The riches of Gods love unto the vessells of mercy, consistent with his absolute hatred or reprobation of the vessells of wrath, or, An answer unto a book entituled, Gods love unto mankind ... in two bookes, the first being a refutation of the said booke, as it was presented in manuscript by Mr Hord unto Sir Nath. Rich., the second being an examination of certain passages inserted into M. Hords discourse (formerly answered) by an author that conceales his name, but was supposed to be Mr Mason ... / by ... William Twisse ... ; whereunto are annexed two tractates of the same author in answer unto D.H. ... ; together with a vindication of D. Twisse from the exceptions of Mr John Goodwin in his Redemption redeemed, by Henry Jeanes ...

THE PREFACE.

WHen first I lighted upon a treatise intituled (God's love to mankind) and read a little way in it, I had reason to be acquainted with it; though the Authors face I had never seen: Upon the first relation of the change of his opinion in certaine controversies, as he pretend∣ed; I was intreated to conferre with him thereupon by word of mouth: My answer was, that it was more fit to conferre in writ∣ing, and if he would be drawne to communicate the reasons of his pretended change; I should willingly take them into consideration. This motion was made in the yeare 1631. being then at London; the yeare following in the month of July (as I remember) was the discourse of M^r Hord's sent unto me, and I was urged upon my former promise to make answer thereunto. At that time I had another bu∣sinesse under my hand, which I could not dispatch in lesse then two months space or more: but I was wished to take my owne time. As soone as I was free from my former taske, I set hand to this, and returned my answere thereunto, unto the Gentleman that set me on worke, about the end of Hillary terme Anno Dom: 1632. But observing the bulke of the treatise now in print, twice as bigge, as that in manuscript or more. I ex∣pected a reply to my former answer; but upon perusall, I found nothing lesse, whereat I wondred not a little, having never heard of any such treatise untill the last sommer, 1635: for surely they had time enough to answer it. To helpe the credit of their cause in this; it seemed good unto them to raise a mist, that their absurd carriage might not be discovered, to witt: by antedating the print thereof, which yet was but newly found creeping in corners. Another devise there is by a large interpolation and addition, here and there foysted into the body of the former discourse, and yet not all at once, but by pathes, a great part of it being but lumber; and the adding of more testimonies, as if the matter were to be carried by number and not by weight, or as if the Author of them were willing to make ostentation of the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and fullnesse of his com∣mon place booke. Only the upper way of our Divines maintayning the absolutenesse of God's decrees is here inpugned at large, with the Authors best strength I doubt not; which taske was omitted by Mr Hord: And besides there is one Divine attribute more here mentioned, in contradiction whereunto the Doctrine of our Divines is pretend∣ed to proceed, and the prosecution hereof amongst the rest is here set downe, by way of superfaetation upon the former, not only that so the argument might be the more compleat, but also to cast a colour; that this discourse of Mr Hord's hath not as yet been answered. It may be it would faine have shewed it selfe unto the world in this masculine shape and vigour before this time, if Doctor Duppa while he was Vice∣chancellour at Oxford would have given way to the printing of it, if it be true as I have heard, that it was offered unto him to be licenced for the presse. Doctor Potter also of Queenes Colledge performed a freindly part to some body in checking the Sta∣tioners for selling the copies of it, forwhich courtesy, I doe account my selfe so much in his debt as that comes to; and should much more, had he sent me one of the copies, as he did noe lesse then six on the same day to his friend Doctor Aigleonbee; as the Book-seller confessed to a Scholar a friend of mine. Well Mr Hord's treatise is at length come to the Presse, and shewes it selfe in publique without shame, though I thought it had been sufficiently confounded almost three yeares agoe; yet this Mistres blushes not, though dares not open her mouth to cleare her reputation in any one particular of that which I layd to her charge, manifesting her to be no Daughter of God's truth, but a meere Bastard, begotten by a carnall wit, upon a specious pretence by miserable deflowring and adulterating the word of God; one builds a wall as the Prophet speakes, and another daubeth that with untempered mortar. Mr Hord is well knowne to be the Author of the first by mee formerly answered. But what Mason's hand was used in the addition, that is concealed; but that may breake out into pregnant evidences before we have gone through with it.

