Dedication to Oliver Cromwell
To excuse the Dedication of a Book, which seems not to be like Apples of Gold in Pictures of Silver, in a Time of so much Preparation for War, this is my Apologie: The brief Discourse following, being Composed in Ireland, where through the Presence of God with You, in Your great Employment, I enjoyed Peace and Quietness for a season in the service of my Master, and now stepping into the World, by Providence, upon Your return into this Nation, it seems to crave the Signature of Your Name at the Entrance: Besides, being almost wholly Polemical (for men of Learning also, have their Polemics, and those, as in the management of some, as pernicious to the Nations professing the Name of Christ, as the Contest of the Sword) it lays a Second Claim therunto, from its Proportion to the present Work whereunto You are called forth.
Perhaps the Differences, about which the Contest here managed, is, may appear to some, not to be of so great Weight and Importance, as to deserve that serious and public Agitation, which is now given to them: especially in these days, wherein things of nearer Concernment to the Foundation of Faith, do come continually under Debate. But besides that no one Title, of the Faith once delivered to the Saints, is to be yielded to gain-sayers, the Way whereby Opposition is made to any Truth, is seriously to be considered. It was said of Caesar, That solus accessit sobrius ad perdendam rempublicam, he alone (among many other undertakers) attempted soberly to destroy the Common-wealth, and therefore was the most earnestly to be resisted. In the Broaching of many Opinions, abhorrent from the Truth of the Gospel in these days, very few have gone soberly to Work. For the most part, a perverse Spirit of Giddiness has been mingled with their undertakings, whereby, though they have made a great Noise in the World, and overthrown the Faith of some, yet their beloved self-Conceptions being full of self-Contradictions, asserted with much Passion and Confidence, little Reason or Judgment, having no determinate End affixed to them, I no way doubt, but that in due Time they will easily sink of themselves.
He, with whom, in some part of this Treatise, I have to do, has been serious in his undertaking, and being not destitute of Abilities for the carrying on of his Intendment, it is requisite the Truth by him mistaken, should receive a serious Vindication, which I hope also is performed, so far as Occasion, was by his Writing, to me administred.
Neither will the things here Discussed I am persuaded seem light to you, who have learned to value every Truth of God, at the Rate, whereunto it is stamped from above: especially those which so nearly Concern him, whom Your Soul loveth, as these following will be found to do.
For my own part, having no kind of Interest in the things now a doing, neither one way, nor other, but only so far, as the great Interest of Christ and the Gospel is concerned, nor any design in my Thoughts, but only to lay hold of every orderly Advantage to Preach the Lord Jesus, and him Crucified, even him alone; and withal, to give Testimony to the whole Counsel of God, as revealed in his Word, in Opposition to the many foolish Delusions, which through the Craft of Satan, and the Vanity of men's darkened minds, have got entrance into the World, continually lamenting the sad mistake of many Ministers of the Gospel immixing themselves so far in Civil Contests, as to make them oftentimes the subject of their public pains in Preaching and Writing, I hope there is no need of an Apologie, for my labouring in this kind.
As to this Presentation of these few Sheets to You, besides what is above mentioned, my Assurance of Your faithful adherence to the form of wholesome Words, and pattern of sound Doctrine, that cannot be gain-said, gave Encouragement to,
June 1. Your Excellencies most humble and obliged Servant, in our dearest Lord, J. OWEN.
