The Spirit of Bondage and Adoption, To the reader 2 – Errata
To the READER.
THe Subject of this Treatiſe being the Spirit of Bondage, and the Spirit of Adoption, will (I fear) meet with ſome diſguſts, at leaſt not ſavingly reliſh with every pala…e in theſe times, wherein people are ſo ſtrongly addicted to a pleaſurable Religion, deſiring as well an eaſie way to bring them to Chriſt without thoſe terrors and diſquiets of conſcience which uſually accompany the new birth, as a pleaſing continuance in their Regenerate eſtate in Chriſt, without thoſe renewings of repentance, and that courſe of ſtrict obedience the Goſpel calls for. Now to thoſe who do not carry in their breſts any prejudicacy of opinion touching the Points laid down in this Treatiſe, but deſire earneſtly the clearing, of every ſaving Truth, I ſhall not need to ſay any thing; the holy Spirit of God is promiſed to guide them into the knowledge of all neceſſary Truths, who deſire in ſincerity to be experimentally acquainted with them. But thoſe who are likely to be offended with Doctrines of this nature let me encourage to the ſerious ſtudy of this Book. As the Subject of it is ſpiritual, ſo it is handled, not only with much ſolidity of Judgment, and acuteneſſe of Learning, but alſo with much …piritualneſſe; as in which the reverend Author doth not only preſent the tru…hs of Chriſt in a way of Speculation, for the delight of the mind; but alſo ſuits them to the hearts of people in a way of Practice, for the benefit of the ſoul, which is certainly the moſt excellent, and moſt profitable way of opening Scripture: for as it is the ſaving Duty of people to practiſe what they know, whereupon that which Epictetus makes one of the firſt principles of Philoſophy, foreign, the making uſe of Rules and Precepts in the courſe of life the ſame our bleſſed Saviour, and the Apoſtle S. James make one of the firſt Principles of Religion, If ye know theſe things, happy are ye if ye do them; and not they who are hearers only, but doers of the Word ſhall be bleſſed in their deed: So it is the incumbent work of Miniſters in all they deliver, either in the Pulpit, or by the Preſſe, for the winning of people unto Chriſt, or building them up in the faith, not to keep in high Notions or Speculations of Truths, but to endeavor to bring them to be practicable, without which all Teachings and Diſcourſes will be but vaine and unprofitable. What Auſtin notes of the three great Philoſophers, that Socrates excelled in Philoſophia activa, and Pythagoras in Contemplativa; but that Plato, utramque jungendo Philoſophiam perfeciſſe laudatur. The ſame I muſt ſay of Divines, they do moſt excel in handling the Doctrines of the Goſpel, who make it their work to joyn the Practical, and the Speculative together. How far this life bloud runs in the veynes of this Treatiſe, wil be eaſily diſcerned by the eye of every one that ſhall pleaſe to take the pains to read it. They who do not before hand ſtomack the Matter and Subject of it, will not (I perſwade my ſelf) be offended with the manner of handling it. The elaborate pains the Authour hath taken in this Work, wherein are many great and precious Truths aſſerted, many knotty points which have not a little puzled the ſpirits of tender Chriſtians, cleared up to their comfort; material Queſtions ſatisfactorily anſwered, and the ſpiritual condition laid open very fully, in reference to the ſtate of Bondage before Converſion, and the ſtate of Adoption after it: and all this and very much more, in a ſolid way both of Scholaſtical and Practical Divinity, deſerve much encouragement from the people of God, for whoſe Souls ſake He hath thus travelled. But there is not any thing of greater provocation to faithful Miniſters of the Word to take paines both by Preaching and Writing, then the diligence of People in Hearing and Reading. As I ſhall therefore commend this Work to the ſerious peruſal of all, into whoſe hands Gods Providence may caſt it; ſo in reference to the ſtudy of it, I Licenſe it for the Preſſe, as that which may tend exceedingly to the improvement of Graces, the comfort of afflicted conſciences, the inlightning of the ignorant in points of ſo neceſſary concernment, the conviction of folly in thoſe who preſume of their being in Chriſt before they have had any ſenſe of their ſinful and miſerable condition by nature; and many wayes to the great advantage of all, who have not yet attained to a right underſtanding of theſe Myſteries of Salvation.
THO. TEMPLE.
To the READER.
THe Author of this Treatiſe hath learnt to deny himſelf, that he might ſtudy and exalt Jeſus Chriſt. He is none of that Graecian ſtrain, whom the Orator ſmartly cenſured of old, Do illis eruditionem, do Doctrinam: fidem & Religionem nunquam iſti coluerunt. For he hath been at Athens and learnt Chriſt there, as Dionyſius the Areopagite did, Act. 17. 34. He could not content himſelf with ſuch a Revelation as fleſh and bloud doth impart to carnal Goſpellers, Mat. 16. 17. and therefore he hath begged the Teſtimony, Revelation, and Demonſtration of the Spirit; 1 Cor. 2. 4. Epheſ. 1. 17.that he might have the Spirit of God for a Witneſſe in himſelf before he preſumed to teſtifie of 1 John 5. 1. 6, 10.the moſt eminent Works of the Spirit in the heirs of Heaven. He hath ſhewn Believers that their right by the Goſpel is good in Law, when it is ſealed by the Oath of God, by the Spirit of God, and by the heart bloud of Chriſt, who is the end of the Law for righteouſneſs to them that believe, Epheſ. 1. 13. Rom. 9. 1. 1 Joh. 2. 20, 27. 1 John 5. 13. 19. 20. Rom. 8. 16, 17. 2 Cor. 3. 3.Rom. 10. The ſingle teſtimony of a deceived heart is no Authority; but when the Spirit hath inlightned and renewed a ſoul, he leaves an Impreſſe upon the heart, and a Certificate in the conſcience which cannot deceive. Let the Reader beg the Spirit of Grace and Supplication, that he may read this excellent Treatiſe with the ſame ſpirit wherewith it was written. And let them that cry down Learning and Ʋniverſities ſee and confeſs that the Spirit breathes upon learned ſouls, and makes their Learning inſtrumental to diſcover the Myſteries of godlineſs, even the deep things of the Spirit, with more glory and advantage, then when he works upon duller ſouls, who have not Learning enough to prize Learning, or grace enough to bleſſe God for ſanctifying of that learning which diſcovers the danger of their ignorance. The Lord bleſſe the Labours of this practical Preacher, and teach us to grow in knowledg and grace, that we may not be led away with the error of lawleſſe or *foreign.boundleſſe men, nor fall from our own ſtedfaſtneſſe; ſo prayes
Your Servant in the Goſpel, FR. CHEYNELL.
REader, the Authors diſtance from the Preſſe muſt plead for him and it. Thy indulgence (it is hoped) will pardon the reſt, which in this review are overſeen, and correct theſe Errata's before thou readeſt.
ERRATA.
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