In these evil and perilous times God has not left us without some choice mercies. Our sins abound, and his mercies superabound. The Lord might justly have spoken those words of death against us, which of old he did against the Jews: I have taken away my peace from this people, loving kindness, and mercies, which had he pulled from us, we had had cause enough to mourn with Rachel, and to refuse comfort, for all our happiness lies wrapped up in peace, loving kindness and mercy. But God is yet good to Israel (Psalm 73:1), he commands deliverances for Jacob (Psalm 44:4), he over-rules all the powers of darkness, and tells the sons of Belial (men of corrupt minds and cursed practices) that they shall proceed no further (2 Timothy 3:8-9), but that their folly shall be manifest to all. He makes all enemies, all devils, all creatures, to further his own glory, and the good of his peculiar people. When times are naught and dangerous, he says, Come my people, enter into your chambers, and shut your doors about you, hide yourself as it were for a little moment till the indignation be overpast (Isaiah 26:20). If troubles threaten life, he says, When you pass through the waters I will be with you, and through the rivers they shall not overflow you, when you walk through the fire, you shall not be burnt, neither shall the flames kindle upon you; for I am the Lord your God, etc. (Isaiah 43:2). When enemies are incensed, fear and sorrows multiplied, he says, Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God, I will strengthen you, I will help you, yea I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness (Isaiah 41:10-11). Behold all they that were incensed against you, shall be ashamed and confounded, they shall be as nothing, and they that strive with you shall perish. Such words of comfort and life does God speak to his. And among other mercies he stirs up the spirits of his servants to write many precious truths and tractates to further the everlasting good of his beloved ones. If the bottomless pit be open, and smoke rise from there, to [reconstructed: darken] the air, and obscure the way of the saints; Heaven also is opened, and there are lightnings, and voices, to enlighten their spirits, and direct their paths (Revelation 9:2; Revelation 11:19). Had ever any age such lightnings as we have? Did ever any speak since Christ and his Apostles as men now speak? We may truly and safely say of our divines and writers, the voice of God, and not of man: Such abundance of the Spirit has God poured into some men, that it is not they, but the Spirit of the Father that speaks in them. Psalm 76:10.
What infinite cause has this age to [reconstructed: acknowledge the] unspeakable mercy of God in affording us such plenty of spiritual tractates full of divine, necessary and conscience-searching truths, yea precious soul-comforting, and soul-improving truths? Such whereby head, heart, and soul-cheating errors are discovered and prevented; such as soundly [reconstructed: difference] true grace from all seemings and paintings. No time, no nation exceeds us herein; and shall we that abound in truths be penurious in praises?
[reconstructed: Consider], Reader, whether spiritual truths be not worthy of your choicest praises. Every divine truth is one of God's eternal thoughts, it's heaven-born, and bears the image of the most High. Truth is the glory of the whole sacred Trinity. Hence the Spirit is called Truth (1 John 5:6). Christ is called Truth (John 14:6). And God himself is said to be the God of Truth (Deuteronomy 32:4). It is so delightful to him, that his eyes are ever upon the Truth (Jeremiah 5:1). And when the only wise God would have men make a purchase, he counsels them to buy the Truth. And is it not good counsel, is it not a good purchase? Can you bestow your pains or lay out your money better? If you be dead in sins and trespasses, Truth is the seed of a new life, of a heavenly birth (James 1:18). If you be in any bondage, Truth can make you free (John 8:32). If compassed about with enemies, Truth can shield you (Psalm 91:4). If you be full of filthy thoughts and lusts, or any [reconstructed: impurities], the Truth can sanctify you (John 17:17). If darkness and faintness possess your souls, Truth is lumen and [reconstructed: populum] animae, the light and life of the soul (Psalm 119:105).
Let us then advance our thoughts of Truth, and rate it above all [reconstructed: sublunary] things, and buy it though it cost us all: it is no [reconstructed: simony]; it is not too dear, you cannot overvalue Truth. It is sister to the peace of God which passes all understanding: see how God himself estimates his word and truth (Psalm 138:2): You has magnified your word above all your name. Whatever God is known by besides his word, is beneath his word. Take the whole creation which is God's name in the greatest letters, it's nothing to his word and truth. Therefore Christ tells the Pharisees, it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail. If the least Jot or Tittle of the law be prized by God above all the world, let us take heed of undervaluing the great and glorious truths of the Gospel, and settle it as a law upon our hearts, that we can never overprize or yield sufficient praise for any truth.
