To the Pious Reader
You may remember in publishing some of this author's discourses about two years ago, a promise was made, that if they happened to be well received, more of them should see the light.
The general acceptance they have met with (especially from those for whom they were chiefly designed) and the necessity the bookseller found to make a second edition (though by the printer's oversight very incorrect) are sufficient grounds to oblige me to the making good that promise. And here it is in part performed, by offering to you the following meditations of this primitively devout author upon the two first chapters of the first General Epistle of Saint Peter. His Latin discourses which he had to the students when he was Principal of the College of Edinburgh, are now in the press.
Matters of controversy in religion among Protestant divines, this good man, upon all occasions, in his lifetime, either absolutely shunned, or endeavored to soften, and where he could not conciliate the terms and points themselves in dispute, yet he endeavored to reconcile the persons disputing: for [out of his great charity] he had much better thoughts of each of them, than they ordinarily have one of another. And even when he gives in these papers, his own opinion in some few of those points, he does it, with that moderation, and discretion, that can give no offense to any of the parties, except to such of them, who will needs be contentious. He was a singular instance how far good men may differ in judgment about some abstruse points in religion; yet without diminution of affection, either to truth, or to one another.
If his way of expression, or method of handling the passages of Scripture here treated of, are not according to the modern critical exactness, or if his style is not after the mode and dress of those times, and hence perhaps may be less gratifying to some, such are humbly desired, that they would be pleased to enjoy those other writings they so deservedly value, and whereof they have so great store in this age. Yet at the same time, it's hoped from their good nature, that they will bear with such, who do, and must own to their great comfort, that they find a sweetness in this divine author's thoughts, and way of writing peculiar to him, which make those Scriptures, thus treated by him, drop sweeter to their souls than honey, and the honeycomb. While they enlighten their understandings, at the same time they purify, and rejoice their hearts; while they make wise the simple, they convert their soul. This was his design in preaching those discourses above thirty years ago. And this is the design in publishing them now, God grant that the success in perusing them may answer the good intention of both. Paul may plant and Apollos may water, but God gives the increase, which that it may be in that abundance, which shall make both planters, and waterers rejoice in that great and last harvest, is, and shall be the fervent prayer of the publisher.
J. F.
