The Spirit of Bondage and Adoption, Title page – Dedication
THE SPIRIT OF Bondage AND Adoption: Largely and Practically handled, with reference to the way and manner of working both thoſe Effects; and the proper Caſes of Conſcience belonging to them both. In two Treatiſes. Whereunto is added, A Diſcourſe concerning the Duty of PRAYER in an afflicted Condition, by way of Supplement in ſome Caſes relating to the ſecond Treatiſe.
By SIMON FORD B. D. and Miniſter of the Goſpel in Reading.
London, Printed by T. Maxey, for Sa. Gellibrand, at the Ball in Pauls Church Yard, 1655.
To the Reverend, the Dean, and Chapter of Chriſt-Church in Oxford, with the Students, Graduate and under-Graduate; who are or hereafter ſhall be Members of that Foundation: Together with The Reverend Principal of Magdalen Hall, and all the Maſters, Commoners and other Students there.
TO you (Fathers and Brethren) I do upon good advice, dedicate and devote theſe enſuing Treatiſes; partly, becauſe of the Relation that I have had to both Houſes, as having received the firſt elements of rational Learning in the one, and been admitted to an imployment of ſpecial truſt in the other: and partly becauſe the ſubject they treate of, was begun in the hearing of moſt of you, and the enlargement of it into the bulke it now appears in, was undertaken with the advice, and encouragement of that never to be forgotten ornament of his Colledge, and the whole Univerſity, Dr Reynolds, with whom I had the honour of acquaintance whiles he continued there, and of partnerſhip in ſuffering, when he was removed thence.
I confeſſe, this piece, if it were to be judged by an Univerſity of the old ſtamp, hath not quaintneſſe enough to expect any approbation from ſo learned a Body. But (I hope, and partly, know) that very many of your heads and hearts are better acquainted with practical Divinity, then (I doubt) moſt of your predeceſſors were. And therefore, I cannot but thinke, that you will vouchſafe it a little roome (and it will not take up much) in your Libraries. Here are a great many practical Queſtions and caſes of conſcience, concerning the inward and experimental part of the myſtery of godlineſſe, ſuccinctly handled, (and I ſhall boldly ſay) to my utmoſt abilities, ſincerely and faithfully: how judiciouſly, and ſatisfactorily, I leave it to thoſe of you who are experimentally acquainted with the matters treated of, to judge, as you ſee cauſe. I am ſure, I could not have ſpent my paines in waiting upon a more excellent ſubject, nor can you in reading: Yea, if the ſubject have no more cauſe to complain of the inſufficiency of the Author, then the Author hath of the unprofitableneſſe of the ſubject; I dare promiſe you, that (as I have, ſo) you will receive ſome conſiderable benefit, from the ſtudy and meditation of it: I have no more to preface to you at this time, but only by way of encouragement, to keep up the ſtudy of practical Divinity among you, as that which hath more marrow and fatneſſe in it, then all the quaint notions of your ancient Schoolmen, or the higheſt attainers of this wanton Age; and by way of prayer to God for you, that you may, by an uſefull imployment of your parts, revenues, and opportunities, confute, and put to ſilence the ignorance of fooliſh men, who wait for your haltings, obſerve your failings, and gape for the ſpoyles of your buildings and Revenues. That you may ſo doe, is, and ſhall be (by Gods aſſiſtance) part of the conſtant devotions of him, who is
Yours, ſolemnly devoted to the advancement of all pious and practical Learning, SIMON FORD. Decem. 13. 1654.