Introduction

Nu. 1. I had thought I had concluded the Reader's trouble and mine own, when I had gotten to an end of the Assemblers' Exceptions, but by that time I had transmitted those debates to the Printer, and from him received one Sheet of the Impression, I found myself called out anew by a Preface (to a Book of a very distant subject, The Saints' Perseverance) wherein is inserted, a Discourse touching the Epistles of Ignatius, and the Episcopacy in them asserted, and some animadversions on Doctor H. H. his Dissertations on that subject: and this Preface (and these contents of it), lest it might be less discernible, thought fit to be expressed in the Title page, and subscribed by John Owen, servant of Jesus Christ in the work of the Gospel.

2. And although the speedy return of such tasks is not overgrateful to me, yet because 1. I conceive it is his pleasure that we should enter this commerce: and 2. because the work of the Gospel is so glorious an employment, that I cannot be averse or slow to the giving all possible satisfaction to any which professes to labor in it: and 3. because, if the Reader so consent, this discourse may be annexed to the former debates with the Provincial Assembly, being likely to be on the same heads, which are there spoken to, I shall not doubt thus speedily to undertake the labor of it; and if his Animadversions prove any way useful to me, I shall acknowledge by whom I have profited, retract most readily what he shall give me cause to retract, and never multiply any debates, which may be thus more compendiously ended, being confident that no miscarriage of mine (of which yet I am not conscious to have committed any in the Book of Dissert.) will be able to prejudice the main truth which is there defended, the Institution of Bishops by the Apostles.