PREFACE. 211 forthem, and to intreat them in the gentlest manner to be reconciled to God the Fatherby him, I persuade myself he will never be angrywith me, if I shew so much love to those who dishonour him, as to intreatthem in a gentle manner, after his example, to be reconciled to God their Saviour, to confess his sublime character, andto pay him divine honours. Il. I would not willingly call every man an enemy to Christ, who lies tinder some doubts of his supreme godhead. My charity inclines me to be- lieve that some of them, both read their bibles carefully, and pray daily for divine instruction to lead them into all truth : That they honour and adore that glorious personwhom they believe to be the brightness of his Father's glory and by whom he created the worlds, who condescended to take a human body, and to die for sinners ; and that they trust in him, and love him above all things, beside God the Father, though perhaps some culpable pre- judice may cleave to their minds, whereby they are prevented from receiving that light and evidence of his divine nature, which, in my opinion, shines clearly in. the word of.God :. And I cannot but hope, that such humble and sincere enquirerswill not miss any of the necessary articles of faith. III. I amwell assured that the wisdom which comes from above is first pure; and then peaceable; that we are required in the gospel not to call for fire from heaven, even upon such Samaritans who will not receiveChrist at all,, but with all meekness to instruct those that oppose themselves, that they may be recovered out of any dangerous snares. The methods in, which divine controversy has generally been written, have.proved fatal to religion, and utterly improper to promote the truth. When we rail we set our oppo- nents a railing too; and in such a frame of spirit, we are neither fit to in- street others, nor are they fit to receive instruction. The wrath of man works not the righteousness of God, nor the knowledge of Christ. These angry fits of zeal do but awaken the disorderly passions of men, and tempt them to resist every argument that comes armed with such assumed sove- reignty and fire. It is God only who has a right and a power to convince the obstinate by a spirit of burning: He may clothe an angel in flame, or inspire a prophet to be the minister of his shining vengeance, but I bad rather be made a humble messenger of his light and love. The great God can send conviction in the language of death and ruin, but he does not exert this power till gentler methods have been tried in vain. Besides, in contests and debates among men much darkness is consistent with vehement heat. These qualities. are Pound ingreatest perfection in the nether world ; and sometimes on earth the fiercest heat has the deepestdark.. ness attending it. Light itself, when joined with noise and fire, has not the most happy influence to improve and refine the mind. A flash of lightning rather affrights than guides us : The voice of thunder carries more terror than instruction in it: The soul bars up all-the avenues of its understanding against truth itself, when it demands entrance by such human methods of violence. It is Rely the gentle approaches of truth, like the morning light, which openthe windows of the soul, and make it willing to receive all fur -, . ther discoveries. I add in the last place, 1V. That if by such methods as these I shall be so far honouredof God, as to recover any whohave departed from their former principles, or estab- lish those who doubt, I am well assured that my blessed Lord will esteem it as a better service done for himself, than if I had guarded his sacred doctrines by scattering all the terrors of hell round about them, than if I had thoa- deretl,out damnation against disbelievers, and awakened the rage of every gainsayer without the least hope of conviction. There was once a " great and strong wind that rent themountains, and brake the rocks in pieces, after the wind anearthquake, and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire, in the earthquake, or in the wind ; then a still small voice was heard ; God was in that voice, and visited his prophet who was jealous for the Lord of hosts :" 1 Kings xix 1I-13, 0 2
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