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THE 
 
 JUST MANS 
 
 DEFENCE 
 
 TbcDeclaraiion of the Judgemenc 
 of James Arwinms^ Doftorand 
 • Profcffor of Divifiity in the 
 Univcrfity of Zf;*^^;^^ 
 
 Concerning 
 
 THE PRINCIPAL POINTS 
 
 of Retigm^ before the States of Ht/-* 
 
 land ,' and l^l^t^fncxjand. 
 
 To which is added , 
 Nine Qucino^^.^exhibiccd by the 
 Deputies of theSy nod, to the Noble 
 Loris the Regulators of the 
 Univerfity of Leyden. 
 with their folution. 
 Tranfldtedfirthe Fmdfeaticftef Trnth^bf 
 Tobias Conycrs fometima of i^cccr-h«uU: 
 in Cambridge. 
 
 MdgnA tfi veritaf & frevalehit. 
 
 London, Primed tor Henry Ever [den at the Grey- 
 hound in F^jf/fCb^rcfi-yard. 1657. 
 
11 JiiKlliiillw. 
 
 .:M^M^ 
 
TO HIS 
 
 HIGHNESS. 
 Oliver^ Lord Pro- 
 
 te(ftor of the/ Common- 
 wealth of Great Britda 
 An^ Irtland. 
 
 Gnat Siry 
 
 A^^M^ Prefumx^ the dc- 
 ^^ h^f dicadotiof ^cd 
 ^^J^Ml papers withoua 
 t^gS^t ^^y Apologie CO 
 :^:iiii your JLordflitp, 
 havirig' beers alneady preferr- 
 tc^d toi States and Princes j^ 
 not rhat your . Highnefe ttin^ 
 whosrtibttiiaay pruicely ver- 
 tues arc conftellaied) ftood 
 k need of a^tranflaiion^ b»c- 
 A 3 that 
 
that an obvious Dialeft 
 might ruperfcde the pains of 
 an Original Traverfc, and re- 
 mit unto your Lord (hip all 
 poffible time to fatisfie the 
 importuiiicy of thofe affairs 
 which do publickly folicite 
 you for a difpaitch of them. 
 Had not the concernments 
 of truth been ofgreater im- 
 portance to me then any per- 
 lonal confideration ("though 
 I am not ftupidly infenfiblc J 
 Ifhouldhavebeen loth my 
 
 Lord But in as much as 
 
 the name of Arminians is 
 violently obtruded upon us, 
 who beleeve that Chrift di- 
 ed for all, and tafted death 
 for every man according to 
 theScriptutes, whereby our 
 perfons arc indevouredtobe 
 rendered odious , and the 
 bicflcd word of the kingdom 
 <; !.. -in 
 
inour mouths fcandalous and 
 ofFenfivc y I judged it reafo- 
 nable to offer the authors 
 judgment to EngUfli view 5 
 not that I defire the Tranfla- 
 tion of his {hould be lookt up- 
 on as the interpretation of 
 mine ( being never yet drawn 
 by any inquifitory exami- 
 nation to a full approbation 
 or diflike of it ) but that I 
 might put an opportunity in- 
 to the hands of indifferent 
 men^ of refolving themfelvcs 
 that Arminm was no fuch 
 monftcr in religion as fomc 
 men have attempted to re- 
 prefcnt him, and that his 
 name ftands undefervedly 
 blotted in the Ecclefiastick 
 Rolls of continual obloquie. 
 It was a worthy eflay of 
 Your Highnefs upon occafi- 
 A4 on 
 
on at WhitehalljThat it was 
 not fo much vrhat a man 
 held 5 but how he held it 5 
 ( A religious calenture hath 
 alwaiesbeen a dangerous ma- 
 ladie in the Eye of State- 
 Phyfitians j lam confident 
 the Dodorin this draught of 
 himfelf will abundantly pleaf 
 you 3 in whom Learning an<f 
 Ingenuity , Piety and Mode- 
 ration contend together for 
 tke maftery 5 and this by the 
 happy dufture of Chriftian 
 Principles 5 which if the like 
 tcndcrnefs :> candour and mo- 
 defty had been ufed by the 
 Reformed Churches in Scot- 
 land and elfewhere , which 
 for peace and chantic s fake 
 Ifpareto mention, they had 
 not given that cauf to perfons 
 of great and lefler quality to 
 
 com- 
 
complaincof them, and oc- 
 cafion'd lo great a reproach 
 and fcandall to that common 
 religion we all proteffe. 
 
 It would not become mc 
 to unravell this bottom, ho- 
 ping by the timely interpo* 
 lure of Your Lordfhips wif- 
 dooae and goodncls, with the 
 care and prudence of thofe 
 noble Patriots about you, we 
 may not have ground (in 
 things of lefs alloy ) to expo- 
 ftulate in our own Country.- 
 ts well known ( my Xord ) 
 what countenance the Scrip- 
 tures carry with the do- 
 drine of general attonement, 
 and how much it looks like 
 ^ the doftrine of the Church 
 : bf England ({o we call it) 
 
 and 
 
and that the major part of the 
 BifliopsaDd Doftors during 
 the Epifcopal Hierarchy, 
 were deeply baptized there- 
 into, and the late King him- 
 fclf: yet did they never dii* 
 countenance piety and lear- 
 ning in men of the contrary 
 judgment, either in Country 
 or Univerfity, by rendering 
 nhem uncapable of imploy- 
 mentjeither Civil or Ecclek- 
 astick 3 or draw them to re- 
 cant their opinions before 
 their inftitution and indudbi- 
 on into any place : witnefs 
 the credit and promotion of 
 
 Worthy Bromrtgy JL^ve^ Hatt^ 
 e^<r. Nay great Strafford 
 prefidcnt of the Court in the 
 North 5 did in the hearing of 
 fome perfons , who are ftill 
 living tcftimonies thereof, 
 publickly 
 
\, 
 
 publickly rebuke fome Mini- 
 Iters of the Arminian party 
 fo called ( though he himfelf 
 a great promoter o{ that in- 
 terefc jfor bearing thcmfelves 
 high upon court favour, and 
 told them, it was the will of 
 his mafter and the Doftors of 
 the church, that all modera- 
 tion {hould be ufcd herein. 
 The Scoene is altered; thefe 
 pluck'tofftheftage^and your 
 Lordfliip taken up, I ftiould 
 be highly injurious to thofc 
 many facred vow5 and pro- 
 teftations your //ighnefs 
 hath fo often made for Chri- 
 frian Liberty, fhould I enter" 
 tain a thought you would 
 aft your part with lefs ten- 
 dernefsand indulgency than 
 any of thofe that have had 
 their fatal Exit. My Lord, 
 You have been a man of 
 
 War; 
 
War, Liberty was that Moi- 
 to in your Enfign which en- 
 couraged the Soldiers of 
 Chriftto fight and pray xxv^ 
 dcr you, & for which I make 
 rro queltion victory came fo 
 often and h'ghed upon your 
 banner; /beiecchyouby the 
 merdesofGod^andby what 
 ever is dear or near unto you, 
 that you would not expole us 
 by your authority to the wills 
 ofthofcwhoarefo ftraitncd 
 in their principles, as their 
 affe(Sic«is, in brotherly tole- 
 ration are fhutupagainftus 
 likewife^ but that all your 
 Ads of Grace, like the Or- 
 ders of Heaven ifSiing out 
 from your great Mafter, may 
 impartially look to the good 
 of all. I cannot (with the 
 zeal of Armimas) petition 
 your ifighnefs for a Natio- 
 nal 
 
nal Synod, and to eltabliih 
 Ecclcfiaftick Sau&iom by ci- 
 viU authority, left it have the 
 fame event (or fomwhac 
 worfcj vvich tlie Vort'Co/2f(*'^\]l^J^' 
 re/ice^ but ( falving the honor 
 and confcicnccs of thofe 
 Gentlemen, the commifliG* 
 ncrs for Approbation of Mi' 
 niftcrs^i muft needs think the 
 nature of Orthodox and He- 
 terodox would be better 
 prov'd by a fubfeription to 
 a known Contefiion of Faith 
 drawn up in^cripture terms 8c 
 phrafes, according to \v*^^ the 
 Preachers of the Gofpd 
 might & ought to frame and 
 level their judgments and do- 
 vSrines ^ then by thefuddcn 
 and extempore refoives to 
 a few unpredimeditated Que- 
 ftions (till the prefentocca* 
 fio!iJ lock t up inthebreafts 
 of fomc particular men. 
 
 And 
 
And this lam bold to offer 
 to your Lordfhip, not as to 
 one of Alachiaiells Trine ts^ 
 who will not follow Reli- 
 gion too clofe at the heels • 
 or to a Roman Gttllio^ who 
 caretb for none ofthefe things 5 
 but as to Qi^ood Jofiah^ whofc 
 heart melted at the hearing of 
 the Law^ and covenanted 
 with his Godj to take away 
 all the abominations out of 
 %ch'm.u^}^Y thcCounircys that pcr- 
 ^ ' rained to the Children of 
 Ifrael. Jhat no Pharaoh Ne^ 
 cho may come up againft you, 
 and the people of this Land; 
 but that peace and prosperi- 
 ty may attend You, and your 
 Name be as apretious oynt- 
 ment poured out upon the 
 inhabitants of Zion, is the un- 
 feigned Prayer of 
 
 Jtncf.U^f. Milord, 
 
 Your Higbncf&'s mofc humble 
 Scivam, Tobiof Cpnyers. 
 
To the* 
 CHRISTIAN READER. 
 
 Ts the' chief intent of the 
 Author (^as far as I can 
 ]u^£€) next f the l^indi* 
 cation ofTrmh^ and him' 
 felfy tofet ihy judgment rtght in the 
 great points of Fredefiinatton and 
 Frovidence^ andtofhowthe happy 
 compliance ^iwixt the free and tii^* 
 merited grate of God and Mans 
 Will , not facritegtonjly addmitting 
 the latter as a copartner with the 
 former in the rvork^ of converfion -^ 
 hnc with much refpeA ^ubordtra- 
 ting the one to the other ^ referving 
 unto each thetr peculiar vertues 
 amd operations^ making the new 
 creation fo to antmate the old^ as to 
 refioreweakned powers and debili^ 
 tated faculties to much of thetr an" 
 tient \ftrcngth & vigor ^and fit thtm 
 for ahion. Surclfhad I thought 
 
 the 
 
the V&^or had heen artenemi^H 
 
 grace {^s toDfaany of ths gtekt 
 
 Clerks of^ the world are^ I jkould 
 
 have ivifhed his "judgment had for 
 
 ever flept in diCrk»efs and mvir 
 
 leen aTva^edbyme or amy other to 
 
 fee the jE^gltjh light / Bfit by that 
 
 lively fjrtr&itme tvkch he hmh 
 
 -drMwn ofhimfelfyjam apt to tfihk^ 
 
 'hitrntudwat tPeil h^Amified with 
 
 m^myfair Ideas of Tn f-\ and his 
 
 undtrft andtng tnHghte>ied with a 
 
 rMt fr&m that divtne light which 
 
 1 lighteth every one that cometh 
 
 P»n •?• into the world ^ I cannot dttr> 
 
 hnte the growth and encreafe of the 
 
 Sffpralapfirian & > uhlapfafia.>id(;- 
 
 .BHfte tn forhe of the reformd Cha r^ 
 
 vbtf^ to any thing f» much as th 
 
 HTitrndrd^ealafjomemcH ( other ^ 
 
 t^ijeemirient in their generatiei*^ in 
 
 the hginniytf vfrefrnmation ; tvH 
 
 havirgfalltnotttwith the chttich 
 
 pfRofne^ and that ttpn the account 
 
 -of their ftrange innovations, and 
 
 ^ngddly erUHts^ their A^afi , S^>' 
 
 itxmentS) rvork/^ metif^iftdtil^fn" 
 
 cie\ 
 
6ies^ pardon f, &Ci they tore away 
 indeed much of thts Sffperftitten, 
 Oftd teftified to the VMrld their 
 difliJ^e of All fffch erroneonsTe-' 
 fients & cur fed praBtfesi But when 
 like wije Chirurgians they jhould 
 have ^newn when the cure had been 
 nigh fintfhedy they ft ill conttnued 
 launctng the fore deeper and deeper 
 till they had Ut out fome of the 
 very Vitals of Religion^ andmatmd 
 the d ferine of Chriflianity in feme 
 of the principal members thereof, 
 What was Orthodox at Rome muft 
 needs be Heterodox at Geneva, 
 far fear {as I imagine) lealt the 
 Orifice fhonld clofe^ MKd the Body 
 Efclefiaftick^ return to its former 
 frmper* How dsth OUrin beat* A good 
 his head thorough the whole body ^^f^ ""^'^ 
 of his Infticutions (the more to^^^!^^l\^ 
 alienate^ as I conceive^ the w/W/finifter It 
 of men from the Remijh Religion) indircft 
 to draw up the Proteftant ?rw^m««is, 
 fles in the great eH^ contrariety ima* 
 ginahle to thofe of Rome, ff spring 
 leafi hefkoteldnevergetfa/enoMjj 
 a both 
 
ffi-triVi-i' Ttt. 
 
 hvth in doEirine and difcip line frotii 
 them I Thinks not Chriftian Re A' 
 der^ that I' favour the Romifh 
 ChuTCchheretK^or intend to throw 
 dirt in the face of the Rcform*d, 
 (this were to flander my mother^ 
 and reproach the womb that bare 
 me) I only lahostr thy fatisfa6fion^ 
 and by a modejl difqf^ifitton , to 
 li^ht thee in to the rife and grounds 
 of this controverjte. Neither am 
 I ingaged in my judgment againft 
 all or half of the Proteflant Chur- 
 ehes, the major part are of the fame 
 mtndinthe do^rine of Predeftina- 
 tion as the author will fa is fie thee 
 in the enfueing difcourfe, I know 
 yio rigid Fredeftinarians , but 
 
 thofe oj Sabauda and Geneva, the 
 Prefbnerate Scots y who ( acco, ^ 
 ding to their a-^tient -leagpie and 
 fretndfhip to comply with thi 
 french)have fetch' t much of their 
 '-;n ^^/^gja„ rhenc^ ^and thofe at heme 
 Tipon whofe Spirits the do^rine of 
 the''K\vki}Mti)'^een too muchafceti^ 
 datot^ Tet what great tefpeB I 
 '■u>4 .^ have 
 
 •■*'j;n 
 
have bjrnto the opinUnofmyn' 
 verend and learned brethren dfjfeft' 
 ting herein ^ even tothefhakjngof 
 my own fait h^ being more ready to 
 acctife my fe If of prtde^ ignorancf^ 
 andfinguUritj (th€ ufual parents 
 of erronr) then them ofunfotind- 
 nefs ^ I have abimdamij ^^p-if.^A^ 
 privately andpnblfckjy ; and here* 
 /;» Mr. Richard Copeman ^ w^r- 
 thy Gentlemm and a JuFtice of 
 Peace for the County of NorfFolk, 
 &many other s^thoftgh of a different 
 opinior^ will be fKy witnefs : 77?^ 
 wore I came to fearch into thenc^ 
 ture and being of that great Jeho- 
 vah rev e aid in the word of life ^ the 
 morel foHhd it unworthy of the enter 
 tainment of a Chr.flia'is hearty that 
 noway cold I bi found out by infi- 
 nite ivifdome to glorifie the divtne 
 jittrtbntes , but by the precife 
 ordination e^f almoft infinite num^ 
 ben 0^, his children to eternal and 
 yemedilefs torment Sy without the 
 leap: intuition or refpefh to their 
 fin and difobediencei I [houldfoc 
 az g't 
 
get that I were a creature (tvhich 
 the egritudts a.nd inftrmities of 
 [enl and body do daylj admonish me 
 cf) were I ujii»illt»gto acktiow" 
 ledg that great prerogative ofhe^^ 
 ven^Gods Soveraiimy overme^yet 
 fhoHldlheafarafite in reltgion tn 
 ^t^ili^tiKg a»y thing to divine 
 pother 9 tut wk^t his Jfiftice^ mf" 
 Job 15,7*^^^ 4i;<5^ Qoodnefs permits me. 
 
 ? • Pf^til 4 man tell a lye for Ged ■ 
 
 Jfolemnly profefs^ Iknov^ not with 
 
 what hope of advantage 1 jhould 
 
 propound Chrift as an objeB of 
 
 faith in a generall exhort at i" 
 
 ^n to the people y if he dyed not for 
 
 theW'^ certainly the fesret will of 
 
 God is the fame with his reveald^ 
 
 he is Hnsktld in the art ofdtJfimuU" 
 
 ti9n 3 his words alwaies agree with 
 
 his mind', let God he true and 
 
 every man a lyar. I cannot be of 
 
 Tifc, refp, '^^ ftidgment of Pifcator, who 
 
 iid voYs* faith reprobate t per/ons are abfe- 
 
 Part I . r lutely ordatxedto this twofold evil^ 
 
 pag.iioyl fff undergo everlaftingpunifhrnent^ 
 
 andneceffarilyfin^and therefore to 
 
 fin 
 
fin that they might be jtifily pum^h^ ZancbMh. 
 ed: And Zanfhy tells us that ^.d^mt. 
 reprobates are heid fo fafi fmder Dci,cap.-z. 
 Gods Almighty decreey that they de Prede(t. 
 cannot batjlnand perifh. Its rt^Stt Gods 
 ported of Tiberius, upon the f^liioyc to 
 p/Elius Sejanus ratjedfor the rt^'tn Mankind. 
 of the houje o/Germanicus, beiiJg 
 refohed tg leave no ^emme to grov^ 
 cHt af that unhappy root^ purpofd 
 to fut the young and tender daugh- 
 ter of Sejanus ^o death ^ the Roman 
 laws for btdmg to firan^U a l^irgin^ 
 hecaupdhertoh devoured ^7 ^^^ fj^,%f '" 
 executioner^ at the foot of the 
 Genjonian Jiaires^ and then 
 (Irangled: Pardon O good God tne 
 teachers of thy Churchy who have 
 fuhltjhedthy unalterable refolves 
 in thy eternal decree of putting to 
 everlajiing death tnfimte numbers 
 of virgin ani mdefloured fouls 
 {the righteous laws of heaven not 
 permitting it) thy determinations 
 likeroife that fin and , Satan (hould 
 f ir ft; vitiate and eon^uprate them : 
 Ifthts rpere once generally received 
 
 that 
 
that men fin necejfarily and um" 
 voidably ^ and all that they do in 
 ft^rfiieance of the divine decree^ 
 what would this introduce but Sto^ 
 icifm and Manichtfrne} would it 
 nof be an inUt to aU loofneffe and 
 ltC(r}itioufnejfe ^ an inundati- 
 an to all b^^bariftn and wieked^ 
 ffeffe , and in fine this undergovern^ 
 ment of the world fuffer a dijfoluti^ 
 on} But O my deare Brother I 
 labour to efchew eviE^anddo good , 
 and be confident his grace rvtll be 
 fufficient for thee. Say not in thy 
 heart I am (hut out from the love 
 ofG^'d, I am as a dry tree I dran^ 
 fjeere to this communicative and 
 diffufive love o\ God , that thy foule 
 may be drenched therewith'. lam 
 v:ry well ajfured by the blejfed 
 wordof truth ^ there fidnds no de- 
 cree of Reprobation , like the Che-. 
 rubim in the garden of Eden with a 
 flaming fw or d in i-'*s hand , to keep 
 the way from the greater part of 
 men to the tree of life : God is 
 not contributory by any voluntary 
 
 pur^ 
 
ptfffi^fe or aEitothe perdition of my 
 ofhisiCreatures-^ yet is he fo great 
 a lover if rtghte^tifne^e and juftice 
 that he willpf/mjh fin Hnreperttdof 
 where ever he finds it» Above all 
 tht»{rs pfirftie peace with all men 
 ift he p^ffihl-j , and holinefft^ avfth' 
 cut which no mm fhall fee the 
 Lordy take not up any thing cantain- 
 ed in theje papers for contention , 
 ftrife J a^d debate •, O flee vaing 
 fanglwgs ^ which defile the jffdg- 
 ment , corrupt the heart ^ and tend 
 not to edification I The chnrch of 
 Cod is too too much wade an 
 yimphy theater • Religion a me ere 
 digladiation ^ the feverall opinions 
 ihe comhatants , the weapont car- 
 49all and not SpirituaU ^ anA the 
 pfUU (^Ifiar) Self-glory^ and felfe- 
 advancement. If thou l^owefi- 
 thefe thtngs^ happy art thou iftheu 
 doe ft them:, ^ff ^h knowledge looke Jo^«^3 .^7 
 to praBice , ^r the fruit , and thy 
 ffA&ice to k^nowledg , asthd guide ; 
 and be affured ^ they will both lead 
 to h^pineffe ^ as the end ; But , not 
 
 to 
 
tpfv^ell thM Epiftie heymd its fro" 
 fortioit ^ let me tell thee^ then mufi 
 VoHchfafe this peece a dtli gent per •' 
 '^f^^y ff thoH vpould^fi reap Any 
 fro fit by it • cxpeU not Rhetorical 
 •p,ot*rtjhes to court thee vptth enttce* 
 iHgvfords of vanity into the Ah"' 
 thorns ]ptdgmc0fty or the foftftrains 
 of Eloquence to touch thee with dc^ 
 light 'ythu the mind oftheAuthour^ 
 the fiature of the thing , and tht 
 traftfjation it f elf forbids thee. Try 
 2[\ things (h the tef^ of the Ser$p* 
 Pbil.J.ij, tures) hold faft that which isgood, 
 i^. 'NtVer thelejfe^ whereto we have 
 
 already attained^ let US walkeby 
 the fame rule , let us minde the 
 fame things , and if in any thing 
 thoubeotherwife minded, Co4 
 (hail reveal eventhi$ unto thee^ 
 
 J«ues. 16$$. 
 
TO THE ' 
 
 Noble and Potent 
 
 STATES 
 
 OF 
 
 Holland md VFefi^ 
 
 My Supreme Lords, 
 
 Fter the confe- 
 rence betwixc 
 M.Gomar and 
 my felf at the 
 Hague by the 
 command of 
 
 your Highneffes , before the 
 
Truth defended ^ 
 
 Lords Counfellors of the Su- 
 preme Court, four Minifters be- 
 ing prefent, and relation made 
 thereof to your Highneffes , in- 
 timating the weight and moment 
 of the Controverlie betwixt us, 
 it afterward was thought requi- 
 lite by your noble Highneffes, to 
 call both of us together , with 
 the four Miniflers, before you in- 
 to your honourable AfTembly, 
 to fignifie to us all this way what 
 you (hould judge mofl expedi- 
 ent for that time ^ So it fell out> 
 yiv.Gomar coniirmM the debate 
 a foot betwixt us, ' to be of that 
 grand importance, that he durft 
 not joyn ilTue with fuch an opi- 
 nion as this of mine, in thepre- 
 fence of God •, and more then 
 that , if it were not prefently 
 ftopt, 'twould fet the Provinces, 
 Churches , Cities, and Citizens 
 together by the cars, and every 
 mans hand againft his brother. 
 To all which I anfwered nothing 
 at that time,fave that I knew not 
 mtyfelf guilty of any fuch cruel 
 ' ' ■ opi- 
 
Imwce/icy cleared^ 
 
 opinion in Religion, being confi- 
 dent I fhould never adminifter 
 any juft caufe or ground for 
 Schifm or diflention to build upr 
 on either in Church or State^ ii| 
 tellimony whereof I was ready 
 openly in all truth and fincerity 
 to declare my mind in the whole 
 matter of Religion, when ever I 
 (houldbe commanded thereun- 
 to before this Afrembly,and tha^ 
 before I removed troiii the place 
 where I then ftood. 
 
 Upon which motion , it was 
 judged convenient by your 
 HighnefTes that I fhould be cal- 
 led before you now to make 
 good the proffer in thefeSeili- 
 ons •, and therefore it is that 
 I now appear in this place faith- 
 fully to difcharge it. But in as 
 much as a finifter report of mee 
 hath for fo long a time fpread it 
 felfnotonlyathome,but abroad 
 in forrain parts, and no little e- 
 vill hath enfued thereupon, as if 
 I had hitherto altogether refti- 
 fed (being often required therer 
 
Truth defended'^ 
 
 unto) to declare my judgement 
 in the bufinefs of Religion-, 
 Wherefore I make it my humbte 
 requeft that you'l pleafe to give 
 me leave ingenuoufly to open 
 my felf in this matter before I 
 proceed to other things. 
 
 In the yeer 1605. June 30. 
 There came to me at Leyden 
 three Deputies of the SynoH of 
 South-Holland , viz. Francis 
 Lmnshtrge^ Ltbert Fraxim , and 
 Daniel Volege of happy memo- 
 ry, Minifters of their refpedive 
 Churches at Roterdam , the 
 Hague and Delph, being prefent 
 with them two Minifters of the 
 Synod of North-Holland, name- 
 ly lehn Bogard of the Church at 
 Harleme , and lames Roland of, 
 the Church at Amfterdam , tel- 
 ling me in their Clafiical Exami- 
 nations of fome Students in the 
 Univerfity of Leyden, in order 
 to their entrance into the Mini- 
 niftcry, they received fome new 
 and unufual anfwers to the quef- 
 
 tions 
 
Inmcency cleared. 
 
 tions propounded , contrary to 
 the received Dodrine in the 
 Churches, which they confirmed 
 as having been difciplined into 
 them by me • which things be- 
 ing fo , they defired a friendly 
 conference with me to know the 
 bottom of this matter, whereby 
 for the future they might better 
 confult the affairs of the Church* 
 To which I anfwered I could no 
 way approve this manner of 
 procefs, which would necefTari- 
 ly ever and anon multiply confe- 
 rence upon conference , even as 
 oft as any Student (hould give 
 any new anfwcr , pretending to 
 have learn'd the fame of me • 
 therefore 'twas better in my 
 judgment, when any SchoUar 
 fhould frame any new Refponfo- 
 ry in his Examinations, confir- 
 ming the fame from me, which 
 (hould bee judged by the Bre- 
 thren contrary tQ theConfefli- 
 on and Catechifm of the BelglcJ^ 
 Churches^ they would fend for 
 VIS both together, being ready 
 B 3 upon 
 
6 (ruth defended 5 
 
 upon this account at my owne 
 charge to come whereever it 
 Ihould pleafe the Brethren to ap- 
 point ^ and this courfe being ta- 
 ken once and again, the calumny 
 or truth would plainly bee evin- 
 ced. 
 
