But the main Motive which hath put me upon this undertaking, is, the single sense of my Relation to you, that it hath pleased God of his infinite goodness and free grace to entrust me a weak, frail, earthen vessel, with that inestimable Treasure, the Mysteries of the Gospel, and appointed me to preach unto you in particular the Unsearchable Riches of Christ. I account it the greatest honour ⟨image 4⟩a poor creature can be capable of, to be made directly subservient to the glorious counsel, and gracious purpose of his Creator, for the recovery and restoration of the world by Jesus Christ; and therefore that we Ministers of the Gospel, whom God hath vouchsafed this honour, have the strongest engagement and obligation laid upon us to preach the Gospel, both in season and out of season; and to lay out our selves all manner of ways, if by any means we may gain souls unto Christ, and build them up in him. Now this way I have here taken will have this advantage above others, above my ordinary preaching, and performance of other Ministerial duties among you, that whereas by them I can mind you of the things which belong unto your everlasting peace, only while I am in this Tabernacle: By this, as it is said of Abel, 1I may still speak to you, even when dead. Accept therefore (my dear Friends and Neighbours) this little Treatise from the hands of your loving Pastor, whose heart is exceedingly enlarged towards you, greatly longing after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ. For what is my hope, 2or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? Accept it therefore, and testify your acceptance by reading of it, and much more by a conscionable performance of the Directions contained in it. I think they will carry their own evidence with them, that they are all agreeable to the Word of God: For I have not made it my business to mint new Notions, but to press upon you old Truths, and known duties. I have drawn them up in a plain and familiar stile and Method, studying rather to be profitable, than accurate; They are of daily use to an holy life, & therefore I hope you will daily peruse them. They are of general use to all sorts of Christians, at all times, in their several places, Callings, conditions and relations, and therefore I hope you will give ⟨image 4⟩the more diligent heed to them.
But the main Motive which hath put mee upon this undertaking, is, the single sense of my Relation to you, that it hath pleased God of his infinite goodness and free grace to entrust mee a weak, frail, earthen vessel, with that inestimable Treasure, the Mysteries of the Gospel, and appointed mee to preach unto you in particular the Unsearchable Riches of Christ. I account it the greatest honour ⟨image 4⟩a poor creature can be capable of, to be made directly subservient to the glorious counsel, and gracious purpose of his Creator, for the recovery and restauration of the world by Jesus Christ; and therefore that we Ministers of the Gospel, whom God hath vouchsafed this honour, have the strongest ingagement and obligation laid upon us to preach the Gospel, both in season and out of season; and to lay out our selves all manner of waies, if by any means we may gain souls unto Christ, and build them up in him. Now this way I have here taken will have this advantage above others, above my ordinary preaching, and performance of other Ministerial duties among you, that whereas by them I can minde you of the things which belong unto your everlasting peace, only while I am in this Tabernacle: By this, as it is said of Abel, 1I may still speak to you, even when dead. Accept therefore (my dear Friends and Neighbours) this little Treatise from the hands of your loving Pastor, whose heart is exceedingly inlarged towards you, greatly longing after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ. For what is my hope, 2or joy, or crown of rejoycing? Are not even yee in the presence of our Lord Iesus Christ at his coming? Accept it therefore, and testifie your acceptance by reading of it, and much more by a conscionable performance of the Directions contained in it. I think they will carry their own evidence with them, that they are all agreeable to the Word of God: For I have not made it my business to mint new Notions, but to press upon you old Truths, and known duties. I have drawm them up in a plain and familiar stile and Method, studying rather to be profitable, than accurate; They are of daily use to an holy life, & therefore I hope you will daily peruse them. They are of general use to all sorts of Christians, at all times, in their several places, Callings, conditions and relations, and therefore I hope you will give ⟨image 4⟩the more diligent heed to them.
- 1Heb. 11. 4.
- 21 Thes. 2. 19.
