A Conciliatory Discourse Upon Crisps Sermons, Title page – Preface
A Conciliatory DISCOURSE UPON Dr. Criſp's Sermons, ON THE Obſervation of Mr. Williams's Diſſatisfactions in Them: In which the Unſearcheable Riches of Chriſt IN THE Covenant of Grace, paſſing Knowledge, is yet Aſpired to, to be made Known.
Humbly Preſented To the Preachers of the Merchants Lecture at Pinners-Hall; To the Suſtainers of it, And the Congregation uſually Aſſembled there.
By T. BEVERLEY.
LONDON: Printed for William Marſhall, at the Bible in Newgate-ſtreet, 1692. Where you may be furniſhed with Dr. Criſp's Works: And likewiſe his Son's Book, Samuel Criſp, Eſq; Entitul'd, Chriſt made Sin. You may alſo be ſupplied …
The PREFACE.
I Have (not long ago) endeavour'd to Write as a Reconciler, between Two Perſons of Eſtimable Memory; Dr. Criſp, and Mr. Baxter; Now Both in their Spirits with Christ; where They have Fully Concerted their ſeeming various Apprehenſions, or Repreſentations in ſo Great Points; not only by Receiving thoſe foreign, thoſe Ʋn-utterable Explanations of them; but in their Highest Enjoyments, and Mutual Congratulations, in thoſe Fundamental Truths, and Graces; wherein they were, even here, notwithſtanding a ſeeeming Diſcord, (and much more there) One in Christ.
But we, that are on this ſide their Line, ſtill See through a Glaſs Darkly, Perceive, Know and Speak as Children; and ſo Expreſs our ſelves Diverſly, one from another, as we look to this, or that ſide of Truth: Not being able to Comprehend the perfect Phyſiognomy, or Repreſentation of it at once.
And indeed in the Great Points, that are nearest allied to the Coveant of Grace, we are most unable to pronounce clearly; That first Engraving upon our Hearts, and the Divine Revelation of Christ, (From Faith, Rom. 1. 17. having not yet Attain'd To Faith, in Perfection) are ready in this our Imperfect State, to enter a Centest in our Minds; and we cannot decide, as we ought, between the Eternal Law of Righteouſneſs, and the Everlaſting Goſpel of Righteouſneſs: and while we have Great Diſcourſes in Scripture upon Both, we very hardly keep the Ballance of the Sanctuary even in our Ʋnderſtandings, as it is in it ſelf: While therefore the Servants of Christ are, ſome in their Miniſtry, inclining the Beam one way, and ſome another; though according to the manifold Diſtributions of one and the ſame Spirit to both in the main; yet they are ready to find fault mutually at their ſo doing: It may be no Injury then for a Third, to endeavour to ſet Both even, though great Infirmity may appear in that alſo: For who is ſufficient for theſe Things?
Eſpecially it is to be conſider'd, The Goſpel-Righteouſneſs, or of Faith, hath ever ſince the Apoſtles Preaching and Writing, ſuffer'd an Eclipſe by the Myſtery of Iniquity early working; and by degrees, from that very time, the Ap…ſtle dates, 2 Theſſ. 2. it was cover'd more and more. Till the very State of the Chriſtian Church fell into the foreign, the Dark and Foul Place of the Apoſtacy, 2 Pet. 1. 19. And though the Eclipſe be much leſs than it was, by the Light returning in the Reformation; yet it remains in part; and oh that it were not in Great part! Now it is very obſervable, That grand Prophecy of the Revelation, knowing upon what ſide of Evangelical Truth that Black Shade would most dreadfully fall, gives its Divine Symbols or moſt Exquiſite Figures for prevention; for preſervation of the Witneſſes of Chriſt; for Condemnation of the Apoſtacy; for Recovery out of it; in this Supreme Article of Goſpel-Truth; the Blood of Chriſt. Hence there are ſo often mentions of the Lamb; of his Blood; of Robes waſh'd white in his Blood. The pure and perfect Song of the Lamb, as it was ſung in the Apoſtles Days, is given, chap. 5. as the Great Standard. The Witneſſes are within the meaſur'd Temple, during the whole Apoſtacy. Which Temple is the known Type of Christ in his Redemption; They are at the Golden Altar of Incenſe, the pure Interceſſion of Chriſt in the deep of the Apoſtacy. Along the entire ſpace of which, that New Song of the Lamb, chap. 5. is almost wholly lost. The Apoſtacy is thus condemn'd, ch. 13. 8. All the Earth Worſhipp'd the Antichriſtian Beaſt; whoſe Names were not written in the Lamb's Book of Life, ſlain from the Foundation of the World. The difference is not very great, whether we apply the last words to the Lamb ſlain, or Names written. I prefer the first, ſhewing the Eviternity of the Sacrifice of Chriſt, above the Ʋpſtarts of Antichriſtianiſm. At the end of the Apoſtacy, when the Witneſſes Seal'd on their Foreheads appear'd with the Name written there (as I have further intimated in the following Diſcourſe) The Song as it were new, becauſe ſo much Lost, is Sung again with the Voice of Thunder, and to be Learnt, chap. 14. and is perfectly Learnt, chap. 15. after the Preaching of the Everlaſting Goſpel. There the Kingdom of Redemption, in its fully Glory, follows, wherein the Saints are Prieſts, not only of God, but of Chriſt, a 1000 Years, chap. 20. 6. Have the Name not only of God, but of the Lamb, written on their Foreheads. And the Throne of God, and the Lamb is in that City of Redemption, c. 22. 3, 4.
