TO THE READER.

IF the Father said true, that Books were * the fruit of the mind, as children are of the body, naturall affection must com∣pell me, (as she did for Moses) to provide some Ark for the safety of this Book, lest it perish: And I know no better way, then to give thee some account of the matter and method of it, if thou vouchsafe to peruse it.

For the matter of it, it is chiefly improved to main∣tain the dignitie and use of the Morall Law against late errours about it, and thereupon I have been forced to consult more with those books that are filled with such poyson, then to peruse those Authors that have main∣tained the truth; and I found the looking upon their Heterodoxies a speciall help to propagate and confirme the truth, as that Romane Painter curiously drew the picture of an Horse, by constant looking upon an Asse, avoiding whatsoever he saw ridiculous or deformed in him. I acknowledge this work above my strength, it being a subject not much handled by former writers, and so I could not be guilty of that fault, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: but I say, as Austin, Ego parvas vires habeo; sed Dei Verbum magnas habet; I have small strength, but the Word and Page  [unnumbered] Truth of God hath great power. None is more unwilling then my self to come in print; but, because he that writeth good Books, doth retia salutis expandere, spread the nets of salvation to catch some men in; and the good works of such will last as long as their Books live; I have hardened my selfe, and overcome mine owne temper, to publish to the world these conceptions of mine. I have not affected to appeare in this Book 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, about words and phrases, because it's controversall matter, and so fitter to be represented to the understanding in naked unaffected explications, then curiously adorned to please fancy: Yea, I have grudged at words, as being too long and cumbersome, desiring (if possible) to conveigh my sense in as briefe a manner as may be, lest any that comes to look for fruit, should finde the leaves too broad, and so cover it from sight. And this endeavouring of brevity will make the matter seeme too obscure and abrupt, till there be a fa∣miliar acquaintance with my way.

My method is after some generall discourses about the usefulnesse of the Law, more particularly to handle it as given to Adam, and afterwards as promulgated by Moses to the people of Israel; and herein I have taken in all the materiall questions that Papists, Arminians, So∣cinians, and more especially, Antinomians have started up. In all this I have endeavoured to give the Law its due, and the Gospel its due, remembring that of Luther, Qui soit inter Legem & Evangelium distinguere, gratias agat Deo, & sciat se esse Theologum; He that knoweth how to distinguish between Law and Gospel, let him give thanks to God, and know he is a Divine. It is the allegoricall interpretation of one Writer, that the great feasting and musick which was used at the re∣conciliation Page  [unnumbered] of the Father to his Prodigall son, did signi∣fie the sweet harmonie and agreement between Law and Gospel. If this were so, then some doe represent the elder brother, that grudge and murmure at this excellent accord. If any adversary shall assault this Book, I shall not be solicitous to answer it, because I endeavoured so to state the question, that at the same time truth might be maintained, and falshood demolished; I am prepa∣ring for thy view another Discourse about Justifi∣cation, which precious Doctrine hath also been much sowred by the leaven of Antinomian opinions.