Recommendations.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
I HAVE perused this ensuing Dialogue, and find it tending to peace and holiness; the author endeavouring to reconcile and heal those unhappy differences which have lately broken out afresh among us, about the points therein handled and cleared; for which cause I allow it to be printed, and recommend it to the reader, as a discourse stored with many necessary and seasonable truths, confirmed by Scripture, and avowed by many approved writers: all composed in a familiar, plain, moderate style, without bitterness against, or uncomely reflections upon others, — which flies have lately corrupted many boxes of otherwise precious ointment.
May 1, 1645. JOS. CARYL.
The marrow of the second bone is like that of the first, sweet and good. The commandments of God are marrow to the saints, as well as the promises; and they shall never taste the marrow of the promise who distaste the commandments. This little treatise breaks the bone, the hard part of commandments, by a plain exposition, so that all, even babes in Christ, yes, such as are yet out of Christ, may suck out and feed upon the marrow by profitable meditation.
Sept. 6, 1648. JOS. CARYL.
If you will please to peruse this little book, you shall find great worth in it. There is a line of a gracious spirit drawn through it, which has fastened many precious truths together, and presented them to your view: according to the variety of men’s spirits, the various ways of presenting known truths are profitable. The grace of God has helped this author in making his work. If it in like manner helps you in reading, you shall have cause to bless God for these truths thus brought to you, and for the labours of this good man, whose ends, I believe, are very sincere for God and your good.
JER. BURROUGHS.
OCCASIONALLY lighting upon the dialogue, under the approbation of a learned and judicious divine, I was thereby induced to read it, and afterwards, on a serious consideration of the usefulness of it, to commend it to the people in my public ministry.
Two things in it especially took with me: First, The matter; the main substance being distinctly to discover the nature of the two covenants, upon which all the mysteries, both of the law and gospel, depend. To see the first Adam to be primus foederatus in the one, and the second Adam in the other: to distinguish rightly between the law standing alone as a covenant, and standing in subordination to the gospel as a servant: this I assure myself to be the key which opens the hidden treasure of the gospel. As soon as God had given Luther but a glimpse of it, he professes that he seemed to be brought into paradise again, and the whole face of the Scripture to be changed to him: and he looked upon every truth with another eye.
Secondly, The manner; because it is an irenicum and tends to an accommodation and a right understanding. Times of reformation have always been times of division. Satan will cast out a flood after the woman, as knowing that more die by the disagreement of the humours of their own bodies, than by the sword; and that if men are once engaged, they will contend, if not for truth, yet for victory.
Now, if the difference is in things of lesser consequence, the best way to quench it would be silence. But if the difference is of greater concernment than this, the best way to decide it, is to bring in more light, which this author has done with much evidence of Scripture, and backed with the authority of most modern divines. So that whoever desires to have his judgment cleared in the main controversy between us and the Antinomians, with a small expense either of money or time, he may receive ample satisfaction here. This I testify upon request, professing myself a friend both to truth and peace.
W. STRONG.
This book, at first well accommodated with so valuable a testimony as Mr. Caryl’s, besides its better approving itself to the choicer spirits everywhere, by the speedy distribution of the whole impression; it might seem a needless or superfluous thing to add any more to the praise of it; yet meeting with detracting language from some few, by reason of some phrases, either not duly pondered by them, or not rightly understood, it is thought fit, in this second impression, to relieve that worthy testimony which still stands to it, with fresh supplies, not for any need the truth contained in it has, but because either the prejudice or darkness of some men’s judgments requires it. Therefore, having thoroughly perused it, I can only testify that if I have any of the least judgment, or relish of truth, he that finds this book finds a good thing, and not unworthy of its title; and he may account the saints to have obtained favour with the Lord in the ministration of it, as that which, with great plainness and evidence of truth, comprises the chief, if not all the differences that have been lately engendered about the law. It has, I must confess, not only fortified my judgment, but also warmed my heart in the reading of it; as indeed inculcating, throughout the whole dialogue, the clear and familiar notion of those things by which we live, as Ezek. 16 says in another case; and it appears to me to be written from much experiential knowledge of Christ, and teaching of the Spirit. Let all men that taste the fruit of it confess to the glory of God, that he is no respecter of persons; and endeavour afterward to know no man after the flesh, nor envy the compiler if he receives the honour of being accounted a healer of breaches, and a restorer of the overgrown paths of the gospel, as God has made him in this point. As for my own part, I am so satisfied in this testimony I lend, that I reckon whatever credit is thus pawned, will be a glory to the name that stands by and avows this truth, so long as the book shall endure to record it.
JOSHUA SPRIGGE.
I HAVE, according to your desire, read over your book, and find it full of evangelical light and life; and I do not doubt that the oftener I read it, the more true comfort I shall find in the knowledge of Christ thereby; the matter is pure, the method is apostolical, in which the works of love, in the right place — after the life of faith — are effectually required. God has endowed his Fisher with the net of a trying understanding, and discerning judgment, and discretion, whereby, out of the christaline streams of the well of life, you have taken a mess of the sweetest and wholesomest fish that the world can afford, which, if I could daily have enough of them, I would not care for the flesh, or its works.
