IT was the least of my Thoughts, when I had preached the greatest part of the ensuing Sermons, once to suppose they should ever be published to the World: But through some of your important Requests and Desires, I was prevailed with, many of you so readily and unexpectedly subscribing to take off so great a Number of them; which had you not done, they had never seen the Sun, I not judging them deserving such a Publication. I am sensible of my great Insufficiency; and might, from the Defects of my Ability for the great Work called to, have seen cause enough to have denied a Compliance with you herein: But having so often formerly passed through the Censure of the World, made me perhaps the more unconcerned; and knowing that the most of them will come into your Hands, (who I hope will cast a Mantle on my Humane Frailties) it was a farther Inducement to consent. However, if the Holy God be pleased to succeed the great Pains I have taken, with his Blessing, I shall see no cause to be troubled at what I have done. It's like some may object, I do not well to meddle with Controversies at this time. I answer, that I have, it is true, touched upon several controvertible Points; but not as they are Matters of Controversy, but to clear up the Truths of Christ for the Establishment and Comfort of the People committed to my Care. Besides, I being misrepresented as touching my Judgment in some great Points, (as I have been informed) I thought it was my Duty to rectify such Mistakes. The grand Controversy here insisted upon, is that about Election, and the Saints Final Perseverance, which I hope the Reader will find to his satisfaction confirmed.
IT was the least of my Thoughts, when I had preached the greatest part of the ensuing Sermons, once to suppose they should ever be published to the World: But through some of your important Requests and Desires, I was prevailed with, many of you so readily and unexpectedly subscribing to take off so great a Number of them; which had you not done, they had never seen the Sun, I not judging them deserving such a Publication. I am sensible of my great Insufficiency; and might, from the Defects of my Ability for the great Work called to, have seen cause enough to have denied a Compliance with you herein: But having so often formerly passed through the Censure of the World, made me perhaps the more unconcerned; and knowing that the most of them will come into your Hands, (who I hope will cast a Mantle on my Humane Frailties) it was a farther Inducement to consent. However, if the Holy God be pleased to succeed the great Pains I have taken, with his Blessing, I shall see no cause to be troubled at what I have done. It's like some may object, I do not well to meddle with Controversies at this time. I answer, that I have, it is true, touched upon several controvertable Points; but not as they are Matters of Controversy, but to clear up the Truths of Christ for the Establishment and Comfort of the People committed to my Care. Besides, I being misrepresented as touching my Judgment in some great Points, (as I have been informed) I thought it was my Duty to rectify such Mistakes. The grand Controversy here insisted upon, is that about Election, and the Saints Final Perseverance, which I hope the Reader will find to his satisfaction confirmed.
