Autokatakrisis, or, Self-condemnation,: exemplified in Mr. Whitfield, Mr. Barlee, and Mr. Hickman. With occasional reflexions on Mr Calvin, Mr Beza, Mr Zuinglius, Mr Piscator, Mr Rivet, and Mr Rollock: but more especially on Doctor Twisse, and Master Hobbs; against whom, God's purity and his præscience ... with the sincere intention and the general extent of the death of Christ, are finally cleared and made good; and the adversaries absurdities ... are proved against them undeniably, out of their own hand-writings. With an additional advertisement of Mr Baxter's late book entituled The Groatian religion discovered, &c. By Thomas Pierce rector of Brington in Northampon-shire.

Sect. 1.

BEing now to consider the Doctrinal part of Mr. Barlee's Book, which he Intitles, A Necessary Vindication, or full Ab∣stersion, I must begin with his Third Chapter: where omitting his Buffonery, (as that which serves to no end, but to proclaim him to the world for

the most lantentable Zanie that ever pretended to stir up laughter) I will immediately address my self to the unco∣vering of his Doctrines; and of those in the first place, which have most endear'd him to Mr. Whitfield, by forging God to have a hand in all the wickedness in the World with∣out exception; and not onely to be the Author, but (which is much more frightful) the Necessitator of sin.

His first Abstersion in this kind (for so he was resolved to word it, and the Printer it seems did let him have his own will) is a plain acknowledgment of the Crime with which he stands charged. For of all those Authors and Assertions which I objected to Mr. B. as to a Follower and a Disciple, he professeth to disown no more then two. His words are these, [I will onely except against monstrous Leviathan Hobbs, and the Book which he calls Comfort for Believers. These I disown from ever having been my Ma∣sters, c. 3. p. 7.] Away with these two then; they are ex∣cepted against. But for Zanchie, Borrhaus, Piscator, Be∣za, Zuinglius, and Martyr, and all the other ingredients in that long Catalogue, Mr. B. avows them to be his Masters. Ingenuum est agnoscere per quos profeceris. But it is taught by those Authors, (in the very† pages by him cited) That

both the Reprobates and the Elect were preordained to sin as sin; That God is the Author of sin in general, of Mur∣der and Adultery in particular; That he is the cause of sin; and in particular the cause of Incredulity; That God doth thrust men on unto wickedness, and the like.

There∣fore these and the rest (from p. 133. to p. 139.) are avow∣edly the Doctrines of Mr. Barlee. And why Mr. Hobbs is out of favour, who hath not spoken so noisomly as these have done (for ought I have hitherto observed) I cannot guess at the reason, unless he hath offended by his compa∣rative reservedness.

Notes

• His acknow∣ledgment of the crime for which be Apologizeth.
• Div. Philan. c. 3. from p. 1••3. to p. 139.
• †

  Ibid.