If the Reader be offended at the language, being so plain, I shall not be much troubled at that, it hath been ever my unhappiness, to prefer an Apodictic Syllogism, before a Jingling Paranomasie; my business is with those who are troubled about their Spiritual state whether it be sound or false; and Silken language suits not those who are clothed in Sackcloth. I am much encouraged as to this Point, by the stile in which the Holy Spirit guided his Servants to write, also by observing whom they ⟨image 21⟩were that God hath made the greatest use of in his Church as to bringing home Souls to Christ; neither Mr. Richard, nor Mr. John Rogers were John Chrysostom; yet God honoured none more in these parts of England with Conversion of Souls than these men: Gallant language never did Gods work that I have observed: what is it indeed, as to a mans Judgment or Conscience? I write as I love to read; when I read Divinity Books, I look for Divinity and solid Reason not for Language; that man to whom sound Divinity will not be acceptable, unless it be clothed with embroidered language, had best make sure that his heart be sound; these are not the Readers for whom I intend my Discourse, being such, I believe, as never were acquainted with the works, or troubled with those temptations of which it treats. Some Quotations there are out of Latin Authors, which I have not translated into English, supposing they would not be understood by most, though they were translated. If God shall please to make my labours helpful to thy spiritual estate, let God have the praise, and let him have thy Prayers, who is,
If the Reader be offended at the language, being so plain, I shall not be much troubled at that, it hath been ever my unhappiness, to prefer an Apodictick Syllogisme, before a Jingling Paranomasie; my business is with those who are troubled about their Spiritual state whether it be sound or false; and Silken language sutes not those who are cloathed in Sackcloth. I am much encouraged as to this Point, by the stile in which the Holy Spirit guided his Servants to write, also by observing whom they ⟨image 21⟩were that God hath made the greatest use of in his Church as to bringing home Souls to Christ; neither Mr. Richard, nor Mr. John Rogers were John Chrysostom; yet God honoured none more in these parts of England with Conversion of Souls than these men: Gallant language never did Gods work that I have observed: what is it indeed, as to a mans Judgment or Conscience? I write as I love to read; when I read Divinity Books, I look for Divinity and solid Reason not for Language; that man to whom sound Divinity will not be acceptable, unless it be cloathed with embroidered language, had best make sure that his heart be sound; these are not the Readers for whom I intend my Discourse, being such, I believe, as never were acquainted with the works, or troubled with those temptations of which it treats. Some Quotations there are out of Latine Authors, which I have not translated into English, supposing they would not be understood by most, though they were translated. If God shall please to make my labours helpful to thy spiritual estate, let God have the praise, and let him have thy Prayers, who is,
