The Righteousness of God Through Faith, Title page – Errata
THE Righteouſneſs of God THROUGH FAITH UPON All without Difference who believe.
In Two Sermons on Romans 3.22.
By NATHANIEL MATHER, Preacher of the Goſpel.
LONDON, Printed for Nathaniel Hiller at the Princes-Arms in Leaden-Hall-Street, over againſt St. Mary Axe. 1694.
To the READER.
I Muſt acknowledge that when I was called to Preach in that Audience where theſe Sermons were delivered, I had ſome Debates rolling in my Mind what kind of Subject I ſhould pitch upon. There were enow offered to my Thoughts wherein I might have more gratified, or at leaſt have leſs diſpleaſed our Neonomians, as they are lately named, but as truly and juſtly Semiſocinians, as the antient Church and all Poſterity ſince, hath called the off-ſpring of Pelagius his Hereſie Semi-Pelagians. But I ſaw with grief and deteſtation the Bleſſed Goſpel of our Salvation craftily and inſolently aſſaulted by them in the very Vitals and Fundamentals of it. In publico diſcrimine omnis homo miles eſt. Every Chriſtian, much more every Miniſter is ſet for the defence of the Goſpel, eſpecially at ſuch a time when the Truth labours under guileful and impetuous oppoſition. I doubted my Quiet would be attempted, and my Doctrine and Reputation would be angrily reflected on. As to the laſt, though I value it, and believe I ought to do ſo, yet I can truly ſay convictions, that I ought to ſacrifice both that and my Quiet to the ſervice of the labouring Truth of God had their weight with me. My Heart hath been long fixed in this Principle, that Reputation is little to be valued, ſave only ſo far as it may be of ſervice unto Chriſt; and if he have any uſe to make of it, he will preſerve it while I walk before him in Integrity. With him I have thus left it, and having ſo done my Heart is ſecure and at reſt about it. As to my Quiet, I confeſs I do prize and love it, as remembring Prov. 17.14. and 18.6. but to Maintain and Preach that Precious and Saving Truth which the Churches of Chriſt have been in poſſeſſion of ever ſince the Reformation, is not entring into contention; eſpecially when ſome abandon it, and others indeavour to wreſt it from us: And there is a contending, and that earneſtly, for the Faith once delivered to the Saints, which is a Duty. Beſides I am not far from that place, where the weary are at reſt, and the wicked ceaſe from troubling; the thoughts whereof I confeſs are ſweeter to me, becauſe I have very ſadning apprehenſions of the portendency of that apoſtaſie from the Truth which hath invaded ſo many of the riſing Generation, not among Conformiſts only but Diſſenters alſo. As to my Quiet I have this relief, that it is not in the power of any mortal to interrupt or diſturb my inward compoſedneſs of Spirit, or to lay me under any law of unquietneſs within my ſelf. I know and am aſſured, that a due exerciſe of Faith, Meekneſs, Self-denyedneſs, and ſuch like Graces, will eſtabliſh my Heart in a juſt and holy unconcernedneſs, though ſuch repreſentations ſhould ſtill be made of me for theſe Sermons ſake, as to fill my Friends in other Lands, to whom I am known, with trouble and conſternation. I uſe the very words of a Letter wherein I am informed that ſuch Reports have been ſent even ſo far.
As to the Doctrine delivered in theſe Sermons, it hath been of uſe to me for the direction and guidance of my Heart in tranſacting with God about Pardon and Acceptance to Eternal Life. I hope it may be ſo unto others. My Hope, my Life, my Salvation, my All is therein. I have not delivered any thing but what I know and am aſſured is according to the Eternal Truth of God, and wherein I have going before me as great Lights as any that God in theſe latter Ages hath ſet up in his Church. How little, or rather nothing, I have varied in what is Printed from what was delivered in Preaching, I muſt leave to thoſe that ſhall read and did hear them. I have heard of two Paſſages that have been taxed: Of them therefore I have in a ſhort Poſtſcript given a further account.
As to the Publiſhing of them in Print, if the Doctrine delivered in them be the Truth of God (as I believe it is) I need not make any Apology. Many that know me know my backwardneſs to appear in Print. Nevertheleſs in thus Publiſhing theſe Sermons my Heart condemns me not; knowing that I have therein only indeavoured to communicate in a more diffuſive and induring way that Truth, the Faith whereof I have received, and wherein I have many Years lived, and in which I hope and am perſwaded I ſhall dye; and which it is of concernment to have preſerved and propagated. The Bleſſing of him whoſe Truth it is, go along therewith.
London, this 14th of the 2d Month, 1694. Nath. Mather.
ERRATA.
PAge 20. line 3. for in is read is in, l. 9. a fine r. 1 John 2.1. l. 6. a fine f not, p. 21. l. 7. a fine r. comprizing under them his Graces, p. 25. l. 4. put the comma. after is, p. 26. l. 2. dele of, p. 27. l. 4. a fine r. 2 Pet. 3.11. p. 31. f. namely r. only. p. 36. l. 9. a fine f. John 15.19. r. John 15.9. p. 39. l. 14. their r. there, l. 10. a fine f. they do not r. they who do not, p. 42. l. 16. r. ….28. p. 43. l. 7. f. might r. weight, f. Pſal. 88.8. r. Pſal. 88.7. p. 59. l. 20. r. Phil. 3.12.