Then & Now · 1 of 10

To the Reader

Chriſtian Reader,

Christian Reader,

IF thou art in any meaſure awake in theſe daies wherein we live, and haſt taken notice of the manifold, great, and various Temptations wherewith all ſorts of perſons that know the Lord, and profeſſe his name are beſet, and whereunto they are continually expoſed; with what ſucceſſe thoſe Temptations have obtained to the unſpeakable ſcandall of the Goſpell, with the wounding and ruine of innumerable ſoules: I ſuppoſe thou wilt not inquire any farther after other Reaſons of the publiſhing of the enſuing warnings and directions, being ſuited to the times that paſſe over us, and thine own concernment in them. This I ſhall only ſay to thoſe who think meet to perſiſt in any ſuch enquiry, that though my firſt engagement for the expoſing of theſe meditations unto publick view, did ariſe from the deſires of ſome, whoſe avouching the intereſt of Chriſt in the world by perſonall holineſs, and conſtant adhering to every thing that is made pretious by its Relation to him, have given them power over me, to require at any time ſervices of greater importance, yet I dare not lay my doing of it ſo upon that account, as in the leaſt, to intimate, that with reſpect to the generall ſtate of things mentioned, I did not my ſelfe eſteeme it ſeaſonable and neceſsary. The variety of outward Providences and Diſpenſations, wherewith I have my ſelfe been exerciſed in this world, with the inward trials they have been attended withall, added to the obſervation that I have had advantages to make of the waies and walkings of others, their beginnings, progreſſes, and endings, their riſings and falls in profeſsion, and converſation, in darkneſſe and light, have left ſuch a conſtant ſenſe & impreſsion of the Power & danger of Temptations upon my mind and ſpirit, that without other pleas and pretences, I cannot but own a ſerious call unto mē to bewar, with a diſcovery of ſome of the moſt eminent waies and meanes of the prevalency of preſent tēptations, to have been in my own judgment, in this ſeaſon, needfull.

If thou art in any measure awake in these days wherein we live, and hast taken notice of the manifold, great, and various temptations wherewith all sorts of persons that know the Lord‸ and profess his name are beset, and whereunto they are continually exposed, with what success those temptations have obtained, to the unspeakable scandal of the gospel, with the wounding and ruin of innumerable souls, I suppose thou wilt not inquire any farther after other reasons of the publishing of the ensuing warnings and directions, being suited to the times that pass over us, and thine own concernment in them. This I shall only say to those who think meet to persist in any such inquiry, that though my first engagement for the exposing of these meditations unto public view‸ did arise from the desires of some, whose avouching the interest of Christ in the world by personal holiness‸ and constant adhering to every thing that is made precious by its relation to him, have given them power over me‸ to require at any time services of greater importance; yet I dare not lay my doing of it so upon that account, as in the least‸ to intimate that, ‸ with respect to the general state of things mentioned, I did not myself esteem it seasonable and necessary. The variety of outward providences and dispensations wherewith I have myself been exercised in this world, with the inward trials they have been attended withal, added to the observation that I have had advantages to make of the ways and walkings of others,—‸their beginnings, progresses, and endings, their risings and falls, in profession‸ and conversation, in darkness and light,—‸have left such a constant sense and impression of the power and danger of temptations upon my mind and spirit, that, without other pleas and pretences, I cannot but own a serious call unto men to beware, with a discovery of some of the most eminent ways and means of the prevalency of present temptations, to have been, in my own judgment, in this season‸ needful.

