Answer to the Report of the United Ministers, Letter 1 – Letter 2
To our Reverend, and duely Respected, and Beloved Brethren in our common Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ, Mr. Griffith, Mr. Mead, Mr. Chauncey, Mr. James, Mr. Lobb, and the rest of the Brethren of the Vnion, (who for some time.) have forborn to meet with the Vnited Ministers at Dr. Annesley's Meeting Place.
Reverend Brethren,
YOUR forbearing to meet with us at our ordinary times and places for so many months▪ hath made a deep, and smarting impression on our Spirits, and filled our Hearts with Grief and Wonder. With Grief, because we have been so long deprived of much of that Satisfaction and Assistance, which your presence with us was wont to afford us. With Wonder, because we could neither apprehend nor receive any certain Information of those Reasons, which prevailed with you, to keep off so long from our Conventions. For to this day you never acquainted us, directly, and clearly, of any Offence that was ever offered to you, by the united Ministers, as standing in that Capacity, had you been pleased to signifie your Resentments to them▪ they take themselves to have been obliged to have sought out proper ways and means for the removal of all Prejudices, and of rendring to you, reasonable and due satisfaction. All the light that we have received about matters in difference between us, hath been from a reverend Brother, who told us, that by Conference with some who forbear to come to our Meetings, he under stood, that they apprehended, there are those in our Union, who have Sentiments about the Doctrin of Justification, different from the common Faith of all Orthodox Protestants, and so dissonant from the Holy Scriptures, and the Confessions, which have been owned and approved by us. The same Brother added that if there were sufficient Evidence and Assurance given them, that the Body of the United Ministsrs would approve themselves, sound, clear, and stedfast in that most weighty and important Doctrin (which we all acknowledge to be Articulus stantis vel cadentis Eclesiae,) they would then maintain all Brotherly communion with us. When this was notified to us, we presently conceived great and good Hopes, that all Jealousies might be easily removed, and that a Redintegration of Affections would immediately follow. And what should hinder? For if you do attentively, and deliberately weigh what is Asserted in the Article of Justification, in the inclosed Paper, (which was unanimously agreed unto, after open Reading, and that upon several Days) we are confident, that it will evidently and undeniably appear, that we perfectly agree with our Brethren in the Evangelical Doctrin of Justification, even in the very Phrases and Modes of Expression.
Our Agreement in the Doctrin of Justification, which was as the Test and Cement of our Union, being so happily Established and fixed; we shall need to say but little, touching the other two points mentioned in the inclosed Paper: which (as we think) are so clearly and candidly stated, that we believe, (as we suppose, upon sure and certain grounds) there will be nothing remaining (upon that account) to obstruct our entire and hearty Union
It would be superfluous to lay before you any considerations to set forth the desirableness, usefulness, we may add the necessity of Ministerial Concord: Or to represent the sin, and mischief that will inseparably cleave to our unbrotherly breaches. We all find (by sad experience) what advantage is given thereby, to some who seek occasion to reproach us, and to hinder the success, or acceptableness of our Ministry. They do certainly wish, and will endeavour to make our wound incurable. But we trust, the Lord will blast their Designs, and Frustrate their Expectations, by enlightning our Minds, to receive and hold fast all Truths, and specially those which are Fundamental: And by his Grace, most sweetly and effectually draw our Hearts to Love as Brethren: That we may closely, strongly, and intimately knit-together in inviolable Bonds: And so Guide us, that we may all follow after the things that make for Peace, and the things wherewith one may edify another.
And now (Dear Brethren) we do, with all sincerity and ardor, beseech you to meet us with the like Frame of Spirit; that our only Emulation and Contention may be, who shall be most Industrious to promote the interest of our Lord Redeemer: Be most useful to the Souls we are set to watch over: And be most forward to embrace each other in the Arms of Love.
That these Blessed Ends may be the more effectually pursued, we do (with all importunity and fervor) beseech you to return to and frequent our Meetings, as ye have formerly done: That we may joyn with you there, in your Holy Prayers: Be assisted with your wholesome Counsels, and be refreshed with your much desired Society: That we may with one Mind, and one Mouth Glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
If, after the perusal of the inclosed Paper, ye meet with any thing therein that may seem to need further Explanation: And ye be willing to entertain a Conference about it: Be pleased to appoint the time and place, when and where, a determinate Number of the United Ministers, may meet with a like Number of the Brethren Nominated by you, and we shall most readily and chearfully comply with your Proposal. Howbeit, we must add, That we hope, we have already set down our sentiments, as Nakedly and Perspicuously as we could express, in pursuance of our End, which was to give you all possible satisfaction—We conclude this Paper with two earnest requests to you. (1.) Upon the hopes which you have conceived, that (thro' the Grace and Blessing of our God) the differences which have risen among us, will be brought to an happy composure: We importunately beseech you, to use your uttermost Endeavours, to perswade these Brethren who have not as yet entred into our Union, that they will joyn with us in it. (2.) That you would (assoon as conveniently you can) vouchsafe us an Answer to this our Letter.
Finally, Brethren Farewell, Be Perfect, be of Good Comfort, Be of one Mind, Live in Peace: And the God of Love and Peace shall be with you. Signed at Dr. Annesle… 's. October 27. 1696. By Mr. Hammond Moderator.
To our Letter so Submissive, Peaceable, and Impo…tunate, we received this and no other Answer.