The Prefacer at the first chop begins with a notorious untruth, and that in more particulars then one; for first, whom doth he meane by the Author of this Treatise? M. Horde? That which M. Horde sent to his worthy friend is yet to be seen, containing not halfe so much as this; it was not above 30 leaves manuscript, and that not closely, but written at large; And this containes 55 leaves in print. But it may bee M. Horde hath since inlarged his own discourse, and so continues to be author of it, not in part only, but in the whole. And I confesse it may be, he is as much the Author of the one as of the other; if it be true as some have told me of the very first, sent to his friend indeed, namely that it was the very strength of M. Mason; him I knowe of old, and should be acquainted with his sufficiency, though it was a long time ere I had so much as heard of his zeale for the Arminian cause, and after I heard so much, it was yet lon∣ger ere I could believe it, untill I saw it under his own hand: And whereas M. Horde comming to his second convincing Argument, as he calls it, drawne from Attributes Divine, layeth downe certaine premises, the second whereof is this; That justice, mercy, truth, and holinesse, in God are the same in nature with these vertues in men, though infinitely differing in Degrees. I willingly confesse I stood amaz'd, and albeit I conceived it, and doe conceave it to be one of the absurdest positions that ever dropped from the pen of a Schoole Divine; yet the adventure was so great in my judgement, that I was apt to imagine that it proceeded not from a vulgar spirit. This conceit of mine was impro∣ved by the reasons he brings to justifie so strange a Paradox: for they are plausible & make a faire shew at the first, like the fruit of Sodom; but crush them once, come to the Scholastical discussion of them, & forthwith In Cineres abeunt & vagam fuliginem, they vanish into smoak and emptinesse. A second untruth is this, that he saith, The Author was perswaded by a worthy friend to pen the Reasons of his opinion against absolute reprobation; for he was only put upon shewing reasons of the change of his opinion in the controversies of late debated between the Remonstrants & their opposites, as M. Horde himselfe confesseth in his Preface. M. Horde indeed is willing to drawe the mat∣ter unto the consideration of Gods decrees, as if that were the maine * 1.1 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 most absurdly, and quite contrary to the doctrine of Augustine, who shapes the decrees of God in conformitie to the doctrine of grace; and accordingly to certifie the Massili∣enses in the doctrine of Praedestination, he thinks it most fit to begin with proving that Faith is the gift of God, yea the very beginning of it. Now he liked not to follow Austins course, and in the first place to deale upon the point of grace. And herein hee savours of M. Masons spirit, for that is his course, as I have seen under his hand; yet suppose that this be the maine thing, controverted, namely the qualitie of Gods decrees, whe∣ther they be absolute or conditionall only. How doth he satisfie his friend, or performe the promise made in letting election passe untouched, and dealing only upon repro∣bation? And this I know also to have been M. Masons genuine course, far worse then the Remonstrants in the Synod of Dort, for they made a motion, that they might deal upon reprobation in the first place, and then upon election, wherein notwithstanding they were condemned in the judgement of all forraigne Divines, assistant there. But this Author and M. Mason too, on my knowledge, affect to deale upon reprobation only. Yet I have alwaies been, and still am glad to see the utmost of their strength, or any mans strength on any of the five points, and should be very glad to see what they could say upon the point of free will, which is most congruous for them, though they meddle not at all with grace. For even on that point I seem to have profited more, lately by dealing with some English Arminians, then ever before, having alwaies ac∣knowledged, that to be a point very obscure, like as is the nature of originall sinne which was one of the three points, concerning which I did not look to live so long, as to meet with convenient satisfaction. M. Horde (I heard) conferred with M. Mason, about Election, and told him that the doctrine of our Divines therein seemed very comfortable to the children of God, whereunto M. Mason should answer, by granting that, but then adding, it was very prone to provoke men to loosenesse of life. This concession was as a shooing horne to draw M. Horde on to the Remonstranticall Te∣net, nothing doubting, but in the end to take him of from entertaining so good an o∣pinion of our doctrine of Election, as if it were not any such comfortable condition; & teach him to magnifie the comfortable condition of the adversaries doctrine, depen∣ding upon a threefold cord, which as the proverb faith, cannot easily be broken. 1. The universalitie of Gods love, 2. The universalitie of Christs redemption. 3. The universa∣litie of the Covenant of grace: Thus the comforts of the Remonstrants are multiplied

