Religion & morality > Human nature in its fourfold state

v! P R E F A C E.
gcrs to It, that they brand the perfons who are fo happy
as to be poflefled of it, with the hard nameof fpiritual-
ifts, reckoning them a kind of Enthufm/is, unworthy
of their regard. The truth is, Chi iftianity is a myftery,
mere r^afon does not comprehend it. There is a fpin-
tualdifcerningneceflary to its being rightly underhood,
whence it comes to pais, that men of great learning and
abilities, tho’ they read the fcripruies with attention,
and comment learnedly upon them; yet do not,yea can¬
not, enter into the vein of thought peculiar to the in-
fpired penman, becaule they fhare not of the fameipt-
rit; wherefore it is, that the Apoftle Paul aiTevts, the
natural, that is, unregenerate man, not to know the
things 0/ Godt tu it her indeed to be capable of knowing
them, bccaufe they are fpintually difeerned.
From what has been laid, itiseafy to conclude, That
no pedantic apology on the part of the Author, for
appearing in print, or fawning compliments to the
courteous reader, on the part of the prefacer, are to
be expefted. The truth is, both the oneandthe.o-
ther are rather little arts, vailing pedantry and conceit,
than evidences of modefey and good-fenfe. It is of more
nfe to recommend the perufai of the book to perfons
of ail ranks and degrees, from a few fuitable topicks.
than to fhow wherein this edition differs from and
excels the firfi:.
That alkmankind, however differenced by their rank
and fta’ion in the world, have an equal concern in what
is revealed concerning another and future world, will
be readily owned ; and it muft be as readily granted,
that however allowable it may be for men of learning
and parts, to pleafe themfelves with finenei's of lan-
pu *ee judnefs of thought, and cxadl connection in
writing* upon other fubjefts*1, yet they ought not to
indulge themfclves in the fame rafte in difeourfes on
divine things, left they expofe themfelves to the juft
cenfun; of nCting with the fame indiferetion, as a periem
in danger of fatniihing by hunger, would be guilty of,
it he perverfely rejeCtcd plain wholefome food, when