The Confirming Work of Religion, To the reader
READER.
ITs like you may think ſtrang, how theſe few sheets in the cloſe fall in here, after the forgoing part was finished; but tho they meet in one deſigne and intereſt, yet was not this then intended untill the former was done, and if it might tend to a ſolid uſe and fruit unto any, I shall forbear a further Apology herein, I may trulie ſay, the weight of the ſubject hath carryed it ſome further lenth then was deſigned, when I ſo much ſought to be short, as I aim at in any thing of this kind, that through my deſir… to avoide any unneceſſare multiplying of thords, I sar… leaſt it may make ſome things ſeem a litle dark at the firſt looke, tho I hope not upon any ſerious peruſall of the ſame. Two things I muſt further crave leave to add; 1 that when ſome ſuccinct view of the great aſſiſtances and confirmations of our faith is here offered, which theſe of the loweſt capacity of the Church, might with that advantage improve, as in a few howers, by reading it ſome times over, may be ſo far impreſſed on their mind and judgment, that they could give ſome clear and judicious account thereof; it may be by ſuch but ſeriouſly weighed & taken to heart of what conceirn the uſe hereof is: 2. That I would humbly judge alſo, it were a moſt ſpeciall ſervice for the truth in this day, to have ſome short Directory and remembrancer of the great acts of the Lord and monuments of his Providence now under the New Teſtament, in that maner held forth as might moſt tend to ſome univerſall uſe of all within the Church. I confeſſe my deſire preſſed me to ſome ſmal eſſay herein, with intent to have joyned it to this worke, but haveing with much conviction laid this wholly aſide, as to any further appearence that way, ſo is it with an earneſt deſire, that ſome more qualifyed, might take to heart and under their hand ſo great a ſervice both for their generation and poſterity. It is ſure the Lord hath deſigned his people to be tought the greatneſſe of his workes as well as the precepts of his word, and as no duty is more preſſed then this under the Old Teſtament both as to Publick and Family inſtruction, ſo are we no leſſe accountable i… theſe laſt times for this improvement of ſuch as are of known, publick, and uncontrollable evidence, and should be th… care of each age to have that ſolemne remembrance kept up hereof, ſo as not a few, but the very multitude within th… Church might be as a publick Library and Repoſitory of th… ſame.
FINIS.
End of the text · Robert Flemming, The Confirming Work of Religion (1685)