for ⟨image 3⟩they are but the first, rude, untranscribed Notes of Sermons uttered in my ordinary Course of Preaching more than once or twice commonly in a Week; and strangers abroad in the world may without the least wrong to me, believe, That New-England is a Country wherein there are every week in the year delivered more than Two Hundred Sermons, to be preferred unto the Best of These. But these are by You pitched upon, because they are most Expressive of the Resolutions, and Exercises and Experiences, which your self would choose to recommend unto the Children of your People; and tho they may amount to no better than Goat's hair and Ramsskins, it was thought they might be accepted among, Small offers to the Service of the Tabernacle. There was once a great King, to whose Triumphs while many others made their more noble Offerings, a poor man in some Transport of Affection, having nothing else, took up his palm-full of water from the street, and offering of That, Received from the generous Conqueror a Gracious Recompense. Even such a King is our God! Sr. You have chosen to fetch a Thank-Offering for Him, from such a Kennel, such a Puddle (alas, it is no better!) as the Head and Heart of the greatest Sinner in all the Rising Generation. But I can only say, Tis as welcome from me to You, as I believe, tis from You to Him that ⟨image 4⟩made us Both. It is indeed a piece of Self-Denial that your Commands have obliged me unto; for whatever others may think of Appearing in Print, my own Opinion of it is, that unless a man be extremely unacquainted both with himself, and with the world, he will be rather Afraid or Ashamed of it, than Taken with it; Let him that wants Humbling become an Author, and he shall have it, if mean Thoughts have not made him utterly Unsensible. Nothing but a Respect unto the Interest of God and of Truth, and a Resolve to go cheerfully through' much Contempt, Obloquy, Detrectation, can make any considerate Person to Salute mankind in the Quality of a Writer. But Since it is my Duty to be (like holy Bradford) always doing Good, with Tongue, or Pen, or Purse, I should account it my Honour if my Pen may be employed for any Advancement of Practical Godliness, tho' it Cost me never so many Temptations, as it must cost me not a few.
for ⟨image 3⟩they are but the first, rude, untranscribed Notes of Sermons uttered in my ordinary Course of Preaching more than once or twice commonly in a Week; and strangers abroad in the world may without the least wrong to me, believe, That New-England is a Countrey wherein there are every week in the year delivered more than Two Hundred Sermons, to be preferred unto the Best of These. But these are by You pitch't upon, because they are most Expressive of the Resolutions, and Exercises and Experiences, which your self would choose to recommend unto the Children of your People; and tho they may amount to no better than Goat's hair and Ramsskins, it was thought they might be accepted among, Small offers to the Service of the Taberacle. There was once a great King, to whose Triumphs while many others made their more noble Offerings, a poor man in some Transport of Affection, having nothing else, took up his palm-full of water from the street, and offering of That, Received from the generous Conquerour a Gracious Recompance. Even such a King is our God! Sr. You have chosen to fetch a Thank-Offering for Him, from such a Kennel, such a Puddle (alas, it is no better!) as the Head and Heart of the greatest Sinner in all the Rising Generation. But I can only say, Tis as welcome from me to You, as I believe, tis from You to Him that ⟨image 4⟩made us Both. It is indeed a peice of Self-Denial that your Commands have obliged me unto; for whatever others may think of Appearing in Print, my own Opinion of it is, that unless a man be extremely unacquainted both with himself, and with the world, he will be rather Afraid or Asham'd of it, than Taken with it; Let him that wants Humbling become an Authour, and he shall have it, if mean Thoughts have not made him utterly Vnsensible. Nothing but a Respect unto the Interest of God and of Truth, and a Resolve to go cheerfully thro' much Contempt, Obloquy, Detrectation, can make any considerate Person to Salute mankind in the Quality of a Writer. But Since it is my Duty to be (like holy Bradford) alwayes doing Good, with Tongue, or Pen, or Purse, I should account it my Honour if my Pen may be employed for any Advancement of Practical Godliness, tho' it Cost me never so many Temptations, as it must cost me not a few.
