Truths in a true light, or, A pastoral letter to the reformed Protestants in Barbados vindicating the Non-Conformists from the misrepresentations commonly made of them, in that island and other places : and demonstrating that they are indeed the truest and soundest part of the Church of England / from Francis Mackemie.

POSTSCRIPT.

AMong the misrepresentadons of the principles and practices of the Presbyterians in this Island. I cannot for bear taking special notice of one; because it strikes so very deep into the Vitals of Religion: 'Tis, that the Doctrine of Election and Reprobation, as taught by the rigid Presbyterians of the Ki••k of Scotland, is contrary to the Word of God, and a great discouragement to Piety. Tho' I owe not my birth, but a part of my Education only to that Kingdom, yet having read many of their Books, heard several of their Ministers, for seve∣ral years, on all Doctrines of the Christian Religion, and having alwayes with me, their Confession of Faith, their Catechisms, with many found and excellent Treatises; I do profess my self fully of their Senti∣ments in this, and all other Doctrines of Faith, and in Gods strength shall never swerve nor prevaricate: And in their behalf do profess and declare, they hold no Predestination, but what is maintained in all the Calvinist, Reformed Churches abroad, and by all the Presbyterians in England and Ireland; and further, the same which is held and maintained by the Esta∣beished Church of England. If I prove this, I hope you will own they have been palpably misrepresented; And that I may effectually and undenyably do it, I shall first lay down the Doctrine of the Church of Scotland, both from their Catechisms, and Confes∣sion of Faith▪ In their Shorter Catechism, learned & taught by many in the Church of England, they

teach, That the Decrees of God, are the eternal Counsel of his will, whereby for his own Glory he hath foreor∣dained whatsoever comes to pass. In their larger Catechism, they are some-what fuller, and teach,

that the Decrees of God are the wise, free and holy acts of the Counsel of his Will, whereby from all Eternity, he hath for his own Glory, unchangeably foreordained whatsoever comes to pass in time, especially concerning Angels and Men:

And in the following Q they further teach,

That God by an eternal and immutable Decree, out of his meer Love, for the Praise of his Glorious Grace, to be manifested in due time, hath Elected some Angels to Glory, and in Christ hath chosen some men un∣to Eternal Life, and the means thereof, and accor∣ding to his Sovereign power, and the unsearchea∣ble Counsel of his Will, whereby he extendeth or with holdeth favour as he pleaseth, hath passed by and fore-ordained the rest to dishonour and wrath, to be for their Sin inflicted, to the praise of his Justice.

And what is for our purpose in their Confession of Faith, is this: — 3d. Parag.

By the Decrees of God, for the manifestation of his Glory, some Men and Angels are Pre∣destinated unto everlasting Life, and others sore-ordained to everlasting Death. 4. Those Angels and Men thus predestinated & fore ordain∣ed to everlasting Life, are particularly and un∣changeably designed, and their number so certain, and definite, that it cannot be either encreased or diminished. 5. Those of mankind that are pre∣destinated unto Life, God before the Foundation of the World was laid, according to his eternal and

immutable purpose, and the secret Counsel and good pleasure of his Will, hath chosen in Christ unto everlasting Glory, out of his meer free grace and love, without any fore-sight of Faith or good Works, or perseverance in either of them, or any other thing in the Creature, as Causes or Conditi∣ons moving him thereunto, and all to the praise of his glorious Grace. 6 As God hath appointed the Elect unto Glory, so hath he by the Eternal and most free purpose of his Will, fore-ordained all the means thereunto; wherefore they who are Elected, being fallen in Adam, are redeemed by Christ, are effectually called unto Faith in Christ by his Spirit working in due season, are Justifyed, Adopted and Sanctifyed, and kept by his power through Faith unto Salvation: neither are any o∣ther redeemed by Christ, Effectually, Justifyed, Adopted, Sanctifyed & Saved, but the Elect only. 7. The rest of mankind God was pleased accor∣ding to the unsearchable Counsel of his own Will, whereby he extendeth or with holdeth mercy as he pleaseth, for the glory of his Sovereign power over his Creatures, to pass by and ordain them to Dishonour and Wrath for their Sin, to the praise of his glorious Justice. 8. The Doctrine of this high Mystery of Predestination, is to be handled with special prudence and care, that men attending the will of God revealed in his Word, and yield∣ing obedience thereunto, may from the certainty of their Effectual Vocation, be assured of their Eternal Election. So shall this Doctrine afford matter of Praise, Reverence and Admiration, and of humility, diligence, and abundance of consolation

to all that sincerely obey the Gospel.

