PREFACE.

217

HEARING an Apostle say, that he used not the excellencies of speech, nor the enticing words of man's wisdom, when he came preaching the Gospel of Jesus amongst the Gentiles: I conclude, that what was then useless, is altogether as unnecessary now. Truth needs no art, but manifests itself by plainness of speech, in the demonstration of the Spirit, and of power.

I believe I may say, without uncharitable censure, that mankind in the general judge according to appearance, and not with righteous judgment; the flowery style, the swelling word of vanity alluring to the flesh, is that, which (by reason of the depraved senses) is most pleasing to the ear, and striking to the mind, it being not important, whether it contain any matter or not: The Truth itself, being seldom that which the reader falls in love with; it is.

language, sounds, and pomp of words, that enamours a fluttering world.

To urge, that the allurements and elegance of speech adorns the truth, and removing the prejudice which many have conceived against it, excites them to read with delight, &c. I say, this plea will be found upon impartial inquiry, to be a flat contradiction of the scriptures, a stale device of Truth's grand enemy: For, let the same subject, be but treated of in the true apostolic language, viz. plainness of speech; and those raptured admirers of the sublime, however nervous its argument, will reject it.

To assert that the excellency of speech, and the enticing words of man's wisdom, is necessary to enforce the Truths of the Gospel; is to impeach the judgment of one whose choice did not proceed of necessity, when he chose plainness of speech, such as was familiar to the meanest capacity; I mean the Apostle to the Gentiles; he looked on the enticements of speech,

as a proceeding unworthy the majesty of his matter, yea rather hurtful then helpful unto his hearers; lest their faith should stand in the wisdom of man, and not in the power of God: Hence I am encouraged to hope, that the absence of those embellishments from my Treatise,(though it proceed of necessity) will neither mar the beauty, nor relax the nerves of Truth contained therein: And, what further conspires to render my expectations sanguine in this particular, is the persuasion, that there are such in the world, whose ears cannot be charmed with dead unmeaning sounds, and whose hearts are susceptible of Truth, in it's artless native dress.

But as the multitude think otherwise, and are contrary to me; in the grace and love of Jesus Christ, I stand prepared for censure, and reproach, and am not afraid of their utmost enmity: nor is it in the power of the world to torment me with disappointments, because my expecta

tions are suited to their candour and cle

mency.

Through the knowledge of myself, and the observation I have made in life, I understand a little of human nature; and having learned of the Father, am not altogether ignorant of him who is the Truth: I therefore perceive, that reproach and the Gospel are inseparably connected; that it is impossible to believe, and bear witness of the one without being exposed to the virulence of the other, therefore God forbid that I should seek to avoid it, but rather meet it rejoicing, and receive it with open arms; being thereby crucified unto the world, and the world unto me.

As I make no pretension to infallibility, nay as I pretend not to the abilities of fallible authors: respecting wisdom, and Letters, it will not surprise me, nor need it surprise any body else, if some busy critic, whose genius leads him ever in search of offal, and garbage, should pretend to detect in my book, not only bad grammar, with

inaccuracies in phrase; but errors in judg. mentalso: Nor shall this trouble me, provided he substitute in stead thereof, what consists more with the honour and glory of Jesus Christ our Lord, for then my aim and end is answered.

If I am asked in meekness to explain myself in any particular, wherein it is judged I have not been quite intelligible, though I cannot promise success, I find myself willing to attempt it. But, when any conceited spirit, from meerwantonness, majesterially declares me wrong, I shall not reply; because the servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, &c.

As I do not remember to have read the author, who hath treated of the subject contained in the following Tract; any farther than to drop some very brief hints of such a Truth, which hath been immediately contradicted by some other position: So neither do I remember to have read any thing wrote in confutation thereof, ex