Mixture of Scholastical Divinity with Practical Part 2, Excerpt and reply 38 – Excerpt and reply 39
Dr. Hammond.
This is all the observance M. J. seemes to expect of me at this time, unless his intimation to all admirers of M. Hooker, that they should vindicate their great patrone, of Ceremonies, may passe for an admonition to me, who acknowledge my selfe a thankful adoter of Gods graces in that godly learned man, and so exact a few lines more above the regular account.
56. This will detaine me no longer, then whilst I mind the Reader, that in a discourse of the benefits which we receive from Christ in the Sacrament, & otherwise, M. Hooker undertakes to set downe how Christ in his humane nature is communicated to us, and so present with …; To this end three things he shewes at large. 1. That as nothing created can be unlimited, or receive any such accident from any as may really make it infinite, so neither the soul nor body of Christ, nor Christ as man, nor according to his humane nature, can possibly be every where present, no nor the substance of the body of Christ, which netther hath or can have any presence but onelyonly local. 2. That this cannot be rendred possible, either by the grace of union with the Diely, nor by any other possible meanes, as he at large excellently deduceth it, pag. 300, 301, 302, 3. That it may peradventure be well enough granted in some sense, and after a sort, that Christ is every where present, as man, viz. 1. In respect of the conjunction of the humane nature with the Deity, which conjunction is extended as farre as the Deity, the actual position being restrained, and tied to a certain place, and 2. By cooperation with the Deity, and that in all things.
57. Now on this third head, (without reflecting on the two former, which assure us of the authors meaning in it) two passages M. J. takes hold of, which if he know any thing in either Philosophy, or scholastical divinity, are both … of a grosse mistake, and cannot be sufficiently wondred at by him, that they should fall from so a learned a pen.
58. But I suppose there is no great skill in either of those learned faculties required, to distinguish betwixt that which truly and properly is, and that which may in some sense, and after a sort, and in two respects onelyonly (… of which belong to the propriety of being) be well enough granted, and that with a (peradventure) also to have influence on all these.
59. And what severity is this, to require of every learned man, that hath most largely refuted an adversary, to be so averse from all thoughts of peace, and reconciliation with him, that he may not allow him to speak truth, or but perhaps to speak truth in a sort, and in some sense, and in two onelyonly respects? All which are still more than intimations, that he thinks him to be absolutely, and in simplicity and propriety of speaking, in a gross errour, impossible even to the power of God to have truth in it.
60. If any should chance to say of an eloquent man, that you might hear an Angel speak in him, and I should reply, that it might per adventure be well enough granted in a sort, or in some sense, that when he spoke you might hear an Angel, assuring you at large of my opinion, that no … man can truly be an Angel, nay that it was impossible for God himself to bring to pass, that at the same time he should be an Angel, and not an Angel, a man, and not a man, or which is all one, a bare man, and yet an Angel, or (in fewer words) when Christ saith he is a door, and a vine, if I should say that in a sort, and in some sense, and that in two respects, each of these had truth in them, would M. J. think fit to leave … subject, and let loose for three leaves together, and pawne all his philosophy, and … (not confidering what the consequence also may be to his practical) divinity, to … and wonder at, and … to give over wondering, and withal solemnely to refute this or that improper figurative …, so perfectly acknowledged by the Speakers to be such?
61. If he have that great …, and any prevalent temptation thus to lay it out, I shall onelyonly assure him, that I have not so much of either, as to attend these … motions, nor any other lover or admirer of Mr. Hooker, that I know of, and theresore bescech him contentedly to rest in this general return to his charge of that … man, without expecting any more explicite, or particular survey of it: And so much for Mr. Hooker also.
Jeanes.
I beleeve that most ordinary Readers wil think me guilty of this disingenuous carriage towards Mr. Hooker, which the Doctor … me of; but if they would have but the patience to read me in the passage related unto, they would soon acquit me, and find the Doctor guilty of a great deal of injury towards me. Indeed Mr. Hooker sayes, that it may well enough be granted in some sense, and after a sort, that Christ is every where present as man, viz. in two respects; but whether this were lyable to exception, I meddle not, 'tis the … of the respects which he mentioneth, that I question, and the words that I challenge, the Reader may find page 141. of my …. of the … of Christ thus sun med up. Then for the great Hooker, whereas he saith, That the conjunction of the Manhood with Deity, is extended as farre as Deity, that the Body of Christ is joyned unto Deity, wheresoever Deity is, that his Bodily substance hath every where a presence of true conjunction with Deity This also is easily refuted, &c. Now this he affirmeth absolutely and simply without any limitation, and not in a sort, or in some sense, and in two respects; and this any man that hath his eyes in his head may see, that will compare Mr. Hooker and me together; and if any learned and impartial Reader will but make this comparison, I shall be very well contented that hee shall judge betwixt us, who of us hath most trespassed against practical Divinity, I in my charge of Mr. Hooker, or the learned Doctor in his grosse and undeniable falsification of my said charge? But I shall in charity hope, that this falsification was but a mistake, proceeding from his hasty and … zeal towards the memory of Mr. Hooker: Wheras he is pleased to talk his pleasure of my pawning all my Philosophy and fcholastical Divinity, I shall only humbly assume the boldnesse to intimate thus much unto the Reader, that though I have no great store of either, yet I hope I have enough to attend (that I may borrow the Doctors phrase) the motions of him, and all other admirers of Mr. Hooker in the Defence of the matter questioned: but if he shall decline all future further debate of it, I shall with a great deal of probability conclude, that what Mr. Hooker saith is uncapable of any tolerable vindication: for if he were defensible, Dr. … is so able as that he could, and withall so zealous a lover and admirer of him, as that he would continue the justification of him: Now from the undefensiblenesse of Mr. Hooker in this one point, I shall onelyonly take occasion to admonish his followers, that seeing he hath erred in so weighty a point, therefore he might erre in matters of a farre inferiour nature, especially seeing the times were such, as that they transported with prejudice many men, that were unquestionably otherwise very learned and godly.
Dr. Hammond. sect. 62.
I have thus without any other obligation, than what my desire to undeceive the Author and his Readers … upon me, paid him now this my second observance: And may be allowed to think it time, that he who hath been so liberal of his uses of publickrefutation of others words, should find some vacancy for one use of more private (if not …, yet) examination of his own actions: And then I shall offer to his consideration, how much more agreeable to the Laws of brotherly kindnesse or … it hath been, to have proposed his exceptions in such a manner, or friendly addresse, as might have brought him home the same satisfaction, and saved others the … of these uselesse, because personal debates: When he hath sincerely observed in himself the motive of his other distant choice, I have obtained the end of my charity in mentioning it to him, and have no more to return to him at this time.
Jeanes.
We poor ignorant men, that use the trite, but not illogical Method of Doctrine and Use in Preaching, … usually first confirme our Doctrine, before we inferre any Uses therefrom. Now Sir, if you will be pleased first to prove, that it is much more agreeable to the Laws of Brotherly kindnesse or candour, to propose a mans exceptions against a printed Book in a way of private Letter (for that I conceive is the manner of friendly addresse that you speake of) than in a publique way from the Presse, especially when the said exceptions are propounded, not for any personal satisfaction, but for the undeceiving of others, unto which end the private way is no apportionare means; I shall then proceed unto the use of, not only examination, but also reprehension of this mine action; but in the mean while I shall … upon my justification, and maintaine that I am guiltlesse of any unbrotherly, uncandid, and disrespective carriage towards you in the proposall of my objections, which was in as civil and friendly a manner, I am confident, as ever you received any from any Antagonist whatsoever.