To the Reader
CHAPTER XII. The Preciousness of Pardoning Mercy CHAPTER XIII: Pardon of Sin as the Ultimate Purpose of God's
Ordinances CHAPTER XIV. The Disrespect Shown to God's Pardoning Grace Through Disregard CHAPTER XV: Discrediting God's Grace Through Unbelief
CHAPTER XVI. Different Misconceptions Regarding the Forgiveness of Sins CHAPTER XVII. True Indicators of Sin Forgiveness
CHAPTER XVIII: How to Apply the Evidences of Forgiveness of Sin CHAPTER XIX. Encouragement to Seek Forgiveness of Sin, Along with Cautions and Guidelines for Action CHAPTER XX: Encouragements to Seek Pardon of Sin
To the Reader.
Christian Reader, The provident care of God is manifested toward his People in the present Preservation of, and provision for them. To have the mouths of Lions stopped when we are cast into the midst of their Den; the Waters to be a wall about us on the right hand and on the left, which in their own nature and tendency would overwhelm us, to have the
Bush burning, and not consumed, are as evident tokens of the good will of him that dwelt in the bush, of God's presence with and owning of his afflicted People now, as in the days of old; yea to have Honey out of the flinty Rock, Manna in the Wilderness, a voice behind us,
Saying, This is the way, walk in it; enforceth as great an obligation to admiration and thankfulness upon us, as upon the Israelites of old.
Among'st the many English Prophets who are dead, and yet speak, the Reverend Author of the ensuing Treatise may challenge a place with the first Worthies: His Works, not my words are the best
Orators to commend him: That Scripture Encomium may be written upon his Stepney and Cripplegate -Lectures,— This and that man was born there. For although many now living, do through mercy enjoy able Teachers and Instructors; yet do they owe to him the Name of Father, as an Instrument of their Conversion. I may boldly apply that saying to holy Burrough's, which was once spoken of a Learned Divine beyond Sea: Meruerunt viri docti etiam post funera vivere, ac docere scriptis posteros, quos infeliciter post eos nasci contigit; in eo autem virorum ordine Burroughsium reponere, nemo praeter eum, qui propriae diffidit virtuti, prohibebit.
These Sermons presented to thy view, are with the help of an able Learned Divine, (who also heard these Sermons preached,) cast into that form of a Tract that now thou seest them in, without any material Additions or Alterations. The time when the Reverend
Author preached them, was next in order after those convincing Sermons, of the sinfulness of Sin; so that this Gospel Soul-Reviving
Discourse was then a word spoke in due season.
In this Treatise thou hast Gospel Grace stated rightly, the Justice of God cleared, the Mercy of God exalted, poor trembling Sinners encouraged to come to the Blood of Christ for Pardon, presumptuous sinners awakened out of their deadly deluding Dreams of Heaven, when they are ready to drop into Hell. In a word, here thou mayest take a view of the Love of the Father, the Grace of the Son, the Fountain opened for Sin and for Uncleanness, Cordial Waters of Life for sinking and fainting sinners, here thou mayest behold Sin,
Damning sin, sin that God hates, and cannot but hate; Sin that God punisheth, and cannot but punish, taken off the poor believing sinner and laid upon his Surety; sin condemned and punished in Jesus Christ, and the Believing Sinner justified, pardoned, acquitted.
If therefore thou prizest peace with God through Jesus Christ, Pray for light to direct thee into a distinct knowledge of this Gospel
Truth, and take up this Book and read it, and the Lord give thee understanding in all things, answerable to the Design of the Author, and the Prayer of him who heartily wisheth thy Salvation, and growth in the knowledge of God, and of our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ.
C. Helmes.
The Stationer to the Reader.
It is now long since I undertook the Printing of this Book, and as my Encouragements were many, so I had obtained of one of those
Reverend Divines that have given their attestation to it, to peruse the Work, and had his Testimony that he heard those Sermons preached; and upon Perusal of them found not anything Material left out, of what the Author Mr. Jer. Burroughs delivered; and knowing that Mr. Peter Cole (who formerly Printed many of the Author's Works) had long laid wait and endeavored to get this Copy out of the hands of those that published the Author's Books, offering as great Reward for the same, but could not obtain it. And now at last being so much wished thereunto by his friends; being assured that as the whole is abundantly spiritual and lovely in its Matter, and that wherein the very spirit and style of Mr. Burroughs is manifested; so there are many things (as I am informed) were never so much as touched upon, or handled by any other Writer, and yet are of very great
Importance to be known by all Intelligent and Sober-minded men, I thought good, having this assurance from them, to certify so much to the Reader.
Dor. Newman.