Imatges de pàgina
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1676.

How this controversy

was com

posed.

The success that followed here

upon.

66

"that his obedience is properly meritorious of all our saving benefits, and himself a proper 'Avrάuxos "in his death." All this was not sufficient to clear him it was urged, he used some phrases and expressions as the Socinians did, and that perhaps he might be a Socinian and not know it, and more to the same purpose. But all the objections of this nature are demonstratively answered by that most learned prelate, to whom the matter was on both sides referred.

When Mr. Lob and his brethren now found they could not gain their point, but that his party became suspected of Dr. Crisp's errors, by that time much exploded through the prevailing of the opposite truths, they thought fit to draw up a sort of confession, wherein they cleared themselves of the most dangerous of Crisp's opinions, according to the repeated advice of the late bishop of Worcester, though not so fully and clearly as he had proposed: and Mr. Lob being now better reconciled desired Mr. Williams to put the best sense on that confession, that so a period might be set to these debates; Mr. Williams readily consented, and wrote thereupon, and printed a few sheets, called An End of Discord; wherein he stated the orthodox, as also the Socinian and Antinomian notions, as to Christ's satisfaction; and represented the confession of those more sober independents as orthodox, as their words with the most charitable construction could bear. Thus ended then this controversy among the dissenters.

The number of antinomians among the dissenters were so reduced, at length, by the methods which had been taken, that I am creditably informed by a considerable man, who cannot but know the state of

this affair, that there are not now left above three 1676. or four preachers of that sort, (at least known to him,) and those of no esteem. So that men, he saith, can without clamour now publish the truth: yea, and most of the independents and anabaptists in this city, especially the last, do preach, as I am informed, against antinomianism. antinomianism. Which great change for the better is to be ascribed in a great measure, under God, to the indefatigable and zealous pains of Dr. Williams, for promoting the truths of the Gospel, concerning Christ's satisfaction and our justification, according as they are both most solidly stated and explained, first by our excellent "author, and then by bishop Stillingfleet; not without a particular respect to the true sense and false notion of commutation of persons, which was the cause of so great discord. As he hath been among the dissenters an instrument for putting a stop to those pernicious errors, and as his conviction that the essentials of Christianity were struck at by his opposers, together with the aptitude of an evangelical ministry, for promoting practical holiness; (which appear to have been the motives principally inclining him to contend with a strong party, who would leave nothing unattempted to crush him if possible ;) his name, I think, ought to be mentioned with respect, and this short account of the controversy, wherein he was engaged for many years, is but a piece of justice that is due to him, for the good service he hath done in the cause of truth. It is almost incredible how much he was a sufferer, in and for the defence of it, from some who were too apt to act

u Examen Censuræ, Resp. ad Animad. xi. Apol. sect. vi.

1676. their principles against such as opposed them. But he had counted the cost, as he writeth in a letter to me, even though his life had been sacrificed. And indeed his good name, which to many is more precious than life itself, was attacked hereupon in the most desperate manner; though it did but all tend to his fuller justification before all good men, and his greater triumph over his adversaries. For after about eight weeks spent in an inquiry into his life by a committee of the united ministers, which received all manner of complaints and accusations against him, it was declared at a general meeting, as their unanimous opinion, and repeated and agreed to in three several meetings successively, that he was entirely clear and innocent of all that was laid to his charge. Thus both his book and his person were vindicated in the amplest form, after the strictest examination that could be made; and his and the truth's adversaries put to silence. to return to Mr. Bull.

Mr. Bull

made pre

Gloucester

X

But

XLIX. Upon the publication of the Harmonia

bendary of Apostolica, Mr. Bull's reputation, which was before by the earl confined to the narrow bounds of his own neighof Notting- bourhood, began to extend itself among the learned,

ham.

not only in this kingdom, but in foreign parts. Some prejudices indeed at first were raised against him by his adversaries, who attacked him with great vehemency, and some great men were made to believe, that through want of orthodoxy he was not fit to be preferred. But when he made his answers to those objections, which were prest upon him; and

* Postscript to Gospel Truth, p. 301-308.

published his Examen Censura, and his apology for 1676. himself, and the treatise he had wrote; the world quickly saw how little he deserved the calumnies which were thrown upon him, and he began to shine the brighter for having been under some eclipse. And this was farther confirmed by those who were in the sentiments of his adversaries, (for they were dead themselves,) who were silenced by what he offered in his own defence, and never pretended to make any reply.

The knowledge of his character, thus cleared by his own nervous pen, quickly reached the then lord chancellor, who having been made lord keeper of the great seal in 1673, was shortly after that advanced to the degree of a baron of this realm, by the title of lord Finch of Daventry, and in 1675 was made lord high chancellor of England; and farther in testimony of his many faithful services, which his lordship had rendered the crown, he was in 1681 created earl of Nottingham. His lordship was justly esteemed the great oracle of the law in his time, and so perfect a master in the art of speaking, that he passed for the English Cicero; yet his great understanding, his eloquent tongue, and his titles of honour, did not give his name so lasting a lustre, as that piety and virtue wherewith he adorned his high station, which is but too often starved in so rich a soil, and thriveth best in a private life.

ham's me

thod of be

Among the many very commendable qualities of The earl of this great man, his zeal for the welfare of the NottingChurch of England was not the least conspicu-howing his ous; which particularly shewed itself in the care preferhe took in disposing of those ecclesiastical preferments, which were in the gift of the seal. He

ments.

1676. judged rightly in looking upon that privilege as a trust for the good of the Church of God, of which he was to give a strict account; and therefore being sensible that the several duties of his great post, as first minister of state, as lord chancellor, and as speaker of the house of lords, would not allow his lordship time and leisure to make that inquiry which was necessary to know the characters of such as were candidates for preferment, he devolved this particular province upon his chaplain, whose conscience he charged with an impartial scrutiny in this matter; adding withal, that he would prefer none but those who came recommended from him; and that if he led him wrong, the blame should fall upon his own soul.

The present

of York

then his chaplain.

It is true, that this was a great testimony of my archbishop lord's entire confidence in the uprightness as well as the capacity of his chaplain; but the world will quickly be satisfied with what caution and judgment his lordship took his measures, when they shall know, that his then chaplain was Dr. Sharp, the present lord archbishop of York, who fills one of the archiepiscopal thrones of the Church of England, with that universal applause, which is due to his grace's distinguishing merit; whose elevation hath not deprived him of his humility, but he exerciseth the same affability and courtesy towards all men, which he practised in a lower sphere. And that learning and piety, that integrity and zeal for the glory of God, which influence his grace in the government of his diocese and of his province, were peculiarly serviceable to the earl of Nottingham, in the charge his lordship laid upon him with so much solemnity. From a lord chancellor so well disposed to secure the

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