Catholic Theology Plain Pure Peaceable, Conference 11 · Chapter 1
CHAP. I.
S.
SIR, I am now come to you in a greater ſtraight than I was in before: I have met with a Teacher that tells me you are a deceiver, and have all this while miſled me, and have taught me to build upon the ſand of my own Righteouſneſs, and ſet me on doing to my own undoing; and that I have not built on the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt, and therefore all will end in my overthrow and ruine: I was not able to anſwer him; And I have prevailed with him to come to you, that I may hear you ſpeak together.
P.
Did not I tell you before-hand of ſuch temptations? and give you inſtructions for your preſervation againſt them?
S.
I confeſs you did: But I find my ſelf inſufficient to uſe them without help when it comes to tryal.
P.
The truth is, Infant Chriſtians will ſtill need the help of their Elders, and of Chriſts Miniſters, when they have been never ſo well forearmed; as you need a Phyſicion in your ſickneſs, after all the preventing directions which he can give you. And you have done well to bring him, and to hear both ſides together. Had you truſted to your own underſtanding, and only diſputed it out privately with himſelf, you might have been enfnared to your danger. I ſhall willingly conferr with him on theſe two conditions: 1. That you remember that it is You and not Him that I am to ſatisfie: and therefore when I have ſatified you, I have done: For to follow him as long as he will talk, will waſte more time, than we have to ſpare. 2. That when you are delivered from this ſnare, you will remember that you muſt meet with many more ſuch in the world: The Anabaptiſt will ſay as much to you for his way, and the Papiſt much more for his way; And moſt of them will affright you with the danger of damnation, if you turn not to them: Therefore when ever you are aſſaulted by any of them, bring them to me, and hear us together, as you now do.
Lib.
I am ſorry to ſee how you abuſe poor ſouls, and build them not on Chriſt, but on themſelves! What a deal have you ſaid to this man of Doing and of Working, and how little of Believing? You have ſet him on tasks of Duty, and he thinketh now to Do this and Live, and to be ſaved in his own doings; his repenting, his praying, his keeping the Lords day; &c. while the poor man knoweth not Jeſus Chriſt, and ſubmitteth not to the Righteouſneſs of God. You will needs be a Teacher of the Law, and bring back poor ſouls to bondage, that Chriſt may profit them nothing; but truſting to their own works and righteouſneſs for life, they may fall from grace, and be found in their nakedneſs and ſin.
P.
Sir, theſe General exclamations do but tell us, that there is ſomething that you differ from us in, but tell us not what. If you are a lover of truth, and will ſpeak to edification, tell us diſtinctly what are the points of our doctrine which you diſlike: and let us debate them one by one.
Lib.
Among many others the chief are theſe, I. That you muſt not have men come to Chriſt till they are prepared. II. That you ſet men on Repenting, and Doing, and Working for ſalvation, and ſo teach them to truſt in a Righteouſneſs of their own; and do not tell them that All Chriſts Righteouſneſs is ours being imputed to us, and that Believing is our Converſion, to which you are to call men: If they Believe, they have a perfect Righteouſneſs in Chriſt. III. That you overthrow the Goſpel, in making it a Law. IV. And you make the new Covenant to be made with us, when Chriſt is the only party in Covenant with God. V. And you make the new Covenant to have Conditions, and ſo to be the ſame with the old. VI. You make Juſtifying faith to be a believing in Chriſt as a Teacher and Lawgiver, that you may lead in works: and not a meer Believing in him for Righteouſneſs. VII. You make Faith to juſtifie as a condition of our performance, and not meerly an Inſtrument of our Juſtification, or apprehending Chriſt. VIII. You make faith in it ſelf to be imputed to us for Righteouſneſs, and not Chriſt only the object of faith. IX. That God is made Mutable by you, and forgiveth and juſtifieth them when they believe, whom he did not juſtifie from eternity. X. That a juſtified man muſt be afraid leſt his ſin ſhould unjuſtifie him again. XI. You make men think that they are able to believe of themſelves. XII. You call men to Duttes, and to Mortification, before they believe and are regenerate. XIII. Inſtead of the Witneſs of the Spirit, you comfort men by the Evidence of their own holineſs and righteouſneſs. Theſe with abundance more, are the errors, by which you corrupt and deceive poor ſouls.
P.
Becauſe Chriſt would have his Servants as Teachable as Children, and not to ſtrive by needleſs diſputes, I pray you be you the Teacher, and I will be the Learner, and tell me what you would have us believe in theſe particulars which you have named. And firſt of the firſt.
Lib.
I. Men muſt be taught to come preſently to Chriſt without ſtaying for Preparations, and not diſcouraged, delayed or kept off.The firſt Charge.
P.
By [Coming] I ſuppoſe you mean [Believing and Accepting.] I pray you teach me further then: Queſt. 1. Muſt men believe in Chriſt before they Hear of him?
Lib.
