Sir, you will find in this ei)istle that men of your rank and qua- lity are liable to great corruptions; 2 they soon grow proud, sensual,
^ Stokc-Xewington.
* See the notes on James i. 9, 11, and ii. 1-7, and v, 1-5.
THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY. 5
oppressive, worldly, stubborn against the word : * I went to the great men, but they had altogether broken the yoke,' Jer. v. 5. To a spiritual eye, the condition is no way desirable but as it giveth fairer advantages of public usefulness and a more diffusive charity. Greatness hath nothing greater than a heart to be willing, and a power to be able to do good.^ Then it is a fair resemblance of that perfection which is in God, who differeth from man in nothing so much as the eternity of his being, the infiniteness of his power, and the unweariedness of his love and goodness.^ It is the fond ambition of man to sever these things. We all affect to be great, but not good ; and would be as gods, not in holiness, but power. Nothing hath cost the creature dearer since the creation. It turned angels into devils, and Adam out of paradise. In these times we have seen strange changes. God hath been contending with the oaks and cedars, Amos ii. 9, and staining all worldly glory. Certainly there is no security in anything on this side Christ ; whatever storm cometh, you will find his bosom the surest place of retreat. The Lord give you to lay up your soul there by the sure reposal of a lively and active faith I
Sir, you will bear with my plainness and freedom with you ; other addresses would neither be comely in me, nor pleasing to you. Our work is not to flatter greatness, but, in the scripture sense (not in the humour of the age), to level mountains, Luke iii. 5. Now, sir, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ bless you with all spiritual blessings in Christ ; as also your pious consort, your hopeful buds, with all the worthy relatives and branches of your family, that the name of Popham may yield forth a sweet and fresh perfume in the churches of Christ ; which I desire to fix here, as the prayer of him who is, sir, yours, in all Christian observance,
Tho. Mantox.
^ " Nihil habet fortuna magna majus quam ut possit, et natura bona melius quam ut velit, benefacere quamplurimis." — Tullius, Orat. pro Rege Deiotaro.
^ " Tpia ^(TTiv €V oh dia(p^puv iarw 6 Qe6s, aibioTrjTi, ^ur}S, irepi,ovai<ji. dvvd/j.cias, Kai fii) SiaXelTreiv einroieiv Toiis dvdpuirovs." — Thernistius,
AN ADVERTISEMENT TO THE READER,
Good Reader, — It is usual with those that publish books, to premise somewhat by way of excuse and acknowledgment of the unworthiness of what they publish ; which, setting aside the modest sense that every man should have of his own endeavours, seemeth not to be without crime ; if it be unworthy, the excuse will not make it better or more passable ; for this is to adventure upon a crime against conviction, and (if we may allude to a matter so weighty) is somewhat like Pilate's case, who washed his hands, and yet condemned Christ. Usually such professions are but counterfeit; and that praise which men seem to neglect, or beat back at the first hop, they readily take at next rebound, which certainly is a vain and wicked artifice in divine matters; for besides the hypocrisy, there is a disparagement done to the precious truths which they publish, whilst they would seem to weaken the esteem of them, that they may the more plausibly promote their own honour : the best that can be said is, that every man in public would appear in a better dress than common infirmity will allow ; and to this work we come not out of choice, but constraint. For ray own part (though I know apologies of this nature are little credited), I can freely profess that I had no itch to appear in public, as conceiving my gifts fitter for private edification ; and being humbled with the constant biulhen of four times a week j)reaching, wliat could I do? And if I had a mind to divulge my labours, some will wonder that I made choice of this subject, which was conceived in my very youth, and without the least aim of any further ])ublication than to the auditory that then attended upon it. But it being an entire piece, and being persuaded by the renewed importunity of many gracious ministers and Christians that it might conduce somewhat to ])ublic benefit, I was willing to be deaf to all considerations of my own credit and fame. Wherein is that to be accounted of, so one poor soul receive comfort and profit ? The Epistle of Jude was with this licensed to the press. But being wearied with this and the constant returns of my other employment, and hearing that another learned brother i in- tendeth to publish his elaborate meditations on that epistle, I shall confine my thoughts to that ])rivacy to which I had intended these, had they not been thus publicly drawn forth. The matter herein ^ Mr Jenkins.
THE EPISTLE TO THE HEADER. 7
delivered, will, I conceive, be found holy and usef al. If any expression should be found that savoureth not of true piety, or suiteth not with reverence to God, charity to men, or zeal of good works, I do, from my soul, wish it expunged, and shall upon conviction take the next occasion to retract it. I know some are prejudiced against endeavours of this kind, as if nothing could be said but what hath been said already. For my part, I pretend to nothing novel, and though no other things can be said, yet they may be more explained, and with more liveliness of phrase and expression, every truth receiving some savour from the vessel through which it passeth ; and yet I may speak it without arrogance, some arguments thou wilt find improved for thy further edification ; and therefore I suppose (though there be now some glut) this book may crowd forth in the throng of comments. I confess I have made use of those that have formerly written upon this epistle, and upon others' instigation, that the work might be more complete, more than I at first intended ; and yet (I hope) I cannot be said to ' boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand,' 2 Cor. x. 16. For thy direction in this work, I do entreat thee to compare the notes with the exposition, especially if thou dost at any time stick at the genuineness of any point. Well, then, so often repeated, is the usual note of the use or practical inference. If the style seem too curt and abrupt, know that I sometimes reserved my- self for a sudden inculcation and enlargement. For the great contro- versy of justification, I have handled it as largely as the epistle would give leave, and the state of the auditory would bear. Had I been aware of some controversies grown since amongst us, I should have said more ; yet, take it altogether, enough is said as to my sense, and for vindicating this epistle. If some passages be again repeated, which I suppose will seldom fall out, impute it to the multitude of my em- ployment. I never saw the work altogether, and my thoughts being scattered to so many subjects throughout the week, I could not always so distinctly remember what I had written. In short, if thou receivest any benefit, return me but the relief of thy prayers for an increase of abilities, and a faithful use of them to the Lord's glory, and I shall be abundantly recompensed.