TO THE -READER. READERS: IT is a matter of a greater moment than I can express, what idea or image of the, nature of godliness and Christianity is im- printed upon men's minds. The description which is expressed in the sacred Scriptures is true and full ; the thing described is ration- al, pure, perfect, unblamable and amiable. That which is express- ed in the lives of the most is .nothing so, but is purblind, defiled, maimed, imperfect, culpable, and mixed with so much of the con- trary quality, that to them that cannot distinguish the chaff from the wheat, the sickness from the life, it seemeth an 'unreasonable, fanciful, loathsome and vexatious thing, and so far from being wor- thy to be preferred beforeall the riches, honors and pleasures of the world, that it seemeth worthy to be kept under, as a troubler of kingdoms, societies and souls. And, doubtless, this monstrous expression of it inmen's lives, is because the perfect expression of it in God's word bath not made a true impression upon the mind, and consequently upon the heart. For, as it is sound doctrine which must make sound Christians, so doctrine worketh on the will and affections, not as it is.in itself, and as delivered, but as it is understood, believed, remembered, considered even as it is im- printed on the mind, and used by it. And as interposed matter; or defective application, may cause the imageon the wax to be im- perfect, though made by the most perfect seal, so it is in this case ; when one man doth defectively understand the Scripture descrip- tion ofa godly man or Christian; and another, by misunderstanding, mixeth false conceptions of his own; and another, by a corrupt, depraved will, doth hinder the understanding from believing, or re- membering, or considering and using what it partly apprehendeth; what wonder if the godliness and Christianity in their hearts be unlike the godliness and Christianity in the Scripture's ? When the law of God, in nature and Séripture, is pure anduncorrupt, and the lawof God written imperfectly on the heart, is there mixed with the carnal, law in their members, no marvel if it be expressed accordingly in their lives. I have therefore much endeavored in all my writings, and espe- cially in this, to draw out the .full portraiture of a Christian, or
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