Vindication of the Doctrine of Gods Absolute Decree, Title page – To the reader
A VINDICATION Of the Doctrine Of Gods Abſolute Decree, AND Of Chriſts Abſolute and Special Redemption.
In way of ANSWER To thoſe Objections that are brought againſt them by Mr. THO: PIERCE, in his Treatiſe, Entituled, The Divine Philanthropy.
By THO: WHITFELD, Miniſter of the Goſpel.
ROM. 11.33.
O the depth of the Riches both of the Wiſdom and Knowledge of God! how unſearchable are his Judgements, and his Ways paſt finding out!
LONDON: Printed by Henry Hills and John Field, Printers to His Highneſs. 1657.
The Epiſtle to the Reader.
IT may be ſome may marvel why I ſhould deal in this Argument which is ſufficiently handled, and the Adverſary ſufficiently anſwered by another hand: I ſhall therefore give an Account of the Grounds that moved me to this undertaking, which are theſe:
1. I am abundantly convinced that the Truth which I endeavor to maintain (what ever others conceive of it) is of that conſequence, that too much cannot be ſaid for the defence thereof; for what Truths are more needful to be contended for, then thoſe which tend to preſerve the perfections of Gods holy Nature, ſome of which, by the Doctrine of the Conditional Decree, are too much violated? Doth not this Doctrine by clear and direct conſequence (as hereafter ſhall be more fully ſhewed) make the Creator to depend upon the creature, and the everlaſting and unchangeable Counſels of his Will, to be ſubordinate to the mutable motions of mans will? ſo as he can do, nor determine nothing abſolutely and certainly, touching mans eternal Salvation or Damnation, till man himſelf hath ultim…tely determined what he will do: and if the foreſight of Sin muſt go before the Decree of Reprobation, becauſe Sin goes before Damnation, upon the very ſame ground the foreſight of Faith and Repentance muſt go before the Decree of Election, becauſe theſe neceſſarily go before Salvation (which Doctrine cannot well agree with the glory of Gods …ree Grace.)
2. I know well that the more hands any Argument paſſeth through in writing of it, the more hands it is likely to come into for reading of it: for ſome that will not look into a Treatiſe for the ſake of the matter, or ſubject of it, yet may perhaps do it for the ſake of the Author, with whom they have ſome acquaintance, or to whom they have ſome relation.
3. I have endeavored to apply my ſelf (ſo far as the ſubject will bear) to the apprehenſion of every underſtanding Chriſtian, though not furniſhed with the help of any Literature, whereas Mr Barly being to follow his Adverſary ſtep by ſtep, is forced to follow him in the ſame way that he went, and to carry on things ſometimes in a higher ſtrain then lower Capacities can reach unto: Beſides, he is forced (that his Anſwer may not ſwell in too big a bulk) to refer the anſwer of ſome things to a former Anſwer, which if the Reader hath not by him (as all have not) he cannot ſo readily receive ſatisfaction as he deſires.
Theſe Conſiderations, together with the deſire of ſome Friends, put me on to the publiſhing of what now follows. I ſhall ſay nothing of thoſe Aſperſions which Mr P. in his Anſwer to Mr B. did both unjuſtly and untruly caſt upon me, becauſe (as I have heard) they are already wiped off by another hand, as alſo becauſe I well know that thoſe Readers who are moſt eager in their purſuit after Truth, love not to be retarded in their way by any Impertinencies, any thing that doth not directly concern the buſineſs in hand.
I have endeavored to compact things as cloſe together as I can, that I may not tyre the Reader with too many lines. All that I ſhall deſire of him is, that he would not ſuffer himſelf to be preponderated with the weight of words, ſtrong lines, or pleaſing language, which he may wiſh, in the Oppoſer, but onelyonly attend to the ſtrength of Arguments, and incline his Judgement that way where he ſhall finde the weight of theſe to ſway the ballance.
That this Piece came forth ſo ſoon, was beſides my intention, for leaving it in the hands of ſome Friends at London, it was put to the Preſs before I knew of it: and it was expected that Mr Barly's Anſwer would have come forth before this time, it being ſent to the Preſs above a Quarter of a Year ſince.
Farewel.