A brief declaration and vindication of the doctrine of the Trinity as also of…

But say the Socinians, these things are quite otherwise, and the words have another sense in them than you imagine. What is it I pray? we bring none to them, we impose no sense upon them; we strain not any word in them, from, besides, or beyond its native, genuine signification, its constant application in the Scripture, and common use amongst men. What then is this latent sense that is intended, and is discoverable only by themselves? let us hear them coining and […] this sense of theirs.

But say the Socinians, these things are quite otherwise, and the words have another sense in them than you imagine. What is it I pray? we bring none to them, we impose no sense upon them; we strain not any word in them, from, besides, or beyond its native, genuine signification, its constant application in the Scripture, and common use amongst men. What then is this latent sense that is intended, and is discoverable only by themselves? let us hear them coyning and 〈…〉 this sense of theirs.

First, They say that by in the beginning, is not meant of the beginning of all things, or the creation of them; but the beginning of the preaching of the Gospel. But why so I pray? Where ever these words are else used in the Scripture, they denote the beginning of all things, or Eternity absolutely, or an Existence preceding their creation. In the beginning God created Heaven and Earth, Gen. 1. 1. I was set up from everlasting from the beginning ere ever the earth was, Prov. 8. 23. Thou Lord in the beginning hast laid the foundations of the Earth, Heb. 1. 10. And besides, these words are never used absolutely any where for the beginning of the Gospel. There is mention made indeed of the beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Mark 1. 1. which is referred to the preaching of John Baptist. But in the beginning absolutely, is never so used or applied. And they must meet with men of no small inclination unto them, who will upon their desire in