A Contention for Truth, Title page – To the reader 2
A Contention for Truth: OR, An Impartial Account, OF Two ſeveral Diſputations.
The one being on Munday, the 12th. of Feb. And the other on Munday, the 26 of the ſame month, in the year, 1671.
Between Mr. Danſon of the one party, and Mr. Ives on the other, upon this queſtion (viz.) Whether the Doctrine of ſome True Believers, falling away totally and finally from Grace, be True or No?
Publiſhed to prevent Miſtakes, and falſe Reports, concerning the ſaid Conferences.
By a Lover of Truth and Peace.
Try the Spirits, whether they are of God or no
1 John 4.1.
For,
The Spirit ſpeaketh expreſly, that in the latter times ſome ſhall depart from the Faith.
1 Tim. 4.1.
Printed, in the Year, 1672.
READER.
LEaſt thou ſhouldeſt ſuſpect the candor and ingenuity of the publiſher; let me advertiſe thee of three things. Firſt, that whatever was ſaid on both ſides, by way of opponency or reſpondency is here publiſhed without partiality. Secondly, that if Mr. Ives hath added any thing (for the further confirmation of his own judgment or the refuting Mr. Danſons) over and above what paſt in the diſputations, wherever there is any ſuch adition, let the differing Caracter in which they are Printed, ſerve for thy information, that whatever is ſo printed, did not paſs in the diſputation. Thirdly, Take notice that Mr. Ives, ſent a Letter to Mr. Danſon, to deſire him to appoint ſome time and place, within a week after, that they might meet together to view the Copy, and if need were to Correct it, that it might be publiſhed by mutual conſent, but Mr. Danſon inſtead of writing an anſwer, ſent word by the bearer that M. Ives might do what he pleaſed, and that he would not trouble himſelf about it: A Copy of which Letter is Printed, and hereunto anexed for thy ſatisfaction. Let me cloſe all with this paſſionate wiſh, that while we contend for the primitive faith; God grant we may maintain the primitive love, and not think our zeal for truth luke-warm (as one well obſerves) unleſs it conſume our charity to aſhes, remembring that in gaining the knowledg of truth, if we loſe charity, ſuch knowledg will neither make us good nor happy.
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Mr. Ives, His Letter to Mr. Danſon.
Mr. Danſon,
THE Reports of our late conferences being very falſe and uncertain, which doubtleſs, muſt highly tend to the diſparagement of the Truth contended for, on which ſide the way ſoever it may lie; I have therefore prevailed with a perſon, who took an exact account of both days conferences in Caracters, to tranſcribe a fair Copy; in order to the Printing thereof to prevent further miſtakes: And leaſt you (or any elſe) ſhould ſuſpect the faithfulneſs and impartiality of the Scribe; I thought good to give you this Advertiſement (viz.) that if you will appoint a time and place ſometime in the next week, and ſend me word on Munday next, that we may meet to examine, and if need be to Correct the Copy, ſo that it may be publiſhed by conſent and without partiality, I ſhall willingly wait upon you: Otherwiſe if I hear not from you, I ſhall correct the Copy as impartially as I can without you, and diſpatch it for the Preſs with all convenient ſpeed: And however you may think of me, I have charity enough to ſubſcribe my ſelf, Sir,
Walbrook, March 2 1671. Your Loving Friend Jer. Ives.
READER,
WHereas there are divers and frequent repetitions occaſioned by the proſecutions of the arguments and anſwers of each ſide, which might well have been omitted, if Mr. Danſon would have met to have Corrected the Copy; but by reaſon he would not meet, it was thought neceſſary to publiſh all, leſt the omitting any thing, ſhould have been judged a piece of partiality.
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