Practicall divinity

The Publisher to the Reader.

READER,

THese Sermons allthough not intended by the Author to to be made thus publike, he being absent when they were taken in hand; But being very much desired by many and pressed hereunto, conceiving truth herein held forth so cleare, that the spi∣rituall and experienced Christian will rellish and seale thereto; Being desirous to owne truth wheresoever found, not daring to oppose it, truth carrying such a light, power and demonstration in it selfe, we durst not have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ the Lord of glory in respect of persons.

It could be wished the Author would publish his owne labours; but they appear∣ing to many, worthy the communicating,

they are here presented to thy view; And although they may not be so full and emphaticall as they were delivered, being taken by writing them from his mouth, yet love will make thee not curi∣ous to spy faults, which is too common a fault in our times, but to take in good part what is here held forth to thee, by him who aimeth at thy spirituall good, and somewhat also in vindication of the Author of these Sermons, (whose I be∣lieve they are, not only in regard of ex∣pression, but also in experience in a good measure) an imputation of errours be∣ing laid on him as on others, more then true.

And indeed we beleeve as it was late∣ly said before a solemne Assembly, there is (it may be) abroad a greater cry of errors then really there is, allthough with griefe be it spoken, there be ma∣ny foule errors broached, and some very blasphemous which deserve as severe punishments as the word of God requires: yet let not reall and

glorious truths suffer under the name of error; Our Lord Christ himselfe was counted among the transgressours, and St. Paul confesses after the way that yon call heresie, so worship I the Lord God of my Fathers; and let us not judge all that error, which we by reason of dark∣nesse, or not being come to the same ex∣periences, cannot see to be truth; but let us try all things and hold fast that which is good.

Neither as the Apostle saith ought we to boast of things without our mea∣sure, as the manner of some is, that is of other mens labours and experiences; in another mans line, of things made ready to our hand; for we are very rea∣dy to think higher of our selves then is meet, or wee have cause, having built up our selves in our owne conceits, to be something when we are nothing. That be∣cause the Apostle Paul, Luther, & others, through affliction and high experiences of Gods assistance, and thriving by the Crosse, were transcendently hold in God

and for God, therefore they are ready to appropriate and boast of their labours and experiences as if they were their owne, and were come to such an high pitch and had the same enjoyments.

But it were far better & safer for us this something were brought to nothing, and wee convinced of our owne weaknesse ingrace and how carnall we are and how far below the life of Christ and true bold∣nesse; This man should goe home justified rather then the other. But he that glo∣rieth let him glory in the Lord, that Christ may be all in all; for not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the lord commendeth; for self being set up and gotten into the chairt, it will swell, boasting itselfe above what is meet, or what it hath received, and then others better then themselves must be their footstoole, that by the degrading of others they may advance themselves: but sayes the Apostle, they that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts; the fruit of the

spirit is joy, peace, long suffering, gentlenesse, goodnesse, faith, meek∣nesse, temperance; against such there is no law; if we live in the spirit let us walke in the spirit, and let us not bee desirous of vaine glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

But read I pray thee these Sermons seriously and with a single eye, (if so it be given thee) and weigh the subject of them and whereto they tend, and apply them to experience: and thou shalt see how much or how little thou hast of the life of Chirst. And if thou beeft enabled to aime at thine owne good in perusing them, I doubt not but thou wilt accept, and not quarrell at them. So I commend both them and thee to the blessing of him, who only is able to make us grow up into him in all things who is our head, that speaking the truth in love, and having fellowship in the spi∣rit; wee henceforth be no more chil∣dren, tossed to and fro, and carried a∣bout with every wind of Doctrine by

the sleight of men, and cunning craf∣tinesse whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But holding forth the word of life, till wee all come in the unity of the faith and knowledge of the son of God, unto a parfect man, unto the measure of the stature of fullnesse of Christ,

In whom he desires to serve thee, Fare well.

Notes

• James 2.1.
• 2 Cor. 10.12.
• Gal. 6.3 2 Cor. 10.17.
• Gal. 5 22.23.25.
• Ephe. 4.15.
• Phil. 2.1.
• Ephe. 4.14.