Two discourses concerning the Holy Spirit, and His work the one, Of the Spirit…

Had not Pelagius vented his Corrupt Opinions concerning the Grace of God, it is like the Church had never had the Learned and Excellent Writings of Augustine in Defence thereof. It appears from Bradwardin that the Revival of Pelagianism in his Days, stirred up his Zealous and Pious Spirit to Write that Profound and Elaborate Book of his, De Causa Dei. Arminius, and the Jesuits endeavouring to Plant the same Weed again, produced the Scholastic Writings of Twiss and Ames, (not to mention Foreign Divines) for which we in this Generation have abundant Cause of Enlarged Thankfulness unto the Father of Lights. The occasion which the Holy Ghost laid hold on to carry forth Paul to Write his Epistle to the Galatians, (wherein the Doctrine of Justification by Faith is so fully cleared) was the bringing in among them of another Gospel by Corrupt Teachers, after which many in those Churches were soon drawn away. The obstinate adherence of many among the Jews to the Mosaical Rites and Observances, and the Inclination of others to Apostatize from the New Testament Worship and Ordinances, was in like manner the occasion of the Epistle to the Hebrews. The Light which shines, and is held out in those Epistles, the Church of Christ could ill have wanted.

Had not Pelagius vented his Corrupt Opinions concerning the Grace of God, it is like the Church had never had the Learned and Excellent Writings of Augustine in Defence thereof. It appears from Bradwardin that the Revival of Pelagianism in his Days, stirred up his Zealous and Pious Spirit to Wrise that Profound and Elaborate Book of his, De Causa Dei. Arminius, and the Jesuits endeavouring to Plant the same Weed aagain, produced the Scholastick Writings of Twiss and Ames, (not to mention Foreign Divines) for which we in this Generation have abundant Cause of Enlarged Thankfulness unto the Father of Lights. The occasion which the Holy Ghost laid hold on to carry forth Paul to Write his Epistle to the Galatians, (wherein the Doctrine of Justification by Faith is so fully cleared) was the bringing in among them of another Gospel by Corrupt Teachers, after which many in those Churches were soon drawn away. The obstinate adherence of many among the Jews to the Mosaical Rites and Observances, and the Inclination of others to Apostatize from the New Testament Worship and Ordinances, was in like manner the occasion of the Epistle to the Hebrews. The Light which shines, and is held out in those Epistles, the Church of Christ could ill have wanted.