. 9. h TCP l"if^.c'^i ;f.ipi» t« ^.■. ] i Kings xviii. 24, 25, 26. 2 Kings V. II. Pfal. cxvi. 17. dh to^ Ivotixit kv^i ] Gen. xii. 8. — xxi. 33. 'fh}f':\kcju.TT> i^v "^ilvl Gcn. x-xiii. 20. I Chron. iv. 10. Amos iv. 12. Jonas i. 6. [qiv Ki'f^tovl i Sam. xii. I7> 18. 2 Sam.xxii. 4, 7. i Kings ^cvii. 21. Pfal. xiv. 4. .—xviii. 3, 6. — liii. 4. — cxviii. 5. [dvixii/] Pfal. cxlv. 18. — cxlvii. 9. [jr] I Kings viii. 43? 5 ^^ ^ Chron. vi. 33. Pfal. lvi.9. — Ixxxvi. 5. ■ — cii. 2. — pxxxviii. 3. Ifa. 1 v. 5. Lam. iii. 57. C/^] Pfal. Ixxxi. 7. Pro v. i. 2.8. Pfal. 1. 15. Jer.xi.14. t ^^'^ ^^'^^y other paces. Sec Dr. Whitby'j Nue cyi I Cor.i. 2. the (P3) the Name of the Lord^ Jhaii l^e faved ; faying further,. ver. 14 How then jloallthey call upon him, in whom they, have not believed ? And how fiall they believe in him^ of whom they have not heard ? That is. How fhall they call on, and believe in Chrift Jefus, who have not heard of him, unto whom he has not been preached and made known; fince ^tis not by Nature, but by Revelation only, that w^e come to the Know- ledge of him ? He grants, v/e may not addrefs our Prayers di- rectly to any other but him, who is the Object of our Faith and Truft ; but fuppofes our Faith and I'rtifi mufi be fiibordinate to that, which we are to place- in God, Jince by Chrift we belierje in God, that rdifed him from the Dead, and gave him Glory, that our Faith and Hope might be in God, iPet. i. 21. And who doubts that God^s raifing Chrift from the Dead, and ad- vancing him to Glory, is a grand Encouragement to Faith and Hope in God, or is a fufficient Reafon for us to believe and hope, that he will forgive our Sins, and beftow eternal Life upon us ? But befides be- lieving in God by Chrift, that is, by what he has done for us, and ftill does in Heaven, we are alfo diftind- ly to believe in him, and make him the Objeft of our Faith and Hope. Not a v/ord here, that I fee, of fubordinate Faith and Truft, only a fpecial Argu- ment and Dired:ion for our Faith. (4.) I urged that Chrift is alfo the proper or fu- preme Object of Religion, as that (ignifies a Devo- tednefs to the Service and Glory of him, w^hom we worfhip. This is exprefsM in the common Profeilioii and Pradice of Chriftians, according to Engagement in the folemn Rite of Baptifm, Rom- xiv- 7,8,9. TVhe- ther we live, we live unto the Lord, &c. importing, as hath been fhown, the higheft Refped and Homage we are able to pay. Neither can I underftand how Chrift fhould have a Right to this, and demand it, by thefole Gift of the Father, without conlideration of the ( 94 ) the Dignity of his Perfon ; or that, as a Being inferi- cr to the Father^ he Jhould be capable of fuch a Gift, as proper, tho' caU'd afubordinate Worjloip. But this Mat- ter has been fui&ciently difcufs^'d before ; and if there had been room for fuch a Diftindion, and for wor- fhipping an inferior Being, that by Nature is not God, it had been as eafy for the Scripture to make it, and fettle the bounds of fubordinate Worfhip ; nay, it had been neceffary to be moft exprefs and plain, in fo important a cafe : whereas it is not only filent about it, but ufes the greateft precaution to prevent the worfhipping any other, but the Lord our God only. Nor is there juft ground or pretence for calling the Service we do to Chrift, as God over all, fubor- dinate Worfhip, becaufe this is to the Glory of the Fa- ther : It is doubtlefs to the Glory of Chrift, or mat- ter of Glory to him, that by him we do believe in God. As the divine Perfons delight in glorifying each other, fo in honouring the Son ve honour the Father alfo, and in paying Honour to the Father, ac- cording to the Gofpel-Inftitution, we likewife ho- nour the Son ; but in one and the other we truly woriliip God, and fet not up an inferior Being, or any Creature, as the Objed* of our religious Service. As for Phil. ii. 9, 10, 11. That the Father has ex- alted the Man Chrift, the Mediator, and given him a Name above every Name, and that this is unto the Glory of God the Father, we mofl readily grant ; a 'very material Objection, it feems, with our Author, which ferves him upon all Occafions : but that this is the fole ground of the Worfhip we are to pay to the Son of God, w^e utterly deny. It was not lit that he fhould lofe by his Incarnation and Sufferings, in confequence of which, all Judgment is committed to him, and the Government of the World folely en- trufted in his Hands, that he may receive the Ho- mage due to him, as our Creator and fovereign Lord, and ( 95 ) and all Men may honour him, even as they honour the Father. But he asks. If Chrifi had an original Right to the Government of the World^ how comes this Right to be given him of the Father ? I anfwer, ^Tis not his original Right, as God, that is the fubjed of the Father's Git'c, but the Right he has, and the Power he exercifes, as Mediator, which is of a diffe- rent confideration, and is managed in a different man- ner, and to difl-erent purpofes. He adds. If he had fuch an original Right ^ he could have m need that it floould be committed to him to be exercis'd in our Nature y this would continue ivith him, when he tcok upon him our Na- ture, without any Gift at all, and he mufl have a Right to the immediate Exercife of this Power, I anfwer, He could not have the immediate Exercife of fuch Power, in quality of Mediator, and the Adminiftration of ail Things in the Difpenfation of Grace, or mediatorial Kingdom, but in confequence of his undertaking and performing the Work of a Mediator, to be done in our Nature ; fo the folc Adminiflration and Exercife of governing Power in the Hands of the Mediator, may well be by the Gift and Appointment of the Fa- ther. Why do we never read of the Holy Ghofl's giving him this Power, as w^ell as the Father ? Anfw. Be- cauie there was no occafion, his Confent and Concur- rence being included in the Father^s Will ; and be- caufe not fo congruous to the known Order among the divine Perfons : befides, that the Holy Ghoft condefcends to a diftinct Office and Work in the Dif- penfation of Grace, while the Son is the fole Media- tor, and has all Judgm.ent committed to him. And why does the Apoflle make the Glory of God, even the Fa- ther, the ultimate End of it, and not the Glory of the Fa- ther, Son, and Holy Ghcft ? Anfw. He does not this any farther, than that obferved Order (without Ine- quality in Nature) feems to require ; nor does he do this in oppofition to the Son and Holy Ghoft, fo as at all to bar or exclude their joint Intereft and Share in (90 in the Glory, as Perfons in the fame Deity, tho' hot the Father. (7.) We are come to the feventh Argument for the Divinity oF Chrift, which our Author thought fit to mention, the holy Ordinance of Baptifm, always rec- konM an important Part of Chriftian Worihip, v/here- in Homage is particularly paid to Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft, as in the Bufinefs of our Salvation, act- ing under diftind Charaders, and condefcending to ailume diftind Offices. And whereas I took notice, that the Form of Adminiflration has been ahvays ob- ferv'd with great care in the Church, as fignifying the pecuhar Faith of Chriftians, and a folemn Cove- venant Tranfa6tion, &c. the Perfons baptizM, recog- nizing their joint Intereft, do profelfedly dedicate and devote themielves to Father, Son, and Holy Ghoil, &c. He thinks he is. under no Obligation to deny it, cm- f effing^ that this, or fomewhat of this nature, feems to be the deftgn of the PVords. This being agreed, I need not quarrel with him about what led him to exprefs himfelf in the way that he did, from i Cor. i. 12, 13, 14, 15. that to baptiz.e in the Name of another, imports the entring him into that Religion^ of which he is the Founder, or primary Treacher, This, he adds, Mx. Moore has nothing to fay to,: As if I apprehended it to be unanfv/erable, becaufe I thought it very little to the Purpofe. The truth is, I do not well underiland his meaning in the Ex- preffion, or how he ini^rs w^hat he feems to aim at from this Place. The Apoftle condemning the Divi- fions that were at Corinth, fays. Is Chrifl divided "^ Was Paul crucify d for you? or were you baptiz,ed in the Name of Paul ? / thank God, that I bapti-z^ed none of you hut Crifpus and Gbaus, left any floould fay, that I had haptiz>ed in my own Name. Intimating, that they could not be rightfully baptized in the Name of any other but him, who was their rightful Owner and Lord ; that Chrift having been crucifyM for them, and hav- ing redeemed and bought them with the Price of his own (97) own Blcod, they were under a certain and everlaft- iiig Obligation, to devote and dedicate themfeives to his Service and Glory, and not to any other, who had no fuch Right to challenge this. As for himfelf, tho' he were an infallible Teacher of ChriPc's Reli- gion, yet he could not, without Impiety, have pre- lum'd to baptize in his own Name. VViien therefore our Author tells us, To baPtiz^e in the Name of another y ■plainly there Jignifies the making Perfons his Difciples; ani accordingly the Import of the Bnpt!fj7tal Fcrm^ that Men thereby are made the Difciples of Father, Son, and Holy Ghofl ; It may be admitted in this true Senfe, (in- tended in the Words of Baptifm) That Men pro- feilediy dedicating and devoting themfeives to the Service and Glory of Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft, whofe they are, by an acknowledged Right, do en- gage to live fuitably, according to the Gofpel, as the certain Rule of their Faith and Pradice. .^ Difciples are to be made for him alone, and to be baptized into his Name, w^hofe own the Sheep are ; but that any are allow 'd- to make Difciples, and to baptize in the Name of any, to another Purpofe, and in ano- ther Senfe, I find not. ''T I s altogether needlefs therefore for him to ask. And is not the whole Chriftian Religion a thing great enough to be the SubjeB-Matter cf the Baptifmal Form? I anfwer, TeSj vvitiiout doubt, as this imports an abfolute De- voted nefs to Father, Son, and Holy Ghofl, according to the Gofpel-Inilitution ; an Homage profefs'd to be yielded in Baptifm to the Son and Holy Ghofl, as well as to the Father. But if fomething lower and of another kind had been intended by the Baptifmal Form, it had b^cn eaf;/ for the Scripture lo to have exprefs'd it, as to obviate che common Mi flake of the Chriflian World, in fach a folemn Ordinance, of conf au: Ufe and Pradice. Our Author feems to place fome Weight in that the Ifraelites are f aid to ha've been baPti%cd into Mo fes, O for, (or, as render'd in our Bibles, unto Mofes) i Cor. x. 2. for explaining of the Phrafe in the Baptifmal Form. The truth is, the ExpreiTion is not the fame with that in the Baptifmal Form, and fignifies little to the ex- plaining of it 3 but upon fuppofition, that 'tis equi- valent, and of like import, which yet he does not prove : Befides [;]? rhv Uco-nP^ may be render'd, by Mofes, as it is by Bez>a^ and the Geneva Italian Tranf- lation ; or, as he obferves, by the Syriac and Arabick^ hy the Hand, or by the Miniflry of Mfes. Thus ABs vii. 55. Who received the Law [«? J)AJa.ya^ elfyi^c^fv'] by the Difpofition or Miniflry of Angels ; the fame feeming to be fignify'd by the vulgar Latin, and the French Tranflation, in Moyfe, en Moyfe : or to the fame Senfe which feme give of the Phrafe, unto Mo- fes, Moyfe Duce, under the condud of Mofes, whom God had given them for a Leader, as a Type of Chrjft, the great Saviour of his People : fo 'tis not unufual for fome things to be fpoken of the Type, which really and properly belong only to him, who is typifyM and reprefented. The Ifraelites were to pafs through the Wildernefs unto Canaan, under the conducl of Mofes ; Chrift is the great Captain of our Salvation, to lead us fafely through this World to Glory in the next : Him God gave ample Teilimony to, by the Miracles of the Cloud and Red Sea ; hence Fxod. xix. p. the Lord faid to Mofes, I come tmto thee in a thick Cloud, — that the People may believe thee for ever; a like Phrafe in the Hebrew with what our Author mentions, Exod.xiv. ^i. 'The People believed the Lord, and his Servant Mofes, or the Lord fpeaking by Mofes ; which yet methinks can't well be compar'd with that of Chrifl;, John xiv. i . Te believe in God, believe alfo in me. Ye already believe in God, I require, and ^tis neceffary, that ye believe alfo in me. But though we fhould take the ExprefTion, unto Mofes, to denote, unto the Religion which Mofes taught, and was the Minifter of, as Mofes is fome- time ( 99 ) tinges put for the Law ot Mofes, Aftsxv. 21. I fee IK)C that any thing more can be meant, than that the Jfraelites being entered by Baptifm into the Religion, which God gave by M"fes, they thereby became con- fecrate and devoted to the alone Service and Worlhip oi Jehovah y their Redeemer: Nor were they by this ^dedicated to the Service and Honour of Mojes, as Chriflians, by the Rite of Baptifm, come under pro- fefled Engagement to live to Chrift, as confecrate and devoted to his Will and Glory : I only add, it had been more to the Purpofe, if there had been a Form of Baptifm, or Circumcifion, inftituted, to be ftill Solemnly ufed in the Church of If-aely in the Name of God and Mofes ; or to have had the Name of Mofes^ by a fettled Ordinance, indifferently and conjunftly with the Name of the Moft High, put upon the Pro- fellors of tiie Jewifh Religion. A s for the Words, i Tffn. v. 2 1 . 1 charge thee be- fore God, and the Lord Jefus Chrift, and the Elect Angels ; ivherein with great Solemnity the Eleci Angels me joined with Gad and Chrifi i Will any confiderate Perfon take this to be a parallel Cafe with that of Baptifm? However, our Author thinks the Matter is dear as he flat ed it, that in afolernn AB, other Perfons may be joined with the fupr erne God^ and the Exprejpon be ufed as indifferently concerning them^ as in the Baptifmal Form, concerning the three Perfons mentioned in it : Let Mr. Moore, fays he, try if he can fiyid a Dfference. As if any body could be at a lofs to find, that a fo- 1-emn Charge given to a Minifter, in the prefence of proper WitnelTes, who are flrift Obfervers of his Condud, and therefore may be indifferently men- tioned in that quality, is a very different thinj^ from a folemn Ad of Religion, or Ordinance of JDivine WorOiip, expreffing the moft entire Subjedion and Devotednefs, refer 'd indifferently to Three, jointly mention^, as the proper Objed of it. And whereas he adds jBeftdes Jfloewedfrom the very laftitutiony that our O 2 Saviour ( 100 ) SavkuY njfcrts lis Authority "xas given him, and confe-. quemly it 7nuft he inferior to that of the Giver : I anfwer. That when Chrid Jefus fays. Mat. xxviii. i8, 19. AH Power is given unto me ; go ye therefore, and teach all Na- tions, baptiz,ing them, dec. he mentions this Power as the ground ot fending his Apoftles forth on this De- {ign, and not as the dired and only Reafon of bap- tizing in his Kame : though confidering his Claim as Creator and Redeemer, he might very well alledge the Authority given him as Mediator, to demand the acknowledgment of his Right ; nor does the Father^s Grant, or CefTion of Power to him, as Mediator, to be fole Adminiftrator of the Mediatorial Kingdom, at ail prejudice, but rather recommend his antecedent Right, as God over ail. And fo ^tis farther here to be remark 'd, that we argue not for the Divinity of Chrift, meerly from the Form of Baptifm, which yet is of great Weight ; but in conjunction with, and confonant to many other plain and certain Proofs, which we find of it in the Scriptures, and which give light to this. (8.)"The laft Argument for the Deity of Chrift, which our Author rov k notice of, is taken from Phil. ii. 5, 6, 7. Let this Mind he in you, which was alfo in Chrifi Jefus, who heing in the Form of God, thought it no Yohhery to he equal zuith God, hut made himfelf oj no Re- pitaticn, and took upon him the Form of a Servant. He pleafes himfelf here with a critical Obfervation upon the Word \hut^ in the heginnin^ (f the feventh Verfe^ as an Argument that the Al'Ofile's Meaning is not juftly exprefs'd in our Tray: flat ion : That the Words might run fmooth, it floojild have been [yet?^ Now to jufti fy the Senfe, I obferv'd, that the [^AAct] rnay be render'd \^yet'] as in I Cor. viii. 6. our Author himfelf renders it j or if it be renderM [hut'] the plain Meaning is, as the Learned Dr. Hammond (of fujfHcient critical Skill in thefe Matters) judges, ' He was God, and without -^ any injury equal to his Father ,* hut for all this, ' or ( lOI ) ' or notwithftanding this, he vilified himfelf/ &o. Thus our Tranflacors, fecure of the Senfe in both Texts, as fufficiently manitefl: to any prudent Rea- der, content themfeives to render it [but?^ However, our Author thinks it worth while tanher to rehne upon this Criticifm, and queftions wtjether [<4aac6] can he rendered [k^,] unlejs when 'tis a Reddhive to [f^'> or €i7n{^ or fome fuch ivord, challenging nie to prodtice an Example^ where [f^y^^^ alone ^ as is the Cafe in Phil. ii. 7. does ever fynify [yet,^ fuppofing in the mean time this fan of his Anfwer to ftand in its full Strength. If then I fhew that it does, I hope it will latisfy. And tho I think no great weight is to be laid upon his Re- mark, and that it is but precarious ; yet to humour him, I w^ould take notice, that I have obferved, not only in feveral of the bed Gr^^^ Writers, but alfo in feveral places of the LXX^s Tranilation, and of the New Teftament, that [^tA^a] is to be conftruded to this Senfe, and renderM accordingly, tho neither [«> nor ei'^'-i] go before. For inftance, iSam.^v.^o, Saul faid, pai^-'77;K,ct, dt^Aa ^o^ciaiv ixf\^ \ have finned, yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the Elders of my People. Rom. v. 13, 14. For until the Law^Sin was in the World, but Sin is not imputed where there is no Law, [«i^^' iG>:iaiAiv>jiv h ^IvctTcf^ neverthelcfs. Death reigned from Adam to Mofe^. i Cor. viii. 7. [*A>/ «/. h T^.av H yv^'Ai'\ Howheit^ there is not in all that Knowledge. Rev. ii. 4, 14, 20. [^■''^^' ^>:,<» ^^7* c-^j] neverthelefs^ notwithftanding.^ I have fome what againit thee. Since then the words nnifmooth^ and the Senfe is clear in this Conflrudion, the ma'n Difficulty ob- jeded againfl ourTranflation of the words [«>: A^rrziy- Ij.ov ji^iWrc] He thought it no Robbery., is removed ; the only Argument, which, in J^y. Hammond's account, made another Interpretation any way probable. As for HeliodoruSy whofe Authority is urged againfl our Tranflation, it can at laft fignify little or nothing, when ^cis manifefl he does not make ufe of the fame Phrafe, ( lOi ) , , Phrafe, but [^V^^j^ ^'t<',] and [^^'^^'^'J and once [xfTTctyf^A Kyeift-t'j which yet well agrees with the Suppofition, that [*pr^3/.«^(] properly lignifies the Acl gf Robbery y Bin6.{_^i-^y(^^~] the Prey ^ or Purchafe of Rob- bery : and this according to the Genius and common Ufe of the Gyeek Language, which ordinarily makes this diftindtion between the Verbals formed and termi- nared in this manner, when both are in ufe; which will ealily appear in a great number and variety of Exam- ples nil. Nor do I fee but the Authority of Aihanafius^ Bafily &c. who were fuch Mailers of the Greek Lan- guage, and expound the Phrafe to the fame Senfe with our Tranfiation, deferves as much regard as that of Helicdorus, (if he had lurned it to another Senie, as in truth he does not) tho they wrote iince the Nicene Council. Nor does the vulgar Latin difagree with this *, or "TertuL'ian f, agamft whom there is not that Exception, known to be well converfant in the Greek Writers, and induftrioufiy to imitate them. It Indeed the other rendring is fo harQi and unnatu- llll A fezvhjianccsy among a Multitude I have marFdy may Jbew this to the Reader, [..1 Mevces, the Thing bought; l^y fti(riJ.'<'] the A£l: of Buying. loi^^^Tu^'.l Numeny the thing worfhipped; [ -^Cat^ru^^O the A£{: of Adoration. [ iOj-o/cr^./ ] the Congregation, or Company gather'd ; [ctSf^/xt^?] the congregating, or gathering of it. [ :~^ccLvtt7fj.ii ] what is laid" up as a Treafure. i^^^etvot-juod the laying up in Treafure. [^maj^-w.'] that which is to propiate ; [*i.- Aci 7-^s] the A£i of propitiating, iiiayuct^ dic^-^yu-o^. iio" * Qui cum in forma Dei effet, non rapinam arbitratus eft, cfle fe aequalem Deo. ■\ Et Sermo enimDeus, qui in effigieDei conftitutus, non rapinam acftimavit pariar} Deo, Inlib.de Refur.CarnlSy cap. 6. II I: I't^TTctyuo'l pould yet be thought to Jignify Rapine, both in the^aBivi and p^-^^ive Senfe y as Rapina in the Latin ; our Tvanf- lation muji be allow d to be juji and ivarrantabky nor to be confuted from the Context^ where nothing appears to oblige to a different Con- firuBion. ral, ( 103 ) ral, that 'tis with difficulty and apparent violence that the Expreflion is drawn to fay, he did not arro- gate, or ajftmte by violence, he did not ccvet earnefily, or Inatch at, &c. ' There is a difference, fays Dr.Ham- '" mond, between affuming and thinking, and confe- < quently inyet^ti'] to think, being joined with H^^cty- * /^i>] Rapitie, muft fignify to think or count it a ' Rapine, or an Injury, (which is very diftant from ' hoafiing of it as a Priz^e, triumphing or ajfiiming) and * that is the Notion, that the ordinary Interpreta- ' tion gives of it ; thus he therefore paraphrafes the * words,Whobeing truly God.thoughtit noEncroach- ' ment to be in Equahty with his Father. And notes, ' that little would be gained to the Caufe of the Pho- ^ tinians and Jrians^ tho the Senfe of this Phrafe * fliould be miftaken/ Hence it comes to pafs that Writers on our fide, fecure of their Point even from this Text, (and thinking but little Injury to be done to the Caufe in the main, tho dechning a nicer Debate about the Phrafe, they fhould even admit the other Senfe) do infift upon fuch an Interpretation, as gives no advantage to them, who oppofe the Deity of Chrift, and his Equality with the Father. This I fhew'd by a Quotation from the excellent Dr. I'illot- fon ; upon which our Author fays, Mr. Moore fee7ns to aim at an Argument from his king hey-e faid to be in the Form of God : but as he has not very clearly put it together, I {loall content myfilf ivith referring the Reader to Dr. Whitby. The truth is, I was content to urge and leave the Argument as I found it, in the Arch- bifhop's own words, without altering the ExprefTion or Method *: aifur'd that the impartial Reader would not think him uncapable of putting the Argu- ment well enough together, whatever be our Author's opinion about it. * Works fol. p 541. ( 104 ) I confefs I was never fatisfy'd with Grotius's Ac-^ count, of our Lord's heing in the Form of God, as lig- nifying his Power of working Miracles ; nor altoge- ther with Dr. Whitby's, who underftands by it that glorious Form, in which God on his Throne is re- prefented, that Majefly in which he is faid to ap- pear in Scripture, and in which the Logos, or the Word, did fhew himfelf of old to Alofes and the Pa- triarchs : tho I think this to be peculiar and appro- priate to the Mod: High, and that no created Angel ever aflumed or appeared in this Glory; and can ad- mit what the Doctor adds, ' It appears that this Na- ture, in which Chrift appeared before his Concep- tion in the Virgin^'s Womb, muft be Divine ; for what other Nature could appear in the Form of God, and challenge to itfelf the Glory, which by the Jews was ftill eileemed a certain Indication of the Divine Prefence, and in the New Teflament is ftiled the Glory of the Father. Efpecially if we confider, that He who thus appeared hath the in- communicable Name Jehovah fo oft afcribed to him, is ftiled the Judge of the whcle Earth, and ei- ther chailengeth to himfelf the Divine Attributes and Offices, or never doth refufe them, when they are offered to him by Men/ H I s being in the Form of God, (lands manifeilly oppofed to his taking upon him the Form of a Servant, and his being made in the Likenefs of Men * . If then thefe latter Exprelfions denote his being truly a Man, and a Servant, as there appears no reafon at all to doubt ; how can the former be efleemed to iignity * So Tertullian argued contr. Marcion, lih. 5. cap. 20. -^que non erit Veus Chriftus vere, fi nee Hcmo vere fuit in eifigie hominis conftitutus— — Quod fi in effigie & imagine, qua filius Patris vere Dei prxdicacus eft, etiam in eifigie & ima- gine hominis, qua iilius homiiiis, vere homiaera mventum. lefs. (105) lefs, than his being truly and really God ? Had he been but a Creature, he would be ever, by nece/Tity oF Nature, a Servant of God, however dignity 'd by him, or to whatfoever State of Exaltation and Glory advanced. But 'tis from the Dignity of Chrilt's Perfon that the Apoftle takes his Rife, to (qz forth his matchlefs and amazing Condefcenfion, in his In- carnation, Obedience, and Sufferings, and to com- mend his Humility, as a Pattern for our Imitation. Yet it feems but an odd fort of Argunient, to per- fuade^ us to be humble by Chrift's Example, and to be of the fame itiind with him, who being but a Creature, or abfoJutely inferior to God, was pleafed not to afted, or arrogate to himfelf^ an Equality with God. Our Author having done with what I had to fay in defence of the Arguments, zuhich, it feems, my Friends ufe to alledge for the Deity of Chrift,- is in fome hope, that his Reader will be fo candid andcomplaifant, as to take his word for it, that his Anfwers w^re fulfiantial, and that I had little to reply to thern. I can fay, I have endeavoured fairly to examine his Anfwers and- Exceptions, without attempting to put harfh and foreign Interpretations upon Holy Scripture, or any other than what I take to be the true and intended Meaning. Nor am I afhamed to have the Genera- lity of the Pious and Learned for my Friends in a Caufe, whofe Strength lies not in Management and Artifice, but plain Argument, and clear Scripture- Declarations. Whether what he proceeds to alledge, in proof of his own Scheme, be more fuhfiantial than his An- fwers, we are now to confider. H I s firfl and principal Argument, is, i Cor. viii. 4, 5 , (5. IVe know that an Idol is nothing in the W^rld, and thai there is none other God but one ; fur though there be that are called Gods, whether in Heaven or in P Earth. (106) Earth, (as there be Gods many, and Lord^ many) yet to us there is but one God the Father, of whom are all things, and ive for him ; and one Lord Jefus Chrifl, by whom are all things, and we by him. Now fince fo great ftrefs lies upon this Text, and that if this fails, there's fcarce any other alledgM fo fpecious and plau- lible in favour ct his Opinion ; I am willing carefully to enquire how he n^akes out his ProoT from it. Nor do I find upon a Review^ that I palled any thing v.'hich I thought to be (f moment in the Letter upon this Head. He there fays, that the Apoflle is here ]:uypofely ajjerting the Unity of the Godhead, in op Pc fit ion to fuch Beings as might in a loofer Senfe have that Appel- laticn given to them. T'herefore here, if any where, he wcv.ld mjfi plainly tell us who this one God is. Well, let this be granted : if what this Gentleman afl'erts be true, that the Father alone is the one God, and the plain JJJertion here is, that there is none other God but one , what muft be infer^'d, but that in what Rank oi Bsir.g foever Chrift is placed, he cannot be called or owned to be God in a proper, but only in a loofer Senfe ? And what is then become of the Pretence of Chriu's true and proper Divinity, that he is God by Nature, Oc. which ferves to amufe a little while? Is it come to this, that tho the Appellation may be given him on fome account or other, in a loofer way of fpeaking ; yet in truth and reality he is not God at all, nor can be properly fo called ? Yet nothing is plainer in Scripture, than that He is both abfo- lutely called God, and hath the Attributes, Works, and Wcrfhip of God given to him. W^HEN with Tranfport he asked, Can any Mortal give a reafon, why if the Apoflle had been of the mind of your fever e Cenfurers, he fhculd not have exprefs'd himfelf thus. But to us there is but one God, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghcft ? I anfwer'd plainly, that it was not the Apofde's Defign here, nor did the Subjed he was upon oblige him to give an account of the Myilery of ( 107 ) t)f the Trinity, nor was he under any neceflity of reprelenting the Diftbrences or diftind Relations conceivable in the Djvine Nature. He replies, I'he Ap(flle was nU d^figning to give an accov/at of any M) fiery m all, but was jleaking of the Unity of God. Very well ! no wonder then,tho he were of our mind, that he fpeaks only of the Unity, and not of a Myftery he had no cccaiion or delign there to give account of. Yet I fuppofe he will not deny that there is any thing of Myitery, or what is beyond our prefent Knowledge, in the Divine Nature. Certainly, fays he, nothing is inconceivable, if this be not, that the fame Nature and Effence fhall differ from, or be related to itfelj. But who fays this ? Where does he find this to be our Senfe ? What tho the fame EiTence d'ffers not from itfelf, is it therefore impoflible to conceive that there may be fom,e Difterences in the fam.e Nature ? The Nature or Efl'ence of the rational Soul is one and the fame, and difters not from itfelf ; yet it is not inconceivable that Underftanding and Will fhould differ from, and relate to each other, in the fame Soul. And he cannot prove that there are not as true, and more confiderable Differences in the Divine Nature, or that they are inconceivable. H 1 adds. But there is no other way thefe Men have of defending themfelves, but by always taking their main Hypothejis for granted. See their Courfe ; they affert that the Father, Son, and Holy Ghofl, conflitute the One God. We demand where this is ajferted in Scripture. As if we proved not by the plainefl and moft exprefs Texts cf Scripture, that to us there is but One God, that the Father is God, that the Son is God, and the Holy Ghoft alfo, pofTefsM of the appropriate Titles, Perfedions, and Glory of the Divine Nature. But how comes this Proof to be demanded here ? ''Tis enough for me in this place, to do the part of a Re- fpondent, and to exped that our Author, as he hath undertaken, prove his Point from the Text under P 2 debate. ( io8 ) debate. Aj ! fays he, ijce prcduce plam and exprefs Af- ferticnSy that the Father ALONE ii the One God. But pray where are thofe plain and exprefs Aflertions ? Not one, that I find, can be produced, which af- ferts the Father alone is God, in oppofition to, and excluiion of the Son and the Holy Ghoft. That this Text aii'erts, that there is but One God, we plainly acknowledge, and that the Father is God ; but that the Son is not God, it neither fays, nor can it be truly inferM from it. ''Tis certain, that the Scrip- tures fay he is, and in the ftrongeft Terms ; and this very Text fpeaks of him as Lord, in fuch a manner, as is appropriate to the One God : and we may be- lieve him when he fays, I and rny Father are One. I took notice, that the thing which the Apoflle purpofely aPferts, as bed anfwering the End he had in view, is, that to us there is but One God, in op- pofition to the Polytheifm of the Gentiles, or the O- pinion and Worfhip of many Gods. And his fpeci- fyjng ivho this One God is, (as our Author would have it) alters not the Cafe ; for that the Father is the one God, nobody doubts, and that emphatically fo called, and of prime Confideration in refpcd of Or- der, which is no prejudice at all to the Deity of the Son. He adds, Had the Apcftle been of the cG?nmon 0- pinion, he vmdd ne^uer have confuted the Polytheifm cf the Gentiles, without cbniating the Objection, which Chri- fiianity might feem liable to* But he himfelf is pleafed to tell us, /?. 75. that the Apoflle is not (here) proving the Chriftian Principles, but arguing upon them. Indeed, he is not here writing an Apology againft the Gen- tiles, or anfwering the Objections that Chriflianity might be liable to ', but endeavouring to fatisfy the Scruples of Chriftians about eating things facrificed to Idols. He therefore obferves, that an Idol is no- thing in the World, has nothing of Divinity in it, fo that they had no ground for Apprehenfion or Fear, no Religious Refped or Veneration being due to it. Where- ( 109 ) Wherefore he adds, ver. 7 .Hoivkit, there ii not in every Man that Krwwiedge ; for fane Vjith Confdence of the Idol unto this hour^ eat it as a thing offered time an Idol^ and their Confdence being "xeah^ is defiled. ' * Well-in- ^ formed Chriflians knew, there was but one God * the Father, and one Lord Jcfus Chrift to be wor- ^ fliipped y the Weak thought there might be fome ' Deaftri or Inferior Lords ^ to whom fome Reverence * was due.' But, Is here not maniffily a Snare ? He calls them fff f-om many Gods, by affuring them that there is, hut one God; and this one God^ he fays , is the Father. And could any one read "Johat he fays, without apprehending his De^ Jign was, that Chriflians jhould believe, that the Father alone is this one God, (but the Apoftle does not here fay it) and efpeci ally, when he fo careftdly diftingU'fioes this one God from Jefui Chrift ? I anfwer ; We apprehend no more Snare in this, than in addreding our Worfhip to the Father (for the reafon juft fpecify'd) through Jefus Chrift, even while we are fo far from intend- ing to worfhip the Father as the alone God, feparate- ly and exclufively of the Son and Spirit, that we de- fignedly include, or profefTedly fuppofe both Son and Holy Ghoft included, in the undivided Objedi: of our Worfhip, and yet confider Chrift Jefus diftind- ly, or diftinguiOi'd as Mediator. Thus when we fpeak abfolutely of God, or of the Alm^ighty, the Eternal God, tho the Father be more diftindly and in the firft place intended, yet without' any deftgn of excluding the other Perfons, but only all other feparate Beings not neceifarily in God the Father, that in their own Nature are excluded from Deity, and have no Right to be v/orfhipped ; and this is commonly done and underftood fo as to fuperfede the Neceflity of further Caution. Whifby's Note on I Con viii. ( no) I fuggefled, that had the Apoftle been of the mind of the Author, mud he not have faid. Whereas there are many that are called Gods and Loyds^ many- had in veneration among the deluded Heathen, to us Chriftians there are but two Gods, one fupreme and unoriginated, the other fubordinate and inferior, a God alfo by Office and delegated Power ? His An- fwer is, 'Tho the Apoflle really exprejfes this Senfe, yet he does it in a much bttter manner. Then it feems it was his meaning, that to us Chriftians there are two Gods, tho he did not think fit to fpeak out. But I fee not how he could more exprefly and perempto- rily declare the contrary ', or how well this was like to obviate the Objeclion that Chriftianity would be liable to, with a witnefs. And pray how does our Author prove that this was the Apoftle's Senfe, the thing he undertook to do, and w^hich of any thing he ought to do, fo apparently contrary to plained: Scripture, to the firft and great Commandment, "Thou jh alt have m other Gods before me ; lo contrary to the Defign of the Gofpel, to eftablifh the Belief and Worlhip of the one only true God, in oppofition to all who by Nature are no Gods ? Inftead of this, he is fo cood-natur'd, as /or ?nyfake to tranfcribe at large out of the Learned Mr. Jofeph Mede, what he had faid upon this Text ; which, I can aflure him, I perufed and conlider'd m.any Years fmce, but faw little occafion to take notice of in my Defence, tho he be fo charm 'd with it, as fancying it to caft a more favourable A- fpcd upon his beloved Opinion. However, it feems not to me, upon a fair and reafonable Conftrudion, fuch as himfelf, "'tis likely, intended, or would ad- mit as in the common Faith, to be inconfiflent here- with. And tho he fancies the Apoftle to allude to fuPerior and inferior Deities in the Heathen 'Theology, and the AUufion to be faffing elegant ; yet it appears not that even the Heathen did affert, that there were many fovereign or fupreme independent Gods/ or that ( III ) ;hat the Dii Coelefies were all fuch. Nor does the Apoftle fay there are Gods many, and Demons ma- ny ; or fovereign Deities many, and inferior Deities many ; but indifferently Gods many, and Lords many, poflibly without defign to fpeciFy different kinds of Deities, but fuch, whether called Gods or Lords, as they made the Objed of their Worfhip. However this be, neither our Author, nor Mr. Mede for him, make out any clear or certain Proof of this, that to us Chriflians there are two Gods. The Apoftle^'s faying, To us there is hut one God, no more excludes Chrift from being God with his Father, the God of Chriflians, than by adding, "fhere is but one Lord, excludes the Father from being the Lord of Chriflians. And I took notice that Dr. M^hithy quotes Origen and Novatian arguing in the fame manner from this Text *. I need not here di- vert with the Author to the Confideration of the pri- vate Sentiments, and particular Explications of thofe Writers in relation to the Dodrine of the Trinity, which is not the Subject of our prefent Debate. It fuifices that they argued after this manner, which is what the Do6cor cited them for. He gives for An- fwer, that his faying there is but one Lord, excludes the Father from being Lord in that Senfe^ in which he f peaks of Chriji as fuch ; for he evidently f peaks of him as Lord in a fubordinate Senfe : fo his f peaking of one God the Father, excludes Chriflfrom being the one God. Me- thinks, he fliould have at leafl added, to complcat the ApodoJiSy in that Senfe, In which he fpeaks of the Father as fuch ; and the Remark then would have amounted to more than this. That Chrifl is not the one God in the Perfon of the Father, or under that Charader and Confideration , nor do we fuppofe, that Chrifl is the Father. And how does it appear, * But may refer to Dr. BuirjDef. Fid. Nic Se£l. 2. Cap. 9, 10. Dk. Waterl. D^f, of Quer. p. 13, 14, &c. that ( Hi ) that the Father's being the one God dees exclude Chrift from Deity, any more than ChriiVs being the one Lord, excludes the Fattier from Lordihip ? If Chrift's being the one Lord, mud: not here be taken in the flrid exclufive Senfe, what neceiTicy for us to underfland the Father's being the one God in that Senfe, except we take the thing in queflion for gran- ted, without being proved ? Deut. vi. 4. Heay\ 0 Ifrael, the Lord our God is one Lord, Joh.xx,2S, 'thomaa faid to Chriil:, My Lord {ind my God. Ifa. xhii. ii- I am the Lord^ and he fide me there is no Saviour- The Father is one Lord, and the only Saviour, yet Chriil is not excluded. No, fays cur Author^ bejides the Father there is no co-ordi- nate Saviour y but fubordinate Saviours there may be ; as Neh- ix. 7. and Tit. iii. 4,.5, 6. God our Saviour faves lis thro Jtffus Chrift our Saviour. It he be in earncft, and feeks not by this to perplex the Minds of the Un%vary, I need only obferve, that a Man takes him for his Lord and Saviour in the ftrict and moft proper Senfe, unto whom he abfolutely reiigns and devotes himfeif, and whom he truifs with his everlafting Concerns, as able to fiwe unto the uttermoft. Com- pare Lfa. xlv. 21, 22, 23. apply 'd to Chrift, Rem. xiv. 9, 10, 1 1. Inhere is no God efje befide me^ a Saviour^ there is none hefide me. Look unto me, and be yefaved, all the Ends' of the Earthy for I am God, and there is none elfe. I have fv:orn by my f elf that unto me every Knee (hall bow, and every Tongue JJoall fwear. The Father and Son are not co-ordinate Lords, and co-ordinate Saviours, as of feparate Natures, and divided Powers ; but be- ing of one Nature and Perfeclion, they are one in the Work of Salvation, tlio ading under a diftind: Character, and in diftinft Offices. Nor is there any difficulty in faying, that God or the Father doth fave us thro Chrift the Mediator, or that as Mediator he IS fubordinate to the Father. Nor did I forget myfelf in the Anfwer I gave to what he urged, that the Fa- ther thev is called the one God in contradiftinBion to Jtfus Chrifl : faving that the Apoflle fpeaks of Chrift under ano- ther fcharacter;, as in our Nature ordainM a Media- tor. He adds, What then is become of all his arguing before ? If this be the meaning of his being the one Lord, can the Father be fuppos'd to be Lord in any fiich Senfe? &c'. As if the Father's Lordfhip were a feparate and divided thing from the Lordlhip of the Son, or the Son did lofe or reUnquifh his Rights as God, by becoming, or taking upon him the Office of a Me- diator in our Nature, and therein exerciiing a fubor- dinate Power. The truth is, the Apoftle here fpeaks of him as the one Lord of Chriftians, both as the proper Objed of their ReHgious V/oriliip with the Father, and alfo as by whom all things iubfiil and are now admiiiifterM. Not only by him are all things, which come from the Father to us, and thro whom alone we find Accefs to him, which^can be but part of the Meaning ; but he is fuch "a one Lord, as by whom all things were created and made, Eph- iii. p. John i. 3. All things that are in Heaven, and that are in Earth. Col. i. 1 5. And without him, was not any thing made that was made. Is it the diftinguifliing Charader of the Moft High, that all tlmigs were made by him, and for him ? Heb. ii. 10. Rom.xi. 3<5. "Tis alferted of this one Lord, Ail things were created by him, and for him^ Col. i. 16. And he does uphold ail things by the IVord of his Power, Heb.i. 3. The Father and Son appear undivided in Power and Operation, for what things feever the Father doth, thefe alfo doth the Son likewife, Joh. V. 19. .Nor is it any Diminution of the Honour of his Lordfhip, that by Difpenfation, and by the Father's Will, the fole Adminiftration of things in the Kingdom of Grace is left in his hands. As for his referring me to P^r. 2. /?. 42,43. for Anfwer to what was quoted from Dr. Whitby, I find nothing there deferving notice, but what has been already confider'd j as hath alfo been w^hat he next Q^ urges ( 114 ) . urges as a Proof, that Chrift cannot be the one God, I Tint.u.^. Inhere is one God ^ and one Mediator between God and Man, the Man Chrifl Jefus ; faying, 'The Qjie- ftion is, i^hether the one God is not contyadifiinguiJJ/d to the Mediatcr? And what Abfurdity in this, lince the Apoftle fpeaks of the AL4N Chrift "Jefus ? He again asks. Is the Mediator a Mediator to himfelf? A nd why may not the Man Chrift be a Mediator with God ? Or why fhould he be thought lefs capable of adjuft- ing the Difference between God and Men, for having the Fulhiefs of the Deity dweihng in him, or being infeparably united to the Word, being as a Day V Man, that takes hold oi: both ? But thefe things have been fpoken to before. Upon my ufing that ExpreiTion of the FuKnefs of the Deity dweihng in Chrift, our Author is forward to give his Senfe of the 'Text (it feems) / hinted at, Col. ii. p. Well, let it then come out. I do not think then that hy bodily, the Apcflle means, in his human Na- ture. And what then ? I did not fo much as men- tion the word bodily, miUch lefs make any Argument from it. Suppofe then kdily ihould here Jignify really cr ftibftamially : if the GodJiead be really and fub- fiantially in him, it is enough ; and w"hat hinders, but if this Fullnefs dwell in the Man Chrift, it may dwell in human Nature ? efpecially if his great Dif- cbvery be right, that the Fullnefs of the Godhead imports but the Blefftngs that God doth communicate and fill with. And when he can prove from Scripture, that the Godhead is put for G/jh and Blejjjngs, and that ['"^oT-'^^'] may not fignify Deity or the divine Na- ture, as well as [^ivhcvTrhrvi] Humanity or human Na- ture, his Interpretation may be further confiderM. In the mean time. Dr. Whitby's Account of this Text may pofTibly be as edifying to the Reader, if he pleafe to confult it, as that of others, who find the Expre/Tion \n E^h/m, 15?. to difcr from this, and ( TI5 ) and to be conRrued to a very difrerent Meaning : But enough of this. As for his next Argument, Eph.\v.6. We deny not that the Father is one God over or above all, yet however iind that this Title, [^ ^yr: 7n^.v\yv -ir^ i] God over or above all, is not fo pecuhar to the Father, but that the fame is given alio to the Son, Rom. ix. 5. We deny not, that there is one, who is boih one God, and the Father. All the three Perfom, fays he, are diftintlly mention d, but the Godhead is peculiarly at- tributed to the Father j and he, as diflingu:{lj\i from the other P erf ens J is f aid to be the one God. If by the God- head's being peculiarly attributed to the Father, he mean that the Father is call^ the one God peculiarly^ or by way of Emphafis, as firft in order, this may be allow'd even in diftincrion from, but not in oppoiition to, or exclulion of the other Perfons ; even as there is one Lord, and one Spirit diftinguifh'd from the Father, but not fo as to exclude him from Lordfiip, or from being Spirit. They are indeed diflinguifli'd, fo as not to be God the Father ; but that they are diitin- guifhVi upon the account, or in refpec^t of Godhead, fo as to be only exalted Creatures, or Beings fepa- rate, and of a different nature from the Father, ap- pears not at all from the Text, and ftill remains to be proved. His confident faying. Certainly the 'Text is very full to the ptirpcfe^ $cc. may poffibiy pafs with fuch as are willing to take it for granted, but will {ighify little with them that look for certain Proof. In' or can I nnd this any farther made out, or the An- fwer which I gav^e difprovM by theQuefiions he offers by way of Reply ; Is this anfivering of Arguments'? Is this a dealing fairly and candidly v:ith the Scriptures ? If I had wronged them, he might have fhewn fairly and candidly wherein. Does not this Anf'wer go entirely upon the Suppofition, that the three Perfons are the one God ? And muji we run round in a Circle without end ? If I l^ad done this, I Ihould but have followed his Exam- 0,2 pie; ( 11^) pie ; and I am forced to repeat Anfwers to his often repeating the fame thing, but I innocently thought he had undertaken, by clear Argument from this Text, to overthrow my Suppofition, and evince the Truth of his own. Inftead of this, he adds. Let Mr. Moore nov:} prwve that I ?mfiake the Apcftie's AJfer- tion. As if I was concern 'd in the Senfe, he thought for his turn to put upon the Apoflle's Aflertion, any farther than to fhew, that it contain^'d net a certain and fufficient Argument againft the Deity of Chrift, which we give clear and abundant Proof of from o- ther Scriptures : and this indeed is to prove that he miflakes the Senfe. What has been offereS'fSnd obferved, may eafily be apply 'd to j[c/?;2 xvii.g. 77- /x is Life eternal^ that they might kmiv ihee^ the only true Gody and ^efus Chrifl wh6?n thou haft fent. Whence he argued, //' the Fa- ther, to whom Chrift there f peaks, as diftinguiflfd front Chrift whom he fent^ be the only true God, how can Chrift he the only true God alfo ? I faid, becaufe Chrift and the Father are one. He then asks. What does he mean by their being one ? I anfwer. One in Nature and Per- fection, as well as Defign. One in refped of Deity, not one Perfon. IVefl the??, he goes on, was the Per- fon of the Father the only true God, as diftinguifto^d from Jefus Chrift ? I anfwer. The Perfon of the Father is indeed there diftinguifti'd from the Perfon of the^ Son, and he is faid to be the only true God ; and there is no doubt but he is, and may be juftly fo ftiled, •which is all that appears, and can be proved from the Text. But it is not there faid, that the Father cnly is the true God ; nor does it appear, that he is there called the only true God, on the fcore, or up- on the account of his being diftinguifiiM from Chrift, in oppofttion to the Son, and in a Senfe exclufive of him. I faid. Nor can thefe words be reafonably fup- pofed to exclude him from a true Divinity, who. is ill in Scripture filled [ o cthti^vhi ^Ho^'jThe true God, ijob- V. 20. referring to Dr. Whitby on the place, who af- figns fubftantial Reafons for underflanciing it of Jefus Chrift. His Reply is, T/jis is anfwer'd, Part 2. p.33. where inflead of an Anfwer, I find only an obfcure PafTage *, which he calls Mr. Baxter's Explication of the Text, who is v;ell known to be for Chrifl^s being true God. But neither he, nor Mr. Baxter for him, in the Paflage quoted, make anfwer to the Doftor's Reafons. And it is one thing to put this, or the other Senfe upon a Text, and another to fhew by convincing Reafons, that it ought to be un- derRood in that Senfe. I added. True therefore is the Glofs of GrotiuSy that he is fliled the only true God, in exclufion of thofe whom the falfe Perfuafion of the Gentiles had in- troduced, net fo as to exclude the other Perfons. But^ fays he, I fee no reafonfor this, "fhe word alone, feems to me to exclude all Per fens whatever from hein^ the true God^ co-ordinate with the Father. Which may be admitted in reference to fuch Perfons as are of a feparate Sub- ftance, divided from the Father,; but cannot be true of fuch as are in neceflary conjunction with him, and together Partakers of the fame undivided Efience. However, I fhew'd that tho; word, only, ox^alone, is frequently apply 'd to God in the Old Tellament, in oppofition to Idols or falfe Gods. D^z^^xxxii. 12. [xtf/s^ Moi'o^] T'he Lord alone did lead them, or the Lord only was their Guide, and there ivas no ftrange Gcd with them [ -^2? ih?.'oT?io? ] Ifa. xliii. 11,12. lam the Lord, and he fide me there is no Saviour ; there was no flrange Gcd among you, [ »^ rv drhoT^ioc* ] j4nd yet the Angel, in zuhom his Na?ne was, went with them, and javed them, Exod. xxiii. 20,21. Ifa. Ixiii. p. Now Chriit Jefus cannot be excluded as flrange and aliene Baxter^ Saint's Reft, Varti. Chap,^. SeB,6. to (ii8) to the Father, who is fo nearly and necelTarily rela- ted to him as his ozvn Son, who is One with him ; fo as whofoever hath feen him, hath feen the Father alfo, not only in the Bofom or the Father, but fo intimately united, as that he is in the Father, and the Father in hirn; and whofoever honourerh not the Son, honoureth not the Father. Nor does his mentioning here, Co-ordinate Perfom vjitb the Father, as excluded, anfwer the Deiign of thofe Texts, the plain m.eaning of which is, to e5c- clude all ftrange Gods, whether fovereign or fubor- dinate, fupericr or inferior, as having no Right to Divine Flonour or Religious WorOiip, being excluded from true Deity, and by Nature no Gods ; which is not the Cafe of our Bleifed Saviour. Nor can a fuf- ficient Argument be drawn trom this Text, for the excluding of Chrift from true Deity, while another fufficient Reafon may be given, for calling the Fa- ther'here the only true God, without that Suppo- ficion. Indeed [f^-ovc^'j in particular, and other like Terms of Excluiion in general, muft often be un- derftood, not abfolutely and in the utmoft Rigour, but with certaii\ Exceptions, which good Senfe, and the Circumftances of the Place, diredl: and determine to. JchnvYu.^. jefus ivas left alone^ and the Wo?nan ill the niidfij [ i<.'J^ihA<^?^^ ys^o- ] her Accufers being j^one. Luke'iX' 36. Jefus v^a^ found alone, [ly^l^r/zop-o? ] Mofes and Elias being departed, tho his three Difci- ples were (till with him. If a. xliv. 24. Jeho'vah firetch- ed forth the HeaiJens alone ; yet the Word was then with him, and fo far concern'd in the Operation, as nothing was done without him, Pro-z/.viii. 27- j^t^.i. 2,3. TPhus I Cor. ii. 2. I determined not to know any thing among you, fave Jejus Chrift, and him cYjtcify'd. Surely he defigned not to exclude all other Know- ledge. No wonder then that I faw not fufficient reafon, why Roin, xvi. 27. To God only ivife^ and Rev. XV, ( 119 ) XV. 4- T'^^ou only art holy ; Chnft iliould be thought to be excluded. To the former, he fays. So that the Apofde is to be v.nderfloGdy as afcyibing Glory to Chrifl thro Chrift. As if God could not- be only vsife, except his Word and IVifdom be excluded, becaufe Glory is given to him thro the Mediation of the Man Chrift Jefus. Nor is. it fo undoubtedly certain, that Chrift is not intended, '[Jude ver- 25. To the only wife Gcd, cur Saviour. As to the latter, tho it fhould be fpokea diredly of the Father, there appears no neceility of excluding the Son, who has the Character of haly i'o often given him. I am therefore little concerned, tho Bifiop Pearfon acknowledges the Title [^.j'7o>cpct^-p] Almighty^ to belong to the Father, and never to be attributed to the Sun. However, I obferv'd, that Chrift feems both here, and R'-^v. i. 8- (as Dr. Hammond aifo judges) to be ftiled the Almighty. Tis he that is fpoken of in. the Context ; and the other part of the Defcription there made of him, is unqueftionably claimed by him, ve-r. 11,17. and c/;^p- xxii. 13. niention'd as the proper Character of the Lord of Hofts, If a. xliv- 6. Here for Anfwer he fends me to Part i. /?• 14. wher^ he thinks it enough to fay, 'Tis the Father that calls hi?7ifelf the Almighty, ver. 8. the Lord which is, and which was, and which is to come ; and this is the only 7l'- tle which is given to the Father, ver- 4. in contradiftinBiun to Jefus Chvift, ver. 5- But it folio v.s not, that, be- caufe the Father and Chrift are fpoken of diftindly, the Father muft have a Title and Charader given him in contradiftinciicn to the Son, or fuch an one as does not belong to the Son ; efpecially when the Son, as here, ver-'y- is diftinguiili'd by his peculiar Characters^ as the Firft-begotten from the Dead, &c. And lince Chrift is undoubtedly fpoken of in the following Verfes, and particularly ver. 7. and the after Defcription manifeftly belongs to him ; there appears no other reafon or neceiTity, why we fhould not (110) not tinderftand 'Ver. 8- as fpoken of him, but that our Author's Opinion cannot fo conveniently allow him the Charader he there claims *• He feems wil- ling alfo^ for the fame reafon, to explain away from hini what he challenges to himfelf, in the words of the Lord of HoRs, as a Mark of his being the only true God, Ifa. xliv- 6- therefore fays. Since Chrifl is fpoken of as Mediator^ ubere he is called the firft and the laft, I think ive ?nay juflly conclude^ that no more is meant ^ than that he is the only Mediator. One would think a Man j^*etty hard put to it, that is forced upon fuch a Shift- What Occafion or Neceffity ap- pears here for Chrifl: to fay, or for us to underftand him as faying, I am the firfi and lafi Mediator ? Or do we find him to fay this any where elfe, upon any occafion ? Some^vhat ftrange ! that he fhiould ufurp the Title which fo apparently belongs to the Great God, and is fo exprefly afl'umM by him, and this without neceffary guard, or mark of Difference. Nor is every thing that is predicated of the Media- tor, prefently to be underflood to belong to him merely as fuch, or only under that Confideration ; but rather this (as many other things) is fpoken di- rei5tly of his Perfon, as fitly qualify^ for fuch an Oince. And how can it be jif/ily conchded, that ?io more is intended ? What can neceHitate fuch a Re- flridion ? when the words in themfelves, and in the place whence they are taken, are apparently of a more extenfive Import. Befides, he does not only fay, lam the fir ft and the laji ; but as ver. ii- com- parM with Chap- xxii- 13. 1 ^;« Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the Ending^ [ ^px" ^ '^«^°^ ^ the pro- per Characters of the Almighty, and challenged by him, 'ver- 8- manifeftly fignifying more than / a?n the * The Learned Dr. Waterland /^i, All the Antients, both before and after the Council of Nice, under Hand this of God the Son. Serm, /?. 227, (Ill ) fafl and la ft Mediator, (if this be at all meant) fince All things wen: created by Imn, and for him, and he is before all things, and by him all things conftfi. Col. i. l5, 17. This is he, that is the Subjed ot the Predica- tion, if that mud be taken to determine the Senfe- He added, as another Reafn why the Father alone is fpoken of in this Rev. xv. 4. (and if he be, our Caufe is no way prejudiced) that the Song itfelfis calkd. The Song ot Mofes and the Lamb ; which mufl import, that Moles and the Lamb fing it, and thus praife him, who alone is holy. And why muft it import this ? What unavoidable Necellity ? Why may it not import, as Dr. Hammond exprell'es it. They fung to Chrift the fame Song (or another after that Pattern) that Mofes had done upon the Viftory and Deliverance out of Egypt ? The rather, for that we find, as I obferv'd, that in the other Songs of this Book, inftead of the Lamb's finging, both Angels and Saints make him the Subject of their Songs, and addrefe their Songs to him, and that jointly w^ith the Father. But does Mr. Moore find that the Songs of that nature are called the Songs of Mofes and the Lamb? I anfwer; I find not the Exprellion any where elfe, whence I might more certainly conclude what this mufl here import, nor it may be was there a like occafion to ufe it ; but to me it feems much more reafonable to under- ftand it in the Senfe I have given, nor do I find he can difprove it. If yet we fdould take it in the Senfe he is willing to impofe upon it, what would it a- mount to more, than that the Man Chrift Jefus of- fered Prayer with Thankfgiving to the Father, which we deny not ? As in Joh- xvii- w^hich has been un- der confideration; where, as I fuggefted, if the word Father fhould be taken, not in the ftrid relative Senfe, but as comprizing the Godhead, as it feems elfewhere fometime to do, and if we confider Chrift as the Meffiah, the Man Chrift, making this Prayer, the Senfe will be clear- This our Author would R have ( 112- ) have to pafs for a Shifty becaufe 1 produced not any flace of this nature. I did indeed but fuggeft it, there being no occanon to iniifl upon it, the Text having been ocherwife cleared, and the true Senfe of it ac- counted for, which yet is not inconfiftent vvith this; nor do I fee any Abfurdity in taking Father to iignify this, as here : ib i Pet, i. 17. i Cor. xv 24. and fome other places. \V E have thus feen the Strength of our Author's Arguments and Exceptions againfl the Deity of Chrift, in the flrid and proper Senfe, efpecially fron:i two or three Texts- The Conliderate and Impartial may jtidge of what moment they are, fet in the Ba- lance, and compared with thofe numerous, and to appearance very plain Declarations of Holy Scripture for it ; afcribing the moft Divine Characters to him, and demanding lor him our warmefl Afied:ions, and higheft Service. But tho Chrift differ not from the Father in re- fped of Deity, yet the Father is greater than he, as Man and Mediator, and alfo confider^'d relatively, as fecond among the Divine Perfons- Our Author asks, IVhat does he mean by He^ the Suhjecl of the Relation ? Is he a Being, or no Being ? If he be a Beings muft it mt be a diftinci Being from that to which it is related ? I anfvver ; The Son is a diftind Perfon from the Fa- ther, and ftands related to him as fuch, without be- ing of a different Nature or Deity. And as this Scripture-Difcovery is fufficiently plain, there feems not to be any neceflity for nicer Explications in order to our Duty and Salvation, or reafon to perplex our- felves about Difficulties that do not affeci it, and which are above the reach of our Underftanding, In what Senfe a diilincl Perfon may be accounted a diftinft Being or not, was before particularly ftated and conlider'd ; fo that what he talks about Contra- di(5tions, may ferve for Flourifli and Amufement, but little affecls the Cafe- Can^ fays he, the fame Being be le a Father to itfelf, or a Son to itfdj'^ As if we were at all concerned in fuch Reafoning and Gonfequences, who fay not tliat the Godhead is the Father, but in the fame undivided Godiiead, confide r the diftind Perfons of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit ; referving to the Father a Priority of Order, as iiril of the Three. I obferv'd, a Father is always confider'd in that relation as above his Son, and yet his Son not infe- rior to him, in the Nature, Properties, and Endow- ments of a Man ; much lefs is a Son of one kind and nature, and a Father of another. 77;/j, he thinks, may he turned the other voay^ becanfe if God begets a Son^ "whofe Ejfence is diftinB (as among Men) and whofe Nature^ Properties ^ and Endovcmenfi are exatlly alike and equal to his oivn, there vjill (f necejjlty he two fupreme Gods ; vjhich is impoffible. Since therefore this is impoilible, and to us there is but one God, we fuppofe if God has a Son, a natural and proper Son, who muft be God as well as his Father, that his EHence is not diflind: as among Men, that he fubdfts (tho under fome diftincl Coniideration) in the iame undivided Eflence, or partakes of the fame Divine Nature. But our Au- thor''s Inference is, that it being impoffihle that God fhould have thus a Son in nature equal to himfelf] this muft he unde) flood in a d'ffer€nt Senfe, and that the Rela- tion is not to he flrained to a Kefemhlance of that comr/icn among us, in every Point. But tho it fliould not be drained to a Refemblance in every Point, methinks what belongs moft properly to the Nature of a true and proper Son, or what is efl'ential to the natural Relation, lliouM not be denyM him, fo as he fhou'd be quite of a different Kind and Nature from his own Father : But is it not /aid of Adam, of good Meny of Angels, that they are Sons of God ? "Tis true, they are fo, as his Creatures, and thus God is the Father cf Spirits, as he is the Creator, or Former of them, Heh. xii. 9. Zech, xii. i. And if Chrifl: be but a Crea- R 2 ture. ( 124 ) ture, or a Son by Creation, as they, we might admit of his Inference. But the Scriptures fet him in an higher Orb, and fupericr Rank of Being, (To -ujhkh of the Ai^gels faid God, at any ti?rw, "Thou art my Son ? Heb, i. 5.) fuppole him to be of quite another Kind and Nature, than Creatures, and afcribe to him freely, and without heliration, the diflinguifhing Marks and Perfe(5tions ot Deity. We coniider him indeed as God^^s own Son, in the true and natural Senfe, and not a Son by Adoption, or by way of Fi- gure and Alluiion, }ct argue not barely from the Refemblance which the relation imports, but likewife the account which the Scripture gives of him ; we take his Character i-rom thence, and find it glorious, as of the only-begotten of the Father. Of fuch a Son of God we fpeak^ as requires that we honour him even as we honour the Father, accountuig it no Robbery to be equal with God. Our Author complains, t lat tho I grant a Subor- dination of the Sen to the Father, (furely he cou^'d not fuppofe me to grant that he is a fubordinate God, while I allow an Order among the Divine Perfons) yet I 7nahe no ufe of it where he wou'd think I had mofl occafcn for it, i Cor. xy. 24, 27, 28. No wonder "'tis here faid, when he fhall have delivered up the King- dom to God, even the Father, (who has lelt the Ad- miniftration of it to the Mediator unto that day) he fiiall himfelf alfo be fubject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all ; even to the Man Chriil Jefus, and to all both Angels and Saints, brought to Perfeclion of Glory and Happi- nefs in and by him. He feems here and elfe where to mi (lake me,- in fuppofing, that wherever Chrift is call'd the Son of God, I do underftand that he is fpoken of as God ; whereas I often take the Man Chrift, the MefTiah and Mediator, to be mentioned under that Charader. He feems^ fays he, to f^ppofe^ that the Manhood only gives ( 115 ) gives up the Kingdom. The truth is, I do fuppofe, that it is the Mediatorial Kingdom that fhall then determine, that the prefent Management by the Me- diator fhall then ceate, and fo that the Man Chrift, the Mediator, fhall deliver up the Kingdom to God. H E argues, if Chrift he Mediator in loth Natures, and gives up the Kingdom as Mediator , muft he not give it up in both Natures ? I anfvver ; the Mediatorial Admini- ftration, however managed (whether in on^ or both Natures) fhall then end, and be religned. Andmufi not he that gives it up, become fubj ell to the Father ? I an- fvver ; the Man Chrift fhall fo become fubjecl to the Father, as to have Mediatorial Judgment and Domi- nion no longer in his hand, there being no farther cccafion for fuch a Difpenfation. IVhen the Jp)/llefays, To God, even the Father, are we to underfland him^ that he floall give it up to the Father^ to himfelf, and to the Holy Ghofl ? I anfwer ; the Medi- ator fhall give it up, not to himfelf, for he fliall be no longer Mediator, but to the Father, as firft among the Divine Perfons, who, not feparately, but in con- jundion with Word and Spirit, fhall henceforth im- mediately, not by Mediatorial Adminiftration, be all in all. But if the Union of the two Natures continues, if the Divine Nature retains the Dominion, while it conti- nues united to the Human, how does he give it up at all ? I anfwer i I find not that the Apoftle fpeaks here of any other Kingdom, or Dominion, to be given up, but properly mediatorial ; nor does the Divine Nature retain, or the Man Chrift in Union with it any lon- ger exercife. Mediatorial Dominion. I tOvok notice farther of two thing;s, which conft- derate Chriftians cannot but have at^heart, the afto- nifliing Love of God in Jefus Chrift, and the Value of his Sacrifice ; the Glory of which they might juft- ly apprehend to be in danger of being greatly eclipsed, by the Notions now advanced. No wonder if they be alarm'd, and upon their guard, when they appre- hend (116) hend an Attempt made to darken tlie Glory ot the onty-begotten Son ot God, and fap the Foundation of their Hope and Joy : it they inwardly difguil:, and be ready to oppofe the fpreading of an Opinion, that appears to leilen Men^s Efteem of the Perfon, and Grace, of the Bieiled Jefus, and their Senfe of Obli- gation to his matchlefs Love. They cannot but think the Life of Religion to be nearly concerned, and will not be much moved by Pretences of Charity, and the fober Life of feme that are in it, or mere Moral Lec- tures, which they would have to pafs tor the only Practical Preaching. They cannot but fear, that true Piety will more leniibly dwindle and decay, when fome of the main things that fupport and give Vigour to it in the Hearts and Lives of Men, are ftruck out of their Belief and Efteem, and reprefented as of lit- tle Ufe and Regard. One thing that has been of principal ufe, to give Relief to diilrefied Confciences, and to fettle the Tranquillity of guilty Minds, under juft Apprehen- iion of God's Difpleafure for Sin, is that Gcd fent forth his own Son in the Likenefs of finful Fieih, to be a Sacrifice for Sin ; that this Sacrifice appointed by God, is of fuiticient Value to expiate the Sins of the Vvorld from the Dignity of the Perfon fufiering, and the Greatnefs of his Sufferings in our Nature. We glory in the Merit of Chrift^s Obedience and Death, in that he was Gcd manifelled in Flefh. But the Letter boldly aflerted, The only Condefcenfion they can fpeak of, is that of the IVord's becoming related to a human Body and Soul, without the leafi Alteration or real Abafement of his Divine Nature. As if it was no real Condefcenfion and Abafement for him, that wus in the Form of God, and truly God, to become Man, aifume a Human Soul and Body into perfonal Union with himfelf ; as if in fuch a cafe he had no rea! Concern in what the Fluman Nature fufter'd. This Condefcenfion of Love however entertains the Wonder ( 1^7 ) Wonder and triumphant Songs of Angels, and the Hearts of Believers have been ever ravifli'd with it. * But the Author would have it feem more aftonifiing^ that a certain Being, not indeed equal to God, (he does not fay, a mere Creature, tho' what elfe he can be, I am utterly unable to conceive) fhould be divefled of his PerfeHions jor a time^ pit himf elf into the Condition of a poor mortal Man ^ wherein he ix^as to learn and increafe in IVifdom^ have no poiver to do any thing, he affliEledy fujfer and die. A ftrange and groundlefs Conceit I which I find not the Scripture to fpeak any thing of, and in other refpects appears unaccountable i belides that the Love of God, in giving his only-begotten Son, is fet forth in fuch Expreffions, and in fuch a manner, as found tvoo big for the Condefcenfion of a Creature, (or a Being infinitely diilant from him, as that mufl of neceility be, that has not the Nature and Perfections of God) and to me, utterly tran- fcend what this precarious Scheme can reafonably ac- count for. And two things upon a juft Eftimate feem to abate Aftonifhment at the Love of fuch a Chrift, as well as the Value of his Death, and the Pretence of meriting che Regards of the great God by laying down his Honours and his Life at his command. One, that he had nothing to part with but what he had freely received, and ought in duty and grati- tude for the Honours that had been done him above others, readily to do, without making fuch a Merit of it. Tne other, that for a fhort Humiliation and Suffering in a human Body, he was to have fo unex- preiTibly great Reward, and be advanced to Glory and univerfal Dominion, which he had no pretence of claim to ; for a fhort Difgrace, and fhorter Pain, by his order, who had a right to demand this and much more of him, to have all Power in Heaven and Lett.^. 