And it is most notorious Matter of Fact, that the moſt Glorious Ray of the Reformation, was the Reſtoration of the Doctrine of Juſtification by Free Grace, and Faith in Jeſus; wherein Luther, and Calvin, with other Reformers, however in other things they differ'd, yet concurr'd herein, as under the Spirit and Zeal of Elijah, All in it. How much any under the Profeſſion of the Reformation have declin'd from this; Ipſi Viderint, Let them well look to it. I am far from eſteeming the Reverend Perſons I have to do with, Dead, or Living, among that ſort.
But this Great Fall of the Chriſtian Church, as from Heaven, in this Point, would tempt any conſidering Perſon to be moſt on the ſide of thoſe, who aſcribe moſt to Free Grace, and the Righteouſneſs of God in Chriſt; Except they hold the Doctrine or Deeds of the Nicolaitans, the Turning the Grace of God into Laſciviouſneſs, which Thing Chriſt hates, ch. 2. 6, 15. being the other part of Antichriſtianiſm; Indulgences to Sin: And this I never heard Dr. Criſp charg'd with; and he is particularly acquitted by his Reverend Oppoſite.
I dare not pretend to juſtifie all my own, much leſs anothers Expreſſions, who knew his own Grounds and Reaſons of ſo expreſſing; and, it is most probable, thought ſome unuſual ones neceſſary to alarm the Thoughts and Minds of Men into the Obſervation of the Truths he deſign'd to exalt, as not enough exalted.
I do not pretend to enter, as they ſay, the Liſts with ſo Judicious and Worthy a Perſon, as Mr. Williams; nor with the Things he hath ſpoken, giving a Cordial Aſſent to much the moſt; nor ſhall I, I hope, appear Contentious, wherein I diſſent; but have only conſider'd, what Truth lies on each hand, more than what he himſelf hath ſo excellently obſerv'd; and have therefore made his Heads at the end of his Book the Line of my Procedure, and ſo have ſet them at the end of this.
I commit all to Divine Bleſſing, and Chriſtian Acceptation, with this gladſom Prediction; that if we can but for a little, a very little time, love the Truth, and Peace, Zech. 8. 19. The Light concerning theſe Points, that hath been but as the Light of the Moon in the time of the 42 Moons of the Apoſtacy, not yet expir'd, and ſo ſtill darkning the Sun's Light; ſhall be not only as the Light of the Sun of Chriſt's Face; ch. 10. 1. in the Reformation; But the Light of the Sun, even ſince the Reformation, ſhall be Seven-fold; the Light of One Day, as the Light of Seven, All in One. Then we ſhall Rejoyce, and no longer Diſſent. Let us Earneſtly Pray: Lord, Let (as it ſhall ſhortly do) Thy Kingdom thus Come.
A SECOND Conciliatory Diſcourſe CONCERNING Dr. Criſp's Sermons, AND Mr. Williams's Diſſatisfactions concerning them.
THat which I would lay in the Foundation and as the Center of this Diſcourſe, ſhall be a Scheme of the Doctrine of the Goſpel in theſe Points.
