Treatise of Miscellaneous Questions, Title page – Publisher to the reader
A TREATISE OF Miscellany Questions: WHEREIN Many usefull Questions and Cases of Conscience are discussed and resolved: For the satisfaction of those, who desire nothing more, then to search for and finde out precious Truths, in the Controversies of these Times.
By Mr. GEORGE GILLESPIE, late Minister at EDINBURGH.
Published by Mr. PATRIK GILLESPIE, Minister at GLASGOVV.
EDINBURGH, Printed by GEDEON LITHGOVV, Printer to the University of EDINBURGH, For GEORGE SVVINTOUN, and are to be sold at his Shop at the Kirk style, at the signe of the Angel. 1649.
The Publisher to the Reader.
IT hath been a grand designe of the Devil and Instruments acted by him, with much controversie to darken the light in the very breaking up of this present Reformation, and to hide the precious Truth that the simple should not finde it, such pure malice doth he carry against the high way of the Lord, and so afraid heIsa. 35. …. is, that the Way-faring men shall not erre therein: but they know not the Counsel of the Lord, norMich. 4. 1… the thoughts of his heart, who is about to clear the Truth, by the manifold Errours which have risen in these late Times, to work His peoples hearts to a deep detestation of Errour, as well as ungodlines, and to declare his Truth, to be proofe of all the controversie that can be moved against it, when every Work shall be tried by the fire. There must be Heresies, for making manifest who1 Cor. 18 19. are approved, and what is precious and praiseworthyZech. 14. 7. Truth, but at the Evening time it shall be light, and the Lord shall make Truth shine the more brightly, that it hath been for a time darkned and born down, this cloudie Morning shal end in a clear day. This litle treatise doth help to blow away and dispell the mists▪ of Errour, and clear many questioned Truths, beside some points which are practically handled therein. If God had been pleased to lengthen the Author his life for longer serving his Generation, I am confident it would have come abroad better polished, if he had compleated it and there survayed the whole Work, when set together. But although this peece be unperfect, yet having the Authors leave, I have adventured to make it Publick, without any addition or alteration, the christian Reader will correct the Errata, and look upon it as it is his opus posthumū, whom God made very serviceable in his work, in a very short time: I shall only wish that it may prove as useful and acceptable to the Iudicious and godly, as other peeces which came from his Pen.
I am Thy Servant, PAT▪ GILLESPIE.