No: How ſhall they believe on him of whom they have not heard?
P.
Queſt. 2. Muſt they Believe that he is the Mediator between God and man, before they have learned that there is a God: and that this God is True, and Juſt▪ Queſt. 3. Or before they have learnt that man is a ſinner▪ and deſerveth death? and what ſin is? Queſt. 4. Or before they have learnt that we cannot redeem and ſave our ſelves?
Lib.
No: That were a contradiction.
P.
Queſt. 5. Muſt men Believe that Chriſt is the Son of God, and the Saviour of his Church, before they have learnt what it is to be the Son of God? or what a Saviour is? and what is the ſalvation which he hath wrought, and will vouchſafe us? before they underſtand the Articles of the Chriſtian faith; that he was conceived, born, ſuffered, was buried, roſe, aſcended, is glorified, and the like?
Lib.
No man can Believe that which he doth not Underſtand.
P.
Queſt. 6. Muſt men take Chriſt for their Saviour, before they heartily pe…ceive that they want a Saviour, through ſin and miſery▪ and that they are loſt for ever if he ſave them not? and that no other can do it?
Lib.
No: this is an impoſſibility and contradiction.
P.
Queſt. 7. Muſt a man take Chriſt for his Saviour, before he is willing to be ſaved?
Lib.
Yes: He muſt come to Chriſt to make him willing, and not think that he muſt bring willingneſs with him: This is your Legal doctrine.
P.
Queſt. 8. Is not Accepting Chriſt, an Act of the will? a willingneſs that he ſhall be my Saviour? And do you ſay, that a man muſt be willing to have Chriſt before he is willing? and not ſtay till he is willing?
Lib.
You would make me ridiculous: I ſay not, that he muſt take Chriſt before he is willing; But he muſt come to Chriſt for a will.
P.
In deſpight of edification you will ſtick in the Metaphor [Come to Chriſt]: What mean you by coming?
Lib.
Poor blind ſoul! If you had been taught of God you would have known what it is to Come to Chriſt! But you will not come to him.
P.
With ſuch exclamations you cheat the ignorant! Cannot you tell your own meaning? What mean you by [Coming to Chriſt]?
Lib.
I mean Believing in him, and caſting my ſelf wholly on him.
P.
Still you ſtick in Metaphors: Can you caſt your ſelf upon him for a will, before you are Willing? Is not that caſting your ſelf, the act of your will, which we call Truſt or Affiance?
Lib.
You would hide your Lyes with words! You teach that men muſt have good deſires before they come to Chriſt; as if they muſt bring with them good deſires of their own, or by Preparatory Grace!
P.
Queſt. 9. Can a man Accept of Chriſt as a Saviour to ſave him from ſin and puniſhment and Gods diſpleaſure, and to juſtifie, ſanctifie and glorifie him, before he hath any deſire to be ſaved from ſin or puniſhment, or Gods diſpleaſure, or to be juſtified, ſanctified or glorified?
Lib.
He that hath no ſuch Deſires, muſt come to Chriſt for them, and believe.
P.
Still [Coming] muſt hide your ſenſe: Doth Chriſt give theſe Deſires to be ſaved, before we Take him for our Saviour by Conſent? Or after?
Lib.
You are catching me by craft. If I ſay [Before,] you will ſay, Then it is Preparatory to our Conſent. If I ſay [After,] you will ſay, that it is impoſſible to conſent to the Means till a man deſires the end; and to Accept a Saviour before he is willing to be ſaved. But beſides this, you tell men that they muſt not come to Chriſt, till they are broken▪ hearted, and ſorrow for their ſins: You heat the Win… of the Goſpel ſo hot, that it ſhall burn mens lips, and then invite them to it.
P.
Queſt. 10. Is it poſſible for a man Heartily to perceive that he is a heinous ſinner, and hath diſpleaſed God abuſed mercy; hilled Chriſt, undone his ſoul, and wronged others, and not be ſorrowful for it? nor be vile in his own eyes, or feel that he is a loſt ſinner?
Lib.
No: but all this he muſt come to Chriſt for, or Believe for.
P.
Do you mean that he muſt firſt Believe that the Goſpel is True, and that Chriſt is an Offered Saviour; or elſe, do you mean that he muſt firſt Accept him as offered for a Saviour; or do you mean that he muſt firſt Believe that he is his Saviour accepted? or do you mean that he muſt firſt Truſt in him as his Saviour? All theſe are different acts.
Lib.
You would confound us with your diſtinctions to keep out the light: This is the trick of ſuch carnal Sophiſters.
P.
Saul, You hear what this man hath to ſay againſt us. You hear that when he hath cryed out againſt Preparations to Believing, that here are ten ſeveral Preparations which he cannot deny. I will now tell you what is our Doctrine and the truth, about Preparations.
