Sermons Preached on Romans 8, Author to the reader – Errata
THE PREFACE TO THE READER.
Chriſtian Reader,
§ 1. THat I may not be defective either in civility to thee or in common prudence and juſtice to my ſelf, 'tis neceſſary that I pre-advertiſe thee of ſome things convenient to be known about the enſuing Work; the doing of which therefore is the deſign and buſineſs of this Preface.
§ 2. That which was the firſt riſe and occaſion of it, was this: I having in my Miniſtry gone over ſeveral of the moſt weighty Points in Divinity, relating both to Faith and Practice; and finding my ſelf too often divided in my thoughts what Text or Subject next to inſiſt upon; upon this twofold Conſideration I reſolv'd to fix upon ſome continued Diſcourſe in Holy Writ, where I might have my work cut out for me by the Spirit of God from time to time, by which being determined I might be freed from ſelf-perplexing and time-waſting diſtractions. No ſooner was I come to this reſolution, but immediately it pleaſed God to bring to my thoughts the Eighth Chapter to the Romans: which when I had a little ſurvay'd in my mind and taken a ſhort view of the fulneſs and preciouſneſs of its matter, without any further demur or heſitancy I reſolved alſo that that ſhould be the Chapter which I would lay out my pains upon. Accordingly I entred upon it; and (for which I heartily bleſs the Lord) he who directed me to that Undertaking was graciouſly pleaſed to aſſiſt me in it and to carry me through it.
§ 3. The Excellency of this Chapter being my great inducement to pitch upon it, it would have been requiſite that I ſhould here have endeavoured to have ſet forth that excellency, had I not in my firſt entrance upon the work it ſelf ſaid enough upon that account. To compare Scripture with Scripture (that one place may give light to another) is a thing very ſafe and good, but to compare Scripture before Scripture is a thing that muſt be done with much tenderneſs and caution: I adore every part and parcel of Sacred Writ (*2 Tim. 3.16. all being given by inſpiration of God and admirably uſeful to that end for which it was appointed), and would be very careful how I prefer one before another. Therefore I do not ſay that Pauls Epiſtles are the moſt excellent of all the New Teſtament Writings, or that this Epiſtle to the Romans is the moſt excellent of all the other Epiſtles, or that this Chapter therein is the moſt excellent of all the other Chapters (in which gradation ſome pleaſe themſelves): Yet this I may ſafely ſay, that this Epiſtle and this Chapter for ſublimity of Matter, variety of Evangelical Truths, admirable Support and Comfort to Believers, are not inferiour to any part whatſoever of the Holy Scriptures. Which if ſo, I have then pitch'd upon a Subject very well worthy of my beſt Endeavours, and none will blame me for attempting to open ſo rich a Cabinet.
§ 4. In digging into this Mine I found it to be ſo full that it was a long time before I could get to the bottom of it; for I was two years (and ſomething more) in preaching over this Chapter. In which time I preached very many Sermons upon it, but the preciſe Number I will not mention; becauſe Some from thence might take occaſion to faſten that cenſure upon me which I hope I do not deſerve; and Others ſeeing here but Eighteen of ſo many publiſhed, might think I ſhall never come to the end of all. Well! though the work was long yet it pleaſed God to ſpare me till I had finiſhed it: I have now entred upon a work of another nature, whether he will alſo let me ſee the finiſhing of that, foreign.
§ 5. Wherein it fares with me much as it ſometimes doth with Seamen; who after a long and tedious Voyage are no ſooner arriv'd at ſhore, but preſently they are ſeiz'd upon and ſent to Sea again, upon a Voyage far more tedious and dangerous than the former: This is my caſe, when I had but juſt ſet my foot on land and was got off from one Service which was enough painful and troubleſome, by the over-ruling Providence of God I was commanded to Sea again, and put upon another Service far more difficult and dangerous than the former. But I muſt be at his diſpoſe who may command me whither and about what he pleaſes! and it becomes me with all alacrity to go whitherſoever he bids me go, and to do whatſoever he bids me do.
§ 6. When I had finiſhed my Sermons on the whole Chapter, ſeveral Friends importun'd me to print them: whoſe importunity though I could not well withſtand, yet ſurely had there been nothing more than that, I had not been drawn thereby to undertake ſuch a task as I now have. And the truth is, when I conſider my great averſeneſs to Printing, the vaſtneſs and difficulty of the preſent Work, my great unfitneſs for it (as upon other accounts ſo in reſpect of my bodily infirmities which daily grow upon me), my ſluggiſh, melancholly temper, the many divertiſements I meet with by other employments; I ſay when I conſider theſe things I cannot but ſtand and wonder how I came to be thus engag'd. I muſt (upon the whole matter) reſolve it mainly into the overpow'ring, all-determining Will of God, and conclude he had appointed and cut out this Work for me and would have me do it. I write not this (I can appeal to the Searcher of hearts) to heighten my fitneſs for this ſervice or the worth of any thing that I have done; but only that I may declare the true Ground of my engaging in the preſent buſineſs, duly acknowledge God in ſuch an enterpriſe as this is, and alſo that I may animate my Faith and Hope in Him for Aſſitance and Succeſs; as knowing that what he calls unto he will carry through and what is of him ſhall be bleſſed by him.
