Joshua Redivivus, or Mr. Rutherford's Letters

without making any other impression upon the mind of the hearer, then that the man hath forgotten his message, & while he seeks himself, flights his Master's business: It often creates also a suspicion, that the writer or speaker either desires not to be understood, or, while he endeavours to sore too high above others, that is he hath fallen into such a confusion, as he knows not where to find himself? & if thou concede here, what with reason thou canst not deny, thou hast granted all against thy self, which I need seek, for putting thee to silence. 4. Consider, that though there be some here written to, of the greatest quality in the Nation, & a great many others, who ⟨image 20⟩are eminent for their understanding & parts, aswell as their grace; yet as these of the greatest quality & parts, may reap advantage, by what hath been written to the meanest & most obscure person; God in his providence led his servant to speak to these of understanding & parts, so, that what was particularly intended for them, might be of special use & advantage to every one: And thus all occasion of carping is taken away; unless, amongst the rest of the regularities of this time, Episcopal Authority be interposed, to make us read & understand that axiom backward, bonum quo communius eo melius, which if it be; I have no more to say, but that it is of a piece with the rest of their Reformation. I suppose by this time; it may be thought, I have said too much upon this head, since it would seem that something ought rather to be said, for making many things in them plain that are mysterious & dark; then to say so much for taking off prejudice, because of some common words & expressions; but as to that, I shall not undertake it: For there are many things in them, only intelligible by tasting: & he who wants that commentary, will never understand this text. I have no more to say, either for the one or the other, but if any dislike them, he may let them alone; for I intend to obtrude them upon none, who distastes them; yet I cannot for bear to advise even such, so far to consult their own reputation, as, by speaking against what the Author hath here written, not to discover that secret to the world, that they are persons void of a gracious principle, to whom the things that are of God are unsavoury:

without making any other impression upon the minde of the hearer, then that the man hath forgotten his message, & while he seeks himself, flights his Master's business: It often creats also a suspicion, that the writter or speaker either desires not to be understood, or, while he endeavours to sore too high above others, that is he hath fallen into such a confusion, as he knowes not where to finde himself? & if thou concede here, what with reason thou canst not deny, thou hast granted all against thy self, which I need seek, for putting thee to silence. 4. Consider, that though there be some here written to, of the greatest quality in the Nation, & a great many others, who