Reflections upon several passages in a book entitled, The reasonableness of a personal reformation, and the necessity of conversion with a letter to Mr. John Galpine, concerning his printed encomium of J.F. Elys, Edmund, ca. 1634-ca. 1707. 1692 Approx. 22 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 13 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2003-03 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A39367 Wing E688 ESTC R41123 19637537 ocm 19637537 109239 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A39367) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 109239) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1685:45) Reflections upon several passages in a book entitled, The reasonableness of a personal reformation, and the necessity of conversion with a letter to Mr. John Galpine, concerning his printed encomium of J.F. Elys, Edmund, ca. 1634-ca. 1707. Galpine, John. [4], 20 p. [s.n.], [London] printed: 1692. Signed: E.E.--P. 18. Place of imprint suggested by Wing. Imperfect: tightly bound with slight loss of print. Reproduction of original in the Bodleian Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Church of England -- Apologetic works. Conversion -- Early works to 1800. 2002-11 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2002-12 SPi Global Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2003-01 John Latta Sampled and proofread 2003-01 John Latta Text and markup reviewed and edited 2003-02 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion REFLECTIONS Upon Several Passages in a Book ENTITLED , The Reasonableness of a Personal Reformation , And The Necessity of Conversion . With a LETTER to Mr. JOHN GALPINE , Concerning his Printed Encomium of I. F. The Speech of Dead Men commonly proves more Effectual , more Profitable , or more Dangerous , then that of the Living . Dr. HAKEWIL in the Epistle Dedicatory of his Answer to Dr. Carier . Printed in the Year , 1692. TO THE READER . THO' I had much rather this Paper had been Publisht whilst that Person , whose Wicked Errors it Refutes , was Living , yet since it can be Testified by divers Honest men that it was written whilst He was Living ; And since it is to Me so Evident that the Book I mention , tho it carries such a shew of Godliness , is full of Deadly Poyson to the Souls of Men , I think it my Duty to Give out to the World an Antidote Against it . I earnestly beseech the Reader to Consider that it cannot be long before He and I shall Appear before the Iudgment-Seat of CHRIST to give Account of our Censures of all that we Hear , or Read. REFLECTIONS , &c. THE Reasonableness of Personal Reformation , &c. P. 4. We little know how far Unsanctified Reason may be prevail'd upon to quit its Throne , and resign its Scepter into the hands of Lust , and Appetite . I. F. Unsanctified Reason is Always Subject to some Lust , or Inordinate Appetite . P. 5. Appeals to Reason may produce Reformation in some men sooner than Appeals to the Scriptures , or Principles of Faith. I. F. This is Contrary to the Common Sense of All True Christians , and the Express word of JESUS CHRIST , who says , Without Me Ye Can Do nothing , And ( by the Mouth of his Holy Apostle ) Without Faith it is Impossible to Please God , And certainly it is the same thing to produce Reformation in any man , and to Perswade him Effectually to do those things , which are Pleasing unto GOD , which cannot be Done Without Faith. P. 9. It ( Reason ) stands ready to offer its service to thee to Save thee from , or to receive thee out of those Mischiefs thou hast , or mayst run thy self into , if thou will but hear , and obey its advice . I. F. 'T is evident He speaks of Reason in Contradistinction to Religion , for thus He begins this Section : The Persons whose Reformation I particularly design by this method , being men that exercise more Reason , than Religion I. F. Now it can be no other than a most Detestable Heresy to Assert that Reason any farther then as it is Regulated by the Principles of Faith , can ever Save a man from those Mischiefs , which he would run himself into . P. 20. Notwithstanding the present Captivity of Reason under usurping , and domineering Lusts , so long as it hath a permanent and fixed Root , and Principle in their Nature 't is possible it may recover its Throne , and Empire over them again . I. F. Unsanctified Reason may turn its Subjection from one Lust to another , but can never have a True Victory over any one Lust , but by Subjecting it self to the Principles of Faith , that is to say , by ceasing to be Vnsanctified , and Partaking of the True Light , which is the Power of God unto Salvation . P. 21. Reason would only regulate , and legitimate your Delights , and Religion Sanctify them . I. F. 