AND PRACTICE: OR A PLAIN DISCOURSE in order to SALVATION. Useful for Private Families The Third Edition revised and corrected, By SAMUEL CRADOCK B. D. Rector Auguft. lib. 15. de Trin. cap. ult. Domine Deus, quacunq; dixi de tuo, agnofcant & tui: Siqua de meo, & tü LONDON, Printed for william Grantham at the Black Bear, Henry Mortlock at the $ TO THE REVEREND, DR DILLINGHAM The Mafter, and his worthy Friends the Fellows of EMANUEL-COLLEGE in CAMBRIDGE. Honoured Sirs T may seem strange, that I fhould adventure to dedi dicate lo plain a Difcourfe (calculated forthis Merie dian) to fo Learned a Society; But the Providence of God having by your free choice placed me in this Charge wherein I stand, I take my self obliged to render an account to you (above any others) of this my undertaking. I have found by fad experience, in thofe few years I have here lived, what extreme need my people have of fome fuch help as this, to be ready at hand to admonish them of those things, they are to Know, Believe, and PraElife in order to their falvation; as also to acquaint them with fuch Scriptures (collected together under several Heads) as declare God's mind and will concerning those particulars. I could not therefore fatisfie my felf, without endeavouring to minifter to their necefsities in this kind, according as I was able, especially being perfwaded that a Book of this nature, left in every Family, might (through the blessing of God be a very proper means of their inftruction for the prefent, and might teach them allo bereafter, when my mouth will be stopped with duft. This confideration (among others) engaged me in this work; in which at first I did not intend to be fo large; but handling fuch variety of Subjects, it hath fwelled to the bulk you see. You may perceive by the whole, that the Great Master-Builder hath appointed me to labour in the foundations. And bleffed (yea for ever bleffed) be his holy Name, that he hath accounted me worthy to be employed any way about his Spiritual Building. I fhall not need to make any apology for the plainnefs of my work, if it be but Jure and well laid. Such as it is, I humbly prefent unto you, as an evidence of the great defire I have (according to my poor ability) to feed the people committed to my care, with knowledge and understanding, and to guide them in the way wherein they should go: As alfo to teftifie to the world my great Obligations to your religious and eminent Society |