of Turretin's System. From hence it follows, that there is a Neceffity of God's gracious Affiftance to incline and enable a Man to do his Duty. See the Eleventh and Twelfth Chapters of the Fourth Book of Limborch's Syftem, and Dr. Whitby's Appendix to the Sixth Chapter of the Second Epistle to the Corinthians,down to Secondly, to explain,as far, &c. But the very Heart of the whole Controversy, the Point upon which fo many others do depend, and upon which the feveral Schemes do turn, is this, Whether the Operation of God's Grace be refiftible, or no. Let me intreat you to confider it very carefully, and to compare the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Questions of Turretin's Locus Decimus quintus, with the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Chapters of the Fourth Book of Limborch's Syftem, and Dr. Whitby's Appendix before mention'd, from Secondly, to explain, as far, &c. to the end.

Nearly allied to this is the Controverfy concerning the Perfeverance of Saints, about which compare the Sixteenth Question of Turretin's Locus Decimus quintus, with the Eightieth, Eighty first, Eighty fecond, Eighty third and Eighty fourth Chapters of the Fifth Book of Limborch's Syftem.

Being thus prepar'd, you inquire in the next Place, whether Predeftination to Life Eternal be abfolute or conditionate; whether God vouchfafes all Men fufficient Means of Salvation; and whether Christ has obtain'd an univerfal Redemption by his Death and Sufferings. Concerning these Particulars compare the Ten First Chapters of the Fourth Book of Limborch's Syftem with part of Turretin's Locus Quartus, viz. from the Beginning of the Tenth, to the End of the Seventeenth Queftion; and alfo the Two first Queftions of his Locus Decimus quintus.

Here

Here 'twill be convenient to fubjoin the Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Questions of the Locus Duodecimus of Turretin's Syftem, concerning the Nature of the Covenant of Grace; and alfo the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth and Ninth Chapters of the Sixth Book of Limborch's Syftem, concerning Juftification, Sanctification, Obfignation of the Spirit, Certainty of Salvation, Actual Reprobation, Excecation and Induration.

We are in the next place to con

fider the Nature, Unity and Com- Of the Nature,Unity munion of the Catholic Church.

See Bishop Pearson on the Ninth
Article.

The Diftinction of Church Members into Clergy and Laity, and the

and Communion of theCatholic Church.

ofClerical Powers.

feveral Powers and Offices appropriated by God to the Clergy, are treated of in the Rights of the Clergy. What Form of Goverment Chrift

Church Goverment.

has appointed in his Church, of the Form of you'll learn in the Courfe of your reading our Controverfies with

the Papifts on the one hand, and our English Sectaries on the other.

For the Controverfies with the

Papifts, 'tis poffible the Confutation of the Popish Conof Popery may at prefent fuffice you.

troverfies.

But one thing I muft add, which I ought indeed to have mention'd in the First Chapter of the Second Part, viz. that those who leave the Proteftant Religion, and become Profelytes to the Church of Rome, are oblig'd to profefs the Trent Creed. This appears from that (a) Advertisement which is pre

(a) Atque eadem profeffione uti tenentur, quicunque ab hærefi remeantes ad fidem Ecclefiæ Catholicæ revertuntur. p. 518. Lugdun. 1676.

C 2

fix'd

fix'd to the Bull of Pius IV. at the End of the Catechifmus ad Parochos. So that 'tis plain, that the Church of Rome allows not either the Clergy or the Laity any Liberty of Diffenting from her in any of thofe Errors and Practices, upon the account of which I have fhewn it to be unlawful to join in Communion with her.

As for the Judgment of the ancient Fathers concerning those many Points which are controverted between ourselves and the Church of Rome; I can by no means advise you to give your felf any Trouble about it at present. An impartial Enquiry after it will coft more Time, than perhaps you are aware of. When you are at leisure to profecute your Theological Studies, after your Ordination, 'twill be no difficult Matter for you to furnish your self with fuch Books as will affist you in it.

of Confubftanti

ation.

