Truth outweighing Error Or An ANSVVER TO A Treatise lately published by J. B. Entituled A Confession of his Faith AND A Reason of his Practice OR With who he can and with who he cannot hold Church-Fellowship or the Communion of Saints By John Denne a Servant of the Church He that is first in his own Cause seemeth just but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him Prov. 18.17 For it was not an Enemy that reproached me then I could have born it Psal 55.12 Sed nullum est Atrocius vulnus quam defectio amici Sophocles London Printed for the Author and are to be sold by F. Smith at the Elephant and Castle near the Royal-Exchange in Cornhil and at the same sign the first shop without Temple-Bar 1673. To the Church of God in God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ especially to my well beloved Brethren in the Counties of Huntington and Cambridge Grace Mercy and Peace be multiplied unto you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ the Son of the Father in Truth and Love Dearly Beloved IT is once yea twice declared in the Book of Job That when the Sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord Satan came also amongst them surely not only to espy what miscarriage might give him advantage against them but also to endeavour their subversion by the crafty insinuations of himself and ministers stirred up to that end and no marvel for if he durst presume to practise the same against our blessed Saviour we may more assuredly expect his subtilty and puissance to be bent against us wherefore Diligence and Sobriety is required 1 Pet. 5.8 that by the one you may avoid giving him occasion against you and by the other discover his crafty devices although carried on by fair pretences like a Wolf in Sheeps-cloathing making use therefore of some of your own selves according to the words of the Apostle Paul Acts 20.29 which as heretofore is this day apparently verified and that amongst others particularly in that Book presented to the World by J. Bunyan entituled A Confession of his Faith and the reason of his practice touching Church-fellowship wherein amongst other things he endeavours the vilifying the ready way for the extirpation of the Ordinance of Water-Baptism and that under the specious pretences of Charity Church-edification c. that his Design might be so masked as to be received by many conscientious Christians who cannot through his crafty vail discover his intentions in reference to the aforesaid Ordinance which he would not have us at all respect in the matter of Church-Communion Which I no sooner saw but I was filled with displeasure apprehending my self obliged as once Phineas was in a matter whereunto this is not inferiour if the spiritual concern be respected to manifest an holy indignation against the same and according to my ability to vindicate the Truth therein degraded whereupon I resolved to send abroad the ensuing Treatise which I now commend to you what is well done expects your Approbation and what is amiss your gentle Correction withal entreating you to look to your selves that you may not be ensnared hold fast the form of sound words lest that otherwise you be unawares beguiled retain alwayes a reverent esteem of God's Ordinances Which if you do not you will suddenly be surprized by that Adversary who goeth about like a roaring Lion seeking whom he may devour keep close to the Holy Scriptures continue instant in Prayer and that for me also that Wisdom Boldness and Patience may be given me that I may not cease to speak the things I have believed Brethren farewel the God of Peace fill you with all Joy and Peace in believing Amen Your unworthy Brother in the Lord Jesus Christ John Denne The Epistle to the Reader READER IF Solomon had cause to say in his time Eccles 12.12 in making many Books there is no end what may be said in our dayes when the World is so replenished with Books and those pro contra even in matters of Christianity insomuch as the question propounded by Paul 1 Cor. 1.13 Is Christ divided may now seem justly to be answered on the affirmative or which is rather to be consented unto that the prediction of Christ Jesus Matth. 24.24 That there shall arise false Christs many coming in his Name saying Lo here and lo there is Christ is now accomplished for the discovery of whom and demonstration of the Truth that one Book viz. the Holy Scripture is only necessary which of it self is able to make a man wise unto Salvation through Faith which is in Christ Jesus who therefore adviseth the Sons of Men to search the Scriptures Joh. 5.39 because they are they which do testifie of him The consideration wherof hath hitherto obstructed my presenting any thing to publick view although divers times thereto incited as well by the perswasion of some Friends as the apprehension of the want of some assistance in the vindication of the Truth as it is in Jesus which as formerly hath required my hand at this time induceth me to step forth particularly upon the perusal of a Treatise subscribed by J.B. entituled A Confession of his Faith and the reason of his Practice touching Church-Fellowship Which although sometime published came lately to my view wherein an apparent wrong and publick abuse being offered to God and his Son Christ Jesus in his endeavouring the