Salvation from Sin by Jesus Christ, Author to the reader
The AUTHOR to the READER.
Chriſtian Reader,
IT is generally and truly obſerved, That Civil warres are far worſe than with a Forraigne nation: for they are more violent, and more deſtructive; which party ſoever prevailes the Publique is a loſer, and ſuch victories leave ſmall cauſe for triumph. Sad experience in this nation tells us, that there have been more desperate military ingagements in thoſe few yeares of our late warres, than have been in twice the time between other warring nations. And how deſtructive they have been both to perſons and eſtates, the ſenſible Countrey will pathetically tell any man, if he need information. Oh how many gallant Engliſh Champions ſlain! how many fair Buildings burnt pulled downe, and vaſt Eſtates ruined! And where is the man almoſt (if he had an eſtate before) that is not a great loſer? But there is another Civil Warre that is yet remaining, of more dangerous conſequence (although the multitude are not as ſenſible of it, as of the former) and that is the diſcord, that is even among brethren in spirituall matters, who yet agree in the fundamentals of the Faith. This Warre, as it hath the like violence, ſo is it more deſtructive in the Church, than that hath been in the Commonwealth. How many poore ſoules have been deſtroyed, and Churches ruined! and what Chriſtian almoſt (if he will but faithfully cast up his account) but hath been a great loſer by it in his ſpirituall eſtate! How ſad is it to ſee Proteſtants, not onelyonly of the ſame Nation, but of former intimate and indeared acquaintance, write more bitterly one against another, than an ingenious Proteſtant would doe against a Papiſt! He that doth but read our modern Engliſh controverſies, will finde among many of them (I dare not ſay all) ſuch perſonall aſperſions and reflexions, criminations and recriminations, falſe charges, and foule miſ-interpreting of one anothers writings, that a third perſon, who expects to read ſomewhat of the Question controverted, findes ſo much written adhominem, that there is but little ad rem I am ſorry to ſee how much gall many godly men put in their ink. A man would be alſo aſhamed to ſee, how ſome that oppoſe other mens writings, do ſo farre wrest their words from their meanings; yea, go ſo far wide both of words and meanings, that it muſt be either through notorious wilfulneſſe, or ignorance, that they ſo miſreport them; if through wilfulneſſe, how great is their ſin! if through ignorance, how unfit are they to write Controverſies! How ſad is it, that ſome of good abilities, spend moſt of their time, they can well ſpare (and more too) from their neceſſary work of the Miniſtry, in ſtudying, and writing ſome ſmall Controverſie (in compariſon of many more weighty Truths) and thus imploy their talents for many yeares, in the beſt of their age, in which time they might have done the Church of God good ſervice, by ſome more profitable Tractates. Had they bent that force against the Kingdome of Satan, and Antichriſt, which they have done againſt their Brethren, to the rending of the Church; their labour had been worth the owning, which now grieves them, becauſe they ſee it ſo much ſlighted. Well may I ſay in this, what was ill spoken in another caſe, Quorſum perditio haec? Why is this wast? Waſt of time, wast of taelent, to the waſting of each others reputations; yea to the waſting (I fear) of moſt preious grace in the Antagonists themſelves, & which is worst of all, to the waſting of the Church. Our Saviour tells us, A Kingdome divided cannot ſtand. And, had not our late Wars (through Gods mercy) ſoon ended, we ſhould have ſeen (thoſe of us that had ſurvived) the ſaying ſadly fulfilled in our ſelves. But how dolefull a ſight is it to ſee the Viſible Kingdome of Chriſt himſelf, in this Nation, ſo miſerably divided: and though the war of Field, and Garriſon, be ended; yet the war of Preſſe, and Pulpit, is as hot as ever. Alas! that in this ſenſe we ſo truly deſerve to be called the Church Militant! And I have little hopes to ſee it ended whilſt I live. And if it proceed as hotly, and deſtructively, as it hath done hitherto (which we have reaſon to feare) judge what Church-deſolation is like to be before this age be expired. This ſore evil is both our great ſin, and heavy judgement. And for thi…, and by this, justly may the Kingdome of God be taken from us, & given to a Nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. O that God would both pardon, and remove this devouring evil, and create peace in the hearts, and Churches of his Saints! Then ſhould I hope to ſee holineſſe in a thriving condition; in the midſt of contention it muſt needs be languiſhing. For where envying and ſtrife is, there is confuſion, and every evil work, Jam. 3.16. And 'tis not without cauſe, that peace and holineſſe are linked together, Heb. 12.14.
Reader, thou wilt find in this ſmall piece little of Controverſie; but ſomething of the myſterie of godlineſſe, 1 Tim. 3.16.which (I hope) is without Controverſie with thee. The Antinomian and Libertine (which are ſcarcely two, but rather one) are the chiefeſt Adverſaries that I oppoſe, which every Miniſter of the Gospel muſt do, that will preach practicall Divinity. Yea, which every man muſt really confute, that will be a ſerious Chriſtian: and if thou art ſuch a one thy ſelf (though but of ſmall gifts) it is probable thou haſt (beſides thy Bible) divers better Treatiſes than this, written by ſome ſuch men, as Preſton, Sibbs, Bolton, Ball, &c. which I ſhall not deſire thee to lay aſide, for the reading of this. But if thou haſt ſpare time to reade variety, thou hadſt better read this, than many of the ſwarming Pamphlets, that flie abroad in theſe times. Thou wilt find cauſe enough (I am confident) to approve the ſubject, although (if thou art judicious) thou maiſt have reaſon to blame me for handling it no better. Here are (I hope) but few foreign things hard to be underſtood: for 'tis my uſuall courſe in preaching, to run (with Ahimaaz) the way of the plain; that ſo I may the ſooner bring good tidings to the ſoule. Such as it is, I leave it to thy candid peruſall at thy leiſure. It was firſt preached to the people of my own Charge, and ſince publiſhed specially for their ſakes: And now, that others alſo may reap ſome spirituall advantage by it, is the unfeigned deſire, and earneſt prayer of
Thy Servant, and Fellow-ſervant, in the Work of our Lord, Geo: Hopkins.