§ 7. As ſoon as my Preaching-work was off of my hands, after a very ſhort reſpit I ſet upon this of Printing: wherein what progreſs I have made, this Volume (which I publiſh as a prodromus to what is yet to come) will manifeſt. It contains what I preach'd upon the four firſt Verſes. Some (I aſſure my ſelf) will be ſurpriz'd, and think it ſtrange that ſo few Verſes ſhould make a Volume of this bulk and bigneſs: but I would deſire theſe before they judge to caſt their eye upon the various Heads diſcuſſed therein, to weigh the great latitude and importance of thoſe Heads; and I hope they will then be ſatisfied that in the due handling of ſo many and ſo material things leſs could not well be ſpoken. I did indeed deſign at firſt to have gone much farther, but afterwards I ſaw (the work growing ſo much upon me) theſe Verſes were as much as I could graſp in one Book. And the Apoſtle ending with them the firſt part of his Diſcourſe, (viz the confirmation of the Predicate in the Propoſition, there is no condemnation, &c.) I thought without any unhandſome disjoining of the Words I might there break off. What comes after in the following Verſes, wherein there is the illuſtration of the Subject, who walk not after the fleſh, &c. ſhall next be inſiſted upon (if God permit).
§ 8. When I ſay that what I preach'd is here publiſhed, I would not be miſunderſtood; as if I had not varied in the Latter from the Former: for I acknowledge I have varied very much; and that too not only in Words and Expreſſions but (in ſeveral places) even in the very Method and Matter. Which alterations proceeded not only from my infelicity (that I cannot twice do the ſame thing in the ſame way); but alſo becauſe I found, upon the review of what I had done, Second thoughts to be neceſſary. Add to this too, there muſt be a difference when we have to do with the Ear and when with the Eye; for that Style and Method, yea and Matter too, which is proper for the one is not always ſo for the other. I hope therefore none will be ſevere againſt me becauſe of theſe Variations; but if any will be ſo, let them be ſure that they themſelves do wear but the ſame cloaths abroad which they do at home, (which I think few do).
§ 9. The Matter in the Firſt and Second Verſes being (comparatively) more plain and practical, in going over them I have (to the beſt of my remembrance) varied but little: but in the Third and Fourth Verſes where the Matter is more deep and Controverſal, there I have varied much more. They point me to Chriſts Natural Sonſhip, Incarnation, Sacrifice for ſin, &c. which excellent Heads I did not paſs over in Preaching without ſome conſiderable enlargement upon them; but had I then ſo fully handled them as here I do, I ſhould but have tir'd and perplex'd the generality of private Auditors, and ſcarce have edified them. Indeed theſe are Points (eſpecially if largely and throughly diſcuſs'd) much more proper for a Reader, whoſe thoughts may dwell upon them he having them fixed before him; than for an Hearer, who through the conſtant ſucceſſion of new matter, the ſlowneſs of underſtanding, the weakneſs of memory, is not ſo able to take them in or to judge a-right of them. Upon this Conſideration I have here added and inſerted many things which then I omitted; hoping that as what I then ſpake was not too little for Hearers, ſo that what I now write will not be too much for Readers.
§ 10. Reader, I hope in the peruſal of this Book thou wilt find, that things of a practical nature, ſuch as concern Faith, holy Walking, deliverance from Sins dominion (and the like), have far the greateſt room in it: yet I am not aſham'd to own that there are in it ſeveral things of another nature (I mean Controverſial); which I neither could nor (in truth) did deſire to avoid. As to Controverſies more nice and curious than neceſſary and profitable, none delights in them leſs than my ſelf; (who would love to walk in the midſt' of briars and thorns that hath pleaſant meadows or gardens to walk in?) much leſs d… I delight to trouble weak Chriſtians with knotty and polemick matters. But the Controverſies which I handle are of ſuch weight and importance, unto which too the Texts I open did ſo unavoidably lead me, that I knew not (without falſhood to my Truſt as a Miniſter of the Goſpel) how to ſhun them. Shall the Natures, Offices, Sonſhip, Incarnation, Sacriſice, &c. of our deareſt Lord and Saviour be aſſaulted by daring Enemies, and ſhall not we (eſpecially when they lie in our way) defend and vindicate them? And are theſe the great things upon which the Salvation and Happineſs of Believers do depend, and ſhall not they underſtand how Adverſaries attempt to undermine them? yea, ſo to be able to anſwer ſuch Gainſayers as that they may ſtand firm and fixed upon theſe Goſpel Foundations? That I might therefore heighten the knowledge and confirm the Faith of ſuch, I have been ſomewhat large upon theſe things; in the managing whereof if I have done too much for the Unlearned and too little for the Learned, I am ſorry for it.
