''Nam qui lepide postulat alterum frustrari, Quem frustratur, frustra euni tlicit frustra esse. Nam qui sese frustrari quem frustra, sentit, Qui frustatur is frustra est, si non, ille est frustra."
What, then, shall I do? I am imposed on to lay the foundation of all Antinomian- ism (as Mr Bui'gess is also), — to maintain the justification fi'om eternity, or at least in the cross of Christ, of all that should believe, and justification by fixith to be but the sense of it in our consciences (which last I know better and wiser men than myself that do, though I do not) ; and so reckoned amongst them that overthrow the whole gospel, and place the righteousness of Christ in the room of our own believing and repentance, rendering them useless.
Shall I undertake to confute Mr B.'s book, at least wherein we differ, and so acquit myself both from Antinomianism and Socinianism in the business in hand? But, — 1. The things of this discourse are such, and the manner of handling them of that sort, that ^Ir B. heartily, in the close of his book (p. 4G2), begs pardon for them who have necessitated him to spend so much time to so little purpose, xai ravTo. -^rfaira-uiv (pa<rx* dvrif) ollh voiZv. As I See not yet the necessity of his pains, so I desire his reverend advisers may thank him for this intercession ; for I suppose myself, at least, not concerned therein. But this I can say, that lam so fiir from engaging into a long operose contest, in a matter of such importance and con- sequence as the subject of that book is represented to be, that I would rather burn my pens and books also than serve a provocation so far as to spend half that time therein which the confutation of it would require from so slow and dull a person as myself.
2. He hath, in his preface, put such terrible conditions upon those that will answer him, that I know no man but must needs be affrighted with the thoughts of the attempt. He requires that whoever undertake this work be of a stronger judgment and a more discerning head than he, that he be a better proficient in these studies than he, that he be freer from prejudice than he, that he have more illumination and grace than he ; that is, that he be a better, wiser, more holy, and learned man than Mr B. Kow, if we may take Mr B.'s character liy what he discourseth of his mortification and sincerity, his freedom from prejudice, etc., as there is no reason but that we should, I profess I know not where to find his match, much less any to excel him, with whom I might intercede for his pains in the consideration of this treatise: for as for myself, I am, seriously, so far from en- tertaining any such thoughts in reference to Mr B., that I dare not do it in reference to any one godly minister that I know in the world; yea, I am sure that I am not, in respect of all the qualifications mentioned put together, to be preferred before any one of them. If it be said that it is not requisite that a man should know this of himself, but only that he be so indeed, I must needs profess that, being told beforehand that such he must be, if he undertake this Avork, I am not able to discern how he should attempt it and not proclaim himself to have an opinion of his own qualifications answerable to that which is required of him.
3. It is of some consideration, that a man that doth not know so much of him as I do, would by his writings take him to be immitls and immiscricors, — a very Achilles, that will not pardon a man in his grave, but will take him up and cut him in a thousand pieces. I verily believe that if a man (who had nothing else to do) should gather into one heap all the expressions which in his late books, co.a- fe^sions, and apologies, have a lovely aspect towards himself, as to ability, diligence,
VOL. XII. 38
594 OF THE DEATH OF CHKIST,
sincerity, on the one hand, with all those which are full of reproach and con- tempt towards others, on the other, the view of them could not but a little startle a man of so great modesty and of such eminency in the mortification of pride as Mr B. is. But,—
Ouh)s It avToZ to, xaxa ffvvafa,, 2aipas iTSpov S' dtr^nf^ovoZvras oi^irou.
Had I not heard him profess how much he valued the peace of the church, and declare what his endeavours for it were, I could not but suppose, upon evidences which I am unwilling to repeat together, that a humour of disputing and quarrel- ling was very predominant in the man. However, though a profession may pass against all evidences of fact to the contrary whatever, yet I dare say that he lives not at d'Trpa.yoToXn. [Sueton. Aug. 98.]
That he hath been able to discern the positions he opposes in the beginning of his eighth chapter to be contained in any writings of mine, as maintained by me, I must impute to such a sharp-sightedness as was that of Caius Caligula, to whom, when he inquired of Vitellius whether he saw him not embracing the moon, it was replied, " Solis (domine) vobis diis licet invicem videre," Dio.