The Abuse of Gods Grace, To the reader
To the Chriſtian Reader.
I Shall not detain thee with a long Preface, leſt I may be injurious by keeping thee too long in the threſhold: OnelyOnly a few things I ſhall premiſe concerning the reverend Author, and his excellent work. As for the Author, he hath been well known to me at leaſt Five and twenty years, as being of *Magdalen Hall in Oxford.that Society with me (where from the firſt, even to this day, (through Gods goodneſs I yet continue) which hath bred and ſent forth many faithful Laborers into Gods Vineyard, and many †Mr. Tyndal the martyr. Dr. Field. Dr. Hoyle. Dr. Harris. M. Pemble. Mr. Leigh. Dr. Cheynel Dr. Wilkinſon, now of Ch. Ch, in Oxon. Dr. Wilkins M. Obadiah Sedgwick. M. Pocock. M. Pynke. M. Thomas Ford. Mr. Simon Ford, &c. Edmunds Bury. Mr. Jet.learned Orthodox Writers. Of later years my acquaintance hath been much increaſed with this worthy Author, and I rejoyce therein: He hath for theſe fifteen years in Edmunds Bury in Suffolk, (Where he now reſides) given abundant teſtimony of his induſtry and fidelity, in the diſcharge of his Miniſtery, and hath ſtudied to approve himſelf a Workman that needeth not to be aſhamed. He hath, (as it is ſaid of Demetrius) obtain'd a good report, and of the truth: He is ſound in the faith, and holy in life, & both by his life and Doctrine, makes it his buſineſs to win many ſouls unto righteouſneſs. I adde no more concerning the Author, neither needed I have ſaid ſo much, for he needs not my Letters of commendation: His Works ſpeak far lowder, and praiſe him in the Gate. That * Corporation (where thoſe † two faithful Servants of Chriſt do now exerciſe their Ministery) hath great cauſe of thankfulneſs, becauſe God hath raiſed up ſuch able Miniſters now upon the place, in the room of their * worthy Predeceſſors, (with moſt of them I rejoyce that I have had the honor of acquaintance.) And that people, who like Capernaum, have been lifted up to Hea† Mr. Claget. M. Sclater. M. Gibbons. M. White. M. Calamy. burroughs. M. Sainthill. M. Wall. ven with Goſpel means, ought to remember, That where much is given, much is required. As for ſuch who forſake faithful Teachers, and the Publick Aſſemblies, I heartily wiſh them timely and ſerious repentance, and that their Palates might have a right taſte, then they will conclude, that the old wine is better then their new; and that godly ordained Miniſters, are better then upſtart, un-called, ſelf-conceited Seducers.
Concerning the Book (the whole deſign whereof is to advance grace, and decry the abuſe thereof) it cannot be expected, that I ſhould ingage to bring of every Phraſe, Punctillo, or Tittle, according to the curioſity of Criticks. As for ſuch, whoſe fancies out-run their judgements, and with whom affectations of new coyn'd words, are more valued then the form of ſound words; I am not careful to anſwer them in theſe matters, neither do I think their exceptions worthy of an Anſwer. However, I am fully perſwaded, that the Treatiſe is ſolid and profitable, tending to edification; and throughout the whole, there runs a line of a gracious ſpirit: And whoever profits not thereby, hath more reaſon to queſtion himſelf, then the Author: For if pride and prejudice be laid aſide, I doubt not, but (through Gods bleſſing) much ſpiritual advantage will follow, upon the ſerious and deliberate peruſal of this Book.
Now if any one Object that the World is glutted with multitude of Books; my anſwer is, For good, Orthodox, ſolid Writers, we have reaſon to bleſs God, for ſuch helps we have by them, and ought to be deſirous for the continual increaſe of them: As for vain, frothy, unſound Writers, we wiſh that they were ſuppreſt altogether: For ſome Books, we have too many; and of others, which are rotten, heretical, and blaſphemous, we wiſh we had not any at all, but that they and their Authors might be buryed together, and never be reviv'd, as now adays (with ſorrow be it mentioned) they are, and become voluminous, to the great injury of the Church of God.
But as for ſuch excellent Books as we have had of late years, I have cauſe to bleſs God that ever I read *M. Sheffield of conſcience. M. Wall's none but Chriſt. M. Ford of Adoption. Mr. Calamy's Ark. M. Reyners Precepts, &c.them: I heartily wiſh that there were more of that kinde: One of the ſame ſtamp is this Treatiſe. The man and his Communication is one and the ſame: His deſign, (I am perſwaded) is in the ſingleneſs of his heart to bring glory to God, in advancing of the Kingdom of Jeſus Chriſt. He was hardly prevail'd withal to put this Work to Print; but having communicated it to me, and referr'd it to my determination, after a deliberate peruſal thereof, I would not by any means ſuppreſs that which I conceived might conduce to the publick good.
Wherefore (Reader) be pleaſed to ſpend ſome time (and it will be no loſt time) in a careful reading of this profitable Treatiſe; and if thou be not wanting to thy ſelf, I conceive thou wilt reap much benefit for thy precious ſoul. And this further requeſt I have to thee, that thou would'ſt be mindful of the Author at the Throne of Grace; and of him alſo, who rejoyceth, that he hath been in any way inſtrumental to bring to light this Treatiſe, which in love to thy ſoul he hath now made publick, and remains,
Oxon, Magdalen-Hall. March 28. 1659. Thy Servant for Chriſts ſake, Henry Wilkinſon.