lyeth, be blown up, we are gone; and indeed no less is intended by this
antichristian and antievangelic enemy, than the utter subversion of true
Christian religion. Who would not then be hereby alarmed, and upon their
guard, when matters are at this pass? Should not all, who have any love
to their own souls, any zeal for the glory of Christ, anointed of the
Father to be our prophet, priest, and king; my desire to see the crown
flourishing upon his head, and to have the gospel preserved pure and
uncorrupted, be pleading with God by prayer, in the behalf of his Son's
kingdom, crown, and glory; and wrestling with him till he were pleased
to dispel these clouds, and prevent this black day: especially should
they not be labouring to be acquainted, in truth and reality, with the
gospel of Jesus Christ, that having the mysterious truths thereof
imprinted on their souls, and their hearts cast into its mould, they may
be preserved from the hurt of this deadly poison; for this, with a
constant dependence upon, and use-making of Christ in all his offices,
will prove the best preservative against this infection.

The persuasion whereof did induce me to publish the following heads of
some sermons, after they have been translated into Dutch, and published
here: Knowing that they might be of no less use to the people of God in
Britain and Ireland. I know not a more effectual mean to unstable souls
from siding with and embracing every new notion; and from being carried
about with every wind of doctrine, by the slight of men, and cunning
craftiness, whereby they lye in wait to deceive; than to put them upon
the real exercise of gospel godliness, and to the daily practice of the
main and fundamental gospel work, of living by faith in Jesus Christ,
and of growing up into him, in all things, who is the head, from whom
the whole body fitly joined together and compacted, by that which every
joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of
every part, maketh increase of the body, unto the edifying of itself in