From all this you may gather part of the Answer to your next Question: why I except against the book called, The Marrow of Modern Divinity? Because it is guilty of this heinous Doctrine. Yet further let me tell you, that I much value the greatest part of that Book, and commend the industry of the Author, and judge him a man of godliness and Moderation by his writing: And had I thought as meanly of it, as I do of Collier, Sprigs, Hobsons, and many such abominable Pamphlets that now fly abroad I should not have thought it worthy the taking so much notice of. But because it is otherwise useful, I thought meet to give you warning, that you drink not in the evil ⟨p. 277⟩with the good. And especially because the names that so applaud it, may be a probable snare to entangle you herein. And I conjecture the Authors ingenuity to be such, that he will be glad to know his own mistakes, and to correct them: Otherwise I am unfeignedly tender of depraving or carping at any mans labours. Some of these mistaking passages I will show you briefly. As page 174. Quest. Would you not have believers to eschew evil and do good for fear of Hell, or for hope of Heaven? Ans. No indeed, I would not have any believer do the one or the other: for so far as they do so, their obedience is but slavish, &c. To which end he allegeth, Luke 1. 74. 75. But that speaks of Freedom from fear of our Enemies, such as Christ forbids in Luke 12. 5. where yet he commandeth the fearing of God: And consequently, even that fear of enemies is forbidden, as they stand in opposition to God, and not as his instruments in subordination. Or if it be even a fear of God that is there meant; yet it cannot be all fear of him or his displeasure: so far as we are in danger of sin or suffering, we must fear it: and so far as our assurance is still imperfect: a jealousy of our own hearts, and a dreadful reverence of God also are necessary. But not the Legal terrors of our former bondage, such as arise from the apprehension of sin unpardoned, and of God as being our Enemy.
FRom all this you may gather part of the Answer to your next Question: why I except against the book called, The Marrow of Modern Divinity? Because it is guiltie of this hainous Doctrine. Yet further let me tell you, that I much value the greatest part of that Book, and commend the industrie of the Authour, and judge him a man of godlinesse and Moderation by his writing: And had I thought as meanlie of it, as I do of Colyer, Sprigs, Hobsons, and manie such abominable Pamphlets that now fly abroad I should not have thought it worthy the taking so much notice of. But because it is otherwise usefull, I thought meet to give you warning, that you drink not in the evill ⟨p. 277⟩with the good. And especially because the names that so applaud it, may be a probable snare to entangle you herein. And I conjecture the Authours ingenuity to be such, that he will be glad to know his own mistakes, and to correct them: Otherwise I am unfeignedly tender of depraving or carping at any mans labours. Some of these mistaking passages I will shew you briefly. As page 174. Quest. Would you not have believers to esc•ew evill and do good for fear of Hell, or for hope of Heaven? Ans. No indeed, I would not have any beleiver doe the one or the other: for so farre as they do so, their obedience is but slavish, &c. To which end he alledgeth, Luke 1. 74. 75. But that speaks of Freedome from fear of our Enemies, such as Christ forbids in Luke 12. 5. where yet he commandeth the fearing of God: And consequently, even that fear of enemies is forbidden, as they stand in opposition to God, and not as his instrnments in subordination. Or if it be even a fear of God that is there meant; yet it cannot be all fear of him or his displeasure: so far as we are in danger of sin or suffering, we must fear it: and so farre as our assurance is still imperfect: a jealousie of our own hearts, and a dreadfull reverence of God also are necessary. But not the Legall terrours of our former bondage, such as arise from the apprehension of sin unpardoned, and of God as being our Enemy.