explosion of the Holy Ordinance of Baptism it took such impression within me that I could not now forbear the presenting the ensuing Treatise to the view of the World in answer thereunto whereof it may perhaps be said as Paul of himself 1 Cor. 15.8 It is born out of due time but if so I presume wise Persons will allow that an Abortive birth wherein there is life must not be rejected wherefore although peradventure there may be others which I know not of that may precede this upon the same account whereto the priority must be granted Touching this let me say as Abigail to David Accept it as a Servant to the Servants of the Servants of our God whereby perhaps some although mean Service may be rendred which may be advantagious in the discovery of Truth from the disguised face of Error Wherefore in the Name of our Lord Jesus let me entreat thee to read impartially and try diligently by the Scriptures of Truth what thou findest in this following Treatise declared and the Lord give thee therein the Spirit of discerning which shall be the earnest Prayer of Thine in the Lord Jesus Christ John Denne Truth outweighing Error c. WHen the Woman clothed with the Sun and the Moon under her feet Rev. 12.1 and upon her Head a Crown of twelve Stars was with Child and cried travelling in birth and pained to be delivered then there appeared vers 3. a great Wonder in Heaven viz. a great red Dragon having seven Heads and ten Horns and seven Crowns upon his Heads who with his
the obedience of his holy Will yea even the worst of men Fools Simple ones and Scorners and not only such who were so originally but even those who continued so as appears Chap. 1. vers 24. Because I called and you did not answer therefore shall destruction come upon you as a whirlewind Yet these persons did the Lord invite perswading them by the motives of Grace and intreating them by familiar expressions of kindness as Paul saith 2 Cor. 5.20 We then are Embassadours for Christ as though God did beseech you by us We pray you in Christ's stead be ye reconciled unto God What expressions of mercy are here was ever the like Grace heard of which is again found in that text so full of love Isa 55.1 Ho every one that thirsteth Come ye to the Waters Come freely he that hath no money come buy and eat yea come buy Wine and Milk without money and without price O great Grace Wherefore saith the Lord do ye spend money for that which is not bread Hearken diligently unto me incline your ear and hear and come unto me and your Soul shall live What promises and gracious invitations are here Is this consistent with God's blinding of men Is it likely that the only wise God should speak thus to such as he knows cannot hear or turn surely nay Christ himself calls Matth. 11.28 Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest Not only so but God also strives with wicked men and that very forcibly to bring them to Repentance As it is written Rom. 10.21 All the day long have I stretched forth my hand even to a disobedient and gain-saying People Now what is it for God to stretch forth his hand Is it because God hath hands as we have No but the hand of God is taken in Scripture sometimes for the Power of God as Exod. 3.20 I will stretch forth my hand and smite Egypt Yea sometimes it is taken for his Mercy as Isa 66.14 The hand of the Lord shall be towards his People So that for God to stretch forth his hand to the wicked is to strive with them by his Power and manifestation of Grace Thus God strove with back-sliding Ephrahim Hos 11.3 I taught Ephraim to go I drew them with the cords of a man with the bands of love and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws and I laid meat unto them What expressions of love are these I am not able furthey to illustrate them none knoweth better this Declaration of the dealings of God than a tender Nurse who taketh great care of her little Babes and useth great pains with them Even so doth the Lord with Sinners yea with All as Christ saith Joh. 12.32 And I if I be lifted up from the Earth will draw all men unto me Christ draweth the Father draweth he strives earnestly with men by his holy Spirit which being resisted he saith My Spirit shall not alwayes strive with man Gen. 6.3 What shall we say to this Did the Spirit of God strive with these Rebellious men who died in their iniquity or did it not If you say it did then is the truth of the matter granted and God's Grace to damned persons acknowledged but if you will say it did not what meaneth then this speech My Spirit shall not alwayes strive Surely therefore we may conclude there was a time when God did strive with them by his Spirit yea by the same powerful Spirit that raised Christ from the dead As it is written 1 Pet. 3.18 19. Quickned by the Spirit by which also he went and preached to the Spirits now in Prison which were sometime disobedient in the dayes of Noah while the Ark was preparing What is it for Christ to preach by his Spirit but by the operation of his Spirit to enlighten and convince the Sons of men This he did to the old World and this he doth to every man Joh. 1.9 Christ is the true Light which lighteth every man that cometh into the World Quest But peradventure you will say If God dealeth thus graciously what is the reason men continue in disobedience Answ Not because