'T is very Injurious to the Souls of men Professing Christianity to possess them with a conceit that they may Lawfully , or According to the Will of God Act by Two Distinct Principles under the Notion of Reason , and Religion ; For Christianity Obliges All men , Whatsoever they Do in Word , or Deed , to Do All to the Glory of God , which is the Principal Points of Right Reason . P. 99. What is the matter when all is sifted and examin'd ? why the matter is this , some will be more serious , strict , and conscientious than others think fit , or necessary for them to be . I. F. This is a most Devilish False Insinuation : And we the True Sons of the Church of England APPEAL to Our Blessed LORD , the True Head of the Holy Catholick Church , to Judge between Us , and this most Impudent Schismatick , and his Companions : We Aver Before God , Angels and Men , that their Schism has been the Cause of many Abominations , particularly , That it has been an Encouragement to the Anti-Trinitarians to Publish their BLASPHEMIES . What BLASPHEMIES their Neglect of the LORDS PRAYER has Occasion'd is also Manifest to the World. P. 130. Such as you are , whose whole Lives have been polluted with Profaness , and All Impiety . — You cannot think as others do , that you need no Repentance , or Reformation . In this respect therefore you lie nearer to the Door of Hope , and Mercy than other Sinners do . I. F. By other Sinners he must needs mean those that have not been so Great Sinners : And whether the Greater or Lesser Sinners , that is to say , whether those that are More , or those that are Less Averse from True Godliness , are Nearest to the Kingdome of God , let any man Judge who is neither Brutishly Stupid , nor Diabolically Impudent . P. 139. This is the change I am here pressing him to . — P. 140. It is not in any Man's power to convert himself — Yet he Can Do , and Forbear to Do many things , the Doing , or Forbearing of which has a true , tho remote tendency to his Conversion ; and not Doing , or Forbearing of them , his Destruction is of himself . I. F. His Destruction is not of himself Because he Forbears to Act ( or Do any thing in his own Natural Power , or Without the Divine Assistance ) but Because he Rejects the Divine Assistance , which by the Father of Mercies is Graciously Offer'd unto him . 'T is Evident by J. F's saying , This is the change I am pressing him to , Compar'd with these words , He Can do , or Forbear to do many things , &c. That he Encourages men to Act towards their Salvation in Their own Natural Strength , Whereas Our Preaching is this , That we Can do Nothing , but Sin Without the Help of JESUS CHRIST ; but 't is Always Possible for those that Trust in him to Abstain by his Assistance from All Known Sin. Now whether this Way of Preaching , or I. F's Way , be the True Preaching of the Gospel , I leave to the Judgment of Any man of Common Honesty , that has Read the Holy Scriptures . P. 140. Nor do I know any reason why you cannot compose your selves , when engaged in God's Publick , or Private Worship , to a close , and serious attendance to those Duties . I. F. Indeed he might have said , I know no reason , why Any man when he makes Confession of the Christian Faith , and says the Lords Prayer , should not Do it Sincerely , which if he Do , he is Converted : But to Suppose ( as 't is Evident he does ) that the Persons to whom he speaks , continue Vnconverted , and yet to say to them , Nor do I know any reason , why you Cannot , &c. is Intolerable Ignorance in one that Pretends to be a Minister of the Gospel : For the Reason , which he says he Knows not , is as Evident , as it is , that Our SAVIOUR had said , Without Me ●●fe Can Do Nothing . Agreeable to that ●aying of Our Blessed LORD , and the whole Tenor of the Gospel , are these words in the CATECHISM of the ●hurch of England , after the Explica●●on of Our Duty towards God , and ●ur Duty towards our Neighbour : My good Child , know this that ●hou art Not able to do these things of Thy self , nor to walk in the Commandments of thy God , and to serve him , without his special Grace which ●hou must learn at All times to call for ●●y diligent Prayer . Let me hear ●herefore if thou canst say the Lords ●rayer — What desirest thou of God in this Prayer ? Answ. I desire my Lord God , our Heavenly Father , who is the Giver of All Goodness , to send his Grace unto me , and to all People , that we may worship him , serve him , and obey him , as we ought to do . I do not find in all his Book one word Against those Hereticks , who in so many Books lately Publisht ( and to heighten the Abomination , upon Pretence of Pure Religion ) Blaspheme the Godhead of our Blessed SAVIOUR and of the HOLY GHOST ; And yet most certainly These Men , as much as any other sort of Sinners ( if not much more ) Provoke the Wrath of GOD Against this Sinful Nation . Since I.F. and his Companions make such Boasts of HOLINESS , as if they were the only Persons that Contend for the Promoting of it in the World , this I Affirm , and Challenge any Non-Conformist to say any thing against it , if h● will not Submit to my Assertion : Tha● the Holiness or Sanctity of Man in th●● Life is no Other thing , but that Ki●● of Belief of THE ARTICLES O● THE CHRISTIAN FAITH , B● which the HOLY GHOST worketh in his Heart those Holy Desires which are Exprest in the LORDS PRAYER . Now let any man of Common Sense Judge whether these Persons are the chief Promoters of Holiness , who call the Ecclesiastical Injunctions for the Use of the CREED , and the LORDS PRAYER in