Of justification four disputations clearing and amicably defending the truth against the unnecessary oppositions…

And truly Sir, I use to charge my conscience to enquire what may be the plain meaning of a Text, and to embrace that, and not against Light to be carried by prejudice: and this conscience tells me that this Resolution of Dr. Downame being so plainly agreeable to Paul, is not to be rejected. When I impartially, consider what Paul driveth at, my Judgement tells me that it was never his intent to advance any one simple Act of the soul into the office of justifying, excluding all the rest; but to advance Christ against mens own works which stood up then in competition with him: And that Paul never meant that Assent Justifies, but not Veil, Acceptare, Consentire, Elig•re, Fiduciam habere, &c.

And truly Sir, I use to charge my conscience to enquire what may be the plain meaning of a Text, and to embrace that, and not against Light to be carryed by prejudice: and this conscience tells me that this Resolution of Dr. Downame being so plainly agreeable to Paul, is not to be rejected. When I impartially, consider what Paul driveth at, my Judgement tells me that it was never his intent to advance any one simple Act of the soul into the office of justifying, excluding all the rest; but to advance Christ against mens own works which stood up then in competition with him: And that Paul never meant that Assent Justifies, but not Velle, Acceptare, Consentire, Elig•re, Fiduciam habere, &c.

Suppose there be a mortal Disease that hath seized on a City, which no man can cure but one only Physician: nor he but by a Medicine that will cost him as much as the lives of the Citizens are worth: This Physician comes and sends to them, and offers then all without exception, that if they will but take him for their Physician and trust him with their lives, he will not only manifest his skill, that he is able to cure them, but he will do it, and pay for the Physic, and not put them to pay a penny. Hereupon some that are his enemies, and some that are mistaken in the man upon false reports, and some that judge of him by his outward appearance, do all conclude, [this is some Deceiver, he is not able to do any such matter; none but fools will trust him, and venture their lives in his hand: Let us stir about and labour and we shall overcome it, and do well enough.] On the contrary the Physician, having great compassion on the poor deluded people, knowing their case better then themselves, and having already bought the remedy for