IAm not discouraged to publish this plain Practical Treatise to the world, although it bring no Peacocks from Ophyr, no strange affected words or opinions. You shall not come out to see here, A man cloathed with soft raiments, but rather one like that man of Jericho, greatly wounded, desiring oyl to be poured therein. And indeed holy and spiritual matter hath most convincing Majesty, when words do not obscure it; Painting of a Diamond hinders the lustre thereof: What Tully said of the Philosopher, is much more true of the Divine, Si affert eloquentiam, accipio; si non habet, non admodum flagitem. Therefore it being my main scope to bring the Reader into a powerful experimental Discovery of True Grace upon his own heart: I thought Words, Opinions, Notions and Controversies would be like Asahel’s Carkass in the way, to move men to gaze on them, while they neglected more necessary and excellent matter. The true Work of Grace separated from the Counterfeit, with the assurance thereof, is the main Subject of this Book, and should be of our constant thoughts and meditations; this will be useful, when all other things will vanish; As Noahs Ark continued on the Waters, when all the stately Palaces of the world were overwhelmed. Grace justifying is indeed the treasure of a Christian, but Grace sanctifying is the Key to open thereunto: Grace justifying is much to be pressed, either to broken contrite hearts, or when corrupt Doctrines (as in Popery) have dangerously infected; but Grace sanctifying is constantly to be urged to every natural man, and all unbottomed Professors: Now there is no man that knoweth how it fareth with us in these dayes, but must acknowledge this Subject very useful. The vitals of godliness must be in a special manner preserved; that inward infused heat must not be weakned by useless evaporations: Disputes: Opinions and Differences of Judgement, must not be suckers to draw away nourishment from the substantial parts of holiness. Our Saviour himself chose this subject above all other to preach to his hearers; It was not their flocking after him in multitudes did content him, but upon all occasions he instructed them in the deep, sure and rooted work of Grace: even in his Ministery, he separated the Sheep from Goats, the Wheat from the Chaff, and the good Ground from the bad, the wise Virgin from the foolish. This then is the one necessary thing, and they choose the better part who prefer it before all controversal matter. Oh that all would be invited to taste and see how sweet the Practical Power of Grace is above all Notional Discourses! And oh that this Book, if thou vouchsafest to reade it, might be to thee like Elisha’s stretching himself upon the dead Childe, to bring spiritual life with the Operations thereof! I have also (the matter requiring) dispersed through the Treatise Practical Arguments against Arminianism, which is not onely repugnant to many eminent pregnant places of Scripture, but (as Doctor Ames well urged against Grevinchovins) is contrary Communi sensui fidelium, The Experience and sense all the faithfull have had of Gods gracious working upon them. It hath greatly grieved me to see men of great Repute amongst their Disciples at least, publickly to avouch such Doctrines, without any trembling or hesitation; for who will not be ready to fall down and worship the guilded Image of Error, at the sound of such Sackbuts and Psalteries. But I hope the People of God will say to such Teachers, Non est disputandum de gustu, That which we have seen and felt, as it were, upon our Souls, that we will adhere unto. I shall shut up all with Luthers Prayer, A Doctore glorioso, Pastore contentioso, & inutilibus quaestionibus liberet Ecclesiam Deus, From a Doctor that seeks only his own glory, from a contentious Pastor that affects to remove the bounds of Truth, and from unprofitable Questions, Let God deliver his Church.
Amen.
Sutton-Coldfield July the 3d. 1652. ANTHONY BURGESSE.