Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2017 with funding from Princeton Theological Seminary Library https://archive.org/details/briefreplytogranOOinha y/ ^ • A BRIIC HEP L Y . t T O T M B GRAND ENQUIRY, YY hat muft I do to be favcd? To which are aided, Some peculiar DOCTRINES, AND OBSERVATIONS upon tliem; In which they are repreft&ted as un^eriptural. " • % • 'j " ' ' ALSO, The PROCEEDINGS OF T H S ECCLESIASTICAL COUNCIL At the ORDINATION of the Rev. DANIEL FOSTER,*' la Nkw-Braintrie. O faolilh Teachers who hath bewitched yon, that you ihould pervert the Truth ! May the Coekatncs Egg never hatch. MASSACHUSETTS-BAY : WORCESTER, Printed by ISAIAH THOMAS. HE following thoughts, •were atfir[l deHgned for private ufe ; but after perufal\ for the honour of truth , the good of my fellow (inner s, the Jhame of err one* ous teachers % and the deflruftion of error , 1 have obtained liberty to publifh them to the world ; which may the blefjing of God attend to the latefi ages. I am. Reader , a fincere welUwifher to your bejl intered. An Inhabitant of Nflw-Brarntrcf* January 1779; ij S 1 R, 1 HAVE of late been entertained with ftrange things from the pulpit,which have canfed no fmall uneafinefs in my mind, with regard to the eftentials of the Gofpel, left they ftiould be brought down, and rendered palatable to the pride of the carnal heart. For, in my apprehenfton, thofe fcrip- lural do&rines, which ferve to exalt the faviour and abale the creature, fuch as the depravity of the human nature, and the rich, free* fovereign grace of God, in the recovery of loft finners to him- felf, by faith in the imputed righteouf- nefs of Chrift, are evidently ftruck at.- I therefore ierioufiy afk an anfwer to that all-important queftion— u What gauft ! do to be faved.” A 5 U xvi. 30, I the rather make this enquiry, as I have lately been taught the following doctrines, viz. 1. That men in a natural unre^ene- rate ftate, ©an do thofe things which arc well-pieafing and acceptable in the fight of God, ( 4 ) 2: That the fpecia!, efficacious in¬ fluences of the Holy Spirit in converfion are unneceflary. 3. Which aflerts an unregenerate mail has as much power or ability to lake ptffbffion of the heavenly Canaan, as Ifrael had to take poffeffion of tht earthly Canaan, 4. Some, faith the preacher, hold to an abfolute, perfonal, unconditional e- ledtion, which (adds he) is abfurd and ridiculous, and blefTed be God, it is falfe dodtrine : For Chrift did as much for Judas as for St. Pauh 5. I am told that the power of the will, though an Arminian tenet, is a good one ; that every man has power within himfelf, from means and motives held up, favingly to chufe or refufe. \ 6. That if I reperit and believe the Gofpelj God has engaged that he will give me a new heart and would caufe me to walk in his ftatutes j and if I do no- G«»d will break his covenant. As in Deuteronomy. Fr m the apt,file's mentioning th§ breaking '.ft or the Jews, and grafting in of the Gentiles, I am told, that the /f v . J t _ fs'J^zC / t £ rty'h- S'• S frv ( s ) Jbrmer difpcnfation was a faith of pro- feffion, and the prelent difpenfation means no more, elfe the apoftle’s rea- foning is foolifhnefs. Confequently tells me that faving grace is unneceflary for Complying with any ordinance. 8. I am taught that creedSjCatechifms, ponfeffions of faith, church covenants, £cc. are a long rope of which the devil has the knot-end. That the devil could not have done fo much mifchief without them, and that there could not be a re* formation till thefe were thrown slide: But then he added, that children might be taught the caieehife, provided the ' |noft dangerous p; • u were left out. g. I am told cm account of the righ- teoufnefs or Chriii the divine attributes harmonife, juftice could demand no more : Chrifl partaking human nature has elevated and reftored it to favour j and the whole h uman race are upon bet¬ ter ftandrng than Adam in innocency. 10. The gofpel is a remedial law, brought down to our capacities, and that we are able to obey its precepts. 11. The depravity of human nature is denied, and original fin is averted not i<3 be damning. » '% rn 9m 12. I have been taught that original fin and imputed guilt is as unfcriptural as the Indiansphilolophy was unphilo** fophical, when he faid, the world was held up by a great Indian, the Indian flood upon a tortoife, and the tcrtoife flood upon nothing. 