God doth so blind them that they cannot hear and turn as Joh. Bunyan saith nor because God doth not work powerfully in their hearts yea so powerfully as to afford them sufficient means to obey his Will as Moses saith Deut. 30.14 The Word is nigh thee in thy mouth and in thy heart that thou mayest do it Quest But if then you further ark the Reason Answ I say It is through their own obstinacy and perversness whereby they do despite to the Spirit of Grace as it is said Rom. 2.4 Despisest thou the riches of his Grace not regarding the goodness of God that leadeth thee to Repentance but after thy hardness and impenitent heart thou treasurest up to thy self wrath against the day of Wrath. God leads to Repentance but his goodness is despised Man through the hardness of his heart treasureth up wrath against himself resisting the motions of God's Spirit as Stephen said Acts 7.51 Ye have alwayes resisted the Holy Ghost as did your Fathers so do ye As it is witnessed by that pitiful complaint of our Saviour Matth. 23.37 How often would I have gathered thy Children together as a Hen gathereth her Chickens under her wings but ye would not This obstinacy of man is the cause of his ruine God sent his Prophets but they would not hear 2 Chron. 24.19 They pulled away the shoulder stopped their ears and made their hearts hard as an Adamant stone lest they should hear the words which the Lord sent in his Spirit by his Prophets Zech. 7.12 And therefore wicked men are charged with doing despite to the Spirit of Grace Heb. 10.29 So that in truth it is wilful and obstinate disobedience that men are guilty of in not hearkning to the Lord. God would have them obey his voice but they will not yet to manifest his Grace he waits abundantly for the Effects of the operation of his holy Spirit and giveth space of Repentance Rev. 2.21 that so he might win them to himself by his long-suffering and therefore be waits that he may be gracious Isa 30.18 by his long-suffering leading Sinners to Repentance Rom. 2.4 as Peter saith The Lord is long suffering not willing that any should perish 2 Pet. 3.9 Mâ—â—â—ing till there is no remedy 2 Chron. 36.16 Which we have evidently described by a Simile Jer. 6.29 The Bellows are burnt the Lead is consumed in the fire the Founder melteth in vain for the wicked are not plucked away The Lord here alludes to a Refiner who taketh great pains in the Refining a Mass of Silver and exerciseth such patience as to wait till the Lead which Refiners use to put in for the better purifying the Silver is consumed and through the extremity of heat the Bellows burnt so that all his labour is more then
that are saved are saved through Election without respect to qualifications Then must the residue be reprobated without respect to qualifications But God reprobates no man without respect to qualification Ergo. The Major is evident for if there be a certain number Elected the residue must be damned let their qualifications be what they will The consideration whereof hath induced Learned men to blaspheme saying That God ordained men to sin that he might justly accomplish his Determination So saith Zanchius Reprobates are held so fast under God's Almighty Decree that they cannot but sin and perish And again he saith There lieth upon Reprobates by the power of their unchangeable reprobation a necessity of sinning yea of sinning unto death without Repentance and consequently of perishing everlastingly Zanch. lib. 5. de Nat. Dei The same also saith Piscator Reprobates are precisely appointed to sin that they might be justly punished Piscat resp ad dupl vorst part 1. pag. 220. Maccovius also was of this mind saying God did will sin ordain men to sin that he might justly accomplish his determination Macc. disp 17. pag. 11. Thus you see the Major is acknowledged by those that believe such an Election as J. B. describes The Minor I shall prove thus viz. Arg. 4. If God reprobates any man without respect to qualifications Then are not his tender mercies over all his works But God's tender mercies are over all his works Ergo. The Major is unquestionable for sure no mercy much less tender mercy can be to that man reprobated and that without respect to qualifications to Eternal damnation The Minor is proved Psal 145.9 The Lord is good to all without exception and his tender mercies are over all his works This that hath been said may suffice also to shew that there is no such Eternal purpose which necessarily produceth John Bunyan's Effectual Call For the aforesaid Arguments have the same validity against that as the former Proposition I come therefore now to shew you that there is no such Call as John Bunyan pretends to be beyond all opposition Which I shall prove thus viz. Arg. 5. If God's Call is oft-times rejected his Spirit resisted and his Counsel despised Then his Call is not beyond all opposition But God's Call is oft-times rejected his Spirit resisted and his Counsel despised Ergo. I think I may spare the proof of the Major for sure unless as J. B. seems to do you will so distinguish in this case as if God did not Call those that reject it with such an intention as he doth others as Piscator presumes to affirm That although God commands Reprobates to believe the Gospel yet he will not have them believe And again God doth not