The Scripture Gospel defended, and Christ, grace, and free justification vindicated against the libertines…

As to Mr. Crisps Epistle, it calleth more for Pity, than Confutation: He pretendeth out of his Notes, to tell what I Preached at Pinners Hall, Jan. 17. 1673. and Aug. 11. 1674. (so long since.) And he begins with a gross untruth, that I said, [A mans first believing is by external Arguments, not by the Operation of the Spirit, but his after believing is by the Spirit.] I do not believe that the man purposed to lye, but trusted h•s false Ears, and Notes. The World knoweth how voluminously I have written to the contrary: Never such an Opinion came into my head: But contrarily I have copiously proved, that even common Faith, much more the first justifying Faith, is the work of Gods Spirit: My Catholic Theology, proveth it all at large. I doubt not but both first and second Faith is by Scripture Argument; but never dreamed that it was not the Work of the Spirit: Indeed I find few of his accusing Notes, that be not falsific•tious by his defective or patched Recital.

As to Mr. Crispes Epistle, it calleth more for Pitty, than Confutation: He pretendeth out of his Notes, to tell what I Preached at Pinners Hall, Jan. 17. 1673. and Aug. 11. 1674. (so long since.) And he begins with a gross untruth, that I said, [A mans first believing is by external Arguments, not by the Operation of the Spirit, but his after believing is by the Spirit.] I do not believe that the man purposed to lye, but trusted h•s false Ears, and Notes. The World knoweth how voluminously I have written to the contrary: Never such an Opinion came into my head: But contrarily I have copiously proved, that even common Faith, much more the first justifying Faith, is the work of Gods Spirit: My Catholick Theology, proveth it all at large. I doubt not but both first and second Faith is by Scripture Argument; but never dream'd that it was not the Work of the Spirit: Indeed I find few of his accusing Notes, that be not falsific•tious by his defective or patcht Recital.

I am sorry that he hath wronged the Memory of such good men as Mr. Fowler, and Mr. Cole, by telling the World how unstudied, and yet how confident they have been in some points. But he did worse in citing Dr Manton, that incurred their Censure for defending me in that very Pulpit, where he saith I Preached against such accusers as he; and was wholly of my judgment. And reciting ArchBishop Usher, who perused my Confession written against the Antinomians, and altered not a word in it, before I published it; I got him and Mr. Gataker to read it (and it was the last Work that Mr. Gataker did in the World, as his Epistle and his Sons show.)