 And further to y[r,L<sinsherge^ 
 urging the conference in the 
 hame of the reft , anfwer was 
 m^de , that as yet I faw not how 
 I could admit of any fuch thing 
 with them, appearing as Depu- 
 ties from the Synod to whom 
 they flood bound to give an ac- 
 count of all things done by them, 
 enlefs my Superiours were like- 
 wife privy, and confenting, and 
 alfo commanding me hereunto - 
 befides it's being joyned with no 
 fmall hazard , if fo be I fhould 
 , wholly caft myfelfe upon their 
 faithfulnefs in their own relatron 
 of the event of our conference 
 to the Synod. And further, 
 that they had no caufe why they 
 fliould require any fuch thing of 
 
 me. 
 
Innocency cleared. 
 
 me, not confcious to my felf of 
 delivering anyDodrine either at 
 Lejden or Amslerdam contrary 
 to the Wordo^ God^ CenfeJJion^ Of 
 Catechifm of the Churches in 
 HolUytd'^ That hitherto not any 
 fuch thing was ever objeded to 
 me, being confident it would not 
 eafily beeffeded, if the Objec- 
 tor (hould be obliged to make 
 good his Objedions by proof ^ 
 and in default thereof, to bear 
 the blame hiaifelf. Notwithftan- 
 ding if they would wave the ti- 
 tle of Deputation , and proceed 
 in their own name to a, confer- 
 ence with me, I was ready at that 
 inftant to imbrace it •, provid-ed 
 thac in every point to be deba- 
 ted they would explaine their 
 judgment , and I mine, each of 
 us alledging our proofs,: and de- 
 bating one anochers judgments 
 and reafons ^ if by this means we 
 could fatishe one another. Well 
 andgood^if not, no furcher re- 
 lation fhould be made of it , but 
 the whole matter deferred till a 
 National Sjnod.' B4 This 
 
8 Truth defended ; 
 
 This being refufed, we had de- 
 parted afunder^had I not defired 
 them, that in like manner 3hey 
 would move a Conference to 
 ^{t.Gomar^bc Trelcatms ofblef- 
 fed memory, not judging my felf 
 to have given greater caufe to 
 them of fuch a motion as this, 
 then either of them had done. 
 The grounds of this my rcqueft 
 I then added, which were too 
 long now to repeat : To which 
 they anfwered they would do ac- 
 cordingly, and that before their 
 departure from Lcyden-^ and fo 
 they did, as they themfelves told 
 ine. 
 
 And this was the firft requeft 
 of this nature that ever was 
 made to me 5 which occafionM 
 much Difcourfe-, fomc giving a 
 Narrative thereof imperfedly, 
 and not as the whole matter was 
 carried , fmothering in filence 
 the motion made by me, and the 
 grounds thereof. Not many 
 day es after, about the 28. of lu- 
 Ij , in the fame yeerje 1^05. the 
 A- like 
 
Inmcency cleared. 
 
 like was required by me in the 
 Name of the Synodry of the 
 Church of Leyden , yet with this 
 Trovifo, That if I approved of it^ 
 others likewife (hould be rnqved 
 unto the farae^ if not, they 
 would not proceed any further 
 in this cafe : But when I had fig- 
 niriedmy diflike (with the Rea- 
 fons thereof) herein to the Bur- 
 rough- Mafter Brouchovim^ and 
 IWr. Meruky of godly memory, 
 the Elders and Deputies fent to 
 me in the Name of the faid Sy- 
 nod, they were fa well fatisfied 
 therewith , that nothing was fur- 
 ther attempted by them in this 
 bufinefs. 
 
 November the pth. in the fame 
 yeer, Francis Lansberge^ FeHns 
 Hommius^ and their Affociate^, 
 Deputies of the Synod of South- 
 Holland, exhibited nine queftions 
 to the Lords Vifitors of the Uni- 
 verfity of of Leyd€n\ with a Pe- 
 tition annexed, that they would 
 pleafeto command the Profef- 
 fors of Divinity to anfwer to the 
 
 ftme. 
 
I o Truth d'^'^endey^ ; 
 
 Doaor fame. The Lords Vifitors retur- 
 Amlnms rted, tllatcliey could not approve 
 was now the Pmpofai of any fuch quelH- 
 ^'J^if.^^?^". onsto the ProfeffKs of Divini- 
 ty ac Ley ^Y'^ ^^ ^"^Y luppoied any thing to 
 den. " be taught in the 11 niverdty con- 
 trary to the Truth , it was to be 
 feferM to the National Synod; 
 ( which \Vas1ioped to be had very 
 fhortly) in which they might 
 more fully come to the know- 
 ledge and debate of it. Not- 
 withftanding this Reply, the 
 Deputies of the Synod further 
 urged, that with the'T good leave 
 they themfelves would propound 
 them to the Profeflbrs S.T. to 
 know what.every of them would 
 voluntarily and freely anfwer 
 thereunto- hit neither could this 
 likewifebe obcamed by them. All . 
 this being done without my 
 knowledge; being ignorant why 
 thefe Deputies came to the City, 
 although not long after I came to 
 know it. 
 
 In the mean while the whole 
 yeer faffed over, and I was not 
 
 called 
 
Innocencj cleared, \ \ 
 
 called upon again touching this 
 matter, except Anm 1 607. A lit- 
 tle before the Synod of South- 
 Holland vjz% held at Delphe^th^re 
 came to me John Barmrd Mini- 
 fter of Delphe^ Fefius Hommius 
 of Lej/den^ and DMcvhs Mini- 
 fter of Dort^ to know of me what 
 I had done in the retiitation of 
 the Anabaptifts, of which giving 
 them an account , it afforded 
 matter of much difcourfe to us; 
 being about to take their leave, 
 they moved if I had done any 
 thing in the bufinefs of Religion-, 
 that I would not think much to 
 communicate the fame to them, 
 and they to the Synod, to fatis- 
 fie their Brethren herein •, which 
 I could nor confenc unto , in 
 that it could not be with that 
 fruit, litnefs, and advantage any 
 where as in the National Synod , 
 which wee hoped upon the firft 
 opportunity, to be celebrated 
 according to the purpofe of the 
 noble and potent Lords the 
 StMes ^ and there I would cn^ 
 deavor 
 
1 2 Truth defended ; 
 
 deavour openly to manifeft my 
 thoughts, not being referved in 
 anything of which they might 
 complain. To which I added, if 
 I ihould open my felf in any. 
 thing to them, I could not corn- 
 mil the relation of it to their fi- 
 delity ,every one in things of this 
 nature being his own beft Inter- 
 preter- and fo we took our 
 leaves one of another, 
 
 Befides all thefe,l was private- 
 ly defired by fome Minifters,that 
 I would vouchfafc to communi- 
 cate my Meditations to the Col- 
 l^dge of Brethren in the Synod. 
 By others I was moved to declare 
 my thoughts to them , which in 
 the fear of God, they would con- 
 fider amongft themfelves, giving 
 their Faith not to divulge them. 
 To the firft of thefe I anfwered 
 indifferently , that they had no 
 ground why they fliould impor- 
 tune me in this more then others. 
 Tooneofthem(&henoneofthc 
 B3eaneft)Ioffrcda conference 5 
 
 feveral 
 
I nnocency cleared. 1,5 
 
 feverall times touching all the 
 heads of Religion to be debated, 
 whereby the truth of them mighc 
 be folidly fortified,and the falfity 
 refuted,:ind that in the prefence 
 of thechiefeft of ourCountrey- 
 men •, which was refufed by him. 
 To the reft fever al anfwers were 
 given, plainly denying what was 
 requefced to fome • to others o- 
 pening my felf a little, and this as 
 they were more or lefs known to 
 me : But this accident fomtimes 
 befel me, that whatever I mani- 
 fefted to any, 'twas prefently re- 
 ported to others, although in the 
 delivery it was judgedOrthodox, 
 and their taith ingaged not to 
 divulge it. 
 
 It's neceffary that I alfo add 
 what paffed by Letters the utmoft 
 confines of our own Nation,'^//;?:, 
 when in the Preparatory Con- 
 vention at the Hague ^ June 
 1 607 .by the Summons of the Po- 
 tent Lords,the StatesGeneral, ce- 
 lebrated by the COLLED GE 
 of BRETHREN , I was 
 friendly 
 
1 4 Truth dei'ended ^ 
 
 friendly defired to make known 
 my thoughts in the bulinefs of 
 Religion to the faid Colledge, in- 
 gaging to do their uttnoft endea- 
 vour to fatisfie me,I fhould utter- 
 r ly refufe fo to do. Now being 
 fenfible what a great deal of en- 
 vie the matter thus related hath 
 created me with many who 
 thought greater honour due to 
 this AfTembly from me, being 
 congregated from all the Pro- 
 vinces, T think my felf obliged to 
 give a more perfed account of 
 it. 
 
 Before my departure from 
 Ley den to this Convention at the 
 Hague ^ there came to my hands 
 five Articles appertaining to Re- 
 ligion, difperfed in fome Provin- 
 ces, read by fome Minifters in 
 their Ecdefiaftick Conventions, 
 & judged by them as Containing 
 my Judgement in thofc points of 
 Religion. 
 
 The Articles were concerning 
 Predeftination, the fall oiAdam, 
 Free-will, Original Sin , and the 
 
 Eter- 
 
Innocence cleared. 15 
 
 Eternal Salvation of Infants, 
 which when I had thoroughly 
 perufed, 1 ealily perceived by the 
 Author of them u^hom J then 
 fpoke, being there prefent, fioni- 
 fying freely to him , that I had 
 ground to beUeve thofe Articles 
 proceeded from him , which he 
 not obfcurely confefling, anfw^- 
 red, That they were not fent a- 
 broad as mine, but as points con- 
 troverted amongft the Students 
 s.iLeyden : To which I Reply'd, 
 He wel knew that what ever was 
 but Hghtly divulged this way 
 would greatly prejudice my in- 
 nocencie, and the Articles be im- 
 pofed upon me, which I there o- 
 penly profeffed never ifTued from 
 me, neither did they agree vyith 
 my judgement, neither (as far 
 as I could judge ) with the word 
 of Cod. 
 
 Things thus pafling 'twixt him 
 and me in the prefence of two 
 Witneffes I judged it requilite to 
 mention the fame in theConven- 
 tion becaufe of thefe perfons bet- 
 ing 
 
i 6 Truth defended ; 
 
 ing prcfent who had read the 
 Articles , fuppofing them to be 
 mine ( as fomc of them eonfir- 
 med to mee ) which accord- 
 ingly I did. The Conventicnhcr 
 ing about to diffolvc , their adi 
 and proceedings regifter d, and 
 fome of the Members injoined 
 to give an account thereof to 
 the Lords , the States General ^ I 
 moved the Brethren they would 
 be pieafed to (lay a little , having 
 fomething to offer to them; 
 which they confenting to, I told 
 them the five Articles i then in 
 my hands , the tenor of which I 
 briefly read to them ) I had cer- 
 tainly found to be fent abroad 
 into leveral Vrov nces^ as Zeal nd 
 and the Dioceffe of Utrecht^ by 
 fome of this Alfembly , ana 
 read by fome Minifters in their 
 publike Meetings, and look't up- 
 on as comprehending my Judge- 
 ment •, I there folemnly with a 
 good confcience in the prefencc 
 of God, and before all that Con- 
 vention profeffed , that thefe 
 
 pointF' 
 
Inmcency cleared, 1 7 
 
 points of Religion were noc 
 mine , neither did they contain 
 wyitidgement • and this I repea- 
 ted over and over again,humbly 
 befeeehing the brethren, they 
 would not fo eafily credit thofe 
 flying reports of me, neither fo 
 lightly entertain that as coming 
 from me , difperfed fo much to 
 my prejudice. 
 
 To this anfwer was made by 
 one of the Convention , I fhould 
 do wel to fignifie to the brethren 
 what I approved, ordiflikedin 
 thofe Articles , whereby they 
 might come to fome knowledge 
 of my judgement; which motion 
 was fecondcd by fome one. But 
 I returned , this Convention was 
 not fummoned for any fuch end; 
 that we had (it long enough ; and 
 that the Lords the States cxpe- 
 ded an anfwer: And thus we 
 diflblved, no man urging it any 
 further, or teftifying their joy nt- 
 confcnt by any pcrfwafivc to the 
 C rea- 
 
<^ I T^utb defended ; 
 
 reafonablenefs of it ^ Nay,fome 
 there prefent gave out,as I after- 
 ward underftood, that they had 
 it m ffecial command not to enter 
 a debate of any DoElrme , which 
 if it had fallen out , they would 
 prefently have deferted the Con-- 
 ventioH'^ and therefore the folici- 
 ting of me herein was far from 
 being the minde of the whole 
 Ajjembly. 
 
 This is a true rf/^/-w«,Moft No- 
 ble and Potent States of my bre- 
 thrcns folicitation and my refii- 
 fall, whence in my opinion its 
 clearly manifeft, if refpe6t be had 
 t@ their reque ft 2inA.t\\t manner of 
 IX. to my den ^ all., and the ground 
 thereof, together with my Pr^ 
 fentments herein, there was no 
 caufe for this my accufation. 
 Their requeft leading to a Ikclar 
 ration of my felf in the matters 
 of faith was not in my apprehcn- 
 fion grounded upon the leaft 
 reafon, having never admini^ 
 : " ftrcd 
 
Innocence clear'^d, l^ 
 
 ftred caufe to them (hy teaching 
 that at any time oppugnant to 
 the Word of God^ the Confeffion or 
 Catecl.ifme of the Be/gi'k Chur^ 
 ches^ why they fhould defire this 
 of me more then any other, ha- 
 ving often avouched my readi- 
 nefs to give way (if any fruit (hal 
 be judged likely to come there- 
 of) that this fhould be inquired 
 into in a Synod either Provincial 
 or National , that a further 
 knowledge may 6e had thereof 
 
 The manner of their Defire by 
 DepHtiis did manifeftly diflike 
 mc, being much opprefled with 
 the prejudice of the Synod which 
 is not prefumed to folicite any 
 man to a conference by their De- 
 puties, without caufe given them 
 fo to do •, therefore 'twas not 
 fafet^admitof any fuch thing, 
 left by that means I fhould con- 
 fefs my felf guilty of teaching 
 fomething contrarie to what was 
 
 right. 
 
 C i i^f^- 
 
2 o Truth defended ^ 
 
 Reafons of my refufal wire 
 thefe. 
 
 Firft, not being under the Sy- 
 nod of SoHth or North-Holland^ 
 but having other Supcriours of 
 my owne,to whom I flood bound 
 to give an accouut of my adions, 
 I could not confent to any confe- 
 rence with their Z>f/?/j^/V/, unlefs 
 with their confent, and an ex- 
 prefs command from them-, efpe- 
 c\2i\\y xthoingincumbeyit not as a 
 private dnty upon me , the Defn- 
 ties themfelves clearly enough in- 
 timating the Conference not to be 
 of a private nature, in denying 
 tolayafide the Title of Deputa- 
 tion , and proceed in their owne 
 names with me. And therefore 
 I had finned againft my Superiors 
 if I had not refufed the fame. I 
 wi(h their Brethren would re- 
 member, there was never yet a- 
 ny of our Minifters (fubjeded as 
 a Member to their refpetlive Sy- 
 nod) 
 
Inmcency cleared. 2 i 
 
 nod) durft at any time enter a 
 conference without the advice of 
 the Magiftrate, neither ever any 
 particular Magiftrate permit the 
 Minifter under his Jurifdidion 
 to undertake a conference with 
 the Deputies of the Churches , 
 unlefs they had firft confented to 
 it, which they would often do by 
 being prefent themfelvcs by their 
 Deputies, 
 
 Let them onely recoiled what 
 was done at Lejdtn in the caufe i^omlm 
 oi ColhaftHs 2il Gouda.mxh Hey^^^'''"^ 
 mannm Herberts 2X Horn^ in the j^^^'^^^* 
 cafe of Cornelim WigyerznA -^^-Mcden- 
 denblich in the caufe of Taco. bllcus. 
 
 Second Reafon diffwading me 
 from the cofference^ was the great 
 'inequality thereof^ equality be- 
 ing a neceffary qualification in 
 perfonal debates., i. They came 
 againil me (with whom ^11 things 
 flood in a private capacity^arm'd 
 with publike Authority : Now I 
 C 3 am 
 
22 
 
 Truth defended 
 
 am not ignorant how greatly 
 they are under-propt, who do a- 
 ny thing by vertue of this power. 
 2. They were three in number, 
 befides the two deputed from the 
 Synod of NGrth-BolUnd with 
 them ^ I was alone, not onely de- 
 ftituteof help, but alfo of wit- 
 nefles, to whom (as they like- 
 wife ) I might fafely commit my 
 affairs. 3. They were not at 
 Liberty,being compelled to hang 
 upon the judgment of their Su- 
 periors, therefore ftrii^ly obli- 
 ged to contend to the utmoft 
 for that opinion in Religion they 
 were of, infomuch as 'twas not 
 fafe for them to admit of my rea- 
 fons or arguments , though ne- 
 ver fo cogent and infoluble^ 
 which confidered, I did not fee 
 what fruit or advantage could 
 mutually refult from this confe- 
 rence, as in equity (hould , and 
 which on my part was likely to 
 do, being free in my felf, anda- 
 blc (by bringing tny confcience 
 
 in. 
 
Inmcency cleared. 
 
 
 in, without the ppejudice of any , 
 to the examination) to admit of 
 that which my confcience con- 
 vinced of the Truth, ftioulddi- 
 datetoberighc. Of how great 
 concernment all thefe things are 
 your Highnefs's had known 
 more fully, if you had been pre- 
 fent by your Deputies in that Pre- 
 paratory Ccnverttio'4, 
 
 Third Reafon. Their own rela- 
 tion after the conference to the 
 Synod, could not but be divers 
 wayes prejudicial to me,whether 
 abfent or prefent • if abfcnt , it 
 might eafily happen(either by o- 
 mifl[ion,addition, or diflocation 
 of words, by inconfiderarcnefs in 
 defed of underfla-^r!' - „ :rnbe- 
 cility in the want or memory, 
 or by the orenidice of di faffed i- 
 on) a N-yyativeihoM be made 
 othe^'wife then the truth or' the 
 thing required. If prefent, 'twere 
 difficult cO efcape or corred this 
 inconvenience, better credit be- 
 C 4 ing 
 
24 Truth defended-^ 
 
 ing likely to be given to their 
 €wn Deputies, then to my felf a 
 private perfi». 
 
 Laflly^ By this means I fhould 
 have yeelded the Convention fome 
 rtght and frerogatii^e over mee , 
 which it neither hath, nor I could 
 give, confidering my p'^:ce, with- 
 out injuring thofeour common 
 Magifirate would fet over me. 
 
 Therefore Equitie did not 
 more conftrain me, then Necef- 
 fitj^ to repudiate this conference; 
 yet might they have obtained 
 their defire^ if they would have 
 imbraced a private Debate of all 
 the Articles o^ Chrift tan Faith ^ as 
 I offered them ^ this being more 
 accommodate to a mutual edifi- 
 cation^vjhttt every one fas the 
 manner is) may fpeak with free- 
 dome and familiarity, then the 
 other where the Formalities of 
 Deputations arc obferved : Nei- 
 ther was there the lead ground 
 why they fhould (hew themfclve^ 
 
 fo 
 
Innocency cleared, 2 5 
 
 fo hard to be intreated in this 
 cafe, when every one might have 
 done it himfelf^ having further 
 delivered my mind herein, that 
 whatever ftiould be tranfaded 
 by us (hould abide with us, and 
 not pafs abroad to any ^ which 
 if they had confented to, I doubt 
 not but we had either fatisfied 
 one another, or atiaft made ap- 
 pear, that no damage could ac- 
 crue upon this our m utm I cont ro- 
 ver fie to the Truth necejfary to 
 falvation , goAlinefs , or chrifiiinn 
 peace. 
 
 To omit thefe things, I cannot 
 give an account to my felf how 
 thefe rumours are confiftent one 
 with another ^ I am complaint 
 of for not declaring my judge- 
 ment, and yet in my own Coun- 
 trey and forraign parts I am in- 
 veigh'd againft, as if I indeavour- 
 ed the introduction of fome im- 
 pure Novel and falfe Tenents in 
 Church mi Chrijiian Religion. 
 
2 6 '/ ruth d'' fended 5 
 
 Ifl declare not my judgment, 
 ■whence is the unfoundnefs of it 
 manifeft? If I explicate not my 
 felf , how can I bring in any fal- 
 fities? If they be nothing bnt 
 fufpitions obtruded upon me,it's 
 againtl the rule of Charity to at- 
 tribute fo much to them : But I 
 am reported to exprefs my felfe 
 in fome things, but not in all ^ 
 yet even in them it's not darkly 
 manifeft whither I tend. That's 
 to be here obferved , whether a* 
 ny thi ng deli vered by ro e be jud- 
 ged contrary tot he Word of God^ or 
 the Confefsion of the BelftckjChHr- 
 
 ches. If the laft* be proved, that 
 
 wirh the I ^^^e taught any thing contrary 
 
 Bclgkk to that I ingaged my felf by my 
 
 Coniefli- own fubfcription , I am liable to 
 
 ^"' punifhment •, if the firft * be 
 
 ry to t^hc* ^^^^ g^<^^» I ought to be much 
 
 Word of more llrictly dealt with, andob- 
 
 God. liged either to recant or to lay a- 
 
 fidemy pkce, efpecially if the 
 
 heads of doctrine were notori- 
 
 oufly injurious to the honour of 
 
 Godj 
 
Innocence cleaved, 27 
 
 God, and falration of men. But 
 if they were found neither to 
 clafhwich the Word of God , nor 
 the Belgkk^ Ccnfefsion ^ neither 
 the inferences depending upon 
 them, according to the Rule of 
 the Schoolmen, The confe^ptences 
 vfa doclrnie being falfe^ the doEirine 
 isfalfe likewife^andfo on the contra- 
 ry. One of thefe ought to have 
 been done , either a charge 
 <i)rough£ in againft me , or adif- 
 crediting the reports of me: The 
 later I wifhed for-, the firft I fea- 
 red not,notwithftanding the one 
 and thirty Articles difperfed e- 
 vcry where under my name , to 
 the great prejudice of me , were 
 noted by perfons of great quali- 
 ty, into 'vhofe hands they were 
 given, with what unfavourinefs 
 they were framed; with what 
 faith and confcience they were im- 
 pofed upon me ; But I exped to 
 hear , Why did you not to avoyd 
 tkgfe commotions^ an J to fatisfe fo 
 many Minifters , fftily open ymr 
 
i 8 Truth defended ^ 
 
 fetfe to your fellow-brethren in the 
 whJe matter of Reliffton^ either for 
 your own timely inflrnEiion^ or their 
 feafonable f reparation to a mutuall 
 conference ? 
 
 Three inconveniences deter^ 
 red me from this: Lcaft 
 
 Firft, my judgment profeffed^ 
 ihould afford matter to them to 
 frame an Adion againft me. 
 
 2. Leaft the fame (hoiaid be 
 difquieted and refuted in their 
 Pulpits and Academical Dif- 
 putes. 
 
 3. Lcaft itfhould be tranfmit- 
 tcd to Forraign Univerfities and 
 Churches, with hope of obtain- 
 ing a condemnatory fentence 
 againft it, and of bearing me 
 down this way^ that I had weigh- 
 ty caufe to fear all thefe things, 
 were not hard for me from the 
 Tencnts and Writings of fome 
 of them clearly to demonftrate. 
 That which refpefts my Infor- 
 mation 
 
Ir/nocency cleared. 2^ 
 
 tion Of inftruction, which I 
 might hope from thence, fo it is^ 
 there being befides my felfe ma- 
 ny others who had drawn up 
 their meditations in the matters 
 of Religion ; inftrudion could 
 not fo profitably be adminifter'd 
 any where as in the place of our 
 joynt appearance, where a Defi- 
 nitive Sentence as they call it, 
 might and ought to be pronoun- 
 ced ^ as for my brethrens feafona- 
 ble 'Preparation to the Confe- 
 rence,certainly it would be Then 
 moft commodious Wheft every one 
 have produced their meditations 
 together, andfo the reafon of 
 all things at once might be 
 had. 
 
 And thus I have walhed away 
 the things chiefly caft upon 
 me, and come to difcharge 
 my promife and execute the 
 commands which you my Lords 
 the Noble and Potent Sates have 
 
 laid 
 
30 Truth defended ; 
 
 laid upon me, being confident 
 hence no prejudice will arife, ei- 
 ther to my perfon, or judgment, 
 in that obedience arifeth from ir, 
 which next after God,and accor- 
 ding to God, Lowe to this hono- 
 rable Jjfemh/j^ 
 
 The firft md chief h^anch in 
 Keligiort^ upon which I have fixed 
 my thoughts for thefe many 
 years iaft paft, h the Predeftinati- 
 9n of God. That is^ the eleEtion and 
 reprobation of men to life and death-^ 
 making my entrance here. He firft 
 explain what fome have delivered 
 in our Churches,and this Uni ver- 
 ity o^Leyden^ both in words and 
 writings concerning it^ then ma- 
 nifefting my thoughts upon that, 
 I wil laftly proceed to a Declara- 
 fic;/of my own judgment in this 
 point. 
 
 The Teachers in our Churches 
 arc not at onenefsandfimplicity 
 in their judgments touching this 
 
 doc^ 
 
In} ocencj cl fared, 2 y 
 
 Mrine^ but various and different 
 amongft themfelves. 
 
 The opinion of thofe who take 
 the high and rigid way (as 'tise- 
 very where contained in their 
 writings^ is this, 
 
 1. That God by an eternal 
 and immutable decree o«f oj men^ 
 not confidered as made^ much lefs 
 eis fallen^ hath prcdeftinated fome 
 to cverlafting life, others to eter- 
 nal deftrud ion , without any in- 
 tuition, or reJpeB to right eoufnefs 
 or ftn^ obedience or dif. bedience^ of 
 his putt good pkafure^ to demon- 
 ftrate the glory of his juftice and 
 mercy, (or, as others) his faving 
 grace, wifdome , and molt free 
 power. 
 
