Worshipful and well-beloved, I have (not long since) preached amongst you some things, concerning the nature of the New Birth. I am glad to understand, that in handling of them, I gave to some of you some good content. I am willing (you see) to renew your content, by offering the same things now to your eyes, that formerly to your ears; that the serious (and I hope) often reading, of what you but once heard, may instruct you better, and ground you further, in this necessary doctrine. And, Oh that the Lord of Heaven would please so effectually to co-operate with his Word, that many of you may become partakers of this happy and saving work of grace! My greatest covetousness is, that your souls may be thus enriched; my greatest ambition, that they may be thus advanced. To this end have I bent mine endeavours amongst you in the constant employment of the talent lent me by God: which, how heartily do I wish and pray, that it may be available for your renovation! For in truth, the whole world is not worthy to stand in comparison, with this life of holiness. I say it again, All the greatest advancements, profits, pleasures (which this prick of earth, this almost nothing, which we tread upon, is able to afford), are in no sort to be esteemed desirable; if they be laid in the balance, against those heavenly preferments, those infinite treasures, those unutterable comforts; whereto ⟨image 4⟩this estate of grace doth bring those that are brought unto it, even in this present world in some good measure: but most fully in the upper region of this world, the stately palace of heaven, the fairest room of this large house, and the Presence Chamber of the King of Kings. Why then is any man, especially why is any of you (to whom these things have been frequently delivered, on whom they have been earnestly pressed, on whom they are constantly inculcated; why (I say) is any of you) so worse then childish, yea, then brutish, as to be careless of seeking that unspeakable felicity, from which nothing can hinder you, but your own slothful negligence, or wilful carelessness, in not vouchsafing to seek it? This small Treatise I am now bold to dedicate unto you;
WOrshipfull and welbeloued, I haue (not long since) preached amongst you some things, concerning the nature of the New Birth. I am glad to vnderstand, that in handling of them, I gaue to some of you some good content. I am willing (you see) to renew your content, by offering the same things now to your eyes, that formerly to your eares; that the serious (and I hope) often reading, of what you but once heard, may instruct you better, and ground you further, in this necessarie doctrine. And, Oh that the Lord of Heauen would please so effectually to co-operate with his Word, that many of you may become partakers of this happy and sauing worke of grace! My greatest couetousnesse is, that your soules may be thus inriched; my greatest ambition, that they may be thus aduanced. To this end haue I bent mine endeauours amongst you in the constant imployment of the talent lent me by God: which, how heartily doe I wish and pray, that it may be auaileable for your renouation! For in truth, the whole world is not worthy to stand in comparison, with this life of holines. I say it againe, All the greatest aduancements, profits, pleasures (which this prick of earth, this almost nothing, which we tread vpon, is able to afford), are in no sort to be esteemed desirable; if they be laid in the ballance, against those heauenly preferments, those infinite treasures, those vnutterable comforts; whereto ⟨image 4⟩this estate of grace doth bring those that are brought vnto it, euen in this present world in some good measure: but most fully in the vpper region of this world, the stately pallace of heauen, the fairest roome of this large house, and the Presence Chamber of the King of Kings. Why then is any man, especially why is any of you (to whom these things haue been frequently deliuered, on whom they haue been earnestly pressed, on whom they are constantly inculcated; why (I say) is any of you) so worse then childish, yea, then brutish, as to be carelesse of seeking that vnspeakable felicity, from which nothing can hinder you, but your owne slothfull negligence, or wilfull carelesnesse, in not vouchsafing to seeke it? This small Treatise I am now bold to dedicate vnto you;
