To the Parishioners of Blackfriars London
Right Honorable, Right Worshipful, Beloved;
Among the many great blessings which the Lord has been pleased to bestow on me, his poor servant, unworthy of the least, I account this to be a high favor, that he has put me in his service, and appointed me to be one of the ministers of his Word. Basely is this calling accounted of by the greater, and vulgar sort of people: but my conscience bears me witness that I receive such contentment therein, and hold myself so honored thereby, as I prefer it to all other callings, and am provoked thereby to give some evidence of my thankful acceptance thereof: which better I know not how to do, than by employing and improving to my poor power, the talent which my Master has committed to my charge. I am not ignorant how insufficient I am thereunto, and that not only in regard of the greatness of the work (whereto who is sufficient?) but also in comparison of other ministers, whom God in great number has raised up in these our days. Yet withal I know that the great Master accepted the employment of two talents as well as of five: indeed, if he that received but one talent, had employed it, even he also should have been accepted: for God, the righteous Judge, neither exacts, nor expects more than he gives. If there be a willing mind, it is accepted according to that which a man has, and not according to that which he has not. This is it which moves me, as by preaching, so also by publishing some part of my labors in print, to seek the edification of God's Church. I account preaching the most principal part of my function: for this is Christ's charge, Go preach the Gospel; and this is that ordinance wherein and whereby God does ordinarily, and most especially manifest his own power, and bestow his blessing. This is it therefore which hitherto I have most attended upon, and intend so to continue as long as God shall afford me ability and liberty. Yet I doubt not but God's people do also receive much benefit by sundry treatises in diverse kinds published in print. For as preaching is of power especially to work upon the affections, so printing may be one especial means to inform the judgment. For that which is printed lies by a man, and may again and again be read, and thoroughly pondered, till a man come to conceive the very depth of that he reads. Besides, herein is a great benefit of printing, that the gifts and pains of God's servants are made much more common than otherwise they could be: hereby we partake of the labors of those who have lived in former times, or in other countries, and whom we could never have heard speak. Now a good thing, the more common it is, the better it is. It cannot be denied but that knowledge and learning have wonderfully increased by the benefit of printing. Whereas there is a common complaint against multitude of books, it is for the most part against idle and evil books, or else an unjust complaint. If it be said, that there can nothing be written, but what has been written before, I answer, that though it should be true in regard of the sum and substance of matters, yet in regard of a more full opening, a more perspicuous delivering, a more evident proving, a more powerful urging and pressing of points, a more fit applying of them to present occasions more and more may be, and daily is added by sundry authors, whereby the Church of God is much edified. But may not the same argument be alleged against preaching? and do not many allege it? However some, too enviously minded, censure the means which God in mercy has afforded for the building up of the body of Christ Jesus, my desire is every way to do what good I can; and therefore I have been bold to commit to your eyes and reading, some part of that which I have heretofore commended to your ears and hearing. I do now make a trial of my pains in this kind: if I shall observe that God's Church reaps any benefit thereby, I shall be encouraged to take the more pains hereafter, as I shall find any leisure. I am the servant of Christ, and of his Church; so long as my life, health, strength, liberty, or any ability is by the good providence of God preserved to me, my desire is to spend it in the service of Christ, and of his Church. Among others I especially entreat you (my beloved parishioners and auditors, of whatever rank or degree you may be) in the best part to interpret, and with the best mind to accept these my endeavors; whereby, though I have aimed at a more general good, than I could by preaching (hoping that many whom I never knew, nor saw, may reap some benefit by my pains) yet especially I intend your good, whose proper and peculiar minister I am, and for whose souls I watch, as he that must give an account. In this trial which I make of publishing some of my meditations, I begin with the last part of my labors, because they are freshest in your memories that heard them preached, and contain points more largely discussed, and, as I take it, of greater use than any other, which throughout the course of my ministry I have handled. For the time of our life being a time of war, a time wherein our spiritual enemies (who are many, mighty, malicious, sedulous, and subtle) put forth their strength, and bestir themselves to the uttermost that possibly they can, seeking whom to devour, what can be more necessary, than to discover their cunning stratagems and wiles, to declare wherein their strength lies, to furnish Christ's soldiers with complete armor and sufficient defense, and to show how our enemies may be disappointed of their hopes, and we stand fast against all their assaults? This is the scope of this treatise. The analysis and tables which I have caused to be set before and after the book, do point out the several and distinct points contained therein, so as I need not here make any repetition of them. I have labored to be as perspicuous and brief as I could, in handling so weighty matters. I have in many places delivered no more than the heads of such points as I largely handled in delivering them out of the pulpit: which any may well conjecture to be so, that shall know that the substance of almost a hundred several sermons is contained in this treatise. My desire of brevity moved me to refer the quotation of most places of Scripture to the margin, and to leave the text to be searched out by the reader, which I wish you to do as your leisure will permit you. To conclude, I commend this treatise to your diligent reading, and favorable acceptance, myself to your Christian prayers, and all of us to the good grace of God, and rest.
Your servant in the Lord's work, WILLIAM GOUGE.
