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

A Defence of Christ, AND Free Grace, &c.

Chap. 1. Prefatory.

Ortho. Sir, Having my self, and the Congregation which I am Related to, been in danger of the Errors called Antinomian; I wrote to you, to entreat you, who have done so much heretofore, to Conquer and Extirpate those Errors, to get the London Ministers, to publish their Judgments against Dr. Crispe's Book, and such others, now Re-printed, and rising up with re-newed danger.

Ortho. Sir, Having my self, and the Congregation which I am Related to, been in danger of the Errours called Antinomian; I wrote to you, to intreat you, who have done so much heretofore, to Conquer and Extirpate those Errours, to get the London Ministers, to publish their Judgments against Dr. Crispe's Book, and such others, now Re-printed, and rising up with re-newed danger.

Reconcil. You did so, and I answered you; 1. That I thought it not seasonable, till the acceptance and success of that Book and such others, ⟨p. 2⟩made our danger so notorious and great, as would clearly justify our Confutation: I have written on that Subject so much already, 1. In my Confession of Faith. 2. In my Apologies against Mr. Craudn, Mr. Aaires, and others. 3. In my Disputations of Justification. 4. In my Life of Faith. 5. In my Justifying Righteousness, and there against Dr. Tully; and my last Animadversions on Mr. Cartwright. 6. In my Catholic Theology, especially the five last Chapters. 7. And in my Methodus Theologiae. All which, are unanswered to this day, that I know not why I should be forward to write much more: For they that will not read this that hath been so long written, are not like to read it if I yet write more. And I am so fearful of stirring up the hidden spark of this mischief, that having written Fourteen Years ago a short Decision of a multitude of these Controversies, I suspended it, lest it should kindle New Oppositions. 2. And I told you, that we have now such public and dangerous Controversies, about Royalty, Prelacy, Conformity, &c. that it is very unseasonable to make a noise of the Errors and Factions among the Tolerated, though they should somewhat increase by advantage of our silence, till we see what public settlement there will be. 3. And I confess, I have an opinion that accidentally the Books which you fear, will so effectually confute themselves, that they will occasion more good among sober knowing Christians, than hurt to the ignorant professors, that will be tossed up and down with every wind of Doctrine. For, 1. The whole tenor of the Bible is against them. And will not Christians read the Bible? 2. The Divine Nature on the Soul, and all Christian