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THE
WORKS
JOHN OWEN, D.D.
EDITED
BY THOMAS RUSSELL, M.A.
WITH
MEMOIRS OF HIS LIFE AND WRITINGS, BY WILLIAM ORME.
VOL. VI. JJcX V ^
CONTAINING
^
THE DOCTRINE OF THE SAINTS' PERSEVERANCE EXPLAINED AND CONFIRMED.
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR RICHARD BAYNES, 28, PATERNOSTER ROW:
And sold Ijy J. Parkt-r, Oxford ; Deigliton and Sons, Cambridge ; D. Ero«ii. WaiKTh knd Iniit's, and U. S. Baynis and Co. Ed inh infill ; ('li:dinois and Collins, and INI. Ogle, Glasgow; M. Keenc, and R. M. Tims, Dublin.
1826.
'V./
/ 1
CONTENTS
THE SIXTH VOLUME.
DOCTRINE OF THE SAINTS' PERSEVERANCE EXPLAINED AND CONFIRMED.
Page
The Dedication 3
The Epistle Dedicatory 7
A Preface to the Reader 31
CHAP. I.
The various thoughts of raen concerning the doctrine proposed to consideration. The great concernment of it (however stated) on all hands confessed. Some special causes pressing to the present handling of it. The fearful backslid- ing of many in these days. The great oftence given, and taken thereby : with the provision made for its removal. The nature of that offence and temptation thence arising considered. Answer to some argulngs of Mr. G. c. 9. from thence against the truth proposed. The use of trials and shakings: grounds of believers' assurance that they are so. The same farther argued and debated. Of the testimony of a man's own conscience concerning his uprightness, and what is required thereunto. 1 John iii. 7. considered. Of the rule of self-judging, with principles of settlement for true believers, not- withstanding the apostacies of eminent professors. Corrupt teachings ren- dering the handling of this doctrine necessary : its enemies of old and of late. The particular undertaking of Mr. G. proposed to consideration. An en- trance into the stating of the question. The terms of the question explained : of holiness in its several acceptations. Created holiness, original or adven- titious. Complete or inchoate. Typical by dedications, real by purifica- tion. Holiness evangelical, either so indeed, or by estimation. Real holi- ness, partial or universal. The partakers of the first, or temporary believers, not true believers: maintained against Mr. G. Ground tf judging professors to be true believers. Matt, vii, 20. considered ; what is the rule of judging men therein given. What knowledge of the faith of others is to be obtained. What is meant by perseverance : how in Scripture it is expressed. The grounds of it pointed at. What is intended by falling away ; whether it be possible tlie Spirit of grace may be lost ; the habit of it, and how. The state of the controversy as laid down by Mr. G. The vanity thereof disco- vered. His judgment about believers' falling away examined ; what princi- ples and means of perseverance Ire grants to them. The enemies of our per- severance. Indwelling sin in particular considered. No possibility of pre-
IT CONTENTS.
Page servation upon Mr. G.'s grounds demonstrated. The means and wajs of the saints' preservation in faith, asserted by Mr. G. at large, examined, weighed, and found light. The doctrine of the sair.ts' perseverance, and way of teaching it, cleared from Isa. iv. That chapter opened. The forty-third verse particularly insisted on and discussed. The whole state and method of the controversy thence educed 121
CHAP. II.
I'he theses proposed for confirmation. The fivefold foundation of the truth thereof. Of the unchangeableness of the nature of God, and the influence thereof into the confirmation of the truth in hand. Mai. iii. 3. 6. considered, explained, James i. 16 — 18. opened. Rom. xi. 29. explained and vindi- cated. The conditions on which grace is asserted to be bestowed and con- tinued, discussed. The vanity of them evinced in sundry instances. Of vocation, justification, and sanctification. Isa. xl. 27 — 31. opened and im- proved to the end aimed at. Also Isa. xliv. 1 — 8. The sura of the first ar- gument. Mai. iii. 6. with the whole argument from the immutability of God, at large vindicated. Falsely proposed by Mr. G. set right and reinforced. Exceptions removed. Sophistical comparisons exploded. Distinct dispen- sations, according to distinction of a people. Alteration and change pro- perly and directly assigned to God, by IMr. G. The theme in question begged by him. Legal approbation of duties, and conditional acceptation of persons confounded. As also God's command and purpose. The un- changeableness of God's decrees granted to be intended in Mai. iii. 6. The decree directly in that place intended. The decree of sending Christ not immutable upon Mr. G.'s principles. The close of the vindication of this first argument 175
CHAP. III.
The immutability of the purposes of God proposed for a second demonstra- tion of the truth in hand. Somewhat of the nature and properties of the purposes of God : the object of them. Purposes, how acts of God's under- standing and will. The only foundation of the fulurition of all things. The purposes of God absolute. Continuance of divine love towards believers pur- posed. Purposes of God farther considered, and their nature explained. Their independence and absoluteness evinced. Proved from Isa. xlvi. 9 — 11. Psal. xxxiii. 9 — 11. Heb. vi. 17, 18, &c. Those places explained. The same truth by sundry reasons and arguments farther confirmed. Pur- poses in God, of the continuance of his love and favour to believers, mani- fested by an induction of instances out of Scripture: the first from Rom. viii. 28. proposed ; and farther cleared and improved : Mr. G.'s dealing with our argument from Iicnce, and our exposition of this place, considered. His exposition of that place proposed and discussed. The design of the apostle commented on: the fountain of the accomplishments of the good things mentioned, omitted by Mr. G. In what sense God intends to make all things work together for good to them that love him. Of God's fore- knowledge. Of the sense and use of the word w^oyivxs-xa;, also of scisco, and yivaia-KDi in classical authors, n^oyiaia-ii; in Scripture, every where taken for foreknowledge or predetermination, no where for preapprobation. Of pre- approving, or preapprobation here insisted on by IMr. G. ; its inconsistency with the sense of the apostle's discourse manifested. The progress of Mr.
CONTENTS. V
Page
G.'s exposition of f iiis place considered. Whether men love God antecedently to his predestination and their effectual calling : to preordain and to preor- ■ dinate different. Ao assurance granted of the consolation professed to be intended : the great uncertainty of the dependance of the acts of God's grace mentioned, on one another : the efficacy of every one of them resolved finally into the wills of men. Whether calling according to God's purpose, supposeth a saving answer given to that call : the affirmative proved, and ex- ceptions given thereto removed. What obstructions persons called may lay > in their own way to justification. The iniquity of imposing conditions and supposals on the purpose of God, not in the least intimated by himself. The whole acknowledged design of the apostle everted, by the interposition of cases and conditions by Mr. G. Mr. G.'s first attempt to prove the decrees •' of God to be conditional, considered : 1 Sam. ii. 30. to that end produced. 1 Sam. ii. 30. farther considered, and its unsuitableness to illustrate Rom. viii. 32, 33. proved : interpretation of Scripture by comparing of places agreeing neither in design, word, nor natter, rejected. The places insisted on proved not to be parallel, by sundry particular instances. Some obser- vations from the words rejected. What act of God intended in those words ■ to Eli, ' I said indeed :' no purpose or decree of God in them declared. Any such purpose as to the house of Eli by sundry arguments disproved No purpose of God in the words insisted on farther manifested. They are ex- pressive of the promise or law concerning the priesthood, Numb. xxv. 11 — 13. More especially relating unto Exod. xxviii. 43. xxix. 9. The import of that promise, law, or statute, cleared : the example of Jonah's preaching, and God's commands to Abraham and Pharaoh. The universal dispropor- ■ tion between the texts compared by Mr. G. both as to matter and expression, farther manifested. Instances or cases of Saul and Paul to prove conditional purposes in God considered. Conditional purposes argued from conditional • threatenings : the weakness of that argument, the nature of divine tlireaten- ■ ings : what will of God, or what of the will of God, is declared by them : no proportion between eternal purposes, and temporal threatenings: the issue of the vindication of our argument from the foregoing exceptions. Mr. G.'s endeavour to maintain his exposition of the place under consideration : the text perverted. Several evasions of Mr. G. from the force of this argument considered. His arguments to prove no certain or infallible connexion be- tween calling, justification, and glorification, weighed and answered. His : first from the scope of the chapter, and the use of exhortations ; the ques- tion begged. His second from examples of persons called, and not justified : the question argued, begged j no proof insisted on, but the interposition of his own hypothesis. How we are called irresistibly, and in what sense. Whether bars of wickedness and unbelief may be laid in the way of God's effectual call. Mr. G.'s denmr to another consideration of the text, removed. The argument in hand freed from other objections, and concluded. .Ter. xxxi. 3. explained and improved for tlie confirmation of the trutli under de- monstration. '2 Tim. ii. 19. opened, and the truth from thence confirmed. The foregoing exposition and argument vindicated and confirmed. The same matter at large pursued. John vi. 38 — 40. explained, and the argu- ment in hand from thence confirmed. Mr. G.'s exceptions to our argu- ing from this place removed. The same matter farther pursued. The expo- sition and argument insisted on fully vindicated and established. Matt, xxiv. 24. opened and improved. The severals of that text more particularly handled. Farther observations for the clearing the mind of the Holy Ghost
vi CONTENTS.
Page in this place. The same fartlier insisted on and vindicated. Mr. G.'s ex- ceptions at large discussed and removed. Eph. i. 3 — 5, 2 Thess. ii. 13, 14. opened. The close of the second argument from the immutability of the purposes of God 20O
CHAP. IV.
An entrance into the consideration of tlie covenant of grace, and our argument from thence, for the nnchangeablencss of the love of God unto believers. The intendment of the ensuing discourse. Gen. xvii. 3. opened and explained, with the confirmation of the argument in hand from thence. That argument vindicated and cleared of objections. Conlirmed by some observations. Jer. xxxii. 38 — 40. compared with chap. xxxi. 32, 33. The truth under consideration from thence clearly confirmed. The certainty, immutability, and infallible accomplishment of all the promises of the new covenant, de- monstrated. 1. From the/emoval of all causes of alteration. 2. From the mediator, and his undertaking therein. 3. From the faithfulness of God. One instance from the former considerations. The endeavour of Mr. G. to answer our argument from this place. His observation on and from the text, considered: 1. This promise not made to the Jews only: 2. Nor to all the nation of the Jews, proved from Rom. xi. 3. not intending principally their deliverance from Babylon. His inferences from his former observations weighed : 1. Tlie promise made to the body of the people of the Jews typi- cally only : 2. An exposition borrowed of Socinus rejected : 3. The promise not appropriated to the time of the captivity : and the disadvantage ensuing to Mr. G.'s cause upon such an exposition. The place insisted on compared with Ezek. xi. 17 — 20. That place cleared : a fourth objection answered : this promise always fulfilled : the spiritual part of it accomplished during the captivity : God's intention not frustrated. How far the civil prosperity of the Jews was concerned in this promise. Promises of spiritual and temporal things compared. The covenant of grace how far conditional. Mr. G.'s sense of this place expressed : borrowed from Faustus Socinus : the inconsis- tency of it with the mind of the Holy Ghost, demonstrated : also with what himself hath elsewhere delivered, no way suited to the answer of our argu- ment from the place. The same interpretation farther disproved : an im- mediate divine efhcacy held out in the words : conversion and pardon of sins promised : dilTerenced fioui the grace and promises of the old covenant. Contribution of means put by Mr. G. in the place of elTectual operation of the thing itself, farther disproved. How, when, and to whom this promise was fulfilled, farther declared : an objection arising upon that consideration answered. Conjectures ascribed to God by Mr. G. llie foundation real of all divine prediction : the promise utterly enervated, and rendered of none etfect by Mr. G.'s exposition. Its consistency with the propliecies of the re- jection of the Jews. The close of the argument from the covenant of God- 281
CHAP. V.
Entrance into the argument from the promises of God, with their stability, and his faithfulness in them. The usual exceptions to this argument. A general description of gospel promises. Why, and on what account called gospel promises. The description given, general, not suited to any single promise. Thej are free : and that they are so, proved : all flowing from the first great
CONTENTS. , m
Page promise of giving a Redeemer. How they are discoveries of God's good- will : how made to sinners : consequential promises made also to believers. Given in and through Christ, in a covenant of grace. Their certainty upon the account of the engagement of tlie truth and faithfulness of God in them: of the main matter of these promises, Christ and the Spirit. Of particular promises, all flowing from the same love and grace. Observations of tlie promises of God, subservient to the end intended: 1. They are all true and faithful : the ground of the assertion : 2. Their accomplishment always cer- tain ; not always evident: 3. All conditional promises made good; and how: 4. The promise of perseverance of two sorts: 5. All promises of our abiding with God in faith and obedience, absolute. The vanity of imposing conditions on them, discovered: 6- Promises of God's abiding with us, not to be separated from promises of our abiding with him : 7. That they do not properly depend on any condition in believers, demonstrated : instances of .^ this assertion given: 8. (Making them conditionsd renders tliem void, as to the ends for which they are given:) given to persons, not qualifications. The argument from the promises of God, stated. Mr. G.'s exceptions against the first proposition cleared, and his objections answered: the promises of God always fulfilled: of the promise made to Paul, Acts xxvii. 24, &c. Good men make good tlieir promises to the utmost of their abilities. The promise made to Paul absolute, and of infallible accomplishment. Of the promise of our Saviour to his disciples. Matt. xix. 28. Who intended in that promise : not Judas : the accomplishment of the promise : the testimony of Peter Martyr considered : the conclusion of the foreraentioned objection. The ' engagement of the faithfulness of God for the acconn)lishment of his promise : 1 Cor. i. 9. 1 Thess. v. 23, 24. 2 Thess. iii. 3. The nature of the faithful- ness of God expressed in tlie foregoing places, inquired into : perverted by Mr. G. His notion of the faithfulness of God, weighed and rejected : what intended in the Scriptures by the faithfulness of God. The close of the con- firmation of the proposition of the argument proposed from the promises of . God. The assumption thereof vindicated : the sense put upon it by Mr. G. The question begged 308
CHAP. VI.
The former argument confirmed by an induction of particular instances : .Tohn i. .'>. opened. The concernment of all believers in that promise, proved by the apostle; Heb. xiii. 5. The general interest of all believers in all the pro- mises of God cleared. Objections answered. How Old Testament promises may be improved. The promise insisted on relates principally to spirituals. • The strength of it to the end intended. 1 Sam. xii. 22. To whom the pro- mise there is given. The twofold use of this promise : threats to wicked men of use to the saints : promises to the saints of use to wicked men. Isa. iv. 2 — 4. Psal. Ixxxix. 30 — 37. opened. A condition of backsliding supposed in believers : yet they not rejected. God's abiding with his saints, upon the account of his, 1. Faithfulness, 2. Loving-kindness, 3. Covenant, 4. Pro- mise, 5. Oath. The intendment of the words insisted on, from 1 Sam. xii. 22. Isa. xxvii. 2 — 4. Zeph. iii. 17. illustrated. The intendment of those words, ' I will not forsake thee.' The reason of the promise, and means pro- mised therein : no cause in them, to whom the promise is made. Ezek. xxxvi. 31. Isa. Ixiii. 22 — 25. opened ; also Isa. Ivii. 17. The cause in God himself only. The name of God, what it imports : his all-sufficiency engaged therein, and his goodness. The rise and fountain of all God's goodness to
viii CONTENTS.
Page his people, in his ov n good pleasure ; the sum of our argument from this place of Scripture. Psal. xxiii. 4. 6. opened : the psalmist's use of assurance of perseverance. Inferences from the last use. 2 Tim. iv. 18. opened : all believers in the same condition, as to perseverance, with David and Paul. The second inference from the place insisted on. Assurance a motive to obe- dience, and is the end that God intends to promote thereby. Psal. cxxv. 12. explained. Psal. xxxvii. 28. Deut. xxxiii. 3. Inferences from that place of the psalmist: perpetual preservation in the condition of saints promised to believers. Mr. G.'s objections and exceptions to our exposition and argu- ment from this place, removed. Promises made originallv to persons, not qualifications : not the same reason of promises to the church, and of threaten- ings to sinners. Other objections removed. Isa. liv. 7 — 9. The mind of the Lord in the promises mentioned in that place opened. The exposition given on that place and arguments from thence vindicated. Directions for the right improvement of promises. Hos. ii. 19, 20. opened. Of the general design of that chapter : tlie first part of the total rejection of the cimrcb and political state of the Jews. The second, of promises to the remnant, accord- ing to the election of grace. Of this four particulars: 1. Of conversion; ver. 14, 15. 2. Of obedience and forsaking all false worship : 3. Of peace and quietness: ver. 18. 4. DiscoveriTig the fountain of all the mercies. Some objections removed. To whom this promise is made. The promise farther opened : the persons to whom it is made. Ver. 14. of that chapter opened. The wilderness condition whereunto men are alhired by the gospel, what it imports : 1. Separation: 2. Entanglement. God's dealing with a soul in its wilderness condition. Promises given to persons in that condition. The sum of the foregoing promises : the persons to whom they are made far- ther described. The nature of the main promise itself considered. Of the main covenant between God and his saints. The properties of God engaged for the accomplishment of this promise. Mr. G.'s exposition of this place considered, and confuted. John x. 27 —29. opened ; vindicated 337
CHAP. VII.
V
The consideration of the oath of God deferred. The method first proposed somewhat waved. The influence of the mediation of Christ into God's free and unchangeable acceptance of believers proposed. Reasons of that pro- posal. Of the oblation of Christ. Its influence into the saints' perseverance. All causes of separation between God and believers, taken away thereby. Moral and efficient causes thereby removed. The guilt of sin ; how taken away by the death of Christ. Of the nature of redemption. Conscience of sin ; how abolished by the sacrifice of Christ ; Hcb. x. 3, 4. 14. Dan. ix. 24. opened ; Rom. ii. 34. Deliverance from all sin ; how by the death of Christ. The law innovated in respect of the elect. The vindictive justice of God satisfied by the death of Christ ; how that is done. Wherein satisfaction doth consist. Absolute, not conditional. The law; how fulfilled in the death of Christ. The truth of God thereby accomplished ; his distributive justice en- gaged. Observations for the clearing of the former assertions. Whether any one, for whom Christ died, may die in sin. The necessity of faith and obedience. The reasons thereof. The end of faith and holiness. 'J'he first argument for the proof of the former assertions concerning the fruit and eflS- cacy of the death of Christ ; Ileb. ix. 14. The second. The third. The compact between the Father and Son about the work of mediation. The
CONTENTS. «
Page fourth. Good things bestowed on them for whom Christ died, antecedently to any thing spiritually good in them. The Spirit so bestowed, and faith itself. The close of those arguments. Inferences from the foregoing dis- course. The efficacy of the death of Christ, and the necessity of faith and obedience, reconciled. Sundry considerations unto that end proposed. 1. All spiritual mercies, fruits of the death of Christ. '2. All the fruits of Christ's death laid up in the hand of God's righteousness. 3. The state of thera for wliom Christ died not actually changed by his death. 4. On what account believing is necessary. Christ secures the stability of the saints' abiding with God. What is contrary thereunto, how by him removed. The world overcome by Christ, as managed by Satan in an enmity to the saints. The complete victory of Christ over the devil. The ways whereby he completes his conquest. The rule of Satan, in respect of sinners, twofold: 1. Over them. 2. In them. The title of Satan to a rule over men, judged and de- stroyed by Christ. Tiie exercise of all power taken from him. The works of Satan destroyed by Christ, in and for his elect. The Holy Spirit procured by the death of Christ. The giving of the Spirit, the great promise of the new covenant. This farther proved and confirmed. The perpetual residence of the Holy Spirit with believers, proved by the threefold testimony of Fa- ther, Son, and .Spirit ; Isa. lix. The testimony of the Father proposed and vindicated. Our argument from hence farther cleared. This promise abso- lute, not conditional. No condition rationally to be affixed to it : tlie import of those words, ' as for me.' To whom this promise is made. That farther cleared : not to all Israel according to the flesh. Mr. G.'s objections an- swered. The testimony of the Son given to the perpetual abiding of the Spirit with believers ; John xiv. 16. opened. The promise in those words equally belonging to all believers. Mr. G.'s objections answered. No pro- mise of the Spirit abiding with believers on his principle allowed. The pro- mise given to the apostles personally, yet given also to the whole church. Promises made to the church, made to the individuals whereof it is consti- tuted. The giving of this promise to all believers farther argued from the scope of the place ; and vindicated from Mr. G.'s exceptions. The third tes- timony of the Holy Spirit himself proposed to consideration ; his testimony in sealing particularly considered ; 2 Cor. i. 2'i. Eph. i. 13. iv. 30. Of the nature and use of sealing amongst men. The end, aim, and use of the sealing of the Holy Ghost. Mr. G.'s objections and exceptions to our ar- gument from that sealing of the Spirit, considered and removed. The same farther carried on, &c 386
CHAP. VIII.
Entrance into the digression concerning the indwelling of the Spirit. The man- ner of the abode of the Spirit with them, on whom he is bestowed. Grounds of the demonstrations of the truth. The indwelling of the Spirit proved from the promises of if. Express affirmations of the same truth ; Psal. li. 11. Rom. viii. 9. opened ; ver. 11. 15. 1 Cor. ii. 12. Gal. iv. 6. opened. 1 Tim. iii. 14. The Spirit in his indwelling, distinguished from all his graces. Eva- sions removed. Rom. v. 5. explained. The Holy Ghost himself, not the grace of the Holy Ghost there intended. Rom. viii. 11. opened ; Gal. v. 22. A personality ascribed to the Spirit in his indwellings. 1. In personal ap- pellations. 1 John iv. .5. .Tohn xiv. 17. 19. 2. Personal operations. Rom. viii. 11. l5. explained. 3. Personal circumstances. The Spirit dwells in
X CONTENTS.
