To the Christian Reader

READER,

You can not be such a stranger in our Izrael, as that it should be necessary for me, to acquaint you, with the first sowing and spreading of these Tares in the Field of the Church, much lesse to declare, what divisions and thoughts of heart, what open bitter contentions, to the losse of Ecclesiasticall peace, have beene stirred up among us about them: onely some few things relating to this my particular endeavour, I would willingly premonish you of.

First, Never were so many prodigious errours introduced into a Church, with so high a hand, and so little opposition, as these into ours, since the nation of Christians was known in the world, the chiefe cause I take to be, that which Aeneas Sylvius gave, why more maintained the Pope to be above the Councel, then the Councel above the Pope, because Popes gave Archbishopricks, Bishopricks, &c. but the Councels sued in forma pauperis, and therefore could scarse get an Advocate to plead their cause: the fates of our Church having of late devolved the government thereof into the hands of men tainted with this poyson, Arminianisme became backed, with the powerfull Arguments, of praise and preferment, and quickly prevailed, to beat poore naked truth into a corner. It is high time then for all the lovers of the old way, to oppose this innovation, prevailing by such unworthy means, before our breach grow great like the Sea, and there be none to heale it.

My intention in this weake indeavour, (which is but the undigested issue of a few broken houres, too many causes in these furious malignant dayes, continually interrupting the course of my studies) is but to stirre up such, who having more leasure, and greater abilities, will not as yet move a finger, to help vindicate oppressed Truth.

In the meane time I hope this discovery may not be unusefull, especially to such who wanting either, will or abilities, to peruse larger discourses, may yet be allured by their words which are smoother then oyle, to tast the poyson of Aspes that is under their lips. Satan has [illegible] depths where to hide, and methods how to broach his lies: and never did any of his Emissaries employ his received talents with more skill and diligence, then our Arminians: labouring earnestly in the first place to instill some errors that are most plausible, intending chiefly an introduction of them that are more palpable, knowing that if those be for a time suppressed, untill these be well digested, they will follow of their owne accord. Therefore I have endeavoured, to lay open to the view of all, some of their foundation errors, not usually discussed, on which the whole inconsistent superstructure is erected, whereby it will appeare, how under a most [illegible] pretence of furthering Piety, they have prevaricated against the very grounds of Christianitie: wherein

First, I have not observed the same method in handling each particular Controversie, but followed such severall waies as seemed most convenient to cleere the truth and discover their heresies:

Secondly some of their errors I have not touched at all, as those concerning universall grace, justification, the finall Apostacy of true beleevers: because they came not within the compasse of my proposed method, as you may see Chap. 1. where you have the summe of the whole discourse.

Thirdly, I have given some instances, of their opposing the received Doctrine of the Church of England, contained in divers of the 39. Articles: which would it did not yeeld us iust cause of further complaint, against the iniquitie of those times whereinto we were lately fallen. Had a poor Puritan offended against halfe so many Canons, as they opposed Articles, he had forfeited his livelihood, if not endangered his life. I would I could heare any other probable reason, why divers Prelates were so zealous for the discipline, and so negligent of the Doctrine of the Church: but because the one was reformed by the word of God: the other remaining as we found it in the times of Popery.

Fourthly, I have not purposely undertaken to answer any of their Arguments, referring that labor to a further designe: even a clearing of our Doctrine of reprobation, and of the administration of Gods providence, towards the Reprobates and over all their actions, from those calumnious aspersions they cast upon it, but concerning this, I feare the discouragements of these wofull dayes, will leave me nothing but a desire: that so necessary a worke, may finde a more able Pen:

IOHN OVVEN.