and advanced, which in the issue comes to this, that their condition is as comfortable as any reprobates condition throughout the world, whether Cain's or Ishmael's, or Esau's or Doeg's or Iuda's, or the Grand Senior among the Turkes, or the whole guard of his Janisaries: for God's love is towards all, Christ's redemption extends to all, and the Covenant of Grace belongs to all. And what comfortable creatures must these needes be, upon so various and comfortable considerations? And the whole Na∣tion of the Arminians, are herein inferiour to none of them all. And though they will not be so saucie as to promise unto themselves perseverance in the state of grace; yet they will be so bold as to promise both to themselves and to all their Proselites perseve∣rance in this estate of consolation, nothing inferiour to any Reprobates consolation in the world. But the mischiefe is, that hence it followes, that the consolation of any of God's children, whether Abraham, Isaack, Iacob, David, or Solomon, Prophets, Apostles, Martyrs, the blessed Virgin Mary, nor any other excepted, was never greater, then the consolation of the wicked'st Christian that ever lived, whether prophane or hypocriti∣call, Provided he did believe these mysteries of Arminian godlynes; namely that God's love is towards all, Christ dyed for the redemption of all, and lastly that the Covenant of Grace belongs to all; for these are the sweet and precious flowers of consolation that grow in the gardens and writings of these Divines; to the astonishment of the world, in considering the power and efficacy of Satan: and that, even in the Church of God, so many should be given up to so strange delusions. He doth not know what satisfaction that learned Gentleman his friend hath received by these reasons, nor I neither; for I am not privy to the least satisfaction he hath received. But on the con∣trary, rather how he hath found the vilenesse of these Remonstranticall Tenets disco∣vered, and the vanity of all supports used to underprop them. Sure he is, They have given good content to others; give we him leave to be liberall in his owne commendati∣ons: we doe not know how farre he dwells from neighbours: yet no marvaile if they give good content to many, who have been seasoned with the like speculations: I have seen a manuscript with this inscription, A survey of the new Platforme of Predesti∣nation; the method of it is much like to this, and it ends with a dialogue in the point of consolation; as if both Authours had dipt their pen in the same inck-pot. And now to heare and see Demogorgon himselfe play his part, and explicate his Moun∣tebanck sacultie in displaying the strength of his Opobalsamum; as he did of his Cathol∣icon, whom the Frenchman brings in his Satyre Mennippised, no marvaile if they are well perswaded that no Pandora can equall that for vniversalities of graces: when in the meane time they all fall short of that unum necessarium, which yet like enough they are ready to forsweare, and professe they will turne * 1.2 open Atheists rather then believe it: still he keeps himselfe upon the commendation of his Proselite, which cannot but reflect some sweet content upon himselfe, who is the Engineer and perhaps the Spirit that animates him and sets him on worke,

For if the man such prayses have, What then shall he that inspires the knave.

He commends the Author for perspicuitie in writing and modesty, and he wisheth that whosoever undertakes to answer it fully will performe the like. For my part I cannot change my stile: but my desire is, I may discover their fopperies, as perspicuously as I can, and I hope nothing to faile in performance; like enough the Authour of the preface as well as the Authour of the discourse desires to be gently handled and that he calls modesty, yet when a man will have his horse to be well curried, it is not for want of love to his horse; but because the condition of his horse requires to be so dealt withall: I thanke God, I never projected any immodest carriage; never could any adver∣sary move me so farre; But as an excellent footeball-player of our House, who would lay any man on his backe handsomly without hurt (and he was a Bishop's Sonne) be∣ing desired to shew any other how to doe the like; answered with protestation that he never proceeded by any rules: but as he found his opposite, so he Coped with him. In like sort, as I find my adversarie; so I deale with him for the present, as the Condition of his carriage to my seeming deserves, and if I handsomly lay his opinions on the ground without doing him any harme, methinkes I should be rather loved then hated of my very enemies for this; As for the present my Opposite seemes to have a care of my credit, for the gaining whereof he chaulkes me out a way, to wit: by wri∣ting perspicuously, and modestly, without voluminous vagaries about impertinent