As for the Lutheran Doctrins, the only one that deferves only one that deferves your Confideration, is that of Confubftantiation; concerning which fee Turretin's Twenty eighth Queftion of his Locus Decimus nonus, and Limborch's Seventy first Chapter of the Fifth Book of his Syftem.

of the Quaker Controverfies.

ted of in the

Of the Controverfy with the Anabaptifts 4bout Infant Baptifm.

Defcend we now to the Controverfies with our English Sectaries.

The Errors of the Quakers are treaConfutation of Quakerism.

Touching Infant Baptifm read the Fifth Chapter of the Abridgment of the London Cafes. Then reflect upon the following Hints. First, de (the Word used in Matth. 28. 19.) fignifies, not to teach, but to difciple or make Difciples of. This is evident from the ufe of it in the New Teftament. Secondly, Infants are in their own Nature capable of being difcipled or made

Difciples

Difciples of. This is evident from the Circumcifion of Infants under the Law; for they thereby entred into a Covenant with God, and were made the Difciples of Mofes. Thirdly, 'Tis acknowledged, that they are not exprefly excluded by Christ. Nor, Fourthly, is actual Faith or actual Repentance absolutely and indispensably required in order to Baptifm. This is prov'd in the aforefaid Chapter of the Abridgment. And confequently Infants are not virtually excluded by Chrift. Wherefore, Fifthly, the Command to difciple or make Difciples of all Nations, Matth. 28. 19. extends to the Infants of thofe Nations; because it extends to all that are capable of Baptifm. By this Means it appears, that we have a divine Precept for the Baptifm of Infants.

Concerning the Obfervation of the Lord's Day as the Chriftian Sabbath, fee the First Chapter of Mr. Nelfon's Companion for the Feftivals and Fafts of our Church, and the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Queftions of Turretin's Locus Undecimus. Our Controverfies with other Diffenters refpect, First, Lay Conformity, Secondly, Minifterial Conformity.

of the Controverfy with the Saturday the Chriftian Sabbath.

Sabbatarians about

of the Controver fies with other Dif fenters.

Firft, About Lay
Conformity.

With respect to Lay Conformity, you are to confider in the first Place the Difputes about a precompos'd Liturgy in general, and our own Liturgy in particular. See the Brief History of the joint Ufe of precompos'd fet Forms of Prayer, with the Difcourfe of the Gift of Prayer annex'd to it, the Difcourfe of joint Prayer, and the Paraphrafe with Annotations upon the Book of Common Prayer. Then add what Mr. Nelfon

has written concerning the Piety and Prudence of our Church in her Festivals and Fafts, and the religious Improvement of them, in his Companion for them. Only you may now omit the First Chapter, because you have already perufed it, when you confider'd the Chriftian Sabbath. The Terms of Lay Conformity being vindicated, the Neceffity of joining in Communion with the Establish'd Church of England, is fhewn in the Difcourfe of Schifm, with the Answer to Thomas against Bennet annex'd to it, down to p. 140. the Two first Chapters of M. Hoadly's Defence of Epifcopal Ordination," and his Reply to Dr. Calamy's Introduction, You may then add Chapters the Second, Eighth, Ninth, &c. down to the end of the Abridgment of the London Cafes.

Secondly, About Minifterial Conformity.

Of the Church Catechifm.

Touching the Lawfulness of Minifterial Conformity, fee Mr. Hoadly's Reafonableness of it.

Twill now be proper for you to read fome Expofition of the Church Catechifm. There is indeed a great Number of that sort of Books; but I am apt to think, that Bishop Wake's Commentary is best futed to your Purpose.

Practical Writers.

The Cafuiftical and Practical Part of Cafuiftical and of Divinity ought to entertain you upon the Lord's Days, and other Days of Retirement and Devotion. You'll do well to begin with Mr. Kettlewell's Measures of Obedience, and the Whole Duty of Man. To thefe you may add (or as Opportunity offers, you may confult) Bishop Sander fon's Prelections and Cafes of Confcience, Dr. Hammond's Practical Catechifm, the other Works of the Author of the Whole Duty of Man, the Sermons which Arch-bishop Tillotson publifh'd in his Life-time, Mr. Kettlewell on the Sacrament, and of Christian Pru

dence,