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A generall Preface to the Booke.
IN as much as the present designe of Christ (by his Spirit, which is now to reigne in the Saints,) is to destroy Antichrist, Root a•••• Branch; and this Antichrist (so to be destroyed,) consisting of the pollutions, and delusions of the world, the ••lesh, and the Devill, (viz. in the now temporall powers of the world, the now various formes of Church Government; as also in many fundamentall points of Religion) and it being the office of the aforesaid Spirit, to convince the world of Sinne, of Righteousnesse, and of Judgement, Joh. 16. 8. viz. Of Sinne, in point of fundamentals; of Righte∣ousnesse, in point of their Pharasaicall glosses, by which they co∣lour their Hipocrisie in matter of forme; of Judgement, in point of the Ti••anicall, and Arbitrary powers of the world. In reference to which, I have suted my Discourse, to them three particulars, ho∣ping the Reader will ••••ade that conviction, as to be perswaded from any further contest with Christ, in all, or any one of the a••oresaid particulars, resident in him; in relation to which, Christ hath in effect declared, that whosoever is not against them, or any one of them, in any particular of them, is assuredly against him. The Method I shall observe in this Discourse, is by making the first last, and the last first, viz. I have first endeavoured to convince Errours, in fundamentall points of Religion (as in relation to the Trinity, &c. secondly, in the formes of it; and lastly in the powers opposing Christ, in, or under them formes. I have also used the Scripture me∣thod, by reproofe, and instruction, where there is occasion; I have also (where need requireth) composed this Booke, by way of Dialogue, it being as I conceived, the chiefe meanes to convince errours. This I presume is sufficient, to illuminate your understandings▪ in relati∣on to the scope, and intent of the Booke, which is here presented unto you; I shall only adde this, that the Reader would p••ruse the 24. chap. of M••thewes Gospel, and parallel it with this present time; as also in particular, to take notice of the 30. ver. viz. Then shall ap∣peare the SIGNE of the Son of Man in Heaven, &c.