IX. Wisdom of angels conversant about the Word. Scripture the best counsellor the plenitude thereof. The pernicious influ- ence of corrupt doctrines upon the present state of the Church 406 X. Two-fold knowledge of judgements and blessings XI. The rectitude of God's ways in their equity and reason, able- ness, their perfect harmony, their directness to their end, their conformity to the will of God, their plainness and perspicuity 410 XII. We are apt to pick quarrels at the Word. XIII. Wicked men set up their wills against God's, and invent dis- XVII. The right ways of the Lord are unto wicked men matter of above reason TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL SIR HENRY MARTEN, KNIGHT, JUDGE OF THE ADMIRALTY, AND OF THE PREROGATIVE court OF CANTERBURY. SIR, SAINT Jerome having, in the heat of his youth, written an allegorical exposition upon the prophet Obadiah, did, in his riper age, solemnly bewail unto his friend Pammachius, both his rashness in that attempt; and his infelicity farther herein, that what he thought had been buried amongst his private papers, was gotten into the hands of a certain young man, and saw the light. The selfsame complaint am I forced to make, touching this little manual of "Sacramental Meditations," which I humbly put into your hands. It was written with respect only to mine own private use many years since, when I was a young student in the university, as my first theological essay. And now lately, by means of a private copy, long ago communicated unto a friend, it had, without my knowledge, received a license for the press. My earnest care was, upon the first notice thereof, wholly to have suppressed the publication: but the copy which had been licensed, being, by I know not what miscarriage, lost, I have found it necessary, for fear of the like inconvenience again, to review a broken copy which I had by me, and have rather chosen to let it pass forth with some brief and sudden castigations of mine own, than once more run the hazard of a surreptitious edition. Mine apology shall be no other than that of the good Father; "Infans eram, nec tum scribere noveram: Nunc, ut nihil aliud profecerim, saltem Socraticum illud habeo, Scio quod nescio."— And now since I find that the oblation of the first-fruits, though haply they were not always the best and ripest, did yet find favourable acceptance with God himself; I have been emboldened to pre sent this small enchiridion (the very first fruits of my theological studies) unto the hands and patronage of so greatly learned, eloquent, and judicious a person:-and that upon this assurance; That as many times aged men, when they walk abroad, lean upon the hand of a little child, so even in this little and youthful treatise, such comfortable truths may be, though weakly, delivered, as may help, in your journey towards a better country, to refresh and sustain your aged thoughts. The blood of Christ, and the food of life, are subjects worthy of all acceptation, though brought unto us in an earthen vessel. Elishab was not a whit the less valued by that noble Naaman, though it were a handmaid which directed unto him. Neither was David's comfort in rescuing of his wives, and recovering of the spoils from the Amalekites any jot the smaller, because a young man of Egypt made way for the discovery. The sovereignty of the gospel is herein most excellently set forth, in that it many times leadeth the soul by the hand of a child, and is as truly, though not as abundantly, powerful from young Timothy, as from Paul the aged. As Christ can use weak elements to exhibit, so can he also use a weak pen to express, the virtue and comforts of his body and blood. C In this confidence, I have made bold to prefix your name before these meditations; that therein I might make a public acknowledgment of my many deep engagements for your abundant favours, and might, with most hearty prayers, commend you and yours to that blood of sprinkling, which speaketh better things for us than that of Abel. In which desires I daily remain, Yours, in all humble observance, EDW. REYNOLDS. b2 Kings v. 2, 3. 2 Sam. xvii. 17. e 1 Tim. iv. 12. c1 Sam. xxx. 13. d Isai. xi. 6. |