Defense of the Report, Part 3
III. The Charge of Antinomianiſm.
1. MY Brother, that he may put the fairer Gloſs, upon the New Notions, he has undertaken the Defence of, applyeth himſelf to the ſame Artifices, by which the Socinian…, of old, uſed to Propagate their Hereſies, which was to expoſe the Ref…r…ed, as Men of Antinomian Principles, Men of a very bad Character, and ill Deſigns.
2. That he has, without any provocation given him, thus Aſperſed his Congregational Brethren, in the Bulk, without a Salvo to the Reputation of any one of them, I will particularly evince.
1. The Charge of Antinomianiſm; He layes in thus, The True Reaſon of their (the Congregational Brethrens) ſevere displeaſure conceived againſt the Third Paper is, that it has ſo clearly and fully born its Teſtimony againſt the Antinomians in the Fundamental Article of Juſtification. Reb. p. 56. A little before this, 'I wiſh (ſaith he) you could inform me, Whether they, [viz. the Congregational] have received any New Revelations, or made any New Diſcoveries of theſe great Secrets, and Indi…penſible Neceſſity of theſe New Notions? [that is, if the Terms, Phraſes, and Doctrines, long ago openly embraced by the Reformed] 'Whether they [the Congregational ſtill] are become foreign, the Adepts, in the Roſacrucian Myſteries, or have found out the Philoſophers Stone to turn all Antinomianiſm into pure Gold. pag. 50.
I will here, only tell you, that theſe Roſacrucians are a People, who hold, that by the help of a Spirit which Penetrates the Univerſe, they are adorn'd with ſuch Angelical Wiſdom, as excels the Knowledge, convey'd to us by the Holy Scriptures, by which they may underſtand whatever is done, or can be known in the World— They are a ſort of Chimists, who, in their Laboratories deſired Inſtruction, either from the Stars, or after the manner of Enthuſiaſts, expect ſecret Inſpirations and Revelations; as alſo Converſes and Conferences with Spirits, and great Aſſiſtances from them; whereupon many have been ſtrangely deluded by the Devil, who transforms himſelf into an Angel of Light. Theſe are the Roſacrucians, my Brother ſpeaks of, and as one in doubt, wiſhes to be informed, whether the Congregational, are not Adepts, great Proficients in their Helliſh Myſteries.
2. The Character he further gives of them is, That they are Pettyfoggers, whoſe work it is to ſow the Seeds of Strife, pag. 31. whoſe deſultory Humours (or giddy Brains) can no more be fixed than Proteus can be bound. pag. 33. who are no longer of an Opinion than till the next Crotchet comes into their Heads to invent another. pag. 33. Great Intreaguers, p. 29. Ʋnreaſonable Men, Malitious Slanderers, Guilty of a more heinous Sin, in that they Uſurp the Priviledge of God to Judge the Heart. p. 34. whoſe Grief, to obſerve how much the Doctrine of Christs Satisfaction is in danger, may remember you of what you Read in ſome Naturalists, That the Crocodile weeps over his Pre…, and then devours it; whoſe Tears are all Mockery. p. 54. who lye Mr. Ws. to the Stake to be Baited, (by their Party, that is, (by the Engliſh Moloſſi, or Maſtiff-Dogs, and every Whaffing Welp, that could bark, tho' not bite, Vnreaſonably Cruel, putting ſuch Terms upon Mr. Williams, as are not ſo Merciful, as thoſe put upon the Men of Jabeſh Gilead by Nahaſh, 1 Sam. 11.2. who would only thruſt out their Right Eyes, but theſe [viz The Congregational] would cut off his Right Hand too. p. 58. whoſe Terms favour too much of Empire over Souls, and Dominion over the Conſciences and Faith of Men. p. 59 Who, when they promiſe not to make further Publick Conteſts, yet will then be for Private Whiſperings, Evil Surmiſes, Inſinuated Slanders, and Clandeſtine Reproaches, whilſt Mr. W. is alive, and 'tis to be feared will feed upon his Carcaſs, and Survive his Duſt and Aſhes. That theſe Bigots will never forgive them, who have join'd with the Brethren of a more Benign Temper in the Third Paper. p. 60.
This is the way he takes to Treat a whole Party of Brethren in this City, who are known to be Men of Integrity, ſoundneſs in the Faith, and ſucceſsful Labourers in the Vineyard of our Lord; But I will make no other Return than to aſſure him, it's my prayer, he may ſee, and conſider what he has done, and that the Lord will ſoften his heart, and forgive him. As for what he ſaith of the Reporter, I will not repeat one word of it, only I will accquaint you with what little Reaſon my Brother had to Inſinuate, as if the Reporter had been a favourer of Dr. Criſp's Errors, and what Obligations he lyeth under to clear himſelf fom the ſuſpition of Antinomianiſm; for ſuch indeed is the Nature of Error, that how diſtant ſoever ſome Hereſies are, in their appearances from each other, they frequently center in one and the ſame Point.
