The Preston epistles call for no comment beyond an explana- tory word. I give them in order : —
I. The ' New Covenant or Saint's Portion.' -'■=
Dedication. niustrissimis, et Honoratissimis Viris, Theophilo Comiti Lincolniensi, et Gulielmo Vice-Comiti Say et Sele, Dominis suis submississime colendis has Johannis Prestoni, S.S. Theol. Doct., et CoUegii Immanuelis Magistri Primitias Devotissimi, Tarn Authoris, Dum Viveret, Quam Ipsorum, Qui Supersunt, Obseq^uii Testimonium, L.M.D.D.D.
KiCHARDUS SiBS.
Johannes Davenport.
To the Reader.
It had been much to have been desired (if it had so pleased the Father of spirits), that this worthy man had sur\'ived the publishing of these and other his lectm-es ; for then, no doubt, they would have come forth more refined and digested ; for, though there was very httle or no mistake in taking them irom his mouth, yet preaching and wi-iting have their several graces. Things livened by the expression of the speaker, sometimes take well, which after, upon a mature review, seem either superfluous or flat. And we oft see men very able to render their conceits in writing, yet not the happiest speakers.
Yet we, considering (not so much what might have been, as) what now may be for the service of the church, thought good rather to communicate them thus, than that they sbould die witb the author. He was a man of an exact judgment and quick apprehension, an acute reasoner, active in good, choice in his notions ; one who made it his chief aim to promote the cause of Christ and the good of the church, which moved him to single out arguments answerable, on which he spent his best thoughts. He vv-as honoured of God to be an instrument of much good, whereunto he had advantage by those eminent places he was called unto. As he had a short
* The New Covenant, or the Saint's Tortion : a Treatise unfolding the All-Suffi- ciency of God, Man's Uprightness, and tlie Covenant of Grace. Delivered in four- teen sermons upon Gen. xvii. 1, 2; ^hereunto are adjoined four sermons upon Eccles. ix. 1, 2, 11, 12. By the late faithful and wortliy minister of Jesus Christ, John Preston, Dr in Divinity, Chaplain in Ordinary to his Majesty, Master of Emmanuel College in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher of Lincoln's Inn. The fourth edition, corrected. ' He hath given a portion to them that fear him : he will ever be mindful of his covenant,' Ps. cxi. 5. London : Printed by I. D. for Nicholas Bourne, and are to be sold at tlie south entrance of the Royal Exchange 1630, 4to.
XCVl MEMOIR OF RICHARD SIBBES, D.D.
race to run, so he made speed, and did much in a Httle time. Though he was of an higher elevation and strain of spii'it than ordinary, yet, out of love to do good, he could frame his conceits so as might suit with ordinary understandings. A little before his death (as we were informed by the Right Honourable the Lord Viscount Say and Sele, in whose piety, wis- dom, and fidelity he put great repose), he was desirous that we should peruse what of his was fit for public use.
We are not ignorant that it is a thing subject to censure to seem bold and witty in another man's work, and, therefore, as little is altered as may be. And we desire the reader rather to take in good part that which is intended for public good, than to catch at imperfections, considering they were but taken as they fell from him speakmg. And we entreat those that have anything of his in their hands, that they would not be hasty, for private respects, to publish them, till we, whom the author put in trust, have perused them. We pm-pose (by God's help) that what shall be judged fit shall come forth. We send forth these sermons of God's Ail- Sufficiency, and Man's Uprightness, and the Covenant of Grace first, as being first pre- pared by him that had the copies, and because the right understanding of these points hath a chief influence into a Christian life. The Lord give a blessing answerable, and continue still to send forth such faithful labourers into his harvest !
Richard Sirs.
John Daa'enport.
II. The ' Breastplate of Faith and Love.'*
Dedication.
Illustrissimo, Nobilissimoque Viro, Roberto Comiti Warwicensi, Johannis Prestoni, S.T.D., et CoUegii Immanuelis Q.f Magistri (cujus tutela?, dum in vivis esset, Primogenitum suum in DiscipHnam et Literis expoliendum tradidit), posthumorum tractatuum partem de natura fidei, ejusque effi- cacia, deque amore et operibus bonis, Devotissimi, tarn authoris, dum viveret, quam ipsorum qui supersunt, obsequii testimonium. M.D.D.D.
RiCHARDUS SiBS.
Johannes Davenport.
To the Christian Reader. Christian Reader — Innumerable are the sleights of Satan, to hinder a Christian in his course towards heaven, by exciting the corniption of his own heart to disturb him, when he is about to do any good ; or by dis- couraging him with inward terrors, when he would solace himself with heavenly comforts ; or by disheartening him under the fears of sufierings,
* The Breastplate of Faitli and Love.- A treatise, ■wherein the ground and exercise of faith and love, as they are set upon Christ their object, and as they are expressed in good works, is explained. Delivered in 18 sermons upon three several texts, by the late faitliful and wortliy minister of Jesus Christ, John Preston, Dr in Divinity, cliaplain in ordinary to his Majesty, Master of Emmanuel College in Cambridge, and sometimes Preacher of Lincoln's Inn. Tlio fourth edition. ' But let us who are of the day bo sober, putting on the breastplate of faitli and love,' 1 Thess. v. 8. ' What will it profit, my bretliren, if a man say he have faith, and hath not works? Can faith save him?' James ii. 14. Lnprinted at London by R. Y. for Nicholas Bourne and are to be sold at the soutli entrance of the Eoyal Exchange. 1G34.