1. Hold fast the form of wholesome words and sound doctrine : know that there are other ways of peace and accommodation with dissenters than by letting go the least particle of truth. When men would accommo-
THE PKEFACE TO THE READER. 49
date their own hearts to love and peace, they must not double with their souls, and accommodate the truth of the gospel to other men's imagina- tions. Perhaps some will suggest great tilings of going a middle way in divinity, between dissenters ; but what is the issue, for the most part, of such proposals ? After they have, by their middle way, raised no less contentions than was before between the exti^emes (yea, when things before were in some good measure allayed), the accommodators them- selves, through an ambitious desire to make good and defend their own expedients, are insensibly carried over to the party and extreme to whom they thought to make a condescension unto ; and, by endeavouring to blanch their opinions, to make them seem probable, they are engaged to the defence of their consequences before they are aware. Amyraldus (whom I look upon as one of the greatest wits of these days) will at present go a middle way between the churches of France and the Armi- nians. What hath been the issue ? Among the churches, divisions, tumult, disorder ; among the professors and ministers, revilings, evil surmisings ; to the whole body of the people, scandals and offences ; and in respect of himself, evidence of daily approaching nearer to the Arminian party, until, as one of them saith of him, he is not far from their kingdom of heaven. But is this all ? Nay, but Grotius, Episcopius, Curcellseus,^ etc. (quanta nomina ! ) with others, must go a middle way to accommodate with the Socinians; and all that will not follow are rigid men, that by any means will defend the opinions they are fallen upon. The same plea is made by others for accommodation with the Papists ; and still " moderation," " the middle way," " condescension," are cried up. I can freely say, that I know not that man in England who is willing to go farther in forbearance, love, and communion with all that fear God and hold the foundation, than I am ; but that this is to be done ujjon other grounds, principles, and ways, by other means and expedients, than by a condescension from the exactness of the least apex of gospel truth, or by an accommodation of doctrines by loose and general terms, I have elsewhere sufficiently declared. Let no man deceive you with vain pretences ; hold fast the truth as it is in Jesus, part not with one iota, and contend for it when called thereunto.
2. Take heed of the snare of Satan in affecting eminency by singularity. It is good to strive to excel and to go before one another in knowledge and in light, as in holiness and obedience. To do this in the road is difficult, Ahimaaz had not outrun Cushi but that he took a by-path. Many finding it impossible to emerge unto any consideration by walking in the beaten path of truth (all parts of divinity, all w^ays of handling it, being carried already to such a height and excellency, that to make any considerable improve- ment requires great pains, study, and an insight into all kinds of learning), and yet not able to conquer the itch of being accounted rivsg [jjijaXoi, turn aside into by-ways, and turn the eyes of all men to them by scramb- ling over hedge and ditch, when the sober traveller is not at all regarded. The Roman historian, giving an account of the degeneracy of eloquence after it once came to its height in the time of Cicero, fixeth on this as the most probable reason: "Difficilis in perfecto mora est; naturaliterque, quod procedere non potest, recedit ; et ut primo ad consequendos, quos priores ducimus, accendimur : ita, ubi aut prnsteriri, aut asquari eos posse desperavi- mus, studium cum spe senescit; et quod adsequi non potest, sequi desinit; et, velut occupatam relinquens raateriara, qua;rit novam : prajteritoque eo in
' " Quotquot hactenus theoiogica tractarunt, id sibi negotii crediderunt solum dari, lit quam sive sors illis obtulerat, sive judicio amplexi crant sententiam, toils illam viri- bus tuerentur." — Curcelloeus Praifat. ad Opera Kpiscop.
VOL. XII. 4
50 THE PREFACE TO THE READEE.
quo eminore non possumns, aliquid in quo nitamur conquirimus ; sequi- turquc, ut frequens ac mobilis transitus maximum perfecti operis impedi- mentum sit." — Paterc. Hist. Rom. lib. i. cap. xvii.
I wish some such things may not be said of the doctrine of the reformed churches. It was not long since raised to a great height of purity in itself, and perspicuity in the way of its delivery ; but athletic constitutions are seldom permanent.^ Men would not be content to walk after others, and finding they could not excel what was done, they have given over to imitate it or to do anything in the like kind; and therefore, neglecting that wherein they could not be eminent, they have taken a course to have something peculiar wherein to put forth theu- endeavours. Let us, then, watch against this temptation, and know that a man may be higher than his brethren, and yet be but a Saul.