1. The Covenant of Grace in all the Graces and Duties of the Convenantees of it, God in infinite Wiſdom, Holineſs and Purity hath ſo ſetled, that it is an Abſolute Covenant, in which Chriſt is not only the Great Sacrifice, and his Blood the Price, Ranſom, and Purchaſe; But He Himſelf is the Surety, the Mediator, the Teſtator of it: So that This Covenant ſhall never be Found Fault with. Not only on the Account of its own Goodneſs; but not on this Account, that the Covenantees, or thoſe who are indeed intended by Chriſt to be the Covenantees, have broken it, and ſo it hath become ineffectual to them. This is moſt evident from the Apoſtle's Argumentation, Heb. 8, 7, &c. For if the First Covenant had been faultleſs, there ſhould have been no place ſought for a ſecond: The firſt Covenant, that God made, was in it ſelf good, had they to whom it was given, been ſuitable and agreeable to it; The Apoſtle therefore changes that his word, if the Covenant had be…n faultleſs, into thoſe words. For finding fault with them, he ſaith, Behold the Days come, ſaith the Lord, I will make a new Covenant, not according to the Covenant I made with their Fathers, &c. which my Covenant they brake, or continued not in, and I regarded them not. But this is the Covenant I will make with them, I will write my Laws in their Hearts, &c. Hence it follows, The Covenantees according to the faultleſs Covenant muſt ſo continue in it, that God may be for ever their God, and they his People; there need be no diſpute, what Covenant this was, or in what regard it is here ſpoken of; whether only as a Covenant of Moral Obedience, or as a Ritual Ceremonial Covenant; for it is undeniable, the Apoſtle repreſents it herein as a Covenant found fault with, that they who were under it continued not in it; and therefore whatever Covenant, whether Moral or Ceremonial, had that Fault to be found with it, God would change, and bring in a Covenant, that ſhould not have that Fault to be found with it: It muſt and ſhall be effectual to the grand purpoſe of keeping in the People of it ſo within it ſelf, as to be God's People, and that he will be their God; ſuch efficacies of Grace ſhall all go along with it: This is not to be eluded by any Art or Wit of Man.
2. From hence it muſt neceſſarily follow, There is a certain number choſen and elected according to the Grace of this Covenant, and for them this Covenant is made. For it is too evident in plain view, and as matter of fact, that the moſt Gracious and Spiritual Covenant of the Goſpel does not thus embrace all that are under it in profeſſion, as that God ſhould be for ever their God, and they his People, and that they ſhould be for ever pardon'd. Seeing yet, 2dly, it is God, and Chriſt, that look to it, that this Covenant ſhould be thus continued in; And, 3dly, that Scripture, ſpeaking of thoſe thus ſecur'd according to the Covenant of Grace, ſtiles them, The Election, and continually ſpeaks of the Election of Grace, the Riches of Grace, and the Glory and Praiſe of Grace, not of Works, but of Him that calleth. All this put together, ſhews a certain Number elected. In reſpect to whom this Covenant ſhall not be faulted for their breaking it.
3. The Election is in Jeſus Chriſt the Head, of the Adoption, the First born among many Brethren, even all the Sons God will bring Glory through Him: So Jeſus Chriſt muſt be the Supreme and Chief in the whole Doctrine of Salvation; His Blood, and Death, his Righteouſneſs, and Obedience, His Appearance with that Blood in Heaven, in his Melchiſedecian Prieſthood; and there by the Power of an Endleſs Life, Negotiating, and Tranſacting all for, and in his Servants, as by a perpetual Rotation of that Power, as in a Sphere of higheſt Activity, by his Spirit. Theſe are the very Powers of Salvation.
4. This the Scripture repreſents to be Eternal, or from before the Foundation of the World: which is the conſtant Expreſſion it uſes to convey to us the Notion of Eternity by; now Eternal ſurrounds and encompaſſes Time, and gives all the efficacy to the Motions in and upon it; for as it encircles it, ſo it penetrates it every where, with infinity of Lines cutting it every way: ſo that though to us, as Creatures of Times, theſe two, Time and Eternity, ſeem moſt diſtinct, and are ſo ſpoken of; yet indeed Time is ſupported, and in all Parts and Lines of it interwoven by Eternity.
5. The Supreme Repreſentation of God in the whole State of our Salvation, is as of a Father in Chriſt; this is moſt demonſtrative, ſeeing it is to the Adoption of Children, we are choſen, which neceſſarily carries the notion of a Father; ſeeing alſo it is the making conformable to the Image of his Son; and ſeeing it is for the bringing many Sons to glory. And ſo Jeſus Chriſt is repreſented in the neareſt and moſt intimate Relations, as the First-born among many Brethren, yea, ſometimes as a Father, as a Husband, as a Root to the Branches, as a Head to the Members. This is the moſt inward and intimate Repreſentation of Scripture concerning our Salvation.