things. This he delivers very gravely and demurely, which is in my judgment very ridiculous; and, if I doe expresse it and answer it as it deserves, I think, I should carry my selfe decently in answering him according to his ridiculous condition, and telling him that he doth not well in shewing such charity towards his adversary, which the world will be apt to interpret, as proceeding from a cowardly disposition. The Spaniards at the Fort of Brest, when Sr John Norris went forth in hunting of the hare, and his hounds pursued the hare into the very Fort, they tooke his hounds and hang∣ed them up over the wall, not in spite of so renowned a Generall, but to represent their feareles condition, and that they looked for no favour at his hands. Magnanimitie, not malice moved them unto this, which magnanimitie might strike feare into their Ene∣mies, though it did not, who tooke the Fort, though it cost them deare. I write with a purpose to expose my selfe to the censure of the world as they shall find cause; but I regard not the censures of an Adversary: especially in such a cause which Bradwardine Stiles, The cause of God against Pelagius. And truly I confesse I get something by this very phrase of my Adversaries Voluminous vagaries about impertinent things: which makes me conclude, that certainely both this Author, and his Interpolator have seen my answer to M^r Hord's Treatise, wherein I have some vagaries I confesse, to refresh my Spirit upon emergent occasions. For, being taking of from my studies to see a stran∣ger who desired my companie; I was suddenly instructed in a new learning of Nine causes, who never was accquainted with above 4. before in the Universitie, and one of the nine was finding out, of which I made good use upon my returne; in finding out the Sophestry of the Remonstrants, in certaine Arguments of theirs. This liberty of Spirit to refresh my selfe and my Reader, it may be this Author spites: whereas I am perswa∣ded I should take no offence on his part for the like; But it may be his gravity trans∣ports him to be of the same mind with Raynold the Fox, who having lost his owne tayle in a Ginne afterwards he endevours very composedly to perswade his fellowes to cut of their tayles also. And to that purpose suffered his wit to exuberate in repre∣senting and amplifying the incommodious condition of such a member: Railing speeches, I know no reason why any man should feare from his adversary; for such, Hie∣rome hath taught me, doe defile the Railer only, not him that is railed on. And if any man be pleased to spit in my face that way, though I am naturally very melancholly, yet I am perswaded he shall find little melancholly predominant in my answering him. As for unnecessarie divisions for the cause, which he doth seriously and wisely admonish his Adversary to beware of. I willingly professe, I love to have Sea roome, and not to be confined unto straights by any sullen rules of my Adversarie; and truly I perscribe to none, but as I find him, so I frame my selfe to grapple with him, as congruously as I can. If God be on my side, why should I be afraid of any colours. Let the Divell and all his Angels of Darknesse lye in camp against me; I shall not budge: But here is dan∣ger mentioned, which I professe, I did not project, and that is the dashing of my selfe upon the rocks of my Adversaries displeasure. And his interpretation of my courses to my displeasure. For if I doe not conforme to his sullen rules of Stoicall moralitie, he shall ever interpret it; (I marke well the Phrase, he comes not willingly on to make harsh interpratations, but he shall doe it) as much as to say the uprightnesse of his judgment and the justice of his disposition will urge him hereunto, namely to inter∣pret it, As a strong signe of a weake cause, or at least an Argument of an obstinate minde: But soft and faire, who made my Adversary my Judge; by whose interpretations I am to stand or fall? How Imperiously doth he carry himselfe in this; as if he were some Bugbeare, or dreadfull Adversary doe I say? or Magistrate rather, see the poverty of my wit and of my Spirit too; the one was never so inventious of any such trick, nor the other so audacious, or immodest (if I may be so bold soe to speak) as to serve my selfe therewith, to scarre my Adversary, desparing by faire waies to overcome him, and make him yeild, or else his obstinacy knowne to the world: for who seeth not, that I have as much authoritie to threaten him with the sharpnesse of my interpretations of him; as he to threaten me not with the like austerenesse of his? I am willingly content the world may judge between us, both of the cause debated and of our carriage there∣in throughout, and who hath the truth on his side, and shews most learning and hone∣sty in the maintayning of that he undertakes; I willingly confesse, the five points con∣troverted are tender points, and the knowledge of the truth herein, meerly concerning a mans salvation; But this Author deales only upon the halfe of one of them, and that most needlesse also: And the resolution of the Doctrine of Election depends upon the

