THE IMPORTANCE OF THE DOCTRINE OF THE HOLY TRINITY ASSERTED, &c. In necessariis, Unitas: in non-necessariis, Libertas: in omnibus, Prudentia et Charitas. He that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John iii. 18. CONTENTS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE DOCTRINE OF THE HOLY TRINITY ASSERTED, &c. AN Introduction, briefly intimating the Occasion of the Work, and treating severally, I. Of those that deny the Importance of the Doctrine of the Trinity, being, 1. Either such as disbelieve the Doctrine... 2. Or such as suspend their Faith in it . 3. Or such as believe its Truth.... 396 ibid. .397 II. Of those that assert the Importance of the Doctrine, conceiving, 1. That some Scripture Doctrines are more important than others.. 399 2. That Faith in the Gospel is necessary to Salvation 400 3. That we are obliged to preserve it whole and entire.... ...ibid. 4. That in the slighter matters Christians should bear with each other; but in the necessaries, must insist upon conformity 403 CHAP. I. Shewing that the Doctrine of the Trinity is sufficiently clear to be admitted as a fundamental Article ... 1. Clear with Regard to the Matter of it 2. Clear with Respect to the Proofs on which it rests CHAP. II. 405 ibid. 411 Shewing that the same Doctrine is sufficiently practical to be a Fundamental.... 416 1. As containing a right Knowledge of God, and regulating our Worship .ibid. 2. As forming proper Dispositions of Mind .421 3. As raising and strengthening the Motives to Christian Practice.. 422 4. As having a close connection with the Doctrine of Satisfaction.. 425 5. As having the like Connection with the Doctrine of Grace.... 431 6. As belief is Obedience, and all Obedience practical 434 But this to be understood of the main Doctrine, not of the minute Circumstances or Appendages.... .... 437 CHAP. III. Shewing that the Doctrine is sufficiently insisted on in Scripture to be judged a Fundamental... 440 1. Episcopius's Sentiments on this Head considered and confuted ibid. 2. Limborch's Sentiments on the same examined and disproved.... 450 CHAP. IV. Shewing that Communion ought not to be held with Persons who openly reject and impugn the fundamental Doctrines of the Gospel, and persist in so doing. Proved 1. Objected, that insisting upon the Doctrine as important, is running into an extreme Denied.. 474 .ibid. Retorted.. 476 2. That a wicked Life is the worst Heresy. The Fallacy of that saying laid open and confuted .... A Life of Heresy a wicked Life ..478 ..ibid. 3. That Heretics may be sincere. Allowed with Distinction, and the Plea shewn to be wide and foreign .485 4. That there can be no Certainty on the Trinitarian Side, without Infallibility, denied 494 Certainty maintained against Papists 5. That such Zeal in this matter is Persecution and Popery. ..506 Denied..... Retorted.. ...... 507 . ibid. 6. That it is assuming Dominion over Men's Faith, &c. denied and disproved... Retorted 7. That censuring others may provoke them to make Reprisals The Use to be made of that Consideration.. 8. That none should be censured who are ready to declare their Faith in Scripture Terms .... Allowed in one Sense Denied in another.... 517 ibid. .ibid. 9. That censuring of Heretics is encouraging sanguinary proceedings 519 Denied and disproved CHAP. VI. .520 Containing the Judgment of the primitive Churches, with respect to the Importance of the Doctrine of the Trinity 523 1. Shewn from Creeds ... 524 .... 2. From Censures passed upon the Impugners of it .537 ibid. Shewing the Use and Value of Ecclesiastical Antiquity in Contro versies of Faith 1. Extremes to be avoided 2. The true State of the Case premised.... 601 .604 . ibid. 3. The Use of the Ancients explained in eight particulars 4. Objections answered in ten particulars.... ..607 624 CHAP. VIII. The Catholic Interpretation of John i. 1. and Hebrews i. vindicated, and shewn to be preferable to the Arian Of John i. I. Of Hebr. i... .666 668 674 |