Page llie saints, as in a temple. 1 Cor. iii. 16. vi. 9. The indwelling of the Spirit farther demonstrated, from the signal effects ascribed in tlie Scripture to his so doing : as, 1. Union with Christ. Union with Christ, wherein it consisteth. Union with Christ by the indwelling of the same Spirit in liim and us. This proved from, 1. Scriptural declarations of it; 2 Pet. i. 4. How we are made partakers of the divine nature. Union expressed by eating the flesh, and drinking the blood of Christ. John vi. 56. opened. The prayer of our Sa- viour for the union of his disciples ; John xvii. 21. The union of the persons in the Trinity with themselves. 2. Scriptural illustrations for the manifesta- tion of union. The union of head and members, what it is, and wherein it doth consist. Of the union between husband and wife, and our union with Christ thereby. Of a tree and its branches. Life and_quickening given by the indwelling Spirit, in quickening, life, and suitable operations. 2. Di- rection and guidance given by the indwelling Spirit. Guidance or direction twofold. The several ways whereby the Spirit gives guidance and direction unto them in whom he dwells. The first way by giving a new understanding, or a new spiritual light upon the understanding. What light men may attain without the particular guidance of the Spirit. Saving embracements of par- ticular truths, from the Spirit; 1 John ii. 20, 21. The way whereby the Spirit leads believers into truth. Consequences of tlie want of this guidance of the Spirit. The third thing received from the indwelling Spirit: supportment. The way whereby the Spirit gives supportment. 1. By bringing to mind the things spoken by Christ for their consolation ; John xiv. 16. 26. 2. By re- newing his graces in them, as to strength. The benefits issuing and flowing from thence. Restraint given by the indwelling Spirit, and how. The con- tinuance of the Spirit with believers, for the renewal of grace, proved ; John iv. 14. That promise of our Saviour at large opened. The water there pro- mised is the Spirit. The state of them on whom he is bestowed. Spiritual thirst twofold ; Isa. Ixv. 13. 1 Pet. ii. 2. The reasons why men cannot thirst a^ain, who have once drank of the Spirit, explained. Mr. G.'s exceptions considered, and removed. The same work farther carried on: as also, the indwelling of the Spirit in believers farther demonstrated by the inferences made from thence. The first : Our persons temples of the Holy Ghost. To be disposed of, in all ways of holiness. Wisdom to try spirits. The ways, means, and helps, whereby the saints discern bet\veen the voice of Christ, and the voice of Satan 437
CHAP. IX.
The Intercession of Christ. The nature of it. Its aim, not only that believers continuing so, may be saved, but that they may be preserved in believing. This farther proved from the typical intercession of the Judaical high-priest, - The tenor of Christ's intercession, as manifested, John xvii. 11. opened ; and ver. 12 — 15. The result of the argument from thence. The saints' perse- verance fully confirmed. Rom. viii. 33, 34. at large explained. Mr. G.'s in- terpretation of the place in all the parts of it confuted. Vain supposals groundlessly interscrted into the apostle's discourse What Christ intercedes for, for believers, farther manifested. The sum of what is assigned to the in- tercession of Christ, by Rlr. G. -How far it is all from yielding the least consolation to the saints, manifested. The reasons of the foregoing interpre- tation, proposed and answ^ered. The end assigned of the intercession of Christ, answered. God works perseverance actually : a supply of mercies, that may not be cfi'ectual, not to be ascribed thereunto. Farther objections an-
CONTENTS. , xi
Page swered ; Christ not the minister of sin by this doctrine. Supposals and in- stances upon the former interpretation, disproved and rejected. A brief ac- count of our doctrine concerning the intercession of Christ for believers : and of the true end of the act of his mediation. The close of the argument, and of the first part of this treatise 482
CHAP. X. The improvement of the doctrine of perseverance in reference to the obedience and consolation of the saints ; why its tendency to the promoting of their obedience is first handled, before their consolation. Five previous observa- tions concerning gospel truths in general. 1. That all are to be received with equal reverence. 2. That the end of them all is, to work the soul into a con- formity to God; proved by several Scriptures; 2 Tim. iii. 16. Tit. i. 1, &c. 3. Some truths have a more immediate tendency hereunto than otliers have; 2 Cor. V. 14. 4. Most weight is to be laid by believers upon such. 5. Men are not themselves to determine what truths have most in them of this ten- dency, Sec. Gospel obedience, what it is, and why so called. Its nature. 1 . In the matter of it, which is all and only tlie will of God. 2. In the form of it, which is considered : 1. In the principle setting it on work, faith. 2. In the manner of doing it, eying both precepts and promises. 3. The end aimed at in it, the glory of God as a rewarder ; Heb. xi. 6. Rom. iv. 4. The principle in us, whence it proceeds, w hich is the new man, the Spirit, proved: Eph. iii. 16, 17, &c. What kind of motives conduce most to the carrying on of this obedience, namely, such as most cherish this new man ; which they do most, that discover most of the love of God, and his good-will in Christ - such as these are alone useful to mortification, and the subduing of the con- trary principle of flesh, which hinders our obedience, proved ; Tit. ii. 12. Rom. vi. What persons the improvement of this doctrine concerns, only true believers who will not abuse it. How this doctrine of perseverance con- duces so eminently to the carrying on of gospel obedience in the hearts of these true believers. 1. By removing discouragements. 1. Perplexing fears which impair their faith. 2. Hard thoughts of God, which weaken their love, without wliich two, faith and love, no gospel obedience performed. 2. Un- speakable obligations to live to God, lience put upon the souls of the saints. Objection concerning the abuse of this truth, to presumption and carelessness discussed ; examined at large and removed. The mortification of the fltsli, wlierein it consists, how it is performed. The influence of the doctrine of the saints' perseverance thereinto. Dread and terror of hell not the means of mortification, at large proved, by shewing quite another means of mortify inn- the flesh, viz. The Spirit of Christ, Rom. viii. 13. applying the cross, and death of Christ; Rom. vi. 5, 6. 3. This doctrine is useful to promote gospel obedience, in that it tends directly to increase and strengthen faith and love, both towards God, and towards our Lord Jesus Christ. How it strengtliens their love to God, viz. By discovering his love to them, in three eminent properties of it, freedom, constancy, fruitfulness. How it strengthens their love to Jesus Christ, viz. By discovering his love to them, in two eminent acts of it, his oblation and his intercession. 4. This doctrine conduces, 6cc. by giving gospel obedience its proper place and due order. 5. By closing in with the ends of gospel ordinances, particularly the ministry, one eminent end whereof is, to perfect the saints; Eph. iv. 12, 13. wliich is done by dis- covering to them the whole will of God, both precepts on the one hand, and promises, exhortations, tincateningson the other. That of the promises more particularly, and more largely insisted on 500
THE DOCTRINE
OF THE
SAINTS PERSEVERANCE
EXPLAINED AND CONFIRMED:
THE CERTAIN PERMANENCY OF THEIR ACCEPTATION
WITH GOD, AND SANCTIFICATION FROM GOD, MANIFESTED
AND PROVED;
THE ETERNAL PRINCIPLES, EFFECTUAL CAUSES, AND
EXTERNAL MEANS THEREOF ; IN THE IMMUTABILITY OF THE NATURE,
DECREES, COVENANT, AND PROMISES OF GOD;
THE OBLATION AND INTERCESSION OF JESUS CHRIST;
THE PROMISES, EXHORTATIONS, AND THREATS OF THE GOSPEL;
IMPROVED IN ITS GENUINE TENDENCY TO OBEDIENCE
AND CONSOLATION; AND VINDICATED IN A FULL ANSWER
TO THE DISCOURSE OF MR. JOHN GOODWIN
AGAINST IT, IN HIS BOOK ENTITLED
REDEMPTION REDEEAIED :
SOME DIGRESSIONS CONCERNING THE IMMEDIATE EFFECTS OF
THE DEATH OF CHRIST; PERSONAL INDWELLING OF
THE SPIRIT; UNION WITH CHRIST; NATURE
OF GOSPEL PROMISES, &c.
A PRF.FACE MANIFESTING THE JUDGMENT OF THE ANCIENTS CONCERNING
THE TRUTH CONTENDED FOR; WITH A DISCOURSE TOUCHING
THE EPISTLES OF IGNATIUS; THE EPISCOI'ACY IN THEM ASSERTED; AND SOME
ANIMADVERSIONS ON DR. H. II.'s DISSERTATIONS
ON THAT SUBJECT.
VOL. VI.
TO . ,
■ HIS IltGIINESS • i;
OLIVER,
LORD-PROTECTOR OF THE COMMONWEALTH
OF
ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, AND IRELAND,
WITH THE DOMINIONS THEREOF.
Sjr, .
The wise man tells us, that no man knoweth love or hatred, by all that is before him. The great va- riety w^herein God dispenseth outward things in the world, with the many changes and alterations, which according to the counsel of his will, he continually works in the dispensations of them, will not allow them nakedly in themselves, to be evidences of the fountain from whence they flow. Seeing also, that the want or abundance of them, may equally, by the goodness and wisdom of God, be ordered and cast into a useful subserviency to a good infinitely transcending what is, or maybe, contained in them; there is no necessity, that in the distribution of them, God should walk according to any constant imiform law of procedure ; all the various alterations about them, answering one eternal purpose for a de- terminate end. Of spiritual good things, there is another reason and condition ; for as they are in themselves fruits, evidences, and pledges of an eter- nal unchangeable love; so the want of them in their whole kind, being not capable of a tendency to a
li 2
iv THE DEDICATION.
greater good than they are, the dispensation of them doth so far answer the eternal spring and fountain from whence it floweth, as in respect of its sub- stance and being, not to be obnoxious to any altera- tion. This is that which in the ensuing treatise is contended for. In the midst of all the changes and mutations, which the infinitely wise providence of God doth daily effect in the greater and lesser things of this world, as to the communication of his love in Jesus Christ, and the merciful gracious dis- tributions of the unsearchable riches of grace, and the hid treasures thereof purchased by his blood; lie knows no repentance. Of both these you have had full experience. And though your concernment in the former, hath been as eminent as that of any person whatever in these latter ages of the worldj yet your interest in, and acquaintance with, the latter, is, as of incomparable more importance in it- self, so answerably of more value and esteem unto you. A sense of the excellency and sweetness of unchangeable love, emptying itself in the golden oil of distinguishing spiritual mercies, is one letter of that nev/ name, which none can read, but he that hath it. The series and chain of eminent provi- dences, whereby you have been carried on, and pro- tected in all the hazardous work of your generation, which your God hath called you unto, is evident to all. Of your preservation by the power of God through faith, in a course of gospel obedience, upon the account of the immutability of the love, and in- fallibility of the promises of God, which are yea and amen in Jesus Christ, your own soul is only pos-
•THE DEDTCATIO.V, iV
sessed with the experience. Therein is that abid- ing joy, that secret refreshment, which the world cannot give. That you and all the saints of God, may yet enjoy that peace and consolation which is in believing, that the eternal love of God is immuta- ble, that he is faithful in his promises, that his cove- nant ratified in the death of his Son is unchangeable, that the fruits of the purchase of Christ, shall be certainly bestowed on all them for whom he died, and that every one, who is really interested in these things, shall be kept unto salvation, is the aim of my •present plea and contest. That I have taken upon me to present my weak endeavours in this cause of God to your Highness, is so far forth from my per- suasion of your interest in the truth contended for (and than which, you have none so excellent or worthy), that without it, no other considerations whatever, either of that dignity and power where- unto of God you are called, nor of your peculiar re- gard to that society of men, whereof I am an un- worthy member, nor any other personal respects whatever, could have prevailed with, or imboldened me thereunto. ' Sancta Sanctis.' The things I treat of are such, as sometimes none of the princes of this world knew, and as yet few of them are acquainted with. Blessed are they w^ho have their portion in them. When the urgency of your high and im- portant affairs, wherein so many nations are concern- ed, will lend you so much leisure, as to take a view of what is here tendered, the knowledge which you have of mc, will deliver you from a temptation of charging any weakness you may meet withal upon
VI THE DEDICATION.
the doctrine which I assert and maintain. And so that may run and be glorified, whatever become of the nothing that I have done, in the defence thereof, I shall be abundantly satisfied. That is the shield which being safe, I can with contentment see these papers die. Unto your Highness, I have not any thing more to add ; nor for you greater thing to pray, than that you may be established in the assur- ance and sense of that unchangeable love, and free acceptance in Christ which I contend for ; and that therein you may be preserved, to the glory of God, the advancement of the gospel, and the real advan- tage of these nations.
Your Highnesses most humble,
and most faithful servant,
John Owen.
TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL,
"His' ' ;' / ■ - "■ '; ' ■ ' ; ' ■-■■■■ REVEREND, LEARNED, AND WORTHY FRIENDS AND BRETHREN,
THE
HEADS AND GOVERNORS
OF THE COLLEGES AND HALLS IN THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD.
Sirs, The dedication of books, to the names of men worthy and of esteem in their generation, takes sanctuary in so catholic and ancient prescription, that to use any defensative about my walking in the same path, can- not but forfeit the loss of somewhat more than the pains that would be spent therein. Now although in addresses of this kind, men usually avail them- selves of the occasion, to deliver their thoughts as to particulars, in great variety, according as their con- cernments may be ; yet the reasons which are gene- rally pleaded as directions for the choice of them, to whom with their labours and writings they so ad- dress themselves, are for the most part uniform ; and in their various course, transgress not the rules of certain heads, from whence they flow. To express a gratitude for respects and favours received, by re- turning things in their kind eternal, for those which are but temporal ; to obtain countenance and appro- bation unto their endeavours in their breaking forth into the world, from names of more esteem, or at least more known, than their own ; to advance in re- pute by a correspondency in judgment, with men of such esteem, intimated thereby ; are the more inge- nuous aims of men in the dedications of their writings. Though these, and sundry other pretences of the same kind, might justly be drawn into my plea, for this address unto you ; yet your peculiar designation and appointment, through the good hand of the pro-
Vlll THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY.
vidence of God, to the defence of the gospel ; and your eminent furnishment with abilities from the same hand, for the performance of that glorious duty, is that alone, upon the account whereof I have satis- fied myself, and hope that I may not dissatisfy others, as to this present application. What there is of my own peculiar concernment, wherein I am like to ob- tain a more favourable condescension in judgment, as to my present undertaking, from you, than from other men, will in the close of my address, crave leave to have mention made thereof. Brethren ! the out- ward obligations that are upon you from the God of truth, with the advantages which he hath intrusted you withal, for the defence of his truth, above the most of men in the world, are evident, even to them that walk by the way, and turn little aside to the consideration of things of this nature, importance, and condition. And it is to me an evidence of no small encouragement, that God will yet graciously employ you in the work and labour of his gospel, by his constant giving a miscarrying womb to all them who have attempted to defraud the nation, and the churches of God therein, of those helps and further- ances of piety and literature, with whose management for their service, you are at present intrusted. Of the jewels of silver and gold, whereof by the Lord's appointment, the children of Israel, coming out from amongst them, spoiled the Egyptians, did they de- dicate to the tabernacle in the wilderness ; when the 'Lord planted the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth, and said to Sion, Thou art my people.' Though some outward provisions, and furnitures of literature, now, through the good hand of God, made serviceable to you in your attendance upon the great work and employment committed to you, were first deposited, when thick darkness was over the land : yet that they maybe made eminently subservient to
THE EPISTLE DEDICATOllY. IX
the will of God, in raising up again the tabernacle of David, that was fallen down, the experience of a few years, I no way doubt, will abundantly reveal and manifest. That in the vicissitude of all things, given them by the mysterious and dreadful wheels of pro- vidence, your good things also (as every thing else that is pleasant and desirable, or given of God unto the sons of men hath done), have fallen into the pos- session and disposal of men, some enemies, others utterly useless and unfruitful to the Lord in their generations, cannot be denied. But what is there in his ways or worship, in his works or word, that God hath not, at some season or other, delivered into the power of the men of the world, though they Iiave abused and perverted them to their own destruction ? Neither is there any other use of this consideration, but only to inform them of the obligation they lie amder, to a due and zealous improvement of them, to ivhose trust and care the Lord commits any of his mercies, when he rescues them from the captivity under which they have been detained, by ungodly men. This is now your lot and condition, in reier- ence to many who for sundry generations, possessed tho^e places, and advantages of eminent service for the house of our God, which you now enjoy. What may justly be the expectation of God from you, under this signal dispensation of his goodness, what is tlic hope, prayer, and expectation, of very many that fear him, concerning you, in this nation ; what arc the designs, desires, aims, and endeavours of all sorts of them, who bear ill-will at whatsoever is comely, or praiseworthy amongst us, you are not ignorant. Whatever consideration at any time or season, may seem to have had an efHcacy upon the miiids aiul wills of men, under the like sacrament, and design- ment to the service of truth with yourselves, to incite
X_ THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY.
and provoke them to a singularly industrious and faithful discharge of their duty, is eminently pressing upon you also ; and you are made a spectacle to men and angels, as to the acquitment of yourselves. The whole of your employment, I confess, both in the general intendment of it, for the promoting and dif- fusing of light, knowledge, and truth, in every kind Avhatever, and in the more special design thereof, for the defence, furtherance, and propagation of the an- cient, inviolable, unchangeable truth of the gospel of God, is in the days wherein we live, exposed to a contention with as much opposition, contempt, scorn, hatred, and reproach, as ever any such undertaking was, in any place in the world, wherein men pretended to love light more than darkness.
It is a hellish darkness, which the light of the sun cannot expel. There is no ignorance so full of pride, folly, and stubbornness, as that which maintains it- self in the midst of plentiful means of light and know- ledge. He that is in the dark, when the light of the sun is as seven days, hath darkness in his eye; and how great is that darkness ? Such is the ignorance you have to contend withal ; stubborn, affected, pre- judicatc beyond expression ; maintaining its darkness at noon-day, expressly refusing to attend to the rea- son of things, as being that alone, in the thoughts of those men (if tlicy may be so called), who arc pos- sessed with it, wherewith the world is disturbed. From those who being under the power of this en- thralment, do seem to repine at Ciod, that they are not beasts, and clamorously traduce the more noble part ol" that kind and offspring, whereof themselves are ; which attempts do heighten and improve the difference between creatures of an intellectual race, and them to whom their perishing composition gives the utmost advancement ; whose eternal seeds and
THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY. ^ XI
principles are laid by the hand of God in their re- spective beings, you will not, I am sure, think it much if you meet with oppositions. Those who are in any measure acquainted with the secret, triumphing ex- altations of wisdom and knowledge, against folly and ignorance ; with the principles and conditions, where- "with they advance themselves in their gloryings, even then, when the precedency of (that which is bestial in this world) force and violence outwardly bears them down with insultation and contempt, will ra- ther envy than pity you in any contest that on this foot of account, you can be engaged in. You are not the first that have fought with men after the manner of beasts ; nor will be the last, who shall need to pray to be delivered from absurd and unreasonable men, seeing all men have not faith.
!Men of profane and atheistical spirits, who are read}^ to say, Who is the Lord ? What is the Al- mighty that we should fear him ? Or his truth that we should regard it ? Whose generation is of late multiplied on the face of the earth, crying a confede- racy with them, who professing better things, are yet filled with grievous indignations at the sacrifice that hath been made of their abominations before their eyes, by that reformation of this place, wherein you have been instrumental, are a continual goad on the other side, and would quickly be a sword in your very bowels, were not He, that is higher than the highest, your dwelling-place, and refuge in your ge- neration. These are they upon whom God having poured contempt, and stained their glory, who in- stead of accepting of his dispensations, are filled ^^-ith \\Tath, and labour to make others drink of the cup, which hath been offered to themselves. T\"ith their reproaches, sligh tings, undervaluations, slanders, do your worth, diligence, integrity, labours, c. . -^
^Xii THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY.
from one end of this earth to the other. He that hath delivered doth deUver, and in him we trust that he will deliver.
What other oppositions you do meet, or in your progress may meet withal, I shall not mention ; but wait with patience on him, who gives men repent- ance, and change of heart to the acknowledgment of the things that are of him. This in the midst of all hath hitherto been a cause of great rejoicing, that God hath graciously kept off ravenous wolves from entering into your flocks, where are so many tender lambs, and hath not suffered men to arise from amongst yourselves speaking perverse things, and drawing away disciples after them ; but as he hath given you, to obey from your heart that form of doc- trine, which hath been delivered unto you, so he hath preserved that faith amongst you, which was once delivered to the saints.
Your peculiar designation to the service of the gospel, and defence of the truth thereof, your abi- lities for that work, your abiding in it, notwithstand- ing the opposition you meet withal, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, are as I said be- fore, my encouragements in this address unto you ; wherein 1 shall crave leave a little farther to commu- nicate my thoughts unto you as to the matter in hand. Next to the Son of his love, vv'ho is the truth, Ihe greatest and most eminent gift, tliat God hath bestowed on the sons of men, and communicated to them, is his truth revealed in his word. The know- ledge of him, his mind and will, according to the discovery which he hath made of himself, I'rom his own bosom, having magnified his word, above all his name. The importance hereof, as to the eternal concernments of the sons of men, either in ignorance refusing and resisting, or accepting and embracing
THE EPISTLE DEDTCATOUT. Xlll
of it, is that which is owned, and lies as the bottom and foundation of all that we any vi/ay engage our- selves into in this world; wherein we differ from them, whose hope perisheth with them. Unto an inquiry after, and entertainment of, this divine and sacred dcpositum, hath God designed the fruit and labour of that, wherein we retain the resemblance of him, wliich whilst we have our being nothing can abolish. The mind of man, and divine truth, are the two most eminent excellencies, wherewith the Lord hath adorned this lower part of his creation, which, when they correspond, and are brought into con- formity with each other, the mind being changed into the image of truth, there is glory added to glory, and the whole rendered exceeding glorious. By what suitableness and proportion in the things them- selves (that is, between truth and the mind of man), as we are men ; by what almighty, secret, and irresis- tible power, as we are corrupted men, our minds be- ing full of darkness and folly, this is wrought, is not my business now to discuss. This is on all hands confessed ; that, setting aside the consideration of the eternal issues of things, every mistake of divine truth, every opposition to it, or rejection of it, or any part of it, is so far, a chaining up of the mind, under the power of darkness, from a progress towards that perfection which it is capable of. It is truth alone that capacitates any soul to give glory to God, or to be truly useful to them who are partakers of flesh and blood with him : without being some vv^ay ser- viceable to which end, there is nothing short of the fulness of wrath, that can be judged so miserable as the life of a man. Easily so much might be delivered on this account, as to evince the dread of that judg- ment, whereto some men in the infallibly wise coun- sel of God are doomed, even to the laying out of the
XIV THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY.
labour and travail of their minds, to spend their days and strength in sore labour, in making opposition to this truth of God, Especially is the sadness of this consideration increased, in reference to them, who upon any account whatever, do bear forth them- selves, and are looked upon by others, as guides of the blind, as lights to them that sit in darkness, as the instructors of the foolish, and teachers of babes. For a man to set himself, or to be set by others, in a way wherein are many turnings and cross paths, some of them leading and tending to places of innu- merable troubles, and perhaps death and slaughter; undertaking to be a guide to direct them that travel towards the place of their intendments, where they would be, and where they shall meet with rest ; for such a one, I say, to take hold of every one that pass- eth by, and pretending himself to be exceeding skil- ful, in all the windings and turnings of those ways and paths, and to stand there on purpose to give di rection, if he shall, with all his skill and rhetoric, divert them out of the path wherein they have per- haps safely set out, and to guide them into those by- ways, which will certainly lead them into snares and troubles, if not to death itself; can he spend his time, labour, and strength, in an employment more to be abhorred ? or can he design any thing more despe- rately mischievous to them, whose good and welfare he is bound and promiseth to seek and promote ? Is any man's condition under heaven more to be la- mented, or is any man's employment more perilous than such a one's, who being not only endowed with a mind and understanding capable of the truth, and receiving impressions of the will of God, but also with distinguishing abilities and enlargements for the re- ceiving of greater measures of truth, than others, and the more effectual improvement of what he doth
THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY. XV
SO receive, shall labour night and day, dispending the richest treasure and furnishment of his soul, for the rooting out, defacing, and destruction of the truth, for the turning men out of the way, and ])aths that lead to rest and peace ? I never think of the un- comfortable drudgery which men give up them- selves unto, in laying the hay and stubble of their vain and false conceptions upon the foundation, and heaping up the fruit of their souls, to make the fire that consumes them the more fierce and severe, but it forces compassionate thoughts of that sad condi- tion, whereto mankind hath cast itself, by its apos- tacy from God. And yet there is not any thing in the world, that men more willingly, with more de- light and greediness, consecrate the flower of their strength and abilities unto, than this of promoting the delusions of their own minds, in opposition to the truth and ways of God. It is a thing of obvious observation and daily experience, that if by any means whatever, any one closeth with some new, and by-opinion, off from the faith delivered to, and received by, the generality of the saints, that be it a thing of never so small concernment in our w^alking with God, in gospel obedience, and in love without dissimulation one towards another, yet, instantly more weight is laid upon it, more pains laid out about it, and zeal dispended for its supportment and propagation, than about all other most necessary points of Christian religion. Have we not a deplor- able cloud of examples, of men contending about some circumstance or other in the administration of an ordinance, biting and devouring all that stand in their way, roving up and down to gain proselytes unto their persuasion, and in the mean time, utterly ignorant or negligent of the great doctrines and com- mands of the gospel of Jesus Christ, which arc as in
XVI THE EPISTI.E DEDICATORY.
him, tlie head and lite of souls? How many a man seems to luive no manner of religion at all, but some one error. That is his God, his Christ, his worship, llvat he preaches, that he discourseth of, that he la- bours to propagate; until by the righteous judg- ment of God it comes to pass that such men in all other things wither and die away ; all the sap and vigour of their spirits, feeding that one monstrous excrescency, which they grow up daily into. Desire of emerging and being notable in the world, esteem and respect in the hearts and mouths of them, whom peculiarly they draw after them, with the like un- worthy aims of self-advancement, may, without evil surmising (when such attempts are, as in too many, accompanied with irregularity in conversation), be supposed to be advantages given into the hands of the envious man, to make use of them for the sowing of his tares, in the field of the poor seduced world.
