A85311:119
The answer of Giles Firmin, to the vain and unprofitable question put to him,…
The answer of Giles Firmin, to the vain and unprofitable question put to him, and charged upon him by Mr. Grantham, in his book, entitled, The infants advocate : viz. whether the greatest part of dying infants shall be damned? : Which advocate, while he shuts all infants out of the visible church, and denies them baptism, opens heaven to all dying infants, justifying those of his party, who admit them all as he doth, into Heaven without regeneration.The answer of Giles Firmin, to the vain and unprofitable question put to him, and charged upon him by Mr. Grantham, in his book, entituled, The infants advocate : viz. whether the greatest part of dying infants shall be damned? : Which advocate, while he shuts all infants out of the visible church, and denies them baptism, opens heaven to all dying infants, justifying those of his party, who admit them all as he doth, into Heaven without regeneration.
London: printed for John Lawrence, 1689
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
First, Liberty as it is opposed to natural necessity, and co-action is essential to the Will. In the work of the Father drawing the Soul to Christ, the Will in closing with, and embracing of Christ is as free in respect of Co-action, as it was in sinning against Christ. What would you have more Mr. Grantham?
Secondly, Liberty and some necessity may stand together, viz. Libertas Consequentiae, else the Will must be more than brutish.
Secondly, Liberty and some necessity may stand together, viz. Libertas Consequentiae, else the Will must be more than bruitish.
But if you have a mind to show what a gallant Fellow you are in this Controversy, I desire you to read and answer two Men who lived in Communion with the Church of Rome, Bradwardin, and Jansenius, his Augustinus; I name no Protestants. But Jansenius I commend to you upon this account: Because as I was informed by a sober Dutch Minister, whose Uncle was at Jansenius's Commencement; as you were bound first to a Taylor, so he was bound first to a Carpenter: but he was so exceedingly Bookish while but a Youth, that his Master wished his Parents to take him away, get some help of Friends, and put him to School; there indeed he differs from you, as your Admirer tells us here, that you served out your Apprenticeship. But there is a second difference: This excellent Carpenter chose such Timber, and built so strong, that all the Jesuits [your Friends in this Controversy] could never shake his Building. But you that were a Taylor, do but as Adam did, sew Fig-leaves together, to make an Apron, which will not cover your nakedness.
But if you have a mind to shew what a gallant Fellow you are in this Controversie, I desire you to read and answer two Men who lived in Communion with the Church of Rome, Bradwardin, and Jansenius, his Augustinus; I name no Protestants. But Jansenius I commend to you upon this account: Because as I was informed by a sober Dutch Minister, whose Uncle was at Jansenius's Commencement; as you were bound first to a Taylor, so he was bound first to a Carpenter: but he was so exceedingly Bookish while but a Youth, that his Master wished his Parents to take him away, get some help of Friends, and put him to School; there indeed he differs from you, as your Admirer tells us here, that you served out your Apprentiship. But there is a second difference: This excellent Carpenter chose such Timber, and built so strong, that all the Jesuits [your Friends in this Controversie] could never shake his Building. But you that were a Taylor, do but as Adam did, sew Fig-leaves together, to make an Apron, which will not cover your nakedness.