13. That an unregenerate man could aft: a divine faith, or put forth a faving aft, as well a!s the regenerate. 14. I am taught that & faving faith is an affent of the will, founded on the undemanding, but the confent of the will was no part of it, illuflrated by this fimilitude, ‘ I believe there is fuch a place as London , becauje 1 have feen the hiflory ojjtb And the life of faith is works; And that God is not the immediate au¬ thor of faith,but the fcriptures mediately or by means. And the faith of devils differs not from the faith of believers, but in this, one has works, the other has none. Thefe, Sir, are the doftrines I have been taught to believe j pray be fo kind as to give me, in brief, your fentiments upon them, and you will greatly oblige one, who is jearching after Truth. *Ihe REPLY. Dear Sir , Y your addrefs you difcover a de*« fire to be freed from error, and to be led into the knowledge of divine truth. It will afford me peculiar pleafure, if I may be happily inftrumental, in the hand of God,of affording you fome little affiftance in this moil weighty concern. Your firfi: enquiry is, * What mufl Id® fo be faved V. I would diredt you to the apoftle’s anfwer, Believe on the Lord Je- fus Chrijl and thou fhalt be faved. Not that any perfon if left to the inclinations of his own depraved heart,will ever feel a difppfition favingly to clofe withChriff. Becaufe the carnal mind is enmity againff God. Rom, viii. 7. For by grace are ye Javed through faith,and that not of your* [elves, it is the gift of God. Eph. ii, 8. Man is not born a believer,faith fprings not up oi itfelf, from fome hidden feeds in our degenerate nature; but is altoge¬ ther of a foreign extr&df, it is. of a frw jpernatural birth. Ml> „ ■'" J -rTg None that give credit to the Bible, tit even confult their own experience and observation, bu mu ft confefs, that this grace of faith is a holy principle, which no man bungs into the world with him, for wc are born with an evil heart with¬ in us ; arc all included in the numbed of the many, who bv one mans difobe - dience were made jinners. There is an inbred principle of infidelity, an hidden root of bitternefs, in the corrupt nature, which we have all derived from apof- tare Adam. Fooiifhnef*, lays the wife- eft man, is bound up in the heart of a child, and nothing can effectually root it out, but the rod of his (lrength> who maketb his people willing in the day of bis power. Unrenewed men are as much at en¬ mity in their minds, againft the grace of God, and the merits of Cnrift, in the feriptare account ef them, as they are to his bolinefs and moral government. This appears evident in convicted perfons, when enlightened by the holy fpirit, they fee themfelves under a brok¬ en law,and in extreme danger of perifh- ing forever,without an intereft inChrift, & new heart, and a change from nature to grace : Yet how great is their attach¬ ment to the law as a covenant of works, how does the fpirit of the pharifee ope¬ rate and prevail within them ! That however much they may exprefs their defire toward a faviour,and a willingnefs to be juftified by Chrift; it is plain they are for compounding matters, mingling law and gofpefor elfe pafs on in a mid¬ dle way between them : At beft they are for wafhiog their fins by the tears of repentence, joined with faith in the blood of Chrift, ©r elfe hope to make a righteouihds of their prayers and duties, thinking l/ thefe to recommend them- felves to the grace of God, to obtain Chrift, and get entitled to his benefits : At molt the pride of their ftubborn hearts will not 1 offer them to come to Chrift as naked forlorn finners,wretched and miferahle, trembling under fearful apprehenfions of their guilt and danger , as worthlefs, belplefs and hopelefs in themlelves confidered, depending alone on the perfedt righteoufnefs of Chrift for iuftification and acceptance with God. Hence it is manifeft, that holy and B unfeigned faith, is fo far from being a connatural principle in us,that by nature we are utter Grangers to it, nay enemies a^ainrt it. Nor is this faith an acquired habit or the natural effect of human endeavours, \%hich we procure to ourfelves, by vir¬ tue of cur own moral improvements on natural reafon and confidence : For the truly regenerate are born not of bloody nor of the will of the flefhy nor* of tbs will of man but of God. John i, 