9 / 808
To the
12eader.
nation
is
an adi
of
divine
juflice,
which
fuppofeth
demerit
;
and
therefore the
execution
of
Gods
decree
is
founded on
fin,
either
of
nature,orlife, orboth. My
meaning
is
not to
make the
caute
mine, by
unneceffary
intermedling; The wor-
thineffeofthe men
on both
lides
is
fuch,
that it
fhould move men
to
moderation
in their
cenfures
either
way
;
Neither
is
this
queBion
of
like
confequence with
others in this bufineffe, but there
is
a
wide difference betweene this difference
and
other
differences.
And one
caute
ofit,
is
the
difficulty
ofunderfianding, how
God
conceives
things,which
differs
in
the whole kind from ours,
he
conceiving
of
things,
altogether and
at
once
without
difcourfe, we
one
thing
after
another,and
by another. Our comfort
is,
that what
we cannot
fee
in
the light
ofnature,
and
grace
,
we (hall
fee in
the
light
of
glory
,
in the Univerfity
of
Heaven
;
before
which time,
thatmen
(hould
in
all
matters have the
fame
conceipt
of
things
of
this
nature
,
is
rather to be wifhed for, then to be
hoped.
That
learned Bi(hop,
(now with God
)
that undertooke
the
defence
of
M, Perkins, hath left
to
the
Church, together
with
the
benefit
of
his
labours, the forrow
for his
death, the
fame
of
his
worth;
an example
likewife
of
moderat ion, who though
he
differed
from
M°
Perkins
in this
point,
yet
(hewed that he could
both
affent
in
leffer
things and
with
due
re
fpea
maintain
in greater matters.
If
we would difcerne
of
differences, the
Church would be
troubled with
fewer di(
{empers;
I
fpeake
not
as
if
way were
to
be
given to
V
rfian,
lawlelfe, licentious
liberty
of
prophe-
fie ;
that
every one,
fo Toone as
he
is
big
of
tome new conceit,
(
hould
bring
forth
his
abortive
rnon(ler: for thus
the
pillars
ofChriflian
faith
would
bone
be fha-
ken,
and the Church
of
God,
which
is a
houfe
of
order, would become aBabell,
a
houfeofconfufion, The
dolefull
iffues
of
which pretended
liberty,
we
fee
in
`Polanea,
Tranf,lvania,
ánd in Countries
neerer hand.
We
are
much
to
blelfe
God
forthe
Kings
Moieties
firmeneffe this
way, unto whole
open appearing in thefe
matters,
and
to
the vigilancie
of
tome in
place,
we owe our freedome
from
that
ích
ifine, that troubleth our
neighbours.
But fordiverfiry ofapprehenlions
of
matters
far
remote from the foundation;
thefe may Band with publike and perfonall peace. I
will
keep
the
Reader
no
longer from the Treatife
;
the
bleffing
of
heaven go
with
it,
that
through
the
good done by
it,
much thankfgiving may
be to God,
in
the
Church,
eelmen.
Graves Inne.
R. SIBBS.