DR. WHITBY

ON THE

FIVE POINTS,

&c. &c.

A

DISCOURSE

CONCERNING

I. THE TRUE IMPORT OF THE WORDS

Election and Reprobation,

AND THE THINGS SIGNIFIED BY THEM IN THE HOLY SCRIPTURE.

II. The Extent of Christ's Redemption.

III. THE GRACE OF GOD;

WHERE IT IS ENQUIRED, WHETHER IT BE VOUCHSAFED SUFFICIENTLY TO
THOSE WHO IMPROVE IT NOT, AND IRRESISTIBLY TO THOSE WHO DO
IMPROVE IT; AND WHETHER MEN BE WHOLLY PASSIVE IN THE
WORK OF THEIR REGENERATION.

IV. THE LIBERTY OF THE WILL

V. The Perseverance or Defectibility of the Saints,

WITH SOME REFLECTIONS ON THE STATE OF HEATHENS, THE

PROVIDENCE AND PRESCIENCE OF GOD.

PUBLISHED BY F. C. AND J. RIVINGTON; LONGMAN, HURST, REES, ORME,
AND BROWN; JOSIAH WILSON; JOHN CUMMING, DUBLIN ;

AND JAMES NICHOLS, LEEDS.

27741

BT85 W 5

1816

JAMES NICHOLS, PRINTER, LEEDS.

ADVERTISEMENTAR

OF THE

TO THIS EDITIOUNIVERSITY

CALIFORNIA

THE present is generally designated "a wise and thinking age;" and of this, perhaps one of the best proofs that could be adduced, is the encouragement which it affords to the republication of excellent literary productions by famous men of former ages. It is a circumstance highly honourable to the character of the times, that the labours of our predecessors are thought deserving, not only of preservation, but of publicity: And equally creditable is the inference implied, that the attempt in modern writers to equal them, in their several walks of excellence, would be one of extreme difficulty. On this principle it is, and with hopes of such countenance, that the present edition of Doctor Whitby's masterly DISCOURSE ON THE FIVE POINTS has been undertaken.

Besides, Doctor Gill's book, which professes to be an answer to these Five Points, has recently been republished; and it seems requisite that the readers of that work should have an opportunity of hearing both sides of the dispute.

It is no inconsiderable honour to the Established Church, and must prove a high gratification to every true member of her, to know, that the best defenders of the truths of God against the assumptions of Calvinism, have been clergymen in communion with her. While her general constitution has been drawn up on the broad basis of indulgence to weak consciences in particular opinions respecting the non-essentials of religion, her services contain repeated and unequivocal avowals of the willingness of God, that all men should be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. See the following Preface, page viii.

Whole pages might be occupied in recording the names of her illustrious men, who have declared their belief that Jesus Christ died for all mankind. Of this class were Overall, Thompson, Hales, Taylor, Goad, Womack, Heylin, Pierce, Barrow, Cudworth, Tillotson, Stillingfleet, Pearson, Plaifere, Patrick, Burnet, Waterland, Bull, Sellon, Horsley, Fletcher, and Wesley; *-men, whose talents,

* One of his friends, the Rev. Doctor Adam Clarke, has now in course of publication an extensive and learned work on the Holy Scriptures, which reflects the highest credit on himself, for the execution of it, and on the enterprising character of the body of Christians with whom he is united, for their liberal encouragement of it. On all the passages which relate to this controversy, the author speaks "as one having authority:" his language is remarkably decided.