15. Earth Earth given him, feated in the Throne of the Moft High, to be ferved and adored by Angels and Men. I faid. What tho' the Deity be impaffible, and fufterM not real Pain, or Alteration, when Chrifl bore our Sins in his Body on the Crofs, his holy Soul felt the Sting and Bitternefs of Death, was in greateft Agonies of Sorrow and Diftrefs, and in the opinion of fuch as fuppofe its Pre-e-xiftence in d, State of Glory, underwent fuch like Changes as our Author imagines in the Being he fuppofes to fuffer in Flefh. Here he cries, IVhere is the leafl word in the Sacred Books, of the pre-exiflent Soul of Chrifl, that •was diftincl from the Logos ? As if the Learned Dr. More, the late Bifhop of Gloucefter^ and others, were not known to have alledged plaufible Texts of Scrip- ture, in favour of the Opinion. And tho^ I declared not for it, yet it anfw^er'd what I mentioned it for, nor is the Caufe I plead concerned in it. Origens mind however is known in this, who obferves in the PaPfage I quoted before *, that the Word remaining in Subflance the fame, fufcrs none of thofe things, which the Body and Soul (he had aflumed) fuften Whence is it then, that we read only of his bearing our Sins in his Body '^ Yes, we read alfo, that his Soul was made an Offering for Sin, Ifa. liii. lo. that his Soul was troubled^ Joh. xii. 27. My Soul is exceeding forrowful^ even unto Death, Mat. xxvi. 38. Mark xiv. 34, &c. Why are the Jews charged with killing the Prince of Life? Becaufe they killed the Man Chrrft, or parted his Soul and Body ; not that they could kill his Soul, or feparate it from the Logos. Whep.eas I farther obferv'd, that which gave greateft Vertue and Price to his Obedience and Suf- ferings, was the infinite Dignity of his Perfon, not the mere Pain which his human Nature felt ; he * P. 74. [So Koyfi r7\ iiOJA /uUcov A&;p<, yJ^f f-'^' ^ct^ei mv W^s/ 7B u^^ J) »5 4'-//':i.] Orig. cont. Celf. lib. 4. , replies. ( U9 ) replies. It was not the mere Pain felt^ hut truly felt by fuch a Per/on. And who doubts., that the Pain Chrift felt, he truly felt, or that the Perfon felt, what the human Nature felt, fince his human Nature was not aliene to, or feparate from his Per.on, but did really belong to it ? A s for his faying, that Ifiemed apprehenfroe of the neceffity of fupfofmgy that the Nature itfelf that fufier'dy muft be extraordinary, and the mere Relation of the im- paffible Legos, to an ordinary Soul and Body, -would not have fujjicedj whence I run into the Notion of the Pre- exiftence of our Saviour's Soul : He is in a great mif- take ; I neither aflerted it, nor apprehended any ne- ceffity of doing it upcn this account; neither do I think that the Sufferings of ChrilVs human Nature (not merely related to, but really united with the Lo- gos) did not fufEce i but rather fuppofe that if they had been the Sufferings of a different, however ex- traordinary Nature, they had not been ^o congruous and proper (if indeed available) means of expiating, and * making atonement for, the Sins of Mankind. And tho I would not call Chrid's Soul and Body an ^ ordinary Soul and Body ; y€t I muft think them pro- perly human, however diftinguifli'd by fome fpecial Privileges, and not of another Kind or Species, not of a Nature different from that of other Men. When I proceeded, How aftonifhing is the Con- fideration, that God was manifefled in Flefii ; that tho' the Deity itfelf was not capable of Mifery, yet the Luftre of its Glory was veii'd, and it w^as truly concerned and interefted in the Sufferings of the hu- man Nature, which it was the moft amazing Con- defcenfion for it to aflume ! He is content to puzzle a plain matter with fome Queries i Hciv that Deity, which was not capable of Mifery, was capable of being ma- nifefted in the pLfi ? The invilible things of God, even his Eternal. Power and Deity, are manifeft, and may be clearly fcen in the things that he has made, S ^om. ( 130 ) Rom. i. ip, 20. What fhou'd hinder, but that he may be mere fpecially related to, or have a miOre fpe- cial Reiidence in our Nature, if he pleafes^, and therein manifeil;, and give more fenfible Proofs of Divinity ? Ij there be one Deity of the Father^ Son, and Holy Gkcfi, ho'jj came the Deity of the Son, to he capable cf being manifefted in the FLfl)^ rchcn the Deity of the Fa- ther, accord'n g to the Holy Scriptures^ is not capable of fuch a Martifeftation ? I am here at a lofs for his Mean- ing, if by Manifeflaticn is meant viiible Appearance. I know not, that either Father, Word, or Holy Ghoil, are capable cf being immediately feen ; Deity in itfeif is invihble, and fo I fuppofe is the Logos^ and even the Spirit that is Vv'itjiin us : but if he f^-jcaks of Incarnation, why the Word, and not the Father, aflumM, and fo in a fenfe appeared in Human Na- ture, I need only fay, it feenis more congruous to the Order among the Divine Perfons, that the fecond, and not the firft, fliou'd do this, who yet is God, as well as the Father, tho not God the Father. PFtjat is /neaiit by the Glory ofChrift's Deity iieild? "To 'whom was it njciVd ? I anfwer ; tho he ceafed not to be God, when he took the Nature of Man, yet he appeared not with thofe wfible Marks of Greatnefs and Ma- jedy, he might have done as God, or with fuch a dazling Luftre as now furrounds the Man Chrifl; in Glory; but in a Condition of Infirmity and Suftering. W E fuppofe not, as he wou'd infinuate, that God's own Son did not fuffer really and properly^ but fancifully only ^.except he was miferable in his higheft Capacity. The Sufferings of Chrifc's Human Na- ture, were the real Sufterings ol God's own Son, tho the Nature of God, (which he had together with the Nature cf Man) was uncapable of Suffering and Mi- fery : nor do I doubt, but this amazing Condefcen- fion and Grace, will be the happy Subject of the Songs of Angels, and Triumphs of Saints to all Eter- nity, while Devils and harden '4 Unbelievers fret and gnafli gnadi their Teeth ; which our Author's Chanty mioht have feciireiy pafs'd without evil Surmiz,mgs, as it I ranked ijoith Demls thofe ivho differ from me in thefe Points. For my part, I judge no Man as to his final State^ nor attempt to fet at nought my Brother, knowing we are all to appear before a Tribunal, where God will be Judge himfelf. I cenfare not^ but hope the beft of thofe who differ from me, even in Points which feem to be of dangerous Tendency, and doubt not (jf God's favourable regard to fuch as bear a fincere Love to Truth and Gcbdnefs. We had need however to pafs the time of our fojourning here in Fear, and carefully guard againft Errors in Doc- trine and Pradice, which may expofe to his Cenfure and Refentment. What had been offer 'd in Defence of the Deity of Chrift, I thought provided againft that which he fubjoined about the Holy Ghoft, which he now calls Evidences of his Suhoraination or Inferiority. What he means by this, he is not'pleafed to tell us, or in what Rank of Being he places him, or what fort of Crea- ture he makes him, ijnce he feems unwilling to al- low him fo much as the Name of God, which he freely allows to other Creatures as God's Agents. He obfei'vesy that in the Stile of the Scriptures, the Spirit is reprefented as God's Agent, and God is fet out as work- ing by him. And will God^s working by his Spirit necelfarily argue, that he is therefore but an inferior Ardent ? A Man may be faid to work by his Will, without fuppoiing that his Will is therefore an infe- rior Agent* God made the World by Jefus Chrift, yet he appears not to be fuch an inferior Agent, of whom 'tis faid, And thou Lord in the beginning haft laid the Foundaticn of the Earth, and the Heavens are the Work, fif thine hands. ^ The Scripture tells us, that ^Z:'^ %*- rit fearchei all things, yea even the deep things of God : * Heb, i. 10. S % which which is no more a Mark of an inferior Agent, thaii of the Spirit of Man which is in him, being fuch, which diiiers not really from the Man *. It feems al- fo to afcribe Sovereignty to him in his Working ; All thefe uorketh that one and the fdf-fame Spirit^ dividing to every Man fever ally as he iiill f. He adds. So that it can- not feem /iy/ings , that that is [aid to be done to God, which is done more immediately to tie Sprit. "This is a full An- fxer to the Proof brought from Acts v. 3, 4. Ananias /j'^-^ immediately to the Apcftles, and by lying to them, he did, in effeHj lye to the Holy Ghofi, who dwelt in them ; and this was again in efeEl^ a lying to Gody who fent the Holy Sprit. But as God the Father appears not here to be mentioned, or the Spirit's being his inferior Agent : fo 'tis unto the Holy Ghoft that the Lye was made, the Holy Ghofl that herein was tempted, ver. p. and he is fet in oppofition to the Apoftles, whom he thought to have deceived ; Thou hafi not lyed unto Men, but unto God : Whereas, according to our Author, it fhould have been faid, thou haft not lyed unto Men, nor unto the Holy Ghoft in us, but unto God, both the Holy Ghoft and the Apoftles being God's Agents. But the Text is fo far from afl'erting or countenancing this, that it fays the con- trary, Why hath Satan filled thine Heart to lye to the Holy Ghoft ? He goes on ; 'Thus, 1 Thef. iv. 8. He that de- fpifethy defpifeih not Man, but God, who hath alfo given unto us his Holy Spirit', compare Luke x. i(5. But this is fo far from invalidating, that it rather confirms our Senfe. God or Chrift is here fet in oppofition to Man ; the Contempt and Indignity did not fo proper- ly refped and affed the latter, as the Perfon and Au- thority of the former, in whofe Name, and by whofe Order, the Apoftles ailed. In hke manner, it was not fo properly to the Apoftles, that Ananias lyed, as unto the Holy Ghoft, by w-hom they were impower'd, — — ■ • — r Trrnmi — r-ini ■i-miiwium miMin * I Cor. ii. 10, II. t I Cor. xii. n. and ( m ) and who knew the Secrets of his Heart, which he bad thought to conceal ; hereby fhewing that he was God, unto whom he lyed. This, fays he, likewife anfwcrs his Argtnnent from I Cor iii. 16, Knov: ye not that ye are the T'anple of God ^ and that the Spirit (f God dzuel.'eth in you ? ithe reafon is plain, viz. hecaufe Chriftians are an Habitation of God thro the Spirit. As if God's dwelling in us by his Spirit, were inconfiflenc wich the Holy Spirit's dwelling in us himfelf as his own Temple, and in his own immediate Right, to whom and to whofe Service we are confecrated jointly with the Father. Alat, xxviii. 19. i Cor. vi. 19. What, know ye not that your Body is the Teynple of the Holy Ghofl, which is in you ? I obferved, that Divine Perfedions are acknow- ledged in him. He is called, T'he eternal Spirit * 'Tis doubtful, fays our Author, whether the Holy Spirit or the Logos is meant, I deny not but the Divine Na- ture in Chrift may be intended, tho it feems proba- ble to be fpoken of the Holy Spirit, by whom the human Nature was anointed, fanftified, and prepared to be a Sacrifice i efpecially according to his Notion, which fuppofes the Logos himfelf, having no fuperior Nature, to be in fuch Anguifh and Diftrefs, as to need not only the AfTipLance of the Spirit, but of the Angels in the Oblation that was made. The Spirit of God was w^ith him in the begin- ning, when he laid the Foundation of the Earth f. He is reprefenced as every where prefent !|. Nor does the Elegancy of the Defcription made of the Divine Omniprefence, prejudice the Truth of the Account, or make it neceiTary or probable, that by a needlefs and uncouth Figure, the Spirit of God, and his Pri.- fence or Face, (hould fignify the fame thing, when * lieb.ix. 14. 4 Gen. i.s. |i Pfcil. cxjcxix. 7. both ( 134 ) both are diftinclly mentioned'; and if he be thei^e fpoken of at all, I fee not but he muft be fpoken of as a diftinft Perfon. Nor can it be well imaging how he fhould dwell in all Believers *, and abide as a Comforter f in all Cafes and Circumftances for ever, but upon this Suppofition. A s tor his abfolute Knowledge, and his being in- timately acquainted with all the Father's Counfels, our Author thinks it fufficient to refer to the Letter ^ Pi i<5, I J* where "'tis foov:n that this Knowledge is commu- mcated to him, from Joh. xvi. 13, 14, 15. He jloali not [peak of himfelj, hit- whatfoever he /ball hear, that /hall he fpeak, &c. As if we deny'd that the Holy Spirit, by Difpenfation and Office in the Affairs o£ Grace, adcd in Subordination to the Father and Son, and by way of Communication from them, according to antient Counfel and Agreement. Thus to his Que- ry \\, If the Holy Ghofl were the fupreme God, can it be tlmight, that his not fpe akin g of hirnfelf, hut what he /loall hear, fijould he the Reafon and Ez'idence of his leading the Difciples into all Tinth ? I anfv\ er ; Yes, very well, according to the Nature and Delign of his didind Charader and Office. But it is a different thing, and it would have been to his purpofe, to fhew, that the Spirit had no Knowledge, and no \vay of know- ing, but by arbitrary Communication. The Scrip- ture feems to give quite another account of it, and to afl'ure us of his Ability fully to inftrucl us in tiie things of God, not merely becaufe he has been hirn- felf intruded, but becaufe he fearcheth all things, yea, even the deep things of God, (yet who, or what finite Bemg, by fearching can find out God ? Johxi. 7, 8, p.) For as no Man knoweth the things of a Man,- fave the Spirit cf Man which is in him ; even fo, the things of God knoweth ncne^ hut the Spirit of God **. * Rom. viii. II. t Joh. xiv. i^. 1| P. 8p. ** I Cor.ii. 10, II. Now ( 135 ) , Now the Spirit of Man is intimately confcious of the things of a Man, and needs not to receive this Knowledge from another. And who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord, or being his Counfellor, hath taught him ? With whom took he Counfel ? Who inilruded him, and taught him Knowledge ? Ifa, xl. I went on to fhew, that the Works which the Scriptures afcribe to him, are no lefs than Divine, fuch undoubted Efleds of Omnipotence, as fpeak him to be true God ; fo as that even the Socinians^ who do not think fit to allow that he is a Divine Perfon, do yet find themfelves obliged to attribute thofe Works to Almighty Power: However, as I fhewed that the Holy Scriptures manifeftly fpeak of him as a Perfon j fo I find not our Author to make doubt of this. I concluded, upon the Evidence of fuch like Texts and Confiderations as had been urged, the Reafona- bienefs and NeceiTity of fuppofing, that Deity does alfo properly belong to the Holy Ghoft, tho it was that of our Lord Jefus, which I had efpeciaily un- dertaken the Defence of; nor will the appearance of fome Difficulty juftify an Attempt to baffle certain Revelation, in a Subjecl confefs'd to be above the reach of our limited and very narrow Underflanding; or w^arrant precarious Schemes, that intrench upon his Honour and Prerogative, to whom we have the mofl abfolute and inviolable Obligations. Wh e r e a s 'twas urged, that the 'Texts which are plain for a Subordination or Inferiority (in the Son) iviU not admit of an Evajion here ; ft nee it cannot he reply' d, that the Holy Ghfi is Man or Mediator : I thought it ;io Abfurdity to fpeak of the Divine Perfons which ^the Scriptures mention, and make known to us, ac- cording to that Revelation, and fuppofe that there is a certain Order among them, or a fort of Subordina- tion in working, without one Perfon's being inferior to ( I30 . to another in E&nce and Perteition. A nd his fay- ing that I alledge the contefled Pofition as an Anfwer^ can (ignify nothing with fuch as confider, that I had before accounted tor it, and clear'd up the Difficul- ties about it 3 and it was fufficient for me, in anfwer to his prefent Argument, to Ihew, that it was of no force to invalidate and overthrow our Pofition, or to prove it to be impoffible or unreafonable ; which was ^11 I had occafion here to do. As for his repeating fo ofien that the Scripture never fays, that thefe three are the one God ; and how can it be ccnceived, that this one Ejjence or Nature fhould conflitute more than one Perfon, or one Agent ? 8zc. It has had a diilind Confideration, and I cannot but efleem the Anfwers that were made to be full and fufficient, of which the Prudent and Impartial will judge. The Scriptures do abundantly aflure us, that there is but one God, that his Nature or Effence is but one, that the Lord our God alone is to be ferved and worfhip'd, that Father, Son, and Spirit, are each truly poilefs'd of proper Divine Characters and Perfedions, and each truly entitled to our Religious Homage. In this Revelatic^n we acquiefce, without being curiouily wife above what is written, or in doubt about the necef- fary and unavoidable Confequence. The Great God bell knows himfelf, and can alone tell us what he is. He farther argued, that the Father is faid to fend and give the Holy ^Ghcfi, and Chvift the Mediator to re- ceive and fend him^ upon his Prayer to his Father^ that a Perfon mufl he fit f us' d to have an Authority over one v:hom he gives or fends; adding, Mr. Moore is very flight inhis Anfv:er^ viz... And what Abfurdity in fuppo- (ing, that this may be done even among Equals by Confent and Agreement, without any antecedent proper Superiority ? But as (light as he would have it to be thought, I find not that he does difprove it, or fhew any real Abfurdity in it, in the Harangue he ( 137 ) h^ thinks for his purpofe to addrefs to his Reader upon it. Nor is there the leaft reafon to conclude, that if the Coming of the Holy Ghoft was by the Will of the Father^ it was not by his own Confent and Agree-- mem ; when the one may fo well and fairly confift with the other, and a joint Concurrence muft cer- tainly be allow^'d. H E asks. What reafon can there he to think^ that a Perfon who is fupreme God, can fuhjeB himfelf to another y and become a fuhordinate Perfon^ not only to the Father, hut to Chrifl the Mediator. I anfwer. We fay not that the Holy Ghoft is fupreme^ if hereby is meant, fir fly among the Divine Perfons, tho we fuppofe that he has a joint Supremacy with the other Perfons, in re- fpect of Godhead , nor do we fay, that he is become tk fuhordinate Perfon to Chrift as Mediator, tho he a6t in an Office, in fome fenfe, fubordinate. And why Ihould it be thought abfurd or unreafonable, that the Holy Spirit, fecure of his own Greatnefs, for valu- able and moft glorious Ends, in the Recovery and Salvation of lapfed Man, diftindly to commend his Love and difplay his Goodnefs, fhould be content to take an Office and Charader, w^herein he might a(5t in Concurrence with, and in fome fort of Subordi- nation to the Father and Son ? Why fhould it be thought incredible, tho it be very aftonifhing, that the Divine Word fhould be incarnate and become Man, and ad in the fubordinate Office of a Media- tor, without Difparagement or Diminution of his original Glory and Perfedion ? Should we not ra- ther account, and gratefully acknowledge, this fur- prizing Condefcenfion and Benignity, to be moft truly divine, to be a real Manifeftation of the trueft Glo- ry ? What can more diredly tend to give an affeft- ing Senfe, and juft Eftimate of the tranfcendenc Goodnefs and peculiar Excellency of that God, who is Love ? What more becoming him, and more con- gruous to his Defign, that he might appear amiable T to ( 138) to us, who had offended him, were prejudiced againft him, and under a dread of his Refentment > What more hkely Method to wdn and ravifli our Hearts, and engage our beft Affedions for himfelf and Ser- vice, under the moft endearing Obligations ? I cannot but think with the excellent Dr. 'tillotfon. That tho it was a ftrange Condefcenfion, yet it was likewife a moft wonderful Argument of his Goodnefs, (the greateft Inftance of the trueft Goodnefs that ever was) which is the higheft Glo- ry of the Divine Nature. If God for our fakes did fubmit himfelf to a Condition, which we may think did lefs become him, here is great caufe of Thankfulnefs, but none fure of Cavil or Excep- tion. We have infinite reafon to acknowledge and admire his Goodnefs, but none at all to upbraid him with his Kindnefs, and to quarrel with him for having defcended fo much beneath himfelf, to teftify his Love to us, and his tender Concernment for our Happinefs. Befides that, when we have faid all we can about this Matter, I hope we will allow God himfelf to be the beft and moft compe- tent Judge, what is fit for God to do, and that he needs not to take Counfel of his Creatures, what will beft become him in this or any other Cafe. Behold in this thou art not jufl ; / 'wiU anjwer thee^ that God is greater than Man : ivhy dojl thou difpute againft him ? for he giveth not account of any of his Matters^ Job xxxiii. 12, 13 *. I have thus, thro the Goodnefs of God, reviewed the Argument relating to the Deity of Chrift, willing to weigh with Calmnefs the Objections made, or far- ther urged againft it, without omitting any thing, to my knowledge, that merited further Confideration : * Tillotfon'i Works, Fol. f, 55^. And ( 139 ) And muft confefs myfelf but more confirmed in the Truth and Reafons of that Dodrine, which has been generally received in the Churches of Chrift, with- out laying ftrefs upon nicer Speculations, or Schola- flick Niceties, foreign to the Scripture-Revelation, defign'd for the Ufe and Benefit, not the Perplexing of Mankind. Nor need we wonder at all, if fome things in Rehgion are hard to be underftood, and of difficult Explication, which yet as to their Being and Exiflence are of neceflary Belief; when even nioft of the things before us, that we familiarly converfe with, puzzle our enquiring Thought, and admit not clear and certain Explication, tho we doubt not of the Truth and Reality of their Exiflence, and find we have fufficient knowledge of them, for the Con- dud and Commerce of human Life. Our Author may be wilHng to pafs his Scheme upon the Reader, under the plaulible Notion o^ Plain Chriftianity ; but upon maturer Examination, it feems to me, as it hath ftill done to the wifer and far greater part of Chriftians, contrary to Holy Scrip- ture, and the Religion it was defign'd to eftablifh, unreafonable in itfelf, and clogged with fhocking and infuperable Difficulties. And tho I believe not this Gentleman to be inclined to Deifm i yet if fuch a Way of Arguing, and fuch a Method of Interpreta- tion, be freely indulged, as fome do not fcruple in the prefent Controverfy, it may not be hard to guefs w^hat ufe will be made of it, by fuch as are preju- diced againft the Chriftian Religion, and appear in a Difpofition to part with it upon eafy Terms. It is however, I think, to be gloried in, as a Divine and mofl Excellent Inftitution, admirably adapted in all the Parts of it, to ferve and anfwer the proper Ends of Religion, approving itfelf to the Reafon of Mankind, amidft fome appearing Difficulties, and very rational even in thofe things that are peculiar to it, and of mere Revelation. And I am not without hope. ( 140 ) hope, that what h^s unhappily occafioned fome Dlf- tradions of late, that tend to the Difad vantage of Religion, may yet, under the Condud of a wife Pro- vidence, have this good Efted:, to put-Chriftians up- on a more diligent fearching of the Scriptures, that they may better underftand, and be better eftablifh'd in the Belief and Practice of the Religion they pro- fefs. It feems indeed owing to the Decay of this, and the Levity of its Profeflbrs, that Opinions fome- times heretofore advancM with Warmth and Subtilty, and as often condemned, and difcarded as dangerous Errors, have been of late again revived, and fo far entertain'd : I heartily willi they may not prove an Engine to fubvert and ruin the Remainders thereof. And unlefs they had a greater and more manifeft Tendency to make Men more holy and heavenly in their Converfations, than the common Belief, under the Influence of which, cordially receivM, the Life of Godlinefs has fo happily flouridi'd, what occafion for fo much Heat and Eagernefs ? or what reafon to give the World, or the Church, fo much Trouble and Difturbance about them ? Loofe Opinions, however plaLlfible jn their firfl: Appearance, commonly end in loote anti evil Praftices. If we once lofe our Faith, we fhall not long maintain Good Works. I am, S I R, Your Humble Servant- F INI s. A N ANSWER TO ^Mr. PElRCE's Weftern Inquijition, 8cC Can none of their adveiTaries be juftly cenfured as angrf men ? PPhat, not thofe who cry out^ that the AVeftem Inquifition which they underwent rivals the bloody Tribunals of Spain and Portugal, which can appear true only to thofe who are cnlightned with the hfs of their eyes, arid lie under the deplorable dicfertim cf common Senfe. Sir R. BlackmoreV Jtifi Pre judices dgainji the Arian Hypothefis, p. 79. m^ h I O "^ 1) O N: Printed for John Gl ark, at the Bible md Crown, in the Poultry near Cheap fideo MDCCXXL [Price a s.} n1 -aW -a^h ^:A^.'XN?n THE PREFACE. R. Peirce in fever d of his papers^ upon the differences between him and his people, had promised, that s full and Urge account of thcfe matters jhould he laid before the puhlick, which accordingly came out fame time after ; under the odious title of the We- stern Inquisition. On per u fat thereof fe* 'veral who found themfelves injured, refolv^d u^on an anfiver ^ and that the fa£ts mention d A 2. in P R MF4xCm m the Narrative and ji^ ^^^. Citjzen$v^C?. counts (which he chiefly examines ^nd iears iff on) {bould in con^etem time he JupfmH with fufficlent Vouchers. This^ tho" hj fever al occafiom much later than n>4S intended^ is now. made good\' not mthout regret indeed^ that^ things of fuch a nature jhould be thus laid open : But hereof j they only mufi in jujlice he^r the hlame^ who made it necejfarj, hy rnifre^re* fentations^ arguings ufonfalfe grounds^ denying divers truths^ and demanding proofs in fuch 4 publick rvay. Nothing but fet^'- defence ^ and fear of prejudice to religion^ hy (Hence tn fuch cir cum* Jla/jces ; could have prevailed for this publication. Regard to the honour of Go d, and fervice of Truths mufi take place of other 0nftderatims, THE editors of the Narrative, take the op' fortunity to fgnify^ they were not^ nor well could hj much mere than the bare editors of tt. The matter and expreffions were taken out of origi- nal letters, from perfons of known integrity^ o^ vr near the place where the controverfy chiefly lay, T'hcycan think hut of two things^ touching which ^ny can pojjihly expert fatisf action from them^ viz. Their concern in any fuch Narrative at all^ snd the unexceptionablenefs of their coriduci iri ''ir awing and puhiiflnng of it. IN reference to the former of thefe^ they fay ^ It was net matter of qXiqiz^^ htita fori cf conr (Iraint ? R t: f 1 6 £ firaint u[>on them. The) were t^mong thofe &^ qdn^ vohom heavy charges were brought^ as if they h^d n/ade a ftir and out-cry about er* rm conctrmng thp doff r me of the Trinity fvhen there rvas little or no ground for it ; th^ fhey h Ad fomented And i/)flam^d the cojitemions at Exeter, af^d made thi^mfelves parties i» them Y and in concert with fome there or i» that neighbourhood^ had brought them in among the LdNDON minifters, and undertaken for they know not what undue methods about them^ To thcfe things they were calltd to anfmr^ and they thought thereupon^ that a plain and faith-. fill Narrative of matters^ as far as they had any knowledge of them^ or concern in them^ would he their hejl vindication^ THEREBY it would appear ^ that there was more in the cafe of perjons going off from the Scripture do5irine of the TrusiiTy, as it had been generally receiv'^d in the Chrif/an Church^ eSj than thofe who hlaryPd them would allow ; 4(f ieafi^ that by the accounts given them- (the truth of which they faw no reafon to que fl topi) it did fo appear. The Narrative would aljo Jhowj that thofe differences began not from them ; that they were not officious or forward about them-, much lefs did they inflame or any way heighten them. When they received lett0S of information or oomplair^t with defire of their advice J they gave but nccejfary civil anfwers to themy T REF ACE, ihemy f^gg^fi^^g vothing hut what tvas healmg and pacify ing^f as far as regard to truth could admit ; and excujing them f elves by reafon ofdi^ jlancCj and other obvious grounds from' inter" f(yfing : Putting all^ as far as decency would allow , from their orvn to other more pover hands that were near them. THVS the occajfon of the Narrative th&y take to be fufficiently accounted for. It was in neceffary felf defence and to wipe of ill fug* gejlions^ which had made imprefjion upon fome to their difadvantage ; among whom may be reckoned Mr. Peirce him felf tho* it feems it eame not up fa futly^ nor anfwer'*d fo roundly as he expected ; which fault thefl endeavour to amendy when page 190 of his Inquificion 4omes to be confider^d. J S to the other particular, the unexcep- tionablenefs of their conduct^ in drawing and pibltjhing of the Narrative, they doubt not this will he ownd^ when they affure ; it was all taken from the letters of fuch^ as had op* fortunities to know the truthy with ability and faithfulnefs to reprefent it. The whole was fent to the Authors for their review and con- fir mat ion ^ with exprefs defire^ that nothing might ^ fi^fi^^^ ^^ t^f^f ^f ^hich they had not good proof '^ it was returned with ajjurance^that they had deliberately and carefully examined it, and B REFJC E, mre able to fupport all the faQ:s mth fuffiih mt evidence. It was then writ out ank prifi^ Xi4 the fame as reciiv*d back, thofe in Lon- don, beirigy -M^r^as 14.H^'. b^x yfh bare <>di* ON the chaUenges and except ions of Mr* f eirce in his Inquifition, the printed Nar- rative hath been examirPd and compar'^d with the Originals, and found intirely agreeing with them ; jet becaufe he hath fallen heavily upon it^ charging it with falfenefs and faithlefsneft, and that the whole is a niere collufion and juggle, arid what no regard Ihould be v paid to, till the charges be made out by good evidence, * (^fuch language does this ehriflian and charit/.hle gentleman Jee fit to ufe.'y The editors if the Narrative, faw it requi^ fite to recur to the authors and inquire^ Whether they would not think it fit ; to give that proof of faUsy which in fuch wanner was called forl-^ ■ t:?r>TiB-/l .-,-^\\i^\^ THET ftgniffd in return^ That thy wen Able and ready to do it^ and were willing it fhould be advertifed, that in reafonabU timt the proofs demanded fhould he given* Accord^ ingly^ having themfelves perujed Mr. PeirceV Inquisition, and taken notice of the falls difputed by him, they fent up not only thofe in -n^-"r * 5e^ tVefiem In^uifmon, pag. 41, 55, 61, 157, P J^B FACE, the Narrative, but thofi mention d, in their own printed accounts of things ; all attended mth their proper Twuchers. Thefe are now pub^ Itjh'd for matter and words as received, with what the Editors have offered in their own vindication^ and jome needful remarks on what Mr. Peirce has feen fit to fay touching thefe matters. "^ "^ the Reader // defired to correci the following Errors be- fore he reads the Book, t) AGE 7. I. 32. put a full point at them, and for if "■- read jf p. 11. 1. 13. bk>t out the «wy»/» at the word sfter. p. 17. 1. I. after Title add [rf God], p. 24. 1. i«. for Mftd, r. or. p. 29. 1. 33. htforev hat, r. As to. p. 49. I. to for convince^ r. convi0. p. 51. 1. 12. put the Note of the Pa- rent hefls before to and after jr<»r<^/. p- 58. J. 37. blot out to that, p. 79. I. II. after w<»j add faid. p. 8^ for realon T. feafon. p. 92. 1. 9. after certificate, add p. 119. of this book. p. J 15. 1. 6. for hi. r. ^»/. and 1. 9. for 104. r. 140. p. 119. 1. i. for principle, r. principles, p. iij. ioi hit, t. his. p-igo. 1. blot out different, p. 13^. at the End for Jtfeph, r. Johfi. p. 275. dihcr religion T. attack'' d^ infulted Mnd klafphttnd. AN (O AN A N S W E S T O \JMr. PEIRCE's Weftern Inquifition, &c. T is now paft all doubt, that an attempt has been on foot for fome time ro revive the Arinn HereJ} among the Diffenters, as well as thoie of the EJiahlijyd Church, Mr. Feirce, who confefies he vons Jet' tied in his prefent opinion before he came to Exeter y H^eji. Inq. p. lo. but did art- fully conceal him felf for feveral years under fcripture ex- preifions taken and usVl by him in a fenfe very ditferenc frdm, and contrary to what is commonly receiv'd, ha$ at length feerf fit tb throw off the ma^k, and fhow hlmfelf ii;i his proper colours. ^-^'■, A 1^ ARTY being gairfH '6n his fide (hy what' bie- /^thods. and inducements he beft knows) he is come forth at the head of them in great anger againft thoie, who feeing through his difguiies entered into fuchchriftlan and prudent meafures, as were judg'd necejfary to preferve^chat important article of faith, which tliey found to be fe- eretly buG too fuccelsfuUy invaded. i 1 (O How far in his management he has had regard to the rules of chrift"an charity (which he would have aH men believe he has the greatcft veneration for) or to thofe of trufb, nay, of common decency and honour, is left to the fober judgment of fuch as fhall jeiufe, what he himfelf has conftrain'd us to fet in publkk yiew. The Title he has prefixed to nis book prefents us with an extraordinary fpecimen of his temper. No- thing can be more flaming than it is. Every one muft be furpriz'd and ftartled at the firft caft of his eye upon it. THE lVESrEI{^N IN(^V I S ITION , Or Ji H^EL ATIO Nof the Controv'crfy among the Dilferiters in f/?^ Weft 0/ England. What could he intend by this? Would he have us underftand thefe as fynonomous terms ? But what congruity is there between them } Unlefs he means, that in giving this RELATION, he has adled the part of an angry, uncharitable and revengeful Il^QVlSnOlP^, by ftarchlng for, and making the worft of every thing he could pick up, to expofe the weaknefs, blemifh the reputation, and obftrucfb the ufe- fulnefs of his brethren. In this fenfe indeed the Title and the Book^ do too well agree, and in no other do they agree WiiW truth. But furely it was not his intention thus to reprefent himfelf how much foever he has done it through inadvertence. 'T I s more probably conjet^iurM, that his aim was to raife in peoples minds the blackeft idea poflible of the jproceedings of thofe miniflers and chriftians^ who vi- goroufly opposed the new notions that were fpreading among them, and to fuggefl to the world; That the whole of their management was fuch, as can be repre- fented by no aflembly of men fo fitly and truly, as that of a Pofijh Inquifition : for what can the Binder infer from fuch a comparifon at large, but that they were a fet of men who adted upon the fame principles, pur- fu'd the fame meafures, and only wanted power to pra- ctice the fame cruelties as are in the Inquifition^ or per- haps that were pradtic'd not long fince under a Popify S{cign m the iVeft of England. What difmal and tra- gical accounts muft every one expedl from a book jvith fuch a Title ! And yet we are bold to fay, there h no man of mgdefty and c^ippei: that has the leaft ac«juaint: (J ) acquaintance with the proceedings of thofe minlfters and chrlftians, but muft pronounce them clear of thefe odious and abominable infinuatlons. Let any one read the hiftory of the Inqulfinon, and compare it with the account which thofe of Bxctcr have given of their pro- ceedings J or that which even Mr. Peirce himfelf has given, and then judge^ if he had any reafon to infinuate a parallel, or fo muclr- a*- any refemblance between them ; or whether the Title he has prefixed to his book be not as monftrous and infolent, as it is caufelefs and without foundation. But Mr. Enty in his book of Tuth and Liberty, has fo well defended himfelf and Brethren from the charge of acfting as an hiquifitionj that more need not here be added except an heany, wifh, that Mr. Peirce may fee and repent cf the great wrong he has done his brethren and friends by this fcandalous abufe. We proceed to the book itfelf: Mr. P. acquaints his reader of his being convinced, That the common dodlrine of the Trinity was not according to the Scriptures^ and that he was fettled in his pefent Opiniojt before he came to Exeter, H^cjl Inq. p. lo. But previous to this he ufes no fmall skill to guard him a^ainft the fhock^' which this furprizing news might give him, and to pro- cure if polfible his good efteem, and lead him gently into a favourable opinion at leaft, of his fentiments, by giving a plaufible account of the way in which he himfelf was gradually brought into them. It muft be confefs*d his management here has fomething in it, that may amufe the unwary and ftagger thofe, that are weak in the Faith. But whatever be the advantage he might hope to gairj' in this way, he muft lofe it in another ; feeing that here- by he has extreamly enervated, if not wholly deftroy'cl the force of all he has faid in anfwer ro the objecti- ons laid againft him by the Exeter people, and done as much as they need defire, to fatisfy them, that they did him no wrong, when from his own condudi: and other circum.ftances, they thought they had good ground to fu- fped him to be, what now he owns he really was ; at leaft he has fav'd them the trouble of maintaining any, further difpute with him upon this head. And they cfinnoc but think they have abundantly more to juftify, B 3, ^hciig (4) their withdrawing from his mlniftry, than he could have ^s an honeft man to juftify his continuing with them, or clear himfelf from the charge of prevaricating in the worfhip of G o E, during all the time he officiated as their minifter.- Besides, Ie falls our the worfe for him, that there IS nothing to be concluded for a certainty, from all he has laid In the firft ten pages of his book ^ except that he has renouncd the common dodrine of the Trinity. If any will form an argument from the account he there gives of himfelf, we hope the fame liberty will be allow'd on our (ide, which will flievv that no advantage can accrue to Mr. Peirce by it. -'For we can fay, that others have read the Antini- cenc writers and Novatia)!^ and more lately Dr. CUrl^ and Mr. iVhiJiony as well as Mr. Peirce ; that there is no inftance of caution or of diligence, by which he would recommend himfelf, that they have omitted, that the dodlrine he now charges as unfcri£tu:alf has been often examin'd by whole bodies of learned and holy men, and at thofe times when perfons equal at leaft, if not fuperior in capacity to Mr. Peirce, have ufed the utmoft efforts of their wit and learning to corrupt and fubvert it 5 and that by the migh-y power of its evidence it has fo prevailed, that the generality of pro feiTing Chriftians, in all ages, have been conftrain d to yield to it as the tnith, which God hath moft certain- ly revealed in the holy fcripvares. From thefe general remarks we Ihall now defcend to particulars. The firft thing Mr. Peirce pretends to, is, a neceirity for wridng his Imjuijition^ and that the biame of all our diviftons, is owing to thofe, who flood up in defence of the Common Faith: Whereas 'tis moft plain from his own confeffion, that he brought his new notions with him to Exeter, and was not io in- genuous as to own them, but impofed upon the people, as not being of the fame judgment they thought him to be, at the time they chole him for their minifter. He knew they were a congregation of Chriftians, that be- lieved the proper Godhead of the Son and of the S p i- KIT, and worftilpp'd them as the One God v/ith the F / T H E R. If he did not believe fuch principles, nor could join with them in fuch worfhip, he had aded with (5) with Integrity and honour in refuiing their^ call, or in declaring his own notions to them ; and if after this, they had accepted him, he would have had reafon to complain of what has been lately done. H E acknowledges, he Ihould be nP a Icfs about fome circumftnnces of time ; yet he could not but be fenfible that in the |-r€ient cafe, much depended upon this, for ftatlng matters of fad ; and that that, may be a prudent and necelTary atft at one certain time, which would have been otherwife fome months before. By falfe dates he cafts the blame where it ought not to lie, in attributing that to unfeafonable heat, which was but a timely and necelTary vindication of truth, after fome had under^ min'd and forfaken it. He pleads. That there have been always differences among the Proteftanc Diflenters fag, '/(I about this dodrine. But tho' there have been fome differences among thofe, who have attempted to explain the modus of it, yet this has been confiftent with their agreeing in the fuhft/ince of the dodrine. T 1 s a grofs miftake to think that Dr. Clar}(s or the Ariitn fcbeme, is the only medium between proper Tri- theijm ^nd Sabel/imifm^ as is fuggefted, f. 5. Tho' the great Mr. Howe thought the diftindion of perfons in the Godhead to be greater than fome others account it,' yet he is clear in afferting the Vnity of the Godhead,. Whatever be the diftindion, he owns the Vnion to be 7JeceJfa^y and eternal, and fuch as could not but be. His fcheme does effedually fecure the honour of the Son and Spirit, and lays a fufficlent foundation for our adoration and truft. They on the other hand, vvho according to the common fcheme make the diftindion lefs, are far from Snheliiaiifm^ for they own it to be real^ and not nominal only, or a mere Ens rationis, vi:(. fome- thing that had a foundation in the divine nature from all eternity, and would have been the fame, tho' there had been no creation or redemption. The Son is not the F A T H F R, nor the F A T H E R the S o N , nor the Holy Ghost either. Such things may be faid of the One,' which cannot of the Other ; therefore they are more than three external manifeftations or relations of G o d to the creature. I F Mr. T^eiree could make nothing but Snhetllnnlfm of the fcheme he was bred up in. He knows that many great and learned men think otherwife, and that it is the true medium between SnhcUianifm and Trirhcifm. His own new notions derogate from the honour of the S o n and Spirit, by robbing them of fheir proper Deity j and de- ftroy the Viiity of the Godhead, by bringing in a i^lura- iity of Gods, not indeed of fupreme ones, but of one fupreme, and one or more fubordinate ; and what is this but the Polytheifm of the Pngan world revived, and a little more retin d ? After all, thtiefubordinrai' Deities, will prove but deify'd creatures, who receiv'd their being, and ail their excellencies from the will and pleafure of another, and depend upon him for their continuance. And tho' the Dodlrlne of the T r i n i t y rans thro' the whole Scheme of Chriftianity ; yet Mr. Peirce thinks it is fo oblcurely reveaPd, that we can come to no cer- tainty about it. What then ! Has God left us in the dark, whether there be more Gods than One ? And whe- ther the S o N and Spirit be God, or two Creatures? Are we not fure, that there can be but One God; and yet do we not find, that all the titles, attributes, works and Worfhip of God are afcrib'd to Thefe as well as to the Father? "Why flionld we go off from what is certain, merely becaufe we cannot apprehend the Manner of it ? When Mr. Peirce began to be fliaken in his mind about the common faith, he feems ftudion.Qy to have avoided all fuch proper means of fatisfadion as one would think the nature and importance of the do- tftrine did require. He gives us no account of any books he read in defence of the common faith, and when he was put upon reading more books on the fub- jecfi:, they feem'd chiefly to be fuch as were in the nev^ fcheme, and did tend to ftrengthen and increafe his prejudices againft the old. A s to what he fays concerning the Antinicene and "Pojlnicene Fathers : When he has given a fair anfwer to Bifhop BulCs and Dr. PV/iterUnd^s account of them, what he fays ia bis }nquifitiQ7i, may deferve more re- gard. ^ o'x \v 1 1; H- en KoTWiTHSTAMDiKG his great Encomium of Dr. Claries Look, we think the Dodor would have adled a fairer paiT, if he had compared the 0!d and Kcw Teftamenc together, and confider'd the light that would arife from fuch a comparifon concerning the perfori and dignity of the Mejfiah. He fays, he does not fdll in with him in every thing ; but is not pleafed to tell us wherein he agrees, and wherein he differs. However, he owns, he was brought to part with fome of his darling notions. Ifthefe were the common notions of the Trinity, 'tis- to be fear d, he had loft his fondnefs for them before he had read that book, notwithftanding ^ all its charms. After he looked upon thefe as falfe, 'tis no wonder he ftiould no longer efteem them a fun- fng. 9; dame7ital article of the chrifiian faith. From thence he fell to look upon the dodi:rine ii> any fcheme to be of little fignificancy or importance. For if perfons may miftake or err about a dodtrine with- out danger, they may as fafely continue ignorant of it ; becaufe error is fomething more and worfe than bare ig- norance. If an uniform belief as to the fubftance of this dodrine, be not abfolutely necelfary, we may think no belief at all is necelfary ; for if it is not uniform, it mufi: be erroneous on one fide or t'other. Where he fays; that good men widely/ differ ; if he means as to the fub- ftance of the dodrine, 'tis gratis diBum. H £ pleafes himfelf with finding he had very much kept to fcripture expreflions in ipeaking of this do- drine, p. 5 . and with refohing to do fo for tJ^e future ; but fureiy he did not fatisfy himfelf with repeating the words as a parrot may do, without forming any con- ception in his mind about the fenfe of them, if he in- tended any fenfe, whether it were according to the old or new fcheme, tho' he might anfwer fome low and mean ends, by concealing it from others ; yet with re- fped: to the divine acceptance it had been the fame thing if he had us'd other words, that would have more plainly exprefs'd the notions he had form'd. Because he made ufe of the fame expreffions with other chriftians who are in the eld fcheme , when he pray'd to the Father through the Son, fag. 10. And hy the Holy Sfirit, it does not follow that he and they p^rform'd th^ lame kind of worfhi^and were agreed f Sr f agreed in the fame objed of ic. He knew his congre^ gation worfliipp'ci the Father not cxclufive but inclufive of the Son and Spirit ; whereas he did not vvorfliip them at all, or only as fubordinate Beings with an inferior kind of worfhip. How he could fafely depend upon the me- rits of one for acceptance, and upon another for af- (iftance, who, according to the new fcheme, cannot be proved to be almighty, omnifcient and omniprefent, is not to be apprehended ; or how he could honeftly joyn with thofe, who he knew were paying another kind of worfhip, or they with him if his fentiments had been known to them, is as hard to conceive. It is obferva- Jble, that when he cannot bring the people to entertain his notions, his great defign feems to be, to make the dodt:rine be thought a matter of little or no importance. He reprefents it as having little or no influence upon the chriftian vertues, -png. 9. tho' if all thefe flow from faith unfeigned, the excellency and efficacy of the one, muft depend on the foundnefs of the other. A falfe faith can never be the parent or nouriiher of truly chriftian vertues. Haying faid what is fufficient to the inrro- fng. 13. ducftory part of his book, we (hall now follow him through a long relation of matters of fad: which are fo unfairly reprefented, with many un- worthy retiedtions upon his brethren^ and with fo much ill temper, that we wifli for his own fake he had aded with a greater guard upon himfelf. Hi? firft attempt is to faften the rife of the con- troverfy upon Mr. Lavington, how far he has done it with reafon and truth, may be feen by the following account given of that affair under Mr. Lavington's own hand. WHEREAS Mr. Peirce in his W^fiern Jnquifi- tion, -page 13. fays, _That Mr. Stogdon fell uf- cn the controverfy with me, find talked very freely, and feems to afcrihe the beginning of our differences tomy pU" blifhing -what fnffed nt that time. I do hereby declare. That we had only fome very flight and fuperficial talk about the prefent contro- verfy ; nor did I till fome time after this conference, know , what Mr« Stogdon s notions concerning the 2^ Trinity (9) "Trinity] were; and fo far was I from publifliing what then pafs'd, that I did not think it worth the leaft: notice or regard. ^ And tho' Mr. Peirce would date the firfl^ occafion and rife of our difturbances from what pafs'd between Mr. Stogdon and me ; 'tis certain they iDegan higher, for feveral things relating thereto had fallen out before this, as is evident from what follows. In December 1 716, the notions of Dr. Clark and Mr. H^hiflon began to fpread, and were fecretly pro- pagated, as appears from a following certificate, p. 14. given by Mr. Atkjns. On February the 17th, 17 16, I preach'd on i John v. 7.' without the leaft regard to any difputes among us - for tho** the Arinn fcheme, had got footing in this city [£xow] ; yet I had not at that "time, the leaft fufpicion of k. But the occafion of my preaching on that text was, That I had undertaken to difcourfe in order upon the fun- damental principles of religion, and having before preach'd upon the Being of a God, I came then in courfe, according to my prelcrib'd method, to treat of the Trinity. The week after I had preach'd this fer- irion, a poor woman came to me in great perplexity, and told me, That flie knew not how to come to the Lord's-table ; for that they told her. That Christ was not God, and the text I had preach'd upon, was not in the Bible : The woman mentioned no man's name to me, neither did I ask her, but went immediately and ac- quainted Mr. Withers with what fhe had faid. Mr. Wi- thers of his own accord went to Mr. Halletj fenior, in or- der to put a ftop to this matter. A few days after this, Mr. Stogdon and Mr. Spiring came to my houfe to vin- dicate themfelves, imagining, as- I fuppofe, that the woman had accus'd them to me 5 tho' indeed fhe did not, nor did I fufped them. Much about this time (a day or two before or after) I was fent for to a layman of the church of England, who was juft a dying, and in great perplexity 5bout this controverfy, which, he told me, had been for fome months I'preading in our city to his knowledge ; and that, amione thole of our -per- fuafion, as well as thofe of the ejlablifh'd Church : And mention d fome of their names ; tho' Mr. Peirce doe* not touch upon this matter, till in ^ag. 100. of his Weji^n Inquifjtion.'} From whence k appears, that C Mr, Mr. Pe/rc^ fliotild have fet the rife of thi J contf overfy (omi months higher than my converfation with Mr. Stogdon. About this time (as I guefs) three of Mr. Peirce's chief, friends, went to him to inquire of the genuinenefs of t Job, V. 7. 1 guefs it to be about this time, becaufe, it isreafona^ ble to fuppofe, that they did it when this matter was moft talk'd of, which was the week after I preach'd upon it ; and I am afliir'd by Mr. Manftcny that two of them came to him at this time with the fame queftion : And I am certain, that it was but a little while after, that Mr, Pehce alfo own d to me, that they had been with him, and that he told them, Tlmt he held it as long as he could, hut en reading Dr. Clark he had given it up. This he told me at my own houfe, long before the meeting of the Committee in November, 1718. tho' mpag. 36. iVefi. tnq. he fug- gefts, he did not fay it till then. Ont or about the i<^ih of April 17 17, Mr. Stogdon and Mr. Spiring had a debate with Mr. Jevoell part of which is fet down in a following certificate. A few days after tltis, Mr. Jewell and Mr. Spiring had another conference at Mr. Spirings own houfe, where Mr. Spiring blamVl Mr. Jewell for divulging their former debates ; and then declar d, that the majority of the mi- nifters of the City held thefe notions : And about this time likewife Mr. Spiring had a formal difpute with feven wo- men at once upon this controverfy. All this had pafs'd before the preaching of Mr. Atkins Sermon ; and yet Mr. Peirce would reprefent us as very peaceable till that time : ioidp. 2(). ofhis PVefl. In ^. alferts, that 'twas Mr. v^^^zVs fermon that had inflam'd the people. This is a true and faithful account of matters thus far. John Lnvingtono From what has been faid, it appears, that Mr. Peirce has not given a clear and juft account of the firfi occa* fion and rife of our differences, by imputing them to me; and the render may eafily fee thorough the flen- der excufe by which he would bring off Mr. Stog- don : For in H^eJL Inq. pag. 13. he owns, that Mr. Stogdon quite alter d his notion concerning the dodrine of the Trinity, and tho' he tells us, That he [Mr, Stogdon] endeavour d to conceal it from the world ; yet, the"^ contrary XO this appears by ilVIr. Bdgle/s and Mr Gaipin\ ( " ) Gdl^ins certificates, and Vis plain, he was free enougK with his ititimnte friends, and was not wanting in his zeal, both before and after he was difcover'd, to pro- pagate his notion, where he found any likelyhood of cloing it with fuccefs. What I have afferted above does juftify the Faith- ful Narrative, and muft reflect difhonour on Mr. Peirce, who to bring the Narrative under difcredit, fuggefts, J4^eji. Inq. p. 36. he did not fay he had given up that text, I John v. 7. till the meeti?ig of the thir- teen, the November after the Affemhly , which was in 17 1 8. whereas long before the meeting of that cow- mittee, and but a litde while after, I had preach'd^ my. ferm.on in February 17 16. he own d to me he had given up that text. I defire the I{eader will now examine the Wejiern Jnquifition, p. 34. where he will find Mr. Peirce re- prefents the fermon I preach'd February 17. 1716. as preach'd by me fome time after his fermon, which fer- rnon of his, was not preach'd till June z, 17 17. that is, above three months after, which according to his own account, was when our differences were far ad- vanced ; and yet he reprefents the conference that hap- pened foon after my fermon beii^\^een me and Mr. Stcg^ don, and was occafion d by it, to be the beginning of our difturbances. The world will fee from hence, how little his' Hiftory is to be depended on, and make (kie refledlons on it when they obferve how ready he is to be fevere upon others, and to charge miftakes even where there are none. Surely Mr. Peirce fhould have had a better memory, or at leaft have been more modeft in his refledions on the Faithful Nar- rative ; with refped to which, I take this occafion to declare. That after the ftrideft fearches I can make, I find it to have given a very juft and tairhfui account ©£ the rife and ^rogrefs of our debates.,-' John Lavington. With refped to what is mentlon'd in the foregoing account concerning Mr. Stogdon, Mr. fag. 14. Spiring, Mr. Jewell, and the difpute with fevm women i and iik^wife to (how, that matterswere not lo c a ^^y very peaceable before Mr. Atkins pi-each*d his fermorj as Mr. Feirce fays ihey were, TVeJiern Inquifition, p. 141 Vis Thought proper to fubjoin here the following cer- tificates. Exon the nth of November I7i9r THIS is to certify, all whom it may concern, that I Geori^e Jewell having been inform' d,^ That Mr. Spi- ring (a ferfon I was intimately acquainted with) was fallen into the Errors of Arius, and meeting the faid Mr. Spiring on Eafter Monday the 22 April 17 17, I faid to him, Mr. Spiring, I underfland you hold very Jirange notions 5 he re- fly' d, I can': ftay now, but I will come up to your houfe. And about a weel^ after that, he came up to my houfe with Mr. Stogdon. In difcourfe I ajferted, That Christ was God, and equal to the Father, and I urgd, for froof of his Deity, his Omnifcience, from Rev. ii. 23. To which Mr. Stogdon reply d, How did I know, but Gob might communicate Omnifcience to a creature : And Mr. Spiring caution d me againft malting the Son equal with the Fa- THER, faying, The Father will fay at the laft day, I did not make my Son equal with me, and why will you make him equal with me? andurg'd, that Christ was not One God with the Father, from that Scripture, Matth. xiii. 32. But of that day and hour kjtoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, hut the Father. This woi fome time before Mr. Hen- 17 Atkins preach' d the fermon mentiotid in the Weftern Inquifidon. George JewelL THESE are to certify aUperfons] whom it may concern. That Mr. John Spiring, did, in the prefence of us, and five other women dlfpute and argue. That Christ was not One God with the Father, but an inferior Being to Him, and Mr. Spiring «?^c/^rV, that a great deal of hurt wdi done in religion, by mens making tloe Son equal to the Father, and he demanded. How we could prove the equality of the Son with the Father ? One of vs urgd that text, Zach. xiii. 7. Awake, O fword, againft my (hepherd, and againft the man, that isr my fellow, faith the Lord of Hofts. Another faid. It's clear from John ** 30, 1 and my Father are One, And i]ohnY,'j. For - -• ■ : > ■ there jplicrii are three that bear record in heaven^ the Father^ the Word, and the Holy Ghoft, and thefe three ar^ one. Mr. Spiring reflyd^ It was one, only in will /ind af- fe6bion : And when one ofusfaid^ She could not hear to have his glory lejjend, that had done fo much for m * He re- flydy God the Father, would never give us thanks, for giving that glory to the Son, that was due to Him- felf. And this debate was fome time before Mr. Heniy At- kins ^reacFd the fermon mention d in Mr. Pierce'j We- ftern Inquifition. mmef, curmndf, Eliz. Marks; •' -' Joan Force. THIS K to certify y aU perfons, whom it may concern^ That Mr. John Spiring, upon a thurfday morning {before Mr. Henry Atkins preach a that fermon mention a in Mr. PeirceV Weftern Inquifition) invited me to his houfe, and then difcourfmg with him of thefe new notions, I aslCd him. If the minijiers held thefe notions^ To which he reply d, Moft of the minifters of the City did. mtnefs my hand, this i^th of ^ .^^^ January 17 19. ■ ^ •* . About this time it was, that Mr. Stogdon made the declaration of hjs being an Arian, and glory'd in the name. Mr. Henry Atkins being the next perfbn brought on the ftage, for a fermon preach'd at png. 14^, Bxon againft ^rMK//772,vindicates himfelf in the iblldwing account. Gn perufal of Mr. Pcirce''s H^eflern Inquifition^ I obferv'd, pag. 14. the article following relating to ine, vi2(^. " B E I N G at London a good parr of April and May ** 17 17? Mr. Henry Atkjns, who refides in Exon, but ** preaches ftatedly at Puddington, preachM in my turn, ** the Wednefday ledture : What' his defign was he knows " beft himfeif, but by all the accounts 'l have received of his fermon, it was very warm and furious, charg- ing fome among the diffenters in Exon with ' damnd- ** hie Herefies, denying the Lord that bought them • tho' " he own'd after he had preach'd the fermon^ that he " had not ftudy'd the controverly. I could not find, ** that his prudence was much applauded by any at '* firft, efpecially confidering, that he' was not preaching ** in his own pulpit ; but afterwards when the contro- ** verfy began to run higher, I perceiv'd that he had *" work'd fome perfons into a more favourable opinion " of him than they had before. The above article containing in it fome maliciou? refledtions upon me, and exhibiting heavy charges againft me, I think I am oblig'd to vindicate my felf, and un- deceive the world. I. The world by thefe words^ {l^oat was his dsfignl he kriovQs bejl himfelf ;~] is given, I apprehend, to under- ftand, that my defign was not good in preaching that fermon ; but I folemnly declare, that I had no other de- fign either in cdmpofing or delivering that difcourfe, than to demonftrate the true ^nd proper Divinity of our BlefTed Saviour.. As to the occafion of my preaching on that fubjed, it is fit that I fhould give fom^ account of it. I had reafon to believe, that there were not a few, who caird in queftion that imponant dodtrine of chri- ftianity even in Exon, and therefore concluded, that fince I was defir'd to preach a ledlure, I could not make choice of a more pertinent fubjed, that I might if poifible con- vince fuch perfons of their miftake, I N December 17 16, aconfiderable perfon now in com- munion with Mr. Peirce, declared himfelf (in the hearing of feveral perfons at my houfe) of the fame fentiments with Dr, C/4r^and Mr. VVhiJion , affur'd me, that fom» of Mr. Peirce's prefent hearers and communicants had embraced the fame opinions, and was very poficive, that the nevofcheme would univerfally prevail. Some time af- ter this I had information, from perfons of undoubted credit that a pupil of Mr. Ballet's, had us'd his endea- vours to make frofelytes in Tiverton to Dr. Clnrk, and Mr. IVhifton ; and the lubjed: was alfo become matter of warm debate in a cojfee-houfe. When I confider'd thefe things, I thought myfelf obligM, to appear to the beftof my ability in defence of the Truth, and oppofe Gain- flyers. a. It (i5) 1. I T IS not true, th/tt I woi warm and furious m the' delivering of the fermon ; I was heartily griev'd, in- deed, that there fhould be occafion to infift upon that ropicic, and deliver'd myfelf with a compalTionate con- cern, but was far from anger or prejudice againft any, particular perfon. And whereas Mr. Peirce afTerts, That I charg d lome among the dilTenters of Exon with damnnble hercfies, de- nying the Lord that bought- them, ^ I affert, that the words damnable herefies, were not in my fermon ; and if there were ^ fome paffages in my difcourfe, from which it might be inferred, that I had the diffenters oi Exon in view^ and grant I had in exprefs terms drawn up a charge in Mr. Peirce's words ; it is evident froffi the above account, that I had flifficient reafon fot- {o doing, and I am fatisfy'd, that I fbould but have aded agreeably to my duty, had I exprefs'd myfelf fo plainly, as that fome of the then auditory, ^ could riot have avoided concluding themfelves aim'd at: and I own to Mr. Peirce and aU the world, that my deiign was to endeavour the rendring thofe whom I ap- prehended had fallen into the error, fenfible of it, to prevent others being infeded, and to eftablilh all in the, truth. 3. I declare that to be falfe. That after the preach- ing of fny fermon, I faid, J had notjiudyd the ccntrover- fy. I very well remember, I^ was in company with two gentlemen of Mr. Peirce'' s intimate acquaintance and mine. I had fome debate with them on this fubjedt* There were at that time fome difficulties ftarted, which I am not afham'd to own I could not then refolve. And the reply I made on that occafion, was. That 1 had not as yet ftudy'd the controverfy fo fully, as to be. able to refolve all difficulties : Between which, and my not having ftudy'd the controverfy at aH, there is I con- ceive a vaft difference. Finally, as to my prudence in preaching the fer-, mon in Mr. Peirce's pulpir, I can't call it into queftion, nor can I be fenfible, that the place in which it was preachM, could render it an impiiident adt. I had not the applaufeand admiration of any inmy view, nor do I knowr of any pcrfoss^ who have entertained, dither (1(5) a better or more uncharitable opinion of me fince th^ preaching of that fermon, than they had before. Henry Atkins: This fermon was preachM by Mr. Atkins, May 15, 1717. Mr. Pcirce was fo offended at it, that he owns he made a motion to his brethren, and thought it had been agreed to, that Mr. Atkjns fhould be ask'd no more to preach in their pulpit. See tVeJl. Inq, pag. 29. So that to atfert the Godhead of Christ, and en- deavour to prove it from fcripture arguments, was, in Mr. Peirces Judgment, fo great a crime that he deferv - ed for this to be deny'd their pulpit. Such a procedure inuft needs tend to increafe the dilfatisfacflion of thofe, who had any concern for the honour of the blelfed Redeemer. They had reafon to queftion his friend- ihip to the Godhead of Christ, who could upon Mr. Atkjns\ preaching on that fubjedt carry his relent- ments fo high. From Mr. Atkjns, Mr. P. proceeds to fag. 14^ give an account of what pafs*d between him and three confiderable perfons of the con- gregation , which plainly fhew'd the turn of his mind in the wild conception he had form'd of a me- dtum between the fupreme God and a creature. And what he recites from p. 15 to the 25th of the fermon he afterwards preach'd at the defire of thofe gen- tlemen, confirms what is faid of it in the citizens Account, Ai^D whereas fag. 16. he fuggefts, as J^ag. l6, if the fermon had given fatisfaSiion, and bs had hopes we Jhould have no more dijlurhance^ and that he did 7iot hear of the objeBion of his third friend^ till at leajl half a year afterward. His third friend, well remembers that four or five days after the preaching of that fermon, a minifter of London came to Exon , to whom complaint was made by him of the fermon , and particularly of this ; That when he mention'd fome texts which aifert the Qodhead 0/ C h r i s x , hQ inrrqduc'd them with thefe WQrds, ( '7 ) words, PVe^ need not he Jhy of giving htm the title, 8cc^ and the unealmefs this had given : of which the faid minifter gave Mr. Peirce an account, and brought back his anfvver ; fo that Mr. Peirce knew it was the matter of the fermon, and not the quicknefs of the delivery that gave the uneafinefs : tho' he is pleas'd to eive'it that artful turn, fag, 29. An.^ tho' he diilik'd the 5oc/«/tfw interpretation of the text, which denies his pre-cxij}ence ; yet he has nothing ?iT^ I' .1^ ^^?^ '' confillent with the Arim fcheme. It he had be lev d Christ s fupreme Godhead, he would have been the firft, that ever usM fuch an odd phrafe, vi^.^ m need not be Jhy in giving him the title. This plainly intimates, that the tiue was : 00 high for the no- tion he had entertained of Ch ist's nature, if the Scri- ptures had not us'd it ; but out of feeming 'reverence to them, he would not refufe it, fo he migh interpret k zs ^n Avian would do. His/^rwo« gave juft ground to lufpeCt he look d upon Christ to be only fuch a God as was a different Being from, and inferior to the Fa- ther s and what he has publifli'd fince, makes it evi- dent. Mr. Peirce fpeaks of an aged and worthy per- fon {iuppos'd to be Mr. Ball) with whom he tag, if. had talked freely on the point, and that he could ' not perceive he differed a Hair's breadth from him. To this Mr. B^// replies in the manner following: ' I muft confefs at that time, I did not underftand their language, hm thought they had meant quite otherwife than It leems they did, hiding themfelves under equivo- cal phrafes. But I proteft before the whole world, that I was ever remote from their notions, and abhorr'd the iuppofmg of Chri T, or the Holy Spirit to be crca^ tures, or diftmguifh'd in nature and perfedlons fromuhe Kather, and derefted the worfliip of any thine but the On E God. ^ & Whereas the Account had char^'d Mr. Peirce with ftating in that fermon, the new notion of the unity of the Godhead Mr. Pmc. owns the charge, ;;^^. 29. and fays, if hepleajes he may call it a new notion, ayid I believe it K jo to him ; but I dare fay, upon inquiry, it will be found ^ old as the New Teftament.^ It may fuffice to anlwer film, Ihat we are as confident of the contraiy P ' Mr. (,S) MRi Peirce, pag. 30. fays^ Ahout this time] p/!^. 33.' a reverend ferfcn^ who was nfterveard at the head of the [even worthies , who advis'd our jud'Tcs, &CC, and jp^g. 31. fays, That he underjlood by others^ that it was 770t unufual with him, (meaning Mr. Ball) tQ advance pfitive charges by way of ^uni-p. T o which Mr. Ball makes this reply : I went to Mr. Pei/ce the morning when I firft heard th-^ difcourfe about Mr. Stogdon, I thonrht Mr. Peirce, had It in his power, to preveni the fpreadlng of Mr. Stogdons opinions, and defir'd him to confider the con- fequence. I told him, I thought, it was plain, that we fliould have more, or fewer meetings quickly^ (meaning that fome would go off to the church, and others fee up new rneetirigj, when they fav*^ that their niinifters, if they did not openly profefs thefe opinions, yet did counte- nance them by their (ilence, which would be a great encouragement to the fpreaders of them) and told him, as he fsys, that Mr. Stogdon would be accounted the third, Mr. jofeph Halletj Jun. the fecond, and Mr. Pcirce the firft ; this 1 laid upon the great indmacy between the two la ft nam'd ; 1 remem.ber not, that I f-'.id any thing of books : but I f^^r'ei^'d prefently that Mr. Pcirce knew Mr. Jofepfh Ballet's mind, better than his own father, at that tim;e ; for when i told Mr. Pcirce , that I would talk t^'ith e^e^7 minifter in Exon upon this matter, he defir'd that I would not talk with Mr, Jofepfh Haflet before his father. Mr. Peirce adds, That he lenrned from others, thatlusMto advance poiidve charges againft men, when I knew of no fuch thing. I defire the reader to caft his eye upon ^^^. 53. of Mr. Peirce's book, where he fays. That there is no viler w^ay 01 calumniating others, than by innuendo's ; and calls it a mean, pitiful, difingenuous way of writing ' And doth this way of Mr. P's deferve any better epithets to bring fuch a charge againft me, without naming the perfon who told him Co} He doth this^in many places of his book, particularly j^ag. 73. where he fays, a great confident of ours reporte.., ^c, but he names no one. Mr. Peirce knows, that fome people have faid, he was a Jefuit ; and if 1 had heard thcfe angry pericns to lay the lame, and had printed this ('9) tills Idle tale, what exclamations would he prefently have made ! I would not be u-deritood amifs here, I never tivaight him to be a Jcfuh or a P/?^//?, but I oniy inrl- mate to him how ill this trearmen: v/ouJd appear in his own cai'e. Yer luch treatment I and others have from ^im throughout the book. :3ohn BalL Mr. Pehce charges Mr. Lavmg'on as cen- iliring him and Mr. IVithers for converling tag. 32.'. fi-eeiy wirh fome of the peop'e talk'd of for ciieir being In the new notion, and letting them come X.0 their houfes. To which, it is anfwerM, That Mr. Feirce's Intimacy with thofe people, might give Mr. Lavington ground to fear that they received them fi'om him., or were like to be confirm'd in them by him ; efpecially, when he told him, that he took them to be very good men, and would not give him any fa- tisfadlion, that in his private converfation he endea- voured to convince them of their error. What he attributes to Mr. Lnvingtcns fufpicious temper, was but a godly jealoufy, left Mr. Peirce fhould in a more private way attempt doing that, which fome fecular views might hinder him from doing in a more pub- lick manner. In p^ge ^1, 33. Mr. Peirce owns the fubordination, or inferiority^ as was charg'd in the Citizens Account, p. 4. And what the notion of Mr. Peirce's friends concerning the f^Id fubordination is, will appear from the follov^ing certificates, T'HIS is to certify, all whom it may coticern. That I John Scutt did hear Mr. John Spiring fay. That Christ was an inferior God. John Scutt. WB whofe names are under -written, do certify. That we heard William Gofwell, jun. fay, That Jesus C H Ri s T is God, no otherw^fe, than as Kjng George,, (/r a magifirate of a city, ■ Richard Fuge, Elizabeth Fuge.- D 2 Ak© (20) And if Mr. Peine was not of the opinion of his friends about Christ's inferiority^ he could ealily have cleared himfelf. They feem to have had truer notions of the weight and importance of the dodrine one way or other than himfelf, and therefore they honeftly ex* prefs'd a proportionable warmth, as judging it either an important truth, or a dangerous error : whereas, he feems to think it of little confequence what notions men entertain of the nature of ihtiv Saviour^ who is the ob- jed of their worfliip and truft for eternal falvation, Cenainly the fcripture revelation muft be very obfcure and defedive, if it leaves us in the dark about mat- ters of fiich a nature. Mr. Peirce mentions fuhordination and inferiority as equivalent terms ; whereas Dr. Water- land Ihows that lubordination is always between perfons of the fame nature, but inferiority between thofe of a different. This is Mr. Peirce's notion of C h r i s t's fub- ordination, that he is not only a diftind: per (on, but a Being different from, and inferior to the Father. Which (if he be God at all) muft infer the abfurd notion of two Gods, one fupreme and the other fubor- dinate, and how this is confiftent with what both reafon and revelation difcover of the Unity of the Godhead, Mr. Peirce would do well to fhow. In his argument he confounds the Perfonality or Subfiflence of the Father and Son with their nature. The Son may be fubcrdinate to the Father in relation, and yet the fame in nature ; equal in power and glory. This is more than to make Father and Son but two different names for the fame Being. They are different perfons in the fame undivided Godhead, all the elTendal per- fections of which db belong to each of them, tho' the manner of fuhfjjling in It, be paft our finding out. The Nature is but one, tho' the Perfons are diftind, and the one in a relative fenfe, fubordinate to the other. They are not two fupreme Gods, but OneG o d, and tvvo Per» fons fubfifting in the felf-fame Godhead. Tho' there be no- thing parallel to this in created nature ; yet why may noc that be poffible in an infinite, uncreated Being, which is not fo in a finite one ? It is much more reafonable to believe this upon the credit of revelation, tho' we ac* ksowledge it above our corner ebenfion^ than to rob Christ ( 21 ) CHai5T of his Godhead, and run into the abfurdity of affercing more Gods than One. \V H E R E A '^ Mr. P. affirms, That ^he xqo, ^ ; tn Aft deny* d, what the Narrative /^yj yfee fj>ake fag.v^^ to me, voith relation to -peoples denying the Divinity ^of Christ: I ha\e fince the publifhing MrJ ^eirceh VVefi. Inq, been with the woman, who volun- tarily before witnelTes, fignM the following certificate ; and whereas Mr. P. affirms, That the Jiory is confi* derahly alter d from what it was at my firji telling it^ I do hereby declare, that the tirft perfon I told it unto, was Mr. IVithers, who is ready to afliire Mr. Peirce or any other, that I told it him in the words of the following certificate 5 nor did I relate it otherwife to an][ other perfon. J. Lavingtonl THIS is to cerify; all whom it may concern, That t did go to Mr. Lavington, and told him, I l(new not how to come to the Lord's-tahle ; for that they told me^ Christ was not God, and that the text he had freach'd upon was not in the Bible. figned hy Sarah Blake; ftgned in the prefence of us, John Tawman, Exon, Novemb. 9, 17 19. Hannah Tawman. "Whereas Mr. Peirce, fuggefts, That h was upon fome mens refledling on my /'^.35- condudl in preaching on i John v. 7. that I took occafion to exprefs my notion of the Trinity in thefe words. That God was fome way Owe, and fome way Three ; and to alfert it to be a fundamen- tal I hereby declare, That it was in this very fer- mon on i John v. 7. that I had thefe exprefTions, and therefore before any refledtions could be made on it; nor did I (upon the ftridteft review) make ufe of 'em in any other fermon before or after ; and fince Mr. Peirce is pleas'd to reprefent it as fb very ridiculous, I am con- tented to lay it before the world in the very words that were deHver'd without the l^aft alteration. I had been ( 42 ) be^nfhowmg, according to my proposed method, i.) That God, reprefented hlmfelf as One God. 2.) That notr withftanding this, he reprefented hlmfelf as a Plurality of Perfons. 3.) That thefe Perfons or Sabfiftences, are but Three, vi;(. Father, Son, and Holy Ghost* 4.) That thefe were diftin(5t from one another, that each was God, tho' the G c d h e a d be bu: One. Having gone over thefe particulars, I then had the? following words* Thus then I have endeavoured to lay before you the Scripture account of the T r i n i t v. Gob re- prefents himfelf as One God, and yet under Three diftind: Subliftences. The fame Auihority which obliges us to believe God to be but One, obliges us alio to believe him to be Three. But then (which muit be carefully obferv'd) 'tis not in the fame fenfe. I fay the Scripture doth not reprefent G o d as One and Three in the fame fenfe ; for this would be a contra didlion, and not only above, but contrary to reafon. All therefore I iay, that the Scriptures affirm, is, Tljat: God is fom^ w^y Onc^ And fome way Three, And this we muit be* lieve, for 'tis one of the grand fundamental tru:hs of our religion ; and upon this efpecially, depends the do- ctrine of our falvation by a Redeemer. Take away this fundamental dodrine, and moft of the chief dodrines of the Chriftian religion will fall after it. This is the dif- courfe which Mr. Peirce fo ridicules. I was, it feems, defpis'd and laugh'd at ; and fo was an infpir'd apoftle, for preaching Jesus and the refurreclion. If Mr. Fcirce had look'd into the i ft P/4/?»,,jhevwould have found it one of the charadlers of a blefled man. That he fipteth not; in the feat of the fcorrfuL John Lavlngton," Whereas Mr. Peirce, excufes a young |>/?^. ^5. minifter, meaning Mr. Jof. Hallet, jun. for blotting out I John v. 7. out of his greeh^Te- fiamcnt, with thi«, Thnt he did it feven or eight years fince^ vphile he was a ftudenty and had never preached ^ and his father hath fald fince in his excufe. That he did it in his younger years, and voas forry for it. HowV true both thefe accounts are, will appear from the fol- lovving certificate, 2hk THIS is to certify , That vfhcrens Mr.Vtivct poJJ^ tivcly eijVe--ts, To/it the young mlnijier chared with i^lotring out i John. v. 7 did it fcvcn or eight years Jince : Th/it /ijpytic??- is fnlfe, tinlcfs he has repeated the fayne fn^^^ for ''tis net fix years fincc I fnw him blct out that tex^ from a greek Teftament, and have lery lately heard him fay^ That he gloried hi dging it. ■ ^ Exon, f/;? 27^^ 0/ January 17 1 9. Henry Atkins^ A s" for the charge agalnft one of the feven (by which IS thovght to be intended Mr. Jof. Manjlon) That he rtlfo fhould blot that text out of his Bible. This charge is faiie, as appears by the following certificate ^ which he gives (to uie his own expreiTion) in the words of a dy- ing man, •I Whereas Mr. Pe/rce afTerts in ^/j^. 