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TO THE

IMPARTIAL READER.

COURTEOUS READER,

I AM to inform thee, that in the time of the Popish government, when Popery and Quakerism smiled so amicably on each other, as the two religions, if I might so call them, which are nearest of kin of all the religions visibly professed in these kingdoms, the people called Quakers sent me a thrasonical challenge in writing, (which was afterwards published in print), to prove, from the scriptures of truth, the four doctrines here following: 1. The doctrine of the resurrection of this fleshly body, which dies and turns to dust. 2. The doctrine of justification, by the alone righteousness of Jesus Christ, freely imputed. 3. The doctrine of imperfection in sanctification in the most mortified believer, while in this world. 4. The doctrine of particular unconditionate election before time. All which the Quakers do stiffly and peremptorily deny, as by their printed book against me doth evidently appear. Their challenge I was resolved to answer in print, to let the world see what heterodox and heretical principles that deluded and seduced people do hold and teach for true

religion. Besides my resolution herein, I oblige myself, by promise to my congregation, that I would, in the strength of Christ, prick the bladder of their blasphemous pride, by proving and making good, by the scriptures of truth, the abovesaid doctrines. For my encouragement wherein, my congregation did unanimously stand by me, resolving I should be at no other charge hereabout but the studying part. Paper was bought, the printer agreed with; and just as the press was ready to begin, the storm came suddenly on the Protestants in Dublin, that we were soon scattered asunder; the providence of God calling on us to secure our lives instead of printing books. The reason why I have been so long silent in this cause, is the want of that help I had from my flock in Dublin, If any generous noble-spirited Christians, who love Christ's cause better than they do the mammon of this world, will step in to my encouragement, in supplying the room of my absent friends, they shall, in a very short time, see the four doctrines above mentioned cleared up and made good from God's word, maugre all the jesuitical craft and subtilty whereof that people seem to be masters. The reason why I have singled out the last of the four doctrines rather than any of the other three, to discover and confute the Quakers' pernicious heterodoxy in the foundation principles of true Christianity, is twofold.

First, because that in denying and opposing

e doctrine of particular, unconditionate election, before time, they do manifestly rob God of his sovereignty and praise.

Secondly, because of the natural tendency, which the denial of this doctrine of a particular, unconditionate election, before time, and the holding and propagating its contrary, viz., the doctrine of free will to good in every man, of general redemption, and a temporary conditional election with falling from grace, hath to encourage men in living a licentious, loose life; and to necessitate men's final despair of salvation, when the natural conscience in unregenerate men comes to be under powerful awakenings, for sin committed against the law of God.

That I do the Quakers no wrong, in charging them with robbing God and encouraging men to live in sin; as also their laying a foundation for men's despair of ever being saved in their way of conditional and temporary election, will evidently appear to him who reads and compares with God's revealed will, what is discovered in this small tract; and in case any noble-spirited Christians will but encourage the work, as already hinted, I do not so much as doubt, but that the Spirit of God will enable me to demonstrate from God's own word that the Quakers, in denying the resurrection of the body, and the justification of a sinner by the alone righteousness of the Son of God freely imputed, without any regard had to any qualifications, inhering in the person of the

SOLD BY

E. HUNTINGTON, 55, HIGH STREET,

BLOOMSBURY.

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