confequents, and ends, are the principal fubjects of the whole fcripture, of the whole revelation of the will of God to mankind; in thefe do our present and eternal concernments ly, and from and by them hath God defigned the great and everlasting exaltation of his own glory. Upon thefe do turn all the tranfactions that are between God and the fouls of men. That it fhould be an endeavour needlefs, or fuperfluous, to enquire into the will of God about, and our own intereft in these things, who can imagine? Two ways there are whereby this may be done. First, Speculatively, by a due investigation of the nature of these things, according as their doctrine is declared in the fcripture. An endeavour, according to the mind of God herein, is juft and commendable, and comprehensive of most of the chief heads of divinity. But this is not to be engaged in for its own fake. The knowledge of God and fpiritual things have this proportion unto practical fciences, that the end of all its notions and doctrines confists in practice. Wherefore, Secondly, thefe things are to be confidered practically, that is, as the fouls, and confciences of men are actually concerned in them, and converfant about them. How men contract the guilt of fin, what fenfe they have, and ought to have thereof, what danger they are liable unto thereon, what perplexities and diftreffes their fouls and confciences are reduced to thereby, what courfe they fix u

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pon for their relief, as alfo what is that grace of God whereby alone they may be delivered, wherein it confifts, how it was prepared, how purchased, how it is propofed, and how it may be attained; what effects and confequents a participation of it doth produce, how in these things faith and obedience unto God, dependence on him, fubmiffion to him, waiting for him, are to be exercifed, is the principal work that those who are called unto the difpenfation of the gospel ought to enquire into themselves, and to acquaint others withal. In the right and due management of these things, whether by writing, or oral inftruction, with prudence, diligence, and zeal, doth confift their principal usefulness in reference unto the glory of God, and the everlasting welfare of the fouls of men: And they are under a great mistake, who suppose it an easy and a common matter to treat these practical things usually to the edification of them that do believe. Because both the nature of the things themselves, with the concerns of the fouls and confciences of all forts of perfons in them, require, that they be handled plainly, and without thofe intermixtures of fecular learning, additions of ornaments of speech, which difcourfes of other natures may, or ought to be compofed and set of withal; fome judging by mere outward appearances, especially if they be of them from whom the true nature of the things themselves treated of are hid, are ready to defpife and

fcorn

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fcorn the plain management of them, as that which hath nothing of wisdom or learning accompanying of it, no effects of any commendable ability of mind for which it should be esteemed. But it is not inexpreffible how great a mistake fuch perfons, through their own darknefs and ignorance, do labour under. In a right spiritual understanding, in a due perception and comprehenfion of these things, the things of the fins of men and grace of God, confifts the greatest part of that wifdom, of that foundness of mind, of that knowledge rightly fo called, which the gospel commands, exhibits, and puts a valuation upon. To reveal and declare them unto others in words of truth and fobernefs, fit and meet to express them unto the understandings of men opened and enlightned by the fame Spirit, by whom the things themselves are originally revealed, to derive fuch facred fpiritual truths from the word and by a due preparation to communicate and apply them to the fouls and confciences of men, contains a principal part of that minifterial fkill and ability which are required in the difpenfers of the gofpel; and wherein a fevere exercife of found learning, judment and care neceffary to be found, and may be fully expreffed. Into this treasury towards the service of the house of God, it is, that I have caft my mite in the enfuing expofition and difcourfes on the cxxx Pfalm. The defign of the Holy Ghoft was therein to exprefs and reprefent in the per

fon

fon and condition of the Pfalmift the cafe of a foul intangled, and ready to be overwhelmed with the guilt of fin, relieved by a difcovery of grace and forgivenefs in God, with its deportment upon a participation of that relief. After the expofition of the words of the text, my design and endeavour hath been only to enlarge the portraiture here given us in the Pfalm, [of a believing foul in and under the condition mentioned; to render the lines of it more visible, and to make the character given in its defcription more legible; and withal to give unto others, in the like condition with the Pfalmift, a light to understand and difcern themselves in that image and reprefentation, which is here made of them in the person of another. To this end have I been forced to enlarge on the two great heads of Sin and Grace; especially on the latter here called the forgiveness that is with God. An intereft herein, a participation hereof, being our principal concernment in this world, and the fole foundation of all our expectations of a bleffed portion in that which is to come, it certainly requires the best and utmost of our endeavours, as to look into the nature, causes, and effects of it, fo especially into the ways and means whereby we may be made partakers of it; and how that participation may be secured unto us unto our peace and confolation; as alfo in that love, that holiness, that obedience, that fruitfulness in good works, which on the account of

of this grace, God expecteth from us, and requireth at

our hands. An explication of these things is that which I have defigned to enfue and follow after in thefe difcourfes, and that with a conftant eye, as on the one hand to the fole rule and ftandard of truth, the facred fcriptures, efpecially that part of it which is under peculiar confideration; fo on the other to the experience and fervice unto the edification of them that do believe, whofe fpiritual benefit and advantage, without any other confideration in the world, is aimed at in the publishing of them.

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