But yet, from those intimations of some men's good-will towards it, — sufficient to provoke the industry of such as either needed their assistance or valued their favour, — I was in expectation that one or other would possess that province, and attempt the whole discourse or some parts of it. Nor was I dissatisfied in my apprehensions of that design ; for, being earnestly solicited to suffer it to be reprinted, I was very willing to see what either could or would be objected against it before it received another impression. For whereas it was written now near twenty years ago, when there was the deepest peace in the minds of all men about the things treated of therein, and when I had no apprehension of any dissent from the principal design, scope, and parts of it by any called Christians in the world, the Socinians only excepted (whom I had therein no regard unto), I thought it highly probable that some things might have been so expressed as to render a review and amendment to them more than ordinarily necessary. And I reckoned it not improbable, but that from one malevolent adversary I might receive a more instructive information of such escapes of diligence than I could do in so long a time from all the more impartial readers of it ; for as unto the sub- stance of the doctiine declared in it, I was sufficiently secure, not only of its truth, but that it would immovably endm'e the rudest assaults of such oppositions as I did expect. I was therefore very well satisfied when I heard of the publishing of this treatise of Mr Sherlock's, — which, as I was informed, and since have found true, was principally intended against myself, and that discourse (that is, that book), because I was the author of it, which will at last prove it to be its only guilt and crime ; — for I thought I should be at once now satisfied, both what it was which was so long contriving against it (whereof I could give no conjecture), as also be directed unto any such mistakes as might have befallen me in matter or manner of expression, which I would or miglit rectify before the book received another edition. But, upon a view and perusal of this discourse, I found myself under a double surprisal. For, first, in reference to my own, I could not find any thing, any doctrine, any expressions, any words reflected on, which the exceptions of this man do give me the least occasion to alter, or to desire that they had been otherwise either expressed or delivered; — not any thing which now, after near twenty years, I do not still equally approve of, and which I am not yet ready to justify. The other part of my siuprisal was some- what particular, though, in truth, it ought to have been none at all; and this was with respect unto those doctrinal principles Avhich he nianageth his oppositions upon. A surjirisal they were ui\to me.
THE PRECEDING DISCOURSE. 279
because wild, uncouth, extravagant, and contrary to the common faith of Christians, — ^being all of them traduced,^ and some of them tran- scribed, from the writings of the Socinians ; [while] yet [they] ought not to have been so, because I was assured that an opposition unto that discoiurse could be managed on no other [gi'ound]. But, however, the doctrine maintained by this man, and those opposed or scorned by him, are not my special concernment ; for what is it to me what the E.ector of etc., preacheth or pubHsheth, beyond my common interest in the truths of the gospel, with other men as great strangers unto him as myself, who to my knowledge never saw him, nor heard of his name till infamed by his book? Only, I shall take leave to say, that the doctrine here published, and licensed so to be, is either the doctrine of the present church of England, or it is not. If it be so, I shall be forced to declare that I neither have, nor will have, any communion therein; and that, as for other reasons, so in particular, because I will not renounce or depart from that which I know to be the true, ancient, and catholic doctrine of this church. If it be not so, — as I am assured, with respect unto many bishops and other learned men, that it is not, — it is certainly the concernment of them who preside therein to take care that such kind of discourses be not countenanced with the stamp of their public authority, lest they and the church be represented unto a great disadvantage with many.
It was some months after the pubhshing of this discourse, before I entertained any thoughts of taking the least notice of it, — yea, I was resolved to the contrary, and declared those resolutions as I had occa- sion; neither was it until very lately that my second thoughts came to a compUance with the desires of some others, to consider my owti peculiar concernment therein. And this is all which I now design ; for the examination of the opinions which this author hath vented under the countenance of public licence, whatever they may think, I know to be more the concernment of other rp.en than mine. Nor yet do I enter into the consideration of what is written by this author with the least respect unto myself, or my own reputation, which I have the satisfaction to conceive not to be prejudiced by such pitiful attempts; nor have I the least desire to presei^ve it in the minds of such persons as wherein it can suffer on this occasion. But the vin- dication of some sacred truths, petulantly traduced by this author, seems to be cast on me in an especial manner; because he hath opposed them, and endeavoured to expose them to scorn, as declared in my book ; whence others, more meet for this work, might think themselves discharged from taking notice of them. Settmg aside this consideration, I can freely give this sort of men leave to go on with their revilings and scoffings imtil they are weary or ashamed; ' [Broiiglit over, borrowed.]