Meaning of Romans 4:3-9, Title page – Errata
A DEFENCE OF THE TRVE SENCE AND MEANING OF THE WORDS OF THE HOLY APOSTLE Rom. CHAP. 4. ver. 3. 5. 9.
In an Answer to sundry Arguments gathered from the forenamed Scriptures, by Mr. Iohn Goodwin: which answer was first dispersed without the Authors name, but since acknowledged By Mr George Walker.
Together with a reply to the former answer; or, Animadversions upon some of the looser and fouler passages thereof.
By IOHN GOODVVIN, Pastor of Colemanstreet London.
To every time there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven, Ecclesiastes 3. 1.
A time to weepe, and a time to laugh; a time to mourne, and a time to dance. verse 4.
A time to keepe silence, and a time to speake. verse 7.
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of Warre, and a time of peace. verse 8.
Published by a lover of the truth and peace.
Printed in the yeare 1641.
To the Reader.
Epistles of this nature, are …usually swel'd up to their proper bulke with large commendations, either of the workes, (to which they are prefixt) or of their Authours, or of both. I intend to wave this custome, though having a sure foundation, and fitting materialls, to build as sumptuous a structure in this kinde, as others have done in the like cases. Yet thinke not, that this intention procedes from an unwillingnesse to pay that tribute of praise, which is justly due to the name of any man: I acknowledge the equitie of the Apostles precept, Romans 13. 7, 8.to render honour to whom honour doth belong: it comes rather from an indisposition, publiquely to meddle in this great controversie, (wherein the whole world stands ingag'd) viz to whom this golden apple is to bee given; on whose head this crowne of honour is to be set. Whom o…e man approves, another dislikes; whom a third doth reverence, a fourth disdaines: and such is our weakenes, and partiallitie in judging, that no perfect agreement can be expected, till the Romans 2. 5, 6.revelation of the righteous judgement of God, who shall render to every man according to his deedes. I shall not therefore endeavor to steale away the heart of any man, after the Authour of the Reply, or his opinion, by speaking high and excellent things of him: all that I will say, is onelyonly this, I wish him as much honour and respect from the world, as hee is worthy of, which (I am perswaded) is more then he lookes for, and as much as his greatest adversary can justly chalenge: but to give in the full estimate, or precisely to set downe, what is his due above his fellowes, I am unwilling, but far more unable; yet something I could doe this way, and I can hardly resist the strength of my provocations hereunto, but I forbeare; not that I dread Mr. Walkers thunderbolts, to be censur'd by him as a rude impudent, Socinian Sectarie: but because I desire that Mr. Goodwins reputation might bee rais'd in none, by any other engine, then by a reall and evident conviction of his deservings: for though to thinke well of those we know not, is counted charity; yet to applaud, and admire any, upon no surer ground then the generall vote, is folly, and may prove dangerous: the wombe of our times hath beene too abundantly fruitfull with instances herein many have we seene cast upon perplexing inconveniences, and some yoaked with desperate errours, and that by those whose persons they have ignorantly wondred after And I am perswaded, that many tenents in religion (which are now confidently given, and greedily received as wholesome foode) would hardly downe, were they not wrapt up in the sweet fame of such or such mens names. I would not that Truth her selfe were entertayned upon such termes: certainely she accompts none her true subjects, but those onelyonly, who are brought under her scepter, by the love of her commanding beauty; not by the parts, learning, holinesse of her choysest agents. Concerning the Reply (here presented to thy consideration) I gather thus much from the Authours Vid Preface.words: that it was a worke of recreation, not of labour; and therefore no marvell, if it came into the world with a smiling countenance: and though in this respect, it may be judged by some unlike its father, who is of a wonderfull grave and sober temper; yet upon a strict view, many of his lyneaments are to bee seene in the face of it; I meane, soundnesse of judgement, quickenesse of wit, fairenesse of carriage, yea and mercy too towards his adversary: for had he strucke him in every place, where hee found him naked, hee had left him so blacke and blew, that even Mr. Walkers friends would hardly say, this is hee. If any shall except, against the manner of managing this warfare, and censure his expressions as too light, to