Religious Assemblies , Toys , and Trifles . Against All the False Censures , and Contumelious Speeches , and Backbitings of this sort of Men I constantly APPEAL to Our Blessed LORD , Saying from the bottome of my Heart , COME LORD JESUS TO Mr. JOHN GALPINE , Concerning His Printed Encomium Of J. F. YOUR undertaking to Adorn the Memory of such a PESTILENT Schismatick , puts me in mind of what I wrote about Ten Years since , concerning a Person that had a Fancy to shew the like Kindness to the Memory of T. HOBBS . My words were these : To Adorn the Memory of T. H. what is it but to Provide that the Corps of one that Dyed of the Plague may lye in State , that People coming to Behold it may contract the Infection ? You say that I. F. was well acquainted with the Mysteries of the Gospel , and in special with that admirable Mystery of Man's Redemption by Jesus Christ. How well he was acquainted with the Mystery of the Gospel we shall take Liberty to Judge , who have Observ'd the Satanical Falsehood of a great part of the Doctrine he has deliver'd in his Writings , particularly in the Book which he Impudently Entitles , The Fountain of Life Open'd : In the 182 pag. of that Book he has these very words : There are not a whole World , no not half , but the far less part of the World Redeem'd with the Blood of Christ. If he that Believed this was well acquainted with the Mystery of the Gospel , of that admirable Mystery of Man's Redemption by Jesus Christ , then certainly the Blessed Apostle was very Erroneous , who Says Expresly , HE is the Propitiation for our Sins , and not for ours only , but also for the Sins of the WHOLE WORLD . Since it is the Practice of so many of those that Deny the Truth of the Gospel , as I. F. did , to Accuse us , as if we did derogate from the Doctrine of the Necessity of the Divine Assistance to Do any thing in order to our Salvation , who Acknowledge that we have Learnt to Believe in God the Son , who hath Redeemed us , and ALL MANKIND . I shall shew you that J. F. shew'd himself to be Guilty of this Pernicious Error in his Answer to the 20 th Question in the Sea-man's Catechism . But I have no Strength of my own to come to Christ by , and is it not absurd to urge me upon impossibilities in order to my Salvation ? This is indeed a Question of the Greatest Importance to the Souls of Men. The Answer that is given to it by all True Christians is this , That though of Our selves , or in Our own Natural Strength we are not Able to Do any thing Acceptable to God , we May Do All things Through CHRIST Enabling us : And CHRIST Offers the Assistance of His Holy Spirit to All those , who upon the Hearing of the Gospel are Sensible of Their own Impotency to Come to CHRIST , or to Walk in the Ways of God. The Answer which I. F. gives to this Question is Contrary to the Sense of All True Christians : for He w d Perswade a man to Act in order to his Salvation in His own Natural Strength . You are more absurd , says He , in pleading , and pretending your Impotency against your Duty . To which I Reply , that No man shall ever be Able to Perform any Duty , that he owes unto God , 'till he shall be Convinc'd that Of Himself , or in His own Natural Strength , he can Do Nothing , but SIN . For you think , says He , you have a Power to come to Christ , else how do you quiet your Consciences with promises , and resolves of Conversion hereafter ? Answ. They Follow the Father of Lies who Quiet their Consciences with any thing , but a Sincere Resolution by the Help of CHRIST to Abstain from All Known Sin , and to Perform All Known Duty both towards God , and towards Man. Nothing can be more Absurd than for one , who Professes himself to be a Preacher of the Gospel to Disswade men from Believing that of themselves , or Without the Divine Assistance they are altogether Unable to Perform any Duty , to Do any thing Acceptable unto God. You say , He did what lay in him to live Peacebly with all Men. Let them Judge whether you speak the Truth , who Consider the Malicious Reproaches he casts on the Church of England in the last Book he Publisht , and in his Book Entitled Husbandry Spiritualiz'd , and in the Sermon , you have Publisht , Entitled The Character of an Evangelical Pastor . Husb. Spirit . p. 94. This Book was Printed in the Year of Our Lord 1669 , in which thus He Rails at the Church of England . Tho there be Preaching , Prayer , and other Ordinances left ( at least the names , and shadows of them ) yet the presence of God is not with them . There is no marrow in the bone , no milk in the breast , and so , as to Soul-subsistence , 't is all one , as if there were no such things . In the Sermon you have Publisht , your Evangelical Pastor ( that had FOUR WIVES ) Harps upon the same string . 