I Doubt not but the following Discourses carry so much evidence of Truth and Holiness , as will sufficiently commend them to the Hearts and Consciences of the upright , as proceeding from one , who believed , and therefore spake ; delivered what he received , as a Scribe instructed unto the Kingdom of Heaven , the Fear of the Lord being evidently his treasure , wherein he walked all the day long , and by which he was enabled to bear those hard things , which a constant Spirit , in keeping the Commandments of God and Faith of Jesus , holding fast the Word and Works of God , drew upon him ▪ bringing him into fellowship with tryals and sufferings , upon the Wayes , Truths , Interest , and People of the Lord in this Generation .

It may highly concern the living , to lay to heart the removal of Prophets and holy Ones , true mourners , that sought to stand in the Gap , to turn away wrath , that it might not come to the utmost .

I am sure it hath a sad aspect , when even a Professing ( but too much complying ) People , stand as on the other side , or at a distance from those who earnestly contend for the Faith , holding fast what they have received , and are far from right laying to heart , That through the hatred of the world , righteous men perish , and merciful men are taken away .

I doubt not , but there remains a remnant , whose minds by such providences are deeply impressed , well-nigh to over-whelming , further than help is given , and the hand stretched forth , to lead to the Rock that is higher than we , when in all parts and corners the beauty and glory is cutting off as a fading-flower ; and how hard is it to speak and do as becometh , under such astonishing stroaks , and with him , Ezek. 24.18 . to hold on , doing as the Lord Commands , I am perswaded that sigh often goes up , Ezek. 11.13 . with Amos 7.5 . O Lord , cease I beseech thee , by whom shall Jacob arise , for he is small . The reviving and desired issues of that work falling under great distrusts , even with those that are the Friends thereof , when ( if I may allude to it , Luke 24.19 , &c ) those , who are as Prophets , mighty in deed and word before God and all the People , Instruments polished to carry it on to an expected end , are cut off and laying aside daily , so hard is it for us to understand that thus it ought to be , that so the excellency of the power , may be acknowledged to be of God and not of men , that all may see his Work is perfect , his Word is tryed , with whom is no restraint , for he sendeth by whom he will , the residue of the Spirit being with him , who will in due time raise up and furnish Instruments for every service ; and if at this time men think that by cutting off , and wearing out Saints and faithful Ones , their nest is set on high , they shall be delivered from the power of evil , none remaining to cry out of their violence and spoyl , to detect the unrighteousness of their wayes and doings , the very stone shall cry out of the Wall , and the beam out of the Timber shall witness against them .

I humbly pray , and wish that the cast-out , scattered , peeled people , in whose heart is the Fear of the Lord , under all amusing dispensations , may yet increase in the Faith that stands in the Power of God , and is of the operation of his Spirit , in the exercise thereof , which judgeth not after appearances , they may understand all these deaths , passing over persons and things , but needful and preparatory for the Glory that is to follow , when their filth and defilements by the Spirit of Judgment , and by the Spirit of Burning shall be put away ; the slow progress of which work , with the discovery made of so great a defection from professed Light and Principles , ought greatly to be laid to heart , how many by reason thereof , turn from the Truth , and are confirmed in Athiesm , even by the deceitful working of those , who in the failure of outward advantages , and exposal to necessities , bonds , and death , set themselves at such a distance from the works of God , our eyes have seen ( the begining of fulfilling Prophesies , Threatnings , and Promises to the last dayes ) as if either there was no Holiness or Righteousness in them , or that they were unacquainted with the inward Life and Spirit of them , so deeply hath corruption & the spirit of the world mingled it self , with those , who not long since , in greatest seeming Light and Zeal , professed , to seek after a better state of things , Even looking for , and hastning to the new Heavens , and new Earth , wherein dwells Righteousness ; but the Works of God being forgotten , no wonder his Word is so little believed , or his counsel waited for .

