have habituate their tongue to drop fatyrs againft what is good, whe ther perfons or things; yet it is enough to guard against the prejudice of what they take liberty to fay. 2. Confider, that the moft common words and ordinary phrafes, in ufe amongst a people, may, by the greatest orator, be very pertinently ufed, for illuftrating and preffing his purpose: nay, in fome cafes, these have a special emphafis, beyond what can be wrapt up, in a great many more compt words, and feemingly neat expreffions, and then, they are fo far from being a blemish to a difcourfe, that they feem to give a kind of life, and add a certain luftre to the whole frame; and thou wilt find it often fall out here, that the author hath fo happy a dexterity in making the most common (and fometimes contemptible) phrafe, with a graceful fweetness, fubfervient to his purpofe, that let the greateft mafter of words, alter but one of thefe words, or change one of thefe expreffions (which if they ftood not there, might almost seem a barbarifm) he marrs what he undertook to mend, and while he endeavours to correct the author, he leaves himself to be put in amongst the errata. 3 Confider that a great many of the perfons to whom he wrote, were no fcholars, nay, had fo little acquaintance, with that, which paffeth in the world for elegancy of fpeech, that he had as good have faid nothing at all to them, as have made ufe of any other words than what are pitched upon in expreffing his purpose; and fo his defign being to make affection, or to move it in the hearts of thefe to whom he wrote, there was a neceffity to fuit his ftile to their capacity, which condefcenfion in him, is yet managed with fo much fpiritual prudence and difcretion, as it is without debafing high matter, or giving the leaft rational ground to mock at fpiritual myfteries: yea, I may fay further, that there is fo much majefty in the ftrain, as that the lownefs of the ftile is abundantly thereby made up: and further, É might ask thee, if thou who makes the challenge doeft pretend to be a mafter of reafon, whether he is the beft orator, who can with the leaft noife caft fire into the affections of thofe to whom he fpeaks or writes and bring down the higheft myfteries in religion, to the capacity of the meanest hearer and reader, or he who wraps up plain truths and obvious purposes, in fach an obfcurity of phrafe, and perplexing intricacy of words, as carries the matter quite beyond the reach of a vulgar capacity, without making any other impreffion upon the mind of the hearer, than that the man hath forgotten his meffage, and while he feeks himfelf, flights his Mafter's bufinefs? It often creates also a fufpicion, that the writer or fpeaker either defires not to be understood, or, while he endeavours to foar too high above others, that he hath fallen into fuch a confusion, as he knows not where to find himfelf: and if thou concede here what with reafon thou canst not deny, thou haft granted all against thyself, which I need feek, for putting thee to filence. 4Confider, that though there be fome here written to, of the greatest quality in the nation, and a great many others, who are eminent for their understanding and parts, as well as their grace; yet as thefe of the greateft quality and parts, may reap advantage, by what hath beenwritten to the meanest and most obscure person! God in his providence led his fervant to fpeak to thefe of understanding and parts, fo, that what was particularly intended for them, might be of fpecial ufe and advantage to every one: and thus all occafion of carping is taken a way; unlefs, amongst the reft of regularities of this time the epifcopal authority be interpofed, to make us read and understand that axiom backward, bonum quo communius eo melius, which if it be, I have no more to fay, but that it is of a piece with the reft of their reformation. I fuppofe by this time, it may be thought, I have said too much upon

