PREEACE, which he had received by that Spirit from the sacred oracles of truth, the scriptures. To what advantage and increase of light it is per- formed, is not for so incompetent a pen to say as writes this. Nevertheless, I doubt not but the discerning reader will observe such excellencies shining out in this, and other of this great author's writings, as do greatly commend them to the church of God, and will do so in after ages, however this corrupt and degenerate generation entertain them. They are not the crude, and hasty, and untimely abortions of a self -full, distem- pered spirit, much less the boilings over of inward cor- ruption and rottenness put into a fermentation ; but the mature, sedate, and seasonable issues ofa rich magazine of learning, well digested with great exactness of judg- ment. There is in them a great light cast and reflected on, as well as derived from the holy scriptures, those inexhaustible mines of light in sacred things. They are not filled with vain, impertinent jangling, nor with a noise of multiplied futilous distinctions, nor with novel and uncouth termsforeign to the things of God, as the manner of some writers is ad nauseamusque. But there is in them an happy and rare conjunction of firm solid- ity, enlightning clearness, and heart-searching spiritual- ness, evidencing themselves all along, and thereby ap- proving and commending his writings to the judgment conscience, spiritual taste and experience of all those who have any acquaintance with, and relish of the gos- pel. On these, and such like accounts, the writings ofthis great and learned man, as also his ordinary sermons, if anyof them shall be published, (as possibly some of them may) will be while the world stands an upbraiding and condemning of this generation, whose viciated and ill-affected eyes could not bear so great a light set up and shining on a candlestick, and which did therefore endeavour to put it under a bushel. LONDON, October 27th, 1692. These two Discourses, with those formerly published, make up all that Dr. Owen perfected or designed on this subject of the Spirit, as the reader may perceive in the account which himself hath given in his prefaces to someof the formerpieces, published by himself in his lifetime. Not but that there aresome other lucubrations of his on subjects nearly allied unto these, which pos- sibly may be published hereafter; viz. one intitled, The Evidences of the Faith of God's Elect; and per- haps some others. What further he might have had in his thoughts todo, is known to him whom he served so industriously and so faithfully in his spirit in the gospel while he was here on earth, and with whom he now em. joys the reward of all his labours, and all bis sufferings. For certain it is concerning Dr. Owen,that as Godgave him very transcendent abilities, so he did therewithal give him a boundless enlargedness ofheart, and unsatia ble desire to do service to Christ and his church : inso. much as he wasthereby carried on, through great bodily weakness, languishing and pains, besides manifold other trials and discouragements, to bring forth out of his treasury (like a scribe well instructed unto the kingdom of heaven) many useful and excellent fruits of his studies, much beyond the expectation and hopes of those who saw how often and how long he wasnear unto the grave. But whilehe was thus indefatigably and restlessly lay, ing out for the service of Christ, in this and succeeding generations, those rich talents with which he was fur nished, his Lord said unto him, Well done thou good and faithful servant, enter thou into thejoy of thy Lord." No man ever yet, but Jesus Christ, was able to finishall that was in his heart to do for God. On the removal of such accomplished and useful persons, I have some- times relieved myself with this thought, that Christ lives in heaver: still, and the blessed Spirit from whom the head and heart ofthis chosen vessel were so richly re- plenished, liveth still, NATH, MATHER. e
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