A Little Cabinet, Author to the reader
The Epiſtle to the Impartial Reader.
Ingenious Reader,
IT was in my thoughts, if I did ever preſent any thing to publike view again, to have written only of the Kingdom, and coming of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt in the glory of his Father, attened with the Arch-Angels, and all the hoſt of heaven ſo much ſpoken of in the Scripture, and confirmed by the teſtimonies of the Prophets, Apoſtles, and Angels; but ſince there is a Doctrine ſprung up and carried on with a high hand, that in part or whole denies the Scriptures of truth to be the word of God, and ſo neglect and ſlight the Ordinances of God therein contained, and ſo endeavour to undermine the Doctrine of Chriſt, I thought good to make a ſpeedy and ſafe retreat back again, to guard and defend the firſt principles of Religion, that ſo I might retain that which I had ſpent many years to obtain, and not change a rocky foundation for a ſandy foundation, and the pure, perfect, ſafe and ſure ruleof the written word, for a ſuppoſed or pretended light within, who not contenting themſelves with thoſe plain and precious rules, and that clear light that ſhines in the word, they are only led by their own phantaſies, daily creating to themſelves diverſity of new opinions, and ſo break the bonds of love, and fall off from the communion of Saints, as though it were no Article of their Creed, and ſo fall to judging, railing, and condemning men for not doing as they do; contending for Cummin and Annis, putting off a hat, and wearing ribans, &c. and not only ſo, but alſo hate, malign, and moſt bitterly and uncharitably cenſure all thoſe that differ from them. Reader, I ſhall here in this Book preſent thee with all that I have learned, or at leaſt with the ſum and ſubſtance of all that I have gained this four and twenty years, by reading the Scriptures, hearing of Sermons, conferring with Chriſtians, and peruſing their writings, together with ſeveral things that God hath immediately darted in upon my heart; but I have not received as I know of, nor here preſented any of the mediate or immediate teachings, ſave that, and only that which is agreeable to the word of God, as far as I underſtand his mind therein: neither have I made it my work to contend for, or cry up any particular intereſt, but rather it doth much grieve my heart to ſee what a ſtate moſt menare in here, each tugging for his intereſt, and ſo whilſt they are contending for the garment, the power of Religion is much abated.
I would intreat thee Reader to weigh things in the ballance of Righteouſneſs, love and impartiality, and then I am confident that there will be none that hath the work of grace upon their ſouls, unleſs they be under ſome violent fit of temptation, but in the main will ſweetly own, and ſpiritually bleſs God for the revelation of the precious things contained in this little Book; here being ſomething of every thing needful to be known and practiced, for the obtaining of which I have imitated the Bee, that goes forth of the hive, and gathers hony from ſeveral ſorts of flowers, and hearbs, and ſometimes from weeds. And for the compiling of theſe things together, as they have a connexion and dependance one upon another, I have borrowed a little time from my particular calling, and from my ſleep, and recreation. If I have done this work well, it is that which I deſired, but if ſlenderly and meanly, it is becauſe I could do it no better. I muſt confeſs I rather liſp then ſpeak plain in the things of God, wherefore cover all my imperfections with a mantle of love. for it hath been compiled in the midſt of many perſonal tryals; if thou find any imperfections, yet let not the truth of God ſuffer through my weakneſs; to the Law and to the teſtimonies: wherein I come ſhort of writing according to that rule, it is for want of light: I hope I ſhall be content to decreaſe, ſo the glory of God in the gift of Chriſt, and Covenant of grace may increaſe: let my name periſh, ſo his may flouriſh, let me cut off like a Weaver and dye, ſo his name and glory may live: I ſhall no longer detain thee from the thing it ſelf, which treats of that which is of great concernment to all, in the reading of which if thou ſhalt receive any light, or reap any ſpiritual benefit▪ give all the praiſe to the Lord, and pray for him who is a lover of all that fear the Lord, under what form ſoever they be, or by what name or title ſoever they are known.
ROB. PURNEL.