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PREFACE.

WERE it not to answer the expectation of readers, and comply with the custom of writers, the following book might be ventured out to the world, without either preface, introduction, or recommendation, the very title-page containing enough to entitle it to a careful and candid reading and perufal.

The worth and credit of the author is fufficiently established among fuch as have any tafte of piety or learning.

By the hiftory of his life, which has met with very good acceptance, it appears that he was a man of God, one whom he had fet apart for himself. How diftinct and pointed was ke in obferving the Lord's way and work, in bringing hin to himfelf! And where can we fee a brighter example, in thefe latter days of the world, of the humbling exercises and comfortable enjoyment of Chriftians, than in the author?

How exciting and edifying is it, to fee how close he walked with God in his fecret intercourfe with him, in his domeftic relations, and family devotions, in his public and minifterial work, and his converfation before the world, fetting the Lord always before him, and acknowledging him in all his ways!

May we not then expect fomething very well worth our while, in the performance of one of fuch a character? One that had the contents of the book written upon his own heart, before he preached them to his people, and was a living and lively witness and example of the great and grave truths now exhibited to public view.

However little this part of his character may take with the multitude, yet thofe truly serious, who valued him while living, and have an honour for his memory when dead, will, no doubt, take pleasure to see how the great purposes in the book were managed by fuch an excellent hand; and the brethren that were concerned in the publishing of it, can, with a good deal of affurance, fay, that the experience, upon perufing, will answer the expectations raifed, of meet Sing with a fpirit of ferioufnefs and piety breathing in it, and a great deal of folid judgment and dis in thought; and

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in fome incident questions, not uncurious, there is fufficient evidence of his penetration, and what may be very agreeable and taking to them who fet up for Something above what is vulgar

There is nothing in it mean, or unworthy of a grave, ju. dicious, and learned author: if any thing look that way, it is where the neceffity of the matter, and capacity of those he dealt with, required it, becoming all things to all men; particularly when dealing with children, it was fit to do it as near their own terms as possible: for to fuit matter to the defigns we have, and to the conditions of thofe we deal with, is no argument of the want, but of the firength of judgment.

He was excellently fitted and enriched with talents, for every poft Providence called him to, having filled and adorned the Doctor's chair, as Frofeffor of Divinity, as well as the pulpit, while paftor to a Chriflian flock.

But though there had been lefs to fay for the author, the contents of the book deferve a fair hearing, and a serious perufal; why? it is the GREAT CONCERN, it is not a trifle it is not an amufement: no, it is of the last consequence to us to know these things. Many live unconcerned, and love to do fo; it may be, the very title fhall be with fuch an argument against reading; there is little hope of fixing fuch fo long as to read the book, or so deep as to do it feriously and with due concern: and no wonder, when those so indifferent about the great concerns of eternity, and their own precious fonts, fuffer the fcripture-oracles to lie by them, without due, frequent, and ferious inquiry into them.

Here is prefented to the view of Chriftians, and those who would indeed be fuch, what, by the bleffing of God, may be very entertaining, edifying, and ufeful.

The first fruits of his labours, in the fermon next after his ordination, printed as an introduction to the book, fhews how much his work was at heart, and under what concern he was to prepare the people for entertaining and improving his minifiry and message, and to approve himself to God, in the difcharge and delivery thereof.

In the First Part, the fate of nature is reprefented as a fate of fin, mifery, and wrath, in the most pungent, affecting, and convincing terms imaginable; where the guilty finner is closely purfued into all the turns and stages of

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life, and convinced of fin: in each and all of them, fin is reprefented as odious and abominable, as exceeding finful.

It is laid open in fuch glaffes, and with fuch aggravations,

as it is hard to avoid the convictions of it, but where natural hardness is increafed, by the malignant influence of Satan, whofe great defign and strength lies in keeping all in peace.

The divine refentments against fin, wrath and judgment, upon finners, are likewife fet forth in fuch a manner, as cannot easily mifs to raise terror in the confciences of the guilty: prefent wrath in the direful effects of it, wrath to come in the extent and extremity of it, are held forth in Juch a lively manner, as muft raife the gratitude of those happily delivered from it, and bids very fair to alarm and awaken thofe yet under it, to escape and flee for their lives.

Then, upon supposition of conviction of fin and guilt, in the Second Part, the exercises of the convinced finner are opened up most distinctly and judiciously,, in their nature, rife, workings, and degrees, and in fuch a feeling manner as may easily perfuade one, that he has, in this matter, copied over his own experience: and it is fome degree of fatisfaltion to one in this condition, to have one going before them, and to think that their guide has trodden the fame path.

With what tenderness and compaffion doth he touch the cafes of the difireffed! while yet, with faithfulness and freedom, he opens up the mistakes and deceits, both in the workings and illue of convictions, approving himself an inter preter, one among a thousand. Those who by the Spirit are convinced of fin, will know how to put a value upon a piece fo fuitable to their cafe; and those awakened and con. vinced are led by a skilful hand, to the centre of rest for wearied fouls, by the way of faith, and believing on the Lord Jefus Christ, which gives occafion for opening up the mystery of faith, in its nature, atts, and properties, concommitants, and confequences, which will be found very useful for informing the lefs knowing, confirming the weak, and comfort ing the ftrong believer.

And what can be of greater importance for us to know than the only way of efcaping wrath to come, and being delivered from the curfe and condemnation of the law, of being united to Chrift, and being found in him, upon which

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he becomes our righteousness and strength, whereby we are entitled to the great falvation?

Of which falvation the author treats as the great encouragement of believing; and this is the one thing necessary: for, What is a man profited, if he gain the whole world, and lofe his own foul? This falvation is fet forth in fcripture-light, accounted for in its parts and properties, at a good length: and as this is of the last confequence to all, so it must be the delight of thofe that have it at heart.

If thou art convinced and awakened, and brought to a concern about falvation, if brought to the jailor's cafe, thou wilt become the help here offered, and readily attend to the anfwer of the apoflle to his queflion: for what can be more · proper and pertinent to the cafe of fuch, than the true way to escape the mifery of a natural flate, and attain the felicity of a gracious one? Thefe, as they will not Spare, fo they will not repent, the pains of reading these Sheets.

Such as are by grace engaged to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and are a people faved of the Lord, will have it at heart, what to do for God; they will fet themselves, in the frength of grace, to all the duties of religion, whereby God may be glorified, and their faith juflified, and their be☛ gun falvation promoted: all which good defigns are answered in the Third Part of the book.

And this gives an account of personal religion, of the fervice of God, how we must enter into it, and perfevere in it; and what more useful piece of knowledge is there, than how we may do fervice to, and keep up our communion with God? Here our first tranfactions and after walk are pointedly and piously directed.

Here alfo family-religion is opened in its parts, the founda tions of it fixed, and the practice of it enforced with pow erful arguments, and suitable directions for people's walking in their house, and the proper duties of the feveral relatives in a family; which, if duly obferved, would turn houses into churches: and this is very neceffary, when family-devotion is declining, and like to wear out.

A public religion comes alfo under confideration in this Part, or a public fpirit; whence the thing is recommended, and yet cautioned with great wisdom and judgment, to prevent people's going out of their Sphere, and beyond their line.

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