The Cure of Hurtful Cares and Fears, Request
A REQVEST By the Executors of Mr. Pierſon, occaſioned by the concealing and detaining of ſome of his writings and papers, by ſuch as borrowed them in the life time of Maſter PIERSON.
WHeras in the former epiſtle intimation is given of ſome other writings of this reverend Author fit to be publiſhed, I thinke it not amiſſe to let the Reader underſtand, that the thing chiefely intended therein, is an excellent Expoſition of the firſt Epiſtle of Saint Iohn: a work, as is conceived both of extraordinary worth and uſe, and which ſhould have firſt bin offered to the publike view, but that upon peruſall there was found a great breach in it, by reaſon that the whole third Chapter, and a few verſes in the beginning of the fourth were wanting: that part being, as others had been, imparted to ſome private friend who hitherto hath neither made reſtitution, nor given any notice of it. Wherupon it is thought fit by thoſe that are intereſted in the whole, that this opportunity ſhould be taken to give notice of the defect in that part, being fully perſwaded that none will either be ſo envious at others, or deale ſo unfaithfully with him whoſe life and labours were wholly devoted to the publike good, as privately to detaine the papers themſelves, or any knowledge that they have of them, or their probable conjecture to whom they have heard any of his writings have bin lent: when as by giving notice of that part they ſhal not only deale juſtly with thoſe whoſe right it is, but wiſely likewiſe for themſelves; who by that meanes in ſtead of a broken part may come to have the whole in ſuch ſort as will be fitter both for their own and others uſe, and withall prevent that imputation which wil lye upon them, if it be diſcovered otherwiſe; which they may eaſily conceive is neither impoſſible nor improbable. For charity bids me hope that the concealement of it hitherto hath only beene out of ignorance in what hand the reſt did lye unto which it ought to be reſtored: and that ſince it is thus publikely now called for, it wil be no longer detained, I will not ſay, from them that are particularly intereſted only; but from the Church of God in generall, and all good Chriſtians that might reap benefit and comfort by it.
End of the text · Thomas Pierson, The Cure of Hurtful Cares and Fears (1636)