Hitherto I have given the Doctrine and Application of the Soul-saving Second Birth; but some there are whose hearts are so steely, that all this cannot work upon them: If any such desire yet any more (and desire they must, or there is no remedy for them) I have, for their help in the practice, brought a Practitioner afore them. It was Caesars great praise, that he bade his Soldiers still, Come; and if men had but many Caesars or leaders in these practical points, I suppose there would be more followers. A plain Doctrine may win some, and a particular Direction may win more, but a good Example wins most. Howsoever then, concerning the New Birth, I have delivered the Doctrine in the Sermons, and Directions in the Appendix; yet one thing is wanting, which may help more then either, to wit, the Practice of some Saint in this one necessary thing: And what Saint? what man that hath writ more on this subject, then T. H? it was said of blessed Mr. 1Bolton, That for himself, he could profess to his comfort on his Deaths-bed, That he never taught any godly point, but he first wrought it on his own heart; the same, do I more then probably think, was the practice of this man. Now therefore I thought ⟨p. 3⟩fit, not only to contract his Books in this Appendix (which some without his privity have unskilfully put out) but also, and that more especially, to set afore you (whosoever you are) those prime, powerful, pathetical expressions of his Soul-pangs in the New Birth, as matter for your imitation: These expressions indeed are they I most especially aim at, which if you observe, are always delivered in the first person [I] and I verily believe they were not feigned, but feeling from his own heart and soul. What needs more? if either Doctrine in the first part, or Direction in the second part, or Practice in the third part of the Book (which consists most of Practice) can work on your souls, I hope some of these, or all of these, will help you on in the way from Corruption to Christianity, and from the state of Nature into the Kingdom of Grace.
HItherto I have given the Doctrine and Application of the Soul-saving Second Birth; but some there are whose hearts are so steely, that all this cannot work upon them: If any such desire yet any more (and desire they must, or there is no remedy for them) I have, for their help in the practice, brought a Practitioner afore them. It was Cesars great praise, that he bade his Soldiers still, Come; and if men had but many Cesars or leaders in these practical points, I suppose there would be more followers. A plain Doctrine may win some, and a particular Direction may win more, but a good Example wins most. Howsoever then, concerning the New Birth, I have delivered the Doctrine in the Sermons, and Directions in the Appendix; yet one thing is wanting, which may help more then either, to wit, the Practice of some Saint in this one necessary thing: And what Saint? what man that hath writ more on this subject, then T. H? it was said of blessed Mr. 1Bolton, That for himself, he could profess to his comfort on his Deaths-bed, That he never taught any godly point, but he first wrought it on his own heart; the same, do I more then probably think, was the practice of this man. Now therefore I thought ⟨p. 3⟩fit, not onely to contract his Books in this Appendix (which some without his privity have unskilfully put out) but also, and that more especially, to set afore you (whosoever you are) those prime, powerful, pathetical expressions of his Soul-pangs in the New Birth, as matter for your imitation: These expressions indeed are they I most especially aym at, which if you observe, are always delivered in the first person [I] and I verily believe they were not fained, but feeling from his own heart and soul. What needs more? if either Doctrine in the first part, or Direction in the second part, or Practice in the third part of the Book (which consists most of Practice) can work on your souls, I hope some of these, or all of these, will help you on in the way from Corruption to Christianity, and from the state of Nature into the Kingdom of Grace.
- 1Mr. Boltons funeral Sermon by Mr. Estwick.
