TO THE READER.
Sundry judicious and learned (in both Englands) upon the perusal of the following Sermons, have professed that the author has therein done like himself, and (according to the wisdom given to him [illegible] God) comprehended in a little room, the substance of what is to be said, in defence of that cause, which in this last age has been so abundantly confirmed, both by words and sufferings of many of the Lord's faithful servants. I have known some in that city where these Sermons were preached, who although by reason of their adherence to hierarchical principles, they esteemed the author as one of their greatest opposites, yet would say of him, that for a scriptural, logical, methodical preacher, they never knew his equal.
It has been the fate (may we use that word) attending the posthumous works of many learned men, that they have come forth with a Caetera desiderantur, as is to be seen in sundry of our great Rainold his Praelections de libr. Apocr. (not to mention others) and so it is here. Nevertheless, this copy is perfect so far as it goes, having been, not only perused by the author himself, but a great part of it written with his own hand, (who saw cause to enlarge the Second Sermon especially, after it was preached) from whom I received it some years ago, we being then both of us in the same land; but we were constrained to part, before he could cause all his meditations and collections on this subject to be transcribed. That defect notwithstanding, it has been conceived, that if what is here presented, should be in this way brought into public light, it would conduce very much towards the establishment of many in the present truth, both in the land where these Sermons were preached, and among us also, who are exiles for the same cause, should any number of copies (as after printed, 'tis hoped there may) happen to be dispersed among us they are therefore transmitted for the press.
The most specious reason, which our opposites seem to have for the impleaded ceremonies, is the pretended indifferency of them. Were that so, yet considering that the imposition of them is attended with scandal to many Protestants, who embrace these superstitions with relucting consciences, yes with scandal to Papists, who are thereby hardened in their idolatries; since as one well says, the ceremonies are monuments of Popery, the trophies of Antichrist, and the reliques of Rome's whorish bravery, they therefore ought to be called Nehushtan. I wish that some who are much taken with that Socinianizing, and at last Papizing, and most corrupt interpreter Hugo Grotius, (who is extremely followed by the among prelatical men admired Doctor Hammond, who in his Notes on the New Testament, has showed all possible favor to Antichrist; which things I am the rather willing to mention, not to detract any thing from the worth or deserved praise of those authors, in respect of their great learning, but that young students may be cautioned against sucking in poison from their writings; I say, I wish such) would remember Grotius his note on the text which is in the following discourses largely and elaborately discussed, Egregium (inquit) documentum Regibus, ut quamvis benè instituta sed non necessaria, ubi [illegible], malè usurpantur, è conspectu tollant, ne ponant ostendiculum caecis. But besides that argument (which yet is not easily answered) the ensuing discourses demonstrate, that to allow Popish, or any non-instituted ceremonies, a religious state and use in the worship of God, is absolutely sinful, as being a direct violation of the Second Commandment.
I confess there are other large and elaborate tractates on the subjects here treated on, which as yet remain unanswered, such as Mr. Parker of the Cross, Doctor Ames his Fresh Suit against Ceremonies, Mr. Gelaspy's Dispute against English Popish Ceremonies. Indeed some have glanced at less material passages in the books mentioned, but never any (that I could hear of) did strike at their whole frame, or undertake ([illegible]) to answer them, or any one of them. Nevertheless, the publication of the Sermons herewith emitted, has not been thought unnecessary, because they are in a method suited to vulgar capacities, and contain in few pages the strength and substance of what others have voluminously expressed. Nor can those other tractates be easily obtained, or digested by the ordinary sort of readers, as these may. And who knows, but the Lord may bless what is here made public, for the enlightening and establishing of the rising generation, that they also having their minds well informed, and girt about with truth, may be able to suffer, rather than comply with prelatick superstitions, (or with Erastianism) for non-conformity whereto, our blessed fathers suffered many things, and not in vain? I will likewise confess, that the remembrance of the awful saying of that ancient, had some impression upon my spirit, inducing to this publication, Non solùm ille proditor veritatis est qui palàm mendacium pro veritate loquitur, sed etiam ille qui non liberè pronuntiat veritatem.
Now the same Spirit that breathed mightily in the preacher, when (vivâ voce) delivering what is here published, go along with his truth, that the Lord's name may be glorified, and his people edified thereby. Which is the prayer of him, who has still an earnest desire to be found not only among witnesses, but (if the will of God be so concerning him) among sufferers, on that account of testifying against the superstitions and corruptions of the times.
M. I.