offer Grace to those that are Called with an intent to give it And he further saith Though God in words protest that he would have Reprobates believe yet indeed he will not have them Piscat contra Scasm pag. 60 pag. 74 pag. 143. which I hope you will not lest you make the God of Heaven as deceitful as the false Godds whom the Poets feign did once set Tantallus up to the Chin in a goodly River under a Tree full of beautiful Fruit which hung even to his Nose but so that he could neither reach the fruit nor stoop to the water to drink which far be it from the Lord who is true and holy in all his words and actions Wherefore I shall proceed to the proof of the Minor which is evident Prov. 1.24 I have called but you have refused Acts 7.51 Ye have alwayes resisted the Holy Spirit ye have set at nought all my Counsel Prov. 1.25 The next thing I come to is to shew that there are impediments which hinder the Conversion and Salvation of men which will thus appear Arg. 6. If God useth such means with the Unconverted as is sufficient for their Conversion and yet they continue unconverted Then something in themselves is an impediment But God useth such means with the Unconverted as is sufficient for their Conversion and yet they continue unconverted Ergo. The Major is true for if the means be sufficient and such means used by the God of Heaven their own obstinay must hinder The Minor I prove from the words of Christ to Chorazin and Bethsaida Matth. 11.21 If the mighty works which have been done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon they would have repented long ago Now hereby it appeareth That the means used with Chorazin and Bethsaida would have been sufficient for the Conversion of Tyre and Sidon and if so why not to them Surely because they were more obstinate So that we must conclude that was an impediment which did hinder their Conversion and consequently their Salvation But further concerning Salvation I offer this Arg. 7. If the Righteous man may turn from his Righteousness put away a good Conscience and make shipwrack of Faith Then something may impede his Salvation But a Righteous man may turn from his Righteousness put away a good Conscience and make shipwrack of Faith Ergo. The Major is undeniable and the Minor I prove Ezek. 18.24 When the righteous man turneth from his righteousness and committeth iniquity he shall die Hymeneus and Alexander put away a good Conscience and made shipwrack of Faith 1 Tim. 1.19 Wherefore also Paul saith 1 Cor. 9.27 I keep under my body and bring it into subjection lest that by any means when I have Preached to others I my self should be a cast-away It seems Paul was not of J. B's mind to think that no impediment could hinder his Salvation for then he would not have used these words Lest that by any means I my self should be a cast-away But he thought and knew as it was said of Eli to Samuel 1 Sam. 2.30 They that despise me shall be lightly esteemed As the Lord said by Oded 2 Chron. 15.2 If ye forsake me I will forsake you Whereof David did advisedly admonish Solomon 1 Chron. 28.9 If thou forsake thy God he will cast thee off for ever I proceed now to the last thing viz. To shew you that no Persons are originally so far blinded by the God of Heaven that they cannot turn to to him which is thus proved Arg. 1. If God doth so blind any man Then he is willing that some should perish But God is not willing that any should perish Ergo. The Major is plain for God must needs be willing to that which himself is the cause of The Minor is proved 1 Pet. 3.9 The Lord is not willing that any should perish He confirms it by an Oath which ought to put an end to all strife Heb. 6.16 and because he could swear by no greater he swears by himself As I live saith the Lord Ezek. 33.11 I have no pleasure at all in the death of the wicked but desire that he may turn from his sin and live Arg. 2. If God doth so blind men viz. originally Then their unbelief is no sin But
in vain thus God deals with men whereof he complains Isa 49.4 I have laboured in vain I have spent my strength for nought and in vain Insomuch that in justification of himself against John Bunyan and such others he appeals to his Enemies in the case viz. Judge I pray you what could I have done more for Sinners than I have done Isa 5.4 I have given my Son to redeem them from death and in him I have also offered them Eternal Salvation which I have invited them to imbrace and also endeavoured to effect in their hearts by the motions of my holy Spirit for the operation whereof I have waited even until I perceived all my endeavours to be in vain my Spirit is resisted and in despite thereof they have persisted in wickedness wherein what could I have done more or what can I now do save only bewail their folly in that they should so against my will forsake their own merâ—â—â—â—… Jona 2.8 and that also the Lord frequently doth he grieveth for the destruction of Sinners Jer. 4.19 My bowels my bowels I am pained at my very heart Not that God hath Bowels or an Heart like men but the bowels of the Father are his tender mercies and great compassion being unwilling to punish For the Lord doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the Children of Men Lam. 3.33 It is hard with the Lord viz. against his good pleasure How saith he