







 
   
     
       
         An apology for writing against Socinians, in defence of the doctrines of the Holy Trinity and incarnation in answer to a late earnest and compassionate suit for forbearance to the learned writers of some controversies at present / by William Sherlock ...
         Sherlock, William, 1641?-1707.
      
       
         
           1693
        
      
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         53128
         
           
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             An apology for writing against Socinians, in defence of the doctrines of the Holy Trinity and incarnation in answer to a late earnest and compassionate suit for forbearance to the learned writers of some controversies at present / by William Sherlock ...
             Sherlock, William, 1641?-1707.
          
           [4], 32 p.
           
             Printed for Will. Rogers ...,
             London :
             1693.
          
           
             Marginal notes.
             Advertisement: prelim. p. [1].
             Reproduction of original in Cambridge University Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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         eng
      
       
         
           Trinity.
           Incarnation.
           Socinianism.
        
      
    
     
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           The
           DEAN
           of
           St.
           PAUL's
           APOLOGY
           FOR
           Writing
           against
           SOCINIANS
           ,
           &c.
           
        
      
       
         
         
           Imprimatur
           ,
        
         
           
             Geo.
             Royse
             ,
             
               R.
               R
               mo
               .
               in
               Christo
               Patri
               ac
               Dom.
               Dom.
            
             Johan
             .
             
               Archiep.
               Cant.
               à
               Sacris
               Domest
            
             .
          
           
             
               Jan.
               17.
               1692
               
               /
               3.
               
            
          
        
      
       
         
         
           AN
           APOLOGY
           FOR
           Writing
           against
           SOCINIANS
           ,
           IN
           DEFENCE
           OF
           THE
           DOCTRINES
           OF
           THE
           
             Holy
             Trinity
             and
             Incarnation
          
        
         
           In
           ANSWER
           to
           a
           Late
           
             Earnest
             and
             Compassionate
             Suit
             for
             Forbearance
             to
             the
             Learned
             Writers
             of
             some
             Controversies
             at
             present
             .
          
        
         
           By
           WILLIAM
           SHERLOCK
           ,
           D.
           D.
           Dean
           of
           St.
           
           Paul's
           ,
           Master
           of
           the
           Temple
           ,
           and
           Chaplain
           in
           Ordinary
           to
           Their
           MAJESTIES
           .
        
         
           LONDON
           :
           Printed
           for
           
             Will.
             Rogers
          
           ,
           at
           the
           Sun
           over-against
           St.
           
           Dunstan's
           Church
           in
           
             Fleet
             street
          
           .
           1693.
           
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
         
           AN
           APOLOGY
           FOR
           Writing
           against
           SOCINIANS
           ,
           &c.
           
        
         
           AFTER
           a
           long
           silence
           ,
           and
           patient
           expectation
           what
           
             the
             Learned
             Writers
             of
             some
             Controversies
             at
             present
          
           (
           as
           a
           late
           Author
           calls
           them
           )
           would
           bring
           forth
           ,
           I
           intend
           by
           the
           
             Assistance
             of
             the
             Holy
             Trinity
             ,
             and
             the
             Incarnate
             Jesus
             ,
          
           whose
           Blessing
           I
           most
           earnestly
           Implore
           ,
           to
           resume
           the
           
             Defence
             of
             the
             Catholick
             Faith
          
           ;
           which
           I
           shall
           Publish
           in
           some
           few
           short
           Treatises
           ,
           as
           I
           can
           find
           Leisure
           for
           it
           ,
           that
           I
           may
           not
           discourage
           my
           Readers
           by
           too
           Voluminous
           a
           Work.
           
        
         
           But
           before
           I
           venture
           to
           Dispute
           these
           matters
           any
           farther
           ,
           it
           is
           necessary
           to
           make
           some
           Apology
           for
           Disputing
           ;
           which
           is
           thought
           very
           Unchristian
           and
           Uncharitable
           ,
           and
           of
           dangerous
           Consequence
           ,
           especially
           when
           we
           undertake
           the
           Defence
           of
           the
           Fundamentals
           of
           our
           Faith
           ,
           against
           the
           rude
           and
           insolent
           Assaults
           of
           Hereticks
           .
        
         
         
           Sometime
           since
           ,
           
             A
             Melancholy
             Stander-by
          
           would
           be
           a
           Stander-by
           no
           longer
           ,
           but
           interposed
           
             An
             Earnest
             and
             Compassionate
             Suit
             for
             Forbearance
             ,
             to
             the
             Learned
             Writers
             of
             some
             Controversies
             at
             present
             .
          
           These
           
             Learned
             Writers
             of
             Controversy
          
           ,
           are
           the
           Socinians
           ,
           who
           ridiculed
           without
           any
           Learning
           or
           Common
           Sense
           ,
           the
           Athanasian
           
             Creed
             ,
             and
             the
             Doctrines
             of
             the
             Trinity
             and
             Incarnation
             :
          
           The
           Forbearance
           he
           desires
           ,
           is
           ,
           That
           no
           body
           should
           write
           against
           them
           ;
           though
           Dr.
           Wallis
           and
           my self
           are
           more
           immediately
           concerned
           in
           this
           Suit.
           
        
         
           Who
           this
           
             Melancholy
             Stander-by
          
           is
           ,
           I
           shall
           not
           enquire
           ,
           for
           my
           Controversy
           is
           not
           with
           Men
           ,
           but
           with
           Doctrines
           ;
           and
           I
           know
           by
           experience
           ,
           that
           common
           fame
           is
           not
           always
           to
           be
           trusted
           ,
           much
           less
           suspicions
           ;
           but
           if
           he
           be
           a
           Divine
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           ,
           it
           seems
           very
           strange
           ,
           that
           he
           should
           profess
           himself
           a
           Stander-by
           ,
           when
           the
           Fundamentals
           of
           the
           Christian
           Faith
           are
           in
           question
           ;
           and
           a
           Melancholy
           Stander-by
           to
           see
           some
           others
           undertake
           the
           Defence
           of
           it
           .
           I
           confess
           I
           am
           always
           very
           jealous
           of
           men
           ,
           who
           are
           so
           very
           Tender
           on
           the
           wrong
           side
           ;
           for
           observe
           it
           when
           you
           will
           ,
           their
           Tenderness
           is
           always
           owing
           to
           their
           Inclination
           .
           But
           to
           defend
           our selves
           ,
           let
           us
           briefly
           consider
           what
           he
           says
           .
        
         
           He
           thinks
           ,
           
             The
             open
             Dissentions
             of
             its
             Professors
             a
          
           
           
             great
             blemish
             to
             the
             Reformation
          
           :
           That
           is
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           a
           great
           blemish
           for
           any
           men
           openly
           to
           defend
           the
           true
           Faith
           ,
           which
           others
           openly
           oppose
           ,
           or
           secretly
           undermine
           ;
           but
           certainly
           it
           would
           be
           a
           greater
           blemish
           to
           the
           Reformation
           ,
           to
           have
           
             Old
             Heresies
          
           revived
           ,
           and
           the
           true
           
             Ancient
             Catholick
             Faith
          
           scorned
           ,
           and
           no
           body
           appear
           in
           the
           Defence
           of
           it
           .
           But
           we
           know
           his
           mind
           ,
           That
           it
           is
           for
           the
           honour
           of
           the
           Reformation
           
           not
           to
           Dispute
           ,
           though
           it
           be
           for
           the
           most
           Important
           Truths
           .
           Surely
           our
           Reformers
           were
           not
           so
           much
           against
           Disputing
           .
        
         
           But
           if
           these
           Dissentions
           be
           so
           great
           a
           blemish
           to
           the
           Reformation
           ,
           whose
           Fault
           is
           it
           ?
           Theirs
           who
           dissent
           from
           the
           Truth
           ,
           or
           theirs
           who
           defend
           it
           ?
           This
           is
           a
           very
           plain
           case
           ;
           for
           no
           body
           would
           oppose
           the
           Truth
           ,
           if
           no
           body
           taught
           it
           :
           
             The
             urging
             too
             strict
             an
             Union
          
           in
           matters
           of
           Faith
           ,
           
             begets
             dissentions
          
           :
           That
           is
           ,
           to
           require
           an
           open
           and
           undisguised
           Profession
           of
           our
           Baptismal
           Faith
           in
           
             Father
             ,
             Son
             ,
             and
             Holy
             Ghost
             ,
          
           as
           the
           Terms
           of
           Christian
           Communion
           ,
           is
           the
           Criminal
           Cause
           of
           our
           Dissentions
           .
           Well
           :
           What
           shall
           we
           do
           then
           ?
           Renounce
           the
           Faith
           of
           the
           Trinity
           ,
           for
           the
           sake
           of
           Peace
           ?
           This
           he
           dares
           not
           say
           ,
           for
           that
           would
           pull
           off
           his
           disguise
           ;
           but
           
             Christianity
             must
             be
             left
             in
             that
             Latitude
             and
             Simplicity
             wherein
             it
             was
             delivered
          
           
           
             by
             our
             Lord
             and
             his
             Apostles
             .
          
           This
           had
           been
           a
           good
           Proposal
           ,
           would
           he
           have
           told
           us
           what
           this
           Latitude
           and
           Simplicity
           is
           ;
           for
           I
           am
           for
           no
           other
           Faith
           than
           what
           Christ
           and
           his
           Apostles
           taught
           :
           But
           I
           would
           gladly
           know
           what
           he
           means
           by
           the
           Latitude
           of
           Faith
           :
           For
           if
           the
           Christian
           Faith
           be
           such
           a
           broad
           Faith
           ,
           must
           we
           not
           believe
           the
           whole
           breadth
           of
           it
           ?
           Or
           has
           Christ
           and
           his
           Apostles
           left
           it
           at
           liberty
           to
           believe
           what
           we
           like
           ,
           and
           to
           let
           the
           rest
           alone
           ?
           To
           believe
           that
           
             Father
             ,
             Son
             ,
             and
             Holy
             Ghost
             are
             One
             Supreme
             Eternal
             God
          
           ;
           or
           to
           believe
           that
           the
           
             Eather
             alone
             is
             the
             True
             God
             ,
             the
             Son
             a
             mere
             Man
             ,
             and
             the
             Holy
             Ghost
             nothing
             but
             a
             Divine
             Inspiration
             ?
          
           To
           believe
           that
           the
           
             Eternal
             Word
          
           was
           
             made
             Flesh
          
           ;
           or
           that
           Christ
           was
           no
           more
           than
           a
           Man
           ,
           who
           had
           no
           being
           before
           he
           was
           born
           of
           the
           Virgin
           Mary
           ?
           He
           can
           mean
           nothing
           else
           by
           this
           Latitude
           of
           Faith
           ,
           but
           that
           Christ
           
           and
           his
           Apostles
           have
           left
           these
           matters
           so
           ambiguous
           and
           undetermined
           ,
           that
           we
           may
           believe
           what
           we
           please
           ;
           and
           then
           indeed
           those
           do
           very
           ill
           ,
           who
           dispute
           these
           matters
           :
           But
           this
           is
           such
           a
           breadth
           as
           has
           no
           depth
           ;
           for
           such
           a
           Faith
           as
           this
           can
           have
           no
           foundation
           .
           Can
           we
           certainly
           learn
           from
           Scripture
           ,
           Whether
           Christ
           be
           a
           
             God
             Incarnate
          
           ,
           or
           a
           
             mere
             Man
          
           ?
           If
           we
           cannot
           ,
           Why
           should
           we
           believe
           either
           ?
           If
           we
           can
           ,
           then
           one
           is
           true
           ,
           and
           the
           other
           false
           ;
           and
           then
           there
           is
           no
           Latitude
           in
           Faith
           ,
           unless
           Christ
           and
           his
           Apostles
           have
           left
           it
           indifferent
           ,
           whether
           we
           believe
           what
           is
           true
           ,
           or
           what
           is
           false
           ;
           what
           they
           have
           taught
           us
           ,
           or
           what
           we
           like
           better
           our selves
           .
        