That this procedure is also farthered by the bur- densomeness of sound doctrine unto the generality of men, who having itching ears, as far as they care for these things do spend their time in religion, in nothing else, but either to tell or to hear some new thing, cannot be denied. Besides to defend, im- prove, give and add new light, unto old truths (a work which hath so abundantly and excellently been laboured in, by so many worthies of Christ, espe- cially since the Reformation), in any eminent manner,, so as to bring praise and repute unto the undertakers (which whether men will confess or no, it is evident that too many arc enslaved unto) is no easy task.; And for the most part of what is done that way, you may say, ' Quis leget \vcec V The world (says every one) is burdened with discourses of this nature. How many have we in our days, who might have, gone to the grave in silence among tiie residue of
THE EPISTLE DEDICATORV. XVll
their brethren, and their names have remained for a season in the voisinage, where they might have done God the service required of them in their genera- tion, would they have kept themselves in the form of wholesome words and sound doctrine, that have now delivered their names into the mouths of all men, by engaging into some singular opinions, though perhaps raked out of the ashes of Popery, Socinianism, or some such frai^^ful heap of error, and false notions of the things of God ?
I desire not to judge before the time ; the day will manifest all things, and the hidden secrets of the hearts of men, shall by it be laid open ; when all the ways, causes, and occasions of their deceiv- ing, and being deceived, shall be brought to light, and every man according to his work shall have praise of God. Only, I say, as to the present state of things, this is evident (not to speak of those lo- custs from the bottomless pit, that professedly op- pose their strength, to all that is of God, his name, word, worship, or truth, will, and commands, rasing- the foundation of all hopes of eternit}^ ; nor of him, and his associates, who exalteth himself above all that is called God, being full of names of blasphemy, sealed up to destruction), very many amongst our- selves, of whom we hoped better things, do, some in greater, some in lesser matters, give up themselves to that unhappy labour we before mentioned, of op- posing the truths of God, and exalting their own darkness, in the room of his glorious light.
■ , ,. Utjugulcnt homines, surgunt de nocte lalroiics :
Ut teipsuiu serves, non expergisceris ':■'
Reverend brethren, if other men can rise early, go to bed late, and eat the bread of carefulness, spend their lives and strength to do their own work, and
" Ilor. Epis. lib. i. 2. VOL. VI. C
XVlll THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY.
propagate their own conceptions, under a pretence of doing the work of God ; if the envious man watcheth all night and waits all advantages to sow his tares, how will you be able to lift up your heads with joy, and behold your Master's face with bold- ness at his coming, if having received such eminent abilities, endowments, and furnishments from him, for his service, and the service of his sheep and lambs, as you have done, you gird not up the loins of your minds, and lay not out your strength to the utter- most, for the weeding out of the field and vineyard of the Lord every plant which our heavenly Father hath not planted, and for feeding the flock of Christ with sincere milk, and strong meat, according as they are able to bear ? What you have received, more than others, is of free grace, which is God's way of dealing with them, on whom he lays the most un- conquerable and indispensable obligation unto ser- vice. Flesh and blood hath not revealed unto you the truth of God, which you do profess, but our Fa- ther which is in heaven ; you do not upon any en- deavour of your own, differ from them who are given up to the sore judgment, and ever to be bewailed condition, before-mentioned. It hath not been from your own endeavours or watchfulness, that you have been hitherto preserved under the hour of tempta- tion, which is come to try the men that live upon the face of the earth. It is not of yourselves, that you are not industriously disturbing your own souls and others, with this or that intrenchment upon the doctrine of the gospel, and the free grace of God in Jesus Christ, which not a few pride themselves in, with the contempt of all otherwise minded. And doth not the present state of things, require the full disbursing of all, that you have freely received for the glory of him, from whom you have received it?
THE EPISTLE DKDICATOUV. XlX
You are persons who, not only as doctors and teach- ers in a university, have a large, distinct disciplinary knowledge of divinity ; but also such as to vv'hom the Son of God is come, * and hath given an under- standing to know him that is true;' into whose hearts God hath ' shined, to give the light of the knowledge of his glory in the face of Jesus Christ;' and therefore may say, ' What shall we render the Lord V How shall we serve him in any way answerable to the grace we have received ? I speak not this (the Lord knows it, before whom I stand) with reflection, on any, as though I judged them neglecters of the duty incumbent on them. * Every one of us must give an account of himself to the Lord.' The daily pains, labour, and travail of many of you, in the work of the gospel, the diligence and endeavours of others in promoting other useful literature, is known unto all. Only the consideration of my own present un- dertaking, joined with a sense of mine own insuffi- ciency for this, or any other labour of this kind, and of your larger furnishments with abilities of all sorts, press me to this stirring up of your remembrance to contend for the faith so much opposed and pervert- ed : not that I would press, for the needless multi- plying of books (whose plenty is the general cus- tomary complaint of all men versed in them), unless necessity call thereto ; * Scribimus indocti, docti- que.' — But that serious thoughts may be continually dwelling in you, to lay out yourselves to obviate the spreading of any error whatever, or the destruction of any already propagated ; by such ways and means as the providence of God, and the circumstances of the matter itself shall call you out unto, is in the de- sire of my soul.
Something you will find in this kind attempted, by the weakest of your number, in this ensuing
c 2
XX THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY.
treatise. The matter of it, I know will have your approbation, and that because it hath his, whom you serve. For the manner of handhng it, it is humbly given up to his grace and mercy, and freely left to your Christian judgments : the general concern- ments of this business are so known to all, that I shall by no means burden you with a repetition of them. The attempt made by Mr. Goodwin against the truth here asserted, was by all men judged so considerable (especially the truth opposed, having a more practical influence into the walking of the saints with God, than any other by him assaulted, and the defending of it, giving more advantage into an inquiry after the mind of God, as delivered in in- numerable places of Scripture, than any of the rest opposed), as that a removal of his exceptions to our ar- guments, and an answer to his objections, was judged necessary by all. Other reasons manifesting this en- deavour to be in order and in season, 1 have farther communicated in the entrance of the treatise itself. In my addresses to the work, I could by no means content myself, v.ith a mere discussing of what was produced by my adversarj^ For he having kept himself, for the most part, within the compass of the synodal writings of the remonstrants, which are al- ready most clearly and solidly answered (by one es- pecially, renowned Amesius), to have tied myself unto a contest with him, had been merely actum agere, without promoting the cause I had undertaken in the least. As I account it by no means an ingenu- ous proceeding, for men to bear up their own names, by standing upon the shoulders of others, to deport themselves authors, when indeed they are but col- lectors and translators ; so I am very remote from being so far in love with this way of handling con- troversies in divinity, as to think it necessary to
THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY. XXI
multiply books of the same matter, without some considerable addition of light and strength to the cause, whose protection and promotion is under- taken. On this consideration, besides incident dis- courses, which I hope through the grace of him that supplied seed to the sower, may be of use and have an increase amongst the saints of God ; I have made it my aim (and v/hat therein I have attained, is with all submission of mind and judgment cast before the thoughts of men, whose senses are exer- cised to discern good and evil) to place each argu- ment insisted on, upon its ovs^n proper basis and foundation : to resolve every reason and medium whereby I have proceeded, into its ovv'ii principles : discovering the fountain and well-head of all the streams that run in the field of this contest, as also to give some clearings and evidence, to our conclusions from the several texts of Scripture discussed, by dis- covering the reason of them, and intent of God in them. Some arguments there are, and sundry texts of Scripture, that are usually produced, and urged in the defence of the cause under consideration, that I have not insisted on: nor vindicated from the ex- ceptions of the adversaries. Kot that I judge them indefensible against their most cunning, or most fu- rious assaults, and so slighted what I could not hold ; for indeed I know not any one text of Scripture commonly used for this end, nor any argument by any sober man framed to the same purpose, that is not capable of an easy and fair vindication : but merely because they fell not in regularly in the me- thod 1 had proposed to myself, nor would so do, imless I had gone forth to the issue of my first intend- ment, and had handled the abode of believers with God at large, from its principles and causes, as I had done, that part of our doctrine which concerns
XXll THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY.
the continuance of the love of God with and unto them ; which the growth of the treatise under my hand, would not give me leave to do. What hath been or may yet farther be done, by others who have made or shall make it their business to draw the savvT of this controversy, to and fro with Mr. Goodwin, I hope will give satisfaction, as in other things, so in the particulars by me omitted. As to what I have to speak, or at least think it convenient to speak, concerning him, with whom in this discourse I have much to do, and the manner of my dealing with him being a thing of personal concernment, not having any influencing aspect on the merit of the cause, I shall in not many words, absolve you of your trouble in the consideration thereof. My ad- versary is a person whom his worth, pains, diligence, and opinions, and the contests, wherein on their ac- count he hath publicly engaged, have delivered from being the oljjcct of any ordinary thoughts or expres- sions. Nothing not great, not considerable, not some way eminent, is by any spoken of him, either consenting with him or dissenting from him. To interpose my judgment in the crowd, on the one side or the other, i know neither warrant or sufficient cause : we all stand or fall to our own masters ; and the fire will try all our works. This only I shall crave liberty to say ; that whether from his own ge- nius and acrimony of spirit, or from the provoca- tions of others, with whom he hath had to do, many of his polemical treatises have been sprinkled with satirical sarcasms, and contemptuous rebukes of the persons with whom he hath had to do. So that were I not relieved in my thoughts, by the consideration of those exacerbations and exasperations of spirit, which upon other accounts, besides bare difference of opinion in religious things, have fallen out in the
THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY. XXlll
days and seasons which have passed over us, all of them labouring to exert something of themselves, in every undertaking of the persons brought under their power, I should have been utterly discouraged from any contests of this nature. Much indeed of his irregularity in this kind, I cannot but ascribe to that prompt facility he hath, in putting abroad every pas- sion of his mind and all his conceptions, not only decently clothed, with language of a full and choice significancy, but also trimmed and adorned with all manner of signal improvements, that may render it keen or pleasant according to his intendment or de- sire. What the Latin lyric said of the Grecian poets may be applied to him :
Monte decurrens velut aninis, imbres Qiieni super notas aluere ripas, Fervet, irameususqiie ruit profundo
Pindarus ore.''
And he is thereby plainly possessed of not a few advantages. It is true that when the proof of his opinion by argument, and the orderly i)ursuit of it is incumbent on him (a course of all other wherein he soonest faileth), the medium he useth and insist- eth on, receiveth not the least contribution of real strength from any dress of words, and expressions wherewith it is adorned and accompanied : yet it cannot be denied, but that his allegorical amplifica- tions, illustrations, and exaggerations, of the things he would insinuate, take great impressions upon the minds of them, who are in any measure entangled with the seeming probabilities, which are painted over his arguments, by their sophistry and pretence of truth. The apostle giving that caution to the
Colossians that they should heed, fir\ nr; avrovi; -n-apa-
X(»-yi6jTat iv TTiOovoXoyta, mauifcstetli the prevalency of
•' Hor. Od. lib. iv. 2.
XXIV THE EPISTLE DEDICATOUY.
false reasonings when in conjunction with rhetorical persuasions. The great store also of words and ex- pressions, which for all occasions he hath lying by him, are of no little use to him, when being pressed with any arguments or testimonies of Scripture, and being not able to evade, he is forced to raise a cloud of them, wherewith after he hath a while darkened the wisdom and counsel of that wherewith he hath to do, he insensibly slips out of the cord, wherewith he appeared to have been detained, and triumphs as in a perfect conquest, when only an unarticulate sound hath been given by his trumpet, but the charge of his adversaries not once received or repelled. But not any where, doth he more industriously hoist up, and spread the sails of his luxuriant eloquence, than when he aims to render the opinion of his adversa- ries to be, ' monstrum horendum, informe ingens, cui lumen ademptum,' a dark, dismal, uncomfortable, fruitless, death-procuring doctrine ; such as it is marvellous that ever any poor soul should embrace or choose for a companion or guide in its pilgrimage towards heaven. Rolling through this field, his ex- pressions swell over all bounds and limits; meta- phors, similitudes, parables, all help on tlie current : though the streams of it being shallow and wide, a little opposition easily turns it for the most part aside ; a noise it makes indeed^ with a goodly show and appearance. • . . - . . >
Ilerculca non mole minor Agylleus
Scd non ille rigor, patriimique, in corpore robur. Luxuriant artus, efl'iisaque sangninc laxo IMenibra natant
This, as I said, prompts, I fear, the learned person of whom we speak, to deal so harshly with some of them with whom he hath to do. And it is stiil feared, that.
THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY. XXV
• - ' parata tollit cornua ; ^
Qualis Lycaniba spretusinfido gcner, Aut acer hostis Bupalc^
It might indeed be the more excusable, if evident provocation were always ready at hand to be charged with the blame of this procedure, if he said only
An si qiiis atro dente me petiverit, Inultus ut flebo puer?*!
But for a man to warm himself, by casting about his own pen, until it be so filled with indignation and scorn, as to blur every page and almost every line, is a course that will never promote the praise, nor adorn the truth of God. For what remains con- cerning him, ' Do illi ingenium, do eloquentiam, et industriam ; fidem, et veritatem utinam coluisset.'
The course and condition of my procedure with him, whether it be such as becometh Christian mo- desty and sobriety, with an allowance of those in- gredients of zeal, in contending for the truth, which in such cases the Holy Ghost gives a command for, is referred to the judgment of all, who are concerned, and account themselves so, in the thinsfs of God. As to any bitterness of expression, personal reflec- tions by application of satirical invectives, I know nothing by myself, and yet I dare not account, that I am hereby justified. The calm and indifferent reader, not sensible of those commotions, which the discovery of sophistical evasions, pressing of incon- sequent consequences, bold assertions, &;c. will sometimes raise in the most candid and ingenuous mind, may (and especially if he be an observer of failings in that kind) espy once and again, some signs and appearances of such exasperations as ought to have been allayed with a spirit of meekness, before the thoughts that stirred them up, had been turned out of doors, in the expressions observed. Although
' Ilor. OJ. lib. V. 6. ■! Ibid. . ■
XXVI THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY.
I am not conscious of the delivery of myself in any terms, intimating a captivity under the power of such a snare for a moment, yet what shall to the Christian reader occur of such a seeming tendency, I humbly refer it to his judgment, being content to suffer loss in any hay or stubble whatever, that I may have laid upon the foundation of truth, which I am sure is firmly fixed by God himself, in the business in hand. For what farther concerns my manner of dealing in this argument, I have only a few things to men- tion, reverend brethren, and you will be discharged of the trouble of this prefatory address unto you. The matter in hand, I hope, you will find attended and pursued, without either jocular or historical di- versions, which are judged meet by some to retain the spirits, and entice the minds of the readers, which are apt to faint and grow weary, if always bent to the consideration of things weighty and serious. With you, who are continually exercised with severer thoughts and studies, than the most of men can immix themselves withal, such a condescension to the vanity of men's minds, and lightness of their spirits, I am sure can find no approbation. And as for them who make it their business, to run through books of a polemical nature, in what subject soever, in pursuit of what is personal, ridiculous, invective, beating every chapter and section, to find only what ought not to be there, and recoiling in their spirits upon the appearance of that which is serious, and pressing to ihc cause in hand, I suppose you judge them not worthy to be attended to, with such an imposition upon the time and diligence of those who sincerely seek the truth in love, as the satisfy- ing of their vain humour would require. It is in- deed of sad consideration to see, how some learned men (forgetting the loss of }>recious hours, where-
THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY. XXVII
with they punish their readers thereby), in discourses of this nature, do offend against their professed in- tendments, by perpetual diversions in long personal harangues, delighting some for a moment, instruct- ing none, in the matter inquired into. Some parts of this treatise you may perhaps judge not so closely and scholastically argumentative, as the regular laws of an accurate disputation would require. In the same judgment with you, is the author : where yet he supposes himself not without just apology, and that such as renders his way of procedure not blame- worthy : whereas otherwise he should not think any texcuse sufficient to expiate such an error. He is worthily blamed, who had not rather choose to want a fault, than an excuse. The truth is, neither would the matter treated of, nor the persons, for whose sakes chiefly this labour was undertaken, admit of an accurate scholastical procedure in all parts of the treatise. The doctrine asserted, and the error op- posed, are the concernments of the common people of Christianity. Arminianism is crept into the bo- dies of sundry congregations, and the weaker men are, who entertain it, the more gross and carnal are their notions and conceptions in and about it. Pe- lagius himself was never so injurious to the grace of God, as some amongst us. Now the souls of men, whose good is sought in this work, are no less pre- cious in the sight of God, though they are unac- quainted with philosophical terms, and ways of ar- guing, than the souls of the most learned. Besides, that which we account our wisdom and learning, may, if too rigorously attended, be our folly : when we think to sharpen the reason of the Scripture, we may straiten the efficacy of the spirir of it. It is oftentimes more effectual in its own liberty, than when restrained to our methods of arguing. And
XXVlll TflE EPISTLE DEDICATORY.
the weapons of it keener in their own soft breathings than when sharpened in the forge of Aristotle. There is a way of persuasion and conv^iction in the Scrip- tures that is more divine and sublime, than to be re- duced to any rules of art that men can reach unto. God in his word, instructs men to make them wise unto salvation. Syllogisms are not, doubtless, the only way of making men wise with human wisdom, much less divine. Some testimonies, on this account are left at their own liberty, improved only by ex- planation, that they might lose nothing of their own strength, seeing no other can be added to them. Where the corrupt philosophy, or sophistical argu- ings, or indeed regular syllogistical proceedings of the adversaries, have rendered a more close logical ■way of proceeding necessary, I hope your favourable judgments, will not find cause to complain of the want thereof. Whatever is amiss, whatever is defec- tive, whatever upon any account, cometh short of desire or expectation ; as I know none in the world more able to discern, and find out than yourselves, so there are none from whom I can expect, and justly ])roraise myself, a more easy and candid censure, a more free and general pardon, a more favourable ac- ceptation of this endeavour for the service of the truth, than from you. Besides that personal amity and respect, which God by his providence hath given me Tone altogether unwcvithy of such an allay of com- mon perplexities in his pilgrimage) vv'ith you, and amongst you, besides that readiness and ingenuous promptness of mind, unto condescension, and candid reception of labours in this kind, which your own great worth and abilities furnish you withal, exempt- ing you, and lifting you above that pedantic severity and humour of censure, which possesseth Sciolists and men corrupted with a desire of emerging in the
THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY. XXlX
repute of others. You know full well, in what straits, under what diversions, employments, bu- siness of sundry natures incumbent on me, from the relations wherein T stand, in the university, and on sundry other accounts, this work hath been carried on. The truth is, no small portion of it, owes its rise to journeys, and such like avocations from my ordinary course of studies and employments, with some spare hours, for the most part in time of ab- sence, from all books and assistances of that nature whatever. Not longer to be burdensome unto you, with things of no greater concernment, than what may have respect to one every way so unworthy as myself, what is of the seed which God graciously supplied, I am sure will find acceptance witli you ; and what is of its worthless author, or that I have added, I am fully content may be consumed by the fire, that tries our works of what sort they are.
My daily prayer, honoured brethren, shall be on your behalf, that in the days wherein we see so many fall from the truth, and oppose it, on the one hand ; a great indifference as to the things of God, leading captive so many on the other; so few remain- ing, made useful to God in their generations by a con- junction of zeal fur the truth, and ability unto its de- fence, and those for the most part so closely engaged in, and their hands so filled, with the work of public beseeching men to be reconciled to God in Christ, and building up of them, who are called, in their most holy faith ; you may receive help from above, and encouragement to engage you by all means possible to spread abroad a savour of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and to labour continually that the truths of God (for whose defence you are particularly ap- pointed) may not be cast down, nor trampled on un- der the feet of men of corrupt minds, lying in wait to
XXX THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY.
deceive, alluring and beguiling unstable souls, with enticing words of human wisdom, or any glorious show and pretence whatever, turning them from the simplicity of the gospel, and the truth as it is in Jesus : that you may not faint, nor wax weary, not- withstanding all the opposition, contempt, scorn, you do or may meet withal: nor even be turned aside to corrupt dalliances with error and falsehood, as is the manner of some, who yet would be accounted sound in the faith ; but keeping close to the form of wholesome words, and answering the mould of gos- pel doctrine, whereunto you have been cast, may shine as lights, in the midst of a crooked and per- verse generation ; knowing that it is but yet a little while, and he that shall come, will come, and will not tarry ; yea, come. Lord Jesus, come, &c.
So prays
Your unworthy fellow-labourer and brother
in our dear Lord Jesus,
John Owen.