Let any man make it appear that this is not the unanimous Doctrine of the Church of Scotland, and that they teach any other Doctrine disagreeing hereunto, Et erit mihi magnus Apollo.

I must confess I have oft heard, how some upon all occasions, have bitterly run at the Doctrine of Pre∣destination, as if none maintained such a Doctrine but we; And a Minister of your Island, called it, A damnable Doctrine: and I now justly wonder to re∣ceive such a Character of Predestination from some, that it is contrary to the word of God, and a great dis∣couragement to Piety. Therefore I am now to pro∣duce the received and approved Doctrine of the Church of England, concerning Predestination, since the Reformation to this Day; and shall begin with the 39 Articles agreed upon in a Convocation, held at London 1552, in the Reign of Edw 6 and re∣quently renewed & ratifyed in the following Reigns, and continued the established Doctrine of the Church to this day, which Dissenters with some allowed ex∣ceptions subscribe as their own Doctrine, as a legal qualification for our Liberty. I wish you would read and consider again the 17th. Article, Viz.

Pre∣destination to life is the everlasting purpose of God, whereby before the foundations of the World were laid, he hath constantly decreed by his Counsel, secret to us, to deliver from curse & damnation, those, whom he hath chosen in Christ Jesus out of mankind, and to bring them by Christ to everlast∣ing Salvation, as vessels made to honour; where∣fore they that be endued with so Excellent a be∣nefit of God, be called according to Gods purpose,

by his Spirit working in due season, they through Grace obey the calling, they be Justifyed freely, they be made Sons of God by Adoption, they be made like the Image of his only begotten Son Jesus Christ, they walk religiously in good works, and at length by Gods mercy they attain to ever∣lasting felicity. As the Godly consideration of Predestination, and our Election in Christ, is full of sweet, pleasant and unspeakable comfort to Godly persons, and such as feel in themselves the workings of the Spirit of Christ, mortifying the works of the flesh, and their earthly members, and drawing up their mind to high & heavenly things, as well because it doth establish and confirm their Faith of eternal Salvation, to be enjoyed through Christ, as because it doth frequently kindle their Love towards God, so for curious and carnal per∣sons, lacking the Spirit of Christ, to have continu∣ally before their eyes, the sentence of Gods Predesti∣nation, is a most dangerous downfall, whereby the Devil doth thrust them either to desperation, or in∣to wretchlessness of most unclean living, no less perilous than desperation. Furthermore we must receive Gods promises in such wise, as they be ge∣nerally set forth to us in the holy Scriptures, and and in our doings that will of God is to be fol∣lowed, which we have expressly declared to us in the word of God

And as to the sense of this Ar∣ticle, take it from the Learned of the Church of Eng∣land, Dr. Whitaker, in his Cygne a Cantio, pag. 16, 17. (Dr. Bridges stiles this, The chiefest Article of the Church in Doctrine.) Mr Thomas Rogers in his Analysis, bound up formerly with the Articles. Dr. Thysins in his

Commentary on Lambeth Articles, sully explain this Article, & raise these conclusions from it. 1. That there is a Predestination of certain men to eternal Life, a preterition, predestination, or Reprobation of certain men unto Death. 2. That this Predestination is no manifest, no open Decree, into the grounds & causes of which every mean capacity may dive, but a hid∣den purpose, counsel or decree of God, which is kept secret from us. 3. That this Predestination to life is from Eternity. 4. That it is altogether immutable and unchangeable as God himself. This is the esta∣blished Doctrine which all the Clergy of the Church of England, subscribe or assent unto at Ordination.