3 5 . o^hhlVcfierfz Jnquifition, [ That there was another mirJfter, who declpr'd about this time, that he had long ago put this text out of his Bible, and was indeed the firft per- fon who fliock'd one ji our people, whom I could name: But no objedtion was made againft him for this grievous crime, he having afterwards prudently aton'd for it, by being one of the feven advifers.J And I find that both Mr. P's friends and mine apply that palfage to me; I fhall give this fhort and true accou-it of ir, ' Bp. Burnefs Letters rais'd confiderable doubts in me of the genuinenefs of it. And when I (aw the Enquiry of Mr. Emlin fpeak fo confidently agninft its being in any f^rcek.manuficri^t ov very ancient tranflat'on, I was led to look upon it as an ihterpolaticn. But I never did ftrike or put it out of my Bible, never fpake a word to that purpofe, nor had a thought of that nature. I have ar- gued with fome minifters according to my then appre- henfions about it, and once I remember at Mr. Powell's, (before I knew Arianifm or the new fcheme to be pre- vailing in Exeter) a difcourfe happen'd about this text, I did expreis my doubt of it, and I behe^ e might fay, that I hnd given it up, and could not defend it ; but then I prefenrly added, that if that text was not to be defended^ ( 24 > defended, the dodrine of the Trinity might be prov'd from many other texts of Scripture. This laft paflage, I perfediy remember, and aver to be true. However, i do now find thar I was mifled by the groundlefs con- fidence of Mr. Emlin, and upon reading Mt. Martin's Critical Inquiries^ I am fully convinced that the text is as genuine as any other part of the Epjile, and that it was in the ancient verfions, and in the greeli manu- jcrtfts. And, I hope, if any were fo weak as to build upon fo (lender an authority as an occafional word of mine, they will on my advice read Mr. Martin, and haveVeafon lo blefs God that they did it, as I hear- tily do. "What Mr. Peirce means hj jhocking one of their people'; I cannot imagine, I pofitively aver, That I never uied any argument or fuggeftion to draw them off from the dodrine of Christ's Godhead into his notion, that he was a middle Bei»g between the F a t h e r and the moft high God and the creatures ; nor ever diredly or indirediy endeavoured to bring any perfbn into it, but argud againft it with himfelf, when he firft told me that it was his notion at Mr. Peter PovoelTs, the evening that he read me the notes which are fince printed of his fermon that gave fuch offence. I have always own d a reUtive fubordination, fuch as is commonly defended ; and if any perfons will make falfe inferences from thence, I am forry for it, and fhall be more cautious in fpeaking of it for the future. PoiTibly I may alfo come nearer Mr. How's notion in my conception of the dodtrine of the Trifiity than feme other of my brethren ; but if any thing in my manner of conceiving of that myftery, or of my notion of the Subordination be inconfiftent with the true and proper Divinity of Christ, or neceffarily infers more Gods than one, or that the Father and the Son are not one God, I do hereby declare my readinels to renounce thofe notions. Jofeph Manjlon, The Teftimony which this worthy perfon ('who dy'd foon after) has left hehind him, is a proof of his exem- plary candor and ingenuity, which add to the many ex* ' cellent qualities that grace his charader. He owns he had his difftculties in relation to r Job, v.y. but he blels'd Goi> (25 ) God for the fatlsfatfllon he received upon reading Mon^ fieur Martms aeatife. Mr. Peirce has done him wrong by affirming he had blotted in out of his bible, and he has (hown but little regard to his own honour and the truth,when pleading In defence of another that had done it, he reprefents thofe that blam'd him for that rafhnefs, as endeavouring to blaft his reputation for an innocent eind commendable fearching of the Scriptures ; whereas it was not for this but blotting out the text, that he was de- fervedly cenfurM. Upon this occafion, he Is pleas'd to give an account of what he himfelf has faid and tho't upon It, and he al- lows the authors of the Narrative, to name him as the tninijier who gave up that text, only he refledls upon them for mifpiacing the account in point of time, to fu^ the better colour, (as he lays) upon the advice fent from London, and the proceedings of the September Affemblj. Before we anfwer this, 'tis fit to obierve his prefum- ption, and want of charity, In pretending to know the in- ward motives of perfons in what they fay or do, and drawing them often by fuch lurmifes to fomewhat criminal. 'T 1 s ftrange, how Mr. Peirce can affirm this, when the Narrative is fo far from laying the advice fent from London upon the whole foregoing account of the affairs at Exeter, in order to put the better colour upon It ; that ic exprefsly declares, p, 9. it was only in anfwer to thefirft letter fent to a private brother from thole parts. And tho' the authors of the Narrative, fas he calls them) reckon themfelves no farther concerned, than to make good the matter of fad:, which Mr. Peirce himfelf has confirmed 5 yet had they undertaken for the circumjiance of time, they had not been out in that particular, and what Mr. Lavington has given under his hand, />. 1 1 . may convince him of his grols miftake : for long before the meeting of the thirteen and the September z&mhlYi 1718, he laid to him, he had given up thit text. And the Editors of the Narrative can alfure him alfo from the originals, that be- fore the meeting of that affembly, they receiv'd accounts of feveral, who had blotted that text out of their Bible, tho* they did not know that he was the particular perfon, who upon reading Dr. Clark^had given tt up, till he him* felf was pleased to oblige them with the Informaiion- (26) But to proceed, Mr. P. fays, The Nnrra^ fag. 37. five has here a great deal more of the lif^ ficries. They are not: invenred ftories, or flan- derous reports ; but of fuch a nature, as being prov- ed, will not only eftablifh 'the faithfulnefs of the Narra- tive, but evince the neceiTity there was of entrinj; in- to meafures to put a check to thofe growing evils. And it is a plain., indication, how much Mr. Pehce''s heart was in thefe matters, that he undertakes the defence cf them, and throws all the reproach he is able upon thofe who after much forbearance and patience found themfelves oblig'd in confcience to appear openly againft them. But as Mr. Peirce de- mands a proof of the charges that are advanc'd in the Narrative , the evidences fhall now be pro- duced, and they are fiich, as muft needs engage a greater regard to them than he would wifli for, and oblige him, in point of honour and honefty, to retradl the invidious reflections he has caft upon the Narra- tive, Whereas then he requires a -proof of young can- didates coming from their academical Jiudies tainted with erroneous notions concerning the facred Trinity. In anfwer to this, we refer the reader to the following pare of a letter writ by the reverend Mr. Pitts of Chard, con- cerning his own fon, and another young man, who were both Mr. Halle fs pupils. SisC, Dec. 25I t!i T Receiv'd your letter, and am very delirous to do'al!" X ** the fervice I can in fo juft a caufe, and there- .** fore am willing you fhould make ufe of my name in *' the cafe of my fon, who thanks G od, he is better in- ** form'd : And as a farther proof, that the infedtion had ** reach'd Mr. H th young men, you may mention a ** letter feen by me, from one of Mr. H ^'s ftudents ^* to another that was gone from thence, not doubting of ** his fledfajlnefs in the truth, tho' he queftion'd not but *' by that time (which was not long after he had been ** at home) he had endured the fiery trial. This feems *' to be much to the purpofe, it being an exprefTion that iJ carries in k no fmali reflexion upon the perfon, by " whom <. 27 ) ** whom It was concluded an endeavour would be made " to convince him. The letter was fubfcrib'd Philalethcs. " This I certify as truth,. tho' I do not think it pro- " per to mention the perfon to whom the letter was fent. ** It is enough that the letter was feen by me, and that i^ what I write you was in it. " Aar. Pitts* W E alfb refer the reader to the following certificate, from the reverend Mr. iVeficotP, who was another pu- pil in the fame academy. THIS K to certify, alt whom it may concern:, That I was told by a perfon of credit, {who was often at 3V4r. SpiringV houfe, and whom I could name, if there were occajion) that there were frequent meetings at Mr, SpiringV houfe, where Whifton wai read with apflaufe, and his notions of the Trinity defended. I my f elf voas prefent once at Mr. FofterV {where I kjiow there vpere frequent meetings of young men, fiudents and candid dates for the minijlry) and when I offer d feme of Mr, BoyfeV arguments for the Divinity 0/ Christ, they all be- gan to anfwer them, and to defend the contrary opinion ; and at another time, when I was abfent, I was told by one of them, that I k^pt off for fear I jhould be convincd, Samuel Weftcotrr There was another of Mr. Halleis pupils, who de- clar'd, He knew no other Trinity, but faith, hope, and charity. But that we may not be thought to copy after an ill example, in throwmg reproaches on parties or perfons without evidence ; if Mr. Peirce or Mr. Haliet pleafe to inquire of Mr. N. mentioned in Mr. P's l^Vefl. Inq.he will latisfythem of the truth of it. This expreifion doubtl^fs was very unadvised, as the perfon himfelf has fince acknowledged ; but there is no arfurance that it was contrary to his real fentiments. And that others deceivd their ordainers, we need go no farther than Mr. Jof. Haliet, juu. as a flaming in- ftance. E % S.BV£R A L ( 28 ) Several others, who feem'd very found as to this docftrine, in the confetlions made at their ordination, afterwards appeared of very different fentiments, to the ^reat grief of feverai of their ordainers. For inftance, Mr. Beddon^ Mr. Hotp, Mr. Par^ Mr. CocI^, Mr. Force, the laft of whom, hath made the bold declaration ini the following certificate. THESE /ire to certify, That Mr. John Force, of " Bovey, at or about Whitfuntide laft, m a Dif- courfe with me, asJ^d, TVhat Mr. Colton had dene ? I told him, He hadfuhfcrib^d with the other minifters. To which he anfwerdy I fity him then. When he made that an- fvDer, I further added. How comes this to fafs, feeing "'tis Tiot very long fince you declard (meaning at his ordination) That you helievd the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, to be the One God? To which he reply d, I never preach- ed, nor believed it in ail my Life. To which I again itnjwcrd, Mr. Force, I and inany others muji he witneffes 4igainfi you, Anna Edgley. THIS is to certify, all perfons whom it may concern. That when I, James Pope, did urge to the reve- rend Mr. Force of Bovey, the neccjjity of a fatisfaHion of infinite value, and that I thought Christ had made fuch. He reply d, Infinite fatisfadion, is infinite non- lenfe. Nov. 19, 17 19, James Pope» And whereas Mr. Peirce condemns the Nar- P^S' 37- rative for affirming, That children had been taught to fay. They would not for the world repeatithe iixth anfwer about the Trinity, in the Aflem- bly's Catechifm. The Narrative will appear ti*ue, by the following certifica>tc. THIS js to certify, all whom it may concern. That we, whofe names are under-written, did hear Mrs. Mary Powel Jay,^ She would not anfcver the fixth queftlcn in the AiTembly's Caiechiim, relating to the T k iia i r y, for never fo niuch. Joan Dennis, Elizabeth Fitts. (29) Whereas a\fo Mr. Peirce doth farther infiniiate,' That Mr. L/inlngton mnde complaint to Mr. Withers of a 'fiory of this nature^ and affens, That Mr. IVithers on inquiry found it to have nothing of truth in it. The ' contrary doth appear by the following account. '- Mr. Peirce being led into a miftake in his ■H^eji. Ine[, relating to me, and being call'd pag.-^j. upon to let that matter of fad: in a true light. The cafe in (hort was this : Mr. Lavington never com- plain'd to m^e of any children that were taught to declare "their averfion to the AJfevihlys Catechifm ; but of a girl's aflerting, That we triuft not fay, that the Holy Ghost » GcD. Upon my inquiiy into that m.atter, ihe confi- dently deny'd the words : But one Mr. Bennct fome time after affirmed tome, That he heard her fpeak thefe words which m.ade me fufped:, that flie did as chiU dren are too ofcen wont to do, endeavour to excule one fault by the commiirion of another. John Withers., Mr. Peirce in the fame Page, is offended at the N^ Native for letting it be known, that many toofe and un- Jieady fe.fcns, had been fecretly -praciicd tipo?i in fe'verhl towns as well as Exeter. The Narrative relates this as it was received, and if the fad: was true, it was necelTary to be known, to fliow the zeal of the adverfe party in fpreading their errors, and to inform the world of the neceiilty there was of entring into meafiires for oppofing them. He complains in the fame place, That it was cry'd about the flreets, that they were a loofe people. And is this any wonder, when fuch bafe infinuarions as thofe above in relation to Mr. Lavington, are thought Et to appear in his hiftory. What is faid of the cafe of Briflcl, an^ fag. 38. that this dodrine was become the common fubjed: of difcourfe and dlfpute in conver- fation ; of the diffenters being tax'd in the publick markets with denying their Church firft, and theVr Saviour afterwards ; as like-wiie of Judge Priceh charge at the caftle of Exon ; and the Archdeacon of Barnflaple\ fpeech to the clergy 5 and fome of the Exeter ( ?o > ^ Exeter cletgy^ virarning the people from the pulpits againft the di{fen*:ers , who were novo come to deny the - Lord that bought them, and made Lhe preis to fweat with their hM^hemics. As to all thefe Mr. P. dvoes nor deny the facSts, nor can he charge the Narrative with fallenefs in thefe accounts ; b^:.t only endeavours co excufe and evade them, and that bv arts lo evidently fophiftlcal, by fuch mean and triffling criticiims, and by fuch an Indifferent turn of wit, that it may be fafely left to the common judgment of men to confute r.hem. And if the contagion of error was not only beginning in Exeter, and the parts adjacent, but had got as far as BJJiol 'y and the moft awful points of our religion were dlfputed in common converfation, and places of the moft publick refort; and the diffenters were re- proach'd from the pulpit not for their non-conformity to the rites and ceremonies of the ejiablijyd church, but for departing from the eflential and neceifary articles of our common faith : furely it was high time for minifters to endeavour to roul away this reproach, and to appear in the moft publick manner for the de^nce or the ♦ruth. Hitherto Mr. Peirce has no reafon to^ charge the I^arrative as faithlefs ; and as to what remains, it ftiall be attended with its vouchers. Whereas Mr. Peirce declares, That png, 40. what the Narrative aCferts, vi:(. That the Bap- tijis had difmifsd their minijier on account of his being in the new notion, is not true, as he k fatisfyd. To confirm the truth of the Nnrrative, th^ following letter is produced, lf{everend Sir^ " TTAVINGread Mr. Peirce's ITeJl. Jnq. and ob. JLJL *' ferving, pag, 40. that he reprefenrs what the ** Narrative fays, relating to the Bapijis difmifTing '* their minifter, as not true. I was defirous to know •' the certainty of that af^ir ; and do hereby certify, " that feveral members of the Baptijis church gave me *' this account of it : That Mr. Lucas (the minifter re- -*^ fcrr'd to) was call'd here upon tryal. About a year ** after ** after it was proposed in the church, Whether thef " Ihould give the faid Mr. L any farther call ? not " above five cr fix of the church exprefs'd their defire ** of it, and thofe members from whom I had the in- " formation, declared, that they thought the reafon why ** they did not do it, was, becaufe they believed him ^ in thefe new notions. " I am your humble fervanf, Exon.Feh.i. iji^. Aaron Tozerr Observe, that this does evidently contradidt Mr.' p-.Js printed account, for whereas he fays, fome fevo were uneaj), hut the fnr gr enter fart were very defirous of his fet* fling with them. This fays, that not above five or fix were dejirous of it. The Narrative farther aflerts, That the young men find candidates for the miniftry, ufed to affemble at the baptift minijiers houfe, as was fuffos^d, to confer upn this fuhjeH. Mr. P. will not allow this to be true, and reprefents their meeting to have been but once^ and that by accident. That this is not a groundless fuppofition, or a mere improvement of an impertinently jealous tem^ery as he fuggefts ; but that they frequently met there, appears bj the following lines. "B^verend Sir, i; T Do hereby certify. That N. N. who liv'd with ths X " gentlewoman, where Mr. Lucas boarded, all *'' the while he was in Exon ; when I inquired of her *^ about the young mens coming to fee Mr. Lucas^ ** flie gave me this account of it. That feveral young *' men very frequently came to fee Mr. L , and " that fhe heard Mr. L tell her miftrefs, they were " Mr. Halleis ftudents : Sometimes they came once a " week; fhe faid, fiie did not know all their names; ** but fhe remembred and mention d the names of three ** perfons, one of whom was ordain'd while Mr. L — *• w'as at Exon, the other two, candidates for the mini- " (try or ftudents at Mr. Halleis. And fhe faid, flie ^ iliould be ablQ to tell me of aiore, if fhQ heard their i; narnqs. " names." But the, names of the perfons above am " conceai^a, in hopes ^ the young men may alter the ^ ill notions they had imbib'd." "" •*' The charader Mr. P gives of Mr. Lucas, and ^* his defire that he iliould be one to preach at our ** morning ledure, is an indication of the great refpedh '* which Mr. P had for him ; but that which makes '' this friendfhip between Mr. L— - and Mr. P-— the ** more remarkable, was, that fome time before this, be»» **. ing at London, I was defir'd to procure a perfon, that " might come and fettle at Exon, to teach the diifenterS *' children 5 and accordingly I made it my bufinefs, and " found out ^Gne. that was proper for fuch an under* ** taking, but was, as to her opinion, a. ba^tifl. After " my rerarn from London, feveral of our friends met " upon this affair, to whom I gave an account of what *' I had done. Mr. P on hearing (he was a hapiji, " reprefented the baptifts to he a fort of people that he " would not have us have to do with. And this was a ** main, if not the only thing, that hindered the gentle* ** woman's coming hither, tho' fhe declared flie would " attend our minifters. You may make what ufe of this ^' you think fit. I am your humble Servant , Aaron Tozen By this and the following certificate, let the world judge, upon what motive Mr. Pehce hath (ince enlarged his charity, even fo far as to propofeMr. L 's preach* inf^ at the young miens Morning ledure, as will appear by the following certificate, THIS is ro certify, all whom it may concern, TJ^at J, when Mr, Withers and Mr.Peirce were once at my houfe, it was proposed, that Mr. Lvicas Jhould preach at our morning lecture ; Mr, Peirce confented to it ; but 1 reply- edf Ifhould have been willing cf it fojne time ago, but I vpas averfe to it at prefenf, becaufe he lay under fufpicion of being in the new fch erne. Mr. Wkh^r^ reply'd, I never h£ard of it, Mr. Peirce fuhjoyn'd, Tes, I have ; and then faid, I wijh the ycungmc7i bad done it of themfelves, with- out askjng advice, John LavingtoH. (33) Wii A T IS certlf/d above by Mr. T^;^^/-, purs it out of all doubt, that what the Narrative fays, is not the refulc of a dreaming fuppofinon. And if by the informer that de- lights in fuppofitions, Mr. P. me.ins Mr. Lavington fas feems evident by his after reflexion) this is a grcundlefs fufpicion of Mr. P. for Mr. Lavington declares, he was not the informer, nor did he in the leaft concern him- felf about thofe who viiired Mr. Lucas. But rather than want an occaiion to ridicule and expofe Mr. Lavington Mr. P. will feign and fuppofe one, as he does in feveral places of his PP^^fi. Inq. charging Mr. Lavington upon mere fufpicion of carrying ftories and informations, o£ which he was intirely free as any that are yet unborn ; and yet ^doth Mr. P. complain of a fufpicious, jealous temper in others. But 'tis the way of the man. Thus he complains of want of charity in others, and yet who tnore uncharitable ! He complains of reproachful abu* five treatment, and yet who mere reviling and abufive \ Quis tulerit Gracchos de feditlone querentes ? To the pafTages Mr.Peirce has thus far re- cited from the Narrative, he adds. That alt j)ag. 41: thefc things were related as true Matters of faH, anJ were referrd to feveral brethren in the country, and the citizens 0/ Exeter for a confirmation of them ; but he is pleas'd to fay, They were feveral of them falfe\ md ethers firangely impertineiit. It is plain from 'hence, that as to m.any, or moft of them, he allows the account in the Narrative to be true, and as to the reft, they are but meanly evaded. Thofe he charges as falfe, are ift the ftbry of the Girl, in which he is fufficiently confuted by the teftimony of the reverend Mr. 14^'ithers. idly, The difmiifion of the baptifi minifter, anfwer'd by Mr. To^erh Letter. And 3dly, the meeting of the young men at Mr. hucais lodgings, anfwered by the fame. And that fome young perfons had a club, wherein they endeavour'd to propagate the new notions will appear undeniable, when ^.72. of the iVefl. Inq. (lull come to be confider- ed. What Mr. P. fays of the Impertinence of fome ac- counts, is but like his other accuiations, without ground. And he marvelloully overvalues hii^ifelf^ if he thinks his bare authority fufficient to impofe characters upon per- fons and things. Nothing could be more pertinent than F the (?4) the rektions given in the NarrathCy to fiiow the mjiera^ ble ftate into which things were haftning, and the necef- fity there was of the minifters appearing to flop the mif- chief that was fpreading not only at Exeter, but in divers other parts. There is nothing thus far, to weaken the reputation or credit of the Narrative, nor have the Edi- tors any reafon to blufh ; and if on the review Mr. P. blufli not for himfelf, they fliall be forry. But to proceed , Mr. Peirce caHa for a fag, 41. iQUcher with refped: to the charge againft a certain minifter who declar'd his disbelief of thedodrine of the Trinity in Vnity. To confirm this the following certificate has been produc'd, containing the, very words in which that minifter, vi:{, the reverend Mr. Gillingy delivered himfelf to the reverend Mr. Aaron Pitts, Mr. Gilling faid to me, Tour Trinity in Vnity, I nei- ther do, nor will believe, I thought that declaration of his prov'd hiAito be more honeft than fome others, and likev^ife thought myfelf o- blig'd in confcience to maki knowrr his opinion, that others might not be tlnwarily drawn into it ; and am no- thing concerned at being accused of betraying private con- -verfation, and reprfenting Mr. Giiiing under an ill cha- rader, Aaron Pitts-.' And whereiis Mr. Pf/rc? in his iVefl.Inq, f4g. 42, hath publifh'd an account of a conference 4a. which Mr. Stogdon had with Mr. N. and I am fuppos'd to be the minifter delignM : Thefe are to certify. That Mr. Stogdon did in a conference with me freely confefs, that he v^as an Arian, and gloried in the name ; that our Lord Jesus Christ in his highefi charaBer was but amere creature, tho* advanced above the angels ; and farther afterted at that conference, that the Logos ajiima- fcd his body injlend of an human foul. Thefe I thought were what all the world calfd the difiinguijhing tenets of Ariui, and therefore made no fcruple to call them fo. Several perfons unknown to me were prefent at this con- ference befides Mr. Galpn now minifter at Morsfield near Bath, from whom 1 lately receiv'd a letter on this head, part of which for the farther fatisfadion of ths worlds (?5) .world with reference to the truth of thU certificate, and the infincerity of Mr. Stogdons account, is under tran- fcribed by me, Ihomns Edglej. Reverend Sir, Morsfield Decemb.i6, 17 19: 1' T N compliance with your requeft, I have fent you as X " particular an account, as my memory will ferve ** to give, of what pais'd at that conference. I remem- " ber perfedlly well, thar you told Mr. Stogdon, that '* you underftood he was fallen Into the ArUn fchem^, " and that you was very forry to hear of it. He reply'd, '* I am an Arian, and glory in th name. Mr. Stogdon " did make no fcruple to acknowledge, that: he did he- " lieve our hlejjcd Saviour to be hut a creature, tho ad- ** vancd ahove angels. And I think alfo, that he faid, ** that he was of opinion, that it was the Logos that *' anifnated the Body of Cukist infiead of a human fouL " He fpake his mind with a great deal of freedom, and " did not feem to be in the leaft upon his guard. I ^' can t fee with what juftice Mr. Stogdon can charge you ** with betraying private converfation, when there were *"' many others in company ; and he himfelf did not " feem to be at all upon the referve, but readily acknow- *' ledg'd himfelf to be an Aiian-y and added, he glo- " ried in the characier. I leave it to you, to make ufe " of this account as you fhall think fit. I have only ro " add, that I am jour very much ohligdy and mofl ohedienty humble fervant Calvin Galpln.' It is here to be obferv'd, That tho' Mr. Stogdon mentions his ftudy as the place of jag* 41. their conference, yet it was in the hearing of many others 3 and his notions concerning Christ by whatever name they are callVi, are doubtlefs of a dangerous nature. He that could believe, that Christ in his higheft capacity is but a crea- ture, and vet is in the dark, whether he w2ls cohfuhjian- F 2 ^^^i ( 36 ) ttal or not, eternal §r not, had too mean thougHts of Christ, and too dark and confus'd a head of his own, to be enrrufted with the preachuig of the everlaftlng Go- fpel of Christ. His ordalners had done a confidera- ble fervice to the church if they had delay'd the fetting him apart till he had clearer notions, and a more fettled mind. And if Mr. P. had retained a due regard to the ho- nour of his blelfed Redeemer, he would not have been concerned in recommending him to ordination. That he was not one of his ordamers, did not proceed from a dif- llkeof his notions, but to prevent an alarm and conten- tion- in that country, which he prudently enough forefaw wbuld be prejudicial to the nevp fcheme, which 'tis plain he had at heart ; and therefore no wonder he did all h.Q, could to prevent an open rupture, whilft there were too many that fecrerly endeavour d to poyfon the people. And thoMie might not himfelfbe adive in it, yet it was encouragement fufficient not to appear againft them. His apology for [Mr. Stogdon, That there can be no harm in deliring a truth may be extenfive,] has more of art than ftrength in it; for if we take deftrudive error for truth, and defire and efideavour to fpread it as far as we can, vire are highly criminal, and they that do not what in them lies to prevent it will be fharers in the guilt. k^j> now let every one judge, that hath any love to his Redeemer, whether the minifters that knew of thefq things, were not bound to make oppofition to fud^ as grew fo bold and daring in their impious errors. And how could Mr. P. fay of Mr. Stogdon, that tho' he had alter'd his notion, yet he endeavoured to conceal it from the world, />. 13. when he acknowledged hlmfelf to be an Arian^ and glory'd in the character. The fame author endeavours to take fag. 44. ibme advantage of Mr. fV^lrond, with refpedt to a funeral fermon preach'd by him on the death of Mr. Stoddon of Si^hury. To which Mr-A^ rond gives this reply. As to the opinion of the reverend Mr. Stoddon men rionM by Mr. Pelrcc, Wefl. Incy pag. 44. (^into whofe aihe^ that author has thought fie to rake) I acknowledge h$ had fome djffereqt potions fr.om the cpn^nion expU- ' ' ' ■ cation ( n ) cation of the Trinity, which related efpecially to the word Perforiy which word he diflik'd, as alfo the phrafes of the eternal generation of the Son, and frocef- fion of the H o L Y G H o s T, as uiifcrlptural ^ explaining the doctrine in a way peculiar to himfelf, but ftill agree- ing with the Nicene fathers, and the firft article of the church of England in the main point of the true and pro- per Divinity of the Word , and Holy Spirit; and there- fore is very fevere upon what he ftyles in the fame pa- pers, the blafphemy of the Soc'm'ians, ^nd the curfed Av\ Is it not the 4^aty of minifters to oppofe the errors of the day and place in which they live, and to preach up the contrary truths ? And in cafe they prove d'efe- clive and negligent, will this great patron of the peoples liberty, magnify himfelf or his office to luch a degree, as that the people muft not be aMow'd tho' in the moft refpedlful manner, to remind them of their duty, and ^nic them upon the difcharge of it ? 'Tis moft probable ch;^ ( 47 ) rlie fubjedl they defuM him to preach upon; was the principal thing that gave offence, and now it appears Evident, that if they expeded he fliould eftabhfli theiy faith in the proper Godhead of Christ, they w^er^ %-ery much miftaken. The author of the yicmint had the gveat- d from Imn ; and if he be not the true G o d, I cannot fee but the worfliipping him muft be flat idolatry, tho' he be not a mere creature, hmfomething between the fufreme Goi> nnd n creature, as Mr. P. would have it ; and fhall ne- ver believe that God hath commanded me ro worfliip .him, until fome of thefe bright people (as their admirers call them) can lliew me in the Scripture 3 that whereas God gave Ifrael ten commandments, chriftians are bound only 10 nine, and may fafely ftrike the firft out of their Bible ; or elfe that they can fliew me a. place where the Lord Christ hath retraced his faying. That God was to be worjhipped, and God, only ; and hath told us in fome other place, that he in particular muft be excepted, and muft be pray'd to, and trufted in, and we are to be dedicated to him, thV he be noc true G o D, but a mere creature, as fome will have it, or fomething between God and a creature, which Mr. P. kliows not but be may be. John Ball, Again, Mr. Peirce relates, That Mr. Lamnfr^ ton told Mr. PVlthers, that in the affembly they tag. 6(^1 would ajfert, that the Father, Son, andHoi^r^ Ghost, were the Que God 5 and when Mt.JVithers ask'd (54) i^sk'd fiim, Whether they would affert they were Three Perfons? He anfwered, They would have nothing to do about Perfons*. To which Mr. Lavingtou replies, They declined the word Perfon^ becaufe they would avoid all difpures about words an:iong fuch as did agree in the fub- ftance of th^ dodrine. W HAT he fays of Mr. Bnl! and Mr. rVriU fag.6oj rondy is groundiefs and uncharitable. Th6 79. juftifying themfeives to the world, That they were no Arinns, wis more thati a pretence, fhey had a loud call to it, and fince they could do ic with a good confcience, it was their duty. They had been wanting to the Truth, their own reputation and ufefulnefs, had they omitted it. As for Mr. P. and thofe of his opinion, they could not thus jiiftify them> felves without fome fuhtle fctch^ as he without ground tharges others with. No wonder therefore that he op> pofed (uch a method of purgation. Why this fliould be caird a handle for fitting up an inquifiticn is not to be conceiv'd, fuppofing he means more by it than an inqui- ry what a man believes ; if not, 'tis to be fupposM he fets. up iiich an Inquifition himfelf every time he adminifters baptifm, or admits any to the LoRD's-table : for 'tis to be hop'd, he will not admit men to either of thefe ordi> nances without inquiring into their faith. With refpedl to what he fays ofM.r.PP'alrond's profefTing, He had a ten- der regard to his reputation^ and that the ufcfubiejsofhis wri- tings might not be hinder d. 'Tis anfwer'd, he did not on- ly profefs it, but really had fo. But when he himfelf by the erroneous notions he had entertain'd, had greatly ieflen'd his own reputation and ufefulnefs, and was like to become an inftrument of more hurt than ever he had done good to the church of C h r i s' t ; it is not to be conceiv'd how Mr. Walrond could have been faithful to Christ and the Truth, if he had declin'd his own duty for fear of lelfening Mr. P's reputation. Here he m.entions the forming of a en- fug, 70^ hal, 8cc, To which exception Mr. Ball thus replies, Mr; (55) M R. Peirce charges Mr. iValrond and me mth cnhaU ling ngninji Inm, wh^reaS we defir'd and had a meeting with Mr. I4^ithers and him before jhe affemhly. And thealask'd him how our proceedings could be call'd V/?- hnliirigy when I had told Mr. iVithers more than once whac I defign d, and defir'd him, as foon as Mr. P. came hotn London to acquaint him with it, that we might meet and difcourfe the matter before the meeting of the af- femhly, which was accordingly done. And |f we, who were of the true md commonly receiv'd dodrine, had met by ourfelves, to confider of the beft meafures wjc were to take for its fecurity, tho' Mr. P. may ufe his hard words, if he pleafes, and call it .what he w^l ^ yet I can fee nothing in it to be afham'd of, ^ohn Ball. ** Mr. Peirce faySjThat Mr. B^li {nt the meet- ing at Oix.tvj) to /how the neceffity of their ^ro- fag. jfl ce^ dings in the manner they propos'd, and to ju- ftify them in fetidmg circu'ar letters, infilled, TW there Wds a cluh of young men that met together ftatedly, where thefe notions were projpagated. Mr. P. calU this feveral times a falfefiary, and fays, f, 72. the truth is, the fory had not the leafl fctmdatieny that ever he could hear of. He owns, there was a club of young men met together, but one article they had agreed upon was. That nothing fhould be brought into dilcourfe by any. of them on this fubjed. Mr. Lavingtons fufpi- clous temper had caus'd him to give out reports to the contrary ; but this, fays he, is ^ the truth " Surely there never y/as a hlftory that. had more of calumny and lefs of truth in it than the iVeJl. Inq. has ; and this is not one of the lead mlfreprefentations. That there was a club of young m.en met ftatedly where the Deity of, Christ was deny'd and difputed againft, and -that there was no fuch article ro prevent thefe difputes till. the club was in a manner broke by the difputes, and Ipveral had y/ithdrc-iwn upon that account^ the follow*: jng certificates do fully confirm, THESE ( so THIS is to certify y That in the duh of young men mention d by Mr. Peirce in his Weitern Inquilition , fa^.li, 72'. the Deity of Christ vons frequently de- nied ^w^ argud agninft^ ; md it w/ts nlfo infified on^ that the ufual Doxologies in the end of our prayers Jloould he alter d. The debates on this run fo high, that fever al of us declard we would withdraw, and it was not till then, that anyfuch article as Mr, Vejrce f}>ea\s of, was prop of ed to p event difputes on this fuhjeB. And we never heard it was Mr. PeirceV dcfire^ that this club fhould he broke, till puhliftod in his Inquifition. Joferh Force, Witne^ our hands . John Churchiil, William Cokon. I Tofeph Force do farther certify, tlmt after we had with- drawn upon the difputes mention d in the above certifi* cate I met with 07ie of the fociety who thought fit to con- tinue, and who then defird me to come again, alledging, that they had enter d into an agreement to avoid all difputes ■upon thofe difficult points in religion ; upon which I wen» again once or f^ice, and then wholly withdrew. Jofeph Force. THIS is to certify, all whom it rhay concern, That in the club of young men menti-nd in Mr. PeirceV Inquifition, p. 71, qi. tloe Deity 0/ C h r i s x was fre- quently denyd and argud againft, and it was infified on by many, that the doxologies in the end of our prayers fhould be alter d ; upon which fever al withdrew, parti- cularly thofe who fignd the above certificate, and it was not till then, that there was any fuch article made to prevent difputes of this nature, which Mr. Peirce makes mention of Thomas Dryer. KB. Tho. Dryer, who makes this certificate met with ' the remainder of the club, after the perfons above had withdrawn, when the article Mr. P. fpeaks of was added. As (57) A s to the blafphemous expreffions fald to be men- tion'd by Mr. iyithers,\s lee fall by people on the other fide, and again taken notice oi fag. 77. And again in Mr. PVithers's' reafons : The perlons who fublcrib'd the underneath certificate, being the only perfons^ that we hear of, that were nam'd as chargeable with thefe blafphemies, do oifer as follows in behalf of them- felves ; WHEI^EAS it is given cut, Timt there are many in thisC'iiYf who embrace the notion c/SnbeLius, or that fay, the V at /e^ is the Soi^, or the Sck ^/;cFatkef, or that God the V A T HE K tcck^ flejh, &cc. iVe whcfe names are under-written, with others, do hereby declare. That we abominate thefe opinions, ncr do we kricw of any that hold them, and if it be laid to the charge of any ^ of as ; we declare this can be no otherways than by mens unjuft faftnlng of confcquences upon us, which wc uttrrly deny and deleft. iVe acknowledge, according to the received faith of the chrlftlan churches, that there Is but OntG o d, and in that God or Godhead there are Three Diftmcilons or Perfons, the Father, the Son, and ^/j^Holy Ghost, and that thefe are more than dlftlnci modes or names, Dudley Gary; George Jewell, M R. Ball is charg'd with the hrtach of an agreement, which he knows nothing of The pag. 7i. truth of this nnatter will appear by the fcUcw- ing account. As to what Mr. Pelrce fays p. 72. That he was con- tent whh rhe offer that v^as made him, thst care (hould be taken for the future in the examination of candi- dates for rhe miniftrv. This is the truth of that matrer, vl;{. That Mr. Pelrce was violent againft bringing any thing about thefe opinions into the affemhly at all, and told us, that it w^as in the power of the ajpmbly to appoint whom they pleased, to examine can- diaates, and by this means prevent the growth or theie errors. I anfwer'd. That they were fpread among ma- ny already, and the fpreaders of them gave cur, that (5S) many minlfters were in them ; and upon this confidera- tion there was need of a publick declaration in th% njfcmhly, that our people might not be imposed upon. And Therefore, whereas Mr. Pcirce inlinuates, that ht and Mr. y/nlro7id and I agreed not to bring the bull- nefs of declaring into the njfewhly, and that thereupon we parted, hoping our labour was not loft, and that peace might ftill be prefervM. This infinuarion is intirely falfe : For we gave Mr. iVithers and him to know that we refolv'd to declare our faith in the enfuing nffemhly, and when Mn P. faid, then vou muft anfwer for the con- fequences ; To this Mr, fValro77d reply'd. They that be- gan the fi-ay, muft anfwer for the conclufion : and fo we parted. Farther, there was great reafon for making fuch a publick .declaration, when feveral men of different coagregaricns had told me and other minifters, That the great fticklers in thefe opinions gave out, that Mr. P. was of their mind, and would commonly add, if Mr. P. was not of thefe opinions, why did he not declare againft them ? and I defended him as long as I could upon this, which I now find to be a quibble, that he was not of the peculiar ofmion of Arius ; tho' the dif- ference between Arh:s and thsm, is only this j the firft fays, There is a Time when Christ was not y the latter fay, there is an Eternity when he was not. And was it nor time to make a publick declaration of our i^iith, when twenty minifters fubfcrib'd againft the ajfcmbly ? of which twenty, not above three, that ever I heard of, oftei'd in any words whatfoever, to declare their belief of the T r i n i t y. "Whereas Mr. Peirce fpeaks farther of ^ftg. 73. a previous meeting before the AJfemhly, to which Mr. H^itkers, was invited, ^c. this we allow ; but whereas Mr. P. far her fays, That when- it was expeded that he [}Ai\ iVithers"} ihou.d have joyn'd with us, and that to this, he aniwer'd, '^ That they knew how unanimoufly I fMr. Pcirce} was invited thi- ther, not only by the people but by the ^Jfembly; and that for his part he could never concur in fuch dif honoui-a- ( 59 ) honourable meafures as they were taking to turn me out," W£ whofe names nre under-vcritteyi being frcfent nil the while Mr. V^thm was there, do folemnly de- clare ^ That ncne cf us have the leaft remembrance of any fuch anfwer made by Mr. Withers ; and we are the bet- ter ajfurd that cur memories cant fail us becaiije there was no occafion given for fuch an anfwer, it never being in cur thoughts or intention to turn out Mr. Peirce ot any other ferfon ; but Jhculd have receivd fuch a charge with the utmcfi refeyitment, John BalV John Walrond, John Enty, John Lavingron» But to go on, Mr. Peirce charges Mr. Ball and Mr. J4^alro7id with perfidy and breach of pag. 737 promife, for not inviting him to a meeting previous to the bringing this matter into the ajfembly. Concerning which thofe two minifters make th-e tbliovv- ing declaration. We don't remember, we brought ourfelves under any fuch obligation ; but if we did, it was fuInU'd ; for notice was fent him of the meeting at Mr. Pym^s, and with our Approbation (which was previous to the bringing the matter into the ajfembly) and accordingly he was prefent there : Where then is there any ground for this out-cry of ferfidioufnefs ? and with what con- fcience could he give it fuch an opprobrious term ? or who will fay, that we were bound to call in Mr. P. to every leifer meeting that we had with particular friends .^ John Ball, John PFalrond, What Mr. Peirce alledges in the fame page of a minlfter's faying. If any would not declare, they would leave them to the jieople. No particular reply can be made tp it, becaufe 'cis not known who is charged. \ % "And ( 6o ) And whereas he adds, I take it to be a farther evl-' dence of pc/fidioufnef ; the reader is delir'd to caft his eve on what Mr. B^Jl remarks on p^.g. 31, of the PTeft.Inq. M R. Pelrce in this page boafts of his con- pag. 74. queft in the choice of a moderator ; but he has the lefs reafon to triumph in this, becaufe the fald gentleman has (ince prov'd himfe'if an Arian under his own hand, which 'tis probable Mr. P. and his friends were apprizd of before the choice : tho' very few, if any, of the other (ide had any fufpicipn of it. Some of thefe were not come into the affemhly, where- as Mr. P. and his friends took care to be there, and therefore feeing a moderator is chofen when only four* teen ordain'd minifters are prefent, what wonder is it that Mr. P. and his friends had their choice, and what a poor occafion is this for triumph. To Mrv. Peirce'^ farther refledllons, Mr. fag. 75. Jofidh Eveleigh and Mr. Hdlly make the fol- lowing reply. The reader is dehr'd to take notice I have hitherto had the honour of the greateft (hare of Mr. P's Indig- nation to I'ght upon me. He tells me, * J know your temper to he over c^clous, I k^iovp no hufinefs you h.id to intermeddle in cur nffair except you defjgnd to acl the part of an in- cendiary, a hufy impertinence muft have been dearer to you than your right hand : And yet when he now comes to relate the hillory at large of the affairs at Exeter, and of a ferment working in the city for two years an- tecedent to his ejeii:lment, he does not fee caufe to men- tion me, ai concern d in any one injiance, and I knew he could not ; except my coming twice to the City on pur- pofe to perfiiade to conference?, and twice at the re- queft of the committee. What then (hall the world think of Mr. P's reiied:ions and accufations ? But to what he fays, png. 74. of his I4^eft. Inq. That himfelf with three ether jealous brethren, (io he is pleas'd to ftyle u>, for I was one of them) were appoinred to examine two can- didates ; that we ask^d them what we pleas' d, a':d par- ticularly about the Trinity, and reported our fiauU faction to the ajfembly : And yet afterwards by our own a: bitrary * See his letters to Mr. Erjihigh, ( 6i y arbitrary authority, would have infifttd lipon rhefe can- didates T^^w/w^ the eic^r me of the Ti I anfwer'd, That I thought Baptifm in his name was the greateft glory that could be given him : to dedicate ourfelves to him. To which Mr. P. made no reply, but held up his hands, and* laid no more : tho' he hath given us fuch another hiftory of a long for- mal conference, as he did in his cafe fng. 4, of a con- ference with the twelve gentlemen of the committee, of which not one of the gentlemen remembers one word. The fame he did another time, when I urg'd out of i^*?- mans ch. i. That if Christ was but an inftrument in the creation, the fupreme God could expedl no honour from his creatures, at leaft, before the writings of the AVr> Tefiamem. The Gentiles, the apoftle tells us, might know by the vifible creatures the invifihle things of God, even J[?;j Eternal Power /jti^ Godhead 5 (which are ftrange words to be fpokeu of any one creature, or half creature:) but how could they learn from the creation, that the im* mediate Creator was not to be worfhipp'd as the fu- preme God upon this account, becaufe he deriv'd his power from another and he himfelf was but an inftru- ment ? I added, that the Jcwijb church was taught to %vorfhip the Creator of heaven and earth, but never heard ( f>l ) •heard of an Inftrument that was the immediate Creator.' At this Mr. P. lifted up his hands, and made no reply. He may pleafe to fay, that this is no arguing, but c/4- Ttiour and nonfenfe • but it feems to me to be a ftrong ar- gument againft Christ's being an inftrument in the creation : and the abler handy as Mr. P, affures us he was, that anfwer'd the pamphlet call'd Arius dete^cH^ fays nothing that will weaken it. John J^aU. B Y this account of Mr. Bali it appears, That when Mr. P. met with any thing he either could not, or jcar'd not to anfwer, left he (hould too much difcover himfelf, he thought it fufRcient to be (ilent, and only to hold up his hand; fuch a carriage in others would have been reckon'd by him either a (ign.of a bad caufe, or want of courage to defend it. MR. Peirce takes the liberty to prefent the reader with the Re a son s oifered by Mr. /^^! 97.' ii^thers againft making the following Declara- TiOM, [J believe the ¥ a r n h -Ry Word, and Spirit," u be the One G o d.] Which Reasons might have been pafs'd over with lilence, as not being publifhed by Mr. M^ithers himfelf, did not other obvious Confiderations oblige to the contrary. The following remarks are of- fered upon them. The fii-ft thing to be taken notice of is the ititroduftion which is in thefe words : y T take all words that are not the words of the ,. X " Holy Ghost, to be the words of men, and by ''* confequence a human explication ; and, in the cafe il before us, of a very abftrufe point. " Anfw. It is conceived, that by the words of the Ho- ly Ghost, Mr. iVtthers muft intend, fuch words as are immediately didated by him. But will he fay, That the mind of the H o l y G h o s t cannot be exprefs'd by any other words ? If fo, then no tranflation of the Bible can properly becalfd the word of God, and no- thing ought to be deliver'd or receiv'd as fuch, except the criginal Hebrew^ zndChaldee in the Old Tejidment, and K 2 the the Greek, in the J^ew. How fay this fets afide the Au- thority of Scripture tranflations on the confciences of Men> and that acknowledged proteftant principle, That it is the will of God that all nations fhould have the Scriptures in rheir own language ; not to fay any thing of its vacating the office of the miniftry: Mx^VVithers would iio well to confider. But if he qr Mr. P. will allow, that the fenfe of the originals may be exprefs'd in other words, Vis all that is contended for 5 and then, what he lays down as a maximy will have nothing in it to af- fed the caufe in debate. For tho' it be a human ex- |)li cation, (as he calls it) yet if it does truly exprefs the I'enfe of the Holy Ghost, it ought to have from us the regard that is due to a divine Truth. He fays, That in the Cafe before us, it is an ex- plication of d very ahjirufe pint. A s to this, it is to be wifh'd, Mr. TVithers had let the world know, what it is he calls r.hflrufe. Whether the proper Deity of C h r i s t and his eternal and neceffa- ry diftindtion from the F a t h e r, or the manner of that diftindion in one and the fame divine Nature ? If he means the firfi, 'tis affirm'd, That it is plainly rq- veal'd in the Scriptures. If the latter, it will be obli^ ging to name the man or minifter that ditfers froni him. The Reasons themfelves are next to be confiderM^ which are firji againft any declaration at all, and theri againft this in particular. The firft of thofe againft an^^at all, is deliverd thus : " I conceive, with fubmifTion to better Judgments, '* that the bringing in fuch a teft is contrary to the ** good old rule, allowed by all divines and lawyers, " That no man is bound t Gofpel mimfters; obllg'd to publiOi them; and be far from thinking this an accufing of themfelves. If k be faid, That tho' they account them to be truths, yec others who delire them to declare their faith, will look on them as dangerous errors. What then ? may they not for all this be bound to declare it ? Did not the Scribes and Pharifees look upon the dodtrine of Christ as forgery and falfhood, and treated thofe with feverity that publifh'd it ? And yet Christ and his apoftles did not refufc to declare it, nor did they defend themfelves againft their adverfaries upon this maxim. That they were not bound to accufe themfelves of error. Mr. PVi- thers concludes this head with the following words : For the method novo fropsd, I can look, on it no othervtnfe than an infringement of the common liberties of mankind, 'Tis ftrange, that a propofal to minifters of making known their fentiments in a matter of this confcquence, fhould be caird an infringement of common liberty. The brethren thought they aded confidently^ with all juft liberties, whentho' they conceiv'd themfelves bound 'in duty to God to make a declaration of their faith^ they did not offer to compel others to do the fame, nor had it ill their power or inclination to do {o. But if their difcharging what they take to be their indifpenfible duty, be an infringement of the others liberty, there is no fuch thing as liberty; becaufe to lecure their bre- threns liberty, they muft in this cafe fuffer a manifeit infringement of their own. Therefore with fubmiflion, it feems a very abfurd way of preferving the com- mon liberties of mankind, for one fide to claim the whole of liberty to themfelves, and leave none to the ether. His fecond Rea^oK : " I apprehend fuch a manage- ** ment will condemn the puritans for refufing, and " juftify their adverfaries in impofing the oath ex " officio. With what face can we pradlice that our- " lelves, which we blnme in others ; who tho' they ** had no reafon, had more authority for what they did? ** I can look on the intended projedl: as no other than '* an Inquifition into mens confciences, a ranfacking of ." their minds, and a TpiecQofeccle/jaJllc/iltjirann^.^^ Anfw, < 7a > ^ 'Anfa. Tho^e of the Bigh-commtffim in Queen Jfe//;^^;; heth^ time, who were authoriz'd to adminifter the oath ex officio, pretended a power from parliament to attach^ fine or imfrifon offenders,^ The jpurhans oppos'd this oath as a grievous impofitiori, and well they might ; becaufe it fubjeded them to fevere penalties. But is there any parity or likenefs between this cafe and that under prefent confideratiori ? between a free meeting of brethren in the miniftry, where a propofal is made touching which, every one is left at his liberty to a(9b according to the direction of his confcienc6 ; and a court of commilTion arm'd with parliamentary power to in- flid fevere penalties upon fuch as refufe ? And what is there in a propofal for /t declaration of faith that muft condemn the p«n>^w^ for refuling, and juftify their adver- faries in impofing the oath ex officio ? Does the difclaiming impofitions and ading nothing like 'em, juftify others in their impofitions, or condemn thofe that refufe to fubmit to them ? Do any think, that becaufe the furi* tans objedled to the oath ex officio^ they would have ob- jeded to the making a declaration in the alfembly > Till better arguments are produc'd, than any that have been feen hitherto, Mr. Withers muft give his brethren leave to remain perfuaded, that were the puritans now livings they would moft of them have been as zealous for a declaration as they were againji the oath: Yea, that good Mr. Pox himfelf, who refus'd to fubfcribe any thing but the Greek, Teftament, would have reckoned the propoling a declaration in the alfembly no imp'ofition, as the matter has been ft^ted, and whilft no legal penal- ties could be inflided upon thofe that were of a contra- ry judgment. Our godly forefathers, how much foever they were againft impofitions, did never exclaim againft mens making a voluntary declaration of their faith. Wherefore to cite the furitnns here, is to abufe their example, and refledt upon their memories. And to ufe Mr. PPithers^s own words, tho* with fome reludance, Pf^ith what face can any man accufe his brethren of fra- Bifing that themfehes which they blame in others, when they are fo very remote from it ; and feeing, as they had no power or authority to oblige any to fall in with what was offered, they were uneatable of impofing it up- on <2. MI - ( 75 ) on others from their drcumftnnces as well as mdlna' tlqn ? Howevei, that they had reafon to make the above- rnention'd propofal, muft be evident to all that are willing to underftand the cafe, and believe it to be the concern and dur/ of minifters to preferve the Truth, and to fettle the minds of foiicitous inquirers in that moft important article of rheir religion. Their endeavouring this, was no ill intended project, tho' it be call'd an In- quijitlon into mens coniciences, a ranfacking of their minds, and a piece of ecc'ejjafticnl tyranny. Hard words! 'Tis pity they were ever pronounc'd by one of Mr. iVi- thers\ fenfe and characfrer, elpecially lince himfelf re- fers us to their own fubfcriptions as a rule of judging them *. Surely he had forgot how often he hath^de- fir*d, nay> demanded the fame thing of thofe in whofe ordination he hath been concerned. His third and laft Reason is in thefe words: " I " doubt this may be introdudory to other innovations, " if we fhould give way now. We have one teft this " year, perhaps we fliall have ano' her next ; and every " man that can get to be head of n farty, will be for ** making a i^q\n creed, and we fhall never know where "to ftop. And therefore what Juvenal [rather Perjjus} ** faid of the natural, may be very well applied to an " ecclefiaftical body, venienti occurrhe morbo.^^ AnfvQ. If it was not ufual for the minifters at this ajfemhly to make a declaration of their faith, it is be- caufe they had not at any time before, fo loud a call, or fuch fpecial reafons moving them to it. The matter to be declared was no innovation. They were to do no- thing, but what it is fuppos'd they had done at their ordination or entrance upon the exercife of their mi- niftry. If they did not repent of their firft fubfcription, why fliould they be unwilling to repeat it for fear of future pofTible confequcnces } Should any thing hereafter be offered of a more doubtful and lefs important nature, there would not be the fame necellity of declaring then, as now 3 and wife men fhould know when, and how far L ic * Vidi Reafon the firft. (74) it is theiy duty to comply or refufe. He fays, We have cne teft this year, perhaps we Jhalt have another next. Truth Is an invariable thing, and does not chance with times and feafons. Suppofing him to fpeak of the fame particular Truth, that which is a teft (as he thinks fit to term it) of mens orthodoxy this year, will be the fame rhe next, and perpetually fo. The infinuation, as if thofe who proposed a declaration were for making a new creedj and aiming to be beads of a party, affords matter of forrowful refledlion. The only defign was to pre- ierve that faith, w^hich was firmly believ'd to be the faith once delivered to the faijits ; and for that reafon, the moft effed;ual way to prevent the making of new creedsy or any one's getting to be head of a farty. The method proposed to^he aflembly, was to obviate a grow- ing infedion, and fuitable enough to the maxim quoted from FerfmSy except, that they were blamM by their people for being too cautious and flow in their pro- ceedings. |i A V I N G thus confider'd his reafons againft any * teft at all, the next to be examined, are thofe he of- fers againft this declaration in particular. First, he obferves, ** That this expreffion is rot '* to be found in the moft ancient creeds, even fuch as *' were drawn up againft the Arians themfelves; nay, *' even fom.e of the moft eminent defenders of the MV *' cene faith have cautioufly avoided it. To prove this, „ he quotes St. Hilary and St. Aujlin. The firft thus •* writes, deTrinitate, Lib. VIII. Vterque [fc. Pater. ^ " Filius'] fotius unum confitcndus eft effe^ quam unus. ** Again, Patrem ^ Filiuvi fingu ; rem Deum prccdicare J* facrilegiim eft. " The latter of which palfages may with reaion be taken ro be a faii^ explication of the former, the fenfe of which expreffion, feems evidently this , That to affirm the Father, and the Sok, to be the One God, exclufively one of a72other, is facrile- gious. That which he quotes from Auflin, Tom. VI. p. 842. is this : Ao?z ergo unus 8c idem eft Pater & FiHus, fed unum fun t Pater (^ Filius. Leave is crav'd to ex- plain this quotation from Auftin by Auftin himfelf. His words are thefe : Deus eft unus (^ trinus, fed non fe- cundum ( 75 ) cundum idem ; eft unus effentinliter^ trinus feiftnaliter, con- tYfidiclorin enlm non eiff.rmamur de 'codem,fi einoyi trihunntur fecundumLlem, in ejfentia divina eft alius ^ alius non aliud ^ nliud, alius cnitn eftfater, alius filius, alius Sjpirirus San- lius, hi frcs autem Jtmt fotius Unum quam unus. Aultin de Fid.^ de H.eref What can hi^ lenfe in diefe exprefTions be other than this, That tho' in the Divine Eflence there be Three diftind Perfons, yet in refped of EJftyicc they are but One, And Mr. iVithers will not fay, that the njfemhly in their exprejfion had any other meaning. Sure- ly he had overlook'd another palfageof St. yluft in ^ which. IS this, Secu7idum fhilofifhum folus idem eft quod non cum alio, (^ idea, tantummodo excludit illud quod alienatum dicit, Filius autem non eft alius a Patre in eftentia fed tantum in ferfona. TraH. in Johan. And again, Quic- quid eft effentice divine ^ dcnominatioms ah ea non mi^ nus deFilio ^ Sfiritu Sajicio quam de ipfo Patre denuntia- tur. De prcedejii. Sayicl. Add to thefe, that paflage with jivhich he concludes his book of the Trinity. D#- mine Deus unus, Deus Trinitas, qu.tcunque dixi in hoc Libro de tuo, agnofcant (^ tui, fi quid de meo, (3 tu ig- nofte, ^ tui. Mr. J4^ithers fays of both thefe Fathers, That they ownd the Father a7id Son to be one iri Nature : it muft then be difficult to know, what he means' by one in nature, if he dcrh not intend that they jire One G o d .> 'Tis hop'd, they are righdy explained ; if Mr. Withers thinks otherwife, it will be hard to find iti w^hat lenfe he underftands them. The next Reason Mr. IVithers exprelTes thus : *' The " words I objed: againft.are the words of one of the moft " Fiotorious Hereticks that ever difturb'd the church, I "mean, Paulus SamofatenuSy patriarch of Antioch, wiio *•■ liv'd in the middle of the third century, and was *^ -condemn'd by the moft numerous council the churcli " ever faw, before that of Nice, His herefy is thus de- *-^ fcrib'd by Epfnanius, H.tr.e^. This m.an affirms, Thai God the F a t h e r, S o n, and H o l y S p i r i t, are One God: That the Word and Sp i Pvi x were " from all Ei;ernity in God, as a man's reaion is in " his own heart ; but the Son had no prop.er perfonal !r fubliftence of his own." ' ■ * ■ •' . '' L 2 Anfwt. ( 76 ) Anfrv. Tis matter of fatlsfadion, that Mr. Withefs owns, there are fuch movfters as hereticksy and that they are difturbeis of the church ; but will he fay, there was any thine offerM at the ^JJembly, that cany'd any thing like Fduius Samofatenus's ienfe in it? 'Tis hoped, Mr. Withers did not intend to reprefent his brethren fo to the world. The expreflion ofter'd to the ajjcmbly, was in oppofition to thole who deny'd C h r i s r to be one God with the Father; that alferted him to be an- other God and inferior to the Father: Their bu- finefs was to provide againft that error, and by their exprelTion they took care to do it. Pnulus Snmofntenus was not adjudg'd an heretick_^ox owning the Son to be the eternal God, but denying him to be a dlfiinH Sub- fiftencey and for faying, that the Word eind Spirit vpere from all Eternity in Gon, as a wans reafon is itt his own heart. But did any thing like this appear at the ajjembly ? Mr. PVithers muft be confcious, that the on^ ly thing proposed, was, to know, what the minifters thought touching this propofition , The Father, \V" o R d, and Spirit, are the One God. Had there any fuch words a^ thcfe of P. Samofatenus, or thofe of Servetus^ which he quotes out of Turretin, been men- tion d, fuch a declaration would have countenanc'd Sa- hellianlfmy but whilft there was not the leaft appearance of any fuch thing, Mr. iVithers muft nor be ofiended, if his reafons and quotations are thought foreign to the purpofe. His laft Reason is this : " I am perfuaded a decla- " ration in thefe words, will give couiitenance to many ** in this city, who embrace the wild Sahellian notions. ** We have here fome zealous mechanicks, who fill " town and country with fearful out-cries againft the " Arims, and run into the contrary extreme, affirming, ** That the Father is the Son, the Son the F a- " T H E R ; that God the Father took fiefli, (3c. A72fw. Dudley Gary and George Jevoelly who are the only perfons known to be charg'd with thefe blafphe- mous opinions, have declared under their hands, that they abominate thefe opinions, and that they do not know (77) know of any that hold them, and have acknowledged, according to the received faiih of the chi'iftian churches. That there is but One God, and in that God ot Godhead, there are three Dlftlndtions or PerfonSp the Father, the S o n, and the HolyGhost ; and that thefe are more than diftind: Modes or Names *, After what has been faid. It muft now be de- clared to the world, that Mr. H^ithers having (lince his giving rhe reafons above recited) fatisfyM his people by affenting to the firji article of the Church of Efigiandf this anfwer had never thus appeared, nor his name been ib much as mentioned here, had not Mr. Peirce by his publifhing and applying them to the ufe he do£s, rendered it highW necelfary. Such is Mr. iVithcrs'^s character, that to fay any thing which might Teem in the leaft to detracft from it, muft put a force upon eve- ry generous and good mind, FROM Mr. Vi^tthcrss> reafons we pro- ceed to confider the reflexions Mr. Pag, 83, 84J Peirce is pleas'd to caft upon the ajfem- hly for infifting on a declaration. He and his party were confcious to themfe'ves of their private fentiments, and therefore no wonder rhey oppofed any declaration whatfoever for fear of being deredled. When they could not ca?;-y a vote againft it, he endeavoured to amuie the njfemhly with general charges of errour of another na^ure, that he might divert them from declaring and defending the truth of the prefent day. He brings no particular charge againft any that were guilty of the . dangerous errours, and blafphemous expreiiions he makes mention of It is not to be expe; • But t\\\f anonymous libel was rejedled by the ajjhnbly tvith indignation, the author of wliich, Mr. Peirce would not pretend to guefs at. He then demanded a copy of my Letter, to which I reply'd, " That it being written only to a private friend, and not imagining the fubjecfb of it would have been made fo publick, I had kept none, biit would write to Mr. Tong for it, which I did forth- wkh. But Mr. Tong was then -gone down to Coventry for fome time, and upon his return wrote me two let,- ters, which were read in the next ajfembly of May fol- lowing. In the firft of which Mr. Tong is pleas'd to lay, ** I muft Dwn^ I prefum'd too much upon your candour, ** in making your firft letter fo publick ; but if the an- ^ fwer it produced has done any fervice, I am iecure 'f .of your pardon from your great concern for the caufe ** of Tf'Uth and Peace. 1 am forry that the letter has **' been quite- worn out in my pocket, having, carry ""d it ** fome hundreds of miles : But there will be fufficlent ** evidence, that the Anonymous paper has done you " wrong!" Upon the receipt of which letter, I wrote^ a- xaifi tp, Mj;. T<>?j^, |o. deiire even any fragments of my firft feer,! fo'^irmcf qtieftiondoa ih^^rinn fide j if pdTible to be recoverM, as not b^m| afhamM it {hcmldbe fc^ri by any tnAni- To which he again rcply'd in ^hefc wordsti *• You cannot eafiiy imagine how. much I am griev'd^r *i and even afhiim*d, that I ihonld wear >to pieces an4 ** loiefucha letter as yo^iirs was; I am fure the macicr^- •1' the manner, and the writer, deferv'd much more rte: ** gard from mc. If my life depended upoa' i?, I canr^ ** not recQ-^er onTR inch of it, tho' I think I am pretty *• well apprir*d of the contents, e^ecially in the moft ** effential parts of it. I hope this failure of min?, tha* '* not to DC excused by me, will be pardoned byr^ •* you ; arid that no iH cffeds, . either to you or to thc.^ *f Truth fhall arife from it. '* r Both thefe letters being ttad in the ajfemhly ofM^/r above-mention'd, gave full fatisfadion to the mihifters, who faid, iVIjift could Mr Wairond have done more ^ and fee we fi:id Mr. P. io charitable as to fuggeft to the world, ^.91. «h^t this letter has been found arain. And, after all this, when I wrote again to Mr. Tcn^ to res: colled^ hlmfelf as to the fubjecft of that firlt letter, h6 was pleas'd to give me an ample acquittal from any thing injurious to the Exeter minifters ; affirming. That*- there was nothing in it like a cbarge of Arianpfht '&tf Setnitirhyiifrn, . - i-A But whether any of tbefe mihifters were charge^^ fefe with errors of that nature, let fomc of their book*"- decide, particularly the famous iVcft, Inq, to go noi^^b thcr ; in which our blefled Saviour is fuppos^dtj^,- be neither the fupreme Go d nor a creature, but a mci's Sum between both, iVeft. hvq, p. 15. fo that he is JCf*: ducM to a non-entity^ and the figment of a wild and- unaccoAintable fancy, contrary to reveUtien, reefon and\ common finfe ; but too much like that of the poet, Sunti mihi^femi Bef, ^c \, But admit, that this letter ft>: much caviird at, had indeed deferv'd their ccnfiare ; -.yefer I don't iind they make the leaft exception to the /i»*o fwer ii occafion'd, nor find any fault with the adviceJC broughtvfo chat it is a iktle odd, thai jfttvecy. much ,ad»:;^ .j:^.: . ..:. . .. : .. ,. ^.\..i j.orn ^.:. >ihQlild^> .>:j:ii>v-M 'ra-jvi^ ma-;-? !j'v;c:^'n ^"^iJ. v^^-^> uiy^n f tee fe reader obfcrvc aIfo»'^ lettef of mine, tho' the Narrativg (zys, Th It Letters were received from So..;£ emi- 14ENT MlNlSTEKS NEAR EKETEI{y GOMPLAIVl NC, &cl p. 4. And, Sik^rwsLrdSf it was fnrther /ignif/d, &c. /i(f|f. 5. which ih*imates more letters and authors than one, as rndeed there were. It is not amifs in this place to take Notice, ifiat Mr. ?. was pleased (with his ufuai truth and temper) in a former pamphlet, to fay, That Mr. H^nlrond gave a dijtngenuous account to London j whereas he acknowledges he could not know what ac- count he gave ; but that bis letter remained a myftery,? JD^^. p. 91. and, with great civility and chriftlanity terms this unknown letter, mlfchievous and malicious as ever ^y penned hy tije Vfriter^ and the whole Narrative a mere €ollufi(m and juggle. Thefe are words which a wife man- would dcfpilc, and a chriftian never retaliate, efpccially when he -can rejoyre ir» the innocence and integrity of his own mind; neither fhould I delicht in drawing fo reu^h ttfriWf in return to Mr. P*s ingenuity And good breed- />§, in many places of his book I think, unbecoming a a liivine," a chriftian, or a^mleman. The iruch is, this*: vrrttcr would fain condemn the Letters and ;he UarrA* ^ twey extracted out of them, to lelVen the reputation of- the authors, which they have the comfort to hope, thro?-. Clod's goodnef;, *nay poiTibly be out of His fhor, tho' hfe'drew the arrow to the head. The Letters were true andfaithfol, the account they gave, a juft account; but th* fault of them was, that they difcovcr'd the J^^^it . vmks of eUrknefiy that were carrying on apace, and laid/ opei a» conipiracy agaiiift the divinity and gbry of j Cb * 1 it- and xhe ^ Ho l y Spirit; which thefe^ gentiea^ea were at iirft afliam'd co own, but have fincc fpokcn: out more boldly upon the unexpedbed encouragc^- jftent they have received from fcveral quarters, *St m xi^^n^^ lid o)U S52 ,^fi ,t?-i /^M hnt .0*.? .:|^t>* Ma TsKY (84) -■. nr . f'f HfcY who. read the account h6rc given . by Mr* tvMrond of his letter to Mr. Tp7ig, as to a private friend ^nd miriifter, without any thought or defign of his com- municating it to others, will not wonder that he did not ke^p a cqpy of it '; and vvhoe'^'er confiders Mr. Toiig's account how it came to be v»/ori out and loft, has all the reafon in the world to be fatisfy'd there could be no bafe' defign to ferve in lofing it j efpecially after, ic had been read more than once in a meeting of many miuifters, feme of whom were as great friends to Mr. Pence as' they were to hii\ TVnlrotid. The iubftancs of it mighr be guelVd at by ^he anfwer, and if Mr.. P. and his pany had nothing to objed: againft that, why is all this ciamour and outcry about a thing that pror ducU no worfe etfedts.^ We (liall now anfwer what relates to the Londfiu^ minifters. -^-'.^l^h A/f R. Peirce fays, That they at L oh d ©li f/ig. 86. "^ were not cnpnhle of judgmg^ whether Mr. Walrond'j account was a juji /ind fyir , '^^nCy'Sic. And, zt is the' e^icft thing in the world for Jome men. to ghe ei difingenuous reprejentation of a cafe. And we will fay, a faife one too, as to our grief we find is too rraich connrm'd by Mr. P. himfeif throughout hi^ whole . Book. But the objection he would raife from hence againft the London minifters as judges in the cale, is altogether groundlefs ; for they took not upon- them , to judge Mr. P. nor did they enter into the me** i rit -of the: caiife. They only gave general rules of ad* * VVice, and thole as they are laid down in the S^ripturej, "^'smd iefj: it to others to make their ufe of them in the fear -• of Go J?, This they are by their office^ bound £ado, ^"^45. oft .as; application is made to them in achridiap- m^ner ; but they determined , npthii-tg againft) Mr, P.,; wherefore his complaints and exclamations bot|? h^r© ♦^^"and elfewhere are no other than the etfedt of ^ di- ^^ (tempci^'d fpirit and downright calumny. li i 'jit'^- ■^ ' He adds, That the minifters in London, did not take ^'^'fhe proper courfc to know the fiili ftate of the cafe„ -^W^T" ,, M This This proper courfe waSj that they (liould have vvm to Mm. But in cafe he. had given a different accounv muft all have gone for nothing that Mr. IValrond had wro':e merely out pf deference to Mr. Peircc ? The min.ifter who made the motion muft upon this account be in his efteem a man of great prudence and equity* But if it had been comply'd with, they had certainly tdken the moft unlikely way of arriving at fatisfadion. Ms. IValrond was well knoyvn to feveral, and there was iio; realon to fufped his integrity, or call his veracity into qiieftion. The fad event juftifies the truth of his: account , and that he was fo far from aggravating things, thatxhey were much worfe than he reprefented them to be. There was no need of writing to Mr. i'. fince.^jl: •tJBk the rhinifters undertook or did, was only to lend asletter of general advices agreeable to the Serif turds,- touching which Mr. P, and his party can find no fault; And 'tis very plain from Mr. P\ condud:, that if he had been appiy'd to, he would have ufed fo many fhuffling arts and evafions, as v/ould have kept the London mi» mfters intirely in the dark as to the true ftate of their ' » :M'^. T T E R s being ckar'd with refpedi to h^T. PVdrond and the London minijiers. The J^^g- 9^i editors of the I^arracive crhe leave to re- 91. piy- to the very • indecent and unworthy re- fi^^ons Mr. P. has caft upon them, fag. 90, ^u 'The matrers objeded againft them, are ift, Thac^ Mr. Tmg\ and Mr. I{chinfc7is letters, as ths^ Are printed, in-, tljc JNarrative, ^ liver'd to the tranfcriber, and fo put into the Narrative^^, bjwhkh- the editors thereof fulficientiy acquit therav, felvel. c ^ y l'> t::v: -^ ' ' "I'^n- 3*..: h.'; f^'? :5bn.•rJ■ Mv€$..S.And Upon comparing; thofe in the Narr^Hve Wu&i. the letters p^inre'd in the JVcft. Xnq. the teauer will fin^ tfee variation fo fmall as not to. make the Jeaft excef>ti<^: liable difference in matter or ^^w^e, Mr. Tong in copyn, ing his own bnginal might fee no danger (as indeed iheie^ was none) in fuch minute alterations. The paragraph cinitted 'tis plain was no part of the letter read and>a4 greed to by the brethren to be the anfwer to Mr. iVdir^t rond, only an after reference to it and Mr.l{phinfon\ ict-?^ ter, and cnndiic^e^ with exprefTions of refpect to M$^^ 'BfS and^Ar: l4^!^on(i ^ nil which had been fuperfluouf to pur in:o ilie Narrnnve, nothing beinc fa id in thitr pnr^pranh to the prefent purpofe but what is faid imt tdx. ^obinfcnh lerter. , -^.p. rTo the fecond, it is replyM. That if Mr. ^^/i-wiifet firft icrrer had been the onfy one that gave an accouoiht ofii matters there migh: have been lome ground fo^'i the charee. B'r there were otheis befides this, andti- one from Mr. H^drond conhrming what he had befo|tn feat, with fur.her particuiars. This letter bears dat«fe> Au^uft 30. 17 iS, which was but four days aficr th%fi da;e of Mr. Tmi^s and Mr. ^binfons ieiterj :.and b«» fore Mn tValrcnd; (or it may be Mr. Peirce - himfetf/lt could be itiform'd of what he is charged to have wrij^ ir t^n in his ii.ft letter,. It was from this §tCQ%d Xttvtf^n, that fev era I particulars in the N^rr^jftW were extra^ed-^j and particularly that exprc.Tion , Laymzn wv $d^A^ and difputed about it, {xho, Arian crrorj in many oMowtd and b'afphcmcus phrafes. This not only furni(h«s a. fuNti ther proof that }A\\ PVahond charged the feop'c amd not the minlfter;, with tbefe bUfpbemous exprejjton^^^ bulHii flio.ws, that Mr. ^'s remark as if the firji letter »^?