         
           In
           the
           same
           manner
           he
           leaves
           us
           to
           guess
           what
           he
           means
           by
           the
           Simplicity
           of
           the
           Faith.
           He
           is
           very
           angry
           with
           the
           
             School-Doctors
             ,
             as
             worse
             enemies
             to
             Christianity
             ,
             than
             either
             Heathen
             Philosophers
             ,
             or
             persecuting
          
           
           Emperors
           .
           Pray
           what
           hurt
           have
           they
           done
           ?
           I
           suppose
           he
           means
           the
           Corruption
           of
           Christianity
           with
           those
           barbarous
           Terms
           of
           
             Person
             ,
             Nature
             ,
             Essence
             ,
             Subsistence
             ,
             Consubstantiality
             ,
          
           &c.
           which
           will
           not
           suffer
           Hereticks
           to
           lye
           concealed
           under
           Scripture-Phrases
           :
           But
           why
           must
           the
           Schoolmen
           bear
           all
           the
           blame
           of
           this
           ?
           Why
           does
           he
           not
           accuse
           the
           
             Ancient
             Fathers
             and
             Councils
          
           ,
           from
           whom
           the
           Schoolmen
           learnt
           these
           Terms
           ?
           Why
           does
           he
           let
           St.
           Austin
           escape
           ,
           from
           whom
           the
           
             Master
             of
             the
             Sentences
          
           borrowed
           most
           of
           his
           Distinctions
           and
           Subtilties
           ?
           But
           suppose
           these
           
             Unlucky
             Wits
          
           had
           used
           some
           new
           Terms
           ,
           have
           they
           taught
           any
           new
           Faith
           about
           the
           
             Trinity
             in
             Unity
          
           ,
           which
           the
           
             Catholick
             Church
          
           did
           not
           teach
           ?
           And
           if
           they
           have
           only
           guarded
           the
           Christian
           Faith
           with
           a
           hedge
           of
           Thorns
           ,
           which
           disguised
           Hereticks
           cannot
           break
           through
           ,
           Is
           this
           
             to
             wound
             Christianity
             in
             its
             very
             Vitals
             ?
          
           
           No
           ,
           no
           :
           They
           will
           only
           prick
           the
           fingers
           of
           Hereticks
           ,
           and
           secure
           Christianity
           from
           being
           wounded
           ;
           and
           this
           is
           one
           great
           Cause
           why
           some
           men
           are
           so
           angry
           with
           the
           School-Doctors
           ;
           tho
           the
           more
           general
           Cause
           is
           ,
           because
           they
           have
           not
           Industry
           enough
           to
           read
           or
           understand
           them
           .
        
         
           He
           says
           ,
           
             The
             first
             Reformers
             complained
             of
             this
             ,
             and
             desired
             a
             purer
             and
             more
             spiritual
             sort
             of
             Divinity
             .
          
           What
           ?
           With
           respect
           to
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           the
           
             Trinity
             and
             Incarnation
          
           ?
           What
           
             purer
             Reformers
          
           were
           these
           ?
           I
           'm
           sure
           not
           our
           English
           Reformers
           ,
           whom
           he
           censures
           for
           
             retaining
             Scholastick
             cramping
             Terms
             in
             their
             Publick
             Prayers
             :
          
           He
           means
           the
           beginning
           of
           our
           Litany
           :
           
             O
             God
             the
             Father
             of
             Heaven
             :
             O
             God
             the
             Son
             ,
             Redeemer
             of
             the
             World
             :
             O
             God
             the
             Holy
             Ghost
             ,
             proceeding
             from
             the
             Father
             and
             the
             Son
             :
             O
             Holy
             ,
             Blessed
             ,
             and
             Glorious
             Trinity
             ,
             Three
             Persons
             and
             One
             God
             :
          
           These
           are
           his
           
             Scholastick
             ,
             Cramping
             Terms
          
           ,
           which
           he
           would
           fling
           out
           of
           our
           Liturgy
           ,
           when
           the
           season
           of
           such
           blessed
           Alterations
           comes
           .
           I
           hope
           those
           Excellent
           Persons
           among
           us
           ,
           who
           ,
           I
           doubt
           not
           ,
           for
           better
           Reasons
           did
           not
           long
           since
           think
           of
           some
           Alterations
           ,
           will
           consider
           what
           a
           foul
           Imputation
           this
           is
           upon
           such
           a
           Design
           ,
           when
           such
           a
           person
           shall
           publickly
           declare
           ,
           That
           they
           ought
           to
           Alter
           and
           Reform
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           the
           Trinity
           out
           of
           our
           Prayers
           .
        
         
           But
           the
           whole
           Mystery
           of
           this
           
             Latitude
             and
             Simplicity
          
           of
           Faith
           which
           he
           pleads
           for
           ,
           is
           that
           plausible
           Project
           (
           which
           has
           been
           so
           much
           talked
           of
           of
           late
           :
           )
           to
           confine
           our selves
           to
           
             Scripture
             Terms
             and
             Phrases
          
           ;
           to
           use
           none
           but
           
             Scripture
             Words
          
           in
           our
           Creeds
           and
           Prayers
           ,
           without
           any
           Explication
           in
           what
           sense
           those
           words
           are
           to
           be
           understood
           :
           As
           he
           tells
           us
           ,
           
           
             Certainly
             we
             may
             Worship
             God
             right
             well
             ,
             yea
             ,
             most
             acceptably
             ,
          
           
           
             in
             words
             of
             his
             own
             Stamp
             and
             Coinage
             .
          
           Now
           at
           the
           first
           Proposal
           few
           men
           would
           suspect
           ,
           that
           there
           should
           be
           any
           hurt
           in
           this
           ;
           though
           it
           would
           make
           one
           suspect
           some
           secret
           in
           it
           ,
           to
           consider
           that
           Hereticks
           were
           the
           first
           Proposers
           of
           it
           ,
           and
           that
           Orthodox
           Christians
           rejected
           it
           .
           The
           Arians
           objected
           this
           against
           the
           Homoousion
           ,
           or
           
             the
             Son
             's
             being
             of
             the
             same
             Substance
             with
             the
             Father
             ,
          
           that
           it
           was
           an
           Unscriptural
           Word
           ;
           but
           the
           
             Nicene
             Fathers
          
           did
           not
           think
           this
           a
           good
           reason
           to
           lay
           it
           aside
           :
           For
           what
           reason
           can
           there
           be
           to
           reject
           any
           words
           ,
           which
           we
           can
           prove
           to
           express
           the
           true
           sense
           of
           Scripture
           ,
           though
           they
           are
           not
           found
           there
           ?
           For
           must
           we
           believe
           the
           Words
           or
           the
           Sense
           of
           Scripture
           ?
           And
           what
           reason
           then
           can
           any
           man
           have
           to
           reject
           the
           Words
           ,
           though
           they
           be
           no
           Scripture-Words
           ,
           if
           he
           believes
           the
           Sense
           contained
           in
           them
           to
           be
           the
           sense
           of
           Scripture
           ?
           The
           Homoiousion
           ,
           or
           
             that
             the
             Son
             had
             a
             Nature
             like
             the
             Father's
             ,
             tho
             not
             the
             same
             ,
          
           was
           no
           more
           a
           Scripture-Word
           ,
           than
           the
           Homoousion
           ;
           and
           yet
           the
           Arians
           did
           not
           dislike
           that
           ,
           because
           it
           was
           no
           Scripture-Word
           ;
           nor
           are
           the
           Socinians
           angry
           at
           any
           man
           who
           says
           ,
           That
           Christ
           is
           but
           
             a
             meer
             man
             ,
             who
             had
             no
             Being
             before
             he
             was
             born
             of
             the
             Virgin
          
           Mary
           ;
           tho
           these
           words
           are
           no
           where
           in
           Scripture
           :
           And
           is
           it
           not
           strange
           ,
           that
           a
           man
           who
           heartily
           believes
           ,
           or
           at
           least
           pretends
           to
           believe
           ,
           that
           
             Father
             ,
             Son
             ,
             and
             Holy
             Ghost
             are
             One
             Eternal
             God
             ,
          
           should
           be
           angry
           with
           a
           
             Trinity
             in
             Unity
          
           ,
           or
           
             Three
             Persons
             and
             one
             God
          
           ,
           which
           do
           as
           aptly
           express
           the
           Faith
           which
           he
           professes
           ,
           as
           any
           Words
           he
           can
           think
           of
           ?
        
         
           It
           is
           very
           odd
           to
           be
           zealous
           for
           Scripture-Words
           without
           the
           Scripture
           Sense
           .
           If
           the
           Scripture
           have
           any
           determined
           Sense
           ,
           then
           that
           which
           is
           the
           true
           
           Sense
           of
           Scripture
           ,
           is
           the
           true
           Faith
           ;
           and
           if
           we
           must
           
             contend
             earnestly
             for
             the
             true
             Faith
             ,
          
           we
           must
           contend
           for
           the
           true
           Sense
           of
           Scripture
           ,
           and
           not
           merely
           for
           its
           Words
           ;
           and
           when
           Hereticks
           have
           used
           their
           utmost
           art
           to
           make
           the
           Words
           of
           Scripture
           signifie
           what
           they
           please
           ,
           is
           it
           not
           necessary
           to
           fix
           their
           true
           Sense
           ,
           and
           to
           express
           that
           Sense
           in
           such
           other
           Words
           as
           Hereticks
           cannot
           pervert
           ?
        
         
           There
           are
           but
           few
           words
           in
           common
           speech
           ,
           but
           what
           are
           sometimes
           differently
           used
           ,
           in
           a
           Proper
           or
           Metaphorical
           ,
           a
           Large
           or
           a
           Limited
           Sense
           ;
           and
           all
           wise
           and
           honest
           men
           easily
           understand
           from
           the
           circumstances
           of
           the
           place
           ,
           in
           what
           sense
           they
           are
           used
           ;
           but
           if
           men
           be
           perverse
           ,
           they
           may
           expound
           words
           properly
           when
           they
           are
           used
           metaphorically
           ,
           or
           metaphorically
           when
           they
           are
           used
           properly
           ;
           and
           there
           is
           no
           confuting
           them
           from
           the
           bare
           signification
           of
           the
           word
           ,
           because
           it
           may
           be
           ,
           and
           oftentimes
           is
           used
           both
           ways
           ;
           and
           therefore
           in
           such
           cases
           we
           must
           consider
           the
           Circumstances
           of
           the
           Text
           ,
           and
           compare
           it
           with
           Parallel
           Texts
           ,
           to
           find
           out
           in
           what
           sense
           the
           word
           is
           there
           used
           ;
           and
           when
           we
           have
           found
           it
           ,
           it
           is
           reasonable
           and
           necessary
           to
           express
           the
           true
           Christian
           Faith
           ,
           not
           merely
           in
           Scripture
           words
           ,
           which
           are
           abused
           and
           perverted
           by
           Hereticks
           ,
           but
           in
           such
           other
           words
           ,
           if
           we
           can
           find
           any
           such
           ,
           as
           express
           the
           true
           sense
           in
           which
           the
           Scripture-words
           are
           used
           ,
           and
           in
           which
           all
           Christians
           must
           understand
           them
           ,
           who
           will
           retain
           the
           Purity
           of
           the
           Christian
           Faith.
           We
           do
           not
           hereby
           alter
           the
           Christian
           Faith
           ,
           nor
           require
           them
           to
           believe
           any
           thing
           more
           than
           what
           the
           Scripture
           teaches
           ,
           tho
           we
           require
           them
           to
           profess
           their
           Faith
           in
           other
           words
           ,
           which
           are
           not
           indeed
           in
           Scripture
           ,
           but
           express
           the
           true
           and
           
           determined
           sense
           of
           Scripture
           words
           .
           And
           this
           is
           all
           the
           
             Latitude
             of
             Faith
          
           which
           this
           Stander-by
           so
           tragically
           complains
           we
           have
           destroyed
           ,
           viz.
           That
           we
           have
           brought
           the
           Scripture
           words
           to
           a
           fixt
           and
           determined
           sense
           ,
           that
           Hereticks
           can
           no
           longer
           conceal
           themselves
           in
           a
           Latitude
           of
           expression
           ,
           nor
           spread
           their
           Heresies
           in
           Scripture
           words
           ,
           with
           a
           Traditionary
           Sense
           and
           Comment
           of
           their
           own
           .
        
         
           I
           would
           ask
           any
           man
           who
           talks
           at
           this
           rate
           about
           a
           
             Latitude
             of
             Faith
          
           ,
           Whether
           there
           be
           any
           more
           than
           One
           True
           Christian
           Faith
           ?
           And
           whether
           Christ
           and
           his
           Apostles
           intended
           to
           teach
           any
           more
           ?
           Or
           whether
           they
           did
           not
           intend
           ,
           That
           all
           Christians
           should
           be
           obliged
           to
           believe
           this
           One
           Faith
           ?
           If
           this
           be
           granted
           ,
           there
           can
           be
           no
           more
           Latitude
           in
           the
           Faith
           ,
           than
           there
           is
           in
           a
           Unit
           ;
           and
           if
           they
           taught
           but
           One
           Faith
           ,
           they
           must
           intend
           that
           their
           words
           should
           signifie
           but
           that
           one
           Faith
           ;
           and
           then
           there
           can
           be
           no
           
             Intentional
             Latitude
          
           in
           their
           words
           neither
           ;
           and
           what
           Crime
           then
           is
           the
           Church
           guilty
           of
           ,
           if
           she
           teach
           the
           true
           Christian
           Faith
           ,
           that
           she
           teaches
           it
           in
           such
           words
           as
           have
           no
           Latitude
           ,
           no
           Ambiguity
           of
           Sense
           ,
           which
           Hereticks
           may
           deny
           if
           they
           please
           ,
           but
           which
           they
           can't
           corrupt
           in
           favour
           of
           their
           Heresies
           ,
           as
           they
           do
           Scripture
           words
           ?
        
