Gentle Reader, seeing my little Sermon of Repentance, some few years since published, hath been so well accepted of: I have, for thy further good published this Dialogue, being the third fruit of my labour: wishing to it the like success, that God thereby may have the glory, and thou who art the Reader comfort. I have, in one part of this Dialogue, produced some of the ancient writers, and some of the wise Heathen also, to testify upon their oath in their own language, and to bear witness of the ugliness of some vices, which we in this age make light of: which I wish may not be offensive to any. In other parts of this work, I do in a manner relinquish them. But in this case I have in my weak judgement, thought them to be of some good use, to show forth thus much: that if ⟨image 4⟩we do not in time repent, forsake our sins, & seek after God, both the ancient Christian fathers (whose eyes saw not that we see, nor their ears heard that we hear) yea the very Heathen also shall rise up in judgement against us. Let none therefore stumble at it. But if any do, let them remember I am in a Dialogue, not in a Sermon. I write to all of all sorts: I speak not to some few of one sort. But that which is done herein, is not much more then that of the Apostle (As some of your own Poets have said, Act. 17.) which is warrantable. One thing, dear Christian, I pray thee let me beg of thee; to wit, that thou wouldest not read two or three leaves of this Book, and so cast it from thee: but that thou wouldest read it throughout even to the end. For I do assure thee, if there be any thing in it worth the reading, it is bestowed in the latter part thereof, and most of all towards the conclusion. Be not discouraged therefore at the harshness of the beginning: but look for smoother matter in the middest, and most smooth in the perclose and wind-up of all. For this Dialogue hath in it, not the nature of a Tragedy, which is begun with joy, and ended with sorrow: but of a Comedy, which is begun with sorrow, and ended with joy. This book meddleth not at all with any controversies in the Church, or any thing in the state Ecclesiastical, ⟨image 5⟩but only entereth into a controversy with Satan and sin. It is contrived into six principal heads. First, it showeth mans misery in nature, with the means of recovery.
GEntle Reader, seeing my little Sermon of Repentance, some few yeeres since published, hath beene so well accepted of: I haue, for thy further good published this Dialogue, being the third fruit of my labour: wishing to it the like successe, that God thereby may haue the glory, and thou who art the Reader comfort. I haue, in one part of this Dialogue, produced some of the ancient writers, and some of the wise Heathen also, to testifie vpon their oath in their owne language, and to beare witnesse of the vglinesse of some vices, which we in this age make light of: which I wish may not be offensiue to any. In other parts of this worke, I do in a manner relinquish them. But in this case I haue in my weake iudgement, thought them to be of some good vse, to shew forth thus much: that if ⟨image 4⟩we doe not in time repent, forsake our sinnes, & seeke after God, both the auncient Christian fathers (whose eies saw not that we see, nor their eares heard that we heare) yea the very Heathen also shall rise vp in iudgement against vs. Let none therefore stumble at it. But if any doe, let them remember I am in a Dialogue, not in a Sermon. I write to all of all sorts: I speake not to some few of one sort. But that which is done herein, is not much more then that of the Apostle (As some of your own Poets haue said, Act. 17.) which is warrantable. One thing, deare Christian, I pray thee let me beg of thee; to wit, that thou wouldest not reade two or three leaues of this Booke, and so cast it from thee: but that thou wouldest reade it throughout euen to the end. For I do assure thee, if there be any thing in it worth the reading, it is bestowed in the latter part thereof, and most of all towards the conclusion. Be not discouraged therefore at the harshnesse of the beginning: but looke for smoother matter in the middest, and most smooth in the perclose and wind-vp of all. For this Dialogue hath in it, not the nature of a Tragedy, which is begunne with ioy, and ended with sorrow: but of a Comedie, which is begun with sorrow, and ended with ioy. This booke medleth not at all with any controuerfies in the Church, or any thing in the state Ecclesiasticall, ⟨image 5⟩but onely entreth into a controuersie with Sathan and sinne. It is contriued into six principall heads. First, it sheweth mans misery in nature, with the meanes of recouery.