To evince what I have here ſuggeſted, 'twill be ſufficient to propoſe what my Brother ſaith of the Reporters Zeal for Dr. Crisps, and make my Reply.
Faithful Rebuke.
The Propoſal of a full Teſtimony againſt Antinomianiſm, is the unpardonable Sin againſt Dr. Criſp, which ſhall never be forgiven by the Reporter. p. 57.
Reply.
1. That my Anſwer may be the more clearly underſtood, it muſt be noted, that I ſpeak of the Perſon, who is by my Brother taken for the Reporter, whether he be Right, or not, in his Conjecture; and by the Rebuker, I mean the Man that is Famed to be ſo. This premiſed, I affirm,
2. That there is not the leaſt pretence for his inſinuating, that the Reporter is a favourer of Dr. Criſps Notions; but there are divers reaſons for my inſiſting on it, that my Rebuker is not free from the ſuſpition, if not liable to a charge of giving Countenance to them, and ſo ſtands bound to clear himſelf.
1. It's well known unto me, That when the Reporter did, about ſeventeen years ago, write againſt Antinomianiſm, with a particular Reference unto ſome aſſertions of Dr. Criſp, my Brother gave him ſufficient encouragement to expect his Mid-wiſing it into the World by a Praefatory Epiſtle, which upon ſome noiſe made on the mention of the Doctors Name, he declin'd to do. When my Brother ſhall call to mind what he wrote in a Letter to Φ Χ, He can't, I preſume, but remember that what I here intimate, tho' ſo long ago, is very true.
2. When a New Impreſſion of the Doctors Works, with an addition of ſome Sermons came into the World about ſeven or eight years ſince, the Reporter was deſired to ſet his Name to the Atteſtation before it; but He, apprehending it would be taken for granted, at leaſt by the Common People, that His Name would ſtand there as an approval of all the Notions, in that Book, and enſnare many to a cloſure with the very Errours my Brother now ſeems to declaim againſt, Refuſed to ſet his Name unto it: And yet he himſelf, notwithſtanding the Antinomian Hereſies, Horrid Opinions, and Abominable Doctrines that He chargeth his Congregational Brethren with in his One and twenty Poſitions, pag. 25, 26. did ſet his Hand unto the Atteſtation before Dr. Criſps Book. And there it ſtill remains without a publick recalling it. And I think he can't eaſily forget, when, and where he was charged with it, and call'd upon to give ſatisfaction, but was ſo Inflexible, that no other could be obtain'd, than that the Charge was Rude and Ignorant, and ſo braved it out.
3. The Reporter is one never like to make any Apologies for the Doctors Notions, as differing from the common Belief of Proteſtants; But, this Brothers Hand is ſet to a Plea for them.
In a Preface, before Mr. Flavels blow at the Root, Subſcribed by the Rebuker, we have the following defence of thoſe very points, wherein Dr. Criſp forſook the Orthodox. For, it is there declared.
1. That the Difference between Dr. Criſp, and other good Men, ſeems to lye, not ſo much in the Things, which the one, or the other of them Believe, as about their Order and Reference to one another
This is one paſſage, that my Brother has Subſcribed: which clears it, That, if He did it with conſideration and ſincerity, He could not look on Dr. Criſp to hold either Antinomian Hereſies, or any other horrid Opinions, but that as to the things themſelves, the Doctor is of the ſame Faith with my Rebuker, which thing once granted, makes it evident, that there could be no ſuch powerful reaſons to influence Mr. Ws. to write againſt the Doctor as my Brother ſuggeſts, p. 16. for, when Differences are only about the Order, and Reference of one thing to another, where, as to the Things themſelves, there is an Agreement, then it becomes the Duty of thoſe Brethren, who, in theſe leſſer matters, differ from each other, to exerciſe mutual forbearance; and, it muſt be, in Mr. Ws. and thoſe zealous Brethren, who did ſet him on this Work, a Violation of the Rule of Chriſtian Love and Forbearance, to make this Strife; whence it muſt unavoidably follow, that 'twas Mr. Ws. who made the Firſt breach on the Union, and that my Rebuker, ſo long as his Name abides to this Preface, can never clear him.
2. You will ſay, There may be Agreement as to the things themſelves, and yet about their Order, and reference to one another, very material difference. I grant it may be ſo. Tho' for my own part, I do look on the difference between the Orthodox and Dr. Criſp to be much greater than this ſort of Palliating Preface will allow it to be, and that whilſt my Brothers Name continues (without a Retractation) to be before the Doctors Book, and under this Preface, 'twill be a Snare to multitudes; eſpecially, ſeeing He adds his further ſenſe in theſe words.