« fcmd again, was o\ying only to an unjuit and srou»d?m lels^ (urriiiieiUiTtA'^'ti %-^ i^f vy ii^T in?f(^mo:> *i. ''M . His third and laft- charge, fiirQs^y,'T^^ttth%\'9fb9hl% of the Narrative is to be looked upon as a meje eoUuJl!m'^\ and .juggle falls to the ground. The force of his^ar^^ gument is form'd upon an advantage haftily catch'dW at by the iofs of Mr. IValrond's firft letter. But feeing ^ there were other accounts given, and thoie (now) madcig cood by fuificteat vouchers ^v\d proofe;, wheie h?s thetC'T? Dcea any coUufion or juggle } The editors of the Narrative have comfort in receding on their fincerity^ cKa<5lneIs t^.idncfTs ahd cart about what thely publifh*d, and of wKich they have given an account m the Introdu&ictu They have puWifliM nothing but what thofe from whom they had their informations do acknowledge to be juft^ and faithful; what they approve and confirm. And. i^re it needful they could farther alTure Mr. P; and liei wortd in the moft folemn manner, chat there was no? concert f no coliufwrtf no juggle, ho defign to k^ep the worlJty if^'^fhe dark.', "o^ was there any occafion or reafon i^ts ir.^- And it i left to the reader to judge, whether they- w6a1d not ha\e been notable jugglers, who after the" cMllHg together as many minifters as could be got ji artid laying before them a letter for their confideratio«5 and anfwer; and its being once and again read to them ^i and the anfwer directed and arprov'd by every one prc-'^ feni^t to the number of twenty-five, fome of them. Jit leaft, Mr. P's particular friends ; they fhould notwith-;i ftinding, form a defign of keeping the world ift the darico a^fo what was contained in that letter. And as to the' fiwfchievottfnefs and malice of it, let Mr. Vov^ler, wha ^ jf^^i^k, land whofe chatader is well known, {ay whc-her 1' h^dfad fuch opinion of it. Many refledions might be made on this as well as :^ the' other parts of Mr. P's condud, but thefe are ra« r thcr left to his own confcience. May God, (who teacher n^Xofray fdr fuch m defiitefuUy ufe ufj give him a heart j? to repent of the wronp he has done in this and many-Lj other inftances to thofe, that have deferv*d better at his ? haifdSf and might have expedied from him a more civil v^ and dupiftian treatment ! ;,:£. ^E fhall di&iifs this matter (about which Mr. P. anA:l5 his -agents have endeavoured to make a great noife withv a •iaM«a(bn) after we have fpoken to one or two things 'i^ jnorer-- •; ^>\- Mr. P. complains, That he was not fermitted td resi'^l the^^unt bt hdd recm'^d. And he gives a very good retf^ty for it himfelf, W^. Becaufe his letter bgd n$t X'J sn^mMnti fuhfcrih^''d, and he vpduld not tell who wrote iti^^ VVlthdtit:knowing this, the Mjfembly would have been ac-.'^^ a I&fs^hether ic came from a man of wifdom and inte* 'i grfey or not^ or4iow far there was ground for giving any^d.* craSflPttf 4^ ^^Awd fceing-iMr.P. is far' from being want-t^.^ ■ ^^nh^iinh ihdrtio gnjio^S^i ^ai nolmoi ^^^d ^^x^%^yi,Y^ ih(» in any thing that might ferve H^fe-caufe, hk ^refo^ iin^ to tell the Name both then and fince, ' tho' ftil* Jy ^iTurM of it, is a plain eviderxe, that his letting j: be known would be of no fervice to him and hi'si party in that Affembly. ^ y^-^- * The laft thing we {hall obrerx^e,- is his cafting a foul (lander npon yLv.H^drcnd fr m bare furmife, re- prefenting him as havi ig frocurd or at haft hnftned "Mr, 'Bt^donseje&7?ienf for acquainting him [Mr. PezVre] That zt wfis ownd, after the aflfembly, there was mentio7i made in the letter of hiafphemous Exprcjfions concerning the Trinity, hut that thefe ExpreJJions were chargd upon the people and net upon minijiers. And what was there in this ro excite Mr. TValron£s revenge ? He never did nor had any reafon to deny his giving an account of this, which tho' a fad, was a very manifeft truth. But it is utterly falfe that this procured or haftned Mr. Koger Beadons eiedttient as appears from the following Certificate given under the hands of the principal ftiembers of that congregation. 'Mr. Peirce having ^ fuggefted in his Weft. Inq. that Mr. Beadons ejetfbnenc vfas procur'd or haftned bj Mr. PValrond. WE do unmimoufy attejl. That his ejeHmeiit w^ intirely our own aH, and not in the leajt advt^. fed or perfuaded by him or any minifler whatfoever ; afti ifie dor farther teftify. That at the requejl of Mr. Bail md Mr, Walrond, his ejeciment was delay d for fome ccn- fiderable time, that they might confer with him; after which conference ( without giving us their opinion ) tf^ left the cafe to us, to bring tlje decifmi of it .to fuck an iJTue, as we incur confciences Jhould judge right. * '^' John Bending. John Pbttnc©. ,'» .r,:, -^^.t Samuel Leat^. Thomas Sfeward. r^^'"^ William Lear. Richard Baylie. Andrew Leat. Roger Paver. John Baylie. Menry Terlear, Thomas Scocker: Samuel Teed. W K A X (89) What follows ,^ does not jrffeA the cafe: the thing to be provM is> That Mr. ^^g-9h PValro7id m his letter to Mr. Tongy fliould 92. charge the minifters with odious and blnfphe- mous ex]>reJJto7is again^ the Trinity. This is ftill as roundly deny 'd, as it was at firft in i\it eijfemhly. We go on 5 Mr. Pelrce fets Jaimfelf to examine feveral particulars in the Narrative, pag. 92, In p. 93. he endeavours to clear Exeter from the 93. blame of the quarrels at London ; or rather to lay it upon thofe who wrote thither, and principally upon the Lo7idon fn ifiifl er s ihcm^ehes, who-preach'd up the Godhead of Christ feveral months before Auguft 17 18. This he calls /o«72^/«^ an alarm -^ but 'tis certain, he pays no great refped: to thofe London mini- fters y whom he takes to be moft his friends, if he thinks that this began or had any influence into the divifions that followed. What he charges upon them, or upon Mr. 'BaWs. and Mr. fValrond's letters is much more juftly chargeable upon fome Gcntlemens endeavouring^ to get fuch advices paft at London as would have efledually fcreend Mr. P. and his paity, and enabled them to go on infedting the people without fear of being diftnifs'd. M R. Peirce In his great modefty, fuppofes, That he who wrote the complaint to London^ had no very di- ftinEl 7iotio7i of what principles were properly Arian, tho' impartial judges w?ll conclude he underftands his re- ligion and the^ oppoiite errors, as dioroughly as himfelf. He may quibble and fliuffle as long as he pleafes. Whether he be an Arian, or a follower of Dr. Clm\ or Mr. TVlnfton, the dodrine relating to the divinity of Christ, is for fubftance the fame. Why is the^ name of Arinn hateflil, but becaufe of the nature of the dodlrine that goes under that name ? And as long as the fame dodrine is mainrain'd, ffet the _ name be changed never fo often, it will be to all ierious minds as niuch the objed of deteftation and abhorrence as ever. Mr. P. fays, He could make nothing but Sa- belli an ifrn of the 'fcheme he was bred up in ; for hrm therefore to fay, That the perfo7is, (the writer of the N complaint ( 9© ) ccmplalnt to London, vcns dlfplens'd with) fell not in vfiththe notions of either the Sabellians or Tritheifts* is in effecft to fay, that they were departed from the com- monly received dodtrine, v.'hich with him is Schel- U^nifrn. The tragical account he gives. That they who ufe the name Arinn, feem to have fUyd their game as artfully /IS ever the heathen ferfecutors did againji the ■primitii'e chrijiians, is too ridiculous to deferve any confutation. Kotwithftanding all the rage that he fays has been ftir- led up againft them., v^e dont hear that either he or his adherents have iufier'd fo much as the lofs of one hair of their heads. If he fliould now and then have heard a reproachful word from illiterate or rude people as he pafs'd along the ftreets, it's no more than what dif- fenting minifters in London may hear every day. Is this fuch a grievous perfecution, that the legiflature fliould be caird upon for redrefs ? It's a fign he little knows what perfecution is, and is ill prepared for the fiery trial, or elfe he would not make fuch a mighty matter of fuffering a flout or infult for that which he takes to be the caufe of truth. Mp . Peirce^ calls upon Mr. TValrond to fro- •pag. 94. duce evidences for the charge upon the Exeter mi- 7iifters of countenancing thcfe errors. Yet he is at the pains of a pafted Pcftcript at the end of his book to dif- charge him from it again, without any requeft or motion of his, directly or indiredlly, nor did he fend him any fuch intelligence ; tho' he fays, Mr. Walrond let him J{?ioxv af- ter his papers were fent to the prefs, that he faid nothing cf the Exeter minijiers in the letter he wrote. And what he imputes in the Poflcript to the carelefncf or difinge- 7iuity of the writer of the Narrative, is without any ground. It is a ftrange liberty Mr. P. has taken to abufe m.en, when he cannot faften a falfe ftory upon one, to lay it upon another. The writer faithfully tranfcrib'd what is fet down in ♦the 'Narrative. But whoever brought that charge againft the Exeter minifters, it iliall now be fully juftify'd. iji. 'J'hat the minijiers cf Exeter did countenance thefi erroxsy Mr. Pelrce himfelf Ihall be our . .firft; evidence, IVeji. Inq. p. 29. where he afTures us. He thought it agreed (90 agreed between him and his tv/o brethren (on his own propofal) That neither of them lliculd defire Mr. At- kins to preach any more for any of them, for no other reafon that we can imagine, but becaufe he had ela- borately prov'd the proper Divinity of J esus Christ in one of their pulpits ; to which we may add, This agreement was prefently made known to the friends of Mr. P. one of whom declaring, That they were pro- rnifed by the minifters, that Mr. Atkjns fliould preach no more, as appears by the following certificate. SOME time after Mr. Henry Atklhs p-each'd the fermon mention d above (for which Mr. Peirce p-G- fosdy that the other minifters' fhotdd defire him no more to f reach for either of them) he peach' d again at James'f yneeting-houfe -, foon after which ( I thiy^k^ the fame dny) Mr. Tho. Townfend, jun. inquirH of me about that fer- mon, and added, We were Vromisd he Jhoidd peach no rnoie. 1 then demanded, Who promised them ? He rc^lyd^ The minifters. Witnefs my hand, Aaron Tozer. Ahd is It not amazing to any chriftlans that fliall hear of It, that it fliould admit of a debate among the minifters, Whether one of their brethren for preaching up the Deity of Christ, fhould be fhut out of their pulpits ? idly, One of them ordering the clerk to lay afide iill Doxologies ; and another of them diredlng the Clerk not to ufe any, in which the Equahty of the Divine Perfons was arferted ; and declaring in the prefence of feveral citizens, that we had no warrant from the Word of G o D for the Doxologies defir'd. 3///v, I F Mr. Ballet's reftimony will avail any thing with "Mr. Peirce, he aftur'd Mr. Pitts, May 1718. (when he told Mr. Hallet of the uneafinefs of the citizens about the growth of Arianifm) That a^-l this v;as ovvii^G TO Mr. PJ2IiiC£. N 2. A^hli, (90 '^thiv, When Mr. Hnllet defir'd Mr. IVnlr end's affi- fiance in recommending his fon to the people oi Shobyool^ and Mr. PValrond, askhig him, Whether his fon was free from ihe yJrid7i notions .> He reply 'd, A cert tiln man whom I need not ncime (plainly intimating Mr. P.) had indeed drawn him afide into fomc odd 7iotions, but I have got him off again, and he is now very free. ^thfyy M.-R. Hal/et's recommending H^njlon to his pu« pils, as appears by Mr. Wcftcois certificate, 6thlyj The people could not but interpret the minifters continual fiience to be a countenancing thefe errors, which they knew were then propagating in their own congregations, and their not difcouraging, as far as can be learn'd, (for at leaft a twelve month be- fpre their ejedion) the error itfelf in publick or pri- vate; nor giving the leaft caution againft fuch pernicious PamphletSj as the Innocent Vindicated, the Letter to the Diffcnterj and the Anfwer to Mr. TrofsV Catechifm^ all which were handed about very induftrioufly. And tho' Mr. P, in his fermon on a Faft-day, being the 27th of AUf guU 17 1 8, (before it was brought into the affemhly) took occafion to fpeak of the debates, controverfies, ftrifes, contentions and divifions among us, which are his own words ; yet he was fo very tender and favoura- ble upon the error (which was the occalion of all) as no^ to pafs the leaft cenfure upon it, nor condemn the blafphemies then founding in the ftreets. "Jthly, The people who held thefe notions, and were then, and ftili are, feme of Mr. Peirces chief intimates, declared. That their minifters were of the fame opinions ; and recommended others to them for fatisfad^ion ; which fliows, that as the citizens fear'd, fo thefe perions be- liev'd, the minifters were of their mind. %thiy, T H o' Mr. PczVci? knew Mr. Lucas, the Baj>tiH minifter w'as fufpeded of being in thefe noti(ans, yet he proposed to have him preach to the young men at the morning-lecflure ; whereas before, he fliew'd great diflike to the Ba^tifis. To which might be added, Mr. ( 9J ) ' Mr P's declaring hlmfelf infuked by Mr. Bally for offering in a ferinon an argument to prove the Deity, of C H R I s T. 9f/;/y, Mr. Mallet's altering his Doxology m his pray- ers, could not but be an incouragement to thefe per- fons : For whereas he was wont to alcribe. All honour and glory to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost ; he for a long time left out the word All ; and when he had exprefs'd himfelf as ufual, and afcrib'd all honour and glory to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, he call'd in back in the face of the congregation, as tho' he had a- fcrib'd too much to the Son and Holy Ghost ; and aftei: thefe notions fpread, he took care after the afcribing ail honour and glory to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost^ to add, that is due ; and tho' in his I^eflecimis on the Citi:{cns Defence, p. 6. he fays, Sometimes I omitted' the word, due, and fometimes not, he can't fay, that he ever for thir- ty years together once added thele words, that is due, till this error broke out; and 'tis a poor and ^ filly fhifc to fay. He did it in conformity to Mr. Lavington, to avoid cenfure ; for he never had been cenfur'd had he not alter'd his own method of afcribing glory to Fa- ther, Son, and Holy Ghost, after thirty or forty years ufe : And the citizens think the fame of his leav- ving out the v/ord God (in his pronouncing the blel^ fmg) in that article, the communion of the Holy Ghost, which he alfo ufed. : Tothly, It cant but be thought that Mr. Ballet gave great countenance to thefe errors in the fermon he preach d at the morning ledure the 27th of November 17 1^,^ when he took occafion to mention the new fcheme, fpeaking doubt- fully, whaher it was an error or not ; hut if it^ was, he faid, it was not a fundamental one. The reader is defir'd, to take notice it was in this fermon Mr. Hallet cen- fur'd thofe that made a ftand in defence of the Truth, ^c. And it was on the preaching of this fermon, that that gentlemnn to whom Mr. Hallet gives fo juft a charadler (in his \efteaion on his Defence, p. 23.; fent a melfenger to him, and fhewM his didike by taking away his fon^ that Aay, who was till then a pupil with Mr. Hallet j tho Tyir, Hallet relates to the world a formal ftory of his preaching thQ , ( 94 ) the Chnjly7ias-day after on the i '^chn iv. 9. in which he had preach'd agalnft the Avian notion and read part of the fermon to the meflenger, and now pub- lifhes ic to .the world; and after the quotation e:xpo- ^ulates, What is there in all this, that fhould call for inch di/liononrable treatment as he met wii^h ? Where- , as the gentleman took away his fon four weeks be'ore, for the fermon preach'd as above, vi:{. the zqth of i<[ovemher 17 18. But as he hath pubiifh'd p^rt of the fermon preach'd the Chrift mas-day, 17 19. Some per- fons -would have thank'd him if he had let the world know his glofs upon the firft of Jchn and fi'fi verfe -, becaufe fome fugged: Mr. Ha/Iep fliould lay (on menti- oning that text) to this purpofe, Thaf he was not ths fame God vo'ith vehom he was. And at that or ano- ther time, .when he mentioned John iii. 13, he took notice that fome did urge, that it fhquld be inter- preted was in Heaven, without offering any thing to confute the notion, ' Mr. P. talks much of an ajjumd autho- p^^. 95. rity , but gives no proof of any that was excerci fed. It might reafonably be prefum'd that the city and country round about were not fo univerfally corrupted, nor would fo tamely give up their chriftian faith, but that if they" had known Mr. P's real fentim.ents, and theirs of his party, they would foon have difcover'd a juft refentment. But the fninifters, who were fearful of this, rather chofe to try firft, what effedt filence and patience, candour and tendernefs would have. This was the refult of a meeting of feveral minifters, in which neither Mr. Feirce, nor any other iuppos'd to be in the new fcheme, were concerned ; who lb agreed as the Narrative re- lates, which was many months before the ajjemh/y of September 1718, as Mr. Walrcnd avers : in a great parr of which tim.e they proceeded according to that refo- lution, till they found a necelTity of adlng more pub- lickly. This fhows ' how groundlefs Mr. PeirCe\ Infult- ing language is about agreements, in' which no body ever faid he had any concern. And as to the mini- fters concerned in this agreement, if they were to blame in any thing it was in being filent fo long, and in fnow- (95) ihowlng a more tender regard for fome that lay in wait to deceive than they ought. But firrce they have openly appear'd in defence of truth, their influence, by means of the Truth they have efpous'd, is much greater, both In city and country (without any ajjumd authorify) than Mr. Peirce expedled or dclired. Mr. Peirce declares, he believes it to be n downright faljhood^ that miy of their feofle Jl^ould tell others, that the miniflers were of. their 77iind. That the people in the new notions did thus boaft, is evident from th<^ following certificates, THIS is to certify nil ferfons whom it may con- cern, That Mr. John Spiring tfjfon the Tlfurfday tnorjiing [before Mr. Henry Atkins preach''d that fermon mention d in Mr. PelrceV Vv'eft. Inq.) invited me to his houfe, and then difcourfmg with him of thefe new noti- ons, I asf^d him. If the minifters held thefe 7iotions ? Ta which he rej^lyd, Mofi of the minijlers of the city did* IVitnefs my hand. ^ r %% Jan. 19, 17 19. George Jewell TjKING at Mr, Townfend'j /w May 17 18, a lit- JL3 tie after Mr. Henry Atkins had peach d a fermon tip on Emanuel, in which it appear s, he i7iveighed fome- what fmartly againfl Arianifm ; Mrs. Townfend as much decry d his fermon^ telfrng me, he had kjndlcd a fire in the city which would not be eafily rjuencljd, I commend- ed his ccurage, Jhe told me Mr. Peirce was 7iot of my mind ; and wondred to hear me vindicate Mr. Atkins. I asl^d her. What Mr. PeirceV opinion was ? She anfwer- ed me, That there was a fuhordination in the Son to the Father. J told her I was of the fame opinion, and knew none that denyd it. But asl^d her this Quejli- on. Doth Mr. Peirce fay that there is a fubordinatiojt as Go D ? Jhe told me, Tes, as God. My reply was, tell Mr. Peirce from me, That he hath two Gods a great one and a, little ojie, Aaron Pitts. Mr, (9^; f' ' ^ M K. Veirce mentions feveral things as figris #fe* ^6. of the refined nefs of the age, which he calls ^C" nerous -princifles. Such as, That the Serif tures ^me the only rule of our faith ; that nothivg can be re- ijuired as neceffary to he lelieved in order to faivation, that is not plainly revealed in them ; and that no wan has n right to irnpofe upon another s ccnfcience, or ferfecute him for differing from him. Who is there that denies the truth of theie principles ? Does he not flander the dif- fenters, if he charges any body of them as embracing a fcheme that is a ftranger to fuch generous principles ? poflfibly he and they may differ in explaining fome of them. ' Who mull judge what is plainly reveal'd in the holy Scriptures ? If any man's thinking or faying ^ a do- d:rine is not plainly reveal'd, he a iufficient evidence that it is not fo, there will be little or nothing neceffa- ry to be beiiev'd in order to faivation. For the^ groffeft hereticks in the world will tell you, That the do(flrines they reject are not plainly reveal'd, and will often pretend Scripture for their oppofite errors. As we know of none among the diffenters, that pretend a right to impofe upon another*s confclence ; fo on the other hand, we know of no right that perfons have for the fake of worldly emo- luments and advantages to fubfcribe one thing, and be. iieve and publifh another. If men will call thefe ge- nerous principles, and principles of chriftian libeity ; we •fear they are fuch as will lay the confcience wafte, and tend to deftroy moral honefty and integrity among men. They had much better fuftain the lofs of their places, '(which they unjuftly call perfecution) than thus mak& ■bold with God and confcience. Mr. P. makes a jeft of that expreffion, as if it would be the glory 0/ noncon- formity to end in Arianifin ; but he fhould remember, 'tis not the name but the thing they trembled at the thoughts of They that know the pernicious nature and tendency of that doArine, cannot but be affeded ar the apprehenfion of its over-running the churches of Christ, efpecially among proteftanr diffenters. Tho' it may be the glory of any caufe, to end in the difcov'ery 'tf Truth ; yet it will be long before Mr. P. will be able to prove. That in cafe Nonconformity fliould end in ^rianifm, it will end in the difcovery of Truth. He feems (97) Items ford of drawing a companfon between Popery ^nd the J^formation on the one hand, and the old and hevp fchemc on the other : But he muft prove, That the common faith of chriilians has as little foundation in the Scriptures as Popery, and that the eftablifhmen: of Arianifin among us would be as great a reformation as that from Popry ; and then we fliall have reafon to de- fire it, and to blefs G o d for it : But rjH then, we hope we may be admitted to enjoy our old Chriftianity, and do what we can to defend it. Mr. Peirce does not deny this part of the Narrative^ vi:{. That the party gave out, That p(tg.<)'jl a grenty if nop the greater ;pnrt of the London tnmx^QXS had give7i into the fame opinion, and would in a little time declare themfelves. But then he pretends, That for a man to affert the fuficiency of the Scriptures, and tofpeak, againji the making any thing bat the Bible a tefl of A maris faith , was cfieem'd by many a certain fign of his be- ing an Arian. Who thefe many are, we know not. Such general charges without naming any particular perfons, only prove the calumniating temper and fpirit of their author. If by the many, he intends to include the fubfcrihing minifters in city and country, its a charge he can never make good againft them. They believe the fufficiency ef the Scriptures as much as their bre- thren ; but yet think it neceiTary upon proper occaGons to make ule of other than fcrip':ure words as a teft or teflimony of their faith, and how they underftand the Scriptures. They can't but think ihofe who deny this, to be in an error ; yet not of fuch a nature as amounts to the charge of Arianifm. Ariafis', with others, run into this error; but *tis no peculiar principle by which this herefy is diftinguifh'd from others. We are forry a great part of the London minifiers fliould have done that, for which Mr. P, and his followers do fo much blefs God. They who really dillike his notions, as much as the fubfcribing minifters, would do well ferioufly to con- fider. Whether that can be for the honour of C h r i s t, the fervice of Truth, or for their own comfort and fa- tisfadion, which thefe men r^joyce fo much in ; efpe- cially when from what they have done, Mr. P. would infer rhek agreement with him in the notion of a ftib- Q ordinattoH, ^ 98 ) prdlnatkn. He fays, lam ferfuaded that much the grcaf^ er part if they do 7iot contcyid for a fubordination, yet efieem not thofe to he heretkks that do. We . ^ouldrbe glad :o know, how he came by this perdiafiop, what ^fcunds he has for it, and whether by a fuS.ordmationt^ tie means one of the faime kind he contends ixxr ; slJuU ordination in Chris t's divine nature, and not merely in relation and office ? If nor, how are, he and they,, agreed? If he does, *tis a vile calumny upon thofe who-, are not gone from the dodlrine ; a calumny which they ourht publickly to refent and difbwn, and are; more oblig'd to it fince the account he has given ois his bein? fo kindly treated by , the non-fuhfc fibers y when laft^ in London, He fays in his book. The Security cfTruth^^y, &CC. fag. 1 01. "I was ask'd by feveral to preach for ^' them,-:-- I converse freely with them, and that upory: ^*^tlie controverfy : I could not perceive any the leaflf **'lliynefs in them, 'Tis tru§, they many of them (\i&^\ **Jdoes not fay all) declared themfelves to be of a con^v^ *' trary opinion concerning the T r i Ni t v, but not pn^,- ** of them appeared to have the leaft difficulty /« hold-.:. *'* ing communicn with tne, but they all, as far as I coul4 ^^, ** find, were unanimous againft difowning one another ** upon the account of this difference, nor did I meet "with fo much as one of them that did not condemn- *' as well as bewail the Exeter proceedings. I am fure " fome of them did it heartily, and I can truly fay, ** I know not that I met with more refped, and fuller proofs of it in any London journey I have taken fince fe^ many yaluaDie irienas as it naa gain a me. , ^v.Lntys,-^^ ** inforniers could not be fupposM wiaiefles of that coit-Qjv ** verfation, without tlie knowledge of w^^i^f^, .x|ieLi' jrnrjj^Y ^' formation' mud be a grand in: pertinence, ^aof. vvortfcy-^^ ** to be related by any man offenfe and ,C9afcierice^-'^ ** and I defy Mr. fijity to n-.me fo much as one'of the ** non-fuhfcHhing minifters. who exprefs'd fucb a difre- ^' gard as he would here inlinuate. " - -: ./^ ^^^ -^T^ If this be ,a true account, we l^ve It to \he vybrld X ro judge. Whether the difference /fetv/een ,,^^ iw^^ miniflers bq 'i^W^^rt^f^^u^^ .tubki^bing.^ ;.'a oO ibm kupd aci ox..\'33:ldQi.-JQii jf ^'i^worii ^■\ ^ t Q ■. ( ^ ) Mr: P^;rcf goes on to take notice of vvliac^ ^ ^^ _ ^e Karrnrive lays, That /own£ ' Exon,No^;;V|7|J:- nr^ri? is^h certify all perfonSy whom it may cdiicerri^ •*• That lEiizabech Marks having heard that Mrs. Halle Jhpttid h,a^'C Jaid, That the Devil put in that place of Scripture,' \Vko being in the form of God, thought it no robbery to be equal with God; meeting with the //t/d" Mr/. Halfe, I faid to her, Pf^hat, did you fay, that tfyeT)tvilput in that place of Scripture? Jhe reply d, He did,' '^- jptd repeated it feveral times. •'''- ^'' ■'' \\'' Elizabeth Marks. , ■•« .■■] *-yVx- ■:. N./ -■ • - _ ■ ■' -■ 'T^HJS » to certify aU per fans y whoM it may concern^ •*- Thdt i;^]o\m. Small, havim heard of Mrs. Halfe*^ Speaking fo irreverently of the facred Scriptures, ds to fay, , That that expreffton (Who being in the formbfGpD, /, thought it not robbei7 to be equal with God ; ) was puf' in hx the Devil j I wai grievd to hear it, /tnd difcoursd O z Mrs. Mn. Lavlngton shout it, vpho fsntfir the fnid. My J. Hal fc^ Andaslidhery iVbetherfioe faid, that the Devil. put in that. fUce of Scripture ? Mrs. Halfe readily ownd, that floe faid, it' and being a^Kd-, ^ho told her fi? She reply d. One that could tell. And when floe oxond this, there were f even cr eight perfons prefent , and it was feme time before tht meBion of Mr. Peiixe and Mr^HsMeu fifiw PVitneflmy hand, Dec. 15V 17«9. -uxr John Small THIS ^ to certify y That a ferfon of . this city having embracd the new notion (whofe name I forbear to mention, only becaufe of the great intimacy that hath been between him and myfelfj on the mentioning of Zachariah K li. 7. to prove the Equality of the Son of God J to the Father. The jaid perfon reply d to this purpofi. It was damnably tranjQated. pyitnefl my hand, Jan. 14. 17 19. Hugh Jenkin, Mrs. Dorothy Lavington being in company with Mr- Peirce fince his ejection, complain d of Mrs.Halfe'^s faylnf^, That the Devil had put in that place as men- tioned in the above certificate, Mr. Peirce reply'd, It was very foolifii. Foolilh ! Sir, faid Mi's. Lavington, it was very wicked. But all the cenfuie fbe couid gef feim to pafs upon it, was, That it was very fodlifh. f Tit fe complaint in the l^arrative , Tha^ tag, 98. there was a very, vifihle decay of fcrhnu and praHical religion among thofe who are gone into the new fcheme, Mr. Peirce would turn upoli thofe who kept to their old path. But 'tis very evident ;rfrom the certificates produc'd, that his paity in fpeaking , of thefe tremendous Myfteries, difcover a very light and vain, nay, we cannot but fay, a very profane and wick* ed fpirit. Having grlev'd the fpiric by flighting. and difhonouring him in his nature and office, no wonder if he has left 'em to themfeives, that hyaving made fipifwreck.of their Faith, they (hould lofe agood Confcien'ce, too. It cannot be exredled that he will vouchfafe hfe'. ^iwio;^:^ .i^c, ' ouickaing ^ 191 1 ■<5yiickning and fancHiIfylng influences, to thofe who deny liim the glory of his O o d h e 4 d. • Upon tlie with- drawmenc of thefe, whatever Mr. P. may think, there will follow a vifible decay of pradical religion. Her^* ly and inimorality ufuaily go together. ^ - •' To foHowL: the Author ofc'th^' 4^^^^^^ fag, 98. He reprefents what the KarrAtwe had faid of 99, I ay mens tnlkjng- and diffuting abouf thefe no- tions in many odious and blafpbcmous Phrafes' &c. as fo many lies and /landers, and tl>aP> little ftrefs was to be laid upon thorn. - ■-■■■-■ .. •. ■ ' ■' •That there was lufficient ground for this charge wjdl appear by the following certificates. Ii£ii;iri j£wi ':^.X:' " f" ••■ '^'^]^^^ ri^ ■• AJi&pT tvpo years fince I happened to he at rhe hcufe of Mr. Caleb Hodge, wl?€n I toof^an Oppor^ tunity to ask, Wliether that by the Lord jEbovAH wff xvere not to underfiand Father, Son and Spirit three glorious Perfcns and but one eternal God? To which Mr, Hodge replyd, that if we underfiocd it fo, we made three God's ; 710 faid I, we dmt make three Gor's, for' we allow but one God confifting of three glorious Perfcns. I referrd him to John 10 and 30. I and my Father are one ; to which he reply d^ fo a Wan and., his wife were one. Then I mentioned to him the I ft. 0/ John v. 7. to which he anfwerd , that i> was itot .in the Original, f brought him fever al texts loth from the Old and New-Teltament to prove the Deity of Christ, but could get no other anfwer from i}ini but thiSf That he was no other hut a Mediator : And to back, this, he brought the words of the apoftle, that there was one God and one Mediator between God and man, (^c. fVhence he obfervd, that if he was God how could he be a Mediator between God and num^> He muft^ then mediate to himfelf, and referred me and my wife (who was prefem) to our minifters for latisfad:ion, Mr. Spiring was fomctimc (before the ejeBicn) at n^t -houfe where (as we were in difcourfe) be faid. He had rather embrace the dodrine cf tranfubftantiation than?* th# dodrine of the Trinity in Uai^, fayingv th^l^^" he 4id abominate the dod:rke,v^:>i kwuio^ j? '-n' y j;i«^-o>i -V John Blamhardl^ THIS is to certify. Thai, I JohnChnrchin difcour*' fing with Mr. Spiring about a Sermon which Mr. I^arkham preaeh'd , vpherein he ajferted Christ >d' have, the -fulnefs of the G o d h E a d in him, and': to he Oqt> equal. ycjth f,(?fr F a T h E R, He faid it vt>as falfe dod^rine, aud hut litt'e lefs thm biafphemy, md came to me four or five days foliomng and would not let me be quiet, till I had told Mr, Larkham from him, that it was falfe Dofirine, ^^-KEN I endeavour d to -prove from Scripture thkt ' CThi^i T was God, He replfd, ^o tW P*pnil Vr??i raU'o ©o'D. And when I mentic7id to hiin for proof of \^ the Deity of Christ thefe words ^ We are in hiiti ^ that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ, this is. the true God and erernal Life. He faid. He would widertake to prove to a, demonflration, that it was not meant of J E 5 u s Christ. This was about two years fmce, IPttnefs my hand Yr^i.^ nu..^,^i.',\i-^ Novemb. 23, 1719: ^''^^ Chui^chilL,, 'T^HJS is to certify all Perfo7ts, whoyn it may cojicem^'K^ -^ that I Robert Heath, meeting with Mr. Spiring' $out December ijij. at a neighbours houfe, we felt into a difcourfe of thefe 7iotions that were then broached ' in this city. He demanded of me. What God wics P I an- fwerd him in the words of the fourth anfwcr of the.k^- fJ femblies Carechifm. Then he asl^d me how many Gods Z'T there were ? I anfwerd in the words of the 5ih. and 6zh. anfwers of the AlTembly's Catechilm : Aiid I faid, if ever any men fine e the apojlles days had the Spirit of God, I believed they had. He reply d they were good men, but they were mifiakpi, and could not. prove whatT they faid? And he woud prove the contrary. After fontct-^'^s^ difcourfe 1 urgd, that Christ wasQo-Q, He faid, '^Jc. there were many Gods, and many Lords, t\)t ^Dtbil >mM c: a ViDoD* I trough tr fever al places to prove the Deity -of -l-:-- Christ particularly that of' 1 John v. 7. He reply d. That was not Scripture, I urgd the id. of Philippians Y. 6. U^ reply d J Thab was miftranfiated ^ It v^as, -■■•••'■■ ^ ^y^t that he would not catch nt an eqiuiUty votth God" and f aid J that God will judge the world by the M^^ Chk I ST Jesus : There - is for you. ' To >^hit^ i J^iir €iy\ hy the God-Vlkw Cvivs^T Jesus, who will then mani* feil his Godhead ; he will then mayiifefl his Omnipo^ tency in rnifing all the dead out of their graves, that have lain there ever fince the fall of Adam. jiiii> .^ojv >W^ Novemb. i6 lyf^J 4 rvi 't^obert HeatK? WE whofe 7iamc5 are underwritten do certify, Tha^ we heard William Gofwell, "^un. fay. We hope ta prop/t^ate the Gofpel in other napio7is. Now what a fil- ly thing will k be, to tell jihem vf three Perfdns and ' one God. :'i:,•^.^<;. ^u.;.^ [ Hu.:^ i^n;;,.f>t .■-:••> , >- '-i i.Wi:^ ^ ,toV ^ '^d li:a7«>r> Bn; Richard FugeJ"^ Aott i^v Vi ^^.^h ^W»^^-<^"-'t<<-V - <> ' Elizab^h Fuge; ^ To go on, Mr. Peirce comes to confider ^me blafpJiemous expreffwtis, which had bcea paglao^ chargM on fome of his friends, which to the aftonifhment of the reader, he excufes in a light and ludicrous manner : And yet the proof is moft. . ,. exprefs and pofitive againft them j as appears by thQ?" following. c^r^z^4f«, - - > ^\ ^^^m^x^hq/h nams ^are underwritten ii cert^^i^p"'^' y ...we heard William Gofwell Jun. fay, Thatjtsvs l"" Christ is God, no otherwife than as King Gcort^e, '- or a magiftrate of a ciry. ^ ' ." -.^bU^ .ri:i£-^di^ W-^,- Richard Fuee;''^'' v^ >4l ^"^ :.fn}iH^iL3^^ Elizabeth Fuge;-'''^ •feevReverend Mr. ^/f^^^^rcocit in the '^fTembly'i?^^^ temhr 17 iS.urg'd as a reafon for their declaration it :""} t£!?^V '^^^^ ^"^ ^^ ^^^ city had deliverU himfelf * to him in- an expreflion of the fame import with ''^ whacns^hd Jlucl(^ not much at fuch. things. And i\itn ' Mdi% 'lihsit ^ 'thd per fm chajg'd with j^his, denies, that ever he faid, what he is taxed B>/^i:- • >■' ■ ^ '■^tM>U ■ The reader can't but fee what an injurious charge Mr. Peirce here exhibits. And that it is without foun- dation, fully appears by the following certificates. np^fJIS JJ to certify J all perfons whom it hiay concern^ ■*- That I Richard Holdirch, did hear Mr. Tho. Town- fend, juu. fay thcfe hlafphemcus words in the puhlick^Cojfee- Voufe: I'll ?i:o"e; from the Word o? God, -t-Anir fi^E ^ Hdi^v GhoSt is NCt Go'D. This was feveral ^nehths hc'fijfe the tjeBioif of Mr. Peirce and Mr.Hailet. ' iVitnejlmy hand,l>lQi\\ i^. 1719- Richard Holditch.' "'I ^ HIS t} tv certify all whom it may concern, That I, James Barons, did hear a gentlewoman (i?t commu- nion with Mr. Peirce and Mr. Hailet) fdyy That the Holy Ghost was nor God at alL James Barons.' ^^^HESE arc to certify, all whom it may ccncern, "^ That I heard Richard Berry fay, He did not be- lieve the Holy Gho^t to be God at all. ylnd tho' hs hath' Jince deny d it, and faid. He cnly ml(d me t&frvve the Holy Ghost to be God. I pofitively declare, and am ready to take my oath of it. That he did exprejily deny him t'6be^X^Sh:' The txcaflon cf his ff caking theH^ords^was n^ follow sT- W4 vpri±»luorft X H E S S ( ^07 ) "'^ Vh e s e perfons c^Krg^cl^m '^tfie five certificates fore- going, are now cornmunlcants with Mr. Peirce. 'T^Hji w to'certifyyCktl yofom h may^nterniyhatwf •*- wf)ofe n^mes are under-writteyi, did hear Mr-u Mary Powelp^, O fye ! You mull nor lay, the Holy Ghcst IS 'Go E. ■'\ '* ^ - , Alexander Bennet, im .Exon. Nov. 9. xti^. Stephen Tremled What the Narrative fays of the common peoples having /«c/j arguments pit into their fag. loo. mouths ^^ mufl necejfarily come from men of J ' ' '_^''- learning, Mr. P. would turn into a fign of their hav?Hjg fiudyd^the matter diligently ; but it was rather an evi- dence they were inftruded in fecret by thofe, who at that time wej:e afraid to appear more openly. The com- mon people were their mouth to utter and propagate thofe notions, wiiich for politic ends, they durit not t|ieii in their own names preach or print. However this might be, it was an undeniable evidence of the fpreading ot thofe errors among them, and might juftly increafe an uneafinefs about the faith of their minifters ; efpecially w^hen they did nothing to confute, or fo much as dii- coui^tenance them, by which their hearers might be eila- blifli'd in the common do6lrine. This abundantly j'u-i ftifies the body of the people in the courfe they tookfou their own prefer vation. It does not appear, but that they who adher'd to the ancient faith, were as well fur- nifh'd as thofe on the other fide ; tho' they did not owe any of their furniture to Mr. P. who would have thought himfelf bound by his office to alfift them, if he had not been infeded himfelf. His refufing to do it, was ^a juft ground of his difmiilion. If Mr. P. thinks that eVery tirivate chriftian has a call, and is qualify'd to read the i^oft poyfbnous books of fubtle and crafty hereticks, "we are far from being of his mind. Heretical books and company, are as dangerous and infedious as thole that, are vicious and immoral, and we ought to be lure of* our call before we venture, and when converfanc fhouldrbe very humble and modeft, fenlible of our dan- p a ger, €;er, watchful and prayerful, or elfe^ God may juftly leave .us to ouridves, to take in the infediiioQ as a pu- nifhment to our pride and feif-conhdence. -;. Mr. Pf2:-cd? mentions the cafe of a dying f erf on of the church. This, tho plac'd here, was at the latter end of 17 16, as maybe feen by Mr. Lavingtons cenificatei in anfwer to what Mr. P. fays, ^ag. 13. But however, as to this cafe, which he makes light of, and intimates,- that the caufe of his trouble might be his immorality^ we never heard of any immorality laid to his charge, that might be the caufe of the horror of his mind; but his unealinefs was with refped: to thefe notions : nor can it be a wonder that any perlbn ap- prehending himfelf juft ready to appear before that Glorious Perfon, whom upon flight and iniuiHcient grounds, he had been led to think m.eanly of, fuould be under horror ofconfcience about it. However, thefe horrors are not made a ftandard of any dodtriue, as Mr. P. fuggefts. It is amazing to obferve with what an air f([g. I CI. Mr. Peirceis pleas'd to fpeak, -p. 10 1. where he reprefents the relations given, as a parcel of fitful things ; but with his leave, they will not be thought fo by the ferious part of mankind. When he can talk thus lighdy of them himfelf, 'tis no wonder to find his followers imitating their leader. The fpiric this betrays, can no way turn to his honour, as being unfuitable tO the charader of a minifter or a cliriftiano And tho' he will have it both here and f., 92. That at the time when theie accounts were fent, .i^/:^. Auguji 1718, they were in much quiet on both fides. It is iut- ficiently evident from the remarks that have been made on f^g. 65, and 68, that the city was far from being at reit about thefe matters," but ii^flead of that, people were in great concern, and anguifh. However, this reprefentation of his is not to be wonder d at, iince, as we have before fliewn, he has in fo, many places coiifidently affirnfd that which 'was diredliy falie, which happens here alfo to be the very cafe ; for in the clofe of his own ferrrion, preach'd on a fa ft- ^ay that very n^pnth, on Job xxxiv, 32, he^, faid, .Hp iftiight.,. apply this,>tp the 7iation in gfxi^^lj ,i^im^ apply apply It with refpeA ro the calamities that lie upoit ' us in common with thofe of our periuafion through^ out the nation ; bvit added, he chofe to bring this nearer to ourfehes in particular, and then hath thefe expreflions : 'Tis very poifible for perfons to have their confciences clear, and to be perfedtly innocent with re^ ference ro the particular debates^ contrcverfies and Jirifes, that are rais'd; and yet at the fame time by their other lins, to have had a hand in provoking God to lee loofe a ipirlt of contention and divifion amongft us. How then could Mr. Pehce fay, that we were quiet on both (ides at that time ? "VI^E muft now follow him in his I{emarks on thePro^ ceedings of the njfemhly 171 8. which begins /?. 83. We think it necellary to inform the world of the fe- veral fol!owiHg miftakes and miireprefentatlons therein. We are charg'd, ^. 85, with rude interruptmis , with reflecilons and menaces. We know of no rude language ufed to any of the brethren, much le(s of any me- naces. If Mr. Peircc under menace;, includes Mr, Coltcns .cafe, mention'd, /. 106. This is the truth of that af- fair : Mr. Cclton refufing to make a declaration of his faith, Mr. Edgley told Mr. Bnlly That Mr. Cohon believ- ed as he and others did : M*i Ball then reply'd to Mr. Edgley, Pray ftep to Mr. Cohen and ask him, iVhether he has a mind to ruin himfelf? intending by that ex- preflion no more than this, That Mr. Co/z-cw's refufing to declare his faith might make his congregation very uneafy, which he found afterwards to be true, tho' no one minifter had any hand in influencing any of his people ; neither do we know of any intej-ruptions, but what commonly happen on both fides in fuch nume- rous affemblies. He has given many indefinite charges without naming the perfons ; which is complain d of by himfelf as unfair in others, and therefore cannot be ©therwife in him. He fays. The Queflion rv/ts ftated^ Vf^ether ibe holy Scriptures are a fuffxientrule of faith fng loi, vpithout human additions or interpretations ? We deny that this was the Queftion, but only an evafiv? ( no ) evafive bne,^ thrown in to divert the main Qiieftion^ which the fcribe apoear'd unwilling to offer to the vote. ^^ ^ -* .^^,^, A-^^ '-• And whereas 'tis faid, J^ xons mariy times dcfira V^ he fut to the vote ; Shnll a declnrniion in words of Scripture be accepted tts orthodox^ It was 'ofler'd by Jsiv.Scribey and immediately qualh'd, as a mere banter : ard doubrlefs was fo defifnM when firft offered, as well as now fr::m the prefs, r.s a way of ipeaking un^ iiiirable ro .rilTemblies of minlllers. ' -What M.V. Peirce adds, feems as tho' it immedi- ^Vely folTowM, whereas it v^as ofter'd at the end of the c^ebate, had no connexion with the above-mendon'd' Ou^^ftlon, v.'hkh wr-s towards the beginning of it, and r' know none of otti' body but chearfully own the S>.' ■/"ures to be a fnffic'enr, and the oniy rule of faith ; b :, ;.Ten have fov.nd out fo many ways to wreft the Scripraie, and put fuch ftrange interpretations upon the words and phrafes of it, that a P'^pifl, Arinn, or Soci- 77inn, cannot by mere words of Scripture be diltin- guifh'd or known from a found Chriftian. And there- fore the fijfemh'y thought it needful to explain them- felves about the great matters of their faith, leaving others to do as they thought fit. /;/'*!' \Vh E RE X s he' fays. That the Scribe voas fag. ici^ three times forbidden to write, we affert That he was never forbidden to write any thing that appeared ' to be, the determination of the affembly that he fliould write. Complaint is made, that fome mov'd, pag. loz. that feeing people waited at the door of the meeting place, the ajpmh'y fliouid be ad- journed but could not obtain it. The reafon was be- caufe we were then upon the vote, which was to conclude the affair, which we had good reafon to be- lieve that motion was defign'd to prevent. lAvC. Uaffet has brought a Qiiotation of pag. lo^I Mr. Baxters into his fcriptural confelTion, but would not be well pleafed with what he fays a little lower in the fame preface about the tna- gijhates gifirates reftralniyi^Juch as f^enk. ^g^infl fundame7ilrals and evident truths, while yet they fuhjcrihe the Scripture mif- underjlood ; or fuch as oj)enly contradiEi vohat they fuh- jcribe -y which rejiraint cf Authority, he hopes God rvili one day bring into ufc. Nor would he relifh Mr. Bax- ter's fentence pronounc'd on fuch as deny the Deity of Christ, that they are no chrijiians. Abridg. Hift. Counc. fag, 48. To which may be added a very remarkable paflage of the fame author in his Preface to the tinreafonahleyiefs of Infidelity , that feems to bear but top much refemblance to the prefent time. Speaking of fome that went frorn one notion to another into infidelity . at laft ; he fays, " When I confider'd h.ow "many of them were once my intimate friends, whom "t cannot yet choofe but love with compafllon ; when " I remember our former converfe and fa^niliarity ; "and fome of them were ancient profeflbrs, who *^ ;have done and fuffei'd much in a better caufe 5 *^.'and whofe uprlghtnefs we were all as confident of, **' as moft mens living on earth : AH this did make " the cafe more grievous to me. Yet I muft needs "^fay, that the moft that I have known to fall thus '^^^^ar, were fuch as were form.erly fo proud, or fen- *^ fual, or giddy profeiTors, that they feem'd then but " to ftay for a fhaking temptation to lay 'em in the *'* dirt; and tliofe of better qualifications, of whofe ** fincerity we were fo confident, were very few. " If this pafiage cannot juftly be apply'd to the minl« fters ; yet let many of their people look to it and take warning. And whereas Mr. Peirce affirms^ Tliat ^g.t,97. ,;Mr. Lavington, fhould fay, JVe have hound or t . '. '" tied down the two counties.' Mr. Lavington aj){b}ucely denies the charge and fays. That that which gave occafion to this miftake was a conference be- tween him and Mr. Peirce ; for when Mr. Peirce was Jo warmly oppofing our making a declaration of our faith, Mr. Lavington told him, we did not oblige any to make it, but only crav'd the liberty ourfelves to do ip : To which Mr. Peirce reply'd. If you will make a ^declaration, make it in another place ; But why •«in.y^ftrxffi4Si.^ ^^ here .> To this Mr. Living- ton anfwer'd ; We would mak^ *!t herer that tht report of it might fpread into other counties. Atrd-^ this was the expreffion which two perfons, who were in the extreme parts of the djfemhly, fo grbfis^fX mifrcpi efented. And ffnce this diicourle was in . the heart "^ of the njfembly^ and with Mr. Pc/rc^ hi mfdf;; Mr. Lavington appeals to Mr. Peirce, V/herher he heard' him ufe any i'uch expreiTion as of hindlrig the 'w9' Counnes, Or no? , ' / ^ VVe whofe n/iptcs nre ujider-written undertaJie to vm- die ate the truth of the forefaid account, ■ ■ 1 ' Johiv Bafl. Henry Atkins; jodah Evdeigh: John Walrond, Mr. Peirce takes notice of a remark in fag. 107, the Nnrrntive, p. 16. which is in thefe words. 16^. It MO as ohfervdj that nil the elder mmiflers -to -it 'Oery /<7Tr, ^ere jealous in their 'Votes ana fpeecbes for the' commcn faith 3 fo that the weight, ns ixiell fts nufnh'^y went that way. To this he fays,' ' " Th^.t if the number of voters, or the number of theif year^, coiiM add any weiglit to any controverfy about a n^at- tcr.of Truth, there can be no farther difpute in ottt count^^ But truth if I miftake not, is to be tried $- hother way; CS?c. " To this it is repiy'd. That thb- the truth of any dodrine is not to be tried by the Num- ber of votes; yet when peffons are abundantly fadi- (ied in their minds what is the truth, and 'iare elVi- blifli'd in it, it muft be a great comfort to them, ^ find that in -degenerate and fliaking times, the gene- rality are not departed from it, and that the moft agM and experienced of Christ's minifters remain firrri to .«:. The judgment of a few fuch, who have had the long- tit ' time to ftudy his will, and have been rnoft ho- nourd by him in their minifterial- work, -(whatever Mr. P.. may think) Is more to be regarded than ^of a ftvuit'littd-^, of conceited . vourig, men, who ^are far -from ecuaHing tb^m in yeirs, and yeu fir her ^rrm equnlllng them in wifccrr, expei'ence, iCarniin, crhciinefs. png, io(), Mr. Pet.ce, fr^akmr cf Mr. Buddy, ffty?^ y^ll that kiicv? the b: ave Jpi it rind gccd fcvfe cf the preacher , 8cc. Its not wcncer'd ar now» ihat Mr. i-*. ei'^es him fnch a chsrndter, fince he hris dil^ co\er'd hii^-feT to le in rhe notion \^''t': li'm a; d :!.©' left of the h ight m?n, particn'ai'Iy a. Kjngs^c faeli, as ap* pears by the tcliowing certificate, Jan. 30. 1719. 'T'HE^E /rre to certify. That Mr. Huddv prench'd df ^ cur meeti77g cbout May Ufl, and in a difcowfe x^ith tnnjiy cf us after fcrmon caution d us, not to give too much honour to the Son. Samuel Codnor, Wltncfs cur hajidf, Edward Whlteway, Richard Colliton* Mr. Peirce, in his deriding way, intimates ^ng. no. as if the two fermons the Narrative men* tions had no more influence upon the fer- meyit that followed in the city, than the Suns rifiHg. But whoever reads them will find that this is a creac mi- flake. He and his party no doubt were well pleased with them • for the plain defign and drift of the preachers, inftead of appearing for the great Truth then ftruck at, was to fcreen rhe enemies of it, and to difcourage others in their endeavours to hinder the pernicious influence of their errors. "What wonder is it if difcourfes calculated for fuch a purpofe, fliould Caufe a ferment among thofe who had any concern or zeal for preferving the Trurli. And if for this, and the like reafons, the affemhly refus'd to thank Mr. Buddy for his fermon, the world 'tis believ'd will juftif/ them, except thofe, who happen to be in the fame lenti- ments with the author of the difcourie Mr. Peirce fo much boafts of. Having done with* the affair of the affemhly y he comes to the author of The Account of the li^afons. ("4) In his obffiTations upon him, he fays, Jie never o^- \edeA ngainjl mens expreffmg their own fcnfe in their own XQoids. He is only a^'ainft ijnpcfwg upon ethers r.s » teHy vpords thnt are not Scripture. Who is there, that fo inlift upon any particular words, but will ac* knowledge that the fame Truth may be exprefsM in- orh^r words, that are to the fame fenfe ? But fup* poie, Mr. P. had ei^en us his fenfe of nil the great dodtrines ot the Gofpel, as well as this parriculr.r one in his own words, and others fhould not only refufe to ule his words, but fliouid ufe others that carry in them a contnjy fenfe, What would h^- do in this cafe ? Becaufe he and they can agree in ufing ihe bare^ ■words of Scripture, rr>uft . thev hold communion as fellow-chriftians, tho' it be evident from' their owa woids that they are not arreed in the fenfe of any one Scripture dcclrine } " This would make the chri- '* ftinn chvrch a heap of repugnant materials, * a mon- ** ftrousconfusd alfemblnge ofperfons of oppcfite prin- ** ciples, without any bond of union or agreement ** in any thing but in letters, founds, and words of no " fettled' meaning. " This is the exadl defcription of' the church Mr. P. defires to fee ; of which howevec he hnth nothing like a model in. the facred Scriptures-, wMch he pretends to have fuch a value for. :/.(\ ?7i\ T H o' Mr. 1?eiice repents of the decIdfatiorr\ fag. III. he made in the njfemblyy in complaifance to •. fome of his fi lends ; yet he fpends thirty' pages in a long digreinon, to diew, th -t others who are accounted oithodoXy have afferied :\. fuhordi(iatic?i as well as himfelf. Dees he In his ccnfcience think they be- liev'd a fubordination in the fame fenfe that he does? If not; what does this tedious quotation of authors fignify r They might be orthodoxy and he in a grand error notwithftanding. If a few unconneded palfages, may feem to come up to his {tn'ie of fjbordi- nntion; yet there I eing many others, that more fully ex- prefs the lentiments of thole authors, uhlch are utterly inconfillent with hisicheme; he ought in juftice to ^ive * Sir Rich. Blackmris Ju/i Prejudices againSt Arian Uj^ ^htfts^ pag.jo. .^ ^ ., , nl . i>d}nn9 «noi3ibd bflo^aii 9AT ■fiitTi an interpretation of the more dark and doiibtfut paffaees, as would confift wirh rhe'r avow'd dodlrine. But he in his ?reat modelty repreienrs the greateft men, of the iaft and pre'enc av,e for learning and pieces as inconfiftent with rherfehes, wh'lit he admires and applauds himfelf for hi own coniifteacy *. This is the fum toral of that long di^redion and a fufficlenc an- iwer to it. ' Uro^ what he fay«?^.^io4. we fhall only ot>- ferve, that he Ihould have prov'd and not have J^ng. 1402 taken it tor granted, that the apoft!e calls the F ^ THER the One God, and thnt our Saviour calls him rhe on y true God in cont ndifthiBioniOy and e^dufive of himfelf, and not merely of falie Gods, the Idois of the Gentiles. The fcriptures do not con'.radidt themfelves. One p'.ace muft be fo intrepreted as to be confident with another. Now we are r^ffurd our Sa- viour is the T ue God, the Mighty God, the Grent God, cur Lord and God, and therefore the F THER cannot be the One God, the only True Gojy excUifi-^e of the Son, uniefs there he more Gods than one ccnTaiy to the firft article of all Rei'eion. In the fame page, he takes notice. That the Account fays fn^ 6. concerning rhe prcceedings of the ciffem" biy: This hnth been cried cut up'-n us tis n T Jij ^^' f-fitlon, Inquifiticn, 8cc. Mi;. Pei. ce has made and con- tinues to maKe a rrevous exclamation againft the fif- femhly as fetting up an hiquifnioii. Whereas it is plain thatihey neither made nor imposed any tefi uon their brethren ; but without any compulfion e\ery man free- ly made his own declaration or refus'd to make any, as he pleas'd ; as appears by the account of the af- fetnblie's proceedings, 1718. Neirher did rhe affembly aCt any thing like xht pnfifts in ihtw Inquifiticn as Mr. Peirce unjuftly furmifes ; tor here were no queftions ask'd ; no accoun of their faith demanded; but the minilters gave a voluntary confexfion of their own faith, in order to 0^2. deliver *:Thc opinton of many ancient Divines may be feen in a little pamphlet entitled, ji Cauticn againfi Deceivers • The fecond EdicioOi printed ac Exon, de^vcar: their own confciences, arfd purge theirs i-t^ pu:ations without the lea ft inquiry inro the -princfe pie ^ of other men. In, what refpe(5t then could theii^ proceedings have any tendency lo advance a fopjh power, a§ fj^jf-.are unrighteouily accused. i^K^i l»^i pag. l^lmBj ir'rA ^ ni ^:>w^'\W What Mr. Pcirce calU a fpteful fig^' fng. 141, gejiloriy vl^. that /twze minifters were departed 142. /row f/jc- fahh, is a - plain and tad truth, which he and his par^ are daily making more and more evident ; therefore the reft fhould exprefs their acreement in the faith they thought iX their duty to the utmoft of their power to de^ fend. He cannot deny, that thefe notions did fpread among the common people, and were openly avow'd; by them. The perfons infected were gener-dly grea^ friends and admirers of him, and fuch minifters as were in his fentiments. He and his breuhren in^ (lead of fetting themfeives to defend the Tru:h, an4 derner their friends from the fnare in which the^ were caueht , added ra'her to their iatangiements, Whnr couid the reft of the minifters in fuch a cafe 'do, who had any concern for the honour of Cna-isx and the fafety of fous , but endeavour by an open dec nraion and defence of their own faith to put ii flop rq this growing infettlion ? If hereby the Repu? cation of fuch as ^''■ere feducing the people was dimini^lj-> ed, and they had ieis power or influence in doing mitchief thin before, ic was a confeqvence they ha\e no reafotx to be forrv for or nfnam'd of. Mr. P. almoft in every pare makes a mighty outcry about the advancing of ;j^cpffO pwer and -the Imjuiforlon^ but as the complaint is ridcucus^ fo it is now as plain as the Sun that the infevftion ob^igM the Orthodox to do what they did^un- le'ts they choeto continue under a miniftry, thatwouii^ ha^ e poylonM them with errors of the moft dange-* i"pus.. and deftruCtive nature. r.tj- ., He charges the perlon who publt{b'xi.":3: fAg. 143. part of Mr. Trofss Catechii'm with anfati'? •; w^A . becaufe he elfewhere deciar'd -for a:. J}ikordjn0ion^.Vih^SQ^ \is, plain Mr/Tr(7/}'sx)pinior£)W3s. (quite >. -different' from what ; Mr. P^ircc declares fori. All the-prion:y he afcrlbes to the Father is only in point of order; us is plain from his notes under his own hand, where he fjtys ^ that there is a Priority ef-wder xho" not of time nor of dignity ^ much lei's of effence in the Trinity of Perfons. Nor can the pub- lication of that part of his Catechilm be unfair, becaufe what was publifh'd was taken frour the Cierlc's own book ; who had it from Mr. Trofs to tranfcnbe, and then delivered it to the Catechumens to learn. "i Whe-^eas the Narrative had faid the book ftird the Innocent J/iydicnted was rhruft un- fa*^, 144; der fhop-doors in the night. It Ihculd have been exprefs'd, A printed* paper reccir.mending the innocent vindicated, as an antwer to the arguments of Mr. T/q/}'s Catcchijm with fome remarks on fome Fa(^ fares in it. The editors of the Nnr ative gave the account as they recei\Vi ir, rhis miftake it'leems was ~ o er'ookM when the Narrative was le t down to be i^xamin'd before it was publiiii'd. But as this was an teolun-ary miftake, fo it is of fuch little confe. quence shat e ery one will be ready to excul'e ir, ex- cept Mr. Peirce whofe ea^cr temper, vio.ently in- clines him to lay hcM f every m inure circumftance. This paper was rhruft under the doors of Captain Lofton, Mr. Samuel Munkjey, and berween the Shop Windows of Mr. yiarcn Tc:{er. Mr. Pcirce'm his ietteji* ib Mr. Eveleigh ia^s, he made inquiry but could noj: ^t intelligence of any fuch paper. Wt cannot ac- cauat for it how rhis can be true, unlefs he takes ad- vanrare. of hit, Eveleiglis calling it a paper of two 'Isaves whereas indeed it was but one leaf. • - He is here very flinrp upon the Karra ive - fos" (tiowing refied: ro Mr. Evdetgh' who /'^^. 145^ w^l deferves it, tho' he and others be treat- ed by Mr. P. in a manner the world muft cry fliame of. Frcm his great care to mai^nify and applaud the peiforhiances of one that denies the infinite perfedi- ons.,of -.God to belong to Cho-istj and utterly re'r nounces^. the Deiry of the Hol- G. ost, any one may a^ice/a::ti3t3er:^«fi/} a£ Ms; PwceV^fpolidon and fen- ^'^•'^'P • ■ timents' ^hlCrtts tban Mr. Peirce can do at the ortgmal rtuphop iD^f what he calls a poor remark^ ^ and in wh'ch \\s belie v'd he is inrireiy out. But if publifliing bUfi^ j>hemy againft the ever-blelfed Redeemer and the Hcly^> Gho t, fhall wi-.h Mr. P. go for a proof of a man^s good fenfe and repuiarion, he is wrong in his notion flnd cnn gain no reputation to himWlf in defending it. Mr Evclefoh anfvvers for himfelf, That Mr. P. ieems to think it a mar.er of fome importance to fome* end he has in view, to reprefe.it him in this and o*^ t^er places as not a man of fenfe. He does not; fet up for one, and if Mr. P. m.akes fb light of our Lord .and Saviour, he takes it as an hcnour to be counted as nothing for his fake, and is ferry to i: ■ \ ^ . . P^gl^tl, And Whereas Mr. Peirce fienifies, U?.^'- 148, vons nhus'd by being rcp'-efenrcd as the caafct Gf" this diverfity of fentiments here. He may thank his own friends for their declaration of th'sv and" particularly his Collegue Mr. Ballet, who declared ■ all ^ this was owing to Mr. P. as appears by the ac* ' c;oynt given by Mr. Pitts, p. 51, 52.. .^ . 3; : .;>!£iu AxD tho' in- the fame page, Mr. Hallst is faid, to deny ^ T ' I N' I T y, and that vohen Mr. Hailet came to read- t4jat chapter in P cVerV Syjiem : In quo rroban^r Chrii^» ftum eife ■ erum Deum ^nunlem P.irri, he faid, If he dtd^ ptovetbat, he wculd p/cve all the rej}^ l 3^ .^^J !»' * Samuel Wellcottw^' :m^ mifreprefent and abufe ; which one would imagine fliouldT-'^ be too low for a man that aims fo high, as "to be the'-^^ head of the rcfinM party in the J^^e^. 'ad In his reply to the defire of the ccmmitteej niuiih That he and his brethren would give them fa- paf^, t^^^oi tisfndion one of thofe three ways they pro- « -"' posU He wonders they fnould not ha\ e added a fourth^ thaVlis, or any other words, wherein they fhculd rather'^\ chcofe to expref thcmfehes. No doubt if they had cho- ' fen other words that had as fully and ftronely afferted the feme dodrine, no cbjedlion would have been mnde-^'-' againft them ; but inftead of doing this, he declar'd his^'l diflrke of all the forms proposed "to them, and is not' ^-l afraid to let the Legijlatur^^ know,- that if he were Gall'd- - ( i2a ) \xpon to fnbfcribe again, he would frot do rt iTpon af\f jiccount whnrever. He fay?, The iVcJlnnnJler Ajfewhly have nfferred more than the^- GGuld w.^rran'- bv .he word of God, which he dec ar'd before his difmiirion. Was ihis no evidence th:at he was depaned from the- common fairh, or a juft cround of his ejedion ? Its plain his diflike of the words^ did arife from his didike of '"he dodrine contain'd in them. Tho* he -ofren pre- tends irnorance of what is meant by the word Perfcn, yet its evident from his own writ'nrs, rhar he ha<; no doubt whether Father, So - , or Holy G h o s t. are hree dift'.ndl: Per'ons, bur he de lies ihem to be the ftinte mr fuhjlnnce, equnl in fcvpcr find glory If he had not de- {ignM to a:nufe the pejpe and conceal himlelf, but to ad: a fair and open part, he would ha\e own'd as much, an^ ndc have pretended a difficulty about the word P erf oh. In the the account he elves of the converfa- fag. 14B. tlon between Mr. Lavington and himlelf, he exprelTes a diflike of the words God and Father, taken fometimes perfonally, and fometimes eflentially. He cannot but know that this diftindion is; common among thofe, who are in the old fcheme, and is frequently ufed by men of the greateft learning and' judgment. Becaufe he is pleas'd to repeat and riiferr' old exploded errors withcut adding new light or forcfr* to them, as we can perceive, he fliould not think thacr we muft: immediately acquiefce without any new proof. We acknowledge, that where there is mention made of the G o n nnd Fa t h e r 0/ our Lord J e s ^ ' S C a r i s T, it muft be meant of the fir§i Perfcn in the Sacred T r i- K 1 T Y, and in other places, where it is is evident from the context, that either the S o n or Spirit is fpoken of, it's \:aktn perfomlly : But where there is nothing in that or in the (ubjed matter, that peculiarly appropri- ates it to any One of the Sacred Three, what hinder^ but that it may be meant of Go D cJfentirMyy or as in- cluding Father, Son, and Spirit? ficce we are aiTur'd from the whole tenor of the Scripture, that therd is but One God, and yet that in the G o d h e a o there is *F a t h e r, S o n, and Spirit. For Mr. F. to fay, That in fuch places^ the Fat h e-r is only- fpokea of. ( 12^^. of^-k ta >ta1ce for granted what he Hioulii have prov^ ei- The like we fay of the \^«ord Fathbr, cho* rhe Father of our l.oi^ J e s u s C h ?. i s t, is al- ways the firft Peyfon, yen we are certain, that the work of crearion is sfcnb'd to each of the Perfons, and we ape^ equ llv indebted to them for our being and blef- fisgs. They are joinc.'y cur Ce a t or, and in that fanfe may I e (Iv.'d the F a x h e r or Parent of alL We are required to remember our C -. e a t o r ^, (as the word Iirp^«rts in the origina') becaiife t' ey are di- ftinil Perlcns, tho' one in nature, power and op^^.. ration/ Ix's-deflr'd the reader will remark how far Mr. Pay>ve in this page acknowledges, That pag. 148^ G;^ 1^1. St Wttf? he fuch a God tis^ after the 149. ^^y pf judgment: Jhctild hnve no rule^ or au-^, '. , , ; ,.^^ , thoYity, or povper : and a little afcer, fays, T can fee ni abfu^dity at aU in fufpofing that a derivd authority may h^ furrendcr'd ; or that the Father fhcidd then- he A^- m All. And is not this an execrable dodtrine thai doth "^ f© diredrly aholylo the Deity 0/ C h r i s t, our Saviour If contrary to the apoftle to the Hebrews, fpeaking of the.|^ Sfo N, Thy thro?2e^ O Go d, j^ for ever and ever. If fuch ^polidons and opinions prevail , they will deftroy both the foundation and fabrick of Chrlftianity, and by worfliipping Chr ist as a creature (as Abp. Tlllotfon obferv'd) bring idolatry into the church at the back- door. Let the reader obferve, that this good dodlrine <^mes amongft us from Dr. Clark^ and Mr. f^pijlon, and tjever belonged to the firfl Reformers, old Puritans, or, la^er Nonccnformifls. j f, EuT it is to be further obferv'd, That tho' Gqv^ ^yen the Father, fpoken of in i Cor. xv. 24. to whom Christ will deliver up the kii%gdom, may b^ meant of the ^r/? Perfon ; yet Mr. P. has not prov'd that the cxpreifion, 1;. 28. That God way he All in All, muft be confind to the Father, exclufive of the Soti and Spirit. Each of the Sacred Perfons fuftain di- ftindl and different charadlers in the ceconomy of our Redemption. This being by their joint cojijent, is n^ proof of any inequality in nature, or of one's having any. poper /authority o\Qr the other. The Fatjher is rcf .)'-' R ' prefepie'^ minted .35 fuftainmsf vhe.nghts of-tke Dehy or .the crij- t^(^etoifu.p)'eme L^gi/Jdtor. ■ ";fthe-SoM as fufthinirig'tlTB characfter o£MedUt;or,-ox.\F(^dee^er., No doiint bu: thli office and rheiaiiiborvrv belonging ro it is infer tor to. tftat of the Father's^ buthis To'.untary condescend in g to^thik^ pus notions concemino the bieffed Redeemer^ as to think He is only iuch a Gcd as after the day of judg- ment will have wo rule, or authority, or ^ovper, we for our ra^'t are not afliamM to proiefs our belief, thac as He- was 'God from everlaftinc^, in the hcgmning was withGoi>x:hc 'Father, and was Gov, fo He will be to everlafting^. "We hore to be for ever fubjecft to his government, and >appy in thetinjcYment of Him, v^ho with the Fat her, and Sjirit, "is dpi* ':i4/f M'AlLy'' ' - '""^/i^e/^'aemestli&^^ili^ny^^ - :, '^arrnthx^ the difpme i\\t"fi(irratlve takes no- ^ag, 149, 'ticeof, Weft. Inci. v. x^o.' They who gave -^.c.^- the information, thV they, thought it nor Mo ^id&a^^ 'worth while tb fend up certificates upon every pa[rncti- iar, are no doubt if defir'd, able and ready to make 'eood what 'is here related. Mr. P. wTlH acknowledge '^'uei^einence, except it be underitood of the ftrengthof his 'i^» together without ground. :^'- « ^r; We only obferve here, That 'tis to be fear'd Mr. jJallets exprelTion, and what has been elfewhere pub- lifh'd will be matter of ftumbling to many, and there- fore hope, the brethren referred to, will think them- felves concerned to fatisfy the world more publickly and plainly that herein they have been wrong'd.' 'bA^.Feirce throws cut a threntning, by -pag. 151^ faying, H^ would not in hajlc give them nny cc- caficn again to tmt him with his writing m ^defence of the dijfenters. In anfvver to which, We hope fo good a cauie will never want ad\ ocates, and tho' he mav think himfelf the very AtUs of it (as this lofty fen- tence looks that way) yet we have no fe^r upon us at all, that it will want a fupport after one pillar fails us, any more than it did before Mr. P. was born. And tho' we defire to keep a good confcience in every ^ thing, and would have every Truth vindicated in its place, yet we cannot but think that controverfy, if - comparM with thps, to be no more than a gnat to a camel, or a pimple to the plague : And that it will a- "•'vail us very little to embalm the memory or plead the <- caufe of the ancient Puritans, if we deftroy their faith. But perhaps the loofe and general faith which Mr.. P. aims at, is intended to ufher in the glorious time ap- proaching, w^iich he, with his friend Mr. IVhiJicn, had fix'd wiih fo great affurance, while wife. Jn^nlook'd u^on it a. Imle planetary, " 3%. ,.,;,> He alledges, That Mr. Trofs ^w^ M^ Mai- ' fag.1^%. Jet always directed the Clerks what he fhould K fingy and that Mr. Trols was ngaifiji fing- '^ing any thing hut the tranjlation of Scripture : Mid appeals to the reader, -p/tg. i^-^.^H^hether the people \kad > mors -' ^^''- he off ■"n^'-^ ^-^':]) him than with Mr, Trofs .^ To i m ) ivTo air whk6;^hl^ i?i>a luir-rep^vTlKMJ ;W MrJ ^rofs . diredled whnt the Clerk fliould fingj. ,yec . nev^r -forbad our fiiiginc^ Doxologies at the ■■ end of thofe ffalms^ as Mi: Peirce did : No ; but. h? look'd up<|>n ^tkofe-as- fcrtprural which Mr. P. would not fuflf^cr ^ff'isongregatioii to iirrg ; as is evideii: from his pofi- tive order to the clerk., to ling thofe wherein glory was exprefsly give ^." to Father, Son, and Horr Ghost. That Mr. TroJ^ did order it, appears bj -the following curHficate. :fT^ HIS is to certify y ell per.fons whcm if may concern., "*' Hhnt I Thonrias i>yorinan w^s clerk at James's Meet- ing-houle nhout nine years and three quarters (while Mr, \^ro{%andMr.'loi.H-:\\Wi were faflofs there) and that vpe "'then very often favig thofe Doxoiogies wherein there ioaf vivxpefi glory gi.en to th" Father, vSon, and Holy »oxo logics ; nnd that he himfelf ftuck not to alter them, -q^if he did at rhe compofing them) to render them more bfctftenftve: It is of a like nature with moft of his o her '■'ftories, 'vi:(. falfe and groundiefs,--as appears by JihQ following certificate. %->,v%\'A ^hnfi f n no^^j -'^XV^HEIIEAS Mr. Peirce in hit Weft. Tnq. pag; ivwT' I '^1. fays That it was reported^ that one of the -;;derks ufed to- h:aft how he would fit fome people with, L Doxologies, ^«^ that he. was i^bfervd to he 'very i^X- 'fe^^itywf^^ if ,pcki%g them ^f, md - iHjat- k€ hwjfeif ftucf^ t i^ ^ ^]}J to ^ntter them] {tf he did . ki compofing tl^em) ' 1||, %^der 4hcm the more offenfive. this is to certify^ a^ ymotn it may concern y That Wff whofe names are un^, dpr-written (being the c'erks of the three united congre-^ gations) did never boafl how voe would Jit fome fecpje with Doxologies, nor did we ever alter any, much lefl^ ^ffe'njive. v.-ixT ^r.T('H -'f- Thomas Norman,' "3 9 1 •^^^'5: ^tnej^ our teif,/i .^^Richard Dawkins ^ .• " .n: or J°h" Handleigi^. - -^ - ii ys D whereas Mr. Parce cavills at twbr ^^^'53* ^*^"^s of a Doxology that was fung, Mr^ I?eirce never mention'd this at the meeting of *"I:e Committee, when they urc'd, that his permi;:^ ting the ule of the Doxologies would go a great wa^ to the peace of the city ; nor did the people defir_e ^his or that verfion of a Doxology y but only fuch as ^ave Glory to the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, a$ the One God : of which there are multitudes which would have given the people facisfadion. And no doubt the two former lines o^ i\\\s Doxology, he., is pleas'd to mention but a part of, was as oit'enlivp to hiHi'^ ^^vte m^\ ^m^ fm^',.,fUnC on''T^:d He owns he was told (as it is mention d fag.i$/^, m the account) that his comply ing with tf^ f_eopies requeft to give them liberty^ to fmg the Doxologies, whereby they might worihip God ac- cording to the convidion of their rninds,. together vyith the teaqhing .th^ .A^emhjles Cat eghifm^ would go a greai •way to the pence of the city ;• 'And yet he wquld n(J comply with this requeft, but fobn after calls upon li>fix^ Lavingtcn to meution one,,ftep he had take^ii,^ tn^t lias not .agreed perfectly with his pretences for' liber- ty and peace. The world will think his abridging the people of their liberty to fing. theij;' ioixf^tx^tyoxoUgi^^s ^ , fuificient aaiwer ro that . demandj ,_; . and |wijl ' tpdkjoa i'^as a fhameful evafidn 'for iiim " to ' fay" 'pag, '\ 5 (5. ' ^h'ey ■were mre./^'f^, liheriy to do it at heme, hehhide/d theih ht, ''llW is,"\vtieFe.,ir' wn& not in his |)ower to hinde| m. 'T>ie~ people '6\Afd him abundance of thanks fo^^ tlSt fi Kerry, vvhich of ^h' ^reat grace he^ cbndercen^^ e^ to' ?Vant them; 'vi^hen at the fame time he took ^\^ayrheir liberty iii pulDlick, of praifing God in thd Aann^f "they thourht they were bound to do ^ efpe| ciafly Mri this junaure, to ' teftify theit^ faith ia.,at|| worlhip of the Holy Trinity. ' *" ^^ ' >W^1i '^Sc'^ef^nce as well as a,^ery mdifl'erent com.pliment pafs'd by Mr. Peirce ^^g.i^f, upin- the gentleman to inlinuate, that he wns not hound to take his word. 'Tis believ'd the 9entlemnn was f?r from expedting he would be un- der his fmgle direElion. .But as Mr. P. had reafon t6 fi^iteve thar what he fpoke, w^as the fenfe of many Mhers, besides his own, 'it deferv'd m.ore regard. Ths r^der' m'ay here obferve, how, when hs could noc iiA3,'''l^e femes a handle on piirpofe to throw out fee fnrcher injurious reiiedicns on Mr. Lnvingtofty fvhoiti he conr'emns as an enemy to peace, but do^ it with as li^rle tru^h as v/hen he charges him with laving' ■furn'OiM the palTage he recites from fag^ i^'-qf the Narrative and ^ calls a refleciion. The ^iters of the Narrative do affiire him it is fa'ie. Thlt jiccount, upon which he takes occafion to abufe Mfi Lavington was V^ceivM from one who knew the tnith,;: bur is no minifter. And how can Mr. P. fay fof b'tmrelf that he was determind to have no hand in make trig divlf^ons, when his abridging peopM the liberty of linemcT Gory ''o the Father, So;, and Holy GhosT> ipoitld^unavoidahy promote 'em, as Mr, V» kntw, . ^^.