Ir is not of much consequence to know whether the Author delivered this Dissertation to his auditors in the Public School, before he was sent to the Synod of Dort by His Majesty the King of Great Britain, or immediately after his return; whichever it might be, the work certainly shews that he was a man of great genius, and most acute judgment, a Doctor who was truly an ornament to the School and the Professor’s Chair, which indeed he left vacant to the great loss and grief of the University, when he was promoted to the Bishopric of the Church of Salisbury.
It is to be attributed to the iniquity of the times, that this Dissertation did not come to light sooner, for then under the pretext of restraining the itching desire of some, who it was exclaimed exposed nothing else scarcely to the people, but the most profound decrees of God, and especially of Reprobation, to the great prejudice of piety, some persons obtained from the-King a prohibition, that no one should publish any thing in writing or preaching on the questions controverted between the Calvinists and the Remonstrants.1
These knotty and thorny questions, Whether the death of Christ is a universal remedy, that is, applicable to all, or whether it is a particular remedy, destined for the elect alone; whether there is an election of some persons to glory, and on the contrary, a preterition of others; whether election is from the mere good pleasure of God, or only from merits foreseen and conditionally: these knotty points, I say, no one hath explained better than this Author. Therefore, take and read him, and I am much deceived indeed, if you will not confess that he has satisfied you. Why should I say more ? To give you a foretaste, you have here, in
Chap. 1: An historical and not unacceptable narrative of the rise and origin of the question which is to be discussed concerning the death of Christ, and its intended latitude or extent. Then, in
Chap. 2: A Thesis concerning the death of Christ as a universal cause of salvation applicable to all men is confirmed by arguments. In
Chap. 3: It is vindicated from the objections of adversaries. In
Chap. 4: You will find a most lucid explanation of the distinction, for all men sufficiently, for the elect alone effectually, &c.
l omit the other Chapters, which you will understand better by reading the work itself.
Another Tract is added, which was written on occasion of a Controversy which arose among the Reformed Divines of France, On the gracious and saving will of God towards sinful men, The opinion of the Divines of England was desired on that question, because it seemed likely to contribute not a little towards establishing peace. In the Appendix, therefore, is the opinion of Dr. Davenant on that Galliean Controversy, which having been written with his own hand, and presented by his Nephew to the Most Rev. Archbishop of Armagh, we have taken care to place at the end of the book. Enjoy them, Candid Reader, and farewell.
* This Address is taken from an Edition of the Dissertatio de Morte Christi published in 12mo. in 1683, and is the substance of a much longer one (as far as applicable to this piece) prefacing the Edition published in folio in 1659, together with the Dissertatio de Predestinatione et Reprobatione. Vide Life, &c. Vol. I. p. xlviii. Vol. II. p. 313 ↩