The next demonstration and discovery of the Doctrine of the Church in this point, is from the Lambeth Articles, agreed upon at Lambeth House, by John Arch-bishop of Canterbury, Richard Bishop of London, Richard Bishop of Bangor, D•• Tindall, Dean of Elie, Dr. Whitaker professor of Divinity at Cam∣bridge, with several learned Divines of the Church; with the approbation of Matthew Arch-Bishop of York, composed at first in Latin and sent to the Uni∣versity of Cambridge, to prevent and crush some Ar∣minian Controversies that were beginning to be rais∣ed there: yet I shall give you in English Four of Nine, that relate to Predestination, never yet im∣peached or rejected by the Church, as inconsistent with the 39 Articles, but inserted in the Ireland Ar∣ticles, and allowed of in the conference at Hampton. Court.

1. God from eternity hath Predestinated, certain men unto Life, certain men he hath Pre∣destinated, or reprobated unto Death. 2. The moving and efficient cause of Predestination unto

Life, is not the fore sight of Faith or Perseverance, or good works, or of any thing in the persons Pre∣destinated, but only in the good will and pleasure of God. 3. There is a Predestinate number of Predestinate, which can neither be augmented nor diminished. 4. Those who are not Predestinated un∣to Salvation are necessarily damned for their Sins.

This is more plain and particular, than any thing I have heard taught by Presbyterians, and yet it is the Doctrine of the Church of England.

The next Testimony from that Church for Pre∣destination, is the Articles of Ireland, agreed upon by the Arch-Bishops, Bishops, and the Clergy of that Kingdom in a Convocation, held at Düblin, 1615. & seeing they were English Divines, and a part of the English Church, under one King, they were received, approved and licensed by the Government, as agreeable to the 39. Articles, and also those of Lam∣beth; therefore I shall record out of them what con∣cerns Predestination, or the Decrees of God.

Art. 11 God from all eternity did by his un∣changeable Counsel, ordain whatsoever in time should come to pass, yet so as thereby no violence is offered to the wills of the reasonable Creatures, and neither the Liberty nor Contingency of Second causes is taken away; but established rather.

12. By the same eternal Counsel, God hath Predestinated some unto Life, and Reprobated some unto Death, of both which there is a certain num∣ber, known only to God, which can neither he en∣creased nor diminished.

13. Predestination unto Life, is the everlasting purpose of God, whereby before the foundations of

the World were laid, he hath constantly decreed in his Secret Counsel, to deliver from curse and dam∣nation, those whom he hath chosen in Christ, out of mankind, and to bring them by Christ to ever∣lasting Salvation, as vessels made unto honour.

14. The cause moving God to Predestinate, is not the fore-seeing of Faith, or Perseverance, or Good Works, or of any thing in the persons Pre∣destinated, but only the good pleasure of God him∣self, for all things being ordained for the manifesta∣tion of his Glory, and his Glory being to appear, both in the works of his Mercy & Justice, it seem∣ed good unto his heavenly wisdom, to choose out a certain number toward whom he would extend his undeserved Mercy, leaving the rest to be Spectacles of his Justice.

15 Such as are Predestinated unto Life, be called according to Gods purpose, his Spirit working in due season, and through Grace they obey the call∣ing, they be Justifyed freely, they be made Sons of God by Adoption, they be made like the Image of his only begotten Son Jesus Christ, they walk reli∣giously in good Work, and at length b•• Gods Mercy they attain to everlasting felicity; but such as are not Predestinated to Salvation, shall finally be condemned for their Sins.

16. The Godly consideration of Predestination, and our Election in Christ, is full of sweet, pleasant, & unspeakable comfort to Godly persons, & such as feel in themselves the working of the Spirit of Christ, mortifying the works of the flesh & their earthly members, and drawing up their minds to high and heavenly things, as well because it doth greatly con∣firm

& establish their faith, of eternal Salvation, to be enjoyed thro' Christ, as because it doth servently kindle their Love towards God; and on the con∣trary side for curious & carnal persons, lacking the Spirit of Christ, to have continually before their Eyes, the Sentence of Gods Predestination, is very dangerous.

This is the Doctrine of the Church of Ireland, & so exactly agreeable to the 39 Articles, & those of Lambeth, that I need say no more of them.

