Having in the course of my ministry among mine own people delivered, and in conference with others elsewhere declared, my judgement, concerning a passage in Balaam's prophecies, much pressed by our Antinomian Teachers, for the proof of one of their principal Positions, concerning the present estate of justified ⟨image 3⟩persons, and Gods sight of sin in them; I have by divers of those, who thereby took notice of it, been since solicited, yea by some of them importuned, to explain it more fully, and to make it more public. Which motion, albeit I did for some space of time entertain with a deaf ear, as being one well-near spent, and too well conscious to my self, how unfit, at these years, and this weakness, (which might justly plead a discharge from such employments) to be drawn forth into the field, and engaged in matter of controversy, further then the safety and welfare of mine own flock might there in be concerned; yet for some considerations, which I shall not need here to relate, I have at length been induced to condescend to the desires of those, who have herein been so earnest with me. and this the rather, that I might thereby take occasion, to vindicate my self from some aspersions, which some of these mens followers have endeavoured to fasten upon me; as if I had falsely and unfaithfully related their opinion, in the point especially, which they ground on that passage of Scripture here dealt with; whereby they affirm, that
HAving in the course of my ministery among mine own people delivered, and in conference with others elsewhere declared, my judgement, concerning a passage in Balaams prophecies, much pressed by our Antinomian Teachers, for the proofe of one of their principall Positions, concerning the present estate of justified ⟨image 3⟩persons, and Gods sight of sinne in them; I have by divers of those, who thereby took notice of it, been since solicited, yea by some of them importuned, to explain it more fully, and to make it more publique. Which motion, albeit I did for some space of time entertain with a deaf eare, as being one well-neere spent, and too well conscious to my self, how unfit, at these yeers, and this weaknesse, (which might justly plead a discharge from such employments) to be drawn forth into the field, and engaged in matter of controversie, further then the safety and welfare of mine owne flock might there in be concerned; yet for some considerations, which I shall not need here to relate, I have at length been induced to condescend to the desires of those, who have herein been so earnest with me. and this the rather, that I might thereby take occasion, to vindicate my selfe from some aspersions, which some of these mens followers have endevoured to fasten upon me; as if I had falsely and unfaithfully related their opinion, in the point especially, which they ground on that passage of Scripture here dealt with; whereby they affirm, that
