Excerpt from Otia Christiana, or Christian Recreations: Being a Conference Betwixt Nicon and Philotheus, in Which Divers Important Concerns of the Doctrine and Practice of Religion, Are Fairly and Familiarly Discoursed

Ars more clofely touched, than [would done, had I thought of any further munication of thefe poor Notes, than only to my intimate Friends. Yet upon a Re view, I faw not how I could delete them, without making fuch a Change 1n the Mould of the whole, as neither Time nor Inclina tion could allow me to attempt. And confider ing that the Nature of Dialogues may allow fome more Liberty of this Sort, than were expedient in other Treatifes. And that the whole is of a common chrifiian Concern, I the rather fubmitted. As to the Particulars, and fome of them of a near Relation to the 'prefent Time, and Circumfiances of this Church, which are amicably debated betwixt the Dialogilis; as I hope you will find them managed with due Refpefl to Perfons of Nore, who may be otherwife minded; fo I advance no fingular Opinion, but have adduced, and could yet adduce more, of the bell human Authority, for evincing the Harmony: But in things of fnch a Nature 1 ordinarily rell: fatisfied, having reprefented my Grounds without making any narrow Enqunry into the Sentiments of others; as to wlllcll I am not well furnilhed either for Means or Occafion. Yet this-i can folemnly attelt, l'hat Ihave candidly impartedthe utmolt which I thought. Toto' be of weight on fidc, without Tupi prefling any Thing w h, to the beft of my Remembrance, was at one Time or other {traitening to myfelf; feeing I own no other Interteft in thofe Matters, but that of Truth. As to the Meannefs of the Performance, I am truly, and, I may fay, deeply fenfible of in numerable W'eaknefi'es, which attend every Part of my Adminiltration, who, I confefs, am rude both in Speech and Knowledge. Not. Withftanding, and tho' a humbling Reflection covereth me with Blufhes, yet I want not encouraging Hopes of Improvement, in a way of believing Attendance at the Throne of Grace; and am moft willing to receive In firuelion from thele whom the Lord hath taught. In. The mean while, a ferions Confi deration of the Lord's having chofen the weak Things of this World, preventeth my Diftruflz. As to the Succefs, providing our Eyes be fin cerely and only fixed upon the Lord for his. Blefiings the poor Efiay, and that the purpofes be confidered without Prejudice. This I have the more Confidence humbly and earneft ly to defire, for that I can with the greatefl Solemnity declare, that I have no other De fign in the whole, fave the clearing and vindi eating of fome Part of revealed Truth, in a. Fuitablenels to the received Principles of this.

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