         
           It
           is
           an
           amazing
           thing
           to
           me
           ,
           that
           any
           man
           who
           has
           any
           Zeal
           ,
           any
           Concernment
           for
           the
           true
           Christian
           Faith
           ,
           who
           does
           not
           think
           it
           perfectly
           indifferent
           what
           we
           believe
           ,
           or
           whether
           we
           believe
           any
           thing
           or
           not
           ,
           should
           judge
           it
           for
           the
           advantage
           of
           Christianity
           ,
           and
           a
           proper
           Expedient
           for
           the
           Peace
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           for
           all
           men
           to
           agree
           in
           the
           same
           Scripture
           words
           ,
           and
           understand
           them
           in
           what
           sense
           they
           please
           ;
           tho
           one
           believes
           Christ
           to
           be
           the
           
           Eternal
           Son
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           another
           to
           be
           but
           a
           mere
           man
           ;
           which
           it
           seems
           has
           no
           great
           hurt
           in
           it
           ,
           if
           they
           do
           but
           agree
           in
           the
           same
           words
           :
           But
           if
           the
           Faith
           be
           so
           indifferent
           ,
           I
           cannot
           imagine
           why
           we
           should
           quarrel
           about
           Words
           ;
           the
           fairer
           and
           honester
           Proposal
           is
           ,
           That
           every
           man
           should
           believe
           as
           he
           pleases
           ,
           and
           no
           man
           concern
           himself
           to
           confute
           Heresies
           ,
           or
           to
           divide
           the
           Church
           with
           Disputes
           ;
           which
           is
           the
           true
           Latitude
           our
           Author
           seems
           to
           aim
           at
           ;
           and
           then
           he
           may
           believe
           as
           he
           pleases
           too
           .
        
         
           But
           pray
           ,
           why
           should
           we
           not
           write
           against
           the
           Socinians
           ?
           Especially
           when
           they
           are
           the
           Aggressors
           ,
           and
           without
           any
           provocation
           publish
           and
           disperse
           the
           most
           impudent
           and
           scandalous
           Libels
           against
           the
           Christian
           Faith.
           He
           will
           give
           us
           some
           very
           wise
           Reasons
           for
           this
           by
           and
           by
           ,
           when
           he
           comes
           to
           be
           plain
           and
           succinct
           ;
           in
           the
           mean
           time
           we
           must
           take
           such
           as
           we
           can
           meet
           with
           .
        
         
           He
           is
           afraid
           pe●●le
           should
           lose
           all
           Reverence
           for
           the
           Litany
           ,
           should
           ▪
           we
           go
           on
           to
           vindicate
           the
           Doctrine
           
           of
           the
           
             Trinity
             in
             Unity
          
           :
           I
           should
           not
           easily
           have
           apprehended
           this
           ,
           and
           possibly
           some
           of
           the
           
             common
             people
          
           might
           have
           been
           as
           dull
           as
           my self
           ,
           had
           he
           not
           taken
           care
           before
           he
           parted
           ,
           for
           fear
           no
           body
           else
           should
           observe
           it
           ,
           to
           teach
           people
           to
           ridicule
           the
           Trinity
           in
           their
           Prayers
           .
           Dr.
           Wallis
           would
           not
           undertake
           to
           say
           what
           a
           Divine
           Person
           signifies
           ,
           as
           distinguished
           from
           
             Nature
             and
             Essence
          
           ,
           only
           says
           ,
           a
           Person
           is
           somewhat
           ,
           but
           the
           
             True
             Notion
          
           of
           a
           Person
           he
           does
           not
           know
           :
           This
           Author
           commends
           this
           as
           
             ever
             held
             to
             by
             all
             Learned
             Trinitarians
          
           ;
           for
           indeed
           all
           the
           Doctor
           meant
           by
           his
           somewhat
           is
           ,
           That
           Three
           Persons
           signify
           Three
           
             Real
             Subsistences
          
           ,
           and
           are
           
             Real
             Things
          
           ,
           not
           a
           Sabellian
           
           
             Trinity
             of
             mere
             Names
          
           .
           And
           yet
           in
           the
           very
           next
           Page
           he
           teaches
           his
           Readers
           to
           ridicule
           the
           Litany
           with
           the
           Doctors
           
             somewhats
             :
             O
             Holy
             ,
             Blessed
             ,
             and
             Glorious
             Trinity
             ,
             Three
             Somewhats
             ,
             and
             One
             God
             ,
             have
             Mercy
             on
             us
             ,
             &c.
             
          
           Was
           there
           ever
           any
           thing
           
           more
           Senseless
           ,
           or
           more
           Prophane
           !
           That
           because
           the
           Doctor
           would
           not
           undertake
           to
           define
           a
           Person
           ,
           but
           only
           asserted
           in
           general
           ,
           That
           a
           Divine
           Person
           was
           somewhat
           ,
           or
           some
           Real
           Being
           ,
           in
           opposition
           to
           a
           mere
           Nominal
           Difference
           and
           Distinction
           ;
           therefore
           in
           our
           Prayers
           we
           may
           as
           well
           call
           the
           Three
           Divine
           Persons
           ,
           Father
           ,
           Son
           ;
           and
           Holy
           Ghost
           ,
           
             Three
             somewhats
             .
             Nobis
             non
             licet
             esse
             tam
             disertis
             .
          
           I
           am
           sure
           he
           has
           reason
           heartily
           to
           pray
           ,
           That
           these
           
             Three
             somewhats
          
           ,
           as
           he
           prophanely
           calls
           them
           ,
           
             would
             have
             Mercy
             on
             him
          
           .
        
         
           In
           the
           next
           place
           he
           says
           ,
           
             He
             is
             well
             assured
          
           ,
           
           
             that
             the
             late
          
           (
           Socinian
           )
           
             Pam●●lets
             would
             have
             died
             away
             ,
             or
             have
             been
             now
             in
             few
             mens
             hands
             ,
             had
             not
             divers
             persons
             taken
             on
             them
             the
             labour
             to
             confute
             them
             .
          
           But
           did
           his
           Socinian
           Friends
           ,
           who
           were
           such
           busie
           Factors
           for
           the
           Cause
           ,
           tell
           him
           so
           ?
           Did
           they
           print
           them
           ,
           that
           no
           body
           might
           read
           them
           ?
           Were
           they
           not
           dispersed
           in
           every
           Corner
           ,
           and
           boasted
           of
           in
           every
           Coffee-house
           ,
           before
           any
           Answer
           appeared
           ?
           However
           ,
           were
           it
           so
           ;
           is
           there
           no
           regard
           to
           be
           had
           to
           Hereticks
           themselves
           ?
           And
           is
           it
           not
           better
           that
           such
           Pamphlets
           should
           be
           in
           an
           hundred
           hands
           with
           an
           Answer
           ,
           than
           in
           five
           hands
           without
           one
           ?
           I
           should
           think
           it
           at
           any
           time
           a
           good
           reward
           for
           all
           the
           labour
           of
           confuting
           ,
           to
           rescue
           or
           preserve
           a
           very
           few
           from
           such
           fatal
           Errors
           ;
           which
           I
           doubt
           not
           
           but
           is
           a
           very
           acceptable
           service
           to
           that
           
             Merciful
             Shepherd
          
           ,
           who
           was
           so
           careful
           to
           seek
           one
           lost
           and
           straggling
           Sheep
           .
           Heresies
           and
           Vices
           dye
           by
           being
           neglected
           ,
           just
           as
           Weeds
           do
           ;
           for
           we
           know
           the
           Parable
           ,
           That
           
             the
             Devil
             sows
             his
             tares
             ,
             while
             men
             sleep
             .
          
           But
           this
           is
           no
           new
           Charge
           ;
           the
           good
           Bishop
           of
           Alexandria
           met
           with
           the
           same
           Censures
           for
           his
           Zeal
           against
           Arius
           ;
           for
           it
           seems
           that
           Heresie
           would
           have
           died
           too
           ,
           if
           it
           had
           not
           been
           opposed
           .
           I
           doubt
           this
           Author
           judges
           of
           other
           mens
           Zeal
           for
           Heresy
           ,
           by
           his
           own
           Zeal
           for
           the
           Truth
           ,
           which
           wants
           a
           little
           rubbing
           and
           chafing
           to
           bring
           it
           to
           life
           ;
           but
           Heresy
           is
           all
           flame
           and
           spirit
           ,
           will
           blow
           and
           kindle
           it self
           ,
           if
           it
           be
           not
           quenched
           .
        
         
           But
           yet
           if
           what
           he
           says
           be
           true
           ,
           That
           by
           our
           unskilful
           way
           of
           confuting
           Heresie
           ,
           we
           
             run
             into
             those
             very
             Absurdities
             which
             our
             Adversaries
             would
             reduce
             us
             to
          
           ;
           This
           I
           confess
           is
           a
           very
           great
           fault
           ,
           and
           when
           he
           shews
           me
           any
           of
           those
           Absurdities
           ,
           I
           will
           thankfully
           correct
           them
           ;
           for
           all
           the
           Obloquies
           in
           the
           world
           will
           never
           make
           me
           blush
           to
           recant
           an
           Error
           :
           But
           before
           he
           pretends
           to
           that
           ,
           I
           must
           desire
           him
           ,
           that
           he
           would
           first
           read
           my
           Book
           ,
           which
           I
           know
           some
           men
           censure
           without
           reading
           it
           .
           Such
           general
           Accusations
           are
           very
           spiteful
           ,
           and
           commonly
           have
           a
           mixture
           of
           spite
           both
           against
           the
           Cause
           ,
           and
           against
           the
           Person
           .
        
         
           His
           next
           Argument
           is
           very
           observable
           :
           We
           must
           not
           dispute
           now
           against
           Socinians
           ,
           because
           
             these
             Controversies
          
           about
           the
           Trinity
           
             have
             been
          
           
           
             above
             Thirteen
             hundred
             years
             ago
             determined
             by
             two
             general
             Councils
             (
             the
          
           Nicene
           ,
           
             and
             first
          
           Constantinopolitan
           )
           ,
           which
           are
           owned
           by
           our
           Church
           ,
           
           and
           their
           Creeds
           received
           into
           our
           Liturgy
           .
           Ergo
           ,
           we
           must
           not
           defend
           this
           Faith
           against
           Hereticks
           ,
           because
           it
           is
           the
           Faith
           of
           two
           General
           Councils
           which
           are
           owned
           by
           our
           Church
           .
           Did
           Athanasius
           think
           this
           a
           good
           Argument
           against
           Writing
           and
           Disputing
           against
           the
           Arians
           ,
           after
           the
           
             Council
             of
             Nice
          
           had
           condemned
           Arius
           and
           his
           Doctrines
           ?
           Did
           St.
           
             Basil
             ,
             Gregory
             Nazianzen
             ,
             Nyssen
             ,
          
           St.
           Chrysostom
           ,
           St.
           Jerom
           ,
           St.
           Austin
           ,
           think
           this
           a
           good
           Argument
           ,
           who
           wrote
           so
           largely
           against
           these
           Heresies
           ,
           which
           former
           Councils
           had
           condemned
           ?
           But
           this
           Author
           thinks
           the
           best
           way
           is
           to
           
             let
             the
             Matter
             stand
             upon
             this
             bottom
             of
             Authority
          
           ;
           that
           is
           ,
           let
           Hereticks
           ridicule
           our
           Faith
           as
           much
           as
           they
           please
           ,
           we
           must
           make
           them
           no
           other
           answer
           ,
           but
           that
           this
           is
           the
           Faith
           of
           the
           Nicene
           and
           Constantinopolitan
           Councils
           ,
           and
           the
           Faith
           of
           the
           
             Church
             of
             England
          
           .
           And
           can
           he
           intend
           this
           for
           any
           more
           than
           a
           Jest
           ,
           when
           he
           knows
           how
           Socinians
           despise
           the
           determinations
           of
           Councils
           ,
           and
           particularly
           with
           what
           scorn
           they
           treat
           the
           
             Nicene
             Fathers
          
           ?
           Is
           this
           an
           Age
           to
           resolve
           our
           Faith
           into
           
             Church
             Authority
          
           ?
           Or
           would
           he
           himself
           believe
           such
           absurd
           Doctrines
           as
           they
           represent
           the
           
             Trinity
             in
             Unity
          
           to
           be
           ,
           merely
           upon
           
             Church
             Authority
          
           ?
           For
           my
           part
           I
           declare
           I
           would
           not
           .
           I
           greatly
           value
           the
           Authority
           of
           those
           Ancient
           Councils
           ,
           as
           credible
           Witnesses
           of
           the
           Traditionary
           Sense
           of
           the
           Church
           before
           those
           Controversies
           were
           started
           ;
           but
           were
           not
           these
           Doctrines
           taught
           in
           Scripture
           ,
           were
           they
           manifestly
           repugnant
           to
           the
           plain
           and
           evident
           Principles
           of
           Reason
           ,
           all
           the
           Councils
           in
           the
           World
           should
           never
           reconcile
           me
           to
           them
           ,
           no
           more
           than
           they
           
           should
           to
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           Transubstantion
           .
           And
           therefore
           methinks
           he
           might
           have
           at
           least
           allowed
           us
           to
           have
           challenged
           the
           Scriptures
           as
           well
           as
           General
           Councils
           on
           our
           side
           ;
           and
           to
           have
           vindicated
           our
           Faith
           from
           all
           pretended
           absurdities
           and
           contradictions
           to
           Reason
           .
           But
           would
           any
           man
           of
           common
           sense
           ,
           who
           had
           not
           intended
           to
           expose
           the
           Faith
           of
           the
           Holy
           Trinity
           ,
           have
           told
           the
           world
           at
           this
           time
           of
           day
           ,
           That
           we
           have
           no
           other
           safe
           and
           sure
           bottom
           for
           our
           Faith
           ,
           but
           only
           the
           Authority
           of
           General
           Councils
           ?
           Nay
           ,
           That
           the
           Council
           of
           Nice
           it self
           ,
           on
           whose
           Authority
           we
           must
           rest
           ,
           had
           little
           else
           themselves
           for
           their
           Determinations
           but
           only
           Authority
           ,
           That
           
             it
             was
             Authority
             chiefly
             carried
             the
             Point
             .
          