Another discovery of the Doctrine of Predestination is from the Suffrages of the five Representatives of the Church of England, at the Synod of Dort, Dr. Carleton Bishop of Chichester, Dr. Samuel Ward publick Divi∣nity professor at Cambridge, Dr. Davenant Bishop of Satisbury, Dr. Balcanquel Dean of Richester, and Dr. Thomas Goad, who were called and assembled to nip Arminianism in the bud: and they being Commissio∣nated & sent by the Supream Authority in the Nati∣on; their Suffrages as recorded in the publick Acts of that Synod, and by Dr. Ward, in his Suffragium Britannorum, are to be found & were then received & approved, at the Doctrine of the Church of England.

And should it not appear a wonder and be a sur∣prise to the hearers, tho' the Preachers cannot be Ig∣norant of it; that the Common Prayer Book, the ordi∣nary & universal Book of their Devotion should give its Suffrage and bear its testimony for Predestination, or Election, which upon a more strict observation all shall find? In the Collect for All Saints Day, it begins, Almighty God, who hast knit together thine Elect in one communion, and fellowship in the mystical Body of Christ Jesus our Lord. If God has an Elected people, there must some be left out and passed by, otherwise there

can be no Election or Choice. In the Catechism gene∣rally taught unto Children, in Answer to Q. 6. It is replyed in the third place, In God the Holy Ghost, who Sanctifyed me, and all the Elect people of God; which plainly instructs us, that God chooseth to Sanctification, and holiness as well as to Salvation, and that all Elect ones shall be Sanctifyed & consequently Saved. In the burial of the Dead, in the first prayer after the Lords Prayer; Beseeching thee, that it may please thee of thy gracious Goodness, shortly to accomplish the number of thine Elect. Here is not only an Elect, but a definite and certain Number determined with God, which are not yet accomprished, and the number of such as are left out and passed by, is also certain and determined. In 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Godly prayer at all times, which is added to some old Bibles, there is this passage; In that it hath pleased thee freely and of thine own accord, to Elect and choose us to Salvation before the beginning of the World This is plain language, and in the Books of Devotion, and even those who little thought Common Prayer favour∣ed Predestination, which they oft called a Damnable Doctrine, and is so particular, for a Doctrine, some of your Neighbours have asserted, contrary to the word of God, and a great discouragement to Piety; So that I wonder how the Oxford Oath of Assent & Consent shall relish for the future, wherein men Swear, That nothing is contained in the Book of Cannons, Ordination of Bishops, and Common Prayer, contrary to the word of God, seeing Predestination is found in one of them.

We call in also to witness for us, the Homilies of the Church, which appear to be principally the esta∣blished Doctrine thereof, for the most part composed by the Arch-bishop Cranmer, who sealed among ma∣ny

more, this and other truths, with his Blood. It were too tedious to transcribe all here, but I shall give a passage or two, to engage Readers to be more at∣tentive and observant for the suture. Therefore in the 2d part about p. 160.

God of his mercy & spe∣cial favour, towards them whom he hath appointed to everlasting Salvation, hath so offered his Grace especially, and they have so received it fruitfully, that altho' by reason of their sinful living out ward∣ly, they seemed before to have been the Children of wrath & perdition, yet now the Spirit of God might∣ily working in them unto the obedience of Gods will, that they are the undoubted Children of God, appointed unto everlasting Life: for the Good fruit is not the cause the tree is good: but the tree must first be good, before it can bring forth good fruit.

This & much more may be found in both parts for confirmation of this Doctrine of Predestination.

I refer you also to a Church of England Catechism, enjoyned by K Edw. 6. to all Schoolmasters, for in∣struction of Children throughout the Kingdom, wherein it is asserted,

That the faithful were sore∣chosen, Predestinated, and appointed to everlasting life, before the world was made, & that the cause of our Justification & Salvation, is the goodness & love of God, whereby he chose us, before he made the world.

I cannot omit certain Questions & Answers con∣cerning Predestination, published by Robert Parker, & continued to be bound in with your Bibles, until the year 1615. I shall give you a hint thereof in two or three Questions, relating to Predestination.

