which is sufficient to secure their peace and consolation, under all the evils that on the account of their work they may conflict withal. Neither is it a small alleviation of any trouble that we may be exposed unto, that no pretence, colour, reason, or arguings for our sufferings, no means, ways, or kinds of them, no ends unto them, can possibly be invented, proposed, pursued, but what we are fully forewarned of; that so we might not at any time think our selves surprised, as though some strange thing had happened unto us. This then is our great concernment in the profession of Religion, this that which we ought principally to attend unto, namely, To commend our Consciences unto God, that in all sincerity and godly simplicity, we exercise our selves in the Work that he calls us unto, not corrupting his Word, or staining our profession by a conversation unbecoming the holiness of the Gospel; and for what may outwardly befall us, though producing Heaviness and Sorrow for a season, the last day will manifest to have been unspeakably more the concernment of other Men, than our own. It is therefore on this account, and that duty which we owe unto all the Sons of Men, especially those who in any place or degree have the rule and disposal of us in this world and the things thereof, committed unto them, that notwithstanding the hazard that attends us in the discharge of every duty of this kind, we adventure to represent our Condition and desires unto all that endeavour to follow after Truth with Peace. For as the Minds of Men are capable of no greater Perfection, than what consists in receiving the whole Truth of the Gospel, nor their Souls of greater blessedness, than attends obedience thereunto, so every mistake of it, every prejudice against it, every opposition unto it, or any part of it, are not only in themselves a corruption and debasement of the mind, but are usually attended with consequents of greater Evils, in and unto them by whom they are entertained. And this condition oftentimes are men, otherwise upright and wise, cast into; either by their own ingrafted prejudices, or neglect of that severe disquisition after Truth, which all the Sons of it are obliged unto;
which is sufficient to secure their peace and consolation, under all the evils that on the account of their work they may conflict withal. Neither is it a small alleviation of any trouble that we may be exposed unto, that no pretence, colour, reason, or arguings for our sufferings, no means, wayes, or kinds of them, no ends unto them, can possibly be invented, proposed, pursued, but what we are fully forewarned of; that so we might not at any time think our selves surprized, as though some strange thing had happened unto us. This then is our great concernment in the profession of Religion, this that which we ought principally to attend unto, namely, To commend our Consciences unto God, that in all sincerity and godly simplicity, we exercise our selves in the Work that he calls us unto, not corrupting his Word, or staining our profession by a conversation unbecoming the holiness of the Gospel; and for what may outwardly befall us, though producing Heaviness and Sorrow for a season, the last day will manifest to have been unspeakably more the concernment of other Men, than our own. It is therefore on this account, and that duty which we owe unto all the Sons of Men, especially those who in any place or degree have the rule and disposal of us in this world and the things thereof, committed unto them, that notwithstanding the hazard that attends us in the discharge of every duty of this kind, we adventure to represent our Condition and desires unto all that endeavour to follow after Truth with Peace. For as the Minds of Men are capable of no greater Perfection, than what consists in receiving the whole Truth of the Gospel, nor their Souls of greater blessedness, than attends obedience thereunto, so every mistake of it, every prejudice against it, every opposition unto it, or any part of it, are not only in themselves a corruption and debasement of the mind, but are usually attended with consequents of greater Evils, in and unto them by whom they are entertained. And this condition oftentimes are men, otherwise upright and wise, cast into; either by their own ingrafted prejudices, or neglect of that severe disquisition after Truth, which all the Sons of it are obliged unto;