SAMUEL PRETTIE.
This book came into my hand by a merciful and most unexpected disposure of providence, and I read it with great and sweet complacence. It contains a great deal of the marrow of revealed and gospel truth, selected from authors of great note, clearly enlightened, and of the most digested experience; and some of them were honoured to do eminent and heroic services in their day. Thus the Christian reader has the flower of their labours communicated to him very briefly, yet clearly and powerfully. And the manner of conveyance, being by way of amicable discussion, is not only fitted to afford delight to the judicious reader, but lays him also at the advantage of testing, through grace, his own heart more exactly, according to what echo it gives, or how it relishes or is displeased with the several speeches of the communers. Here we have the great depths, and most painted delusions of hell, in opposition to the only way of salvation, discovered with marvellous brevity and evidence; and that is by the concurring suffrages of burning and shining lights, men of the clearest experience, and honoured of God to do eminent service in their day, for advancing the interests of our Lord’s kingdom and gospel.
The reluctance of gospel light has been the choice mean, blessed by the Lord, for effecting great things in the several periods of the Church — since that light broke up in paradise after our first sin and fall. And ever since, the balance has swayed and will sway, according to the better or worse state of matters in that important regard. When gospel light is clear, and attended with power, Satan’s kingdom cannot stand before it; the prince and powers of darkness must fall as lightning from heaven. And on the contrary, according to the recessions from it, Christian churches went off by degrees from the only foundation, even from the rock Christ, until the man of sin, the great antichrist, mounted the throne. Nevertheless, while the world is wandering after the beast, behold! Evangelical light breaks forth in papal darkness, and hereupon antichrist’s throne shakes and is at the point of falling; yet his wounds are cured, and he recovers new strength and spirits, through a darkening of the glorious gospel and the perversion of it, by anti-evangelical errors and heresies.
That the tares of such errors are sown in the reformed churches, and by men who profess the reformed faith, is beyond debate; and these [essays] lay to heart the purity of gospel doctrine. Yet dregs of anti-christianism remain, or are brought in among us. In this, the words of the apostle are verified: “From among your own selves, will arise men speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them.” As this renders these essays all the more necessary and seasonable for a further diffusion of evangelical light, so there is ground to hope that in these ways, the churches of Christ will gradually get the ascendant over their enemies, until the great antichrist shall fall as a trophy before a gospel dispensation. For the Lord will “destroy him by the breath of his mouth, and with the brightness of his coming.” That this excellent and spiritual piece may be blessed to the reader, is the prayer of their sincere well-wisher and servant in the work of the gospel,
Carnock, December 4, 1717. JAMES HOG.
THE legislative Act concerning the “Marrow’’ occasioned great thoughts of heart among us. I have been acquainted with that book about 18 or 19 years; and many times I have admired the gracious conduct of holy Providence which brought it to my hand, having had an occasion to light upon it in a house of the parish where I was first settled. As to any distinct uptakings of the doctrine of the gospel that I have, such as they are, I owe them to that book. — Extract of a Letter from Mr. Boston to Mr. Hog.
I NEVER read the “Marrow” with Mr. Boston’s Notes, till this present time, 1755; and I find, by not having read it, I have sustained a considerable loss. It is a most valuable book; the doctrines it contains are the life of my soul, and the joy of my heart. Might my tongue or pen be made instrumental to recommend and illustrate, to support and propagate such precious truths, I should bless the day in which I was born. Mr. Boston’s Notes on the “Marrow” are, in my opinion, some of the most judicious and valuable that were ever penned. — Extract of a Letter from Mr. Hervey to Mr. William Hog.
I HAVE frequently perused, with great satisfaction, the “Marrow of Modern Divinity,” first and second parts; and, as far as I can judge, it will be found by those that read it, very useful for illustrating the difference between the law and the gospel, and preventing them from splitting either on the rock of legality on the one hand, or that of Antinomianism on the other; and, accordingly, I recommend it [by desire] as a book filled with precious, seasonable, and necessary truth, clearly founded upon the sacred oracles.
Falkirk, December 9, 1788. JOHN BELFRAGE.
It is considered necessary to add the following account of the author of “The Marrow of Modern Divinity” from Wood’s Athenae Oxonienses, vol. ii. p. 198:
EDWARD FISHER, the eldest son of a knight, became a gentleman-commoner of Brasen-nose College, August 25, 1627, took on his degree in arts, and soon after left that house. Afterwards, being called home by his relations, who were then, as I have been informed, much in debt, he improved that learning which he had obtained in the university so much, that he became a noted person among the learned, for his great reading in ecclesiastical history, and in the fathers, and for his admirable skill in the Greek and Hebrew languages. His works are, — 1. ‘An Appeal to the Conscience, as you will answer it at the great and dreadful day of Jesus Christ.’ Oxford, 1644. Quarto. — 2. ‘The Marrow of Modern Divinity.’ 1646, Octavo. — 3. ‘A Christian Caveat to Old and New Sabbatarians,’ 1650. — 4. ‘An Answer to Sixteen Queries, touching the Rise and Observation of Christmas.’