Men can praise God for the blessings of the field, the seas, the womb, and of their shops; but where is the man that praises God for this blessing of blessings, for Truth, for good books, and heavenly treatises. Men seldom purposely lift up their hearts and voices to heaven to praise God for the riches of knowledge bestowed upon them. In good books you have man's labor, and God's truths. The tribute of thanks is due for both, that God enables men to so great labors, and that he conveys such precious treasure through earthen vessels. David thought it his duty to praise God for Truth (Psalm 143:2), and has left it upon record for our imitation. He saw such excellency, and found so much sweet gain by Truth, that he must break out into praises for it.
Reader, give over your old habit of slighting and criticizing men's labors. Experience has long since told you that no good comes that way. Now learn to turn your prejudices to praises, and prove what will be the fruit of honoring and praising God for truths dispensed by his faithful [reconstructed: servants]. Let me tell you, this is a chief way to keep truth still among us. If [reconstructed: truths] be not received with the love of them, and God honored for them, presently strong delusions come, and truth must suffer or fly. God has made good that promise in Jeremiah, he has revealed to us abundance of peace and truth, and we through ingratitude have forfeited both. Our peace is shaken, and who can promise himself with Hezekiah there shall be peace and truth in my days; peace may fail you, but let not truth. Every good Christian may and should say with the good king, there shall be truth in my days, if not peace and truth. I will so far honor truth, as to receive the love of it. I will hold it fast by faith, hold it forth by practice, praise God daily for it, and venture all in defense of it; so did the martyrs, whose memory is sweet, and whose reward is great. It is better suffering for truth than with truth: yet if truth must suffer or can die, better it is to die with truth than outlive it.
But that truth may live, and we live by truth, let us magnify God much for truth, for his word and good books that spring from it. Some probably may say, it is enough to praise God for his word, other books are not [illegible]. Will you praise God for the [reconstructed: Sea], and [reconstructed: be unthankful] for the rivers and springs? Will you lift up your voice for the great waters, and be silent for the silver drops and showers? If the former [reconstructed: rain] affects you, be not ungrateful for the latter. God would have men to value his servants, and praise him for their labors.
But they have errors in them.
Be it so, shall we refuse to praise God for the flowers and the corn, because there be some weeds in the garden, and thistles in the field? Prejudice not yourself, buy, read, take your delight, here is a garden without weeds, a corn field without cockle or darnel, thorn or thistle. Are you a sincere convert, here are truths suitable, solid, and wholesome, you may feed and feast without fear.
The author is one of singular piety, inward acquaintance with God, skilled in the deceits of men's hearts, able to enlighten the dark corners of the little world, and to give satisfaction to staggering spirits. His work needs not the purple of another's commendation to adorn it. But because custom, not necessity (for it is truth's prerogative to travel without a passport) — I say, because custom causes truth to crave and to carry commendatory epistles — know that the work is weighty, quick and spiritual, and if your eye be single in perusing it, you shall find many precious soul-searching, soul-quickening, and soul-enriching truths in it: indeed, be so warned and awakened, so that you cannot but bless God for the man and matter, unless you be possessed with a dumb devil.
To conclude, Christian reader, take heed of unthankfulness; spiritual mercies should have the quickest and fullest praises. Such is this work, you foresaw it not, you contributed nothing to the birth of it; it is a preventing mercy. By it and others of the same nature, [reconstructed: God] has made knowledge to abound, the waters of the sanctuary are daily increased and grown deep. Let not the waters of the sanctuary put out the fire of the sanctuary. If there be no praise, there is no fire. If your head be like a winter's sun full of light, and heart like a winter's earth without fruit, fear lest your light end in utter darkness, and the tree of knowledge deprive you of the tree of life. The Lord grant you may find such benefit by this work, as that your heart may be ravished with truth, and raised to praise God to purpose, and made to pray: Lord, still send forth your light and truth, that they may lead us.
So prays,
Yours in Christ, W. Greenhill.
