To the Christian Reader

TO THE Christian Reader, and especially to all such as have any copies of the works of Maister Perkins, or intend any of them to the Presse.

For asmuch as there has been lately signification made, of divers of Maister Perkins his works hereafter to be Printed, in an Epistle to the Reader premised before the Treatise of Callings, and the signification being but general, might peradventure give occasion to some, to set out some particulars (without the consent of Maister Perkins his Assignes) as imperfectly as are these two Books, intituled, The Reformation of Covetousness, and The Practice of Faith, justly and truly (for ought that I see) censured in the aforesaid Epistle. It is therefore now thought good to mention the particular Treatises, and works of his, which shall hereafter (if God will) be published, for the benefit of God's Church: I do therefore hereby make known to all, whom it any way may concern, that there were found in the Study of the deceased, and are in the hands of his Executors, or Assignes, and preparing for the Presse.

1. His Expositions on the Epistle to the Galatians.

2. On the Epistle of Jude.

2. His Book of the Cases of Conscience.

3. His Treatises, 1. Of Witchcraft. 2. Of Callings.

All these he had perused himself, and made them ready for the Presse, according to which Copies by himself so corrected, some of them already are, and the rest will be published in due time. And here upon we desire all men who have Copies of them, not to offer that wrong to that worthy man of God, as to publish any of their own, seeing the copies hereof which are to be Printed, are of his own correcting: but rather if they can help to make any of them more perfect by their Copies, they may therein do a good work to the benefit of many, and much comfort to themselves.

And further, I do hereby make known, that I have in my hands at this present of his works, taken from his mouth, with my own hand, hereafter (if God will) to be published, with the allowance of our Church, and for the benefit of his Children, these particulars.

1. His Expositions or Readings on the 101st Psalm.

2. On the 32nd Psalm.

3. On the 11th chapter to the Hebrews.

4. On the 1, 2, and 3rd chapters of the Revelation.

5. On the 5th, 6th, and 7th chapters of Saint Matthew.

2. His confutation of Canisius, his little Popish Catechism.

3. His Treatises, 1. Of Imaginations, out of (Genesis 8:2).

2. Of temptations, out of Matthew 4.

3. Of Christian equity, out of (Philippians 4:3).

4. Of the Callings of the Ministry, out of two places of Scripture.

5. Of Repentance, out of (Zephaniah 2:1).

Besides many other particular Sermons, and short discourses made upon several, and special occasions: of all which, some are already published by others, and some by myself: and all the rest that remain, as they be the jewels of God's Church, so did I willingly dedicate them to the public and general good, judging it were a foul sin in me, or any other, to impropriate to our sins, or our own private use, the labours of this, or any other learned man, which are in my opinion; parts of the Treasury of the militant Church. And as it were wrong to the Church, if I should conceal them, so doubtless were it to him and his children, if I should publish them for mine own alone, and not for their benefit. If I do, I think it may be justly said to me, or whoever does so, Your money perish with you. And what herein I have said for myself: I know I may boldly and safely say, for his Executors or Assignes, which have or had in their hands, any of those which were found in his Study: In the publishing of all which, as we do intend to deal truly with the Christian Reader, and not to commit any thing to the Presse, which has not either been written or corrected, by the Author himself, or faithfully penned according to the truest Copies, taken from his own mouth, and since by others of sufficiency and integrity, diligently perused: some purpose to refer them to the benefit of the Author's wife and children, as much as may be, wishing that upon this Caveat, men would not be so hasty (as some have been) to commend to the world, their imperfect notes, upon a base desire of a little gain, both to hinder the common good of the Church, and to defraud the said parties of their private benefit, to whom in all equity and conscience, it does principally appertain: And desiring all who have any perfect Copies of such as are in my own hands, that they would either help me with theirs, or rather take mine to help them. That by our joint power, and our forces laid together: the walls of this worthy building, may go up the fairer, and the faster. And so I commend them all to God's blessing, who endeavor to commend themselves, and their labours, to God, and to his Church.

Your brother in the Lord, W. C.