this head, fince it would feem that fome things ought rather to be faid, for making many things in them plain that are myfterious and dark, than to fay fo much for taking off prejudice, becaufe of fome common words and expreffions; but as to that, I fhall not undertake it: for there are many things in them, only intelligible by tafting: and he who wants that commentary, will never understand this text. I have no more to fay, either for the one or the other, but if any dislike them, he may let them alone; for I intend to obtrude them upon none, who diftastes them; yet I cannot forbear to advise even fuch, fo far to confult their own reputation, as, by speaking against what the author hath here written, not to difcover that fecret to the world, that they are perfons void of a gracious principle, to whom the things that are of God are unfavoury: the wind of thy mouth accompanied with all the venom thou canft vomit up, will not blaft the author's reputation, it will only be a blazing of thy own fhame, and then thou wilt fee thyfelf fo unhappy, as to have hit the mark at which thou didft not aim: for without doing him any hurt, who is far above thy reach, thy tongue falls upon thy own head, and in ftricking at one whom thou canft not wound, thy fword redounds back upon thyfelf, and enters into thine own bowels but if thou remaineft a man of imperfuafion, and haft fo much pleasure in publishing thine own fhame, I cannot help it, it is fufficient for me, to have warned thee of thy hazard; nor fhall I endeavour henceforth to deprive the world of their liberty (fince thou wilt have it fo) to look upon thee, according to the character which thou haft given of thyfelf, and that is, Deeft aliquid intus, to make thee a man and a Chriftian: and fince this brutifh fhape pleases thee, thou mayeft go eat grafs and let alone this bread, which is only defigned for children: and fo I leave thee to make ufe of that liberty, of faying what thou pleases, which thou haft now purchafed with the lofs of thy own reputation.

If any think, it had been more convenient, to have concealed the names of thofe to whom the author wrote, for fome reasons obvious, in regard of the prefent lamentable pofture of affairs (when it is almoft fufficient, to make a man guilty, that ever he was really zealous for God) I have only this to fay for myself, that I defigned their honour and not their prejudice or hurt in prefixing their names: neither can I well imagine (whatever others may apprehend) what prejudice they can fuftain, by this; fince none, or very few of them, come from the author, as returns to any thing they had written to him; and there being no law, either discharging him to write, or any perfons to receive his letters, there can be no tranfgreffion upon their part, and fo nothing to ground a prejudice, or found a rational plea against them; and much lefs in that their names are prefixed; or if there be any thing in this blameworthy, I alone am in the tranfgreffion, who have done it without confulting themselves, or afking their confent; yet in order to the fatisfaction of any, who may be offended at what is done, I have this to fay for myfelf further, that I was induced to it, firft, that thereby it might appear these were indeed the very LETTERS, which that faithful fufferer and witnefs of Jefus Chrift wrote (though there is fufficient in the ftile and ftrain to put this beyond debate) and no forgeries. 2. Many of thefe worthy perfons being removed (whereby the church of God is at a feen and fad lofs, in that he is deprived of fo many, who would have weeped and made fupplication on her behalf in this day of her diftrefs, when not a few of her friends have dealt treacherously with her, and are become her enemies) their pofterity might think themfelves wronged, if I fhould have deprived their worthy predeceffors, by fuppreffing their names, and fmothering their affection to the work of God,

of the honour of making their faithfulness known to the world: and truly, I judged it the leaft that was due to the memory of thefe, who ought to be had in everlasting remembrance, to erect this poor monument over their grave, whereby they may live amongst the pofterity, when they are gone, as perfons who obtained mercy of the Lord, to be faithful in their generation: and that when the account of fuch comes to be taken, it may be faid, This and that man was born there. 3. I did it to encourage the pofterity of fuch, to be followers of the faith and patience of their worthy progenitors, and that they may not, without fhame and horror think of declining, or turning afide, either to the right or left hand, from the way of thefe dear relations, who by following the Lord fully, in an evil time, left them a noble pattern, worthy of imitation. 4. As for fuch who are yet alive, I hope they will think, that God by this providence, is making an honourable mention of their fidelity before the nations, and is remembring for them, the love of their efpoufals, when they went after him; hereby to engage them, to cleave more clofely, and adhere more firmly to him, with full purpose of heart, when the generality have gadded about to change their way, and many of his profeffed difciples have gone back, and are like to walk no more with him: and upon the other hand, God will have this to be a witnefs before the world, against any of them, who fhall depart from the good way of the Lord, and be offended in him, becaufe of perfecution: I hope whatever hazard threaten thefe who abide in Chrift's company, that they will never forfake him, nor give him, nor give him caufe to fay, What iniquity have ye found

in mes that ye have gone far from me? But if it fhould prove other

wife, they may be fure that he whofe foul hath no pleasure in any man that draws back, and hates the work of such as turn afide, will count himfelf engaged in a peculiar way, to lead them forth with the workers of iniquity; but we hope for better things of them all, though we thus fpeak if none of thefe reafons which moved me to do this, be ftrong enough, then let it be judged my weakness: for it is more fit, that I fhould pafs in the world as fuch (which is no great miftake) than thefe honourable and worthy perfons, fhould fuffer any prejudice, by a deed whereto they had not the leaft acceffion.

