Sound doctrine, or, The doctrine of the Gospel about the extent of the death of Christ being a reply to Mr. Paul Hobson's pretended answer to the author's Fourteen queries and ten absurdities : with a brief and methodicall compendium of the doctrine of the Holy Scriptures ... : also of election and reprobation ... : whereunto is added the fourteen queries and ten absurdities pretended to be answered by Mr. Paul Hobson, but are wholly omitted in his book.

To the Reader.

Courteous READER,

DAyly experience makes me sensible that the Devil never wanted cunning inventions to court men to the imbracing of false Doctrine, and most com∣monly such false Doctrine whose natural tendency is to carry on the great design of Satan in the world, to wit, ungodli∣ness, and unholiness of life and conversation: For he al∣ways labours to counter-plot the Alnighty in all his designs: We may observe throughout the whole stream of Gods word, Gods great design is to destroy the works of the devil, that is sin, and to make men holy, to the end that he might make them happy: Now Satan that arch-enemy of mankind, be seeketh above all things to hinder this work; for by hindring righteousness, he knows he shall hinder the happiness of Gods creatures: and because he well perceives that Gods design is to promote the work of righteousness in all people, that so he might make all happy; Satan there projecteth alwayes to counter-plot God, labouring to promote sin in all, that so he might promote the misery of all men: So large as Gods love extendeth in endeavouring to save, even so far also doth the envy of the Devil extend in his endeavors to damne. And for as much as God hath tied himself that he will not work Physically upon man, nor irresistibly, but by gentle perswasions upon hopes of glory, and feares of punishment, and the devil hath not power to work otherwise then by alure∣ments, and promises, and threatnings, which he is not able to perform:

I say, because God will not, and the devil cannot work up∣on man, otherwise then by perswasions, therefore it comes to passe that all men are neither saved nor damned, but onely

those saved that are willing to let the Lord work on them, and also are willing to work with him, in purifying and cleansing themselves from sin; and onely those damned, that refusing Gods work, do yield themselves to the working and works of Satan. Now these things, though they are most plain truth, and do sure right well with good reason, justice, and equity, yet they are much opposed, by too many in our dayes, whose ••eal is too great for their knowledge. I desire thee, most Kinde Reader, to read this little Book seriously, and weigh it 〈…〉〈…〉 the balance of Truth and sound Reason, and see whe∣•••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 I have not spoken to thy reason; and search those Scrip∣•••••••••• which I have quoted, if they be not to the purpose in 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and whether my design be not to magnifie the ampli∣tude of Gods grace to sinners, by which they are undoubted∣ly excited to amendment of life, upon a sure and certain hope of glory, and not upon any uncertain sound of the Gos∣pel; As they do that limit the general promises of the Gospel unto a few onely, and without condition, making an unknown and secret decree of Election to be the ground of their faith; and so 'tis no marvel if their faith be unsted∣fast, and full of fears and doubts, when the foundation of it is no better.

But I will detain thee no longer from the book itself, lest I should make my Porch too big for the Cottage to which it leadeth. But I commit thee to the guidance of God, in the reading hereof, that thou mayst not onely be brought to the acknowledging of those truths herein contained, but also and chiefly that thou mayest in the power and and strength thereof live according to that grace of God which bringeth his salvation unto all men, for the same purpose that they should deny ungodlyness and worldly lusts, and live soberly and righteously in this present world.

W. P.