 2. Befides this decree, God to 
 have fore-appointed fome certain 
 means belonging to the executi- 
 on thereof, and this by an ever- 
 Iftfting and unchangeable Ordi- 
 
 naiioij 
 
32 Truth defended 'j 
 
 nation, thefc mcanes are neceffa- 
 rily to follow by vertue of the 
 preceding decree , and unavoi- 
 dably to lead him that -is predef- 
 tinated to his fore-^appointed 
 end^ Some of thefe Meanes lying 
 in Common,appertaining joynt- 
 ly to the decree of EleEHon and 
 Refrobation-^ others in fpeciai re- 
 fpccfting each. 
 
 3. 2iieAns comm-ontohoth^ arc 
 three : Tirfi^ the Creation of Man 
 in the right ftate of Originall 
 right eoufnetfe, or according to the 
 image and likcnefs of God in 
 Righteoufnefs, and holincfs. Se- 
 cond^ the ^ermtffion of the fall of 
 j^dam^ or the Ordination of C7o^, 
 that man fhould (in, and become 
 vitious. The Third^ the lofing or 
 the taking away of Originall 
 Righteoufnefs, and the {hutting 
 of him up under fin and con* 
 demnation. 
 
 • 4« For 
 
Innocency cleared, 33 
 
 _ • — — — » ^' I » 
 
 IIII. Forunlefs God had crea- 
 ted fome, he had not had upon 
 whom he might beftow eternall 
 life , and bring upon evcrlafHng 
 death ^ had not he created them 
 in righteoufnefs and fanditie, 
 God himfelfe had been the Au- 
 thor of fin , arid fo had been de^ 
 prived of the right- of punifh- 
 ment to the praife of his luftice, 
 and falvation fbrthe honour of 
 his .mercy-, unlefs they them-, 
 felves had finned , and by the 
 merit thereof rendered them- 
 felves guilty of Z)f^f^, there could 
 have been no place to demon- 
 ftrace either Juftice or Mercy. 
 
 <^. The meanes fore-ordained ji^gQ. ^j.^ 
 for the putting into execution the fpecial 
 the decree of ele<flion , are thefe means, 
 three. ¥irft, The preordination 
 or the giving of Jefus Chrift, a 
 mediatour and ^ Saviour , who 
 fhould purchafe by his merit for 
 all and onely the EieB^ life afid 
 loft righteoufnefs, and by his ver- 
 tuecommumeat^/the famev.Sc;:3 
 D cond. 
 
^4. Truth defended ; 
 
 concl. Their vocatkn to faith out- 
 wardly, by the word inwardly, 
 by his fpirit in* the mind,afFecti- 
 OBS and will by an operation fo: 
 efficacious , that the elect perfon 
 mufl needs affent and yecld obe- 
 dience thereurlto , in fo much 
 a$heis not in any capacity able 
 HOC to belceve this his Callings «r 
 not to be obedient thereunto. 
 Hence comes to paffe their jufti- 
 fication , and fanctification , by 
 the blood and fpirit of Chrift, 
 and in like manner all their good 
 tvorkes, and this by the fame 
 foremcntioned force and neceffi- 
 ty. Third meanes to be , is the 
 Keeping the EkB in the faith, 
 fanctitie and zeale of good 
 works , or the donation of the 
 perfeverance to them, whofc 
 vertue is to be this^ that the be- 
 leeving and elect perfons do not 
 onely not fin with that pleni- 
 tude and wholenefs of will, or 
 not fall Totally from faith or 
 grace, but they ,Ca/tr*9t fin with 
 
 that 
 
Innocency cleared. ^5 
 
 that flill bent of mind , neither 
 Can they totally,' or finally fall 
 away from faith or grace re-, 
 ccived. 
 
 6. The two-* laft of thcfe^Vicot/Vn 
 means belonging onely to the&pcrfc- 
 adult eled , perfon of ripe years-, verance. 
 but for the children of bdeevcrs 
 who pafs out of this life, and ne- 
 ver come to maturity of age, 
 God leads them a ftiorter way to 
 falvation , if they belong to the 
 number of the elect ( which 
 God onely knows) by giving 
 Chrift a Saviour to them , and 
 them to Chrift , who faves them 
 by his blood and holy fpirit,with- 
 out actuall faith and perfever- 
 ance , and this according to thff 
 promife of the Covenant , / mli 
 he your (jod and the God of jour 
 feed, • . 
 
 7. T^e means appointed to^^jj^i-^ 
 put into execution the decree of proper to 
 reprobation, are partly proper the decree 
 to All the reje3: and reprobate, ^^ Rcpro- 
 (whether they have lived to^*^^^**- 
 D 2 ripe- 
 
3^ Truth defended-^ 
 
 ripenefs of years, or died before 
 their- maturity,) partly peculiar 
 to Some of them onely. 
 
 Afeans Common to them all, is, 
 
 their differ tioh in fin, bythefuf- 
 
 penfion of that faving grace, 
 
 which is fufficient and necef- 
 
 fary to falvation ^ and this hath 
 
 two branches, i, God not bc- 
 
 *(^g.)Hcing willing that Chrift ftiould 
 
 neither die for them , neither "^^o^^ 
 
 digmtate Yoluntatem Antecedent em ,. ac- 
 
 fof ufem ^^"^^^^^ ^^ ^^^ Antecedent will, 
 
 in^ regard ( ^^ fome call it ) or Quoad Suffi- 
 
 of the vi- a ente»f ^ according to thefuffi- 
 
 lucof the cientor the valew of thatrecon- 
 
 pricc : ciliatory Price , which was never 
 
 Norvolun-^ff^^^ for the Reprobate, either 
 
 }ai God' i« ^^^P^^ of ^^c divine decree, 
 
 never in- or the vertue , and efficacy of it. 
 
 tcndine The 2. branch , Gods unwilling- 
 
 that hec nefs to communicate the fpirit 
 
 n!°j 'u • ^ ^^^ ^ft ^o them, without which 
 
 blood for '^w^^^ impoffible for them tp 
 
 them. ^^ ^^^^^ partakers of him and 
 
 . Iijs benefits. . 
 
 ''■■■'- c; 8;T^f mrani Peculiar td/mf of 
 
 them 
 
Inmcency cleared, 3 7 
 
 them onely, is that obduration 
 \Vhich befalls Adult fer/ons , for 
 their often & enormous violation 
 pf the Law of God , & repudiation 
 of the G'r^ff of the Gofpcl. 
 
 To the executing the firft * in- ^.por their 
 duration appertains the witnefs violation 
 of their minds to therighteouf-ofthclaw 
 nefsof the Law, by iknowledge,ofGod-\ 
 illumination and convid:ion,it 
 not being poffible for the Law^ 
 not to detaine them in unrighte- 
 oufnefs oneiy, but neceffary to 
 the rendring them inexcufable. 
 
 To the execution of the fe- 
 cond -^ obduration , God makes.'' For ^hcic 
 ufe of their calling by the preach- [^eVr" ce 
 ingof the word, which is to beofcheGof- 
 both infufficicnt and ineffeduall pel. 
 as well in regard of the decree, 
 of God 5 as the event thereof. 
 Thi4 vocation is to be either ex-r 
 ternall onely , which they nei-- 
 ther will nor can ebey,or inter-^ 
 nail whereby fome of them are % 
 raifed; in theif^-^, under {landings 
 to f embrace an4 belee ve the 
 
 s ■ Ds ' things 
 
38 .7 ruth defended ; 
 
 things they hear e , yet with fuch 
 ' a faith as the devils endowed 
 with, belceve and tremble ^ fomc 
 of them are carried on further^ 
 even after a manner to defire to 
 tafteof tht Heavenly Gift ^ thefe 
 being the nioft miferable of all, 
 who arc therefore taken up on 
 high , that their fall may be the 
 greater, it being impoffible that 
 this event fhould npt befall 
 them , neceilitated ' to returne 
 i6 their voj^k , and to fall away 
 from thef? /til. 
 
 9. From this decree of eledi- 
 on and reprobation divine , and 
 the adminiftration of the means 
 appertaining to the execution 
 of b^th • it folio wes , that the 
 cled fhould necfjfarilj be faved, 
 fo as they are not in any poffibi- 
 h'ty of periihing , and the repro- 
 bates umvoidahly damned - fo as 
 *txs utterly impoffible for th^fli' 
 to be faved, arid that out Wb'he' 
 abfpiute purpofe oF 6ods prete^ 
 ding all things and caufes, whi^h 
 
 are 
 
Innocency cleared, 3 9 
 
 are in things , or could refult 
 from things. 
 
 This Opinion by fome of thofc 
 that adhere thereunto, is judged 
 the foundadion of Chi/tiamtj, 
 Sa vation^^nd the certair.tj/ there- 
 of, in which the fure and un- 
 doubted confolation of all be- 
 leevers ( giving them a peacea- 
 ble confcience) is founded^ and 
 upon which the praife of the 
 grace of God leaneth- in fo much, 
 as the contradiding this do- 
 drine is furely to rob God of 
 the glory of his grace , to attri- 
 bute the merit of falvation to 
 the free-will and power of man, 
 which favours of Pelagianifme, 
 thefe beiqg the caufes pretended 
 why they labour fo anxioufly to 
 rctaine the purity of this do- 
 drine in their churches , and op- 
 pofe themfelves to all alterations 
 repugnant there unto. 
 
 Fottnypart, to fpeake what 
 
 I thinke freely (with the Salvage 
 
 of a better judgement ) lam of 
 
 D 4 that 
 
40 Truth defended ; 
 
 that minde,. That thisdodrinc 
 of predeftination containeth in 
 it many things falfe, imperti- 
 nent,and difcrepant with itlelfe, 
 which Univjerfally to run 
 thorough time permits me not, 
 ^, y^ but I fhal leave it to be examind 
 -^ " in groffe in its latitude. There 
 are foure fpeciall heads in my 
 view ^ and thofe of the greateft 
 weight in this dodrine^ I fhall 
 firft declare them, then give you 
 my own judgement copcerning 
 them^They are thefe. 
 Firftjhat God hath Ahfohtely 
 ^nd prccifcly decreed the falva- 
 tion of fome particular men by 
 his mercy or grace , and the con- 
 demnation of others by his- ju- 
 Kce , without any fight or in- 
 tuition in this decree ofrighte- 
 pufnefs , or fin ^ obedience , or 
 difobedience; that might proceed 
 from either of them. 
 
 Secondly, That God, fat the 
 bringing to paffethis his prece- 
 ding dccree,determincd the crea- 
 tion 
 
Irmocency cleared. 4^ 
 
 tion of Adam , and all men in 
 him, in the right ftate of origi- 
 nall righteoufnefs , and father 
 ordained, that they (houldfin, 
 and fo be deprived of original! 
 righteoufnefs, and become guilty 
 of eternall condemnation. 
 ' 3. That God hath decreed 
 thofe ( whom he would precifdy 
 ifave ) as to falvation , fo to the 
 means appertaining thereunto, 
 to bring them to faith in Jefus 
 Chrift , and perfeverance in it- 
 and this indeed by his irrefifti-' 
 ble grace, and power , fo as they 
 cannot but beleeve , perfevere, 
 andbefaved. 
 
 4.ThatGod hath decreed lo deny 
 unto them whom in his abfolute 
 will he hath preordained to dc- 
 ftruction , and accordingly dotk 
 not confer that grace which is 
 liifficientand neccflary tofalva- 
 tion^fo as they arc neither able to 
 believe neither can they be faved. 
 Now after the diligent weigh- 
 ing and examination of thefe 
 
 foure 
 
^2i fyuclo dere acted 
 
 foure branches in my own breaft^ 
 
 ^^ follow touching this dodrineof 
 
 ^kTk^^sx I <^<^'^'»^ to deliver the things that 
 
 ^aind the prcdeftination 
 
 aodime I. That this dodrine is not 
 
 contained the foundation of Chrifii^tnity^ 
 
 jnLhefour SahatmAyt the Certainty therof; 
 branches ^; y- _, .^. y 
 
 memioa- NotofChnfttamty, ^ 
 
 ed above. ^- For this predeftination is 
 not that decree of Cod wherein 
 Chrift is eftablifhed by his Fa- 
 ther, the Saviour, head and foun - 
 d^tion of thofe who are niade 
 heires of eternall life , which if 
 theonely fundamental ofChrif- 
 tianity. 2. Neither is this of 
 predeftination that dodrine, by 
 which men (as living ftones ) 
 are built upon Chrift alone the 
 corner ftone by faith,and joyned 
 to him as members to the head. 
 Not.offalvation. 
 I . For this predeftination is 
 not that decree of the good plea- 
 fure of God in Chrift Jefus , upon 
 which alone our falvation lean- 
 ech , 2. It is no foundation of 
 Salva tionj 
 
Innocency cleaved^ ^t 
 
 Salvation , for it is not the powor 
 of God unto falvation to thofe 
 that beleeve , in that the righte- 
 oufnefsof God is not manifefted 
 by It, ex fide in fidem^ from fAith 
 to faith. Neither of the certainty 
 of falvation. For thatikyeth it 
 felfe upon this decree, they that 
 beleeve fhall be faved ^ I beleeve, 
 therefore I (hali be faved •, but 
 this dodrinc of predeftination 
 neither comprehendeth the firlt, 
 orfecond member of this fyllo- 
 gifme, which fome confefTedin 
 thefe words, We meane not ^'^^^Con'ul 
 the knowing of this ( predeftination^ cji^ g,.j_ 
 is the foundation oj Chriftianity c/^gickjThc- 
 falvation '^ or that it ts necefjary^^s. 
 after the fame manner ^ 04 the 
 do^rine cf the G of pel. 
 
 Secondly^ The dodrine of^Arg. 
 predeftination thus delivered , 
 doth not contain in it either the 
 whole or any part of the Gofpel^ 
 for thisconfifts partly of an in- 
 junction of faith,and repentance^ 
 partly of a promife of forgive- 
 
 nefs 
 
44 Truth fended ; 
 
 nefsof fins, of the fpirit of grace, 
 and of eternal life, according to 
 the tenure of the fermons ofChrift 
 and the Baj^tift his forerunner, 
 and his fucceffours theApoftles, 
 after his alcention ♦, but this pre- 
 deirination neither refpefts the 
 command of faith and repen- 
 tance, neither the promife-, ic 
 doth not teach us What kind of 
 perfonsGodhath predeftinated in 
 genera], which is properly theEv^- 
 gelical dodrine,but contains in it 
 a myftery (onely known to God) 
 wherein are comprehended the 
 individual perfons whom God 
 hath decreed to fave and con- 
 demne;,whence I further conclude 
 this doctrine of predeftination 
 not to be neceflary , either to 
 be known , beleeved , hoped 
 in , or effected , to falvation • 
 fo a learned man confeffeth 
 in his queftions to bee difpu-/ 
 ted ^ Why , the Gofpel cannot he 
 termed a BooJ^, or difcovery ef 
 fredeftination a^tAw j, fimfly in its 
 
 Me. 
 
Inmcencj cleared, 45 
 
 felfe , but KATa t/, reffectively, 
 
 becanfe it' neither Sets downe the ^^ '^^*- 
 
 nnmericnl matter mr forme , ^^/^-'whop^ 
 
 lately^ that u ^ It doth not declare Qr^^^^^^ 
 
 how many^ nor rclwm ( * 4 very feyp before he 
 
 onely excepted ) bnt wh/it ktnd of<^^^^ ouc 
 
 ■per Cons in z^neral are ,predefti- "^ ,^ 
 '^ i J ^ ^ . -^ womb. & 
 
 Thirdly ^ This doctrine orh,mj«r.f 
 predcftination was never ad- 
 mitted, decreed, or approved 3 Arg. 
 of for' the firft fix hundred yeares 
 after Chrift ^ in any councel, Gcncial 
 either general, or particular^ Councils, 
 not in the Councel holden an 
 Nice , wherein it was determin- 
 ed againft Arrius , for the diety 
 and oa^OTct of the Son of God- 
 not in xbe iirft at Conftantinofle^ 
 in whicjh it was decreed againli 
 Macedonipts ^ for the diety of the 
 holy Ghoft ;, not in the Ephcftm 
 Councel againil: Neflorins for 
 the unity of the perfon of the 
 Son of God ^ not in that holden 
 at Caicedon, which condemned 
 Bmishts^ and deterijiined for 
 
 two 
 
4^ Truth defended 'j 
 
 two diftind natures in one and 
 the fame perfon of our Lord 
 Jefus Chrift ^ not in the fecond 
 held at CoftfUntwople^ in which 
 Peter Bifhop of ^yitioch^. hnthym 
 the confiamnopoletafte y and o- 
 thers were condemned for aflcrt- 
 ing the paffion of the Father 
 with the Son ^ not in the third at 
 Coyiftantimfle , in which the Mo^ 
 ncthelttes were condemned fpr 
 affirming to be but one only will 
 and operation in Jefus Chrift. 
 Neither had this dodrine any 
 better intertainment in partieu- 
 Panlcular lar Councils, as th2it9.t J erufalem 
 Councils, ^rauftru'^ neither Was it vinti- 
 lated or confirmed in that held 
 at Milevite , in AfFrick, againft 
 TeUgiiu afid his errors:, as ap- 
 peares by the Articles of do- 
 drine decreed in it againft them. 
 And the dodrine oi Aufim 
 himfelfe touching this point was 
 fo farre from being received in 
 thefe Councils that Ceiejiine the 
 Romane biihop, his contempo- 
 rary 
 
Innocencj cleared^ /j^j 
 
 rary writing to the bifliopsof 
 France, and condemning the 
 Pelagion tenenrs (huts up his 
 Epiftle in thefe words. As we 
 dare not contemne, the more 
 profound and difficult parts of 
 thofe queftions ftarted and 
 broadly handled by the oppofcrs 
 of the Hereticks ^ fo judge we it 
 not neceflaty to abet them, 
 beleeving it fufficient what the 
 writings have taught us according 
 to theforementioned rules of the 
 apoilolical feat , to the owning 
 ofthe grace of God from whofe 
 power and worth nothing ought 
 to be fubftraded. For thofe Ca- 
 nons mentioned by Celeftin^ in 
 his Epiftle, and decreed in the 
 three foregoing particularCoun- 
 cils,we (hall agree well enough, 
 efpecially as to thofe things ^ 
 which were requifite for the 
 maintaining of grace againfc 
 Ptlagia^ andiiiserrQurs. 
 
 Fourthly, There was never ^ ^^ 
 any found , and orthodox teach- 
 ers 
 
 re. 
 
48 Truth defended ; 
 
 ers of the church for 600. y cares 
 next after Chrift , that ever 
 broched and approved this do- 
 drine of predefti nation , ho not 
 the keeneft aifertors of Grace a- 
 gainft Pelapus-^ fuch was Jerome, 
 ^////;7, the Author of the Book 
 entituled.T'/?^ Call of the Gentiles, 
 Proffer^ the Aqtiitani , Hilarms , 
 Tulgent'iHs^ OrofiHs, as appears by 
 their writings. 
 
 Fifthly, This holds ho agree- 
 ^ ^^* ment or correfpondency with 
 the Harmony of Confcffions put 
 forth in the name of all the re- 
 formed and Proteftant Churches, 
 Printed and publifhed at Geneva, 
 For if they be faithfully confult* 
 cd, 'twill be apparently manifeft, 
 that many of them do not agree 
 in this point, fome of them onely 
 glancing at it. And as to the 
 four, heads above-mentioned, 
 chiefly urged in this Dodrine, 
 not once touched upon by them, 
 no Confefsion of any Reformed 
 
 Chnrch 
 
Innocency cleared, 49 
 
 church, delivering the dodrine 
 of predeftination, as before pro- 
 pounded by me. The Bohemian 
 Confejfion , the confcllion of the 
 Church ofEngland^lh^t of Witt en- 
 vhergCymQ 6rft Hehtti^n confejfion 
 of the foure Cities, Argentorate^ 
 Conftantia^ Memminga^ andZm- 
 davia , make not the leaft menti- 
 on of it. The B^flian and that 
 of Saxofijf do oncly point at it in 
 three words. The Augnfian con- 
 feflion is fo darke , that it ftands 
 in need of annotations to pread- 
 monilh us of it, as they of Geneva 
 have thought^ the Iz^ Helvetian 
 eonfeffion^ which hath the confent 
 and fubicription of the greateft 
 part of all reformed churches, 
 doth fo fpeak of it that I would 
 gladly fee how it is confiftent w^^^ 
 it as before reprefentcd ^ though 
 the Sahaudican and that at Gene-^ 
 'z/zi have approved it. 
 
 Sixthly, Without all ftrife and^-Arg. 
 contention this dodrin^Aay be 
 E juftly 
 
50 Truth defended 5 
 
 ~ juftly cald into queftion touching 
 
 its coneordancy with the Belgicl^ 
 
 Confejfion^ and Heydelherg Cate* 
 
 chifm ^ as I (hall briefly demon* 
 
 ^t^tt.Artk.i^.Confff.Belg. you 
 
 have this paffage, Man knowingly 
 
 The Au- ^^^ vfillingly f/iijected himfi/f ta 
 
 ihorprovts/^, ^^'^ ^ confix uettee to Death ^nd 
 
 the dlfa- Mahdiction, whileft he i»cUned bis 
 
 gi'ecmcnt ^ ^y f ^ tl^g ypords and impojlures of the 
 
 ftdrcwth^^^^^ conclude, Man 
 
 ihcBeJ^kh ^n^<^^ ^^^ ^y ^^y ncceffity of the 
 Confefli- preceding Decreeof Prcdeftina^ 
 onjbcing tion, which is diametrically op- 
 thatot hisp^fjtg to the Dodrine thereof. 
 Tra^hcr' Again, ArticA6. fpeaking of the 
 then any Eternal Eledion of God ^ God 
 other. Jhewed himfe/f meycifulJ by faving 
 and frsemg them from damnathnj 
 whom in his everlafiingand^nchann 
 geahle ccunfelf^r his gVAcims gocd- 
 n^fe^ wUhofit any refpect af -p^rki^ 
 htchofe'mhis Sen Chnfi lefp^ mr 
 Lord'^ and alfo jufi t» retli'UjftiJhlHg 
 others in that thetr fall and perditi- 
 on -whereintiQ they kad frecif hated 
 themfel^. How thefc words are 
 
 eon- 
 
Inmcency cleared. 5 i 
 
 confiftent with the foremention- 
 cd DodrinCj I plainly fee 
 not. 
 
 In ih^ Hey del berg Catechifnt, 
 Q^efl.lO: Satvatton is not giVen 
 t9 ail thofe by Chrifi who perijhed in 
 Adam-^hHtto them or.ely wha ate 
 ifigraf ted into khn by faith ^n^sdm^ 
 brace his benefits Whence I con- 
 clude God to have fore-appoint- 
 ed none abfolutely to Salvation, 
 but thofe beheld in his Decree as 
 believers- which is in open defiance 
 with the firft and third head of _ 
 this Predeftination. So Queft. 54. ^^^*^'' 
 I believe the ^on of God ont of nU 
 Afankjffde doth from the beginning 
 unto the end of the World gather a 
 chofen company confenting in the 
 true faith unto Eternal life-^Xxttt 
 Eledion to life and confent in 
 Faith are mutually placed toge- 
 ther, and the latter not fubordi- 
 nate to the former, which accor* ' 
 ding to the nature of this Do- 
 ftrine ought neceffarily to have 
 E 2 been 
 
^% Truth defended ; 
 
 been- and the words run i\\\xs^he 
 Son of God calls and gathers by his 
 fyirit and word a company chofen 
 unto life everlafling^ that they 
 might believe and agree in the faith. 
 Things being thus , there it no 
 caufe why the maintainers and 
 pronaoters of this Doctrine 
 ought with that violence contend 
 to obtrude the fame on their 
 Complices, or the Church of 
 Chri ft, or take it in fuch ill part 
 when any thing is taught either 
 in Church or Univerfity,not con- 
 fenting ^ or at variance there- 
 with. 
 
 7.Arg. Seventhly •, This Doctrine 
 
 fights againft the very Nature of 
 God- efpecially with thofe Attri- 
 butes of his Divine Being, by 
 which he worketh and manageth 
 all things,-^/^. With his Wifdom, 
 
 Juftice and Goodnefs.It oppofcth 
 is Wifdom three waies^ i .In that 
 it afferceth God to decree fome- 
 thingfor that end, which neither 
 
 is 
 
I nnocency cleared, 
 
 is good, nor can be madefo^ fuch 
 is Gods creation of fome pcrfons 
 to eternal Perdition to the praife 
 of his Juftice. 2. In that it aver- 
 reth God by this Predeftination 
 to have propofcd to hirafclf the 
 demonftration of the praife of 
 his Mercy and Juftice : which he 
 could no way do but by an ace 
 contrary to both^ fuch is that de- 
 cree whereby he determined that 
 man fhould fin and become mifc- 
 rable. 3 . It changetk and invert's 
 theorder& method of the two- 
 fold Wifdom of God , manifefc 
 in Scripture, in that it aflerts God 
 abfolutelyto have fore-appoint- 
 ed the faivation of men by the 
 Mercy and Wifdom comprehen- 
 ded in the Doctrine of the Crofs 
 ofChriftj without forefeeing 
 'twas impoilible that man , and 
 that through his own default, 
 ihould be faved, by Wifdom per- 
 fected in the Law , and infufed 
 into him by Creation, when the 
 Scripture avers the contrary, 
 E3 iCor. 
 
54 Truth defended-^ 
 
 % Or. 1 2a. h f leafed God bj the 
 fooUJhnefs of Preaching , tt fave 
 ' ihofe that believe ^ D-^'3 By the 
 W$rdof th^ Crofs^ after that in the 
 Wifdom of Cod the world hj mf- 
 dopt k^cw not God, 
 
 z It warsagainft thejuftice 
 of Godjwhich reprefents him not 
 only as a Lover of Righteonfncfs 
 and hater of fin, but as having a 
 perpetual and unfhaken wil! of 
 giving every one his right : A- 
 gainft the firft of thefe, in that it 
 makes God precifcly to will the 
 ialvation of fingular men, and 
 fiecree the fame without any in- 
 tuition or refpect to righteouf- 
 ncffe or obedience, and become a 
 lover of thofe men more then his 
 pwn Juftice. Againft the later, in 
 that it fcateth Gods vvillingnefs 
 to entail mifery upon the crea- 
 ture, (which is onely the punifhr 
 mcnt of fin ) not beholding it as 
 peccant, and fo a culpable fubject 
 pF Wrath and Funifhmenc, and 
 
 fo 
 
Inmcency cleared. 
 
 fo is made to impofe upoft the 
 creature both that which belongs 
 not unto it,& likcwife that which 
 is in conduction with its greatefc 
 evil, which is abhorrent from his 
 Juftxe. Aecordinjg therefore to 
 this Doctrine, Godfirft detracts 
 from himfelf that which is his 
 right, and attributes to the crea- 
 ture that which appertains not 
 unto it, to the making of it mife- 
 rable. 
 