§ 11. Of all the Controverſies with which the Church is peſtred, I have (as the Texts did lead me) moſt concerned my ſelf in thoſe wherein we have to do with Papiſts and Socinians; but principally with the Latter. Theſe (not that I in other things acquit the Former) are the great impugners of the Chriſtian Faith, in their denying Chriſts Godhead, eternal Sonſhip, Pre-exiſtence before his Nativity of the Virgin (wherein they are worſe than the old Arrians), Satisfaction, his being a proper Sacrifice for Sin, the main Ends of his Death, &c. Againſt whom therefore I have endeavoured to aſſert and maintain theſe high and glorious Truths (which are indeed Truths of the firſt magnitude). What thoughts others may have of Socinianiſm I know not, I know my own: And might I preſume ſo far as to give advice to my Reverend Brethren in the Miniſtry, I would humbly adviſe them to ſet themſelves to their utmoſt againſt it. For it doth not only ſtrike at the whole platform of the Goſpel, but (of all other Opinions) it gets neareſt to the very Vitals thereof: this curſed worm grows in the Goſpels beſt fruit; 'tis for the poyſoning of thoſe Fountains from which the ſtreams of Life do moſt immediately flow; whilſt many other Errours endanger but the remoter parts, this endangers the very heart of Chriſtianity: can we ſay or do too much to ſecure Souls from it and to defend the Goſpel againſt it? God prevent the growth of it in all the Churches of Chriſt!
§ 12. If in the diſcuſſing of theſe Points I have ſaid nothing but what the Learned in their Treatiſes about them have ſaid before, yet however two things I have done:
(1.) According to my duty I have given my Teſtimony to the great Truths of God, (let it ſignifie what he pleaſes).
(2.) I hope I have (I am ſure it hath been my endeavour) made ſome things (in themſelves dark and intricate) to be ſomewhat more plain and intelligible to weaker Capacities: and if I have done but that, though I have brought no new matter, my pains have not been ill ſpent. My Souls deſire is that the Profeſſors of this Age may be well grounded in the Articles of the Chriſtian Faith, and that they may attain to a clearer inſight into Goſpel Myſteries than what as yet they have attained to: and if what is here done ſhall conduce to the promoting of theſe moſt deſirable things, it will be a ſufficient recompence to me for all the labour that I have been at.
§ 13. I obſerve that many private Chriſtians will read over thoſe Controverſies in a Sermon, which they care not to read in Treatiſes profeſſedly penn'd about them: the Reaſon of which (I ſuppoſe) is this, they meet with that in a Sermon which they do not in a Treatiſe; viz. when the Argumentative part is over they come to ſomething that is practical; the bone being broken they have marrow and ſweetneſs to feed upon. It hath been my care all along in this work to anſwer herein the expectation and deſire of good Souls, for at the cloſe of every knotty Subject I have always made thereof ſome plain and uſeful Application; that ſo I might reach both the Head and the Heart too.
§ 14. So long as the ſtrife lay between an Iſraelite and an Egyptian the matter was not very ſad, but when the Iſraelite and the Iſraelite ſtrove one againſt the other then 'twas ſad indeed: So here; ſo long as the contention was 'twixt Romaniſts and Socinians on one hand and Proteſtants on the other, 'twas well enought; but when Proteſtants divide and differ among themſelves, that's matter of great ſadneſs. In the Body of this Work I have had occaſion only to contend with the Former, and there I had nothing but comfort; but in the End I was neceſſitated to take notice of and to intereſt my ſelf in a difference between the Latter (concerning the imputation of Chriſts Active Obedience, which*Amongſt whom in its proper place (had not my memory fail'd me) I ſhould have cited that truly eminent Perſon Biſhop Reynolds on Pſal. 110. pag. 440. &c. ſome are for and ſome againſt), and that afflicted me more than all that went before. For though in my own judgment I am very well ſatisfied for the Affirmative, yet it troubles me that I ſhould therein diſſent from thoſe whoſe Names (as to the dead) I highly honour, and whoſe Perſons (as to the living) I dearly love. Well! theſe differences will be till Heaven unite us all: and bleſſed be God in this point we may differ ſalvo Fidei fundamento. I hope we ſhall make it to appear to the world that we can diſſent and yet love; that whereunto we have attained we ſhall walk by the ſame rule, and if in any thing we be otherwiſe minded, God ſhall reveal even this unto us, (according to that excellent deciſion of the Apoſtle in caſes of this nature).
