The Whole Treatise of the Cases of Conscience

Howbeit, the Lord in his most wise providence, hath not wholly denied this benefit unto our Church. For notwithstanding so great silence and forbearance in matter of Devotion, as touching the rectifying of the Conscience, there hath been of late years trained up to this end, a ^*special Instrument of his glory, who being in time throughly grounded in the principles of one part of the Cases; by many grave Counsels, and comfortable directions, fetched from the word, and gathered by long observation, hath cured the wounds of many a distressed soul. And those divine Tracta•es of his, now gathered together since his death, and communicated to the Church of God, are full of heavenly meditations to that purpose. And as himself desired to leave unto posterity, some memory of his knowledge in that kind, so the talent he received was not buried in his grave, but again revived in the person of that faithful Minister of Christ, the Author of this Book, a man both for learning and pi•tie deservedly reverenced and renow•ed in the judgements of all those that love and embrace the Truth. Who happily attempting the same course, and referring the whole body of his labours in preaching and writing thereunto principally; proceeded with much advantage, added unto the Cases of Distress other Heads of Questions, and in his latter time reduced them into such a Frame and Order, a• might best serve for an Introduction of Case-divinity, for the help and encouragement of others.

Hovvbeit, the Lord in his most vvise prouidence, hath not vvholly denied this benefit vnto our Church. For notvvithstanding so great silence and forbearance in matter of Deuotion, as touching the rectifying of the Coscience, there hath beene of late yeares trained vp to this ende, a ^*speciall Instrument of his glorie, vvho beeing in time throughly grounded in the principles of one part of the Coses; by many graue Counsells, and comfortable directions, fetched from the vvord, and gathered by long obseruation, hath cured the vvounds of many a distressed soule. And those diuine Tracta•es of his, novv gathered together since his death, and communicated to the Church of God, are full of heauenly meditations to that purpose. And as himselfe desired to leaue vnto posteritie, some memorie of his knovvledge in that kind, so the talent he receiued vvas not buried in his graue, but againe reuiued in the person of that faithfull Minister of Christ, the Author of this Booke, a man both for learning and pitie deseruedly reuerenced and renovved in the iudgements of all those that loue and embrace the Truth. VVho happily attempting the same course, and referring the vvhole bodie of his labours in preaching and vvriting thereunto principally; proceeded vvith much aduantage, added vnto the Cases of Distresse other Heads of Questions, and in his latter time reduced them into such a Frame and Order, a might best serue for an Introduction of Case-diuinitie, for the helpe and incouragement of others.