A Confutation of the Heresies and Errors of Thomas Collier, Title page – To the reader 1
Vindiciae Veritatis, …R A CONF…TATION … THE Hereſies and Groſs Errours Aſſerted by THOMAS COLLIER IN HIS ADDITIONAL WORD TO HIS Body of Divinity.
Written by Nehemiah Coxe, a Servant of Jeſus Chriſt, and Miniſter of his Goſpel.
For there muſt be alſo Hereſies among you, that thoſe which are approved may be made manifeſt among you,
1 Cor. 11. 19.
Ye therefore beloved, ſeeing ye know theſe things before, beware loſt ye alſo, being led-away with the errour of the wicked, fall from your own ſtedfaſtneſs,
2 Pet. 3. 17.
foreign Theoph.
Nonnulli dum plus exquirunt …ando, quam capiunt, uſ que ad perverſa dogmata erumpunt: …um veritatis diſcipuli…eſſ… negligunt humiliter, magiſtrierroris fiunt. Greg.
LONDON, Printed for Nath. Ponder, at the Peacock in the Poultry near Corn-hill, and in Chancery-lane near Fleet-ſtreet, 1677.
Chriſtian Reader,
WE whoſe names are here ſubſcribed, thought our ſelves more particularly, than many others, obliged in Duty and Conſcience to appear in the front of this Book by way of approbation of the ſame; Wherein the manifold Errors of Tho. Collier, in a Book intituled [An Additional Word, &c.] are clearly detected, and ſolidly enervated: Becauſe although it be a moſt unequal judgement, to make the Errours of one ſingle perſon under any Profeſſion, to reflect upon the whole of the ſame; ſeeing the Apoſtle telleth the Church in its Primitive and moſt pure ſtate, Act. 20. 30. [That there ſhould ariſe from themſelves men ſpeaking perverſe things, and draw away Diſciples after them,] yet woeful experience hath taught us that there is nothing more uſual with the world. And we did judge, that though we do not hope hereby to ſilence the mouth of malice; yet this might be a means, to ſet us right in the thoughts of thoſe who are not byaſſed by evil affections.
We had hoped that the ſnares, wherein the ſaid Tho. Collier had been many years entangled, and for which he ſeemed by Gods bleſſing on ſome of our endeavours, to manifeſt repentance, might have been a caution to him, to avoid theſe dangerous Rocks for the future; But to our grief we find it otherwiſe, and ſee that the higheſt Profeſſion cannot ſecure men from falling, when the heart is not eſtabliſhed with Grace, and kept humble before the Lord, as we ſee in the examples of Hymenaeus and Alexander.
For the Author of this work, if any by reaſon of his inferiority in years, ſhould ſuſpect him of an over-forwardneſs, ariſing from any over-weening ſ…lf-opinion, in undertaking this matter, although that anſwer is ready in his behalf, which ſometime David gave to Eliah in a caſe though of a different, yet ſomething like nature; 1 Sam. 17. 29. What have I done? is there not a cauſe? ſhall the whole Hoſt of Iſrael be defied, the principles of Goſpel-truths ſubverted, the name of God blaſphemed, a flood-gate of Errour open'd, and any be thought over-forward to oppoſe the Adverſary?
But over and above we think meet to acquaint thee, that the Combatant in this Conflict was not ſo much prompted to it by his natural inclination, as by the joint and earneſt perſwaſion of ſeveral of the Elders, and that of elder years, partly becauſe we did judge him meet and of ability for the work, and next, at that time of his entring upon it, a more than ordinary Providence of God, gave him leiſure for it more then others, by ſuſpending him from other more weighty employment; thereby (as it were) calling him out, and determining him to this employ: Wherein (upon our peruſal) we hope, we may truly ſay, without particular reſpect to his Perſon, he hath behaved himſelf with that modeſty of Spirit, joined with that fulneſs and clearneſs of anſwer and ſtrength of argument, that we comfortably conceive (by Gods bleſſing) it may prove a good and ſoveraign Antidote againſt the Poiſon: from which as we earneſtly pray the venter of it may be delivered, ſo no leſs that thou alſo maiſt be preſerved; And in order thereunto, deſire of thee, that thou wouldſt read this enſuing diſcourſe, with this candour and charity to believe, that it is Verity, not Victory, that is here contended for: And farther we beg of God, that thou maiſt be enabled to weigh each particular in the juſt Ballance of the Sanctuary; and that he will direct thy heart into the love of Truth, which ſhall be the daily Prayer of
Thine in the Lord,
William Kiffen.
Daniel Dyke.
Joſeph Maiſters.
James Fitton.
Henry Forty.
William Collins.