IN all ages ever since the first planting of a Christian Church in the world , God for many wise reasons hath thought fit to exercise it with various and different sorts of tryals . The Apostles who were immediately commissioned by Christ , and sent to teach all Nations , and thereby to bring them over to the belief and obedience of the Gospel , according to the prediction of their blessed Master in the 10th . of Matth . who had forewarned them of it , met with great and violent opposition , and that both from Jew and Gentile , who with an extraordinary zeal or rather fury , set themselves to oppress and stifle this new doctrine , if it were possible at its first appearance , and before it had gained much ground and footing in the world .

But besides the open force with which the enemies of it endeavoured to destroy the Christian doctrine , the Apostles and other Ministers of it , met with another and more dangerous opposition from some false brethren , who did not ayme so much at the destruction of the Christian faith , as by some undue mixtures to corrupt the purity of it . Such were the Judaizing Christians , who tho they embraced the doctrine of the Gospel , yet still they retain'd a weighty affection for their old Religion and the law of Moses , to the observance of which they thought themselves under an indispensable obligation , and not only so , but would oblige all other Converts to the like observance ; and their zeal in this matter occasioned no small trouble to the Apostles , and disturbance to the Churches , where they first planted the Christian faith , see Acts 15. and 5. Gal. And tho this was a matter of no small concern , and might in the conclusion have proved of dangerous consequence , yet it was not considerable in a manner , if compared with many other execrable opinions and practices , which began very early to be introduced into the Church , by Ebion and Cerinthus , Menander , Saturninus , Basilides and Carpocrates . Succeeded afterwards by Valentinus and Marcus , Marcion , and Hermogenes , and a long train of Hereticks shall I call them ? or Hobgoblins ; for so I think they might well be styled , if we consider either the darkness and ignorance of all religious matters with which they were encompassed , or the wild pranks which they played , to the great disturbance of all good men ; who were all descended from that son of perdition Simon Magus , who was their Patriarch and Ring-leader . It were a difficult task to muster up the names , but allmost an endless attempt to reckon the senseless and extravagant opinions of these Hereticks ; by reason of whose pernicious ways , the way of truth was evil spoken of . For many of the objections of the Heathens against Christianity , tho all of them were false , yet many of them were taken from the execrable opinions and practices of these lewd miscreants , who thereby brought no small disgrace upon the Christian Religion , and put no small stop to the growth and propagation of it . But not to prosecute this matter any farther , if we descend a little lower , we shall find that God had no sooner dissipated the storm that hung over the Christian Church for some Centuries ; and put a stop to the effusion of any more of that blood , which without any distinction of Age or Sex , was spilt like water under the ten famous persecutions by the advancement of Constantine to the Empire ; but the devil betakes himself to new shifts : who finding his former methods of cruelty so signally baffled by the patience and constancy of the Martyrs , he begins to play a new , or rather to revive his old game , and since he cannot destroy the professors of Christianity , he will endeavour to undermine their Religion : he had indeed made a vigorous effort , to extinguinsh both the name and memory of the Christian Religion , and to have tore up both the faith and the believers quite by the very roots ; but herein he was disappointed , and therefore he endeavours to compass that by stratagem , which he cannot effect by storm ; and in this method he finds greater success then in the former ; for being baffled as we said before , in his attempts upon the disciples of Christ , he attacks the doctrine which they embraced : and here Inimicus homo , the enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat ; hoping thereby to choke the word , which now he dispair'd to extirpate . And herein he found fit instruments for the execution of his design , for taking advantage of the ambition and curiosity , the discontent and revenge , and other disorderly passions of Arius , Photinus , Nestorius , Eutyches and others , he soon prevail'd with them to assist him in the project which he had layd , for corrupting the doctrine and thereby disturbing the peace of the Church . For they presently broached many dangerous opinions , whereby they did either plainly deny , or some other way pervert the doctrines then generally entertained by the whole Church , concerning the natures and the person of the son of God .

