To the Reader
That which drew these sermons from me, next to your good, was to right myself. They were first preached eight years since; and some notes thereof were, to say no more, dispersed into the hands of many, to my prejudice. They are here presented as they were preached, with little alteration or addition, in method, style, or matter: only to make up the treatise more complete, I entirely added, against the publishing thereof, that whole discourse about Satan's part and hand in these desertions, beginning at Chapter 6. In handling which, I trust I have not at all incurred that severe reproof of the Apostle, against curious speculations about angels, of intruding into those things which I have not seen ground and warrant for in the word (Colossians 2:18). Sure I am I have endeavored to follow the scholastics, in their labyrinths therein, no further than I found a clue of Scripture and right reason clearly guiding and warranting my way: without which, I account the ways of this old and winding serpent, in his communications to us, to be as Solomon speaks, like the way of a serpent upon a stone, hidden and past tracing or finding out (Proverbs 30:18-19). And lest any of the weaker readers, especially those in distress — to whom more speculative and doctrinal discourses, though about things practical, prove usually tedious and unpleasing — should in reading that piece be discouraged at the first: my advice is, that if they find that part of the way rough or tiresome (which I hope they will not), they would divert out of it and come in again at Chapter 11, from where to the end, they shall find what is more suited to their understandings and conditions, and more practically speaking to your distress. The blessing of heaven go with it.
Thomas Goodwin.
What drew these sermons from me, beyond your benefit, was the desire to set the record straight. They were first preached eight years ago, and some notes from them were — to say no more — passed into the hands of many, to my harm. They are presented here as they were preached, with little change in method, style, or content. To make the treatise more complete, I added the entire discourse on Satan's role in these desertions before publication, beginning at Chapter 6. In handling that subject, I trust I have not incurred the apostle's sharp rebuke against speculating about angels and intruding into things I have no scriptural warrant for (Colossians 2:18). I am confident that I followed the scholastics into their labyrinths no further than a clear thread of Scripture and right reason guided and warranted my way. Without such a guide, I regard the ways of this old and winding serpent in his dealings with us as Solomon described — like the way of a serpent on a rock, hidden and impossible to trace (Proverbs 30:18-19). For weaker readers — especially those in distress, for whom speculative and doctrinal discussions, however practical their subject, tend to be tedious and discouraging — if they find that section rough or tiresome (which I hope they will not), my advice is to skip it and pick up again at Chapter 11. From there to the end, they will find material better suited to their understanding and condition, and more practically directed to their distress. May heaven's blessing go with it.
Thomas Goodwin.
