Lest by contradicting the Church, I should cease to be peaceable (•o Though men otherwise peaceable may be drawn to it through prejudice)▪ If you will bring one sound Reason, one word of Scripture, or one approved writer of the Church (yea or one Heretic, or any man whatsoever) for many hundred years after Christ (I think I may say▪ 1300 at lest) to prove that Christ as Lord or King is not the object of the Justifying act of Faith, or that Faith Justifieth properly as an Instrument, I am consented so far to lose the Reputation of my Reason, Understanding, Reading, and, Memory. For though I have not read all that hath been written for so many hundred years, yet I have read most of the Writers of great note, (except the most▪ Voluminous, which […] but part of) and by that much, I see so far into the sense and language of those times, that I dare stand to the hazard of this adventure▪ I speak this because you tell me, that there was scarce a dissenting voice among our Divines that are against me about the Instrumentality of Faith. And, if there cannot be brought one man that consenteth with them for 1200, or 1400 years after Christ, I pray you tell me whom a humble, modest, peaceable man should follow▪ were he never so much ready to deny his own understanding? Because a word, or an opinion that is unsound, hath got possession of a little corner of the world for about 150 years; therefore I am suspected as singular and as a Novelist, for forsaking it. Whereas it is to avoid singularity, and notorious Novelty, that I assent not to your way. The same I say about the Interest of mans Obedience, in his Justification as continued and consummate in Judgement. If either Clemens▪ Roman▪ Polycarp▪ Ignatius, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Tertullian, Origen, Athonago•as, Tatianus▪ Clem. Alexand. Minutius Felix, Arno••us, Lactantius, Cyprian, Athanasius, Eusebius, Greg. Nazianzen, Epiphanius, Cyril. Hierosol▪ Synesius, Cyril Alexandr. Macarius, Hierome, Salvian, Vincentius Lirin. Vigilius, or any Council were of your mind in any one of these points, and against mine, then I will confess, at lest my supine negligence in reading, or my very faulty memory in retaining their words. And for Austin, Chrysost. and others, of whom I have read but the lesser part, I do strongly conjecture by that part, at their sense, and that they concur with the rest.
Lest by contradicting the Church, I should cease to be peaceable (•o Though men otherwise peaceable may be drawn to it through prejudice)▪ If you will bring one sound Reason, one word of Scripture, or one approved writer of the Church (yea or one Heretick, or any man whatsoever) for many hundred years after Christ (I think I may say▪ 1300 at lest) to prove that Christ as Lord or King is not the object of the Justifying act of Faith, or that Faith Justifieth properly as an Instrument, I am concented so far to lose the Reputation of my Reason, Understanding, Reading, and, Memory. For though I have not read all that hath been written for so many hundred years, yet I have read most of the Writers of great note, (except the most▪ Voluminous, which 〈…〉 but part of) and by that much, I see so far into the sense and language of those times, that I dare stand to the hazard of this adventure▪ I speak this because you tell me, that there was scarce a dissenting voice among our Divines that are against me about the Instrumentality of Faith. And, if there cannot be brought one man that consenteth with them for 1200, or 1400 years after Christ, I pray you tell me whom a humble, modest, peaceable man should follow▪ were he never so much ready to deny his own understanding? Because a word, or an opinion that is unsound, hath got possession of a little corner of the world for about 150 years; therefore I am suspected as singular and as a Novilist, for forsaking it. Whereas it is to avoid singularity, and notorious Novelty, that I assent not to your way. The same I say about the Interest of mans Obedience, in his Justification as continued and consummate in Judgement. If either Clemens▪ Roman▪ Polycarp▪ Ignatius, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Tertullian, Origen, Athonago•as, Tatianus▪ Clem. Alexand. Minutius F•elix, Arno••us, Lactantius, Cyprian, Athanasius, Eusebius, Greg. Nazianzen, Epiphanius, Cyrill. Hierosol▪ Synesius, Cyrill Alexandr. Macarius, Hierome, Salvian, Vincentius Lirin. Vigilius, or any Councel were of your minde in any one of these points, and against mine, then I will confess, at lest my supine negligence in reading, or my very faulty memory in retaining their words. And for Austin, Chrysost. and others, of whom I have read but the lesser part, I do strongly conjecture by that part, at their sense, and that they concurr with the rest.