§ 15. But (Reader) I muſt not detain thee longer in giving thee any further account of the Particulars treated of in theſe Sermons; do but thy ſelf read over the Contents of the ſeveral Chapters, and they will in ſhort give thee a proſpect of the Matter and Method of the whole. Thou ſeeſt already a great part of my Way hitherto hath been ſomewhat rough and craggy, I hope in what follows it will be more ſmooth and eaſie (bating thoſe paſſages which ſome Expoſitors conceive Peter referr'd unto, when he ſpake of ſome things in Pauls Epiſtles hard to be underſtood); however I muſt take it as it falls.
§ 16. Two things as (to the whole) will be objected againſt me: the One is over much prolivity. As to which all that I can ſay for my ſelf is
(1.) The Subjects inſiſted upon are ſo various, lying ſo near the very heart of Religion, bearing ſo high a place in Evangelical Faith, ſo neceſſary to be underſtood by all, and ſo deſperately ſtruck at by Oppoſers; that truly for my part I thought (pardon me if I was miſtaſten) I could hardly be too full in the Explication, Confirmation and Application of them. Good Reader! pleaſe to read over the bare Heads I go upon (as they will occur by and by), and then tell me whether ſo many and ſuch fundamental Truths could well have been crowded into a leſſer room. But
(2.) if this will not ſatisfie ſuch as are moſt judicious, it ſhall be mended in what is to follow.
§ 17. The Other is, the unneceſſarineſs of this Undertaking ſo many already having wrote upon this Chapter. Anſw. So many? who or where are thoſe ſo many? I wiſh I could ſee them: I deny not but that many, both Ancients and Moderns, have written Commentaries upon it for the clearing up of the Senſe of the Words, (for whoſe labours I bleſs God, and ſhall in this Work endeavour to make the beſt improvement of them); but having done that, there they leave off: I hope I go further than ſo, not ſatisfying my ſelf barely to give the Senſe and Meaning of the Text (which is the proper work of an Expoſitor), but alſo drawing out that Senſe and making the beſt advantage of it for things Doctrinal and Practical, (which is the work of a Preacher). I acknowledge alſo that ſome have particularly and fully wrote upon it in the way which I take, (as Mr. Elton, Cowper, Parr, Streſo, Philips, Binning to the 15 Verſe); but not ſo but that there is yet room for the induſtry of Others: there are good gleanings in this large field yet left for them that ſhall come after. I will not for my vindication fly to that common Maxime, Good things we cannot hear (or read) too often; foreign: but I deſire ſo much right may be done me, as to compare what I have now done with what others upon this Chapter have done before; if I do no more than they I deſerve the ſevereſt Cenſure, but if I do, the Reader then I hope will be ſo candid, yea ſo juſt, as to let me have his favourable Sentence. I am conſcious to my ſelf of many weakneſſes in the work, but as to the charge (of but doing that which was done before) pardon me if in that I ſtand upon my vindication.
§ 18.*Sumite matetiam veſtris, qui ſcribitis, aequam Viribus, & verſate din, quid ferre recuſent Quid valeant humeri— He gave good advice to them that will be printing, who counſell'd them to pitch upon ſuch Subjects which might not be above their ſtrength, ſeriouſly to conſider before they engaged whether they were able to go through with what they undertook. I have duly weigh'd the myſteriouſneſs and difficulties of the things which I am to write upon, and the more I look into them the more I find them to be above me; yet for all this I am not diſcouraged, becauſe I truſt I ſhall have an higher ſtrength than mine own to help me and to carry me through all of them,Horat. ſo as that ſome benefit may accrue to Souls: The way of the Lord is ſtrength to the upright Prov. 10.29. he that hath Gods Call needs not to queſtion Gods Help; and if he will help, the weakeſt Inſtrument ſhall be ſtrong enough for the higheſt and hardeſt work.*Retract. l. 1. c. 25. Auſtine (that great and bleſſed man) tells us of himſelf, he had begun a Comment upon this Epiſtle to the Romans but the difficuity of the matter he met with made him give over: I have in what I have done encountred with ſome difficulties, more are before me as to what is yet to be done; but I bleſs the Lord I am not diſheartened by them, ſo as to think of giving over the work:*1 Sam. 30.6. But David encouraged himſelf in the Lord his God; and (in my preſent caſe) I deſire to do the ſame. Difficulties in the way of ſervice ſhould but quicken our diligence and heighten our dependance upon God, not take us off from doing our duty. Yea further I am not without ſome diſcouragement as to my external condition; the Sun (as to bodily Health, and ſome other Conſiderations) is going off from me, (few plants are ſo ſituated as to have the Fore-noon and After-noon Sun too); but that doth not quite diſcourage me neither. May I but have the warm influences of the bleſſed Spirit, and the Sun of righteouſneſs with his ſweet beams yet ſhining upon me, I truſt (though outwardly I decline and decay) I ſhall yet finiſh what I have begun.
