Chap. X. Of the Re-capitulation, or Re-union of all Things under Chrift their Head. Chap. XII. The Objection drawn from the Unpar- donableness of the Sin against the Holy Ghoft. It Chap. XIII. A further clearing of the foregoing Ar- gument, from the great Advantages Chrift has arifing from the Relation and Proportion the Firft-fruits bear to the deliverance of the reft. 134 Chap. XV. An Argument for this Hypothefis taken from the Nature of Man, as each Individual is a Compendium & Abftract of the entire Crea- tion, and fo not probable to be caft away forever.145 Chap. XVI. Further Evidence of this Hypothefis, fromthe high Eulogies of Love in the Scriptures 149 Chap. XVII. An Argument for this Hypothefis, from the Oath of the Angel, Rev. x. 1. to 6. 152 The PREFACE. THERE may poffibly need fomething by way of Apology, for putting out a Book of this kind, efpecially in an Age fo profligate; and it may by fome be look'd upon as a Design to promote Libertinifm, and concur with the Aim and End of too many Writers of thefe Times, under pretence of Religion to undermine it at the Root: But I doubt not but the Seriousness and Solidity, with which this Subject is managed, the Zeal for the Glory of God, the Vindication of his moft Glorious Attributes, and the earnest Endeavours for promoting the Love of God and Charity to all Mankind, which all along appear fo Confpicuous in this Work, will foon convince the Readers that there is a Defign of the utmoft Service to Religion at the bottom; and that rather by a New Topic of Perfuafion to bring in Profelites to the Kingdom of Grace, than to drive any from it. With relation to God, it cannot but be an 'accceptable Service to represent him in his most amiable Excel-' lencies, and vindicate the Supereminence of his Love, which is his Nature, and the full Latitude of his Mercy and Goodness towards his Creatures, which has had a Cloud or Veil of Darknefs drawn over it in the Minds of the generality of Mankind; fo that it has fhone out lefs amiably, and lefs powerfully convincing and commanding a 2 manding the Hearts and Affections of Men, and giving occafion to many that have been strong in the Faculty of Reasoning, and have taken their Notions of God rather from thence than from the Scriptures, as tranflated and glofs'd upon, and reprefented according to the Schemes and Syftems of thefe latter Ages, by reafon of the many Inconfiftencies therein, to throw off all Revealed Religion, and own only a God in fuch manner as can be proved by Human Reafon; and others that have lefs Confideration and Ufe of that Talent, thro' their Immersion into Sense, have hence had too great Encouragement and too great Arguments for Atheism and Libertinism itself. And those that would convince them upon the Common Hypotheses have wanted also their greatest Arguments to prevail upon them. One Inftance I fhall give, which I have been well inform'd of, and that is in the late Earl of Rochester, in the midst of all his Extravagancies, both of Opinion and Practice, he was once in Company with the Author of this Treatise, who difcourfing with him about Religion and the Being of a God, took the Opportunity to difplay the Goodness of God in its full Latitude, according to the Scheme laid down in this his present Work; upon which the Earl returned him Answer, That he could approve of and like fuch a God as he had reprefented. So far was he from drawing any Encouragement for his loofe Principles from hence, that on this Suppofition he gave up the Cause. And thus we may fee how, with relation to Mankind, if God were truly represented in the Infinity of his Grace and Goodness, and the Authority of those other Schemes which give his Juftice fo great a Prevalency over his Mercy, were rebated rebated or taken off, many that can ftand the Shock or Terrors of the Common Preaching of Eternal Wrath and Damnation, or a Hell-Fire without End, might yet be reclaimed by the Manifeftation of the Goodness of God when they should come to fee, or understand it as it is. For Love is ftrongeft, and in its own Nature most Powerful to attract and to perfwade. And therefore when tis objected, This Doctrine ought not to be broach'd in a Licentious Age, apt to take hold of all Occafions of Encouragement: we must turn back the Argument upon the Objectors, and tell them, Therefore there is need of greater Strength and Argument for Perfuafion; that the beft Wine at last should be drawn out, and the full Strength of the Love in its Turn and Seafon fhould be super-added to the Strength of Justice and Judgment for Influence upon the Minds of Men. It may be yet faid, "Suppofing this Doctrine to be true, that in the Opinion of feveral that have held it, it ought to be kept as a Secret, among fuch as may be fit to receive it, and not publickly expofed?" To this I Answer, 1. 'Tis true, Origen himself says fo: But this is not to be understood of Writing upon the Subject, for that he did himself most freely; but rather of the general Conduct of our Converfation, not to expofe the Myfteries of Religion to fuch as could not receive them. But, 2. There is a Time for all Things. There is a Time when all Secrets are to be Revealed and Proclaimed upon the House Tops. And this is in the Latter Day, in which WISDOM is to manifeft herself, and Knowledge to increase as the Waters that cover the Sea: Ifa. ix. 11. See also Dan. ult. iv. 10. Yea, this very Secret has its proper Time to be revealed; as 1 Tim. ii. 6. i. e. To be teftified in due Time.And when is it, that this pouring out of Knowledge is expected to be, and the Manifeftations of the hidden Wisdom of God, but in the Preparation or Entrances of the Bleffed times of Refreshment from the Prefence of the Lord, in his next or Latter Day Advent, i. e. to his Millennial Kingdom; of which we hear the Alarms at this very Day, from all Quarters and all Parties; from fuch as have been Students of the Prophetic Writers, or heedful Obfervers of the Signs of the Times. then in this very Age, we have found many running to and fro, and Knowledge increafed, fo we may ex-. pect it will be yet much more so. As The Occafion of our Author's writing upon this Subject is so very fingular, that I believe fome Accountthereof will be both Acceptable and Useful to such as fhall incline to look into it. When he was at the Univerfity, and had ftudied all the Schemes of Divinity, he could not find from any, or from all of them together, that God was Good, that God was Love, as the This put him into a great Scriptures declare of him. Diffatisfaction and Perplexity of Mind, from which he could no way extricate himfelf; but it grew upon him more and more, till it threw him into a Fit of Sicknefs, and that fo dangerous at there was no Hopes of his Recovery; but in it, at the worft, he had a Beam of Divine Grace darted upon his Intellect, with a sudden, warm, and lively Impreffion; which gave him immediately a New Set of Thoughts concerning God and his Works, and the Way of his dealing with his Offend |