White salt: or, A sober correction of a mad world,: in some wel-wishes to goodness. / By John Sherman, B.D.

To the Reader.

READER,

ON purpose I would not have thee look for any thing in this paper: for, the Kingdome of heaven com∣meth not with expectation. Yet, if any read it, he shall not lose much time; for he shall soon have done: and if none read it, I have not lost much time; for, being short, it was not long in doing.

The design of it is such, as I desire the successe of it may not differ. It is thus. The world is now old, and earthy. It is cold and dry; and hath need to be made warm with Charity, and moist with Repentance. And God is wont to make use of mans morall suasion, to work himself effectually by. But upon whom this lot shall fall, whose lot is it to understand? Where is he that shall dip his pen in discretion with sweet reproof, as Jonathan did his rod in honey, to enlighten the eyes of the people, as he did his own? I dare not aske the question, Master Jesu is it

I that shall do thee this service? Could this be done by me, and were there two felicities; this should be my second. The men of this age rejoyce in goods, but oh the joy of doing good! Is there no balme in Gilead? is there no Physician there? Alas! why is there not a Colledge of Divines to consult the publick cure of these ill humours? Ʋntill there be such, every one may exercise a generall duty without any need of a revelation; and though none is bound to convert, yet every one to ende∣vour it.

And therefore, though I know nothing in my self towards this end, yet am I not, me thinks, thereby justifyed in my neglect; since infirmities are of use to Gods glory. And if he will do us the honour, to honour himself by them, we have reason to be glad that we had them for him. O my Saviour, since I have no∣thing else to serve thee with, let me serve thee with them.

If any one then, or every one finds the defects of this piece, he shall not finde me to be of another opinion. Here's no depth of judgment; no strength of reason; no curiosities of phansie; no patness of history; no fringing of the margent with variety of choise reading. Such things I do not pretend to Others make the world more learned. Would I could make it more good.

Neither is there such usefulnesse of exact Scholarship in this morality; as also is it not now so much in fashion. Yea, it may seem now seasonable, because we have sometimes to do with them which do not love their enemies, whereof Learning is one. So that I am in the more capacity to be loved, because I have as little in me of that against them, as I have of malice.

Let them do what they will to me, it is more then they can do to make me their enemy. Am I become your enemy, because I tell you the truth? as St. Paul sa••d. It is naturall to men, as the Historian notes, to hate those whom they have wronged: yet is it necessary for Christians to do well to their enemies, because they love them. And if we love virtue, we hate no man: because we are more afraid that men should do evill, then that we should suffer it. We do not desire that they should have their desire upon us in our confusion: but we do desire to have our desire upon them in their conversion.

This Goodness is the theme which I would commend to all Christians, who cannot con∣strue that name without it. Certainly those who have taken the ingagement of the Gospell, should be obedient to the Law. And why should Righteousness be so far from Piety, and Piety

from Righteousness in the Subject, when he is not a right Christian, in whom both do not dwell together? Indeed he that hath righte∣ousness and no true piety, is as an Heathen: and yet he that hath but a shew of piety and no righteousness (and he that hath no righteousness, hath but a shew of piety) is worse then an Heathen. Oh that we had one heart for the two Tables!

Had we had this Goodness which is spoken for, we had not had a Church more mise∣rable then can be spoken. Goodness is then reall, when the principle of it is in the heart, and the end of it not on earth. And had we so intended it, the Gospell would not have been pleaded to destry Polities, or Churches. St. Cyprians rule and saying would have saved us this harm, Mali non possunt obesse bonis, sed boni possunt prodesse malis, The bad cannot hurt the good, but the good may do good to the bad. Had we been good, we would have loved them, till they had been better; and then have loved them better, because they were better: but Good∣ness is not belonging to the nature of Separation, one or other.

Some parts of Goodness I have not pursued, as Charity; which is part of our obedience to God. Indeed there is no necessitie any thing

should be spoken for this part of a clear and pure conversation. Neither needs any thing be said against Ʋncleanness; which doth so foully and enormously profane the temple of the holy Ghost; and therefore, like filth, should be swept out with the besome of ancient Di∣scipline. It is a sin which the Sun will not look upon; and they ashamed to be seen when they do it; therefore doth not ordinarily, as other sins, come into open rebuke: And since it is a sin against the body, as the Apostle speaks, it makes naturally its punishment in it. So that I had no great reason to say much against this vice, whith is plainly bestiall, but hardly dis∣covered.

So thou hast the project of this Script: with the easing of my mind in the discharge thereof. Who can endure to see his Nation and the Church in the dust before him? And why should we not redeem our own misery (may some thinke) when we can never be safe till men be good?

This is all towards a Preface; which ac∣cording to art, should be last made: and I was not very forward to it. Is is but as the cackling of the hen when an egge is laid; and in this re∣gard I should have made none, for here's no∣thing laid. More might have been, it may be, had we not been driven out of our nest. If

any thing seem to be amisse, take it with a grain of Salt. If any thing smart, that is not my fault.

No more. Love thy enemies; whereof I am none. And if thou doest love thy enemies, thou wilt certainly love him who desires no greater favour then to think so well of him, as to let him do thee good.

Now I leave it to thee, and thee to God. Farewell.

J. Sherman.