^ lings than in "hnt paragraph, the people will have; neea to 'bok Oiit' for a bercer patron. In this and other iiif (tances, he Hiews how difficult a thing it is to^arguiR wirhbut biafs and prejudice, where felf is •mcern'd. Is ft not th^ rirht of the people to wcrfhip G o d in puE^ they think mod agreeable to his will? Have they noi i right, according to the real belief and prr.dlice of the^ cfjriftian church, to afcribe glory ro the ¥ ^Tn^K^JSok^ and Spirit as to the One Gcd> If he would nbc^ futier them to do this when he preach'd among them^l did be not do what in him lay to deprive them of\ their liberty? Had they, not reafcn to be imeafy at this,^ efpeciaily confidjering the notions thr t were then pre- vaiiinr, and rhat his forbidding them the Dcxclo^ics, was a pradbical declaration that fuch glory was not due? "What : thrurh the ordering theie things be ufnally jodg'd in the minifter, th's is on fuppofition that he and they are of the fame fairh. When it appeared, that he was going to depri'. e them of the liberry of declaring their faith" in one of the moft important dcd^rines of the Golpel, and of exercifing their devotion in one of thd higheft ads of worfliip, it was full time for hem to afTert tbeii* own juft rights and liberties. What tho'* they did not ufe thefe Doxologlcs every time they met for pnblick worfh'p, is there no difference between their nor doing v^hat tbey might have done if /hey had p]eas"'d, and another perfon's debarring them of this 11-' fcerty wi hout, nay, againft their co'n'ent f If Mr. P. anc|.^ the createft part of the congregation hnd been of his, fentiments, he would have had Ibm.e , colour for whats", lie did ; But what reafon was there, that he and a fevC of his ArUn friends fljould take upon them to deprive"' the body of the congregation of this liberty ? A iepara^ lien cou'd not but follow upon their not agreeing in' the objed: of their w-orfliip. Before the feval laws; againft the proteftant diifenters were repealM, thofe that" made them, or were advocates for them, mif h': havej pleaded juft as Mr. P. does, How, good Sir, dp we de- bar you of your liberty? Have you not liberty to' worflVip God in your c'ofets, and families, or with ^ number nbt exceeding five? But if notwithftandiii£ this, they have a further richt to perform the fame wor^ lliip in larger alfembiies, they that fhall go about to de-^ prive thern of it, will by impartial perfons be Iook'*d, wf on as hnaycrs rather than ajfertors of their liberty. *Mg, 157. Mr. P^Vti? fays, That, the account in th^i fiarrative of Iiis fprbi4?//; atid when he had exprefs^d hlmfelf as ufual and afcrib'd Ml honour and«gIory to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Jhe call'd it back again in the face of the congregation, as tho' he had afcrib'd too much to the So , and Holy Ghost. To which may be added Mr. Hailet's decla- ration before feveral of the city the 24th of OFiober 1718* where one in company complaining of the hard- fhip they of James's meeting were under, that they could not have leave to worfliip God according to theconvidli- on of their confclences in giving glory to the F a t h e r. Son, and Holy Ghost, one of them appealed to Mr. Tf^thers, What he would do if he were in their cafe ? Mr. Halletr anfwer'd. You do it oftner than ever you did ; and then added, you have no warrant for it from the word of God: But Mr. neither s reply'd, It is their due, and were I able to fing, I'd fing it. fag. 158. As to what Mr. Peirce fays about Cat^- \^,. :.;. chijingj he owns, f. 154. it was one of thofe things frcpos'd to him by one of the committee. And tho* he fays there, I was well affuM in my own mind, that what that gentleman faid was not true. And />. 155. adds,, PP'hy was I bound to take that gentleman s word ? yet he could not but know that gentleman fpake the fenle of the committee, and many others ; and that, as the Account lays, his compliance with thefe two things, w;^. Giving the people liberty to ufe thofe Dcxologies in finging, and alio their teaching the Affemblys Catechifm, would go a great way to the peace of the city. And therefore, tho' he fugrefts, that it was not true that he was ask'd to teach it, or that he refus'd ; What could he make of this propofal (which was feveral months before the ejedmenr) but a plain defire ? And what can his noncompliance with this propofal be, but a plain refufal ? What is therefore faid in the J^arrative is not a bafc and unworthy^ reprefcntation, Ror any argument of the mean fprit of its author or editors ; but what Mr. P. offers in thefe different pages, will convince the world, that he himfelf hadi not that re- gard to truth and lincerity, that a hiflorian fliould have. In anfwer " to the excufes he makes for Mr. Hafht, his i:eply'd, That how difficult foever it wviS-to-pro^t^ ' ,\r, * ... children k'^^ \ ichiidr^ti m'fiiTrvverr^yet^itif Tucfx is v^erfe ready ^tb do it, as they had feveral' times done ; "and to help the badnefs of his fight, a gentlewoman freely ofler'd to gee a larger print, if he would go on with ir. By this it .piay'b^ feen how far Mr, P. has given a true account ^9l .^i^is whole affair. raonO -h'lfifi 3ri:; ' . j'n m tIj:/^Y«)j;heejed!onof Mr. I{pger Bendon, the jf/z^. 15S, .promotmg of which, Mr. Peirce endeavours ^ 15^* 4"*'^ to charge upon Mr. Wahond, p. 90, 91. and ' ^''-^^ -^^^'^ 158, 159. There needs no more be faid in anfwer to this calumny, than what is certify 'd by t;he principal members of that congregation, which 'is iis' follows:- ^ JJV.pag. 9^,91, 0/ Mr. Peirce'j Weft. Inq. hefuggefisj Thaf "*■ Mr. BeadonV ejeEiment was procurd or hrjiend by Js/lr. Walrond. iVe do unanimouJJy nttefl^ That his ejeSi-m ment was intirely our own nct^ and not in the leaft ad- 'vifed or perfuadcd by him, or any minijler whatfoever. And we do further tejlify^ That at the requeil of Mr, Ball and Mr. Walrond, his ejecimeiit was delay d for fome conji- dj^rahle time, that they might confer with him ; after which conference (without giving us their opinion) they left the cafe to us to bring the decifion of it to fuch an ijfue ^flPfJn^rOur confciertces fhould judge right. yj; John Bending, Samuel Lear, ^jti:\i , William Leat, John Baylie, j)f,^ Andrew Leat, Tho. Stocker, Sfi U.L. Jo^" Pounce, Thomas Seaward, 3£fiY/^ Richard Baylie, Roger Paver, l£i373 Henry Terleac, John Leat, b§A h 5^^^^ Teed. tsd liloqc joJI^B. This rer^//ic4f> is twice inferred, becaufe it re- .^jpifers 10 fag. 91, 92. of the iVefl. Inq. and again, ■[[ // ^ $Ag' 159, where M. P. refumes the flander. ,:-Mr. Veirce denies that Mr. B^^ifl« was TJ/f^. 1^9; ( I3f>> ) ^KXT E therefore, xoho]^ are un^&rrvprlttm^'do'her^ ^^ by tejiifyj That we did defire Mr. BeadonV con- gregation to delay their defignd ejeElment till we had tal^d with him and endeavour d to reclaim him ; which we accordingly did, as other minifiers had done before^ but he frovd inflexible, as 'tis known he continues to this day. c;' -r:^ 'n- John Walron^tk ...:^ x% 'And whereas he afferts. That Mr. Beadon was ejecled cnly for denying the genuinenejl of i John v. 7. a7id re- fufing to ufe the Aflembly's Catechifm, and faying, thap the Son was not in all refpetis equal to the Father^ zi. WE whofe names are fuhfcriFdy who are members ofi the church at Budleigh, do aver and tejlify, Hhatj Mr. Beadon did not only refufe to ufe the AiTembiy's Ca^^ techlfni, but declard, that he had us'd it almofl twot.) years pafl. agnlnfi his confcience, and would never ufe it more j , and yet he had frequently within that time, and once far*, t{cularly within three months of his ejeRment, exhorted tarents and mafiers to teach- the faid Catechifm to their children and fervants, and blam'd them for their negli*.. gence in that refpeSt, ^This we tcok^ to be an argument not only of his erronious opinion, but of grofi hyfocrify and pevarication, Samuel Leat,' John Bending, feth Henry Terleat, Andrew Leap, ido| William Leat, John Baylie, Thomas Seaward, John Leat, ^ Richard Finn, Roger 'Paver, i Richard Bay lie, Sarnuel Teed, ^Ut-.^ AS to his denial of the text, in t John. v. 7. He did not only deny its genuinenefs, but ajferted befdtei' fejperal of us, that we. might as w.eli place th^ verfe ofi i h4Ud of a rhyme in the Bible as that ; nor was thnHxt fht ^^b fl^^^ cf Jcripturs yohich Jge. ohjeHed -i^o^ for J?e\ f^ , '■" ^"- alfi ( Ijf > '0tfo told us that Phil. u. ^. was falfely trmA^^^i, m4 ht^i ^^ Wu :i«^r:i^v^Tii'«^: ~ Thoffias Seiwardi d:>\d«r e «<'i^ 5«"u^h:yt oi V^Sv. Samuel Lear. *«^ ,v^ ,i2/i to nonj5Jn^91q^i^ ai/oiatneOt .-r-v John Bending, y^;?. , Jo™- Po^i^ce. -t *}[3j^jj]f{ Samuel Leat. Rxhard Baylie. .jyj £,^1^ Thomas Seaward. Roger Paver. . ^h fjiwisj John Baylie. .. jji Henr^ Terie^t;, Ws^-V^oq^ ' . Thomas Scocker, '-/r-r: .. ■^■■A'Aii - \1n^jB tpZi^T^ nnmes are under-vuritten , voere frefenp. /i^ ; ''^'^ the debate between Mr. Beadon and his people a* hmt November Ufi, and among other things which we hea d from him, that the people objected to, we heard him paiticularly affert, That if they built on our pre- fent tranflarion of the Bible they would build on a fys^^Y foundation. Wit7iefs eur hands, Jfaiah Simonds.^ J^ov. 30. 1719. 5amuel Hart. M^. Beadon did deyry in my hearing the genuinenefs of I John V. 7. and that he wou(4 ^-^' ^^ the Aflembly's Catechifm, ^,A ■ ^t\ ^os^^iW ".->-■. ^. ■« Thomas Sppcko^ Mjf^. Roger Beadon did in tny hearing deny t John V. 7. to he fcripture, and declard, he had taught the Affembiy's Catechifm contrary to his con*, fcience two years, and would not teach it more ; not" voithfianding he frequently exhorted parents and jnajiers ef families to inftru^ their children and ferv/ints to be mare perfeEi therein, and blamed them for 7iot doing it, and particularly once within three montios of his ^e^eei^k tnent, and when fome places were quoted to him^:^e:c\ wmld anfwery He knew it was fo in our Bibles^ <},^5> ■ ^ ■:■■■::' ^'iUVi'. •• .^IVI i^Wfc. ■ ^wGi- - \i ? - •tj mpr<5 li; ^^H >fnof>f^^^ /•• John Pouricel fim^ 1 tl^^tHfe pagis above mentioned thesfe is alfb a' vrie itfi flanderous reprefentation of Mr. /%/roWs ftopping Mt. JBcadons money from Lojidoriy becaufe he had apply'd himielf to the affcmhly and not to him to procure it, and Mr. P. makes many bafe refledions upon him af- terwards ; to fhew no doubt, his juflice^ charity and good-win to that perfon at v/hom he fo often levels in his book. But this unjuft imputation will be e- fTedually confuted by that worthy and reverend mini- Iter Mi\ Jofcfh Mmfton ; who upon his adrniring what tould polTibiy be the occafion of fo malicious a flan- der, told him, he could both inform and vindicate him, which he did, fending him the foiiowing certt'^ ficiife under his hand. ^3::q 1:-:.: . THE pace 159. of Mr. Pelrce's book is a very falfe mtd malicious account of what Mr. Walrond tiBed about Mr. Beadon's application to London ; I am apt to thinks that Mr. Beadon by his particular friend refers to me ; hut whether he doth or not^ I know this to be the true matter of fa Ft •, however perverted by him or Mr J Peirce. J apply d to the minijiers ajfembled at Exon in Mr. BeadonV behalf ; and at the alTembly's reqneft^ the late Mr. Clement Weeks wrote to London //cwi ■whence he had n promife of feme affljlance. Mr. Wal- rond, who was always a friend and benefaSior to Mr. Beadon afterwards meeting with Mr. Weeks told him^ That according to his information Sidmouth-meeting had more need of help than Budleigh ; for he was tcld^ that they raifed at Budleigh fo much per. Annum, m exemp)ted that cafe from the London charity ; for they,, had refolvd againft applying their charity to any thatit hadfuch an annual Income, As foon as I came to the\ knowledge of this, out of my particular friend/hip to Mr^- Beadon, I affurd Mr. Walrond, that his informers ^^ were miftaken, which I advisd Mr. Beadon to go and ■ confirm. As foon as Mr. W^alrond found he was mifin^:^, forrnd;, he acquainted Mr, Weeks with it, and accord'*-^- ingly the help from London was continud^ with 'very litf% tie if any interruption^ and Mr. Walrond himfelf con- tiniid even till Mr. Beadon's ejeHment, his own con- ^ nibutim to him. This is the truth of the matter, how- ivcr ( n^ ) / ever perverted, and is not the only inflanee of Mr. Bea- dcaoirs grntittUe to his hearty friends and heneft^otfj^. Jofeph Manftjw» What make^ Mr. Peirte fo ready tct receive afal^t tcport, and to feem fo willing to pick up fuch idie^-i and ungrounded ftories againft me, and then to make- fuch bitter reflexions on them, with an air of fcorri' and haughtinefs, I can't imagine • fince I ever carry'd | it with great refpetfl and civility towards him, and-* !iad no jarr or Hiicord with him but in this doctrinal coutroverfy. And fureiy if this rentleman will be fo mean as to hearken to eveiy idJe tale and mifrepre- fentation that is brought him by any of his votaries and then report- it in r rint ; he will find trouble e« noach both for himfeif and the World, but concili* -. ate little credit to his writings. ■ Before we part I am willing td acknowledge one- debt I owe- him befides chart ty, I mean my thanks v, for the honour he has done me, in recording my'J name with the fix woithy minifters, that thcf< gendemen of Exeter thought fit to advife with. ^ May^ it ftand among them for ever as a joint teftimony^ for the divinity of our Glorious Redeemer: And \et^'^ all the adverfaries of Chri t's G'I^head know, that« I efteem it my trueft glory, and value it more than'-'^ all the infcriptions that could be made by art and'-' flattery. May he name us in all the pamphlets he-^ ihall (pawn ; and like Ahab, join us with fuch troub*i lers of Ifrael as Elijah was. Every fpot of dirt he" Ihall caft upon us in this caufe, I will venture to fay, we fhall all look upon as an ornament ; and what- ever cenfure he or the men of liberty fhall beftow upon-* us, we hope we fiiall in all places, by fubfcribiiig ssi w€ll as preachingy confels our Lord Jesus before men^i that he may confefs ws before his Father which iti in Heaven. "'\ Jofeph^ Walfoncbi ( m> • •^t • -■ .-- ■ •-■ • ■ ... Mr. Beirce infinuares here as If Mr./'^*- thers was admitted by the people only for ^tag, t6ol faf isfying Mr. ff^alrond. Mr. TVithers indeed came down to the gentleman's houfe where Mr. IVnlrond lodg'd, but declared his affent to the fir St article of the Church of BngUnd not only befc^e him, but another minifter, and feveral of the principal of- the citi^^ens ; fo that there was no foundation for Mr. Peirccs bafe refledlion on Mr. fValrond in that page, neither does Mr. PValrond deferve to be treated by him in many other places of his book, with fuch- 1 indecency and injuftice, but is able to appeal to all his brethren from Mr. P's unrighteous cenfures. 'T I s picy a Man of fo much fenfe as Mr. P. fliould ,-, not aim ar a little more honour and good breedings 1 Should we judge of the cntholic!^ ipirit of Arius by this gentleman's temper, we fhould be apt to think it not a little fierce and fiery. And as he ftiles his book the - Western In q^u i s i t i o n, lb we fhould be verf forry to fee him a Father Inqjjisitor. But we muft not w^onder at his manner of treating a fingle brother thus rudely, fince he dealt with the whole ajfemhly in fuch an haughty ftrain ; nay, in his dialogue with Mr. Eveleigh, the reader will find the whole Chrifiian Church arraigned of error, and our Chrifiianity fuppos'd not to hnve common fenfe. See Mr. Eveleigh's letter to Mr. Pk.| and his reply to Mr. P's, letter />. lo, 21. This renders i? him an unhappy inftance of Archbifliop TiUotfons obfer- vation. That they who have once drawn blood ia comroverfy, are feldom known to return to a good^v temper again. '\ go on, Mr. Octree turns again to the 'Nar- v Ytttive to pafs his remarks on a letter fent to fag, t6ol fome London mintflers from twelve of the ma- nagers. But before he does this, being pretty much out of humour, he beftows a mark of his difpieafure upon the fuhUpoer for printing their names at length with Mr. be- tctt^ theit). That fault (committed in a hurry of writing) was correded before the edition was finifh'd. Mr. P. mighc have pais'd it by as no way affeding the caufe, and iM T hernia r Of 7 ^ herein have fhewn that he was above taking notice ^ lo mean a trifle. ' ^^ iii/i-^^i (rj .xiiH'jsJ In-Kis -%m^rJ^x o« *k X»^f^5K> he .:^s, */f£. i,i5:'i/*^'3t)e fuhjlmce of it has been nlrendy conjfdcrd^ ' ' '^ ^Ahd lo has the fubftance ^Q£.Jiis - M^m^fl^ upon it. j^'^^^. ' ^J lliw 3j;-i^2io-n^.^rnf^ 'Y II -E. gentlemen needed not much :(eal to fix on hiin and his party the charge of Arian notions,^ feeing they have iufiiclently done it themfelves. Without doubt he thinks to ferve fome conliderable end in continually difclaiming the name ; or eife confidering his real and avow'd fentiments, he might be afliam'd of doing it. Nothinq is plainer than that he advances fuch notions as were always efteem'd Avian ever fince that herejy fprung up in the chriftian church. The world fees by the certificates produced in this book, what kind of wild notions the people had en- tertain d, and yet in Mr. P's judgment this was owing to the convid:ion wrought in them by fcnpwe^ reafon, and iiYguynent. Could any one in confcience fay this, that was not of the fame fentiments with them ? This would tempt one to fufped: he had fome hand In propa- gating them. The gentlemen might not think that the bare authority of the ajfemhly^ would put a flop to the growth of thefe notions, yet might hope, that when by a declaration the fenfe of fo many wife, learned and good men, was known ; it would put thofe, who were not pufc up with pride and conceit, upon ferious confideration and re-examining matters, by which means they might .come to difcern the vanity of thofe fcphiftical cavils by which they had been too unwarily intangled and infnar'd. Mr. Peirce is forry they Jloculd reckon that a great and fiecejfary J>oint of faith f when f he fays, they can t produce cne place of Scri_pture that plainly ajferts it. Will he af- ' firm, that every neccjfary article of faith muftbe exprefly contained in fome one (ingle place of Scripture, or deny that what unavoidably refults from two places com. par'd to^e her, is necefTary to be believ'd ? If this be his real fenriment, why did he not anfwer Mr. Cum- inins on that Grgument } or if tiiat be too long a task, let let him try his skill agahift what is ofFer'd in a fhoner difcourfe by Sir P^chnrd Bltickpiore. The gottlemens behaviour to him and his treat- ment of them being publifli'd to the world, we be- lieve few, except thofe who are infeded with the fame errors, but will be fatisfy'd they were no way iv^anting in refpeSt and deference^ they will rather won- der they bore fo long as they did. ^' Mr. ^elrce makes his refledions on a let- ter fent from London. It's plain that per fon fdg.iCil did not imagine the infedlion w^as there fo 163. deep and extenfive as it hath fince appear- ed to be. No wonder that he and his other brethren were backward to meddle in an affair of this nature at fo great a diftance, and which did fo properly lie before the neighbouring minifters, who could more eafily come at a true knowledge of all the particulars belonging to it. Are they to blame for this their cau- tion ? They gave no judgment before, only in gene- ral declared' by what rules \hey fliould think themfelves bbllg'd to ad, wi.hout applying them to the cafe of Exeter in particular. They left^ that to the gentlemen as they fliould find themfelves concerad or not con- eern'd in them. H E fays. That the only grounds on which the clti:{ens -ibjedled their minifters were negative, and the only rca- fo^i was, that they miild riot nffent to human tefls. The '-cifi:{en5 think they have abundantly proved in their Ac- count and the Defence of it, that their minifters were not only palTive buu adive in propagating the new fcheme. And therefore they judge it lufficient to infert their own anfwer to the like declaration of Mr. P. in his Defence, '^^^p.^"5, 6, 33. It is in their Def of the Account, jp. 17. "We think this reply in thefe feveral places, is no- ■" thing but an artful turn, and playing with words " on purpofe to amufe and deceive the people, and ' '* conceal a faith he durft not own, and Indeed a great " psivz o{ ihe Defence is nothing elfe ; for no one wilt " believe that his ejedtlon iiefts only on his not agree- " ing to a teft of unfcriptural words, if he would have '' profefs'd to believe the thing. The citi:;^ens would ** have been fatlsfy'd with any other declaration of his T z " t»elief e HO > i\ beliefofthefupremeDeitypfCHRiSTi, and the^-fclQc^ *^\ Ghost, as one God with the F a t h e r, fo thiCI ^ it had been but a plaia and full evidence of his be- f lief of the dodrine." ^ ^ . -^ Mr. Peirce fpeaks of the difference between hira and his people as if it was like to a money matter^ that neceflarily required arbitrators to be chofen on both fides to determine it ; but this is a very improper re? prefentation of the cafe. The people have an undoubc-? ed right to be fatisfy'd of the foundnefs of their faith under whole miniftry they continue. If their minifterSj refufe to give them fatisfadion, and more efpecially if they give juft ground of diiratisfadlion, they have, in this cafe a right to withdraw from their miniftry j and provided they be the greateft part of a congrega^ tion, they may difmifs them without having the matter determin'd by way of arbitration. When Mr. P. has prov'd, that he had as much right to continue tha?, peoples minifter (tho' he was departed from the faith^ till caft out by the arbitration of fuch as he fhould choofe ; as the gentlemen may have in money matters., under debate till they are determin'd by law or arbi- tration, he may then draw a comparifon between one an4: t'orher: but till then, 'tis all amufement, and the re-»^ gardlefi trifle of inconfiftencyj as he calls it, lies intireiy on his own fide. And whereas Mr. Peirce inlinuates, That the minir. fters at London and their friends in the country had agree4' to turn out Mr. P. &c. it is afBrm'd, That there wa$l no fuch agreement. The minifters apply'd to at Lon- don thought themfelves no further enrag'd, than to fig- nlfy their approbation of the three general propofitions f concerning which their judgment was ask'd. See Narrativet . * The Propofitions : i. That there are fome errors in rf«»- Brine which are a fufficient ground for the people ta rs>iihdrav» fi-Qrn their minijim holding fuch errors. • , ■ ^ - -..: -■■■-y^ 2 That the denying the true and proptr Divinity of the Soil% •f GOD, viz. That He is cm GO D with the F^TH & R, i9^ an error of that nature ; contrary to the holy ^tiptnriSi aud^ 99m»nn faith of the reformsd churchsj. •*«£ eitt'^i^ni^ AnwMn. i-^ -3- Thai^^ i 141 1 Karrattvi, pVir^i?. T^ey dMm'^H; 3^^^ af- fair o€ Exeter y not becaufe they were fvire, ther^ was no ground for what was afterwards done, and therefore folitidy avoided it, as Mr. P, iniimates ; but becaufe they apprehended themfelves not call'd to it, and that ic properly belong'd to thofe who were immediately concerned, and capable of making a true judgment, a$ being upon the fpot and /uily acquainted with all cir- cumftances. The mlnifters both at London and in the country, aded with all the caution, concern and ten- dernefs that was polTible; and yet Mr. P. mfikes no fcruple of abufing them. The citizens are not afliain'd of the conclufion of this aftair; but think that the ac- counts given here and ehewhere are a fufficient vindi- cation of their condudl, and that many and thofe per-i fons of good fenfe, cannot but approve of it, unlels Mr, ^. v;ill allow none to pafs for men of fenfe but iholii M his own party. b'MR. Peirce endeavours here to turn the fe- riolis and afFedling account given in the Nar- ;^ag, i6i^2 rathe of the fad ftate of religion at Exeter, into banter and ridicule. The event fiiews, that there was but too much truth in that melancholy relation. When the minifters in thofe parts found by fad experience that their paft filence had given but too much encourage- ment to others to propagate their pernicious errors ia fecret, and had reafon to fear left by their longer fir Jence, they fliould be accelfory to their infedling of more; they might without any diftraft of their own ability^ think it their duty to to engage as many more as they (Souid With them in an open defence of the Truth of th^ ^^^ ' GofpeL 5- That when fg danprius an errdr is induJirUu/Jy p^opagattd^ jPr the overthrowing of the faith of many^ -ate think it the inf difpenfible duty of minijiers, wh9 are fet for the defence of the GofpeL earnefily to witkjiand it, and to give reafonahle /i»- tisfa^ion to their people of their foundnefs in the faiths Ani we likewife recommend to the people, as their dtity^ T9 hold faft the truth in love ; avoiding anger, clamour, and evil fpeaking, and to behave themfdvss with all fnctrit^ imd meeknefij as becometh (hrijlianf. ■^'■:,.::.v .. '^'■^^^■:^.,:,/- ^^--:^ ^"^^^ , againft the fubord'mate wo' Hyp of another that was not God, and as he laid, if Baal be God^ ferve him ; fo fay we, if Christ be God, ferve him; but if he be not God at all or an inferior God, let us for^ bear. Remember his own words. Thou Jhalt worjloif the Lord thy God, tind him only Jhalt then ferve. And the Angel in the Revelations (ays, PPhrJhlp God. Thefe are plain Scripture words, from our Saviour's own mouth ; and He will be the Judge of the world. When I think on thefe things, I cannot be afham'd of mens revilings. I hope I have done what is ac- ceptable in the fight of God, who knows I had no orher defign than that the Truth of the Gofpel might rema'ui among us. If Mr. P. will call what" I firmly ^'^-- U believe. belie;V^> contradiEiions and nonfenfe, he fays no worfe of me tW^ ' of^^?" ^C if J^ . t^ M^ M piety.' ^ %^r.. i-'-Ui ,,f.^ ,_,7^' ^L *.-r-'.:'„ n^./ '■>. - My confaiehce is my wltnefs, that I Had never thfe leaft grudge againft him or Mr. H/iIlet: (tho'' the latter fays tT^.e contrary of me) but heartily rejoyc'd in their reputaxiotn.-and acceptance. But I could never THINK, OF D^ING WITH ANY PeACE, dlOuld I ha\'e been filent, and not have warn'd the churches of the» dodliines that were prlviiy bringing in among them^ tho' coverM a little while under equhoaitions and faljh and unthoughp of fenfes put upon words and phrafes : Tho' indeed they now begin ^/tafjie^k, more plainly^ asI^^^.JVn^^^b^fore.' ^ v--m... ■ In the account Mr. Peirce gives of the- ^/ig. i6<). converfation that palVd berween him and. fome of the feven advilers, he fays, That the^ objecflions againft him were his not preaching and wri- ting againft the new notions. 'Tis evident from the fermons hs preach'd, that they tended to increafe the peoples fears- of him, and gave them frefli grounds of diflatisfacflion. He continually fpeaks of thefe prime articles of the chriftian faith as mevefpeculntive points, tho' they do moft immediately affecft our worflnp and truft, and have a diredi: influence into the ^radice of holinefs. He pretended to them a diftruft of his ability to write in this caufe, and fays, Thatr a jnan rnight be inclind to tin opinmi which he would not venture upon fuhlichjy defc7id:77g. This was a mean attempt to im- pofe upon the minifters as well as the people, as if he were inclined to the common dodrine, tho' he did not care to appear a champion for it. He could not in- deed with any good grace write in defence of what he did not believe, but now his fecular views are oyer, he .can appear openly and confidently enough for the contrary Icheme, which fliows /ij^this . com'erfatioii; t<^ be fliam.and collufion. ' '"': '^ '' 'f ,^'' ,^ l/ * i ^47 ) /77 ; but jAys, they tocfi no notice of tt. Its: a iuffici- ^nxi anfvyer to this, That the feve7i mmifiers declin d giving any advice td the citizens with' refped: to |heir piini{):ers> but onjy laid dowil three general pro- ^pRtiQns, wherein they had the conferit of^, multitudes of. their brethren, which they confulted both in Lon^ dm and the Ozz/f^/^/ and tho' Mr. P. would have the reader oblerve the cnutlm m'th vohicf} this is ex- '^rejt'd, had Mr. P, cbferv'd the like caution, his hifto- ry had not been filFd with iucli a multitude of jnifre- .:frcfe7itntio7is as now it is. 'Tis' not faid they had the ap- probation of nil the minifters whom they thought fit ro cj^tnCult, (3c. He then adds, I nm infornid, that fcvernl in the cdu?itry, who were fcnt to, gnve advice of adif- fereiit nature. But this was a falfe information; for all whoai they conlialted, concurr'd with the above opi- .He fays, He cdn\ ^ but refledt upon the ' . •":' ^ "1 feruple with which they of £.ve^er clofe their 'f'ngriH^ Account, wherein they fay, " They can't joyrt .*,* in communion wirh,thofe who declare, \is no fin to ^Jay, Christ/^ a creature , or deny the Deity of the -'^* ■ fidXY Ghost, and for this wife reafon, many oftheiti 1^^,went from him, and joynd with Mr Lavington, i where the perfons they charged v/ith thefe fayings, -V. vvere ad:ually in communion, havine never been iu- \^yo.tnisMryp. if he woiilcl liave beeii fair and honeft, ihould farrher have added ,out of the fame paragraph, Account p. 1 6. " And now we appeal to the whole '" J world, Whether wd haH not cauie of uneafinefs, or ;* jW,hecher 'tis a crime in us^' that we can't be fatisfy'd ff^io Cxc under, the miniftry of one, who vviil not own .^jjtheSoN of God to be one God with the Father, ^..,,rior, worfliip and give glory to the Holt Ghost as ** God at all.?" If he had added tliis, ' fhe ' world would have been fenfible, that the reafon vvhy many lefi:^ Mr. P. when he adminiftred the LordVfupper, was tjif 1^ apprehenlibn that they could not with a good con- 'itift^qe' jbyn with himfeif, Mr. Peirce m^y ridicule this U z fcrujplc fjEruple alfo; but whatever his thoughts amy he^ he. muft excn^ thofe that are afraid: to offend Gojy, a:^ out-bra\e their confciences. He fhould have been juft ^,^i xelling the world why fome left him, and then the * world, 'tis hopM, would have juftify'd thofe who did it for fuch an important reafon. As to what he adds con- ,-Gerningvlheif going tq joyn mth Mr. Lavmgto?t, 'd>cc, 'Tis a iviffideot iafwcr to fay. That tho' they -were not iufpended, yet rhofe that were known to have. utte|*'d thefe blalphemies, eirher did ndt belong to that.yi)fc^>/t;', or elfe withdrew when it was Mr. Lavingtons turn to adminitler^' ^s Mr. 5/^/r/;zo^ pardcularly did for feveral months before the feparation, who is. charged with thefe blaiphemous e-^rieifions^ and there .was not one of thofe that; are charg'd diredlly widi denying the Deity of the Holy Ghost, but wh^TJojft^£wicl|.MJ^. ,^^, except this Mr. Spiring, ■, T'l^ ^v^^^M (m, ' sd jgiii «jit>u^';iu^^- >• - v"^^^ *^X ;-nor^-'no5 ^I?]^^^?^EAS Ml*. Pekce mendon^Lr^in ; fng. 174, Mr . iValrond's letter; to this a fiill aafwer iA7%^3 -^uii^.S^^^^^ i^ Mr, H^alrot}4'^ r§pJy%,..J^P^g. .^M Q-y IX ^'r"-'-!'^ , P^S® . 174 ^^m Infi^rMr^^i^nj^Ac- fag. 176. knowledges himfelf to be the perfori meant, .:%:■-' tr.i-iv' aud defcribes the cafe in the words follow- I deiTi'd the liberty of figning the firft article of the .^Cjjurch of England, m order to clear myfelf of the.^arge ,^oi Arlanifm, on which Mr. P. mnkes this refieSion : ,2^ho her g^?^ man, lui?vff well: ejiough, there veas no man jufpeSlcd him of it. This is very imperfedly and. af tfui- -J^. i'Cpr^ented. I made indeed fnch a niotion ; but it ^.jvvas npt. only . ( J^ faid ) for my own lake, but in hope _^,^P^?. othevs would joyn \tith me, that we might fatjsty *j„j|ie^wQi-id, .that we did not deferve the x^harge pf Aria- V'^F-^' that was brought againft us ;;^and rJ fp-icP^Jifi^fWe ;,'~.|nigfit hereby fnew our concurrency \yith^-,- an-^ QWri^p- ^piropa^ioh of what our brethren at Lmidcn i\ad; dof^^^to ;,. the fame, purpofe. And ^ho\ I never gave.rrfii?^ p§fii>ri ■^'^'pie l^ft.p^<;a|iQn to fufppi^ me of,.4>:M«i/»;,Myef;(J yyas 'l>ebg gone latojtttev^Tj^ /flfef*»K'':v^:LdiaC; Svf fie|>utau- jjpa was SohoBTtt'djr ^^'Jwneil^ift ^ttpki ^^tb^l^i ^^ drij nsri] hfifi ^miri lioi srnol ydw bhov; orl: J^fk' Bn^. ii blh oriw slorlj h''{tiii^t ^'^^^ btuow ,b'qod 2/^' -noDzfabr, 9ii t;t1w or aA .a6l£3i iir.'.norjmr •- x>d^^ot|fu^c Vcmj^' o^^iihi^ pja?affraph, there is no iQSceafion rt»^ fay any '^ching here, Mr. £nO' having con- ^iStgf^c^ ki ah-eady in his farther defence of the pQ- ^mdings of the aflembly.'^^^ '•^^^'- .v-; n^dq'dd; -V ■ Uif)^oaiotibfi^^h,^ ?l^iVicvI^ mehtlonM,' ' yet Mr. Peine there fays, That ^^e motim fag. ijj* ■if A fuhlick, diffutntion was rejeSed. But >5-thls alfo is intirely falfe. For after I had very fin- ^cereiy acknowledged the better abilities of many of my brethren for a publick difputation, I accepted Mr. jP's challenge, and exprefs'd my willingnefs that he ihould appoint time and place, upon this condition ; :^ift, I might chufe three or four of my brethren t6 ^Iqin with me, and he have the fame number to jotri with him, upon which acceptance of mine, the chal- lenge was dropt. Indeed, I thought Exeter to be aii improper place, but was willing to leave it ro Mr. ji|^tb ithufe another^' --'y -vv6i: •: .■ ^fii sH John Entu s^^ifii^efides the account with Mr. £wf; has given above ' ^'Mi% Peirces challenge, Mr, £^^/f; (whowas fcribe ^4li ih^t affemhfy) gives the 7^wr of it m the manner ^1- ■^•fe^ing.- ■ '- ■ '1/' , •^;^''/^" '■■■; *' ^^ i-'MiBi. Pekny jmflW or any bodj dfnii^n, ib iriafc a' >f^ for ano- *ther,' ift any other Biif Scripture language .>' (1;) Whe- ther there be not a fupremacj in the> ¥^ATjj:^a which Is hot in the Son and ' Hoty' C^,idst^ 6^^M^^ jP; hSs rightly explained It iti>^: tfiq. in other vvords, i= «^^. whether Christ h the fupcme God } ) To his propofal J§\^is- no'c" in cur power to grant it, the pulpit -be- iVg- in /^ the hands of the gendemen of Exeter. To • fhls challenge it was anfwer'd. That we all difc.alm'c! any power to make tejls for others. But as to the fecond queftion three brethren offer'd to accept his challenge, and prefently debate it with himfelf and any other of his party before the whole ajfembl^^ who Inuft be " allow'd ro be competent judges. He urg'd, that this .would not fntisfy the^ common people^ to which s^.^hrqther replyM, he might have a fcihe to write the Whole disputation, and afterwards ^ubliin it. And ijno- 'tbery told him, That he would meet him and /di'pu';e the matter wiih him at - any time and place,; tto '^iouid be thought convenient. .-^ ^ i, Kii^-i <^i;U Thomas ^^g(^r. I am the Orthodox brother referred to as^ 'j^,^'>i&Sh t>oggling to thank, the preacher. I own/l' -4,; : ■ '^'id not only boggle but refufe it till he ex- plained fome palTages in iiis fermon which T thought too favourable to Antiyiomianifm. This he did ^ to the fatisfadion of the ajjemhly and mine^ and haviiig \hi% cleared himfelf of the fufpicion of Antinonii' anifm, I did, with the reft of the njfcmhly return him thanks, and had afterwards the thanks of feveral; of. 'mv brethren for .what I offer d. ' 1 -,/; ^', Mr. Peirce is plea fed ro fay, the mini- ■"^^^.179* fters many of them return d home pom the - ' aflembly very xcnrm and furious, And prcacFd^ agninjl their brethren vpith much bit t erne js ckc. This language is fo common with Mr. P. that .he calls every thing that is dellver'd againft' the new -notion. Warm, furious, and bitter. He gives us no account of thefe bitter expreiTions and very probably for this, vei-y good reafon • becaufe he can t. Tis \-ery well knpwn, that tboTe djfrourfes have been reckond,' fo, 'duc_ haa'r- had or>e exafperating expreillon in them, and tf ■ ■" the t)ie?;mQft. modeft defence of the dodtrhie of the Tax-. NiTY miift have fuch a charaAer becaufe they leeiii ta^'carry; in them a tacit refled:lon on hlmfelf and bre- thren, who re jed the fe Truths; they ar6 fatisfy'd to be j?eGkon'd fuch furious perfons as Mr. P. would make Ehem. Mr. peiice fpeaking.qf the ytiinifters which tie people of Exeter, c^lPd hi fiora abroad pag. i8o." tif^ preach to them during the vacancy after '^ the^ cjcclment of Air. Hallet nnd himfelf, fays ; foms of them ihqhnved themfehes ; ^vaith moderation and temper^ (^hers \ were furious w railing at us, fcjne in their fer- vionSy feme in their wrathful prayeri, and fome in hoth^. This is an unjuft and wicked charge, and what Mr, P. is call'd upon to make good. ;.<-And whereas Mr. Peirce fays, That I went about dmoiincing damnation on thofe that dijferd from me, ""us a malicious infinuation. I never did pronounce damnadoa on any meerly for differing from me; buc. tliis I nave faid. That there were opinions and here- fies that were damnable, and that to deny the Lord,' that bought them, was of this nature. And I have far- ther faid that I thought the herefy of which St. Peter fpeaks w^as a denying him that bought them to be i'iar^roiiw fupreme Lord. And while this was my apprehenfion, it muft certainly be my indifpenfible du- ' ty as a minifter and a chriftian to tell men faithful- ly of the danger I thought they exposed themfelves 10, by embracing notions of fuch pernicious confequence, '^ehn Lavington, v.^N the fame page Mr. Peirce fuggefts^ T^at by mean^ ef'ith'e" miniflers they were daily infulted and abused : Whereas, had Mr. P.- done half fo much tofecure Truth, as Mr. Lavington panicularly, hath done to promote cha- rity, and to prevent ail rudenefs and indecent language, w;ehadbeen a peaceable city to this ^ay. For" when he/ hath heard of any fuch, that have been guilty of rudenefs and . indecency, and he thought he could be ^^^<^ P^v^nt «: |br:^he. tutm-e i h^h^fcU^not fail'd to^ ( 15*) ) actempl it s; ievesral inftanc6s of which he can give whenever c^^^foi^p.^z- -- 1. ..^:r- From jp4f. iSf t6 i&S, thsFe is a contk ^ijf. iSfi* Du'd mirreprefentatlGn of the cafes of fomd ejeSed minifterSy and others, whofe people (many of them) had reiinqulfli'd them, as will be evi?j dent &om i^e feveral accounts here given. Mr. Pelrce having represented the cafe of Mr..3fe/j« Cox of KjngshridgCf as tranfcrib'd from his owii pav! per, Wefi. Inq. pag. 8 1. The people of Kjngsbridge give the foliowing account, as containing the truth ml lelatlon to that affair. . ^ vi. T IS not without deep concern, that we were obfigM? to part with Mr. Cox, our late minifter, who labour 4. for a coniiderable time among us. For feveral yearti bis minlftry was very acceptable to the generality oft the people; but he had unhappily fallen into the y^r/ifrfji notions, and the congregation confifting of fome hunh dreds of fouls became univerfally difgufted. We long? had the pain to hear the proper Deity of the Great R ED B E M E R deny'd, and our Glorious S a v i o u r dC)** graded into a puny fubordxnate G o d j not only in pi:iif^ vate conferences, but alio m fuhlic^ fermons : O^^r ^n-f clent Doxologies were laid afide, and fuch conftantly made ufe of, under a pretence of being fcrj^ti^aU W which fupreme honour and glory were not given to the. Son, or Holy Ghost. Mr. Cox had formerly^ preach'd to us the neceflity of believing. That the Fa* •THER, Son, andWoLy Spirit, are the One Go^y the mly OhjeH of adoration and voorjhip ; but when our peo- ple fent fome of their number in a friendly way to re- prefent their diflfatlsfadrlon to him, one of which remem- bered him of the fermons he had formerly delivered to them upon this head: He reply'd, That he was fenfible that he had alTerted this dodrine ; but -that now:M. thoughts were changd, and he had entertain'd other iw*^ tions about the Deity, At this meeting, we defic*^ him to give us leave to lend for a few neighbouring tm*^ nifters to dlfcourfe the matter In difference with hini^ to which {after he had objeded againft feveral) he re- ply'd^ R)r wJjat purpofe will you'^fend for xheiai: if- yott V " '^ think ( i5? ) rhink they tvrll |)«-ftiade me to alter tny opinion, you are miftaken, for that's what I am rcfolvd riever to do. And with this melancholy anfwer, he difmils'd them. "We after this, apply'd oiirfelves to feveral worthy mlnlfters for advice, and they direded us to wait on Mx\Cqx again, and if poflible agree upon fome methods to fa- tisfy the fcruples and re-eftablifh the tranquillity of the congregation. In profecution of this advice, fome of us attended Mr. CoXy and mutually agreed to fummon ail the people to meet in our ordinary place of wor- fhip the Wcdnefddi following, which they accord^ ingiy tomply'd with. This meeting was open'd with folemn prayer ; after which, Mr. Cox refiifing to give the people any better fatisfadion than he had formerly- dbfte^ ask'd them one by one, Whether they were content ajby longer to (ir under his minifti7 .> To which they dtt anfwer'd (four only excepted) That they were nor. And of thefe four one of them only belonged to the ttjwn, and he is a perfon who in alehoufes, G?c. mak^ the Deity of the S 0 N, nni Blejfed Spirit, the com^ nun fuhjeil ofrailloy, offers to prove thnt Christ had no human fouty faith, he dearly repented thnt ever he taught his children the AfTembly's Catechifm, and had fra^d Goti toi forgive him that iiiiquity. This meeting; broke wp in fome confufion, and Mr. Cox faid. He vpould fiivifrpreaeh more in that place. Wliereas it is reported. That \¥e- withdrew from Mr. Ojt's miniftry, only be«» caufe he would not fubfcribe to or declare «« the words of the aflembly, and Mr. Cox^ in the reprefentation he has made of his cafe, would feem to infinuate, as if it w^re only becaufe he refus'd to fubfcribe ihefirfi article o^ the Church of England^ or the fifth and fixth /mfiversof the Ajfemhlfs Catechifm. 'Tis fo far fromt being true,^ that we folemnly profefs, *Twas chiefly* becakife he had declared himfelf to believe a fubordi* natioir in the Godhead, and openly renounced: that do* drine of the Holy Trinity, which he had himfelf pfeach^dito vs. Neither paflion nor prejudice had any haait in jche management, as far as we know our own heatcSi Fear of (inning againft God, beti-aying the TrJM^s'of Christ, and wronging our own fouls, were the ooly confiderations^ which prevaii'd' with us to^ take tfaKr melanchc^y' ftep. For this part w^ dare appedf tiar iiisui X -Mr, (M4) Mr. Co^ himfelf, who hath (ince faid, Thar he was fer-^ funded fcicnce. funded that his feo^le i^Usdrklmfreinafunciflc of cm- Ovpe?i Pf^aymothy I{ichnrd Eidles^ 'duVf Thomas Bntfc7iy PViUiam Dovey^fi^q,. jn Andrew Bentty K^g^^ Lock^y /.^tij^d/w Mntth. Kjng, Nathaniel Kj7ig/ yai£ " Thomas H^akeham, I{chcrt K^ng^ John Hodge, jun. Thomas Lccl^y Jonathan Fhilip, Afidrew Cranch, That the people had the greateiV reafon to pro-^- teed as they did, is evident from a paper under Mr^ Cox's own hand, deliver'd to one of his people long, before his ejedinent, and fince laid before the mini- fters at their fund-board in London^ who upon peru- fmg the fame judg'd hirn to be fallen mio Arianijmy and not to merit their regard* The people of New^jiTy, which we received from the facred Scriptures and were confirm'd in under your miaiftry. WnEHV/e found you had chang'd yowx Doxologies in prayer, and betray'd a mighty uneafinefs at thofe which were commonly fung, we grew jealous of your inclination to the Arinn fide : but when we faw what wide, rho' artful fteps, you took to undermine the fro-per Divinity of the So\' aitd Holy Ghcst, we no longer doubted^ there was too much truth in the com- mon report. Some of us made frequent application to you for fatisfadion upon this head, and generally came from you much more difturb'd in our minds than before. 'Having told your opinion to one of us, you defir'd him to keep it private, faying in thefe very words, or w(5rds to the fame^ purpofe, That n ferfon bad Suf- fer d coyifidemhly for declaring , his opi7iion. To ano- ther, who ask'd you, Who Christ is, if he be not -die fupi^me God? you roundly reply'd, He is a /«- ferangelical Being. Sometimes you would tell us, that: you would not for a world declare you hclievd the an- fwers to ith?, _yh and 6rh qucjiioris of the hSQmh\^\ Catechifm ; ^(ipon m. ignorant creature ! And ,.at- another time challenged us >^ produce one text ^where- in the Holy Gnosr is caWd God. To wliich we may. add, .that you affirmed, the Godhead 0/ the Holy Ghost was never fo much as ynentiond for fe- , veral hundred years after Chk i sr. Once it muft be -.acknowledged^, you aifur'd one of pur number, tothe ^-iW•;pfl•iill.^'^'ha heard of it, that you believ'd, the Fa- ^£T«3i^'Soj^ aad Hoi,Y 5fiRfT, f^,i[f3 tJ^^Q^cf^p^T^y but f f 56 ) . j^pu . ,tpok - care p bla ^- all our . hopes of . pcocf ihe ^iy 'ftlloWir^^ ^wlvsn ?yovi ,.me^^ aiTuf'd >tih0:,f^pife ^erfon, that you wai not fatis^ d^hat pne ^Quld b^ ^hm^, and three one. We -dpubt: not but thefe things ,. will conyifjce -the impiejudic'd world, that you }iad at this time ^in- brac'd the . diftlnguiihing dodrines of Arius, notwith^ ftanding your laboured concealment, and the obligati- on you, laid- upoa a perlbn, to whom you frefsiy-^^ % pen*d your lentiments, never to difcover them^.v^sv-'^^ws We were feniible that 'twas our duty to contend farneftly for the f^ith which was once Miverd to. the. faints • and not betray the Truths of the Holy Jesus by a i^nfui (ilence. \Ve were perfuaded that an errqr in dodlrine of fuch importance as this, is a far mor^ juftifiable ground of feparation, than errors on- tl^ head of ceremony or diiclpiine : And yet we did nca proceed fo far as to fet up a feparate ajfemhly^ until we had waited long to fee whether God would give ^ou repentance to the acknowledgment of the truth -y. bup when we found you perfifted in the fame dangerous opinions and had profelyted feveral of your people to *em ; when our deluded neighbours were grown , bold enough to tell us, that the Father exifted fome tinie before the Son, ^c. then, but not till then, we. for- med a refolution to invite another minifter and pkoe purfelves under his car^. Juftice to ourfelves and thofe worthy minifters, who boldly appeared in this glorious Caufe of Christ, commands us to make a few remarks , on fome other parts of your letter^ ^'be- fore we conclude our reply. .-ly?? " " You tell the world that foon after the affemhly "reports were, fpread among your hearers, that you ^) -was '^n Arian and opposed the affemhly, by which *^ fome of them were prejudiced againft you. Thefe ■...prejudices were kept up and incfeafed by letters ^from^ fome of the minifters, and by the artful iitfi^. ^ nuations of fome of i\\q Exon gentlemen uponwhora " fome of your hearers had a dependance as to their J,.Tb alt whicph.we anfwer, That tIs nOt -^mprobaMe, fe^y ^of >^p^- people might be very much troubled at |h^e.oppoiItipj^ y^^ ta thpfe- wfeoleibiiie- mctluxds; C »57 ) ffifc^jm^re^ ajjhnhfy thougKi'^roper; %9' prevent the ffff^hd" iof -^iX(*\i a pernicious do(9!r&e, - ^8^4^ wq; m^ takift-leave tb'bbfe^'%r«:^V^-^- ^^^^ % ^^'>^ , •' ' --^f'TTfif^*^ n ^^^^pfj^' m^nh/" '^i^^ vie\v, but an horieft zeal for the honour of God our Redeemer and Sandlifier, irifluenc-d our proceedings in this mat* ter. We know no reafons we ever gave you to in- finuate to the world, that we are perfons prepared to facriike olir confciences and the peace of the church to £>ur pockets. Such a fuggeftion would have been inju- ridus and uncharitable from any other pen, but muft bfe zntolhrable from yours, who juft before, mentioa ytJfe* fermon againft rafli judging. We fee by this Whatever offence you gave by preaching it, you are Ji?efelv'd none fljali be offended with you for the pr^- iB&ce (if k, -'^^^'^'^' ^^^'^''''^ '''^ -^^^^ >^ ^^i ^- ^-H^'^^^ ^'^YouR nei^t J^eridd' iiifdrm's'iis, '^' Tlikt' when ySttif ^^ijiame appeared the fecond in the paper figuM bV ^ntwenty hands to vindicate yo-r^irrelves from falfe ^^sdccufarions, the breaking your meeting was refolv'd ^* tipor^, and neighbouring minifters were bufy to in- *^' flame and feduce your hearers. To which we art? ** fwer. '* /ylqg-j ■ 7?>D -di^pbVico 3W ,^it/? yot. WkAt tnfllrtg -paper, which A; .count, of the defign of ~ all thofe mlnifters, who wereeii- gag'd in that folemnlty. The occation of the faft- wa^ •this ; You had a Ikcle before' made fuch concelfions to a' worthy minifter, as' perfuaded^ not only himfelf, bm: Ifcveral of his brethren to hope, you was com*e very near, if not Intlrely ov^r, to die .or^Wf?;^:; upon which .they refolv'd to keep a faft in this town; and>. in pafe they found your principles and difpoiition, upon 'a conference, fuch as they defir'dV to conrrlbure theii: kind offices to procure a good underllanding' between you and your people, and fo reunite your congrega- tion. Upon thefe views, the minlfters appointed' to preach, fumifii'd themfelves with fermons fitted to ce- ment your broken fociety ; but when they found you had impos'd upon their brother, and refused an amicable 'conference with them, their grief at the difappoint- mentwas very vifible, and they entered ^on the w©rk^©f , the day with broken hearts. ^ ' .:o-iv3i bai^-3iL/?Q ■^'- Yo UR account goes on, **■ "This faft 'was gracd ^ • with the prefence of Mr. Horfham, , Mr. Evntis^ Mr. ^ J^%^9'> Mr. ^ekigh, Mt, Hughes, Mr. B(7?Zi/, ar*d Mr- "^^ • " Coltcn. 'I ^* Col ton.'''' We don't very miicti wonder yp^ tiad itat added to this catalogue Mr. Qilling, &c. fm<:e^your whole behaviour made it evident, that the delign of your at- tendance, was to dlfgrace it. Your writing, fome pare at leaft, of the prayers on this occafion ; your tumultu- ous leaving the ajfcmhly before the work of thedaywas- ended ; your threaming to make Mr. Eveleigh afham'(3|l of what he had faid as you pafs'd through the throng ; your ftanding afterwards in the open ftreet, and loudly calling to minifters aiid people ; was fuch a difcovery of your fpirit, as covered the faces of your friends with lliame, and gave occalion to the triumph of our com* moi> enemies. , You add, ^' That Mr. 56>?2^ by his prayers, and MrJ^ ** Eveleigh by the application of his fermon, contributed t* not a little to widen the breach, and incenfe the peo^ *^ pie againft their minifter." We have reafon to believe that Mr. Bon£s prayer, and the application of Mr. Eve^ kigljs fermon, were highly approv'd by the generality of both congregations who were prefent , and we can\ think any thing in either of 'em likely to oftend you, un- lefs the Jnvocatmi and Doxology of the firft, and the un- anfwerable arguments for the Deity of the Holy Jfesus, advanced in the hk. And we have equal reafon to hope, that God made ufe of both to redtify the mif- takes of fome, and confirm the faith of others, who be- gan to ftagger in this hour of darknefs and temptation- If invocating and adoring the Holy T r i w i t y, if maintaining the Crown and Dignity of C h r i s x by Scripture and argument, will widen our breaches, and incenfe the people againft you, we rejoyce at the fiic- cefs and dare not fo much as hope for a cure of oui- divifions. ^;^^- % We hope. Sir, you cant charge any of us withtiu ving- a hand in that load of groundUJl calumnies you com- plain of. We think all men have a judgment of difcre- tion^ which God expeds they fhould make ufe of in the matters of their falvation ; that their confciences are not fubjed to any human tribunal ; and that Scri- pture and reafon, not perfecution with the hand or tongue, are the only proper methods of convidion ; and we can affure you, that we are not apprized that our feparation fcom you,,-,oj^riCiu:i:iage. ^ towards you, .have " ' ^ been ( 1^; been anf ways Inconfiftent with thefe oiir a\-owM prin- ciples : And yet we have been proclaimed perfecutors from the Prejl and ptdfit, and treated as if we were the worft of men, merely becaufe we could not continue under your miniftry for fear of offending God, and wounding our confciences. Had we lampooned and- libeird your hearers in fhafn letters, or abus'd and vilify'd 'em in publick markets ; had we exprefs'd cur Icind wifiaes to ffefe 'em whipM from their houfes to their place of worfliip; or done our utmoft to create a perpetual enmity between the neareft relations ; had. we advis'd a husband and a fathet to turn his wife and- children out of doors, becaufe they would not wor- fliip God with us, ot rudely affaulted and beaten any of them on the highway : In a Word, had we di- fturb'd your congregation in the time of devotion, and' leaden you with foul and fcurrilous language, then there would have been fufficient ground for the cry of per- fecution : And yet all thefe things have we fuffer'd, not from a rude and brainlefs mob, but from your pe-" culiar intimates and communicants. However , we hope, amidft all thefe barbarous infults, God wil^ enable us not only to govern our paflions, but rejoyc^ thnt we are accou7ited worthy to fuffer ferfecution for^ the name of Chris r. To conclude ; our moft ieiv venr prayers for a more plentiful efiufion of the Spirit bf wifdom, charity, and a found mind on you aru^ your people, is the worft you have to fear from^ ^ f i^^' Sir, ^Gur humble ferv4-nhf Samuel Stocker^ Nicholas Langailer^ pyho have fignci m behalf of the reft cf our foclety^ and undertakf to mah^ good the matters of fa^^ above-mention d» fag,i%^* Thjit Mr. John Vorce hath made arv unfair reprefentation of the cal« of Bo'ver^ (1^1 ) f^: t^$. "^e. as evTcfenrly will atpenr ^ ih^ fcYiO'r}* '*-'lfV^*wliorre names are hereunto tviblci;ijj"d belp.g fcrmer-' fj^-'fee^ref!? of Mr, fcht Force cAjBcvej>, don} the ff at an4 'fTc-" * Gob declare, That the great reaffln^w-hy w& W::^ -om his'miniftry^ wns beca^ufe we iioder{ii/e,4 fe^'his puipit perfonttiinces, and privare ccnferene-^^ ihAi^ he deny'd the proper Godhead of phe Sc,n, and Holy' G»osT, and held rhem to be two Beings in . iiamr^^ and perfedrions inferior ro the Father. Our fepararior^^ was- not rafli and unadvisM, but deliberate and Yeriou% aft-er Iblemn prayer to God for diredicn in fuch aii^ iiriporrant aifair, and frequent application to Mr. Force" fdr fntisfatlion, even before he Made any vijits to us. fori, that purpofe. We were preient at that meeting of, thes people, whrch he mentions in his cafe, publifn'd by! Mt". Pei^'-ce, and humbly intreated him to let as know,^ Whether b.e believ'd the Father, So n, and Holy G'jo[OST, to he the One God? as onr ancient DwWx, ^'d the whole Church of God according 'to the '^cri^ fturef, have hitherto done. To which he reply'cl, That^ thtfe words were the invention of men, and he would nop declare his faith in any human forms ; and then deliver'i usk 'iDtig confeflTon' of his faith in Sctlpture Words j^ wkhout' any exprication. But this could give tis'n^ better fatisfadion, than if he had only told us, he be-' liev'd the divine authority of the holy Scrlptiirfe. ^Sooii after this he proceeded to. ask fome queftions, and wrote down fuch parts of our anfwer to them as he thought would beft ferve the mean purpofe of expofing us to the contempt of the world. We were nor a^vare of his defign, and therefore fome of us anfwer'd wirh- o^that ftritftnefs and guard we Ihould have obferv'd. The queftions were thefe : 1. Whether the facred Scriptures were a fuffici^nc rulfe of faith : To which one of us inaccurarejy anfwer^d, I t^k<> theScHpture for information, but I, will go far- ther for confiiTnation ; meaning (as he then explained himfelf ) that not the bare words, bur the fenfe of Scri- pture, as far as he could gathei^ ir from, tke teachings of rite Ht>L'Y S'^iRix ani^ the h^p of learned divintfs,' W^t^e'Xmhjrtnle-of ftis fatrFr.""*' <*-* ^ y a. Whi. t m ) 1. Whethei^ the Father was theSoK~ nnd the S A N. the ^ '^T HER ? ' ' • Tb ' wh^fch' hhe atifwer'd : itf the hfen^nrivejinean'ing (as Mr. Force well knew) that, he and all orheVs'"of vis belrevVI, that they were the^fajaic in nature and elTence, tht>*' not In perlbnality. ■;;,<[ ; '3. V/r'feTJ Ea the Father aflum'd human nature^ .UifFcr^d artd dVd, and b(?canie our Redeemer? To which, one. of us miftaking the <1ueftion, and thinking it had been ask\i, ' Wliether God aflumM human nature, CS^Co anfwer'd, He" did believe ir. ' This is a juft account of that conference. We leave therefore the world to judge, Whether Mr. Force harh ad:ed the part of a mi- niller or a chriftian in that reprefentation he hath made of ir to, the world .^ We thank God we are not fo ignorant of the great fundamentals of religion, as he would fain perfuade others to believe we are. Tho' were we fo, 'twould be a refled:ion on himfelf, who took fo lirrle care during his miniftry among i^s tojp^- {\rudt us better. -rry ' 'fkfhes' JVotton, John St^dfton^.:^., :.,:.,' H^iliiam Valence, John J4^oPt:cn^imKdo\ib ^chn Bear don, >j lo laqrasi '^^ ^'^!:^'''. ^" snh/isdYlno- ■ )^ND whereas Mr. Pc/rce, />. iS 4. of his t^ng, 1^6: if\ft. Intj. favs, ve decl^ir-'d, iVe could not ,,V / .nmkc fetice xvith him^ (tv;;^. Mr Force j unlcf he" 'dldfi^ji'ifitikehis peace with the aliembly. And that, X9e '^jfu \r him\ ^yhnt net one lof us would have appear' 4 r.gnbiji him had it not been for the lafl alfembiy. We who v.Tre present at that meeting, do declare. This is a falfe rerrei'enraiion ; for the truth is this: We told 'Mr. Force, That unlefs he did firft go and join with the AJfemhy in the orthodox faithy Vv'e could not continue 'any longer unc'er his miniftry; our leparation froni |iim did not depend on the affemhly\ declara'^^ion, but ,cn Mr. Force's refufal to own the fame faith which thp >j(/cw^/^ profefs'd, and we firmly beiiev'd to be co;i^« rained in the hoJy Scriptures. '^'^...(j (11 f:>DnDLi:u'^!-nv. aimijim ■ oj n^Qiisb. vm moii ^ Pf^)lliam Valence f " '^^^^^ Jchn^ StidftmfK/n oj John B^ardon, " '^^i'^w o John f^^otfmt^no^^ddj sn'i J^^ ib'>wHer€as Mr/ P^Vce In his ^:?'^^^^ : •^/i. 1S5 , {i^i:^. ' aiferrs, Thr; t /i mini ft er jejit^ n let- ^ .^■^^.1x8 5 . 'H&r U>' crcnte n feud m t.he cong^cgntlon At.^ ' ■^■. Bovey, (3c. I, wh(^ attv fuppos'd to be tKe perfoa <]ehU$' charged, declare, 'tis all mirreprereatanon or faIl(S- .ikyod/ • 1 acknowledge I did wriie a lecier to the con- •'gi^gatloa 2it Bovey, but k was free from refle.6tlons of ^ihy kind, and iuch as J" am confident any impartial pei- ^fon v/ould think a minifter, v^ho had any regard to tlie •"^ruth, might write to the congregation to which he was formerly related. For the writing of this letter, Mr, Force charg d ni« ^the follQwing 4_//e»i^6', with the injuftice I had^done him fey. ir, \ askM him, How it "^ould be poilibie Ifliould injure him, when 1 did^ not Yo much as mention his name, nor diredliy or indi- Q'^^ly reded on him in it.-. He prerently reply'd, T6? rtettcr had dens him differvlcs -^ and this waS; followed wiih bale reliedions en me^ ^ .:m^d\'i^ i^jA S o far was it from my deiign to create a feua oy this letterynthatr I: can lay, it , was . written.' purely to difcharge^.-my duty. I v/as a . perfedt ftranger to the temper of the congregation, as to this particular aifalr ; only hearing that Mv. Fores fnould rejoyce, becaufe the congregation- was of his opinion, I thought it my duty tO^ write a few lines to them, that they might confi- "tkr fome arguments for what; I iipprehended to be the '^ruth: a'nd fo ignorant was I, of the dirpofition of the ^eDpley that I fent my letter to one, who thea was, "and' ftill is, a zealous advocate for Mi\ Force. ^ / •^'■' Lio^iJi^f^ nextthincj lam charg'd with (ff^efl. -T%::'p^g. 1 18/^, (^c.) is, Thatldefird one of fag. 186. ••^ mnle-contentSy to write to me conjinntly ''Jto the matter went on ngninji him, and foon after the ■Wkfey^nce rwefit to Bovey, to flir up the people aghinfl l^m. -As for my defiring one of the male-content; conftant- IfHo'^riie to me. Lam loth abfolutely to deny what is lb confidently aiferced j , but this I can fay, It^ was far from my defign to maintain a correfpondence in order to promote a\ fei^-.: And if I had fomuc^ regard to the congregatbn ,• is'^to write a letter to- thenj^ it can't }ook very'ftrange to defire one«Qf^^i;h^!TL i^rrwrite me « t; £ y 2 ""^- ' '■ "" ail t^n afGopt Di.xhe -^^ rpi ^ejr affairs ;;aaH i£ tfle^ wks any^ bccalibn' for thfs charge, ,3, am confident: this was the; w|iq1^,_ .„iVpd i^8,|Lq.i^y^^qlng to Bov$y f^H df- 'fer the' corileheme,. to 0r u^/the feoj^le agahfi him ; \U a' very falfe accufauDn. Lvvas indeed at Be i;i?)f about that rime,^but thac it (h^duld be juft after the cotfef- rence, v^/as intlrely accldewl ; foy I j^new nothing of it: My own perfonal affairs calFd me thithep at that time, and I carefully avoldeii going >nigh the hpufes^of any of Mr. Forces hearers, except where my bufinefs necerfa- riiyobhg'd ipe, becaufe I woui|i give no occaiiQn\of fufpicion or uneafinefs^ This is a plain and true ftate of this affaii:^ fc^;^^far;^rJt. was conGerad.ia i^;* ,a Samuel Stod4en» ;.,;-; r-M- I ^tlA ^^ i/r^^''-^- 9^fi ^^^^ briE A s to the affair of Btdatford, mentioned Jn to ^. rr-iq JJlw Peirfs\ Weft. Inq. The account is jiidg'd . /J4^> M^f. to be fo loofe and general, and is fo litcle talk'd of or. regarded in the. town by either fide, that 'both parties feem'd afiiam'd of the publication. .How- ever what Mr. P,,.hat^, oiier'd^ ,ii)ay inake ^^ tew,'ft- jnarks.niScellaTy^j,/ ■ ^^X ^^ i^'^^"^ ''''' ^^ ?i'3?ha ^ •* As to thofe- people wjiia have. 1^^^ Mr. Qc^V «iinift^, .3thej fplemniy • declare. That what they have, done is xv^t ^9wi;:kg to.tHs management or iniiuence of <:«:h€rs, hm ,Jt6. principles of confcience and liberty, and to rwl and ^infuperaHe, fcriiples and cliificulties j Mr. Ccc^ having '.refused to ghve any, f^tiisfadlory ; aniu^r to feveral of .^ their number, touching his faith, in what they account- I'^d an important article of, their religion, whicli rth^y "tBought he had given them abundant reafon -co !Ci\ll in ^It^ueftion by his, condudl:, on many accounts. .^^,' "l^' Thi^s makes them complain of great and undefery.l4 ll'jiiinry and uTong done tiiem by Mr. P Iteftfofl^ i§^ form^ly they did in diis tpwn by Mr. JP^s * ^•'TiS.'v^ortliy of furrher remark, That one of thefe per- feh^'-vvt^ojlias ift)w left Mr. Cocli, was lately am em- Imif-'O^^'t.h^Cfmrch' of England, but on principles of li- b«§cy jSind with that congregation, that has lately htdn- tinder Mr. CoclCs infpediion ; and t'.erefore lee j^e world judge. Whether flie has not as much rea- -fon to quit Mr. CocJ{_s communion, on account of fcni- J)les and difficulies ef a much higher nature in her jitdement than thofe on accounr of which.^lhe^lefc the communion of the Chuch of EngUncf: J%r'^ As to thofe little impertinetit ltorie$"which Mr. Peirce has endeavoured to give weight to, by tranC- ^initdng them to pofterlty in his works, no other con- (ideration would render them worthy the leaft notice 5 and we are fatisfy'd if Mr. P. had been rightly ap- prized of their nature, he would never have under- valiu'd and lelfenM himfelf by becombg the inftru^ ment of their publication. ^" As to the firft and chief of them and that whick "has made fo much noife abroad, and probably was alluded to in the famous paper fubfcrib'd by the mi- nifters of the other fide, viz. That Mr. Cock had bap- ti:(d A child only in the name of the Father j 'tis a ftory fo odd,^ fo ridiculous, and fo plainly carries its own confutation with it, that it never (for ought we tcan find) gaind the leaft credit here: a ftory which rwas much talked of abroad but fcarce mentioned at ?iiome and which made fo little noife in ^Iddiford, that -the principal perfons of the town were furpriz'd at ks Y^blication, and wonder'd it fiiould be known to the ■world before they had it whifper'd in the fame town- Such a thing might perhaps by fome odd or vinac- ^Cimtdble miftake be talk'd of among a few perfons, -1>tit fure it never obtained or prevailed; and after all inquiries, we cannot trace its original here ; which *fome think was from Zxon, others from Mr. CoclC^ 1^wn people, and by a peculiar turn thrown upon the ^^her party who took the leaft notice of k : So that Tffei^ ftory myft aftef ail be difmifs'd as a piece of Idle 'tepertlnent talk not worthy any manV notice or re- ^j|b^i'--,'Biit k feems any thing is thought Worthy to ,iMUj-;!^i be -fc'fea(ie :i liandle of to ferve^a tnF'rt^'''^nH''"^lt makes no nolfe at home , m^Yoi^f^i^-^^SC IV^^^^-^^i T make a great found abroad. " ' -^ • '-< -'-^ .fsvlsfi ,;'-: As to what- Mr. Pehce fays further, That [cm'^^f Jjidr, Ccck' s. brethren vpere very hufy in exnfpernfin^^his ^eo^ple agahft him, infinunting to thofe who rvei^'fai^ fad with his : declarations J that,, he had fecret rcfifu'^', wnd that it yeas neccjfary to fift /?/m, &c. ^ ""T^is iade^ -finite charee, one would think, was contriVd on" pn^* |)o(e to aHed the reputation of all Mr. C«:cyfs brethr^'nij .It had been but fair for Mr. Coc^ to have parrictiM- rlz'd thofe of his brethren, who were ,fo bufy in|lfe iafperating his i^eople againft him, that 'th^ ciiar^fe might , nor have falieii undillinguifl:i*d in fuch "am^ni mer. Such mediods of accufation Mr. P. miift iieec^ fce'fenfible are very unfair, and unjuftitiablej and^p^V- liaps he wou'.d charge it upon orhers as too lik^ thfe' methods of an Liqu'fiticn ; but if any particular 'ilH- nifter had imagin'd, that Mr. Cf 4ownright Arians, which he made uleof ; fo thaflie'i^^ is' an injury done to this zeajou^' brother, 'un left ;ti^: foregoing terms be allow d ,to ,.B$\ convertible. ■.''^^ As to^^ fhefe charges wji'ch ^ow, cf'mf of 2^i9'^ Qiock'^s -people, that, carrie .and dijCOU'-s\d with hiin, ati^-^ went tfway,: dfcU^iu^^^Inrpfiljt fatlsf/d^^ani aftcrwurdx^ Z^ing cut the dirM contrary 'kccmnty'i^^ declaring ) ^.^^rmg^hlmjelf^ fatisffd this W^ky .^^d the next voith^ ^4fn^pi£. "froni\ "tloe ailemBly ; Ict liich" %n R^er ^r iheni. felves, wheii' peffoniilly charged, foli^'^^ lOfitoW-theia ''fiOC.j^,^ ..!-r , •'■-'■ ;i :■'■..-; j.f\'='^-'. _ f- -;^>. ;-^-v ?;u\W{^?it^.^v"^^^ fol!6ws. Two of Mr. Cflo^s p^|»le, Its iald, infified on his fubfcribhtg an /tcknowled^- mcnt.thnp the V hi n^v. was the Sn , end the Soy^ wa^ pje Father, ovpning this to he their faith ^ md being fu.rpri:(d when he endeavour' d to convince theniy phot thh\was n great error. Any one that reads this paf- f^ge will be apt to think, that this was a foi:r ipal demand made by feme perfons of Gonfideratioii,' t^p'ich ibtiie. kind of authority too' ;■ but what vviil world think of fome peoples way of telling and magnifying little , impertinent ftories, and printing them t^o , if after all; this mighty matter fliould appear tp, be pn'y a miftaken, and ungarded expreifion of a young perfon by Mr. C^s fire fide, uhoie unacquaint- c^dnefs with ihe term,s of fo nice a ctntfoverly ied her ^p 4'^;eak in this odd manner of the eiiential Union Qf.,^tie Father, and the Son ? For that it was a fame! aefe.^of EfTence (lie inrended, Mr. C. one would rhirik fhouldeafily perceive from the queftion flie immediate- ly. lubjoin'd, vi:(. Whether he thought F a t h e r, So^ and, t Holy Ghost were three Beints, as they three wer^, that fat together? (another perfon of the houfe telpg in comrtiny) to which flie fays, Mr. C. made her np- direct anfwer; but faid, That her Catechifm taughc' her they were three Perfons. But whereas it is repreien* te.d, as if /lie infifted on his fubfcribing to the odd de« ^Iqr^ation before mention'd ; fhe abfolutely difcwns it, ajid declares, fhe never defir'd Mr. C. to fubfcribe: ^nj thing but as the other minifters had done, whidt- IJi^'pwns flie did at that time. 3 Ij^'ut: on the whole, fuppofing the veiy worft, That^ ^s^young perfon was miftaken both in her notions an(£ ex^preiTions (which in fuch a cafe who can be abfoluteli^i i^iie) yet wherein is the world concernM in this matter B' WTiat ufe can be mnde of fuch a pitiful ftory, or what en^ca-ri it ferye while on this fuppofitiori, it wr.s-oniyt h^X. private opinion ? Is then fuch a piece of acknow- ledged weaknefs of ^ young perfon (not us'd to talk c^^ Afflofe^n^A^i^^sJ ^"^^^ii a publication -iotke'vrcrld.^, ( 168 ) Iifow ^flimo^ 15 ic fc*' ordinary per&tts oa botk (ides the controverfy, to talk inaccurately, and be guilty of Ae groifeft blunders and abfurdities? Or would ic be wonh our while to publifh all the nonfenfe and con- tradiction of the common people of the new fchcmc^ which are daily venting here and elfewhere, whilft fome ire openly avowing there are two God*s ? Perhaps it were eafy to fix and prove fuch charges on the new -converts of Mr. C's people. But we fliould not judge ic worth while to mention thefe impertinfincies, only to ftopthe mouths of others. ft^HESt. Oi-e to certify , the truth of the foregoing ^ farticuUrSf on cndible evidence, John Umbles, William Tallamy.. ,\! From thefe tertiffcates, it appears ho\)^ 'pag. 189. partial and unjuft the account is Mr. Peirce has given of the minifters that were eje* j5:ed by their people in thefe parts, and how litile credit is to be paid to it ; tho' he glories in them as perfons not charged with immoralities : Yet if de<^ ceit\ prevarication, and throwing^ calumnies upoiv the honeft people they once mlniftred to, be im- moralities, the charader of fome of them will not be I'ery clear. But fuppofing them intirely innocent in this regard ; is a fober lire the only or principal qua- lification of a Gofpel minifter ? Ought he not to hold the myflery of the faith in a fure confcience ? and to Contend cdrnejily for ths faith which vocti once delivered to the faints? Tho' vicious minifters fhould be difcourag'd and difmifs'd 5 yet whilft they preach found dodrine, its more fafe to (it under their miniftry than heretical ones. Our Saviour cautions the difciples to beware ©f the leaven of the Pharifees and SadducccSj tho' fo long as they fat in Mofes's feat, i, e. dellver'd nothing but his dodtrlne, they were to hear what they faid, and obferve the commandments of the law; but not to do after their works. That thefe minifters ackiww ledge no ether Mafler than Christ, was fo far from b<^g •tbdir off/y crime, (as he aJlcdges) that it was none at. ail; V^: t)UC bur tlielr'tfAne-la^,' In artemprmg to rob h*m o^his Godhead, which is the chief jewel M- fits Crown and Dignity, and without which, vv6 xionlE 'fee how they can fifeiy depend on him as their Lojifsr^and Ma- STEK, They who do this, will do well to ren^f^ber Mmj w.hd> liaid/ H;*// Mafter, and with U kifs befi^ay'd him. We are a§ willing as Mr. jP. ro expfefs ouf cha- FJty for every lincere inquirer after Truth, ancf hope, if any fuch are in a dangerous mi ftake", G o d W// Vci;f 4/ even. this unto- them; bur we think 'tis much eafier for us to know from God's word, what is a daugera& miftake, than to know who are lincere inauirers after Tiuth. Mens (incerity is a fecret that lies b&weeh Gob and themfelves. The holding and perfifting in dange- rous errors (eems to be a plainer evidence to others of theiriinfincerity, or the prevalency of ibme unmorti- fied lulls, than mere frofcffions can be of their finceri- ty. And if we hold any notions which the Churches of C Wr is t have always I'ook'd upon as dangerous in their nature and tendency, this in all reafon fhould be- get in us a great jealoufy of our own hearts. f^iii^ TiBSL SL lon^and laboured account, Mr. Peirce at laft coticludes his I n du i s i t i o n p/ig. 190 with /?» appedl to the world, and ajhort view ofthecaj^Cy according to the reprei'entation he has feen 6k to- give of it, which -are now to be conlider'd. ^ ■": ' • . ; "We begin with his appeal. As to this, The mini» fters and gentlemen in the country, are as willing as Mr. Peirce himfelf, that the world {hould judge, Whe- ther there have been any fuc4i r/tjh, unrighteous, or un- juB part -^.iledhy them, as he pretends: And the mlm- ^r%oi London alfo, of whom he fpeaks; can with ut- Rioft freedom appeal to any. Whether it appears, that they animated and exafperated their brethren in the coun- try, and are not able honeftly and without blufliing to anfwer the clofe queftion put to them. They had, in "thar -place he cites. Narrative, p. 30^ call'd it a groundlejs fuggeftion, and an afperfion wrongfuSy cafl upon them. And what reafon he hath to queftion the truth and ho» " nefty of this declaration of theirs, they cannot imagiiie ; or why he fhould thiiik they, (who might Wdl, and liad Z honefilj honefily and wuhout occafion of bhjhlng, deny'tl the fa(*!: ipfinB^Ded) could not be able to do ir in as rOvjnd^fnj^ as could poillbiy be invented for them. But (ince fee ^^ have ir, that the Karr^tlvt pafsM the matter oyer flight-*? ly, arid thinks it proper to tranfcribe and put the que*?; ftion anew ; ** Have none of them rais'd and promoted?: ** laneafineires on purpofe to drive \\.%[i\\^nonfuhfcnhfr^i ", at London] into methods which they had undertaken? *^ibr to that fide at Exe^^r, Wii^ which they are plainly? *f ipun^ to jiaye correfponded, ., and with that only ?.y Rather -.tiba^vforf^.t Jiisv. good graces, they do hereby. plainly^ fujly and abfojucely 4eny>all and every part o£ the matter, .of ffi6t intinua.ted in, the queftion, i. e. They) have none of them, that ;Vvie know, rais'd or • promotei uneaiineffesiat Exeter ; nor do we know of any method^^ that were undertaken for with any. correfpondent^ there.j 03; of any defign either to draw or drive into them ar^ Donfi^bfcribing brethren here ; much lefs have we don^r. cn^MrjBfjftf ai?y thing th^| ca9.,%p9rt: &cf^,aa iE^ltn tion, . :: V ■■[-■ "-, • . - .: 'o-; ' :[- !