True Christianity, To the reader
Christian Reader,
WHen I had resolved at the desire of the Honourable Judge of Assize, to publish the foregoing Sermon, I remembred that about six yeares before, I had preached another on the like occasion, on a subject so like, and to so like a purpose, that I conceived it not unfit to be annexed to the former. I have endeavoured to shew you in both these Sermons, that Christ may be preached without Antinomianism; that Terror may be preached without unwarrantable preaching the Law; that the Gospell is not a meere promise, and that the Law it selfe, is not so terrible as it is to the rebellious. As also what that superstructure is, that is built on the foundation of Generall Redemption rightly understood; and how ill wee can preach Christs Dominion in his universall propriety and soveraignty, or yet perswade men to sanctification and subjection, without this foundation. I have laboured to fit all, (or almost all) for Matter and Manner, to the Capacity of the Vulgar. And though for the Matter it is as necessary to the greatest, ye… is it for the Vulgar principally that I publish it; and had rather it might be numbred with those Bookes that are carryed up and downe the Country from doore to doore in Pedlers Packs, then with those that lye on Bookesellers Stalls, or are set up in the Libraries of learned Divines. And to the same use, would I designe the most of my published labours, should God afford me time and abilitie, and contentious Brethren would give me leave.
August the 7th, 1654. Rich. Baxter.