The l)reface. ~ . . ~ l~is Death; if by any means I might attain unto the fJ\!Jurre'- [fion ~{the 'Dead : Not M though I had alr.eady qttained, either were al,·eadyperfeB; but I [ollo1v after, if that I may appre"' hend that for which I aljo am apprel?endedofChrift Jefus. 'This. is a Divine expreffion of that frame of heart, of that Defign which is predominant and e-fficacious ·in them. unto \Vhotn Chri£1: is precious. But on the other hand, accqrding unto the foremen– tioned PrediCtion, as he bath been a Cure-foundation un– ~o. all that believe ; fo he bath in like 1nanner been a Storie of fl:umbling, and a. Rockofoffence unto them· _ that ·fiurnble at the Word, being difobedient,whereunto· they alfo \Vere appointed. There is nothing in him, nothing wherein he is concerned, -nothing ·ofhim, his Perfon, his Natures, his Office, his Grace, his Love, his· PQwer, his Authority, his Relation unto the Church, but it bath been unto many a Stone of fl:umblirig,and Rock of offence. Concerning thefe things have been all the· woful Contefl:s, which have fallen out and been man- . ;tged atnong thofe that outwardly have made Profeffiorr of the Chrifl:ian Religion. And the Contentions about them do rather increafe than abate, unto this very day ; the difmal fruits ·whereof the World groaneth under, and is no· louger able to bear. For as the oppofition unto the Lord Chr!Pc in thefe things by men of peryerfe · ~inds, hath ruined their own Souls, as having dafhed themfelves in pieces againfl: this everlafl:ing Rock; fo · ll1 ' ' • "*f __, · ·; ;
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