A PREFACE
TO
THE READER.
Reader, If thy inquiry be only after the substance of the truth in the ensuing treatise contended for, I desire thee not to stay at all upon this preliminary discourse, but to proceed thi- ther, where it is expressly handled from the Scriptures, with- out the intermixture of any human testimonies, or other less necessary circumstances, wherein perhaps many of them may not be concerned, whose interest yet lies in the truth itself, and it is precious to their souls. That which now 1 intend and aim at, is to give an account to the learned reader, of some things nearly relating to the doctrine, whose protection, in the strength of him, who gives to his, suitable heljjs for the works and employments he calls them to, I have under- taken, and what entertainment it hath formerly found, and received in the church, and among the saints of God. For the accomplishment of this intendment, a brief mention of the doctrine itself will make way. Whom in this contro- versy we intend by the name of saints and believers, the treatise following will abundantly manifest. The word j)er- severantia is of most known use in ecclesiastical wu'iters : Austin hath a book with the inscription of it in its forehead. The word in the New^ Testament signifying the sam.e thing- is, l7r</xov?]. Of them that followed Paul it is said that he persuaded them, l-mfiivuv ry x^P""* "^"^ ^^^'^ ' Acts xiii. 43. that is, 'to persevere.' 'Xirofxavn is of the same import. 'O St virofiEiva^ tig TtXog ovrog (TUi^ijenTm, Matt. X. 22. * He that persevereth to the end ;' the Vulgar Latin renders that word almost constantly by persevero. Kaprtp'ta is a word also of the same signification, and which the Scripture useth to ex- press the same thing : Kparoc is, sometimes by a metathesis expressed KapTog; thence is Kapra, valdc ; and Kap-tpsw, spoken of him who is of a valiant resolved mind. ' By faith Moses left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king,' tov ycip aopciTov tog opwv tKapTt^njtre, Heb. xi. 27. ' As eyeing ihe in- visible he endured (his trial) with a constant valiant mind.'
XXXll A PFIEFACE TO THE READER.
IIpoaKapTepioj from thence is most frequently to persevere ; Acts i. 14. and riaav Se TpoaKuprspovvTig ry SiSa;^y rwv 'Attoct- t6\(i)v, Acts ii. 42. 'They persevered in the doctrine of the apostles.' UpoaKupTtprjaig, once used in the New Testament, is rendered by our translators, 'perseverance;' Eph. vi. 18. In what variety of expression the thing is revealed in the Scripture, is in the treatise itself abundantly declared. The Latin word is classical, persevero, is coiistaitter sii/n sevenis ;m that sense as Seneca says, 'Res severa est vevum gaudium.' Its extreme in excess is, pertinacy ; if these are not rather distinguished from their objects, than in themselves. Varro lib. 4. de ling, Lat. tells us that pert'niacia is a continuance or Doino; on, in that, wherein one oug-ht not to continue, or proceed. Perseveniiit/a is that, whereby any one continues in that wherein he ought so to do. Hence is that definition of it commonly given by the schoolmen from Austin ; lib. 83. qu. 31. who took it from Cicero (one they little ac- quainted themselves withal), lib. 2. de Invent: it is say they, ' In ratione bene fundata stabilis et perpetua per mansio.' And this at present may pass for a general description of it, that is used in an ethical and evangelical sense. Persever- ance was accounted a connnendable thing among philoso- phers. Morally, perseverance is that part of fortitude whereby the mind is established in the performance of any good and necessary work, notwithstanding the assaults and opposition it meets withal, with that tediousness and weari- someness, which the protraction of time, in the pursuit of any affairs, is attended withal. Aristotle informs us that it is exercised about things troublesome; lib. 7. Eth. Nicom. giving a difference between continence with its opposite vice, and forbearance, or perseverance, roiirwvS'6 juti/ mpi I'jSovac, fiKpaTrjg, 6 di lyKparfig. 'O Se inp\ XvTrag fxaXuKug, o dl Kaprt- piKog. He that abides in his undertaken work, so it be good and honest, notwithstanding that trouble and perplexity he may meet withal is KdpnpiKog. Hence he tells us that Kap- TipiKuig ^i)v as well as au)(j)p6v(og is not pleasant to many ; lib. 10. cap. 9. And that because so to live, implies diffi- culty and opposition. And he also, as Varro in the place above mentioned, distinguishes it from pertinacy; and of men infected with that depraved habit of mind, he says there are three sorts, l^iayvionoveg, upa^^ug and uypoiKoi : all these
A PREFACE TO THE READER. XXXlll
are in his judgment laxypoyvioimovs^. Nicom. lib, 7. cap. 9. Which perverse disposition of spirit he there clearly mani- fests to be sufficiently differenced from a stable resolved frame of mind, whatever it may resemble it in. Now though there is no question, but that of two persons continuing in the same work, or opinion, one may do it out of pertinacy, the other out of perseverance, yet amongst men who judge of the minds of others, by their fruits, and of the acts of their minds, by their objects, these two dispositions or ha- bits are universally distinguished, as before, by Varro. Hence the terms of pertinacy and obstinacy being thrust into the definition of heresy, by them who renouncing any infallible living judge and determiner in matters of faith, to make way for the inflicting of punishment on the entertainers and main- tainers thereof, they take no thought of proving it such, but only because it is found in persons embracing such errors ; the same affection of mind, with the same fruits and demon- strations of it, in persons embracing the truth, would by the same men be termed perseverance. But this is not that whereof I treat.
Evangelical perseverance, is from the Scripture at large explained in the book itself. As it relates to our accepta- tion with God, and the immutability of justification (which is the chief and most eminent part of the doctrine contended for), as it hath no conformity in any thing with the moral perseverance before described, so indeed, it is not compre- hended in that strict notion and signification of the word it- self, which denotes the continuation of some act or acts in us, and not the uninterruptibleness of any act of God. This then is the cause of perseverance, rather than perseverance itself; yet such a cause, as being established, the effect will certainly and uncontrollably ensue. They who go about to assert a perseverance of saints, cut off from the absolute un- changeableness of the decree, purpose, and love of God, at- tended with a possibility of a contrary event, and that not only in respect of the free manner of its carrying on, whereby he that wills to persevere, may not will so to do, but also in respect of the issue and end itself, will, I doubt not, if they are serious in what they pretend, find themselves entangled in their undertaking. As perseverance is a grace in the sub- ject on whom it is bestowed, so it relates either to the spi-
VOL. VI. D
XXXIV A PREFACE TO THE READER.
ritual habit of faith, or the principle of new life they have received from God, or to the actual performance of those duties wherein they ought to abide. In the first sense it consists in the point of being, or not being. Whilst the habit of faith remains, there is in respect thereof an unin- terrupted perseverance in him in whom it is ; and this we contend for. As it respects actions flowing from that habit and principle ; so it expatiates itself in a large field. For as it imports not at all a perpetual performance of such acts without intermission (which were naturally as well as spi- ritually impossible, whilst we carry about us a body of death), so neither doth it necessarily imply a constant tenor of pro- ceeding in the performance of them, but is consistent with a change in degrees of performance, and in other respects also, not now to be insisted on. Perseverance in this sense being the uninterrupted continuance of habitual grace, in the hearts of believers without intercision, with such a walking in obe- dience, as God, according to the tenor of the new covenant will accept, upon the whole of the matter, it is in its own nature (as every thing also is that hath not its being from itself), liable and obnoxious to alteration; and, therefore, must be built and reposed on that which is in itself immu- table, that it may be rendered on that supposition, immutable also. Therefore is perseverance in this sense resolved into that cause of it before mentioned, which to do is the chief endeavour of the following treatise. Of the groundlessness of their opinion, who granting final perseverance, do yet plead for the possibility of a final apostacy, and an interci- sion of faith, no more need be spoken, but what upon the account last mentioned hath been argued already. Some discourses have passed both of old, and of late, concerning the nature of this perseverance, and wherein it doth properly consist. Many affirm it not really to differ from the habit of faith and love itself, for which Bradwardine earnestly con- tends ; Lib. 2. de Cau. Dei. cap. 7. Concluding his dispu- tation, that ' Perseverantia habitualis, est justitia habituali- ter perseverantia'; perseverantia actualis, est justitise perse- verantia actualis, ipsum vero perseverare, est justitiam prse- servare.' Whereupon ('suo more') he infers this corollary. ' Quod nomen perseverantia^ nullam rem absolutam essentia- liter significat, sed accidentaliter, et relative, charitatem vi-
A PREFACE TO THE READER. XXXV
delicet, sive justitiam, cum respectu futurEe permansionis continue usque in finem; et quod non inprobabiliter posset dici perseverantiam esse ipsam relationem liujus :' and there- fore in the next chapter, to that objection, if perseverance be no more but chaity, or righteousness, then every one that hath once obtained these, or true grace, must also persevere; he returns no answer at all : plainly insinuating his judgment to be so ; of which afterward. And thei'efore he spends his thirteenth chapter of the same book to prove, that the Holy Spirit is that ' auxilium,' as he called it, whereby any per- severe.
And chap. 1. he resolves all preservation from not being overcome by temptation, or not being tempted to a pre valency (the same for substance with perseverance), into the will and purpose of God, ' Quicunque,' saith he, * non tentatur, hoc necessario est a deo, quod non tentatur. Sicut IP pars 13' primiprobat: et per 22"'" primi, Deus necessario habet ali- quem actum voluntatis circa talem non tentationem, et non nolitionem, quia tunc per decimum primi non tentaretur, ergo volitionem, quse per idem decimum ipsum tentari non sinit,' &c. Others render it as a gift superadded to faith and love, of which judgment Austin seems to have been, who is fol- lowed by sundry of the schoolmen, with many of the divines of the reformed churches. Hence is that conclusion of Al- varez; de Auxil. lib, 10. disp, 103. 'Secundum fidem catho- licam asserendum est, praeter gratiam habitualem et virtutes infusas esse necessarium, ad perseverandum in bono usque in finem, auxilium speciale, supernaturale scilicet donum perseverantise.' And of this proposition he says, ' In hac omnes catholici conveniunt.' Of the same judgment was his master Thomas ; lib, 3, con. Gen. cap. 155. Where also he gives this reason of his opinion; 'Illud quod natura sua est variabile, ad hoc quod figatur in uno, indiget auxilio ali- cujus moventis immobilis; sed liberum arbitrium, etiam existens in gratia habituali, ad hue manet variabile, et flexi- bile a bono in malum ; ergo ad hoc quod figatur in bono, et perseveret in illo usque ad finem, indiget speciali Dei aux- ilio.' The same argument having been used before him by Bradwardine, though to another purpose, viz. not to prove perseverance to be a superadded gift to saving grace, which (as before was observed) he denied, but to manifest that it
D 2
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was immediately and wholly from God. His words are, lib. 2. cap. cap. 8. Corol. ' Sicut secundum primi docet, omne quod est naturale, et non est per se tale, sed est mutabile in non tale, si manere debeat immutatum, oportet quod imita- tur continue alicui per se fixo ; quare et continue quilibit Justus Deo.' The same school men also (a generation of men exceeding ready to speak of any thing, though they know not what they speak, nor whereof they affirm), go yet farther, some of them, and will distinguish between the gift of perse- verance and the gift confirmation in grace. He before men- tioned, after a long dispute (viz. 104.) concludes, * Ex his sequitur differentiam inter donum perseverantia?, et con- firmationis in gratia (he means that which is granted in via) in hoc consistere, quod donum perseverantice nullam per- fectionem intrinsecam constituit in ipsa gratia habituali, quam tamen perfectionem intrinsecam illi tribuit confirmatio in gratia.' What this intrinsical perfection of habitual grace, given it by confirmation, is, he cannot tell: for, in those who are so confirmed in grace, he asserts only in impeccability upon supposition, and that not alone from their intrinsical principle, as it is with the blessed in heaven, but from help and assistance also daily communicated from without. Du- randus, in 3. d. 3. q. 4. assigns the deliverance from sin which those who are confirmed in grace do obtain unto the Holy Ghost: so far well: but he kicks down his milk by his ad- dition, that he doth it only by the removal of all occasion of sin. But of these persons and their judgment in the point under debate, more afterward.
For the thing itself last proposed, on what foot of ac- count it is placed, and on what foundation asserted, the treatise itself will discover. That the thing aimed at, is not to be straitened or restrained to any one peculiar act of grace, will easily appear. The main foundation of that which we plead for, is, the eternal purpose of God, which his own nature requireth to be absolutely immutable and irreversible. The eternal act of the will of God designing some to salvation by Christ, infallibly to be obtained, for 'the praise of the glory of his grace,' is the bottom of the whole; even that foundation which standeth for ever, having this seal, ' The Lord knoweth who are his.' For the accom- plishment of this eternal purpose, and for the procurement of
A PREFACE TO THE READER. XXXVU
all the good things, that lie within the compass of its intend- ment, are the oblation and intercession (the whole mediatory undertaking of Christ), taking away sin, bringing in life and immortality, interposed, giving farther casual influence into the truth contended for. In him and for his sake, as God graciously, powerfully, and freely gives his Holy Spirit, faith, with all the things that accompany salvation unto all them, whom he accepts and pardons by his being made ' sin for them,' and ' righteousness unto them,' so he takes them thereby into an everlasting covenant that shall not be broken, and hath therein given them innumerable promises that he will continue to be their God for ever, and preserve them to be, and in being, his people : to this end, because the prin- ciple of grace, and living to him, as in them inherent, is a thing in its own nature changeable and liable to failing, he doth, according to his promise, and for the accomplishment of his purpose, daily make out to them, by his Holy Spirit, from the great treasury and storehouse thereof, the Lord Jesus Christ, helps and supplies, increasing of faith, love and holiness, recovering them from falls, healing their back- sbdings, strengthening them with all might accordino- to his glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness, so preserving them by his power throucrh faith unto salvation. And in this way of delivering the doctrine contended about, it is clearly made out that the disputes mentioned are as needless as groundless, so that we shall not need to take them into the state of the controversy in hand, though I shall have occasion once more to reflect upon them, when I come to the consideration of the doc- trine of the schoolmen, in reference to the opinion proposed to debate. The main of our inquiry, is after the purpose, covenant, and promises of God, the undertaking of Christ the supplies of grace promised and bestowed in him : on which accounts, we do assert and maintain; that all true believers who are in being so, interested in all those causes of preservation, shall infallibly be preserved unto the end ill the favour of God, and such a course of gospel obedience as he will accept in Jesus Christ.
That (as was formerly said), which at present I aim at in reference to this truth is, to declare its rise and progress, its , course and opposition, which it hath found in several ages
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of the church, with its state and condition at this day, in respect of acceptance with the people of God.
Its rise, with all other divine truths, it owes only to re- velation from God, manifested in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament ; some of the most eminent places wherein it is delivered in the Old Testament, are ; Gen. iii. 17, xvii. 1, Deut. xxxiii. 3. Josh. i. 5. 1 Sam. xii. 22. Psal. i. 3, xxiii. 4. 6. xxxvii. 39, 40. Iii. 8, 9. Ixxxix. 31—35. xxxiii. 9 — 11. xcii. 13, &c. Isa. xxvii. 3, 4. xlvi. 4. lix. 21. liv. 9, 10. iv. 4, 5. xl. 27—30. xliii. 1—8. Jer. iii. 3. 31—34. xxxii. 38—40. Ezek. xxxvi. 25—27. Hos.ii. 19,20. Zech. X. 12. Mai. iii. 6. with innumerable other places. In the New Testament God hath not left this truth and work of his grace without witness; as in sundry other places, so it is testified unto. Matt. vi. 13. vii. 24, 25. xii. 20. xvi. 18. xxiv. 24. Luke i. 70—75. viii. 5. 8. xxii.32. John iii. 36. iv. 13, 14.
16. V.24. vi. 35—39. 57. vii. 38. viii. 35. x. 27— 30. xiii. 1. xiv. 15 — 17. xvi. 27. xvii. throughout, Acts ii. 47. xiii. 48. Rom. vi. 14. viii. 1. 16, 17. 28—34, &c. 1 Cor. i. 8, 9. x. 13, 14. XV. 49. 58. 2 Cor. i. 21. Eph. i. 13, 14. iii. 17. iv. 30. v. 23. Gal. ii. 20. Phil. i. 6. ii. 13. 1 Thess. v. 24. 2 Tim. iv.
17, 18. Tit. i. 1. Heb. vi. 19. x. 38, 39. xii. ix. 14. xiii. 5. 21. 1 Pet. i. 2—5. 1 John ii. 19. 24. iii. 9. 19. v. 14. 18. Judel.Rev. xx. 6. So plentifully hath the Lord secured this sacred truth, wherein he hath inwrapped so much (if not as in the means of conveyance the whole) of that peace, consolation, and joy, which he is willing the heirs of promise should receive. Whether the faith hereof thus plentifully delivered to the saints, found acceptance with the primitive Christians, to the most of whom it was given not ' only to be- lieve, but also to suffer for Christ,' to me is unquestionable. And I know no better proof of what those first churches did believe, than by shewing what they ought to believe, which I shall unquestionably be persuaded they did believe, unless most pregnant testimony be given of their apostacy. That Paul believed it for himself and concerning others is evident ; Rom. viii. 38, 39. 1 Cor. i. 8, 9. Phil. i. 6. Heb. vi.9, 10. ar€ sufiicient proof of his faith herein. That he built up others in the same persuasion, to the enjoyment of the same peace and assurance with himself is undeniable. And if there be any demonstration to be made of the belief of the first Christians,
A PREFACE TO THE READER. XXXlX
of any evidence comparable unto this, I shall not deny but that it ought ta be attended unto. But that we may not seem willing to decline the consideration of what those who went before us in the several ages and generations past, ap- prehended, and have by any means communicated unto us, of their thoughts about the business of our contest (having no reason so to be), I shall after a little preparation made to that work, present the reader with something of my observa- tions to that end and purpose.
Of the authority of the ancients in matters of religion and worship of God, of the right use and improvement of their writings, of the several considerations that are to be had and exercised by them who would read them with profit and advantage, after many disputes and contests between the Papists and divines of the reformed churches, the whole concernment of that controversy, is so clearly stated, ma- naged, and resolved by Monsieur Da'ille in his book of the Right Use of the Fathers, that I suppose all farther labour in that kind may be well spared. Those who intend to weigh their testimony to any head of Christian doctrine, do com- monly distinguish them into three greater periods of time. The first of these is comprehensive of them, who lived and wrote before the doctrine, concerning which they are called out to give in their thoughts and verdict, had received any signal opposition, and eminent discussion in the church on that account. Such are the writers of the first three hun- dred years, before the Nicene council, in reference to the doctrine of the Trinity : and so the succeeding writers, be- fore the stating of the Macedonian, Eutychian, and Nestorian heresies. In the next are they ranked who bare the burden and heat of the opposition made to any truth, and on that occasion wrote expressly and at large on the controverted doctrines. Which is the condition of Athanasius, Basil, Gregory, and some others in that Arian controversy. And in the last place succeed those who lived after such con- cussions, which are of less or more esteem, according as the doctrines inquired after were less or more corrupted in the general apostacy of the latter days. According to this order our first period of time will be with the rise of the Pelagian heresy, which gave occasion to the thorough, full, and clear discussion of the whole doctrine concerning the grace of God ; whereof that in whose defence we are engaged is no
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small portion. The next of those whom God raised up to make head against that subtle opposer of his grace with his followers, during the space of a hundred years and some- what onwards, ensuing the promulgation of that heresy. What have been the thoughts of men in the latter ages until the Reformation, and of the Romanists since to this day, manifested in a few pregnant instances, will take up the third part of this design. Of the judgment of the reformed churches, as they are commonly called, I shall speak par- ticularly in the close of this discourse. For the first of these : not to insist on the paucity of writers in the first three hundred years, sundry single persons in the following- ages, having severally written three times as much as we have left and remaining of all the others (the names of many who are said to have written, being preserved by Eusebius Eccles. Hist, and Hierome lib. de Script, their writings being- perished in their days), nor in general of that corruption, whereunto they have almost every one of them been unques- tionably exposed, I must be forced to preface the nomination of them with some considerations. The first in that known passage of Hegesipus, in Euseb. Hist. Eccles. lib. 3. 26. '£lg apa /X£\P' '''^^ "^^^"^^ yji6vii)v, TTap^tvog Ka^apa kcu a^ia(j)^o- poc tfJ-UViv 7) tfCK-Xijo-ict tig 8' 6 hpog rwv 'AttootoAwv X'^P'^^ ^t«" dtopov aXj)^£ Tov ^iov riXog, TraptXi]\v^it tI i) yevsa tJCEtrij rwi/ avTciig uKOCtig Tt]g Iv^tv aocpiag tTraKOVfrai KaTr]^i(i)fieviov, Trig Iv^iov a^tov ir\avi}g tjjv ap)(i)v IXajLi^avev i) avoTaaig, ^la Tijg tCjv mpoStSaCTKaXwv inran^g, oi koL are fj.i]civog 'in riov 'Attooto- Xwv Xeitto/xevou, yv/uLvij XoiTTov 7jSj| tij Kt(paXi] tCo Tifig aXiiOeiag Kr}pvjixaTi TJJV \piv^u)VviJ.ov yvwaiv avTiK-npvTTSiv lyn-^^fipovv. So far he : setting out the corruption of the church even as to doctrine, immediately after the apostles fell asleep : whereof whosoever will impartially, and with disengaged judgments, search into the writings, that of those days do remain, will perhaps find more cause than is commonly imagined, with him to complain.
2. The main work of the writers of the first ages, being to contend with heathenish idolaters, to convince them of their madness and folly, to write apologies for the worship of God in Christ in general, so to dissuade their rulers from persecution, or in contesting with heretics, for the most part appearing to be men either corrupt in their lives, or mad and brainsick (as we say) as to their imaginations, or deny-
A' PREFACE TO THE READER. xli
ing the truth of the person of Christ, what can we expect from them, as delivered directly and on set purpose to the matter of our present contest ? Some principles may in them possibly be discovered, from whence, by a regular de- duction, some light may be obtained into their thoughts concerning the points in ditierence. Thus Junius thinks, and not without cause, that the whole business of predesti- nation, may be stated upon this one principle, that faith is the free gift of God flowing from his predestination and mercy; and concerning this, saith he, 'Hoc autem omnes patres uno consensu ex Christo et Paulo agnoverunf; ipse Justinus Martyr in Apolog. 2. et gravissime vero Clemens Alexandrinus, in hac alioquin palestra non ita exercitatus ut sequentia secula ;' Hom. lib. 2. * Basilii et Valentini dog- ma esse dicit, quod fides a natura sit;' Consid. Senten. Pet. Baroni. Without this what advantage can be taken, or what use can be made for the discovery of the mind of any of the ancients by cropping off" some occasional expressions, from their occasions and aims, I know not. Especially, w^juld I more peremptorily affirm this could I imagine any of them wrote as Jerome affirms of himself, that he sometimes did. Epist. ad August, which is among his 89 Epist. T. 2. ' Itaque,' saith he, ' ut simpliciter fateor, legi hsec omnia, et in mente mea plurima coacervans, accito notario vel mea. vel aliena dictavi, nee ordinis, nee verborum interdum nee sensuum meraor.' Should any one say so of himself in these days, he would be accounted little better than a madman; much then on this account (or at least not 'much to the purpose) is not to be expected from the fathers of the first ages.