           And
           thus
           for
           fear
           we
           should
           have
           believed
           too
           much
           upon
           the
           Authority
           of
           Councils
           ,
           which
           is
           the
           only
           bottom
           he
           will
           allow
           our
           Faith
           ,
           he
           gives
           them
           a
           secret
           stab
           himself
           ,
           and
           makes
           their
           Authority
           ridiculous
           .
           That
           the
           several
           Bishops
           declared
           ,
           what
           Faith
           had
           been
           taught
           and
           received
           in
           their
           Churches
           is
           true
           ;
           That
           this
           Authority
           chiefly
           carried
           the
           Point
           ,
           is
           false
           :
           Athanasius
           grew
           famous
           in
           the
           Council
           for
           his
           learned
           and
           subtile
           Disputations
           ,
           which
           confounded
           the
           Arians
           ;
           and
           what
           Arguments
           he
           chiefly
           relied
           on
           ,
           we
           may
           see
           in
           his
           Works
           :
           And
           whoever
           does
           but
           look
           into
           the
           Fathers
           ,
           who
           wrote
           against
           the
           Arians
           in
           those
           days
           ,
           will
           find
           ,
           that
           their
           Faith
           was
           resolved
           into
           Scripture
           and
           Reason
           ,
           and
           not
           meerly
           or
           chiefly
           into
           Authority
           .
        
         
           And
           thus
           he
           comes
           to
           be
           Plain
           and
           Succinct
           ,
           and
           
           tells
           us
           ,
           That
           
             of
             all
             Controversies
             we
             can
             touch
             upon
             at
             present
             ,
             this
             of
             the
             Trinity
             is
             the
             most
             unreasonable
             ,
             the
             most
             dangerous
             ,
             and
             so
             the
             most
             unseasonable
             .
          
        
         
         
           It
           is
           the
           most
           Unreasonable
           :
           1.
           
           
             Because
             it
             is
             on
             all
             hands
             confess'd
             ,
             the
             Deity
             is
             Infinite
             ,
             Unsearchable
             ,
             Incomprehensible
             ;
             and
             yet
             every
             one
             who
             pretends
             to
             Write
             plainer
             than
             another
             on
             this
             controversy
             ,
             professes
             to
             make
             all
             Comprehensible
             and
             easy
             .
          
        
         
           I
           perceive
           he
           is
           well
           versed
           in
           Mr.
           
           Hobbs's
           Divinity
           ;
           though
           I
           can
           discover
           no
           marks
           of
           his
           skill
           in
           Fathers
           and
           Councils
           .
           For
           this
           was
           Mr.
           
           Hobb's
           reason
           ,
           why
           we
           should
           not
           pretend
           to
           know
           any
           thing
           of
           God
           ,
           nor
           inquire
           after
           his
           Attributes
           ,
           because
           he
           has
           but
           one
           Attribute
           ,
           which
           is
           ,
           that
           he
           is
           Incomprehensible
           ;
           and
           as
           this
           Author
           argues
           ,
           
             It
             is
             a
             small
             favour
             to
             request
             of
             Persons
             of
             Learning
             ,
             that
             they
             should
             be
             consistent
             with
             ,
             and
             not
             contradict
             themselves
             :
          
           that
           is
           ,
           That
           they
           would
           not
           pretend
           to
           know
           any
           thing
           of
           God
           ,
           whom
           they
           acknowledge
           to
           be
           Incomprehensible
           ,
           which
           is
           to
           pretend
           to
           know
           ,
           what
           they
           confess
           cannot
           be
           known
           .
           Now
           I
           desire
           to
           know
           ,
           Whether
           we
           may
           Dispute
           about
           the
           Being
           and
           Nature
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           his
           essential
           Attributes
           and
           Perfections
           ;
           and
           vindicate
           the
           Notion
           of
           a
           Deity
           from
           those
           
             Impossibilities
             ,
             Inconsistencies
             ,
             Absurdities
          
           ,
           which
           some
           
             Atheistical
             Philosophers
          
           charge
           on
           it
           ,
           notwithstanding
           that
           we
           confess
           God
           to
           be
           Incomprehensible
           ?
           And
           if
           the
           Incomprehensibility
           of
           the
           Divine
           Nature
           does
           not
           signifie
           ,
           that
           we
           can
           know
           nothing
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           must
           inquire
           nothing
           about
           him
           ▪
           ;
           the
           Trinity
           of
           Divine
           Persons
           is
           as
           proper
           an
           object
           of
           our
           Faith
           ,
           and
           modest
           Inquiries
           ,
           as
           the
           Unity
           of
           the
           Divine
           Essence
           ,
           for
           they
           are
           both
           Incomprehensible
           .
           And
           to
           say
           ,
           That
           
             every
             one
             who
             pretends
             to
             write
             plainer
             than
             another
          
           
           
             on
             this
             Controversy
             ,
             professes
             to
             make
             all
             comprehensible
             and
             easy
             ,
          
           may
           with
           equal
           Truth
           and
           Authority
           be
           charg'd
           on
           all
           those
           who
           undertake
           to
           vindicate
           the
           Notion
           and
           Idea
           of
           a
           God
           ,
           or
           to
           explain
           any
           of
           the
           Divine
           Attributes
           and
           Perfections
           .
           A
           finite
           mind
           cannot
           comprehend
           what
           is
           infinite
           ;
           but
           yet
           one
           man
           may
           have
           a
           truer
           and
           more
           perfect
           Notion
           of
           the
           Nature
           and
           Attributes
           of
           God
           than
           another
           :
           God
           is
           Incomprehensible
           in
           Heaven
           as
           well
           as
           on
           Earth
           ,
           and
           yet
           Angels
           and
           Glorified
           Spirits
           know
           God
           after
           another
           manner
           than
           we
           do
           .
           There
           must
           be
           infinite
           degrees
           of
           knowledge
           ,
           when
           the
           object
           is
           infinite
           ;
           and
           every
           new
           degree
           is
           more
           perfect
           than
           that
           below
           it
           ;
           and
           yet
           no
           Creature
           can
           attain
           the
           highest
           degree
           of
           all
           ,
           which
           is
           a
           perfect
           comprehension
           :
           So
           that
           the
           knowledge
           of
           God
           may
           increase
           every
           day
           ,
           and
           men
           may
           Write
           plainer
           about
           these
           matters
           every
           day
           ,
           without
           pretending
           to
           make
           all
           that
           is
           in
           God
           ,
           even
           a
           Trinity
           in
           Unity
           ,
           
             comprehensible
             and
             easy
          
           .
        
         
           This
           is
           a
           spiteful
           and
           scandalous
           imputation
           ,
           and
           is
           intended
           to
           represent
           all
           those
           who
           undertake
           to
           write
           about
           the
           Trinity
           ,
           and
           to
           vindicate
           the
           Primitive
           Faith
           of
           the
           Church
           from
           the
           scorn
           and
           contempt
           of
           Hereticks
           ,
           as
           a
           company
           of
           vain-conceited
           ,
           presuming
           ,
           but
           ignorant
           Scriblers
           ;
           who
           pretend
           to
           make
           the
           Incomprehensible
           Nature
           of
           God
           ,
           
             comprehensible
             and
             easy
          
           .
           But
           the
           comfort
           is
           ,
           we
           have
           so
           good
           Company
           ,
           that
           we
           are
           able
           to
           bear
           this
           Charge
           without
           blushing
           ;
           even
           General
           Councils
           ,
           and
           those
           great
           Lights
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           Athanasius
           ,
           St.
           Hillary
           ,
           St.
           Basil
           ,
           the
           Gregories
           ,
           St.
           Chrysostom
           ,
           St.
           Austin
           ,
           and
           many
           others
           ,
           besides
           all
           those
           who
           in
           
           all
           succeeding
           Ages
           to
           this
           day
           ,
           have
           with
           equal
           Zeal
           and
           Learning
           defended
           the
           same
           Cause
           ;
           and
           yet
           never
           profess'd
           to
           make
           
             all
             comprehensible
             and
             easy
          
           .
           All
           that
           any
           man
           pretends
           to
           in
           vindicating
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           the
           Trinity
           ,
           is
           to
           prove
           that
           this
           Faith
           is
           taught
           in
           Scripture
           ,
           and
           that
           it
           contains
           no
           such
           Absurdities
           and
           Contradictions
           ,
           as
           should
           force
           a
           Wise
           man
           to
           reject
           it
           ,
           and
           either
           to
           reject
           the
           Scriptures
           for
           its
           sake
           ,
           or
           to
           put
           some
           strained
           and
           unnatural
           senses
           on
           Scripture
           to
           reconcile
           it
           to
           the
           Principles
           of
           Reason
           ;
           and
           this
           ,
           I
           hope
           ,
           may
           be
           done
           by
           those
           ,
           who
           yet
           acknowledge
           the
           Divine
           Nature
           ,
           and
           the
           Trinity
           in
           Unity
           to
           be
           Incomprehensible
           .
        
         
           But
           here
           he
           had
           a
           very
           fair
           opportunity
           ,
           had
           he
           thought
           fit
           to
           take
           it
           ,
           to
           correct
           the
           Insolence
           and
           Presumption
           of
           his
           
             Learned
             Writers
             of
             Controversy
          
           ;
           who
           will
           not
           allow
           the
           Divine
           Nature
           to
           be
           Incomprehensible
           ,
           and
           will
           not
           believe
           God
           himself
           concerning
           his
           own
           Nature
           ,
           beyond
           what
           their
           Reason
           can
           conceive
           and
           comprehend
           :
           Who
           deny
           Prescience
           for
           the
           same
           Reason
           ,
           that
           they
           deny
           the
           Trinity
           ,
           because
           they
           can't
           conceive
           it
           ,
           nor
           reconcile
           it
           with
           the
           liberty
           of
           Human
           Actions
           ;
           and
           for
           the
           same
           reason
           may
           deny
           all
           the
           Attributes
           of
           God
           ,
           which
           have
           something
           in
           them
           beyond
           what
           we
           can
           conceive
           :
           especially
           an
           Eternity
           without
           begining
           ,
           and
           without
           Succession
           ,
           which
           is
           chargeable
           with
           more
           Absurdities
           and
           Contradictions
           ,
           than
           the
           Trinity
           it self
           :
           For
           a
           duration
           ,
           which
           can't
           be
           measured
           ;
           and
           an
           eternal
           duration
           ,
           which
           can
           be
           measured
           ;
           and
           a
           Succession
           without
           
           a
           Beginning
           ,
           a
           Second
           or
           Third
           without
           a
           First
           ,
           are
           unconceivable
           to
           us
           ,
           and
           look
           like
           very
           plain
           and
           irreconci●●ble
           Contradictions
           .
           This
           is
           the
           true
           use
           of
           the
           Incomprehensibility
           of
           the
           Divine
           Nature
           ;
           not
           to
           stop
           all
           Enquiries
           after
           God
           ,
           nor
           to
           discourage
           our
           Studies
           of
           the
           Divine
           Nature
           and
           Perfections
           :
           for
           we
           may
           know
           a
           great
           deal
           ,
           and
           may
           every
           day
           increase
           our
           knowledge
           of
           what
           is
           Incomprehensible
           ,
           thô
           we
           cannot
           know
           it
           all
           ;
           but
           to
           check
           the
           presumption
           of
           some
           vain
           Pretenders
           to
           Reason
           ,
           who
           will
           not
           own
           a
           God
           ,
           nor
           believe
           any
           thing
           of
           God
           ,
           which
           their
           Reason
           cannot
           comprehend
           ;
           which
           must
           not
           only
           make
           them
           Hereticks
           ,
           but
           ,
           if
           pursued
           to
           its
           just
           Consequences
           ,
           must
           make
           them
           Atheists
           ,
           or
           make
           such
           a
           God
           ,
           as
           no
           body
           will
           own
           ,
           or
           worship
           ,
           but
           themselves
           ,
           a
           God
           
             adequate
             and
             commensurate
             to
             their
             Understandings
             ,
          
           which
           must
           be
           
             a
             little
             ,
             finite
             ,
             comprehensible
             God.
             
