To the Right Honorable the Commons of England Assembled in Parliament

SIRS,

All that I shall preface to the ensuing discourse, is, that seeing the nation's welfare and your own actings are therein concerned; the welfare of the nation, and your own prosperity in your present actings, being so nearly related as they are to the things of the ensuing discourse, I should be bold to press you to a serious consideration of them as now presented to you, were I not assured by your ready attention to, and favourable acceptation of their delivery, that being now published by your command, such a request would be altogether needless. The subject matter of this sermon being of so great weight and importance as it is, it had been very desireable, that it had fallen on an abler hand, as also that more space and leisure had been allotted to the preparing of it, first for so great, judicious, and honorable audience; and secondly, for public view, then possibly I could beg from my daily troubles, pressures and temptations, in the midst of a poor, numerous provoking people. As the Lord has brought it forth, that it may be useful to your honorable assembly, and the residue of men that wait for the appearance of the Lord Jesus, shall be the sincere endeavour at the throne of grace, of

Coggeshall: May 1. 1649. Your most unworthy servant, in the work of the Lord, John Owen.