We hold that Chriſt is the True Light who lighteth every man that cometh to God; but in various degrees, by various means: He is the Lord of Nature as its Reſtorer, Rom. 14. 9. All power in Heaven and Earth is given to him, and all things put into his hand, Matth. 28. 18, 19. John 17. 2, 3. John 5. 22. He teacheth thoſe that have not the Goſpel, (and thoſe that have it, firſt) by the Light of Nature, many Natural Truths, as that there is a God who is Almighty, Wiſe and Good, that we owe him our Love and duty, that he is Juſt, &c. As the Sun enlightneth the earth at its riſing before it appear it ſelf, ſo doth Chriſt the world. By the Goſpel, he teacheth us more, even ſupernatural truths, about himſelf and our Redemption, &c. Some commoner co-operation of his Spirit goeth along with the Goſpel, convincing and moving many that are not yet (or at all) converted: Thoſe that Chriſt converteth ſavingly, are firſt in order brought to underſtand the Meaning of the word, and next to Believe the Truth of it, and ſo to Believe what Chriſt is, and what he hath done and ſuffered for us, and what need we have of him by ſin and miſery, and how freely he is offered to our ſalvation: And they are moved ſo ſeriouſly to conſider all this, till it prevail with their wills, firſt to deſire not only their own deliverance from Hell and miſery, as all men may do, but alſo from a ſtate of ſin; and then to deſire Chriſt as a Saviour to effect it, and bring them home to God: And believing that he is freely offered to them, they next thankfully Accept him by conſent, and Truſt him and give themſelves to him. And all this is Chriſts own work upon them: but in this order and by theſe degrees. So that coming to Chriſt ſignifieth divers acts, of which one is preparatory to the other.
And whereas he tells you, that we keep men off from Chriſt till they are prepared, judge you whether he ſpeak truth or falſhood. Do we uſe to call to ſinners and ſay [Do not believe that Chriſt Reconcileth God and man till you firſt believe that there is a God. Do not make haſte and believe that Chriſt will ſave you from miſery before you believe that you are miſerable: Or that he will waſh away and pardon your ſin, before you believe that you are ſinners and need a pardon: Do not conſent that Chriſt ſhall be your Saviour before you are willing to be ſaved; or before you believe that he hath dyed, roſe, &c. and is offered you.] What need we perſwade men from Impoſſibilities? Is it we, or their own neceſſity that keepeth them from Conſenting before they Believe, and from believing before they Underſtand? We do as it were intreat poor ſinners who love their dungeon, to open the windows that the Light may come in: And theſe men rail at us, and ſay, that we perſwade men not to let in the light till they have firſt opened the windows! What need we do that, when it is impoſſible to do otherwiſe? We perſwade men to believe that they are ſick, that they may go to the Phyſicion: And they rail at us for perſwading men to delay going to the Phyſicion till they think they are ſick. We exhort ſinners that are aſleep in ſin, to awake and run the Chriſtian race: And they rail at us, as if we perſwaded them not to run it till they are awake.
So that the preaching of theſe men according to their Doctrine muſt be thus: [Come preſently to Chriſt; ſtay not to hear the Goſpel, or to conſider of it, or to underſtand the meaning of it, before you Truſt Chriſt as your Saviour: Preſently caſt your ſelves upon him before you know who he is, or what he hath done for you; and truſt him for the pardon of your ſin before you perceive that you are ſinners, or feel any need of pardon: Stay not for a will, but Take him or Accept him for your Saviour before you are willing of him, or willing to be ſaved.] Do you think this is the only Goſpel-preaching?
I pray you Sir, tell me your ſelf, How would you preach to the Indians if you were Mr. Eliots aſſiſtant? or to any other Heathens? Would you at the firſt word call them to caſt themſelves upon Chriſt for ſalvation? before you taught them to know that there is a God, or a Law, or ſin, or puniſhment, &c?
Lib.
The Apoſtle called men preſently to Believe in the Lord Jeſus without delay, Acts 2. and Acts 16. and Acts 8. &c. And ſo ſhould we.
P.
1. What talk you of Delay? Are we for Delay, any more than you? The Angel, Acts 12. that ſmote Peter and bid him ariſe and go forth, was not for his delay, becauſe he bid him not go forth before he aroſe, and before his fetters were off. 2. And you forget that the Apoſtles ſpake to Jews who had the Preparatory belief of a God, and of the Law, and of the promiſe of the Meſſiah before. 3. And yet they firſt humbled them for ſin, Acts 2. 37. till they were pricked at the heart; And the Jaylor firſt trembleth, and both ſay, What muſt we do? Is this your kind of proof? And why did all the antient Churches from the Apoſtles dayes teach men the Creed or Chriſtian Doctrine, and Catechiſe them long before they baptized them? And I think the Anabaptiſts will do ſo now: And I think you would be loth your ſelves to gather your Churches from among Heathens, Mahometans or Infidels, till you had taught and prepared them as much (at leaſt) as we require. But let us hear whether in the ſecond point you have any better or wiſer Doctrine to teach us?