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OF

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Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft,

(EACH PERSON DISTINCTLY)

In Love, Grace, and Confolation:

O R,

THE SAINTS FELLOWSHIP

WITH THE

FATHER, SON, and HOLY GHOST,
UNFOLDE D.

By JOHN OWEN, D. D.

GLASGOW:

PRINTED BY W. AND E. MILLER, AND SOLD AT
THEIR SHOP, SALTMARKET.

Anno 1792.

CHRISTIAN READER,

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is now fix years paft, fince I was

I brought under an engagement of pro

fe for the publifhing of fome meditations on the subject which thou wilt find handled in the enfuing treatife. The reafons of this delay, being not of public concernment,. I fhall not need to men- · tion. Those who have been in expectation of this duty from me, have for the most part been so far acquainted with my conditions, as to be able to fatisfy themfelves, as to the deferring of their defires. That which I have to add at prefent is only this; having had many opportunities, fince the time I first delivered any thing in public on this fubject, (which was the means of bringing me under the engagements mentioned) to reaffume the conlideration of what I had firft fixed on, I have been enabled to give it that improvement, and to make thofe additions to the main of the defign and matter treated on, that my first debt, is come at length to be only the occafion of what is now tendered to the faints of God. I fhall speak nothing of the fubject here JUN 26 1901

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692

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handled; it may I hope speak for itself, in that fpiritual favour and relifh which it will yield to them, whofe hearts are not fo filled with other things as to render the fweet things of the gospel bitter to them. The defign of the whole treatise, thou wilt find Chriftian reader, in the first chapters of the first part; and I shall not detain thee here with the perufal of any thing which in its proper place will offer itlelf unto thee: know only that the whole of it hath been recommended to the grace of God in many fupplications, for its ufefulness unto them that are interefied in the good things mentioned therein.

Oxon. Ch. Ch. Coll.

July 10. 1657.

}

JOHN OWEN.

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To the REA DE R.
READER.

A

LPHONSUS, King of Spain, is faid to have found food and phyfic in reading Livy? And Ferdinand king of Sicily, in reading Quintus Curtius. But thou haft here nobler entertainments, vaftly richer dainties, incomparably more fovereign medicines; I had almoft faid, the very highest of angels food is here fet before thee. And, as Pliny fpeaks, permifta deliciis auxilia: things that minifter unto grace and comfort; to holy life and livelinefs.

Such is this treatife. This which is the only one extant, upon its great and neceffary fubject. This, whofe praife hath been long in the churches; and hath gone enamelled with the honourable reproaches of more than one English Bolsec. This whofe great author, like the fun, is well known to the world, by minence of heavenly light and labours. which, as his many other works, can be no other than manna unto found Chriftians; tho' no better, than stone and ferpent to Socinians and their fellow

Commoners.

This

Importunity hath drawn me to fay thus much more, then I could think need ful to be faid, concerning any work of Dr. OWEN'S. Needful in our day itfelf; a day wherein pauci facras fcripturas, plures nomina rerum, plurimi nomina magiftrorum fequuntur. Few do cleave to the holy fcriptures; many do reft in fcholaftic fenfelefs founds. And most men do hang their faith upon their Rabbi's fleeves. This only I add; of the fwarms every day rifling, there are few books but do want their readers. if I understand aright, there are not many readers. but do want this book.

Yet

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