But these errors having long since bin buried in the western Church , and lay forgotten in a manner with their Authors , were again unhappily revived at the beginning of the Reformation , by the endeavors chiefly of some Polanders and Italians in the last age , and among them principally of Faustus Socinus ; who having gathered up the dangerous errors of Paulus Samosatenus and Photinus chiefly , against the divinity of Christ , he put them together in one body , together with those of Pelagius in the point of original sin , and those other doctrines which are supposed to have a necessary dependance upon it .

And herein Socinus seems chiefly to have chosen Pelagius for his pattern . For the other Hereticks , I mean Arius , Photinus , and Macedonius being content with the denyal of those fundamental doctrines , concerning the divinity of the Son and the Holy Ghost , or with their perticular Errors about the natures and person of Christ , as Nestorius and Eutyches ; they did not attend to , or at least did not draw out those doctrines into all their pernicious consequences , which might when clearly understood , overthrow all the other parts of the Christian doctrine . But Pelagius gave us a systeme of his Divinity , and drew out his Errors into a greater length , in opposition to several important parts and branches of our Religion ; chiefly that which concerned the doctrine of Original Sin , which naturally lead him into those other dangerous mistakes , which did by consequence overthrow the necessity of the satisfaction made by Christ , and the redemption of the world by the merit of his death and sufferings , as the Fathers , and particularly St. Austin directly charge him . For he was master of reason enough to consider where it was that his first Error would naturally lead him , and he was content to follow it , and thereby fell into that Labyrinth of errors , from which with all his skill and sophistry he could not disentangle himself ; for when pressed with the arguments of his adversaries , and the authority and tradition of the Catholick Church ; tho he could and did find as many shifts and tricks as any other , to escape the force and conviction of truth ; yet his former and fundamental error in denying the imputation of Adams sin , and the original guilt and stayn of our natures contracted thereby , hung like a dead weight about him , and sunk him down into those impious opinions which he broached concerning the grace of God , and the liberty and freedom of mans will in religious matters in opposition to that Grace . Concerning the nature and efficacy of the Sacrament of Baptism , the merit of good works and the justification of a sinner , the nature of Gods law and the possibility of arising to a state of perfection in this life , by yielding a perfect obedience to it , &c. all which having been picked up by Socinus , together with what was deliver'd by the other Hereticks , against the divinity of the son of God , and the Holy Ghost , he hath at length given us the most perfect systeme of Heresies , in opposition to the doctrine of the Gospel , in allmost all the parts and branches of it , that ever was ushered into the world . And indeed to give him his due , tho in point of time and standing he was inferior , yet in point of skill and management , that is , in the art of Heresy , he was superior to all that went before him , most of whom were but fools and bunglers in comparison . For many of the ancient Hereticks , had several extravagant and incohaerent notions , which had no more connexion between one another , then the parts of a rope of sand : soe that like a company of mad and hair-brained people , they attacked the Christian Religion with great fury , but it was at randome and without skill ; flinging about their mad opinions like wild-fire , with which indeed they did a great deal of mischief , but it was at all adventures , without order , and as one would imagine , without any certain aime . But Socinus comes more gravely and leasurely to work , and what M. Cato said in another case of Julius Caesar , * may be applyed to him , Sobrius accessit ad perdendam religionem . Like a man that had his wits , tho , as many think , not the fear of God about him , he comes more soberly and with greater deliberation to destroy the Christian Religion : be puts his opinions into better order , his errors are better united , and have as far as the nature of error would allow , for the most part a good correspondence between one another : like a wary and well disciplined Captain , he puts his arguments into good array , levels his batteries against the great mysteries of our Religion , and chiefly against the eternal Divinity of the son of God : as well knowing that if he can succeed in his attempt upon that , he may promise himself an easy and cheap victory over all the rest of our Religion ; and therefore having , as he thinks , effectually overthrown that main and fundamental article of it concerning the ever blessed Trinity ; he is resolved to follow his blow , and to pursue his imaginary conquest in that point , to the overthrow of all the other parts of the Christian doctrine : he saw where Arius , Photinus , Nestorius , &c. were wanting , who having , as was said before , contented themselves with their particular errors concerning the natures and person of Christ , as persons who thought they had done mischief enough , they seemed content with what they had done , and went no farther . But Socinus in imitation of his beloved ● Ad evertendam Rempublicam sobrium accessisse . Suet . in Jul. Caes Pelagius , enlarged our prospect into his Religion , and from the principles which he laid down , he drew out his conclusions to a greater length : for having denyed the Trinity , and particularly the eternal divinity of our Savior , with it he could not avoid denying his satisfaction , and the redemption of the world by the merit of his death and sufferings ; having disowned the personality of the Holy Ghost , the necessity of his grace , and the efficacy of his operations upon the minds of men , must at the same time fall to the ground . Together with these he hath published many dangerous errors concerning the nature and attributes of God , concerning his prescience and providence in the government of the world , concerning the creation of man and the fall of Adam , and that corruption of our natures which is the consequence of it , concerning justification and faith which is the means of obtaining it . Concerning the Church , its nature and the notes whereby it may be distinguished from all other societies , concerning the ministry and the persons to whom Christ hath committed the care and government of his Church ; their distinction and authority , to preach the Gospel , and to exercise discipline in it . Concerning the Sacraments and the end of their institution , and particularly concerning the nature and efficacy of Baptism and the Lords Supper . Lastly concerning a future state and the condition of men after this Life . To which may be added some other doctrines , which doe not seeme to have any connexion with the former , but yet are of dangerous consequence to the peace and wellfare of all civil societies : those I mean which he hath advanced about the power and authority of the Civil Magistrate , the Lawfullness of war and oaths in a Christian Commonwealth , which have as mischievous an influence upon the order and peace of States and Kingdomes , as his other opinions have upon Religion .