-- ^^y ■ '- ■■ '^ ' / :'—^'^bL j: After fo full an anfwer to this Qiieftion, 'heretorf fore fufficiently rep'y'd to, in the Narrative: The mn nifters concerned, forbear expoftulating with Mr. Peircp. ©r upbraiding him in the manner they might well do^ ^nd for which he has given them too niuch provoca^ tion by this open abufe. But they chufe rather to leave this unpleafant work to himfelf. He muft be con- fcious of the ill. fervices he has endeavoured to do theiir^ and if he be. a man of thofe generous principles ;b^( would pafs for in the world ; ■ he'i readily and of his own accord do every thing that they might ask. or the' world expert by way of fatisfadion, and, fhow the; regard he has to his own honour as well asth^'^a- lue he has for them. -'? :,- i ..But tho' they can eafily pafs by what is perfonal^^ yet in relation to the thing in debate, 'tis hop'd the^ inay be allowed to make tfie following obfervation, fciL That it is very unbecoming lAx.Peirce fo vehement*, ly to urge a queftion upon the (conferences of Qthersf^ when if He were to be queftion'd.iupon any acccmmr^ *tis plain with what earneftnefs he wx)uld remonftraito Againft it. Had he been calfd upon, to anfwer raun^ I^C»^ J^«i«l ' df much greater ' necefidty to be i^efolvM ^^ 4ltet9fc9iful e^damattons woiild he have 'iHade of a- yp&^^ inquijitionj ranfackin^ mens ininds and torturirtg>- tlteir confciences ! Tho* in this, there \Vouid be n9- more of an iiiquifitmij than what he has here letups" bimfelf. Why one fide fliould put a queftion and ex- ft(k a round anfwer to it, and not the fame liber- ty be aHow'd the other, is fomewhar unaccountable. Would Mr. Peirce or thofe who firft fram'd this clofe queftion (as he calls it) have nit of fherh told the world as clearly and plainly what their fentiments are con- cerning the moft important aiticle of our faith, as thefe minifters have anfwer'd what has been proposed to them ? it would have prevented our differences or at leaft we (hould have known whereabouts we are; "'TIS ftrange that perfons, who have declar'd with fo much zeal againft inquifitivc methods, Oiauld fo far negle<^ their own principle. This looks as if they only advanced it to ferve a particular turn. If they have re- Kfiquinit'd It • and will allow the fubfcribing brethren in their turn an equal privilege with themfelves, rhey may go on to put as many queftions as they pleafe and be pretty well alfur'd, there are' none on our fide will be offended wiuh them.'f^ ?ui :^^* d^Mw -/o^ brw^ We come now to confider the floor t vkvv 1\t "^t^ tends to give of the fad difference at jExpw. In which t4iat he may make the ftronger imprelTion on his rea- ders, he infinuates fas he hath all along throughout bis book) how very harmlefs he and hts friends have been in this whole affair. ^'' ity^'r^^ bliow --^There Is nothing important In what "he has of^lrMl but what hath been particularly confider'd and confu* ted"; prov'd to be either downright falfhood, a mifi^e^re- Station, or nothing to the purpofe. i"'^ ^"i ■: "^';^ ,r'WHAT is faid of^Mr. Ltivington is falfe. It was the Mfianifing -pzny that began the innovations and to thenl the^^^ rumour of Mr. P's being with them in their no- tions was lirft owing, who under the fhelter of hi$ ftivme endeavour'd to corrupt the city and neighbour- baod witi* their errors. The uneafinefs of the peopfe Cft^hc .nm to be imputed -to Mr, 'Lttvihgtoh, but iF wfe^fl feeing his people in danger he endeavoured to Z ^ fecure ( 172 ) fecvire them; 'twas his honour as well as duty I'.Ao^- win be remember'd to hls.pralfe by thofe, that ileS have* a juft regard to the imponant. truths of the chcis ftian religion. ^ ^ ' ; ^ .,:... '.■■.■ ^:-j:id . A fee end falJJoood In, this fhort .view is,, than a^;m&» jiifter founded an alarm in the pulpit, who had nc^ ftudied the controverfy. 'hAr, Atkins's account .(ehe pex? Ion intended) puts this affair in a light ihaf is not jnuch to Mr. P's credit.* -; ^- - ^^*.Mr* Ltwingtons preaching up the dodrine as a fun- .damenral is far from being a reproach, but v;hat he ^id being Feh. 17 16. when he did not know thefe notif ^ns were mExon, niuft be without any view to the -dif- ferences there, t That Mr. Feirce refledis, on his abi» lilies is no wonder, when 'tis his cuftom to treat e- very body almoft v^ith dilHain that are in no refpe.6fc inferior to himfelf, except in thofe talenis ; that nei- ther become a fcholar, a minifter or a chriftian, which none have reafon to be fond of, or to envy him for. But befides, Mr. . Lavingtons friends as they have . no reafon, fo they never enuertalu'd the mean opinion of him, that Mr. P. both here and in many other plac^ of his performance fuggefts. This therefore may bp reckoned a third fnljhood. ;. jv/i> That Mr. Peirce did not engage in the controver- sy, no one can imagine it was from .any diftruft of his abilities ; but he had the notions he was defir'4 to oppofe very near at heart, and a poft in . whi<;h *tis likely he was loth to be difturb'd : And there- fore would not then^ venture to fpeak his mind, tho' MOW, he fhews that he thinks he has an abiliry to over- turn what he had net an inclination to fupport.,,'T was for want of this inclination or racher out of fondnefe for his new faith, that he was fo remils in gratifying the peoples defire of his appearing in defence of the truth. He ftudloufly attempted to. lull them afleep, that his friends might go onfowing theiiLtaj^es with^Qnil, dj- fturbance. - ^ p tiii- Mv^iU ^^{ If Mr. Lavington and his friends inftead: or e^'llj^gm the London minifters, the Devovjloire alfembiy^ aodfe- i«.. ven «. ,. .-I ^^T' ' . "^ ■ " •• ■ ■ . • - --^f? * See Mr- ^;l'»/s account in this book, f See pag.^ Ci7? > yjRn hmoiis advifirsy as Mr. P. Itiggcfts ; had'calFdiii orhers ever fo many to their help iigainft chofe, who boafked enov^h. of their might and numbers, h had been no difparagement. Lefs help indeed is.fafficienc to fupport the truth, which befides rMthorhy (wKich is no difgrace to a good caufe) hath argument^ that Hiever has t^qr can be anfwer'd; yet it was and eveir wiil be their honour, that they had fuch a coneera for the faith of the gofpel, which they juftly thoughE becf ay'd by ibme of thole that were fee , for the 4e* fence of it. And if for this reafon Mr. P. was di^ miifed his pulpit to which he had no rights but what the people gave and might realfamf, and had the great* eft reafon io to do confidering Mr. P\ management.^ he may go on to cenfure what was done as unjuft and t>arbarous, and fill the world with tragical outcries, and oblige it .if lie think fie with another Westep.n In- Q1J1SITI0N : But if he do it under the mfiuence of the fame fpirit and principles, that he has This; tl^ good people of Exon won't henceforward need any o- ther fifoioglft for what they have done than Mr. P. 'himfelf. ) iu 'The treatment he complains of, has been no way pwing to his being a Jirnngery but bad he been , al- ways fo to thefe parts of the kingdom; it had been inudi ' for the intereft of truth and peace here. He has drawn feveral of his brethren into a fnare, which fome begin to repen: of already, and others 'tis hop'd XViil fee reafon to do the fame. >'"As to the iaft complaint wherewkh he concludes^ his book, vi:^. " That one of the feven and the prime ^^- -manager of all had been firft fecredy whifpering a- <#;li>out a report, which he hasfince fpoken of more '^' freely, that he [xMr. Pchce] did once deny the .do- ** d^rine of the refurred:ion, which, he fays, is^ as >tti>vile a calumny and as utterly falfe and groundlefs *^ a lUnder as any man, himfelf not excepted, ever *^ utterd, and defies him or any of his agents to ^ vm^ke out what he has reporc€c^. ^ .tka. . Mowing fe^y^'ismade. ■'■ ^^^'^^-^0^ ^As ^iiin.m «tolif^.i ■-■:.% •.ii>lF Mr. Bali or Mr. IValrond. be the perfon referred to.ia this page, as fome imagine, they neither of them d/jclaf d -lie dgify^ tire TefuiTedioii of^-rhr dead in ga. i in ^ f^ral ; tut faid. That be arguM agalnft the refiirredlods f^xht iapie body. And therefore what they or ^^t ofl i them reported, was not a falf^ and groundless ftoi^v bja^ the truth, as is further .confirm'd by thQ foltowirtgliJej^cE ■. •i!,- ^•- ■ ^ '. . . ..J^•,' •'' ■-^^ 3on 2nob AS to what Mr. Pelrce C4i7/ in the mdpf h« hook<^ ¥^*; calumny, That he was reported to deny the refur- redion. This if mifrefrefentcd : For it woi not his dtny^K ing the refurreEiion in general ^ but his difputingat: gainft the refurreBion of the fame body, that he^'ypof'i chotrg'd with j which only in propriety of fpeecb if f# ! refurredion. Mr, Cox, a great fiend of his, difputed figainfi it alfo at Mr, LavIngtonV, and faid, he Would npt fign that article of the Church of England, without his own explication. Arid hcnefl Mr. Beadon, afMri^ ?eirce calls him, hath been alfo upon the fame argument} withfome of his hearers, as they are ready to atteft, Pafr^ fion might make Mr. Pelrce forget himfelf for he wath t}ery warm, (in Mr. WalrondV houfc) and demanded^r^ .What Scripture we could bring to prove the refurre- " diionof the body? Mr. Walrond brought i Cor. xv. 4^~v| ft, is fown in dlfhonour, it is raifed in glory, &c. 4«4o 4iilid, Wl:^ether it were not the fame Ix that was fo^ff^^ vhich fhould be rais'd ? He tikewife urgd. Phil, iiu^-zi. ;• Who fiiall change our vile body, (3c, But Mr, .Wi^, thers brake off the difcourfe, faying, .p^^^^ihigy^s not about this matter. , oq/;ilK;:- : :-:^ y^ It appears from the remarks- now :m?idftllpd87M»ca P&irceh Summary, that he has given an unfair repre- , fentation of the cafe. Wherefore the reader in order to form the better judgment of the whole, may expe<5t an account on the other iide, which is this : - Mr. Peirce before he came to Exon was fettled in his 1 prefent erroneous opinion of the do6i:rine of the Trinity. The fprings of the fad difference lay farther back than fome will allow them. Several It feems had a goed ^^^»5«*^ before, efpous'd Arian notions ; oneoccalio^ of it^l^^ht b^ the reading fome late books," whicli hb\v they "were recommended recommended to them, or came, inta. their hands^ do^ rioci%peaf'. Thofe who by reading thefe books took; the itberty to differ from the common do«ftrlne of the^^ TiviNJifV, were fome of them Mr. H/ii^^f's pupils, de* fign'd for the miniftry * ; and among the common peo- ple, there were fome, who were too fond of their n(>4' tions not to propagate them, and tpo noi^. and taljc-: ative to conceal them. ^ 'p-^ B t what means the dlfcovery was firft made o? M^*^ Peirces inclinations this way, remains a fecret. But nc^^ fooner was this perceived, than the Anamjin^partjff ^nd^ not the other fide, blew the trumpet and began the di- fturbance; hoping to get their notions to obtain by the^ influence of Mr. P's name, and that now they (hould car-^' ry all before them. ^ // ''I -It could not but give great concern to many judicious .: and ferlous chriftians to fee their religion infulted blaf-^ phem'd and attack'd in its chief article, who^ dreaded the^ confequences of it. They were foon convinced, by theC fwift progrefs this error made, of the necefTicy of ap- j pearing in defence of the common faith. '^^ -When Mr. Peine and others were apply'd to byV fomis of thefe perfons, who thought it the proper ^bufineS;. of their minifters to engage in defenfe of this great' caufe; the cold reception they met with, and the manner in which this matter was managed inftead c^ giving iatisfadion increased their unealineffes. t . ., •Th^ir finding Mr. Peirce fo cold, and the other par- ty taking encouragement, and giving out, that the mi- nitteR [in Exon2 were m their notions, and many iit I^ pef 'm^afures by which the common faith might be pt|b-;^ lickly iaflerted and maintain'd.j- H ; . /'^i\'^'l The perfons apply'd to, tho"* deeply concern-datthe^ (ad j«ftureof affairs, refolv'd, however, to a(5l with all^ RKris 5lD£d i3fine^ yd sDnaisftlb^bxu 3ib io agmiq^ ' 1 t!ie flow ftep?,. Cdtttion. and tend^rnefs, that Was ppf- fible ; and to try firft, what could be done to reme3y Aefe evils in private, and not without the moft appa- rent neceflfity to enter upon anypublick methods. - Their attempts this way not lucceeding," and the etror ftill fpreading like a peftilence ; ferious peoJ)le grew impatient, and began to blame, and even upbfafJ^ their minifters for neglecfting their duty, whpfe conlcl- chces thereupon conftrain'd them to appear in a- more ^ubliek manner ;. and having conlulted ethers of,their^ brethren in divers parts, feveral cf ihena agreed to |5rOp6fe at the meeting of their r.ffemhly, Sep t^iji^t *. the making a voluntary declaration ojf their faith; ngr did they this, without firft acquainting Mr. Pclicc, 8cc. of their defign to make that motion % This veas much opposed by Mr. Pcirce and his Jjarty, who us'd all their arts to prevent it^ where- lipon matters open'd apace and it too plainly appeared, that the reports fpread of Mr. P. were not without foundation. Mr. Peirce\ declaration in the ttjfemhly and his" ma* riagements there, and afterwards his and Mr. HnUet\ forbidding the Doxologies 4- to be fung, and the latter having for a good while aiterM his accuftom'd Doxologies at the end of his prayers, greatly increased the peoples diflatisfad:ion. Tkey thought they had the, greateft right to know the faith of their minifters, and accordingly apply'd to them in a chriftian and refpedlful manner, praying they would fatisfy them in this great point, which they refufing to do in any of the vfays propos'd, nor doing it in any other way that would have iatisfy'd them, but inftead thereof one of them [Mr. Peircey eXprelTing himfelf much to their diflatisfadion, it filW them with the greateft concern and perplexity. 'Verv defirous they were of peace, and loth, so break with their minifters, to whom they were. not i^anting in their refpedts j but being at a lofs ivhat fteps * See pMg. 80. t See psg. 55. t VideCitTzens Defeme of their Acemnt) p. S. And p s^ of this Anfvoer. ( 177 ) fteps ro tSke for the prefervation of Tnith,thef' wrote K) London defirlng the advice of fome minifters there^ how to behave ^hemfe'ves in this critical jundture : Thefe excufing themielves for feveral reafons given in their anfwer, * they apply'd to fome of the elder mi- nifters in their neighbourhood, who at their de(ire h^d a meetinc^ at Exon; and after earned prayer to God, and hearing what they had to fay in relation to their minifters, rook feveral hours confideration and debate to come to the three refolutions following. 1. That there nre fome errors in docinne, which tirt a fitfficiem ground for the people to mthdraw from their minijhrs, idly. That the denying the true and proper Divi^ fiity of the Son "vices, having aifo in vain us'd their utmoft endeavours in private to obtain fatisfadion from their minifters^ and finding how error gain'd ground under the fhclter A a of * i^4rr»tiv€j p. 34, 2 J, (178) of their ,^n am.es, they^faw they^ ceuld nor coiifin^Iy with rKe' 'duty they bw'd to the moft important 'Truttis and the regard they ought to have to the'r own fafet)-, commit themSelves any longer to their inftrudiion and , care. Wherefore thofe w'no had the management of the affairs of the congiegaiion, and afterwards a vaft ma-- jority of the people concurring wiih them; fonnd it ne^ ' celTary, however grievous it was to them, to-4ifini&::-' them from ofiiciating as their minifters. ;■ What he fays In his palled Pcftfaht, has been an- fWer'd already, in/». 90. "Thus we have gone through Mr. Pclrces famdusr^ performance, The IVESTEiIn INJIV IS ITION y\ which from the beginning to rhe end, appears to be a.. compolition full of heat and anger, of great' Uncharit^c blenefs,miireprerentations and falflioods ; befides the cor-- rupr mixtures there are in it of many dangerous errors in dodrine ; by which he has fully prov'd himfelf to beL what the people apprehended him. And upon a ferious . review, we cannot but think the impartial part of man- kind will conclude, That he endeavour'd to dectivf 1 and impofe upon the good people of Exeter as long as lie could ; and when he could c!o it no longer, he now.: infults and abufes them. If that which breaths in this - and his other writings be the temper and fpirit of Arh anlfitiy we^rnuft fay it is a temper vaftiy differenr from the true fpirit of the Gofpel. FINIS, :,-■. ^ni :oM luo ^s^^.^^ ^ ,2fl0l33^ Ik V 03 ismi ^d- ^^vdnA rv '.XJl Wherein each Chaprer is fuinm'd up in its'Con«^;> rears; the Sacred Text infef^ed at large, in difb'ncffc^g Paragraphs ; each Paragraph reduc'd to i-s^Proper Hen;ds.j\^ the 6enle giv.en, and largely iiluftrared ; with prad'cal i Remarks and Observations : By the lare Re- erend Mr^' • M A T T H E w H E N R y, in Six Volumes in Folio. 2. The Dodrine of the Ever-Bleffed TRi^I^I'Y^f. ftated. and defended : Ey fome London minifters, [The Intro- doAlon, by the Reverend Mr. Tng Chap. I; By the I{eveyend Mr. B^hinjon. Chap. II. Hy che l^:verend Mr. Smith. Chap. liI. By he Reverend Mr. I{ry}wlds.'} The Second Edition Price if. 6 d. z^. -A Merr^orial of the Reformatio >t, chiefly in : BngUnd: And o\ Britain^ De ivernnres from Popery and Avbr.iary Pov'er, iince rh:\r T'mp, to ^he Year 1719. Conrn'tning the S^':s^p of ^he Reformation under King Ben-y VIII Y^m^' Edward VI. and Qiieen Eli:{nhsthi wiiK.'-he Pri .cip ei and End^aVvurs of hole who have fi-onrTiir.e q Time (lood for a fur:her Rgformarioi},- as. a (licrt Hiftorv of Noncunformitv : A oarricular Reiarioa. of' all :he Piots and C nfpiracies of Papifts and others: af.nrnft:.* he' Reformation, and Civi' Liberries of th^ Lan 1 : Some Ihorr Memoirs of the Civil W^.r in King Charles Ts Time ; and adiiVmcfl Anfw^r to the QaeftioHy Who cut off the K'ng's Hend? By the Reverend Mr. B. Ben NET. The Second Edition, mth large Ad' 4itio72s "ivo. Price 5 u ' :. 4. T HE Art of Reading and Writing Englifh ; Of," The chief Principles and Rules of Pronouncing pur Mother-Tongue, both in Prc'e and Ver e ; with a varety Inflrudions for the true Spelling. Written ^t firft for private Ufe, and now publiftiM'" for the Benefit of all Perfons, who delire a better Acquaintance with their Native Language. By the Reverend Mr. Isaac Watts.' 5. A Calm Defence of the Deity of JeS'js Chp.ist ; }xi Anfwer to the Author of the Letter to a PilTenter Ne'i^lj Printed for joKN Clark. in Exeter. By the Reverend Mr. John Moore, of Tivencn in Two Pans, Price i s. 6. An EfTay concerning Truth and Charit^% in two Parts. Contaming, I. An Enquiiy concerning Funda* mental Articles of Fairh, and the NecefTity of adhe- ring ro them, in Order to Church-Cotnmunicn. II. Some Hiftcricai Remarks otf the Behaviotir of the Jews And Primitive Chriftians towards thofe tvho had either departed from the Faith, or by any other Offences rendred themfehes liable to Excommnnication. Shew» ing a To, What is that Uncharitablenefs which difco- vers itfelf in the Condud of Men towards one ano« ther. By the Reverend Mr. Thomas Ridgley. 7. Preparation for Death the beft: Prefer%'ative againft the Plague. Being the Subftance of two Sermons preach- ed at the Merchant's Ledure in S/ihers-Uall, Jan. 17th, and 31ft, 1721. By the Reverend Mr. B. Grosveno«^ ,^he Second Edition. Price id. In the Prejsi ilora tyricce. Poems chiefly of the Lyric kind : Irt Three Books. Sacred i. To Devotion and Piery. 2. To Venue, Honour and Friendfhip. 3. To the Me- mory of the Dead. By the P^v. Mr. Isaac WATxSi The Fewth Edition^ coneded. To which will be pre- fix'd the Author's Effigies finely engraven by Mr Vertue, tamo. An Effay towards a pradical EngUjh Grammar, de-»' fcribing the Genius and Nature of the EngUJh Tongue • giving likewife a rational and plain Account of Gram- mar in general, with a familiar Explanation of its Terms, By Mr. James Gp.akwood, Surmafter of Sto ^fiufs School. The fecond Edit, with Addtions, iimo* The Pefitlence Abroad ^ and the Per- plexity of our Affairs at Homey con- fider d and improved: I N A SERMON PRE AC H'D IN ^ E X 0 N, March I. 17 zo. AND Now Publifh'd at the Dcfiue of feveral vVho heard it. By John Withers. LONDON: Trinted for John Clark, at the Bible and Crown in the Poultry near Cheapfide. M. DCC. xxi. (3) >f^^ ^^^ ® ^ H^' ^s ^St r^3 fe ^^R a ^s yf^^^^^/M ^S ^ s » MiCAH vi. the latter part of v. 9. Hear ye the Rod^ and who hath appointed it. N the preceding Verfes of this Chapter, God, by his Prophet Micah^ upbraids the Jews with their difingenuous Carriage to- wards him, from whom they had received fo many Favours. He appeals even to their own Reafons for theEquity of his Proceed- ings, and the Perverfenefs of theirs. O fny^;^^^^ ^^ Teople , what have I done unto thee ? Wherein have I wearied thee ? tejiify a- gainft me. What intolerable Burthen have I ever laid upon thee \ What unreafonable Thing have I required of thee? I defy the jnoft pcevifli and difcontented of you all, to give one Inftance of an unjuft Severity and Rigour. Having expoflulatcd the Matter with (4) with them, he proceeds to advife them how to demean themfelves, when his impending Judgments were , like a Rod, fliaken over their guilty and provoking Heads. This Counfel is addrefled to them in the Words of my Text : Hear the Rod, and who hath appointed it. In which Words you may take notice ofthefe two Parts. 1 . Here are fome things fuppos'd, or taken for granted 5 viz. That God's Judgments upon a Nation are a Rod 3 that this Rod is in his Hand, he appoints and direds it : That it has a Voice which commands our Attention. 2. Here is a Duty inferred, Hear ye the Rod, &:c. I . 'Tis fuppofed , or taken for granted^ that national or particular Judgments are God's Rod. Various are the Difpenfations of Divine Providence. Various the Me- thods which he takes to awaken a fecure and carelefs World. He inftrufts us, fome- times by his Word, and fometimes by his Rod : Sometimes by the Meffengers he employs, and fometimes by the Judgments he inflids. When Pcifons grow unmind- \. ful (5) ful of their God and Duty, he makes him^- felf known to the Children of Men by ter- rible Things in Righteoufnefs. He hatli a corredive, fmarting Rod, with which, he chaflifes the Frowardnefs and Peevifhnefs of his own Children : He hath alfo a Rod of Iron, with which he rules rebellious Nati- ons, and dafhes them in pieces like a Pot- ter's Veffel. / am the Man that hath feen Lam. iii. i. AffiiEiion by the Rod of his Wrath , fays the Prophet in the Name of the Jewljh Church. God's Rod lay very heavy upon their Shoulders, when this Complaint was made. Their Land was ravaged by a proud, vidorious Enemy : Their choice young Men were flain with the Sword ; their Nobles bound in Chains, and their Princes in Fet- ters of Iron. Jertifakm, that was once great among the iSTations, and Princefs among the Provinces, lay buried in its Duft, and entomb'd in its own Ruins. So that they were fmarting under the Rod of God's In- dignation. God calls Ajfyria the Rod op^^' ^c. 5-: his Anger : He made ufe of that ambitious, cruel Nation to avenge the Quarrel of his broken Covenant 5 and to execute his Wrath upon a perfidious, ungrateful People. Again , as Judgments arc a Rod, fo 'tis in God's Hand, at his Appointment, under his Management and Direclion. There is B no (O no Evil in the City, and the Lord hath not done it. By which we are to under- ftand, the Evil, not of Sin, but of Afflic- tion. He kills , and he makes alive -, he wounds, and he heals, and in all thofe In- ftances he ads as an uncontrouled Sovereign. The Calamities which private Perfons , or publick Societies may labour under, are the Refults, not of a blind Chance, or giddy Fortune, but of an over-ruling Providence, and wife Counfel. The Sword or Pcftilence cannot deftroy without a Divine Licenfc and Permiillon. And as Judgments are a Rod in God's Hand, fo 'tis fuppofed that this Rod hath a Voice, or elfe we Ihould be under no Obligation to hear it. Which leads me to 2. The fecond Thins; obfervable in thefe Words ; and that is the Duty inferr'd, Hear ye the Rod: Or, in other words, confider what God calls you to, by the AfBidions with which he vifits you. And here, that I may accommodate my Difcourfe to the prefent Pofture of Affairs, I fliall entertain you with this following Method. I. I Ihall confider in what Inftances God by his Rod or Judgments may befaid to be calling to us this Day. II. What (7) II. What are the Duties God calls us to, or what are the Leflbns his Difpenfations feem calculated to inftrud us in. III. Conclude all with fome pradical In- ferences. I. I (hall confider in what Inftances God by his Rod or Judgments may be faid to be calling to us this Day. I. God's Rod may be confidered as call- ing to us in the Perplexity of our Affairs at home. What an unexpecled Turn have they taken within thefe few Months paft > How miferably are they this Day embar- ralled? Commerce decays and languifhes ; and Publick Credit hath received a dreadful Shock. The Stagnation of Trade in the Bodjf Tolitick , like that of the Blood and Spirits in the Body Natural, threatens the whole with terrible Convulfions, if not with a total Diffolution. How many weal- thy Families have been impoveriflied ? Hov/ many induftrious Artificers have nothing elfe to do but to hang their Inftruments upon the Willows ; and inftead of Sion's Songs ;^ to hear the Cries of their half famifhy Chil- $iren? And how are our wifeft State Phy- B z ficians (8) ficians nonplus'd to find out a Remedy ade- quate to the Diieafe > God's Rod may be confidered as calling to us in that dreadful Peftilence which rages in our neighbouring Nation. This, like a black Cloud, hangs hovering over our Heads, and God only knows, how foon it may break in Pieces about our Ears. That An- gel, which ftands with a drawn Sword over France, waits only for a Divine Commif- fion to ftcp over into England, The Plague is a Rod in God's own Hand : When he inflids this Judgment, he makes not ufe of Men to be the Inftruments of his Wrath, Lev. xxvi.as in War and other Cafes. IVken you are ^S' gathered tcgether in your Cities^ I will fend the "Peftilence among you , faith the Lord. And who can fave, if he gives it a Commiffion to dedroy ) 'Tis compared, by Pf.xcvi.'j-.f^'^c Pfalmift, to an Arrow that flieth by T>ay. To which I may add , that 'tis an Arrow taken out of God's Quiver ; and if he lets it fly, there is no Armour Proof a- gainft it. If he bids this Enemy go, it fcales the higheft Walls, leaps over the wideft Trenches, breaks thro' the ftrongeft Guards, routs and difperfes the bcft difciplin'd and mod compAclcd Armies. The Peftilence indeed is faid to walk in Tiarknefs^ but it derives (9) derives its deftruftive Force and Efficacy from the Father of Lights. From him comes down, not only every good and perfe^ Gifty but every terrible, amazing judgment. 'Tis a Sword weilded by Omnipotence it feif , and when 'tis drawn forth againfl: any Peo- ple, who can exprefs the Terror and Con- ftcrnation it carries with it, and is the Occa- fion of? But of this more largely hereafter. I come now to II. The fecond general Head, which is to confide r what the Rod of God calls us to, or what are thofe Leffons, which his Judg- ments feem calculated toinftrud us in. And if we confider thefe Judgments as gone forth againft us in the Decay of Trade, and the Ruin of publick Credit, they feem to call upon us, I. To obfcrve the Shallownefs of all human Counfels. We have feen Men, fa- .mous for their Subtilty and Cunning, emi- nent for their Sagacity and Forcfight , cx- quifitely skill'd in all the dark Intrigues of State : We have feen fuch as thcfe ruin'd in'd by their own Projeds, confounded by their own Schemes, and impoveriflied by thofe very Methods which they made ufe of to enrich themfelves. Their Moun- tain hath been fliaken by an Earthquake wheri ( lo) when they thought it ftrongeft. 'Twould be neither decent nor human for us in a pri- vate Station, to infult, or trample upon any of thofe unhappy Perfons, whofe ill Con- duft hath drawn upon them the Refent- ments of an injured Nation, and who are in the Hands of publick Juftice, where it be- comes us to leave them. But furely, we may be allow'd to fay, that by this Difpen- fation God loudly calls to us in the Words jcr.ix. 23.of his ancient Prophet: Thus faith the Lord of Hoftsy let not the wife Man glory in his WifdoMy let not the rich Man glory in his Riches 5 but let him that glorieth glory in this , that he underftandeth and knooveth me^ that I am the Lord that ex- ercifeth Loving-kindnefs , Judgment and Right eoufnefs* How eafily can God infa- tuate the wifeft Politicians, and turn the Counfcls of an Achitophel into Foolifh- nefs ? Experience, as well as Scripture, may inform us, that 'tis not the Adivity and Wit of Man, but the Blelling of God that mak- eth rich y and addeth no Sorrow with it. Men m^ay contrive with Prudence, and exe- cute with Vigour, and yet their Defigns may prove abortive. Ten thoufand Accidents may intervene, which they are neither able to forefee, nor to prevent. God hath con- vinced this Nation by fad Experience, how dim;andihort-%l:^tcd thofcEyes are which yec pretend pretend to the greateft Penetration. I make no qucftion, but many wife Men and true Patriots were heartily perfuaded , that the Scheme laid down about twelve Months fincc, for leffening the National Debts, would have anfwered that noble End: But we fee, that by the Avarice of fome, the Credulity of others, and the juft Judgment of God upon a provoking People, the quite contrary has happened : and the pub- lick Incumbrances have been increas'd by the Methods propounded to reduce them. This may convince us, that the profound- eft judgments are very Ihallovv, that no Defign form'd without, as well zs againft the Lord, will ever profper ; and that the beft concerted Meafures will certainly mif- carry unlefs he fucceeds them. 2. God's Judgments this Day upon us feem intended to let us fee the unfatisfac- tory Nature of all worldly Enjoyments. This is another Leflbn we (hould learn by that Rod that is upon our Backs. Have we not feen the Obfervation of the wife Man verified? He that loveth Silver fialiEcdd.v, not be fatisfied with Silver^ nor he that loveth abundance with i7icreafe. The heap- ing up of Wealth on a greedy Mind , is like pouring Oyl upon the Fire , which , infccad of extinguifliing , feeds and incrca- fes 10, ( xt ) fes the Flame. Had our late Managers been content , I will not fay with mode- rate, but with very confiderable Gains, their Reputation might have been fafe , their Confciences eafy , and this Nation ,^ inftead of being the jcft, might have been the Envy of all its Neighbours: But by grafping immenfe Treafures, by aiming at fuch prodigious Acquifitions, as wxre never heard of in any Age before, they have brought down Infamy, if not Ruin, upon their own Heads, and a terrible Calamity upon the whole Kingdom. If we reflect upon the Tranfadions of the laft Year, we fhall find, that they were mod eager in the Purfuit of Wealth , who had lead occafion for it. No Eye more greedy than that which flood out ^juith Fatnefs. No Heart more enlarg'd in its Defires , than his who poffefTed more than he could rea- fonably wifh for. They who enjoy'd the greateft Eftates were as forward as any to make Additions to their vaft Heaps. Hence it came to pafs, that in the late general Infatuation, and Scramble for Gold and Silver, the Sons of Nobles did not difdaia to mingle with fuch as (prang from Dung- hills 5 nor Stars and Garters to converfc with Brokers and Stock-jobbers. In one Word, the univerfal Hurry this Nation was lately in, when Perfons of ail Ranks were were upon the Hunt for Riches, proclaims the unfatisfaftory Nature of all worldly En- joyments. S . God's Rod inftrudls us alfo in the precarious , uncertain Nature of earthly Treafures : Experience as well as Scrip- ture tells us, that Riches make themfehes?rov, TVingSy and fly as an Eagle towards Hea-^^^^^-^^ ven, for a new Difpofal of them. How many wealthy Traders have been impo- veriflied by the unexpeded Turn of Af- fairs > How many flourifliing Families have been rcduc'd to narrow Circumftances, if not extreme Penury ? They that were once ready to give y are now under a Neceffi- ty of receiving : And their own Eyes have feen Vanity and Vexation of Spirit en- graven upon what they thought moft du- rable and lafting. Nay, how many have loft the Subftance , in catching at a Sha- dow^ and parted with good fubftantial Farms upon the firm Ground^ in order to build Caftles in the Air ? How many have had their Teeth fet on Edge by thofe fowre Fruits which fpring from that which is the Root of all Evil? And by hafting to be rich y have (according to Solomon's Predidion) difcovered an evil Eye^ andP^'^^; brought down Poverty upon themfelves. God had formerly told us by his Word ^ C that XXVllh 224 ( IX ) that the Fajhion of this World pajjeth d'-Ji'ay : And now he hath loudly pro- claimed this Truth in our Ears, by the awakening Voice of his Hod. By this he tells us, that all Things here below are llibjeft to Viciflitudes and Changes, and that if we ad as become wife Men, much more as fincere Chriftians , we fliall feek for fomething more real and fub- ftantial than what this World is able to af- ford us. 4. God's Judgments alfo call upon us to fecure for our felves thofe Riches that can be never taken from us : or, in the Words of our blelled Saviour, to lay up for our f elves Treaftires in Heaven. Treafures that will furvive the Ruins of the World , the En- vy of Time, and the difmal Conflagration of all Things. Treafures that will not pe- rifli or decay, when the Elements fhall melt with fervent Heat, when the Earth and all that therein is fhall be burnt up with Fire. Notwithftanding all the Difap- pointments you have met with, all the Straits and Difficulties you labour under, you may obtain a Title to thofe Riches, which Thieves and Robbers cannot plun- der, which Knaves and Cheats cannot de- fraud you of. God , by his Difpenfations, fcems to fpeak to his Churches in England now, ( ^n now , as he did to that of Laodicea for- merly; / counfel thee to buy of me Gold^^^- tried in the Fire-, that thou may ft be ricky ^ ' and white Raiment that thou mayft be clothed^ that the Shame of thy Nakednefs do not appear. The pooreft, the meaneft of you all may make this advantageous Purchafe, if you are not wanting to your felves. Not that you can give an Equiva- lent, or valuable Confideration for pre- fcnt Grace, or future Glory: But thcfe may be procured by you, upon the Account of Chrift^s Merits, and by the Afliftance of his Spirit. And this is the Improve- ment which both Rich and Poor fhould make of the prefent Difpcnfations of Di- vine Providence. When you hear of fome who have been burntj of others who have been btibbled out of their well furnifhed Houfes, you fliould be excited to feck for a City which hath Foundations ^ whofe Builder and Maker is God, When you fee Men lofe their Eftates by other's Kna- very , their own Folly , or by the Provi- dence of God ; your great Concern fliould be to fecure to your felves a Title to an Inheritance incorruptible^ undefled^ and that fadeth not away. How cautious and wary fliould we be, when we fee others prick their Fingers by grafping the World with too much Eagerncfs ? The Dibppoint- C 2 mcnts ( x6) ments which fo many of our Countrymen have lately met with in their Affairs, fhould fuggcft to us fuch Thoughts as thefe. Shall I pant after the T>ptji of the Earthy when I have ^^^w others almoft choak'd , by fwallowing it with too much Greedinefs \ The Predidion of St. Taul hath been ful- 8 Tim. vi.f^Heci in my Sight. They that will be rich ^' ' run into a Snare , and pierce themrJves thro" with many Sorrows, And fliall I fuffer my felf to be tranfported by the fame unreafonable Paffion \ Shall I dif- quiet my feif in vain ? Difturb and vex my Soul in the Purfuit of what I am not fare to keep one Moment longer? Shall I truft in thofe Riches which are fo uncej- tain ? No ; I am refolv'd, through the Af- fiftance of Divine Grace, to chufe Hea- ven for my Portion 5 let others contend and fcramble for larger Shares of this dirty Earth. I come next to enquire what LelTon God feems to be teaching us, by his Rod laid up- on a neighbouring Nation. And here I. His Judgments call upon us to fear, and (land in Awe of his dreadful Majefty, By terrible things in Rightcoufnefs he makes himfelf known to liho: Children of Men. He difcovers himiclf to be an holy, a Sin re- venging ( X7) venging God. The Lion hath roared^ who Amos iii. will not fear? The Lord hath Jpoken, &c. ^' If the Lion roars the Beafts of the Foreft tremble, afraid of being torn in pieces by a fuperior Power : And fhould not ratio- nal Creatures be more concerned when an Omnipotent God gives fignal Inftances of his Difpleafure, againft a profane and wick- ed Generation ) Shall not we tremble when he lets fly his poifoned Arrows, and fixes them in the Bofom of our Fellow Mor- tals ) When he empties Towns and Cities of their Inhabitants, when the devouring Peftilence feizes upon one Town, one Vil- lage after another, notwithftanding all the Precautions that can be ufed, deriding the Skill of the Phyficians, eluding the Force of Medicines, and triumphing over all the Methods made ufe of to put a Check un- to it ) Should we not in fuch a Day as this is cry out with the Tfalmift , My Flejh?£2\, cyd^i, trembleth for fear of thee^ and I am afaid ^ ^'^• of thy Judgments ? God expeds we fhould not ftand unconcerned Spedators of the Ca- lamities which others groan under. Give me leave to addrefs my felf to you in the Words of the Prophet, A Voice of Noifei^kAyin.s, from the City , a Voice from the Temple^ a Voice of the Lord that rendreth Re- compence to his Enemies, We have had a Voice from Tolandy Sweden^ and 'Den- mark ( i8 ) mark Tormcxlyy and now a Voice from France, that founds louder than any of the former. And fliaU not this awaken a fecure and finful Nation? Shall not this roufe us out of our Stupidity and Care- leffnefs ) At his Rebuke the Mountains quake, and the Hills tremble: and fliall our Hearts remain more hard, more unre- lenting than the very Rocks? Shall our Ears be ftop'd againft that awful Voice, which Winds arid Seas, and all the raging Elements do chearfully obey ? Tho' we cannot under (land the Thunder of his bow- ery we fliould dread the Thoughts of be- ing crufti'd and confounded by it. If wc will not fear this great and terrible Name, the Lord our God , nothing can be ex- pected, but that he fhould make our Plagues wonderful. That Cup of Trembling which is put into the Hands of a neighbouring Nation, is not defign'd by Providence to be a ftupifying Potion to us or them. 2. This Judgment lets us fee the utter Inability of any People to fecure themfelves when God has a Controverfy with them. If any Nation could promifc it felf Secu- rity, France is that Nation ^ a rich and populous Kingdom, its Members compad- ed and knit together : A very great part of it is waflVd, and confcquently defended by ( 19) by the Sea : and its Frontiers by Land are fecured by a ftrong Barrier 5 by well forti- fied Towns and numerous Garrifons. But w4iat doth all this avail when God hath a Controverfy with them? What Shield can proted them from the Arrows (hot out of .his Quiver ? If he fpeaks the Word , the very Air we breath in fhall convey Poyfon to our Lungs, or the Ground we tread on (hall open its greedy Jaw^s, and fwallow us up alive. He can make Frogs, Lice and Locufts, the moft defpicable Infefts, to be- come the Executioners of his juft Wrath and Vengeance. God came from Teman ^Hab. m, {, and the Holy One from Mount Faran 5 be- fore kirn went the Tefiilencey and burning Coals were under his Feet, If the Lord of Hofts gives it a Commiffion, no Bars or Gates can hinder it from entring into a City : It triumphs over the Art of the Wife, and the Power of the Mighty. No keeping this Enemy at a diftance, no driving it from our Gates. 3. This Judgment farther calls upon us to try and examine our felves. Let usi^^m. iii. fearch and try our WajSy and turn unto 40- the Lord our God, We are apt to cen- fure others; but how few judge and con- demn themfelves. We are ready to ex- claim againft the Hypocrify of one, the * Profane- Profanenefs of another, the Avarice and Knavery of a third Perfon. But where is the Man that bewails the Deadnefs and Hardnefs of his own Heart, or the Un- profitablenefs of his Life ? Where the Man that lays his Hand upon his Bofom , and propounds thefe ferious Queftions to his own Confcience ? What have I done ? How much have I contributed to the com- mon Stock, of Guilt ? How much Weight have I added to the pulling down God's Judgments upon a finful Nation ? How much Fuel have I heaped up to the in- flaming his Vengeance againft us? What Hand have my Sins had in widening the Breach betwixt the King of Heaven and the Land of my Nativity ? Thefe, my be- loved, are feafonable and awful Queftions; and fuch as the prefent Pofture of Affairs feem to call for. If we have not the fame Sins with our Neighbours, who are fmart- ing under God's Rod , yet ours are of a very provoking Nature, and cloatlVd with more aggravating Circumftances. They are plunged in fupcrftitious Errors ; but do not we hold the Truth in U7irighte' oufnefs ! They worfhip Creatures, and are not we defeQive in that Homage and Ado- ration that is due to the great Creator ? We al?hor their Idols 5 but do we not com- mit Sacrilege ? Robbing God of that Time, Strength ( XI } Strength and Vigour which ought to be devoted to, and employed in his Service. They are bigotted, and it may be, fome of them, bloody, cruel Papifts; and how- many amongft us are debauch'd and vici- ous Proteftants ? And it becomes us to en- quire, whether we are not of their Num- ber. In fuch a Day as this , let us deal impartially with our own Souls. 'Tis fuch a Condud as this , that the great Lord of the Univerfe expeds and requires 5 as wc may learn from his own Word. The Sword is without, and the Peftilence within But they that efcape of them jhall he on Ezci:.v[i the Mount ainSy like Troves of the Valleys^ *^- all of them mourning , every one for his Inicfiiity, Would every Man fweep his own Doors tlie Streets would foon be clean : would every Man lament and reform what is amifs in his own Management, we fhould quickly fee Religion look with a more chearful Afped through our Land. Let us not be fo vain as to conclude that we are better becaufe ^cfare better than our Neigh- bours. What our Saviour faid to the Jews formerly^ may with a little Variation be -applied to us now, Thofe eighteen on whom Luke xiii. the Tower of Siloam feU and flew -, think ^' you that they were finners above aU that dwell in Jerufalem \ I tell you nay , but except you repent you fhall all likewife D perijh. ( ^^ ) fcYip, So may I fay , do yoiu think tha! the Inhabitants of "Dantzig and Copen- hagen^ Stockholm and Hamburgh amongft the Proteftants 5 or the Inhabitants of JVar- faw.^ Aix and Marfeilles amongft the Pa- pifts have been greater Sinners than the In- habitants of London and Exon ? I muft tell you , that you have no Warrant to draw fuch an Inference as this, from the Plagues which they h^wcfelt, and we have hitherto efcafd : But I am authorized to alTure you, in the Name of my great Lord and Maftcr, that unlets you repent, you will all fooner or later perifli. It becomes us Eccief.vii. therefore in this 'Day of Adverjity to con- '^' fider. 4. God further calls upon us by his Rod to reform whatever, upon a ftri^l Exami- juxxvi.p jvation, we find to be amifs. IVhen thy Judgfnefits are in the Earth, the Inha- bitants of the JVorld will learn Righteouf- nefs. That is^ they will do fo, if they ad * as becomes reafonable Creatures, and an- fwer the Dcfign of God's providential Dif- penlations. This is what he expeds and loudly calls for. Thus he exprefles him- 7.cph.iii.6.felf by one of his Prophets; I have cut off the Nations, their Towers a:re de fo- late, I have made their Streets wafie ^ their Cities are deftroyedy without Inha- bitant, 11, ( ^3 ) bit ant. I [aid furely they will fear me , they will receive InJlrtiBion. The Ship- wreck of others fhould make us cautious how we dafli againft the fame Rock. That Rod which lies fo heavy on our Neigh- bours Backs fliould iiave a humbling In- fluence upon our Hearts and Lives. Di- vine Providence calls upon us this Day to hear and fear, and do no more fo wicked- ly. Becaufe I will do this tinto thee, j^re-Amos iv. pare to meet thy God, O Ifraelj i;/^. in a Way of Repentance and Reformation. When God would paint out the Sin of Judah in its mod odious Colours, he men- tions this as a very aggravating Circum- ftance: Thy Sifier Sodom was not men- tioned by thee in the T)ay of thy Tride. q. d. Tiiou tookeft no Warning by thofe tremendous Judgments which I inflided upon that rebellious City : Thou haft re- peated the fame Crimes which laid that Town in Afhes 5 and been guilty of tho^famc deteftable Impurities, which brought down Fire and Brimftone upon the Heads of its deprav d Inhabitants. 5. God's Judgments inflifted upon others, call upon us, to admire the diftinguifhing Mercy of God in fparing us to this very Moment. Tis Mercy, not Merit, that hath made fuch a vifible Diftindion betwixt D z England ( m) England and her Sifter Nations. If wc are more healthy^ 'tis not becaufe we have been lefs finful: 'Tis not for v/ant of Pro- vocations received from us, that the Hand of God is not ftretched out againft its, Inftead 6f making others Warnings unto uSj he might have made us a Warning unto them. We have abus'd cur Mercies, and 'tis a Wonder that a jealous God has not dcpriv d us of 'em. We have rioted, and grown wanton in our green Paftures, and he might juftly hedge up our Way with Thorns and Briars. How juftly might Death ride triumphant in thofe Streets, in which the Majefty of Heaven is fo fre- quently , fo daringly affionted ? We have only tafted fomc few Drops of his Dif- pleafure, whilft the full Viols of his Wrath have been poured down upon our Neigh- bour's Heads. He hath only laid his Fin- ger upon us, whilft others have been Crufli d with the Wci?,ht of his whole Loins. This is the Lord s doing, and it fliould be mar- vellous in our Eyes. If our Air be not fiird with peftilential Vapours, 'tis not be- caufe it has not been polluted with Oaths and Blafphcmics. If the Ground on which we tread, be not ftrewed with our Car- cafes, and drcnch'd with our Blood, 'tis not becaufe it has not been burdened by our Impieties. We have Reafon therefore to ( M ) to cry out with the Pfalmift, Not unto us^ O Lordy not unto usy but to thy Name do ^me give Glory. 6. This Rod calls upon us to be fer- vent and frequent in our Supplications to the Throne of Divine Grace. Pray wc fhould for the Provinces under God's af- flicling Hand , that he would make them fenfible of what they have done amifs. Par- ticularly, in pulling down his Temples, in banifhing his faithful Minifters, and perfe- cuting fuch of his People, as dared not to worfhip the Creature inftead of the Crea- tor. I know, it becomes not us to in- terpret Divine Providences according to our own Fancies, fince there is one Event to the Good and to the Bad. However it may not be amifs to obfcrve, that the Plague began in a Town where hundreds of Proteftant Confeffors had been dragging of their Chains : Marfeilles being the ufual Harbour where the French King kept his Gallics, to which many of thofe Chriftiaa Heroes were condemn'd, of whom the World was not worthy, and in which they endured incxprellible Hardfhips. May wc not reafonably fuppofe that many of the Souls of thofe brave and generous Sufferers are now under the Altar, crying out, How lo7igy O Lord holy and true , doji thou not judge (z6) jttdge and avenge our Blood o?i them that d-ijuell on the Earth ? Would to God that the Perfons concem'd would lay thcfe things to Heart, and repent of their blind, malig- nant Zeal : confidering how tenderly Chrift refents the Injuries that are done to his Members ; how he feels the Weight of their Chains, and the Smart of their Wounds, and fympathifes with them ia all their Af- flidtions. But in an cfpecial manner, let us pray for the Land of our Nativity , that God would keep the Plague at a Diftance from our Habitations : that we may not pledge them in that deadly bitter Cup of which they have drunk fo very deep. This is what wc are direded to by the Prophet joeiii. \^,JoeL Blow the Tnunpet in Sion, fan^ii- 17- fy a Fafty call a folemn Affembly : Let the Triejlsy the Minifters of the Lord, weep between the Torch and the Altar , and let them fay. Spare thy Teople, O Lord, and give not thine Heritage to Reproach. When God's Hand is lifted up, he expeds that we fliould lie proftrate at his Feet. When his Rod is fliaken over our Heads, he cx- peds to find us upon our Knees. 'Tis but reafonable he fliould hear from us, when he is loudly calling to us. This is a Method we arc directed to, by the Example ( ^7 ) Example and Succefs of Pious Mofes. Take Num. xvi. a Cenfer (fays he to Aaron thtHv^- ^^' Prieft) and put Ftre therein from the Al- tar^ and go quickly into the Congrega- tion 5 for there is Wrath gone out from the Lor dy the Tlague is begun: And Aa- ron did foy and food between the living and the deady and the blague was fat- ed, O that we could cry mightily to our God this Day ! That our Prayers might come up before him as Incenfe, and the lifting up of our Hands as the Evening Sa- crifice ! Then might \vc hope that he would appoint to us Salvation for Walls and Bul- warks. Let us cry and figh for the Abo- minations of the Land in which we live, Whilft others, by their Impieties, are widen- ing the Breach, and letting in an Inun- dation of Mifery upon us, let us Hand in the Gap, and by our fervent Suppli- cations, endeavour to turn away Wrath from our IfraeL When the Land of Ju- dah was in Danger of God's Judgments, by reafon of the horrid Depravation of their Morals, we read, The Lord f aw there wasi^^M. i6; no Many and wondred there was no Inter- ceffor. Their Silence and Stupidity in thefe Circumftances was Matter of Aftonifhment and Wonder, . The (z8) 7. The laft Duty we feem to be fum* moned unto by the Providence of God, is to be in a Readinefs for the coming of our great Lord. If the Plague fliould fpare us, it can't be long before fome Diftem- per or other will prove fatal to us. Let us therefore give all "Diligence to make our Calling and Election fure : to fecure to our felves an Interefl: in the Blood and Merits of our dear Redeemer. And then we fhall not be afraid of evil Tidings, when our Heart is fixed trufting in the Lord. We may then fee Light, though the Tejlilence walks in Darknefs round about us : And be fafe, though Deftruftion wafteth at Noon Day. Come Sword , come Peftilence or Famine, we need not be difma/d or caft down. Tho* our Carcafcs fliould lie unbu- ried in the Streets, 'tis no great matter, if our Souls are fafe in Abrahani% Bofom. Though our Relations and Acquaintance ihould keep at a Ditlance from us : Tho' we fhould have no Friend near us, to clofe our dying Eyes ; v/e fhall have a Guard of Angels, to convey us to the yonder Regi- ons of Blifs and Glory. And that is infi- nitely better. Then Death it fcif will be able to do us no real Injury. It may fliake in Pieces our earthly Tabernacle ; but we ihall have a Building, an Houfe not made with with Hands, eternal in the Heavens. It may ftrip us of our Rags of Duft and of Mor- tality 5 but thefe will be exchangd for Robes of Light and Glory. Death having loft its Sting, we may receive it into our Bofoms without any Confternation. The Poyfon being all taken out of this bitter Cup, we may drink it off without Re- luctance. When our Flefh and our Heart fliall fail , God will then be the Strength of our Hearty and our Tort ion for ever. Thus have I endeavoured to fhew you what thofe Duties are, which the Judg- ments of God at home and abroad do call us to the Pradice of. And by this you may eafily know when you may be faid to Hear the Rod^ and him that has ap- pointed it. Even when you are awakened to a Senfe, both of your Sin and Dan- ger. When, upon a narrow Scrutiny, and ftrift Enquiry, into the Frame and Tem- per of your own Minds, you reform what is amifs. When you endeavour to make your Peace with God thro' Chrift, and to demean your felves according to the va- rious Afpefts of Divine Providence to- wards you. III. I idiall conclude what I have to fay with a fliort , but ferious Exhortation to E you ( 3°) you all, to anfwer the Defign and End of God in his moft righteous and awful Dif- penfations : and to learn thofe Leffons which he is teaching you, by the Tokens of his Difpleafure , gone forth againft a provok- ing, finful Generation. Methinks I hear him fpeaking to you this Day as formerly to the Jewijh Church and Nation. Be jer. vi. thou ififiruBedy OJerufalem [O England'] ^' left my Soul depart from thee-, left I make theedeft)latey a Land not inhabited. And Woe would be unto us fhould God depart from us. Should he withdraw his Prefence and Protedion, he leaves us naked and ex- pos'd to a thoufand Mifchiefs that are rea- dy to invade us. 'Tis a dreadful thing to fall out of God's Hands, as well as to fall into them : To be forfaken of his Mercy, as well as to be overtaken of his Ven- geance. To render what I have faid more cfFedlual , I (hall fubjoin theie two Confi- derations, and fo difmifs you. I . If you hear Gods Rod, you have Rea- fon to hope that he will hear your Prayers. That your Petitions will be fuccefsful to avert thofe Judgments that we fear, and to continue the Mercies we do yet cn>oy. We Ezek. ix. ^cad of a Mark fet upon the Foreheads of 4.^- thofe who did figh and cry for the Abomi- nations committed in the midft ^/ Jerufalem, and ( 3^ ) and the deftroying Angel had a Charge not to come near them. The Interceffion of Abraham would have been prevalent even for Sodom it felf , if ten righteous Perfons could have been found in that ungodly Ci- ty. A Book of Remembrance was written for thofe that feared the Lardy and called m^l iiL upon his Name: and they Jloall be mine^ '7- faith the Lordy in the T)ay that I make tip my Jew els y and I will fp are them as a Man fpareth his own Son that ferveth him. God values and fecures fuch as Men do their Jewels, whilft he tramples others, like Dirt and Rubbifli, under his Feet. This fhould oblige us to be importunate and earneft in our Addreffes to the Throne of Divine Grace. If our Ears are open to God's awful Sum- mons, his will not be fliut againfl: our hum- ble Supplications. 2. However, if he may not think fit to remove his Rod from us, he will fupport us under it, and do us good by it. If he cafts us into the Furnace of Afflidion, 'tis to melt down our Drofs , not to confume our Subftance : and the Fruit of all will be the taking away of Sin. We have a gra- cious Promife for our Encoura2;ement. All^*^^- viii. things Jh all work together for good to them ^ " that love God. The beft of Men are not exempted from National Calamities. Thofe Bodies (30 Bodies that are the Temples of the Holy Ghoft, are liable to Infedion, as well as thofe that are proftituted to the vileft Luft. But then they have the Teftimoiiy of a good Confcience, and the Hopes of a blefled Im- mortality for their Support. That Tem- ped that tofTes them, drives them nearer to their defired Harbour. And thofe light Af- fiBims which are but for a Moment ^ will work out for them a more exceeding and eternal Weight of Glory. FINIS. THE CONSPIRATORS; O R, The Case of Catiline, As collefted from the beft Hiftorians, im- partially examinM ; with refpedt to h is declared and covert Abettors; and the (Artifices ufed to jSfetCClt the Confpirators from Tunilhmejtt* Bv the Author of the Case of Francis^ Lord Bacon. - -j^=^ — ' — -— — '-^ ' ■ ■ ■» Nor ThiSj nor That, you Catiline cancall-j Hes Knight oW Shire y and reprefents you All* Rumpatur, Quifquis rumpitur Invidia. Mart* The Ninth Edition. LONDON, Printed for J. Roberts, near t\\t Oxford Arm& in Warwick-Lane. M.dcc.xxi. Price One Shilling. TO The Right Honourable The Earl of S -- - D. My Lord, AS foon as I had colle6led the Memoirs of this horrid Confpiracy, I was not long deli- berating with my felf, to whom I fliould make bold to addrefs them ; for calling my Eyes a- bout both for a Patriot and a Statesman, your Lordlhip's A 2 Ihining fliining Chamber, imtofe<^^ Capacities, ftriick' me at one View, and immediately deter* min'd me in my Choice. BY fuch Tradls of Hiftory as thefe may be feen, how King- doms and Commonwealths are undone : And the Pilots of the State, by fuch Examples, may know how to fliun thofe fatal Rocks, upon which other Go- vernments have fplit. I don't know, but that our Circumftan- ces may be like thofe of old Rome^ when this Plot of Catiline wa^ fet on Foot: But of this your Lordfhip h the ahkfl Jud^e. That there has been a Confpira- cy among us, is known to all the World: that the Mifchief, and De- Devaftations which it has cau- fed, have been more fatal than the moffc inveterate Civil War, is as certain : But, amidft the Miferies of a fufFering People, the Wants of fo many Thoufand Private Famihes, the Ruine of all Ranks and Degrees of Per- fons, there is a glimmering of Hope left to comfort them, which is, that they can boaft in your Lordlhip's Afliftance, the Redrefs of a Statejman, whole uncorrupt Heart and clean Hands have been able to baffle the Af- faults of foul Sufpicions^and made your CharaHer as clear and con- Jpicuous to all the World, as it was before to your hefi and moft intimate Friends. TO (vi) TO fuch Patriots therefore as your Lordfliip, it belongs [and from fuch will it ever principal^ ly be expected] to fee that Juft- ice be done to theOppreft ; that Tray tors, and Betrayers of their Country, be punilh'd ; and Mif- creants kept in Awe by the Force of wholfome Severities. W E live, my Lord, in an Age of Degeneracy and Corrup- tion ; yet if there are Great Men, who have meanly contaminated their Hands with Bribes, nei- ther tlieir Chariots nor their E- quipage, their Quality nor their Offices, nor all the other Pomps of a fuperior Charadler, will be fufficient to defend them from our Hatred and Contempt. FROM (vii) FROM the mean Ohtciirity in which Fortune has plac'd me, I look up with Scorn upon that little Great Man, who is only remarkable for his eminent Rogue- ries. I do not fay there is in the World any fuch thing as a Great Man with a little Soul 5 far be it from me to imagine^ much more to utter Scandals againftThofe, who think theiii- felves, and with Juftice, my Su- periors. But as the Great Coiin* cil of the Nation are new Upoil a Scrutiny, endeavouring to de- te6l:, and purge away Infedioil^ it is not doubted, at all Hands^ but your Lordlhip, who iriakd fo confiderable a Figure in this inoft auguft AlTembly, will dd ^ 4\ C viii ) all you can towards bringing the Knot of Confpirators to condign Tmijhment ; Not only the Infe- rior Villains, but the Gr^^^ Ones, if there can be any Such, who have ventured to dillionour the high Rank they lliare, by bear- ing a Part in fuch a Mechanick Confederacy. There have been, my LfORD, State-Omninals before Thefe : Nor can it ever be for- got, to the Honour of your Name, how active you were in bringing Sme to the Block \^\\o had raili- ly prefumM to invade the Pub- lidv Peace. It was that Spirit of a Pairiot, fo exemplary m your Lordlliip, which made you thick the Man unworthy of Life, who durft durft do any thing to hurt his Country. Wc cannot then diftruft, that yon will not proceed with the fame honesi Refentments a- gainfl: theje Trajtors : And en- deavour to make their Punilli- ment equal to their Crime. The Others were prote^ed by their Country, and yet diJturFd it: Thefe were not only protecied,hut trufied and rewarded by It ; and in Return, betray d and ruin'd It. But your Lordfliip can dijiin- guijlo betwixt the Criminals. PERMIT me, my Lord, to prefs one Sentence to you, which was us'd by Pom/^L^?ro, in his honefl; Declamation againftCA- T iLiNE. Mdta Junt equidem in a 2 hdc (X) hdc vita, qua turpiter, ac cahmitofi negleHa^Reftitutionem tamen quam- 4am quod^mmodo patiantur : Hu-r yis veto 'vindicandi Sceleris Ji pra-!: Jentemjacultatemneglexeritis^fru- Jird pofled recuperanda copiam quaretis. I hope I lliall ftand excufed by your Lordftiip for this Quotation, becaufe it is the only Shadow of a Varallel that is pretended to be drawn, as your Lordfliipwill readily obferve,by the following Sheets : A direB SLud plain Matter of Facf is told; no one Perfon ohliquely characle- ris'd, nor any Sarcafms invidi-' oufly thrown in, to make the old Roman Confpiracy tally with the Circumftances of our domeftick Vilkiny Bat as I muft be ac- quittted to the World of This, the the Hint, perhaps, might have been fpared to your Lordlhip. A S you have defervedly the E eputation of fo confummate a Stat'cfman, we are not to quefti- on but your Lordlhip is conver- fant wirh Mcichiavel ; tho' your Hours are taken up with AfFairs of too much Moment, and your Capacity for pubiick Bulinefs too great, to let you borrow any thing from written Policy. I iliall therefore take the Liberty to produce a Remark of that dif- cerning Man, in a Circumftance very much refembling our pre- fent Cafe. In a City, he &ys, where the People happen to be divided, one Part having injur'd the reft, there remain but two JEx- ( xii ) Expedients of foddering up Mat- ters: The One, is by putting the Ringleaders to Death ; the Other, is by forcing them to be Friends, and to give Sureties not to offend any more. The Laft of thefe Methods he feems not to approve of; for, he fays, Reconciliations made upon Force can never laft ; that their daily feeing one ano- ther will adminifter new Occali- ons of Quarrel; and beiides, if ever that Country lliould be in- vaded, the injur'd Party will be apt to join with the Invaders, as the Means to fecure their Re- venge. Refentment will always Xarvive a Wrong ; and there- fore as Machiavel fays, in Cafes of this Nature there is no Jure Way ( xiii ) Way of making Things fafe but by executing the Principals. I WOULD not willingly be an Advocate for Cruelty ; but your Lordlhip, who was once pleafed to think Severity the frfeji as well as jufleji Counfel, will not be terrified at thtGreat- nefs of the Man, that ventures to injure his Country : For Tou can have no Partiality in Favour of Traytors. G O on then, my Lord, and like a Second Cato, perfecute Corruption where-ever you find it : So may you be honoured in this Age and celebrated in the next : So, when the Hiftory of this Affair comes to be writ with- out ( xiv ) out Prejudice or Flattery, may you be ftiPd the Preserver and Father of your Country : And for fuch Praifes be the Subje6t of a better Pen, than That of My Lord, Tour Lordlhifs fincefe Admirer, andmoji ohedient Servant^ Br I Tan NIC us. THE CONSPIRATORS, Crc Introduction. EFORE I enter upon the Hiftory of that Confpiracy, which is defign'd to make the Subjedl of thefe Sheets, „.^^^.^,, it mao not be amifs, by way of In- trodudion, to make a few Remarks upon Con- fpracies in general, and upon the different Sfc cies of them. THERE are, as I conceive, two forts of Cowfftracies j One, which is form'd and carried on againft the Perfon of the Prince j and the ♦other, which is plotted againft the Common-wealth or Teoffle, And firft, I (hall fpeak of that foic which concerns a Prince, tho' it may be thought a little foreign to the Cafe in hand : But, if we examine Hiftory, we /hall find that more Prin- B ces C ^ ) ces have died by them, than in the Field of Bat- tle by the Hands of an open and declared Enemy. * NOTWITHSTANDING, this, it muft ftill be admiited that it is infinitely more dange- rous to confpire againft a Prince, than againft a Commonwealth. For, allowing the Plot fhould fucceed, the Confpirators cannot expedl to ef- cape Punifhment, if the Prince were belov'd by his Subie6ls: And we have a remarkable Proof of this' in the Refentment that purfued the Murther of Julius C^far, where every one of the Aflaflins were facrificed by the Rage and Arms of the People, except thofe who in defpair de- (Iroy'd themfelves. BUT where a Prince is either fo wicked^ or fo unfortunate^ as to provoke a general Hate againft him, he muft, of Confequence, have in- iur*d fome particular Perfons more than the reft j who, no doubt, will feek all Opportunities of doing themfelves right againft him. Thefe, being encouraged by the general DifafFe6lion which they fee towards him, form to themfelves, in the firft place, hopes of Suc.cefs, or of Impu- nity, at worft, if they happen to mifcarry. Yet, eve^n in this ijafe, there is great Danger in the concerting and Execution of a Plot j either the Cowardice, Indifcretion, or Treachery of fome in the Secret very often betrays all. '* Ad Genernra CererisfineCaede 8c ftnguine pauci . : Defcendunt Reges, 8c licci raortc Tyranni. Juveri. MACHrAVELi' C 3 ) Mach^avel, I remeiiiber, gives it for his Opinion, that it is (afer for Princes to injure Men in their Lives^ than in their Fortunes j for he obferves, that dead Men cannot think of Re- venge, and the living foon forget the dead: But you cannot diftrefs a Man fo in his Ciiciim- ftances, as totally to deprive him of the Power. of Revenge. The pooreft Man will find a Knife for a defperate Blow, and he that feels the CiU'- elty and OpprelTion of Tyranny, will become a dangerous tnemy, whenever Opportuniry pre^ fents its felf If is therefore a hazardous inip^ for a Prince to drive Men to defpair 3 lince he, who once is brought to defpife his own Lii% is certainly Mafter of another Man's. Fhilip of Macedon was kill'd by Vaufanias in the midlt of his Guards, and fo was Harry the Fourth of France by Ravilliac. Examples, indeed, of this extravagant Daring are but few 3 for a regard to Self-prefer vation is natural to Man in all Cir- cumftances ofLife, and it feldom happens that we chufe to run upon certain Death. BUT, of all forts of Confpiracies, none arc fo dangerous to a Prince, as thofe carried on by Perfons intrufted with his Secrets. The fame great Politician^ whom I but now mention'd, ad- vifes a Prince to have a more watchful Eyt over thofe whom he has oblig'd by many Benefits, than over thofe whom he has as fignally injur'd. For by giving the Firii Wealth and Power, he puts them in a Condition of ruining him, if they prove wicked or ungrateful : And ic is often B 1 (ozn^ (4) feen, that Avarice and Ambition will carry fomeMen as far as Revenge wilt carry others. THE Favourites of 2 Prince know the weak fide of his Affairs, (ee whether his Footing be flippery, and can lay hold of the proper Occafi- on to give him a Trip : While others, who by diftance from his Truft and Counfels, know no- thing of his Weakneffes, vent their Refent- mentsonly by curfing and railing at a bad Prince, and proceed no further. It is obfervable there- fore, that the mod fuccefsful Confpiracies have been manag'd by Perfons in the Bofom of the Prince: At Ror^.e, for inftance, the Emperor Commodus was dedroy'd by Martia^ his darling Miftrefs, and Latus and EleHus^ his two greateft Favourites^ at home, fcarce an EngUpiman is ig- norant how far King James the Second was be- trayed by a ceYtai?i Lord, who was his firft Secre- tary^ and at the Head of his Cabinet Councils. Thefe were inrich'd and dignify 'd with Honours, and yet, as if they were oppiefs'd with too ma- r)y Favonrs , confpir'd againft their Mafters j fawn*d upon them, while they were working their Ruines, and betray'd them, while they were foUiciting new Gratifications. It puts me in mind of a fine turn in Sbakefpear, where fpeak- ing of the Fears that attended Plots, and what Difguifes they needed to obfcure the Brow of Treafon, he cries, 'Seek nom^ Conffiracy - Hide it in Smles^ and Aff'ahility : For if thou put thy Native Semblance cn^ Not Erebus itfelf oi^ere dlmm enough to hide thee from Treventicn I THERE- CO THEREFORE I fay, of all Treafons, That works the lureft, which puts on the Mask of Love and Friendfhip. I C O M E now to fpeak a word of Confpracies again ft a Commonwealth^ or People. Thefc, as I have before hinted, are concerted and carried on with lefs Danger and Haz,ard to the Conffirators : bur, at the fame time, are attended ^ii\\ gr ear er Circumftances of ViUany in the ABors, For the People cannot injure particular Men as a Prince may, not having the Power in their Hands j and in thofe States, where the People have any fhare in the Government, it is to be obferv'd, that they are very tender of private Property, But they who generally confpire again ft the Peo- ple, are Perfons who have the Adminiftration over themj who, perhaps, are back'd with a (landing Army commanded and led by their own Creatures, and maintained at the Charge of that People whom they are employed to deftroy. Thus the Treafon being a6led againft no Princi* pal (for the People are nothing without a Head) meets with very little Difficulty in the bringing about. Treafon againft the Prince is executed either by Poyfon, or the Sword j becaufe in ma- ny Cafes his Power ends not but with his Life : But there is no fuch thing in executing Treafon againft the People by the fame Inftruments, be- caufe if is impoifible to maflacre or poifon a whole Nation: Therefore it is perpetrated by (omc Fraud: when it is againft their IVealth', or by Terror, when it is againft their Liberties. But, in either of thefe Caies, where the Perfons con- fpiring have the Reins of Government in their Hands Hands, and have (landing Troops at their De- yotion, they incur no great Danger of Punifh- jncnt. In Countries, where the Government is mixt^ as was that of Sparta^ who had both a King and their Efhori 3 if the governing Men fhould have once ventured to deftroy the Liberty of the People, it is probable they would not have ftopp d there j but would likewife have ruin'd the Prince, or made him a Tool to their Arbitrary Schemes: Both which they might have cafily brought to pafs, being fo ftrengthen'd with Power, and thereby made capable of fccuring ihemfelves from Punifhment. THIS may be a Leflbn of fome Moment to Princes, both in regard to themfelves and their Subiefts, (^whofe Welfare ought to be connective and dependant on each other, and whofe Inte- refts, confequently, fhould be infeparable and the fame) not to truft and parcel out their Power indifcreetly j efpecially thofe Branches of it, which relate nearly to the Prerogative of the Crown, or Wealth and Property of the Subject, tor a People can neither be happy nor flourifh- ing, where their Prince's Hands are tied, and his Will of doing Servicecircumfcrib'd by Inability: And, on the other Hand, let Prerogative be ne- ver fo ample and uncontroul'd, if the Riches of his Subjects are once drain'd, and their Spirits impoverifh'd with their Fortunes, the Prince there grafps but an empty and precarious Scepter. I CANNOT eafily forget, or omit, here the Sentiments of MJCHIAJ^EL, which feem to have a Relation to the Matter which I am am now handling. 'Tis plain, the great ToU^ tkiany thought, that the perfonal Virtues of a Prince were not ellentia!, or of fuch Moment to his Kingdom, as his Care and Wifdom in ap- pointing good and honefi Minifiers of State. And therefore, in his Chaffers touching S E C RE TA- RIES, he has thrown in fome Rules for the diftinguifhing a good Minifter, and for the keep- ing him fo : When you /ee, (fays he, J the Servant fiudy more for his eivn Advantage than yoursy and that in all his Aciions he fearches mofi after his own_ Trofity the Man fo qualified JJjall never prove a goo J Servant^ nor can you ever rely upon him : For he that holds the Stern of the State, ought never to call Home his Cares to his own V articular, hut give him f elf ivholly over to his Vrinci s Service, nor ever put him in Mind of any thing not appertaining to Him, And, dn the other fide, the Frince to keep him good to him^ ought to honour, inrich, and oblige his Servant, giving him Van both of Dignities and Offices^ to the End that the many Honours and much Wealth befioii/d on him, may refrain hirh from de firing other Honours and other Wealthy and that thofe many Charges caufe him to fear Changes that may happen, knowing his 07vn Safety is dependant on that of his Majier. THERE have been, and certainly will be, as long as the World lafts, a Set of Men who, as * Livy expreffes it, value nothing in Compa- rifon with Wealth, and think there can be no Accefs to either Honour or Virtue, but for the Man who is immoderately rich. Thefe, of all People * Qui omnia humania prat divitiis (pernunt, neque honort magno locum, neque Virtutii putunc cue, niii cfful?; ^^^nt c 8 y , People fliould be reftrain d from hurting tht Publick in Office. BUT, to draw my Subjeft into a narrower Compafs j THE Hinges on which mod generally all Conffiracles are turned, arc either the LUX U- R Y of an overgrown State, that labours for a proper Vent to its Humours • the P O V E R T Y of a People drain d and exhaufted, that covet Innovation to repair and recruit them j the A M- B I T I O N of fome popular and faftious Mi- nifiersy who think themfelves confin'd within too narrow a Sphere of Power ; or fome raging and incurable DISCONTENTS againft the Perfons at the Helm, who, having once loft rhe Love and Opinion of their Subjefts, feldom boaft a long and liable Adminiftr.nion. And, from w^hich ever of thefe Caufes a Commonwealth is tent and diffever'd, there always happens fome- thing fo flagrant and uncommon in the Means of bringing it about, as ftartles the Minds of the impartial and unconcerned Spedtatoi's. NOR muft I forget to add, among the other Caufes, the fatal Confequences that have atten- ded thofe States, where two large a Portion of Power has been committed into mean and im-^ proper Hands : For the Views of Plebeians^ how- ever elevated above their own Dirt by accidential Tromotmjs, are fordid and griping 3 and the Rule of their Proceedings is always to grafp at other Men's Properties^ lO [well their own Fortunes high- er. But notwithftanding this is fo known and obvious, ihey arc frequently let up either thro' Bnvj C9 ) £nvy or Jndifcretion, and preferr'd, in publick Affairs, to others both of more Ability to execute^ and Hofjour tograce^ their Offices. For it hap- pens in all Ages and Countries, ^s SA LVS% who was himfelf of the People's Sicle, has deli- cately obferv'd, Regibus boni quam mali fuffsBlo* resfunty femperque his aliena Virtus forjpidoloja eft j that honeft Men are more fufpe^ed than Knaves hy moft Primesy and to fuch Potentates another'' s Vir- tue is ever a Scarecrow. "^ TO enter more regularly upon the Hiftory of this wicked and dangerous Confpiracy, which took its Name from its Principal C A TU LINEy and which defigned no lefs than the Ruine and Overthrow of the befl eftablifli'd Go- vernment in the World ^ it will be proper to make fome Remarks on the Condition of the Commonwealth oiRome^ at the Time when fuch a Confpiracy took its Rife : For ib every Reader will be able to make this ufeful Obfervation, That a Commonwealth y like a human Bodyy wheii its Conftitution is once broke into and corruptedy and thofe Mlniftersy who (hould give it Strength and Nourijlnnenty are become wcious and rotten y it is prepar'd to receive any InfeBion : And a Scar, which would not be felt or feen on a ibund Body, will deftroy that which is already di- ftemper'd. NEVER was a greater Fall from Virtue, and every thing that was worthy, upon the Record of Hiftory, than than of this C/r^^f, but Infamous G Peo- * Saluft. in BeHo Catilinapio. ( lo ) People I They, who were, at firfi:, intent oji the Protedion of their Country, and Defence of their Allies •, who delighted more in Arms, and Steeds of War, than idle Feafts and effeminate Luxury •, they, whofe greateft Emulation was Glory, who ftrove to be formoft in Mounting the Breach, and counted fuch an Action to Riches, Reputation, and Nobility : Who were greedy of Fame, but liberal of their Corn^ de- generated, at laft, into Eafe and Indolence ^ gave way to mean Ambitions and meaner Ava- rice ^ and funk into all the contrary Extremes of ,Vice, and Luxury, and every fort of Debauchery. From having ^been fevere in Virtue, rigid in their Morals, and flrid in their Piety, Prophane- jiefs now began to be encourag'd, the Myfleries of Religion and the Worfhip of the Gods were .exploded and ridicul'd. The Drols and Buffoons of the Age laugh'd at Notions of Sandity, and took this Way of recommending themfelyes to the Great, in prder to be preferred in their For- t:unes. It was become the peculiar Charaderi- ftick of Wit to fneer at Things facred, and even the Ignorant and Fooliih ( who made up the greater Number ) had Recourfe to this impious Practife of Atfrcnling tne Gcds, for Want of other diilinguiihing Parts, whereby to make theinfelves taken Notice of It became a Piece of Policy to cultivate a Contempt of the Pn>/- hood : And the Power^ they once had of acculing thofe who vycre guitty of Irreverence towards the Gods, .was io fu!