13.. And when it fhail pleale God to bring you favingly to believe in Chrift,he will give you to fee that falvation is all of grace, of pure, unmingled grace, that all b ailing may be excluded from man, and an the glory redound to his great na-ne. That the law is fpiritual, but that are carnal, fold under fin. He will fnew you that all works produced by human endeavours.and even faith itfelf, as it is the add: of the creature, are en¬ tirely fet afide in the grand bufinefs of our jollification before God ; and that you (land in the molt abfolute need of a better 1 ighteoufnefs than your own.even the pcrlrdt righteoufncls of Chrift to denominate you righteous before his en- lightened tribunal. That nothing fhort of an almighty power can take away the ftony heart, and effectually renew the will. He will then hold up a faviour to view, fuch a faviour as is exactly calcu¬ lated to relieve you under your perill¬ ing circumftances j and will enable you to hunger and third: after Chrift ; He will give you to fee that in Jefus the Redeemer all fulnels dwells; all fulnefe of merit and righteoufnefs,of grace, lanc- tiftcation and ialvation ; and this for the unworthy, for the moft guilty among men, for whofoever wili, even for the chief of tinners. If you know thefe things by happy experience, may you ftill gq on rejoicing in Chri/l JeJus , putting no confidence in the Flejh. But if not, may the Lord give you a will, a heart, cordially to accept of Chrift ; may he make bear his arm, and by the powerful operations of the bleffed fpirit, effectually draw off your affections from the love of-(in, from the love of the world, and the things of it; may he draw you to himfelf,and faving- ly unite you to Jefus Chrift by a faith of d’vine operation ; «hat you may live to ^honour his great i.amejand bring ( 12 ) forth much fruit to the praiie of his glo¬ rious grace, that hereafter you may join with faints and angels in fublime afcrip- tions of praife to him that fitteth upon the throne, and to the lamb forever and ever. As to the dodlrines you have been taught, viz. i. “ That men in a natural, unrege¬ nerate flate, can do thofe things which are welhpleafing and acceptable in the fight of God." This appears to me both dangerous and unfcriptural. i. Dangerous for it leads the finner to build his hopes for heaven on a falfe foundation, even upon his own works: But what fay the ferip-* lures. Other foundation can no man lay> than that is laid , which is Jefus Chrifl. t Cor. iii. ji. By grace are ye faved ; not of works , lejl any man Jhould boafl, Eph. ii. 8, 9. Now if Jefus Chrifl be the only foundation for men to build the falvation of their precious fouls upon, then to build upon works as a foundation muft be infinitely dangerous. 2. It is unfcriptural ; for, fays Chrifl,John iii.6. that which is born ofFlefh , is FleJIo, And fays the apoflle, Rom. viii. 8. They that ( i3 ) $re in the F!eJ7: cannot pleafe God, By being in the flsfh, mu ft mean man in his natural unregenerate ftate,for being born of the fltfh is dire&'y oppofed by our Saviour himfelf to being born of the fpirit : He therefore adds. Marvel not that I jaid unto thee,ye mujl be born again. We read exprefsfy, Heb. xi. 6. ‘That without faith it is impojfible to pleafe God. But man in his natural ftate has not faith, therefore it is impofiible for man in his natural ftate to do thofe things which are well pleafing in the fight of God. 2. “ That regeneration,and the fpecial effacacious influences of the holy fpirit in convetfion are unneceffary.” The former part of this article is di¬ ametrically oppofite our faviour’s con¬ ference with Nicodemus,and to the im¬ port of the whole New-Teftarmnt.and is therefore falfe. And as to the fpecial, effacacious influences of the holy fpirit in converfion as unneceffary, thefe texts may prove the affertiuo unfcriptural, Eph.i. 19, 20. And what is the exceed - ing greatnejs of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power t which he wrought in ChriJlfWhett he raifed him from the dead. < H ) 2 Cor. v. 17. Therefore vim be in Chrifl be is a new creature . With Eph. ii. 1. 10.' 3.“Which afferts,an unregenerate man has as much power, or ability to take poffeffion of the heavenly Canaan, as If- rael had to take porteflion of the earths ly Canaan. 