6 THE DEDICATION.
ratified in the deatli of his Son, is unchangeable, that the fruits of the pm-chase of Christ shall be certainly bestowed on all tlieni for whom he died, and that every one who is really interested in these things shall be kept unto salvation, is the aim of my present plea and contest. That I have taken upon me to present my weak endeavours in this cause of God to your Highness is so far forth from my persua- sion of your interest in the truth contended for (and than which you have none more excellent or worthy), that without it no other considerations whatever, either of that dignity and power whereunto of God you are called, or of your peculiar regard to that society of men whereof I am an unworthy member, or any other personal respects whatever, could have prevailed with or emboldened me there- unto. " Sancta Sanctis." The things I treat of are such as sometimes " none of the princes of this world knew," and as yet few of them are acquainted with. Blessed are they who have their portion in them ! When the urgency of your high and important affairs, ^\herein so many nations are concerned, will lend you so much leisure as to take a view of what is here tendered, the knowledge which you have of me will deliver you from a temptation of charging any weakness you may meet withal upon the doctrine which I assert and maintain; and so that may "run and be glorified," whatever become of the nothing that I have done in the defence thereof, I shall be abundantly satisfied. That is the shield, which being safe, I can with contentment see these papers die. Unto your Highness 1 have not any thing more to add, nor for you greater thing to pray, than that you may l)e estab- lished in the assurance and sense of that unchangeable love and free acceptance in Christ which 1 contend for, and that therein you may be preserved, to the glory of God, the advancement of the gospel, and the real advantage of these nations.
Your Highness's most humble and most faithful servant,
John Owen.
TO THE raCHT ■ffORSIIIPFUL, HIS REVEREND, LEARNED, AND WORTHY FRIENDS AND BRETHREN,
THE HEADS km GOVERNORS OF THE COLLEGES km HALLS IN THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD.
Sirs, The dedication of books to the names of men ■worthy and of esteem in their gene- ration takes sanctuary in so catholic and ancient prescription, that to use any defensative about my Avalking in the same path cannot but forfeit the loss of somewhat more than the pains that would be spent therein. Now, although, in addresses of this kind, men usually avail themselves of the occasion to deliver their thoughts as to particulars in great variety, according as their concernments may be, yet the reasons which are generally pleaded as directions for the choice of them to whom, with their labours and writings, they so address themselves, are for the most part uniform, and in their various course transgress not the rules of certain heads from whence they flow. To express a gi-atitude for respects and favours received, by returning things in their kind eternal for those which are but temporal; to obtain countenance and approbation unto their endeavours, in their breaking forth into the world, from names of more esteem, or at least more known than their own; to advance in repute by a correspondency in judgment with men of such esteem, intimated thereby, — are the more ingenuous aims of men in the dedications of their writings. Though these, and sundry other pretences of the same kind, might justly be drawn into my plea for this address unto you, yet your peculiar designation and appointment, through the good hand of the providence of God, to the defence of the gospel, and your eminent furnishment with abilities from the same hand for the performance of that glorious duty, is that alone upon the account whereof I have satisfied myself, and hope that I may not dissatisfy others, as to this present application. What there is of my own peculiar concernment, wherein I am like to obtain a more favourable condescen- sion in judgment, as to my present undertaking, from you than from other men, will in the close of my address crave leave to have mention made thereof. Breth- ren ! the outward obligations that are upon you from the God of truth, with the advantages which he hath intrusted you withal for the defence of his truth, above the most of men in the world, are evident even to them that walk by the way, and turn httle aside to the consideration of things of this nature, importance, and condition; and it is to me an evidence of no small encouragement that God will yet graciously employ you in the work and labour of his gospel, by his con- stant giving a miscarrying womb to all them who have attempted to defraud the nation and the churches of God therein of those helps and furtherances of piety and literature with whose management for their service you are at present in- trusted. Of the jewels of silver and gold whereof, by the Lord's appointment, the children of Israel, coming out from amongst them, spoiled the Egyptians, did they dedicate to the tabernacle in the wilderness, when the Lord "planted the