          
        
         
           In
           the
           next
           place
           ,
           to
           prove
           how
           unreasonable
           it
           is
           to
           Dispute
           in
           Vindication
           of
           the
           Trinity
           ,
           he
           observes
           again
           ,
           That
           
             this
             Matter
             has
             been
             sufficiently
             determined
             by
             due
             Authority
             :
          
           but
           having
           answered
           this
           once
           ,
           I
           see
           no
           need
           to
           answer
           it
           again
           .
        
         
           To
           back
           this
           he
           adds
           ,
           That
           
             the
             present
             issue
             shews
             ▪
             that
             in
             this
             World
             it
             never
             will
             be
             better
             understood
             :
          
           for
           it
           seems
           ,
           as
           he
           says
           ,
           
             The
             Master
             of
             the
             Sentences
          
           ,
           and
           some
           Modern
           Writers
           ,
           have
           made
           very
           sad
           work
           of
           it
           .
           And
           yet
           he
           does
           not
           seem
           to
           be
           very
           intimately
           acquainted
           with
           
             the
             Master
             of
             the
             Sentences
          
           ,
           nor
           some
           of
           these
           Modern
           Writers
           .
           But
           all
           that
           he
           means
           is
           ,
           that
           no
           body
           can
           say
           any
           thing
           to
           the
           purpose
           for
           so
           absurd
           a
           Doctrine
           ,
           as
           
             a
             Trinity
             in
             Unity
          
           ;
           and
           therefore
           he
           plainly
           adds
           ,
           
             The
             more
             Men
             draw
             the
             disputacious
             Saw
             ,
             the
             more
             perplexed
             and
             intricate
             the
             Question
             is
          
           ;
           and
           therefore
           the
           only
           secure
           way
           is
           ,
           to
           leave
           off
           disputing
           
           for
           the
           Trinity
           and
           let
           Socinians
           Dispute
           against
           it
           by
           themselves
           .
           But
           such
           Stuff
           as
           this
           ,
           deserves
           another
           sort
           of
           Answer
           than
           I
           can
           give
           it
           .
        
         
           But
           he
           concludes
           this
           Argument
           of
           Unreasonableness
           
           very
           remarkably
           .
           
             And
             Lastly
             ,
             Hereby
             our
             Church
             at
             present
             ,
             and
             the
             Common
             Christianity
             (
             it
             may
             be
             feared
             )
             will
             be
             more
             and
             more
             daily
             exposed
             to
             Atheistical
             Men
             ;
             for
             this
             being
             but
             the
             result
             of
             the
             former
             particulars
             ,
             and
             such
             kind
             of
             Men
             daily
             growing
             upon
             us
             ,
             it
             cannot
             be
             believed
             ,
             they
             can
             over-look
             the
             advantages
             which
             is
             so
             often
             given
             them
             .
          
           The
           sum
           of
           which
           is
           ,
           That
           to
           Vindicate
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           the
           Trinity
           against
           Socinians
           ,
           will
           make
           Men
           Atheists
           .
           This
           is
           a
           very
           bold
           stroke
           for
           a
           Christian
           ,
           and
           a
           Divine
           ,
           and
           I
           shall
           beg
           leave
           to
           expostulate
           this
           matter
           a
           little
           freely
           with
           him
           .
        
         
           1st
           ,
           I
           desire
           to
           know
           ,
           whether
           he
           thinks
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           the
           Trinity
           to
           be
           defensible
           or
           not
           ?
           If
           it
           be
           not
           defensible
           ,
           why
           does
           he
           believe
           it
           ?
           Why
           should
           we
           not
           rather
           openly
           and
           plainly
           reject
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           the
           Trinity
           ,
           which
           would
           be
           a
           more
           effectual
           way
           to
           put
           a
           stop
           to
           Atheism
           ,
           than
           to
           profess
           to
           believe
           it
           ,
           but
           not
           to
           defend
           it
           ?
           If
           it
           be
           defensible
           ,
           and
           there
           be
           no
           fault
           in
           the
           Doctrine
           ,
           but
           that
           some
           Men
           have
           defended
           it
           ill
           ,
           would
           it
           not
           much
           more
           have
           become
           him
           to
           have
           defended
           it
           better
           ,
           than
           only
           to
           quarrel
           with
           those
           who
           have
           defended
           it
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           they
           could
           ?
        
         
           2dly
           ,
           Why
           does
           he
           not
           tell
           the
           Socinians
           ,
           what
           injury
           they
           do
           to
           common
           Christianity
           ,
           by
           ridiculing
           the
           Faith
           of
           the
           Holy
           Trinity
           ,
           and
           exposing
           it
           to
           the
           scorn
           of
           Atheists
           ?
           Does
           he
           think
           that
           they
           are
           no
           Christians
           ,
           and
           ought
           not
           to
           be
           concerned
           for
           common
           Christianity
           ?
           Or
           does
           he
           think
           ,
           that
           Atheists
           will
           like
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           the
           Trinity
           ever
           the
           better
           ,
           for
           its
           being
           despised
           by
           Socinians
           as
           an
           absurd
           contradictory
           Faith
           ,
           
           without
           having
           any
           Defence
           made
           by
           Trinitarians
           ?
           Or
           does
           he
           think
           ,
           that
           the
           Defences
           made
           by
           Trinitarians
           expose
           the
           Faith
           more
           than
           the
           Objections
           of
           Socinians
           ?
           I
           wish
           I
           knew
           his
           mind
           ,
           and
           then
           I
           could
           tell
           what
           to
           say
           to
           him
           .
        
         
           3dly
           ,
           How
           are
           Atheists
           concerned
           in
           the
           Disputes
           of
           the
           Trinity
           ?
           Or
           how
           are
           we
           concerned
           to
           avoid
           scandalizing
           Atheists
           ,
           who
           believe
           that
           there
           is
           no
           God
           at
           all
           ?
           Must
           we
           be
           afraid
           of
           defending
           the
           Faith
           of
           the
           Trinity
           ,
           lest
           Atheists
           should
           mock
           at
           it
           ,
           who
           already
           mock
           at
           the
           Being
           of
           a
           God
           ?
           What
           shall
           we
           have
           left
           of
           Christianity
           ,
           if
           we
           must
           either
           cast
           away
           ,
           or
           not
           defend
           every
           thing
           ,
           which
           Atheists
           will
           mock
           at
           ?
           Surely
           he
           has
           a
           very
           contemptible
           Opinion
           of
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           the
           Trinity
           ,
           that
           he
           thinks
           all
           the
           Defences
           that
           are
           ,
           or
           can
           be
           made
           for
           it
           ,
           so
           ridiculous
           ,
           that
           they
           are
           enough
           to
           make
           Men
           Atheists
           .
        
         
           But
           I
           can
           tell
           him
           a
           Secret
           ,
           which
           possibly
           he
           may
           be
           privy
           to
           ,
           though
           in
           great
           modesty
           he
           conceals
           his
           knowledge
           ,
           viz.
           That
           Atheists
           and
           Deists
           ,
           Men
           who
           are
           for
           no
           Religion
           ,
           or
           at
           least
           not
           for
           the
           Christian
           Religion
           ,
           are
           of
           late
           very
           zealous
           Socinians
           ;
           and
           they
           are
           certainly
           in
           the
           right
           of
           it
           :
           for
           run
           down
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           
             the
             Trinity
          
           and
           Incarnation
           ,
           and
           there
           is
           an
           end
           of
           the
           Christian
           Religion
           ,
           and
           with
           that
           an
           end
           of
           all
           Revealed
           Religion
           ;
           and
           as
           for
           Natural
           Religion
           ,
           they
           can
           make
           and
           believe
           as
           much
           ,
           or
           as
           little
           of
           it
           as
           they
           please
           .
           And
           this
           is
           one
           Reason
           ,
           and
           I
           am
           sure
           a
           better
           than
           any
           he
           has
           given
           against
           it
           ,
           why
           we
           are
           ,
           and
           ought
           to
           be
           so
           zealous
           at
           this
           time
           in
           opposing
           Socinianism
           ,
           because
           it
           is
           the
           common
           Banner
           under
           which
           all
           the
           Enemies
           of
           Religion
           and
           Christianity
           unite
           .
           This
           makes
           that
           little
           contemptible
           Party
           think
           themselves
           considerable
           ,
           that
           all
           the
           Atheists
           and
           Infidels
           ,
           and
           licentious
           
           Wits
           of
           the
           Town
           ,
           are
           their
           Converts
           ;
           who
           promise
           themselves
           a
           glorious
           Triumph
           over
           Christianity
           ,
           and
           particularly
           over
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           ,
           by
           decrying
           and
           scorning
           the
           Catholick
           Faith
           of
           the
           Trinity
           and
           Incarnation
           .
        
         
           II.
           Thus
           much
           for
           the
           Unreasonableness
           of
           this
           Controversie
           about
           the
           Holy
           Trinity
           ;
           in
           the
           next
           place
           he
           tells
           us
           the
           Danger
           of
           it
           :
           and
           he
           has
           thought
           of
           such
           an
           Argument
           to
           evince
           the
           danger
           of
           Disputing
           for
           the
           Holy
           Trinity
           ,
           as
           ,
           I
           believe
           ,
           was
           never
           dreamt
           of
           before
           ;
           
           and
           that
           is
           ,
           That
           it
           is
           
             One
             of
             the
             Fundamentals
             of
             Christian
             Religion
             ;
             now
             to
             litigate
             touching
             a
             Fundamental
             ,
             is
             to
             turn
             it
             into
             a
             Controversie
             ;
             that
             is
             ,
             to
             unsettle
             ,
             at
             least
             endanger
             the
             unsettling
             the
             whole
             Superstructure
             .
          
           Now
           I
           am
           perfectly
           of
           his
           mind
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           a
           dangerous
           thing
           to
           unsettle
           Foundations
           ;
           But
           is
           it
           a
           dangerous
           thing
           too
           ,
           to
           endeavour
           to
           preserve
           and
           defend
           Foundations
           ,
           when
           Hereticks
           unsettle
           them
           ,
           and
           turn
           them
           into
           Dispute
           and
           Controversie
           ?
           Let
           us
           put
           the
           
             Being
             of
             God
          
           ,
           instead
           of
           
             the
             Holy
             Trinity
          
           ,
           and
           see
           how
           he
           will
           like
           his
           Argument
           himself
           .
           The
           
             Being
             of
             a
             God
          
           is
           the
           Foundation
           of
           all
           Religion
           ,
           and
           therefore
           it
           is
           dangerous
           to
           dispute
           with
           Atheists
           about
           the
           Being
           of
           God
           ,
           because
           this
           is
           
             to
             turn
             a
             Fundamental
             into
             a
             Controversie
             ,
             that
             is
             ,
             to
             unsettle
             ,
             or
             to
             endanger
             the
             unsetling
             the
             whole
             Superstructure
             :
          
           And
           thus
           we
           must
           not
           dispute
           against
           Atheists
           ,
           no
           more
           than
           against
           Socinians
           :
           And
           what
           is
           it
           then
           we
           must
           dispute
           for
           ?
           What
           else
           is
           worth
           disputing
           ?
           What
           else
           can
           we
           dispute
           for
           ,
           when
           Foundations
           are
           overturned
           ?
           What
           is
           the
           meaning
           of
           that
           Apostolical
           Precept
           ,
           
             To
             contend
             earnestly
             for
             the
             Faith
             ?
             Jud.
          
           3.
           
           What
           Faith
           must
           we
           contend
           for
           ,
           if
           not
           for
           Fundamentals
           ?
           What
           Faith
           is
           that
           which
           can
           subsist
           without
           a
           Foundation
           ?
        
         
         
           But
           I
           would
           desire
           this
           Author
           to
           tell
           me
           ,
           whether
           we
           must
           believe
           Fundamentals
           with
           ,
           or
           without
           Reason
           ?
           Whether
           we
           must
           take
           Fundamentals
           for
           granted
           ,
           and
           receive
           them
           with
           an
           implicite
           Faith
           ,
           or
           know
           for
           what
           Reason
           we
           believe
           them
           ?
           If
           our
           Religion
           must
           not
           be
           built
           without
           a
           Foundation
           ,
           like
           a
           Castle
           in
           the
           Air
           ,
           it
           is
           certain
           ,
           that
           the
           Fundamentals
           of
           our
           Faith
           ought
           to
           have
           a
           very
           sure
           Foundation
           ,
           and
           therefore
           we
           are
           more
           concerned
           to
           understand
           and
           vindicate
           the
           Reasons
           of
           our
           Faith
           ,
           with
           respect
           to
           Fundamentals
           ,
           than
           to
           dispute
           any
           less
           Matters
           in
           Religion
           ,
           for
           the
           Roof
           must
           tumble
           ,
           if
           the
           Foundation
           fail
           .
        