But now Reader, if thou art amongſt them, who takeſt no notice of theſe things, or careſt not for them, who haſt no ſenſe of the efficacy and dangers of Temptations in thine own walking and profeſsion, nor haſt obſerved the power of them upon others; who diſcerneſt not the manifold advantages that they have got in theſe daies, wherein all things are ſhaken, nor haſt been troubled or moved for the ſad ſucceſſes they have had amongſt profeſſors, but ſuppoſeſt that all things are well within door, and without, and would be better, couldeſt thou obtaine fuller ſatisfaction to ſome of thy Luſts, in the pleaſures or profits of the world, I deſire thee to knovv, that I vvrite not for thee, nor do eſteeme thee a fit Reader, or judge of what is here written. Whileſt all the iſſues of Providentiall diſpenſations, in reference to the publick concernements of theſe nations are perplexed and intangled, the footſteps of God lying in the deep, where his pathes are not known; whilſt in particular, unparalleled diſtreſſes, and ſtrange proſperities are meaſured out to men, yea to Profeſſors; whileſt a ſpirit of errour, giddineſſe, and deluſion goes forth with ſuch ſtrength and efficacy, as it ſeemes to have received a Commiſſion to go and proſper; whilſt there are ſuch diviſions ſtrifes, emulations, attended with ſuch evil ſurmiſes, wrath, & revenge, found amongst brethren; whileſt the deſperate iſſues and products of mens temptations are ſeen dayly in partiall, & totall apoſtacy, in the decay of love, the overthrow of faith; our dayes being filled with fearful examples of back ſliding, ſuch as former Ages never knew whilſt there is a viſible declenſion from Reformation ſeizing upon the profeſsing party of theſe nations, both as to perſonall holineſſe, and zele for the intereſt of Chriſt; He that underſtands not that there is an houre of temptatiō come upon the world to try them that dwell in the earth is doubtleſse either himſelfe at preſent captivated under the power of ſome woefull luſt, corruption, or Temptation, or is indeed ſtarke blind, and knowes not at all what it is to ſerve God in temptations: With ſuch then I have not at preſent to doe; for thoſe who have in generall a ſenſe of theſe things, who alſo in ſome meaſure are able to conſider that the Plague is begun, that they may be farther awakened to look about thē, leſt the infection have approached nearer to them, by ſome ſecret & imperceptible wayes, than they did apprehend; or leſt they ſhould be ſurprized at unawares hereafter by any of thoſe temptations that in theſe dayes either waſt at noone, or elſe walke in darkneſſe, is the enſuing warning intended; & for the ſake of them that mourne in ſecret, for all the Abominations that are found among, and upon them that profeſſe the Goſpell; and who are under the conduct of the Captaine of their ſalvation fighting and reſiſting the power of Temptations, from what ſpring ſoever they riſe, in themſelves, are the enſuing directions propoſed to conſideration.

But now‸, reader, if thou art amongst them, who takest no notice of these things, or carest not for them,—‸who hast no sense of the efficacy and dangers of temptations in thine own walking and profession, nor hast observed the power of them upon others,—‸who discernest not the manifold advantages that they have got in these days, wherein all things are shaken, nor hast been troubled or moved for the sad successes they have had amongst professors; but supposest that all things are well within doors and without, and would be better couldst thou obtain fuller satisfaction to some of thy lusts in the pleasures or profits of the world,—‸I desire thee to know that I write not for thee, nor do esteem thee a fit reader or judge of what is here written. Whilst all the issues of providential dispensations, in reference to the public concernments of these nations, are perplexed and entangled, the footsteps of God lying in the deep, where his paths are not known; whilst, in particular, unparalleled distresses‸ and strange prosperities are measured out to men, yea, to professors; whilst a spirit of error, giddiness, and delusion goes forth with such strength and efficacy, as it seems to have received a commission to go and prosper; whilst there are such divisions, strifes, emulations, attended with such evil surmises, wrath, and revenge, found amongst brethren; whilst the desperate issues and products of men’s temptations are seen daily in partial and total apostasy, in the decay of love, the overthrow of faith, our days being filled with fearful examples of backsliding, such as former ages never knew; whilst there is a visible declension from reformation seizing upon the professing party of these nations, both as to personal holiness‸ and zeal for the interest of Christ;‸—he that understands not that there is an “‸hour of temptation” come upon the world, to “‸try them that dwell upon the earth,” is doubtless either himself at present captivated under the power of some woful lust, corruption, or temptation, or is indeed stark blind, and knows not at all what it is to serve God in temptations. With such, then, I have not at present to do. For those who have in general a sense of these things,—‸who also, in some measure, are able to consider that the plague is begun, that they may be farther awakened to look about them, lest the infection have approached nearer to them, by some secret and imperceptible ways, than they did apprehend; or lest they should be surprised at unawares hereafter by any of those temptations that in these days either waste at noon‸ or else walk in darkness,—‸is the ensuing warning intended. And for the sake of them that mourn in secret‸ for all the abominations that are found among‸ and upon them that profess the gospel, and who are under the conduct of the Captain of their salvation, fighting and resisting the power of temptations, from what spring soever they rise‸ in themselves, are the ensuing directions proposed to consideration.

That our faithfull and mercifull High Prieſt, who both ſuffered and was tempted, and is on that account touched with the feeling of our infirmities, would accompany this ſmall diſcourſe with ſeaſonable ſupplyes of his ſpirit, and ſuitable mercy to them that ſhall conſider it, that it may be uſefull to his ſervants for the ends whereunto it is deſigned, is the prayer of him, who received this handfull of ſee from his Storehouſe, and treaſure,

That our faithful and merciful High Priest, who both suffered and was tempted, and is on that account touched with the feeling of our infirmities, would accompany this small discourse with seasonable supplies of his Spirit and suitable mercy to them that shall consider it, that it may be useful to his servants for the ends whereunto it is designed, is the prayer of him‸ who received this handful of seed from his storehouse and treasure.

JOH: OVVEN

John Owen‸.