To the Reader

I do now at the length offer to your view (Christian Reader) the whole Treatise of Case-divinity, so far as the Author proceeded in the delivery thereof before his death. If you have been longer held in expectation thereof, than either yourself desired, or was meet, I must entreat your favorable interpretation of my forbearance, partly in regard of many private distractions, and sundry occurrents wherewith I was detained from this duty, and partly also in respect of my desire to publish it in such sort to your contentment, that it might afterward require no further filing or furbishing by secondary corrections. Wherein, notwithstanding mine endeavor to the contrary, my hope has been in part prejudiced, by reason of some faults escaped in the Printing, through want of careful attendance on the Press in my necessary absence. The principal I have noted in a Table before the first Book, and the other of lesser moment, I commend to your private pardon.

Touching the Treatise itself, I have dealt as faithfully as I could, keeping close to the Preacher's own words, without any material addition, detraction, or amplification. His method remains the same in the body of the discourse, not admitting the least alteration. Only it was thought convenient to distinguish it into Books according to the several distinct parts, the Books into Chapters, the Chapters that were most capable of division into Sections; and my meaning therein was, to help the memory of the Reader, and to avoid tediousness the daughter of longsome discourses.

Now if in the perusing, you either find anything amiss, or yourself haply not fully satisfied in particular; then remember what is the lot of learned men's works which are Scripta posthuma (whereof these latter times have yielded many examples) to be left after a sort, naked and imperfect, when the Authors themselves are gone, who might have brought them to perfection. Consider again, that in regard of the weight of this worthy argument, it were much better kindly and thankfully to accept and enjoy these labors, however imparted, than by their suppressing to be wholly deprived of such a benefit. And withal rest with me in hope, that as himself has first traced the way, and walked by the banks of this main Sea, so others upon this occasion, will be encouraged to attempt the like course, or at least to enlarge this work by addition of more particulars. Meanwhile, not doubting of your Christian acceptance of my pains for your good, I commend them to your love, yourself to God and the word of his grace. Eman. Coll. Novemb. 20. 1606.

Yours in Christ Jesus, Tho. P.