I A•• sensible that •y co•se•ing that the following Discourse of […] be published, •eeds Excuse; but yet […] think it with the while for •e, […] to excuse my self, by declaring how backward I was to is, and how muc• I was urged, and that I was […] with to do it, more to gratify others▪ and […] at promoting the Interest of Religion ▪ and the Good of Souls, than by any thought I had of any Honour that I should get by it: for such things, […], ordinarily make less Impression upon the •eaders, to alter their thought of the Author, and his […], than the Authors generally think for. They at whose desire, and upon whose Account chiefly, this Sermon i• printed, are already acquainted with the Circumstances of the Matter; and if any others should happen to see it, and should think it worth their while to read i•, I shall only desire of them, that they would put as favourable a Construction upon my herein appearing in Print, as they can; and that they would read the following Discourse with Cando•r, and without Prejudice against it, either from an Idea of the Author's Forwardness and Ostentation, or the Unfashionableness of the Subject. As to you, that are the People of the F•ock, of which CHRIST hath called me to the Oversight, I have no Reason to be jealous that you will have any ⟨image ?⟩Prejudice against this Discourse, upon either of these mentioned Accounts, to stand in the way of your duly weighing, and considering, and suitably entertaining the things treated of in it. I have Reason to bless GOD, that there is a more happy Union between us, than that you should be prejudiced against any thing of mine, because 'tis mine; And however the subject is out of M•de in the World, 'tis doubtless your peculiar Happiness, that you have been so thoroughly instructed in such like Doctrines, even from your Beginning: and I rejoice in it, that Providence, in this Day of Corruption and Confusion, has cast my Lo• where such Doctrines, that I look upon so much the Life and Glory of the Gospel, are not only o•n'd, but where there are so many, in whom the Truth of them is so apparently manifest, in their Experience, that any one who has had the Opportunity of Acquaintance with them in such matters, tha• I have had, must be very unreasonable to doubt of it.
I A•• sensible that •y co•se•ing that the fol•lowing Discourse of 〈…〉 be published, •eeds Excuse; but yet 〈…〉 think it with the while for •e, 〈…〉 to excuse my self, by declaring how backward I was to is, and how muc• I was urged, and that I was 〈…〉 with to do it, more to gratify others▪ and 〈…〉 at promoting the Interest of Religio• ▪ and the Good of Souls, than by any thought I had of any Honour that I should get by it: for such things, 〈…〉, ordinarily make less Impression upon the •eaders, to alter their thought of the Author, and his 〈…〉, than the Authors generally think for. They at whose desire, and upon whose Account chiefly, this Sermon i• printed, are already acquainted with the Circumstances of the Matter; and if any others should happen to see it, and should think it worth their while to read i•, I shall only desire of them, that they would put as favourable a Construction •pon my herein appearing in Print, as they can; and that they would read the following Discourse with Cando•r, and without Prejudice against it, either from an Idea of the Author's Forwardness and Ostentation, or the Unfashionableness of the Subject. As to you, that are the People of the F•ock, of which CHRIST hath called me to the Oversight, I have no Reason to be jealous that you will have any ⟨image ?⟩Prejudice against this Discourse, upon either of these mention'd Accounts, to stand in the way of your duly weighing, and considering, and suitably entertaining the things treated of in it. I have Reason to bless GOD, that there is a more happy Union between us, than that you should be prejudiced against any thing of mine, because 'tis mine; And however the subject is out of Mde in the World, 'tis doubtless your peculiar Happiness, that you have been so thoroughly instructed in such like Doctrines, even from your Beginning: and I rejoice in it, that Providence, in this Day of Corruption and Confusion, has cast my Lo where such Doctrines, that I look upon so much the Life and Glory of the Gospel, are not only on'd, but where there are so many, in whom the Truth of them is so apparently manifest, in their Experience, that any one who has had the Opportunity of Acquaintance with them in such matters, tha I have had, must be very unreasonable to doubt of it.
