Goodwill Towards Men, Title page – Errata
GOOD WILL TOWARDS MEN, OR A TREATISE OF THE COVENANTS, Viz. Of WORKS, and Of GRACE OLD & NEVV.
Wherein sundry Propositions are Laid down Concerning them, and Diverse Questions occasionally Discussed.
By a Lover of Truth and Peace.
LONDON, Printed, for Samuel Richards, Book-seller in Nottingham, and are to be sold by Thomas Guy, at the Corner shop of little Lumbardstreet, and Cornhill, near Woolchurch Market. 1675.
TO THE READER.
AS in the Apostles days, some were Exceeding Zealous about the Law, understanding neither what they said, nor whereof they Affirmed; There are some in our days, who have the Covenant of Grace and the New Covenant much in their mouths, while yet they understand little of it, yea, are under very great Mistakes about it.
Perhaps (Reader) thou wilt wonder to see a New Treatise of this Subject, upon which there are so many Extant. Yet it were to be wished, that in some of them there were not Multa Corigenda, foul Errata's. And besides, let who will Write of it, instead of putting to it a Finis, he may conclude with a Nonnulla Desiderantur, there are some things yet behind.
Indeed the Subject is exceeding Copious, and withal, a necessary Subject to be oft Inculcated. Without some knowledge of Gods Covenant, Men can neither understand God, nor Jesus Christ, nor Themselves aright.
Touching the Occasion of this present Discourse being in Company with a Worthy special Friend, I was Speaking my Thoughts, That most of the Prevailing Errors of our Times, were from Ignorance of the Covenant of Grace, or not being right in the Doctrine of it: Whereupon he willed me to apply my Thoughts to that Subject. When Considering further with my self the dangerous Tendency, and sad Consequences of some Mistakes about it, I was ready to say [I also will shew my Opinion.] Now to make way for my Intended Discourse on the Covenant of Grace. it was very Requisite to Premise something of Mans State under the Covenant of Works.
Many Points relating to these Two Covenants, I wittingly pass by, to Insist more largly on what I conceive very Needful at this Day, that might be an Antidote against Prevailing Errors, and a means of Establishing Souls in the present Truth.
I conclude before-hand, some will account this Discourse a Dry Piece, to wit, Such as look only at the stirring of Affections. But woful Experience may Teach us, that it is as well a Christians Duty to see to the right Ballasting of his Judgment; for want of which, we have seen many sadly Tossed to and fro.
The Scripture is Profitable for Doctrine, 2 Tim. 3.16. This is one end and use it serves for. And if the Doctrine herein laid down be Sound, and according to the Scriptures of Truth, I shall hope, it will not be Unprofitable.
Further, I must expect, others will be Prejudiced, and take Distaste, meeting with some things here Cross to the Opinions, which they have Espoused. Yet I can say, the Discovery of Truth is my Endeavour and Design, (and not to lay open the Nakedness of any of a different Perswasion, further than it might serve that Way.) And sure I am, Truth ought to be dearer to us all, than our Credit, or Worldly Concerns.
Ʋpon a Review of the whole, I especially commend to thy serious Perusal, the Twelfth, and Thirteenth Proposition of the Covenant of Grace, beginning at Pag. 225. and ending at 297. shewing the Terms and Benefits of the Covenant of Grace, wherein every mans Grand concern lieth. Reader, if thou hast a mind to see, there I have Indeavoured to shew thee the things that belong unto thy Peace. Diog. Laert. in Socrate. l. 2. p. 111.As Aeschines said to his Master Socrates, foreign, &c. I am poor, and have nothing else, but I give thee my self: And it took with his Master. We have nothing to give to God worthy of his Acceptance; yet if (with the Believing Corinthians, 2 Cor. 8.5.) we would now give our selves to the Lord, it would be very Acceptable to Him, and every way Advantagious to our Selves. We should come better out of his Hands: Yea, He would be ours (our God, and Portion) if we are willing, and resolved to be His. Methinks, the Lord says to Sinners, as Jehu to Jehonadab, 2 Kings 10.15. Is thine heart right as my heart is with thy heart? If it be, then give me thy hand. O how glad should I be, if this Discourse might promote that Holy and happy League betwixt God and Souls! Indeed, I am not without hope, but through the Blessing of God, it may be of Good use to some. And otherwise no Reasons should have moved, no Perswasions should have prevailed with me to yield to the Publishing of it. The Success (I know) depends wholly on His Blessing.
foreign,
foreign.
I write with Calmness, and would be Sorry this should Raise the least Storm in any. Where thou canst not Assent with Judgment, yet Dissent with Affection. Let us follow the Truth in Love. If thou findest any Light and Warmth here, acknowledge the same to come from the Father of Lights. Let Him have the Praise: And forget not to Pray for one, who is greatly Ashamed, that he hath so little served God, and his Generation, who without a better Head, and a better Heart, is still like to do little Service,
J. B.
Addenda & Corrigenda.
Page 3. Line ante penult. add. [There is par ratio, why this First Covenant should be so called, though it should not be directly intended in that place.] p. 9. l. 14. r. External. p. 11. l. 29. 1. flowing. p. 12. l. 31. for but, r. be. p. 13. l. 10 blot out or. p. 14. l. 14. r. owed. p. 15. marg. foreign is put for foreign, p. 18. l. 29. r. Law, p. 21. l. 10. r. had, p. 24. l. 7. r. he. l. 9. r. commonly use, p. 25. l. 6. r. as a moral, p. 33. l. 8. r. goods, p. 34 l. 10. r. Judge p. 41. l. 12. r. carried, p. 42. l. 4. r. in, and l. 31. r. Niti, p. 61. l. 2, r. so we. p. 73. marg. r. mod. div. p. 76. marg. r. quicquid mandat. Calv. p. 93. l. ult. foreign p. 137. l. 16. r. without, p. 152. l. 12. after grace that in marg. to some, &c. p. 162. l. 1. r. cur p. 164. l. 31. Cocceius, p. 174. l. 20. r. ac. l. 21. r. in eo quidni, p. 213. l. 11. blot out be, p. 232. l. 16. r. guileless, p. 233. l. 27. blot out the Law of, p. 235. l. 9. r. justifaction, p. 245. l. 13. r. by Faith, p. 247. l. 25. r. many, p. 253. l. 15. r. godly sorrow, p. 279. l. 18. for of, r. to, p. 282. l. 13. r. Hendiadis, p. 285. l. 25. for long, r. large, p. 300. l. 13. for now, r. nor, p. 306. l. 32. blot out the stop at Faithful, p. 307. l. 9. after Preached, r. so explicitely, p. 321. l. 7. r. Opponitur, l. 8. r. Externae, p. 322. l. 22. r. includeth, p. 326. l. 18. r. Incompossibilia, p. 424. l. 26. r. dispense, p. 429. l. 7. r. quatefaciendam, p. 405. l. 7. r. Maymony. One reference of good use is omitted. p. 385. l. 4. marg. scil. Mr. Baxt. of Infant Bapt. p. 98, 99. Other literal Mistakes, and false Pointings, which I hope will not mueh hinder the sence, the Ingenuous Reader will pass by.