Recommendatory Preface, by Robert Hawker

Bookseller having communicated to me his intentions of publishing a small volume of the works of Dr. THOMAS GOODWIN, and having requested that I would introduce it to the Christian world, with my recommendation; the conviction of much usefulness resulting to the Church of God, in the Lord’s blessing, from the labors of so great a man, became too powerful a stimulus in my view, to refuse the servir*. And although the very name of GOODWIN, where known, supercedes all necessity of recommendation; yet among that class of godly readers, for whom this little volume is more immediately designed, it is possible, that they may be altogether unacquainted with his name, or his labors. Under this impression, I have very cheerfully prefixed this Preface, And while I hope the iy RECOMMENDATORY PREFACE.

godly in the Lord’s household may be highly benefited, under the Lord’s teaching, from these writings; it will be very much to my honour to have my name thus connected with that of Dr. THOMAS GOODWIN.

From the days of the apostles to the present hour, I verily believe, the Church of Christ hath never been blessed with one more highly taught of God. He appears to have been specially raised up for great purposes. He shone, and still shines, as a star of the first magnitude in the hemisphere of the ministry. And although now for more than a century the great Head of the Church hath taken him home to himself in hea ven, yet his labors which he left behind him, still lighten,, and will continue to lighten to the latest period, the Church upon earth. Like the Patriarch of whom we read, who by faith obtained witness that lie was righteous; so God testifieth of his gifts; and by it he being dead yet speakcth.

1 cannot send my feeble recommendation of this great man’s writings abroad into the Church, without remarking, at the same time, the peculiar favorableness of the present moment for the introduction of such works as Ur. Goodwin’s. They will minister, under the Lord’s blessing upon them, to guard the Lord’s people against the flimsy religion of modern professors: and by distinguishing the substance from the mere carcase of what is now called Gospel, to establish the minds of real believers in that faith which was once delivered to the saints.

I look up to God the Holy Ghost, in fervent and earnest prayer, that His unction may accompany the perusal of this little volume to the hearts of all his people; that while all the benefit will be to the Church, all the glory may be to the LORD, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, in the face of Jesus Christ.

ROBERT HAWKER.

Plymouth, Charlw Vicarage,
Jane 1617.