The Doctrine of Original sin, and Justification by Faith alone, are not altogether heterogeneous: Yea, Stapleton maketh the former the Mother, and the latter the Daughter, as they are avouched in the Protestant way. I shall therefore here take the occasion to lay down several Propositions, that may conduce to the further discovery of the Contents of that amicable collation between my learned Brother and my self in this particular. Not that my purpose is to vindicate those Arguments I have formerly in a Treatise of Righteousness, produced against conditionality of Works in the Act of Justification, from the Exceptions and Answers he hath pleased lately to give in unto them; for I shall venture their credit and strength, (notwithstanding all that he hath said to the contrary) with the intelligent and impartial Readers, till I am advised by the judicious and Learned, there is a necessity of rescuing them from his assaults. The generation of Divines which shall arise, that knew Joseph, who are acquainted with the Doctrine and Spirit of the first Reformers in this matter; they will not take up their persuasions from one or two English Writers, in this case. It is true, Aristotle saith, lib. 1. Rhetor. cap. 11. that [Greek or Hebrew] and [Greek or Hebrew], Contentions are pleasant, and Conquest in them sweet. But that is true, in reference to the Philosophers and Orators of old, who were ⟨image 302⟩animals of glory, and had a libidinous appetite after applause, [Greek or Hebrew], being [Greek or Hebrew], as Justin Martyr alludeth; and the Orators so insatiable after praise, that rather then want it, they would hire their Laudicenes to applaud them with a [Greek or Hebrew]. But in Theological contests, we ought to have more mortified and sanctified hearts; for when we have watched over our souls with the greatest diligence we can, yet we have cause to pray, that God would forgive us our Book-sins, and preserve us from loosing the comfortable sense and enjoyment of Justification, while we dispute about it. Not therefore from a spirit of contention or opposition to my learned Brother, whom I highly honour, but love to that precious and ancient Truth, as I judge it to be, which through infirmity is opposed by him, happily inclined thereunto by his laudable Zeal against Antinomian dotages, I proceed to lay down several Propositions;
THe Doctrine of Original sinne, and Justification by Faith alone, are not altogether heterogeneous: Yea, Stapleton maketh the former the Mother, and the latter the Daughter, as they are avouched in the Protestant way. I shall therefore here take the occasion to lay down severall Propositions, that may conduce to the further discovery of the Contents of that amicable collation between my learned Brother and my self in this particular. Not that my purpose is to vindicate those Arguments I have formerly in a Treatise of Righteousness, produced against conditionality of Works in the Act of Justification, from the Exceptions and Answers he hath pleased lately to give in unto them; for I shall venture their credit and strength, (notwithstanding all that he hath said to the contrary) with the intelligent and impartiall Readers, till I am advised by the judicious and Learned, there is a necessity of rescuing them from his assaults. The generation of Divines which shall arise, that knew Joseph, who are aquainted with the Doctrine and Spirit of the first Reformers in this matter; they will not take up their perswasions from one or two English Writers, in this case. It is true, Aristole saith, lib. 1. Rhetor. cap. 11. that 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 and 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, Contentions are pleasant, and Conqest in them sweet. But that is true, in reference to the Philosophers and Oratours of old, who were ⟨image 302⟩animals of glory, and had a libidinous appetite after applause, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, being 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, as Justin Martyr alludeth; and the Oratours so insatiable after praise, that rather then want it, they would hire their Laudicenes to applaud them with a 〈non-Latin alphabet〉. But in Theologicall contests, we ought to have more mortified and sanctified hearts; for when we have watched over our souls with the greatest diligence we can, yet we have cause to pray, that God would forgive us our Book-sins, and preserve us from loosing the comfortable sense and enjoyment of Justification, while we dispute about it. Not therefore from a spirit of contention or opposition to my learned Brother, whom I highly honour, but love to that precious and antient Truth, as I judge it to be, which through infirmity is opposed by him, happily inclined thereunto by his laudable Zeal against Antinomian dotages, I proceed to lay down severall Propositions;