3. But we reckon, that notwithſtanding what is more Controverſible, in Dr. Criſps Writings, there are much more Material Things, wherein they cannot but Agree, and would have come much nearer each other, even in theſe things, if they did take ſome Words or Terms in the ſame ſenſe.
What can be ſaid more fully, in Favour of Dr. Criſps Notions? Did ever the Reporter talk thus? I'll go further, if there be any thing dangerous in the Doctors Writings, as I believe there is, what can be ſaid more to enſnare poor People to receive that as Sound and True? Did Dr. Chauncey ever ſay more? Shew me where he has at any time ſaid ſo much. 'Tis true, he brings in the Antinomian, ſaying as much as he can in his own defence; but he alſo, if I miſtake not, tells you, that you are not to look for his Judgment there, but where he brings in Calvin moderating between Neonomian and Antinomian. Once more,
4. Whereas my Brother doth, in his Rebuke, p. 25, 26. inſinuate, as if the Cataing… of Artino…ian Hereſies, horrid Opinions, and abominable Doctrines, had been offered to the Congregational, that they might give ſatisfaction to the Ʋnited Brethren, but would not, (tho' to this day, did I never hear, 'twas tendred to the Congregational for their Purgation) there is reckoned amongſt theſe Abominations, this, as the eleventh. A believer is to work from life, & not for life.
And what thinks my Brother of this? There is (ſaith he) an Expreſſion in Vol 1. p. 46. That Salvation is not the end of any good work we do; which is like that of another, We are to Act from Life, not for Life. Neither of which are (ſaith he) to be rigidly taken as 'tis likely, they were never meant, in the ſtrict Senſe.
This is the Plea my Brother makes for Criſpian Notions, in which, if he was not ſincere, He ought to be as publick in taking the ſhame of it, as the ſetting his Name hath been; If he was ſincere, and has received convincing Light from his Maſter Mr. Ws. let him own it to the World, and recal his Hand from the Atteſtation before the Doctors Writings, and from this Preface. But if he did ſincerely ſet his hand, and is ſtill of the ſame mind, let him conſider what it is that hath put him upon this …elf-contradicting Province, which brings him the more under the Reprehenſion and Juſt Notice of his being a Favourer of that Antinomianiſm, which is in Dr. Criſps Books.
Thus I have, ſo far as the Paper allotted me would give leave, Examined the Faithful Rebuke of my Brother, which I call [Faithful] not becauſe I can ſee ſo much as one grain of Faithfulneſs in it, but becauſe 'tis the Name He has given it. And what I have don… has been with Impartiality; For, I thank God, that I having Felt the Diſpleaſure of ſome of my Congregational and Presbyterian Brethren, becauſe a Conviction of Truth hath neceſſitated me in ſome inſtances, relating to the True Way to Peace, to differ from them both, I am the leſs concern'd tho' I pleaſe neither, ſo long as I am enabled to diſcharge a good Conſcience towards God and All Men. And as I have been Impartial, ſo it hath been my care to write according to the Unforeſeen advice, which the Learned and Grave Mr. Humfrey hath given me in his Friendly Interpoſer (for which I thank him) in that I have been, not only Ʋnmoved in my ſelf; but have made it my endeavour, that nothing might fall from my Pen, expreſſive of undue reſentments. It is Truth I purſue, and glad ſhall I be to ſee more of that, whether conveyed to my Ʋnderſtanding in the angry way, in which my Rebuking Brother delivers his ſenſe; or in a more clear, diſtinct and calm Repreſentation.
Hitherto I muſt acknowledge, that the commonly Received Doctrine of Proteſtants, is in my Conſcience moſt agreeable to the Word of God in Scripture; But if at any time, whether in reading what Mr. Humfrey has delivered in the ſeveral Tracts he has Publiſhed on this Occaſion, in which there is another Spirit, and other Matter, and more Mature Thoughts than in my Rebuker, or otherwiſe from any Letters he ſpeaks of hereafter; or in reading any Books written on this Subject by any others, I ſhall be convinced, I am in a miſtake, I will not be afraid to own it, being perſuaded, that the Truths of God need neither Mens Lies, nor their Hypocritical Methods to ſupport them. And I muſt confeſs it, I am the better pleaſed with Mr. Humfrey, in that I do ſee by this Interpoſition, that the halting, the offenſive halting of Mr. Ws. which I have formerly obſerved, and in theſe Papers my ſelf reprehended, is, in the Point of Juſtification, made ſo Judiciouſly, and Fully manifeſt, in this Piece, upon his own Repugnant Principles, that if he will be a Follower of Truth, as much as a Leader of the People, he muſt go quite over to Mr. H. (as I have already noted) or come back to the Received Doctrine, which he makes now to ſerve him only for a Gloſs, but Recedes from it. Whether he be ſincere, or no, he muſt now ſhow it.
FINIS.
End of the text · Stephen Lobb, Defense of the Report (1698)