It was a worthy Expostulation , but a few years since , ( before some then in the exercise of Authority ) of one , who I fear hath out-lived the force of it , which though large , hoping it may be of use , I take leave here to transcribe ; If you will be able to steer your Course a-right , if you would take one streight step , have in a readiness an acquaintance with the work of God , what it is that he aims at , by which you may be guided in all your undertakings . Suppose now a man or men should come and ask of you , What God hath done in these Nations ? What he hath wrought and effected ? What is brought forth ? Have you an answer in readiness ? Certainly God hath done so much , as that he expects you should be able to give an account of it ; take heed that every one of you be not ready to speak the disquietments of your own Spirits , and so cast contempt on the Work of God ; something else is required of you , I have sometimes in darkness and under temptations my self , begun to think , that what hath been , is the thing that is , and there is no new thing under the Sun ; as it hath been among the Heathen of old , so it hath been amongst us ; or as it was with Israel , 1 King . 16.21 , 22. Then were the people of Israel divided into two parts , half of the people followed Tibni , the son of Ginath , to make him King ; and half followed Omri : but the people that followed Omri , prevailed against the people that followed Tibni , the son of Ginath ; so Tibni died , and Omri reigned . That a common thing and frequent in the World , had befaln us , wherein God had no hand , but that of common Providence , in dashing one sort of men against another ; so foolish have I been , and as a Beast , so ready to condemn the Generation of the Righteous ; so unbelieving , and ready to cast away the Faith and Prayer of ten thousand Saints , one of whose sighs shall not be lost ; but such fearful effects sometimes , trouble , disquietment , disappointment , and carnal fear will produce . But certain it is , none of the many cryes of the people of God shall be lost , nor their Faith disappointed ; God hath a peculiar design in hand , and we are to find it out , that we may be able to answer them that make enquiries . If you lay not this foundation of your procedures , I shall not wonder , if you err in your wayes ; it is your Pole-Star , and will be so , by which your whole course is to be steered ; your Shield , which whilst it is safe , though you die , ye● your Glory abides . And the same Author further discussing what this Work and Design of the Lord was , results it mainly in this , That Godliness and the love of the Lord Jesus be preserved , protected , and secured from a return of the hand of violence upon it .

What then may we now expect , but after a little further fluctuating upon the deep , to suffer shipwrack upon some Shelves or Rocks , seeing we have ceased our steerage by this Pole-Star ? what may we expect , but slaughter and extirpation , since that Mighty Shield is vilely cast away , as though it had not been anointed with Oyl ? considering also , that if the hand of violence be returned , its confederated with , under the sacred ties of Oaths & Covenants , even whilst it manifestly opposes Godliness , and bends the edge of all its power against such as love the Lord Jesus in sincerity ; I am sure it calls for deep lamentation , that a People , who had the Name of the Lord upon them , are left to that wonderful and horrible thing ; ( Jer. 5. last . ) Prophets prophesying falsely , and Princes bearing rule by their means , and both Prophets and People ( through a little present fleshly ease and prosperity , waxing fat and shining ) love to have it so ; the holy Spirit , then assures , the end will be bitter , and that enquiry , What will ye do , in the end thereof ? though slightly passed over now , will have its resolve , by their cry to the Mountains and Rocks , to fall on , and hide them from the face of him that sitteth on the Throne , when in the faileur of justice on Earth , he will cause judgement to be heard from Heaven , When he ariseth , as certainly he will , to judge the Cause of the Fatherless and Needy , and to save all the meek of the Earth .

But I may not further thus proceed , lest I exceed bounds , nor is it needful that more be said of the Author , only I am perswaded it greatly furthered him in the search after , & knowledge of divine mysteries , that he never was entangled , and disadvantaged by Academical Education , which hath been over-fruitful , in furnishing persons ( as worthy Mr. Rutherford on another occasion in his Letters expresses it ) with ill washen and foul distinctions to shift Christ , this age hath over-plentiful testimony thereof ; this Servant of the Lord , as by the account left of himself , in the last two Pages of this Book , was by his believing Parents , otherwise nurtured , who waiting at the foot of Christ , keeping his precepts diligently , became wiser than his Teachers , giving occasion to many to renew that saying , Whence hath this man letters ? for he was eloquent and mighty in the Scriptures ; adding much to such as conversed with him , whether by word or Epistle .

If what is here presented , prove of use to strengthen weak hands , or to uphold them that are ready to fall , by keeping in view the Resurrection and Blessedness prepared for those whom God guides by his Counsel , they will know where to give the glory .

I earnestly wish and pray , That those to whom in a peculiar manner he was sent , amongst whom more especially he laboured , who must give an account of so great a Talent and Price , long trusted with them , may do it with joy , discovering by an obedience of Faith , to the Lord Jesus under all tryals , that he laboured not in vain ; and I hope , however it may be to others , what is here presented , may be useful to them , keeping in remembrance how holily , justly , and unblameably he behaved himself amongst them , that following his Faith , they may be saved from this Generation , and be found amongst those , who receive the End of their Faith , the Salvation of their Soul , Amen .