The True Doctrine of Justification Asserted and Vindicated, Title page – Dedication
THE True Doctrine OF JUSTIFICATION Aſſerted and Vindicated, FROM The Errours of PAPISTS, ARMINIANS, SOCINIANS, and more eſpecially ANTINOMIANS.
In XXX. LECTURES Preached at Lawrence-Iury, London.
By Anthony Burgess, Preacher of Gods Word.
The ſecond Edition Corrected and Reviſed.
LONDON, Printed by A. Miller for Tho. Ʋnderhil at the Anchor in Pauls-Church-yard, near the little North-door, 1651.
TO THE Right Honourable EDWARD Earle of Mancheſter, Vicount Mandeville, Baron of Kimbolton.
My Lord,
THE many favours your Honour hath vouchſafed unto me, altogether undeſerving, may juſtly command a publike acknowledgement thereof to the whole world; But that which doth eſpecially encourage me to ſeek for your Protection, in the publiſhing of this Treatiſe, is your unfained love of, and ſtedfaſt continuance in the Truth: So that thoſe two things which Pythagoras ſaid, made a man compleat, foreign, to doe good to others, and to embrace truth, may without flattery be affirmed to be in your Lordſhip. And as for the latter, Paul ſpeaks it as a great commendation, that the true faith did dwell in Lois, 2 Tim 1▪5.which denoteth a ſtable and firm permanency, as the Apoſtle elſewhere ſaith, Sinne dwelleth in him. In ſome mens breaſts, Truth is only a ſojourner, and their aſſent to it passeth away (as the Pſalmiſt ſpeaks of our life; like a tale that is told. Now herein Chriſt ſpeaks of a peculiar priviledge to the Elect, that it is not poſſible for them to be deceived by falſe Prophets (if it were possible to deceive the very Elect) which is to be underſtood of a totall and finall ſeduction: Mat. 24.24.Thus alſo when the Apoſtle had mentioned the Apoſtacy of Hymenaeus and Philetus, he interpoſeth by way of comfort to the godly,2 Tim. 2.19. nevertheleſſe the foundation of the Lord ſtandeth ſure, having this Seal, the Lord knoweth who are his; and no wonder, if the truths of Chriſt are worthy of all hearty acceptation, ſeeing they are wholly by ſupernaturall revelation, in which ſenſe, ſome ſay, Chriſt is called foreign,Ioh. 1.1. the Word, becauſe he revealed the will of his Father to us; but in another reſpect are we to take heed how we decline from the truths of God, becauſe they are the inlet and firſt inſtrument of our Sanctification and Salvation,1 Tim▪ ….4. Ioh▪ 1▪7.17. God would have all men to be ſaved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth; Sanctifie them by thy truth, thy Word is truth; and our regeneration is deſcribed pa…tly by the renewing of our minde, Ep…. 4.23.ſo as corrupt diſtillations from the head are apt to putrifie the vitals, ſo Errours and falſe Doctrins do quickly corrupt our pract…ce. One thing more I make bold to recommend to your Lordſhip, that beſides the bare receiving of the truth, there is (as the perfection of knowledge) the acknowledgement of truth after godlinesse, Tit. ….1. Eph. 4.21.and the learning of truth as it is in Jeſus Chriſt; which is, when the truths we beleeve have a ſavoury and powerfull effect upon us, and nothing cauſeth our abode in the truth ſo much as the experimentall efficacy of it upon our hearts.Heb. 13 9. It is good (ſaith the Apoſtle) to have the heart eſtabliſhed with grace and not with meats. One would have thought the Apoſtle ſhould have ſaid it is good to have the heart eſtabliſhed with ſound Doctrine, becauſe he exhorteth them not to be carried aſide with every winde of Doctrine; but he ſaith Grace rather then knowledge, becauſe this is the choiceſt Antidote againſt falſhoods; Tantum ſcimus, quantum operamur, we know no more (viz. favourily, clearly, and ſtedfaſtly) then we have powerfull practice of: Now of all ſupernaturall truths the doctrine of Juſtification hath no mean excellency, this is the article which Luther ſaid reigned in his heart; In this is a Chriſtians treaſury of hope and conſolation: and becauſe the Antinomians, whoſe opinions may be ſtiled as thoſe of Epicurus were, foreign, (inticing Syrens of a mans fleſhly minde) have put their dead flies in this precious Box of ointment, I have endeavoured to ſelect this precious Gold from their droſſe. Though the matter I handle be in part controverſall, yet it is alſo in a great meaſure practicall. The greateſt mercy I can wiſh to your Lordſhip, is this glorious priviledge of Iuſtification, in which only, and not in riches, honours, or any earthly dignity, conſiſteth true and perfect bleſſedneſſe, as David a King, doth heartily, and with much affection acknowledge, Pſal. 32.1. and Paul by vertue of this Iustification, Rom. 8. triumphs over all adverſity and trouble whatſoever. Of which glorious happineſſe that your Lordſhip may be made partaker, is the Prayer of
Your Lordſhips moſt humble Servant in the Lord, ANTHONY BURGESS.