3. Another observation to our purpose, lies well express- ed in the beginning of the fourteenth chapter of Bellarmine's second book de Grat. et lib. Arb. •' Prajter Scripturas adfe- runt alia testimonia patrum ;' saith he, speaking of those who opposed God's free predestination : to which he sub- joins ; * Neque est hoc novvuii argumentum, sed antiquissi- mum. Scribit enim S. Prosper in Epistola ad S. Augusti- num, Gallos qui sententiam ejusdem Augustini de predes- tinatione calumniabantur, illud potissimum objicere solitos quod ea sententia doctrinaj veterum videbatur esse con- traria. Sed respondet idem Augustinus in lib. de bono perse-
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verantise, veteres patres, qui ante Pelagium floruerunt, quees- tionem istam nunquam accurate tractasse sed incidenter so- lum, et quasi per transitum illam attigisse. Addit vero in fundamento hujus sententia- quod est gratiam dei non prse- venire ab ullo opere nostro sed contra, ab ilia omnia opera nostra praeveniri, ita ut nihil omnino boni, quod attinet ad salutem sit in nobis, quod non est nobis ex deo, convenire Catholicos omnes ; et ibidem citat Cyprianum Ambrosium, et Nazianzenum, quibus addere possumus Basilium et Cry- sostomum.' To the same purpose with application to a par- ticular person doth that great and holy doctor discourse, de doctrin. Christiana, lib. 3. cap. 33. saith he, ' Non erat exper- tus banc hseresin Tychonius, quae nostro tempore exorta, multumnos ut gratiam dei quae per dominuni nostrum Jesum Christum est adversus eam defenderemus exercuit, et secun- dum id quod ait Apostolus, oportet hsereses esse, ut probati manifesti fiunt in nobis, multo A-igilantiores, diligentioresque reddidit, ut adverteremus in Scripturis Sanctis, quod istum Tychonium minus attentum minusque sine hoste solicitum fugit.' That also of Jerome in his second apology against Ruffinus, in reference to a most weighty article of Christian religion, is known to all ; ' Fieri potest,' saith he, ' ut vel simpliciter erraverint, vel alio sensu scripserint, vel a Jibra- riis imperitis eorum paulatim scripta corrupta sint ; vel certe antequam in Alexandria quasi Dsemonium meridianum Arius nasceretur, innocenter quaedam, et minus cante locuti sunt, et quae non possunt perversorum hominum calumniam declinare.' And what he spake of the writers before Arius, in reference to the person of Christ, we may [say] of them before Pelae:ius, in reference to his g-race. Hence Pererius, in Rom. c. 8. disput. 22. tells us (how truly ipse viderit, I am not al- together of his mind), that for those authors that lived be- fore Austin's time, that all the Greek fathers, and a consi- derable part of the Latin, were of opinion, that the cause of predestination, was the foresight which God had, either of man's good works, or of their faith, either of which opinions, he assures us is manifestly contrary, both to the authority of the Scriptures, and particularly to the doctrine of St. Paul. I am not (as I said), wholly of his mind, partly upon the account of the observations made by his fellow Jesuit out of Austin, before-mentioned, partly upon other accounts
A PREFACE TO THE HEADER. xlHi
also. Upon these and the like considerations, much I pre- sume to the business in hand, will not be produced on either side, from the fathei'S that wrote before the rise of the Pe- lagian heresy. And if any one of the parties at this day liti- gant about the doctrines of the grace of God, should give that advice, that Sisinniusand Agellius the Novatians some- times gave, as Zozomeii reports of them (Hist. Eccles. lib. 7. cap. 12.), to Nectarius, by him communicated to the em- peror Theodosius, to have the quarrel decided by those that wrote before the rise of the controversy, as it would be un- reasonable in itself, so I persuade myself neither party would accept of the conditions, neither had the Catholics of those days got any thing, if they had attended to the advice of those Novatians. But these few observations premised, something as to particular testimonies, may be attended unto, -f That we may proceed in some order, not leaving those we have nothing to say to, nor are willing to examine, whilst they are but thin, and come not in troops, unsaluted ; the first writings that are imposed on us after the canonical Scriptures, are the eight books of Clement, commonly called the Apostles' Constitutions, being pretended to be written by him at their appointment, with the canons ascribed to the same persons. These we shall but salute, for besides that they are faintly defended by any of the Papists, disavowed and disclaimed as Apocryphal, by the most learned of them, as Bellarmine de script. Eccles. in Clem, who approves only of fifty canons, of eighty-five; Baronius, An. Dom. 102. 14. who adds thirty more, and Binius with a little enlargement of canons, in Tit. Can. T. 1. Con. pag. 17. and have been thoroughly disproved and decried by all Protestant writers, that have had any occasion to deal with them, their folly and falsity, their impostures and triflings, have of late been so fully manifested by Dallseus, de Pseudepigrapis Apostol. that nothing need be added thereunto. Of him may doctor H.H. learn the truth of that insinuation of his. Dissert, de Episcop.2. cap. 6. sect. 3. 'Canone Apostolico secundo (sem- per inter genuinos habito),* but of the confidence of this au- thor in his assertions afterward ; this indeed (insisted on by Dallseus, and the learned Usher in his notes upon Ignatius) is childishly ridiculous in them, that whereas it is pretended that these constitutions were made at a convention of the
Xliv A PREFACE TO THE READER.
apostles, as 1. 6. c. 14. they are brought in discoursing 7)jU£tc ovv ETTi TO avTo ydvofiiiVOi, Trirpog koi 'Avdpiag 'laKwfiog KaX 'lojavvrjt^ viol Zef^a^aiov, 8cc. They are made to inform us, lib. 2. cap. 57. that the Acts written by Luke, and read in the churches are theirs, and the four books of the gospel. Whereas the story of the death of James (here said to be together with the apostles), is related Acts xii. and John, by the consent of all, wrote not his gospel until after the dis- solution of his associates. Also they make Stephen and Paul to be together, at the making of those constitutions ; Const, lib. 8. cap. 4. (whereas the martyrdom of Stephen was before the conversion of Paul) and yet also mentions the stoning of Stephen ; lib. 8. 46. They tell us whom they appointed bishops of Jerusalem after the death of James, and yet James is one of them, who is met together with them, 1. 7. c. 48. Nay mention is made of Cerinthus, and that Mark the heretic, Menander, Basilides, and Saturninus, were known and taken notice of by the apostles, who all lived in the second century, about the reign of Hadrian, as Eusebius manifesteth, and Clem. Alex. Strom, lib. 7.
But to leave such husks as these unto them who loath manna, and will not feed on the bread that our heavenly Fa- ther hath so plentifully provided for all that live in his fa- mily, or any way belong to his house, let us look onward to them that follow, of whose truth and honesty we have more assurance.
The first genuine piece that presents itself unto us, on the roll of antiquity, is that epistle of Clemens, which in the name of the church of Rome, he wrote to the divided church of Corinth, which being abundantly testified to of old, to the great contentment of the Christian world, was published here at Oxford some few years since ; a w riting full of an- cient simplicity, humility, and zeal. As to our present bu- siness much I confess cannot be pleaded from hence, beyond a negative impeachment, of that great and false clamour which our adversaries have raised, of the consent of the pri- mitive Christians with them in their by-paths, and ways of error. It is true, treating of a subject diverse from any of those heads of religion about which our contests are, it is not to be expected that he should any where plainly, directly, and evidently, deliver his judgment unto them. This there-
A PREFACE TO THE READER. xlv
fore I shall only say, that in that whole epistle, there is not one word, iota, or syllable that gives countenance to the te- net of our adversaries, in the matter of the saints' perse- verance ; but that on the contrary, there are sundry expres- sions, asserting such a foundation of the doctrine \ve main- tain, as will with good strength infer the truth of it. Page 4. setting forth the virtues of the Corinthians before they fell into the schism that occasioned his epistle, he minds them that, ayu)v ijv vfjuv i^fiijpag tI ku\ VMKTog vTrepTraatjg rijg ooeX- ^orr/roc, tic to (TU)tii(7^ai fur iXiovg Kcii (TvvuducreojQ tov apt^jnov Twv IkXsktCov avTov. That God hath a certain number of elect to be saved, and for whose salvation by his mercy the church is to contend with him, is a principle wholly inconsistent with those, on which the doctrine of the saints' apostacy is bottomed. Corresponding hereunto is that passage of his concerning the will of God, p. 12. iravTcig ovv rovg aya7rr]T0vg avTOv ftovXofxevog fi^Tavoiag fxeTaa^tlv , i<TT{ipi^ev tm iravTOKpa- TopiKto ftovXii/mTL aiiTov. A mere consideration of this passage causeth me to recall what but now was spoken, as though the testimony given to the truth in this epistle was not so clear as might be desired. The words now repeated, contain the very thesis contended for. It is the beloved of God (or his chosen), whom he will have made partakers of saving repent- ance ; and hereunto he establisheth them (for with that word is the defect in the sentence to be supplied), by, or with the almighty will : because he will have his beloved partakers of saving repentance, and the benefits thereof, he confirms and establishes them in it, with his omnipotent or sovereign will. The inconsistency and irreconcilableness of this as- sertion, with the doctrine of these saints' apostacy, the learned reader needs not any assistance to manifest to him. Answerably hereunto he saith of God, eicXoyfjc P-^pog vfxag iTToir](7tv iavTU), p. 38. and p. 66. mentioning the blessedness of the forgiveness of sins, out of Psal. xxxii. he adds, Ovrog 6 fXttKapicrpog iytvero InX Tovg iKXiXtjfxivovg vtto tov ^eov cia irjCToi/ ^^pKTTov TOV Kvpiov riptov. The elect of whom he speaks, are those on whom, through and for Christ, God bestows the blessedness of justification ; elect they are of God ante- cedently to the obtaining of that blessedness, and through that they do obtain it: so that in that short sentence of this author, the great pillar of the saints' perseverance, which is
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their free election, the root of all the blessedness which af- terward they enjoy, is established : other passages like to these, there are in that epistle, which plainly deliver the pri- mitive Christians of the church of Rome, from any commu- nion in the doctrine of the saints' apostacy, and manifest their perseverance in the doctrine of the saints' perseverance, wherein they had been so plentifully instructed not long be- fore, by the epistle of Paul unto them.
He who upon the roll of antiquity presents himself in the next place to our consideration, is the renowned Igna- tius, concerning whom I desire to beg so much favour of the learned reader, as to allow me a diversion unto some thoughts and observations, that belong to another subject, than that which I have now peculiarly in hand, before I come to give him a taste of his judgment in the doctrine under debate.
As this Ignatius bishop of the church at Antioch, was in himself a man of an excellent spirit, eminent in holiness, and to whom on the behalf of Christ it was given not only to be- lieve on him, but also suffer for him, and on that account of very great and high esteem among the Christians of that age wherein he lived, and sundry others following, so no great question can be made but that he wrote towards the end of his pilgrimage, when he was on his way to be offered up through the Holy Spirit by the mouths of wild beasts to Jesus Christ, that he wrote sundry epistles to sundry churches that were of chiefest note and name in the coun- tries about. The concurrent testimony'of the ancients in this matter of fact, will give as good assurance as in this kind we are capable of: Eusebius reckons them up in order, so doth Jerome.
After them frequent mention is made of them by others, and special sayings in them are transcribed : and whereas it is uro-ed by some, that there is no mention of those epistles before the Nicene council, before which time, it is as evident as if it were written with the beams of the sun, that many false and supposititious writings had been imposed on, and were received by many in the church (as the story of Paul and Tecla is mentioned and rejected by Tertull. de Baptis. Herman Pastor by others), it is answered that they were men- tioned by Irenseus some good while before; lib. 5. cap. 28. saith he, ' Quemadmodum quidam de nostris dixit, propter
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martyrium in Deum adjudicatus ad bestias ; quoniam fru- m en turn sum Christi et per denies bestiarum molor ut mun- dus panis Dei inveniar.' Which words to the substance of them are found in these epistles : though some say nothing is here intimated of any epistles or writings, but of a speech that might pass among the Christians by tradition, such as they had many among themselves, evenof our Saviour's; some whereof are mentioned by Grotius on these words of Paul, 'Remember that word of Christ, that it is more blessed to give than to receive.' What probability or ground for conviction there is in these or the like observations and answers, is left to the judgment of all. This is certain that the first men- tioning of them in antiquities, is to be clearly received (and that perhaps with more than the bare word of him that re- cites and approves of the epistles of Jesus Christ to Agbarus the king of the Edessens, or of him that reckons Seneca among the ecclesiastical writers, upon the account of his epistles to Paul), or the following testimonies, which are heaped up in abundance by some who think (but falsely) that they have a peculiar interest inwrapped in the epistles, now extant, will be of very small weight or value.
For my part I am persuaded with that kind of persuasion wherein in things of no greater moment I am content to ac- quiesce, that he did write seven epistles, and that much of what he so wrote is preserved in those that are now extant, concerning which, the contests of learned men, have drawn deep and run high in these latter days, though little to the advantage of the most that have laboured in that cause, as shall be manifested in the process of our discourse.
A late* learned doctor in his dissertations about episco- pacy, or dispute for it against Salmasius and Blondellus, tells us, that we may take a taste of his confidence in asserting. Dissert. 2. cap. 23. 1. that Salmasius and Blondellus 'mor- talium omnium primi,' thought these epistles to be feigned, or counterfeit. And with more words, cap. 24. 1. he would make us believe that these epistles of Ignatius were always of the same esteem with that of Clemens from Rome to the Corinthians of which he treats at large in his fourth disser- tation, or that of Polycarpus to the Philippians which we
» Uiiicuni D. Blondellum aut altcruni fortassc inter omncs mortales Walonera Messalinuin, cap. 25. s. 3.
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have in EuseBius, and then he adds in the judgment of Sal- masius and Blondellus, 'Solus Ignatius o'l^^eraL cujus tamen Epistolse pari semper cum illis per universam ab omni eevo patrum nostrorum memoriam reverentia excipiebantur ; nee prius a mortalium quovis in judicium vocabantur (multo minus ut in re certa et extra dubium posita inter plane o?o- Ki/^ia et K«/3Sr)Xa rejiciebantur), quam Presbyteri Anglicani patribus suis contumeliam facere ctepissent iisque aut sup- petias ferre, aut rem gratam facere (quibus illecebris adducti nescio), hi duo non ignobiles Presbyteran^e causae hyperas- pistae in seipsos recepissent.' Of his two learned antago- nists, one is dead, and the other almost blind, or probably they would have dealt not much more gently with the doc- tor for his parenthesis ('quibus illecebris adducti nescio'), than one of them formerly did (Salmas. de subscribendis et signandis testamentis seu specimen Consula. Animad. He- raldi. cap. 1. p. 19. 'Nuper quidem etiam nebulo in Anglia, Capellanus ut audio regis, Hammondus nomine, libro quem edidit de potestate clavium Salmasio iratus quod aliam quam ipse sententiam probet ac defendat, baud potuit majus con- vicium, quod ei diceret, invenire, quam si Grammaticura ap- pellaret') for his terming him a grammarian ; yet indeed of him (such was the hard entertainment he found on all hands), it is by many supposed that he was ' illecebris ad- ductus' (and they stick not to name the bait he was caught withal), wrouo;ht over in a manner to destroy the faith of that which he had before set up and established.
For the thing itself affirmed by the doctor, I cannot enough admire with >vhat oscitancy or contempt, he consi- ders his readers (of which manner of proceeding this is very far from being the only instance), that he should confidently impose such things upon them. He that hath written so much about Ignatius, and doth so triumph in his authority, ought doubtless to have considered those concernments of his author which are obvious to every ordinary inquirer ; Vedelius's edition of Ignatius at Geneva came forth with his notes in the year 1623. long before either Salmasius or Blondellus had written any thing about the suppositious- ness of these epistles; in the apology for Ignatius, whereto prefixed, he is forced to labour and sweat in the answer of one, whom he deservedly styles Virum doctissimum ; arguing
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(not contemptibly) that Ignatius never wrote any such epis- tles, and that all those which were carried about in his name were false and counterfeit.
But perhaps the doctor had taken caution of one of the fathers of his church, that 'a Genevensibus istis Typogra- phis praeter fraudes, et fucos, et prtestigias non est quod quicquam expectemus;' (Montacu. Appar. l.lib. 5. sect. 47. p. 19.) and so thought not fit to look into any thing that comes from them.
Especially may this be supposed to have some influence upon him, considering the gentle censure added in the next words by that reverend father of his church concerning the endeavour of Vedelius in his notes on that edition. * Ne- que audax ille et importunus Ignatii censor, quicquam at- tulitad paginassuas implendas praeter inscitiam, et incuriam, et impudentiam singularem (nee ssevi magne sacerdos) dum ad suum Genevatismum antiquitatem detorquet invitissi- mam, non autem quod oportuit, Calvinismum amussitat ad antiquitatem.' And what, I pray, is the reason of his epis- copal censure ? That he should deal with poor Vedelius in that language wherewith men of his order and authority were wont to deal with preaching ministers at their visita- tions ? Why this poor man, in that passage which you have in the Epistle to the Magnesians, (in that edition, p. 56.) where treating of the ancient fathers' expectations of the coming of Christ, retains the common reading of ug KevoTt^ra iXnidog rjX^ov referring the word to their expectation of see- ing him come in the flesh ; which upon the testimony of our Saviour himself, they desired to see, and saw it not, not cor- recting it by a change of Ktvorr^ra into KOivorrjTa tXiriSog, SO referring it to their faith in Christ and salvation by him as in his judgment, he ought to have done :
A little thing would provoke the indignation of a prelate against any thing that came from Geneva.
1 say, I would suppose, that this might divert our doctor from casting his eye upon Vedelius, whose defensative would have informed him that these epistles had been op- posed as false and counterfeit, before ever Salmasius or Blondellus had taken them into consideration ; but that I find him sometimes insisting on that Geneva edition.
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For whereas. Diss. 2. cap. 2. sect. 11. he tells you, that he intends to abide only upon the edition of Isaac Vossius, in Greek, published from the archives of the library of Lawrence de Medicis, and the Latin edition published by Bishop Usher, out of our library here at Oxford; yet, cap. 8. being pressed with the testimony of the writers of the Epistle to the Mag- nesians, in that edition calling episcopacy vewTepiKrjv ra^iv, plainly intimating a comparative novelty, in that order to others in the churches, and fearing (as well he might) that his translation of viojTEpiKi) ra^ig into, ' the ordination of a young man,' would scarce be received by the men of his own prejudice (for surely he never supposed, that he should impose on any other, by such gross figments), he prefers the Vedelian edition (where these words are not so used) before it; and informs us that ' sic legendum (as it is in the Geneva edition) suadet tota epistolee series.' Now this truly is marvellous to me (if the doctor consulteth authors any farther than merely to serve his present turn), how he could ever advise with that edition of Vedelius, and yet so confidently affirm that Salmasius and Blondellus were the first that rejected these Epistles, as feigned and counter- feited.
But yet, a little farther, the first edition of these epistles in Latin was Augustse Vindelicorum, An. 1529 ; in Greek, at Basil, 1566. Before which time I suppose the doctor expects not, that any opposition should be made to them, consi- dering the heaps of filth and dung, that until about that time, were owned for the offspring of the ancient fathers.
Upon their first appearing in the world what is the en- tertainment they receive ? One who was dead before either the doctor, or either of his antagonists were born, and w hose renown among the people of God, will live when they are all dead, gives them this welcome into the world ; ' Ignati- um quod obtendunt, si velint quicquam habere momenti ; probent apostolos legem tulisse de quadragesima, et simili- bus corruptelis. Nihil nseniis istis quae sub Ignatii nomine editffi sunt putidius. Quo minus tolerabilis est eorum im- pudentia qui talibus larvis ad fallendum se instruunt ;' Cal. Instit. lib. 1. cap. 13. sect. 29.
Whatever be the judgment of our doctor concernino- this man (as some there are of whom a learned bishop in
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this nation long ago complained, that they are still opening their mouths against Calvin, who helped them to mouths to speak with; Abbot, ad Thorn.) he will in the judgment of some, be so far accounted somebody, as to take off from the confident assertion that Salmasius and Blondellus> were ' mortalium primi,' that rejected these epistles.
The Centuriators of Magdenburg were esteemed to be somebodies in their days ; and yet they make bold to call these epistles into question : and to tender sundry argu- ments to the impairing of their credit and authority. This then they, Cent. 2. cap. 10. De Episcop. Antioch.ac primum de Ignatio.
'Lectori pio et attento considerandum relinquimus quan- tum sit illis epistolis tribuendum. Non enim dubitamus quin in lectione earum cuilibet ista in mentem veniant ; pri- mum quod fere in omnibus epistolis, licet satis copiosis, occasio scribendi prsetermittitur, nee vel divinare licet, quare potissimum ad banc vel illam ecclesiam literas voluerit mittere. Deinde ipsius peregrinationis ratio non parvum injicit scrupulum considerantibus, quod multo rectiore et breviori itinere, Romam potuerit navigare, ut testatur vel ipsius Pauli exemplum. — Expende quam longum sit iter, Antiochia ad littus ^gsei pelagi se recipere, ibique recta sursum versus Septentrionern ascendere, et praecipuas civi- tates in littore sitas usque ad Troadera perlustrare, cum ta- men Romanum iter sit destinatum versus occasum. Tertio res ejusmodi in istas literas inspersse sunt ut ad eas prope- modum obstupescat lector, &c. — Hoec cum alias non som- nolento lectori incidant, non existimaverimus,' &c.
Thus they at the world's first awaking, as to the consi- deration of things of this kind.
To them add the learned Whitaker, Cont. prima, de per feet, script, quaest. sexta, c. 12. where after he hath disputed against the credit of these epistles, jointly and severally, with sundry arguments, at length he concludes, 'Sed de his Epistolis satis multa, et de hoc Ignatio quid judicandura sit, satis ex iis constare potest qufe diximus. Ista Papistce non audent tueri,' &c. To whom sundry others might be added, convincing Salmasius and Blondellus, not to have been 'mortalium primi,' that called them into question.
