Our admiration of the ability and learning in these works is increased when we remember he was all the time suffering much from a professedly Protestant government, in spite of all these services to the Protestant cause. On the Restoration, he had retired to his estate at Stadham, and lived very quietly and privately. Persecution grew so hot that he was obliged to leave it, and escape arrest by frequent removals from place to place. He came to London, and occupied himself in the publication of these treatises. In the very year when the work which follows was published, he was so harassed that he resolved to comply with an invitation from the brethren in New England, and in 1665 made preparations to leave the coimtry. He had great difficulty even in getting his "Vindication of the Animadversions" published. The bishops appointed by act of Pai'liament censors of the press on theological works, refused to license the printing of it ; because " upon all occasions when he mentions the evangelists and apostles, even St Peter himself, he left out the title of Saint:" and because "he endeavours to prove that it could not be detei-mined that St Peter was ever at Rome." He yielded willingly to the first objection, alleging, however, that apostle and evangelist was a higher appella- tion than the term saint, which was applicable to all the family of God ; but he declared that he would rather see his work suppressed than change his views on the other point. Most probably it would have been suppressed ; on a representation, however, of Sir Edward Nicholas, one of the Secretaries of State, to the Bishop of London, it was published with the imprimatur of Thomas Greig, his lordship's domestic chaplain.
The book, when at length published, produced, like its predecessor, great effect. Lord Clarendon sent for the author by Sir Bulstrode Whitelocke, commended his work in high terms, and assured him that " he deserved the best of any English Protestant of late years." — (See Asty's Memoir, p. xxiv.) Preferment in the Church of England was also offered him ; but for the particulars of this remarkable interview, we may refer to the Life of Owen, vol. i. p. Lxsx.
An analysis of the work is not required. The author adopts the order of his anta- gonist in the discussion of the several topics. The chapters on the more important sub- jects are so replete with argument and learning, all flavoured with a humorous expo- sure of the chai-acter of Romanism, and the labyrinth of fallacies in which his opponent is entangled, that the work is yet fresh in value and interest. Considered as a whole, it has undoubtedly been superseded by other works of more enlarged design, and more adapted to the present stage of the war with Rome, but occasionally a course of admirable thinking appears, for which we may look in vain among other kindred treatises. — Ed.
TO THE READER.
Christian Reader, Although our Lord Jesus Christ hath laid blessed and stable foundations of unity, peace, and agreement in judgment and affection amongst all his disciples, and given forth command for their attendance unto them, that thereby they might glorify him in the world, and promote their own spiritual advantage ; yet also, foreknowing what effect the crafts of Satan, in conjunction with the darkness and lusts of men, would produce, that no offence might thence be taken against him or any of his ways, he hath forewarned all men by his Spirit what differences, divisions, schisms, and heresies would ensue on the publication of the gospel, and arise even among them that should profess subjection unto his authority and law. And, accordingly, it speedily came to pass ; for what Solomon says that he dis- covered concerning the _^rsi creation, — namely, that " God made man upright, but he sought out many inventions," or immixed himself in endless questions, — the same fell out in the new creation, or erection of the church of Christ. The state of it was by him formed upright, and all that belonged unto it were of one heart and one soul ; but this harmony and perfection of beauty, in answer to his will and institution, lasted not long among them, — many who mixed themselves with those primitive converts, or succeeded them in their profession, quickly seeking out perverse inventions. Hence, in the days of the apostles themselves, there were not only schisms and divisions made in sundry churches of their own planting, with disputes about opinions and needless impositions by those of the circumcision who believed, but also opposition was made unto the very fundamental doctrines of the deity and incarnation of the Son of God by the spirit of antichrist, then entering into the world ; as is evident from their writings and epistles. But yet, as all this while our Lord Jesus Christ, according to his promise, preserved the root of love and unity amongst them who sincerely believed in him entire (as he doth still, and will do to the end), by giving the one and self-same Spirit to guide, sanctify, and unite them all unto himself; so the care and avithority of the apostles, during their abode in the flesh, so far prevailed, that notwithstanding some temporary impeach- ments of love and union in or amongst the churches, yet no single prejudice of any long continuance befell them : for either the miscarriages which they fell into were quickly retrieved by them, the truth infallibly cleared, and provision made for peace, unity, and moderation in and about things of less concernment ; or else the evil, guilt, and danger of them, remained only with and upon some particular persons, the notoriety of whose wickedness and folly cast them out, by common consent, from the communion of all the disciples of Christ.