DEDICATION
PART II.
“We know that the law is good, if a man uses it lawfully,” 1Tim, 1.8.
DEDICATION
TO THE RIGHT HON. JOHN WARNER,
LORD MAYOR OF THE MOST RENOWNED CITY OF LONDON.
E. F. wishes a most plentiful increase of spiritual wisdom, and all necessary graces for the discharge of his duty, to the glory of God, and the good of his people.
Right Honourable,
The rod of God’s judgments has now been long upon us, which we have procured by our manifold sins. This is according to what is said concerning Jerusalem in Jer. 4.18, “Your way and your doings have procured these things for you.” And do we have any just ground to hope that, till the cause is taken away, the effect will cease? Can we expect that the Lord will turn away his judgments, till we turn away from our sins? And can we turn away from our sins before we know them? And can we come to know our sins any other way than by the law? Does not one apostle say, that “sin is the transgression of the law?” 1John 3.4. And does not another apostle therefore say, “by the law is the knowledge of sin?” Rom. 3.20. Surely then, a treatise in which it is shown what is required, and what is forbidden, in every commandment of the law — and consequently, what sin is— must be very seasonable for this reason, and at this time. Yet alas! although there are ever so many treatises written, and ever so many sermons preached on this subject, the people either remain wilfully ignorant of their sins, or else, though they know them, they will not forego them. Rather, they choose wilfully to wallow on in the mire of iniquity, so sweet and dear are their sins to them. What then, must they be allowed to go on without restraint? No; God forbid! Those persons whom the law and love of God will not constrain, the execution of justice must restrain. The penalty of the laws of the land, being grounded upon God’s laws, must be inflicted on them by the civil magistrate. For this reason, the king is required “when he sits upon the throne of his kingdom, to write a copy of the law of God in a book,” Deu. 17.18. And for this reason the civil magistrate is called “the keeper of both tablets.” For as Luther says on Galatians, p. 151, “God has ordained magistrates, and other superiors, and appointed laws, bounds, and all civil ordinances, so that if they can do no more, yet at least they may bind the devil’s hands, so that he does not rage in his bond slaves, after his own lusts.” And hence it is that, speaking of the civil magistrate, the apostle says, “If you do what is evil, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain,” Rom. 13.4.
Therefore, Right Honourable, God having called you to wield the sword of authority in the most famous city of this kingdom, and I being a poor inhabitant of it, and the author of the ensuing Dialogue —have through the advice and persuasion of some godly ministers, and through the consideration of the suitableness of the subject to our position — been moved to take the boldness to offer this work to your worthy name and patronage; not that I conceive your Honour is ignorant of your duty, nor yet that I see you neglecting your duty, for your Christian integrity in your position, and your zealous forwardness to reform things that are amiss by punishing of evil doers, to me witnesses the contrary. Rather [I have been moved] to encourage your Honour to continue your godly course in the ways of well-doing, and to advance forward in paths of piety, being more swift in your motion now towards the end of your race — your year I mean, so that your Master, Christ, may have reason to say concerning you, as he once said concerning the church of Thyatira, “I know your works, and charity, and service, and faith, and your patience, and your works; and the last to be more than the first,” Rev. 2.19. Yes, and that it may also be said concerning you, “Well done, you good and faithful servant, you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things, enter into the joy of your Lord,” Mat. 25.21.
And so most humbly begging your Honour that these, my poor labours, may be accepted, and that under your Honour’s name, they may go forth into the world, and praying the Lord of power, and the God of all grace, to multiply his Spirit upon your Honour, with all the blessed fruits of the same, I take my leave, and rest your Honour’s most humble servant to be commanded,
E. F.