I have not insisted on what hath been spoken, as though K 2
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I were wholly of the mind of them, who utterly condemn those epistles as false and counterfeit ; though I know no possibility of standing before the arguments levied against them, notwithstanding the fore-mentioned doctor's attempt to that purpose, without acknowledging so much corruption in them, additions and detractions from what they were when first written, as will render them not so clearly ser- viceable to any end or purpose, whereunto their testimony may be required, as other unquestionable writings of their antiquity are justly esteemed to be. That these epistles have fallen into the hands of such unworthy impostors as have filled the latter ages %vith labour and travail to discover their deceits, the doctor himself granteth, dissert. 2. cap. 2. sect. 6. ' Nulla,' saith he, * quidem nobis incunibit necessi- tas, ut in tanta exemplarium et editionum varietate et in- constantia, nihil uspiam Ignatio interpolatum aut adsutum affirmemus.'
And indeed the foisted passages in many places are so evident, yea shameful, that no man who is not resolved to say any thing, without care of proof or truth, can once ap- pear in any defensative about them. Of this sort are the shreds and pieces out of that branded counterfeit piece of Clemens, or the Apostles' Constitutions, which are almost in every epistle packed in, in a bungling manner, oftentimes disturbing the sense and coherence of the place ; yea some- times such things are thence transcribed, as in them are considerable arguments of their corruption and falsehood ; so is that period in the Epistle to the Magnesians taken from Clemens. Constitut. lib. 6. cap. 2. 'Ajii^daEav weavriog tijc KEcpaXrig a^aipdrai Si' bfiolav alTiav. This Abeddadan being mentioned next after Absalom's dying by the loss of his head, is therefore, supposed to be Sheba the son of Bickri, but whence that counterfeit Clemens had that name is not known. That the counterfeit Clemens by Abeddadan in- t-ended Sheba is evident from the words he assigns unto him in the place mentioned. Abeddadan said, ovKicrrl /nol /mipog Iv Aa|3iS, ouSe KXTjpoi'OjUia Iv v'u^ ^laaaai. And joins him with Absalom in his rebellion; such passages as these they are supposed to have received from that vain and foolisji impostor ; but if it be true, which some have observed, that tiiere is not the least mention made of any of those ficti-
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111
tious Constitutions in the three first ages after Christ, and that the dtdaxn 'AttocttoAwv mentioned by Eusebius, and Athanasius, as also that Siard^i^ in Epiphanius, are quite other things, then those eight books of Constitutions we now have, it may rather be supposed, that that sottish de- ceiver rather raked up some of his filth from the corruption of these epistles, than that any thing out of him is crept into them. Other instances might be given of stufiing these epistles with the very garbage of that beast. Into what hands also these epistles have fallen by the way, in their journeying down towards these ends of the world, is evident from these citations made out of them, by them of old, which now appear not in them. Theodoret. Dial. 3. adv. Hsere. gives us this sentence from Ignatius ; Evxapirrriag KOI 7rpo(j(l)Opag oi>k wTroSe^ovrat Sta to jut) ofxaXoyuv ttiv iv^a- QtdTiav (jui)Ka iivaiTov aojTijpog i]fiwv h}(TOv -^ipiarov TrjvvTTtp twv afiaQTiuyv Vfuov TraOovaav rjv ■)(^pi](fTOTr]Ti 6 IJaTrjp i]yeipev. Which words you will scarcely find in that epistle to the church of Smyrna, from whence they were taken; Jerome also. Dial. 3. Con. Pelag. hath this passage of him, and from him. 'Ignatius vir apostolicus et martyr scribit audacter, elegit Dominus apostolos qui super omnes homines pecca- tores erant :' which words as they are not now in these epis- tles, so, as one observes, if ever he wrote them as is pre- tended, he did it audacter indeed. But of these things our doctor takes no notice.
The style of these epistles doth not a little weaken the credit of them, being turgent, swelling with uncouth words and phrases, affected manner and ways of expression, new compositions of words, multiplying titles of honour to men, exceedingly remote and distant from the plainness and sim- plicity of the first writers among the Christians, as is evident by comparing these with the epistles of Clemens before men- tioned, tiiat of Polycarpus in Eusebius, the churches of Vienna and Lyons in that same author, and others. Instances for the confirmation of this observation are multiplied by Blondel- lus : my designed work will not allow me to insist on parti- culars. In many good words this charge is waved, by affirming that the author of these epistles was an Assyrian, and near to martyrdom, and that in the Scriptures there are suudry words of as hard a composition, as these used by him ; Ham
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disser. 2. cap. 3. And as he says, from this kind of writing an argument of sufficient validity may be drawn to evince him to be the author of these epistles. Jerome was of an- other mind speaking of Didymus. * Imperitus,' saith he, * ser- mone est, et non scientia, Apostolicum virum ex ipso ser- mone exprimens, tam sensuum nomine, quam simplicitate verborum.' But seeing Ignatius was a Syrian, and near to martyrdom (though he writes his epistles from Troas and Smyrna, which without doubt were not in his way to Rome from Antioch ; and yet every where he saith he is going to Rome : ad Eph. rci Seafia dirb Supt'ac jUfXPt 'PwftJic Trtpicpepo)' which in the close he affirms he wrote from Smyrna, whi- ther he was had to his martyrdom), what is it to any man what style he used in his writings, what swelling titles he gave to any, or words he made use of. Who shall call those writings (especially Ignatius being a Syrian) into question.
But perhaps some farther question may here arise (and which hath by sundry been already started), about the use of divers Latin words in those epistles, which doubtless can- not be handsomely laid on the same account of their author beinoc a Syrian, and nigh to martyrdom ; oKjctTrra, ^^TroaiTa di(TEpTwp, l^ejUTrXapiov, are usually instanced in words to whose use no Roman customs, observations, orders, nor rules of government, do administer the least occasion. Of these the doctor tells you, he wonders only that in so many epistles, there are no more of this kind. And why so ! The epistles are not so large a volume ; a very few hours will serve to read them over ; and yet I am persuaded that in all that compass of reading, in the Greek fathers, which our doctor owns, he cannot give so many instances of words bar- barous to their language, no way occasioned by the means before mentioned, as have been given in these epistles. But he wonders there are no more, and some wonder that all are not of his mind. But he farther informs us that a diligent reader of the Scripture, may observe many more Latin words in the New Testament than are used in these epistles ; and for a proof of his diligence and observation, reckons up out of the end of Pasor's Lexicon sundry words of that kind, made use of by the sacred writers. 1 fear, unto some men, this will scarce be an apology prevalent to the dismission of these epistles, from under the censure of being at least
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foully corrupted. Of the whole collection of words of that
sort made by Pasor, among which are those especially culled out by our doctor to confirm his observations, there is scarce one, but either it is expressive of some Roman office, custom, money, order, or the like ; words of which nature pass as proper names (as one of those mentioned by the doctor is, and no otlierwise used in the New Testament), from one country and language to another, or are indeed of a pure Greek original, or at least were in common use in that age ; neither of which can be spoken of the words above men- tioned, used in the epistles ; which were never used by any before or after them, nor is there any occasion imaginable why they should : ' Parvas habent spes epistolee, si tales ha- bent :' I would indeed gladly see a fair, candid, and ingeni- ous defensative of the style and manner of writing used in those epistles, departing so eminently from any thing that was customary in the writings of the men of those days, or is regular for men of any generation, in repetitions, aft'ected compositions, barbarisms, rhyming expressions, and the like ; for truly notwithstanding any thing that hitherto I have been able to obtain for help in this kind, I am enforced to incline to Vedelius's ansv/ers, to all the particular instances given of this nature; this and that place is corrupted, this is from Clemens's Constitutions, this from this or that tradition ; which also would much better free those epistles from the word CTiyfjCj used in the sense whereunto it Avas applied by the Valentinians long after the death of Ignatius, than any other apology, I have as yet seen, for the securing of its abode in them.
It is not a little burdensome to the thoughts of sober and learned men, to consider how frequently, causelessly, absurdly, in the midst of discourses quite of another nature and tendency, the author of those epistles (or somebody for him) breaks in upon the commendation of church officers, bishop:-, and presbyters, exalting them with titles of honour to the greatest potentates on earth, and comparing thera to God the Father and Son ; whereas none of the sacred writers that went before him, nor any of those good and holy men who (as is supposed) followed after him, do hold the least communion or society with him. WvayKoiov ovv tortv, daa- TTfo TTOfttri, avtv Tou 'ETTtaKOTTOU /ujjStv TTjOtiTTfiv v/xaf' Epist.
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ad Tral. whereunto is immediately subjoined that doctrine concerning deacons which will scarcely be thought to be exefyetical of Acts vi. Atl Se KaXrovg ^laKovovg ovrac fivaTiplmv ■\pi<TTOv Irfcrov kuto. TTavra rpoTTOv apeaKSiv, ov yap ppwTwv teat TTOToJv eiat diuKOVOi, aXXa, &C. And Ti yap iariv liriaKOTTog' dXX' I'j iraarig dpxrig Kai lK,ov(Jiag iTTiKHva Travriov Kparujv. W hat the writer of this passage intended to make of a bishop well I know not: but thus he speaks of him, Epist. ad Magnes. noiirov ovv fOTt koi vi^iag xnraKOveiv no 'ETriaKOTTio v/xuiv' kuI Kara pi]^lv aiirt^ dvTiXiyeiv. 'Po^epov yap tori (as the apostle speaks concerning God. Heb. vi. 10.) roiovro) avTiXiyeiv. Thus indeed some would have it, who to help the matter, have far- ther framed such an episcopacy, as was never thought on by any in the days of Ignatius, as shall afterward be made evident. And in the same epistle this is somewhat uncouth and strange. 'EvwS'rjTE TM i7rt(TK07r(j), vTTOTacrcTopevoi Tio Qeio ci avTOv Iv XptoTal tuo-TTfp ovv 6 Kvpiog civev tov Trarphg oi'^tv ttoiu, ov ^vvaiiiai yap,
^rjCTl, TTOUlv OTt' kpaVTOV Oliclv. O'vTiO Ka\ Vpug CiViV Toi) E—ICTKU-
TTOV /LtTjSe TrpeaftvTEpog, fxi) diaKOvog, jujj AaiKug jLu^bi ti ^aivlaOu} vfuv ev\oyov vapa rriv tKiivov yviofirjv. Whether the Lord Christ hath bound any such burden upon the shoulders of the saints, I much question ; nor can 1 tell what to make of the comparison, between God the Father and the bishop, Christ and the rest of the church; the whole sentence in word and matter, being most remote from the least counte- nance from the sacred writings. Epist. ad Philadel. od Trpsa- l^vTspoi KOI oi AtaKOVoi Kal u XotTTOc KAripog, o(/.<a —uvt\ t(o Aaq7 Kai ToXg (TTpariwraig, Kal Tolg lip^ovai ku\ r({> Kaiaapi (well aimed however), no lincTKOTru) ini^apxHTtoaav. The epistle to the church at Smyrna is full of such stuff, inserted without any occasion, order, coherence, or any colour to induce us to be- lieve that it is part of the epistle as first written. One pas- sage I may not omit. Tifxa (j)i](r\v (iiit) tov ^eov, tcai liamXia' lyw Sf ^TjjLti (in the language of our Saviour repudiating the Pharisees' corrupted glosses on the law), Tipa fiiv tov Qthv wg amov tiov oXcov Ka) KvpLov, tTriaKOTrov cl wg apy^^iepia ^tov HKOva (j>opovvTa, Kara filv to ap)(£iv ^eov kotci St to upoTiveiv XptoTOu KOI piTci TOVTwv Tipc^v \pr\ KOI ^aaiXia. So Peter's mistake is corrected : his reasons follow, ovTf^ yap Tig Kpt'iT- T(ov, S'tou, 7} TrapaTrXi'trnog tv iracn Tatg ovaiv' o'vTt cl tv tKuXiiala
llTiaKOTTOV tI f^lHC,OV lif)lOpQVOV 0t<[)' Vwlp T}ig TOV KOaflOV TTUl'TOg
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trtoTTiptaQ (as was Jesus Christ); and it is added, h 6 j3ci<Ji\iv- mv iTTijeipofxivog KoXacrf a>c a^iog diKadog yev{](TiTai, log ye TTopo- Aviov Trjv KOLvrjv ivvofiiav, ttoum cokute "x^^ipovog o^twS'jjcrcrat TijLiMpiag 6 aviv tTTicrKOTOV Ti TTotav Trpoaipovf.iivog, &c. hpMavvr} yap k(TTt TO TTuvTMv o.ya'^wv Iv av^pionoig (n'a(Dipr]Koc. How well this suits the doctrine of Peter and Paul, the reader will easily discern. Caesar or the king is upon all accounts thrust behind the bishop, who is said to be consecrated to God for the salvation of the world : him he is exhorted to obey; and in express opposition to the Holy Ghost, the bishop's name is thrust in between God and the king, as in a way of pre-eminence above the latter : and to do any thing without the bishop is made a far greater crime than to rise up against the king. As this seems scarce to be the lan- guage of one, going upon an accusation to appear before the emperor, so I am certain, it is most remote from the likeness of any thing, that in this affair we are instructed in from the Scripture. Plainly this language is the same with that of the false impostor, Pseudo-Clemens, in his pretended aposto- lical constitutions. At this rate, or somewhat beyond it, have you him ranting. Lib. 2. cap. 2. ^EiriaKOTrov Qtov tvttov i\eiv Iv ai'^pMTTOig, tCov Trai'Twv ap\Eiv av^pwirtov, lepeujv, pa- aiXiwv, apyovTwv, iraTtpcjJv, v'lCov, cidacTKaXwv Koi ttuvtwv upov Twv virriKowv. ' All popes, all sorts of persons whatever, priests, kings, and princes, fathers and children, all under the feet of this exemplar of God, and ruler over men.' A passage which doubtless eminently interprets and illustrates th;.t place of Peter, 1 Epistle, ch. 5. 1 — 3. * The elders that are among you I exhort, who also am an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed ; feed the flock of God, which is among you ; taking the oversight thereof not by constraint, but willingly, not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind, neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock.' But yet as if the man were stark mad, with worldly pride and pomp, he afterward in the name of the holy apostles of Jesus Christ, commands all the laity (forsooth) to honour, love, and fear the bishop, I'og Kvpiov, log ofcrTrorjjv, wg 'Ap^upta Otov. Lib. 2. cap, 20. And that you may see whether the man drives, and what he aims at, after he hath set out his bishop like an emperor, or an eastern king, in all pomj) and
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glory ; he adds, rout; iTTLanoTrovc cip^^ovrag vfxwv Koi ^aaiXtag jjjii(T^atj vojut^are icni ^ocr/iouc wg jSacFiXtvai irpo(T(pipeTt. The paying of tribute to them as kings is the issue of these de- scriptions, that they may have wherewithal to maintain their pomp and greatness, according to the institution of our Lord Jesus Christ and his blessed apostles. But I shall not rake farther into this dunghill, nor shall I add any more instances of this kind out of Ignatius, but close in one insisted on by our doctor, for the proof of his episcopacy. Dissert. 2. cap. 25. 7. Saith he, Quarts, T(j) i—tcr/coTrw 7rpo(7£\8r£, 'iva koi o Gfoc vfilv. ' AvTi'^vy^og eyw twv viroTaatyopiviiov rw Ittigkottw, TTpealivTeooig Kcii ^laKovoig. ' Episcopo attendite, ut et vobis Deus attendat. Ego animam meam libenter eorum loco sub- stitui cuperem quod Anglice optime dicimus' (my soul for theirs), ' qui episcopo, presbyteris, et diaconis obsequun- tur.' I hope I may without great difficulty obtain the doc- tor's pardon, that I dare not be so bold with my soul as to jeopard it in that manner, especially being not mine own to dispose of.
Upon these and many more the like accounts do the epistles seem to me, to be like the children that the Jews had by their strange wives ; Neh. xiii. * Who spake part the language of Ashdod, and part the language of the Jews.' That there are in them many footsteps of a gracious spirit, every way worthy of, and becoming the great and holy per- sonage, whose they are esteemed, so there is evidently a mixture of the working of that worldly and carnal spirit, which in his days was not so let loose as in after-times. For what is there in the Scripture, what is in the genuine epis- tle of Clemens, that gives countenance to those descriptions of episcopacy, bishops, and the subjection to them, that are in tliose epistles (as now we have them) so insisted on? What titles are given to bishops? What sovereignty, power, rule, dominion, is ascribed to them ? Is there any thing of the like nature in the writings of the apostles ? In Clemens, the epistle of Polycarpus, &c. Or any unquestionable le- gitimate offspring of any of the first worthies of Christianity ? Whence have they their three orders of bishops, presbyters, and deacons, upon the distinct observation of whicli so much weight is laid? Is there any one word, iuta, tittle, or syllable, in the whole book of God giving countenance to any such
A PREFACE TO TJIE READER. ]
IX
distinctions ? Eph. iv. 8. We have pastors and teachers. Rom. xii. 7, 8. ' Him that teacheth, him that exhorteth, him that ruleth, and him that sheweth mercy ;' Phil. i. 1. We have bishops and deacons, and their institutions with the order of it, we have at large expressed, 1 Tim. iii. 1,2.* Bi- shops and deacons,' without the interposition of any other order whatever. Deacons we have appointed, Acts vii. and elders, Acts xiv. 23. Those who are bishops we find called presbyters. Tit. i. 5. 7. And those who are presbyters, we find termed bishops. Acts xx. 28. So that deacons we know, and bishops who are presbyters, or presbyters who are bi- shops we know; but bishops, presbyters, and deacons, as three distinct orders in the church, from the Scripture we know not. Neither did Clemens, in his epistle to the Co- rinthians, know of any more than we do, which a few in- stances will manifest : saitli he, speaking of the apostles, Kara ^Wjoa^ ovv koX iroXeig Ki}^v(T(TovTeg KaQ'iaravov rag airap- j^ag avToJv ^OKifidaavTig rtjJ Trvevfxari ng iTrianoirovg koX Siukov- ovg ThJv fieXXovTatv TTiareveiv' kcu tovto ov Kctivdjg Ik jcip o/) ttoaXwv ■)(^p6v(i)v tjiypcnrro Trtpt tTricTKOTrutv Kcii cutKovwv, &c. Bishops and deacons (as in the church at Philippi) this man knows : but the third order he is utterly unacquainted withal. And that the difiTerence of this man's expressions, concern- ing church rulers, from those in the epistle under considera- tion, may the better appear ; and his asserting of bishops and presbyters to be one and the same, may the more clearly be evidenced, I shall transcribe one other passage from him, whose length I hope will be excused, from the usefulness of it to the purpose in hand. Page 57, 58. Kai ol 'AttootoAoi I'lfiivv t-yvwcrav ^larov Kvpiov r]j.uov li^aov Xpicrrov , on ioig i:(TTaL iirl Tov uvofxaTog rrfg lTrL(TK07rrig, Sta tcwtijv ovv aiTutv, irpoyvw- aiv £iXt)^ot£c reXiiav Kariaraaav Tovg 7rpo6iprj/tu/ouc, kuI /htci^v linvoixr]v ^t^wKCtniv uTKog iciv koiiuj^mgiv cuiSi^iovTai trinoi de- ^OKifiaafitvoi dv^pig T^jvXiiTovpjiav aiiTwv rovg ovv Koratrrovii;- Tcig vtt' iicftvon', ?') jutra^u v<^' irtpojv iWoyiptov dvcpMV avvcv- SoKrjcraarrjc ti}c tKicXi^mag TTuai^g (for SO it seems was tiie man- ner of the church in his days, that their officers were appointed by the consent of the whole church), kuI XnTovpyiiaavTag afuiiTTTiogTw iroinviu) tov Xpitrrov jUtra Ta7nivo(j)poa<nn]g, i^irvy^cog,
KOI (tj'i((VUV(Tt<)r Hl:HapTVp1]f^i''vOVr TiTTdWoIr Y("'l""C> "TTO TTaVTMV
TomovgovdiKd\(orvoixiKofitvd7ro[5uXXi^((iTt]rXiLTovpyiar,(i/uipTia
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A PREFACE TO THE READER.
yap ov /JitKpu i)f.ui> iarai. sav tovq ufxifnrTwg kcu oaio>Q Ttgoatviy KOi'rac TO. Eiopa Trig iTriaicoirrig a7ro/3aA(tt^ev. MaKuoioi ol irpoo- Sonropnaavreg —piaftvrepot (or tlie bishops of whom he was speaking), o'lrtveg iyKcip—ov icai TtXEj'ai' ect^^oi' rf/i' avaXuca', Scc. And sundry other discoveries are there, in that epistle, of the like nature. It is not my design, nor purpose, to insist upon the parity of bishops and presbyters, or rather the identity of office denoted, by sundiy appellations from these and the like places : this work is done to the full by Bloadellus, that our labour in this kind (were that the purpose in hiuid) is prevented. He that thinks the arguments of that iuiuned man to this purpose are indeed answered thoroughly, and re- moved by D. H. in his fourth dissertation, where he pro- poses them to consideration, may one day think it needful to be able to distinguish between words and thinos. That Clemens owns in a church but two sorts of officers; the first whereof he calls sometimes bishops sometimes presbyters, the other deacons, the doctor himself doth not deny.
That in the judgment of Clemens no more were insti tuted in the church is no less evident. And this carries the conviction of its truth so clearly with it, that Lombard him- self confesseth, ' Hoc solos ministrorum duos ordines eccle- siam primitivam habuisse, et dehis solis prreceptum apostoli nos habere;' lib. 4. Sen. D. 24, It seems, moreover, that those bishops and deacons in those days (as was observed) were appointed to the office, by and with the consent of the people, or whole body of the church : no less do those words import, avveucoKOvmjg rTjg tkkrXijcrf'ac "nrucFijg. Our doctor indeed renders these words, ' Applaudente aut congratulante eccle- sia tota:' and adds ('satis pro imperio) nihil hie de accepta- tione totius ecclesiae, sine qua episcopos et diaconos ab apo- stolis et apostolicis viris constitutos non esse, ex hoc loco concludit Blondellus, quasi qui ex Dei jussu et approbatione constituebantur populi etiam acceptatione indigere putandi essent;' Dissert. 4. cap. 7,8. 10. And who dares take that confidence upon him, as to affirm any more, what so great a doctor hath denied? Though the scope of the place, the na- ture of the thing, and first most common sense of the word here used, being willingly to consent (as it is also used in tie Scripture for the most part; Acts viii. 1. 1 Cor. vii. 12.) to a thing to be done, or to the doing of it, yet here it must
A PREFACE TO THE READER. I>ii
be taken to applaud or congratulate, or v/hat else our doctor pleases, because he will have it so. 'FjXX6yif_ioL avcptc also, must be * Viri apostolici,' men with apostolical or extraordi- nary power, when they are only the choice men of the church, wliere such a constitution of officers is had, that are intended, because it is our doctor's purpose to have the words so ren- dered. ' Ex jussu Dei et approbatione,' is added, as though any particular command or approbation of God were inti- mated, for the constitution of the bishops and deacons men- tioned, beyond the institution of the Lord Jesus Christ, that elders should be ordained in every church, because this is (it seems) to be exclusive wholly of the consent of the peo- ple, as any way needful or required to their constitution : which yet as it is practically false, no such thing being- mentioned by Clemens, who recounteth the ways and means, wherebj' officers were continued in the church even after the decease of the apostles^ and those first ordained by them to that holy employment, so also is it argumentativeiy weak and uncoucluding. God appointed, designed Saul to be king, approving of his so being, and yet he would have the people come together to choose him. So also was it in the case of David. Though the apostles in the name and the authority of God, appointed the deacons of the church at Jerusalem, yet they would have the whole church ' look out among themselves the men to be appointed.' And that the ordaining of the elders was with the people's election. Acts xiv. 23. it will ere long be manifested, that neither our doc- tor nor any of his associates have as yet disproved. This poor thing the people, being the peculiar people of Christ, the heritage of God and holy temple unto him, &c. will one day be found to be another manner of thing, than many of our great doctors have supposed. But he informs us, cap. 4. sect. 3, from that testimony which we cited before, tliat tiie apostles in the appointment of bishops and deacons (for so the words expressly are) are said rti^ Tri/tv/xart SoKtjuatrai, i. e. saith he, ' Revelationibus edoctos esse, quibus denmm hred dignitas communicanda esset;' that is, that they appointed those, whom God revealed to them in extraordinary man- ner to be so ordained, and this is the meaning of ti{> TrvivfiaTi ^oKifidKovTeg, and why so ? The Holy Ghost orders con- cerning the appointment of deacons SoK//uaCt3"w(Toi' tt^uotov,
Ixii
A PREFACE TO THE READER.
