Works, Book 4 · Letter 16
EPISTLE XVI.
Dr. Twisse his Second Letter to Mr. Mede.
Worthy Sir,
I Pray forgive me this once in interrupting your more momentous meditations, Thankfulness urgeth me to express that your Letter is a Iewel unto me; making me partaker of such fruits, and giving me interest in such affections. I profess you have strange conceits, I mean for the worthiness of them; they possess me with admiration: especially that touching the manner of the Iews Conversion. Those passages of Scripture, and the reference of them which you make, I do consider with Reverence; and the particular relation S. Paul makes of himself, as first tasting of that Grace, in reference to the like which were to succeed: had he made mention of the miraculous operation in his Conversion, as he doth of God's Long-suffering and Patience, the Congruity had been absolute. Yet I seem to discern something whereby that may be argued also to be implied, for otherwise in likelihood he was not the first.
Yet to object, (for your Ingenuity I perceive gives me leave,) S. Paul was a particular person, and then travelling on the way: The Conversion we speak of is of a Nation, and that wonderfully dispersed in the world; the like manner of Christ's appearing unto whom for their Conversion is hard to conceive. And besides, I seem to conceive evidence from 2 Cor. 3. 15, 16. that their Conversion shall be wrought from amongst themselves by reading Moses and the Prophets: for it is the veil laid before their Hearts which hinders them from discerning the end of the Law, which is Christ; which veil shall be taken away, and being taken away they shall be turned unto Christ. Yet I confess the Text saith not, when the veil is taken away, they shall be turned to the Lord; but rather, when they shall be turned to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away. Yet again so it is said, Luk. 7. 47. that many sins were forgiven her, for she loved much; yet by the scope of the Parable there proposed, the formal truth appears to be this, She loved much, for many sins were forgiven her. So here it may be argued, that the taking away of their veil is the cause of their turning to the Lord: for the position of the veil is that which hinders them from discerning him; therefore the removing of the veil is the making may for the discerning of him by that in Moses. Yet I seem to see how this may be answered; The veil hinders from discerning him in the Law of Moses: but if God be pleased to manifest his Son by sight, the veil can no way hinder that. And why may not the like miraculous favour be shewed to them as well as to S. Paul; their obstinacy being greater, and sealed with greater blasphemies than his was? May it not be said that therefore this Apparition was made to S. Paul, that he might have Apostolical authority independent on men, as well as the rest of the Apostles? And cannot the spirit of illumination clear all, and that from Moses, as well as it did in the heart of the Gentiles, who had not so much as Moses to direct them?
As for Provocation; how can Salvation on the Gentiles part be it unto the Iews, seeing the Iews (such is their blindness) cannot acknowledge any such condition of the Gentiles? Yet I confess the judgment of flesh and bloud may teach them, that the Gentiles becoming Christians are turned to the worship of the God of Abraham, as appears by their embracing of the Old Testament as the Word of God: yet this hitherunto hath nothing moved them; yet a time may come it may, and the Prosperity of our Church also. And it is said, that they shall obtain mercy by the mercy shewed unto us, Rom. 11. 31.
As for the black time to be expected; if so, it seems to be wondrous great, if not greater than all that went before. For the time hath been, the strong man hath so far possessed the House of God in peace, that scarce here and there a Witness hath been found openly to contest against him in this or that particular: And the days of the persecution of the Walden…es were wonderfull heavy times: And we have seen many black days for many years. And if it be so, as I doubt it is too probable, and most congruous to God's course indeed in the exaltation of his Church, I doubt it will concern our England most: yet God grant we may be of the number of those that suffer, that within three days and a half we may be raised and reign with Christ at his coming.
But will you not make us acquainted with that Sin you intimate that cries for vengeance? we are loth to adventure our conjectures, but we dare promise to joyn in mourning for it. But I heartily thank you for all, and particularly for that Speculation of the untimely advancing of the Martyrs to a Reign derogatory to the Mediation of our Lord; a bitter fruit of too irregular animosity against the Chiliasts, and of very ponderous consideration in this case. I have done, with some sorrow for putting out of your mind better thoughts: I assure you the place you are pleased to afford me in your good affections I esteem as a part of the best happiness I enjoy in friends, and heartily wish I may not be unworthy of it. I heartily commend your self and your precious studies to the Blessing of God, and rest,
Yours in all true Affection, Will. Twisse. Newbury, Nov. 16. 1629.