         
           What
           shall
           Christians
           do
           then
           ,
           when
           
             Atheists
             ,
             Infidels
          
           ,
           and
           Hereticks
           ,
           strike
           at
           the
           very
           Foundations
           of
           their
           Faith
           ?
           Ought
           not
           they
           to
           satisfie
           themselves
           ,
           that
           there
           is
           no
           force
           in
           the
           Objections
           ,
           which
           are
           made
           against
           the
           Faith
           ?
           Or
           must
           they
           confirm
           themselves
           with
           an
           obstinate
           Resolution
           ,
           to
           believe
           on
           without
           troubling
           themselves
           about
           Objections
           ,
           in
           defiance
           of
           all
           the
           power
           and
           evidence
           of
           Reason
           ?
           This
           is
           not
           to
           believe
           like
           Men
           ;
           Christianity
           had
           never
           prevailed
           against
           Paganism
           and
           Judaism
           upon
           these
           Terms
           ;
           for
           they
           had
           Possession
           ,
           Authority
           ,
           and
           Prescription
           on
           their
           side
           ,
           which
           is
           the
           only
           Reason
           and
           Security
           he
           gives
           us
           for
           the
           Faith
           of
           the
           Trinity
           ,
           That
           
             the
             Established
             Church
             is
             in
          
           
           
             possession
             of
             it
          
           .
        
         
           If
           private
           Christians
           then
           must
           endeavour
           to
           satisfie
           themselves
           in
           the
           Reasons
           of
           their
           Faith
           ,
           when
           Fundamentals
           are
           called
           in
           question
           ,
           is
           it
           not
           the
           Duty
           of
           Christian
           Bishops
           and
           Pastors
           to
           defend
           the
           Faith
           ,
           and
           to
           defend
           the
           Flock
           of
           Christ
           from
           those
           
             grievous
             Wolves
          
           St.
           Paul
           prophesied
           of
           ?
           Is
           not
           this
           their
           proper
           Work
           and
           Business
           ?
           And
           when
           the
           Faith
           is
           publickly
           opposed
           and
           scorned
           in
           Printed
           Libels
           ,
           ought
           it
           not
           to
           
           be
           as
           publickly
           defended
           ?
           When
           Hereticks
           dispute
           against
           the
           Faith
           ,
           must
           we
           be
           afraid
           of
           disputing
           for
           it
           ,
           for
           fear
           of
           making
           
             a
             Controversie
             of
             Fundamentals
          
           ?
           Thanks
           be
           to
           God
           ,
           our
           excellent
           Primate
           is
           above
           this
           fear
           ,
           and
           has
           now
           in
           the
           Press
           a
           Defence
           of
           that
           Faith
           ,
           which
           this
           Writer
           would
           perswade
           all
           Men
           to
           betray
           by
           silence
           ;
           and
           I
           hope
           so
           great
           an
           Example
           may
           at
           least
           prevail
           with
           him
           ,
           to
           let
           us
           dispute
           on
           without
           any
           more
           
             earnest
             and
             compassionate
             Suits
          
           .
        
         
           III.
           His
           last
           Argument
           is
           ,
           The
           Unseasonableness
           of
           
           this
           Controversie
           .
           He
           says
           ,
           all
           Controversies
           are
           now
           unseasonable
           ;
           and
           I
           say
           a
           little
           more
           ,
           that
           they
           are
           always
           so
           ;
           for
           there
           is
           no
           Juncture
           seasonable
           to
           broach
           Heresies
           ,
           and
           to
           oppose
           the
           Truth
           :
           but
           if
           Hereticks
           will
           dispute
           against
           the
           Truth
           unseasonably
           ;
           there
           is
           no
           time
           unseasonable
           to
           defend
           Fundamental
           Truths
           .
           But
           why
           is
           it
           so
           unseasonable
           in
           this
           Juncture
           ?
           Because
           
             under
             God
             ,
             nothing
             but
             an
             union
             of
             Councils
             ,
             and
             joyning
             Hands
             and
             Hearts
             ,
             can
             preserve
             the
             Reformation
             ,
             and
             scarce
             any
             thing
             more
             credit
             and
             justifie
             it
             ,
             than
             an
             Union
             in
             Doctrinals
             .
          
           To
           begin
           with
           the
           last
           first
           :
           Is
           
             the
             Union
             in
             Doctrinals
          
           ever
           the
           greater
           ,
           that
           Socinians
           boldly
           and
           publickly
           affront
           the
           Faith
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           and
           no
           body
           appears
           to
           defend
           it
           ?
           Will
           the
           World
           think
           that
           we
           are
           all
           of
           a
           mind
           ,
           because
           there
           is
           disputing
           only
           on
           one
           side
           ?
           Then
           they
           will
           think
           us
           all
           Socinians
           ,
           as
           some
           Forreigners
           begin
           already
           to
           suspect
           ,
           which
           will
           be
           a
           very
           scandalous
           Union
           ,
           and
           divide
           us
           from
           all
           other
           
             Reformed
             Churches
          
           .
           Let
           Union
           be
           never
           so
           desirable
           ,
           we
           cannot
           ,
           we
           must
           not
           unite
           in
           Heresie
           ;
           those
           break
           the
           Union
           ,
           who
           depart
           from
           the
           Faith
           ,
           not
           those
           who
           defend
           it
           .
           When
           Heresies
           are
           broached
           ,
           the
           best
           way
           to
           preserve
           the
           Unity
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           is
           to
           oppose
           and
           confute
           ,
           and
           shame
           Heresie
           and
           Hereticks
           ,
           
           which
           will
           preserve
           the
           Body
           of
           Christians
           from
           being
           infected
           by
           Heresie
           ,
           and
           the
           fewer
           there
           are
           ,
           who
           forsake
           the
           Faith
           ,
           the
           greater
           Unity
           there
           is
           in
           the
           Church
           .
        
         
           But
           
             nothing
             but
             Union
             of
             Counsels
             ,
             and
             joyning
             Hands
             and
             Hearts
             ,
             can
             preserve
             the
             Reformation
             .
          
           Must
           we
           then
           turn
           all
           Socinians
           ,
           to
           preserve
           the
           Reformation
           ?
           Must
           we
           renounce
           Christianity
           ,
           to
           keep
           out
           Popery
           ?
           This
           Stander-by
           is
           misinformed
           ,
           for
           Socinianism
           is
           no
           part
           of
           the
           Reformation
           ;
           and
           so
           inconsiderable
           and
           abhorred
           
             a
             Party
          
           ,
           when
           they
           stand
           by
           themselves
           ,
           that
           all
           Parties
           who
           own
           any
           Religion
           ,
           will
           joyn
           
             Counsels
             ,
             and
             Hands
             and
             Hearts
          
           to
           renounce
           them
           .
        
         
           But
           what
           he
           would
           insinuate
           is
           ,
           that
           we
           shall
           never
           joyn
           against
           a
           common
           Enemy
           ,
           whose
           Successes
           would
           endanger
           the
           Reformation
           ,
           while
           there
           are
           any
           Religious
           Disputes
           among
           us
           .
           I
           hope
           he
           is
           mistaken
           ,
           or
           else
           we
           shall
           certainly
           be
           conquered
           by
           France
           ,
           for
           twenty
           such
           
             compassionate
             Suits
          
           as
           this
           ,
           will
           never
           make
           us
           all
           of
           a
           mind
           ;
           and
           whether
           we
           dispute
           or
           not
           ,
           if
           we
           differ
           as
           much
           as
           if
           we
           did
           dispute
           ,
           and
           are
           as
           zealous
           for
           the
           Interest
           of
           a
           Party
           ,
           the
           case
           is
           the
           same
           .
           But
           he
           has
           unwarily
           confess'd
           a
           great
           Truth
           ,
           which
           all
           Governments
           ought
           to
           consider
           ,
           That
           every
           Schisin
           in
           the
           Church
           ,
           is
           a
           new
           Party
           and
           Faction
           in
           the
           State
           ,
           which
           are
           always
           troublesome
           to
           Government
           when
           it
           wants
           their
           help
           .
        
         
           But
           
             these
             Disputes
             about
             the
             Trinity
             make
             sport
             for
             Papists
             .
          
           It
           must
           be
           disputing
           against
           the
           Trinity
           then
           ;
           not
           disputing
           for
           it
           ;
           for
           they
           are
           very
           Orthodox
           in
           this
           point
           ;
           and
           never
           admitted
           any
           Man
           to
           their
           Communion
           who
           disowned
           this
           Faith
           ,
           or
           declared
           ,
           that
           he
           thought
           it
           at
           any
           time
           
             unreasonable
             ,
             dangerous
          
           ,
           or
           unseasonable
           to
           dispute
           for
           it
           ,
           when
           it
           was
           violently
           opposed
           .
        
         
         
           I
           doubt
           this
           Protestant
           Church-man
           has
           made
           more
           sport
           for
           Papists
           ,
           than
           all
           our
           other
           Disputes
           ;
           for
           it
           is
           a
           new
           thing
           for
           such
           Men
           to
           plead
           for
           Socinians
           ,
           but
           no
           new
           thing
           to
           dispute
           against
           them
           ;
           and
           new
           Sports
           are
           always
           most
           entertaining
           .
        
         
           But
           he
           has
           himself
           started
           an
           Objection
           ,
           which
           if
           he
           could
           well
           answer
           ,
           I
           could
           forgive
           him
           all
           the
           rest
           .
           
             But
             it
             will
             be
             said
             ,
             What
             shall
             we
             do
             ?
             Shall
             we
             tamely
             by
             a
             base
             Silence
             give
             up
             the
             Point
             .
          
        
         
           This
           is
           the
           Objection
           ,
           and
           he
           answers
           ,
           
             There
             is
             no
             danger
             of
             it
             ,
             the
             Established
             Church
             is
             in
             possession
             of
             it
             ,
             and
             dispute
             will
             only
             increase
             the
             disturbance
             .
          
           But
           is
           there
           no
           danger
           that
           the
           Church
           may
           be
           flung
           out
           of
           possession
           ,
           and
           lose
           the
           Faith
           ,
           if
           she
           don't
           defend
           it
           ?
           No
           ,
           
             The
             Adversaries
             to
             the
             received
             Doctrine
          
           (
           Why
           not
           to
           the
           true
           Faith
           ?
           )
           
             cannot
             alter
             our
             Articles
             of
             Religion
          
           ;
           but
           if
           they
           can
           make
           Converts
           ,
           and
           increase
           their
           Party
           ,
           they
           may
           in
           time
           change
           our
           Articles
           ,
           and
           then
           we
           shall
           hear
           no
           more
           of
           
             compassionate
             Suits
          
           for
           
             forbearance
             .
             But
             they
             can
             dispute
             everlastingly
          
           ;
           and
           let
           them
           dispute
           on
           ,
           we
           fear
           them
           not
           .
           But
           
             they
             are
             Men
             subtil
             ,
             sober
             ,
             industrious
             ;
             many
             of
             them
             very
             vertuous
             ,
             and
             (
             as
             all
             must
             say
             )
             setting
             aside
             their
             Opinions
             ,
             devout
             ,
             pious
             ,
             and
             charitable
             .
          
           I
           perceive
           he
           is
           very
           intimately
           acquainted
           with
           them
           ,
           though
           St.
           Paul
           commands
           all
           Christians
           ,
           To
           
             mark
             those
             which
             cause
             divisions
             and
             offences
             contrary
             to
             the
             Doctrine
             which
             ye
             have
             learned
             ,
             and
             avoid
             them
             ,
          
           16
           Rom.
           17.
           
           But
           let
           them
           be
           never
           so
           good
           Men
           ,
           as
           some
           of
           the
           Heathen
           Philosophers
           were
           ,
           must
           we
           therefore
           tamely
           suffer
           them
           to
           pervert
           the
           Faith
           ?
           But
           they
           are
           very
           zealous
           ,
           and
           
             the
             Presses
             are
             open
          
           ,
           and
           
             they
             will
             never
             be
             silent
          
           .
           They
           are
           zealous
           against
           the
           Truth
           ,
           and
           therefore
           we
           must
           not
           be
           zealous
           for
           it
           ;
           they
           will
           write
           and
           print
           ,
           and
           speak
           against
           
           the
           Truth
           ,
           and
           will
           never
           be
           silent
           ;
           and
           therefore
           we
           must
           be
           silent
           ,
           and
           neither
           write
           ,
           nor
           say
           any
           thing
           for
           the
           Truth
           .
           Was
           there
           ever
           such
           a
           Reason
           thought
           of
           as
           this
           ?
           Well!
           how
           long
           must
           we
           be
           silent
           ?
           