 3. It is in open defiance with 
 the goodneffe of God , which is 
 an affedion in him of communi- 
 cating good according to that 
 fitnefle and congruity, judged 
 and permitted by his Juftice. But 
 in this Doctrine of Predeftinati- 
 on, God is fet forth unto us in- 
 duced of his own accord , with- 
 out any external Motive, to will 
 and ordain the greatell evil to the 
 Creature, and that by an eternal 
 preordination , preceding any 
 determination in him of indow- 
 
 ing 
 
5 6 i yttth defended 5 
 
 ing it with the leaft good, this 
 Dodrine being a declaration of 
 Gods will to damn,which that he 
 might cxecute,he purpofed alfo to 
 create • now Creation is the firft 
 egrefTe of Divine goodnefTe: 
 How difcrepant are thefe things 
 from that bounty of God where- 
 by he doth good , not only to the 
 undeferving , but alfo evil and 
 guilty perfons, and which we arc 
 commanded to imitate in our 
 heavenly Father? 
 
 t Are ^^§^^^y> It oppugncth the na- 
 
 ^' tnre of man, confiderM in his be- 
 ing created after the Image of 
 God, in knowledge and righte- 
 onfnefTcjin freedom of will, with 
 aptitude andaffedion to the en- 
 joyment of Eternal life. Thefe 
 three things may be concluded of 
 Jiim out of of that fhort fentence, 
 ^T^V ^^ ^^^' andlive-^ in the day thou do- 
 ' '^' e fir that ^thoHpjalt dye. If any of 
 thefe be taken away from him,the 
 force and weight of that moniti- 
 on 
 
tnnoce/icj cleared, 57 
 
 on exciting him to obedience, 
 falls to the ground. 
 
 I . It oppofcth the Image of 
 God in man, confiftinginfandi- 
 ty and knowledge of him,accord- 
 ing to which man was apt, able, 
 & obliged to know,love,wor(hip, 
 and ferve God- but by this Pre- 
 deftination , intervening, or ra- 
 ther prevening , man was fore- 
 ordained That he fhould be viti- 
 ous and finful-, {^i-e.~\ That he 
 (liould not know God, love,wor- 
 fhip, or ferve him ^ neither per- 
 form that which according to the 
 Image of God in his aptitude,po- 
 tencie, andobligement, he flood 
 bound to do, which tayjt. amounts 
 this. That God created man after 
 his own Image in holinefs and 
 righteoufnefs, but fore-ordained 
 and decreed,That man fhould be- 
 come impure, injufl; [/.f.] be 
 made conformable to the Satani- 
 cal Image. 
 
 2. This 
 
8 Truth defended ; 
 
 2. This doftrine combats the 
 liberty of mans will, with which 
 he was inverted by his creation , 
 in that it impedes and hinders 
 the ufe and exercife thereof by 
 binding up and determining the 
 fame to one part, in the doing 
 thisorthat^ fo that one of thefe 
 two,God (which be far from us 
 to think) muft be guilty of ,. ci- 
 ther for that he created man 
 with freedom of will , or hindred 
 him in the exercife thereof , be- 
 ing thus created^thefirft chargeth 
 him with incogitancy , the laft 
 with mutability, and both with 
 being iniurious to man and him- 
 felfe. 
 
 3 . It's prejudicial! to man , in 
 regard ot that propenfity, and 
 capacity implanted in him by his 
 creation for the enioyment of c- 
 vcrlafting life, in as much as by 
 this predeftinatory decree it is 
 fore-appointed, that the greater 
 partol menfhall not partake of 
 . eternall blifs , but fall into ever- 
 
 lafting 
 
Innocence cleared, 5 ^ 
 
 lading condemnation , and that 
 before the ordinance was 
 parted in heaven for their 
 creation, they are deprived of fa- 
 tisfying their innate inclinations , 
 thofe concrcated tendencies to 
 life ingrafted in them by the hand 
 of their Creator, and that not by 
 their own preceding finne and 
 merit , but fimply and alone by 
 this Predeftination. 
 
 Nincthly, This fredelli nation 9,^^'^gv 
 is diametrically repugnant to the 
 act of Creation-, For, 
 
 I . Creation is the commnnica- -"Ve^^rbn 
 tionof good, according to thc's m^Ac ^ 
 intrinfecal propriety of its na- "''-^"^ ro 
 ture: but fuch a Creation as hath £"; '"'*? 
 this intent and meaning, that it^he De- 
 may be a Wily by which Reproba- crccs. 
 tion formerly rr.ade might attain 
 its end, is not the communication 
 of good •, all good is to be efti- 
 mated and judged of according 
 to the mind of the giver , or the 
 end tOj or for which it was given. 
 
 The 
 
to Truth (kf ended ^ 
 
 14 
 
 The intent of the Donor here had 
 been damnation,which muft have 
 the creature for its fubject^ the 
 end or event of this Creation,the 
 eternal perdition thereof-, in 
 which cafe Creation had not been 
 the communication of any good, 
 but s^ preparatory to the greateft 
 evil, and that both according to 
 the intent of the Creator,and the 
 event of the thing , according to 
 Matth. t€. jj^^p ^f ^y^ Saviour , It had been 
 
 better for that man that he had ne- 
 ver been born. 
 2. Ke^rohatkni^soMi^oi hatred, 
 & arifeth from thence^ but Crea- 
 tion cannot proceed of hatred^ 
 therefore it is no tvaj or means 
 appertaining to the execution 
 ^ thereof. 
 
 3. Creation is a perfect act pf 
 God, a declarative of hisWifdom, 
 Goodnefs , and Omnipotencie- 
 therefore not fubordinate to the 
 end of any precedaneous Work 
 or action of God- but rathei: is to 
 be looked upon as an act appoin- 
 ted 
 
Innocency clear d. 66 1 
 
 ted neceffarily antccedarieous, 
 and preceding all other actions, 
 which he either could decree or 
 undertake^ for without the pre- 
 conception of it , he could not 
 ordain the actual undertaking of 
 any other bufinefs^without its ex- 
 ecution he could not abfolve and 
 finifh any other Work. 
 
 4. All the actions of God, ten- 
 ding to the damnation of his 
 creatures,are aliens and forraign- 
 crs , in that God confents unto 
 them for fome other extraneous 
 caufe-, but Creation is the mofc 
 proper act of God, to which he 
 could not be moved by any exter- 
 nal caufe, being that firft act of 
 God, without which indeed there 
 is nothing elfe but God, every 
 thing that now is having its be- 
 ing by this action. 
 
 5 If Creation be the way or 
 mearts by which God will execute 
 the Decree of his Reprobation, 
 then he wills more the act of 
 REPROBATION, then 
 
 that 
 
62 Truth defended: 
 
 Thaiwch thatof crcation^&pleafeth himfelf 
 ^ """ ^^'Vmore in the act of condemning 
 means fo^ic of his harmlefs creatures, 
 inuft needs then in the act of their Crca- 
 bclcis tion. 
 
 cnnfidcra- 
 
 bie by him daftly , Creation cannot be a 
 
 then that "^ ' -^ t ■ 
 
 which he w^y ^^ means to Reprobation, 
 wills as according to the abfolute pur- 
 ihc end. pofe of God^ whcn that being fi- 
 Arminius nifhed, man might ftill remain in 
 gf^^^^'^j^^ obedience to Gods command, 
 reprobate ^"d not finnc , to which God 
 pcifonsjbc-had afforded fufficient ftrength 
 ing both in on the one part, tnd placed an* 
 Adam ^^- iy^Q^2ih\t xm^QdXmtnts on theo- 
 rh"^s Do/° cher, which is in open boftility 
 ariiie. with this Doctrine of Predeftina- 
 tion. 
 
 io,.Ajg. Tenthly , This Predefti nation 
 futes not the nature of eternal 
 iife> and thofe Titles wherewith 
 it is dignified in Scripture^ its cal- 
 led the Inheritance of the fons of 
 
 Tit. 3.7, ga<s?^ but thofc arc the onely fons 
 
 " of 
 
Ifihocerxj cleared^ ? 
 
 of GOD according tojoh.t.n. 
 the Doctrine of the Gofpel, 
 who believe in the name of jeftt6 Matih. j. 
 Chrift'^ it's further termed, The^-^- 
 r-ervard of obedience , and of the U- 
 bonr of love^ the reccmperce of thofe Heb. 6, \o 
 n^ho have foftght a good fighr y '^'^^Rev i.'io; 
 rfifi we/i, a crown (>f right eoftfnefsy ^j(^''^^^^ 
 &c. Therefore God hath not de- 
 figned eternal life to any out of 
 his abfolute decree, without any 
 refpeiB: or confideraiion had of 
 faith ^nd obedience. 
 
 Eleventhly , This doctrine dif- 
 agrees with the nature of eternall "• Arg. 
 death, and thofe names put upon 
 it by the Holy Ghoft • it's ftiled 
 The wages of fw-^ the fnnipjment of Rom.^.ij 
 eternal defirnct ion ^ which is ''^/^'^" 2 Thcf.i.S 
 vedfor tk^m that know not God^ net- 9. 
 ther obey the GofpehfChrifi -, eter- Maith. 2 j. 
 nal Fire prepared for the Devil and ^ ^ • 
 his Angels • Firt which jh all con- ^^^''^-^^^ 
 fume the Adverfaries of God : 
 Therefore cverlafting death is 
 prepared for none out of the ab* 
 folate decree of God, without a-* 
 
 ny 
 
6^ Truth defended'^ 
 
 ny fight or intuition of fin and 
 difobedicncc. 
 
 J Twelfthly, This doctrine jarrs^ 
 
 '"' with the nature and property of 
 Sin, and that two ways. i. Sin 
 is known by the names of difo- 
 bedienceand rebellion in Scrip- 
 ture, which finds no place in that 
 perfon upon whom an unavoy- 
 dable neceflity of finning by ver- 
 tue of the preceding decree of 
 God is incumbent. 2. Sin is the^ 
 meritorious caufe of condemna- 
 tion ; Now the meritorious caufe, 
 is that which moves the will of 
 God to reprobate according to 
 Juflicej it induceth Cod to whon? , 
 fin is hatcfiil , to rejed and re- 
 probate ; therefore fin can be no 
 middle orifltermediate caufe by 
 which God executeth his decree 
 or will of reprobation . 
 
 lAi'g, 13- Thispredeftinationfight- 
 
 eth agaiuft the very nature of the 
 grace of God, and as much as in it 
 
 lieth 
 
Innocency cleared. 6^ 
 
 lycth , deftroys its very being, 
 although it is pretended to bed 
 moft advantagious and neceflary 
 for its cftablifhment ; and this 
 it doth three wayes : Firff, Grace 
 is accommodated to the nature 
 of man, not aboHihing the liber- 
 ty of his will, but rightly difpo- 
 fing it,and correcting its depravi- 
 ty, yeelding unto him his piropef 
 motions and inclinations .^ But 
 this Doctrine introduceth fucha 
 kind of grace by which the free- 
 dom of the will is wholly taken a- 
 way, and the exercife of it hin- 
 dred. Secondly , Grace in the 
 Scripture is fet forth unto us as 
 reftjiible^ that may bee received in 
 vain^ omitted^ not afented ftnto^ not 
 fa-operated wit h'^ this Predeilinati- 
 on affirming the contrary, that 
 i t is an irr efiftible force and ope- 
 ration. Thirdly, Grace according Ads 7.^1, 
 to the primary intent and minde* Cor.5.1. 
 of God, .leads to the good of^^f^^^''^ 
 thofe to whom it is tendered and, ^^ ' ^' 
 received V tut this doctrine im-Luk7.3c. 
 F * ports 
 
6.6 Truth defended 5 
 
 ptorts^r^e to be afforded fome 
 reproMti^ perfons , and commu- 
 nicated to the very illumination 
 of their underftandings, and/?^r- 
 tktpdtUHof the Heavenly Cifi^ht 
 no other end and purpofe , then 
 that being lifted up on high their 
 fall might be the greater, that 
 they might merit and receive the 
 more h^avy condemnation. ' 
 14 Arg. 14, It's injurious to the glory of 
 God, which ftands not in ;he dc-^ 
 claratioh of Liberty or Authori-^' 
 ty, confifts not in the demonftra- 
 '^nUiJc Wno^ VVrath and Power- but 
 jufticc,^ as it's well confiftent with his Jti-. 
 fuppofeth fiice, wi^h the honorable falvage 
 a lubjeA pf his gdodnefs •, but it ftrongly 
 peccant refuUs.f^om this Dodrine , That 
 lit -: Goduthe author of M upon tM^ 
 he decree four-foW account.. : '.^v 
 
 ibecnd 
 
 ncccflVi- I. in that itmiteJGoid'^^^ 
 h > ^hy cifeiy to have decreed vhedemoif- 
 meVns^fin ftration of his glory * by punitiv* 
 and tranf. Juftice a|id Mercv in ih'e; falvati; 
 gtcffion. on of fomc, ana coiideinriatioh 
 
 of 
 
Irmocency cleared, 6"! 
 
 of others , which neither is, uor 
 ever could be effedled' but by the 
 entran(?e of fm- into the world. 
 
 2.tAthat1tkMrrri^^tbM(fet * ^eep. 
 the attainirig^ of his end/ ^ or-zi. where 
 dained that man fhould fin and'h^or^ii- 
 become vitious-, by which ap-"*'*°"/?f 
 pointment'pf God, ,manV M ^^^'^y,* , 
 was unavoidable. ' /,V'^ ' means to 
 
 ;3. For that, i]: afTerts <3od to execute 
 Hiyefubflradid and denied that t^c^decrec 
 grace toVma^. Sufficient and ne- of ^"fedeft, 
 ceflary; to the avoidance of fin, 
 and that jiefofe his actiial tranf- 
 grei!ion^%h1ch is all one, as if he 
 had impoTcd upon his creature a 
 Law impoflibre for him t^ keep, 
 confider din the natural capacity 
 wherein he was created,, . 
 
 4. Becaufe; it attributes to God 
 thofe actious concerning jnan as 
 well external as internal^ mediate 
 ( by tl?e intervening of other 
 creatures)as immediate- by whicb 
 man was necefHtated to fin , and 
 that necejfime confequenti^ , by a 
 Fa confe- 
 
^8 Truth defended ; 
 
 confequcntial necefllty ( as the 
 School- men call it ) antcceding 
 the thingitfclf, which is wholly 
 deftrudivc to the freedom of 
 mans will-, & this ad it imputeth 
 to God, as out of his chief & pri- 
 mary intention, without any 
 prefcicncie , or fore-knowledge 
 of mans inclination, will, or adi- 
 on; Hence may be dedudedjT'^/rr 
 C od truly fms-^ becaufc (according 
 to this Dodrine) he provokes to 
 fin by an unavoidable ad, out of 
 his own purpofe and primary in- 
 tent, without the leaft induce- 
 ment froriv the precedent merit 
 and fin of the creature : It's fur- 
 ther concludable from thefe Pre- 
 miits^That Godonely fins-^ it not 
 being competible to that man 
 ( being the commiilion of a for- 
 bidden ad ) who is moved there- 
 unto by force inevitable. 
 
 Laftly , It follows. That ftnu 9to 
 y5;i, it neither being fo in its felf, 
 nor worthy oi thgt Name, which 
 
 Cod 
 
I nmcency cleared. 6^ 
 
 Co^ himfef doth. Befides thefe, 
 it wounds the honor of God ano- 
 ther way ^ but for the prcfcnt 
 thcfc roay fecm fufficicnt to be al- 
 ledged. 
 
 Fifteenthly , This Doftrinc is 
 highly ignominious to Chrift our ^U Arg. 
 Saviour ^ for, i . It (huts him out ^. . 
 of the Decree of Prcdeftination, ^[^ 'yX^'c 
 by pre-dctermining the end, and cilrift i» 
 
 Saffirming men were firft fore-ap- placed as 
 pointed to falvation •, and then * means 
 Chrift ordained to fave them,[°P"^^|; 
 which removes him from being ttonThV"" 
 the foundation of Ele^ion. 2.1t Decree of 
 denies him to be the meritorious eleftion. 
 caufc in the recovery of our loft 
 falvation , placing him only as a 
 
 ^'caufefubordinate to the falvation 
 fore-appointed,as aServant &In- 
 ftrument to apply the fame to us: 
 and this holds corefpondcncy w^^ 
 that opinion wherein God is jud- 
 ged abfoiutcly to will the falvati- 
 on of fome men, and that in his 
 firft and fupreme Decree (upon 
 which all his other Ordinations 
 F 3 depend 
 
7 o Truth defended ; 
 
 depend and follow) fo that it was 
 impoffiblethofemen fhouldlofe 
 their falvation, and therefore not 
 neceflary by the merit of Chrid, 
 preordained a Saviour to them a?- 
 lone, to be repaired, and as we 
 may fo fpeak, found anew^and re- 
 covered for them only. 
 
 i^.Are Sixteenthly: This Do<5^rineis 
 * ' noxious and harmful to the falva- 
 tion of men : For, 
 
 1. It hinders that ifaluteferous 
 and godly forrow for fin, which 
 cannot be found in thofe who 
 have no remorfe and feeling 
 thereof, which Contrition no 
 man is capable of who commits 
 
 xCor. y.finby the inevitable ncceflityof 
 ip. the Decree of God. 
 
 2. It puts to flight that pious 
 folicitudeof turning our felves 
 from fin to God ^ for he that is 
 purely paflive, and like a dead 
 
 "^^y^^^l, ffim^notonXy in the preception 
 of the prefent Grace of God ex- 
 citing him^ but alfo in his affent 
 
 and 
 
Inmcency cleared. 
 
 ^nd obedience thereunto j and is 
 fo converted by an irrefiftible 
 power, that he cannot but feel 
 -the pulfes of grace, forced to give 
 up hisaflent thereunto, whereby 
 he is changed, cannot conceive or 
 induce into his minde any fuch 
 carefulnefs , unlefs he hath firft 
 feh that' irrefiftible motion^ or if 
 ^t any time he ihould ftirre up in 
 his heart any fuch folicitude , it 
 would be fruftraneous, and of no 
 advantage unto him', for it could 
 not be any true carefulnefs which 
 was not begotten in him by that 
 irrefiftible forc?,accor ding to the 
 precifepiirpofe,and abfolute in- 
 tent of Gp|d for his falvati- 
 on. V , i . 
 
 3. It inhibiteth and reftr^ins 
 the zeal and ftudy of good works 
 in converted perions , when it 
 faith regenerate perfons are in no 
 capacity of doing either more or 
 - lefs good then they do^for he that 
 is aded by faving-grace is obliged 
 to work, neither can he intermit 
 F4 K 
 
'7 ruth defended i 
 
 if, bijc-not being agitated there- 
 with, he can do nothing, he muft 
 of neeeflity omit it. 
 
 4. It extinguidieth all precato-' 
 ry zeal and fervcncie-, Prayer is 
 that efficacious means inftituted 
 of God for the obtaining of eve- 
 ry good thing, efpecially falvati- 
 on at his hands ^ but from hirii 
 who hath determined the falvati- 
 on of thefe men, hym unchangea- 
 hie and immut able Decree , Prayer 
 pn be no means to procure i^, 
 it's onely the Worfhip and fer- 
 vice of God^ for out of his pofi- 
 tive decree of Predeftination he 
 hath appointed the falvation of 
 fuch individual men. 
 5. It takes away thatwholfome 
 ^ fear and tremHing in which we 
 Ph J i.i2. ^j.g commanded to work out our 
 falvation, in that it pofitively af- 
 firms,That the eled: and believing 
 pejrfon cannot fin with that full 
 bent of will as the wicked do,nei- 
 ther totally or finally fall away 
 ftom faith or grace received. 
 
 6.1t 
 
l/mocency clenred, 75 
 
 6. It begets in men a defpair of 
 doing that which their duty re- 
 quired , & obtaining that wherc- 
 onto their defires were carried 
 out, when they arc taught that 
 the grace of God, which is necef- 
 fary to the produdion of every 
 good act, out of the abfolate and 
 precife Decree of God, is denied 
 to the major part of men,, and 
 that in pursuance of a preceding 
 Decree, equally peremptory with 
 theiater, wherein he determined 
 not to confer eternal life , bute- 
 verlafting death upon them ^ it 
 cannot but eafily hence arifc,that 
 whoever is not perfwaded of his 
 being elected, fhould judge him- 
 felf of the number of Repro- 
 bates, whence mull: needs fpring 
 up in him a fearful dcfparation 
 of doing rightcoufnefs, and gain- 
 , ing eternal life. 
 
 Seventeenthly, This Doctrine r ^^ 
 inverts the Golpel of our Lord ' ^' 
 JefusChrift. IntheGofpel God 
 requires 
 
74 Truth defended ; 
 
 requires of men faith and repen" 
 tance, promifing to converts and 
 believers life everlaftingi ^^ut by 
 this Decree of Predeftination, 
 Godisfet forth as precifely wil- 
 ling to give falvation to fome Cm- 
 gularmen, together with faith 
 and repentance by an abfolute 
 and irrcliftible power , beeaufe 
 *twas his will and pleafure tofave 
 them. In tbegofpel God denoim- 
 ceth eternal death to Impenitents 
 and Unbelievers, that deterring 
 them by his threats from their in- 
 fidelity he might fave them • but 
 in this Decree of Predcftin^tion 
 God is reprefented unwilling to 
 give unto fome men that grace 
 ncceffary to Faith and Converfi- 
 on, beeaufe he had peremptorily 
 decreed to condemn them.. The 
 ^o£^t\^^ixh fiod fo loved the world y 
 3 Joh.1^. ^^^^ he gave his onely begotten Son, 
 that whofeever believed in him 
 :jhoMnot perifh^hHt have everla- 
 fing lifei but this Doctrine faith, 
 6odfo loved thofi he^l^folntely de- 
 
 Bed 
 
Innocenc) cleared. 
 
 Eiedtoeternallife^ that he hath gi- 
 ven his Son for them alone ^ and 
 work/ them tiP tofath hy force irre- 
 fiftihle. In a word , the gofpel 
 faith, Perform the Command^ and 
 thoujhalt obtain the Promife -^ he- 
 lieve, and thou fljalt live : but this 
 Doctrine faith , Beeaufe it is my 
 rvillandfleafure to Befiow life tifcn 
 thee^ therefore rvill I give faith unto 
 thee likewifc'^ which is the very in- 
 vedion of the gofpel, and a tur- 
 ning it updde down 
 
 Eighteenthly, This Predeftina- ig,Arg. 
 tionisinopen hoftiiity with the 
 Miniftryof the gofpel. 
 
 I .For no man can be a Minlfter 
 and feltDW-labcurer with God, 
 neither the Word preached by 
 him an inftrument of grace and 
 the fpirit , if the Lord quicken 
 him who is dead in fin by an irre- » Inftm- 
 fiftibie power, no more then the mem of 
 creature could be an inftrument ^^^^^ ^-^^ 
 of * grace in the firft Creation or ^hVcrel'l 
 Contributory to its refufcitation ^-^^^ ^fdie 
 from the dead. 2. By world. - 
 
']6 • 1 ruth defended , 
 
 2. By this Dodrinc the difperi' 
 fationof the Gofpel is made the 
 favor of death unto death lo the 
 greater part of Auditors, and an 
 inftrument of condemnation out 
 of the primary purpofe, and ab- 
 folute intent of God,without the 
 lead intuition of their preceding 
 Rebellion. 
 
 3. By this Predeftination bap- 
 tifm to reprobate Infants, the 
 children of federal and belie- 
 ving Parents, is a meer blank, and ■ 
 feals nothing, and fo altogether 
 unprofitable, and that out of the 
 precife Intention of God , with- 
 out any default of the Infants, to 
 whom according to divine Com- 
 mand this Ordinance is admi^i- 
 ftred. 
 
