Thomas (Gilbert, so great an admirer of Owen that he was employed to write liis epi- taph, nevertheless combated the views maintained in the Diatriba, in a work ciititlen, "\'indici;e Supremi Dei Domini (cum Deo) Inita;," etc., 1665. Baxter, in a brief pre- monition to his treatise against infidelity, dissented from the doctrine of Owen on this 8ul).iect.
The Diatriba was pul dished in Latin. We have compai'cd Mr Hamilton's translation of it, whicli appeare 1 in I7'.)t, with tiie original, and liavo been constrained to make some serious changes on it, wliich we cannot but deem improvements. Tlie title-page is more exactly and fully rendered; a translation of the dedication to ('romwell is now, for the first time, inserted; passages which had been placed at the foot of the p;ige are restored to their proper place in tl>e body of the text ; several pa-<s:iges altogether omitted are now supplied; niin(U- errors have been corrected; and where tlie change was .so extensive as to interfere witli the translator's responsibilities, we have appended a different rendering in a note. —Ed.
TO THE PUBLIC.
The numerous and valuable -writings of Dr Owen have long ago secui'ed his praise in all the churches as a first-rate MTiter upon theological subjects. Any recom- mendation, therefore, of the present work seems unnecessary. As the treatise, however, now offered to the public, has long been locked up in a dead language, it may not be improper to say, what will be granted by all competent judges, that the author discovers an uncommon acquaintance with his subject ; that he has clearly explained the nature of divine justice, and demonstrated it to be, not merely an arbitrary thing, depending upon the sovereign pleasure of the supreme Lawgiver, but essential to the divine nature. In doing this, he has overthrown the argu- ments of the Socinians and others against the atonement of Christ, and proved that a complete satisfaction to the law and justice of God was necessary, in order that sinners might be pardoned, justified, sanctified, and eternally saved, consist- ently with the honour of all the divine perfections.
Whoever makes himself master of the Doctor's reasoning in the following trea- tise will be able to answer all the objections and cavils of the enemies of the truth therein contended for. It is, therefore, earnestly recommended to the attention and careful perusal of all who wish to obtain right ideas of God, the nature and extent of the divine law, the horrid natui-e and demerit of sin, etc., but especially to the attention of young divines. The translation, upon the whole, is faithful. If it have any fault, it is perhaps its being too literal.
That it may meet with that reception which it justly merits from the public, and which the importance of the svibject demands, is the earnest prayer of the servants in the gospel of Christ,
S. Stafford, D.D.
J. Rtland, sen., M.A.
Rob. Simpson.
TO HIS ILLUSTRIOUS HIGHNESS
LORD OLIVER CROMWELL,
COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE PARLIAMENTARY FORCES OF THE COMMONWEALTH
OF ENGLAND,
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE CHANCELLOR OF THE VERY CELEBRATED UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD.
Had it not been almost a crime for me, holding my present place in this most celebrated university, under your appointment and auspices, to have inscribed any literary production with a dedication to any other name, I would not have held in such poor account the weight of business you sustain as to make an endea- vour to divert your thoughts and attention, so constantly directed to the welfare of the commonwealth, to a little by-work of this kind. But since, according to the nature of my office, I am under frequent necessity to address your Highness in the name of literature and of learned men, the affability of your nature will not suffer me to remain under any anxiety but that you will condescend to examine even this humble production of ours. Perhaps the dedication of books to you (amid pre- vailing " wars and rumours of wars," and the fury and commotion of parties bent with eagerness on mutual destruction) will seem unseasonable, and not unlike the celebrated abstraction of him who, amid the destruction of his country and the sack of the city to which he belonged, neglecting all concern about his per- sonal safety, was so obstinately bent on learned trifles as to be slain by a soldier while persisting in those pursuits on account of his skill in which the com- mander had resolved to spare his life. But even Christian authors have their polemics; and these, alas! too much fitted to excite, increase, and promote bloody strife ; — such is the blindness, nay, tlie madness of most men. Even this small piece of ours is polemical, I confess; but it fights by means of weapons not offen- sive to peace, not imbued with hostility, but appropriate to truth, — namely, by the word of God and reason. In this arena, in this fortress, within this list and limit, if all controversies on divine things took place, no longer, on account of seditions and wars, would religion herself, over all Christendom, be so evil spoken of. The cause I maintain will not be esteemed by many of such consequence that I should contend for it so earnestly. But of how much importance it is in war (for it is a war in which we are engaged, and that a sacred one, with the enemies of truth) to secure a citadel or breast-work, your Excellency knows right well ; that it is so to the army of the living God, redeemed and purified by the blood of Christ, whose truth we have undertaken, according to our ability, to defend, any man on serious reflection will easily perceive. Surely we may be permitted to contend for the truth. Some there are who, under pretence of zeal for the gospel, delight to mingle of their own accord in wars, tumults, strifes, and commotion, sufficiently