o, in silencing that proud
blasphemer of the good ways of God, with arguments taken from what he
hath found acted upon his own soul. And likewise I would recommend, as a
sovereign antidote against this poison, the diligent perusing and
pondering of what is shortly hinted against the hellish belchings of the
same unhallowed author (in the Preface to that piece of great Mr.
Durham, upon the Commands) by a disciple, who, besides his natural
acuteness and sub-actness of judgment in the depth of the gospel
mysteries, is known, by all who know him (and for myself, I know none
now alive his equal) to have most frequent access to lean his head on
his Master's bosom, and so in best case to tell his fellow-disciples
and brethren, what is breathed into his own soul, while he lives in
these embraces, and under the sheddings abroad of that love of God in
his soul, which drew and did dictate these lines, against that flouter
at all such fruitions. Nor can I here omit to observe, how, when the
devil raised up Parker, that monster, to bark and blaspheme, the Lord
raised up a Merveil to fight him at his own weapon, who did so cudgel
and quell that boasting bravo, as I know not if he be dead of his wound,
but for any thing I know, he hath laid his speech.

It was not the author's design in this piece, (levelled only at this
mark, to teach thee how to make use of the strength and grace that is in
Christ Jesus, and find the promised ease in performance of duties; in
handling of which argument, he hath been remarkably assisted, and thou
canst not read with attention, but thou must bear him witness, and bless
the Lord on his behalf, that he hath hit the mark at which he aimed) to
engage in a formal debate with these audacious moralists, who would
boast and bogle us out of the good old way, wherein, if men walk, they
must find rest to their souls. Yet if by the doctrine he hath here
explained and pressed, as the only way of life, they do not find what a
mortal wound he hath given their morality, all the lovers of the truth
will see it; and it may be, the Lord sparing life, and continuing the
same gracious and great assistance, he hath had in engaging with many
and great adversaries to the truth at home and abroad, they may see
somewhat from his pen, which may make the lovers of our Lord Jesus
Christ in sincerity, and of the operations of his Spirit, sing over
these successors to Sisera, who with their jumping chariots and rattling
wheels, ass