Answer to the Report of the United Ministers, Floating text
The Paper, by the Report called the third Paper, which was sent by the Vnited Brethren to such as had left the Vnion.
WHereas some unhappy Differences have arisen among us, principally about the Doctrin of Justification, as set forth in Mr. Williams's Book, entituled, Gospel Truth Stated, to which several of our Names are pre…ixt; we being willing to give all reasonable satisfaction therein, for the removing the present, and preventing all future Differences, which will otherwise tend to the dishonour of God, disquiet of his Churches, and danger of Souls; do here by declare our Judgment concerning the same.
That we adhere to our former Approbation of the Doctrinal Articles of the Church of England, or Confession of Faith compiled by the Assembly at VVestminster, or that at the Savoy, as agreeable to the word of God, and particularly, to the Articles collected by us out of the Confession with the Catechisms compiled by the same Assembly, printed 1693. A…d further declare, That if any shall express himself disagreeably thereto, in any momentous Points of Doctrin, we will with Brotherly candour and kindness endeavour to give, and receive just satisfaction therein, bearing with one anothers Infirmities, and different Sentiments in matters of lesser weight, not contending about Logical, or Philosophical Terms, or meer Human Forms of Speech, not judging it reasonable or just, to charge upon any such consequences of any expression or opinion of his, which he himself shall disown.
And we further declare, as to the special matters in difference.
I. Concerning Justification. That altho the express word of God do assert the necessity of Regeneration, to our entring into the Kingdom of God; and requires Repentance, that our Sins may be blotted out; and Faith in Christ, that we may be justified; and Holiness of Heart and Life, without which we cannot see God. Yet that none of these, or any work done by Men, or wrought by the Spirit of God in them, is, under any Denomination whatsoever, any part of the Righteousness for the sake, or on the account whereof, God doth pardon, justifie, or accept Sinners, or entitle them to Eternal Life, that being only the Righteousness of Christ without them, imputed to them, and received by Faith alone.
II. Of a Commutation of Persons between Christ and us. As we are to consider our Lord Jesus Christ in his Obedience, and Sufferings, as God and Man▪ invested with the Office of Mediator; So it is apparent, this Commutation of Persons with us was not natural, in respect of either nature, by which his Individual Substance should become ours, and ours his; nor Moral, in respect of Qualities, or Actions, whereby he should become inherently Sinful, and we immediately Sinless. Nor was it any change whereby his office of Mediator should be transfered on us. But it is to be understood in a Legal, or Judicial Sense (as we may call it) viz. He by agreement between the Father and Him, came into our room and stead, not to repent and believe for us, which the Gospel requires of us as our Duty (tho he hath undertaken the Ele…t shall in due time be inabled thereto) But to answer for our violation of the Law of Works: He being made sin for us, that knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Cor. 5 21.
III. Of God's being pleased or displeased with Christ, as standing, and suffering in our stead. We judge that God was always pleased with Christ, both in his Person, and execution of all his Offices, which is exprest most particularly in that of his Priestly, 1… Iohn 17, 18 Therefore doth my father love me, because I lay down my life, &c. And no otherwise displeased than as having a dispassionate Will to inflict upon him the punishment of our Sins, which he had undertaken to bear, that God might, without injury to his Justice or Honour, pardon and save penitent Believers, for his satisfaction, and Intercession founded thereon.
Mr. VVilliams freely declareth his Concurrence with us in these three particulars, and that his Judgment was never contrary to the sence of this Paper, for which he appeals to the said Book: So it is manifest, that when he useth the prhase of no change of Person between Christ and the Elect, it could not be intended as a denial o… a change of Persons between Christ and us in the General Sence, but only in opposition to the Opinion of his adversary he wrote against, for in that very place he expresly affirms, That Christ suffer'd and dyed in our Room, and stead. And we do declare, that whosoever shall be found, to express themselves in their Preaching or Writing agreeably to this Paper, and to the mentioned Articles or Confessions, we shall esteem them to deliver the sincere Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; and it shall be remote from us to oppose or reflect upon, but we shall to our utmost Encourage, and give Countenance to one anothers Ministry therein.
Such of us, whose Names are prefixed to the said Book, do declare they were given to the State of Truth and Errors, as formerly exprest in the Paper, intituled, The agreement in Doctrine, Subscribed and Published, Anno Dom. 1692.
They who framed this Proposal had before them two Papers, one which the report calls the first Paper, which one of our Brethren had with great Condescension and Inclination to Peace, concerted with some of the Dissenters: Which Paper, altho it was never proposed to, nor read in any of our Publick Meetings of Ministers, and was unanimously agreed to be laid aside with a Second Paper, that had been brought unto us by another Brother; Yet it's manifest, the Brethren in the framing of this Third (which is our only Paper) greatly Accommodated themselves to the Model of the first: For they admit a new Debate concerning Mr. Williams's Book, after a Solemn Accommodation of that whole matter, when the Dissenters had unjustly made it an occasion of difference so many Years before; they also recite two Passages of Mr. Williams, as excepted against by the Dissenters, and limit the Declaration of our Judgment to the Three Heads, the Objectors did choose to insist upon, whereas you will presently read a Vote of us united Ministers, wherein we require a disowning of very many Antinomian Errors, Published by several of these Dissenters, whenever they shall make the disowning of any Passages out of Books Written against Antinomianism, a Term of Union. Yea further, we retain the whole Provision of the First Paper, against any of our surmized Errors in the Doctrine of Justification, and what we add is in Scripture Words. And in the other two Heads, we come as near as we can with Truth, and Freedom from Ambiguity, in Points of so great Concernment, and in a time when so many are at work to Propagate Crispianism, and Antinomianism. A Coalition could be no indifferent thing to such, who to obtain it do thus condescend, and deny themselves. But to give our attempt a yet greater advantage, we omitted not to address our selves to our Brethren, with the most affectionate, fervent, and humble intreaties, and supplications, as well as perswasive Arguments; as you will see in this Letter which we sent to them, with the forementioned Paper.
Note, It was declared, that by the words [under any Denomination whatsoever] we exclude all Righteousness from being Meritorious, or Attoning, yea, or a procuring Cause of these benefits; none is at all so, but the Righteousness of Christ. But we intended not to exclude what the Gospel requireth in order to our interst, in those benefits given for the sake of Christs Righteousness.