A vindication of some passages in a discourse concerning communion with God from the…

It may be, it will be said, (for there is no security against Confidence and Immodesty backed with secular Advantages) that the Doctrinal Principles asserted in this Book are agreeable with the Doctrine of the Church in former Times, and therefore those opposed in it, such as are condemned thereby. Hereabout I shall make no long contest with them who once discover that their Minds are by any means emboldened to undertake the Defence of such shameless Untruths. Nor shall I multiply Testimonies to prove the Contrary, which others are more concerned to do, if they intend not to betray the Religion of that Church, with whose Preservation and Defence they are entrusted. Only because there are Ancient Divines of this Church, who I am persuaded will be allowed with the most to have known as well the Doctrine ⟨p. 13⟩of it, and as firmly to have adhered thereunto, as this Author, who have particularly spoken unto most of the Things which he hath opposed or rather reproached, I shall transcribe the Words of one of them, whereby he, and those who employ him, may be minded with whom they have to do in those things. For as to the Writers of the Ancient Church there is herein no regard had unto them. He whom I shall Name is Mr. Hooker, and that in his Famous Book of Ecclesiastical Policy, who in the 5th Book thereof and 56 Paragraph, thus discourseth.

It may be, it will be said, (for there is no security against Confidence and Imodesty backed with secular Advantages) that the Doctrinal Principles asserted in this Book are agreeable with the Doctrine of the Church in former Times, and therefore those opposed in it, such as are condemned thereby. Hereabout I shall make no long contest with them who once discover that their Minds are by any means emboldned to undertake the Defence of such shameless Untruths. Nor shall I multiply Testimonies to prove the Contrary, which others are more concerned to do, if they intend not to betray the Religion of that Church, with whose Preservation and Defence they are intrusted. Only because there are Ancient Divines of this Church, who I am perswaded will be allowed with the most to have known as well the Doctrine ⟨p. 13⟩of it, and as firmly to have adhered thereunto, as this Author, who have particularly spoken unto most of the Things which he hath opposed or rather reproached, I shall transcribe the Words of one of them, whereby he, and those who employ him, may be minded with whom they have to do in those things. For as to the Writers of the Antient Church there is herein no regard had unto them. He whom I shall Name is Mr. Hooker, and that in his Famous Book of Ecclesiastical Policy, who in the 5th Book thereof and 56 Paragraph, thus discourseth.