“Although I have often been sorry that controversy should take up so much of the time which I might, with much more satisfaction to myself, have employed in devotional exercises; and although I have lamented, and do still lament, my low attainments in the _meekness of wisdom_, which should constantly guide the pen of every controversial writer; yet, I rejoice that I have been enabled to persist in my resolution, either to wipe off, or to share the reproach of those who have hazarded their reputation in defence of pure and undefiled religion. And, if I am not mistaken, my repeated attempts have been attended with these happy effects:— “In vindicating the _moral_ doctrines of grace, I hope that, as a _man_, I have learned to think more closely, and to investigate truth more ardently, than I did before. “As a _divine_, I see more clearly the gaps and stiles, at which mistaken good men have turned out of the narrow way of truth, to the right hand and to the left. “As a _Protestant_, I hope I have much more esteem for the Scriptures in general, and in particular for those practical parts of them, which the Calvinists had insensibly taught me to overlook, or despise. And this increasing esteem is, I trust, accompanied with a deeper conviction of the truth of Christianity, and with a greater readiness to defend the Gospel against infidels, Pharisees, and Antinomians. “As a _Preacher_, I hope I can now do more justice to a text by reconciling it with seemingly contrary Scriptures. “As an _Anti-Calvinist_, I have learned to do the Calvinists justice, in granting that there is an _election of distinguishing grace_ for God’s peculiar people, and a _particular redemption_ for all believers who are faithful unto death. I can more easily excuse pious Calvinists, who, through prejudice, mistake _that_ Scriptural election for _their_ Antinomian election; and who consider _that_ particular redemption as the only redemption mentioned in the Scriptures. Nay, I can, without scruple, allow Mr. Hill that his doctrines of _finished salvation_ and _irresistible_ grace are _true_ with respect to all those who die in their infancy. “As one who is called an _Arminian_, I have found out some flaws in _Arminianism_, and evidenced my impartiality in pointing them out, as well as the flaws of Calvinism. “As a _Witness_ for the truth of the Gospel, I hope I have learned to bear reproach from all sorts of people with more undaunted courage. And I humbly trust, that, were I called to seal with my blood the truth of the _doctrines of grace_ and _of justice_, against the _Pharisees_ and _Antinomians_, I could (Divine grace supporting me to the last) do it more rationally, and of consequence with greater steadiness.