1 ” If by power, or ability, he means a natural power, I fhall not contend with him j but if he means a moral power, that men have a heart, a will,while un= regenerate, to love God,to chufe his fer- vice, to believe in Chrirt, and accept of falvation,as offered in the gofpei through him, I muft deny the affertion, and hold it unfcriptural : Elfe why does our fa- viour complain, Te will not come unto me that ye might have life , John v. 40. It is reprefented in fcripture as being given unto men to believe,P< 6 / 7 /’/>, 1 2, 9.* And fays Chrifl, John vi. 44, No man can come to me except the Father which bath Jent me draw him . 4. “ Some, fays the preacher, (I had almofl faid importer) hold to an abfo- lute, perfonal, unconditional cleffion ; which, adds he,is abfurd and ridiculous, and blcffed be God it is falfc dedtiine : * XL For Chrift died as much forjudas as lot St. Paul/' That there h a certain remnant that fhall be laved, and this by virtue of e- legion is pkin from the following paf~> fages. Vtjfels of mercy afore prepared unto glory , Rom. ix. 33. flbe eiedlion hath obtained, Rom. xi. 7. As many as •were ordained to eternal life believed , Afts xiii. 4 b. And 2. ThelT. ii. 13. God hath from the beginning chofetki you to (ulvation, &c. It was requifitc that ekOion fhouid be abfolute, beeaufe ©f the abfolutenefs of God’s decree touching the death of his Son, unto which he was fore-ordained unrepealably. i.Pet. i. 20. He was the lamb Jlainfrom theJoundati - on of the world , Rev. xiii. 8. Audit was not poffible that cupJJ)ouid pafs from him , Matt. xxvi. 39, 42. Now if it be a thing below the prudence of men to lay down the price,without fecuriog the purchafe 5 then furely the wifdom ©f God could not determine the death ©f his fon, for men’s falvation, and yet leave the lalva- fion of thefe very men at an uncertain- ty ; which it muft have been, if their election had not been ablolute. And that tlcdtion is per fon al, is plain from this y ( *6 ) the defign of God in the death of Chrift could not othe s rwife he fecured. Had the defign been to purchafe falvation for be¬ lievers, without afeertaining the perfons that fhould believe, it had been uncer¬ tain whether any would be faved, be- caufe uncertain whether any would be - lieve. If certain thatfome would believe, this certainty mull be decreed. For no¬ thing future could be certain otherwife; and if it was decreed that fome fhould believe, the individuals of that fome mad be decreed alfo j for faith is the gift of God, and conid not be foreleen in any, but whom he had decreed to give it unto. Which laid together are a good demonftration that thofe Chrift: died for, were as well pre-ordained, as that he fhould die for them., and that definitely and by name. It is alfo unconditional. To derive eie I. Cor. i. 29. But if any thing in the creature, any good works forefeen, be en¬ titled to the eaufality of election, flefti will glory ; and inftead of excluding man’s boafting, grace itfelf will be excluded. See Rom. xi. 6. It is laid “ Chrift died as much for Judas as for St. PaulThis I deny. Judas is ac¬ knowledged by all, to be the f©n of perdi* lion, and to be eternally loft i But thole for whom Chrift died are appointed to ob¬ tain lalvation through him, 1 Theff. v. 90 Chrift is faid exprefly to die for his people, Matt. i. 21. His Iheep, John x. 11,12. His church, Adis xx. a 8. Eph. v, 25; As dif- tinguilhed from the world, Rom. v. 8* Whence, fays one, ** V/e may furely con¬ clude, that Chrift died not for all and eve¬ ry one. Not for thefe he never knew, whom he hates, whom he hardens, on whom he will not fhevv mercy, who were before of old ordained to condemnation : In a word for a reprobate* for the world for which he would not pray.’* Here perhaps you will ebjedl, “ How can the offers of falvation ba (aid to bo made ( i8 ) with finccrity to thofc for whom Chrift never died ?” To this I anfwer in the words of a learned divine. “ Thofc to whom the gofpel is preached, are obliged to believe that Chrift is God,the fon of God,the true Mefiiah, &c. according to the tenor of the revelation made to them $ and may juftly be condemned for not believing in him as fuch, even though he died not for them; for that he died for them, is not what they are obliged to believe, that being no part of the revelation made to them ; nor will they be condemned for not believing that ht died for them,but for their neglett,con¬ tempt and unbelief of him and his gofpel.’