Eighteen sermons preached in Oxford 1640 of conversion, unto God. Of redemption, & justification,…

First, that much good hath been done to very many, by such notes taken from other eminent Divines, and otherwise published then the Authors themselves would have sent them abroad. Witness the works of Dr. Preston, Mr. Bolton, and many others, some of their sermons printed by themselves look not like those of their sermons printed by others; yet Learned men and Godly, have blest God that they were published. Mr. Cotton wisheth ^*that such sermons or Letters as happily have lain by many years might be brought to light: such little things as the Author would hardly acknowledge under his own name, might be of special use and esteem unto others. ⟨image 18⟩And his reason is, why should any talent be buried in a napkin, or candle lye hid under a bushel, which being set on a Candlestick might give light to all that are in the house? yea those ^*divine discourses at Luther's table, &c. More loose than these sermons, did much good in Germany, (as their translator testifieth) and being by strange providence preserved to posterity, and made to speak English, was judged by a great Prelate of Canterbury, a work worthy of eternal memory, and that he had never read a more excellent divine work: and that the more he did read them, the more desire he had to go on therewith: and that he would make it known to the then King, what an excellent piece of work was translated, and that he would procure an order from his Majesty to have the book printed, and to be dispersed throughout the whole Kingdom, as it was in Germany. Yet is that book censured by Polanus to be ^*neither Luther's, nor published by any approbation of his, but a rhapsody patched together without understanding or judgment, and printed after his death. None such will be found in these sermon notes: something of Luther's spirit may be discerned in these Colloquies, But much more of the Gracious and heavenly spirit of this unparalleled Bishop. The Reader will miss in these notes indeed the exactness of his Immanuel, or the incarnation of the son of God so accurately couched that you cannot find a word defective or redundant; nor will he find these notes like the two sermons published by himself: but yet they may meet with acceptance. by reason of the diligence of those that attest them.