A discourse of the true nature of the Gospel demonstrating that it is no…

To the READER.

I Had so honest a Design in writing the following Discourse, which I have endeavoured to compose in cool and calm Thoughts undisturbed with Heat or Passion, as I am armed against their Censures, who will perhaps resent it very ill to see their Darling Notions exposed. My poor Labours are recommended by the alone consideration of the Truths, in whose Defence they are employed, and this is abundantly sufficient; and therefore I need only to desire thee to consider the Arguments with an impartial Mind. If thou lovest the Gospel, do not suffer thy Thoughts, looking on it, to be distorted by Prejudice or Passion. As the Truths here asserted are of great moment, so they deserve thy most serious Attention. If they were only subtle Niceties for a trial of Wit, or to make an Experiment who could make Words to dance most nimbly, I would never have misemployed my self in writing this Discourse, nor caused thee to misspend so much time in reading it. But since I can assure thee that I have asserted nothing but what I not only really believe to be true, but to be of high Importance to the Salvation of my own Soul, (which is very clear Evidence that a Man is in good Earnest) I hope thou wilt consider, whether it may not concern thine too. There are two great Rocks which threaten the hazard of a Shipwreck, Popery and Arminianism; and for my own part I am terribly afraid of coming in any nearness to the danger. Popery hath been so uncased of its Disguise, that it appears in its natural figure; and those who know any thing of the Gospel, startle at the first Entrance of its affrighting Shape: But Arminianism surprises the Uncautious, appearing with a fairer Face and more specious Colour; and yet really, if the Holy Ghost speaks truly to us in the Epistles of the Apostle Paul, (as I am sure he doth) this almost generally beloved Doctrine is as contrary to the Gospel as Popery it self; and if God speaks true, it is undoubted, that what the Arminians tell us is false. God tells us, that in him we live, and move, and have our being: The Arminians would dispute us out of this great Privilege, and endeavour to persuade us, that when God hath once formed us and thrown us out of his Hands, we may move alone without him. God teacheth us, that he effectually accomplisheth the Counsels of his Will, and that nothing can obstruct or frustrate the success: