The mystery of Israel's salvation, explained and applied: or, A discourse concerning the general…The mystery of Israel's salvation, explained and applyed: or, A discourse concerning the general…

The truth is, I was exceeding backward to entertain ⟨image ?⟩such a notion, and did long oppose it, as conceiving it might be at best an innocent error of some that wished well to the kingdom of Christ: But blessed be the Lord God who gave me an heart at that very time to search (according to my poor measure) the Scriptures and other Books which might be helpful in this case, both such as argued for, and such as argued against the Chiliad; and to look up to him that is in heaven and heareth on earth, that I might see and embrace the truth, and only the truth. And methinks, I would desire no more, if I could but persuade all serious and gracious men to go that way to work in this matter. But (alas) it is the great infirmity of many good men, that if any thing (though of never so circumstantial a nature, for as for fundamentals, let no one dare to question there) be voiced for an error they fall upon it in great zeal without ever looking up to heaven, that if what they oppose be truth, they might be convinced of it, as well as if it be otherwise that they might be strengthened in bearing witness against error, and hence the Lord never lets them see their mistakes. But as a learned and worthy Divine, ⁽ⁱ⁾saith concerning Independency (so called) for a man to search the Scriptures, and other writings impartially, and to look up to him that is the fountain of light and truth for his spirit to guide into all truth, &c. is a course that he would wish all men to beware of that would not be made Independents. So say I concerning that, and add withal, That it is a course I would have all men beware of that would not become sober Chiliasts.

The truth is, I was exceeding backward to entertain ⟨image ?⟩such a notion, and did long oppose it, as conceiving it might be at best an innocent errour of some that wished well to the kingdom of Christ: But blessed be the Lord God who gave me an heart at that very time to search (according to my poor measure) the Scriptures and other Books which might be helpful in this case, both such as argued for, and such as argued against the Chiliad; and to look up to him that is in heaven and heareth on earth, that I might see and embrace the truth, and only the truth. And methinks, I would desire no more, if I could but perswade all serious and gracious men to go that way to work in this matter. But (alas) it is the great infirmity of many good men, that if any thing (though of never so circumstantial a nature, for as for fundamentals, let no one dare to question there) be voiced for an errour they fall upon it in great zeal without ever looking up to heaven, that if what they oppose be truth, they might be convinced of it, as well as if it be otherwise that they might be strengthned in bearing witness against errour, and hence the Lord never lets them see their mistakes. But as a learned and worthy Divine,