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Hefter 11-22-26 13908

TO THE

CHRISTIAN READER.

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Ecause there are fome, who judging of others by themselves, will say what need this labour among Chriftians, to prove a God, a Life to come, and the Truth of the Gospel? Or at least what need is there of it, after so much already written? I take my felf obliged to give you an account of this attempt: For my own Reason is much against over-doing, and wafting our little time in things fuperfluous; which is but enough for necessary things: But it hath recorded this among the indubitata; Boni rarò nimis; optimi nunquam; indifferentes fæpiffimè; mali femper.

The true Reasons of this work, are no fewer than thefe following. 1. Quod cogitamus, loquimur : That which is most and deepest in my thoughts, is apteft to break forth to others.

Man is a communi

cative Creature. Though it be to my shame, I must confeffe, that neceffity, through perplexed thoughts, hath made this Subject much of my Meditations: It is the Subject which I have found most neceflary and most usefull to my felf. And I have reafon enough to think, that many others may be as weak as I. And I

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would fain have those partake of my fatisfaction, who have partaked of my difficulties.

2. I perceive, that because it is taken for a shame, to doubt of our Christianity and the Life to come, this bindereth many from uttering their doubts, who never get them well refolved, but remain half Infidels within, whileft the Enfigns of Chrift are hanged withent; and need much help, though they are ashamed to tell their needs. And prudent Charity will relieve thofe who are ashamed to beg.

3. As the true knowledge of God, is the beginning and maintainer of all holineffe and honesty of Heart and Life; fo latent Atheisme and Infidelity in the mindes of Hypocrites in the Church, is the root of their prophaneneffe, dishonesty and wickedneffe. Did they ferionfly Believe as Chriftians, they would not live as the Enemies of Christianity! I take it therefore to be the furest and most expeditious Cure of the fecurity, prefumption, pride, perfidiousnesse, fenfuality, and wickedneffe of thefe Hypocrites, to convince them that there is a God, and a Life to come, and that the Gopel is true.

4. And this prophaneness and fenfuality tendeth to greater Infidelity. They that will not live as they profefs to Believe, may moft easily be drawn to Believe and profefs, as they are willing to live. And therefore this Prognoftick commandeth me to endeavour, to prevent mens open profeffion of Infidelity, lest the Sent torrent of ungodlinesse, selfishnesse, malice, uncharitableneffe, perjury, treachery, faction, whoredom, and other fenfualities, fhould fall into this gulf, or one that is not much unlike it.

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5. The best complain of the imperfection of their Faith: And too many good Chriftians, especially if Melancholy

Melancholy Surprise them, are haunted with Such temptations, to Atheisme, blafphemy and unbelief, as make their lives a burden to them! And one that hath heard so many of their complaints as I have done, is excufable for defiring to relieve them. It bath many a time been matter of wonder to me to obferve, that there is scarce one deep melancholy perfon among ten (religious or not religious before) but is followed with violent fuggeftions to doubt of the God-head, and of the truth of the Gospel, the Gospel, or to utter fome word of Blafphemy against God. And he that must pray, [ Lord increafe my Faith, and help my Unbelief,] must use other means as well as pray,

6. The imperfection of our Faith (even about the Gospel, and the Life to come) is the Secret root of all our faults; of the weaknesse of every other grace, of our yielding to temptations; and of the carelefneffe, badneffe, and barrennesse of our Lives. So Tranfcendent are the Concernments of the Life to come, that a certain, clear, and firm belief of them, would even deride temptations, and bear down all the trifles of this World, by what names or titles foever dignified, as things not worthy of a look or thought! What manner of perfon will that man be, in all holy Conversation and Godliness, who believing that all these things must be diffolved, doth look for the coming of Chrift, and for the Bleffed Confequents! 2 Pet.3.11,12,14. 2 Theff. 1.10.0 what a life would that man live! what Prayers, what Prayfes! what holy difcourfe would employ his tongue! with what abhorrence would he reject the baits of fin! who did but fee, but once fee, thofe unfeen and future things, which every Chriftian profeffeth to believe? How contemptibly would he think and speak both of the plea

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fures and the sufferings of this dreaming life, in comparison of the everlasting things? What ferious defires, and labours, and joyes, and patience, would fuch a fight procure? How much more holy and Heavenly would it make even thofe that by the purblind World are thought to exceed herein already? And if we took our Belief to be as certain as our fight, Believing would do greater matters than it doth. I oft think what one told me, that an Infidel anfwered him, when he asked him, How he could quiet his Conscience in fuch a desperate state? faith he, [ I rather wonder how you can quiet your Confcience in fuch a common careless courfe of life, believing as you do? If I believed fuch things as you do, I should think no care, and diligence, and holiness could be enough.]

7. The Soul in flesh is fo much defirous of a fenfitive way of apprehenfion, and fenfible things being ftill before us, do fo increase this Malady, and divert the minde from fpiritual things, that we have all great need of the cleareft evidence, and the most fuitable, and frequent, and taking explication of them, that poffibly can be given us, not only to make us Believe things unfeen, but to make us ferious, and practical, and affectionate about the things which in a fort we do believe; to keep drowfie hearts awaken.

8. The way of taking Religion upon trust, without rifing up to make it our own, hath filled the Church fo full of Hypocrites who have no better than an humane Faith, that thereby the complexion of it is much changed, from its primitive beauty: And thousands do perish by felf-deceit: And though fome of their Gifts be ferviceable to the Gospel, others of

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