Sherlock's work against Owen was entitled, " A Discourse concerning the Know- ledge of Jesus Christ, and on Union and Communion with Him," etc. Owen con- fines himself, in his reply, to an exposure of the misrepresentations in which Sherlock had indulged. The latter, for example, sought to fix on the Puritan divine the doctrine, that the knowledge of divine things was to be obtained frona the person of Christ, apart from the truth as revealed in the Scriptures. Our author successfully vindicates himself from this charge, and repudiates other sentiments equally mystical, and ascribed to him with equal injustice. The views of Sherlock, on the points at issue, have been termed, " a confused mass of Soci- nianized Arminianism." Owen evinces a strength of feeling, in some parts of his " Vindication," which may be accounted for on the ground that he resented the attack as part of a systematic effort made at this time to destroy his standing and reputation as an author. In the main, there is a dignity in his statements which contrasts well with the wayward petulance of his antagonist; and occasionally the reader will find a vein of quiet and skilful irony, in the way in which he disposes of the crude views of Sherlock.
Such was the beginning of the Communion Controversy, which soon embraced a wider range of topics, and points of more importance, than the merits of Owen's book. Besides the original disputants, others entered the field. Robert Ferguson, in 1675, wrote against Sherlock a volume entitled, "The Interest of Reason in Religion," etc. Edward Polhill followed, in " An Answer to the Discourse of Mr William Sherlock," etc. Vincent Alsop first displayed in this controversy his powers of wit and acumen as an author, in his " Antisozzo, or Sherlocismus Ener- vatus." Henry Hickman, a man of considerable gifts, and pastor of an English congregation at Leyden, wrote the " Speculum Sherlockianum," etc. Samuel Roll^, a nonconformist, wrote the " Prodromus, or the Character of Mr Sherlock's Book ; " and also, in the same controversy, " Justification Justified." Thomas Danson, who had been ejected from Sibton, and author of several works against the Quakers, wrote " The Friendly Debate between Satan and Sherlock," and afterwards he published again in defence of it. Sherlock, in 1675, replied to Owen and Ferguson in his " Defence and Continuation of the Discourse concern- ing the Knowledge of Jesus Christ." lie was supported by Thomas Ilotchkis, Rector of Staunton, in a" Discourse concerning the Imputation of Christ's Right- eousness," etc. The singular diligence of Mr Orme has compiled this full list of the works published in this controversy; but he is not quite correct in affirming that it was closed by the replies of Sherlock and Ilotchkis in 1675. A second part of tlie work by Ilotchkis appeared in 1678; and Sherlock was the author of two other works, "An Answer to Thomas Danson's scandalous pamphlet, entitled •A Friendly Conference,'" etc., which appeared in 1677, and was followed by a " Vindication of Mr Sherlock against the Cavils of Mr Danson." — Ed.
A YINDICATION
OF
SOME PASSAGES m A DISCOURSE CONCERNmO COMMUNION WITH GOD.
It is now near twenty years since I wrote and published a Discourse concerning Communion with God. Of what use and advantage it hath been to any, as to their furtherance in the design aimed at therein, is left unto them to judge by whom it hath been perused with any candid diligence ; and I do know that multitudes of per- sons fearing God, and desiring to walk before him in sincerity, are ready, if occasion requke, to give testimony unto the benefit which they have received thereby; — as I can also at any time produce the testimonies of [as] learned and holy persons, it may be, as any I know living, both in England and out of it, who, owning the truth con- tained in it, have highly avowed its usefulness, and are ready yet so to do. With all other persons, so far as ever I heard, it passed at the rate of a tolerable acceptation with discourses of the same kind and nature. And however any thing or passage in it might not, possibly, suit the apprehensions of some, yet, being wholly practical, designed for popular edification, without any direct engagement into things controversial, I looked for no opposition unto it or exception against it ; but that it would at least be suffered to pass at that rate of allowance which is universally granted unto that sort of writings, both of ancient and modern authors. Accordingly it so fell out, and continued for many years; until some persons began to judge it their interest, and to make it their business, to cavil at my writings, and to load my person Avith reproaches. With what httle success, as to their avowed designs, they have laboured therein, — ^how openly their endeavours are sunk into contempt with all sorts of persons pretend- ing imto the least sobriety or modesty, — I suppose they are not them- selves altogether insensible. Among the things which this sort of men sought to make an advantage of against me, I found that two or three of them began to reflect on that discourse; though it ap-
278 A VINDICATION OF
peared ihej had not satisfied themselves what as yet to fix upon, their nibbling cavils being exceedingly ridiculous.