Concerning the Reasons inducing to the Publication of these Sermons, besides the desires of many among your selves (who have readily undertaken for the charge of this Impression) and of others also, in remote corners of this wilderness (whose judgement I value) that have importuned me to write on some of these Subjects: together with the gracious success which God was pleased to give unto sundry of them when first Preached; I must confess, that the consideration of the Subjects themselves here treated upon, was principal in moving me thereunto. It i• not easy to […] in overmuch inculcating that great duty of PRATER, in the constant, and conscionable practice whereof, so much of Religion doth consist. And I must say, that if any amongst you shall omit what God requires of you in that respect, either in your Families or in your Closets both the words that have been spoken to you in the Congregation, full many a time, and this Publication also, will witness against you at the last day And as for ⟨image ?⟩that Sacred Ordinance of the Lords Supper, there are some truly godly ones, that upon one pretence or other, wrong the Name of Christ, and their own Souls also, by living in the neglect of so great an Institution. And there are more that don't endeavour to prepare themselves for it. Yea, it is to be feared that amongst those that do come unto, there are many who eat and drink unworthily at the Lords Table. Partly for that they do not so clearly understand, the Nature, Meaning, and Proper Design of those Holy Mysteries, as ought to be▪ But chiefly for want of that Habitual, or (if not so) Actual preparation which is necessary when persons draw so near unto God, as in that solemn and sacred Ordinance, they do. So that insisting on such a Subject may not seem unprofitable, or unseasonable. I know that many worthy Ministers of Christ, have written thereon, as of late, Mr. Doolittle▪ Mr. Burroughs, Mr. Vines; and amongst them of the former Age Mr. Dod, Mr. Hildersam, Mr. Rogers, Mr. Dyke, have been famous, and done worthily in their Discourses about the Lords Supper, as well as in their other works which praise them in the Gates. And […] notwithstanding the accuracy attending the Sermons of some in these days) I acknowledge my self to be an Admirer of the Solidity, and Spiritual Wisdom appearing in the Books of those that lived in the Age before us.
Concerning the Reasons inducing to the Publication of these Sermons, besides the desires of many among your selves (who have readily undertaken for the charge of this Impression) and of others also, in remote corners of this wilderness (whose judgement I value) that have importuned me to write on some of these Subjects: together with the gracious success which God was pleased to give unto sundry of them when first Preached; I must confess, that the consideration of the Subjects themselves here treated upon, was principal in moving me thereunto. It i• not easie to 〈…〉 in overmuch inculcating that great duty of PRATER, in the constant, and conscionable practice whereof, so much of Religion doth consist. And I must say, that if any amongst you shall omit what God requires of you in that respect, either in your Families or in your Closets both the words that have been spoken to you in the Congregation, full many a time, and this Publication also, will witness against you at the last day And as for ⟨image ?⟩that Sacred Ordinance of the Lords Supper, there are some truly godly ones, that upon one pretence or other, wrong the Name of Christ, and their own Souls also, by living in the neglect of so great an Institution. And there are more that don't endeavour to prepare themselves for it. Yea, it is to be feared that amongst those that do come unto, there are many who eat and drink unworthily at the Lords Table. Partly for that they do not so clearly understand, the Nature, Meaning, and Proper Design of those Holy Mysteries, as ought to be▪ But chiefly for want of that Habitual, or (if not so) Actual preparation which is necessary when persons draw so near unto God, as in that solemn and sacred Ordinance, they do. So that insisting on such a Subject may not seem unprofitable, or unseasonable. I know that many worthy Ministers of Christ, have written thereon, as of late, Mr. Do•little▪ Mr. Burroughs, Mr. Vines; and amongst them of the former Age Mr. Dod, Mr. Hildersam, Mr. Rogers, Mr. Dyke, have been famous, and done worthily in their Discourses about the Lords Supper, as well as in their other works which praise them in the Gates. And 〈…〉 notwithstanding the accuracy attending the Sermons of some in these dayes) I acknowledge my self to be an Admirer of the Solidity, and Spiritual Wisdome appearing in the Books of those that lived in the Age before us.
