A treatise of delighting in God from Psal. xxxvij. 4. Delight thy self also…

I have reflected and considered with some satisfaction, that this hath been my way and the temper of my mind among you. Great reason I have to repent, that I have not with greater earnestness pressed upon you the known and important things wherein serious Christians do generally agree: But I repent not I have been so little engaged in the hot contests of our age, about the things wherein they differ. For, as I pretend to little light in these things (whence I could not have ⟨image 6⟩much confidence to fortify me unto such an undertaking); so I must profess to have little inclination to contend about matters of that kind.

I have reflected and considered with some satisfaction, that this hath been my way and the temper of my mind among you. Great reason I have to repent, that I have not with greater earnestness prest upon you the known and important things wherein serious Christians do generally agree: But I repent not I have been so little engag'd in the hot contests of our age, about the things wherein they differ. For, as I pretend to little light in these things (whence I could not have ⟨image 6⟩much confidence to fortifie me unto such an undertaking); so I must profess to have little inclination to contend about matters of that kind.

Nor yet am I indifferent as to those smaller things, that I cannot discern to be in their own nature so. But though I cannot avoid to think that course right which I have deliberately chosen therein, I do yet esteem that but a small thing upon which to ground an opinion of my excelling them that think otherwise, as if I knew more than they. For I have often recounted thus seriously with my self, That of every differing Party (in those circumstantial matters) I do particularly know some persons by whom I find my self much excelled in far greater things than is the matter of that difference. I cannot ('tis true) thereupon say and think every thing that they do; which is impossible, since they differ from one another as well as me. And I understand well, there are other Measures of Truth than this or that excellent Persons Opinion: But I thereupon reckon I have little reason to be conceited of any advantage I have of such in point of knowledge, (even as little as he should have, that can Sing, or Play well on a Lute, of him that knows how to Command Armies, or Govern a Kingdom); And can with the less confidence differ from them, or contend with them. Being thereby, though I cannot find that I err in these matters, constrained to have some suspicion lest I do; and to admit it possible enough, That some of them who differ from me, having much more light in greater matters, may have so in these also. Besides, that I most seriously think, Humility, Charity and Patience, would more contribute to the composing of these lesser Differences, or to the good estate of the Christian Interest under them, than the most fervent Disputes and Contestations. I have upon such