§ 19. The Chapter being commonly divided into three Parts I hop'd I ſhould have finiſhed one in each Volume, and ſo have drawn the whole into three: but theſe Four Verſes taking up ſo much room I am forc'd to allot two Volumes to the Firſt Part; hoping to graſp the two other Parts in two more. So that in my four days Journey (as it were) I have as yet gone but one of them; but he that hath been with me in that will (I truſt) be with me in the other alſo.
§ 20. I muſt not be too bold with God in entitling him to what I do, yet I would fain hope that 'tis by his ſpecial Providence that I am engaged in this Undertaking; wherein I ſhould be exceedingly confirmed, might I ſee theſe Firſt Fruits (now publiſhed) owned and bleſſed by him to the profit of many; and with what chearfulneſs ſhould I go on if I might in my firſt ſetting out have ſuch encouragement! Till I be able about this to paſs a better judgment than as yet I can, it will be beſt for me for ſome little time to ſtay my hand (which accordingly I reſolve upon). I am very loth to burthen the world with unprofitable Labours; may I do good, all that I ſhall do will be too little; but without that, that which I have already done is too much. Well! Succeſs and good Iſſues muſt be expected only of God and referred wholly to Him: he hath enabled me to do ſomething, which if he pleaſe to bleſs it ſhall proſper but if he deny his bleſſing I have laboured in vain. Now (Reader) for the helping on ſo great a mercy I beg thy Prayers, yea thy beſt Prayers; when thou art with God in ſecret remember me and the work in hand I earneſtly entreat thee: indeed I need all thy praying help, wherein if thou beeſt wanting thou thy ſelf maiſt be damnified thereby. If thou wilt forget me I truſt I ſhall not forget thee in my poor prayers, that God will bleſs thee in the clearer revealing of Goſpel myſteries to thee, the fuller illumination of thy Underſtanding in Spiritual things, the confirming and ſtabliſhing of thee in the great Truths of God, the daily heightening and perfecting of thy Graces, the ſanctifying of all Helps and Means (publick and private) to the furtherance of thy ſalvation: In a word, that thou maiſt be the perſon in Chriſt Jeſus, living the ſpiritual Life, and thereby that the No-condemnation and all the other branches of the precious Grace of God ſpoken of in theſe Verſes, yea in the whole Chapter, may be all thine. So for the preſent I leave thee, remaining
An unfeigned Wiſher of thy Spiritual and Eternal Good, THO JACOME.
The following Errata's (partly the Printers, and partly mine Own) thou art deſired (Reader) to correct, as follows.
PAg. 2. l. 23. for No-condemnation r. Exemption from Condemnation. P. 7. l. 32. r known. P. 66. l. 34. r. God ſpeaks. P. 94. l. 21. r. reſtraining. P. 123. Marg. r. Chriſtiano. P. 185. l. 25. dele ſome. P. 190. l. 5. r. 2 Tim. 2.25. P. 208. l. 9. r. dominion and power. P. 213. l. 3. r. this grief. P. 233. l. 38. r. Jer. 32.17. P. 241. l. 18. r. Chryſoſtome. P. 243. l. 4. r. were born. P. 249. l. 10. r. foreign. P. 254. Marg. r. Legi. P. 278. l. 24. r. fain. P. 307. l. 24. r. -init. P. 325. l. c. r. ſpeak. P. 347. l. 8. r. other. P. 349. Marg. r. ſciri. P. 354. l. 1. r. is not. P. 374. l. 3. r. on. P. 403. Marg.. r. deſiiſſet. P. 405. Marg. r. Lombard. P. 408. Marg. r. immortalem. P. 423. l. 3. r. where. Pa 540. Marg. r. primis. P. 560. l. 23. dele do. P. 580. l. 3. r. formally. P. 606. Marg. r. Lucium. P. 608. l. 14. r. quoad hoc.