|)er]ded, that it was in a m'aiiiKX quHf i'^kcTi away, NOW, it b very eafy to account why this Liber tinirai v/a^ io encourag'd by feyeral of the Great ( n ) Great Men of the times : They knew very welP" that every Religion was grounded upon^ and maintain'd by, fome vertuous Principles : That Man, whofe Nature is frail and prone to Cor- ruption, muft beaw'd by fome Belief of future Rewards and Punifhments: And therefore Reli- gion was the ftrongeft Tie to Morality. They had obferv'd, in reading the Hiftory of their Great Anceftors, that the Commonwealth had maintain-d its Liberty by its Adherence to Reli- gion : For it was thought an Impiety towards the Gods, to endeavour, to fabvertthat Confti- tution which they had eftablilh'd* THUS the Great Men, who were Lovers of their Country, by (hewing the People Exam- ples of their high Reverence to the Gods, kept them virtuous and united. And it is owing to the fame Caufe, that, for many Ages, thofe,- who attempted any thing again ft the publick Liberty, always perifh'd in their Corruption. But the Magiftrates of thefe Days, having Views quite different from thofe of . their Great and Virtuous Anceftors, took as different Meafures in their Adminiftration : Luxury and Avarice ha- ving poflefs'd their whole Hearts, all their Schemes and TrojeBs tended to raife themfelves on the ' Euin of the Vuhlick : And the more furely to cor- i-upt the Honefty of the Times, they perfwaded the People that Religion was nothing but the; Craft and Juggle of Priefts : Well knowing, if this Notion prevaifd, the People thinking them- felves botmd by no Ties of Confcience, would food lay afide the Incumbrance of their Mo» rals : And being once addiffed to Impiety, they might eafily gain over a licentious Party, wicked G i enbugS C ra ) cnougli to join with them in the DeltruSion of the People. THESE, no Doubt, were the Reafons that induc'd them to propagate Atheifm; and the Confequenipe often anfwer'd the Defign pro- pos'd. For being corrupted in the Fundamen- tals, good Principles abated in them every Day ; and the exalted Notions, which they before had of Honour, now terminated in Schemes to ac- cumulate a Fortune. And, as "^ SAL V SToh- ferves, Pofiquam Diviti& homri ejfe c^pe/unty & eas Gloria^ Jmverlum^ Votemia fequehatur *, hehefcere VlrttiSy Paupertas probro haberiy Innocentia pro Ma* livolentid duel Cdpit* As foon as Riches once began to he in Honour ^ and Glory y Tower y and Preferment were the Confequences of a great Eftate ^ Virtue fichnd and fell off in their Opinion y Narrownefs of Circumflances was efleem^d a Difgrace, and even In* mcence of Life an Invidiom Reproach on the ConduB ef their Betters* HOW thoroughly Avarice had overturn'd their Principles, becaufe Example in all Cafes goes beyond Precept and Declamation, 1 (hall endeavour to fhew from One Inilance of as ge- neral Corruption (if you will allow it poffiblej as has lately happen'd among Us. -j- 'mIC IP SAy the King of the Numidi an s^ dying, left his Kingdom to his two Sons, ^^- 'iierbaf^nd Hiempfaly and to Jugurthay his Bro- ther's Son, whom he had adopted. Jugurtha foon furpriz'd his Coufin Hlempfal by a Strata^ gem T:.*T s. I.IXnlnib iil . Catilinario.f ViuBelloLEpLi f 13 ; gem, kiird him in the Night, and fo ieitlov*d one of his Partners in Empire : Nor had Jdhef- bal far'd better, if he had not taken the Alarm, and put himfelf on the Defence, and afterwards fled to Rome for Refuge. JVGVRTHJy being fenfible how much Avarice and Injuftice had crept into theCity, (i) and having no other Hopes of diverting the Re- lentments of Rome than by the Force of his Money and their Avarice, difpatch'd his Ambai^ fadors thither with large Prefents, which had fuch Effefts upon the Semte, ( 2 ) and wrought fuch a Change in their Minds, that, from the higheft Pitch of Hatred and Deteftation, he got into the higheft Favour and Refpedt with the Fatricians. They proceeded fb efFedually in his Intereft, thas they decreed him half the King- dom, and fent him Ten Commiffioners to divide it between him and Adherhal (3) (4) T H E Commijfiorjers, thinking they might lawfully imitate their Mafters in the Senate, were alfo hrih'd to beftow the moft rich and po- pulous Part upon Jugurtha : But he ftill unfatis- i5ed (i) Neque advorfus iram ejus ufquim, nifi in avariti^ nobilicatis, 6c pecunia fua, fpem habere. Salufi, in bello Jugurthino. (2) Tanta Commutatio incefllt, ut ex maxumi invidia in gratiam & favorem Nobilitatis Jugurtha veniret. Idem ibid. (3) Decretum fit, uti decern legati regnum, quod Mi- cipfa obtinuerat, inter Jugurtham dc Adherbalem divide- rent. Idem. ibid. (4.) In divifione, qux pars Numidiae Mauritaniam at- tingit, agro virifque opulentior; Jugurth* traditur, Idinj, ibid. C H ) fied with a Rival in Power, fell fuddenly upoit Adherhal, befieg'd him in Cirta^ (5) and getting him into his Hands, firft tortures, and ( as Livy tells us, (6) contr^ denunciationem Senatus) againft the exprefs Injundion of the Senate, pirts him to Death. L E T us fee now, what Was the Confequence of this Indignity. The Senate are provok'd, and a War is decreed againft Jugunha. This Affair is committed to the management of Calpumlus JBeftia the Conf^.L who invades Numidla with great VigoLn and Diligence, takes lb me Towns, but is fbo 1 ftop'd in his C^^rcer, being overcome by the Cotdr-W'eaporis of Jugurtha. (j) THE Senate are a little furprizM and mov'd at this and at theCondudof Scaurusy who ac- companying the Conful as his Friend and Court- cellor, and who had been an inveterate Enemy to Jugurthay was like wife guilty of the fame Crime. (8) T C put a f^op to thefe Steps of Corruption, ■CaJJhs Longlnusy the Prdtor^ is fent, to procure -Jugurthd to come to Rome upon the publick Faith f of (5). Igitur Jugurcha in primis Adherbalem excrucia- tum necat. Id. ib;d. (6) Liv. in Epit. li <^4. (7) Animus ^eger avaritia facile converfus eft. Safl^ in b 11. Jugur. ' (8) Q^'i tametfi a principle plerifq; ex fadione ejus corruptis acerrume regcm impagriaverac, tamen, magni- tudine pecuniia:, a bono^ honeftot^' in pravum abilraditt^ cit. [i.;n. .lb d. (15) of the State, that fo they might difcover all fuch as had been guilty of B r i b e r y. (9) JVGVRTHA is with much Difficulty per- fuaded to make tryal of the Clemency of Rome^ and to throw himfelf upon the People's Mercy : Whereupon he appears in the fiipp.licating Ha- bit, and is nofooner brought before rhe AlTcm- bly, but Bdihlus the tribune bids him hold his peace, he being alio hrib'd to defer the Buiiners, and delude the People. (10) UPON this, Jugurtha is in a few davs or- der'd from Rome^ and follow'd by the Conful Alhinus with an Army : But the Conful fbon lea- ving his Forces with his Brother Aulus, by Vir- tue of fome Company he withdraws them from the Town where the chief Treafure of the Kingdom lay, when he was jull upon invefting it. (11) THE Centurions were likewife fb corrupted^ that when Alhinus return'd, Jugurtha was fuf* fer'd to break into their Camp : Whence beat- ing out the Army, he either /orc'^, or by Agrte^ went too, brought Alhinus to fubmit upon molfc difhonourable Terms. (\i) \ (9; Eumq-, interpofita fide public^. Romam duceret, quo faciliusindicio regis, Scauri & reliquorum, quospecu- nia: capt^ arceffebant^delida patefierent. (10) C. B^bius Tribunus plebis, quern pecunil corrupt' turn fupra dixi'mus, regem tacere jubet. (11) Deniq; Aulum fpe pa^ionis perpulit, uti, relido Suthule ( ubi regis Thefauri erant) in abditas regiones fc- fCs velute ccdenteniv infequeretur. (12) Centuriones, ducefq-, turmarum, partim, mi tranS" fugerent, corrumpere j alii, figno dat©^ wti locum d?ferc« rent, ISc. Idem ibid. (1(5) I KNOW very well thefe Corruptions, which Rome gave way to from the Hands of Jw gurtha, fell out fbme little time before the Con- fpiracy oi Catiline^ but it was at a time when the lame infamous Politicks began to prevail, and qualified them for more flagitious Pracflifes* kome it felf, as ^ Plutarch takes notice, was in the moft dangerous Inclination to change, by reafbn of the unequal Diftribution of its Wealth, for Perfons of the greateft Honour and Spirit had made themfelves poor by Ambition of Offi- ces, fumptuous Buildings, and the like ; and by thefe means the Riches of the City were fallen into the Hands of mean and defpicable Peribns : So that there wanted but little Weight to re- move the Seat of Affairs, it being in the Power of every daring Man to overturn a fickly Com- monwealth. CATILINE was not a Stranger to the Luxury and Vices of the State, nor to the Sen- timents of the Fad^ious and Difcontented No-, bles, who wifh'd to fee their Countrey worfe im- broil'd than it had been by the late Revolution, brought about by the Arms and Ambition of S^lla. WHEN once the Conftitution of any State is fubverted, Innovation^ like the Hydrah Heads, fprouts out into new Changes. All Partie*: can- not be fatisfied with one Scheme of Government, ana the Malecontents will ftill be pradifing to alter the Meafure they diflike. Some have too much * In Vita M. T. Ckeronis. ( 17) mnch Wealth, and others too gregt Preferments,^ either of which is an Eytfore to the Man of nar- row CirciimftanceSj and who has no Promoxion to better his Fortune. Catillney who was of a tow- ring ambitious Spirit, aim'd more at providing for his Luxuries^ than hhWants : The Pafllons of Avarice and Frehem'mence equally inflam'd him : His Pride could not digeft the Repulfes he met with in his (landing for Offices, and his partial Opinion of his own Merit, that was negleded, made him fo far envy the fuccefsful Dignity of others, that, as Porcius Latro exprefles it, the huft of his Wiclicdnefs centred in plundering the Suhfiancey and of fr effing the Liberty ^ of the whole aty. f T H O' he was fubtle and crafty by Nature, yet he had not all that Cunning which he was fnppos'd to be Mafter of from his accuflom'd Taciturnity \ Silence being the beft Diiguife ei- ther to hide good Senfe, or the Want of it. Confidering with himfelf that the great Defigns • he had in view, no lefs in Effcd than the Ruin of the People of Rorne^ could not be brought about by himfelf alone, but that it was the Work of more Villains than one, and therefore there would be a Neceffity of feveral Under- Ma- chines ; he call his Eyes about the City to find out thofe Romans of the moft vicious and profli- gate Lives, and the moft defperate Fortunes ^ with both which at this Time the City abound- ded. Such Men as thefe he judg'd would be D equal f Hujus Sccleris Libido repofita crat in diripiundis om- nium civium facuUatibus, atq-, opprim^ndd urbis Liberta- te. Pore. Latro in Declam. contra Catiiin, ( i8) f q'jal to the Mifcbief he had to perpetrate *, for 'tis: not to be wonder'd, that they, who have neither Fame nor Fortune to lofe, who had been bred up in Luxury and PJot, and were eager for Rapine and Plunder, fhould feel no Remorfe at trampling over the Islecks of their fellow Citi- 2:ens, if they ftood in their way to Preferment. Having therefore attached himfelf to feveral of thefe, \hey join'd together in a clofe, but moll enormous Confpiracy : And the firft Step which they judg'd molt necefTary and eflential/was to work themfelves into all the profitable Offices of the Republick , that having at their Command the T'reafure of their Country, they might de- itroy her with her own Strength. The prfb Part of their Scheme they eafily brought to pafs by caballing with the Citizens, and the latter they ve- ry near effeded, as will be evident in the Se- quence of this Hiftory. IT may be very material to my Subjc^l: to take Notice, v-/hile this FaBion prefided over the publick Affairs, by what Maxims and Arti- fices of infamous Policy they labour'd to extirpate and root out that little Virtue which was left among the People. 1 A M told it has been a common Prad^ice in Surgery, where any great Limb is to be cut off, to begin with giving a ilrong O^iat to the Pa- tient, to take off the Feeling and Apprehenfion of what he was going to fuffer. And fuch was the Method of thefe political Operators, they were to adminifter quieting Draughts of Pleafure, to dull the fenfiti'V'j Faculties of the State^ to divert them from dwelling too intently on their Cafe^ '"■ ' ■■ ~ ' ' ' ^ '■■■ ^' fhar (19) that they might have the better Opportunity of cutting clean, and not ftartle their Patients with the Stz,e of thdv Knife^ or the Jncifion that they were to make with it. O N E of the Methods of StufefaSilotij whiclt they thought fit to pradife, was the exhibiting new and extravagant Entertainments. For this End foreign Strollers, Songfiers, and Buffoons, were fent for and invited to fettle in Rome. Thefe Artifts, the Generality of whom had fabmitted to Bmuchifm for the Benefit of a Voice, were hired and fupported at the moft extravagant Charge : Some' of them having Penfions equal to the Pay of a TrMor, or General of the Legi- tf«i: They had their Utters and their Slaves^ their Baths and their Perfumes, and the Privilege of an intimate Accefs to the greatefh Man in Rome \ when an honefb Citizen, who had any Grievance to complain of, might attend without Redrefs, or fo much as being admitted to an Audience. The voluntary Contributions, which were made towards the fupporting thefe Creatures in State, were very large, and their Shews and Spea:acles were governed and order d by a Set of vain Patricians then in Power, who took Care that no Reprefentation fhould be exhibited to the People, but fuch as incited effe- minate Paffions and foft Defires : To the End that Vice and Indolence might fteal into their Souls imperceptibly and they might be fo over- come by the Charms of Luxury, as not to be a-^ wak^ either to their Virtue or Danger. THIS Extravagance of Diverfiori was fc^ condedby another, -^^ex^enfm^ but more pr^/^- (20) gate and Uccntiom m its Nature. A Diver (Ion that gave fo great an Umbrage to ^uhlick Scandal^ ' that tho' the People of the firft Chara(^er zea- loufly efpousM it, the Vontlfex Maxlmus^ or High Priest, was oblig'd in Decency to make Ibme Reprell^ntations againft it, tho' he had after- wards the Hor?efty to make One, as it was too generally fufpedted, in this notorious Conffiracy, This Entertainment, of which I am now fpcak- ing, was of a kind unknown before to the Ro- mans : A M'd night Revel, where both Sexes met in ft'range Difguifes , fa ch as Centaurs, Satyrs , Syl- vansy and the like-, and convers'd with the ut- mofl Freedom, without being fuppos'd to know each other's Sex or Qiiality. The whole Stream of the People fell into this tempting Debauch- ery *, neither Years, nor Wifdom, nor Reafbn, reflrain'd them from indulging in a Pleafure thar promis'd fuch a Variety of Satisfadion. For, as '^ Nicolaus de Clemangis delcribes it, Neefolajuven- tuSj fed & provectior atas vitiis juvenilibus itaeffet impecata^ ut luxul luhricacque diffolutionl non dies \uf- ficer he had waited by promoting Factions in the Commonwealth, which he re- paired again by publick Offices. He had been pre- ferr'd and difgracM, and difgrac'd and preferr'd again, according as the Fadions, which he ef^ pous'd, prevail'd or were difappointed. When in Office, he was ever Tyrannical and Arbitra- ry *, when difcarded, bufy and intrigueing, in or- 0er to replace himfelf. ^ Pordus Latro in' Declam. cmttk Catilinam, (26) B Y his Reach in Politicks, and artful Infinna- tions, he made himfelf Head of a Party of merce^ nary Senators, whom he led as he pleas'd : For 'tis faid of him, that he had an equal Addrefs at giving^ or at tahwg^ a Bribe. Thus he made him- felf of Confequeiice to a Fadion, and pufh'd things with fo much Earneftnefs and Inclination, that it v/as ftirmis'd, he conniv'd at the Gdlm-^ tries of his Wife^ to engage fome of her Lovers m his Defigns. H E had been formerly irnfrifon^d and expelPd the Senate for taking Bribes in his Ojjicey yet this was no great Let to his after-Preferments , for that Pradife was now grown ib general and farfji- liar J that People forgot fo much as to bluflj for it. And to give more pregnant Inftances ot his /«- tegrityy it was his Cuftom, whenever anything was propounded in the Senate, to appear very violent on one fide in order to be bribdoff by the other » And thus it v^^as that he behav'd in this AjTair, for 'ti^ ceitajn that he wasnotaPmd- ff4 in t\\i% Conffiraty^ nor any Inftrument in the pl.ottiug or carrying it on •, for he at firft feem'd tjQ froficuteAt a.s is before hinted, till he after- wards chang'd fides for Reafons obvious enough to be gucf^'d at^ and which we fnall account for anon^ and then, he became as ftrenuou-s in skreen- ing the Gonfpirators from the Fumfimrnts^ which CATO and other .S?,uators, of fevere Morals, prefs d to have inflicted. The Talents, which would have molt turivd to his Praife, had he npi;, perverted and abus'd them, were, that he was well vers'd in the Learning of the times, atid was accounted a very good Orator, {o that his (27) his Harangues were always fore of being receiyy with Attention. LVCIVS Beftia^ was no inconfiderable Par- ty in this Confpiracy ^ he was at firfl an ordina- ry Pleader at the Bar, bnt having a very good Knack of Oratory, and being efteem'd to know very well the Laws of the Repnblick, he fooa piec'd out the meannefs of his Fortunes by the affillance of Endowments ^ and made fhift to advance himfelf by theTroubles of theCommon- wealth. The promoting of Diflention in the State, and City, v/as the common Method Men took then of making themfelves confiderable : And as Affairs flood, he mud have been a wret- ched Incendiary indeed, that could not be car- refs'd by one Party or other. THE Commonwealth, in fhort, was ufed like an Enemy's Country, upon the Plunder of which every one expelled to make his private Fortune. Befiia did not fail to make his Advan- tage out of fuch Commotions*, but, buftling thro' Factions, got himfelf into one of her Seats of Preferment. Here he had an Opportunity of gratifying ail his Vices ^ one of which was a No- torious Partiality in the Admlniftratlon of Jufilce. For he was ufed to ftretch and torture the Law to his own Conftrudion, and wreft its meaniug to the Injury of Perfbns who were not of his own Fadion , fo that he became the Terror of homB Men. At his firft fetting out, and pulhing for Promotion, he attach'd himfelf to an oppo- iite Party, but finding the Interefls of it to de- cline and run low, that its Advocates were op- prefs'd, and not very likely to retrieve theiv E 2 Ground J (28) Gronnd; He turn'd his Back upon his unfuc- ctf^tv^ Choice, and follow'd Fortune ^ joyning biiiilelf to t]iar F^^Blon^ which, tho' not the molt -jufi, was neverthelefs the moil; profperom, T O thefe was join'd in their pernicious League, Caius Cornelius Cethegus^ a Msn, as ^ Plutarch fays, infblent in his Condud, and vici- ous in ,his Morals. Authors, I find, differ pret- ty widely concerniiig his Original ^ Ibme afTert- ing that he was of the Cornelian Family, bred to Letters, and delignM for the Bar ^ but others informing us, that he was only a Gladiator^ and of fo bafc and mean extraction, that his Parents were obfcu^e enough not to be known in their own Country. HOWEVER, when he once came to he pdvanc'd in the Commonwealth, and to have ibnie Honours conferred upon him, he labour'4 p^-etty heartily to make a Figure, and being vain-glorious in his Temper, he took a great deal of Pains to deduce his Original from Some- body.^ which occafion'd a great many Jefts to be thrown out upon him. But this Vanity render'd him yet more contemptible than the Meannefs of his Birth \ he began to grow confiderable, from his ferving in the Army under the Com- ma od oi Marcus Craffus^ the moll avaritlous Per- f jn of all The Roroans. By him was Cethegus oftea err ploy 'd in raiiing and collecting C(??i'mtoiecret then, in all Pro- bability, that laid the Foundation of his great Fortune. WHEN Marcus Crajfus commanded the Ar- itiy of the Komansj this l^erres with others was c'mploy'd in furniHiing Cloaths for the Soldiers^ and was afterwards quell ion'd for embeTj^elHng iome of the Mon^y. NOT * Vid. liidori GlolT. vetus. r 3' ) K O T iong after this Deteaion of his Ho- fiefty, he was employ'd to bribe certain Senators for their Fotes to the paffwg of an EMB : He was chofe ont for this Work, as being known to be a Fellow void of Shame, and not to be put out of Countenance at a Difcovery. Here he was again call'd to the Queflion *, a fly Senator, in an Iro- nical Speech, declaring himfelf in Favour of that: Law, but telling the Houfe at the fame Time, that. No doubt, they woidd wonder at his being ort that Side oftheQueftiori *, but that he had very power-' ful Reafons to produce them for his Opinion ^ and, with that, produc'd the Bribe to the Senate^ and without Scruple, inform'd them from whofc Hands he had receiv'd it. THESE glaring Inftances of Corruption in the Condud oiVerres^hx which at honefler Times he would have been banifh'd the Common wealth, were now the Qualifications that recommended him to Preferment. For when Virtue and Ho- nour no longer prefided over publick Affairs,but the City was govern'd by Fadion and Avarice,the Views of Men in Power no more regarding the Good of the State, but their own fordid Intereft, they had ever fome vile Bufinefs on Foot, and of Confequence they wanted <5(irf)/7<>£>// to go thro* with their dirty Worh FOR fuch Virtues as thefe was Verres firll taken Notice of and carefs'd ^ and by entering into the Myfteries of a ir/c)^^^ Fadion, was ad- vanc'd to an Office both of Honour and Profit : in which he acquir'd V^ealth and Power, and feem'd to want nothing but Honefty and Comm^ I fay, Con- C30 Content, bccaufe his Avarice was never to be' ijatisfied r For in all the Degrees of his rifing Fortune, he maintain'd the abjed Mind of a Slave, his Thoughts being ever in the Dirt *, fb; in Order to grafp what was impoffible, Wealth enough to content his craving Soul, he became a Principal in this Confpiracy. VERRES had one FavouriteSon,who,tho'he did not inherit all his Father's Vices, had a Stock of others peculiar to himfelf. He was a brisk, forward, Perfon, of a great Afiurance, and as Authors defcribe him farum fudtcusj neither mo- defl; in his Countenance, nor his Conduct. His Education was of the meaneft, he was vers'd in no polite Literature, nor had ftudied Oratory^ or the Greek Tongue, the darling Embellilhments and Learning of the Times : Blrt, like a Vaga-. bond, had pafs'd his Youth in the Company of St age-flayer Sy Mimich ^Tumbler s^2LXi<\ Ropetdancers^' and diftinguifti'd himfelf in a publick A'ienner by his Amours with dMlnftrel^ ox Dancing-Woman^ I T was thought at firfi that his greateft Ani- bitioa was to become a Stage-flayer himfelf, he often pradifing thofe Antick Geftures a:nd Songs' which he had learn'd by being continually in their Company. Tht^fe Qiialifications renderd his Converfation very agreeable to a Number of lux- urious young Romans, who minded nothing but Fieafures and Riots. BUT while he kept this irregular Company,- an Accident happened that might have been of fatal Confequence, bat which, however, ended well enough : For being in the streets ot Romcy <^ 55 5 . one Night with Vandaruis^ the Trajedian, one of Ills darling Affociatcs, a Citizen of Rome was murther'd in the Dark, and it was fappos'd by; the Sword oiFandarus, The Affair was examined into, but young Verves fo manag'd his Evidence^ in Juftification of Vandarus^ that he was im me- diately acquitted by the Judges. This Accident alarm'd old Verrei fo far, that he threaten'd his Son, if he did not forfake that Company, to fend him into Afia, Whether the Son obey'd, or no, is not very evident j bur, by a Circum (lance that happened after this, we are left to fuppofe he did not. FOR Marcus Crafjtts^ being one Evening at the Theatre, and feeing the Dancing-JVoman be- fore-mention'd, who was Young and Fair, per- form her Part with feveral Geftures and Motions defign d to move Defire , and being to depart for his Province in a few Days j it is md, that he. fent for young Verres, and imparted his Defire of enjoying this Woman to the Youth 3 who fo ma- nagd the Affair, that fhe foon follow'd Craffus to his Province y nay, and as fome affirm, was con- ducted thither by young Verres, B Y this A6tioii he not only highly oblig'd Mar- tui CraJJks, but gave a Specimen of his Readinefs for any Enterprize which led to his Interefi. Craf- fus was not only immenfely Rich, but very Great in the Commonwealth, and had it in his Power to prefer every one who had any Pretenfions to his Favour. Nor was it uncommon in thofe Days, for Slaves and other mean Perfons to be advanced in their Fortunes and promoted to Dig- nity, only by being privy to the Vices of Great F Men. c 34- r Men. Kor in an Age of Corruption and Dege- neracy are any Perfonsencourpg'd^orcarefs'd by the Great fo much, as the vile Inftruments of their Pleafure. THUS Young Verres gain*d exrraoi'din'ary Preferment, by the only Means in the World that fhould have barr'd him from it : And a ienfeleis Irregularity, back'd with pufhing Afl\i- rance, gained him all the Advantages of Wifdom and Experience. A Jigg and a merry Song were as meritorious in him, as the deeped and moft important Schemes of Politicks would have been in another: As if being a Buffoon was the Thing that qualified a Man bed for a grave Employ- ment. BUT ALurcut Cato, tho* he liv*d in this lux- urious Age, was of a different Opinion: For he oppos'd Murana^ when he flood for the Conful- fliip, byobjeding that he had been in Afia^ and was a Dancer, For Dancing was accounted fuch a Levity, as only was excufable in the Madman and Drunkard, and therefore not to be admitted in a State-Officer. It was look'd upon, by the People of Gravity and Morals, to follow only at the Heels of intemperate Fea fling, to fuit with Hours and Places of idle Pleafure, and the ut- riiofl Effeminacy, f It was one of the Luxuries that was deriv'd to Rome from her Jfiatick Con- quefls, and therefore Cato judg*d that a Man, who could fpend any Time in pradifmg fuch an Exer* t Nemo enim fere faltat fobrius, nifi forte- infanif, neq; in foli- tudinc, neque in convivio moderate atque honefto. Intempcftivi convivji, amxni loct, mitltarum delicianim comes eft cxtremay< Salutio. C/V pro MuraCni C ?5 3 Exercifc, was not worthy to rule as a Magiftrate over a wife and valiant People. CATO, therefore, was no ways inftrumenta! in the Advancement of Young f^erres-^ the Facti- on, by which he was raised, were of another Ge- nius and Spirit, and found out a new Maxim in Politicks, which was, that a Drole in his proper Place might nrake a very accorrfpliflid Statefman, For it being their Bufmefs to gain over the Voices of the Senators to back their Schemes, II Catiline^ for that End, had ordered his adur'd Friends to found and find out their darling Vices , that each might be gratified in the IVcaknefs of their (eye- ral Pajjlons, or that Jap^e of wchdnefs in which their Hearts moft delighted. The Avaritious therefore were drawn in by the Engagement of a Bribe^ the luxurious Appetites with a fumptuous Entertainment: The Sportfmen were prefented with Hunting-Dogs and Horfes ; and the Sporters^^ in another way, were furni/hed with Choice of the moft exquifae Harlots, For fome Men will certainly do as much for a Feafi or a Harlot^ as others will do for a Bribe or Preferment : And thus baited, they often gave their Suffrages with- out knowing wherefore, or for what Reafon. THE fearching out of Tempers, and adap- ting thefe Allurements, was one of the Provinces of young rm-^/, and which, they fey, he dil- charg'd with Abundance of Addrefs. p z WHAT {|Uti cujufqiie Studium ex xtate fiagrabat aliis fcorta prsberc ; aUis cines, arouc equos mercan ; poftremo neque Uimpcui, neqac modeftias fuae parccre, dam illos obnoxlo?, hdolqvie hbs tacerc $aU »n bclio Capi-lin. , C l6 ) WHAT Saluft rtn^zxk'^ oi Catiline himfelf, might as juftjy be applied to young Verres, that , he was grafping and defirous of Other People's Money, but profufe of his own. It is faid, that he was liberal both with Reafon, and without it : And tho* he was very eager in the Purfuit of Wealth, he fquander'd it away again in Luxury ^Xidi Vanity. A S he had given fo many Proofs of the Loofe* nefs of his Morals and want of Integrity, fo neither did he want to eftablifh any Charadter in the Point of Religion : But rather hbour'd to convince the People, that he had as little Vene- ration for the Gods, as the Fafhion of the Times feem'd to difpenfe with, and as his Condudl in other Parts of Life required him to have. And one notorious Inftance ofh's Impiety appear*d to the Populace, who judge bed by fuch publick Teftimonies, in that having taken a Piece of Ground which belonged to the People, Vv^ith De- fign to build himfelf a Houfe there, it happen d that a Jemf.e dedicated to one of the Gods ftood upon Part of this Ground which he had hir'd : Young Verres immediately inclos'd the whole Spot, modeird out his Building, demoliOi'd the old Temple, and on its Foundations laid a new Strudlure, in which he de(ign*d to entertain his Guefts with Midnight Dances. LENTULUS Sura, was a Perfon of no extraordinary Dignity in the Commonwealth, however got into Office by thelnterellof SUL- TITIUS 2L Vatrician, who was his Kinfman: And having no great Foundation of Fortune^ he . C ?7 ) he willingly imbark*d in this Confpiracy, with Hopes to inrich himfelf by the Spoils of the People. ^UINTUS J?mius, was a bufy Senator of a fliatter'd Fortune, who by changing Sides, and adhering dill to the ftrongeft, g^t into Offices of great Honour and Profit j having the Manage- ment of a great Part of the Publick Monies, and Jikewife expelling to grow very wealthy all at once, he fell in and was fubfervient to the Mea- fures of the Confpiratqrs, among whom he foon became a Principal. WHAT gave the greateft Alarm and Sur- prize, when the Difcovery of this pernicious De- sign broke out, and the minuteft Circa mftances came to an Edaircifement^ was to find, that the Tontifex Maxhnus^ OX "veneral^le High-PriesT was alfo fufpefted of conniving at their Crimes. Whether he were at firft a Principal, or not, was not fo evident j but moft agreed, that he was not. The Faction, ic feems, finding he might be ufeful to them, by Reafon of his CharaSer and great Authority, won him over by a coTf/i- dcrahk Bribe, to entertain a good Opinion of their Vrohity and Defign, THESE were the Leeches, that were to fuck up the Wealth of the People of Rome 3 thefe, the Tools and Inftruments that were to unhinge the fublick Liberty and Confiltution of the State^ CrudeUJJlmum hominum Genus ^ (jr ah omni pevitus humanitate dereliBitm, as Porclus Latro ftiles them : A mofl: barbarous and abandon d Set of Men, that relinquifh'd and fhook Hands with all Mo- tions C 58 ) tions of Hunianity. Many of them, as we have feen, were contemptible for the Meannefs of their Defcent, but much more contemptible by their Vices and Charafter. To confiaer them in their true Light, we fhall find they were of Principles and Capacity fuitable to the Caufe in which they were engag'd. Nor did there want a Tiibe of lefs Figure, and more mechankk Qualifications, who were adiinng to them in feveral Parts of their detefted Schemes. They knew that dull Brains might perform fome Offi- ces beft, and with leaft Sufpicion of any latent Views. And what has Oratory, what have th? Arts and Sciences to do in the Execution of Rapine, Fraud, or OpprelTion? A Man may make an exquifite Cheat, without having ftudi- cd the Flowers of Demofthems 3 and be able tQ give a Bribe ex more Majorum^ without read- ing the Laws oi Solon or Licurgus, CATILINE therefore fhew'd that he un- derftoodMen, when he cuird andfeleSled fuch sis were moft profligate and degenerate in their Morals^ and where guilty of no Scruples arifing^ from offended Vertue^ OX the Stings of Confcienct : Since, if he had happen'd to have made choice of one Honeft Roman in the beginning of hi^ Scheme, it might have prevented all the Wor- kings of the Fadtion, who were tofupportand aggrandize themfelves on the ruin of their fel- low Citizens. WE have run thro', I think, the Charafters of the ;)ri»c;;?^/ Proje6tors, and Agents in this in-'' humane Confpiracy, the Ma (ler- Engines that firft put this Mifchief into Adlion, and gave it f 59 ) It Motion. But there were other latent and conceard Adherents, Men of the firft Rank for Quality and Power, (whom (ince Cicero decliri'd to name to the Senate^ I fhall forbear to brand here with Ignominy) whom the Hope of being at the very Top of Affairs, rather than any Ne- delfity, or Want of Fortune, drew in.* I T cannot be expected, neither would it be of any ConfequenCe, to decipher iht fuhordinate and inferior Tools, the Tkbian Rogues, that were diftinguifti*d by no Titles, nor dignified with any Offices, or Honours in the State, but whofe vile Affifiance was abfolutely neceffary in bringing about this Deftrudtion, and who therefore were to be gratified with a Dividend of the Sfoil. AMONGST this infamous Scum of the Confpirators, I cannot, however, help taking notice, that there were fome Women^ f who by proftituting themfelves were fupported at a moft expenfive and extravagant Rate. In this Num- ber, of moft Eminence , were Amelia OriftilUy Sewpronia and her two Neices, and Fulvia^ a kind of Bawd or Procurefs. Thefe were all foreign Concubines, but Inmates in Rome^ and came either from Gaul or Belgia. CATILINE had alfo let into the Secret ^ Number of other Foreigners, who, he knew, would ^ * Erant praeccrea complures paulo occultius confilii hujus Par- tlcipes, quos magis dominationis fpes hortabatur, qulm inopia, auc t\h Ncceffitudo. t Mulieres ctiam aliquot, quae primo ingcmci fumpfus ftupra wrporis tolcravertht. Sal. in bello Caulin, C 4° ) would readily enter into anyDefign agaJnft the' Romans J partly On account of theeftabli/h*d Ha-- tred betwixt them and the City, and partly on the Profpe^l of inriching themfelves by theille- gal Plunder. THERE was at that time in Rome fevera}- of the Allobroges, a People of Gaul or Germany^ to whom CatlUne made himfelf a Patron, by pro- moting their Intereft, and that of their Coun- try. The Negotiations of thefe People were concerted and tranfadled between Catiline and Vulturtius^ one of their Chiefs, and who, before his Relidence at Rome, had come thither as an EmhajJ'ador from his State. Vulmrtim, great as he was in his Republick, and as much as he was carefs'cl by the ferviie Patricians at Rome, pre- ferred the Reputation of Policy and Depth of Intrigue, to the Oftenftation of making a Figure. His Head and Heart were ever employ 'd to ag- grandize the Alfaiis of the Allohrvges, and as one probable Step towards it would be to drain the Treafures of Rome, it was thought that Catilim took all his Meafures and Schemes of his Confpi- racy from the Tla?is and Counje Is which the fuhtle VOLTURTIUS hid down to him. Thefe People therefore were admitted into the Cabal, and made of the Confpiracy, thefe were to have alargefhare of the Wealth of Romcy and in re- turn they had engag'd to have an Jrmj oi Barba- rians ready to march to Roine, when their Plot ihould be executed, in order to keep the Popu- lace in Awe. THERE was a Law among the Rdmans, that none ihould be capable of Employments in the (41 ) the Commonwealtli, except the Citizens of Rome and other Natives of Itnly. This Law, therefore, excluding thefe Foreigners froin hoi- v ding Offices, they by being at the Head of this ■ Fadion, and by that Intereft capacitated to dif^ pofe of Offices, fet np a Trade qf. felhng the. Employments of the Commonwealth for large ^'; Sums of Money. The foreign Court iz.ans were, particularly, great Dealers in this kind of Traf- fick •, and Mo-ney v^^nt to them as to z Market ^ where, as in other Markets, without any Re- fped to Perfons, the hefi Bidder was fure to be t\[QVurc\oafer* ^ A Y, ^0 general, and well-known was this Commerce, that in fome Cafes, their very Fe- male Attendants took upon them to bargain for publick Places : Thofe Damfels, who were re- tained to receive the Gallants, and difpofe Mat- ters for the Myfteries of Love, were haunted with the SolUcltatlons of depending Candidates ^ and Bufinefs of the State, which made a Hurry in the City, was often tranfaded by the intriguing Head of a Strumpet'^s Chambermaid. FV L VIA had a very large fhare in this Trade, and great Court was continually made to her : Being a Lady of extenfive Parts and large Capacity^ fhe had the more Power of obliging her Suiters : And according to the Strength of their Ttirfes or their Inclinations, would procure them either a good Employment^ or a Maidenhead. I T would be pretty hard to determine, what it was that attached Men fo much to thefe /o- reign Women, they being no way defirable for their Beauty *, (and Beauty has been ever Icok'd G upon (42) upon as one of the greatefl Merits in that Sex) they had neither that Dthcacy of Shape, that Air, or Elegance of Features, which charm'd you in the Roman Ladies ; But were coarfe and mafculine •, and thofe monftrous Trotuberancies of Breafis which were feen in all of them, were likelier to move Difguft, than infpire Love. If they had any Charms, they were remote from iight, and known only to their Lovers : But it became modifh now to afFea things that were exotics therefore all the Account or Reafoa which i can find to be given for this deprav'd Tafte, was^ that ugly Women were then in Fa^ Jhlon- I M U ST \)o& by, as 1 before obferv'd, the other 171 fc dor Abettors of this Confpiracy *, they being To obicure in Fame, that they never had been meatiop'd in any Flidory, were it not that the^^ had a fhare in this Rap^itious Plot, Let it fuliice to fay, that when they were fwoln to a Kumber fufficient to begin the Work, frequent Meetings were held to confalt upon the pror per Meafures for bringing about their grand Dejign, I T was at one of thefe Meetings, that Catiline made that celebrated Speech, the Subllancc of which we find at large in Sdu§i and others \ and v/hich gives us a great Light into the V^iews and Reaches of thw'Fadion. The wholeSpeech,whicb 1 judge to have been dcliver'd at their firft Meet- ing, would be too long to be crowded into this Pamphlet \ therefore 1 (hall only give the moffc niaterial H^adS| snd throw them into the belt Method I cgn^ tg giy^ the Reader an Under- Itsnding C+3) ttarlding and Infight into the nionfLrons Aims of this Party. The Speech of G a t i l i n e to the Confpirators. Moft Noble Romans^ * TJ "t) T that I know you ally arid hdve approv'^d JLJ the Strength of your Virtues dnd Confiancyi and rnMty Spirits by which your generous Souls ard aBuatedy this glorious Opportunity had vainly fdltti into our Handsy and thefe Schemes of grafping fovoer hecHj at hefty hut an idle and ill-grounded Mope*, Tou are all acquainted With the Cdufe of this out Meetings and every Romail has imparted to his Vriend in private the Subftance of what t am tiol^ about to ojfer* LOOK on the Common wealth, my Friends^ a$ you would on a Proftitute, that is enjoy'' d and de^ fiCd by each contending Party, as it is in their Turn to prevail. This is our Turn^ and let us keep her Ours : for iffome Giant of the State fliould rife^ ftrong in the AffeB^ions of the vile arid giddy Multi-^ tudcy and bached with popular Appldufcy vohofe Arni might he of Force to hurl ui from this Emlnerice^ fayy Romans, where jhall we hide our Heads ? Shalt not we grow degraded^ poor^ and defpis^dt Op- frefs^d With Wants at horne, and Debts abroad i' Scorned by the proudy and fccfd at by the Vulgar f G 1 Trembling * Ni VirtuSj Fidefqiie, vefcra Tatis fpedata mihi (otQt^ Requicquam opportuna res cecidifTet ; i^^% magria dcrflniin^- fionisin manibiss fmftra fuifTee^ fe'c- ( 44 ) T'remUhig hrneath the Rods and Axes c- ?iew Ala- giftrates^ anA Uftly^ facrificM to popular Pvefent- rrients ? — -^ But fure^ there is not a Roman in all this Affemhly^ who xvoidd not. chufe rp file, rather than lofe with (loame, what he IJo^d go't'by his glorious Anibition.' Butivhy do I.talk of^ Death ? / call the Gods to witnefs^ the Tower is in our hands ^ the Means of Safety our own. The Guardian Gods of Rome haz'e left the City \ the Senate feems to fleep ; ^kind of Lethargy' is over thern : They neither hear, nor fee, nor underftand, hut what we didate. Let them feep on, my worthy Fri'endsy nor may they ever wake, till wak'd by Kuine* ■ ' IV H A T then is wanting hut to begin the Bufinefs^ when the Succefs of the Event is certain? A'fethinks, ' I know your Hearts, I fee into your Souls, an-d there .behold the fame AfcB'lons, Appetites, and PajfionSy which govern mine : There is a kind of Sympathy be- twixt (rallant Spirits, and that it is which now gives rnethis Boldnefs^rirft, to propofe, then, to lead you- to an Enterpriz,e^ whiclp. in fpight of all the- haughty .Courages in Rome, ^y:ill place you high above the Eeach of Vwni'^m^wi. THEN roufe, my Friends y and meet Domini^ on and Cornmand : . Fortune feems in a wanton Fit ', jlie^s even prodigal to favour our Defigns, and courts U6 dU with Honour, Wealth, and Tower. Methinks, tm I were dumb, the Opportunity, your common fafe- ry, and the rich Spoil of Thoufands, were call enough ^ton^akeyoiLfvatchthe happy Hour, which time may -ritver produce again. But fay, Romans, were there Danircr in this EnterpriTie, is not the Advantage wort^.y of fomc Haz^nrds ? Does not the Wealth of N'aticns flov? into RoaiC; and here refi as in its pni- pcr (45) fer Centre ? Are -not her Kobles, Senators, nay] Plebeians, cloath^d in Geld? Is jlie not drunk with Luxury and Pleafure ? So giddy ^ that jloe does not know her [elf ? Say^ then^ Romans, is there a Heart in all this Circle fo little Roman, as to raife a Phantom^ and form an Image of a groundlefs Dan- ger ? Are not the Legions all at our Command ? the Praetors, Tribunes, and Centurions, our ovonf Have not our Friends j the Allobroges, here trefentj already mufterd an Hofi of difciplin'd Barbarians, who fhall march to Rome when we give the IVord, to curb and tame that moft unruly Be aft .y the Multitudcy fliould it prefume to fpurn at our Authority ? Andy lafily^ to give a Credit and Sanftion to our Caufe, does not the Pontifex Maximus himfelfy the venera-* hie Father and Head of our Religion, efpoufe our Schemes^ and ajfifi their Fortune with his Prayers md Counfels ? THINK then the Bufinefs dons \ imagine you fee the whole Herd of Senators difpoiPd j and every proud luxurious Roman firipp^d of his Pride j and humbled with his Wants ^ the Liftors, Falces, Axes, all at your Command : Tour Palaces crowded with your Client Sy waiting and bowing at a diftance for a Smile -^ the Ambaffadors of conqueid Nations fuing and kneeling to you as to the Godsj and even tributa^ ry Kings courting your Alfiflance. Tour Wealth will know no End, nor will even Prodigality itfelfj with all the witty Luxury of Men^ be able to weary it out. Whofe will the whole World be^ but yours ? All that the Avarice of our Ancefiors has been Ages in heap^ ing vpy will be yours at one happy Stroke : Nor (hall a Roman cat^ or breathy but by our Permiffwn. This Province paJl be allotted to bold Cethegus, That to Lentulus : Rome to Vs AIL Is there a, Palacs Tdlace which you would pojfefsy or an Enemy whom you would kill f ts there a Beauty you would enjoy ? Whofe IVife, whofe Daughter^ or whofe Boy jhall be found in Rome, that the glad Husband and willing Barents will not he proud to bring to your Embraces, and make a Merit of their Infamy. We having the Wealthy all Things elfe will be fubfervient to Vs : For Wealth commands more than the Immortal Gods t The whole Vniverfe obeys it \ the Neck of KomQ is fitted for our Servitude y and the Iron Toke of Power is forg'dy that jhall hind her down to Subjection* T HEN^ in Spight of hated Cato, or, that new Fellow CiQ^xOy whofe Va fees jhall be trodden in the Dirty we will proceed in our Enterpriz^e, Let them bellow out for Liberty y till they crack the Walls of the SenatCy yet they jhall perijh in their boajled l^irtue* Ambition is a Burthen too great for fuch weak Minds as thefe ^ it takes its place in nobler Spirit Sy whofe Thoughts are in the Stars *, it is the yirtue of the Cods and Godlike Men* SINCE then propitious Fortune puts it to out Choice either to command or obey, to lead the Worldy or to he led as Slaves \ fayy ConfederateSy is there a Man in all this noble Crowdy "Who would be- come a voluntary Slave .? If there be Oney let him go forth into the Forum, and give his Neck up to the inglorious Toke j let him drag out a miferable Life, expofed to Want, and Infamy y and Scorn. — Noy your generous Minds d'lfdain the ignoble Thought ^ / read a forward and afpiring Genius thro* every Look around Me : Therefore I need not ask your Appro-^ hations v Wealthy Glory ^ and Succefs, be with you ally my Friends \ and be fure of Catiline both for your Friend and Servant* I DON'T (47) I DON'T remember in Hiftory an Ha- rangue made up with more Art, and Infinuatioa than This of Catiline \ efpecially if we confider the Perfons to whom it was addrels'd. H E animates them to the vilefl: Depredati- ons md moft flagrant Crimes, with Notions of Glory and Honour : But the Baits and Tempta- tions^ which he threw in their Way, ihew'd that he uhderftood the Depravity of Nature, and knew how to ftrike in with all its Appetites. He confider'd them as a Crew of profligate and abandon'd Wretches, and therefore very cun- ningly ipeaks to their Vices. He tells them of Wealth, of Power, and of Revenge; of railing their Interefts, and deftroying their Enemies ; of commanding what Women and Boys they lik'd •, giving them in this a Touch of his own T^fte^ but very flily avoiding to declare what his own particular Views were, HIS Speech therefore met with a general Approbation, as they had but one Mind among them all, that is to fay, one wichd Mind to dc ftroy their Country, piit, in Refpeft of Friend* fhip one to another, they had no Tie or Difpo- fition to ir, any longer than their common In* tereft or Safety obliged them to unite. For a Friendlhip grounded upon Virtue is the only lafting Friendlhip \ but theirs having no Foun* dation, but a political Confederacy to carry on Mif- chief and Ruin, every one of them had fbme vri^ vate Views of his own, independant of his FeU low Thieves '* So that it would not be improper to fay that, at that Time, there were as many ( 48 ) Conffiracies againfl the State a5 there were Men in Office. ■ .1. i ; : ^ .■ ^ i : -i^ ^n CjiTlLINEy 'I'- having ended his Speech, as it is reported by feveral Authors, took the Blood of a Man, whom he had caufed to be mnrther'd for that Purpofe,and having mix'd it with Wine, drank a Draught of it to the Confpirators, and made it be carried round to th^m in Cups, fuch as were ufed at the mofl folemn Sacrifices. With this horrid Ceremony, each took an Oath of Se- crecy to the other, binding themfelves not to give the leaft Hint to any Perfon, tho' it were.. to,foe .a-Path^r,, Brother, or moil: intimate Friend from inevitable Deftrudion. So that, by this Confederacy, all the Ties of Blood and Na- ture were to be cut off^ the deareft and moll tenderUnions to be broke; and Friend and Foe to be facrificd to their Schemes without Di- ftin^ion. THEY proceeded next upon the proper M^afuresof executing their Plot ; the Refoluti- on was, as may be feen by Catilines Speech, to feize upon the Wealth of all the People of Rome^ and jliare, it among thetnfelves. Thereupon, Tor.tlons -and Dividends were appointed and mark'd out for each Man according to his Dignity, , BUT t Fuere ea,tcmpcft4te,qiii diccrent, Catilinain, oratio- ne habita, cum ad jusjurandum populates fceleris fui adi- geret< humani corporis fanguinem vino permixtum, in pateris circumtulifiTe. Saluft. in Bell. Catilin. Vide etiain LuciuiTi.Floruiij; Dion. CalT. Tertull. in Apologet. l^c. ( 49 J BUT as every private Man's Riches were not to be dilcover'd, while they were in his own Hands, they made ufe of a Stratagem to incline the People to bring forth their Money voluntas rily^ and that was by piiblifhing a Propofal to give a molt extravagant Interefl: for Money, and this upon the Puhlick Faith. The Avarice of that Age was fo tempted by this Bait^ that not only the Roman Citizens, but People from all Parts of the Empire, crowded to difpofe of their Money upon this profit able Scheme. WHEN they had by this Contrivance got into their Pofleflion the Wealth of the Roman Empire, they purchafed the Lands and Palaces of thQ Patricians and others ^ but the very Sums^ with which they made fuch Purchafesy foon re- turn'd into their Hands again : For the Hope of extravagant Gain had fo infatuated the People of that Age, they ftrove who ihould be moft for- ward in felling their hereditary Patrimonies^ to raife an imaginary Fortue by this new and promifing Ad- venture. T H O' they had got into their Pofleflion whatever they could aim at, yet fo hafty and violent were our Confpirators in their Grafping, that they minded nothing but catching at the Spoils Even before the Scheme, that was to fecure them in the Pojfejfion of their Plunder was brought to Maturity ^ which, no doubt, was the over^ turning the Liberty of the Commonwealth^ and fct" ting up fome other Form of Government. H THESE r 5°; THESE Proceedings alarm'd leveral of the wife and honefl Men of the City, particularly CJtO, and CICERO the Orator : Who niov'd the senate concerning thefe Things, upon Suf^ picion of the lurking Mifchicfs that lay at the Bottom of their Proceedings. Upon this, feve- ral of the inferior Agents of the Party were ^p- prehended and examined -^ among the reft, one Quintus CuriuSy who had been a bufy Inftrument in the moll: fecret and roguijlo Part of their Trani^ adions. By him the Senate were let into a molt horrid and furprizing Scene of Villany ^ yet, when the Confprators came upon their Trials, I don't find that he ever appeared, not even againft Catiline himfelf:^ which made it currently fufpected, that he was carried off, or fpirited out of the Way by the Contrivance of thQ fecret Abet- tors of this Confpiracy, NEW Difcoveries, however, were every Day made againft the Confpirators, and the ho- neft Part of the Senate judg'd the Proofs {oflrongj that it was necefiary to free their Country from thefe V^ipers, who had done more Mifchief than all the Devaftations of Marim and Sylla, or any the moft bitter foreign Enemies to the Roman State. BUT now the moft furprizing Part of the Hiftory begins to open : For the Confpirators aware how Things were going, thought it Time to beftir themfelves in their Defence: And as they were Mailers of all the Money in the City, and knew the Corruption of the Age and of the People^ r 50 People, they did not defpair of coming off ifl Spight of Convidlion. CATILINE^ therefore, whofe Cunning never forfook him at a Pinch, call about with all his Induflry for the proper Means to lave both their Lives and Fortunes \ which he knew could not be done without firlt fecuring a Majority of the Senate in their Favour. In order to this, the AfTiflance of Hortenftus now became elTential, with whom he had been at the greateft Variance for a confiderable Time : For, by his Intrigue and Intereft, he had ^o far oppos'd HortenfiHSy as utterly to throw him out of all Office. But conlidering the Nature of the Man from aCir- cumftance before cited, which happen'd whert he was Qu&fioTj or Treafurer of the Army^ he be- lie v'd there was a Way to touch his V anions : they coming, therefore, to a Conference upon the Sub- ject, Hortenfius was fo mov'd with the Strength of Catiline's, Arguments, that the forgiving Man laid afide all Refentments, and undertook to sheen the Confprators from Punifiment. UPON this the Confpirators once again took Heart, and grew fo bold, that not one of them fled in Apprehenfion of the Confequences : They knew well, that when their own Party was join'd to that of Hortenfiusy it would turn the Scale of the Senate in their Favour. NOTWITHSTANDING this new Ami=^ ty ftruck up betwixt Hortenfius and Catiline^ the Realbn of which every body pretended to inter- prety the honeft Party proce~eded vigoroufly id th^ir Profecutioris, and, however they ftiould be H 2 wr« . r 50 overpower dvfith Numbers, were refolv'd at leafl to fhew an Inclination of ferving their Country. THF firft, who was queflion'd upon the ViUmies of this Confpiracy, was Lentulus Sura, and he was charg'd with being a Principal. Ma- ny of the WitnefTes prov'd that he had taken an immenfe Sum of the People's Money ^ but what avail the ftrongelt Proofs, where Men are prepofTefs'd, and deterniin'd to acquit? After many Harangues made on both fides, Sura was clear'd by the Majority of two Suffrages. I T is impoflible to exprefs what a Damp was ftruck upon the Spirits of the People, when this was known thro' the City : But what ad- ded to their general Melancholy, was, that Cicero the Orator, and even Cato himfelf went out of the Senate before the Trial of Sura was over\ whereby they gave the malignant Party the Ad- vantage of two Voices. It look'd, indeed, as if Juftice was fled from Men, and Bribery had driven Virtue quite out of the Senate. WHETHER they did this thro' a Con- tempt of the Proceedings, or thro' Defpair of doing any good, is altgether uncertain-, but by their Condud afterwards they clear'd them- felves from all the Sufjjicions that were at firll advanc'd. For CATO penn'd feveral vehe- ment Harangues, writ with a noble and mafcu- line Eloquence, and which feem'd to have in them a Tafte of the Spirit of Old Rome^ when it enjoy'd its Liberty. Thefe were all fign'd with the Name of CATO^ and difpers'd publickly among the People : The Deiign of them was to exyofe (53) expofe the Guilt and P^illany of the Cot?fpiratorsl and, if poflible^ to Jhame the Senators from Jtdwg with them. BUT Corruption was now grown fo com- mon and publick among great Men, that it al- mofl: ceas'd to be thought infamous *, and all the Virtue that was left in Rome was in the common People. This Lentulus Sura underftood fo we''J that when he was acquitted of the Profecutioa by the Majority of two, -as is before mention'd, he having brib'd fome of his Judges, he was fo free to complain to his Friends, || That the Mo- ney which he gave to one of them was a needlefs Charge^ fince one Suffrage would have been fufficient to have cleared him, THE next, who came upon Trial, was Quintus Annius and now Affairs took another ve- ry unexpected Turn •, for by what happen'd in the Cafe of Lentulus Sura^^ there were but fmall Hopes of any of the Delinquents being brought to Juftice. For whether it was that Hortenfius had any private Grudge to Annius^ or whether the Fadion thought it advifable in good Policy to fuffer one of their Members to be facrific'd to appeafe the popular Fury ; it is certain, that Ah" nius was found guilty of every Fad laid to his Charge, which gave no fmall Content to the fuf- fering Multitude. For a Dawn of Hope now began to fhine again in Rome^ and Liberty feem'd, as it were, to rear its drooping Head. It was thought II Fruftra, inquit, impenfum quod alteri Judicum datum eft : Satis quippe erat, fi un^ taiitum fententi^ folutus abi- ifTem. Plut. in viti TuU. Ciceronis* (5+) thought, the niah'gnant Party were lofiirg Ground apace in the Senate ^ the People exped- ed not only to fee their Wrongs reveng'd by the Death of the Confpiratorsj but Reflitution made them, for what had been fo notorioufly plundered from them. I T now began to be the Difcouffe, that Sura fhould again be call'd to Qiieflion, nor be al- lowed to plead his former Acquittal, in Difap- pointment of the Senate's Enquiries, fince, as it appear'd to Menj they were fatisfied of his Guilt. But this Interval of Joy was of a fhort Contimiaiice, nor did it in the lea ft terrify Cati-^ line, vviio by his own Management, and that of Hurtenfius^ had made all lafe in Refped to hinif«='lf For Hortenfius now was like an hir'd Stc^e-puyer, who being paid for ading, is obligd to ad whatever Parts are aflignd him, withoiit regarding whether theCharaders he re- pref^nts, make him the Vatriot or Betrayer of his Country* THE day, that was appointed for CatiUneh Trial, now being at hand, this great Mailer in Subtlety, to fhew how well he could dilTemble, appear'd in the Senate, attended by Hortenfius^ wkh all the Tranquillity of an innocent Man, who was fearlefs of any thing being imputed to him. CICERO with his accuHonfd Eloquence^^ open'd the Charge againft him, alledging, that in ail his Converfation with the Bar, he had ne- ver met with flronger Proofs againft any Man^ in any Caufe either Civil, or Criminal: And thea (55) then addreflnig himfelf to the Senate, he added, Jf a Proof that amounts to certainty from all its Cir- cumftances^ be of any Weight with you^ Catiline muft he found guilty in your Sentence. This was an- fwer'd by Hortenftus in a palliating Harangue 5 in which he complimented the Criminal upon his Integrity and clea:^ Hands ^ and ciideavour'd to lefTen the Credit of t^e Evidence againll him. And after Hcrtenftus bad hnilhed the Defer.ce, Torcius Latro feeing which way things were like- ly to go, ftood up, and with much Oratory ex- aggerated the Charge-, faying, if fuch Crimes , went unpunijlj'd, perhaps^ it would he the laft tin0 that ever the Gods would put it in their Tower toferve their Country. BUT no Arguments, nor Inftances of Guilt had any Influence upon Men, who feem'd deter- min'd in their Judgments before they heard the Merits of the Caufe : Not the Fear of drawing upon them the Hatred of their Fellow Citizens, not the imminent Danger their Country muft run, from the efcape of thefe Delinquents, could get the better of a fpreading Corruption. They, who were at firil innocent, made themfelves criminal by defending the Guilty, Ihewing plainly that the Warmth which they had ex- prefs'd againft the Criminals, was thro' Anger for not having been let into the Secret, and made Partners in the Profits of fo fuccefsful a Robbery ^ and that they had Inclinations as miP chievous and bafe, as the moft malignant of the Confpirators. A CERTAIN Author relates, that the Day before Catiline's Trial came on, Hortenftus went C5ER, the Comic Poet, that the j^ Stif pQion of. having done any thing, |*aifes a greater Cla^ mour upon a Man than the very doing it : and fo likewife the Sufpici- on of any Tam^hlet^s being intended a Li- hel throws more Scandal on the Terfon^ at whom iv is fupppsM to be levelld^ than the moft o'pen and declar'^d Invective ever did. Such, in both CafeSj is the Injuftice of Calumny ! • WHAT gave me a Grotind for this Re- fl^dion, i?, that there are Perfons, it feems, in the World, who are for turning every thing into a Liheh I will be bold Mtfeiand, ex Stcb»ico. A to The Preface. to fay, that a Malicious Calumny cannot hurt a Great Man ; ( tho' it may reflefl: Difgrace upon the Author, ) nay, on the contrary, it often does him a Service. For Men are apt to pty him whom they fee hi]tir*d\ and when they perceive a Great Man has been wrovg^d in one Thing, it happens that they will not believe even the Triitb^^ that are fpoken c^gainfl him. But wicked Men, indeed, have realon to af- frehend Truth, and therefore it is no Won- der that they ^rofecute it. JULIUS Cafar^ who was the moft merciful, ^nd generous of all the Romans^ never punifh'd anything that was faid a- gainft him : and the Wife lAUGUSlUS follow'd his Example in this Particular. He fear'd no invidious Enquiry into his Aftions ; but allow'd the Populace fuch a Liberty of defcanting on him, that he ne- ver punifh'd any Libels againft his Perfon: and if we may crtdit ^neto7/iu^ on this Head, he did not only not dread them, but took great Pains to aniwer and refute them: nee ex]^avit^ kS magna cur a re- dargui^ It ^, ■* ^)c?on. m Yiti Auguft-i Ciefari THIS The Preface. THIS lie did by the honeft Advice of his Firft Minifter M£C^?uis, who gave ic as his Opinion, that Calumnies never hurt a sood Prince, whofe Virtues can ftand the Teft, and are Proof againft them ; but are only dangerous to wicked Gover- nors And 3^.'/g«///'^ himfelf was otten heard to fav, that the Wickednejs of the Times required, and deferv^d a Bee^lom and 'Boldnefs of Speech. Nor did he find this Praaice of any fmall Advantage to him • for by it he difcover'd both the and ^ml^ every thing that was written upon the Times as Uhels. TITBERIUS, who fucceeded him, and was a Prince of another Stamp, took a contrary Method in this as well as every other Refped. To his Eternal Infamy it is recorded, that he forc'd M. Mmhus Scaurm to kill himfelf only for_ having written the Tragedy of ^treii4- in which headvis'd the People, who liv'd under the Government of a bad Prince, to be patient, and fubmit to Tyranny. The Emperor A X woulq The Preface. would have it that the Poet ftruck at htm fn the Character of Vffr^/^, kndwing'he had committed many Murthers and illegal Outrages : and therefore, with a Mixture 6f Wit and Malice, he faid. He would make 'an Ajax bf Scaurus, ly forcing him to kill himfelf%' ', ^ .• UNDER fp vile a Government as this of Tiber im^ a Man muft be mad that ivould venture to write upon the Times ; when every Truth muft be Treafon. In fuch an Adminiftration, the moft diftant Shadp\v of a Refleftion glares in their Eyes, and they are exti'emely witty and malicious at making Applications. The fame flagitious Prince (for his Reign fur-^ nifhes many Inftances of extravagant Ty- railhy") put a poor Fellow to Death barely for a Jeaft : but it was one that carried both Truth and Satyr in it. oAuguftti^ had l>y his laft Will bequeathed a Legacy to every Roman Citizen, which Tih'erim took, no care to fee difcharg'd. As a great Fu- neral 'pafsM one day thro' the Streets^ a certain Man with much Buftle and Diffi- culty preft thro' the Croud, and whifperM fomething in the Dead Man's Ear. . The People ilock'd' about to know the Meau- • ■ ■ , 1 • ' e^T - .. . fm ,. ■■>>.,. I ■ .,... ~-f I) Dion C40ius in Tibe;iDo ins The Preface.' liig of this Whim, and enquired into the Contents of the Whifper ; when the Perfon told them, that he had defir'd the Dead Man to inform oAuguftm^ that the Romans had not yet received their Legacies. The Informers foon carried this Story to Tibe^ ritcs^ who fent for the Man, paid him ^own his Legacy, and causM his Throat to be cut, telling him, That he might ?iow go himfelfi ' and hifonn Auguftus, that QxiQ was ^aid'\. THE Freedom of the poor Fellow's Raillery may, perhaps, be ftird by ill-na- tur'd People a fufficient Provocation for the Emperor's Barbarity ; but all the Ani- ons of this Prince were of a Piece : His was a Reign of Rapine and Blood ; and therefore we are the lefs to wonder at this Cruelty. His Fury extended to all forts ofW^t znd Learning ; he found in every Wiating Tome Pretence, or other, for pu- nifhing its Authors : He caus'd One Poet to be thrown into Prifon, becaufe in his Tra- gedy of oAgamemnon^ he had not reprefen- ted that Prince great enough, and that Fail- ure in Gharafter was a Refleftion upon all other Princes. CREMUTIUS CORT)US, the Hiftorian, was accusM in his Reign, -f Idw'ni dc Sueton. in Vita Tiberii. fpF The Preface- for praifing "BruttM^ and faying that Cajfim was the laft of the Romans : for the vile Sy- cophants and Flatterers of the Court drew this Inference from the Expreffion, that if Cajjlus were the laft of the Romans^ TL "BERIUS could be no Roman^ and con- fequently no Emperor of Rome. Here was L^fe Maje/Jatis Crimen implied, a Traite- jrous Intention of depofing Tiherm ; the Author's eAnnals werecenfur'd as a fafti- ous, dangerous, and treafonable Lihel^ and the o/irnbar himfelt^ zfeditious Man, in upbraiding xXitfrefent Tioies by commen- ding the Times faft. THE Iffue of this virulent Profecution was, that Cremutiws Cordm was clap'd up intoclofe Confinement, and reftrain'd from every tiling that could contribute to make a Prifon eafy. He had all the Rigour Ihewn him, which, as Suetonim tells us, that Emperor praftis'd againft State-^e- linquents : Qjiibm cufiodi^ traditis^ non modo Studejtdt folatium ademptum^ fed eti- dmSermonk 'i3 CoUoquii Ufm ; when they were thrown into Prifon, they were not only deny\i the Converfation of Friends^ but the Ufe of *P^// and Ink^^ the Means and Comfort of Study. Thus it has ever been In wicked and Tyrannical Governments ; and all that we Can fay for it is, in the Words The Preface. Words of our homely EngliJI) Proverb, The Gaird Horfe will Wince. THESE rigorous Expofitions call to my Mind a fhrewd Obfervation of BEAT, JOHNSON'S in his Play of Sejamc^. It is an oArgtiment the Times are for e^ When Virtue ca7inot fafely he advanc'd^ Nor Vice re^rov^d* ^— WHERE extravagant and invidious Comments will pafs ior Conviftion, there is nothing that was ever written, or fpo- ken, but may be wrefted to a LiheL There are a Set of Men who infeft the Law, and fwarm about wicked Governors with the lufy Imfertinence of Informations^^ Thefc are very ready to fcent cut Precedents a- gainft any Man, who falls under the Spleen of Power, expelling that way to pufh for Preferment: and where neither Law or Precedent is to be found, they la* hour with Rounds^ and T)ouhles^ and In* nuendd*Sj to fcrue an innocent Man into the Siiare. THE Orators of this Kind, are much like the hmigry Wolf that was under a Vow of Abftinence from all manner of Bejh : but feeing a fat Hog^ that v^^allow-- ed The PreeaceJ ed happily in the Mire, his: Stomach be- gan to be too powerful for his Cojifcience'y and he thus palliated the Matter to him- fclf ; / have read^ fays He, in fome o^dti- thory ..either oAncient or Modern^ I can-* not rememier which, that Porcus is La- tin for a certain Fifh ; and therefore thd^ I ca?mot eat him as a Hog, / 7nay make a, good "Dinner on him as aVithj and he- ver hreak my Vovi) ofoAljiinenc^, WITH much fuch Ingenuity of Reafd- ning as This, are f;/5^^c^;^/5- Men worried by the Wdves of the Law, where evil Men prefide. But to the Honour of our English Annals let it be remembred, that we have no fuch ridiculous Exam- ples of the Rage of Power. TheGenero- fity of £»^/i/7; Spirits gives Indulgence to Truth, even when unpleafing : We- think, as the Great iSOCRcATES did, that They who dare to utter Truth, ought to he of greater oAuthority with all Trinces^ than They who fay Every thing to curry Falvour, and yet fay Nothing worthy of that Favour. ^ ^/ T«f. Tiiv AhJi^uOi^ cL7rziajtvQyt.