 4. This obftruds faith and con- 
 fidence in publique prayers and 
 fupplications to Cod for the 
 benefit of all thofethat hear the 
 word , when according to this 
 
 doftrine 
 
Innocencj cleared. 77 
 
 dodrine there are many amongft 
 them whomGod is not onely not 
 willing to fave , but in his abfo- 
 Ittte, cternall & immutable will 
 preceding all things and eaufes,^ 
 would condemne, notwithftan^ 
 ding the A poftle injoining Pray- 
 ers and fupplications to be made 
 for all men adds this reafon , Ur 
 thts is g9cdanda€cej>tdble before^ "*" *' 
 Cod our SavioHr^ vcho veill have * 
 dll men to befaved y and to comt 
 untothek.nowUdg of the trntk, 
 
 5 . The compofure of this Do- . 
 drine eafily renders Paftors and 
 Teachers floathfuU and negligent 
 in their fundion , as if their di- 
 ligence were onely advantagious 
 to thofe whom God would pre^ 
 cifely fave , being in no poffibi* 
 lity of perifhing ; and their neg- 
 ligence only Prejudicial! to thofc 
 whom God would have mifcarry, 
 and are neceffarily to be undone 
 for ever without any poffibility 
 of falvation. 
 
 ip.This 
 
7 8 Truth defended'^ 
 
 i^. Arg. 19. This Dodrine tends to Re- 
 ligions overthrow in Generall , 
 and the chriiHan in fpeciall: Reli- 
 gion confidered in generall', is 
 founded upon a twofold love of 
 God, without which it neither 
 hath nor ever will have any being 
 in the world • the firft is that 
 Lo'vc of ^fghteoHJKejJe , which 
 gives being to the hatred of fin -, 
 the fecond is , t'r^e love of the rati- 
 or/all ere at til e , the love extended 
 to man, as in the bufinefle in a* 
 gitation, according to that of 
 
 Hcb. ii. 6* the Apoftle , He ihat Cometh itt^ 
 to God muft.heliive that he is , and 
 that he is arevearder ofthofe that 
 dtUq^eritly ffek^.hm: his love of 
 righteoufnefle is dcmonftrated in 
 this;, that he will not give eter- 
 nafl life to any but thofe that feeic 
 him ; his love of men, that he will 
 fceftow bleffedaeffe upon them , 
 if they inquif^ aft^r him. Tfife mu^ 
 tuall relation betwixt them isthis^ 
 There can be no plaee for thefc- 
 fliiixes of love to the creature ^ 
 
 buc 
 
I/mocency cleared, 7 9 
 
 but as the love of rightcoufneffe 
 permits it. The '^ fcrr.- er ii far more ♦The love 
 excellent then the U <?r^ there is al- of Righ- 
 waves a way open for the emana- '^^^"*^ 
 
 . < r* I L /-- more no* 
 
 tions or love to the Creature, j^j^^^,^ 
 
 where the loveofrighteoufncffetheloTcof 
 hath notftop'tit. the crct- 
 
 Thefirft is evident , in Gods con- ^urc. 
 demniRg man for fin , which he 
 loves as hisCreacurc, which he 
 would not do, ifman were more 
 dear to him then his own jufticci 
 or his eternal ruin more abhor- 
 rent then his difobedience; The 
 fecond is clear in that he con- 
 demnes none but for fin , and 
 faves thofe that are turnd from it, 
 which would not be done by hiiti 
 linleffe he yeelded his love to thfe 
 Creature fo far as juftice regula- 
 ted by judgment permitted it. 
 This Dodrine of predeftinatiop 
 inverts and changeth this order 
 and mutuall reTpect -, Firft , by 
 afferting God precifely to will 
 the falvatron of fome men, with- 
 out having in his purpofc an eye 
 •'- to 
 
8o Truth defended 'j 
 
 to their obedience, whereby hi^ 
 love of men is preferd to his love 
 of righteoufneffe ♦, and that as 
 men^ they arc more refpccted 
 by him then his own juftice ,. andy 
 their mifery more abhorrent un- 
 to him , then their fin and difo- 
 bedicnce. The fecond , by aver- 
 ring the contrary , that God ab- 
 folutely will's the dcftruction o^ 
 fome men , no confideration 
 had in his decree of their difobe- 
 dience, which detract's fromhi^ 
 love to the Creature that which 
 appertains to it ^ and reprefent*s 
 a Creature-hatred in God, with- 
 ^out any caufe or neccflity drawn 
 from his love of juftice,and hatred 
 of obliquity •, wherein true it is 
 not , that fill is the primary ob- 
 ject of Divine difpleafure,and the 
 ible meritorious caufe thereof. Of 
 -how great importance this is to 
 the razing the foundation of Re- 
 ;!igion, we may aptly fee in this 
 (imilitude •, fuppofe a child 
 fpeaking ^y father is fo great a 
 
 lover 
 
lamcenc^ cleared, 8 I 
 
 lover of jiifticeand equity, that 
 if I niould be found in waies of 
 dilbbedience before him, he would 
 difinherit me, though his belo- 
 ved ion , therefore the duty of 
 obedience is highly incumbent 
 upon me , if I think to be his 
 heir. Another faith , My father 
 hath fixed hi s love fo much upon 
 me , that he is abfolutely refolved 
 to make me his heire •, what need 
 is there of obedience? for in his 
 immutable Will I am deftinated 
 to the inheritance , and rather 
 then he will fuffer me to come 
 fhort thereof, he will draw me to 
 obey him by force irrefiftible ^ 
 which is in a direct line of oppo- 
 iitionto the words of the Bap-^^^^^ 
 tift , J nd thinks not to fay with- 
 in your [elves , Wee have 
 A B R A H A M to onr Fa- 
 ther •, for I fay mto you ^ 
 God is able of thefe Stones to 
 raife up Chi dren unto ABRA- 
 HAM. 
 
 G The 
 
8 2 Truth defended 5 
 
 Tlie Chri[luin Religion is alfo 
 built upon this double Love, as 
 upon its foundation , though a 
 little otherwaics confidered then 
 before, according to the change 
 of mans ftate, who being created 
 in the Image and favour of God, 
 became peccant through his own 
 default, and an enemy to his Ma- 
 ker. The love of Righteoufnefs, 
 upon which our Religion lean- 
 cth, is chiefly that which once he 
 declared only in Chrift, that no- 
 thing ftiould expiate lin, but the 
 blood and death of his Son^ neither 
 weuld he admit him our Advo- 
 cate and Jntercejfor^ but as be- 
 fprinkled with his blood. A de- 
 clarative of this he makes daily in 
 the preaching of the Gofpel, that 
 he will not communicate Chrift 
 and his benefits to any but thofe 
 that turn unto and believe in 
 him. The Love to miferable (in- 
 iiers,upon which alfo the Chn- 
 fiim Religion is bottom'd, is, firfl:, 
 
 that 
 
Innocency cleared, 8 3 
 
 that by which he hath ; given 
 Chrifi his Son for them , and ap- 
 pointed him the Saviour of them, 
 that believe^ as alfo that by which 
 he requires obedience, not accor- 
 ding to the rigour and feverity 
 of hisutmoft right and authori- 
 ty, but with grace and clemency, 
 and the promife of remiflion of 
 fin, if fo be lapfed man repent. 
 This Fundamental the dod:rinc 
 of Predcftination encounters two 
 ways: Firft, by affirming Gods 
 love to be To great to fome Sin- 
 ners, that he would precifely fave 
 them before he had given fatisfa- 
 dion to his love of Juftice in 
 Chrift Jefus , and that in his 
 fore-knowledge according to his 
 purpofe •, nay , it overturns the 
 foundation of Chriftianity , by 
 reprefenting God willing to hav.e 
 his juftice fatisfied , becaufe hec 
 would precifely fave thefe men^ 
 which is to fubordinate his love 
 of Juftice, teftified in Chrift , to 
 bis love of finful [men, whom he 
 G 2 would 
 
§4 7radj defended ; 
 
 ^ would refolutely fave. Secondly, 
 by making God abfolutely wil- 
 ling to damn forae Tinners, with- 
 out any confideration of their 
 "impenitenGy,when a plenary fa- 
 tisfadiontohis love of Juftice, 
 and hatred of Sin had been given 
 inChrift Jefus ^ fo that nothing 
 flood in the way of his mercy to 
 be (hewn unto Sinners, be they 
 what they will , but the con- 
 dition of repentance •, except 
 fomehave a minde to fay, what 
 is contained in this doctrine of 
 Predeftination , that God will 
 proceed in greater feverity with 
 the major part of men , then hee 
 did with Lucifer^ and his apoftate 
 Angels-, and that it is his will 
 that Chrift and the Gofpel profit 
 them no more then the infernal 
 fpirits^ that the gate of mercy is 
 equally fhut againft them both- 
 when thefe finned in their own 
 perfons out of malice by a vo- 
 luntary act , the other in their 
 Parent Adam^ having no actual 1 
 being of thcmfelves. To 
 
Innocemy cleared, 8 5- 
 
 "'To the better underflanding A more 
 how this twofold love is the foun- ^^''^^t^c- 
 dacionof Religion, and that in^^'lf/^'^" 
 the mutual refpect one tt) ano- precccKnt 
 ther, let's ponder more accurate- things. 
 ]y that of the Apoftle to the He- 
 hr^ws ^ He that comcth mto Cod ^^'^^' 
 muft he It eve that he is^ c^ that he is ' 
 a rewardcr ofafi thofe that diligently 
 feekhinr.ln thefe words,two fund- 
 amentalsare laid againll the two 
 fiery darts of Satan, Secnrity and 
 Dejpair^ the pernicious Pefts of 
 Religion, either of them fuffici- 
 ent to the everlion and extirpa- 
 tion thereof. The firu flatters a 
 man into the perfwaiion that 
 though he ferve not God , yet 
 (hall he not pcrifh , but obtaine 
 falvation. The other renders him 
 confident , that though hee do 
 worfhip and ferve him, yet fhall 
 he not get any remuneration of 
 him ^ either of thefe exclude all 
 true divine worfhip. An Antidote 
 againfl both , the Apofiolicall 
 
 words affords. He that believes 
 
 Cod 
 
8 6 Truth defended ; 
 
 God wil give eternal life to thofc 
 onely that fcek him, and upon all 
 others inflid everlafting death, 
 cannot eafily be fecure •, he thac 
 credits God to be a rewarder of 
 ihofe that feck him, will not rea- 
 dily defpair : The ground of the 
 firil: perfwafion is Gods love of 
 Righteoufnefs, more dear to him 
 then Man himfelf , which (hakes' 
 off fecurity ^ The foundation of 
 the other, by which man believes 
 flcdfaftly God to be a rewarder 
 of the true feekers of him, is that 
 hisib great love to the Creature 
 Man , that nothing impedes his 
 bellowing falvation on him , but 
 tiie love which hee bears to his 
 own Jufticc- which is fo far from 
 being an hindrance, that it doth 
 rather promote and advance it: 
 Upon this account, Man in his 
 difquifition and fearch of God, 
 is not dubious of divine remune- 
 ration ^ and thus diffidence or 
 defperation is put to flight*. If fo, 
 that this double love^ and the mu- 
 tual 
 
Inmcmcy cleared, 87 
 
 tual reIation,as hath been clear'd, 
 be Religions foundation, without 
 which it cannot fubfift ; then the 
 dodrine repugnant to thisiove, 
 both abfolute and relative, everts 
 and overthrows the fame. 
 
 Twentiethly, This Dodrine 
 of Predeftination>aswellin for-*° '^' 
 mer times, as thefe wherein wee 
 live , ftands rejeded by the grea- 
 ter part of the Profelfors of Chri- 
 ftianity. To pafs in filence the A- 
 ges foregoing, things themfelves 
 witnefs it hath been reputed er- 
 roneous by the Church of Rome^ 
 the Anahapifiicall and Lutheran 
 Churches, 
 
 Lf^ther and Melanchthoyi ^ihoxx^ 
 in the beginning of the reforma- 
 tion they approved it , yet af- 
 terwards deferced it : This tha 
 later writings o't MeUnchthon ap- 
 parently teltifie of him. The fame 
 being wit neffed of the other by 
 the Lutherans themfelves, who 
 earneftly contend rather for 
 . G 4 their 
 
88 Iruth defended •, 
 
 their Mailers more full dcclnring 
 of his judgement in this , then 
 defertion of the former opinion. 
 fhliip Melan'hthcn believed this 
 opinion of Predeftination not 
 much different from the Stoical 
 Fate, as his papers teftifie,efpeci- 
 ally his EpiRle to Cajper Peuce- 
 rns, \_Lelim certifies the contefts 
 are grown fo high at Geneva ahout 
 the Stcical Fate ^ that one is imfri- 
 fcned hecaufe he diners from Zeno. 
 O mtferable times I the d' Brine of 
 the Goffell ohfcured with ftrange 
 andforraign difputesV^ 
 
 The diflent o^t}^t Danijh Chur- 
 ches in general , is evident from 
 the writings of Nicholas Hem- 
 minge'wi his Treatife o( Umver- 
 fal grace ^ where he thus dates the 
 jControverfie with his Adverfaries, 
 {Whether the Ele^i believe^ or Be- 
 liez/ers are elected ?~} Thofe who 
 affert the firft, he judges them to 
 agree with the doctrine of the 
 A^^mchees^nd Stoickj -^ thofe of 
 
 rhc 
 
I/;r^ocef;Cy cleared. §<^ 
 
 the later perfwafion, mthMofes 
 and the Prs^hets , Chrifi and his 
 Aioftles. 
 
 Further , Many in our owne 
 Countrey do fo ill refent this (ip- 
 ctrine, as they have openly pro- 
 fefs'd they neither can nor will 
 have communion v/ith our 
 Church. Some that have joyned 
 themfelves,yet with this protefta- 
 tion, that they could not clofe 
 with this opinion •, and not a 
 few ("upon the fcore of Predelli- 
 nation onely ) have fallen away 
 from our Churches , who have 
 been of the fame minde with us^ 
 others threatning to leave us, ui- 
 lefs they were fatisfied ^ the 
 Church was not of this judge-, 
 nient. 
 
 Certainly , there is no doctri- 
 nal point, the ?apifts^Anabaftifis^^ 
 and Lutherans do more fnarply 
 oppofe, and by whofe means pro- 
 care greater envy to our C hur^h^ 
 
 caft- 
 
90 Truth defended 5 
 
 cafting an Odinm upon all the 
 JDoctr nes thereof, as if there 
 were no blafphemy againfc God 
 fo dreadful , either utterable or 
 imaginable, which according to 
 this opinion of our Teachers ^ 
 might not upon good confe- 
 quence bee deduced from this 
 Predeftination. 
 
 Laftly, There was rarely ever 
 any difficulty, or controverde in 
 thefe our Churches all along fincc 
 the times of Reformation, which 
 hath not had its rife from this 
 Doctrine, or been in fome con- 
 junction with it: For the truth 
 of this , wee may recollect the 
 cowiQ^ts 2X Ley den in the matter 
 of Cooihafim • thofe at Gouda^ in 
 thebufinefs of Herman Herberts-^ 
 thofe at Horn about CorneltHS 
 Wigjer^ and Medenhlkk^xn the 
 caufe of Taco Sihrand, 
 
 And this was not the leaft mo- 
 tive inducing mc to a diligent a- 
 
 nimad- 
 
Irir/ocencj cleared^ p I 
 
 aimadvertency of this point, en- 
 deavouring that no damage ac- 
 crue thereby unco our Churches^ 
 the Papacy hence geting ground, 
 whoferuin ("as of the Kingdome 
 of Antichrifcj all pious Teachers 
 ought to wifh , ftudioufly feek , 
 and as much as in them lies, pur- 
 fue: And this in brief, is that I 
 have meditated upon this Doct 
 trine of Predeftination, as it hath 
 in ail faithfuinefs been propoun- 
 ded bymee from the Authours 
 thereof, not affixing the ieafc 
 fy liable to them which I cannot 
 clearly prove from their own wri- 
 tings. 
 
 Others of our Teachers do hold 
 forth the Dodrine of Predeftina- 
 tion with foiTie diffrence from the 
 former , and that two feveral 
 wayes , which I will briefly run 
 through. 
 
 The Judgement of fomeof them 
 is this. 
 
 Firft, 
 
^ 2 Truth defended , 
 
 Firft, That God hath purpofed 
 in himfelf by an Eternal and Im- 
 mutable Decree, out of the lump 
 of mankinde, to make the leffcr 
 part (for his good pleafure) par- 
 takers of grace and glory, to the 
 praife of his renowned Mercy- 
 but by his preterition , to leave 
 thegreater part in the ftate of Na- 
 ture, impotent to fupernatural 
 things, and not communicate to 
 them that faving and fpirituai 
 grace, by which their nature yet 
 whole and integrate might be 
 eflabiiflVd, or corrupted and de- 
 praved, reicorcd to the demon- 
 liration of his Liberty^ but after- 
 ward being made peccant and 
 culpable, to punifh them with e- 
 ternal death, for the liluftration 
 ofhisjuilice. 
 
 Secondly, Predeftina tion(which 
 word with thefe men is taken in 
 the ftrid fenfe for Eledion, and 
 oppofed to Reprobation) is con- 
 lidcrable in re/pe.t of the end and 
 
 the 
 
Jnnocencj cleared. 
 
 the means leading theyeptnto. fn re- 
 fpcd of the etsd^ which is falvaci- 
 on, and a m^.mfefto of his glorious 
 grace, Man's confider'd abfblute- 
 ly and indifferently in his own 
 nature in reference to the means-^ 
 he is looked upon as of himfelf, 
 andinhinifelf perifhtng, and as 
 guilty in Adnm. 
 
 Thirdly, In the Decree, touch- 
 ing the end, thefe gradations are 
 obfervable •, Gods frejcienee by 
 which he foreknew the predefti- 
 nate, then his frefinitkn, by which 
 he preordained the falvation of 
 thofe whom he foreknew : Firfl:^ 
 By electing them from eternity^ 
 then by preparing grace for them 
 in this life, and glory in the life 
 to come. 
 
 Fourthly, Means appertaining 
 to the execution of this Predeili- 
 nation , are to he Chrifi kimfelf^ 
 then effic/icicus calling to faith tn 
 /?/>i whence arifeth Jn^if cation, 
 
 fnd 
 
^ ^ Truth defended -J 
 
 and then the gift of ferfeverance to 
 the end. 
 
 Fifthly, Reprobation,aswearc 
 capable of underftandingit^Gon- 
 lifts of two ads, Prettrition^ and 
 Tredamnation-^ theiirft anteceda- 
 neous to all things & caufeswhich 
 are either in them, or exiftby 
 them-, {i.e.) beholding man abfo- 
 lutely and indifferently under no 
 confideration of fin. 
 
 Sixthly, To execute this ad of 
 Treterition^ two means to be fore- 
 appointed, Derelittion in the ft ate 
 of Nature, uncapable of fuper- 
 natural performances, andiVb»- 
 communkation of grace, whereby 
 their nature uncorrupted might 
 be confirmed, or depraved might 
 be reftored. 
 
 Seventhly , Tredamnation like- 
 wife to precede all things^yct not 
 \Niiho\xixhQfrefcience of thecau- 
 fes of damnation ^ God in his 
 
 fore- 
 
I/imcc^^cy cleared,' ■ 9 5 
 
 foreknowledge beholding man as 
 an offender, and guilty of death 
 in Adam^ therefore liable to pe- 
 riihoutof the neceflity impofed 
 upon him by Divine Juftice. 
 
 Eighthly, The means ordained 
 to put into execution this Pre- 
 dam nation. i.Jufl defertion^ and 
 thafs either of Exploration^ 
 wherein God conferres not his 
 grace-, or of Punijhment , when 
 God deprives man of all his faiw 
 tifenus gifts, and delivers him up 
 into the power of Satan. 
 2. Means hardemng , and thofe 
 things that accompany it -, to the 
 real damnation of the Repro- 
 bate. 
 
 Others declare their Opinion 
 thus: 
 
 Thcfc- 
 Firft, That God willing tode-condOpi- 
 cree from eternity the Eledion "ion con- 
 of particular perfons,a:Reproba- p" j^^^-, 
 tion of others, looked upon man- ^itio^n.'' 
 
 kind 
 
^ruth de'e/^dei 
 
 kind not onely as made^ui as/^/- 
 ienSLtid corrup/ed J and therefore 
 guilty of Maledidion, from which 
 he determined freely by his grace 
 to fave fome for a declarative of 
 his Mercy, and leave others under 
 the curfe in juft Judgement, for a 
 manifeHo of his Jufttce •, and this 
 without any confideration had of 
 Repentance and Faith in the one, 
 or Infidelity and Impenitence in 
 the other. 
 
 Secondly , The fpecial means 
 ftafin/ of particularly belonging to the ex- 
 thcfiift o- ecution of this Decree of Eledi- 
 pinion, on and Reprobation, ^^'f to he the 
 fame With thofe laid down in the 
 dating of thefirft Opinion, ex 
 cepting thofeincommon, apper- 
 taining jointly to both- for the 
 judgement of thefe men we now 
 reprefent, makes not the fall of 
 man as a means preordain d to the 
 aecompliiliment of the preceding 
 Decree of Predeflination , but 
 onely as ^froierejis^or an oceafion 
 
 admi- 
 
Inmcency cleared. ^7 
 
 adminiftred for the framing 
 hereof. 
 
 Both of thefe Opinions, accor- ^.^^i^^i^^^ 
 ding to their outward (hape, do examines 
 in this only differ from the firftjthefcOpi. 
 that they neither place Creation nions. 
 nor the fall as a middle caufe fore- 
 appointed of God to execute this 
 preceding )3ecree of Predeftina- 
 tion, though the two later them- 
 felves agree not concerning the 
 Fall.The firft of them propounds 
 Election in refpedl of the end, 
 and pretention the firft part of 
 Repro^aticn^ as preceding the fall^ 
 thefecond, asboth of them fub- 
 fequent thereunto. Amongft o- 
 ther reafons inducing thefe men 
 to dehver the DoArine of Pre- 
 deftination this way ,without kee- 
 ping the high Road with their 
 PredecefTors , this was not the 
 meaneft, their willingnefs to pre- 
 vent, left God with the fame pro- 
 bability fliould be concluded the 
 Anther of (in from this their Do- 
 H arine. 
 
5^8 Truth defended '^ 
 
 drine, as fome of them have jud- 
 ged it condudable from the firft. 
 But really, if with diligent infpe- 
 di'iovi we wellexamine thefe Opi- 
 * The Te- nionsof a later * Edition,compa-> 
 cond and red with the Judgements of the 
 third O- fame Authors in other points of 
 
 CcTre-^'^^'^'''''^^^^" find the fail of 
 dcftinati- -^'^^^ not poilihly otherwayes 
 on. confiderable , (according to the 
 Tenents of thefe men ) then as a 
 neceflary executive means of the 
 preceding Decree of Predeftina- 
 tion-, and this the purport of the 
 two reafons comprehended in the 
 fecond Opinion apparently evi- 
 dence. The firft is, Gods deter-^ 
 mination by the Decree of Re- 
 probation,to deny unto man that 
 grace neceffary to theantidoting 
 his nature againft the poyfon of 
 , fin- (^-e.) decreed not to confer 
 that grace which was neceffary to 
 avoid obliquity ^ fo that mans 
 tranfgrefficn being under a Law; 
 becomes inevitable, and his fall aj 
 means appointed to bring in to 
 
 ace 
 
himce/u J cleared, ... ^9 
 
 act the Decree of Reprobation, 
 The fecond is, their bicotomy of 
 Reprobation into Fretprhioft arrd 
 Preddmymticn^whiiih according to 
 the tenor of this Decree are cou- 
 pled together by a neceflary con- 
 nexion one with another , and e^ 
 qii ally eKtenlive-, for all they that 
 were/J^jWbyof Cod in the col- 
 lation of grace, are alfo damned;, 
 and no others^ whence we gather, 
 Sim-samcerary refii/t of the De^ 
 cree of Eeprchjrior. ^ otherwayes 
 (here were a poffibility of not 
 (inning left unto perfons under 
 tbis Preterition^ and fo of not pe* 
 rifliing, ( fin being the only pro- 
 curing caufe of damnation ) and 
 fofome thus paiTed by of God, 
 neither faved nor condemned, 
 which is a great abfurdity. This 
 Opinion we fee is obnoxions to 
 the fame inconvenience with the 
 firft^ and whileft it endeavours to 
 avoid it, it falls intoiin open arid 
 abfurd contradidion of it felf, 
 H 2 according 
 
100 Truth defended • 
 
 according to this-, Prima ubij^fti 
 fimilisfit. 
 
 The third Opi nion efcapcs this 
 Rock^ better then the other _ had 
 m^tefl ?ot t^c P^^^<>"s thereof deliver'd 
 fnvam iome thing for the declaration of 
 mxiliiD't^Tredefiination and Providence^ 
 vim , quo from whence the neceility of the 
 muflm- ^^^^ '"^y ^^ inferred, which can- 
 p^mtury not have any Other rife thenPre- 
 y^bitaker deftinatory ordination. Their 
 quoted by defcription of divine permifsion 
 Maccovl- of fin is very pertinent^ [^Permf- 
 
 Thcof^' ^^^^ ^ ^^^ fptbftraction 0/ Divine 
 grace, wherebj Gcdj {exeentiftg the 
 SuhUraSlo decrees of hkyptUhj rational crea- 
 mxilioDci tnres') either doth not reveal his m/l 
 homo fa- to the creature ^ rvherehj he would 
 Z^ndum^'"'^''^'^'''^''^' pr doth not incline 
 bene mi ^^^ "^^^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^^ '^ obedience to his 
 nonptuit. own. ] To which they ^Mt , If it 
 Parous, hefo^ the creature ftns necefarilj^ 
 cap . 4 .p. ygf. ruoltintarih and fi eely . If any 
 
 46.lJb.De I T-k- AC'- ' ^ 
 
 J^^^j reply, This defcription is not qua- 
 pnmi drant to Gods permifsion of yf- 
 hom. dams fin, we dofe with him ^ yec 
 
 never thelcfs 
 
I nmcency cleared, loi 
 
 neverthelefs, hence it follows. 
 That all other fins are done una- 
 voidably. Again, It^'s reducible 
 hither what fome of them con- 
 tend with that eagernefs for, W^. 
 That the manifeftation of glory 
 divine, which needs muft be illu- 
 ftrated, is' placed in the demon- 
 ftration of Mercy and Jufcice 
 punitive,which cannot be effect- 
 ed but by the entrance of (in and 
 mifery by it, at leaft to the lowefc 
 defert thereof into the world- 
 fuch a declarative of Gods glory 
 introducing a necefsityof finning; 
 And the Apoftacic of Adam be- 
 ing unavoidable , therefore it 
 ( together with Creation ) are 
 means fubfervient to the executi- 
 on of this Decree-, mans revolt 
 could not nec«flarily enfue upon 
 his Creation, unlefs by vertue of 
 this predeftinatory Decrce,which 
 cannot hold any middle place be- 
 twixt them, but is fet over them 
 prccedaneous to them both, fu- 
 bordinating Creation to Apofta- 
 H 3 cy, 
 
o 2 Truth dejeridtd • 
 
 cy, and both to the execution of 
 OBie and the fame, decree , to de- 
 -iBOnftrate jt^fitcv.'m the punifb- 
 mejatof fin, and vJ/frrr in the 
 remiffion thereof : Otherwife 
 the n-eeeifary fequel of Creation 
 had not been intended by God tm 
 itj which is tmpoffible. But granc't 
 the heceliity of the fall couWnat'. 
 be Goncluded from the prcmife' 
 Off .either thefe two laft Opinicwiii^ 
 yet all the foreniehtiQned Argiari 
 ments levellM .agai^ft theiirfty. 
 with. a little diveSiiicacion , are* 
 premlent againfcthafe •, as wmM '' 
 p la jnly appear iipocL a debate of. 
 them. ,'j' 
 
 Hitherto I have declared the: 
 Opinions of others in the poimr^ 
 of Predeftinationifo much ineul- 
 cacedin om Churches and u-niikr-l 
 fitjoi Leyden, together with my., 
 own reafons inducing me to a dii-^ 
 allowance of them : I come in tire.' 
 laft pLacetO: offer my own Judgri 
 mcist concerning it, and as I. ben 
 
 ieeve. 
 
Inmcencj cleared, 103 
 
 keve, moft conformable to jhe 
 
 Word of God. 
 
