PR E B A C E. vll ' fitions unto the eternal truth concerning the perfonof Chriil. Some that arefo efteemed indeed, neverpretended unto any fobriety, but were rawer effects of delirant imaginations; yet dideven they alfa one way or other derive from an hatred unto the perfon of Chr f, and centred therein. Their beginning was early in the church, even before the writing of the go /el by John or his Re- velations, and indeed before fume of Paul's cpíftles. And although their be- ginning was but fmall, andfeemingly contemptible, yet being full of the poifon of the oldferpent, they diffitfed themfelves in various f apes andforms, un- til there was nothing left of Chrift, nothing that relatedunto him, not his na- tures, divine or humane, not their properties nor allings, not hisperfon, nor the union of his natures therein, that was not oppofd and affaulted by them. Efpeciallyfo foon as thegofiel hadfubd.uedthe Roman Empire unto Chrift, and was owned by the rulers of it, the whole world was for time ages :filled with uproars, confufion, and fcandalous diforders about the perfon of Chrifi, through the turfed oppofttions made thereunto by gates of hell. .Neither hadthe church any refs from theft conflitto for about five hundred years. But near that pe- riod of time, the power of truth and religion begining univerfaly to decay a- mong the outwardprof(fors of them, latan took advantage to make that ha- vock and defruEtion of the church, by fuperfition, faife worfhip, and pro- fanenefs of life, which hefailedof in his attempt againft the perfon of Chrift, or the Daeirine of truth concerning it. It wouldbe a tedious work, and it may be not ofmuch profit unto them who are utterly unacquainted with things Jo longpaf andgone, wherein thri f esn to have no concernment, togive afpecimen of the feveral heretics whereby es tempts weremade againfl this rock andfoundation of the church ; unto who have enquired into the records of antiquity, it would be altoget fe es. For atena/l everypage of them at frit view prefents the readers nh an ac- count offorce one or more of them. Yet do I efeem i e l z t the very ordinaryfort of chràfians fould at leaf in general be'acquainte with what pathpaled in thisgreatconteft about tliférfon of Ch%if from the beginning. For there are two things relating t&reunto, wherein their faith is gr,rtly concerned. For , there .W ice given therè n unto the truth of thole, prediElions of the fcrápturerwherein this fatal apofacy from the truth, and o petition unto the Lord Chr f, are foretold : findfeçondÿ, an cminent in- fiance of his power and faithfulnefs in the difappoirstment and cou nefl of the gates of hell, in the management of' this oppojition. But they liie e been all reckoned up, and dígefed into methods of time and matter, by many learned men of old, and of late ; fo that I fall not in this occefcnal dif courfe, reprefent them unto the reader again. Only I fhall give a brief ac- count of the ways and means whereby they who retained the profeon of the truth, contended for it unto a conquef over the pernicious herejes wherewith it was oppofed. The defence ofthe truthfrom the beginning, was left in charge unto, and managed by the guides and rulers of the church in their feveral capacities. find- by the feripture it was that they difcharged their duty, confirmedwith ápoftolical tradition confonant thereunto. This was left in charge unto them by the great apyîle, As xx, z8, z9, 30, 31, t Tim, vi t 3, i4. z Tim ii. i, 2, 13, 23, 314. chap. iv. t, z, 3, 4. Bidwhere/nasty of them faredin this duty, they were reprovedby aril/ himfe f Rev. ii. r4, i 3,zó. Nor ,Z ereprivate Believers in their places and capacities, either unable for this dnt7, or cr- empt from it, but d fcharged themfelves faithfully therein, accordi. :' o commandment given unto them, i ¡oh. ii zo, 27. chap iv. t z Viii. 9. All true believers in their feveral nations, by mute l watellSs..s kypreaching or writing, according unto their calls and abilities, r ç
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