Epiftle Dedicatory. piety, and that they (ball be made as the (corn and off- fcouringof the world, and haveall manner of evil lay- ing falfly Ipoken of them, for the Cake of Chrift, his Church and truth, they prefently confult with flesh and blood, and think themfelves difcharged of their duty: when God faith, Ezqe. 33. 6, Sze. Cif the watchman fee thefwordcome, andblow r, of the trumpet, and thepeople be not warned .; if the fword come and take a4y perfon from among therm, he is taken away in h4 iniquity, but his blood will I require at the watchmans hand.] And were we no watchmen, yet we have this command, Lev. 19,17. [Thou, fhalt not hate thy bother in thy heart thou (halt in any wife rebuke thy neighbour, and not Pifer finupon him.] Yet now many Miniflers will be cruelly filent, left they should be charged with malice and hating thole whom they are commanded to rebu:e. The fword of violence I perlwade them not to meddle with : but were it not for want offelf-deriyal, the fword of the fpirit would be more faithfully managed againft the fins of the greateft enemies of Chrif and of the Gofpel, then it is by moft, though it ihould colt us more then (corns and !tinders, and though we know that bonds and afflitions did abide us. And verily I cannot yet underftand, that the con- tempt and (cornof the Miniftry in England, is fed by any thing fo much as felphnefe. Could we be for all mens opinions and Carnal interefts, all men, for ought I fee, would be for use Is it a crime to be a Nlinifteref Doubtlefs its then a crime to be a Chriflian : And he that railes at us as Minifters to day, its like will raile at us as Chriftians to morrow. But if fuch will vouch- fafe to come tome, before they venture their fouls, and foberly debate the cafe, I undertake to prove the truth
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=