 I. The firfc and abfolute dt-Armmms 
 creeofGod concerning the fal-^-^*^^" 
 vation of finful Man, is that-^"^^" 
 whereby he decreed to appoint t^e point 
 JefjtsChrifi the Mediator^ Fedee-\n hand. 
 mer^ Saviour^ Pricsi and Khig , 
 who ftioiild abolifh finne by his 
 death,recover (by his obedience) 
 loft righteoufnefs, and by his ver- 
 tue communicate the fame. 
 
 2.'Thefecondprecife and ab- 
 folute decree of God , is that 
 whereby he determined to re- 
 ceive into favour repentant and 
 befieving perfons, and thofe per- 
 feveririg to the end , to fave in 
 Chtift-'for Chrift, and by Chrift i^ ■ 
 the impenitent and unbelievers 
 to leave in fin under wrath, and 
 deftro^^ as alien-^ from- Chrift. 
 
 3. The third decree, is that 
 
 whereby he ordained (to admini- 
 
 H 4 i^er 
 
1 04 ^ ^^^f^ defended ^ 
 
 fter fufficiently and efficacioufly) 
 means neceffary to faith and re- 
 pentance-, and this adminiftra- 
 tion to be framed according to 
 his Wifdome^ whereby he knowes 
 what beft becomes his mercy and 
 feverity , and according to his 
 Juftice^ by which he is prepared 
 to follow the prefcript of his 
 Wifdomc, and put the fame into 
 execution. 
 
 4. Hence follows the fourth, 
 whereby he decreed the falvati- 
 on and condemnation of fome 
 fingular and certain perfons ^ and 
 this Divine Ordination leans 
 upon his Prefciemy^ whereby hee 
 knew from eternity, who (accor- 
 ding to the vouchfafement of i- 
 doneous means to faith and con- 
 verfion by his preventing grace) 
 were to believe, and by hisifubfe- 
 quent perfevere, & who were not 
 to believe nor perfevere. 
 
 This 
 
Inttocency cleared. 105 
 
 This Predcftination thus ex- 
 plained, is, 
 
 1. The Foundation of Chrifii- 
 amty^ S/ilvation^ and A^urance. 
 
 2. The Materials of the Gof- 
 pel, yea the very Gofpel it felf ^ 
 and as to the two firft Arti- 
 cles thereof, neceflary to be be- 
 lieved unto lalvation, 
 
 3. Neither hath it had need 
 to be examined or difcufs'd in ei- 
 ther General or Particular Coun- 
 cils , being clearly and exprefly 
 totidem verbis contained in the 
 Scriptures, nor ever contradided 
 by any Orthodox Divine. 
 
 4. Alwayes acknowledged and 
 held- forth by ail found Teach- 
 ers. -:..-.A^ • 
 
 5. It accords with the Har- 
 mony of all Confeflions fet forth 
 by the Protefiar.t Churches. 
 
 6. It agrees very fitly with 
 the Belg ck^ Confejfwn and Cate- 
 chifme •, and if the words in the 
 
 j6,Jrt, 
 
10 6 Truth defended ^ 
 
 1 6. Art. \jSome and others^ be ex- 
 plained by beleevers and unbe- 
 lievers, my judgement is dilucidly 
 comprehended in it, which moved 
 me (being to difputc publikely in 
 \n collcgld the Colledge) to order the que- 
 piMico- ftion? to be dated in the words of 
 privato tl^QCorjfeffion. It agrees with the 
 
 '^^^^^^^^Catechifm,0^^#2c54. 
 
 7. It very well futes the Na- 
 ture of God , viz^. his mfdome^ 
 gsodnefs^ and righteetifnefs ^ is the 
 principal matter and cleared de- 
 monftration of them. 
 
 8. It's at very good agree- 
 ment with the Nature of Man^ 
 whether considered in the date 
 of Innocency, Apodacy ,/ or re- . 
 ftauration. :p^h . . 
 
 9. It holds good co^rrefpbti- 
 dency with the Act of Creati n^ 
 confirming it to be the commu- 
 nication of good, according to 
 the intent of God, and the event 
 of the thing • that it had its rife 
 from Divine goodnefsy its continu- 
 ation and prefervation from Bi- 
 
 vine 
 
InhGcenc^ cleaved^ 107! 
 
 ztixpe Love, and that it isthe.per- 
 fed and proper work of God, 
 wherein he pleafed himfelf , and 
 procured all things which were 
 mccdzry^ aa rioit J e:ca»dm77y to a 
 not finning. 
 
 10. It confentswith the Nature 
 of eternal Itfe ^ and thofe titles 
 wherewith it is dignified in Scrip- 
 ture. 
 
 II. With the Property cf et er- 
 >mUeath^?,nd tholr names put up- 
 on it by the Holy Ghoft. 
 , J2. It makes fmne to be truly 
 <fifobedience,ind the meritorious 
 ca«fe of condemnation , and fo 
 concords with Apoftacy and 
 Tranfgreffion. 
 
 13. It harmonizeth with the 
 Nat fire of Grace^ by afcribing all 
 things competiblc thereunto, re- 
 conciling it to his jufiice,and the 
 nature and hberty of Mans 
 will. 
 
 14. It's a mofc advantagious 
 declarative of the glory of Gods 
 Jujike and Merry , reprefenting 
 
 him 
 
lo8 Truth defended , 
 
 bim the caufe of all good , and 
 our falvation^ and Man the caufe 
 of fin, and his own ruin. 
 
 1 5 . It contributes to the ho- 
 nor of hfns Chrift , appointing 
 him the foundation of Predefti- 
 nation, the procuring and com- 
 municatory caufe of faivation. 
 
 1 6. It greatly promotes the 
 faivation of men,being the power 
 and means unto everlafting Ufe , 
 procreating in thqji forrow for 
 firiy afollicitous care of cmverjlon , 
 faith in C hrift^ find) of good workj^ 
 z^ealin prayer, catipng us to workj 
 cut our faivation with fear and 
 tremblings and as far as is neceffa- 
 ry , hinders defperation. 
 
 17. It confirms and eftablifli- 
 cth that Order and Method the 
 Preaching of thcGofpel requires^ 
 f irft, exading Faith and Repen- 
 tance-^ then promifing Remijfton. 
 cf Sin^ the^r^c^ of the Spirit, and 
 eternal life, 
 
 18. Itftrengthens the difpen- 
 fation of the Gofpd,and renders 
 
 it 
 
Jnmcencj cleared. 109 
 
 it fruitful in the promulgation 
 thereof, adminifcry of the Sacra- 
 ments, and Publike Prayers. 
 
 19. It is the foundation of 
 Chriftianity, in that in it the dou- 
 ble Love of Cod are haply joyned 
 together, and at good agreement 
 one with another , namely , his 
 Love cf RighteoHfnefs with his 
 love of wen. 
 
 Laftly, This dod:rine hath al- 
 ways been allowed of by the ma- 
 jor part of Chriftians , and to 
 this day ftands approved by 
 them ;, neither can it adminifter 
 an oecafion of its abhorrency,or 
 ground of contention in the 
 Chriftian Church ; Its much to 
 be wilbed, that men would pro- 
 ceed no further in this matter, 
 neither be inquifitive into the un- 
 fearchable jtidgements or God any 
 more then as revealed in the 
 Scriptures. 
 
 / 
 
no 
 
 Truth defended-^ 
 
 And thli h that ( m<>fl Ncile and 
 
 Potent States) I have to decL-irt 
 
 to jour Highness* s ccncernmg this 
 
 Dd'lrme fi m^ch ventilated in 
 
 the Church of Chrifi : And if I 
 
 ■- piouldrnt h'S burdenftrKe^ I have 
 
 other things to offer toyopir High- 
 
 nefs's fcnJjicing to the deelaratim 
 
 of mj 'udgement^ and leading tt) 
 
 '■ iififeif^fan^e end^ for which lam 
 
 - ''ccmmanded hither by jcur High- 
 
 yy^'nef/s: The Providence of 
 
 ^C<iKd -^ the Free-will of Man ^ 
 
 ■ 'Perfeveranceof Saints-, Aflii- 
 
 fanceof Salvation, are feints 
 
 4 fi ^^^^f affinity with this 
 
 Doctrtre of Predejfination , and 
 
 have fornuch depndance tmn it, 
 
 that with your good leav.e I fhatl 
 
 deli'Oermy felf ufdnthem. 
 
 THe not'ide^ceofGOt^\-'% 
 judge to be that caf efi(l,c6fi- 
 tiniial , and ever-prefent eye of 
 God , by which the care of the 
 whole Univrrfe^^nd all particular 
 Creatures 
 
Innocencj cleared, 1 1 1 
 
 Creatures (not one exero ptcd J is 
 upon him, to the conferva tion 
 and government of them in their 
 effence , qualities, adions, and 
 paflions, asitbeft becomes him 
 and fntes them, to the glory of 
 his Name, and falvation of Be- 
 lievers. Herein I fubftrad no- 
 thing from Divine Vr evidence 
 competible to it ^ but yeeld it 
 the confervation ; regulation, 
 gubernation, and diredion of all 
 things, even to the abolition of 
 Chance and Fortune ^ yea, I 
 fubjed to the great Providence 
 the Win of Mtm^ and the very acts 
 of the rational creature ^{o that no- 
 thing is done without its will , 
 though contrary thereunto: This 
 difference- betwixt good and bad 
 adions onely obferved-,inthat we 
 affirm God both to will^ and do good 
 acrs^hut freely to permit the bad, 
 being willing to concede the at- 
 tribution of all ads excogitablc 
 concerning evil to the providence 
 of God , fo wee take hoed left 
 
 thefice 
 
112 , Truth defended ^ 
 
 thence God be determinM The 
 Atithorof Sin^ which I evidently 
 enough tcftified in a Difpute 
 once and again under me at Ley- 
 den , concerning the rightcouf- 
 nefs and efficacious Providence 
 of God in evilly in which I en- 
 deavoured to afcribe unto Provi- 
 dence all tbofe acfts concerning 
 fin attributed to God in Scrip, 
 ture, making fuch progrefs here- 
 in , that occafion was taken by 
 fome of im peaching me with ma- 
 king GOD the Author of Sw^ 
 which was often produced againft 
 me at Jmfierdam , according to 
 their fuggeftion from thofe The- 
 fes'^ buthow juflly, it is fuffici- 
 ently manifeft from my anfwdr 
 to the one and thirty Articles 
 (mentioned above) falfly impo- 
 fed upon me , this being one of 
 them. 
 
 Touching mans mil , I am o/ 
 that opinion that he was in do w- 
 cd with knowledg , holinefs and 
 
 other 
 
Innocence cleared, i i 5 
 
 other ablities by his Creation , 
 whereby he was able to under- 
 ftand , eftimate , confider , will 
 and performe true good ; even as 
 far as the commandment obliged 
 him • yet not this without the 
 au.viliaries of Dtvme gractx lit 
 the ftate of AnojlacyznA. ^w, he 
 is difabied of himfelfe and by 
 himfelf to think , will , or do a- 
 ny thing truly good, and (lands 
 in need ofthe renovating and re. 
 generating power of God in 
 Chrift by his Spirit in his ^^fc'/Z^ff 
 affecltjyis , vptll and all other fa- 
 culties , to impower him hereun- 
 to •, but , participating hereof as 
 freed from fin, he is able to think 
 will and do good , yet ftill as un- 
 der the Supplies of the grace gf 
 
 Concerning the ^race of God I 
 
 believe it to be that gratuitous 
 
 and undeferved affrj^^ whereby 
 
 ■ God is well affeded towards a 
 
 i xniferable finncr^, by wliich , firft 
 
 he gave his S( n , thut whojoi ver 
 
 I kc^ 
 
1 4 Truth defended ^ 
 
 be'ieve' s i^ hiin m>ght haveete--'^ 
 nail life .^ and then in and for Chrift 
 jpiftifies him\ and adofts him into- 
 the right of his fins unto Salvation^ ' 
 
 2. It is the infufion of Spiritual 
 gifts into the underftanding , 
 will , and affedions of man, 
 appertaining to his regeneration 
 and renovation, viz. Fatth^hofey 
 Charity &c. without which 
 gratious donatives , man is not 
 meet to think, will or do any 
 thing that good is. 
 
 3. Grace is that continued 
 ajiftance^ that non-intermiffive 
 helpe of the Ho/y Ghoft^ by which 
 ihtSfirit doth inllantly perfwade 
 & excite man , (before Regene- 
 rate ) unto goodnefle , infufing 
 Salutiferous cogitations , infpi- 
 ring him with holy defiers , to 
 the willing of good Adually ^ 
 yea alfo by this he fo wills and 
 works together with man 5 that 
 what man will's ,he might accom- 
 plifh. 
 
 And 
 
l/mocency cleared, 115 
 
 And thusi atributetoCr^^f the 
 begining , continnance , and con- 
 fumm^tion of all good , fo far a$ 
 that man now regenerate , with- 
 out this preventing , exciting , 
 Subfequent , and Cooperating 
 Grace, is in capable to think, 
 will , or do any good , or relift 
 any noxious t-emptation. Hence 
 it's apparently manifell , I am no 
 way injurious to l\it grace ofGod^ 
 by afcribing too much to the 
 free will ofr^an , as fome afperfe 
 me. The hinge upon which al the 
 Controvcrcy is turned, is this • 
 whether the grace of God be an 
 irrefiftible force: adions and o- 
 perations as afcribable to grace, 
 are not here difputed, none more 
 ready then my felfe to confefle 
 and inculcate them all • the man- 
 ner of the operation onely is that 
 in debate, wherein I believe ac- 
 cording to the Scriptures, that 
 many refifi the HolyGhofi , and 
 . resell Graci of ered them, 
 
 I 2 As 
 
11$ Truth defended ; 
 
 As to the perfeverance of 
 Saints my judgement is this. Per-- 
 fons engrafted intoChrift by true 
 Faith , and participating of his 
 quickning fpirit , have (trength 
 fufficient to encounter Satan,Sin, 
 the World . and their own cor- 
 ruption, <f«^ by the fame ^Jff^i^g 
 grace to carry away the Vjctcry-^ 
 Chrift himfelf (landing by them 
 in their afTauIts by his fpirit , ex- 
 tending his favourable hand to- 
 wards them ( fo they he fcHndina 
 fght'mg fofiure-^ implore his aU^ and 
 not be awanting to t hem/elves) pre- 
 fer ve them from falling-, fo that 
 neither the fraud or violence of 
 Satan fhall be able to feduceor 
 pluck them out of his hands. But 
 whether thefe very perfons by 
 negligence may not defer t the imi- 
 tatknof their exijlency in Chriy\ 
 embr.ce again this prefent world, 
 fa 11 from the found Doctrine once de- 
 liver d to themjofe a good ccnfcience^ 
 make void the grace ef God^ would 
 be diligeutly inquired into out of 
 
 the 
 
Innocency cleared, i i y 
 
 the Scriptures , and very ufcfbl 
 and neceffary to be debated in 
 our firft convention^yet I profefs 
 ingenuoufly. It was never taught 
 by me that the true Believer 
 might totally or fimlly fall away 
 from the fait h^andfofertpj'^ though 
 I cannot diflemble, there arc pla- 
 ces of Scripture which feem to 
 countenance the fame, to which I 
 could never meet with any fatis- 
 fadory anfwer, although on the 
 other part there are fome places 
 alledged not unworthy of ob» 
 f.Tvation. 
 
 ;J^ Concerning affurance of falva- 
 tion, I judge him who believes in 
 Jefus Chrift, as well by the ad of 
 the holy fpirit inwardly moving, 
 and the Fruits of Faith, as by his 
 own confcience , with the Tefti- 
 moriy of the fpirit witnelling 
 with it, may have a certain ferfwa- 
 fion , and indeed he ajfured, if his 
 heart condemn him not that he is the 
 fon of Godi and fiands in the love of 
 Chrift-^ yea more, may deparc 
 I 3 ^^is 
 
1" 1 8 Truth defended ^ 
 
 this life with an unfhaken confi- 
 dence of the grace of God, and 
 mercy in Chrift Jefus, and appear 
 before that Tribunal of grace de- 
 void of all anxious fear and trem- 
 bling folicitude^ yet ought heal- 
 vvayes to pray. Lord, enter not into 
 judgement with me-^hut in as much 
 asGod is greater then our hearts, 
 and knoweth all things, and man 
 nof his own Judge^ for though he 
 know nothing by himfelf, yet is 
 he not thereby Juftified, it is God 
 that judgcth him : I dare not e- 
 qual this certainty with that 
 wherewith we know there is a God, 
 and that C hrift is the Saviour of 
 the tvorld', but the extent of this 
 may be further treated of in our 
 Convention^ 
 
 Befides all thjefe, there hath 
 been much difcourfe abroad con- 
 cerning tht perfection of Believers 
 and regenerate ferfcns in this life-, 
 wherein I have been traduced as 
 heterodox, and as almoft of the 
 Pelagian 
 
hmactncj cleared. 1 1 p 
 
 Pelagian Opinion in this point, 
 viz.. That the regenerate in this 
 \i(e may perfectly keep the Law of 
 God. To which I anfwcr , That if 
 I (hould thus judge, yet (hould I 
 not Pelagianize either in whole, 
 or in part , if fo be I added this, 
 they were able to do by the grace 
 of Chriji-y and mt without it ^ yet 
 that there could be a plenary ob- 
 fervation of the precepts of Chrifi 
 h) a renewed perfen in thts life^ I 
 never affirm'd , neither ever de- 
 nied, but left it alwaies dubious, 
 contenting my felf with that of 
 Attftine ^ whofc words I often 
 quoted in thellniverfityj having 
 nothing to adde of my own^ they 
 were thefc : There are four quefii- Auflmc's 
 'ons obfervahle in the bufinefs /«J"'^S^" 
 kand-^ I. Whether there -rvas ever^^"^^^^' 
 anj man without Sin who from the 
 beginning to t he end of hid life never 
 tranfgreff'ed ? 
 
 2. Whether there ever hath 
 
 been J now ps, or ever can be any fuch 
 
 I 4 perfon 
 
I 2 o J ruilo dejenued y 
 
 perfect that pnneth not , f i,e.) vpho 
 hath reached that perfection here 
 that he tranfgre(!eth mt^ but fulfil j; 
 the Law of the perfect Qod. 
 
 5 . Whether there he a poffibility 
 in thu life for a man to be without 
 Sin. 
 
 4. Jft be fofsible^ rvhy there was 
 never any fuch ^er [on found. 
 
 To the firft the Father anfwers, 
 That there was never any fuch per- 
 fin found he fides the Lord Jefus 
 Chrift. 
 
 To the fccond, He thought ne- 
 ver any wan attained perfection in 
 th'4 life. 
 
 To the third. He judged itpofsi- 
 hie by the grace of God and mans i 
 free- will. * 
 
 To the fourth , Man doth r,$t 
 that which is pofsible by the grace &/ ' 
 Chrifi, either beeaufe he is igt^oranp 
 vphat good is^ or places no cemplacen • 
 cy or delight in it. 
 
 Hence 
 
In/ioceucy ciedred. i 2 j 
 
 ^' Hence its apparently manifefl:, 
 AnBtne ( the fharpeft adverfary 
 the Pelagian Dodrineever had ) 
 was of this Judgement, Thatic 
 was pofsible by the grace af Chnft 
 in this [ffe to b^ without fn : Yea, 
 he further addes, Let PeUgins 
 confefs mans pofsibility of being 
 without fin to be only hy thegnwe 
 of Chrifi^ and we are agreed^ but 
 the PeLig An Tenent appeared to 
 this Father as if man by his cypn 
 flre gth ( though with greater 
 facility by the grace of Chrifijhad 
 been able to keep the whole Law: 
 How far I diffent from this Opi- 
 nion,! have entered above , and 
 now teftiiie mine account of it as 
 Heretical diameciically oppofite 
 to the words of Chrifts , \Vftho>^.t 
 meyecandomihing ^ and pernicir yohni5.« 
 oufly deflrudive to the glorv of 
 God. 
 
 My judgement thus flated , I 
 cannot fee any thing comprehend 
 
 ded therein, for which any man 
 
 (hould 
 
I 2 2 Truth defended y 
 
 (hould juftly fear to afpear toge- 
 
 ther with it in the prefence of Qod^ 
 
 to Mi'gI! or-fufped any grievous evil to a' 
 
 maf% Ex- J^i^^i. yet being fenfible of thofe 
 
 prcflion to daylie Afperfions more and more 
 
 thcStaies, caft upoii me, as if I (hould carry 
 
 ?•*• in my bofome Tome pernicious 
 
 Heretical opinions, I am not able 
 
 to divine what the matter is, un- 
 
 lefs they pretend fomething amifs 
 
 in my Judgement concerning the 
 
 divinity of the Son ofGod^ and mans 
 
 jftfiificaton hefcre him-^ for as I un^ 
 
 deritand, touching both thcfe 
 
 heads much fpeeeh was had after 
 
 the laft Ad before the Supreme 
 
 Court,and many things given out 
 
 upon it, for which I think my fclf 
 
 engaged to declare to your High*- 
 
 nefies the carriage of the whole 
 
 bufincfs. 
 
 That which relates to the Vivi- 
 nit J ef the Son of^ God, ard the word 
 <^v%^i<^ of which a Difpute was 
 Once had in our Univerfity-, I 
 Cannot enough wonder, what 
 brought 
 
Innocenc^ d eared, 123 
 
 brought me into fufpition with 
 fome men, their Jealoufly not be- 
 ing grounded upon the leaft pro- 
 babiHty, indeed as much remote 
 from reafon and truth, as what e- 
 veris difperfed to the prejudice 
 of my Repute herein, may be tru- 
 ly termed notorioufly fcanda- 
 lous. At a difpute one Afternoon 
 in Lejden^ thequeftionconcern'd 
 the Divinity of Chrift^ the Op- 
 ponent objeded the Son of Cod 
 was <tv%^::^, and therefore had 
 his effence of himfclf, and not of 
 his Father. The Refpondent re- 
 plyed the word^ « wt^ ®- was ta- 
 ken two waies, and either (ignifi- 
 cd him who was trulj God^ or him 
 who WiU God of himfclf-^ accord- 
 ing to the firft acception it was 
 well and truly attributable to the 
 Son of God-,according to the lat- 
 ter it was not. The Student ftill 
 urging his Argument, vehement- 
 ly contended, that this was com- 
 petibleto him according to the 
 fecondiignification, and the Ef- 
 fence 
 
124 Truth cie^eacied ^ 
 
 fence of the Father could not be 
 faid, but improperly, to be com- 
 municated to the Son and Holy 
 Ghoft, and that in right and pro-' 
 priety it was common to them 
 all', and this he managed with the 
 greater confidence , having 
 Mr. Trelcatius "jm'ur of bleffed 
 memory for him , as appears by 
 fome pafTages in his Common- 
 places to this purpofc. To which 
 I then anfwercd. That this opini- 
 on was oppugnant to the Word 
 of God, and all the antient Greeks 
 and Lntine Churhes, who alwaies 
 taught,That the Son had his Deity 
 By eternal generatioft from his Fa" 
 ther^Ktid that it unavoidably drew 
 along with it two repugnant Er- 
 rors, Trithfifm^ and Sahe/iiamfm'^ 
 (i.e.) hence would inevitably fol- 
 low a Trinity of Gods , who 
 (hould together collaterally have 
 divine Effence, without the one 
 having it from another , being 
 only perfonally diftind ^ when 
 for the defence of the unity of 
 
 Effence 
 
Innocenn cleared. 125 
 
 EfTencein the trinity of perfons, 
 this only Fundamental hath been 
 adhibited, r/7f original Pragrefs af 
 cne per/on f rem another ^ namely 
 that of the Son from the Father. 
 Hence would alfo follow , the 
 confounding of the Father with 
 the Son, interring only a nominal 
 difference betwixt them , which 
 was the Opinion of Sahellim. It's 
 proper to the Father to have his 
 Deitj of himfelf^ or to fpeak more 
 rightly, fnone, if in this fenfe the 
 Son were «t T)*:"^.©-, Godofhim- 
 felf, he (hould be the Father. 
 
 This Difpute went every where 
 abroad, and reached Amfterd^^.m 
 it felfjWhere I was enquired of by 
 a Minifter now fallen afleep in 
 the Lord,how the cafe flood,who 
 received a full account of me, 
 with my defires that he would in- 
 form 7 reUatius of pious memo- 
 ry, admonifh him to red:ifie his 
 Judgement , and corred thofe 
 impertinent words in his Com- 
 mon- 
 
12 6 Truth defended'^ 
 
 mon places, which after a fort he 
 took upon him to do. Herein I 
 was far from being liable to any 
 blame, having defended the truth 
 and the Judgement of the Catho- 
 lick and Orthodox Church •, but 
 rather Tnlcatius , who had 
 ufurpM a form of fpeaking dero- 
 gatory to the truch of the thing. 
 This is my infelicity, or the zeal of 
 fome men, the leall: variance ari- 
 fing,co have all the fault call upon 
 me,as if 'twere moreimpoliiblefor 
 me to be found in the Faith then 
 any other man^though herein M. 
 Gomar afTented, who in a difpute 
 concerning the Trinity, not long 
 after the publication of thofe 
 forcmentioned Common-places, 
 did in his Thefes three fcveral 
 times contradid Mr. Trelcatm^ 
 which I fhewed the Amfterdam 
 Minifter, who confeffed the fame^ 
 yet notwithftanding all this,nonc 
 endeavoured my vindication 
 from this ohlo^uie^ as fome did the 
 excufal of Mr. Trdcatiu, by all 
 
 candid 
 
I/inocencj cleared. i^j 
 
 candid Interpretation, which yet 
 could not ftand in any confiften- 
 cy with the words : So much fa- 
 vor and zeal could do. 
 
