" En cor Zenodoti, en jecur Cratetis."
What is most admirable in this discourse I know not.
1, I am suggested to maintain "'justification from eternity;" I am "one that write that way ;" I am " one that, by the doctrine of justification from eternity, overthrow justification by faith and the merits of Christ." What I shall say more to this business I know not ; the comedian tells me all that I can say is in vain : —
" Ne admittam culpam, ego meo sura promus pectori, Suspicio est in pectore alieno sita. Nam nunc ego te si surripuisse suspicer Jovi coronam de capite e Capitolio, Quod in culinine astat summo ; si non id feceris, Atque id tamen milii lubeat suspicarier, Qui tu id prohibere me potes ne suspicer?" — Plaut. Trin. 1. 2. 44.
2. Methinks it had been equal that Mr B., who requires {^nvZs) that men judge not any thing in his aphorisms but according as it is interpreted in this his con- fession, should have interpreted this passage of mine by the analogy of what I have written in the same book about the death of Christ and merit thereof. He would have found (and in these things doth my soul live) that all the mercy, grace, or privileges whatever, of what sort soever, that in this life we are made partakers of, all the glory, honour, and immortality that we are begotten anew to a hope of, is by me everywhere ascribed to the death of Christ and the merit thereof, as
AND OF JUSTIFICATION, 605
the sole causa -rpoKdrapKrixv of them all. The making out of this takes up the greatest part of my writings and preaching. I can truly say that I desire to know nothing but Christ and him crucified; and I shall labour to make the honour, glory, exaltation, and triumph of the cross of Christ, the whole of my aim and business in this world. May I be convinced of speaking, uttering, writing any one word to the derogation of the honour, efficacy, power of the death and merits of our dear Lord Jesus, I shall quickly lay my mouth in the dust, and give myself to be trampled on by the feet of men ; which perhaps on other accounts I am only meet for. It is only that Christ may have the pre-eminence in all things that I will voluntarily contend with any living. That as a king, and priest, and prophet, he may be only and all in his church, is the design of my contesting.
But is not this expression to the derogation of his merits? I say. If it be, I disavow it, condemn it, reject it. If the intendment of the expression be not that the Lord Jesus Christ, by the performance of what was prescribed to him of his Father, that he might save us to the utmost, according to the compact between Father and Son, did merit, purchase, and procure for us, all the grace, mercy, sal- vation promised in the new covenant, I desire here to condemn it. But if that be the sense of it (as the words immediately going before, with the whole tenor of the discourse, do undeniably evince), I would desire Mr B. a little to reflect upon his dealings with other men upon their pretended mistakes in representing him and his judgment to the world. All the advantage that is given to this ha- rangue is from the ambiguity of the word " condition." It is evident that I take it here, in a large sense, for the whole prescription of obedience unto the Lord Jesus, whereupon the promise of all the good things that are the fruits of his death is made to him ; which being grounded in voluntary compact, and laid thereby in due proportion, gives rise to merit properly and strictly so called. If the reader desire farther satisfaction herein, let him but read that very treatise which Mr B. excepts against, where he will find abundantly enough for the clearing of my intendment; or to him that loses his time in perusing this appendix, I shall recommend the fore- going treatise for the same purpose.
3. For what Mr B. ascribes to our works, I shall not, for my part, much trouble myself whilst I live, being little or not at all concerned therein. He is not for me to deal with.
Tixrii Toi Kocoi v'ipit, orcv kkkS okSo; i'^ryira.i
' Av^pai<7rit), xcci OTUi //.ii y'oo: ccp-rio; ^j.-^TheOgn,
If I dispute in print any more (as I hope I shall not), it shall be with them that, understanding my meaning, will fairly, closely, and distinctly, debate the thing in difference, and, not insisting on words and expressions to no pui'pose (especially if their own haste allows them not oftentimes to speak congruously), shall press and drive the things themselves to their issue.
-"Dabitur ignis taraen etsi ab inimicis petam."
Mr B. proceeds, in his second section, to prove that all the elect are not justified at the death of Christ. In this passage, one expression of mine about the sense of Rom. iv. 5 is taken notice of; but that relates to a business of a greater import- ance tlian to be now mentioned. Something Mr B. discourses about the state and condition of the elect in reference to the death of Christ, some texts to that pur- pose he considers, but so jejunely, so much below the majesty of the mystery of grace in this particular, that I shall not make his discourse an occasion of what may be offered on that account. Something I have spoken in the former treatise concerning the transaction of the compact and agreement that was between the Father and Son about the salvation of the elect ; of their interest and concern- ment therein, with the state of his body, of those that were given him on that account, God assisting, hereafter.