TO THE

RIGHT REV. ROBERT,

LORD BISHOP OF CASHEL, WATERFORD,

&c. &c.

MY LORD,

If any good should accrue to the Church from the publication of the following treatise in the dress in which it here appears, the Church, and the Public (who will share in the benefit) ought to know to whom, under God, both are specially obliged.

Induced by your Lordship's kind importunity, followed up, as it was, by a generous encouragement rarely experienced by writers; after some years of hesitation and delay, I have resumed the work of putting Bishop Davenant's learned writings into our own language, and desire gratefully to acknowledge the obligation which has enabled me to indulge a heartfelt wish, to aim at serving the Church, by recalling attention to this treatise first, though not the next in order, of the venerated Prelate's productions.

And now, in dedicating the volumes to you, my Lord, as a token of respect, esteem, and gratitude, where each of those sentiments is so justly due, I fervently pray the Great Head of the Church, that

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under His gracious blessing, you may find all the good result from your sacrifice and my labour, which you have desired, and may be long spared to enjoy much of the fruit of it.

I have the honour to be, my Lord,

Your Lordship's most humble,

And devoted faithful Servant,

JOSIAH ALLPORT.

Birmingham, July, 1844.

TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE.

THE doctrine of Justification is of prime importance in the Christian system; since the clear apprehension of it lies at the bottom of all proper conceptions of the God with whom we have to do, and is therefore essential to the peace and comfort of the soul of man. In a more expansive view still, the due maintenance of it with fidelity of adherence, has been pronounced by the voice of warning, of which history has abundantly developed the truth, as "the mark of a standing or a falling Church." Hence the full and explicit exposition of the doctrine and its disentanglement from all erroneous and mistaken exhibitions, by those who are appointed to minister in the word and doctrine, is of vital consequence.

Prepossessed on these grounds in favour of the writings of Bishop Davenant years ago, and that prepossession wrought into a conviction, in the Translator's mind, of their superiority to most others in the above respects, by occupation on the Expositio ad Colossenses; and receiving many subsequent testimonies to satisfy him that his conviction was well founded, his wish had long been to redeem a pledge given, after a short respite from his former work, and to proceed with the publication of Davenant's writings, in the vernacular tongue. Latterly his desires have often been revived, and even a degree of anxiety enkindled at times, to engage in the undertaking, by the revival and active dissemination of heterodox notions, on topics involving the character of his Church as a repository of the Truth, and by the extensive spread of dogmas subversive of the Christian faith, and the peace of the Christian Church. Who but

must be roused by the efforts making to obscure that doctrine, and revive those cumbrous ceremonies which have ever been the subjects of controversy between us and Rome; and whereby, as has been well and truly expressed, "the glory of Christ is extinguished, religion abolished, the Church destroyed, and the hope of salvation utterly overthrown?"

While the rashness and unfaithfulness of " the Sect" now happily "everywhere spoken against," and which has excited astonishment, by the injuries they have wantonly inflicted on their own Church for the exaltation of the "Mother of harlots and of all abominations,"" treacherous dealing" that must render them objects of wonder for ages to come; -who that knew with what perspicuity and fulness the distinguishing doctrine of Protestantism and of the Church of England is held forth; with what richness of matter, powerful reasoning, and beauty of illustration it is defended in the writings of Bishop Davenant, and especially in the present elaborate treatise, but would be inflamed with zeal to bring it before the Church in the living language of our times; in the hope that, embodying the Truth as it does, it would meet with that acceptance with which his writings were universally received in their Author's own age, and tend to counteract the evil of proceedings we have so sadly to deplore?

Under such musings and feelings the Translator would at once have undertaken the work here placed before the public; but onerous duties on the one hand, in a sphere abounding in distracting interruptions, and demanding almost unceasing attention and toil; together with circumscribed means and harassing difficulties amidst pecuniary straits on the other, presented obstacles which seemed insurmountable. All inclination to engage in such an arduous-such a perilous-task to mind, body, and estate, was constantly repelled by the res angusta domi, till about eighteen months since; when the matter was brought under serious consideration by an appeal from a very influential quarter; and a few months after was set before the writer in a way, and enforced

by reasons, which could not be resisted. Encouragement to such an extent was afforded, so soon as his readiness to embark in the work was signified, and so multiplied, from various quarters, as to make it evident where the path of duty lay. No difficulties or risks could then be regarded for one moment; and in pursuing his course with the ardour of a mind persuaded by a variety of collateral evidences, of what the Lord would have him to do, the Translator has been stimulated in no small degree, by the observation of a distinguished Prelate, that the work, if brought within easy access to candidates for Holy Orders, would" induce them to read deeply, and lead them to think correctly," on the all-important subject of Justification discussed in the following production.

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That this work of Davenant is pre-eminently adapted for the purposes alluded to, no other testimony need be adduced than one of Bishop Bull, who, however differing from Davenant with regard to the grounds of their doctrine, has passed, in the following judgment, the highest eulogium upon this treatise for sterling worth, scholastic ability, and practical soundness. Thus, says he, on drawing to a close of his own discussion of the subject, in his Harmonia,-" As a conclu"sion to this undertaking, I will subjoin a remarkable testimony of a man of most extensive learning, and a most worthy Prelate of the Anglican Church, who well knew "and faithfully maintained the sound and orthodox doctrine "of our Church in this controversy, and who, in short, most "successfully, if ever man did, exposed the subtleties and "devices of Bellarmine, and of others of the Popish party; "I mean the great Davenant, Bishop of Salisbury, who in "his most learned Disputations concerning actual and im"puted righteousness, cap. 31, thus explains and confirms, "in two short, but indeed most lucid theses, all the state"ments made in these Dissertations concerning the necessity of good works."- Bishop Bull's Harmonia Apostolica, Disp. II., cap. xviii., sec. 10.