So that Socinus having observed what was wanting in the former Hereticks to make their attempts entirely successful against the Christian Religion ; being engaged in the same design , but in order to make it more effectual , he wisely resolved to correct what he thought was amiss in them : wherefore laying aside what was more gross and absurd in the wilder and more extravagant opinions of the ancient Hereticks , and supplying the defects of the more subtile and refined who came afterwards ; he and his followers have at length given us a body of their divinity , more compleat in its kind then ever the world was blessed with before their time . Not but that in spight of all their art and skill , such being the fate and folly of error , they cannot avoid , especially in the defence and maintenance of their opinions , falling into many and those very plain contradictions . Upon the whole matter I think it may be reasonably doubted whether Socinus , any more then that grand Impostor Mahomet , may be properly called a Heretick , as being the Founder of a new Religion , rather then the Author of a new name and sect among Christians . For as the Alcoran of the former , is , as we are told , a fardel of errors and absurdities arising from the impure mixture of Christianity , Judaism and Paganism , together with some idle and extravagant notions of his own ; so the doctrine of Socinus , seems to be a composition of the errors of Arius , Photinus , and Pelagius , &c. together with some additions of his own , not indeed so seemingly absurd , as those of Mahomet , but I am afraid no less dangerous to the Christian religion ; of which he hath retained only the name together with the empty sound of the words ; but with such false glosses , such forced and malicious interpretations , as have quite destroyed the true notion , as the whole design of the Gospel : in opposition to which he hath given us a kind of natural and new religion , not such as the spirit of God hath revealed in his word , but such as his own carnal reason suggested to him , in opposition to that revelation . And that this may not be looked upon to be an uncharitable because a groundless charge ; I shall lay before the reader a scheme of the religion revealed by God in Holy Scripture , and particularly that published by Christ and his Apostles in the writings of the New Testament , and which hath bin embraced by all sound Christians in all ages of the Church , from the first planting of one in the world , to this day : Together with another of the new , or newly revived opinions of the Socinians : that by comparing of both , he may be able to make a judgment of what is here suggested , which upon examination I hope he will find to be agreeable to truth , and not contrary to charity . And first as it is fit , we shall begin with the great object of our religion , Allmighty God : in the knowledge and worship of whom , together with an obedience to his commands , consists the entire nature of religion . And here upon enquiry I believe we shall find , that what the Scriptures have revealed concerning the nature of God , is widely different from the account which Socinus and his disciples give us of him .

