A Vindication of Free Grace, Title page – Prefatory letter
A VINDICATION OF FREE-GRACE: IN Oppoſition to this Arminian Poſition, [Naturall Men may do ſuch things as whereunto God hath by way of Promiſe annexed Grace and Acceptation.]
Firſt Preached, after Aſſerted At Stephens Coleman-ſteete London, BY Mr JOHN GOODVVIN.
Alſo an Appendix proving the ſouls enjoying Chriſt after death, afore the Reſurrection, againſt ſome errours hereafter ſpecified.
Publiſhed for the juſtification of Truth BY S. L.
13. Article of the Church of England.
Works done before the Grace of Chriſt and the inſpiration of his Spirit, do not make men meet to receive Grace.
LONDON, Printed by John Macock, for Michael Spark junior, and are to be ſold at the Blue Bible in Green Arbour. 1645.
To the much eſteemed the Auditory of Maſter Iohn Goodwin, increaſe of grace be multiplyed to the compleating of Chriſts ſtature in you.
Greatly beloved in Chriſt,
SUch is the peculiarity of mine obligements to that perſon ſo Worthy, who under God hath the immediate power over me as would not tolerate my ſeeking out any beſides, to whom to commend this enſuing Treatiſe, were it not for this reaſon, becauſe I would not ſeem in the leaſt to ingage a perſon ſo eminent, in a buſineſſe ſo perſonall. And amongſt you who may ſeem, and that rightly, in the eyes of others to be as a Garden of many excellent flowers, whereof 'tis hard to pick the faireſt: ſo choiſe are mine ingagements to ſome, as would render my perſonall choiſe moſt eaſie to whom in ſpeciall to recommend the ſame. But as I have ſhunned advice from any one, or more, that have been, or are of the whole Auditory, ſo I chooſe humbly to tender it to the whole promiſcuouſly; that ſo without leaſt prejudice all may unanimouny conſpire in this deſigne of propagating the truth. Wherein, that I ſuffer not through your miſ-conſtruction, I have next hereto annexed a Breviat of the grounds of my publiſhing hereof. Concerning which matter, as I humbly crave your excuſing the rudeneſſe and prolixity of the former Letter enſuing, the rather, becauſe (though 'twas framed very ſuddenly) I chooſe to print the exact Copy of that which I gave in to Mr. Goodwin, thereby to prevent ſuſpicions of wrong or miſtake, rather then make an amendment thereof. So touching my Reply I alſo crave pardon for my boldneſſe, in undertaking an enterprize ſo weighty; becauſe (all other wayes and means of vindication aſſayed being fruſtrated) I deem it meet for truth to be in ſome meaſure vindicated, though in a weak and unworthy manner, by that very rude pen which hath unwittingly been rendred injurious thereunto. And though I muſt needs acknowledge this work of mine to be limited by moſt unhappy confines, not only as it ſingles out unto me that perſon to deale with, whom I highly reſpect; but alſo as it points out an Auditory ſo able and judicious to whom to commend it: (wch I ſpeak not out of flattery but to the glory of Gods grace in you) yet as on the one hand the competition being not between man and man, but man and truth according to that impartiall verdit Amicus Plato, amicus Socrates, ſed magis amica veritas; 'tis no hard matter to determine which of the twaine to prefer: ſo on the other hand, for as much as there is now no ſure or probable way left, ſtanding in competition with this made choice of; I thence conclude a neceſſity of proſecuting this way, though ſo unworthy of your acceptance. Wherein you may pleaſe further to conſider that I trouble you not with needleſſe diſputations: but this high queſtion whether the tearms of the Goſpel be free or mercenary, which being the foundation of our faith, is a controverſie juſtified, Iude 3. After which I have in the cloſe alleaged ſome reaſons againſt three errors there ſpecified; which I the rather humbly commend to your view; becauſe there be that conceive the ſubſtance of the two former, was publickly delivered in Crooked-Lane London, in a Funerall Sermon diverſe moneths agoe: and that probably before many of you, but by whom I ſhall not ſo much as name, ſuppoſing the known miſchief of theſe errours to be a ſufficient motive to this work: Through all which, that God would guide you to weigh this matter in the ballance of the Sanctuary; that rightly dividing this work to the judgement and affections, both may performe their reſpective offices without uſurpation, and ſo conduct you to the deſired Goale; the truth, is the prayer of him who remains,
Yours in humble meekneſſe, truth, and love, S. L.