What I have attained unto of Light and Truth herein, is submitted to the Judgement of Men Learned and Judicious. The Censures of Persons heady, ignorant and proud; who speak evil of those things which they know not, and in what they naturally know corrupt themselves, ⟨image 6⟩I neither fear nor value. If any Discourses seem somewhat dark or obscure unto Ordinary Readers, I desire they would consider, that the Foundations of the things discoursed of, lye deep, and no Expression will render them more familiar and obvious unto all Understandings, than their Nature will allow: Nor must we in any Case quit the Strengths of Truth, because the Minds of some, cannot easily possess themselves of them. However I hope nothing will occur, but what an Attentive Redder, though otherwise but of an Ordinary Capacity, may receive and digest. And they to whom the Argument seems hard, may find those Directions which will make the Practice of the Duty insisted ⟨image 7⟩on; easy and beneficial. The especial Occasion of my present handling this Subject, is declared afterwards. I shall only add, that here is no Design of contending with Any, of opposing or contradicting any, of censuring or reflecting on those whose Thoughts and Judgements in these things differ from ours, begun or carried on. Even those by whom an Holy Day of Rest under the Gospel and its Services are laughed to scorn, are by me left unto God, and themselves. My whole endeavour is to find out what is agreeable unto Truth about the Observance of such a Day unto the Lord, what is the Mind and Will of God concerning it, on what Foundation we may attend unto the ⟨image 7⟩Services of it, as that God may be glorified in us, and by us, and the Interest of Religion in Purity, Holiness, and Righteousness be promoted amongst Men.
What I have attained unto of Light and Truth herein, is submitted to the Judgement of Men Learned and Judicious. The Censures of Persons heady, ignorant and proud; who speak evil of those things which they know not, and in what they naturally know corrupt themselves, ⟨image 6⟩I neither fear nor value. If any Discourses seem somewhat dark or obscure unto Ordinary Readers, I desire they would consider, that the Foundations of the things discoursed of, lye deep, and no Expression will render them more familiar and obvious unto all Understandings, than their Nature will allow: Nor must we in any Case quit the Strengths of Truth, because the Minds of some, cannot easily possess themselves of them. However I hope nothing will occurr, but what an Attentive Redder, though otherwise but of an Ordinary Capacity, may receive and digest. And they to whom the Argument seems hard, may find those Directions which will make the Practice of the Duty insisted ⟨image 7⟩on; easie and beneficial. The especial Occasion of my present handling this Subject, is declared afterwards. I shall only add, that here is no Design of contending with Any, of opposing or contradicting any, of censuring or reflecting on those whose Thoughts and Judgements in these things differ from ours, begun or carried on. Even those by whom an Holy Day of Rest under the Gospel and its Services are laughed to scorn, are by me left unto God, and themselves. My whole endeavour is to find out what is agreeable unto Truth about the Observance of such a Day unto the Lord, what is the Mind and Will of God concerning it, on what Foundation we may attend unto the ⟨image 7⟩Services of it, as that God may be glorified in us, and by us, and the Interest of Religion in Purity, Holiness, and Righteousness be promoted amongst Men.
