To His Highness the Lord Protector, and to the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland & Ireland
Although I need plead no other reason for the publishing of the ensuing discourse, but your Order and Command for my so doing, yet because I know that your peculiar interest, as Governors of this Common-wealth, in the several stations wherein you are placed of God, is truly stated therein, in the pursuit whereof, your peace, and the peace of these Nations will be found to lye; I crave leave to add that consideration also. Being fully acquainted, in, and with what weakness it was composed and delivered, I cannot but conclude, that it was merely for the truth's sake therein contained which is of God, and its suitableness through his wise providence, to the present state of things, in these Nations, that it found acceptance and entertainment with you, which also makes me willing to be therein your Remembrancer a second time. From the day wherein I received a command and call to the service of preaching to you, to this issue of it, wherein it is clothed anew with obedience to your Order, I found mercy with God to have that caution, of the great Apostle abiding in my heart and thoughts, if I yet please man, I am not a servant of God. Hence I can with boldness profess, that influenced in some measure with the power of that direction, I studiously avoided whatever might be suggested, with the least unsuitableness thereunto, with respect either to myself or others.
It was for Sion's sake, that I was willing to undertake this duty, and service: rejoicing that I had once more an opportunity to give public testimony to the great concernment of the great God, and our dear Lord Jesus Christ, in all the concussions of the Nations in the World, and peculiarly in his wonderful providential dispensations, in these wherein we live. And here as the sum of all, to use plainness and liberty of speech, I say, If there be anything, in any person whatever, in these Nations, that cannot stand with, that can stand without the general interest of the people of God pleaded for, let it fall and rise no more. And the Lord I know will send his blessing out of Sion, on whatever in singleness of heart, is done in a tendency to the establishment thereof.
Further I shall not need to suggest anything of the design of the ensuing discourse: they who take themselves to be concerned therein, will acquaint themselves with it, by its perusal. I shall only add, if the general principles asserted therein be in your hearts, if in pursuit thereof you endeavour, that in no corner of this Nation it may be said, this is Sion that no man cares for, but that those who love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, and are by faith and obedience separated from the perishing world, following the Lamb, according to the light which he is graciously pleased to impart to them and engaged by the providence of God, in that work which he has undertaken to accomplish among us; be not overborne by a spirit of profaneness, and contempt of the power of godliness, raging in the Earth; that they may be preserved and secured, from the return of a hand of violence, and encouraged in the testimony they have to bear to the Kingdom of Christ, in opposition to the World and all the ways which the men thereof have received by tradition from their Fathers, that are not according to his mind, you will undoubtedly in your several conditions receive blessing from God; which also that you may in all your concernments, is the daily prayer of
Your humblest Servant in the work of our dear Lord Jesus JOHN OWEN.
