Seven treatises containing such direction as is gathered out of the Holy Scriptures, leading…Seuen treatises containing such direction as is gathered out of the Holie Scriptures, leading…

And although I deny not, but that many things might have been far better set down, and expressed, then I am able to do; yet that none think me to have taken in hand a matter above my reach, and wherein I have no skill, thus much I say, that for these twenty years and more I have aimed at this, in my reading, preaching, and living, and in the observing of my self, and the example of others, what communion and near acquaintance there may be betwixt God and a Christian, what hold may be laid on the promises of God, what strength may be gotten against sin, what freedom and liberty we may have by faith, what settledness and constancy in a godly life, what comfort, and rejoicing the children of God by his free grant, may have, even in this life, and that both sound and constant, which shall not be taken from them: also how far the spirit may overcome the flesh, and how the devil may be resisted. And more especially for these seven years and more, I have more particularly set my self about the matter, which in this book is contained (which how weakly soever it be performed, I have therein a good conscience:) First, to show, both how a man may become a true believer, be brought into the favour of God, and afterwards how he may be directed to lead his life daily: And therefore I have not suddenly nor unadvisedly set upon this. And what help I have been able to get from others, as my convenient opportunity hath given leave, I have not neglected. The which I set down (as I said) that none may think me fantastically to have gone about to broach some novelty, but rather to offer that to the people of God, which hath with good advise been gathered for their edifying.¹ But now to return, the last reason moving me to take this work in hand, is, that they who have enjoyed my ministry above these twenty years, might have me (as many of them have oft desired) after a sort putting them in remembrance of that which I have taught them in my life time, many years after I shall be taken from among them. This shall suffice to be spoken of my intent and purpose in this treatise, with the reasons thereof.

And although I denie not, but that many things might haue been farre better set downe, and expressed, then I am able to doe; yet that none thinke me to haue taken in hand a matter aboue my reach, and wherein I haue no skill, thus much I say, that for these twentie yeares and more I haue aymed at this, in my reading, preaching, and liuing, and in the obseruing of my selfe, and the example of others, what communion and neere acquaintance there may be betwixt God and a Christian, what hold may be laid on the promises of God, what strength may be gotten against sinne, what freedome and libertie we may haue by faith, what setlednes and constancie in a godlie life, what comfort, and reioycing the children of God by his free graunt, may haue, euen in this life, and that both sound and constant, which shall not be taken from them: also how farre the spirit may ouercome the flesh, and how the diuell may be resisted. And more especially for these seauen yeares and more, I haue more particularly set my selfe about the matter, which in this booke is contained (which how weakely soeuer it be performed, I haue therein a good conscience:) First, to shew, both how a man may become a true beleeuer, be brought into the fauour of God, and afterwards how he may be directed to leade his life daily: And therefore I haue not suddenly nor vnaduisedly set vpō this. And what helpe I haue been able to get from others, as my conuenient opportunitie hath giuen leaue, I haue not neglected. The which I set downe (as I said) that none may thinke me fantastically to haue gone about to broch some noueltie, but rather to offer that to the people of God, which hath with good aduise been gathered for their edifying.