 Their tender Interpretation 
 was this, The Son of "God may be 
 ftiled AJTo-^iOr, or faid to have 
 his Divinity of himfelf, ^y.aDetis^ 
 as he is God- though from his Fa- 
 ther cjHk Filim^ as he is a Son. Irs 
 only for enlargement that God 
 orEfTcnceoughtto be confider- 
 cd ahfolntely and relatively'^ in the 
 firft acception the Son to have 
 Effence Divine of himfelf; in the 
 other from his Father. Thefeare 
 new Modes of fpeaking, novel o- 
 pinions,andincon{iftent^for the 
 Son,both as God,and asSon,hath 
 his deity from his Father, the de- 
 nomination of God only , doth 
 not exprefs his being from the 
 Father , as the word Son doth. 
 The Effence of God is not any 
 way CO nfiderable, wherein it can 
 be faid not to be communicated 
 
 to 
 
l28 Truth defended '^ 
 
 to the Son from the Father ^ nei- 
 ther in any diverfe refped can 
 tiiefame Erfence both be com-, 
 municated & not communicated 
 to him ^ being Contradidories 
 they cannot be reconciled in any 
 double confideration: If it be 
 relatively communicated to him, 
 he cannot have it abfolutely of 
 himfclf. Ifhallbe peradventure 
 demanded, Whether to be God, 
 and the Son of God, be not two 
 diftind: things,which isconfefled, 
 but when by a further procefs its 
 affirmM thatastobe the Son of 
 God, imports his having anEf- 
 fence from the Father •, fo to be 
 Cod, implies the having it from 
 liimfelf,orfrom none: If s denied 
 with a further affervation , That 
 it is dL;jLo.^Tma. an Error, not only 
 in Divinity, but natural Philofo- 
 phy alfo. To be a Son and to be 
 God, are at no repugnancy one 
 with another •, but to have an 
 EfTence from the Father, and yet 
 withal to have it from none, are 
 , contradictories 
 
Inmcencj cleared. 129 
 
 concradidorles , and mutually 
 dcftroy one another. 
 
 To bring this Fallacy to the 
 light^wemuft obferveiidhe equi- 
 polkncie of thefe fix propofici-; 
 ens, placed parallel-wife. 
 
 God is eternal, having Divine ■ 
 Effencc from Eternity. • - 
 The Father is from none , ha- 
 ving Divine Effencc from 
 none, 
 e The Son is of the Father, ha- 
 ze ving Divine Efience from 
 the Father. 
 
 vtrhe word God imports the 
 having true Divine EfTence.T'he 
 term Son implies the having the 
 fame from the Father, whence 
 properly he is called both God, 
 and the Son' of God •, but as he 
 cannot be called Father, fo nei- 
 ther can he be faid to have eiTence 
 of himfelf. Or from no other- yec : 
 what endeavours are made to 
 K excufe 
 
J J o Truth, clef end eti , 
 
 excufetfccre things , by^cellmg 
 u$, that when the Son of G8d^ 
 as God , is faid to have EfTence 
 of hi mfei^^ii nothing elfe'tisihti- 
 iriated , but that Eifence Divine 
 proceeds not from any. -But if 
 they are fHffaled to do thus :; no- 
 thing can be fo depravedly fpo- 
 ken,which an excufe may not pa- 
 • tronize:;Akhough God and Ef- 
 ^ ^ . fence IDiflfer not * ^^eoJioi-^ifti 
 allv*^" ^' whatever is predicaWe - of the 
 later, may not be predicated of 
 the firft.'iiecaure difttnguifhablc 
 after our manner of conception, 
 to which all forms bf fpeaking 
 ought to be exacted-, therefore 
 raadeufe^fiiiat by them wemay 
 have alright perceptive ot-thkngs. " 
 Henceit 'appears we fpeaik: xight^ » 
 ly , in fay ipg OodsE (fence ii com- ' 
 municMe phut falfly ^'iHkti^oiii 
 may be cdmrnfimcated-; hcxhaci iin-r 
 derftands ;he difference -c^fixc the 
 AhftrA^i and .the Cottcreti ,» fo 
 miich • ictetrover ted" *cvi^bdt the 
 Lmhermj^^dm^ multeatfily per- 
 : ; ceive 
 
In /iuce/.cj clea red. I 3 1 
 
 ccivc how -'inafty abfuvdaies 
 wobld follow V if fuch Explitaft-^ 
 ^nsas theic w<^tt on<:e permfned 
 m:cheChi4r<b*^iFtO;<^d: ItSd^tifc 
 of no QxaxU tJ^arthwSoh ip^U 
 fhoM he aWyf'if^^ neit?her^is- it" 
 proper to fay that the' Efsmi\^f- 
 God is^comn'ion to the three ftrfilff^ 
 when it's fard t6i>e- commumc«'^ 
 ted one'.frofnc Vanothei'O F^itt 
 what I fay it^l^; openly mafhtfcft 
 iio w much \v^tm rtol^ratd^^-ifi hto 
 wiiom> we fii^p'ett no t of '^-H^fe\ 
 md on the ron^f ary how gr'^edi- 
 Jy^tvi^'fnateh'Bp'a'ny thini^to^ur- 
 I den him whom wehavelMflVfpi^ 
 : tion-, thefird is confpicuous- for 
 lihei later.' jivthi^* I^xaitipl^J Jf-lhc 
 teiftui.L'iU "io jnoijbjpei'bojnt 
 
 before Gtd^^'AP[\''tiOVtOtiM^W-{^ 
 Xtty'^elf ^^fewatMng ol^liftiifif^^ 
 : .aay^thlrtg:ii4i1^&>is n<>f thfetthani^ 
 ' TQoasfen«fe ($f^the' i-'efo^V^^nd 
 ! i^roceRantiChilrche^alfcBaiE?^^^ 
 \ good artordi with* kMtvjist^^ 
 I liiients hciein. K2 Som§ 
 
12 2 ^ T^^th defended 5 
 
 Some Gontroverfic of this na" 
 ture indeed there was afoot bc- 
 twixt Pi feat or the Naffovian 
 ProfeflCor of Divinity , and the 
 French Churches , ftated thus 5 
 yy^fthtr the obediettce and righte^. 
 tufnefs^ of Chrifl impHted to Belie- 
 vers^artdift jvhich they are righte' 
 em before God J inhere only the fajfsive 
 ^Mience of Chri ft y according to the. 
 judgement of Pilcator ; or both ac- 
 tive andjfafsive^ which in hii whole 
 lifehe yeelded to the Law of God ^ 
 and that hoi nefs -whereih hee was 
 eonceiv>ed^ as the Gallick Churchel 
 believed} 
 
 For my part, I never durft fink 
 into this queftion, oraffume the 
 examination thereof, being fatif- 
 fied,;the Profelfors of the fame 
 Bjeligioii may diffent from one a- 
 nother herein, falving the unity 
 of Faith and Chriftian Peace ^ 
 the Advcrfaries one to another 
 fcciping^tp beof the fame minde 
 in mtvial toleration and bro- 
 therly 
 
I/imce/icy cleared. 153 
 
 thcrly forhearanee, although in 
 onr Countrey fpfne be of anQtbcr 
 judgement, 
 
 A Queftion is mov'd from the 
 words of the Apoftle Mom,4» 
 [] Faith was ae count td for right e* 
 <?Af/«fjff]whethcr it be underftood 
 properly, fo that faith as an ad 
 done according to the Evange- 
 lical Precept, be imputed before 
 Cod to or for righteoufnefs, anc> 
 that by grace, in as much as it is 
 not the righteoufnefs of the Law; 
 or whether it be to be underftood 
 figuratively, and improper ly,that 
 the righteoufnefs of thrift ap- 
 prehended by Faith, be imputed 
 to us for righteoufnefs ^ or thus, 
 whether Righteoufnefs (into, or 
 for which faith is imputed) bee 
 the inftrumental work thereof, 
 as fome affert. I have followed 
 the firft opinion , in the Thefes 
 of Juftification difputed under 
 mCy Nortfrdctse not rigidly, yet , ^ 
 fimtliMir, plainly, as elfcwherc*^'"'- 
 K 3 ia 
 
J 34 7futh defended y 
 
 judg^d-unfouAd'inttedodrine of 
 mans Juftification • but'this Wftbe 
 mpre clearly manifeft in a mutu- 
 alciS^rfer^nce in its'duc f^afon: 
 For rBc prefent briefly thus o>I 
 i^tH'^Vt ih j^fti'ficMi'o'/i'of finners' fy 
 ^ep-lt^i^edierki '^cf^'dhdfl ^jnd that 
 hu Rtgyteot^ntrf/U tio^m^lj/ mm tot; 
 rimiekfifi fir y^h{gh^fhe condoftatioH 
 ^^'ff As' granted t^^L flivvers , - ahU 
 T^efutedns jfij^ dsdf^ 'tMj hndfkifil>- 
 led'the Larv ^e7feUlf:^butini^f^*^i> 
 ks God imputes thh'Ri£htecufifefpcf 
 Chriptobeliei/ers^CHly-^Ly^dg in ttfis 
 fen ft tP fnay he \ well , and ffopi^lj 
 faid] th at faith fsimj^Hted for Rwh- 
 teoUfnefs by grace to hi^that-'mfir 
 veth^ Qod hAijkgfht ftrth his Soh 
 Tribanal Grdtiapv;^ .'Mercy-fijip^ 
 ^erpropitiatim bj fJi-th in his blc^d. 
 ',But however my judgement is the 
 'ftrri'e with Ca:lT)ins\{^h6m norte 
 of us^ reprehends as linfoi'din thfe 
 V* : X' 'point jand am re^dy to fubfcrilsb 
 .; ^,'^ ;, -to ,wfeat he -lates d^wn in the 
 D^^fi'^Otl') ?;• /4niBl': third 
 
nnocencj cleared, 135 
 
 tnird Books -of 'his tnftitutioris 
 
 And thele are tnecnief Articles, 
 mod noble and poLcnt States , ac 
 die command' of th'^fe'SeirionsI 
 Judged n'ec^fsary to declare my 
 
 fenfe pF. '"""..,, V ■ !... ,■ " 7 , - . " ^\ 
 
 • •^•.r-: t 
 
 \ Savfe'made fo mc.^ ajfi tit:^ta^ 
 upon" .die. Confeffioi;! ofjtlxe Bel' 
 
 gickC'fmrches nnJi iiejaeiberge Ca- 
 tectoifmi^ but of .'tj(iefe a debate 
 vyill^^^.n-ioil' fecijCortal^le .141 pur 
 Syhoi ^'uibich v/ith^your confent 
 and .eyocatioii we i^ope for by 
 thefirft oppprtur]ity •, only give 
 me l^^ye.to. add_ a\yPird. or two 
 coa'cer lii rig a ce vfairve. Ci'au fe ^ 
 under. wbich^ the NQ.^e and Ppj- 
 tent, States Cedieifatl !.'conCente4 
 to i^Natmall[!^)mdxni\\isVY6^ 
 viFvce?^, which was this^^ rthat iti 
 it die ConTeflibn .anU^ Catecliii'm 
 of the Bel^i'ck^Chfifcks fliould be 
 fubjededto Examination. This 
 «hath difpleafed many , who judg- 
 K 4 ed 
 
y 3 ^ Truth defended ^ 
 
 ci it not onely unneeeffary , but 
 Very wnmeei to be done; and 
 who (hould procure this from the 
 Lords the States Generall , but a 
 perfon oJf quality and my felfe? 
 'But neither of thefe upon any 
 ground-, f6r the later, we were 
 fo far from being the authors of 
 it, that eleven or twelve years ago 
 at the great importunity of. the 
 Churches for a Nationall Synod 
 the States of ^outh-Holland and 
 Weftfriefland tould not judg it o- 
 therwife requifice to yeeld there- 
 unto by their decree, then that in 
 it the Confejfton of the Belgick^ 
 Churches fhould be brought under 
 Examinatm ♦, wc not promoting 
 any fuch thing at that time either 
 by advice or endeavour^ yet real- 
 ly if we had , we had done no- 
 thing biit our duty , and what 
 was agreeable both to Equity 
 and Reafon, and the'neceffity 
 of our prefcht Eftate. V * ' 
 
Dmocency cleared, 1 5 7 
 
 Firft , that it might appeare to all 
 the world we bear that honour 
 to the word of God alone {as 
 becomes us J that it onely is deter- 
 mined to be without ^ nay above 
 all difpiue^ beyond al exception, 
 and worthy of all acceptation. 
 
 Secondly, thefe book's being 
 the writings of men , Errour 
 maybe contain'd in them,whence 
 it behoves us to be inquifitive, 
 (yet lawfully in a Nationall Sy- 
 nod) whether there be any thing 
 that (lands need of Corredion 
 and emendation in them. 
 
 I Whether they have an agree- . 
 ment of parts with the word of ^-f'^"^' 
 God, as well according to the!,^*^'u^' 
 words themlelves and manner roughouc, 
 of fpeaking, as the genuine lenfe 
 thereof 
 
 2. Whether or no whatfocvcr 
 is Comprehended in them, be ne- 
 ccffary to be believed unto falvati- 
 
 on. 
 
i 3 8 Truth' del ended ^ 
 
 on- fo confeGJueh^y, faying health 
 ftrGnbecl: to'thofe things to which 
 iciiliOttdltilT^tiblc. 
 
 ' ' ^^.; 'HV1ietha';the CbhfelTion 
 do t'h no c c h tai ii e a n d co m p r t- 
 bend too tnait^ahtngs as rieccfTary 
 to be believed unto Calyation , 
 and tha:i faving health according 
 to that rule be refufed to be gi- 
 ven up to 'wiia't it apper tallies. 
 
 4. Whetrher^ the wbtds .a^ 
 form's of.fpeakihg made \lfe of in 
 them, are not of ambiguous accep- 
 tion , adminiftring an "occafioii 
 of contentioujfor Example, 14. 
 Art^e. ( mfef. you have thi^ paf- 
 fage , Nothing is dme witkmf f-lo'ds 
 cr2tnatlon-^\^hycrdiniitiinf be hfiediii: 
 Cods apfoifitiyig that fomething be 
 done, thePropofition is'falfe, iji 
 that it follows, that God is the 
 Author of /in •, but if the import 
 of it be , his Ordinmon td a good 
 end , its rightly underll6W. J, 
 
 I 5-Whe- 
 
Innocence cleared, ~ i 29 
 
 '5-^ Whether ther^ may not be 
 foUrirf thiiigs repugnant one to a- 
 m\.\Xtt. '^xJGy. a perfon much 
 honoured in the Church, writes 
 tb Vij^ator ^ the- Naffovian Pro- 
 ftflol* wiilles him to adhere to the 
 Hty^elberge Catechifm ^ in 'his 
 Ij^o<!Jt:nne of JuftiHcation cites to 
 this purpofe three places , which 
 he thought at' variance with the 
 judgement of Pifcanr, The Pro- 
 f(&ffor returns, lor his part he did 
 ftedfaftly abide in the (enfe oFtht 
 CaEiechifm,ariedgeLh for his proof 
 "^s/cn or twelve places thence. 
 ■N<>W I fol-einnly profefs, I fee not. 
 Itow thefe places'-^dmit of recon- 
 <:{[imon. - ' 
 
 - " 3. ['Whetlier all things in thefe 
 writings hedigcRed in that right 
 '<d?tder and method the Scripture 
 "'i^^quires them'to be. ' • 
 
 -"i'-y: Whether al^things be moft 
 aptly cqnftitutcd'for the prefer- 
 \v^ti6nof peac6'and iinity with 
 -jki-l'lieiormed Clvurches. . 
 
 3 Reafoa 
 
1 40 Truth dtjended'^ 
 
 _ 5 Reafon. The end of a Na" 
 tional Synod, is, diligently ta. 
 confulc the right ofifering.the 
 iaffairs of the Church, to which 
 chiefly belongs, a Po^^rinal Scru-^ 
 tiny, as well thati which by Una^ 
 nimpus confent is admitted of, 
 as what fome Teachers earneftly 
 contend for. 
 
 4 Re3fon. Such an Examinati* 
 on as this will not only procure 
 authority to thefc writings,wh€n 
 after a Mature and rigid Scru- 
 tiny they fhall be found concor- 
 ding with the Word of God, or 
 more and more conformed there- 
 unto ^ but alfo raifc the credit 
 of the Minifters in the minds of 
 men, when they perceive the 
 truth reveald in the Book of God 
 tobcfodeare, and of that great 
 account wirh them, that they 
 will fpare no pains to fet their 
 Dodrine in a greater Confor- 
 mity thereunto. 
 
 5 Reafon. Why if at any 
 time, now efpecially we Judge 
 
 fuck 
 
lunocency cleared, 141 
 
 fuch a thing neceftary, bccaufe 
 there arc many Miniftcrs having 
 iome Meditations by them upon 
 fcveral things contained in the 
 ienfejfton and Catechijme^ wWdi 
 they fecretly rcferve, not revea- 
 ling them to any, hoping to de- 
 bate them in a National Synod-; 
 this being promifed them, fome 
 fuffer themfelves to be perlwaded 
 not to permit their thought* 
 herein to fee the light. ^ 
 
 Further •, The end of a Nation 
 ml Sjmd (hould be this. Thai it 
 may plcafe the Noble and Pccenc 
 Lords and States to eftablifh 
 fome Ecclefiaftick Sanctions by 
 publick authority, according tO 
 which everyone ought to frame 
 himfelf in the Church of God. 
 That this may be obtained from 
 your moft illuftrious Highnefles, 
 and others able to execute the 
 fame with a good Confcience, its 
 neceffary They underftand the 
 DoEirine comprehended in the fgrmi 
 dfumtj to Ipc ConfemvinfOHs ta ph^ 
 
 Word 
 
14 2 Truth deff^ded '^ 
 
 VVordpfG'di-:. This ought i)e'ari 
 mdueemcnt te us to prefenDanii 
 offer, the cva^i-pi nation of.ouit 
 C<):iifeirio 11 fe for e;. the. ^Su pxenn^ 
 States, either to; fli'ew its. a;gree-» 
 meotvvith the.Word oF-Godydc 
 toi? i:ender it fuitable thdcctiti^ 
 16. - \.;:. ■ •■ v-i 
 
 rnjS. Reafon^jisdrawnfroiti^ihe 
 eA*ampie of the Aflbciatcsofth^ 
 ^^Ug^firtn Confejfiovi'^'XhQ Ht'Jvjjtr 
 an and Fremh t h^mhjps'^ wh^imt 
 above two ,o^ three yeeres a- 
 gb .y. inrif he:d :. tiheir (^ onfcfiiQn 
 with. a oew.eiilke Aviklt^-^^md 
 the. Belgicfcits fejf, fince its^^fiyjS: 
 Edition , hath uijdergoneia Scruf 
 Ui^y^^i^ .XyMtrgilion fromifft-], 
 addition t^ '^^Ji^i:,m\xmii^nh^^ 
 
 f.il. ;w.aye otte i Reatfods rtfiat 
 might be brought, judging- thai> 
 fMflrieient to prove' that the Chwfi 
 for E^^mimti.cn:M\A i2f t^/firrf ais 
 <hey call, it, is ;. rightly infeCtedrie 
 the Infir-TimerJ. cf.t^c/^ferJt ^O^whtth 
 W^ention was madf; even now. 
 
In/toce/icy cleared. 1 4 3 
 
 I arh not ignorant' what Alle- 
 gations are made againft thefe, 
 cfpeciaily that puhlifhed abroad- 
 every wht re, and judged to carryi 
 the greateft weight ( to which I 
 think it requifice to make an-- 
 {^"^tt-^That to review the DoElrirte • 
 of the Chptrch^ would he to cnH the 
 fame into (jHeli ion, 'w\\ich neither* 
 onght, nor is fit to be done. 
 
 I . Becaiife it's approved by the 
 fiiifrage of many grave and lear- 
 ned i^prf-, andftifly defended a- 
 gajriflr-^- %\\ the oppofers there- 
 
 cj^ r>ooM V; . .!• 
 
 2! <>ea!*-d with the blood of ^^ 
 
 man^^-^hdufand Maptyps. 
 
 3 .From hence wonld arife con-' 
 fufiohsf'/'fcandals, rdirie of con- 
 fcienceswithirt^the Chtirch, deri- 
 fio nc ^ireproa<:hes, kftd cri rnitta ti- -^ 
 ons^itfjQUt. -^^3 --• t. 
 jtrnoi ■ M-nuiJlitflj'; 
 
 ia ^rn)3od 8i,ij noqu 3i . ii Tg^ 
 
144 Truth defended ^ 
 
 To all thcfe I reply, i . 'Twere 
 better this odious kinde of fpeak- 
 ingfuch as to call into qucftiorlj 
 &;the likc.were not; ufcd but when 
 only humane Writings are under 
 debate,which may have a mixture 
 of Error in them : What reafon. 
 is there to fay fucha Writing is 
 called into qweftion, Tyhich\was ne-^ 
 ver queflionUfs ^nox ever ought tQr 
 be fo reputed? 
 
 ' 2.Thedefenceof any Writing 
 againft its adverfaries, the appro- 
 bation of learned men, theobfig- 
 nation thereof with the blood of 
 Martyrs, fuffice not to make a 
 Doftrine authentick-, thefe Mar- 
 tyrs and Teachers beinglial?le to 
 crre, which is not to be denyed in 
 this Argument. , .. ; ^. . 
 
 3. The Materials ofitJ^e 0«- 
 fefsion admit of difcrimiriatiortv:'* 
 fome touth the foundation of fal- 
 vation,and are the very funda- 
 mentals of Chriftianity^ fome on- 
 ly are built upon this botcm, and 
 
 arc 
 
Innocencj cleared. 145 
 
 are nOt abfolutcly in thcmfdvcs 
 neceffary to eternal blifs. The 
 former are approv d of by the 
 unanimous confent of all reform- 
 er$,and ftrongly defended againft 
 all gainfayers- the later difputed 
 to and fro amongft them , and 
 fome of thefe not without fomc 
 (hew of truth oppugned by their 
 Adverfaries. To the firft of thefe 
 the Martyrs have fet to their feal 
 in blood-, to the laft not at all. It's 
 worthy our diligent obfervation 
 what was propounded to thefe 
 Witneffes of Religion in our 
 time , and for what their own 
 lives were not dear unto them- 
 which if we do, we (hall find they 
 were never queftion'd about any 
 thing judged worthy ( by me Jof 
 a debate in the Synod •, therefore 
 not fealed with the blood of any. 
 To alledge an example^When the 
 quellion was concerning the ele- 
 venth Cap. to the Romans , 'twas 
 afferted by feme, That that place 
 was cited in the Margin of the 
 L Con- 
 
24^ Ivuih dtjendtd 5 
 
 ~~ Co^feffion,andd)iat in hisfiecife 
 W'HiO avouched theiame, and %hm 
 
 ftonmxh their>kM. hniwQt was, 
 if theexadeftfearch weremMe 
 through the great Book of Mar- 
 tyrs fet forth by the French^ 
 'twould not be found that eveir 
 any of them were fp muehas ex- 
 amin'd conjcerning it, or (hed the 
 kaft drop of their blood for it -.la 
 brief, the. blood: of thofe facred 
 Witneflfes confirmed this^ l^hatm 
 the hitegrtyuyidff multeity xsf tht it 
 confciemes they prof effed the Fakh-^ 
 andnot that their Confeffion was 
 beyond all Reproof and Excepti- 
 on, unlefs they had been fo led 
 into all truth By Chrift thatthey 
 could not erre. 
 
 ^4. If the Church were rightly 
 intruded in the Diferejf^e which 
 is> and ever ought to be'twixt 
 Divine and Humane WritingSs 
 and of thatiiberty the Ghurch 
 arid all other Chri^^ians are law- 
 :nr > ' fully 
 
Innoxencj cleared. 147 
 
 fully invefted with, of regulating 
 the later by the former , they 
 would neither vex themfelyes, 
 nor be offended when they fee all 
 the writings of men brought to 
 the probative touchftone of Gods 
 Word, but rather 'twould b6 
 matter of great Joy to the 
 Church, that God had beftowed 
 fuch Paftors and Teachers upon 
 it,who might jttftly and fitly (due 
 order aiwayes bbferv'd , to the 
 Teft. of the Scriptures J level 
 their Dodrineaccordingly, that 
 it might every way accord,and ih 
 the leaft things perfectly agre^ 
 therewith. 
 
 5. TTiefeaf of ertfoing trouble, 
 the Scorns, Cavillings and Crimi-' 
 nations of difaffeded perfons 
 ought not to render a Doctrine 
 once received hfs ohnoxiojis toexa' 
 tntnation-^ they might rather turii 
 it to their advantage , when 
 'twould be manif^ft, fuch perfons 
 as would do this , were not 
 L 2 found 
 
1^8 "^ yt^^h defended ; 
 
 found in their Religion, it being 
 of Divine injundion to fe Arch ^nd 
 try theffirits whether thtj were of 
 Col 
 
 If thcfe Confiderations had 
 been of any moment mihLuther, 
 Zwingltm^ and others , the Doc- 
 trine of the Pontifciar es had ne- 
 ver been brought to the teft by 
 them- neither thofe who follow 
 the Augpiftine Confeffion had jud- 
 ged it reafonable to fubject it to 
 a new Examination, and change 
 it in fome places thereof. Wc 
 cannot but approve this deed, 
 and judge Luther not to have 
 done well, being admonifticd by 
 Hhilif MeUnEthon in the dofe of 
 his life, (as it's teftified in writing 
 by our Countrey-men) to reduce 
 the Eucharifticaj Controyerfie of 
 the Lords Supper to fome better 
 agreement, in refufing fo to do 
 upon this ground, retorted upon 
 rhtlif , as 'tis reported of him. 
 
 That 
 
Innocencj cleared. 14^ 
 
 ThAt ky this means the vhcle Ds- 
 i Brine Jhould he called into queftioH'^ 
 for if rcafons of this nature had 
 been admitted , then the endea- 
 vors of the Church of Rome had 
 been lawful in hindring the con-, 
 troverting and queftioning by 
 any new fcrutiny the Dodrine 
 received in the Church for . fo 
 many hundred yeers. 
 
 To this it*s oppofed. If the do- 
 drineof the Churches fliould be 
 fubjeded to a new Examination, 
 at the Celebration of every Na- 
 tional Synod, they would never 
 have any thing on which they 
 might reft and firmly lean ^ and 
 that it might be truly faid of 
 thefe Churches, That they had^- 
 dem anniverfariam^zn. anual faith, 
 and were carried about hither and 
 thither with every winds of Da- 
 Eirine, To which I anfwer, 
 
 Firft,Thc Church hzve Mofes 
 
 and the Prophets, the Evangelifts 
 
 L 3 and 
 
Truth defended 5 
 
 ^iid Apoftle^ , (i.e.) the wh<)Je 
 Scripture of the Did & New Te- 
 ftanaent wherein the neceflanes' 
 ^6 fklvaeion a^^fuily and eleftrly 
 comprehended - '-Vpn this' "' the 
 Church Jh all btiil'dtt /faith ^ and pay 
 thereon 04 ufonm immoifahlejom-^ 
 dfition^ into will ch , notwi thft and- 
 ing ourConfeffibn^ & Gatechifms' 
 every determih^t?on in all cauies- 
 > of Faith and Religion ought to 
 ^ be'-rdbivU^^'-^^q^iO '-''!" 
 
