The right method for a settled peace of conscience, and spiritual comfort in 32…

Having premised this advice, I take my self bound to add one thing more: that is, An Apology for the Publication of this Imperfect Piece: whether just or insufficient, other men must judge. I confess I am so apprehensive of the Luxuriant Fertility, or Licentiousness of the Press of late, as being a design of the Enemy to bury and overwhelm in a crowd those Judicious, Pious, Excellent Writings that before were so commonly read by the People, that I think few men should now print without an Apology: much less such as I; who hath more lamented this inundation of impertinences! or more accused the Ignorance and Pride of others •hat must needs disgorge themselves of all •heir Crudities, as if they were such pre•ious Conceptions, proceeding from the Holy Ghost, that the World might not, without very great injury, be deprived of: and it were pity that all men should ⟨image 17⟩not be made partakers of them? And how come I to go on in the same fault my self? Truly I have no Excuse or Argument but those of the Times, Necessity and Providence: which how far they may Justify me, I must leave to the Judge. Being in company with a troubled complaining Friend, I perceived that it must be some standing Counsel which might be frequently perused, that must satisfactorily answer the Complaints that I heard, and not a transient Speech, which would quickly slip away: Being therefore obliged as a Pastor, and as a Friend, and as a Christian, to tender my best assistance for relief, I was suddenly (in the moment of speaking) moved to promise one sheet of Paper, which might be useful to that End. Which promise when I attempted to perform, the one sheet lengthened to thirty, and my one days (intended) work was drawn out to a just month, I went on far before I had the least thought to let any eye behold it, except the Party for whom I wrote it: But at last I perceived an impossibility of contracting, and I was ⟨image 17⟩presently possessed with confident apprehensions, that a Copy of those Directions might be useful to many other of my poor Neighbours and Friends that needed them •s much: Upon which apprehension I presently permitted my Pen to run more at large, and to deviate from the case of the Party that I wrote for: and to take in the common case of most troubled doubting souls.