IT was with Thoughts of Peace, that I embraced my Call, to this Place, and Time of War. As all Peace that is from God is precious to my spirit, so incomparably, that between the Father & his Elect, which is established, and carried on in the Blood and Grace of Jesus Christ. The Ministerial dispensation of this Peace, being through free Grace committed even unto me also, I desire that in every place, my whole may be, to declare it to the men of Gods good pleasure. That this was my chief design, in answer to the Call of God upon me, even to pour out a savour of the Gospel upon the Sons of Peace in this place, I hope is manifest to the Consciences of all, with whom (since my coming hither) in the Work of the Ministry I have had to do. The Enmity between God and us, began on our Part: The Peace which he hath made, begins and ends with himself. This is the way of God with sinners, when he might justly continue their Enemy, and fight against them to their Eternal ruin, he draws forth Love, and beseeches them to be reconciled, who have done the wrong, and them to accept of Peace, who cannot abide the Battle. Certainly, the bearing forth of this Message, which is so worthy of all Acceptation, and ought to be so welcome, cannot but have sweetness enough to season all the Pressures and temptations wherewith it is sometimes attended. This hath bin my desire to pursue, and that, with the weapons which are not carnal. And though some may be so seasoned with the leaven of contention about carnal things, or at best the tithing of Mint and Cummin, as to disrelish the weightier things of the Gospel, yet the great Owner of the Vineyard, hath not left me without ⟨image 3⟩a comfortable assurance, that even this labour in the Lord hath not been in vain. The following Sermons, which I desire to present unto your Excellency, were preached one at Berwick upon your first advance into Scotland; the other at Edinburgh. My willingness to serve the Inheritance of Christ here, even in my Absence, caused me to close with the desires, that were held out to this purpose. And I do present them to your Excellency, not only because the Rise of my Call to this service, under God was from you;
IT was with Thoughts of Peace, that I embraced my Call, to this Place, and Time of Warre. As all Peace that is from God is precious to my spirit, so incomparably, that between the Father & his Elect, which is established, and carried on in the Blood and Grace of Jesus Christ. The Ministeriall dispensation of this Peace, being through free Grace committed even unto me also, I desire that in every place, my whole may be, to declare it to the men of Gods good pleasure. That this was my chief design, in answer to the Call of God upon me, even to poure out a savour of the Gospel upon the Sons of Peace in this place, I hope is manifest to the Consciences of all, with whom (since my coming hither) in the Work of the Ministery I have had to do. The Enmity between God and us, began on our Part: The Peace which he hath made, begins and ends with himself. This is the way of God with sinners, when he might justly continue their Enemy, and fight against them to their Eternal ruine, he drawes forth Love, and beseeches them to be reconciled, who have done the wrong, and them to accept of Peace, who cannot abide the Battell. Certainly, the bearing forth of this Message, which is so worthy of all Acceptation, and ought to be so welcome, cannot but have sweetnes enough to season all the Pressures and temptations wherewith it is somtimes attended. This hath bin my desire to pursue, and that, with the weapons which are not carnal. And though some may be so seasoned with the leaven of contention about carnal things, or at best the tithing of Mint and Cummin, as to disrelish the weightier things of the Gospel, yet the great Owner of the Vineyard, hath not left me without ⟨image 3⟩a comfortable assurance, that even this labour in the Lord hath not been in vain. The following Sermons, which I desire to present unto your Excellency, were preached one at Berwick upon your first advance into Scotland; the other at Edinburgh. My willingnes to serve the Inheritance of Christ here, even in my Ablence, caused me to close with the desires, that wercheld out to this purpose. And I do present them to your Excellency, not only because the Rise of my Call to this service, under God was from you;
