An expository comment, doctrinal, controversial, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…An expository comment, doctrinal, controversal, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…

Amongst the several reasons, why there ought to be a special care and holy diligence in writing of Books, these two are none of the least. First, A difficulty of having pure and right intentions therein, even the Glory of God, and the Edification of others. For as in Preaching, so in Printing; Pride, Vain-glory, and Self-ends are apt to creep in, whereby there is a temptation to accumulate those things, which may be for ostentation, more than utility. And Euge Bernard, benè scribis, may importunately press it self into the heart, as ⟨image 3⟩well as benèdicis. Insomuch that we are to look upon the time, wherein we are preparing any thing for the public view, as the hour of temptation, earnestly praying unto God for humility, mortification, and a public frame of heart. For as Gregory once said, Tutius auditur veritas, quam praedicatur, The Auditor is in more safety, while hearing, than the Preacher, while speaking, because of the vain motions which are ready then to arise in the heart; so is the Reader in less temptation than the Author of the Book. A second cause of such exact watchfulness, is the difficulty of working those Truths in a savoury experimental power, upon our own hearts, which we communicate to others; whereby we may fear least while we write for others, we our selves be [Greek or Hebrew], unapproved. Quid tibi proderit lingua aurea, si cor ferreum? What will a Golden Tongue advantage, if a man have a senseless heart at that time? This then is a cause of godly trembling, Ne illae literae vicariae oris nostri, in die judicii, adversus nos proferantur, as Tertullian said; Least our writings witness against us, as publishing those things, the experimental power whereof we never felt upon our hearts. Such considerations as these may be apt to debtor from writing. For as for those ordinary and customary Apologies against the severe Momusses, and sharp Aristarchusses of the world,