Reader, much pains hath been taken, in collecting thefe together, that they might be in the hands of many (a thing greatly defired of a long time by the godly) which have been hitherto only in fome brok-en and imperfect parcels, in the hands of a few feveral of the most correct copies that could be had, have been carefully compared, and many faults thereby corrected, which were crept in, by their being often tranfcribed; and that by unfkilful hands. If it fall out fo, (as I fuppofe it fhall not often be found) that they who have the Autographs by them, perceive any difference in a word or fentence, betwixt this printed copy and thefe, let them impute it to my want of the principals; for though I had a good number of them, yet it was not poffible for me to get the most part: in fome very few places alfo, to the end that this book might be of more univefal ufe, it may be that a Scotish word, which would have darkened the fenfe, or rendered the fentence wholly uninteligable to ftrangers, is either changed into fome equiva lent one, or a fynonimous term inferted by it; but in moft places thefe words are retained, without any alteration; becaufe either alteration, or addition, would have made them lefs taking with, and acceptable to them, for whom they were at firft written, and to thofe for whom they are now principally intended; because the life and emphafis of the phrafe, is often found to lie in that very word. But having kept

thee

thee under too long an arreft in the entry, I leave thee now to peruss thefe profitable epiftles, which are an account of the many fweet hours and comfortable foliloquies, which that eminent faint and sufferer had with God in the furnace of his affliction: wherein there is much to be feen, beyond the ordinary attainment of a Chriftian, even who hath made fome remarkable progrefs and is no fmall proficient in the ways of God. I nothing doubt, but when thou perceiveit, while thou readeit, how much pure zeal to God, doth burn in thefe lines, thou wilt lament the lofs of fuch a bleffed inftrument, now, when the church of God is brought fo very low, and there are few of all the fons whom fhe hath nourished and brought up, to take her by the hand: I grant it is both a rational and religious forrow; for when we remember the many eminent lights (the removal of whom, hath brought a fad and dark night upon the church) which did lately fhine amongst us, and muft fay, They are gone who were our faithful guides, it would almoft feem pardonable, to abandon ourselves to forrow, and refufe to be comforted: Quis talia fando temperet a lachrimis? Yet give me leave to fuggeft thefe things: (1.) Let not the tear fo blind thine eye, as not to obferve the goodnefs of God, who gave us fuch: it was a faying of an eminent and exercised Chriftian (worthy to be remembered in this prefent cafe, and to be put upon record for pofterity) perceiving many forrowful, upon the removal of one of the most burning and thining lights, that Britain had to boaft of (that great interpreter Mr. Durham I mean) Turn your tears and fighs for this lofs (faid that worthy perfon) tho' it feem to you almoft irreparable (an age hardly producing fuch another) into fongs of praifes; and do not fo indulge your forrow, because the Mafter hath called home an ambaffador, who did fo faithfully and fuccefsfully negotiate for him; as ye forget in the mean time to praise the Lord of the harveft, who thruft forth fuch a labourer into his vineyard: let not the greatnefs of your grief make you forget the riches of his goodness to the church of Chrift in Scotland, in that there was a Mr. Durham to die out of it: fo I fay, when in reading of thefe, thou remembers that the worthy author is gone to his reft: ; yet be not guilty of fo much ingratitude, thro' the excefs of thy grief, as to forget God's care of, and kindness to the church of Scotland, who amongst others gave her a Mr. Rutherfoord: one who was not only famous at home and abroad for his great learning; but fuch a minifter of the gofpel, as I fuppofe there is not a godly minifter in the nation, who knew his painfulness, his tendernefs, his zeal, his fhining and gofpel-adorning converfation, that will think he wrongs himfelf, in giving the preference to him, whose watching and weeping and unwearied pains, to propagate the truth, and profit the fouls of men, made him without a match or equal, and left deep convictions of fhort-coming, even upon them, who may with a rational confidence, expect the approbation of, Well done, good and faithful fervant, at the day of their appearance, and die in the faith of this; that when the great Shepherd fhall appear, they fhall receive a crown of glory, that fadeth not away. (2.) If no other confideration can dry up thy tears, or divert thy forrow, while thou doft remember thy own and the churches lofs; yet remember that this is fufficient to make thee mourn in hope, that the refidue of the Spirit is with him. We cannot, I grant, weep back again (though it is like fome would be content to weep themfelves blind, if that were lawful and would do it) our famous and faithful Knoxes, Davidfons, Welches, Bruces, Henderfons, Rutherfoords, Gilefpies, Gutheries, with a great many befides, or their brethren and companions, who did build and fight with them, and

