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Planelogia, a succinct and seasonable discourse of the occasions, causes, nature, rise, growth, and…John Flavel, 1691

AN EPISTLE TO THE READER

26 passages

Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.

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AN EPISTLE TO THE READER

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Candid Reader,

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Censure not this Treatise of ERRORS, as an Error in my Prudentials, in sending it forth at such an improper time as this. I should never spontaneously have awakened sleeping Controversies, after God's severe castigation of his people for them, and in the most proper and hopeful season for their Redintegration.

CEnsure not this Treatise of ERRORS, as an Error in my Prudentials, in sending it forth at such an improper time as this. I should never spontaneously have awakened sleeping Controversies, after God's severe castigation of his people for them, and in the most proper and hopeful season for their Redintegration.

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And beside what I have formerly said, I think fit here to add, That if the attack had been general, and not so immediately and particularly upon that Post or Quarter I was set to defend, I should with Elihu have modestly waited till some abler and more skilful hand had ⟨image 9⟩undertaken the defence of this Cause.

And beside what I have formerly said, I think fit here to add, That if the attacque had been general, and not so immediately and particularly upon that Post or Quarter I was set to defend, I should with Elihu have modestly waited till some abler and more skilful hand had ⟨image 9⟩undertaken the defence of this Cause.

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Once more, My Reader possibly may be stumbled at my calling Faith sometimes the Instrument, and sometimes the Condition of our Justification, when there is so great a Controversy depending among Learned Men, with respect to the use of both those terms. I therefore desire the Reader to take notice, That I dive not into that Controversy here, much less presume to determine it; but finding both those Notions equally opposed by our Antinomians, who reject our actual Justification by Faith either way, and allow to Faith no other use in our actual Justification, but only to manifest to us what was done from Eternity; I do therefore use both those terms, viz. the Conditionality, and Instrumentality of Faith, with respect unto our Justification, and show in what sense those terms are useful in this Controversy, and ⟨image 11⟩are accommodate enough to the design and purpose for which I use them, how repugnant soever they are in that particular, wherein the Learned contend about the Use and Application of them.

Once more, My Reader possibly may be stumbled at my calling Faith sometimes the Instrument, and sometimes the Condition of our Justification, when there is so great a Controversy depending among Learned Men, with respect to the use of both those terms. I therefore desire the Reader to take notice, That I dive not into that Controversy here, much less presume to determine it; but finding both those Notions equally opposed by our Antinomians, who reject our actual Justification by Faith either way, and allow to Faith no other use in our actual Justification, but only to manifest to us what was done from Eternity; I do therefore use both those terms, viz. the Conditionality, and Instrumentality of Faith, with respect unto our Justification, and shew in what sense those terms are useful in this Controversy, and ⟨image 11⟩are accommodate enough to the design and purpose for which I use them, how repugnant soever they are in that particular, wherein the Learned contend about the Use and Application of them.

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It is my grief (the Lord knows) to see the delightful Communion the Saints once enjoyed, whilst they walked together under the same Ordinances of God, now dissolved in such a sad and scandalous Degree, by the Impressions of erroneous Opinions, made both upon their Heads and Hearts. I do therefore heartily join with Budaeus in his pious Wish,^* That God would give his People as much Constancy in retaining the Truths they once received, as they had Joy and Comfort at their first Reception of them. I must ⟨image 12⟩in this occasion declare my just Jealousy, that the Non-improvement of our Baptismal Covenant unto the great and solemn Ends thereof in our Mortification, Vivification, and regular Communion with the Church of Christ, into which Society we were matriculated by it; is at this day punished upon Professors in those fiery Heats, and fierce Oppositions, unto which God seemeth to have penally delivered us at this day.

It is my grief (the Lord knows) to see the delightful Communion the Saints once enjoyed, whilst they walked together under the same Ordinances of God, now dissolved in such a sad and scandalous Degree, by the Impressions of erroneous Opinions, made both upon their Heads and Hearts. I do therefore heartily joyn with Budaeus in his pious Wish,^* That God would give his People as much Constancy in retaining the Truths they once received, as they had Joy and Comfort at their first Reception of them. I must ⟨image 12⟩in this occasion declare my just Jealousy, that the Non-improvement of our Baptismal Covenant unto the great and solemn Ends thereof in our Mortification, Vivification, and regular Communion with the Church of Christ, into which Society we were matriculated by it; is at this day punished upon Professors in those fiery Heats, and fierce Oppositions, unto which God seemeth to have penally delivered us at this day.

*Utinam tam consertis manibus compertam comprehensamque veritatem semel reti•ere poss•mus qu•m protinùs agnitam festivis oculis hilares exosculamur.