Q Are not all ordained to eternal Life? A. Some are Vessels of Wrath, ordained to Destruction, as others are

Vessels of Mercy, prepared for Glory. Q How standeth it with Gods Justice, that some are appointed to Damnation? A. Very well, because all men have in themselves Sin, which deserveth no less, & there∣fore the mercy of God is wonderful, in that he Vouched to save some of that sinful race, and to bring them to the knowledge of the Truth Q. But how shall I know I am ordained to eternal life? A. By the motions of Spiritual Life, which belong∣eth only to the Children of God.

I might enlarge with variety of Testimonies in favour of this Doctrine, from the Learned and Godly in all the past Reigns, from the Reformation down ward; and shall con∣clude with that honourable, and venerable Suffrage of Primate Ʋsher, in his Sum and substance of Christi∣an Religion, which for the Satisfaction of all, I shall deliver in his own words.

Q What are the parts of Predestination? A Election & Reprobation Q. What is Election? A. Tis the everlasting Predesti∣nation or fore appointment of certain Angels and men unto everlasting life and blessedness, for the praise of Gods glorious Grace and Goodness. Q What is Reprobation? A. It is the eternal fore-ap∣pointment of certain Angels & men unto everlast∣ing Dishonour and Destruction, God of his own free will determining to pass them by, refuse, & cast them off, and for sin condemn and punish them, with eternal Death.

And to these you may add most Church of England Books common among us; as also that common Book almost in every Family, The Practice of Piety, So it is to be hoped you will not adventure to say, the Church of Scotland holds any other Predestination, than what is the Doctrine of the

Church of England; or that it is contrary to the word of God, and a great discouragement to Piety.

I am very unwilling to engage in a further contro∣versy about this Doctrine, so fully handled, and suffi∣ciently vindicated already, lest I should engage some of your Island in a most unnatural War, against their own Mother Church: and should it not be a Paradox to Barbados, to hear of a Presbyterian taking up the Cudgels, in defence of a fundamental established Doc∣trine, against a Son, a Member, and a Minister of the English Church? And seeing one hath been pleased to run upon Quaeries on this occasion, I am obliged to entertain you with a few, concerning the contro∣verted Doctrine, in behalf both of Dissenters and the Church of England. The Quaeries are these.

1. Whether God be not an absolute & Sovereign power & being, having infinitely a greater & more illimited and boundless Authority, over the highest and best of his creatures, without being controuled by, or accountable to them; I say, more than the Potter has over the clay, he frames at his pleasure, for honourable & dishonourable uses & services?

2. Whether God from an infinite and eternal knowledge knows infallibly, the certain & determined number of them that shall be Saved, and shall be Damned, which number shall never be encreased, neither can be diminished?

3. Whether it is God of his own will, free grace and goodness, that makes the difference between Be∣lievers and Ʋnbelievers?

4. Whether the immutable and unchangeable De∣crees of God, in the execution of them, rob the crea∣ture of its liberty, in acting or doing?

5. Whether a Sinner without the special and en∣tire Grace of God, can repent, believe, regenerate, and save himself?

6. Whether God can be accounted unjust for dam∣ning a part, while he might justly have damned the whore World for their Sir?

7 Whether God designed the Salvation of any without holiness, faith and repentance, or the damna∣tion of any without fore-running Sin, final unbelief, and impenitence?

8 Whether God absolutely and unchangeably determined with himself the period and end of our dayes in this life?

9. Whether God the Father determined from all eternity, to send his own Son our Saviour, into the World. & all his particular Sufferings in the World?

10 Whether we should decry or disown, those great & transcending Mysteries of God's Counsel, be∣cause we cannot reach, nor comprehend them with our shallow and narrow Capacities, or carnal ap∣prehensions?

If any intend to give any resolution to these ten Quaeries, I hope I need not caution them against such things, as in••ringe, and may tend to impeach the ab∣solute Sovereignty, and Prerogative of Heaven, or condemn their own Church. And I assure my self, they will not revive again those groundless, silly and inconsequential Allegations, vulgarly heaped up a∣gainst this Doctrine; which have been long since unswered, confuted, and overthrown.

FINIS.