Pacification Touching the Doctrinal Dissent, Postscript
The Poſtſcript to the Reader.
THERE are ſeveral Pieces, that at ſeveral Times, upon ſeveral Subjects, I have written, called, The Middle Way. One is the Middle Way of Juſtification, which I printed in the year 71 or 72, and reprinted lately 95, upon the account of our Brethrens Difference about that Point. In that ſecond Edition I have gathered up all Paſſages that concern that Subject, out of the reſt of thoſe Papers to put them to it, and took advantage from certain Exceptions againſt Mr. Williams, to add ſomething that I thought wanting in a ſingle Sheet, and have here ſupplied what was yet in my Mind to ſay farther upon this Occaſion. Now if the Reader ſhall bid the Bookſeller ſtitch theſe ſix Sheets, that one Sheet (ſo called) and thoſe eight or nine together, and then ſhall take time to read them, and notice of what he reads (unleſs he thinks this Point of Juſtification be ſuch, as is not worthy his Time or Thoughts, which was an Article of ſo great Concern to our firſt Reformers,) and does not meet with ſomething or other in them (and that as an Original) which may ſerve at leaſt Vice cotis to whet his own Underſtanding upon them, then is it not I my ſelf only, but two of our moſt eminent Brethren while alive (as appears by their hands put to one of my Papers) are deceived. I will add, that if Mr. W. therefore ſhall not now ſet himſelf to peruſe them, and finding any ſuch Matter which he can improve, or make out better for me than I have done, if he does it not, then am I farther diſappointed in one End of this preſent Work, as alſo of my believed Eſtimation of Mr. Williams. For according to what a Man's Mind is moſt upon in ſuch Diſputes as theſe, the Inveſtigation of Truth, or the Defence of ones ſelf, ſuch is his value more or leſs.
Having yet room, the fear of the want whereof made me put thoſe two Paragraphs (p. 29.) into a Marginal Note, that ſhould elſe have been part of the Book, I will uſe it to ſupply one thing lacking in the ſingle Sheet mentioned. The Sacrifice and Righteouſneſs of Chriſt's Death and Life, is that which hath procured Pardon and Salvation to every Believing Sinner, upon the account of that Satisfaction God as Rector hath received by it; ſo that being Legiſlator alſo (and above Law) he might with Demonſtration too of his Righteouſneſs (relax, and hath relaxed or diſpenſed with) his Law of Works, requiring another Condition to thoſe Benefits in a new one, the Law of Grace, or the Goſpel. This Pardon now and Life (or Grant thereof) upon Condition, being the Grand Fruits of our Redemption, it is a Queſtion between Mr. W. and I, whether the Condition it ſelf alſo be a Fruit of Chriſt's Purchaſe, which if it be not, derives not yet from our Free Will, but the Grace of Election. It is not agreeable to my Genius to make Chriſt's Redemption, which I would have One thing and Univerſal, to be differently inſluxive on the Elect and others. I have opened this Apprehenſion of mine in that ſingle Sheet mentioned, and there are two Conſiderations moreover offered againſt the received Opinion, which I deſire Mr. W. to weigh Honeſtly, and, if he can, to ſolve me the Difficulty; or if he cannot, to come with me to this Compoſition. The Lord Chriſt; by Redeeming the World and conſequently by his Death, hath obtained a Right of Dominion over it, and by that Right does give that Condition to whom he will, Acts 5.31. But though Faith therefore and Repentance, in this remote way about, may be ſaid to be obtained by Chriſt's Death (as he hath obtained thereby a Power or Right of giving it,) I deny it to be the immediate Purchaſe, or direct Fruit of it. I deny that Faith is a Fruit of Chriſt's Death, in the ſame manner as Pardon and Life is upon Condition of Faith. I deny that it proceeds from Satisfaction given to God's Juſtice (which Chriſt's Death was) though it may from his Merit, or Redundancy of it, as all other Good does, ſeeing in his Name it is, or through his Merits, that we ask all things at the Hands of God, (as Health, and Wealth, and the like Bleſſings) which we cannot ſay yet Chriſt died that we ſhould have. Again, Chriſt came and died to Save Man, by reſtoring him to Righteouſneſs, from whence he is fallen. Now the Righteouſneſs of Nature, we never can be in this Life reſtored to, and there is therefore a Righteouſneſs of Grace, which God hath ordained in room of that to Save us, revealed in the Goſpel, and it is called the Righteouſneſs of God, becauſe of this his Ordination. By the Obedience of Chriſt we are ſaid to be made Righteous, and the Righteouſneſs of God in him, or by the Means of him, as one has it. But how by the Means of him? Why, by his Death, but this way about ſtill. Chriſt died to procure for us a Covenant with another Condition than that of the Old, which performing, we become Righteous that never could be ſo elſe; but mark it, when the Condition is purchaſed, the Performance comes not from thence, but from the Free Gift of God. In the mean time, this Mercy that God hath ordained, and doth accept of ſuch a Condition as we do, or can perform, muſt not paſs without Reſentment. Bleſſed be the God of Heaven for ſome Senſe and Knowledge of this in theſe Sheets. Bleſſed be God that it is not a Righteouſneſs of the Law required of us, but a Righteouſneſs of the Goſpel. Bleſſed be God it is not by a Righteouſneſs of Works that we are Saved, but a Righteouſneſs, the Failings whereof are pardoned, and the little Done accepted through the alone Merits of Chriſt Jeſus. Which when they had read, they rejoyced for the Conſolation.
Deo Gloria mihi Condonatio. J. H.
FINIS.
End of the text · John Humfrey, Pacification Touching the Doctrinal Dissent (1696)