It might, perhaps, not unbecome this author to be a httle more spaiing of his correction, unless his authority were more than it is, and his skill, also, in the management of it; for at present those whom he attempts upon are altogether insensible of any effects of his severity. But whereas he seems much at a loss how to evi- dence his own wisdom any other way than by calling them fools \\-itli whom he hath to do, it is sufficient to plead his excuse. But what is it that he is here so displeased at, as unfit for a man of his wisdom to bear withal, and therefore calls it " fooling?" Is it that there is a conjugal relation between Christ and the church? — that he is the bridegroom and husband of the church, and that the church is his bride and spouse? — that he becomes so unto it by a voluntarily,
35 2 A VINDICATION OF
gracious act of his love, and that tlie church enters into that relation with him by their acceptance of him in that relation, and A^oluntarilv giving up themselves unto him in faith, love, and obedience, suited thereunto? Is it that he loveth his church and cherisheth it as a husband ? or that the church gives up itself in chaste and holy obe- dience unto him as her spouse? or is it my way and manner of ex- pressing these things wherewith he is so provoked? If it be the latter, I desire he would, for his own satisfaction, take notice that I con- temn his censures, and appeal to the judgment of those Avho have more understanding and experience in these things than, for aught I can discern by his writings, he hath yet attained unto. If it be the former, they are all of them so proved and confirmed from the Scripture in that very discourse which he excepteth against, as that he is not able to answer or reply one serious word thereunto. In- deed, to deny it, is to renounce the gospel and the catholic faith. It is, therefore, to no purpose for me here to go over again the nature of this relation between Christ and the church, — wherein really and truly it doth consist ; what it is the Scripture instructeth us in thereby; what is that love, care, and tenderness of Christ, which it would have us thence to learn; and what is our own duty with respect thereunto, together with the consolation thence arising: the whole of this work is already discharged in that discourse which these im- pertinent cavils are raised against, and that suitably to the sense of the church in all ages, and of all sound expositors of those very many places of Scripture which I have urged and insisted on to that pur- pose. Let him, if he please, a little lay aside the severity of his corrections and befooling of men, and answer any material passage in the whole discourse, if he be able ; or discover any thing in it not agreeable to the analogy of faith, or the sense of the ancient church, if he can. And though he seem, both here and in some of his ensu- ing pages, to have a particular contempt of what is cited or improved out of the book of Canticles to this purpose ; yet, if he either deny that that whole book doth mystically express the conjugal relation that is between Christ and his church, with their mutual affections and delight in each other, or that the places particulai'ly insisted on by me arc not duly applied unto their proper intention, I can, at least, confirm them both by the authority of such persons as whose antiquity and learning will exercise the vitmost of his confidence in calling them fools fn- their pains.
From hence for sundry pages he is pleased to give me a little re- spite, whilst he diverts his severity unto another; unto whose will and choice what to do in it I shall leave his peculiar concern, as knowing full well how easy it is for him to vindicate wliat he hath written on this subject from his impertinent exceptions, if he please.
THE PRECEDING DISCOURSE. 353
In the meantime, if this author supposeth to add unto the reputation of his mgenuity and modesty by assaulting with a few pitiful cavils a book written with so much learning, judgment, and moderation, as that IS which he excepts against, not daring in the meantime to con- tend with It m any thing of the expository or the argumentative part of It, but only to discover a malevolent desire to obstruct the us-e which It hath been of, and may yet farther be, to the church of God,— I hope he will not find many rivals in such a design. For my part, I do suppose it more becoming Christian modesty and sobriety where men have laboured according to their ability in the explication of the mysteries of Christian religion, and that with an avowed in- tention to promote holiness and gospel obedience, to accept of what they have attained, wherein we can come unto a compliance with them; than, passing by whatever we cannot but approve of or are not able to disprove, to make it our business to cavil at such expres- sions as either we do not like, or hope to pervert and abuse to their disadvantage.