238 TO TIie POOR IN SPIRÍT. 1. Because I find that much of the trouble of ordinary Christians comes from their crosses in the creature, and the frustration of these their sinful expectations. 2. And because I have said so little of it in the following directions, they being intended for the cure of another kind of trouble, therefore I have said thus much here of this. Having premised this advice, I take myself bound to add one thing more ; that is, an apology for the publication of this imper- fect piece, whether just or insufficient other men must judge. I confess lam so apprehensive of the luxuriant fertility pr licentious- ness of the press of late, as being a design of the enemy to bury and overwhelm in a crowd those judicious, pious, excellent writ- ings, that before were so commonly read by the people, that I think few men should now print without an apology, much less such as L Who loath more lamented this inundation of impertinencies? or more accused the ignorance andpride of others, that must needs disgorge themselves of all their crudities, as if theywere such pre- cious conceptions proceeding from the Holy Ghost, that the world might not, without very great injury, be deprived of; and itwere pity that all men should not be made partakers of them ? And how come Ito go on in the same, fault myself? Truly I have no excuse or argument, but those of the times, necessity, and provi- dence ; which how far they may justify me, I must leave to the judge. Being in company with a troubled, complaining friend, I perceived that it must be some standing counsel whichmight be frequently perused, that must satisfactorily answer the complaints that I heard, and not a transient speech, which would quickly slip away. Being therefore obliged, as a pastor, and as a friend, and as a Christian, to tender my best assistance for relief, I was sud- denly, in the moment of speaking, moved to promise one sheet of paper, which might be useful to that end. Which promise, when I attempted to perform, the one sheet lengthened to thirty, and . my one day's (intended) work was drawn out to a just month. I went on far before I had the least thought to let any eye behold it, except the party for whom I wrote it. But at last I perceived an impossibilityof contracting, and,' was presently possessed with con- fident apprehensions, that a copy of those directions might be use-" ful to many other of my poor neighbors and friends that needed them as much. Upon which apprehension I permitted my pen to run more at large, and to deviate from the case of the party that I wrote for, and to take in the common case of most troubled, doubt- ing souls. By that time that I had finished it, I received letters from several parts, from learned and judicious divines, importuning the to print more; having understood my intentionsto, desist, as hav- ing done too much already, even at first. I confess I was not
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