             Neglect
             them
             till
             a
             fit
             time
             and
             place
             :
          
           But
           why
           is
           not
           this
           as
           fit
           a
           time
           ,
           as
           ever
           we
           shall
           have
           ,
           to
           prevent
           their
           sowing
           Tares
           ,
           or
           to
           pluck
           them
           up
           before
           they
           have
           taken
           too
           deep
           Root
           ?
           Can
           there
           be
           a
           fitter
           time
           to
           oppose
           Heresies
           ,
           and
           to
           defend
           the
           true
           Christian
           Faith
           ,
           then
           when
           Hereticks
           are
           very
           bold
           and
           busie
           in
           spreading
           their
           Heresies
           ,
           and
           opposing
           the
           Faith
           ?
           But
           when
           this
           
             fit
             time
          
           is
           come
           (
           for
           I
           know
           not
           what
           he
           means
           by
           
             a
             fit
             place
          
           )
           what
           shall
           we
           do
           then
           ?
           Will
           he
           then
           give
           us
           leave
           to
           write
           and
           dispute
           against
           such
           Hereticks
           ?
           This
           he
           will
           not
           say
           ;
           but
           
             then
             let
             that
             be
             done
             ,
             which
             shall
             be
             judged
             most
             Christian
             and
             most
             Wholesome
             .
          
           But
           what
           is
           that
           ?
           Will
           it
           ever
           be
           
             most
             Christian
             and
             most
             Wholesome
          
           ,
           to
           dispute
           for
           the
           Faith
           against
           Heresie
           ?
           If
           ever
           it
           will
           be
           so
           ,
           why
           is
           it
           not
           so
           now
           ?
           If
           this
           never
           will
           be
           Christian
           and
           Wholesome
           ,
           what
           else
           is
           to
           be
           done
           to
           Hereticks
           
             in
             fit
             time
             and
             place
          
           ,
           unless
           he
           intends
           to
           Physick
           '
           em
           ?
        
         
           And
           it
           seems
           he
           has
           a
           Dose
           ready
           prepared
           ,
           
             to
             lay
          
           
           
             all
             these
             Controversies
             to
             an
             Eternal
             Sleep
          
           ;
           and
           it
           is
           ,
           what
           he
           calls
           a
           
             Negative
             Belief
          
           ,
           a
           pretty
           Contradiction
           ,
           but
           never
           the
           less
           proper
           Cure
           for
           Heresie
           .
           The
           Project
           is
           this
           ,
           as
           far
           as
           I
           can
           understand
           him
           ,
           That
           the
           Socinians
           shall
           not
           be
           required
           to
           own
           the
           Doctrines
           of
           the
           
             Trinity
             and
             Incarnation
          
           ,
           but
           shall
           
             so
             far
             agree
             ,
             as
             not
             to
             contradict
             them
             ,
             nor
             teach
             contrary
             to
             them
             :
          
           Now
           I
           should
           like
           this
           very
           well
           ,
           that
           they
           would
           not
           oppose
           the
           received
           Doctrine
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           but
           I
           believe
           he
           knows
           some
           little
           clattering
           Tongues
           ,
           
           which
           all
           the
           Opiates
           he
           has
           ,
           can
           never
           lay
           asleep
           ;
           and
           had
           he
           remembred
           what
           he
           had
           just
           before
           said
           concerning
           their
           Zeal
           ,
           and
           their
           
             Eternal
             disputing
          
           ,
           and
           that
           
             they
             will
             never
             be
             silent
          
           ,
           he
           would
           never
           have
           proposed
           so
           impracticable
           a
           thing
           ,
           as
           the
           imposing
           silence
           on
           them
           ;
           which
           makes
           me
           suspect
           ,
           that
           he
           intends
           something
           more
           than
           what
           he
           says
           ,
           and
           therefore
           to
           prevent
           mistakes
           ,
           I
           must
           ask
           him
           a
           Question
           or
           two
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           Whether
           he
           will
           allow
           us
           ,
           who
           ,
           as
           he
           grants
           ,
           are
           
             in
             possession
          
           of
           this
           Faith
           of
           the
           Trinity
           and
           Incarnation
           ,
           to
           keep
           possession
           of
           it
           ,
           and
           teach
           ,
           explain
           ,
           and
           confirm
           it
           to
           our
           People
           :
           we
           will
           answer
           none
           of
           their
           Books
           ,
           if
           they
           won't
           write
           them
           ;
           but
           if
           he
           expects
           that
           we
           should
           say
           nothing
           of
           ,
           or
           for
           the
           Trinity
           ,
           as
           he
           would
           have
           them
           say
           nothing
           against
           it
           ,
           we
           must
           beg
           his
           Pardon
           ;
           we
           do
           not
           think
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           the
           Trinity
           and
           Incarnation
           to
           be
           of
           so
           little
           concernment
           ,
           as
           to
           be
           parted
           with
           ,
           or
           buried
           in
           silence
           .
           We
           believe
           Christian
           Religion
           to
           be
           built
           on
           this
           Faith
           ,
           and
           therefore
           think
           ourselves
           as
           much
           bound
           to
           Preach
           it
           ,
           as
           to
           Preach
           the
           Gospel
           ;
           and
           if
           they
           will
           oppose
           the
           Faith
           ,
           as
           long
           as
           we
           Preach
           it
           ,
           we
           can
           have
           no
           Truce
           with
           them
           .
        
         
           2dly
           ,
           I
           hope
           he
           does
           not
           propose
           this
           
             Negative
             Belief
          
           ,
           as
           he
           calls
           it
           ,
           as
           
             a
             Term
             of
             Communion
          
           ;
           that
           tho'
           we
           know
           they
           deny
           the
           Trinity
           and
           the
           Incarnation
           ,
           yet
           if
           they
           will
           agree
           not
           publickly
           to
           oppose
           and
           contradict
           this
           Faith
           ,
           we
           shall
           receive
           them
           to
           our
           Communion
           ,
           and
           fling
           the
           Worship
           of
           the
           
             Holy
             Trinity
          
           ,
           and
           of
           
             a
             God
             Incarnate
          
           ,
           out
           of
           our
           Liturgies
           for
           their
           
           sake
           .
           I
           grant
           there
           may
           be
           such
           things
           ,
           as
           
             Articles
             of
             Peace
          
           ,
           when
           Men
           joyn
           in
           the
           same
           Communion
           ,
           notwithstanding
           some
           less
           material
           Differences
           ,
           while
           the
           Substantials
           of
           Faith
           and
           Worship
           are
           secure
           ,
           and
           oblige
           themselves
           not
           to
           disturb
           the
           Peace
           of
           the
           Church
           with
           less
           Disputes
           ;
           but
           to
           make
           the
           Essentials
           of
           Faith
           and
           Worship
           
             meer
             Articles
             of
             Peace
          
           ,
           to
           receive
           those
           to
           our
           Communion
           ,
           who
           deny
           the
           very
           Object
           of
           our
           Worship
           ,
           is
           as
           senceless
           ,
           and
           as
           great
           a
           contradiction
           to
           the
           Nature
           and
           End
           of
           Christian
           Communion
           ,
           as
           it
           would
           be
           to
           receive
           Heathens
           ,
           Jews
           ,
           Mahometans
           into
           the
           Christian
           Church
           ,
           by
           vertue
           of
           this
           
             Negative
             Belief
          
           .
           This
           I
           know
           he
           will
           not
           allow
           ;
           for
           he
           says
           ,
           
             We
             are
             agreed
             in
             the
             other
             parts
             of
             our
             common
             Christianity
             :
          
           whereas
           it
           is
           absolutely
           impossible
           ,
           that
           we
           should
           agree
           in
           any
           thing
           ,
           which
           is
           
             pure
             Christianity
          
           ,
           while
           we
           differ
           in
           the
           Fundamental
           Doctrines
           of
           
             the
             Trinity
             and
             Incarnation
          
           ,
           the
           owning
           or
           denying
           of
           which
           makes
           an
           essential
           Difference
           in
           Religion
           .
           It
           alters
           the
           Object
           of
           our
           Worship
           ,
           as
           much
           as
           the
           Worship
           of
           One
           and
           of
           Three
           Persons
           in
           the
           Godhead
           ,
           and
           as
           much
           as
           the
           Worship
           of
           a
           God
           Incarnate
           ,
           and
           of
           a
           deified
           
             meer
             Man
          
           ,
           differ
           .
           It
           alters
           the
           way
           of
           our
           Salvation
           ,
           as
           much
           as
           Faith
           in
           the
           Blood
           and
           Sacrifice
           of
           the
           Son
           of
           God
           ,
           to
           expiate
           our
           Sins
           ,
           
           differs
           from
           believing
           a
           great
           and
           excellent
           Prophet
           ,
           and
           obeying
           his
           Laws
           .
           It
           alters
           the
           Motives
           and
           Principles
           of
           our
           Obedience
           ,
           as
           much
           as
           the
           Love
           of
           God
           ,
           in
           giving
           his
           Son
           ,
           differs
           from
           his
           Goodness
           in
           sending
           an
           excellent
           Man
           to
           be
           our
           Prophet
           and
           Saviour
           ;
           as
           much
           as
           the
           Love
           ,
           Humility
           ,
           and
           Condescension
           of
           the
           Eternal
           Son
           of
           God
           ,
           in
           becoming
           Man
           ,
           and
           in
           dying
           as
           a
           Sacrifice
           for
           our
           Sins
           ,
           differs
           from
           the
           Love
           of
           a
           
           meer
           Man
           ,
           in
           preaching
           the
           Gospel
           ,
           and
           bearing
           Testimony
           to
           it
           by
           his
           own
           Blood.
           
        
         
           It
           changes
           the
           hopes
           and
           reliances
           of
           Sinners
           ,
           as
           much
           as
           the
           Security
           of
           a
           Meritorious
           Sacrifice
           offered
           by
           the
           Eternal
           Son
           of
           God
           for
           the
           Expiation
           of
           our
           Sins
           ,
           differs
           from
           the
           Promises
           of
           an
           extraordinary
           Man
           sent
           as
           a
           Prophet
           from
           God
           ;
           and
           as
           much
           as
           the
           Intercession
           of
           a
           High
           Priest
           ,
           who
           is
           the
           Eternal
           Son
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           intercedes
           in
           the
           Merits
           of
           his
           own
           Blood
           ,
           differs
           from
           the
           Intercession
           of
           a
           meer
           ,
           though
           of
           an
           excellent
           Man
           ,
           who
           has
           made
           no
           Atonement
           for
           our
           Sins
           ,
           and
           has
           no
           other
           Interest
           in
           God
           ,
           than
           what
           an
           innocent
           and
           obedient
           Man
           can
           pretend
           to
           .
           It
           were
           easie
           to
           enlarge
           on
           this
           Argument
           ;
           but
           I
           have
           directed
           in
           the
           Margin
           ,
           where
           the
           Reader
           may
           see
           it
           discoursed
           at
           large
           .
        
         
           Now
           if
           this
           Author
           ,
           for
           these
           Reasons
           ,
           will
           allow
           us
           to
           instruct
           our
           People
           in
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           the
           Trinity
           and
           Incarnation
           ,
           and
           not
           desire
           us
           to
           receive
           Socinians
           into
           our
           Communion
           ,
           he
           will
           do
           good
           Service
           ,
           if
           he
           can
           bring
           them
           to
           his
           
             Negative
             Belief
          
           ,
           and
           perswade
           them
           to
           be
           silent
           ;
           if
           he
           can't
           ,
           we
           will
           try
           to
           make
           them
           so
           in
           time
           ,
           if
           they
           have
           Wit
           enough
           to
           understand
           ,
           when
           it
           is
           fit
           to
           be
           quiet
           .
        
         
           In
           the
           next
           place
           he
           takes
           Sanctuary
           
             in
             the
             Act
             of
          
           
           
             Parliament
             in
             favour
             of
             Dissenters
          
           ,
           which
           he
           
             conceives
             has
             done
             very
             much
             ,
             if
             not
             full
             enough
             .
          
           But
           had
           he
           considered
           ,
           how
           severe
           this
           Act
           is
           upon
           his
           
             beloved
             Socinians
          
           ,
           he
           might
           much
           better
           have
           let
           it
           alone
           .
           For
           no
           Dissenters
           have
           any
           benefit
           by
           that
           Act
           ,
           who
           do
           not
           renounce
           Socinianism
           :
           But
           he
           pretends
           to
           give
           Account
           of
           Acts
           of
           Parliament
           ,
           as
           he
           does
           of
           other
           Books
           ,
           
             without
             seeing
             them
          
           .
           But
           we
           may
           see
           what
           a
           hearty
           good
           will
           he
           has
           to
           the
           Cause
           :
           if
           the
           Act
           has
           excepted
           Socinians
           ,
           
           it
           is
           more
           than
           he
           knew
           ,
           and
           more
           than
           he
           wished
           ;
           for
           he
           hoped
           it
           had
           not
           been
           done
           ,
           and
           endeavoured
           to
           perswade
           the
           World
           ,
           that
           all
           the
           Bishops
           of
           England
           had
           allowed
           it
           ;
           for
           
             he
             cannot
             believe
             ,
             that
             the
             Body
             of
             the
             Bishops
             disallowed
             ,
             or
             did
             not
             with
             good
             liking
             consent
             to
             the
             Act
             ,
          
           viz.
           To
           give
           Liberty
           to
           Socinians
           ,
           as
           he
           supposed
           .
           This
           is
           such
           a
           scandalous
           Representation
           of
           the
           Bishops
           of
           England
           ,
           as
           I
           'm
           sure
           ,
           they
           don't
           deserve
           ,
           and
           which
           in
           due
           time
           they
           may
           resent
           .
        
