Dialogue Between the Baptist and the Presbyterian, Postscript
POSTSCRIPT.
WHat I have here preſented to conſideration, is but an Eſſay; for I doubt not but that the contrary-minded will quarrel theſe my Labours. Know therefore, that as Occaſion ſhall be offered, you may expect (if God permit) a more ample Account of the things briefly noted in the preceding Dialogue.
It hath pleaſed God to ſtir up ſome of Learning and Judgment, to ſerve the Truth in theſe Enquiries; of whoſe Learned Labours I hope to give a more full Account, and eſpecially concerning the Doctrine of the Chriſtian Writers from the Apoſtles Days, to the Time of Auguſtine, which was more than 400 Years: During which Time this dreadful Doctrine, oppoſed in theſe Treatiſes, was a Stranger to the Church of Chriſt. The Teſtimonies being many and large, it may be convenient to take a further time for the producing of them, as well in the Languages wherein they were firſt written, as in our Engliſh Tongue. And the ſame may alſo be neceſſary in reſpect of thoſe Modern Writers, which have ſo greatly eclipſed the Grace of God to Mankind. All which may be done by an induſtrious Hand, though but meanly Learned, becauſe theſe things are made ready to our Hands, and may therefore be made the more ſerviceable to the Truth, when diſperſed in ſmall Volumes, for theſe large Tractates come but into few Hands.
And were I never ſo capable to collect and tranſlate thoſe Authors Opinions reſpectively, yet I would rather make uſe of the Collections and Tranſlations already made, by thoſe whoſe Abilities that way are unqueſtionable; and what they have done of this kind, approved and defended; as may alſo be ſhewed in time convenient.
I confeſs I never had experience of the Effects of this Spirit, which makes Men think that God in Chriſt loves but a very few of his Off-ſpring, (I mean Mankind, Acts 17. 28.) and that he hates the far greateſt part of them from all Eternity: I ſay, I never had ſo much experience of this Spirit, in its bitter Effects, as ſince I came to reſide in Norwich. It hath filled even the higheſt ſort of Profeſſors with ſuch indignation againſt me, meerly for preaching God's Love to all Men, [for let them talk what they pleaſe, this is the thing] that if they Calvin burnt Servetus, (a learned and pious Baptiſt) for differing in Opinion in Matters of Religion. Servetus is juſtified ſince his Death, and Calvin condemned for a falſe Accuſer and Fratricide, by Grotius and other Learned Men.could, I ſhould not have had a Place whereon to lay my Head in Norwich. And I have been prayed againſt (as I am informed) as a Limb of Antichriſt; and God hath been deſired to confound me with Antichriſt, &c. ſuch a Fury does this Doctrine of irreſpective Reprobation beget in the Hearts of its Admirers. A Fraternitate Calvinianâ libera nos Domine.
Now the Lord knows, (to whom I appeal) that I have born theſe things with Patience, (and yet vigorouſly preached the Truth, according to my ability) and I have, and do heartily pray for Mercy for theſe my Perſecutors, and hope by ſuch Endeavours to prevail; praying them timely to conſider the diſmal Effects of their Doctrine, [that Chriſt died but for a few:] How many have hereby deſpaired of Mercy, and laid violent Hands upon themſelves! and too many (God knows) about this City. And here the moſt humble Chriſtian is in the greateſt danger.
And on the other Hand, how does the careleſs and confident ſort go on in their evil Courſes; concluding from thoſe peccant Articles (above recited) that not one more can be damned, nor one leſs can be ſaved, than was decreed, (and that unchangeably) to be ſaved or damned from the beginning, yea, from before the World was, yea, from all Eternity: And therefore it is all one whether they be Religious or Irreligious.
This is the Doctrine (ſaith a Learned Man) which is calculated for the Kingdom of Satan, than which no Doctrine can more befriend his devouring Deſigns againſt the Souls of Men; for, ſaith he, A Man may (now) be unjuſt, unmerciful, partial, and full of diſſimulation; hating moſt Men without a cauſe, and yet be moſt like God. And indeed how ſhould Men that have throughly imbibed theſe Principles, be better than they take their God to be? O then beware of a falſe Apprehenſion of God; for when Men have ſet up ſuch an Image of God in their Judgment, they will adore it, and thereby depart from God, and do Miſchief at a venture.