Reverend Brethren,
HAving received from you a Letter with a Paper inclosed, in Answer thereunto suffer us to acquaint you, that a Paper Subscribed by a considerable Number of you, and approved of by us some Months since, which we have Reason to believe some of you have had the perusal of; we therefore to whom your Letter is directed, do not reckon it Brotherly in us to forsake them who have Subscribed the foresaid Paper, but do rather Judge our selves bound in Conscience to entreat …our hearty Concurrence with them, and us, in that …st Paper; which, as we have already said, hath been …bscribed by very Principal and Reverend Ministers, …ghly esteemed both by you and us: and this we hope, may, through the Blessing of God, be the speediest way … obtain the desirable End.
…ubscribed in the Name of several of the Brethren, to whom your Letter was Communicated.
THis is the Letter our reporter Complains we gave no reply to, wherein we think we paid a great …egard to them who sent it, and we shall still overlook … otherwise than to Note, First, It is more than …robable some of us perused, what a considerable Num…er of us Subscribed. Secondly, Our Brethren who …ubscribed, could not Judge it unbrotherly, to be for…aken for laying aside the first Paper, when every one …f them had laid it aside before, and joyned in the …hird Paper, and in the Letter whereto this Answer is …en (which it's strange any of the Dissenters could … ignorant of.) Thirdly, What is the desirable End? …ad they said Union, it would have been more accep…able to us, than it seemed to be to such of themselves, … declared in one o… the Meetings about this expe…ient, that it was not intended by this attempted a…reement, that they would joyn with us in our Meet…gs as United Ministers, but that an agreement in Doctrine might be a step to further Union: Yea, we … scarce hope they would have re-united, could we … submitted to their Papers, because, as we are infor…ed, Mr. Cole and Mr. Mather refused their assent to … And this their Letter was subscribed in the Name, … of several (not of all) to whom it was Communica…; nor (as we find) was any Union, or Agreement …gaged, or expressed, except in Doctrine, had this expedient obtained. This is the true State of the ca… between our Brethren and us: Could we have obtai…ed a re-union upon mutual forbearance wherein we di…fer: Had any of these Accounts of our Principles …tisfied them; (Tho' we therein admit so rigid and … a Tryal wherein they suspected us, and propose so v…ry short and easy a Test when we affirm the Trut… denied by them) Had our impo…tunity for Peace, atte…ded with much Patience and Condescention, been a…cepted; the mischievous effects of our differences h… been prevented. Nor can we guess what would p…vail with the Authors of t…ese Divisions, unless tha… Book should be disowned, which, the Subscribers … convinced, is of great use for the Defence of the Go…pel in a time abounding with Errors: And such Trut… betrayed, as the usefulness of our Ministry and Prac…cal Religion depend upon: things we are sure Chr… would not app…ove, nor could we expect a Peace bought to prove a Blessing.
We were well assured, that a faithful Account of … State of things among us, must acquit us of the bla… of those unhappy differences, and prevent the adva… tages some made by mis-representing us: Neverth…less, we had still remained silent, if this so unjust a … pors (with a Paper of remarks following it) had … been obtruded on the World, and with Art scatter… throughout the Kingdom, yea, sent to Forreign Na…ions as can be proved; after this, indeed our sile… would proclaim us stupidly insensible and unconcern… for the common Good, as well as for our own repu…tion and usefulness.
We shall proceed to consider what is material in … Report.
First, The Report saith, Our differences may be re…ced to Christs satisfaction and the Penal Sanction of … Law; tho' hitherto, the greatest struggle hath been about … first.
Answ. 1. The first was no part of the difference till …f late, that Mr. Lobb contrived to make it so, tho' …ithout any Reason; for Mr. Williams rightly and fully …sserted the first in his Books. And the utmost that …an be made of the latter is, that Mr. Williams asserts …hat if the Precepts of the Law of Works be consi…ered, as taken into the Gospel, they fall under the Gospel Sanction; and tho' in this respect there is a …hange of the Sanction, yet the Precepts considered …ill as a part of the Law of Works, they are under …he same Legal Sanction as at first, which is to say, The Covenant of Works and the Gospel Covenant dif…er. And yet this seems to be reserved for a New Controversy, if we had agreed to their very mode of expressing the point he insisteth on.
Answ. 2. It's a very great mistake, that our differ…nce with them is reduced to these two points, alas! …t extends to many other things (Viz.) Most of Dr. Crisp's Opinions, as to which they refuse to give us sa…isfaction, tho' he granteth these two are all they quarrel with us about, and how unjustly will presently be seen. We shall detect his mistake by a brief Narrative.
1. The difference Originally appeareth to be about most of those Positions, called Truths and Errors in the State of them in Mr. Williams's Book; for Six of the Dissenters did not only object some particular Passages; but they deny those to be Truths which are called Truths, and such to be Errors which are called Errors, In the 2.5.7.8.12.16.18. and 19. Chapters of that Book: Yea, they say, They find not Truth and Error rightly Stated in other places besides these; Thus they say, Mr. Chauncyes Neonomianism unmasked, Par. 3. p. 96. Whereas many of our Brethren Subscribed, that each of these were rightly Stated. He that will Read the Truths and Errors in those several Chapters, may judge of the difference, and whether any of Dr. Crisp's Errors will be disowned. 2. In the forcited Articles 1694. You'll find that when we had owned such to be Errors, which they required of us, yet they refused to disown those Errors which we added; and therefore the difference at that time, respected whatever they refused to agree with us in, and was not ever since Accommodated. 3. The Reporter cannot be Ignorant, that September 15. 1695. This Vote unanimously passed among the United Brethren, upon reading a Paper relating to several dangerous Expressions in favour of Antinomianism, if that any thing objected out of Books written against Antinomianism be required to be disowned as a Term of Union, that those things read this Day, and further to be Collected of that kind out of the Books on the other side, shall be required to be disowned.