* 5. “I am told that the power of the will, though an Arminian tenet, is a good one; that every man has power within himfelf from means and motives held up, favingly to chufe or refufe** To this it may be replied, as to unrege¬ nerate perfons they have no will, or moral po wer, to chufe and prefer fpiritual and di¬ vine things; they delire not the knowledge of God’s ways-; their carnal minds are en-» mity againft God, and are not fubjedfc to his law, nor can they be fubjedl to it, with¬ out the fpecial grace of God. Thy people Jball be willing in the day of thy power, Pfa. ( 19 ) i io, 3. Who are horn not of blood t nor of the will of the Flejh , Sec. John i. 13. 6. “ That if I repent and believe the Goipel, God has engaged that he will give me a new heart, and would caufe me to walk in hisilatutes, and if I do not, God will break his covenant, as mDeutcrcmmyf Here it may be obferved, that no perfon does truly repent and believe in Chrift, but he that has a new heart. I hope no one will be fo abfurd as to aOert, than an un¬ regenerate perfon,while fuch,can a£ faving faith and evangelical repentence 5 No,they mud be created in Chrift Jefus, and have the fpirit of Chrift put in them firft. Hence faith and repentance are not conditions of the new heart, but the fruits and gracious exercifes of it. Thefe by the influences of his fpirit, God will enable to walk in his ftatutes, and to perfevere through faith and hoiinefs unto falvatiom For having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them to the end . John xiii. f. Jer. xxxi. 31. 7. “ From the apoftle's mentioning, the breaking off of the jews,and grafting in of the Gentiles,I am told, that the former dil- penfation was a faith of profeffion, and the prefent difpenfation means no more, olfe the apoftle's reafoning is fooiiftinefs. ( 20 ) fcquently tells me that faving grace is unne« ceffary for complying with any ordinance.’* We may here obferve, that no difpen- fation, evej given from God to men admits of hypocrify j he always requires the heart, and even under the Mofaic difpenfation, thofc that were ceremonially polluted,were forbidden to partake of the paffover, not¬ withstanding their profeffion. And under ihe holy difpenfation of the golpel, the church of Chrift is called a ipiritual houfc, and believers are laid to be lively Hones of which it is built, an holy pried: had to offer up fpiritua! facrifices acceptable to God by Jcfus Chrift, i Peter ii. 5. But what unfit materials, are hypocritical pro- felfors, who are dead in trelpalfes and fins, to make up a part of this fpiritual building ? The gofpel therefore requires holinefs of heart and life in all thofc that make profel- fion of their faith in Chrift. And let every cne, that nameth the name of Cbrifl depart from iniquity, 2Tim. ii. 19. God is a fpirit and they who wor/hip him , mujl •worjhip him in Jpirit and in truth , John iv. 24. 8. “ I am taught that creeds, catcchifms, . confeffions of faith, church covenants, &c. are a long rope of which the devil has the knot-end > that the devil could aot have ( 21 ) done fo much mifchief without them a§ with them,and that there would not be a re¬ formation till thefe were thrown afide,&c.” Thefe though not infallible,are to be look¬ ed upon,fo far as they agree with the word ofGod,to be good directories for our fearck- ing out the mind and will of God j and ought to be made ufe of as fuch, by us : Which to den)-, is to deny the practice of the reformed churches in all periods. As to their being a long rope,&c.I think it a very indecent and unjuftifiable expreffion. And as to there being no reformation till thde are thrown afide j this we know,tbere have been glorious out-pourings of the fpirit in the churches where thefe have been care¬ fully attended to, and we hope for ftill greater .Hold faft therefore the form oj found words. 2 Tim. i. 12. 9. (s I am told on account of the righ- teoufnefs ofChrift,the divine attributes har- monife, juftice could demand no more. Chrift partaking human nature has ele vated and reltorcd it to favour j and the whole human race are upon better {landing than Adam in innocency.” That the divine attributes do harmonife in the juftification and lalvation of them that believe inChrift,! hope none will deny; < 22 ) But to fay,that Chrift by partaking human nature has reftored it to divine favour, &c« is contradi&ory to fcripture and common fenfe : For it all men are reftored to the favour ot God,then all men will be faved, but fay the fcriptures, Many be called , but JfW.cbofen y Mat. xx. 1 6 . vii. 14. And is it not impofing upon common fenfe to fay, that perfons dead in fin,under the wrath of God, and a moral inability to pleafe God, which is the fcripture account of the whole human race by nature, are upon better {landing than Adam in innocency.who was holy, in the image, favour and enjoyment of God ? 