2 3o Imputation, and the Nature of it. of the Church of England ; yea I have no desgn but to de- clare and vindicate it, as God {hall enable. There are indeed fundry differences among PerlonsLearned, Sober, and Orthodox (if that term difpleafe not) in the way and manner of the Explication of the Do&rine of Ju- ftilication by imputation of the Righteoufnef of Chr ft, who yet all of them agree in the fubflance of it, in all thofe things wherein the Grace of God, the Honour of Chri[l, and the Peace of the Souls of men are principally concerned. As far as it is poffible for me, I [hall avoid the concerning of my felf at prefent, in thefe I3if erences. For unto what pur- pofe is it to contend about them, whilft the fubflance of the 1)0C/rifle it pelf is openly oppofed and reje &ed ? why fhould we debate about the order and beautifying of the Rooms in an Houle, whilft Fire is let unto the whole ? when that is well quenched, we may return to the confideration of the befi means for the difpofal and ufe of the feveral parts of it. There are two grand Parties by whom the Do&rine of yit lifiation by the Imputation of the Righteoufnef of Chrift is oppofed, namely, the Papifis and the Socinians. But they proceed on different principles, and unto different Ends. The design of the one is to exalt their own Merits, of the other to defiroy the merit of Chrifl. But betides thefe who trade in company, we have many Interlopers, who coming in on their hand, do make bold to borrow from both, as they fee occafion. We [hall have to do with them all in our progrefs; not with the Perlons of any, nor the way and manner of their expreffing themfelves , but the Opinions of all of them fo far as they are oppofite unto the Truth. For it is that which wife men defpife and good raen bewail, to fee per - fons pretending unto Religion and Piety, to cavil at Expref- fions, to contend about Words, to endeavour the faflenirig of Opinions on men which they own not, and thereon mu- tually
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