1 Tim. iii. 10. That those who are to be taken into office and power in the church had need first to be tried and approved, is granted. And this work the apostles give to the multi- tude of the church; Acts vi. Where yet after the people's election, and the apostles' approbation, and the trial of both, one that was chosen is supposed to have proved none of the best. And yet of him and them, are the apostles said by Clemens that they did, to" Trvti'uart ^oKiiuicrai. But how shall it be made to appear that Spiritn prohantes, trying or proving by the Spirit, or spiritually proving them to try whether they were able ministers of the Xew Testament, not of the letter, but of the Spirit, proving them by that Spirit which was promised unto 'them, to lead them into all truth,' must needs signify they w^ere taught whom they shovdd appoint by immediate revelation. To prove by the Spirit, or spiritually, the persons that are to be made ministers, or bi- shops, is to have their names revealed to us. Stephen is said to speak, Iv rw 7rv£i'/ua-< ; Acts vi. 10. And Paul purposed Iv Tw irvivj.iaTi-, Acts xix. 21. And we are said to serve God, iv rw TTvev/uiTi; Gal. v. 5. And to make supplication ii> no TTviVfiaTi; Eph. vi. 18. With many more expressions of the like nature. Does all this relate to immediate revelation, and are all things done thereby which we are said to do in the Spirit ? Before we were instructed in this mystery, and •were informed that ^oKiixaGavT^Q tw Trvtv/iari, did signify to be 'taught by revelation;' we had thought that the ex- pression of doing anv thing -o7 TrvivjiaTi had manifested the assistance, guidance, and direction, which for the doing of it we receive, by the holy and blessed Spirit of God, pro- mised unto us, and bestowed on, in, and through the Lord Jesus Christ. Yea, but he adds, that it is also spoken of thc' apostles. 7rp6yv(i)mvpr(€cog?iitioiiem (i. e.) revelationem f}\-)](p6- T6C TsXdav, they appointed them bishops and deacons, by the helps and presence of the Spirit with them, the apostles ex- amined, tried those who were to be appointed bishops, so obtaining and receiving a perfect foreknowledge or know- ledge of them before their admission into office. This also expresses revelation (-n-poyvtumv ti\i)(})6rtt:), upon trial it waS' revealed unto them, and so must any thing else be allowed to be, that our doctor will have to be so, now he is asserting- to that jnupose. But had the 'EXXoyinui uvcptg, who ap-
A PREFACE TO TilE READER. Ixiil
pointed bishops and deacons after the apostles' time, had they also this special revelation? Or may they not be said, SoKiiiaaai rw Trvwj.iaTi. If not, how will you look upon them under the notion of iWoyijxojv av^pwv, who neg- lected so great a duty : if they did, let us know when this way of constituting church officers by immediate revelation ceased ; and what was aftervvai'd took up in the room thereof; and who they were that first proceeded on another account, and on what authority they did '? There are a generation of men in the world, will thank the doctor for this insinuation, and will tie knots upon it, that will trouble him to loose.
Before we return, let us look but a little farther, and v^^e shall have a little more light given us, into what was tlie condition and power of the people in the church in the days of Clemens, speaking of them who occasioned the division and schism in the church of Corinth, or them about whose exaltation into office, or dejection from it, that sad differ- ence fell out ; he gives them this advice : Tt'c ovv Iv vfiiv yevvaloQ ; Tig £V(7Tr\ay)(yog ; tic TmrXi^piofxivog aycnri^g, aiTrarto, iL CI C;tt£ (TTacng KUL ipig (cai (j^ity/iaTa tK^wpw airtifiL ov tav pouA»]S'E Kol tcoiCj to. TTpoGTaaaofxtva vtto tou 7r\ii6ovg, iiovov to TTOijjLVLOv Tov XpfCTTOu HQi]ViviTh} jieTci TU)v Ka^eaTajuiixjJv TTpaaftv- Ttpwv. It seems the TrXfjSoc, the multitude, or the people, were not such poor inconsiderable things as they are reported to be, when he advises them to stop and stay the sedition, by yielding obedience to the things by them appointed and commanded. If it were in itself evil, disorderly, and not according to the mind of Christ, that the people should or- der and appoint things in the church, it had been simply evil for Clemens, to have advised any to yield obedience unto things by them so appointed. Where is now Ignatius's vTroTaffcTtaOa t({> Ittigkottii) et yii)pig, 8cc. Even those who are contending about rule and government in the church, are advised to stand to the determination of the people, and to cry, TO. 7rpo(Trao-ao/i£i'o inro tov irXii^ovg TTOtwjufv. This is also insisted on by Blondellus, who thence argues ' potestatem plebis Circa Sacra.' Disser. 5. cap. 8. sect. 4. * Ad verba haic;' saith our doctor, 'prodigii instar est quod notandum duxit Dav. Blondellus (potestatem Plel)is Circa Sacra) (de qua tandem integram dissertationem elucubravit) artificiis quibuscunque asserturus. Hie (inquit) nos monet Clemens
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Ixii
A PREFACEfO THE READER.
1 Tim. iii. 10. That those Tio are to be taken into office and po\ver in the church had n*d first to be tried and approved. is granted. And this wor the apostles give to the multi- tude of the church; Acts . Where yet after the people's election, and the apostles' oprobation, and the trial of both, one that was chosen is suposed to have proved none of the best. And yet of him art them, are the apostles said by Clemens that they did, t Ttvivfia-L ^OKif-iaaai. But how shall it be made to appeaithat Spirifu probanles, trying or proving by the Spirit, oripiritually proving them to try whether they were able misters of the Xew Testament, not of the letter, but of le Spirit, proving them by that Spirit which was promised nto 'them, to lead them into all truth,' must needs signify tby were taught whom they should appoint by immediate reveition. To prove by the Spirit, or sj)iritually, the persons tlu are to be made ministers, or bi- shops, is to have their nam( revealed to us. Stephen is said to speak, iv no Trvivfiart ; £ts vi. 10, And Paul purposed iv T({) irviiifia-i; Acts xix. i. And we are said to serve God, iv Toj Trvti'iiart; Gal. v. 5. \nd to make supplication iv tu> TTviv/na-i; Eph. vi. 18. Wh many more expressions of the like nature. Does all thi>relate to immediate revelation, and are all things done th«by which we are said to do in the Spirit ? Before we werinstructed in this mystery, and were informed that Sok-i/zaCTTfc t(^> Trvtvf.iaTt, did signify to be 'taught by revelation we had thought that the ex- pression of doing any thin<r((i Tri'a'/iart had manifested the assistance, guidance, and irection, which for the doing ol it we receive, by the holy nd blessed Spirit of God, pro- mised unto us, and bestowl on, in, and through the I.oi ' Jesus Christ. Yea, but he ids, that it is also spoken off' apostles. -TTpoyvcomv p>'aco(y'.tio)iem (i. e.) revelationem i]\ Tfc Tt\iiav, they appointed lem bishojis and deacons. I)\ . helps and presence of the Sirit with them, the apostles ex amined, tried those who wre to be appointed bisho obtaining and receiving a 3rfect foreknowledrre or ledge of them before their dmission into othce. Thi expresses revelation (irp6yv<Tn' flAjj^ortr), upon tri revealed unto them, and sooiust any thin<r else be to be, that our doctor will Ijve to be so, now he is to that inupose. But had he 'EXXnytnoi avBpiQp
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IV"
pointed bishops and deaconsafter the apostles' time, w* they also this special reveLion ? Or may they «<»« said, doKifxaam no Trvev/iiaTi, If not, how will ''■""' upon them under the notion ( iAXoytjitwi' av^oiov. ^ lected so great a duty : if thf did, let us know v- way of constituting church offers by immediate ^ ^ ceased ; and what was afterwai took up in the rooi and who they were that first ]oceeded on anothf and on what authority they di ? There are a ir*'"'^*" " men in the world, will thank ta doctor for thi* iTvi and will tie knots upon it, thawill trouble ]vv. Before we return, let us lok but a little i.. shall have a little more light riven us, into v. ^ condition and power of the peole in the chuTi ; of Clemens, speaking of thenwho occasioned :• and schism in the church of brinth, or them a^•• exaltation into office, or dejedon from it, tnsi: « ence fell out ; he gives thenihis advice : T»r^ ytvvmoQ ; Tig i^vaTrXayxyog ; Ttf iir\ripb)fj£voc xrt^ ft Of £jtt£ aracTiQ kul spig kul a (jfxaTa tfs :■
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Troijj.viov Tov XptoTou elpr}V£veT(j) Era twv icacr— .- rlpwr. It seems the ttX^Soc, 'e raultituD-. were not such poor inconsidera e things as t to be, when he advises them 1 stop and ? by yielding obedience to the tings by t: commanded. If it were in italf evil, according to the mind of Chri , that : der and appoint things in thtshurcL, evil for Clemens, to have advis- any t^ things by them so appointed W^ VTroTutTCTEaOe rw Ittktkottijj) et ^tu g, contending about rule and g erni> advised to stand to the deternn ati^
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cry, ra irpoaraacrofxeva arro tov rfiovr insisted on by Blondellus, wh tbr plebis Circa Sacra.' Disser. ca- haec;' saith our doctor, 'prod duxit Dav. Blondellus (potc 1 qua tandem integram diss quibuscunque asserturus.
I gives v v efli- iles) a istolis ilo con- retun- autho- um duci the next is signal the most lso partial lid scarce cal diver- is not by i's tumul- i by the apo- ons of those emens in this •" against e to re- nature lour ed
Ixiv A PREFACE TO THE READER.
fideles etiam de episcopatu aut presbyterio contendentes, non ab episcopi singular! koI vTrspixpvTo^ nutu, sed a multi- tudinis prseceptis pependisse.' But let not our doctor be angry, nor cry out so fast of prodigies ; a little time will manifest, that many things may not be prodigious, which yet are contrary to sundry of his conceptions and appre- hensions. I cannot but acknowledge him to be provoked ; but withal must say, that I have found very commonly, that reasons ushered in by such loud clamours, have in ex- amination proved to have stood in need of some such noises, as mio;ht fri;>ht men from the consideration of them. What is in the next sections set up to shield the children of epis- copacy from being affrighted with this prodigy, may per- haps be of more efficacy thereunto, than the exclamations before mentioned ; he therefore proceeds, sect. 5. ' Certe,' saith he, ' si serio rem ageret Da. Blondellus de presbyteris suis (non de episcopis nostris) actum plane et triumphatum erit, nee enim ab universo aliquo presbyterorum collegio, quod ille tam afflictim ardet, sed a multitudinis solius Ar- bitrio, turn contendentes de episcopo, turn fideles omnes Corinthios pependisse a^que concludendum erit.' If any man in the world hath manifested more desperate affection towards presbytery, than this doctor hath done towards episcopacy, for my part su/tts liaheto. But though neither Clemens nor Blondellus speak any one word about the or- dering of things, ' multitudinis solius arbitrio,' yet here is that said by them both, as is sufficiently destructive, not only to the episcopacy the doctor contends for, as a thing wholly inconsistent with the power and liberty here granted the people, but of any such presbytery also, as shall under- take the ordering and disposing of things in the church of God, without the consent and concurrent suffrage of the people. Such a presbytery it seems Blondellus does not defend. But yet neither the doctor's outcry as at a prodigy, nor this retortion upon presbytery, is any answer to the tes- timony of Clemens, nor indeed is there the least possible re- flection upon an orderly gospel presbytery in any church, and over it, by what Clemens here professeth to be the power of the people, all the appearance of any such things is from the term ' solius,' foisted into the discourse of Blon- dellus by the doctor, in his taking of it up to retort at. Cle-
A PREFACE TO THE READER. IXV
mens in the very next words secures us from any thought, that all things depended ' a multitudinis solius arbitrio.' His very next words are, jxovov to iroi/xviov tov XpiaTov dpi}- veviTio fxtTo. Tiov Ka^ECTTafxivojv '7rpE(T[5vTipo)v. Our doctors and masters having stufted their imaginations with the shape and lineament of that hierarchical fabric, which the craft, policy, subtilty, avarice, pride, and ambition, of many ages successively, had formed and framed according to the pat- tern they saw in the mount of the world, and the govern- ments therein, upon the first hearing of a church, a flock of Christ, walking in orderly subjection to their own elders, concurring with them, and consenting to them, in their rule and government, instantly as men amazed, cry out a prodigy. It is not imaginable into what ridiculous, contemptible mis- carriages, pride, prejudice, and selfulness do oftentimes be- tray men, otherwise of good abilities in their ways, and very commendable industry.
But section the sixth ; the doctor comes closer, and gives his reason why this testimony of Clemens is not of any efli- cacy to the purpose in hand : saith he, * At quis (sodes) a fidelibus de Episcopatu (ut vis) contra ipsos ab apostolis constitutes episcopos contendentibus ; quis a populo con- tra principera suum tumultus ciente ; quis verbis ad retun- dendum seditionem ad plebem factis, argumenta ad autho- ritatem populo adjudicandum principi derogandum duci posse existimavit?' Though many words follow in the next section, yet this is all of answer that is given to this signal testimony of Clemens. I know the doctor, for the most part, meets not only with favourable readers, but also partial admirers ; or else certainly his exclamation would scarce pass for an invincible argument, nor such rhetorical diver- sions as this, be esteemed solid answers. There is not by Blondellus any argument taken from the faithful's tumul- tiiating against the bishops (that ' if appointed by the apo- stles,' which is thrust in, taken for the ])ersons of those bishops, is against the express testimony of Clemens in this ;>pistle), nor from the people's seditiously rebelling against their prince, nor from any word spoken to the people to re- press their sedition; neither \\'as any thing of this nature urged in the least by iMondcllus ; nor is there any colour given to such a collection from any thing in the words cited
VOL, VI. i:
Ixvi A PREFACE TO THE READER.
from tlie epistle, or the context of them. It is the advice of the church of Rome to the persons (whether already in office, or aspiring thereunto) about whom the contention and division was in the church of Corinth, that is insisted on. It is not the words nor plea of them who w'ere in dis- order; there is not any reprehension given to the body of the ciiurch, the multitude, or people, who are supposed to tumukuate, to quiet them, but a direction given (as w-as said) by the church of Rome to the persons that occasioned the difference, how to behave themselves so, that a timely issue might be put to the division of the church. To this end are they advised to observe the 7rpoara7/.iaro, the orders, precepts, decrees, or appointments of the multitude, as (from Acts xv.) the body of the church is called. It is not, that they should yield to their tumultuating, but to yield obedience to their orderly precepts. Td -n-poaTaaao- fx^va vrro rod 7r\{i9ovQ, are by him approved ; and had it not been lawful for them, with the presbyters irpoaTeiTTsiv in the affairs of the church, Clemens writing this epistle to the whole church, could not possibly have led them into a greater snare.
It is a sad thing to consider the pitiful entanglements and snares that some men run into, who will undertake to make good what they have once engaged for, let what will come against them.
To return then ; it is evident, that in the time of Clemens, there were but two sorts of officers in the church, bishops and deacons; whereas the epistles of Ignatius do precisely in every place where any mention is made of them, as there is upon occasions, and upon none at all, insist on three orders distinct, in name and things. With Clemens it is not so. Those whom he calls bishops in one place, the very same persons he immediately calls presbyters (after the example of Paul; Acts xx. 28. and Tit. i. 5. 7.) And plainly asserts episcopacy to be the office of presbyters, afiaprta, saith he, oi» /Lttk-oct {]f.ih> "iarat tav tovq afXifXTTTOVQ, Kcti Trpoahvtjuov rag rd ccopa Ttjg iTTicTKOTrtig a7roj3aAwji«tv, jUOKoptot ot irpooconTipiicravTig 7rp£(7/3urf|00£, VIZ. Because they were in no danger to be cast from their episcopacy. And whereas the fault which he re- proves in the church of Corinth, is their division, and want of due subjection to their spiritual governors, according to. the
A PREFACE TO THE READER. Ixvil
order which Christ hath appointed in all the churches of the saints, he affirms plainly that those governors were the presbyters of the church : alaxpa, saith he,Kai Amv alaxpa, kuI ava^iaTTjQiv Xp^fTTOJclyioyrig (iKOvta^aL rriv ftefdcuoTciTrjv dp)(^aiav KoptvS'Uttr eKKAr^aiav, cl tv 17 cvb irpocnvTra aTaaia^nv irpbc Tovg wpeafivTipovg. And in all places throughout the whole epistle, writing (eicKAjjata tov Qeov TrapoiKOiKrrj Kopiv^ov) to that particular church of Corinth, the saints dwelling there, walking in the order and fellowship of the gospel, where he treats of those things, he still intimates a plurality of pres- byters in the church (as there may, nay there ought to be in every single congregation ; Acts xx. 28.) without the least intimation of any singular person, promoted upon any account whatever above his fellows. So in the advice given to the persons who occasioned the division before men- tioned ; fXOVOV TO TToifiVlOV TOV XplCFTOV tlpi}VEvlT(i), fXiTU TU)V
Ka^KTTafiivow 7rpi(j[5vTep(ov. Had there been a singular bishop at Corinth, much more a metropolitan, such as our doctor speaks him to have been, it had been impossible that he should be thus passed by in silence.
But the doctor gives you a double answer to this obser- vation, with the several parts whereof, I doubt not but that he makes himself merry, if he can suppose that any men are so wedded to his dictates, as to give them entertainment: for indeed they are plainly jocular. But learned men must have leave sometimes to exercise their fancies, and to sport themselves with their own imaginations.
1. Then, for the mention that is made of many presby- ters in the church of Corinth, to whom Clemens, in the name of the church of Rome, exhorts to give all due respect, ho- nour, obedience. He tells you that by the church of Co- rinth, all the churches of Achaia are meant and intended. The epistle is directed only t»J tKKXrjaia Oeov TrapoiKovmj Ko- piv^ov, without the least intimation of any other church or churches. The difference it is written about, was occasioned by one or two persons in that church only : it is that church alone that is exhorted to order, and due subjection to their elders. From the beginning to the end of the epistle, there is not one word, apex, or tittle, to intimate the designation of it, to any church or churches beyond the single church of Corinth : or that they had any concernment in the difference
i- 2
Ixviii A PREFACE TO THE READER.
spoken to. The fabric of after-ages lies so close to the doc- tor's imagination, that there is no entrance for the true frame of the primitive church of Christ ; and therefore every- thing must be wrested, and apportioned to the conceit of such an episcopacy as he hath entertained. Whereas he ought to crop off" both head and heels of his own imagina- tion, and the episcopacy of the latter days, which he too dearly affects; he chooseth rather to stretch and torture the ancient government of the church, that it may seem to an- swer the frame presently contended for. But let us a little attend to the doctor's learned arguments ; whereby he en- deavours to make good his assertion.
1 . He tells you that Corinth was the chief city of Achaia : the metropolis (in a political sense and acceptation of the word) of Greece, where the proconsul had his residence : Diss. 5. cap. 2. sect. 3. Let us grant this to our learned doctor, least we should find nothing to gratify him withal ; w'hat then will follow ? Hence, saith he, it will follow, sect. 4. that this epistle which was sent, ' Ecclesios Tropo/icoi'cry Ko- piv^ov, non ad unius civitatis ecclesiam, sed ad omnes totius AchaioB Christianos, per singulas civitates et regiones, sub episcopis aut pra?fectis suis ubique collocatas missa existi- metur.' But pray doctor why so ? We poor creatures who are not so sharp-sighted, as to discern a metropolitan arch- bishop at Corinth, of whom all the bishops in Greece were dependant, nor can find any instituted church in the Scrip- ture, or in Clemens, of one denomination, beyond a single conoreo-ation, cannot but think, that all the strength of this consectary, from the insinuation of such a state of things, in the church of God, is nothing but a pure begging of the thing in question, which will never be granted upon such terms.
