To the leader. herefiesarife, or old arerevived, and further flrengthened. The convi&ion of which, is thenbet when their crookedneffe is brought to the I#reight ruleof Scriptures cobedifcovered. Befides, newexpofitions ofScriptures will be ufefull, in refpe&ofnew ccmptations,corruptions inlife andcafes ofeonfeience,in which the minde willnot receiveany fatisfying refolution , but from explication and applicationof Scriptures. Moreover, it is not unprofitable that there fhould bedivers Treaties of the fame portion of Scriptures , becaufe the fame truth maybebetter conveyed to theconceits offomemen by fome mens handling then others, one man relifhing one mans giftsmore then another; And it isnot meet that thegloryofGods goodneffeand wifedomefhould beobfcured, which fhineth in the variety ofmens gifts, efpecially feeing thedepth of Scripture is fuch,that though men had large hearts , as the fandofthe lea forre, yet could they not emptyout all thingscontained; for though themaine principles be not many , yet dedu6tions and conclulons are infinite , and uacill Chrills feeond comming to judgement, there will never want new occafion of further fearch and wading into thefe deepes. In all which refpe&sthis Expottion ofthisholy man, deferves acceptance of the Church, as fitted to the times (as the wife Reader will well difcerne.) Some fewplaces are not fo full ascould be wifhed, for clearing fome few obfcurities ; yet thofe thattooke the careofletting them our, thought it better to let them paffe as they are, thenbe over-boldwith another mans work, in making him fpeake what he did not,and take themas they be. The greaten (hall fndematter to exercife rhemfelves in; the meaner, matteroffweet comfort and holy inflru- dìion, and all confeffe, thathe hath brought fome light to this excellent portion of Scripture. He was a man fit for this raske,amanofmuch communion with God,and ac- quaintance withhis owneheart, obfervingthe dailypaffages ofhis life, and ex- ercifed much with fpirituall eonflidts : As S.`Paulin this Epifile never feemeth co farisfiehimfelfe in advancingtheglory ofgrace, andthe vileneffe ofman in himfelf; So this our `Paulhad large conceiptsofrhefe things,a deepe ¡alight into the teylxery ofGods grace, andmans corruption ; he could therefore enter fur- ther intoPauli meaning,havingreceived a largemeafure ofPaulr fpirit. Hewas one that fought no great matters in theworld , being taken up with comforts andgriefes,untowhich theworld is a Granger ; one that hadnotall his learning out ofBookes , of a flarpe wit,and cleare judgement : though his meditations were of a higher tiraine thenordinary, yet hehad a good dexterity, furthered by his lovetodoe good, in explaining darke pointswith lightfome fimilitudes, Hismanner of handling quellions in this Epifile is preffe, and Schoole- like,by Argumentson both fides, Conclufions , and Anfwers, a courte more futable to this purpofethen loofedifcourfes. In fencingdown the obje& ofGods Predefiination, he fucceeds him in opi- nion, whomhe fhcceeded in place; in which point Divines accord not,who inall other pointsdoe joyntly agree againk the troubleraofthe Churches peace, in our neighbour Countries ; for fome would have man lye before Godin predefti- nating him,as in lapfed andmilerable eflate;others would have God inthat fief} decree CO confiderman abfiraeted from fuchrefpeas, and tobe conlidered of, as a creature alterable,and capable either ofhappineffe or mifery,andfit to be difpo- fed of by God, who is Lord ofhis owne, to any fupernaturallend ; yet botha- gree in this; Firf#, that therewasan eternall feparation ofinen in Godspurpofe, Secondly,that this fidl decreeofrevering man tohis ends,is an aet offoveraign- tyover his creature, and altogether independant ofany thing in the creature, asa caufeofit,efpecially in comparative reprobation, as why herejeaed lulu, and notPeter; Gn forefeene cannot be the calve, becaufe that was common toboth, and thereforecould benocaufeoffevering. Thirdly, allagree inthis, that dam- nation
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