I well remember that blessed time, when o^irs and yours were terms almost unknown amongst professors in England. When their affec- tions and prayers melted and mingled together sweetly in days of hu- miliation, and other duties of edifying and heavenly communion ; and then churches began to flourish, and the graces of Christians every where flourished, and became fruitful : but no sooner did the saints divide in society and affection, but these pleasant blossoms were nipt by it, as by a frosty morning, the church formed itself as it were, into two armies set in battalia against each other. It was now with us much like as it is said of the amphisbcna^ that hath an head at either end, of which neither can well move without the consent of both ; but, if each move a contrary way, the body tears in the middle. I doubt not but many that differed from us belonged to Christ, the same Jicad with us; and yet it is past doubt, that many who seemed to be of us were headed by Satan ; and quickly discovered themselves to
A FRIENDLY PREFACE TO TH£ AUTHOR. 321
be SO, by running farther than we first, or you next, imagined, even into Quakerism, Socinianism, Ranterism, and the foulest puddle and sink of complicated errors ; of which an imperial stranger, under the name of HonoriusReggius, amy^aiiixarutug, Georgius Hornius having heard the report in his own country, came over on purpose into England for his particular and perfect information, and hath given the foreign churches a full and sad account thereof in a Latin narra- tive, which I have by me ; whereby I find, that, if the Lord in mercy to us had not let in a third party with the common calamity upon us all, we ourselves must in all probability have mutually ruined each other. But God saw other hands fitter for such dirty work than ours ; and now it was time to reflect upon former follies, and renew our ancient acquaintance in the common gaols. And, through the goodness of God, this did somewhat allay the heats of good men, and gave us fresh hopes of an hearty and lasting redintegration. We hoped the furnace might have purged our dross, and melted our hearts into unity, both by discovering the evils for which the Lord afflicted us, and the sincerity of the sufferers hearts under those trials. ' Christians, (saith Mr. Jenkins) if we must die, let us die like men, ' by an unanimous holy contention against the common enemy ; not ' like fools, by giving him our sword, and destroying one another * by schisms in our own bowels.'
But alas ! alas ! no sooner is the rod of our backs, and a respite from sufferings given us, but we are presently sounding an alarm to the battle again, and, to my sorrow, myself unavoidably engaged therein.
Friends, I have a witness in many of your bosoms, how peaceably and respectfully I have always carried it towards you, even to such a degree as began to bring me under the suspicion of some of your party, that I was inclining to their opinion, though I did not openly pro- fess it. But the true reasons of my moderation in this point were, (1.) That I ever did, and still do look upon many of you as Christians, sound in the other great doctrines of the gospel. (2.) That there are difficulties in this controversy which may puzzle the minds of well- meaning Christians. (3.) I highly value the peace of the churcJu and durst do nothing that tended to keep open the breaches upon a controversy of this nature, you being for purity in doctrine and worship in most other controverted points, as well as we. (4.) I oh- served how rare a thing it is for engaged parties to give ground. Qui velit mgenio cedere, varus erit. ' Mad disputants to reason seldom yield.' (5.) My head, heart, and hands have been filled with better em- ployments, from which I am extremely loth to be diverted. If Bcl- larmine turned with loathing from school-divinity, because it wanted the sweet juice of piety, much more may I turn from such perverse dis- putes as these : Sure I may find as fair expositions of scripture, and
322 A FKIEKBLY rHEFACE TO THE AUTIIOK.
and as accurate and legitimate distinctions among the school-men, as \n Mr, Tombes' Examen and Apology ; or (which for the most part is but a transcript of both) in Mr. Gary's Solemn Call. But I see I must not be my own chuser ; I cannot now be both silent and innocent ; for in this Solemn Call I find the great doctrines of God's covenants abused by my neighbour ; the books dispersed into many families re- lated to me in this place, one of them delivered to me by the Author's own hands, with a pressing desire to give my judgment upon it: Several objections which I privately and seasonably sent him to pre- vent the sin and folly of his attempt, pretended to be answered from p. 164. ad p. 183. Thus I am necessarily brought into the field of controversy : whither I come not a volunteer^ but a pressed man ; not out of choice, but necessity. And now I am here, I resolve to be only Adversarius litis, nan personoe, an adversary in the con- troversv, not to the person, especially of my friendly neighbour. Neither would I have appeared thus publicly against him, if dif- ferences could have been accommodated, and the evil prevented, in a more private way ; in order thereunto, I have punctually observed and kept the rules and measures of friendship.
It is possible some may judge ray stile against him to be too sharp; but if they please to read the conclusion of his Call, and my Answer, I presume they will find enough to make atonement for that fault, if it be a fault. It is from the nature of the matter before me, not from defect of charity to the person or party, that I am forced to be so plain and pungent as I am.
To conclude, I suspect this very preface may be also censured for its plainness and tediousness. I confess, when times are busy we should be brief; and I am persuaded a sufficient preface may be contracted into four words, auu Teoi/Miojv y.ai 'ra&ujv, without pre- face or passions. However, I have a little eased my own heart, by discharging my duty to my differing brethren, and pleased myself, if not them.
The God of peace create peace in all the borders of Sion, beat our swords into plow-shares, and our spears into pruning-hooks ; I mean, our polcmicals into practicals ; that Jerusalem may once more be a city compact, and no more terrible to herself, but only to her enemies, as an army with banners. This, brethren, is the prayer, and sliall ever be the endeavour of,
Your Friend and Servant in Christ,
XjEFORE we enter into the main controversy, it will be necessary to acquaint the reader, why I begin with the middle of the book ; and it is because I there find these three principles or positions, on which the other parts of his discourse are superstructed ; and these being destroyed, his other discourses are but arence, sine calse. I properly therefore begin with the foundation.