hold out with the weightinesse of his matter; I referre such for satisfaction to his owne preface. As far as I understand, no wiser course can be taken, to charme downe the spirit of anger into sobernesse, then to deale with it in a pleasant way: whether Mr. Walker doth strongly sympathie with this turbulent passion, none will question, but such as are strangers to his dealings: and I verily beleeve, when the Authour put his Reply into this dresse, he had respect to him alone, to whom he privately sent it, not once deeming (as I conceive) that ever it should be look't upon by so many, and such juditious eyes, as it is now likely to fall under. For it is probable, that neither he nor Mr. W. when first they joyned their heads and pens together for the framing of these Tracts, entended to scatter them aboad by the hand of the presse. Indeede Mr. Walker when he received the Reply, promised the messengers to print both that, and his owne Answer; which had beene faire, and worthy the man, he would bee taken to be. But wh…le the performance thereof was expected, he brings into the world, a confused medley of the strangest S…cianisme and Christianisme, that was ever heard of. By what figure hee will bee able to salve the breach of his promise, I cannot guesse; though hee hath forc't them to doe him service (as hee conceives) elsewhere, yet I much feare they will here all faile him: for through the whole comp…sse of that his discourse, I can here nothing of the R…ply; I confesse he onelyonly mentions a scrurrilous Lybell fraught with lies, forgeries, absurdities, contradictions, blasphemies, sent forth under the name of a Reply: but I can harly perswade my selfe that he would so farre abuse the world, as to make it beleeve, that by this Lybell hee meanes Mr. Goodwins Reply. But if his passion so farre transported him beyond his intellectualls, as to charge so innocent a peece with such capitoll crimes; I pittie the man; and expect its discharge from the hands of such as are not infested with so mortall an enemie unto reason. Nor hath hee kept touch with his promise about his owne answer: for though the most part hereof may bee gathered from thence, yet is it made so unlike to what it was, by adding some thing, and substracting others; that in consideration hereof, it was thought requisite, to print it in that very shape, in which it came at first from betweene his hands, (for to this alone hath the Reply reference) and to couple both it and the Reply in one volume.
I am consious of no other designe, that the publisher propounded to himselfe, but onelyonly this: to cleare the Reply and the Authour of it, from those false and foule imputations of lying, forging, &c and to wash off from the face of that truth, they pleade for, those blacke coullers of Socinianisme, and Arminianisme, which Mr. Walkers pencill hath drawne over it; that appearing to the eye of the world out of his cloathing; their innocency might bee acknowledged in the judgements and consciences of reasonable men. The accomplishment of which designe, will (I dare say) satisfyingly recompence his cost and labour; and inlarge his heart towards the God of peace and truth, who hath given successe to so just, so pious, so commendable an undertaking.
Farwell.
AN EPITOME OF Mr. Walkers Answer. OR A speciall receipt by a moderne Divine against the Dangerous infection of an Orthodox Truth.
REcipe 21. folio's or leaves of papyrus, as close written as may well be read. Sosinus and Arminius well beaten together, and strained through a course boulter of an English discourse: A handfull of good Scriptures carelesly gathered, and well steeped in the standing water of a new laid interpretation. Add hereunto two or three Hebrew roots: of reading a sufficient quantity: of Learning about a third part: Of the hearb called foreign in Engling lack-love, 6 leaves (at the least) of blacke tongue-wort some fifteene slips: of tropes and metonymies gathered where they never grew as many as you can come by: of the drugg called diabolico-pseudo▪ lobetico 12 ounces: of the simple called insultory or assafetidea as much: of the sweet and savory hearb discretion, halfe a scruple.
Let all these bee made up into the body of a discourse and swallowed downe without chewing upon a full stomacke, and take heede of drinking any sound interpetation after them, and there is little feare that the truth will ever doe you any harme.
Probatum est.
Reader, if thou had'st rather take a little paines, then be angry; I desire thee to releive the Printer with thy pen, and to reforme thy Booke, before thou readest it, according to these subsequent directions.
In the Preface.
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