214 THE MANNER OF CON baptized: " Ut ventum est ad horam profitendm fidel " quo verbis certis retentisque memoriter, de loco emi- " nentiore in conspectu populi fidelis B.omm reddi solet " ab eis qui accessori sunt ad gratiam tuam, oblatum " esse dicebat Victorino u Presbyteris, ut secretius red- " Beret, sicut non nullis qui verecundia trepidaturi vi- 4, debantur offeri mos erat; ilium autem maluisse salu- "tem suam in conspectu sanetm multitudinis profiteri, " non enim erat salas quant docebat in Rhetorica et ta. " men earn publice professas erat. Quanto minus ve- "I-eri debuit Mansuetam gregem team pronuncians " verbum tuum, qui non verebatur in verbis suis turbas " insanorum? Itaque ubi ascendit ut redderet, omnes " sibimet invicem ut eum noverant, instrepuerunt no- "men ejus strepitu congratulationis. Quis autern ibi " eum non noverar? Et sonuit presso sonitu per ora Cunctorum, Victorious, Victorinus; cito sonuerunt " exultatione quia videbant corn, cito siluerunt intera. " rione ut audirent eunt; pronunciai ille fidem veracem " prmclara fiducia, et volebant eum omnes rapere intro " in cor swum; et rapiebant amandoet gaudendo. Hm " rapientium manus erant." Lib. 8. cap. 2. Not a few things concerningthe order, discipline, and fervent love of the primitive Christians in their church- societies, are intimated and represented in these words, which I shall not here reflect upon. Sect. 39. And this is the second great work of the Spirit of God in the new creation. This is a summary description of his forming and creating the members of that mystical body, whose head is Christ Jesus. The VERSION EXPLAINED latter part of our discourse, concerning the external manner of regeneration or conversion unto God, with the gradual preparation for it, and accomplishment of it in the souls of men, is that subject which many prac- tical divines of this nation have, in their preaching and writings, much insisted on and improved, to the great profit and edification of the church of God. But this whole doctrine, with all the declarations and applica- tions of it, is nowby some among ourselvesderided and exposed to scorn, although it be known to have been the constant doctrine of the most learned Prelates ofthe Church of England. And as the doctrine is exploded, so all experience of the work itself in the souls of men, is decried as fanatical and enthusiastical. To obviate the pride and wantonness of this filthy spirit, I have, in the summary representation of the work itself now given, confirmed the several instances of it, with the experience of the great and holy man so often named. For, whereas some of those by whom this doctrine and work are despised, are puffed up with a conceit of their excellency in the theatrical sceptical faculty of these days, unto a contempt of all by whom they are contradicted in the most importune of their dictates; yet, if they should swell themselves until they break, like the frog in the fable, theywould never pre- vail with their fondest admirers to admit them into a competition with the immortal wit, grace, and learning, ofthat eminent champion of the truth, and light ofthe agewherein he lived. '^-,..,..^+/1--1.. .,--- . . =
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