'T is manifest that the Minister he inveighs against are the English Clergy in that he Marks them by the Character of those that Live upon the Profits , And in that he gave the Whole Church of England the same Character , in such plain terms , in the Year 1669. There is no marrow in the bone , no milk in the breast , &c. Is not this the same with what he now tells us , viz. They Preach , they Pray because they must do so , but none are the better for their Prayers , or Preaching . They seem to labour an hour , or two in a week ; but their labours turn to no account . Nor can be expected to turn to any good account , whilst they are neither animated by Faithfulness , nor guided by Prudence . Agricola writing De Amantibus Subterraneis , tells us of a certain kind of Spirits that converse in Minerals , and much infest those that work in them . They seem to busy themselves according to the custome of Workmen . They will digg and cleanse , melt and sever the Metals , Yet when they are gone , the Workmen do not find that there is any thing done . I Challenge You , and All your Brethren to Say any thing Like Truth Against what I Say in Defence of the Church of England , viz. That it is most Evident that those Men are Guilty of Abominable Iniquity , who Endeavour to Seduce any People from the Communion of this Church , in which the Fundamental Articles of the Christian Religion are so clearly , and fully Exprest , and those most Important Expressions so frequently Repeated , that Persons of the lowest Intellectuals , who do not Rebel against the Light , in frequenting our Religious Assemblies , may more easily attain to the Knowledge of all things that are Necessary to their Salvation , than by Hearing , or Reading the best Sermons that have been , or shall be Preacht by any of the Non-Conformists , to the End of the World : Which Assertion is as Evident , as it is , That any Illiterate Persons , may more easily Meditate on Truths plainly Exprest , and frequently Suggested to their Remembrance , than Collect the same Truths out of divers large Discourses , if they were therein Imply'd : So that it can hardly be imagined , how any Man can be in any thing more Serviceable to the Destroyer of Souls , than by Teaching People to Despise our Catechism , and Common Prayer . As to Your most SLANDEROUS Insinuation , that We , who have Warn'd the Country against the Wicked Errors , that have been Publisht by I. F. do not heartily desire the Prosperity of the Church of Christ , and of the Souls of Men , we APPEAL to the Iudge of All Men , Considering that within a very short Time we must Appear Before His Iudgment Seat : And we all Concurr with Dr. MAVRICE in the Ardency of that Devotion , which He Expresses in his Book Entitled , A Defence of Diocesan Episcopacy , pag. 443. Lord ! How long shall mean Delusions be permitted to have so powerful and prevailing influence ? How long shall the Woolf possess the Sheep against their Shepherds , and break into the Folds under the disguise of Sheeps-Cloathing ? How long shall the deluded have eyes , and not see ; and the Souls , for which Christ Died , be under the Power of Deceivers ? How long will it be e're the Hypocrite be disrobed , and the People see through the disguise of those , who abuse them ? Surely there will come a time , when God will hear the Prayers , and Expostulations of his Servants : When the faithful Shepherd shall gather together those that are scattered , and bring back those that are gone astray : When he shall carry them on his shoulders rejoycing , and triumphing in the disappointment of the beasts of prey : But who shall live , when this comes to pass ? Blessed surely shall their Eyes be , who shall enioy the sight , a joyful and pleasant thing beyond expression it will be , to see Brethren dwell together in Vnity . I Pray God to Bless You , and to Turn You from your Iniquities : And to Bring into the Way of Truth al● those , that Err , and are Deceiv'd by You. Your Servant , and the Servant of All Men for Christ's Sake , E. E POSTSCRIPT . YOU say that all that have seriously perus'd Mr. Flavel's Books must needs suffrage with you that He was a Man of a sound and solid Iudgment . I have perus'd divers of his Books with this Serious Consideration , That I must give Account to Almighty God what Censure I pass on them . Amongst many Remarkable Passages I have taken particular notice of this in his Husbandry Spiritualiz'd , p. 187. When Fruits are shaken down from their Trees , then the Husbandman separates them ; the far greatest part for the Pound , and some few he reserves for an Hoard , which are brought to his Table , and eaten with pleasure . This excellently shadows forth that great separation , which Christ will make in the end of the World , when some shall be cast into the Wine-press of the Almighty's wrath , and others preserved for glory . Those fruits which are preserved on the tree , or in the hoard , are comparatively but an handful to those that are broken in the pound . Alass 't is scarce One of a Thousand , and such a small remnant of Elected Souls hath God reserved for Glory . Can you in good earnest conceive it was Judiciously done of this Famous Man thus to Compare the Wrath of God against the Damned , and his Mercy to those that are Sav'd , to the Pounding , and Hoarding of Apples . To any man that so Blasphemes the Divine Philanthropy , as to say that God has Absolutely Reprobated All Mankind , except such a small Number , as One of a Thousand , I shall give no other Answer but this , The LORD Rebuke Thee . FINIS .