\v'ci. Ttdv ecTnzvht fjLif Ubcr. in Fpiltold ad Philippuia.. T ttE THE Conspirators OR, THE Case of Catiline, &c. Part IL 'mm Introduction. E, that writes upon the Hiftory ci' the Antients, can^ perhaps, b^ look'd u|)on as no more than a Colledor of other Men's Works ^ and therefore can exped hut little Reputation from the Nature of his Performance : But then there is a Judgment re- quilite to diitinguifh the profitable from the ufe-7 leis, and giving fuch Examples as may inftrud as well as delight the Readers : And here the Au? 6 thof (O thor puts in bis Claim for Applaufe. An inge- nious Hiftorian mull imitate the Induftry of the Bee, who, ranging about for Food, fucks his Honey from the choice ft Flowers of the Gar- den, without meddling with Weeds or Rubbilh : And thus he comes Home laden with all the Sweetnefs of the Seafon, and difcharges his little Burthen for the common Ufe of his Fellow-Ci- tizens of the Hive. A curious Hiftorian, in the like manner, by colleding the Flowers of all Au- thors that have wrote before him, and by difpo- ling them into Method and Order, may form a Piece more grateful and ufeful to Mankind, than reading the prolix Paflages, from which they are drawn, at Length in their Originals could pollibly be. I COULD be well enough pleas'd to defcant on the Ufefulnefs of Hiftorical Treatifes in Ge- neral, but that the Theme has been very well handled already. I (hall content my felf there- fore with obferving, that when the Pen is em- ploy'd on Actions re7note in Time, both the Au- thor and his Readers have this Advantage, that they are at once divefled both of Favour and Prejudice. To fpeak for my felf, I account this a very peculiar Privilege : 1 don't know whether I am to compliment my own good Nature and candid Difpofjtion •, but I am fure were I to TV rite of modern Fads, efpecially where the Per- fons of my Ccjnemforaries are concerned, i find it in my Temper to be fo fart id ^ that all my Ar- ^unierits and Chara^icrs would lean on the Side of flattery, IT O) I T is a Remark of Sir Walter Raklghh in his applauded Hillory, that it was not iincommen- dable in Livy to fpeak the belt of his own Citi- zens : And, where they did ill, to fay, that without their own great Folly they had done paffing well : For all Hiftorians love to extol their own Countrymen, and where a Lofs can- not be diflembled, nor the Honour of a Victory taken from the Enemy and given unto blind For- tune, there to lay all the Blame on fome flrange Mifgovernment of their own Forces. In the like manner, were I to write the Hiftory and fa- tal Confequences of the South-Sea Projed, I have fuch a Veneration for the fine Spirits and uncor- rupted Honefty of my Countrymen, that I fhould conclude it calculated for the Benefit of the Na- tion ^ and, had it not been perverted by fome Fools or Knaves in Truft, the Scheme mult have done palling well. f ANOTHER learned Countryman of ours, I remember, fays, that judicious Hiflori- ans generally chufe to give us the Hiftories of Commonwealths, rather than of particular Perfons : And, where they give us Livesj they are gene- rally of thofe who have been moft atJlve in pub- lick Concerns. I have ^o far fallen in with the Sentiments. of this Writer, in the Choice of my Subieds, that I have taken Care to treat of Men, in whofe Adions the Interefts of the Common- wealth have been deeply interwoven. CA T I- J^INE^ 'tis known, was pradihng the very Stib- verfioa t Mr. DodweU in his Invitation to the Reading of au t'lent Hijlory, (4) verflon and Ruin of his Country •, and has left an eternal Reproach on himfelf and Family, by the deteflable Confpiracy in which he was im- bark'd. THEP;E is another prudential Step, which I have endeavour'd tp take, and that is, to treat of a Commonwealth J rather than oi Monarchy. I know, as j] SALVST {aid in his Oration to JV- LIVS C^ SA Ry Guam difficile ^ at que af^erum faEhu fit J Confiiium dare Regi^ aut Imperatori. ' Un- -der a Kingly Government, the very Shadow of Diredion from a private Man, is conftrued Info- knee and IljfaffcElion. AND yet it mud be confefs'd, that .a difinte- refted Subjed is often capable of giving his Prince Advice, and his Prince as often Hands in Need of it. For, in a Kingly Form of Government, it is fo much the htcrcft and Security of flattering State/men to amiife their Prince with falfe Shews . of Things, to keep him a Stranger to Grumblings and Difcon tents, and the Sentiments of the Sub- .jeft on'Male-Adminiilration^ that tho' a Coun- try is embarrafs'd with IVant and Debts \ its Crf» f^if/rfunk, and il^Vrade e^xpiring-, they reprefent it flt)uri(l}i/7g in every Branch under his Govern- ment*, they ca]] Its very Misfortzmes the i/^ppz- nefs and Blejjing of his Care and Wifdom^ and per- fwade him ih^ Proffer ity -awd good Fortune of the Kingdom fublift only under his aufficiom Power and Council So THIS Oratione prima de Republics ordinanda. (5) THIS cuftomary Difguife^ put on the Face of Affairs in all Governments, brings to my Mind the Fable of the Quack and the 5/c^ Man • A poor Soul was ^Imoft at the Point pf Death, ■under a Complication of ill Symptoms, aod the podor asks him, Pray, Sir, How do you find your felf? Why, trulyy fays the Patient, / have had\a violent Srveat upon me. Oh ! the bell Sign in the whole World, fays the Dodor. And then ^ little while after, and he is at it again with a ^^-^- Well, but how dp you find your Body ? Jllof, replies the fufTering Patient, / have jyft noxo fuck a terrible Fit of Horror and Shaking upon me. — Why this is all as it Jhould be^ lays the Phyfician, itjhems a mighty Strength of Nature. And then he comes over him a third Time with the fame Queftioa again : Why, J am all fwelPdj lays the other, as if I had the Dropfy. Bell of all, quoth the Do- dor, and fo he goes his Way. Soon after this comes one of the Sick Man's Friends to him with the fame Queltion, How he felt himfelf? IVhy, truly y fo welly lays he, that I am e^en ready to die of 1 know not how many good Signs and Tokens. I T is jufi: the fame Cafe in Governments : There are Emperical Statefmen as well as Dolors ^ that feed Governours with falle Reprefentations and Reports of Men, and of Things^ they ber i;ray their Mafters to Difhonour and Ruin, and, as Sir Roger fEfirange obferves, when that find the VefTel Unking, fave themfelves in the Long- Boat, EVERY body knows, and therefore I need Bot dwell ou this Argument, that Princes arc fiatter'd. (6) flatt^rM, and impos'd on in the Affairs of State^ put of private Views in the Perfons that repre- fent, or out of private Compliments to Royal Ignorance. Now^ as Kings are accuftom'd to nothing fo much as to their owa Praifes \ fo they are accuftom'd to nothing ^ little as to hear Iruth. This makes it, as I above hinted, much more fafe for a Writer that lives, under a Regal Form of Government, to employ his Pen on what is tranfadted in a Eepublick : For, if he of- fers to advance any bold Maxims, if he fhould prefume to think that Trlnces are accountable for their Time to the People ^ or, as J\4ilton in his An- fwer to Salmafms courftly exprcffes himfelf, that a Prince is hut a firfl Servant of the People j if he fhould fay, that Kings are not rais'd to that Emi- nence, only to be gaz'd at, bow'd to, or reve- renc'd : That, in ipwhlkk Calamities ^ they ought to jhare in the Miferies of their Suhje^Sj or ^ as -f- PLVTARCH finely obfetves, th^t nedeSiing ^ j^ffairs of the People^ and purfuing Pleajuresy ii A Degree of Tyranny in Princes : If, I fay, he fhould take this Liberty of moralizing, it would be caird a Contempt J a Libel on the Dignity of the Crown ^ and the Law would, perhaps, be firaiiid beyond the Letter, to make the Author fenjjbk of his Infolence. But I cannot help concluding in the Words of a very wife Man, Befperata ejus Trincipis Salus eft, cujus aures it a formats funt, ut ^fpera cju<& utilia , nee quicquam niji jucundum acci- fiat ^ That Prince's Safety is in a defperatc Cafe, whofe Ears judge all that is profitable to be too fharp, and will entertain nothing that is harlh and unpleafant. I I In his Comparifon betwixt Sylla and Lyfandevc ( 7 ) t SHALL take the Liberty of a few mbr^ digreflionary Obfervations, which however fhall ferve to open the Way to my Defign in the Goi^ tinuation of thefe Memoirs. I T is comition for Men, when they fuffer in their Interefts, to be very loud in Complaints againft the fuppos'd Caufes of their Misfortunes ; they can look on unconcern'd at the Miferies of their Fellow-Citizens, while they themfelves arc perforially unhurt •, and never ftir till the Fire is coming to their own Doors: Then, as Horace proverbially reafons, Tud res aghur^ jaries cum froximus drdet, WHEN the Flame comes near enough to Icorch us, it becomes our own immediate Cafe, and we begin to be upon the Alarm. I am a Lover of Stories, and give me Leave to tell a pleafant one upon this Subjed from the ingenious Sir Roger lEflrange. A certain Phllazery in the Time of OLIFERy when the Difcontents of the People were high againft the Set of Rafcals who had the Adminiftration then in their Hands, was always praifing the IVifdom^ the Juftice^ and Honefty of the Government : But a Defign being talk'd of for fuppreffing the Philaz^ers Office, our obedient ^matick immediately chang'd his Note, he found out his Patriots to be a Set of the moft impious Villains that ever were plac'd at the Head of a Nation, they were Murtherers and Robbersy they had cut off the beft of Kings that ever reign'd, they had beheaded the Bilhops, pillag'd the Peo- ple, overturn'd the Church, and what was more mon- C8> rnonllroiis and facrilegious tbaa all the reft, were now lahowringta fupprefs the ?hi\attvs\ This^ ih general, is the deprav'd Nature of Mankind^ v^e love-,^ wb' hate, we obey, for Intereft : And the Caufe muft be from a Want of Senfe, or a' Want ofHonejiy: And, perhaps, at this Time there may be in the World a moft fkritlful Lack. of both. ' MANY among us, who are now murmuring put our Complaints, were once as vehement in the Praifes of the Men we take upon us to con- demn. I ihall notaflumethe Province of deter-' mining which is done with moilReafon-, for I am' refolv'd not to meddle with domeftkk Affairs : I am no Statefman^ but an Hlfiorian : What I am doing is with a good Dellgn, to quiet the Minds, of Men, and make them afham'd of their unrea- Ibnable Glamours. Nothing in Nature is fo con-r temptible as a Fool ; and o.ne of the moft fignal Marks of a Fool, is Ficklenefs of Mind. Let thole who fancy themfelves {b injur'd now, exa-" mine th^ Hiftoties of other Nations, and of other Times, and they may chance to 'find a great Part of their Reflexions upon their Fellow-Citizens to be partial and unjuft. To demonftrate this, gnd'Witfi no other View, 1 have taken the Pains to finifh, thefe MEMOIRS, and to let Men fee th^t nilimy is not originally of £??^////j Growth^' but fiourifh'd beyond the Jlps many Ages fince. Arts and Sciences fometimes die, and feem loft to the World*, but after havmgflepta Revolu- tion of Ages, are difcover'd again and reviv'd bv fotrie ingenious Spirit : I won't lay the fame of Roguery^ becaufe Til make no Applications. ^ TO (9) T O draw nearer to my Defign, the unhappy may find fome Comfort in comparing themielves to the more unhappy ; and their Anger, againft thole who have injur'd them, will leOeUj when they perceive others have been more ftrongly in- jur'd by more flagrant Villains. For my own Part, I am fafe, for CATILINE is dead ^ and I fuppofe his Sprit is dead with him. All the ^bettors J Alders^ and Accomplices of this horrid Qnffiracy are now no more \ they have long fmce met the Rewards of all their impious Pradifes. The "Juftice of the Immortal Gods, which is nei- ther to be brib'd by Gold^ nor influenc''d by Varty^ has long fince laid hold of thefe Wretches : An .Opinion that 1 venture to maintain, notwith- ftanding it is grown fo unfafhionable, and is fb exploded. For there are Men at this Day, with, whofe Principles C^TO's Accufation will fuit, that believe Hell to be a mere Fi^ion^ and that the Souls of the Good and the Wicked have the fame Portion and Allotment after Death. -(- BEFORE I enter upon the Remainder of iny Hiftory, \ think it highly to my Purpofe to make fbme Reflexions upon a Maxim of MA- CHlAFEL'Sy which has very much the Air and Countenance of a Paradox, to wit, that the Dif- agreement of the Veo^le and the Senate of Rome made that Commonwealth both free and mighty. For it is moil evident, that the Agreement of the Senate, and the Tribunes of the Feofle, in fuf- C fering t Credo, falfa exiftumans ea, qu7/^, and af- tc:rwards of our CATILINE^ we fnall find that all thefe Commotions were occafion'd by fome Incrodchrnents^ \vhich were attempted by the Gc^ ver^meut aoinnit the Li^^ry; of the People. For it was a long Time before Gold had any Influence m Rome J to corrupt the Firtue of h^x Fatriots : Therefore the' Tribunes of the People, who were the Guardians of their Liberties, being Proof a- gainft all Temptation, never gave up one Tittle of (I» ) of their facred Rights, which, to their immor" tal Honour, they kept for fo -many Ages invio- lable„ THE Tribunes thus ading up to the Duty of their Trult, and oppofing the molt diftant De- iigns of the great Men againft the People, were wont to make publick the Tranfactions of the ienate : The People, by this Means, taking Alarm when they faw their Liberties aim'd at by fome new Law, were accuftom'd to run tumultuoufly through the Streets, to ftiutup their Houfes, afc iemble in Numbers^ and fo refort in Bodies to the Senate-Houfe, calling out and exclaiming a- gainll them : And tho' this Cuftom may feemi extravagant, and a little outragious, yet it pro? duc'd an admirable Effed: For it kept the Grut Ones in Awe of the Veoi^le's Refentment^, and hinder'd them from proceeding in any Jrbitrd^ ^y Law. , MACHIAFEL upon this Subjed obferves, that every City has its peculiar Ways, and this ii/vas one peculiar to the Romans : It was the Me- thod they purfued of venting their Difcontents, and letting their Superiors know wherein they diflik'd their Proceedings. Let no Man there- fore, fays he^ call Rome a diforderly Common- w^ealth •, for good Examples proceed from good Education, good Education from good Laws, and good Laws from thefe very Tumults which fome take upon them without Judgment to con- demn. . blCERO^l remember^ fays, that the Deflre^ of a free People never tend to the Stibverfion of G 2 K- (12) Liberty ^ and that their Dilcontents proceeci ei- ther from adtnal OpprefTion, or from Ibme Dan- ger, which they forefee, of falling into it. And in Cale the People Ihould be deceived in their Opi^ nions of Things, there is nothing more eafy thani to fet them right, if fome Or^^or of //c);^^^ arid Credit^ will but take the Pains to ihew theni their Errors : For the. People have a Capacity of comprehending Truth, they love it, and willing- ly fobmit to it. 'Tis therefore dotibtlefs, that the People are the beft Guardians of Liberty ^ and if we look back into the Roman Hiflory, we fhall find, that from the Expnlfion of the Tar- quinSy to the Time of the Gracchi^ which took in the Space of Three Hundred Years, the Civil Broils in Rome- feldom caus'd Banljlomeni -^ and much feldom.er the Shedding of Blood. I fay, that in all that Period of Time, their civil Dif- cord did not occafion the Banilhment of more than ten Romans^ and very few were fatigued with pecuniary Punifhments. But in the Time of CATILINE^ whofe Hiftory we are writing, w^hen Gold had influenc'd the Minds and Affe- 6:ions of Men, and the Tribunes of the People ^o fhamefully fold the Liberty of the Romans^ there was a villanous Harmony in the Senate, the Caufe of all the Murthers, Depredations, Taxes, and Innovations of Government which follow'd. THERE was one material Circumftance iri the Management of the Co??fpirators, which we forbore to touch upon in the firll Part of tbefe Memoirs-, I mean their.Opprellion of METEt- L V 5, a moit noble Roman. He was, indeed, the Darling of the People, and boafted the Spi- rit of a true Roman Heroe : His Notions of Ho- nour ('3) Hour were fo exalted, that he fcarce believ'd it poffible for a Man to be a Villain, till he was convinc'd of it by many Inftances from the Wretches whonl he had taken out of Dirt and Mifery. THE Authors of that Age make this remark- able Obfervation on the Fortunes of Metellm and of Marcus Crajfus, The latter, they fay, was fo happy as never to have met with Ingratitude from ahy Man^ and the Reafon was, becaufe he had iiever fervid any one : But the former, who was a Lover of Mankind, and fcatter'd his Benefits with an unceafing Hand, was generally hetrafd by the Perfons that were inrich^d by his Bounty- His Houfe was an Afylum to which all the mi- ferable repair 'd for Refuge *, and he thought eve- ry Man intituled to his Favour, who was unhap- py. To be a Romany and be poor, was all the Merit that he look'd for in the Objed, on whom he intended to beftow a Benefit *, and he judg'd it a kind of Robbery to with-hold his Hand, where Indigence laid Claim to his Protedion. THESE were the Virtues that made Metellus ador'd by his Country, and which doubled their Refped and Veneration for thofe Honours which they paid to his high Birth and Quality •, for he was of the fir ft Rank of Patricians *, and fo impli- cit a Faith did the Romans pay to his great Worth and Honour, that if any thing was propos'd in the Senate, the People were attentive to obferve which Side of the Queftion Metellus embrac'd, and to that Side they were fure to give their Voices. For it was a Maxim among them, that the heH- and moft generous Roman in the World muft always hein the Rlgkr Nor was the Wife ofMetellHs inn ferior to h)er Lord, either in the Honours of her: Birthj or Virtues of her Mind: Her good Na- ture and Benevolence went Hand in Hand with his •, and never were two Tempers io equally match'd, except in Marcus Craffm and his Wife, in whom there was as remarkable a Concurrence in the Extream of Sordldnefs. -/T H E Canfplrators therefore hating the Merit and Popularity of the generous Metcllm^ ( whofe Virtue (hone upon them with fo ftrong a Luftre, that, hke Owls, and other Birds of Night, that cannot bear the Light of the Sun, they feem'd blinded with his Rays,) plotted together to bring about his Ruine. As the moil material Step towaixls perpetrating their more wicked Defigns, the Cahd^ or Rahhk pf Senators of C a- TIL I N e's Piirty,. open'd again ft hiin, and endea- vour'd to blacken him with Calumnies and inrndi- cm Accufations. But Metellm^ who knew both how deai^hewas to the People, and how fiercely he fhould be. worried by the State-Beagles^ ^li- dain'd to give them an inejfeUual Anfwer, and decermin'-d t;Q withdraw, himfelf from Rofne^ \yhicb now was grown fich a Sink of Corruption, tjiac it was not worthy of the Prefence of a noble Roman. When many of the Patricians and bet- ter Sort gatber'd about him, and ofFer'd .him their Service, he would not fuffer them to raife. a Sedition upon his Account, but was obftinately ben.t to a Retirement, faying, Either when the Tofiure of Affairs is mended^ and the People repent^ J fljail he recalPd ^ or if Things remain in the pre- fent Vojlure^ it is preferable to ms to he abjeni^ •^The". r 15 ) f The Departure of Metellpfs v/as Matter of Tri- timph to the Fadion, and fatisfied both their Wifhes and Refentments : For they immediately fell to pillaging his Goods, and made an Edid for the keeping him in Banifhment. And from this Period may properly be dated the Beginning of C A T I L I ne's Conf^lracy, ■ METELLVS) having thus withdrawn from Romcj was receiv'd with great Favour and Ho- nour at ^W^^: And tho' llript of his Fortunes, and a Dependant on that State, he flill kept up his old Generofity of Spirit and Love to his Countreymen : For no Romany either diflrefs'd by Shl^rpyacky or under other Neceflities, was caft on that Illand, but reforted to Metellus^ and found his Purfe open to their Wants: We ihould not fail of numerous Inftances of this his Bounty, had \ Plutarch left us his Life as he in- tended to have done : But either that Author did not^ live to perform this defirable Tradl, or it has had the Fate of many other valuable Pie- ces, to be loll by the Injury of Time, I THINK it cannot be difpleafing here; to take a ihort Notice of the Pofture of civil Af- fairs at this Crip in Rome \ that the Reader, who, perhaps, may conceive an high Opinion of the Dignity of that Commonwealth, may not be fo * MeteHus optimis viris ad fe coiicurrentibus, non per- miiit fua caufa feditionem exoriri, verum optim^ ratione ufus, urbe egrefius, inquit : Vel Ego in Patriam revQcabor, cum melius Refpublica habebit, & Plebs refipiet ; vel li eodem modo habebit, abefle pricftiterit. Plut. in Vit4 C. Marii. ^ Plutarch in vita C. Marii. much C i6 ) much furpri'z'd at the mean and contemptibll Things that were now tranfaded. -f- It was an Old Inftitution at Rome^ that the Citizen who was qualified to be eleded a Senator, mufl be worth 800 Seftertia: But CATILINE and his Fadion found a way to evade this Law, and procured feveral Vagabond Perfons to be call'd up into the Senate. Thefe of Confequence were to make a Trade of their new Honours, and whether the Affair depending concern'd private Property, or fbme Bufinefs of the Common- wealth, they always went on that Side where the moft Money was ftirring. When fuch Men as thefe were once in PoITeffion of this Dignity, their Bufinefs was to keep themfelves fo : In Or- der to which, they took away from the People their ComlHay which was a Priviledge the Romans had of meeting at certain ftated Times, being lawfully call'd by a Magifl:rate, to chufe Men, and determine of Things by their Votes. || For had thefe Comitia been continued and allow'd, they were under x'\pprehenfions of being call'd to Account for their Corruptions ^ and as C. Memmif US in his celebrated Speech upon another Occafi- on obierv'd, Majus Dedecus eft parta amitterey quam omnino non faravijje. ^ WE finifli'd the fir ft Part of thefe Memoirs ( for a fhort Recapitulation feems to me very ne- ceflary ) with the triumphant Acquittal of CA- TiLINEy the feeming Convidionof ^w«iz/j, and the Charaders of feveral of the Accompli- t P. Minucius de Civ. Rom. |j Sigonius de Antiquo Turd Civ. Romanor. 1. i, cap. 17, * Saluflt. in bcilo Jitgurthino, ces •, (17) ces ', But the Enquiries did not end here : The Management of the Confpirators was ib intricate and perplex'd, that it lengthen'd out the Pro- ceedings of the Senate, by trifling Digreflions, by propofing inflgnificant Edi(f>s, to amufe, di- vert, and delay the important Difcoveries before them. For, as we elfe where have obferv'd, there was a falfe Zeal at the Beginning which fliew'd it felf iii the Senate, and which was to be cool'd and taken off by Degrees, and this was the Work of Time^ W E have already declar'd, by what Artifi- ces this was brought about, in our Relation of the 'Trial of CATILINE-^ and with what infinite Succefs, in favour of the Confpirators, But upon every new Aceufation, there were new Applications to be made to thofe Senators of a forgiving, pacifick Difpofition, who never would give their Votes before they felt the Me- rits of the Caufe. And tho' Hiftory has been very fevere in its Remarks upon the Proceedings of fome of thefe Senators, concerning the Num- ber of Things which they did againil: the Senfe of the People, and Advantage of the Common^ wealth : Yet thus much may be faid in their Commendation ( which I hope, is fome fmall Degree of Praife J that the corrupt Part of the Senators never voted for one Edi^t or Refolutiori contrary to the Interefi of the PeopU without be-' ing paid for it^ THUS did this Stream of Corruption, like a furious Current that has fwell'd above its Banks, bear down every Thing before it, drow- ning the Neighbouring Plains^ fweeping away D whai^ ( i8) whatever oppos'd its way, and leaving a Defb* lation not to be exprefs'd. Yet, even then, there were feveral Virtuous and truly Noble Romansj among the Senators^ but few were their Numbers, and not able to oppofe the migh- ty Strength which warr'd againft them, Non tali auxilioy nee defenforibus iftis Temfm eget Virg. AND this it was that made the knavifh Cabal amongft them great, opulent, and mighty : For it is certain, that if there had been no Men of Honour at that Time in the Senate, the being a Villain would have been a very poor Trade : and thus the little Oppofition that was made againft them, faint as it was^ was fufficient to make them diftinguilh themfelves in that horrid Light, in which we view them at fo many Ages diftance, but at the fame time made them Great. THIS artificial way of managing the Senate, it is thought, thatC at i l i n e learn'd from Sylk ; who once propofing to the Senate to raife a Tax upon the People of five hundred Talents, Deci- us FaterculuSj a Senator, oppos'd it. This Tater- culm was a Leader of a great Party, a Man of equal Honour^ but of much greater Capacity than om Hortenfm: He made an Harangue againft this Cuftom of plundering the People, and by his Inrcreft, and that of the honeft Senators, who join'd with him upon this Occafion, the Propofal was throv/n out with Scorn and Difgrace. But SylLt^ and his Fadion, fancying this Man to be made of a pliant fort of Alettle, tempted him privately with the Offer of a large Bribe, on Condition ('9) Condition that he would joyn with them in paA iing an Edidt for levying the above mentioned Sum upon the Publick. Vaterculus^ being ibftned with the Offer of the Bribe, told them that they wanted half the Qualifications of Rogues 5 for you have nothing, [aid He^ but the Will, with- out the Art, Cunning, or Wit, that is necefTa- ry in managing difficult and villanous Projeds. Thereupon he advis'd them to bring the Affair on again, but that, inftead of propofing five hundred Talents, they Ihould demand a Thoufand: and upon Condition they would give half that Sum to be difpos'd of at his Difcretion, among the Senators who had no Averfion to Money, he undertook that their Point fhould be carried. THE Day being come, when this Affair was repropos'd to the Senate, Taterculus took Care to be the firfl Man, who rofe up, and oppos'd this Demand. Looking round him with a Face of diffembled Wonder and Surprize, Molt Wife and Noble Fathers, [aid k, Is it not aftonifhing to hear thefe Men propofe a Tax of a Thoufand Talents to be raifed upon the People, when we could not find the leafb Shadow or Fretence for granting Five Hundred f It looks to me as if they were confident of fucceeding, other wife they ne- ver would have rifen thus in their Demands. For my own Part, I muft confefs, 1 have fo far chang'd my Sentiments upon this Matter, that I would advife every honell: Roman, who has the leaft Tendernefs, or Concern for the Poor Peo- ple, to grant this Levy without any further De- bate, or Enquiry about the Unreafonablenefs of it, left if we again perfift to refufe, they fhould advance their Demand to Two thoufand Talents. D 2 THUS (20) THUS was this unhappy People feanter'd and laugh'd into Mifery ^ and the Fruits of their Indullry, and the Labours of their Years, taken from them in Sport. But, in the Hiftory which we are writing, the People muft of Keceffity be in deplorable Circum fiances, when the Cn'mw^^ were themfelves the "Judges^ or at leaft fo many of the JW^f; were the Cn'w^m^/j. Continual Le- vies were made upon the People by the prefiding Fadion, upon the moft unreafonable and ridicu- lous Pretences : whereas the poor People knew very well that all thefe ExaEhions were difpos'd of in Bribes among the Senators \ and as often as there was any important Queftion depending in the Senate, it was attended with a new Tax, which was to be adminiftred to the corrupt Sena- tors like a fweet Draught, in order to make them digeff: a bitter Pill : Infomuch, that That Form of Government, which, before it was abusM, maintain'd fo beautiful an Order, and for many Ages difpers'd fuch Harmony in the Minds of Men of all Degrees, now lay upon the Kecks of the People, like a heavy Yoak : and many, who lov'd their Country, and would have died in Defence of its Conftitution, if the leaft innovation had been attempted, feeing how it v\Ms abus'd in the Adminiitvarion, thought Mo- narchy, and even Tyranny it felf, preferable to fo corrupt a Senate. For every Thing was now done, which a Tyra-rit ii his Lull of Power would have done ^ with this Difference, that whereas a Tyrant would have done it by his own Authority^ it now was obtain'd by Bribery •, which of confe- quencc was ^o nnich more burthenfom to the People, becaufe they paid more heavily for it. BUT (21) B U T to return to the Series of my Story 5 AS foon as C AT I LINE was acquitted. He and Hortenfms play'd the Part of two Jug- glers, whofe Biifinefs is to impofe on the Croud by Confederacy : And now mighty Difcoveries were to be made, and great Severities infiided ; and now again, thefe Difcoveries would not amount to any Convidion, and confequently the Expectations of Punifhment were difappointed. The great Bufinefs that they had upon their Hands, was to amufe the People, and endea- vour to take off the Fury of their jull Refent- ments. Every Day produced a falfe Rumour ; and whenever a Confpirator was acquitted, a Report was induftrioufly fpread, that He fhould ftand a fecond Trial. This a little appeas'd the violent Clamours, Another Report, whi-ch they caus'd to pafs among the People, was, thatCA- TI LINE and the reft would come i/otofm/y, and refund the People's Money, I N the mean time, to make a little Shew of Juftice, they relblv'd to punifh certain Inferior Perfons, who were not in the Confpiracy, but had been fubfervient to them in carrying it on, without being in the Secret of the Wickednefs that was deilgn'd by it. This gave Occafion to many vehement Debates*, and there was much Divifion touching the Qiiality of the Punifhment that fhould be infiided. Some thought, as the People had been fo pillag'd and defrauded, that Death could not be too much for fuch Crimes : feut the Number were for mitigating this Sen- tenqeo One, who was fufpeded of being him- felf (22 ) fclf guilty, made an Harangue againfl thefe Men \ but contended ftrongly that their Punifhment ought not to afFeft their Lives *, He was not, he laid, for having them fpar^d to ftrengthen C A Tl- JjINEs Tarty, hut he would advife a Fecuniary Tumjloment, and that their Perfons Jhould be confind inftrong Hold : 'That no Applications Jloould he made thereafter either to the Senate, or People in their fa-^ vour : And that whoever jhould attempt it, jlwuld he hoUd upon as an Enemy to the Repuhlick and Common Safety. ^' This palliating Speech contain'd Rea- :fons for fparing the Confpirators^ upon pretence that the Laws had provided no Punifliments for luch Crimes as theirs -, that it would not be jiift to make Laws after the Fafts committed ; and that tho' the Greatnefs of their Crimes had ex- ceeded all Imagination, yet he would have them punifh'd no otherwife than as the Laws had provided -j- THO' thefe Points were handled with much Art and Eloquence, C ATO perceiv'd the Cun- ning and Delign of this Harangue, and anfwer'd it by a fine Oration, which is extant in all its Length in Salufl* He gives Reafons from the Nature of their Crimes, as well as for the Safety of * Placet igitur eos dimitti, Sc aiigeri Exercitum Cati" linx ? minume. Sed ita cenfeo \ publicandas eorum pecu- nias : ipfos in Vinculis habendos per municipia, qxiiie foaxurae opibns valent ; neu quis de his poftca ad Sena- tuni refcrat, neve cum populo agat ; qui aljter fecerit, Se^ natum exiflumare, eum contra Rempublicam, &c Salutem omnium iadurum. Sal. in bello Catilin. t Nam li digna Picna pro Fatftis eorum reperitur, novum Goniilium approbo: iin Magnitude Scelcris omnium in- j;enia exupcrat, ijs utenduni cenfeo, qua: Legibus compara- ta (iint. Idemi^/i. (23) of the Commonwealth, why they fliould every Man be cut off. He puts them in Mmd, how many Times the Gods had fav'd the Common- wealth, but tells them, that the Divine Protec- tion is not to be fought by the Tears of Women ; but that Things fucceed by Vigilance, good Counfel, and Adivity. He likewife remmds them, that Manlius Torquatus had caus'd his Soa to be' put to Death, only for difobeying his Or- ders •, and could it be a Quellion in that Senate, what muft be done with a Crew of profligate Traytors, Plunderers, and Defpoilers? And then he proceeded to enumerate the Calamities, which they had brought upon the Common- wealth, the Difcouragements that had been fhewnto Virtue^ and Honour-^ inflead of which they had introduced Luxury and Avarice^ Vublkk Poverty^ and Wealth amafs'd in Frivate Hands. W H 1 L E the Affair of Puniihment was thus controverted in the Senate, while every Tongue prefum'd to name and cenfure the Guilty, and every honeft Heart was wifhing that they might receive the Rewards of their Treachery, the fo- reign Courtez^ansy whom we have mention'd in the firft Part of our Memoirs, were extreamly terrified at every Step of thefe Difcoveries, and every Debate that arofe upon the Enquiries of the Senate. They expeded nothing lefs than to be made publick Examples to frighten all Concubine: for the future from medling with any thing out of their own Way. I T is pretty obfervable, that all Countries and all Ages have agreed in their Sentiments in this one Point, that they have thought it a Grie- vance^ (H) vmcej that the Ladies of Pleafure fhould be lii^ rich'd by the Spoils of the Puhlich This was ^ particular Heart-burning at Rome-^ they could not bear to fee thefe prodigal Dames flourifhing in the Subftance of the -ncin^d Citizens : And there has been a Time in England^ when Mur- murs have arofe from the felf-lame Difcontent ^ for as Sir Walter Raleigh curioufly obferves, it hath never grieved the SuhjeEt to give to their Kingi but when they knew there was a devouring Lady, that had her Share in all things that fafs'd. "^ BUT thefe fuccefsful/Z^r/of^ coming off be- yond all Expectation, their Tranfports now were equal to their Fears before. The fame pre- vailing Argument that made others Innocent protected them f^om too fevere a Scrutiny. (^Quid non rnortalia pell or a cogisj Auri facra fames ! ) Our Authorities, indeed, fay, that a certain noble Senator was for bringing them upon Examina- tion, but it was a Work of too much Honefly to be efFeded, tho' the very Reafons that were ufed to have them fpar'd, Ihould have been turn'd to inhance their Punifhments *, to wit, that they having fent all their Dividend of the Plunder into the Country of the Allohroges^ which was their Native Land, it would be impoffible to make them refund, fince there was no co- ming at their Money,or making them give it back at that Diftance. YOUNG Ferresy as we have formerly ta- ken Notice, was Agent for thele foreign Courte^ zans^ in procuring them a Share of Money in thg * In his Prerogative of Parliaments, p. 324. the pubiick Plunder. Aurelia and FulvU were tiie Two, whofe Intereft he found riioft his Ac- count to efpoufe : His Acquaintance with Gal- lantries let him fd far into the Secrets of the Sey^ that he knew all the little Picques and Jealou* lies that Women are certain to entertain againft each Other : He knew how Each defires to have the Preference, both in Efteem and Profit, of the other: And therefore, whene.ver he trafr fick'd for Aurelia^ he inforra'd her that Fulvia was a Stranger to her Dividend ^ and io^ on the contrary, when he traded for Fulvia, he in- form'd her that Aurelia knew as little of her Profits. But when the whole Matter came to be unravell'd to the Senate, and all young Fer- r-e/s Tranladions were laid open, it was no lon- ger a Secret, what immenfe Summs both theft Strumpets got by partaking in the Gains of thi^ Co-afpiracy. MY Readers, perhaps, will be induct to think that Rome was a Place of fignal Chaftity at this Time, when Great Men were oblig'd to fend fo far for Harlots. On the contrary^ it ne- ver was more vicious •, and tho' this was the ffrfl Inftance we find of. having it done, 'tis cer- tain that they afterwards repeated the fame Ex- travagance. For the Emperor Domkidn fent his Favourite Aret'mus into Germany^ to fetch fome Harlots of the largeft Breed from thatCoun- trey. Great Men, wanton with Wealthy have ftrange Curio fities ; . they were wont to fend to the fame Placefor Mares of a prodigious Size to draw their Chariots : and if the Accounts,^ whicll Hiftory gives us^ be juft, thefe hadles were fit for klthcY Vfe, .; ■ , (2(5) ^AVRELIA OrefiilUy 'tis faid, was Irj over- joy'd at her unexpeded Deliverance, that fhe refolv'd, by way of Thanks, to repair the Tem? pie oif^enus at her own proper Charge. She had in her Youth chofen Venus for her Tutelar God- defs, and continued, during her whole Life, the Itrideft Pradifer of all her Rites and Ceremonies. Some Authors feem to intimate, that Ihe and Fdvia^ with the other Harlots, had all been cho- fen Prieflefles of Venus ^ but this appears a very doubtful Piece of Hiftory *, for if it be true that they had no Perfond Charms^ they could in no wife have been admitted to that Fundion. It is certain, however, that fi^/w^ took no inconfide- rable Pains to initiate feveral young Ladies in the Myfteries of this Goddefs, and difcover'd to them the Secrets pradifed by the Women of their Country, when they facrific'd to her. .ThisF^/-. via was particularly learned in the Language of that lafcivious Deity, which Ihe ufed with great Freedom before the Men, having obferv'd that this was one of the Pleafiires of feme batter'd Lovers of that Age. I MUST not forget here a memorable Cir- eumitance, which happen'd when it was debated to call thefe Women and you77g VE R R E S to' an Account: The Generality of the Senate over- ruling this Point, and Cicero finding it was in vain to prcfs their Examination, he fat down, and, with a becoming Air of Refentment, faid, IVel} then^ let them go unpunifHd ; for the Anger of a State jljould not extend either to Fools, or Womeno BUT tho' thefe Courtez^ans came off fb well, thofe inferior Perfons^ who, as we have above hinted,' (27) hinted, were only Machines and fubfervien t Ar- gents, and were not acquainted with the iniqui- tous Schemes of the Confpiracy, felt all the Se- verity of the Senate turn'd upon them, and were mulded in their Eftates, as the Laws had made no provifionary Punirtiments to reach their Per- fons. Thefe Sufferers, who knew well where all the Guilt lay, and what Artifice and Partiality were ufed to skreen the real Criminals, did not fpare to proclaim their Sentiments of the Injury, in having a Punilhment transferr'd upon them, which was due to the Crimes of others. One of them more bold, and more facetious, than the reft, compar'd his Cafe to that of the condemn'd Thief in the FMe^ who being exhorted to Re- pentance, faid, that he repented of one Crime from the Bottom of his Soul, and that was, that he did not fteal enough. I have ftolen emughy continued he, for my felf only^ hut had I ftolen enough for my Judges tooy my Crimes then would have. wanted no Exhortation to Repentance, So bold, and publick,was the Raillery of the Times againlt the corrupt Part of the Senators. NOR bad Quintus Jnmus^ny better Opinion of the partial Proceedings in thefe Trials ^ for he himfelf being found guilty, as is mention'd in the firft Part of our Memoirs, thought himr felf cruelly ufed by thofe whom he expeded to find his Friends : Many of whom did not ftick to give their Voices againft him ^ and CA TI- L INE himfelf is reported to have faid, when it was debated in the Senate to mulft Ajnius in a Sum of Money, Let us fine him to fatisfy the Feofle, Ez THIS (28) THIS could not fail of ])rovoking Anmusj who, in an Oration which he made to the Se- nate in his own Defence, faid but little to palli- ate his own Guilt, but very artfully expos'd the Partiality and Corruption of the Senators, who were for condemning him, at the fame Time that they acquitted others whom they knevy to be more guilty. Nor did he forbear flily to in- finuate to them, that he knew the Reafon was, becaufe he had not applied hirafelf to them as They had ^ hinting at the Bribesy which all Rome knew were fcatter'd smong the corrupt Senators. And it was fufpected, that this Boldnefs, with which he had tax'd them, procur'd the Remifli- on of Part of his Punifhment, to filence his Cla- mours. LENTVLVS, whom we have formerly ob- ferv'd to have been acquitted on his Trial, begaa now to be very bufy in the Senate ', making En- quiries into the Conduct of others, and affeding a mighty Shew of integrity. This was another Artifice of' the Confpirators, to put fome of their own Body upon the profecuting fart, which was a fure Method of ftifiing thofe Difco- verjes, which otherwife might have turn'd to their Fiej.idice. 4t may not be below our No- tice, as Hiilorians, to account for to/-«/z//s ob- taining the Sirname of Sura, which vyas from a particular AcTion that he usM ujpon his Acquittal. Being a Man of a timorous Spirit, and weak Ca- p^icity, he was obicrv'd to be under great Ter- rors on the Day when be was call'd to the Que- ftion : But as foon= as he was clear'd bytheSe- iiace^ in a Tranfport of Joy he Itarted, and clapp'd f 2? ; clapp'd his Hand upon the Calf of his Leg, which the Romans call'd Sura •, intimating fportingly^ that if any thing could have been prov'd againlt him, he muft have fubmitted to the Penalty. Bt oh hoc delnceps Smx inditum efl till Cognomen^ fays PLVTJRCH^* And this he did in Allufion to a certain Cuftom which they had at Tennis, or fome fuch Exercife, that if any one in his Play by Negligence did let down the Ball, he was oblig'd to hold out his Leg, and have the Ball thrown at it : which Adion, wq are informed, the Romans call'd Suram dare -j-. • LVCIVS Beftia was never queftion'd fpr the Great Bribe which it was difcover'd that he had received : but Cicero made an Oration againft Ce- thegusy tho' he believ'd it would be of no Confe- quence : he mov'd the Senate however, to Ihew his Detcftation of the Man, that Cethegus might be punifhed like a common Gladiator^ which was to fight upon the Stage for the Diverlioa of the People, till he was kill'd. OLD Ferres was, indeed, examin'd •, but ta- king upon him to fpeak loftily of himfelf, and with too little Refped of others, a Roman who was prefent, and ihock'd at his Infolence, call'd out aloud. Ad Saturnalia 1|. This was fpoken in Scorn and Contempt of the Man, and to filence him by putting him InMind of what he had been: for the Saturnalia was a Feftival, at which the Slaves in Rome were allow'd a Liberty of faying what they pleas'd inRailery of their Mailers. * In Vita Ciceronis. f Caeliiis Rhodoginus. J, 2. c. i8. Turnebi Adverfaria. 1. 7, c. 4. li Dien. CaiTjuSo Macrobius^ ^f, WHILE ( 3° } \y H I L E the City was thus amus'd with the inquiries of the Senate, while all were hoping to fee their OpprefTors crufh'd by the Iron Hand of juftice, CJitlLINE was triumphing in his own Addrefs, and artful Management : Old Voltunivu plaid a fly Game behind the Curtain, lind was Jo defended by his Subtilty and the Fa- ^ion, that his Name was hot Jo much as call'd ia QiieJlion : and the bufie flortenfim employ'd both his Tongue and Hands to brmg the Senate 6ver to a good Opinion of the Confftrators. For Oratory now was not his only Province ; he was bjecome like one of the common Aqu^duEhs of the City/ thro' whofe Channels all the Streams of; Corruption flow'd and were diffus'd*, while the c:orrupted Members of the Senate ufed thei^ poor Country under all its Dillrefs, as it is feeii wicked Men do, that, when a Houfe is on fire,' are call'd to its Afliftance, and inflead of endea- vouring to extinguifh the Flames, fall every one to plundering and carrying off what they can, and make an Advantage out of tbe publick Calamity. T H O' Hqrtenfus had a Reputation for Ora- tory, he was infinitely inferior to Pom;^- L^fr^^^ tvhom we have often m.ention'd in our former' Memoirs, and who was not only the fineft Spea- ker, but was one of the moft honell Romans at that time in the Senate. The Party of CatUme and Horterjftus hated him, becaufe they knew he was not to be corrupted : and we may fay this of him, and fome few more Patriots, that, at the Crifis when the greateit Villany iliev^^'d it M^^ there was as great Virtue appear'd. In all hisOra-' V tions i 3' ) tions in the Senate, he divM ihtd the Truth of every Argument, wherein the Service of the Re-r publick was concern'd-, and in the Gourfe of profecuting this Confpiracy, never fail'd of Jhewing the Wickednefs of the Con fpira tors. He once had been imprifon'd by Catilme's'Fadiion^ for having expos'd the Malice of their Defigns on the People, in an Oration which hemade to the Senate. With thefe good QualificationSj he made no very eminent Figure for his Wealthy but; ilill makes a very fine one for his Bonefty. His Sentences were fweet, yet Malculine-, and he deliver'd his Harangues, with a modeft and be- coming Geiture. A ISI OTHER noble Ramm^ who ftrenu- oufly oppos'd the CatiUnanan Fadion, was P £- TR BIVS- This Gentleman was defcended of aPamcian Family, and adorn'd the Honours which he deriv'd from his Anceftors with the t^uftre of his own Virtues. He was, as Salujl lays of him. Homo tnaxime militarise qui amflius mnos triginta TrihunuSj Hut Prafe5iuSy aut Legatus^ Hut Prator, cum magna. Glorid in Exercitu fuerat* He had been , both a Centurion and PrMoVy or General, in the Army : had fpent many Years in the Wars of Rome with infinite Honour, and bore the Marks of the Wounds which he receiv'd in his Country's Caufe, having loft a Limb ia her Service. But his military Prowefs was not the mott fhining part of hisCharader; for he was generous, and very fincere in his Friendfhips: in all Debates of the Senate, whether they con- cern'd, the publick or private Property, he was earneft and fteady to that fide of the Queftion, Whi(:h had Juftice to recommend it In privat* Life ( 32 ) Life he was remarkable for his Humanity to the toiflrefl ; and as it was the Cuftom in thofe bays for Great Men to have their Client Sy who were Peribns they protefted, not for Moneys as onr ve- nal Lawyers of thefe Times do ; but merely for Favour \ all VET RE WS's Clients were Such, tvhoie Misfortunes gave them a Title to his Pa- tronage. THERE were, ilo Doubt, feme other Pa- triots of that Time, of great, tho' not of equal. Honour ; but their Characters lie in a very nar- fowCdmpafs, and their Vertues were lefs em- ploy'd in combating the Villanies of the Confpi- rators. Befides, Hiftorians, like Painters, are ufed to allow mofl: Plac^ to the principal Figures in their Story, and always to fet them in the ftrongeft Point of Light, fo that, wherever the Affair of Catiline ^ is defcrib'd, the Notoriety of him and his Fadion fo ingrofTes the Hiftory, that a virtubus Charader.is thrown into the Shade, and fervesoniy to brighten the Colours of their Villany. . IT wai a very fine Reflexion of ffefiody ani particularly verified in the C^fc of CATILINE^ that no Report or Opinion ahfolutely dies^ which once is grounded in the Hearts of the P'jpuface ^. Tho* CATILINE could evade rhe Cenfure of his Judges, he could not by the fame Arrs take off the Prejudices of the Multitude. Tbey were ia- tisfied of his Guilt, and felt the EfftAs of his impious. Defigns too fevetely, ever to pardon Urn (53) him in their Minds, or to harbour any Opinion bf his Honefly. They knew that where private Property was invaded, their Laws had made Provifion for their Redrefs : Nam Civihus cum funt erepta Pe'cumay civill fere aBlone^ &.pnvata jure refetuntur. But from C A TI LINE what Cpmpenfation was to be expefted ? Or, what, indeed, availed their idle Hatred ? As they could not have Satisfaftion on hisPerfon, they ivere refolved to have it on his Charafter. . They vented their Refentments in publick Clamours % they loaded him with Reproaches, and purfued him with Libels, if any thing could be call'd a Libel, on One who was the publkk Mark of In- famy.. They drew Parallels from the Abufes of Magiftrates in other States, and applied them all to the pernicious Condud of CATIL I NE^ and their own Diftrefs. Now were reviv'd and handed about the Elegidck Verfes of SOLO Ni which he made on a like Calamity of the Athenh ansy and which make fuch a Figure in one of the Pleadings of Demoflhene's ^4 As they Were rec- koned very lively to paint the Frauds and Op- freffion ofCATlL INE and the Confpirators, and the Miferies under which Rome groan'd from their Extortions, I have thought proper to tran- flate them from the Greeki and to give theni a Place in thefe Memoirs. SO L C) i\r had a Mind to fftew, that tho' the State of Athens labour'd under very fevere Di- ftrefs from the Villany and Extortions of her Magiftrates, yet the Gods would preferve her from utter Ruine *, that Vengeance would over- •* 0eniofth. ih Oratione de F4lf4 Legiitjioaeo F take (34) take the Iniquity of her Oppreflbrs; and the Reahn floiirifh again, when Regard was had to Jiiflice. The EJegiack Verfes d SOLON. AN D fijall this Empire fall ? , . , It muft not he^ 5'^ Jove and the ajfembled Cods decree* Such (Irong Protection heaven-born Pallas Isndsy .Arid evry baleful Influence defends. With out-ftretch'd Arms the Guardian Goddefs waits j Potent in Aidj and hovers o'er our Gates* But rve our f elves againfl nur f elves are bent^ And ft rive to dif appoint the Gods^ Intent : Provoking Ruine, while each Villain ft ains His Hands^;^^^ Confcience with illegal Gains, The Men in Office, as the Vulgar bale, With mean Corruptipn rk/> high States dijgrace^ But inftant Vengeance their bad Deeds provohy For mighty Crimes deferve a mighty ftroke. Swotn with Succefsj in boundlefs Wealth elate ^ profufe in Riot as o''ergrown Eftate^ They know no Mean^ but virtuous Rule deride^ And give a Loofe to Luxury and Pride. Strong in Opprejftony and in Guilt grown bold^ They hoard up Treafures of ill-gotten Gold* The Pub lick Wealth isfeizJd by private Hands ^ JSfor fp.ires their Rapine what the Shrine demands : The Gods and People, equally their Care, >^ common Spoil, among themselves they ft^are, Eachy Harpy-like^ invades his Neighbour's Rights \ And laughs at JufticCy and her Edicts fights* But Jl)e, ft em Goddefs^ all their Anions weighs^ ■ Nor long their righteous Piyjijljmcnt delays* Thui (35) l^hus o'er the Realm a dm£rous Vlcer fpreads^ And big DiftrefsereBs her Hydra'j Heads, 'the Soul of Liberty vpe once could boafly Is damft with IVants, and in Opprelfton lofi. Proud of her Gains imperious S\a\r\Y fiends ^ And meafures out the unacquainted Lands : The cheated Poor^ to fhun th* Opprejfors Snares^ Fly from their Native Clime^ and Houjlwld Cares- Now RuinCy like a Stream^ out ragious grows ^ And in its Way each private Dome oerfows. Not Wealthy nor Grandeur ^ can its Force rebate \ Jtfeeks the Proudy and tnoch their empty State* Thence with remorfelefs Hafte it hurries on^ • And with the Pallace/tp^fp; the Cottage down* TE Men of Athens, to my Words attendy And hear the Counfel of his Countrfs Friend : Warred by MisfortuneSy e'er it be too latCy Learn J that Injuftice may o'er- turn a State. Revere the Goddefsy and her aw fid Scale , And let the Cries of the opprefl prevail. Shall cunning Traytors^ skreend by Men in PowVj iour People pillage y dndyour Wealth devour ? No \ let the Strengthy and Rigour y of the Law Purfue the Spoilers, and Corruption awe. But happy is -the Land, where Jufiice reigns ; 'She binds the daring Villain down in Chains ; Chech the proud Hearty makes Contumely bow-, And f moot hs. the fawcy fupercilious Brow- Roots up unriper^d Guilty eWjljotto height *, '^And tnakes the Law's toofubtle Windings fir ait, '^Strife and Contention in her Pre fence ceafey "And turn to Order, Harmony, and Peace. THE miferable Condition of the Athenian People, as exprefs'd in thefe Verfes, and which had (30 bad a great Refemblance to the Miferies of Rom., under the Depredations of CATILINE and the Coiifpirators, puts me ill Mind of a Maxim, which has fomething in it the more extraordinary, as it was delivered in an Arbitrary Government : That it is the Duty of all Magiftrates to defend the People^ for tiieirCafe muft be miferable, when they are forced to ufe their Hands to de- fend themfelves againft 1\\q Violences oi X.\[q Great ^ which fliould be employ'd in getting the 5?^^^- fiance of Life. \\ ' , \ W H E N the Difcontents of Rom^ were fb high, and the Wants of private Families fo^preP ling, it is to be admir'd that CATILINE did not fall by fome Tumult of the Populac? : But their Refentmeius piirfued him not with this kind of Violence : They affaulted him only with their Tongues and PenSj which had indeed the feffcd of galling his Pride, and letting him nn- derftand how univerfally he was hated, CATILINE was of a very moody peevifc Temper, full of Supicion, and foon mov'd to Anger upon any Infult. And, as it is obferv'd of People that are deaf, whenever they fee a il^augh, or Smile, in Company, they are apt to think themfelves the Objeds of Raillery, and in- terpret every thing as a Refledion upon their In- firmities: So C ATI LINE underftood every thing that was faid, or writ, in his Time of other Men, to be levelFd at him. If a Writer happened II II faut proteger les peuples; Dieu leur a donne-des bras, pouf gagncr leur vie, pluto: c^ue pour fe defendre cen- tre la Viofcnce desGrancls. L'AbbI dc Bellegarde, (37) happen'd to fpeak with Honour of Bmtuiy at Sc^voUy the Horatiiy or DecU, he took this to be done with a Defign of Libelling him, by fetting their Adions in Oppofition to his. If, on the con* trary, the Hiftorian reprefented the Actions of infamous Men, whether Antient or Modern, R(h fnan or Barbarlayij this was ftill a fharper Satire 5 for he applied it all home to himfelf. KOR did CATILINE alone, but the reft of the Ccnffirators likewife, take to themfelves every Invedive that was either fpoken,or penn'd, ^gainft wicked Men : And, by their Clamours againit the Authors, kept the Refentments of the People awake ^ who now believ'd that all which had been alledg'd againft them was true ; fo that Things which at firft were only read for Amufementy by theie Men's Comments and Conftru^ Uions to themfelves, were underftood in a Senfe clifFerent from what had been before fufpeSted. They beft knew, indeed, whether the Copies were like them, or no, and therefore could belt make the Application. And, fince they were the firft, who took all Infamy to themfelves, it is no Won- der if the Romansj who hated them, agreed to let them have it. BUT their Capricioufnefs on this Subjeft was ib odd and Tyrannical, that it was a Crime for Men to complain of what they fufFer'd. It was like putting Men upon the Rack, and forbidding them to groan. Such were the Miferies of thefe Times^ yet, in the midft of all this, CATILINE was well enough pleas'd to fee Honenfm abus'd, and Honenfms fmil'd, with a malignant Satisfe* dion, at all the Sarcafms which were levell'd a- 2^nf^ < 38 J gaind C ATI LINE: For, as we have before obferv'd, they Bpth envied and hated one ano- ther. BUT Hortenflusy who was now as much hated ^s CATILINE^ was a much better DifTeni bier of his Refentments ; he appear'd very indiffe- rent to every thing that was fpoken againft him ; and when his Corruptions were direftly thrown in his Face, in feveral witty Reflexions by the honeft Part-of the Senate, (for this was all that they were able to do, the Taint oi Bribery had fo fpread itfelf, and was become, as.Sahfi obferves, a Contagious Diftemper, -|- ) Hortenflus was nei- ther mov'd; nor afham'd. All the fevere Truths which were utter'd of him, could never raife a -Biulh upon his Cheek -, his Face was always the Jame, and tho' his Actions Ipok'd fometimes one way, fometimes another, they, y/ho accus'd him of Ficklenefs, might with the fame Juftice accufe the Weather-cock-, which, tho' it often turns,. is ftill true to the Wind : So in all the Doubles that Hortenjius madCj he was zealoufly true to his Intierell:. ' I MUST not forget to obfcrye, that all the Great Men of Rome were Profeflbrs of one Seel or other of Fhilgfofhy^ and the Tenets of that Sed which they efpous'd, were the Springs and Juftification o^^all their Adions. . CA TIL IN E and Hortenfus were both pre- ftnVd to be of the Epicurean Ferfwafion. This Sea . -f Tanta vis morbi, atque uti Tabes, plerof^jue ^ivium 4nimo§ iavaferat. Sal. in Bdio Catilinario. ( 39 7 Se^ place their Happinefs in the fenfiial Enjoy- ments of this Life *, it is their Opinion, that the Gods never concern themfelves with the good or bad Adions of Men, but leave aU Things to be govern'd by Chance. That Fame and Reputa- tion are idle Things, meer Bubbles rais'd to frighten Fools from the Furfuit of their Interefls; therefore they ought to defpife what Men lay of them, either now, or hereafter. Hortenjius ad- her'd to thefe Tenets very religiouily : And as to one Part of them, he troubled himfelf no more about the Gods, than he thought the Gods con^ eern'd themfelves about him. I S HALL think it noDigreflion to enlarge a little upon the Dodrines of the Efkureans^ as it will give a better Account of the Men whole Hiftory I am writing, than the ftridelt Detail of their Adions could furnilh. THEIR Reafon for defpillng Fame feems to be this, becaufe they can find no Profit in the Praifes and Commendations of Pofterity. As they denied a Providence, they held that there was no Reward or Punifliment hereafter. By fuch Principles they were a Sed pernicious to all Society. Government, they laid, proceeded from Man's natural Imperfedions •, therefore he, who by Cunning, Strength, or Deceit, had got the Maitery of others, was become their Lord by Right, and might rob them of their Pofleflions and Lives too, if either were an Obftacle to the Profeeution of his Wifbes. NOW, Man being by Nature ambitious of Rule, if an Epcunan once came to be a Gover- iiour. ( 4° ) iioiir, he needed not to be concern'd at what he didjfo he was above Punifhment. TheProfpedt of Profit might very well lead him on to ViHany ; nor can it be wonder'd, that he fhould ftick at ho Wickednefsj which was attended with Plea- jure. , >F O R all that thefe Philofophers thought the Ganfes of Virtues were Fear and Diftruft *, they cndeavour'd to dilgrace Religion by repreienting it as a Trick of State, and that it was fupported by Laws, out of Policy, to keep Men in Awe. He, therefore, that was an Epicurean^ was by Confe- quence a Traytor to his Country, and a Diftur- bf r of the Comriion-v/ealth : for the Caufe of the Gods and of Men is the fame. . THEY of this Sed who were private Men^; were Debauchees *, and they, who came to be Great and Powerful, were OppreiTors, Plunder- ers, and Betrayers of Juftice. By their wicked Doftrines they endeavoured to ftifle the Cla- mours of Confcience, and would not ftart Fears to difturb their foft Hours, nor diftraft them- ielves with Reflexions on a future State, which muft be melancholy to Men of their Lives. They commenced Villains, and then endeavo'ur'd to re- concile themfelves to the Profeffion by an im- pious Philofophy, that rooted up the very Foun- dations of all Morality, and mult in time over- turn all Societies. For it being their Intereft that there fhould be no Gods, they laboured to believe what they wilh'd might be. And one of their Arguments againft a divine Being, was (a Sophiftry drawn from their own fordid Princi^ pies ) that Intereft is the Caufe of all Good ISJa* fare/ (40 ^ure, and the only Spring of Adion. And what tntereft could the Gods have, fay they,, ia ma- king Marl, and this Sublunary World ? What Return could they exped, or what Happinefs receive from Man, to induce them to do all this ? By fuch impious and (hallow Abfurditiesof Rea- Ibding, ftrove they to rob the Gods of their Be- nevolence : Whereas all Good Merl know, that lingle Benevolence is a ftrong Motive to Ad^ion j and, even among our felves, lie is hated who minds ridthing but his own Intereft, arid makes That the Meafure of all his Anions. LVCRE- TJVSy indeed, pretends to compliment thi^ Sed, of which he was a Member, by infinuating that their Lives v^ere much better than their Dodririe^. But, by the Adions of thefe Men ■ Whbfe Hiflory 1 am ^writing, I fiiull leave the Readers to judge of that Point. The Confequence of the I^oliticai Tenets of this Sed, was, that the Weak were by Na- ture Slaves to the Strong, the Innocent to ^the Crafty, arid the Virtuous to Villains: And, It is to be obferv'd, that in all Things they aded tip tb theit impious Principles. THEIR Mafter Eplcurm fays, that JDlagorJ^ tiarn'd Atheift, becaufe he did not fee immediate Vengeance fall on Perfons that were perjur'd : And relkius FatercuM, a FollovVer of this Sed^ produces the long and prdfperous Reign of Ore'- fiesy who had murther'd Pyrrhmj to prove, that if there were Gods, they had apptov'd of Mur- ther; The PUtomfts oppos'd thefe^ ^ho faid it v^as the EM of good Meri td be like God ', and that this Intitation is the Life of the Souli O P (40 PLVtJRCH has thrown down the boaftea Pillar of Atheifm . rais'd by xhQ Eplcureansy with" oneeafy and natural Argument. : That the Gods do not prefently punidi wicked Men, , that they may have Time to become better. If'Mlltlacl^s^ fays he, had been deftroy'd, while lie aded the Part of a Tyrant \ if Cimon in his I need, or Thcri rntflodes in his Debaucheries, w^hat had become of Ji^farathonj Erymedon^ .and Dldnium^ v^hdil of the.. Glorv and Liberty, of the Athenians i P LV- 7'v4.^.C/:^iikewi[e. maintains,, that wicked Men are Ibmetimes fpar'd to be the Scourges, of other wicked Men, and to.cxecnte the juft Judgments of the Gods. Thla'is the Cafe of all Tyrants-V and for thefe Caufes was P/?<;2/^r^ particularly lenl; to ])hgUQ tliQ Ag-n-^cntines. '"', ' ■ " .^-- SO Men, fonietimes, after the Example. of the Gods, chufe out the moft wicked Perfons ta be the Inftruments of publick Juftice : Such, for^ the molt part, are LiBors and Jailens^ and fome-, times even the Judges themlelvesi There is ,a, famous Paifage in Greek Kiftory^, to prove why wicked Men are fufterd to pfofper. Cedrenus tells us, that when a Monk enquir'd of God vyhy he fufier'd cruel Phoc^^ treacherous to his» Mailer A^iurnh^, and an implacable Enemy tO; the Chriil:ian33 to .obtain the^Empire, and enjoy Power large as his Malice •, a V^oicegave this An- fA'er to his lie mane, Becaufe 1 could find none, vvorfe to fcourge the Wicked nefs of the Cicizensi -. — W7q ^y^Y prefiime, it was the fame Caufe that^ iridiic^d Providence to fufler CATILINE to ef- cai^QFumJhnem^'LVClVS BE ST J J to be a. (43 ) Judge, and HORTBNSIVS to ride thQ Roman Senate. I A M fearful that I am taking too wide a Scope on this Part of theSiibjed, and therefore rnufl: contrad the Argument. There were fome, "who would have it that CATILINE was a Sce^- ticky whofe Doctrine it is to doubt of every Thing. Freedom, of Opinion,. and Serenity of Mind, is what they fet up for : Their Notions of Right and Wrong were confin'd to the Laws of their Country *, and the Cuiloms, or Worfhip, of the City or Nation, where they liv'd, deter- inin'd their Religion. This is a Proof that CA- TILINE could not be a Sceptick, but mult be an IBficurean, as well as HORTENSIVS. I T was defign'd much to the Difadvantage of CATO, that he was elteem'd a Q'/^/d, and ac- cus'd of the Morofenefs in his Manners, which that Setl particularly affeded. But happy had it been for Rome, if the Confprators had all been Cymcksy fince that Morofenefs was only Ihewn in Difcountenance of Vice and Villany. HORTENSIVS, on the other Hand, had that Sort of Politenefs in his Manners which the Romans CdWdi Vrbamty: A Qiialification which he found of eminent Service, fince without it he could not have been endur'd among Men, fo fla^ grant were his Corruptions. I T may feem at firfl: a very odd Tranfition to turn from the Religion of CATI LINE to his Gallantries : But as his Principles were founded only to fupport his Pleafures, fo his Pleafures G 2 were (44) were as bad and extravagant as his Principles." In Spight of the univerfal Odium that purfue^ Tiim, and the many Invedives that were levell'd at his Charader, he labour'd much to appear eafy, and applied himfelf to thofe vicious Diver- fions, in the Purfuit of which he w^s very yehe- ipent, and indefatigable. L U X U P. Y, as we have obferv'd, was now in its Height as well as Poverty, in the Romatj^ Republick : And what made the People more unhappy than ever they had been before, made the Great Ones ^runk with Riotings, and wan- ton with Abundance. Therefore did they ftraia their Inventions to explore new Ways of gratify- ing their fenfual Appetites \ Nature was forfa- l^en, and abus'd in their Pleafures^ and Love, with vvhicb by her Laws Mau was allow'd to gratify his Paffiori?, (for file givc^^ us not Defires in vain^) was perverted to a mofi abominable Uic. •■•.•••" CATIL INE was phllck and ^refofterotu in this Sort of Gallantry : Nor was he alorie or frngulai- in the Pradice of it. For the fathkh^ and Ci- rtMh began to be \n th^ greateft Requeil in thoie Titnes, and to be look'd upon as the fine QeiJtle- men of the Age. Of thefe, Numbers reforted. to &4- TILINE\ Houfe, and found Entertainmeni^ who were publickly reported nqt to have 3n^ Regard to their Modefty. -^ *^J THESE * Scio fuifTe nqnnullos, qui ita exiftumarent, myentu-' tern, quK domiim Catilina: frequentabat, parum 'iionefte ^'vidicitiam habuifle. •' Sal. in Bell. Catli, r45 ; THESE Sallies of unnatural Lewdnefs mnlb proceed from Surfeits of Pleafure, or from a reftlefs Defire of making Difcoveries, more un- reafonable than his, who, not content with the World that we enjoy'd, would toil to diicoyer a new one. In Ihort, nothing that was common ^ould go down with thefe luxurious Men. A Poet of ours, I remember, talks fomewhere of diving into the Bottom of the Sea, to pluck up drown'd Honour by the Locks ; Thefe Men, on the other Hand, were for diving into the very Sinks of Nature, in the Queft of infamous Plea- fure. But the Romans^ who hated CATILINE, were very fevere in their Reflexions upon his Gallantries ^ and were wont to fay, that he was forc'd upon thefe prepofiercm Ways of folacing himfelf, becaufe he frighten'd Love away from him with his Looks. M Y Readers, perhaps, may be apt to think,' that the Gallantries of CATILINE are foreign to the Nature of thefe Memoirs *, but fince S*- luJlr and Plutarch have both taken Notice of them, I could not pafs them over in Silence with any juftice. For, in thofe Orations which were fpo- ken againft him in the Senate, when he was pre- fent, the Licentioufnefs of his Amours was thrown in his Face, and made an Aggravation of his other Vices. JuUhs Cafar^ particularly, tho' he was a Man of Pleafure and free Conver- fation, complains, that by the DifTolutenefs of CATlLINEy rap & Virgines & Pueros : A Sen- tence which I fhall forbear to tranflate out of Regard to Decency ; and left, accidentally, thefe Memoirs ihould fail into the Hands oilhQ Ladies. BUT, ( +6 ; BUT, tq, return from thole Vices, which were only per Jon al m Him, to thofe by which the Commonwealth was affefted. Never was the Republick in a more defperate Condition : 'Ah Impunity .was granted to .the higheit Crimes.^ immenfe Riches were in the Hands of a few Tjrcat Ones *, and Lofs, Difcredit and Ruin op- ;|)refs'd the State in general. \ Thefe were all the Confequences that CATILINE'S Ambition tvifh'd for ^ all his Aims of Happinefs were cen- tred in the Diftreis of his Country : Now, ha* ring fecur'd himfelf from his deferv'd Punifh- ment, ftrengthen'd his Party by a Body of infa- jhoMS Senators bought over by Bribes, and put 'hi'mfelf in a Capacity of faving his Fellow-Con- fpirators, yet was he not content, but feem'd to liave gainM but half his Point. 'Tis true, he had PoiTcfTion of the People's -Money, and he ftiil maintain'd his Dignity in the Commonwealth ; but this was not enough to fa tis fy him ^ the mofl materiar Thing was left undone, and that was the fubverting the Conftitution ; the Attempt of which, at lait^ indeed, coil hinv his Life. [■' MAC HI A VE L is very curious in his Re- maiks upon the Government of the Decemvlrate m Rome : And, particularly, upon theCondud ofApplm^ who was at the Head of this Magi- i:racy. This Appm took all the prudential Steps imaginable to get himfelf plac'd at the Top of the Adminiitration 5 but he was wanting in his if> Care ■ . . f. Scelerum impunitas, ad paucos potentes maxumic di- l^ffi in rempiiblicara damna atq[ue dedecora pervenerint. *•'■•'.: ■ Sal, Ibido Care afterwards, to fecure arid eltaplim himfelf in that Tyranny. OmCATJL /iVTi.'had all the Er- rors of ^p|?i^ in his Eye^which ferydliimas aSea- Markjtofhun the Rock on which' the Qljher fplit^ 'UPON this Occafion, 1 think, itls not g'o^ ing out of the Way to make a ihort Comparifoa betwixt ^PP/t; 5 and CATILIlsrE. THE Former was To excellent a DifTembler of his Nature, that by careffing the People, by always joining with them againit l\\^ Nobility^ he ftole into their good Opinions,, and was look'd upon as a true Patriot. The Nobility were very jealous, and uneafy at the Power of the Tribunes^ who, as we have obferv'd before, were yery te? nacious of the People's Liberties *,. and the People^ on their Side,inveigh'd as much againft the Pow- €4* of the Confuls. JPPIVS cherifhed thefe Difcontents for a while, but at lengtb 'proposed a Method of reconciling Matters,, which was by altering the.Conftltution, and fetting up. ano- ther Form of Goverrimcnt, which was that of the Decemviri* THIS Scheme both Nobility and People con- curr'd in •, and Afftm^ who was chofen One,fboii made himfelf their Principal. But no fooner was he ftept into the Tyrant's Seat, than,'as Livj tells lis, he threw off the Mask of Hypocrify, finem fecit fercMa diernz ferfom : He then fhew'd the Native Pride of his Heart, and infefted all his Companions with his own Vices. He defpis'd the Senate, and us'd the People ill. Now began the Populace to think, with Sorrow, on the Loifs of their Tribunes , and the Nobility were not much (+8) much concerrfd at this their Affliftiorij hoping that the Commons, being weary of the Tyranny, Would defire to have their Confnls rellor'd : 'Ut ifji radio frafentium Confutes depderentur. Upon which Circumftance Machlavel obferves, that tho' the Nobility love to tyrannize, yet They, tvho have ho Share in the Tyranny, always hate thefyrailts. THE People now perceiving their Error,and the Villany oiAffim^ took from thence an Occa^ f\6n to feek the Breath of Liberty : The Fear of lofing which had brought the Commonwealth in- to this Mifery. f THINGS being in this Condition, ttie on- ly Step which Afpus took to fecure himfelf and his Brother Tyrants, was, by endeavouring to make a Party among the molt licentious of the Nobtlity, by condemning feveral Perfons as De- linquents, and diftributing their Eftates amongfl; his Fadion. Biit This was not found fufficient ; for, then \t was d Shame to take a Brihe^ and the Number that could be corrupted was very fmall. WH£N the P^olfclans and Sahwes^ therefore,' made War againft the Komansy the Tyrants found themfelves in great Diftrefs ^ for they knew the People would not inrol for the Wars •, and if they call'd the Senate together to take Order a- bout it, they forefaw this might be dangerous to themfelves. Out of mere Neceffiry, however, they t Et inde Libartatis captare auram, unde Servitutem tirriendo, in ewm Statiim remp'ublicairi adduxcrat, hifjo (49) they were reduc'd to take the latter Couyfe : And, the Senate being fummon'd, began immediately to fall on the Tyrants; and rderipfs and Hora- fius had the Courage to accufe them of all their Villanies^ which had this Effef^, that having parted the Tyrants, they threw ^/)/?/;«f and a no^ tber into Prifon, who there deftroy'd themfelves, while the Others made their Efcape privately from Rome: And the Confular Government be- ing reftor'd, they foon defeated the Attempts of their Enemies. WHAT we have to obferve upon This, is, the Difference betwixt the Condudl of Jppius and Catiline. For Catiline negleflcd the firft Seeps taken by jppius, to wit, Thofe of making him- felf Popular. But the true Reaibn was^ as we may fuppofe at this Diftance, he lay under fuch invincible Prejudices, that he judg'd it impofllble to make himfelf fb. But having got into Office by other Methods, he bent all his Precautions to fecurethe After-Gamev and this he effected, by ha- ving a ftanding Army difpers'd through the Coun- try of the Roraansyby buying the Friendfhip of the moH powerful Neighbours of the Roman State 5 and not only Tha^^ but engaging them to fend great Forces into the Territoiies of Rome^ in Cafe they (hould make a Struggle for their Liberties. HAD jippius taken the fame Method, his Ty^ ranny mull have been eftablifh'd, or, at leaft^ muil have lafted much longer. ISJor was the Con- dud of the Folfcians and Sahines at all to be e- fteem'd Politick in this War *, who thereby a- wak'd the Courage of the Romans ^ and binder'd them from being ruin'd* H BUT (5°) BUT the Neighbours of the Romans^ in the Time of Catiline ^ aded with confiimmate Wif^ dom and Policy •, in lying {till, and fufferingGr- tiline and the Confpirators to do that Work more effectually, than they could have done by Arms : I mean the ruining and enllaving that mighty People. Three times was Rome fav'd by the M\t Condnd of her Enemies, who fell upon her at a Time when (lie was almoft deftroy'd by Tyranny and Faction : Wherefore, our Italian Politician fays, That it is a wrong Courfe to aflail Cities fallen into Difcord among themfelves : For the Caufes of Difcord in Commonwealths being Uk- nefs and Peace^ and thefe attended with Coverouf- nefs and Ambition^ encourage ibme more bold and wichdxh■^in the reft, to attempt 7}r^/7«y. And: in a State, or Commonwealth, where that is de* figned, you are rather to feek to ruin them by Artifices of Peace: The firft Step to which, would be to make Alliances with that State, and, if poflible, to have yourfelf reputed their furc and confident Friend. Thus, when they come to be divided, you are to affift, and abett, as fe- cretly as you can, that Side which attempts the Tyranny \ that the People finding themfelves in- fiav'd, and being glad to embrace any Opportu- nity of Revenge on their Oppreflbrs, may be eafi- ly induced to throw themfelves under your Fr^?- tdilon^ and fo become an eafyConqueft. \ F this Part be well play'd, as MA C H I A- VE L obferves, it feldom fails of having the 5uccef3 defign'd. And it was by this Trick that the Fbrentihcs ruin'd the City of Plftoya^ and made themfelves Mafters of it : They privately fa- vourM (5' ) vour'd the Tyrannous Faction, but with Co much Secrefy, that the People of that City knew no- thing of it, and took the Florentines to be their Friends : Wherefore, being tir'd of the Govern- ment of their Ufurpers, they threw themfclves under the Protedion of the Florentines, who by thefe Means became Mailers of the Place with- out ftriking a Blow for it. TO make an Application of this to onr Hi- Ilory, it is highly probable, that had the Gauls or Belgians invaded Rome juft at the Beginning of CATILINE'S Confpiracy, that infamous Se- nate, which afterwards prote5:ed, had been ob- lig'd to have iacrific'd the Confplrators^ to induce the People to turn againfl: the common Enemy •, and, ofConfequence, the Commonwealth would have been fav'd : But thefe Barbarians took a wifer Courfe in privately abetting the Confpiracy^ and in accepting Money from the Faction to make Alliances with them. And this was the firft Time that ever the Romans paid Money to buy the Friendfhip of their Keighbours. ' ^. |*T is true, that when they were befieg'd in the Capitol by the Gaulsy being reduc'd by Fa- mine, they came to Terms of Agreement to re- deem themfelves for a certain Sum of Money: But as ibon as Camillm arrived with an Army to their Relief, he broke the Scales in which the Gold was weighing : Upon which Tita^ Livy makes, this memorable Remark, That Fortune brought this to pafs, that the Romans might not have theDifhonour of owing their Lives to Gold: ut Romani, mro redemptl^ mn viverent* H 2 MJ- (50 MACHIAVELy I remember, expatiates up* on this Siibj^d, and lays it down for a Maxim, that Commonwealths^ or Princes^ who are wife or power fuly never feek by Money to make Alliances ;with others, but by the Reputatio-a of their Valour^ or their ConduU. \\ ^ TO prove this, he appeals to thQ Raman Commonwealth for an Example, who in all the Courfe of their glorious Aj inteftinam aliquam quotidie pcrniciem Rcipublic*^ mo- lientem. C50 tV tTf Tipere not the Seats left empty at thy Srt^ trance^ why did not all the Confnlar Men depart ^ and leave their Places when thou fate j^ down among them f Why jhund they not theCy as they would a Plague, or Jluine ? Surely, if my Slaves at Home looked on me with half that Fear and Hart or, with which thy fel' low Citizens regard thee, J fhould forfake my Houfe* Tet thou dofl- impudently remain among us. Why dofl thou not go forth, infulting Man, to voluntary Plight and Banijhment ? Condemn thy felf, and free the Commonwealth, and People, of their Fears » Let So" litude receive thee, for that will fit thee befl. Why dofl thouftare about ? They all confent to it .* 7V/r j?- lent Wills condemn thee, tho* thou hajl fcafd the Au'^ thority of their Voices. While they fit fllent thus, they approve thy Exile ^ and while they fitter me to men- tion^ they proclaim it. THIS Harangue fo provok'd CATILINE^ that without making any Reply he left the Senate and Rome \ gathering together fome of thofe Troops, which, as we have above taken notice^ he causM to be quartered in the Italian Towns. With thefe he made towards the City, defpe- rately refolving to facrifice Cicero, and every ho- neft Man there : for he had left Cethegm and ten- tulus behind within the Walls, with private Or- ders, lientem.— Servi, mehercle, mei, ft iile ifto pado metuc- rent, ut re mecuurtt omac? Gives tui, domum meani relin- quendam putarem : Tu tibi urbem non arbitraris \ Egre- dere ex urbe, Catilina, libera Rcmpublicam nietu; In Ex- ilium, ii hanc vocem expedas, proficifcere. Quii eft, Ca- tiiina ? Eccjuid attendis, ecquid animadvertis horum Silen- tium ? patiuntur ; taccnt : Quid expeiTtas audoritatcm lo- quentium, quorum voluntatem tacitorum perfpicis. De te, autem, C^tilina, cum quiefcunt, probant ; cum patiuntur,r decernunt •, cum tacent, clamant. Cic. contr^ Catilin* r<50 ders, before his Departure, upon a certain Kighfe to fet the City on Fire, to tear up all the Aqux- dufts, that no Water might be found to quench it, and in the Hurry to cur the Throats of every Roman, who in the late Examination would not be brib'd to their Party. BUT thefe his horrid Intents, by the Vigi- lance of CJCE RO, were prevented *, and no- ble PETREIVSy whom we have already de- fcrib'd, going forth with a Body of brave and honeft RomarJSjfd] upon CATILINE^and his Mer- cenaries, and attack'd them fo vigoroufly, that moft of them were left dead on the Spot. When the Body of CjriLINE was found, as SA- LV ST obferves, his dead Looks retain'd the Fiercenefs of him Vfhtn living, and the Terrors of h'lsFacc ftill exprefs'd an Image of his unnatural M'wd: — Re^ertus efty faululum etidm fplrans, fe-' rociamque animi^ quam habuerat vivus^ in mltu rC" iimni* V I N I S. £ ifefe. ^mm. v^#