resolution of the doctrine of Election depends upon the resolution of an other point; namely, whether Grace be conferred freely, or according to mens workes; That it is confer∣red freely, and not according to workes; hereupon it is that Austin builds the absolute∣nesse of predestination and election, wherence it followeth evidently, that as many as doe maintaine the Decree of predestination to be conditionall, must also in Austin's judgment maintaine that Grace is given according unto workes, which was of old con∣demned in the Synod of Palaestine, and all along in divers Synods and Provinciall Councells against the Pelagians. Now if Predestination be absolute and not conditio∣nall; it followes that Reprobation also is absolute and not conditionall; which conse∣quence I presume, the Author of these additions will not deny. But as there is a great deale of craft in dawbing; so these craftie Crowders are apt to worke upon generalities and in distinctions: Reprobation we know is as well from Grace as from glory, and God's reprobation from glory is joyned with a purpose to inflict damnation. Now as touching Reprobation from grace, we readily professe that God hath both ordained to deny grace unto some of his meere pleasure; like as he hath ordained to bestow that upon others of his meere pleasure; and also of his meere pleasure hath made such a de∣cree. And these Authors dare not mainifestly oppose us in this argument, lest the sow∣er leaven of their Pelagian Tenet manifest it selfe to the whole world, namely in main∣taining that grace is conferred according to workes: But as touching reprobation from Glory, and God's purpose to inflict Damnation, These Juglers so carry the mat∣ter, as if they would make the world believe our Doctrine is, that God decreed to deny men Glory and to inflict Damnation, not for their sinnes; but meerely, because it is his pleasure so to doe, a most unshamefast crimination: For albeit that God hath made no law, according whereunto, he proceeds in giving grace unto some, and denying it unto others, but herein proceeds meerely according unto his pleasure, and not accor∣ding to men's workes; it being manifest Pelagianisme to affirme the contrary; yet we o∣penly & willingly profes (And all the Christian world knowes it to be true) That God hath made a law whereunto according he proceeds in the distribution of rewards and Punishments, namely these, Whosoever believeth shall be saved, whosoever believeth not shall be damned: And according to this law, God hath decreed from everlasting to pro∣ceed in pronouncing the sentence of Salvation and Damnation on mankind, namely to bestow Salvation not of his meere pleasure, without all respect of the workes of men, but as a reward of their faith, repentance, and good workes, and to inflict damnation not of his owne meere pleasure without any respect to the workes of men, but as a due reward for their sinnes never broken of by repentance. Only this decree thus to proceed in the execution of rewards and punishments, we professe God hath made according to the meere pleasure of his will, whereby it is apparent, that these men play the part of notable Impostours, when they abuse the world's credulitie in making them believe, that we maintaine any such absurd decrees or executions of decrees, which they obtrude upon us; and to this purpose these are willing to take the benefit and ad∣vantage of Confusion; for it is most profitable for some to fish in troubled waters, and to walke in the darke: But when the light of distinction comes, this madd's them to see their impostures discovered, and their sophistications made to appeare in their proper colours. The eye of the Adulterer (saith Iob) waiteth for the twilight, and saieth, no eye shall see me, and disguiseth his face, They dig through houses in the darke, which they marked for themselves in the day, they know not the light, but the morning is even to them, as the sha∣dow of death, if one know them, they are in the terrours of the shadow of death; Now there is a course of adulterating the word of God, and deflouring his truth every way, as abo∣minable in the sight of God, as the deflowring of women; yea and much more abomi∣nable; In my answer to the former discourse, as I remember, I proposed certaine argu∣ments to prove the absolute nature of Reprobation. This Authour doth not accom∣modate himselfe, nor his Achates neither to answer so much as one of them. Thus ha∣ving Prefaced concerning these concealed Authours, and therewithall made answer to the Preface of this Interpolator, I come to make answer to the Additions themselves.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Thing en∣quired after.
• * 1.2

  I have read this in one of their letters di∣rected to a Scholler of Ox∣ford who im∣parted it to me