Secondly. The reader may take notice, that in some other dis- courses of mine now^ published, which were all of them finished be- fore I had the advantage to peruse the fiiendly and judicious anim- adversions of this author, he will find most of the matters which
' 111 the coiiiso of the same year in wliicli this reply to Sherlock .nppear^-il, (Jweii's '■ Discourse on tlie Holy Spirit," ami the bocoiicl volume of his "lCx2>ositioii of the Epistle to the Hebrews" v.-ere piiblii-lied. There is much in botli of them on the poiuts at issue between Oweu aud Sherlock.— Ed.
THE PRECEDING DISCOURSE. 363
he excepts against both cleared, proved, and vindicated, and that those principles which lie directs his opposition against are so estab- lished, as that I neither expect nor fear any such assault upon them, from this sort of men, as becometh a serious debate on things of this nature.
Thirdly. That I have confined myself, in the consideration of this author's discourse, unto what I was personally concerned in, without looking at or accepting of the advantages which offered themselves of reflecting upon him, either as unto the matter of his discourse, or unto the manner of expressing himself in its delivery. For, besides thctt I have no mind, and that for many reasons, to enter voluntarily into any contest with this man, the mistakes which he hath appa- rently been led into by ignorance or prejudice, his fulsome errors against the Scripture, the doctrine of the ancient church, and the cliurch of England, are so multiplied and scattered throughout the whole, that a discovery and confutation of them will scarce deserve the expense of time that must be wasted therein, until a more plau- sible countenance or strenuous defence be given unto them. And as for what he aimeth at, I know well enough where to find the whole of it, handled with more civility and appearance of reason; and therefore, when I am free, or resolved to treat concerning them, I shall do so in the consideration of what is taught by his authors and mas- ters, and not of v/hat he hath borrowed from them.
Foirrthly. I shall assure the reader, that as a thousand of such trifling cavillers or revilers, as I have had some to deal withal, shall neither discourage nor hinder me in the remaining service which I may have yet to fulfil, in the patience of God, for the church of Christ and trath of the gospel ; nor, it may be, occasion me any more to divert in the least unto the consideration of what they whisper or clamour, unless they are able to betake themselves unto a more sober and Christian way of handling things in controversy: so if they will not, or dare not, forego this supposed advantage of reproaching the doctrine of non- conformists (under which pretence they openly, and as yet securely, scorn and deride them, when they are all of them the avowed doc- trines of all the reformed churches, and of this of England in par- ticular) ; and if they think it not meet to oppose themselves and endeavours unto those writings which have been composed and pub- lished professedly in the declaration and defence of the truth scoffed at and impugned by them, but choose rather to exercise their skill and anger on passages rent out of practical discourses, accommodated in the manner of then' delivery unto the capacity of the community of believers, as it is fit they should be; I do suppose that, at one time or other, from one hand or another, they may meet with some such discourse, concerning justification and the imputation of the riglite-
364 A VINDICATION, ETC.
ousness of Christ, as may give them occasion to be quiet, or to exorcise the best of their skill and industry in an opposition unto it, — as many such there are already extant, Avhich they wisely take no notice of, but only rave against occasional passages in discourses of another nature, — unless they resolve on no occasion to forego the shelter they have betaken themselves unto.
A BRIEF
DECLARATION AND VINDICATION
THE DOOTKIN^E OF THE TRIE^ITY:
AS ALSO oy
THE PERSON AND SATISFACTION OF CHRIST:
ACCOMMODATRI) TO THE CAPACITY AND USE OF SUCH AS MAY BE IN DANGER TO BE SEDUCKD; AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF TUE TRUTH.
*• Se.troh tlw Scriplures."— JuiiN v. 'P.
Imprimatur,
Rob. Grove, W. l\ D. Episcop. Lond. a Sac. Dom. Feb. 3, 1063-9.
IMIEFATORY NOTE.
Few of Owen's treatises have been more extensively circulated and generally useful than his "Brief Declaration and Vindication of tlie Doctrine of the Trinity," etc. It was published in 16'G9; and the author of the anonymous memoir of Owen, prefixed to an elition of his Sermons in 1720, informs us, "This small piece hath met with such an universal acceptance by true Christians of all deno- minations, that the ferenth edition of it was lately jjublished." An edition printed in Glas;i;ow was published in 1798, and professes to be the ehjJith. A translation of the work ai)peared in the Dutch language (Vitringa, Doct. Christ., pars vi. p. 6, edit. 177G).
At the time when the treatise was published, the momentous doctrines of the Trinity and the Atonement were violently assailed; but it was not so much fur the refutation of opponents as for " the edification and establishment of the plain Christian," that our author composed the following little work. The reader will find in it traces of that deep and familiar acquaintance with opposing views, and with the highest theology involved in the question, which might be expected from Dr Owen on a subject which he seems to have studied with peculiar industry and research, lleference may be made to his " Vindicia? Evangelicae," and his "Exposition of the Epistle to the Hebrews," in proof how thoroughly he had mastered the whole controversy in regard to the divinity and satisfaction of Christ, so far as the discussion had extended in his day. His controversy with Biddle, in which he wrote his " Vindicite Evangelicae," took place in 1655; and the first volume of the "Exposition" was published only the year before the " Brief Declaration," etc., appeared. The latter may be regarded, accordingly, as the substance of these important works, condensed and adapted to popular use and comprehension, in all that relates to the proper Godhead of the Son, and the nature of the work which he accomplished in the redemption of his people.