Yea, but he adds, sect. 5. That ' Paul wrote his epistle not only to the church of Corinth, but also to all the churches of Achaia, therefore Clemens did so also.' At first view this argument seems not very conclusive, yea appears indeed very ridiculous : the enforcement of it, which ensues, may perhaps give new life and vigour to it. How then is it proved that Paul wrote not only to the church of Corinth, but to all them in Achaia also ? Why saith he in the 2 Epistle, 1 chap. 1. verse, it is so expressed; he wi'ites, ry ffc/cXjjffm tov ^iov rjT
, A PREFACE TO THE READER. Ixix
ovari tvKop/vS'fj*, avv Tolg ajLOig TraatTniq ovaiv Iv CXjj ry Ayjula. Very good ! It is indisputably evident that Paul wrote his second epistle to the church at Corinth, and all the rest of Achaia, for he expressly affirms himself so to do, and for the first epistle, it is directed not only to the church of Corinth, 1. chap. 2. verse ; but also iraai toIq lTriKaXov[xivoig to uvofxa tov Kvpiov 7j^<wv 'Ir)(Toy y^piaTov Iv ttcivtX tottoj ; that is, saith our doctor, in the whole region of Achaia. So indeed says the doctor's great friend Grotius, to whom he is beholden for more than one rare notion. I say it not in any way of any reproach to the doctor, only I cannot but think, his careful warding of himself against the thoughts of men that he should be beholden to Grotius, doth exceedingly unbecome the doctor's gravity and self-denial. This is complained of by some who have tried it in reference to his late comment on the Revelation. And in this disseitation, he is put by his own thoughts (I will not say guilty), to an apology, cap. 1. sect. 24. 'Qua in re suffragium suuni tulisse Hugoneni Grotium Tovirdyv ex annotationibus posthumis, nupereditis, et postquam haec omnia Typographo transcripta essent, cur- sim perlectis edoctum gratulor.' Let not the reader think that Doctor Kam. had transmitted his papers full of rare con- jectures to the printer, before Grotius's Annotations upon the Revelations were published, but only before he had read them. The doctor little thinks what a fly this is in his pot of oint- ment, nor how indecent with all impartial men, such apologies, subservient to a frame of spirit in bondage to a man's own esteem and reputation, appear to be ; but let this pass : and let the saints that call upon the name of Jesus Christ in every place, be the saints in every part of Achaia, though the epistle itself (written indeed upon occasion taken from the clmrch of Corintli, yet) was given by inspiration from God, for the use not only of all the saints in the whole world, at that time wherein it was written, but of all those who were to believe in any part or place of the world to the end thereof; although the assertion of it be not built on any to- lerable conjecture, but may be rejected with the same facility wherewith it is tendered ; what now will hence ensue ? Why hence it follows that Clemens also wrote his epistle to all the churches in Achaia. Very good? Paul writing an ej)is- tlo entitled chiefly to the Corinthians, expressly and /n/rwf
IxX A PREFACE TO THE READER.
directs it to the saints or churches of Achaia, yea to all that call upon the name of God in everyplace, so that his epistle beino; of catholic concernment, is not to be confined to the church of Corinth only, although most of the particular things mentioned in that epistle related only to that parti- cular church ; therefore, Clemens directing his epistle to the church of Corinth only, not once mentioning nor insinuating an intention of extending it to any other, handling in it only the peculiar concernment of that church, and a difference about one or two persons therein, must be supposed to have written to all the churches of Achaia. And if such argu- ments as these, will not prove episcopacy to be of apostolical constitution, what will prevail with men so to esteem it? * Si Pergama dextra defendi possent, etiam hac defensa fuis- sent.' A.nd this is the cause of naming many elders, or presbyters in one church. For my part I suppose the doc- tor might more probably have adhered to a former conjecture of his, Dissert. 4. cap. 10. sect. 9. Concerning two sundry different churches, w^here were distinct officers in the same city : ' Primo,' saith he, * respondeo non usque quaque verum est, quod pro concesso sumitur, quamvis enim in una ec- clesia aut caetu plures simul episcopi nunquam fuerint' (pray except them mentioned. Acts xx. 28. and those. Acts xiv. 23.) 'nihil tamen obstare quin in eadem civitate duo aliquando csetus disterminati fuerint.' He might, I say, with more show of probability have abode by this observation, than to have rambled over all Greece, to relieve himself against his adversaries. But yet neither would this suffice. What use may, or will be, made of this concession shall elsewhere be manifested. But the doctor hath yet another answer to this multiplication of elders, and the mention of them with dea- cons, with the eminent identity that is between them and bishops tlirough the whole epistle, the same persons being unquestionably intended in respect of the same office, by both these appellations. IVow this second answer is founded upon the supposition of the former; (a goodly foundation !) namely, that the epistle under consideration was written and sent not to the church of Corinth only, but to all the churches of Achaia, of which Corintli was the metropolitan.
Now this second answer is, that the elders or presbyters here mentioned, were properly those whom he calls bishops.
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XI
diocesans : men of a third rank and order above deacons and presbyters in the church-administrations and govern- ment. And for those who are properly called presbyters, there were then none in the church, to give colour to this miserable evasion. Dissert. 4. chap. 10, 11. He discoarseth about the government and ordering of church afiairs by bi- shops and deacons. In some churches that were small, not yet formed or completed, nor come to perfection at the fust planting of them : how well this is accommodated to the church of Corinth which Clemens calls, /3c/3a«orarrjp ical (ip\aiav : and which himself would have to be a metropolitical church, being confessedly great, numerous ; furnished with great and large gifts, and abilities seen with half an eye. How ill also this shift is accommodated to help in the case for whose service it was first invented, is no less evident. It was to save the sword of Phil. i. 1. from the throat of the episcopacy he contendeth for ; that epistle is directed to the saints or church at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons. Two things do here trouble our doctor: 1. The mention of more bishops than one at Philippi. 2. The knit- tirig together of bishops and deacons, as the only two orders in the church, bringing down episcopacy one degree at least from that height whereto he would exalt it. For the first of these, he tells you that Philippi was the metropolitan church of the province of Macedonia, that the rest of the churches, which had every one their several bishops (diocesan we must suppose) were all comprised in the mentioning of Plii- lippi : so that though the epistle be precisely directed To7g ayioig ToXq oxxnv tv 'l^iXlnTroig, yet the bishops that were with them, must be supposed to be bishops of the whole province of Macedonia; because the church of Philippi was the me- tropolitan : the whole country must have been supposed to be converted (and who that knows any thing of antiquity will dispute that), and so divided with diocesans, as Eng- land of late was ; the archbishop's see being at Philippi : but how came it then to pass, that here is mention made of bi- shops and deacons ordy, without any one word of a third order, or rank of men distinct from them called presbyters or elders? To this he answers, 2dly, That when the church was first planted, before any great number was converted, or any fit to be made \)rcsbyters, there was only those two
Ixxii A PREFACE TO THE READER.
orders instituted, bishops and deacons; so that this church at Philippi seems to have been a metropolitical infant. The truth is, if ever the doctor be put upon reconciling the con- tradictions of his answers one to another, not only in this but almost in every particular he deals withal (an entangle- ment which he is thrown into, by his bold and groundless conjectures), he will find it to be as endless as fruitless : but it is not my present business to interpose in his quarrels, either with himself or presbytery. As to the matter under consideration, I desire only to be resolved in these few queries.
1. If there were in the times of Clemens no presbyters in the churches, not in so great and flourishing a church as that of Corinth ; and if all the places in the Scripture, where there is mention of elders, do precisely intend bishops, in a distinction from them who are only deacons and not bishops also, as he asserts, when, by whom, by what authority were elders, who are only so inferior to bishops, peculiarly so termed, instituted, and appointed in the churches? And how it comes to pass that there is such express mention made of the office of deacons, and the continuance of it, none at all of elders, who are acknowledged to be superior to them, and on whose shoulders in all their own churches, lies the great weight and burden of all ecclesiastical administration. As we say of .their bishops, so shall we of any presbyter, not instituted and appointed by the authority of Jesus Christ in the church, let them 'go to the place from whence they came.'
2. I desire the doctor to inform me, in what sense he would have me to understand him : Disser. 2. cap. 29. 21, 22. where he disputes that those words of Jerome, ' Antequara studia in religione fierent, et diceretur in populis, ego sum Pauli, ego Cephfe, communi presbyterorura consensu ec- clesise gubernabantur,' are to be understood of the times of the apostles, when the first schism was in the church of Corinth, when it seems that neither then nor a good while after, there was any such thing as presbyters in the church of Corinth, nor in any other church as we can hear of. As also to tell us whether all those presbyters, were bishops properly so called, distinct from elders who are only so, out of whom one man is chosen to be a bishop properly so called. To these inquiries I shall only add,
3. That whereas in the Scripture, we find clearly but
A PREFACE TO THE READER. Ixxiii
of two sorts of church-officers mentioned, as also in this epistle of Clemens; the third that was afterward introduced, be it what it will, or fall on whom it will, that we oppose. This(saith the doctor) is that of presbytery. Give us churches instituted according to the word of Christ, give us in eveiy church, bishops and deacons (rather than we will quarrel give us a bishop and deacons), let those bishops attend the particular flock, over which they are appointed, preachino- the word and administering the holy ordinances of the gos- pel, in and to their own flock ; and I dare undertake for all the contenders for presbytery in this nation, and much more for the independents, that there shall be an end of this quarrel ; that they will not strive with the doctor, nor any living, for the introduction of any third sort of persons (though they should be called presbyters) into church office and government. Only this I must add, that the Scripture more frequently terms this second sort of men elders and presbyters, than it doth bishops; and that word having been appropriated to a third sort peculiarly, we desire leave of the doctor and his associates, if we also most frequently call them so, no ways declining the other appellation of bishops, so that it may be applied to signify the second, and not third rank of men. But of this whole business, with the nature, constitution, and frame of the first churches ; and the sad mis- takes, that men have by their own prejudices been engaged into, in this delineation of them, a fuller opportunity (if God will) may ere long be afforded.
To return then to our Ignatius? Even upon this considera- tion of the difference, that is between the epistles ascribed to him, and the writings of one of the same time Vvith him, or not long before him, as to their language and expression about church order and officers, it is evident that there hath been ill-favoured tampering with them, by them who thought to avail themselves of his authority, for the asserting of that which never came into his nnnd.
As I intimated before, 1 have not insisted on any of those things, nor do on them altogether, with the like that maybe added, as a sufficient foundation for the total rejection of those epistles which go under the name of Ignatius. There is in some of them a sweet and gracious spirit of faith, love, holiness, zeal for God, becoming so excellent and holy a
Ixxiv A PREFACE TO THE READEB.
witness of Christ as he was, evidently breathing and work- ing. Neither is there any need at all, that for the defence of our hypothesis concerning the non-institution of any church-officer whatever, relating to more churches in his office, or any other church, than a single particular congre- gation, that we should so reject them. For although many passages, usually insisted on, and carefully collected by D. H. for the proof of such an episcopacy, to have been re- ceived by them of old as is now contended for, are exceed- ingly remote from the way and manner of the expressions of those things, used by the divine writers, with them also that followed after, both before, as hath been manifested, and some while after, the days of Ignatius, as might be farther clearly evinced, and are thrust into the series of the dis- course with such an incoherent impertinency, as proclaims an interpolation ; being some of them, also, very ridiculous, and so foolishly hyperbolical, that they fall very little short of blasphemies, yet there are expressions in all, or most of them, that will abundantly manifest, that he who was their author (whoever he was) never dreamt of any such fabric of church-order as in after-ages was insensibly received. Men who are full of their own apprehensions, begotten in them by such representations of things, as either their de- sirable presence hath exhibited to their mind, or any after^ prejudicate presumption hath possessed them with, are apt, upon tlie least appearance of any likeness unto that church tliey fancy, to imagine that they see the face and all the lineaments thereof, when upon due examination it will be easily discovered, that there is not indeed the least resem- blance, between what they find in, and what they bring to^ the authors, in and of whom they make their inquiry ; the Papists having hatched and owned by several degrees, that monstrous figment of transubstantiation (to instance among many in that abomination), a folly, destructive to vvhatever is in us, as being living creatures, men or Christians, or whatever by sense, I'eason, or religion, we are furnished with- al, offering violence to us in what we hear, in what we see with our eyes, and look upon, in what our hands do handle, and our palates taste, breaking in upon our understand inos with vagrant flying forms, self-subsisting accidents, with as many express contradictions on sundry accounts, as the
A PREFACE TO THE READER. IxXV
nature of things is capable of relation unto, attended with more gross idolatry than that of the poor naked Indians, who fall down and worship a piece of red cloth; or of those who first adore their gods, and then correct them ; do yet upon the discovery of any expressions among the ancients, which they now make use of, quite to another end and purpose, than they did who first ventured upon them, having minds filled with their own abominations, presently cry out, and triumph, as if they had found the whole fardle of the mass, in its perfect dress, and their breaden god in the midst of it. It is no otherwise in the case of episcopacy : men of these latter generations, from what they saw in present being, and that usefulness of it to all their desires and in- terests, having entertained thoughts of love to it, and de- light in it, searching antiquity, not to instruct them in the truth, but to establish their prejudicate opinion received by tradition from their fathers, and to consult them with whom they have to do, whatever expressions they find, or can hear of, that fall in, as to the sound of words, with what is now insisted upon, instantly they cry out, I icinius lo Pecan! What a simple generation of presbyters and independents have we, that are ignorant of all antiquity, or do not under- stand what they read and look upon. Hence if we will not believe that in Ignatius's days there were many parish churches with their single priests, in subordination to a dio- cesan bishop, either immediately or by the interposed power of a chore-episcopus, and the like; and those diocesans again in the precincts of provinces, laid in a due subjection to their metropolitans, who took care of them, as they of their parish priests, every individual churcli having no officer but a pres- byter, every diocesan church having no presbyter but a bi- shop, and every metropolitan church having neither presby- ter nor bishop properly related unto it, as such, but an arch- bishop, we are worse than infidels; truly I cannot but wonder whether it doth notsometiraesenterinto these men's thoughts to apprehend, how contemptible they are in their proofs, for the fathering of such an ecclesiastical distribution of go- vernors and government, as undeniably lackeyed after the civil divisions and constitutions of the times and places, wherein it was introduced, upon those holy persons whose souls never once entered into the secrets tliereof.
IxXVi A PREFACE TO THE READER.
Thus fares it with our doctor, and his Ignatius ; ovk u^ev, oXX l^6Kr](T£v iSai/ Sm vvKta (Tt\{)vin> ; 1 shall only crave leave to say to him as Augustus of Quintilius Varus, upon the loss of his legions in Germany under his command ; ' Quin- tili Vare redde legiones : Domine doctor redde ecclesias,' Give us the churches of Christ such as they were in the days of the apostles, and down to Ignatius, though before that time (if Hegesippus may be believed) somewhat deflowered ; and our contest about church-officers and government will be nearer at an end than perhaps you will readily imagine. Give us a church, all whose members are holy, called, sanc- tified, justified, living stones, temples for the Holy Ghost, saints, believers, united to Christ the head by the Spirit that is given to them and dwelleth in them, a church whose TrXfjS'oc, is oTTov av (jxwT} 6 £7rt(7/co7roc, that doth nothing by its members apart, that appertains to church-order, but when it is gathered lirX to uvto; a church that being so ga- thered together, in one place, (nrov^a^n iravTci irpaaaHv Iv vfxovoia S'Eou, TrpoKa^riiuvov tov tTricrKOTrov, acting in church things, in its whole body under the rule and presidence of its officers. A church walking in order, and not as some who trriaKOTTOv fih' koXoiktii', Xf"^f"C Sf avrov iravra irpuGaovaiv (of whom saith Ignatius ot toiovtol oi/k ivavvdSrjroi i^uv tlvcu tpaivovTui, Aid filv ro [li) [iijBauoQ kut Ii>toXi)v avva^poitiea^at, such as calling the bishops to the assemblies, yet do all things without him (the manner of some in our days), he supposeth not to keep the assemblies according to the com- mand of Christ) ; give us, I say, such a church ; and let us come to them when they are iravTcg eirl to avTo, Iv tij Trpoamxy iifjia avvax^^vTig, Such as the churches in the days of Igna- tius appear to have been, and are so rendered in the quota- tions taken from his epistles by the learned doctor, for the confirmation of episcopacy ; and, as I said before, the con- test of this present digression, will quickly draw to an issue. Being unwilling to go too far out of my way, I shall not,
1. Consider the severals instanced in, for the proof of episcopacy by the doctor. Seeing undeniably the interpre- tation must follow, and be proportioned by the general issue of that state of the church, in the days wherein those epis- tles were writ, or are pretended so to be ; if that appear to
A PREFACE TO THE READER. Ixxvii
be such as I have mentioned, I presume the doctor himself will confess, that his witnesses speak not one word to his business, for whose confirmation he doth produce them. Nor,
2. Shall I insist upon the degeneration of the instir tutions and appointments of Jesus Christ, concerning church administrations in tlie management of the succeed- ing churches, as principled and spirited by the operative and efficacious mystery of iniquity, occasioned and advan- taged by the accommodation of ecclesiastical affairs to the civil distributions and allotments of the political state of things in those days ; nor,
3. Insist much fartlier on the exceeding dissimilitude, and unconformity that is between the expressions concern- ing church-officers and affairs in these epistles (whence- ever they come), and those in the writings of unquestiona- ble credit, immediately before and after them, as also the utter silence of the Scripture in those things, wherewith they so abound. The epistle of Clemens, of which mention was made before, was written for the composing and quieting of a division and distemper that was fallen out in the church of Corinth. Of the cause of that dissension that then mi- serably rent that congregation, he informs us in that com- plaint, that some (ov Sikuiioq dTrojdd\£a^ca tyiq \HTovpyiag)\vere wrongfully cast from the ministry, by the multitude; and he tells you, that these were good honest men, and faithful in the discharge of their duty; for, saith he, opw^fv on Ivlovg VfiiTg jULtTi^ydjiTe, KoXiog TroXirevofxivovg, Ik Trig dp-SjUTTTioQ avToTg Tuiin]fii\n]Q \uTovQyiag: though they were unblamable both in their conversation and ministry, yet they removed them from their office. To reprove this evil, to convince them of the sinfulness of it, to reduce them to a right understanding of their duty and order, walking in the fellowship of the gospel, what course doth he proceed in? what arguments dotli he use ? lie minds them of one God, one Christ, one Ijody, one faith, tells them that wicked men alone use such ways and ])ractices, bids them read the epistle of Paul formerly written to them, upon occasion of another division, and to be subject to their own elders ; and all of them leave off contending, quietly doing the things which the i)eo|)]c', or the body of the church, delivered and counnanded. JVovv
Ixxviii A PRETACE TO THE READER.
had this person, writing on this occasion, using all sorts of arguments, artificial, or inartificial for his purpose, been bap- tized into the opinion and esteem of a single episcopal su- perintendent, whose exaltation seems to be the design of much which is said in the epistles of Ignatius, in the sense wherein his words are usually taken, would yet never once so much as bid them be subject to the bishop, that resem- blance of God the Father, supplying of the place of Christ; nor told them how terrible a thing it was, to disobey him; nor pawned his soul for theirs, that should submit to him ; that all that obeyed him were safe, all that disobeyed him, were rebellious, cursed, and separated from God. What apology can be made for the weakness and ignorance of that holy martyr, if we shall suppose him to have had appre- hensions like those in these epistles of that sacred order, for omitting those all-conquering reasons, which they would have supplied him withal, to his purpose in hand, and pitching on arguments every way less cogent and useful. But, 1 say, I shall not insist on any such things as these, but only,
4. I say that there is not in any of the doctor's excerpta from those epistles, nor in any passage in them, any men- tion, or the least intimation, of any church whereunto any bishop was related, but such a one, as whose members met altogether in one place, and with their bishop disposed and ordered the affairs of the church. Such was that whereunto the holy martyr was related ; such were those neighbouring churches, that sent bishops and elders to that church ; and when the doctor proves the contrary, ' erit mihi magnus Apollo ;' from the churches and their state and constitution, is the state and condition of their officers, and their relation to them to be taken. Let that be manifested to be such from the appointment of Jesus Christ by his apostles, or de facto in the days of Ignatius, or before the contemperation of ecclesiastical affairs occasionally, or by choice, to the civil constitution of cities and provinces in those days, as would, or possibly could, bear a rural diocesan metropo- litical hierarchy, and this controversy will be at an end; when this is by any attempted to be demonstrated, I desire it may not be with such sentences as that urged by our doc- tor, from Epist. ad Eph. 'li;cror»c XjO<crroc Tou 7roTj)6c ri jvwfiri.
A PREFACE TO THE READER. Ixxix
OJC '^"l t>< fTTtO-fCOTTOl 6l KUTci TU TTipaTa hpin^iVTEg 'lr}(T0i) XptOTOU
yviofxi] H(nv. The expression in it concerning Christ being unsound, unscriptural, concerning bishops unintelligible, or ridiculous ; but it may be said, what need we any more writing, what need we any truer proof or testimony? The learned doctor in his Dissertations, Diss. 4. cap. 5. hath abundantly discharged this work, and proved the seven bishops of the seven churches mentioned. Rev. ii. 3. to have been metropolitans, or archbishops, so that no just cause remains, why we should farther contend.
Let then the reader pardon this my utmost excursion in this digression, to whose compass I had not the least thoughts of going forth, at the entrance thereof, and I shall return thither whence I have turned aside.
Diss. 4. cap. 5. the doctor tells us, that, 'Septemeccle- siarum angeli, non tantura episcopi sed et metropolitan; i. e. archi-episcopi statuendi sunt; i. e. principalium urbium eE,apxpf^ 9,d quos provincise integra et in iis multarum infe- riorum urbium ecclesise, earumque episcopi tanquam ad ar- chiepiscopum aut metropolitanura pertinebant.'
The doctor in this chapter commences per salfiim, and taking it for granted that he hath proved diocesan bishops sufficiently before, though he hath scarce spoken any one word to that purpose in his whole book (for to prove one superintending in a church by the name of bishop, others acting in some kind of subordination to him, by the name of elders and presbyters, upon the account of what hath been offered concerning the state of the churches in those days, will no way reach to the maintenance of this presump- tion), he sacrifices his pains to the metropolitical archiepis- copal dignity, which, as we must suppose, is so clearly founded in Scripture and antiquity, that they are as blind as bats and moles, who cannot see the ground and founda- tion of it.
But, first, be it taken for granted, that the angels of the seven churches, are taken for the governors of those churches, then that each angel bean individual bishop of the church to which he did belong. 2. Be it also granted that they were bishops of the most eminent church or churches in that province, or Roman political distribution of those countries, in the management of the government of them, I
IXXX A PREFACE TO THE READER.
say, bishops of such churches, not labium s^apxoi (as th^ doctor terms them), what advance is made by all this to the assertion of a metropolitical archiepiscopacy, I cannot as yet discover. That they were ordinary officers of Christ's institution, relating in their office, and ordinary discharge of it, not only to the particular churches wherein they were placed, but to many churches also, no less committed to their charge than these wherein they did reside ; the officers, rulers, governors of which churches, depended on them, not only as to their advice and counsel, but as to their power and jurisdiction, holding their place and employment from them, is some part of that which in this undertaking is in- cumbent on our doctor to make good, if he will not be sup- posed to prevaricate in the cause in hand ; to this end he informs us, sect, secunda, that in the New Testament there is, in sundry places, mention made of churches in the plural number ; as Gal. i. 21. 1 Thess. ii. 14. Acts ix. 31. xv. 41. 1 Cor. xvi. 1. Gal. i. 2. Rev. i. 11. sometimes of church only in the singular number; as Acts viii. 1. xv. 4. 22. xi. 26. Horn, xvi. 1. 1 Cor. i,2. 2 Cor. i. 1. 1 Thess. i. 1. Rev. ii. 1. 8. 12. 18. Now this is an observation, which as we are not at all beholden to the doctor for it, no more I suppose will there be found to be to it, when the reason of it shall be a little weighed and considered. The sum is, that the name church, in the singular number, is never used, but when it relates to the single congregation, in or of one city or town. That of churches respecting the several churches, or con- gregations, that were gathered in any country or province ; manifest then is it from hence, that there is in the New Tes- tament, no church of one denomination beyond a single con- gregation ; and where there are more, they are always called churches ; how evidently this is destructive to any diocesan or