10. ral agents, infants included, the reafun he gave, btcaufe where fin abounded, grace did much more abound ; and ic was not ra¬ tional to thiok, that God would make a world, and then let the Deri! tun away with it. a. In denying deftioo, and in faying that Chrifl died as much for Ju- da: a s lot St. Paul. 3. There is no enmity in man naturally agaioft God, 4> Original An is nut damning. j. That an unrenerate man could afta divine f&ith, or put forth a faving aft as well as the regenerate, 6. In a funeral difcourfe, Mr, Fofter fold, it would not be alked in the great day haw men believed, but how they obeyed. The following is Mr, Foster’s REPLY to the allegations brought againft him. To the venerable Council convened, and nowfitting in Neuv-Braintree, Venerable Sirs, Lad evening, 10 o’clock, I was waited upon with a copy of what a number of p^rfons are pleaftd to call matteis or grievance, figned Dani- el Matthews. I am ver; forry thofe aggrieved had not bethought themfelves in time, and favoured me with a copy of their allegations before int punflum temporis, of my bring called upon to appear before this venerable body fo ani’wer for myfelf, touching thofe thingB whereof they accufa me. A proper time to prepare for his own defence, be'ng ever granted the vileft malefaftois : But though treated with Inch ncgieft and contempt. Vet for the imcreft of truth, and beim willing to granc my opponents a nearing, though in point of honour and even good manners, they are not entitled to fuch a favour, I will proceed to obfervc f.mething upon the matteis exhibited againft me- i. It is allrdged that I faid in a difcourfe from Gen. 3, and 9. as afihrted in the ft ft article of charge. In anfwer to all which, I appeal to my notes. e. They ailcdge that I deny eleftion, and faid that Chrift died as much for Judas ae for St. Paul. In a refrained fenfe. 3. They alledge that I faid from the gofpcl feaft, there is no enmity in man againft God. This I fully deny as afierted. 4. They fay that in private I faid, original fin was not damning. This I own as my fentiment, though I do not tccolleft I ever faid fj. Moreover, they charge me with faying as in the 5th article. In an¬ fwer to which, I fuppofehemay aft faith with divine afiiftance, equal¬ ly with thegreateft fainbj neither can aft without it.—If thefe brief re¬ plies are not fatisfaftory I crave the liberty of enlargement, before the venerable Council, as I h3ve here no proper time to reply in a formal manner. Worthy Gentlemen, your humble fervsnt, DANIEL FOSTER. A'true copy. Examined by Rev. Benjamin Rhgglks, Oft. 28 1778. The Council being by themfelves, then received from Mr. Foster a CONFESSION of his FAITH, which was read, and accepted as Orthodox. Which was as follows, viz. 1. I believe there is one God, and one mediator between God and man, the man Chrift Jclus z. I believe that when God made man, he gave him a law, holy,juft and good, and that man had full power to keep that law ; that man by fin broke the divine law, fell under the wra h of God, See. 3, That Goa did not leave man to perilh in this ftate of fin, but was felf-moved to provide a faviour, his own eternal fan. ( 3 ° ) 4. That Chrifl, by doing and fufferir.g, fatisfied divine juftict, brought ia everlafting iighteoufnef$> for all that lhail comply with the gofpel in time. _ # . 5. That God has appointed a day in which he will judge the world by Jefus Chilli according to the Gofpel. 6 . That ail who in time comply with the gofpel, fits'-! in the judg¬ ment be acquitted and icwarded with eternal life. 7. That the feriptures of the old and new Tiftament are the word of Cue, a pcr/edit rule of latch and life. 8. 1 believe a Trinity in the God-head as the feriptures teach. 9. I be.ieve thacGud does fore-know all ihingsthat do in time come to pafs. 10. (That man.by the £. 