It ajipears, from the dedication, that some exception had been taken to certain views which he had exjiressed in tlie sermon about civil government. The only passage in it which bears on civil government will be found at the foot of p. 466; in which he mentions, that although ho does not think a man may not be lawfully called to magistracy who is not a believer, yet lie had "no great expectation from them whom God loves not." In the dedication he afTirnis that he had ad- vanced nothing which could "really interfere with any form of civil government in the world, administered according to righteousness and eijuity." — Ed.
TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE,
THE COMMONS OF ENGLAND,
ASSEMBLED IN PARLIAMENT.
I NEED not give any other account of my publishing this ensuing short discourse, than that which was also the ground and reason of its preaching, — namely, your command. Those who are not satisfied therewith, I shall not endeavour to tender farther grounds of satisfaction unto, as not having any persuasion of prevailing if I should attempt it. Prejudice so far oftentimes prevails, even on good soils, that satisfaction will not speedily thrive and grow in them. That which exempts me from soUcitousncss about the fi'ame and temper of men's minds and spirits, in the entertainment of discourses of this nature, is the amaexing of that injunction unto our commission in delivering the word of God : it must be done, " whether men will hear, or whether they will forbear." Without, therefore, any plea or apology for whatever may seem most to need it in this sermon, I devolve the whole account of the rise and issue it had, or may have, on the providence of God in my call and your command. Only I shall crave leave to add, that, in my waiting for a little leisure to recollect what I delivered out of my own short notes and others' (that I might not preach one sermon and print another), there were some consi- derations that fell in exciting me to the obedience I had purposed. The desire I had to make more public, at this time and season, the testimony given in sim- plicity of spirit to the intei'est of Christ in these nations, and therein to the true, real interest of these nations themselves, — which was my naked design, openly managed, and pursued with all plainness of speech (as the small portion of time allotted to this exercise would allow), — was the chief of them. Solicitations of some particular friends gave also warmth unto that consideration. I must far- ther confess, that I was a little moved by some mistakes that were delivered into the hands of report, to be managed to the discountenance of the honest and plain truth contended for, especially when I found them, without due considera- tion, exposed in print unto public view. That is the manner of these days wherein we live. I know full well that there is not any thing, from the beginning to the ending of this short discourse, that doth really interfere with any form of civil government in the world, administered according to righteousness and equity, — as there is not in the gospel of Christ, or in any of the concernments of it. And I am assured, also, that the truth proposed in it inwraps the whole ground of any just expectation of the continuance of the presence of God amongst us, and his acceptation of our endeavours about the allotment and just disposal of our civil affairs. Let others lay what weight they will or please, upon the lesser differ- ences that are amongst us on any account whatever ; if this shield be safe, — this
456 THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY.
principle maintaini'd and established, that is here laid down, — and the just rights of the nation laid in a way of administration, suited unto its preservation and fur- therance, I shall not easily be cast down from my hopes, that amongst us — poor, unprofitable, unthankful creatures as we are — we may yet see the fruit of righ- teousness to be peace, and the eftect of righteousness quietness and assurance for evermore. For those, then, who shall cast their eye on this paper, I ^^■ould beg of them to lay aside all those prejudices against persons or things, which their various contexture in our public aifairs may possibly have raised in them. I kno\v how vain, for the most part, expectations of prevailing in such a desire by naked requests are ; but sick men must be groaning, though they look for no re- lief thereby. Wherefore, committing it into that hand wherein lie also your hearts and mine, I shall commend it, for your use, unto the sovereign grace of Him, who is able to work all your present works for you, and, which is more, to give you an inheritance among them that are sanctified. So prays
Your Servant in the work of
Our Lord Jesus Christ and his Gospel,
John Owe.v.
SERMON XII.
THE GLORY AND INTEREST OF NATIONS PROFESSING THE
GOSPEL.
" Upon all the glory shall be a defence." — Isa. iv. 5.
The design of this chapter is to give in rehef against outivard per- plexing extremities, from gospel promises, and the presence of Christ with his people in those extremities. The next intendment of the words in tlie type seems to relate to the deliverance of the people of the Jews from the Babylonish captivity, and the presence of God amongst them upon their return ; — God frequently taking occasion from thence to mind them of the covenant of grace, with the fall ratification and publication of it by Christ, as is e\'ident from Jer. xxxi. and xxxii., and sundry other places.