         
           And
           here
           ,
           without
           any
           provocation
           ,
           he
           sets
           up
           the
           Authority
           of
           Bishops
           ,
           against
           the
           Lower
           House
           of
           Convocation
           ,
           who
           never
           differed
           upon
           this
           Point
           ,
           and
           I
           hope
           never
           will
           ,
           nor
           will
           ever
           be
           tempted
           by
           such
           a
           forward
           Undertaker
           ,
           to
           dispute
           the
           Bounds
           of
           their
           Authority
           ,
           but
           content
           themselves
           with
           the
           Ancient
           Constitution
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           .
           But
           if
           he
           understands
           
             the
             Practice
             of
             the
             Primitive
             and
             truly
             Apostolick
             Church
             ,
          
           which
           he
           threatens
           these
           unruly
           Presbyters
           with
           ,
           no
           better
           than
           he
           does
           K.
           Edw.
           VI.'s
           Reformation
           ,
           which
           he
           supposes
           to
           be
           made
           by
           the
           Body
           of
           the
           Bishops
           ,
           in
           opposition
           to
           the
           Presbyters
           (
           or
           else
           I
           know
           not
           how
           he
           applies
           it
           )
           he
           is
           capable
           of
           doing
           no
           great
           good
           nor
           hurt
           .
           Only
           I
           can
           tell
           him
           one
           thing
           ,
           That
           had
           he
           fallen
           into
           the
           hands
           of
           K.
           
           Edw.'s
           Reforming
           Bishops
           ,
           they
           would
           have
           reformed
           him
           out
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           or
           have
           taught
           him
           another
           sort
           of
           
             Compassionate
             Suit
          
           than
           this
           .
        
         
           He
           concludes
           with
           a
           heavy
           Charge
           upon
           Myself
           ,
           and
           Dr.
           Wallis
           ,
           (
           for
           he
           mentions
           none
           else
           )
           as
           
             if
             we
             had
             receded
          
           
           
             from
             the
             Doctrine
             taught
             even
             in
             our
             own
             Church
             ,
          
           about
           the
           Holy
           Trinity
           .
        
         
           Do
           we
           then
           deny
           ,
           that
           there
           are
           
             Three
             Persons
          
           and
           
             One
             God
          
           ?
           No
           ,
           our
           business
           is
           to
           prove
           it
           ,
           and
           explain
           and
           vindicate
           it
           ?
           but
           he
           thinks
           we
           explain
           it
           otherwise
           ,
           
           than
           it
           has
           been
           formerly
           explained
           .
           And
           yet
           that
           very
           Account
           he
           gives
           us
           of
           it
           ,
           out
           of
           Mr.
           Hooker
           ,
           is
           owned
           by
           myself
           ,
           and
           particularly
           explained
           by
           my
           Hypothesis
           .
           He
           has
           given
           us
           no
           just
           occasion
           to
           vindicate
           ourselves
           ,
           because
           he
           has
           not
           vouchsafed
           to
           tell
           us
           ,
           why
           he
           dislikes
           either
           of
           us
           .
           He
           has
           cited
           some
           broken
           passages
           out
           of
           my
           Vindication
           ,
           about
           
             Three
             Eternal
             Minds
          
           ,
           which
           are
           
             essentially
             One
             Eternal
             Mind
          
           .
           And
           what
           is
           the
           hurt
           of
           this
           ?
           Is
           not
           every
           Divine
           Person
           who
           is
           God
           ,
           a
           Mind
           ,
           and
           an
           
             Eternal
             Mind
          
           ?
           Is
           not
           the
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           ,
           or
           the
           Eternal
           and
           Uncreated
           Word
           and
           Wisdom
           of
           God
           ,
           an
           
             Eternal
             and
             Uncreated
             Mind
          
           ?
           Is
           not
           the
           substantial
           Word
           and
           Wisdom
           of
           God
           a
           Mind
           ?
           Is
           not
           the
           Eternal
           Spirit
           ,
           
             which
             searcheth
             the
             deep
             things
             of
             God
             ,
             as
             the
             Spirit
             of
             a
             Man
             knoweth
             the
             things
             of
             a
             Man
             ,
          
           a
           Mind
           ?
           And
           if
           I
           can
           give
           any
           possible
           account
           ,
           how
           Three
           Eternal
           Minds
           should
           be
           
             essentially
             One
          
           ,
           does
           not
           this
           at
           least
           prove
           ,
           that
           there
           may
           be
           Three
           Divine
           Persons
           ,
           in
           the
           Unity
           of
           the
           Divine
           Essence
           ?
           And
           should
           I
           have
           been
           mistaken
           in
           this
           account
           ,
           as
           I
           believe
           I
           am
           not
           ,
           must
           I
           therefore
           be
           charged
           with
           receding
           from
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           ?
           As
           for
           Dr.
           Wallis
           ,
           he
           has
           nothing
           to
           say
           against
           him
           ,
           but
           his
           calling
           the
           Divine
           Persons
           Somewhats
           ,
           with
           which
           he
           has
           very
           profanely
           ridiculed
           the
           Litany
           ,
           which
           I
           gave
           an
           account
           before
           .
        
         
           And
           now
           can
           any
           Man
           tell
           ,
           what
           Opinion
           this
           
             Melancholy
             Stander-by
          
           has
           of
           the
           Doctrines
           of
           the
           Trinity
           ,
           and
           Incarnation
           ?
           He
           dares
           not
           speak
           out
           ,
           but
           gives
           very
           broad
           signs
           ,
           what
           he
           would
           be
           at
           .
           He
           discourages
           all
           Men
           from
           defending
           these
           Doctrines
           ,
           declares
           ,
           That
           all
           
             new
             Attempts
          
           cannot
           
             satisfie
             the
             old
             Difficulties
          
           ,
           which
           he
           declares
           to
           be
           
             unsatisfiable
             ,
             and
             unsoluble
          
           :
           That
           when
           
           
             we
             have
             moved
             every
             Stone
             ,
             Authority
             must
             define
             it
             .
          
           
           And
           yet
           this
           Authority
           extends
           no
           farther
           than
           to
           a
           
             Negative
             Belief
             ▪
          
           which
           ,
           he
           says
           ,
           is
           all
           that
           
             can
             reasonably
             be
             required
             of
             Men
             ,
             of
             such
             Mysteries
             as
             they
             cannot
             understand
             :
          
           and
           thus
           far
           he
           
             professes
             himself
             bound
             by
             our
             Church
             Articles
             for
             Peace
             sake
             .
          
           And
           this
           is
           his
           Faith
           
           of
           the
           Trinity
           ,
           not
           to
           believe
           it
           ,
           but
           only
           not
           to
           oppose
           it
           .
           He
           complains
           of
           
             the
             Scholastick
             cramping
             Terms
          
           of
           
           
             Three
             Persons
             ,
             and
             One
             God
             ,
          
           and
           thinks
           the
           
             Unity
             of
          
           
           
             Three
             Persons
          
           in
           
             One
             Essence
          
           ,
           to
           be
           only
           
             a
             more
             Orthodox
             Phrase
          
           ;
           so
           that
           he
           leaves
           us
           no
           words
           to
           express
           this
           Doctrine
           by
           ,
           and
           therefore
           it
           is
           time
           to
           say
           nothing
           about
           it
           .
           It
           is
           
             a
             Controversie
             which
             exposes
             our
             Liturgy
             ,
             and
             is
             not
             only
             unprofitable
             ,
             but
             corruptive
             of
             ,
             and
             prejudicial
             and
             injurious
             to
             our
             common
             Devotion
             :
          
           so
           dangerous
           
           is
           it
           to
           pray
           to
           the
           
             Holy
             ,
             Blessed
             ,
             and
             Glorious
             Trinity
             ,
             Three
             Persons
             and
             One
             God.
             
          
        
         
           But
           then
           on
           the
           other
           hand
           ,
           he
           carefully
           practises
           that
           forbearance
           ,
           which
           he
           perswades
           others
           to
           ,
           towards
           his
           
             Learned
             Writers
             of
             the
             Socinian
             Controversies
             ,
          
           tho'
           they
           were
           the
           Assailants
           :
           never
           perswades
           them
           to
           forbear
           exposing
           and
           ridiculing
           the
           Faith
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           which
           would
           have
           provoked
           his
           Indignation
           ,
           had
           he
           any
           reverence
           for
           the
           Holy
           Trinity
           ,
           and
           a
           God
           Incarnate
           ;
           but
           only
           thinks
           by
           the
           Charm
           of
           a
           
             Negative
             Faith
          
           ,
           that
           
             they
             may
             be
             required
             quietly
             to
             acquiesce
             in
             the
             publick
             determinations
             .
          
           
        
         
           He
           tells
           us
           over
           and
           over
           ,
           how
           unseasonable
           and
           dangerous
           it
           is
           to
           meddle
           with
           such
           high
           matters
           ,
           or
           to
           offer
           at
           any
           Explication
           of
           what
           is
           Incomprehensible
           ;
           but
           it
           is
           no
           fault
           in
           them
           ,
           to
           talk
           of
           Absurdities
           and
           Contradictions
           in
           what
           they
           do
           not
           understand
           :
           nay
           ,
           he
           all
           along
           insinuates
           ,
           that
           these
           Absurdities
           and
           Contradictions
           ,
           which
           they
           charge
           upon
           the
           Doctrines
           of
           the
           Trinity
           and
           Incarnation
           ,
           are
           unsatisfiable
           ,
           and
           
             unsoluble
             ▪
          
        
         
         
           He
           bestows
           high
           Encomiums
           upon
           these
           Enemies
           of
           the
           Faith
           ,
           but
           speaks
           with
           wonderful
           Contempt
           of
           those
           who
           defend
           it
           ,
           as
           far
           as
           he
           dares
           ;
           the
           Fathers
           and
           Councils
           are
           out
           of
           his
           reach
           ,
           but
           the
           
             Master
             of
             the
             Sentences
          
           ,
           and
           the
           School-men
           ,
           and
           all
           Modern
           Undertakers
           ,
           must
           feel
           his
           displeasure
           :
           to
           defend
           the
           Trinity
           
             exposes
             our
             Liturgy
          
           ,
           and
           corrupts
           our
           
             common
             Devotion
          
           ;
           but
           to
           ridicule
           it
           ,
           makes
           them
           very
           
             pious
             and
             devout
             Men.
          
           GOD
           preserve
           his
           Church
           from
           Wolves
           in
           Sheeps
           Clothing
           .
        
         
           And
           now
           having
           vindicated
           our
           Ancient
           Rights
           and
           Liberties
           ,
           which
           the
           Church
           always
           challenged
           ,
           of
           defending
           the
           
             truly
             Catholick
             and
             Apostolick
             Faith
          
           ,
           from
           the
           Assaults
           of
           Hereticks
           ,
           I
           shall
           apply
           myself
           ,
           as
           I
           have
           leisure
           ,
           to
           the
           Defence
           of
           my
           
             Vindication
             of
             the
             Doctrine
             of
             the
             Holy
             and
             Ever-blessed
             Trinity
             ,
          
           and
           the
           
             Incarnation
             of
             the
             Son
             of
             God.
             
          
        
         
           THE
           END
           .
        
         
      
    
     
       
         Notes, typically marginal, from the original text
         
           Notes for div A59791-e290
           
             Earnest
             Suit
             ,
             p.
             1.
             
          
           
             P.
             2.
             
          
           
             P.
             2.
             
          
           
             P.
             3.
             
          
           
             P.
             3.
             
          
           
             P.
             16.
             
          
           
             P.
             3.
             
          
           
             P.
             4.
             
          
           
             P.
             5
             ▪
             
          
           
             Page
             7.
             
          
           
             Page
             7.
             
          
           
             Page
             8.
             
          
           
             Page
             8.
             
          
           
             Page
             9.
             
          
           
             See
             the
             Vindication
             of
             the
             Defence
             of
             Dr.
             
               Stillingfleet's
               Unreasonableness
               of
               Separation
            
             ,
             pag.
             256
             ,
             &c.
             
          
           
             Page
             11.
             
          
           
             Page
             13.
             
          
           
             Page
             7.
             
          
           
             Page
             6.
             
          
           
             Page
             2.
             
          
           
             Page
             6.
             
          
           
             Page
             17.
             
          
           
             Page
             9
             ,
             10.
             
          
        
      
    
  