11 , has lc ft his ability to do good, is averfe to good) and dead in fin, and unable to convert himfelf by his own (Length, ami needs the fpecia) infijeuces of the Spirit.* 11. I believe that God did f r-m eternity eledt to life eternal, a cer¬ tain number of fallen men, even all thole who fhould in time b-ilieve inChrift, which 1 ackr.owlege infeis a reprobation of the reft, i. e. all the finally impenitent. The above 1 lubferibe as myconleflion of faith, according to prefenc * light, waiting 011 God to give farther light, and ready to receive it when offered, DANIEL FOSTER. A true copy from the minutes. The Council then proceeded Co ceniider by chemfcbei, the articles of charge, article by article. As Co the firft article of charge, it was voted, that it ought not to be any bar in the way of the Council’s proceeding to ordination. As to the fecond article Mr. Fofter fa'd, that henever did in the moft remote fenfe, deny election 3 and in the confcfiion of faith, exhibited before the Council, he owns exprefsly the dodtrine of eleflion, Mr. Fof¬ fer explained himfelf, and mentioned what he meant, by “ Chrift dying ^ as much for Judas as for St. Paul.” He faid Chrift by his death, put all men into a falvable ftate, fo that the effers of falvation were with (incerity made to Judas, as well as to Paul and others, and that the rta- foo why Judas was not faved as well as others, was, that he wilfully re- jtfted Chrift, and would not come to him that he might have life.J 'Voted, that this article as explained, is no juft basin the way of the Council going on to ordain Mr. Foffer. As to the third article, vie. That “ there is no enmity in man natu¬ rally againft God.” Mr. Fofler fully denied this as afferted j and then proceeded to fay, “ That the natural man had framed in his mind an unjuft reprefentation of the moral chara&er of God, and being confcicus * It feems Mr. Fofter has received farther light Jince his ordination, for he has written thus, viz. The former part of the SO tb article appears to me at prefersI not to he true, D. Fofter. 1 would advife him to tale heed, lift the light within him jhouldprove to be darlnefs. J I rather conceive Judas believed not , becaufe be war not one of Cbs ifi't jheep. See John, x. *6, ( 3i ) fee had broke God’s law, and that jafslce vras armed againft him, and was bound to punilh him, he therefore hated God; bu* that his comity agar'nft God was not pointed againft his troe or whole charafter, but a- gaiotl hischarafter as law-giver and/sdge; and that the holy fpirit of God, in regeneration, removes from the miad the/e falfe apprehenfion* of God’s charafter, by which means the finner is brought to love God.’’* Vited, That this is no bit in the way of proceeding Co ordination. As to the fourth article, in which Mr. Fcjier is charged with faying in private, that “ original firs is not damning.” Mr. Foftcr allowed that all fin, in its own nature it damning, and that the reason why original fin » not damning, is becaufe of the mediation of Chrift and an inrerefe therein, anJ that men are not delivered frcrif ’be condemnation of fin, whether original or aftual, till they are fevingl* interefted in Chrift. yited, that this article cf charge as explained by "Mr. Fofiir , is not only tsa bar again® h:s ordination, but fouisd divinity. At to the fifth a'tice, ia which rhep-ftor el’ft is charged w : th fay- tog ire feme performance, that so Bwegr «*»»•:• man can aft a divine £aich„ or put forth a laving aft, as wed as the regenerate : He anfwerg, f fitppofe he may aft faith, equally with thegre?teft fair. ; and that aeifreer can aft it without.” K* id:»»_> on. As to the left article, ire which the paftcr eft s cha r ged with firing, in the funeia* fenaon of Mad.m iEegyfe* asccaftd, “ That it would not he alkei in the great day, haw we a • , but how we "brjf.d.” Mr. Fojicr cirj rft.rd again!!, the legality of the charge, as he had not been firry, ed with i copy of it : However, upon Its being moved that on the whale, it might be bell, he caufented to fay fomething to i". He Coated readily, « That the tighten ufaefs and merits of Chrift, was ths fsle ground of a finner’s juftificatism r A d that where g ■'■d men are laid to be juftifiedl in the great •'a- by their works, foch work’ had faith in Chrift as their ptfeciple.” Fuad, Tfca. the explanation above is fa- tkfaQory to the Council. The coantii there proceeded, to enasror the etftortleft- ?s to his fen- raent* upra the