308 A VINDICATION OF
esteemed quite of another nature, so that herein the soul should only compliment, and be real in what is before expressed? What if one should say, it was real only in this latter expression and engagement, — that the former was only a " pretty compliment?" May it not, with respect unto my sense and intention (from any thing in my words, or that can be gathered from them, or any circumstances of the place), be spoken with as much regard unto truth and honesty? What re- ligion these men are of I know not. If it be such as teacheth them these practices, and countenanceth them in them, I openly declare that I am not of it, nor would be so for all that this world can afford. I shall have done, when I have desii'ed him to take notice, that I not only believe and maintain the necessity of obedience unto all the laws, precepts, commands, and institutions of the gospel, — of universal holi- ness, the mortification of all sin, fruitfulness in good works, in all that intend or design salvation by Jesus Christ; but also have proved and confirmed my persuasion and assertions by better and more cogent arguments than any which, by his writings, he seems as yet to be acquainted withal. And unless he can prove that I have spoken or written any thing to the contrary, or he can disprove the arguments whereby I have confirmed it, I do here declare him a person alto- gether unfit to be dealt withal about things of this nature, his igno- lunce or malice being invincible ; nor shall I, on any provocation, ever hereafter take notice of him until he hath mended his manners.
His third section, p. 76, consists of three parts: — First, "That some" (wherein it is apparent that I am chiefly, if not only, intend- ed) " do foiuid a religion upon a pretended acquaintance with Christ's person, without and besides the gospel ; " whereunto he opposeth his running title of " No acquaintance with Christ but by revelation." Secondly, A supposition of a scheme of religion drawn from the know- ledge of Christ's person; whereunto he opposeth another, Avhich he judgeth better. Thirdly, An essay to draw up the whole plot and de- sign of Christianity, with the method of the recovery of sinners unto God. In the first of these, I suppose that I am, if not solely, yet prin- cipally, intended ; especially considering what he afiirms, pp. 98, 99, — namely, that " I plainly confess our religion is wholly owing unto acquaintance with the person of Christ, and could never have been clearly and savingly learned from the gosp(4, had Ave not first grown acquainted with his person." Now, herein there is an especial instance of that tmth and honesty wherewith my writings are entertained by this sort of men. It is true, I have asserted that it is necessary for Christians to know Jesus Christ, — to be acquainted with his person; that is (as I liave fully and largely declared it in the discourse ex- cepted against), the glory of his divine nature, the purity of his human, the infinite condescension of his person in the assimiption of our na-
THE PRECEDING DISCOURSE. 309
ture, his love and grace, etc., as is at large there declared : and now I add, that he by whom this is -denied is no Christian. Secondly, I have taught, that by this knowledge of the person of Christ, or an understanding of the gi-eat mystery of godliness, God manifested in the flesh, which we ought to pray for and labour after, we come more fully and clearly to understand sundry other important mysteries of heavenly truth; which without the knowledge of Christ we cannot attain unto. And how impertinent this man's exceptions are against this assertion, we have seen already. But, thirdly. That this know- ledge of Christ, or acquaintance with him, is to be attained before we come to know the gospel, or by any other means than the gospel, or is any other but the declaration that is made thereof in and by the gospel, was never thought, spoken, or written by me, and is here falsely supposed by this author, as elsewhere falsely charged on me. And I again challenge him to produce any one letter or tittle out of any of my writings to give countenance unto this frontless calumny. And therefore, although I do not like his expression, p. 77, "Who- ever would understand the religion of our Saviour, must learn it from his doctrine, and not from his person," for many reasons I could give ; yet I believe no less than he, that the efficacy of Christ's mediation depending on God's appointment can be known only by revelation, and that no man can draw any one conclusion from the person of Christ which the gospel hath not expressly taught ; because we can know no more of its excellency, worth, and works, than what is there revealed : whereby he may see how miserably ill-will, malice, or igno- rance has betrayed him into the futilous pains of writing this section upon a contrary supposition falsely imputed unto me. And as for his drawing schemes of religion, I must tell him, and let him dis- prove it if he be able, I own no religion, no article of faith, but what is taught expressly in the Sciipture, mostly confirmed by the ancient general councils of the primitive church, and the writings of the most learned fathers, against all sorts of heretics, especially the Gnostics, Photinians, and Pelagians, consonant to the articles of the church of England, and the doctrine of all the reformed churches of Europe. And if in the exposition of any place of Scripture I dissent from any that, for the substance of it, own the religion I do, I do it not with- out cogent reasons from the Scripture itself; and where, in any opi- nions which learned men have (and, it may be, always had) different apprehensions about, which hath not been thought to prejudice the imity of faith amongst them, I hope I do endeavour to manage that dissent with that modesty and sobriety wliich becometh me. And as for the schemes, plots, or designs of religion or Christianity, given us by this author and owned by him (it being taken pretended ly from the person of Christ, when it is hoped that he may have a better to