Inquiry into the Nature of the Present Controversy About Justification Part 1, Title page – Errata
A Peaceable Enquiry INTO THE NATUR.E OF THE Preſent Controverſie Among our United Brethren ABOUT Juſtification.
PART I.
By STEPHEN LOBB, A Lover of Peace and Truth.
Phil. 2.3.
Let nothing be done through ſtrife, or vain glory, but in lowlineſs of mind let each eſteem others better than themſelves.
LONDON, Printed for John Dunton at the Raven in the Poultrey. 1693.
THE EPISTLE TO THE READER
Reader,
BE not ſurprized, or wonder, that ſome Controverſie is riſen among our United Brethren: For when ſuch a Subject as this is ſtarted, it is no fault to be ſtriving, who ſhall be moſt concerned in it.
It hath been obſerved of the Chriſtians, that when they were freed from Heatheniſh Perſecution, they fell into pieces among Themſelves: And when were there greater ſtirs about the Religion now ours, than at the beginning of the Reformation?
It hath pleaſed God, at this time, to open a Door to the Diſſenters, for Liberty: And it hath pleaſed the ſame good God alſo, we hope, to give us that Grace, to make a better uſe of it, than they under Conſtantine; ſeeing the great advantage, or fruit, which we have made our buſineſs to reap from it, is, an open publiſhed Concord; a Concord, which ſome of the wiſeſt, both of Presbyterian and Independent have ſought formerly under divers Conjunctures of Providence, and could not obtain: A benefit, which the ſtrength in Union, the beauty in Truth, the life in Love, the intereſt in Number, the comfort in Fellowſhip do proclaim: A Bleſſing, which none of us are worthy of, and none can ſufficiently prize, but by a ſuitable endeavour to preſerve it.
As for the Difference between ſome of us (which I would rather call a Contention only who ſhall be moſt Orthodox,) it is no Bone caſt among the Brethren (as ſome would ſuggeſt) to break our Union; for the Riſe of the Controverſie was before the Union. It was (we know) upon the Printing over again Dr. Criſps Works the Offence was given, or taken. The Dr. being a holy good man, there are ſeveral of our Brethren were willing to have them candidly received: When Gataker, and others abroad, have branded them for Antinomianiſm.
The truth is, that freedom which England hath had (thoſe Diſputes a while lying dead) for ſome late Years from being exerciſed in Polemical Divinity, hath given occaſion to our Divines for their attending of Practical, which is much for our Advantage, ſeeing this Nation is, herein, allowed, above any, to excel: Nevertheleſs, while theſe Controverſies have ſlept, there are ſome, who think, the Enemy hath come, and ſowed Arminian, Socinian, and Antinomian TARES, and we by diſuſe are hard put to it to diſcern between them, and the Wheat; and conſequently by miſtake are loading one another with Charge of Errour.
I do not like (I muſt confeſs) this Cenſorious Spirit, whereſoever I meet it: But the Zeal I find in our Brethren generally for the Reformed Doctrines according to the Articles of the Church of England, the Aſſemblies Confeſſion of Faith, and the like, againſt each of theſe Errours mentioned, (which we look on, really, as dangerous to mens Souls; and therefore are ſo ſhy of them) I do own and approve. And it is the very deſign therefore of my Writing, to Vindicate them herein, that howſoever they differ in their Conceptions or Explications of the ſame Doctrines, there are none of them truly chargeable with ſuch Errour, when they would faſten it one upon the other.
I begin with Antinomianiſm in theſe firſt Sheets, becauſe that gave the Occaſion; and the very ſame Method which you ſee me take in that, and I need not tell it, I intend to take alſo with Arminianiſm, and Socinianiſm.
I feel no delight in filling my Margin with Quotations; but ſuch is the Nature of the Diſcourſe, that the many Authorities uſed for my Readers ſatisfaction, became neceſſary, and muſt be my Apology.
From my Study at Hampſted, July 26. —93. S. L.
ERRATA.
PAge 24. line 6. dele the; p. 26. l. 4. dele and; p. 48. Marg. l. 14. r. Apol; p. 90. l. 4. r. Juriſts; p. 110. l. 1. r. Notion; p. 115. l. 30. r. two.