As to what concerns the nature of God , the Scriptures propose him to be considered two ways by us . , 1. Absolutely in his glorious and essential attributes , or 2ly , Relatively in the great and adorable mystery of the ever blessed Trinity .

First , if we consider God in his Attributes , we shall find that the first great , and if I may so call it , fundamental attribute which the Scriptures reveal , and indeed natural reason dictates concerning him , is the unity of the Godhead , Deut. 6. 4. Hear , O Israel , the Lord thy God is one Lord . Deut . 32. 39. See now that I , even I am be , and there is no God with me . 1 Cor . 8. 5. 6. For tho there be that are called Gods , whether in heaven or in earth , &c. But to us there is but one God the Father of whom are all things . 1 Tim . 2. 5. There is but one God , and one Mediator between God and man , &c.

Here undoubtedly it will be said that the Socinians are beyond all suspition orthodox , all their studies and labors being employed in asserting and vindicating the unity of the Godhead in opposition to the doctrine of the Trinity , which according to their apprehensions must infer a plurality of Gods . But for all their boasts concerning this matter , and assuming to themselves upon that score the name of Unitarians , we must not be too hasty in acquitting them from the imputation of Polytheism ; for tho they deny the eternal generation and divinity of Christ , and say that he had no existence before his being formed in the wombe of the Virgin , and appearance in the world ; and that the being which he then had was purely humane : yet after his resurrection from the grave , and his ascension into heaven , they say that God the father as the reward of his obedience and sufferings , exalted him to the honour and dignity of a God ; not indeed to be the supreme and eternal God , but however deus verus , a true God , distinct and separate from his Father ; and Socinus takes it ill of his adversaries , that they should charge him with denying Christ to be God Quasi nos Christum verum deum esse negamus , quod tamen à nobis non sit , Socin . oper . Tom . 2. p. 645. , and complains against them that will not be brought to confess and worship him Ut pro Deo ac Domino suo venerentur , p. 631. , for their Lord and God , who was once a weak and infirm man : and herein he saith the power and goodness of God was discovered , and his admirable wisdom displayed , in extolling and deifying this man , beyond what we can imagin In eo homine supra quam dici potest extollendo & deificando , Ibid . .

And to the objection that might be made against this opinion , as that which did unavoidably infer a plurality of Gods , Wolzogenius will tell you , that if by two Gods you mean one of whom are all things and we in him , and one by whom are all things and we by him , we are so far saith he , from being ashamed of worshiping two such Gods , that we rather glory in it Ut potius id gloriae nobis & laudi ducamus , Wolzogen . Prolegom . in Evangel . Johannis cap . 8. de vera divinitate Christi . . But if it shall be farther said , that to do them right , they acknowledge but one supreme God by nature , and that Christ is only a God by Appointment and Office , not , natus but factus , not born but made , and deifyed after his ascension , by a communication of the divine power , wisdom and goodness to him .

