Treatise of the Divine Promises, To the reader
To the Christian Reader.
REader, as I desire thy Good by this Treatise, so let me crave thy favourable acceptance of …y honest intentions. This Golden Mine, and Rich Treasure of the …romises, hath not yet bin fully o…ened and displaied unto the world. Some that have written of Faith have handled some of the Divine Promises, and other little Treatises there are (I confesse) al…eady extant concerning this very …rgument. Farre be it from me (who have made use of them all, and many other worthy Writers for the compiling of this Treatise) to disparage the meanest of them, who have written any thing of so excellent a Subject. But I dare appeale to those who are judicious, and have read the Treatises out in that kind, whether any or all of them have either yet methodically ranged, or fully handled all the speciall Promises, both of which I have at least indeavoured to accomplish. I speak not this (as I said afore) to derogate fro… them, nor yet to arrogate an… thing to my self, but rather to gi… satisfaction unto such who will b… ready to pretend, that others ha… written of this Subject, and therefore this worke of mine is needlesse. The Proverbe saith▪ Store … no sore, and I thinke there is n… great cause to complain of satie… ty in this kinde. Besides, I handl… both the Covenant and Special… Promises together, whereas those who write professedly of the Covenant, say but little of the Promises, and those who expresly trea… of the Promises, say but little or nothing of the Covenant. Furthermore, my method di…fers much from theirs, that have laboured in this kind; for they commonly in handling the Promises, alleadge such and such Scriptures generally & in the lump. But I have in many of the graces, and most of the duties, set down Promises, both of and to, as Promises, 1. Of the grace. 2. VntoUnto it. Promises 1. To enable to the duty. 2. Also to accept and reward it: and I have often particu…ariz'd the things promised; by …anking and marshalling them in…o their severall Heads, and shew…ng distinctly the special Rewards whither Temporall, Spirituall, or Eternall of such or such a grace, or duty. My chiefest motive and inducement to publish this Worke, next unto the promoting of Gods glory, was the benefit of Christians, which fruit of my labours I have already promised to my self, having both read Exhortations in books to the performance of such a work, & heard complaints from Christians, of the want of such a work. If any should demand, cui bono, for what use may such a Treatise serve, or what profit can redoūd to Christiās by it? I may answer with the Apostle, and say of it, as he doth of Circumcision, much every way. Rom. 3.12But I forbeare to exemplify, or instance the particulars, since I have done it already in the former Epistle, & the work it self will sufficiently shew it. O but may some say, this work would well have becōe an experienced Divine furnished with rich abilities of learning and piety: all that I grant, and had it bin done by such a one, I should both have spared my own pains, & made use of his most willingly. But since that is rather to be desired, thē yet to be expected, I (who aboūd with leisure) was willing to make this essay, both that I might imploy my own *Pudeat illos (saith Tully) qui ita in studijs se abdiderunt, ut ad vitam communem nullū fructum proferre possint. Paulum sepultae distat inertiae C…lata virtus. Hor l. 4. Carm. od 9 Trisle mortalitatis privilegiū est, &c. Euphormio.Talent, & gratifie the desires of Christiās. For their saks (though I must expect severall censures, according to the variety of mens humors) am I willing conferre aliquid in publicum, to cast in my mite into the common treasury. If thou findest faults & Errata in the book, let love cover them, for to erre (as the Satyrist saith) is the sad priviledge of mortality, & he (of all mē) erreth most, who challengeth a priviledg from errour. Thus praying to the Lord, that thou maist reape much good from these Promises, and promising to my self no little comfort from thy prayers, I rest
Thy true Christian Friend and hartie well-wisher, EDVVARD LEGH.