That which was preached by your command is now published, when the great voice saith Come up hither, tis an evil modesty to hide among the stuff. In these busy times they are happy to whom God hath vouchsafed the shelter of an obscure privacy; yet upon a call we should not consult with our own ease & quiet. The times are violent and blasting, & this poor endeavour is likely to undergo several misconstructions. But (I thank God) I am learning to pass througha good report and evil report, and to disvalue censure, when it seizeth upon me in the way of duty, I have dealt freely and impartially against the miscarriages of both parties, & happily my liberty may displease some, others may look upon the things offered here as too low and trivial, & not weighty enough to reach the end of the design; let them remember, the intent of these proposals is only to engage to a further consultation about the matter, the entire discourse were fitter for a Treatise then a Sermon; and yet something is offered, which by the blessing of God may be serviceable to reduce men from their violences & extremities to some better temper and moderation. Some possibly may dislike the whole design, spirits now are very keen and exasperated, men think 'twill be a cooling of their zeal if we should a little take off their edge and sharpness; fire will not be quenched without hissing. To these I shall only proofs, that if I know mine heart, I abhor all such moderation & compliances as will not stand with christian zeal, and may disadvantage truth and religion, what ever become ⟨image 3⟩of my own party I would be faithful and true to that interest. I know that as 'tis hard to be moderate without danger, so also without sin, men of middle interests do always displease men, and they should be careful they do not displease God, there are many counterfeits of Christian moderation, a cold or at best a tepid indifferency; lukewarm Christians may easily middle it; Carnally-wise neutrality, it's no wonder to see men that observe the times, neither hot nor cold. 2A doubtful uncertainty, [Greek or Hebrew] are [Greek or Hebrew] double-minded men are unstable, and their compliance is promiscuously dispensed: some possibly may have so much of child and self in them, as to mind Church-peace only as a taking theme, & speak for it rather from their brain then their heart;
THat which was preached by your command is now published, when the great voice saith Come up hither, tis an evill modesty to hide among the stuff. In these busie times they are happy to whom God hath vouchsafed the shelter os an obscure privacy; yet upon a call we should not consult with our own ease & quiet. The times are violent and blasting, & this poor endeavour is likely to undergoe several misconstructions. But (I thank God) I am learning to passe througha good report and evil report, and to disvalue censure, when it seizeth upon me in the way of duty, I have dealt freely and impartially against the miscarriages of both parties, & happily my liberty may displease some, others may look upon the things offered here as too low and trivial, & not weighty enough to reach the end of the design; let them remember, the intent of these proposalls is only to ingage to a further consultation about the matter, the entire discourse were fitter for a Treatise then a Sermon; and yet something is offered, which by the blessing of God may be serviceable to reduce men from their violences & extremities to some better temper and moderation. Some possibly may dislike the whole designe, spirits now are very keen and exasperated, men think 'twill be a cooling of their zeal if we should a little take off their edge and sharpness; fire wil not be quenched without hissing. To these I shall only profes, that if I know mine heart, I abhor all such moderation & compliances as wil not stand with christian zeal, and may disadvantage truth and religion, what ever become ⟨image 3⟩of my own party I would be faithfull and true to that interest. I know that as 'tis hard to be moderate without danger, so also without sin, men of middle interests do alwayes displeasemen, and they should be carefull they do not displease God, there are many counterfeits of Christian moderation, a cold or at best a tepid indifferency; lukewarm Christians may easily middle it; Carnally-wise neutrality, it's no wonder to see men that observe the times, neither hot nor cold. 2A doubtfull uncertainty, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 are 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 double-minded men are unstable, and their compliance is promiscuously dispensed: some possibly may have so much of child and selfe in them, as to mind Church-peace only as a taking theam, & speak for it rather from their brain then their heart;
- a2 Cor. 6. 8
- 2James 1. 8