 ■ ■^. There* are fchme])oi in the' 
 
 Cohfcilipn fo cer-tain and indubi* 
 
 =* Ex> G/ . ous, that they wtH 'never be qUe^ 
 
 Whether pian'd By any baf "^ Heretick^- 
 
 ^c5on of ^^^^^ branches are of thd^tm- 
 
 God T ° ^^^^^hat 'twere; Very adyantagl- 
 
 Whether ^us, as oft as ttiay be , to have 
 
 the foul them debated amongft learned 
 
 be im- and God-feartng men , tharthey 
 
 morcai ? ^^ ^^ ranked as neer as pofsibly 
 
 they can, with points of greater 
 
 certainty. 
 
 '3U>It would be endeavoured 
 
 that 
 
Innocencj cleared, I 5 I 
 
 that the Cotifefsion be made up 
 ofas'ftw heads ^s tnay be , itid 
 thoft briefly fraitiedin Scripture- 
 terrhSj omitting all larger Expli- 
 cations , Proofs I Digrefllori's- 
 h^af)ings together of words and 
 fenteiices. Amplifications, Excla- 
 mation^, ahd onely'deliveririg 'iii 
 it thie heceffarie^ to falv^tion. 
 
 'tlte brevity wilf r'ehtfer it" l^ft 
 obnoxious to Erft)rsi, Obloqtfy', 
 and fixifflihatioti^'taking for Out 
 cxiamblethe praAift of th^ pri- 
 mitive Church,, which gave 4 
 draught of thfe/ Articles judged 
 iieceffdi^y to be bfeliiyed in ydy 
 few words. ■ ' ]^'-^ ■ ''. ' ''/ . 
 
 %6^\h^^t^ rnafe-^tfi- 
 fiindrbri b^twiit ' the Confefsioft 
 and Catechifm,as tba review ,anli 
 judge the former (becaufe proper 
 to the Belgick^ Chm-ches^ and ndt 
 fo much made ufc of . by others'^ 
 may with lefs difficulty fall undir 
 a S^ynodicai review antl exitnink ■ 
 L 4 tion 
 
1^2 Truth defended 
 
 tion-, bui the Catcchifm not 
 being peculiar tons , but chiefly 
 appertaining to the Palatinate 
 Churches, and of general ufe and 
 concernment, cannot without 
 great detriment be brought to 
 the teft. To which I anfwer , If 
 the Catechifme of Hejdelberg 
 muft needs be the form of con- 
 cord amongft the Teachers of 
 the Churches, and to which every 
 of them is bound to fubfcribe, its 
 neceffary to fubjed the fame to 
 Examination-, for there are no 
 Churches ought to be in that 
 place unto us, that we (hould fo 
 admit of any writing compofed 
 by them, as not to prcferve our 
 Liberty of e^-amining the fame. 
 And this I look upon as the prin- 
 cipal caufe why the Churches of 
 feveral Provinces agreeing in the 
 Fundamcntafe of Religion, have 
 framed their Confefsions peculiar 
 to every of them. Letitbegran^ 
 ted that the Heyddheri^ Catc- 
 chifm is no fuch form and liberty 
 
 con- 
 
I/iKCcersCy cleared, i^^ 
 
 conceded in its Explication as is 
 fitting, and 'cwil not be neceflary 
 cither to review or examine the 
 fame ^ the burden only of Tub* 
 fcription thereunto removed, 
 and moderate liberty yeeided in 
 the unfolding thereof 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 AND this Is that(moft Noble, 
 Potent . Wife, and prudent 
 Lords) I have to propofe to your 
 HighneflTes ^ together with are- 
 turne of thanks to this Noble and 
 Potent Affembly (to which ne^rt 
 after God himfelfe , I acknow- 
 aedg my felfe bound to give an 
 account of^ali my adions) that 
 of your Clemency yoa have 
 Vouchfafed to heare me patient- 
 ly ^ with my folcmne proteflati- 
 ons that I am ready to entertainc 
 a fraternal and amicable confer- 
 ence with rty fellow brethren 
 concerning thefe things , or any 
 other about which a: any time 
 
 any 
 
1 5 4 Truth defended ; 
 
 any controverfie ttijty jif ifc , at 
 what time or place, br upon what 
 occafioii foever it fhall be judged 
 tequifite by thefe Selllohs. And 
 I further engage : ill eVer'y debate 
 to yeeld my felf iti"()derjiteand 
 flexible , not lefs prompt to learn 
 then teaeh ; And in .as much as 
 in every thing to be conferrM of 
 amongft us, there are two things 
 attendable , Firft , whether that 
 in debatebe true , and then whe- 
 ther it be neceffary to be believed 
 unto falvation ( the Scriptures 
 being the ground of our inquiry 
 in both) I do Sacredly affirm and 
 folemhiy oblige my felfe not to 
 obtriidc ^ny point to be believed, 
 my brethrefi diiTenting from mc 
 therein, though proved by folid 
 arguments to confent with the 
 Scriptures, unlefle I h^ye clearly 
 Evincddic from the Divine word 
 ft felfe , iind as dilucidly true ,fo 
 alfo netefsary to be believed by 
 every Chriftian to falvation^ 
 which if my brethren will be pre- 
 pared 
 
I/imcency cleared. 
 
 ^55 
 
 pared to tfo,Tny opinion is /there 
 will rcar(;eaji3jr debate or Schlfme 
 be amongit' us. And further I 
 adde •, (.that r may take away all 
 fearc and jealoufy that on, my 
 part .may hang upon this Noble 
 AiTembly, how charged ahd bur- 
 dened withAvei^hty affaires, irpon 
 which the peace and' proipetity 
 of our Nation and the reform^'d 
 Churches depend) there will cer- 
 tainly be very many things, and 
 thofe of a high nature which I 
 ihall beare. with in my fellow 
 brethren, not being Lord of a- 
 nother mans faith,but a Minifter 
 in this to thofe that believe,thac 
 in them may grow the Knowledge 
 truth, piety, peace, and joy in 
 Ckrift Jefus our Lord. But if my 
 fellow-brethren fee not how they 
 can attQletatc me ajod grant mt a 
 place amongft them, yet notwith- 
 ftanding for that which concern's 
 my felf, I hope no rent or diviii- 
 on will enfue, which God avert *, 
 there are Schifms enough already 
 
 in 
 
1^6 Truth defended'^ 
 
 ir\ the Chriftian world ^ its in- 
 cumbent rather upon every one 
 to diminifh and abolifh them. In 
 this cafe. Tie poffefs my foulein 
 patience: and my place (though I 
 fhali indeavourto live fo long as 
 God (hall prorogue my life for 
 the common good of Chriftiani- 
 ty^ I will lay downe ^ mindful! of 
 that 
 
 Sat E celeste, Sat PatrU datum. 
 
 .1 >i.U 
 
 FJNIS. 
 
Thefe hooks follow' ng art to he fold 
 h) Henry Everfde*i^ at the Grey 
 honndin Pauls Chptrch-yard, 
 
 ANExpofition with Pradi- 
 cal Obfervations on the 
 Nine firft Chapters of the Pro- 
 verbs, by Francis Tajilor Minillcr 
 of Cariterhffry , in quarto. 
 An EArpofition , with Pradicall 
 Ob fervations on the whole Book 
 of Canticles in quarto, by John 
 Rchotham}Aini{kcr of the Gofpel. 
 An Jdea^ or body of Church- 
 difcipline in the Theorick and 
 Pradick , by Hr.Rcgers , in quar- 
 to. 
 
 Imfutatio Fidci , Or a Treatifc 
 ofjullification^whcrcin the impu- 
 tation of Faith for Righteoufnefs 
 (mentioned in Romans 4. 5. 6th,') 
 is ex flamed:, by Mr. J;/?^ Goodwin^ 
 Minillerof the Gofpel, in quar- 
 to 
 
 The Right of Dominions , or the 
 Prerogative of Kings , proved 
 
 from 
 
ftom Scripture , ' by Dr. Wef- 
 
 Lucas Eedivivus-:^ or the Goi- 
 pel-Phyfltian , prefcribing (by 
 way of meditation ) divine Phy- 
 Cck to prevent difeafcs , not yet 
 entred ,upon the fonj , by John 
 AnthonjfhodiOT in Phyiick, in 
 quarto. : - i - 
 
 Jlfercy in her Exaltation y a Ser- 
 mon preached at the Funerallof 
 Mx.Th&mas Taylor ^ by Mr. John 
 Coorivtn y in quarto. 
 
 jinahapifts Merihahy or Wa- 
 ters of ftrife , being an anfwer to 
 Mr: Tho. Z^»^^, Merchant j by 
 Mr. Price one of Mr. John Go&aL" 
 mns Congregation. 
 
 The natural mans cafe ftated , 
 or an exad map of the Jittle 
 world , man , in feventcen Ser- 
 mons, by Mr. Christopher Love-^ to 
 which is added a Sermon preach- 
 ed at his Funeral , by Mr. Thomas 
 Manton o^Newington tn %o, 
 
 Gods glory in mans happinefs^ 
 or the freenefs of Gods grace 
 
 ele(a- 
 
elcftingus', by Fraticls Taylor q^ 
 (^anterbt^ry , in 8 a. 
 - The Lords Prayer uhclafped , 
 being a vindication of it , againft 
 ail fchifmaticks and Hereticks, 
 called Enthufiafis and FratracilU^ 
 by James Har"0eod ^ B. D. 
 
 HipfoUtpis Tranflated out of. 
 Sineca , by Edm, Preftvptck Gcf- 
 pel pu^/ickjvofjhip , or the Tranf- 
 iation,Metaphrafe,Analyfis , and 
 Expofition of Remans 12. from 
 verf, I 5 to StL defcribing and 
 prefcribing the corapleat pattern 
 o(GoJpeiworJhip, 
 
 Aifo an Expolition of the 1 8 th 
 Chapter' of Matthew-^ to whicq 
 is added a difcovery of -'^dams 
 three-fold eftatein Paradife, viz. 
 Moral , Legal , and Evangelical , 
 by Thomas Brewer ^ in 8^. 
 
 A Comment on Knth together 
 with two Sermons , one teaching 
 how to live wel , theother mind- 
 ing howtodyewel^ by Thomas 
 Fuller Author of the Holy State. 
 
 Pearls of Eloquence , or the 
 fchool 
 
fchool of Complements , wherein 
 Ladies, and Gentlewomen may 
 accomodate their Coartly prac-' 
 tife, by Wi/L Eld^r Gent, in 1 2. 
 
 The dodrinc of laying on of 
 bands vindicated and afferted , 
 being an Anfwcr to Lieut. Col. 
 Taul Hobjcn , in quarto. 
 
 The Male of the Flocks aScr- 
 mofl preached before the Lord 
 Mayor , out of the ^th oi Aiala- 
 chy , by Mr. Agg/u Minifter of 
 Chjn^s, 
 
 Thife Bockj are now in the Frefs 
 arJ ready to 'Puhlijh^ 
 
 Riverm Vniverfall body of 
 Phyfick, in Englifh folio. 
 
 The feventh day Sabbath 
 fought out and Celebrated by 
 
 Mr. John Goodwin in anfwer to 
 Mr. KendalL and Mr. Rejbury^ 
 and Mr. Fanfon, 
 
V/»r OuefttQns exhibited by the Tiepnttcs 
 cfthe Sjnod^to the noble hords the "Re- 
 guUiors of the Uf^iiverjity of Leyden ^ to 
 the intent theProeJfors of dtvinity there 
 (hcuid anjvper theretinto ^ xQith their re- 
 jpeBive Solutions^ and oppojtte ftMir>g of 
 the i^tie[t ions by James Armimm ^ iVt- 
 vemher 1605. 
 
 The Deputies qiieftion. 
 
 [t.'^J^JHether EUBipn or Faith] 
 V V forefeen have the prior it ^^ as, 
 thatths later flyofsld be the greundof the 
 formir, 
 
 ThcOppofitcftatingof the que- 
 ftion. 
 
 I. whether the Decree of Faiths donati- 
 on be aKtecedaKeousto that of determining 
 Faiths neCeffity to falvation, 
 
 Sclntion. 
 
 I Cannot anfwer to this queftion but by 
 a difcinftion, bccaufe of that equivoca- 
 - M tioa 
 
tion that is lodged in the word Eleftion-, 
 If Eledion fignifie that Decree which is 
 according to Eiedion, of jaftifying and 
 faving thofe that believe, then I fay, Eie- 
 dion is prccedaneous to Eaith , as that 
 which determines it to be a fiieans of fal- 
 vation,butif the import of Eiedion be 
 a Divine Decree of giving life andfalva- 
 tion, then faith hath the priority ♦, for as 
 believers only arcfaved^ fa they only arc 
 predeftinatea to eternal life. The Scrip- 
 ture is unacquainted with that Eiedion 
 by which God precifely and abfolutdy 
 hath determined the lalvation of any 
 perfon without conCdcration and refped 
 linto Faith;, nay, fuch an Eiedion would 
 no way accord with that decree where- 
 By he hath determined to fave none but 
 thofe that believe. 
 
 7 he Deputies qt4ej}ie>?. ^^ 
 2yVhet her thence it w.h'U follow that Ood 
 yfere the Amh%r of fin ^ if he (honld bee 
 jaid hjhis eternal decree to have dstirmifi- 
 ed and direlied the depraved wills of m:n 
 1 4 eertmn g$od and laudable ends, 
 
 chf 
 
The Oppofite ftating of the qucftion. 
 
 iVh ether to direSt and determine all and 
 every particHUr things even ti.e tU-difpC" 
 fed wills of men to certain good ends^ be i he 
 jame with that decree that vfanfhould Jin 
 '^%nd become vitiou^, that by this way might 
 be made for putting nto executton that fe- 
 remptcry decree cf God of condemnirg jome 
 through wr at h^ and faving others by his 
 mercy. 
 
 Solution^ 
 
 Sin is the tranfgrcflion of the Lavv-^ 
 therefore fhould God be the Author if 
 fin, if by his efficiency the Law be bro- 
 ken^v^^hich comes to pafs either by deny- 
 ing or fubftrafting that vvhicTi is neceffa- 
 rily rcquiiite to its impletion , or by an 
 impulfion to fin : If therefore Cods dc-* 
 termination of mans depraved will be 
 neither a fubftra^tion nor fufpenfien of 
 his grace, neither any evill impulfe/hc 
 cannot be thought the Author of finj 
 but if the determination in the queftioft 
 denote that decree of God , whereby be 
 determined mans commiffion of fin,an<f 
 Ma ifa€ 
 
the depravation of his vvil, he mufc needs 
 fall under this imputation. 
 
 The Deputies queftion. 
 
 ■2. whether Oripnalfif^ of it [elfn>ithmt a' 
 iisial.tranfgrcfjion^ makjs men obnoxious to 
 ettrnal death ^ or whether the gtiilt there- 
 of by the i'/iterpfttre of Chrifi^ , be taken 
 , away from every one. 
 
 The oppofite ftating of the queftion. 
 
 3 JVh ether to condemn fome' for Adams 
 (in alone ^and others for re]eEi'ing the Gofpeiy 
 l>evot a twofold decree of corJ.emnation^and 
 a twofold judgment , the one Legal , the c?- 
 ther Evangelical ? 
 
 S dim ion. 
 
 The contrariety in the queftion eafily 
 admits of an agreement^ Original Sin 
 may oblige to Eternal death, and yet the 
 guilt taken away from all men by Chrift. 
 A removall of guilt fuppofeth men ob- 
 noxious and culpable. But to anfwer to 
 
 the 
 
the queftion, It is ill-phrafed to fay , that 
 Original Sin makes men guilty of death, 
 being it is the punifhment of Adams adu- 
 all tranfgredion , which punifhment his 
 guile preceded, ( /. ^ ) his obligation to 
 iuflFer according to the denounciation of 
 the Law. 
 
 To the fecond branch of the queftion 
 weanfwer, by diftinguifhing *twixtthe 
 impetration and appHcation of the bene- 
 fits of Chrift- Since that by faith onely' 
 the beneats of Chrift are appropriated to 
 us, fure I am if freedome from guilt be to 
 -be numbredamongft thera,then believers 
 only obtain this freedom, as thofeupon 
 whom the wrath of God abides not. 
 
 The Deputies queftion. 
 
 4 jyk ther the vfforkj of unre generate p^r- 
 fois t^y.iMgjrom thepdwer of Nature , »»4y 
 fo f[*^.fe God 04 to md.Hce him to -a colUt:o'^i 
 of [i{perno,:ur all grace. 
 
 The Oppofite ftating of the queftion. 
 
 4 whether the jeriom [enfe of fm an.i 
 M 3 
 
ittitt^l ffdr may fo plfAfe God as ta move 
 him to remit fin , and heget in them filial 
 fear. 
 
 Solution. 
 To him that hath (hall be gtven , faith 
 QhxVk^<in(ifrom him thathath not fhal he ta^ 
 ' kfn'avpay even that whtch he hath ; not 
 that there is any fuch dignity and worth 
 in theufe and improvement of any colla- 
 ted good, either in nature or grace, that 
 by the merit thereof God (hould be 
 'drawn to beftow greater thin gs, upon us^ 
 but fuch is the bounty and Hberality of 
 that Supreme Being, that though they be 
 unworthy, yet will he remunerate with a 
 large beneaidion. f^<^x placey/di ^ the 
 word [pleafe] hath a double fenfe , and 
 therefore weanfwer accordingly •, Firft, 
 ijffirmativeiy, that the works of unrege* 
 nerate perfbns may pleafe God, (i. e.) be 
 of acceptation with him : Then negative- 
 ly, that they do not pleafe him for their 
 proper wprtqand excellency, though we 
 may fay, good works morally are remu^ 
 nerable, not fo much from the ftrcngth 
 of nature, as from the opcrat;ion of the 
 Woly Spirit in them. 
 
 The 
 
The Deputies qucftion. 
 
 5 whether God de Jure may exa^ of 
 fallen mxn faith in ihrt^^ to which of 
 himfelfhe ts wholly impotent ? Cr whether 
 he affords a fujficier,cy of ^race to all per" 
 fans to whom the Go^el is preached^ by 
 rvhich they are capacitated to bcltfve, 
 
 Thcoppofitcftatingof the qucftion. 
 
 5 whether God hy right may recjnire 
 Arrj man to b.lteve sn Chrififor whom by An 
 abfolfite decree he determined that Chrifi 
 Jhcu'dnot dte , a»d to whom he hath deter- 
 mined by thejame decree to deny grac: ni- 
 ce jf arte 10 believe, > 
 
 Solution, 
 
 The parts of the qucftion are not op.- 
 pofite, but do very well agree ;, the later 
 part giving a reafon of the former, viz. 
 Why God may require faith in Chrift 
 fro m collapfed man , of himfelf debili- 
 tated and unable thereunto , as having 
 M 4 deter- 
 
determined to give him a fufficiency of 
 means by which he might believe: The 
 queftion may be thus correAcd^WhethcF 
 of right God may demand faith in Chrift 
 from fallen man, of himfclf utterly inca- 
 pacitated thereunto , though he neither 
 give, nor were ready to givefufficient 
 grace by which he might believe. 
 
 To which queftion the anfwer {hall be 
 given in the negative, that God cannot 
 of right require faith in Chrift from fal- 
 len man, of himfelf utterly incapacitated 
 thereunto, though he neither give nor 
 were ready to give grace fuflicient to ca- 
 pacitate him thereunto^ neither do I per- 
 ceive any falfity in this anfwer or incli- 
 iiation therein to hereJie: It does not 
 Pelagianizc, becaufe PcUgius denied a- 
 ny internal grace befides the preaching 
 of the Gofpe!, to be neceffary to beget 
 faith in the mindesof men •, nay more, 
 this anfwer offends not St Aufims Do- 
 drine of Predeftination , which yet we 
 have no nerefiity to aflert, as Inrmcntim 
 the Roman Bifhop thought: 
 
 rh 
 
 ■ye 
 
The Deputies queftion; 
 
 6 Whether pBifyifig faith be the ejfcEh 
 and ^me guift of God alone , callings tRw 
 minattng and reforming t ho IV ill ^ and that 
 ■prober onely to fe'Jons e/eLlciifrimeter-^ 
 mtj: 
 
 The Oppofitc Rating of tlie queftion. 
 
 6 W'^ether that' may be termed a pture 
 
 gift which is offered by the mecr liberality 
 .of the ^iver , and yet may be refufcd by 
 the peifon to whom n is offered -, or whethtr 
 a vqIh :tary acceptance makj n miworthy of 
 the Kane of a gift ♦, And \\>hnker faith bee 
 given to thofeVjiit ^rc to b^f^ved , or fa- 
 vatisn te the faithful'^ O- whether both 
 may befaid tn a dtvjrs refpecl -^ which if it 
 befo^is ihre no; in 'h'j<: decrees a cvrcle 
 in vohich there i-s ft^athir h-ginntJ-ig nor 
 
 end. 
 
 So^ 
 
Soluptoff, 
 
 The queftion being double, the aafwer 
 muft be accordingly : To the firft I anr^ 
 fwer, that faith is the effed of God illii- ' 
 minacing the mind , fealing the heart 
 and h's pure gift. To the fecond I anfwer 
 by diitinguiihing of Eledion , which 
 word if it be underftood of eledion to 
 faiviition , which being proper to the 
 faithftiii according to the Scripture , we 
 jcannoc fay, that faith is given to the E- 
 ledjOrthofewho are to be faved-, but 
 that the faithful are eleded and faved j 
 but if it be taken for that decree, by 
 which God hath determined to admini- 
 ficr means neceffary to faith , I fay that, 
 faith is the gift of God, which is confer-*-: 
 red on them alone whom he hath chofcn* 
 to this, viz. to hear the Word of God,and 
 participate of the Holy Spirit. 
 
 The 
 
The Deputies quefcion. 
 
 7 V^hcther every perfon truly faithfull 
 may and ought to bee w tl is life certatn of 
 his Salv attorn. 
 
 The Oppofitc fcating oFthe qiieftion. 
 
 I 7 Whether jftHrrfyjcg faith in order of 
 pfaiure precede the rim-JfiOA of fits -^ And 
 whether iitty one be boptnd to any other fast h^ 
 then that ofjuf^ificatfo'^. 
 
 Soltitlor, 
 
 When God hathpromifed eternal life 
 to all that believe, impofiible it is that he 
 who believes , and knows that he belie- 
 veth, (liould doubt of his falvation , un- 
 iefs he queftion the will of God. God 
 doe5 not require affurance of falvation 
 as a thing of right to be per formed to 
 him or his Son Chrift , butitisaconfe- 
 quent of that promife by which he hath 
 engaged to give to every Believer eternal 
 life. r i 
 
 The 
 
The Deputies queftion . 
 
 5 Whether the mtlj fahhftil andelecl 
 MAj for a time qme lo[e thetr faith, 
 
 1 he oppofite ftating of the queftion. 
 
 8 Whether any one having and retaimng 
 fai h^ may faU into fuch afiretght in which 
 if he dyed hefhofild hs damned, 
 
 SolntioY!. 
 
 Whereas eleftion to falvation com- 
 prehends not onely faith but pcrfeve- 
 rance therein, as ^-.ttgufitne faith, GOD. 
 ch^ie t emio jaivattjnwhomh: faw would 
 believe by the help of his preventing' 
 gracr^ and p?rfevcre by the alJijtance of i)is 
 Jhbfe^nent grace ; £faithful] and [[cleft^ 
 are not of right promifcuoully uled , o- 
 mitting therefore the word [eledion^ I 
 anfwer, that the [[faithful] are fometimes 
 in fuch a condition, that for fome fpacc 
 of time they produce no effed of true 
 faith, notfomuchas an aHftai apprehtr.- 
 
 [ion 
 
fwn of the grace and promifes of God, nor 
 confidence in God or Chrift, which yet is 
 neceffary to obtain Salvation : But of 
 Faielr.gs it is a quality and power of belie- 
 ving,theApoftle faith, Thaf jomeh.^vwg 
 iofi a good confcience^ have madejhiprvrack. 
 oftheirfaith. 
 
 The Deputies qucfcionr 
 
 9 y^hetherthefaithfftll by the grace of 
 the New Teftamem can tn this Itfe perfeBlj 
 keep the Law of God ? 
 
 The OppofiteftatingofthejQueftion. 
 
 9 Whether God recjuire of people tinier 
 the NevifTeftament difpenf^tion ^ that the 
 flejhjhculd not luji agamft the Sprit , as a 
 duty a; f veering to the grace of that cove^^ 
 rjant^ or no t 
 
 Solution. 
 
 Tlie performance of the Law is to be va- 
 lued according to the mind of the giver, 
 who bccaufc cither he cxpeds it (hould be 
 
 ftrid- 
 
fcridly obfervcd in the highcfc degree of 
 perfection, or moderaceiy , our anfvvcr 
 only (hall be twofold , viz: that a man 
 cannot perfectly perform the Law of 
 God, as it is confidered in the rigid fenfc; 
 But if moderatc!y,and ftrength conferred 
 proportionable to the demand which is, 
 when performance is required byGofpel- 
 Govenant, we anfwer that it may be per- 
 fectly kept •, but the queftion of the pbw^- 
 er to keep it is not of fueh moment as' 
 
 yl?igtt/cwc faith,- Sv a man confefs that if 
 may be ejfe^ed by the grace afChrift, 
 
 FINIS, 
 
 Err at m: 
 ^age 4. line 1 3 . for Volegc read Dolege. p. 9. 
 i.Tjorby me,rcadofmc. p.34.1.*o. donation of 
 eHcpcrfcvcraacesdcle. thc.p.4^. 1- ^7- r. ventila- 
 ted.p.4tfj.9.r.^<|uicftii.p.^7. for p.ii. quorcd in 
 the iBai'g. read 3 2. fo for *!. in the nnarg. fee 3 y. 
 p-70.1.ix.r.ftilucifcrous.p.7i.l.X8 tor manr.mcn. 
 p.ii^.l.ii.fot imitation r. initiation. p. I4'i» 1. 1. 
 read iMs ought to be.p J 44 J.4'dcl* t>itt. 
 

 I 
 

 
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