The Resurrection Revealed, To the reader
AN Epiſtle EXPLICATORY and APOLOGETICAL to the READER, touching the Subject-matter of this BOOK.
THE Frontiſpiece of the Title, and the Printers ſpecimina, (formerly given into the hands of our friends) having ſufficiently held forth the forme of this Treatiſe, we deemed it neceſſary to adde one word touching the matter; which, ſhould ſeem by the variety of palats to be of a various and ſtrange reliſh. Moſt diſ-reliſhing the leaſt that is ſaid of it as too much; many reſenting all, as too little: The later duely weighing, this to be the great intereſt of Saints, and to ſucceed the grand Cataſtrophe of all the preſent turnes, and overturnings of times, and things (pulling downe the rotten, that the rubbiſh removed, New Jeruſalem may be built) The former, as ſtrucken with a pannick fear, dreading ſome monſter of Hereſie abortively to be borne into the world, or a voluptuous Cerinthianiſme to be raiſed from the dead, to the endangering of the Articles of our Creed, or Faith. But whoſoever will be ſo wiſe as to read the firſt and fourth Booke, afore he cenſure, ſhall finde (beſide the whole current of Scripture in the other) the ſtream of all ſorts of all the beſt approved Antiquity of the moſt pious Fathers (Greek and Latine) the choyſeſt ancient Jewiſh Rabbins, with the pick'd flowers of their Targums, and Talmuds, and Orthodox Councils, and Catechiſmes, &c. to have held with us. And if he ſhall peruſe the fifth Book, he ſhall be convinced (I truſt) that when the moſt learned Adverſaries bad objected what they could, and particularly that of infringement and prejudice to the Articles of Faith, they could not in the leaſt impeach our Tenet of any ſuch errour, or incongruity. And into a like nothing, I doubt not, will that dreame of voluptuous Cerinthianiſme vaniſh, upon the Readers peruſal of the third Section of the third Chapter of the third Booke, Page 372.
And for further ſatisfaction of the Readers, and mine owne ſpirit herein, I can comfortably adde one grand conſideration, viz. Experience. For▪ the maine ſubſtance of this Treatiſe was for neer one whole yeer taſted, and tryed upon the palats of very many of the moſt godly and pious, who were ſo far from doubting, and ſo fully ſatisfied in their ſpirits, that their importunity and encouragements brought this Worke into the World, when I had long laid aſide the thoughts of ever travelling with it any more.
The reaſons why I began as well in Latine as Engliſh, throughout the firſt Booke, and there reſted, were two; Firſt, The many Latine Quotations neceſsitatedly attending a worke of this nature. But chiefly (if I may ſpeake freely) the grand concernment of it to all Forreigne Nations, (as well as to us) that hope for future bliſſe, eſpecially to the now diſtreſſed. Jewes; To whom, therefore I would willingly have ſo communicated it, for their readieſt peruſal: But ſome of my worthy Friends ſtrongly diſſwading, mine owne eaſe eaſily ſubmitted.
If yet all are not, will not bee ſatisfied, I cannot helpe it; nor all the Writers in the World, with whom all men were never ſatisfied. But this I have ſtrongly to comfort my ſelfe herein, That the Call of the Jewes being a Myſtery (Rom. 11.25.) and the Reſurrection of the Saints, and their change a myſtery (1 Cor. 15.51. &c.) both Maſter-limbs of the body of this Diſcourſe, the fault of the Readers non-ſatisfaction may as well (at leaſt) be charged on his dimneſſe, as upon my weakneſſe.
I have no more to adde in this mee-diſpleaſing way of Epiſtolizing, but to pray and wiſh to the Well-willers, increaſe of Divine light: To the Ill-willers, a better ſpirit: To the Newter-negligent, diligence to underſtand: And to the Learned, ſearching, and declaring: To all which, AMEN
Is the cloſe of Your Servant in the Lord, NATH. HOMES.