I Ans. that this is so far from abating , that it rather encreases the difficulty , and makes the Socinian notion both absurd and impious , as may be shewn more at large hereafter , when we come to lay the charge of Idolatry at their door . Indeed one would think it should be a debasing of the name and honour that is due to God , to give either of them to any but him that is so from all eternity ; the same Wolzogen . will tell you , you may if you please , reproach them for so doing , but he values it not a rush , nos non erubescimus , we are not ashamed to own that we worship deum factum vel factitium , a made God ; not made indeed by a Goldsmith or Ingraver , ab aliquo sculptore vel aurifabro , but they acknowledge with St. Peter Acts 2. 36. that God hath made Jesus who was crucifyed Lord and Christ , that is , saith he , deum eximium fecerit , hath made him a great and eminent God . Ibid .

If this be not enough , if you please to consult Smalcius , he will give you all the satisfaction that you can possibly desire further in this matter . For first , he will tell you , that whereas the Scriptures assure us that there is but one only true God , yet that must be taken sano sensu ; not as if there were no other true God besides God the Father , but that there is none that is God ; eodem prorsus modo , just in the same manner as he is Quod vero Deus ille unus qui pater est , solus verus dicitur , id non ideo fieri dicimus quod nemo alius praeter Patrem deus verus sit , sed quia nemo alius praeter Patrem , isto prorsus modo deus verus sit , quo ille est . Smal . Exam . Cent. Err. p 4. . For otherwise the thing is certain and past all doubt , that there are more true Gods then one ; and let the Inspired writers be never so positive , yet he and his friends can and will with equal confidence advance this contrary position , that the true God is not only God Certissimum est quod non unus tantum verus Deus sit . Ibid . . Nay it is not an indifferent matter , but a truth which they firmly believe and earnestly contend for Contendimus & firmissime docemus esse plures Deos praeter unum . Eosque veros . Refut . Smigl . de Novis Monst . Nov. Ar. p. 14. . And therefore pronounce it without any haesitation , that there are more true Gods then one .

And indeed they have reason to contend earnestly for this opinion , if it be true what he saith in the same place , that to acknowledge and confess , and adore one only chief and supreme God , is purely judaical , and a renunciation of the Christian Religion Tantum unum summum deum agnoscere , unum tantum naturà Deum Colere , unum tantum Independentem Deum confiteri , esse Judaicum quiddam , & ab negationem Christianae Religionis . Ibid . p. 16. . Here he speaks as home to the point as you can possibly desire , and it is enough in all conscience . Thus whereas the Scriptures tell us there is but one God , the Socinians say there are two ; one God by nature , another by grace , one Supreme , another Inferior , one Greater , another Lesser , one Elder and eternal , the other a junior and modern God : and this by Socinus is made the great mystery of the Christian Religion , greater indeed if true , and more incomprehensible then any other , or then all the other stupendous and adorable mysteries of our Faith put together .

Now as the Socinians say there are two Gods ; so if you believe Curcellaeus , he will confidently tell you there are three ; who tho he be no Socinian , yet he agrees perfectly with them in allmost all their other Errors , except that which concerns the doctrine of the Trinity , where he hath a peculiar notion of his own , distinct as he tells you both from Arius and Socinus : for he makes the Son and Holy Ghost to have a divine nature communicated to them from all eternity , but yet such that is different in each of them , so that they are three distinct divine beings . And to the objection made by Maresius , that this notion must inevitably imply that there are three Gods ; he Answers , that if by three Gods , be meant three specifically distinguished from each other , he disowns any such distinction between the persons of the Trinity ; but if by three , be meant three persons agreeing in the same common nature , yet numerically distinguished in each of them , it is that which he ownes and earnestly contends for ; that the Father , Son and Holy-Ghost , are as much three Gods as Peter Paul , and John , agreeing in the same common nature are three distinct men . And if you believe him , he will tell you the ancients were not afraid of the imputation of Poytheisme , in this sense ; and to think of the same individual nature being communicated to three persons , was a notion that never entered into the heads of any of the Fathers , in their disputes against the Arians , as being against both Reason and Religion . Curcell . Dissert . prima de vocibus Trinit . &c. cap . 105. & deinceps . And Limburg , who publishes and recommends him to the world , I suppose is of the same opinion .