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

To my Reverend Brother Mr. John Warner, Preacher of the Gospel at Christs Church in Hampshire.

To my Reverend Brother Mr. John Warner, Preacher of the Gospel at Christs Church in Hantshire.

Though (through the privacy of my habitation) I never so much as heard of your name, before your Book of the Object and Office of faith was in the Press; yet upon that perusal of it I confidently conclude, that a zeal for God, and that which you verily think to be his Truth, hath moved you to this undertaking; and doubtless you think that you have done God service by it. I love your zeal: and your indignation against Error; and your tenderness of so great a point as that of Justification. And could I find your Light to be answerable to your heat, I hope I should also love and honour it: Had you not taken me (with the two Reverend Brethren whom you oppose) to be the enemies of the person and Grace of the Lord Jesus, or the followers of them (as you say, Epist. pag. 6.) I am persuaded you would not have either called us so, or thought your self called to this assault. And if I love Christ, I must love that man that hateth me▪ though mistakingly, for the sake of Christ. That principle within you that hath made Christ and Truth so dear to you, that you rise up for that which seemeth to you to be Truth, I hope will grow till you attain perfection in that world of Light that will end our differences, I shall not go about to deprecate your indignation for my plain expressions in this Defence, when the nature of your matter did require them: For I am not so unreasonable as to expect that fair words should reconcile a good man to those that he takes to be enemies to Christ, or to their followers. But as I can truly say if I know what is in my heart, that the Reading of your Book hath