shall I give thee up O backsliding Ephraim How shall I deliver thee to death O sinful Israel How shall I make thee as Adama How shall I set thee as Zeboim My heart is turned within me my repentings are kindled together Hos 11.8 Thus the Son of God being like unto his Father in compassion when he beheld Jerusalem Luk. 19.41 42. he wept over it because they would not know the things that belong to their peace he was grieved for the hardness of their hearts Mark 3.5 wishing it had been otherwise O that thou hadst hearkned to my Commandments Isa 48.18 O that Israel had walked in my wayes Psa 81.16 What great compassion is this what demonstrations of love are here When Jesus wept for Lazarus Joh. 11.35 The Jews looked upon it as a great demonstration of love and is it not so in God towards Sinners When David wept after Abner's Bier and bewailed him it is said 2 Sam. 3.37 That all Israel understood that day that the death of Abner was not of the King but far contrary to his mind And surely also we may conclude from what hath been alleaged that the death of Sinners is not of our God he never determined any such thing neither is he any ways the cause thereof it is far from him whereby as we may perceive the death of Sinners is altogether of themselves and not by or through God's blinding them So the order of his Election may be perceived contrary to John Bunyan's Faith the Confession whereof I have now done with having offered thus much because that God is much dishonoured and many People deceived through the not understanding these things I come now to the Reason of his Practice in Worship J.B. pag. 48. Wherein he first distinguisheth between those with whom he dares not have Communion and those with whom he dares have Communion with I suppose he means Concerning what he saith touching those with whom he dare not have Communion I shall leave him unto himself only take notice That those who do not profess Faith and Holiness yea the open Prophane may be nearer Heaven than those that pretend great Zeal without Knowledge Our Saviour said of old Matth. 21.31 That the Publicans and Harlots enter into the Kingdom of God before you But I shall now consider what J. B. saith concerning whom he dare which he thus declares I dare have Communion yea Church-Communion with those that are visible Saints by calling with those that by the Word of the Gospel have been brought over to Faith and Holiness pag. 65. Although as afterwards he declares as well as in his Title Page they dissent about Water-Baptism Answ If J. Bunyan had only said this I know not who would have gainsaid nay if he had told us that he could have Communion with the Church of Rome I know not who would have opposed him except the Catholicks themselves who peradventure considering the Errors of his Faith would not judge him fit for Communion with them But John Bunyan proceeds to perswade others to do the same and therefore he urgeth greatly the reason of his Practice to draw Disciples after him I wish the event be not as Christ said to the Pharisees Matt. 23.15 Ye compass Sea and Land to make one Proselyte and when he is made ye make him twofold more the Child of Hell But before we judge let us hear him speak let us weigh what is said therein I readily perceive he hath learned what Solomon saith Prov. 1.17 That in vain is the Net spread in the sight of any Bird Wherefore by crafty insinuations and subtile evasions he endeavoureth to darken Counsel the better to undermine the hearts of the weak that his deceit might not be discovered Wherefore not suddenly coming to the matter he endeavoureth by fair pretences although mixt with tautologies and incongruous relations to pre-engage the Reader Quest And then at length propounds this question pag. 70. By what rule would you receive him into Fellowship To which he answers himself thus Even by a discovery of their Faith and Holiness and their declaration of willingness to subject themselves to the Laws and Government of Christ in his Church Quest This answer being given he offers a second question viz. But do you not count that by Water-Baptism and not otherwise that being the initiating and entring Ordinance they ought to be received into Fellowship To this he presumes to answer No Answ If I understand this answer it denies Baptism to be a discovery of Faith and Holiness or a declaration of willingness to subject to the Laws of Christ in his Church for the Question is Do you not count that by Water-baptism c. which must have respect to the former description of his Rule wherein it seems Water-Baptism hath now no part and in truth it must be so excluded by J. Bunyan's opinion for otherwise that in despight of what he hath said would be the Rule proposed by himself But herein hath not John Bunyan forgot himself Pag. 64. he acknowledgeth Water-baptism to be an Ordinance of Christ a holy Ordinance a duty enjoyned to such as have received the Gospel before yet now he denies it to be a discovery of Faith and Holiness or a declaration of willingness to subject to the Laws of Christ in his Church pag. 122 123. What impudent Contradictions are here an Ordinance of Christ an holy Ordinance a duty enjoyned to Gospel-Receivers and yet no discovery of Faith Is not Faith discovered by Works Jam. 2.17 And by what works if not obedience to