The Epistle to the READER.
6 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.
The Epistle to the READER.
Friendly Reader,
This small Book hopes for thy Acceptance, merely for its Honesty and Plainness, which I have chiefly studied all along; a plain discourse being fittest upon plainness of Heart. I am not ignorant of the various & excellent Tractates upon this Subject; unto which ⟨image 3⟩Matter and Variation of Method is super added, which I hope you will find in this piece in hand.
THis small Book hopes for thy Acceptance, meerly for its Honesty and Plainness, which I have chiefly studied all along; a plain discourse being fittest upon plainness of Heart. I am not ignorant of the various & excellent Tractates upon this Subject; unto which ⟨image 3⟩Matter and Variation of Method is super added, which I hope you will find in this piece in hand.
Moreover there are such swarms of litigious Books of Controversies, which scorch up all true Love and Zeal, and greatly grieve such as love Peace, that may perhaps make such Discourses as this concerning the Vitals of genuine Piety, to be very necessary. For certainly if our ends were Right, and our Hearts Upright ⟨image 3⟩with our God; if Christian Magistrates, Ministers, and People were plainly and truly bent to promote the Honour, Love and Fear of God, and the indubitable ways of Holiness, we should soon agree, or else charitably indulge one another in these lesser things; 'Tis Hypocrites on all sides that make our wound incurable. Surely where the Mind is sound, and the Heart sincere in the Main, grains of allowance should be granted