were

:

were the reftorers of the breaches amongst us, whereby they obtained a good report; and are at this day of bleffed memory indeed; but is their no hope to fee them alive in other mens perfons? I grant there is but little appearance of that for the prefent; for, alas! may we fay, where is there a man of that fpirit to be found? Yet let us not add this to all the reft of our provocations in this wildernefs-lot, to limit the Holy One of Ifrael; fince thefe had nothing but what they did receive; he can furnish the church with men of the fame parts and zeal; with men who will shine in light, fo that their enemies muft lay their hand upon their mouth when they have fpoken; and burn in love to God and his interefts and truly it concerns the people of God, to be much in importuning him, that he would again give us fuch ftandard-bearers, and that he would remember us now, in our low eftate, by raifing up fuch, who may be as the chariots and horfemen of Ifrael, when the fpirit of moft is under fuch a faint, and the men of might do not find their hands: if we were up and doing in this, which is one great part of our work in fuch a fad time, and gave him no reft, who knows but he would yet breathe upon many, who are now as dry bones, without life or motion, and make them ftand up for him, and plead his caufe against them, who have lifted up their head against heaven and their heel against his people? They who by falling afleep, till their hair was cut, that they were not in cafe to fhake themselves as at other times, when their enemies were upon them, might yet fpoil their adverfaries fport, and bring down their Babel about their ears, if the fpirit of the Lord came upon them as at other times: or if this were not to be expected, he could raise up a generation, who would ferve him with more zeal and faithfulness, than we have done and that in fuch a number, as should make his church fay, Who hath begotten me all thefe? And where have they been? It may be that he who waits to be gracious, is waiting to be intreated to do this good thing for us: furely if we were a people of prayer, and particularly for this church and nation, mercy, we might be furprized now, when we have fcarce a token for good, and when our luke-warm temper has banished the faith of fuch a mercy almoft out of the earth, with fuch a return as that, I will clothe thy priests with falvation, and thy faints fball yet fhout aloud for joy: Iwill pour down fuch a plentiful meafure of the Spirit upon them, that by their zeal and faithfulness, the years which this canker-worm and cater-pillar of luke-warmnefs hath eaten up, fhall be reftored unto you feven-fold; which would carry alongst with it, the accomplishment of that other great and gofpel-promise, His enemies will I clothe with fhame, but upon himself hall his crown flourish. Faxis Deus, & feftinet, fhould be the conftant echo of our

hearts.

Reader, there is one thing more I have to acquaint thee with, and fo I have done, and that is to tell thee, that I have made bold for this once, to fend thefe Epiftles abroad into the world, without the Prelates Imprimatur: if he pleafe to take this for an Apology, that the author fought not his permiflion to write them, which emboldened me to tranfmit them to thy hands, without his approbation, he may; for I am not in an humour to give them any other account of this action. I know it is very probable, that the fate of thefe may be the fire; for our late furious prelates (that Draco volans which being got upon the wing, fpouts down fire upon the church, whereby the tabernacles of God are burnt up through the land: for the appearance of this fiery meteor, did always portend fomewhat fatal to the church, to follow upon it) are a little more hot than their predeceffors: it is true, the fe

went