TO THE READER. READER, BEING called on. in London to preach, when I had no time . to study, I was fain to preach some sermons that I had preached in the countrya little before. This was one, which I preached at St. Laurence, in the church where my reverend and faithful brother in Christ, Mr. Richard Vines, is pastor. When I came home, I was followedby such importunities, by letters, to print the sermon, that I have yielded thereunto, though I know not fully the ground of their desires. Seeing it must abroad, will the Lord but bless it to the cure of thy contempt of Christ and grace, how comfortable may the occasion prove to the and me ! It is the slighting of Christ and salvation that undoes the world. O, happy man, if thou escape but this sin ! Thousands do split their souls on this rock which they should build them on. Look into the world, among rich and poor, high and low, young and old, and see whether it appear not by the whole scope of their conversations that they set more bysomething else than Christ? And for all the procla- matiòns of his grace in the gospel, and'our common professing our- selves tobe his disciples, and to believe the glorious things that he hath promised ùs in another world, whether it yet appear not by the deceitfulness of our service, by our heartless endeavors to ob- tain his kingdom, and by our busy and delightful followingof the world, that themost who are called Christians do yet in their hearts make light of Christ ; and if so, what wonder if theyperish by their contempt ! Wilt thou but soberly peruse this short discourse, and considerwell as thou readest of its truth and weight, till thy heart be sensible what a sin it is to 'make light of Christ and thy own salvation, and till the Lord that bought thee be advanced in the estimation and affections ofthy soul, thou shalt hereby rejoice, and fulfill the desires of Thy servant in the faith, RICHARD BAXTER.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=