6. But the Outward, and more extern Adminiſtration is by God, the Judge of all, or the Rector and Governor of all; and by Jeſus Chriſt, as Lord of all, and he, as having all Judgment committed to him, is made known to us. But though the Elect Children of God and Members of Chriſt, are comprehended in ſeveral ways of Scripture-ſpeaking under this Outward Adminiſtration; yet This Outward Adminiſt…ation is chiefly with regard to the Non-Elect, to clear and juſtify God in all his Dealings with them; and therefore as to the exterior part of his Adminiſtration, there are the ſame Overtures made to the one, that there are to the other; and the one are ſav'd, and brought home to God, under the ſame means, the other are loſt.
7. This Inward Grace, and the Outward Adminiſtration exceedingly differ; For the Inward Grace, is Love, Spirit, Life; the Outward Adminiſtration, is (to ſpeak nothing now of the Government of Chriſt, by the Laws and Light of Nature, where his Word is not in Outward Adminiſtration) where it is, by the Overtures of his Word upon the Underſtanding, Wills, Affections and Conſciences, of his Subjects one with another; By that Miniſtry of his Word, he preſſes upon all, the Obedience of Faith, Repentance and Holyneſs, the Duties, required of us; which, according to the Inward Grace and Love to his own, he gives the Inward Efficacy and Almighty Operation of:
8. In the Inward Grace, and the Operations of it, there is a veſting them in the Faculties of his Election, and a Conduct of their Internal Action upon their own Minds and Hearts; and of the Principles of Outward Action, which flow in all Conformity and Agreeableneſs thereunto; ſo that the Vehicle is our ſelves, but the Inſpiration is God's and Chriſt's.
9. From all this it is evident, That although there is on many Accounts, after to be given, a large Field and Scope of Preaching and Diſcourſing upon, and according to the outward Adminiſtration; yet it is of Superior Neceſſity, to preſerve the Fountains of Grace and Love, of Power and Spirit clear, the Foundations ſure and firm; and though there may be Fault in not being large enough upon, and according to the outward Adminiſtration; becauſe it ſhews the neceſſity of, and, as a School-maſter, brings to the Inward, and manifeſts how it diffuſes it ſelf; yet the Error and Danger is greater, in not ſufficiently both ſecuring and illuſtrating the Doctrin of the Inward Grace. For many more have periſh'd in ſticking upon the Outward, without being led in the Inward, than by applying moſt to the Inward. For that always, when it is admir'd ador'd and receiv'd, diffuſes it ſelf into the Outward. So that if Eternal Love and Grace is Chriſt, be ſo taught, as that its Efficacyes are always ſhewn to be in all Holyneſs and Purity; If it pleaſes the All-wiſe Spirit to carry any of the Spirits of his Servants, wholly upon the Inward Grace; ſeeing he ballances them by many Men of his Servants, largely inſiſting upon the Outward Adminiſtration, therefore ſuch his Servants are not to be blam'd; but God is to be acknowledg'd in his manifold Graces and unſpeakable Gifts, by the one, and by the other.
10. The Glorious Appearance of all theſe, is not, till in the Fulneſs, not only of Time, as in our Lord's Coming, but in the Fulneſs of Times viz. of all Time in the Kingdom of Chriſt; Then ſhall be a Recollection, a Recapitulation, a Gathering, and a Gathering together of all in Chriſt; Then ſhall the Riches of Inward Grace be found to Praiſe and Glory; And the Wiſdom, Righteouſneſs, and admirable Long-Suffering and Patience of the External Adminiſtration and Government of God and Chriſt, as Rector and Judge of the Univerſe, be admir'd and ador'd alſo towards, even the Loſt.
Having thus laid a general Scheme, I come now particularly to make brief Conciliations of the true and moſt enlarg'd Apprehenſions, and Diſcourſes, upon even Eternal free Grace in Chriſt towards all the Elect of God, according to Dr. Criſp, with Mr. Williams's weighty, and moſt valuable Conſiderations upon the Outward Adminiſtration of the Goſpel Covenant, according to his Heads of Diſcourſe at the end of his Book.