As concerning God's Election and Reprobation, I ſhall briefly here aſſert my Judgment.
1. That God did from the beginning chuſe (in Chriſt) to Salvation, all that part of the fallen Race of Adam, that die in their Innocency, or accept of his Mercy and Grace according to the Means he gives them; and this Decree proceeds from his own Goodneſs, and is not built upon any Goodneſs in the Creature.
2. God did reprobate in his Decree and Determination, from the beginning, all that ſhould, in the ſucceſſive Ages of the World, reject or deſpiſe his Mercy and Goodneſs, which ſhould have led them to Repentance; even every Soul of Man that doth Evil, as well of the Jews as of the Gentiles, Rom. 2. 8, 9.
3. That no Man that is an unregenerate Sinner, is actually Elected, till he turns from Sin, and accepts of God's Mercy by Faith, Rev. 17. 14. And that none are actually reprobated till they depart from God, or reject his Mercy and Goodneſs, which he graciouſly holds forth to them, Rom. 1. 28. And this is ſo clear, that even thoſe who are our Adverſaries, are forced to allow it. For thus they ſpeak, Aſſemb. Conf. of Faith, c. 11. God did from all Eternity decree to juſtify the Elect—Nevertheleſs they are not juſtified, until the Holy Spirit doth in due time actually apply Chriſt unto them. And to make this Matter evident to every conſiderate Reader, I ſhall offer this Argument.
All that are actually Elected, have an Inheritance in the Kingdom of God, and of Chriſt, and none can lay any thing to their Charge, 1 Pet. 1. 2, 3, 4, 5. Rom. 8. 33.
But no unbelieving, Drunkard, Whoremonger, Murtherer, or Idolater, hath any Inheritance in the Kingdom of God, and of Chriſt, Epheſ. 5. 5. and theſe Impieties may be laid to their Charge.
Ergo, No unbelieving Drunkard, Whoremonger, Murderer, or Idolater, is actually Elected. And yet we know that ſome which have been ſuch, were actually Elected, when they were purged from their Filthineſs, and by Grace renewed.
As for perſonal, irreſpective, and unavoidable Reprobation, it is a Plant which bears moſt diſmal Fruit: An Inſtance we have of it in Calvin, who confeſſeth that he procured the burning to Death of Michael Servetus, who was a learned and worthy Man, though perhaps in ſome things miſtaken. See Hug. Grot. in Points of Controv. Of which inhumane Act I will make this juſt Reflection to prevent the like.
O Calvin, why didſt thou (like Cain) thy pious Brother ſlay,
Becauſe he could not walk with thee, in thy ſelf-choſen Way?
He did, in Sacred Baptiſm ('tis plain *See Calv. Inſt. cont. Servet.) the Truth aſſert:
And thou, by chuſing Infancy (as plain) did it pervert:
To which thou needſt wouldſt it diſpenſe, without one word of Truth,
To ſtand by thee in thy defence. Whilſt it with open Mouth
Did ſtand by him whilſt he did plead, Repentance and true Faith,
(In Sinners all) prerequiſites, are for that Holy Bath.
Why didſt thou ſlander him, and then his Books to Aſhes burn,
Leſt by his Innocence, thy Wrath ſhould to thy ſhame return?
But ſome did 'ſcape thy furious Flames, and he by them does ſpeak
More Truth than thou his Enemy. But yet ſuppoſe him weak,
(Tho Wiſe and Learned all muſt grant) muſt he therefore be ſlain?
And Charitable too he was, (thou doſt confeſs): How vain
Then muſt thou be him to oppreſs? Let all thy Brood take heed,
They Reprobate no Man (as thou) by ſuch an horrid Deed.
T. G.
FINIS.
End of the text · Thomas Grantham, Dialogue Between the Baptist and the Presbyterian (1691)