The Spirit of Bondage and Adoption, To the reader 1
To the Readers of theſe Treatiſes, eſpecially thoſe of my preſent Congregation in READING, and thoſe of my once-Auditory, the people of WITNEY in Oxfordſhire.
Chriſtians.
WHo-ever you are to whom theſe preſents ſhall come, know, that you are concerned in the ſtudy of the Truths here treated on, as deeply, as it concernes you, to live here holily or unholily, comfortably or uncomfortably; yea, as much as it concernes you to be ſaved or damned hereafter everlaſtingly, Whether you look on, or overlook them, (but for your own account, which I would willingly further) is all one to me. I have learned to ſpeak plain truth, without being ſolicitous how it will go off, in this nice and tender Age. Sure I am, that my Maſter will account my Talent not amiſſe beſtowed upon ſuch a ſubject, except for this only, that my heart hath been too little affected with it, or bettered by it, in the ſtudy, and preaching thereof. My hope is by this publication, you, and I ſhall (by Gods grace) improve it together, and mingle our prayers, that it may mutually do good.
To you of my former, and preſent Auditories, I recommend theſe Treatiſes in a ſpecial manner, ſeeing they are more peculiarly yours; the one, (I mean that of Witney) becauſe of my unſettlement from Oxford, having been deprived of the full hearing of the firſt, and heard nothing at all of the laſt: The other of Reading, having been from the pulpit made partaker of the whole, and divers of you deſired it from the preſſe. I hope, you will conſider, that the printed labours of your Miniſters will not be ſo eaſily accounted for, as the tranſient breath of an uttered Sermon. That reverend and holy man (my predeceſſour now with God) Dr. Taylor, hath charged much upon the account of you my preſent people, and the whole Town, this way. I fear his workes are in few of your houſes, and in fewer of your hearts. It were thirty or forty ſhillings well ſpent (if leſſe will not do it) to buy them, if not into your private families, yet into your ſeveral Churches, to be kept among other Church Ʋtenſills, if for no other uſe, yet for a Teſtimony againſt the backſlidings, and fearfull Apoſtacies, of divers of his admirers and followers in the time of his Miniſtry amongst you. And as for me, I know not of what eſteem my poor labours may be to after times. At preſent, I have (with grief of he art I ſpeak it,) cauſe to complain of many of you, that I fear I have ſpent my labour in vain hitherto. It may be, much of the cauſe of it may be from my own ignorance of the moſt proper way of winning upon you: (and I muſt confeſſe, a people, ſo divided, and ſubdivided, needed a far wiſer man, and more experienced then I am to ſoder them together, and beget ſuch an eſteem of my miniſtry in all diſſenting parties, as might render it effectual to them:) It may be, I have not ſufficiently watered the ſeed ſowne with my prayers for, and tears over you. It may be the many publique conteſts, which (God knowes) unwillingly, have diverted my studies, and preaching, too often to controverſies, may be the occaſional cauſe of my too great unſucceſsfulneſſe among you. But however, I pray conſider, I have preached, and now print enough (if you had never heard more from me then theſe Sermons) to render you utterly inexcuſable, if any of you ſtill barre the doors of your hearts with a ſinfull prejudice againſt the truths herein contained. I beſeech you (for Chriſts ſake) let none of you turn them into matter of diſpute, if in any thing I differ from any of your judgments. For I know, it is an uſual policy of Satan to make uſe of differences in opinions (though never ſo ſmall, and trivial) as impregnable fortifications againſt the power of truth, when it proceeds from perſons, from whom we differ. I pray remember, that although the matter here treated of according to Chriſtians various experiences, may beget different apprehenſions in ſome things; yet the main ſubſtance of theſe Treatiſes, is of common (and that neceſſary) uſe to all. Let us not loſe that we agree in (as to the benefit and uſe of it) whiles we ſtrive for an unprofitable victory in that wherein we differ. I have (for the moſt part) avoided (of purpoſe) peremptory deciſions in doubtful points, and all unſavoury reflections (to my beſt judgment) altogether. I hope you will all make uſe of that wherein all Saints agree, and not trouble others with that wherein you diſagree. The Lord grant you may, and then I know my preſent labor will not totally be loſt. If but one poor ſoul be converted, ſupported, comforted hereby, it will be too great a reward for my ſlender pains. However, (becauſe we muſt caſt out the net to catch as many fiſhes as we can, though we muſt be contented with how few ſoever God ſhall think fit to bring into it) I have thought fit to make way to your acceptance by this Preface; and having ſo done, commend it, and you, and this Piece of mine to Gods bleſſing, and intreat you to do the like in your moſt ſolemn Prayers, for
The unworthy Authour, your Servant in the Goſpel, SIMON FORD. Decem. 13. 1654.