John Owen.
OxoN, Cii. Ch. Coll., Aj)rU 1, [1655.]
THE PEEFACE TO THE PtEADEE.
To those that labour in the word and doctrine in these nations of Eng- land, Scotland, and Ireland, with all that call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, John Owen wisheth grace and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
That so mean a person as I am should presume in this public manner to make address to all those comprised in the title of this epistle, I desire it may be ascribed to the business I come about and the message that I bring. It is about your great interest and concernment, your whole por- tion and inheritance, your all, that I am to deal with you. If he who passes by his neighboiu''s house, seeing a thief breaking up its foundations or setting fire to its chief materials, will be far from being censured as im- portune and impudent if he awake and call upon the inhabitants, though ev^ery way his betters (especially if all his own estate lie therein also), although he be not able to carry one vessel of water to the quenching of it, I hope that, finding persons endeavouring to pxit fire to the house of God, which house ye are, and labouring to steal away the Avhole treasure thereof, wherein also my own portion doth lie, I shall not be condenuied of boldness or presumption if I at once cry out to all jjersons, however con- cerned, to take heed that we be not utterly despoiled of our treasure, though when I have so done, I be not able to give the least assistance to the defence of the house or quenching of the fire kindled about it. That of no less importance is this address unto you, a brief discovery of its oc- casion will evince.
The Holy G host tells us that we are " built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone ; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord : in whom we are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit," Eph. ii. 20-22. And thus do all they become the house of Christ " who hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end," Heb. iii. 6. In this house of God there ai-e daily builders, according as new living stones are to be fitted to their places therein ; and continual opjiositions have there been made thereto, and will be, " till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ," Eph. iv. 13. In this work of building are some em|)loyed by Jesus Christ, and will be so to the end of the world, INIatt. xxviii. 19, 20, Eph. iv. 11, 12 ; and some employ themselves at least in a pretence thereof, but are indeed, to a man, every one like the foolish wo- man that pulls down her house with both her hands. Of the first sort, *' other foundation can no man lay," nor doth go about to lay, " than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ," 1 Cor. iii. 11 ; but some of them build on tliis foundation " gold, silver, and precious stones," keeping fast in the
12 THE PREFACE TO THE READEE.
T\'ork to the form of " wholesome words," and contending for " the faith tliat was once delivered unto the saints."
Others, again, lay on " wood, hay, and stubble," either contending about "foolish questions," or "vain and unprofitable janglings," or adding to what God hath commanded, or corrupting and perverting what he hath revealed and instituted, contrary to the proportion of faith, which should be the rule of all their prophecy, wdiereby they discharge their duty of building in this house. Those with whom I am at present to deal, and concerning whom I desire to tender you the ensuing account, are of the latter sort; such as, not content, with others, to attempt sundry parts of the building, to weaken its contexture, or deface its comeliness, do with all their might set themselves against the work [rock ?] itself, the great foundation and corner-stone of the church, the Lord Jesus, Avho is " God blessed for ever." They are those, I say, whom I would w'arn you of, in whom, of old and of late, the spirit of error hath set up itself with such an efficacy of pride and delusion, as, by all ways, means, [and] devices imaginable, to despoil our dear and blessed Kedeemei', our Holy One, of his "eternal power and God- head;" or to reject the eternal Son of God, and to substitute in his room a Christ of their own, one like themselves, and no more; to adulterate the church, and turn aside the saints to a thing of naught. If I may enjoy your patience whilst I give a brief account of them, their ways and endea- vours for the compassing of their cursed ends; of our present concern- ment in their actings and seductions; of the fire kindled by them at our doors; of the sad diftusion of their poison throughout the world, beyond Avhat enters into the hearts of the most of men to imagine, — [ shall sub- join thereunto those cautions and directions which, with all humbleness, I have to tender to you, to guide some, and strengthen others, and stir up all to be watchful against this great, and I hope the last considerable attempt of Satan (by way of seduction and temptation) against the foun- dation of the gospel.