had given his hand, and hath done all these things, he shall not
escape." Verse 19th, "Therefore, thus saith the Lord God, as I live,
surely mine oath that he hath despised and my covenant that he hath
broken, even it will I recompense upon his own head."

The minister having given these exhortations, closed the day's work with
prayer, and singing a part of the ciii. Psalm from the 17th to the 19th
verse. And having intimated the time of meeting for more immediate
preparation for the _holy communion_, putting the people in mind to be
preparing for the work, by fervent prayer and supplication, joined with
serious and upright self-examination, he dismissed the congregation
after the usual form.

This true and unbiassed account of the work in its design, progress and
issue we have given, not to pre-occupy false reports only, which we
cannot rationally suppose an entire freedom from, unless we fall in with
the opposers of our covenanted reformation, and to purchase the good
opinion and commendation of men at the rate of losing the favor of God.
The main end of relating some of the more material heads, scope and
argument of the _sermons_ is because there are some things handled in
them which behoved to have been inserted in this _preface_, to clear up
our motives and call to the work, which could not be better done than as
the same was cleared then to the people. And this brief relation,
though falling short of the matter then delivered, may serve to bring
things to the memories of those that found sweet satisfaction in hearing
them in the public. As for what may be the observations of censorious
critics, either _of the sermons_ in particular, or of the _work_ in
general, we are perfectly unconcerned about them, seeing we equally
value their approbation or disapprobation; providing true matter of fact
be not misrepresented, and so truth injuriously wronged. Nor are we