TO THE READER. N any Either the Author of the enfuing difcourfe doth ftand in need of any teftimony from me, among those to whom he was known, nor will the difcourfe it felf need any recommendationunto them that shall perufe it provided they be ways ferious in Religion. It is therefore rather for compliance with the request of others, then from any inclination in my felf, that I prefix thefe few lines unto what doth enfue. But yet I muft Say alfo, that the high esteem which I had of the Author whilft he lived, for the gifts and graces of God that were Eminent in him, and the SeaJonableness of the fubject matter treated of in this difcourfe, made me more willing to this compliance then otherwife I should have been. I shall therefore offer a few things to the Reader, which he may esteem or reject as he shall fee caufe. The Author of this discourse (as is well known) is fome while fince entred into his reft, and he is fo, after his painful, faithful, and fuccessful labour in the Vineyard of Chrift for above fifty years. And I fhall fay no more concerning him, but that as he was eminently furnished with all ministerial abilities, fo it is but a joint tefti. W.NUTT. BINDER teftimony of all that knew him, that his fingular and almost unparllel'd perfeverance in Prayer, as for all other concerns for the Church of Christ, So for the fuccefs of his own Ministry, was that which both ftrengthened him to his work, and gave him fuccefs in it amongst whom he laboured. And I mention this only as an incouragement to a just expectation of use, and fruit from this part of his labours, in that it had an eminent fhare in thofe fervent Prayers, wherewith all his endeavours in this kind were accompanyed. The fubject-matter here infifted on by him, is of the highest importance unto all,whofe defign and business it is to live unto God. For it is not any one fingle grace whofe exercife is directed, nor any one fingle duty which is pressed and exhorted unto, but the entire management and alting of the principle of Spiritual Life in our whole walk before God, is declared and expreffed in this difcourfe. For in these things do our Souls live, in them doth their profperity confift. No Soul can profper but in the due exercifes of all graces, whereby the habit of them are ftrengthened, and the due performance of all thofe duties wherein they are exercifed. To have a guide in these things, fuch a guide as evidenced himself went before every step in the way, directing and encouraging others to accompany and follow him in the fame courfe and way, is of great concernment unto fuch humble, teachable Souls, as defign a profperous conditi on To the Reader. on in the profeffion of Religion, wherein we are ingaged. And the defign of this difcourse,with the management of it,to direct unto a Soul's prof perity, have weight added to them from the feafon, wherein by the guidance of Divine Providence they are now published. For we are fallen into a time, wherein the Spiritual diseafes, decays and thriftlefness of many profeffors of Religion do evidence themselves to the World, and complaints of the want of Soul-profperity, is heard from the most who fincerely inspect the inward fate of Religion this day, in themselves and others. It can't therefore want that beauty which feafon gives unto a word of truth. The manner of handling both Doctrine and Application in this difcourfe is fuch as becomes both the Author of it, and the Subject treated on, for it is done with that gravity and foundness of Speech as cannot be reproved; with that plainnefs and perfpicuity, which as it excludes all countenance from ornament of Speech, fo there is nothing in it that may be expofed to contempt amongst them that understand Spiritual things, or know in any measure, how they ought to be taught. And that which gives life to the whole, is an open evidence that the Author did both exprefs his own experience, and gives the Character of his own mind, in the endeavour after Soul-profperity, wherein his attainments and fuccefs were eminent above the most. And if the Reader be one who is ingaged in the fame defign, W.NUT defign, he will find, that as face answereth unto face in water, fo his heart will answer the heart of the Author in his expreffions of his own experience and practice, and it is nothing but the Edification of Believers in faith and holiness that is aimed at, without the least alliance unto any of those controverfies in Religion, wherewith the profeffion of it are perplexed in the World. For though thefe and fuch things as thefe bere treated of, are defpifed and reproa ched by Men of corrupt minds and prophane Spirits, unto whom the whole practice and power of godliness, with the manner of its Declaration according to the Scripture, is folly and matter of contempt; yet none have yet Suppofed, that it will admit of a question in Chriftian Religion, whether Believers ought seriously endeavour the fpiritual profperity of their own Souls. But with fuch as by whom these things are either defpifed or neglected, we are not now concerned; as for those who would endeavour to be found of Christ in peace, in what way foever he shall please to vifit his Church, or the World, the Seafon wherein we live, the whole power of temptation, which we are exercifed withal, the state prefent of most Professors, all circumstances & calls of Providence,do make the fubject-matter of the duty propofed in this difcourfe, more then ordinary necellary for their more ferious confideration. JOHN OWEN. |