Thou art here presented with a third volume of the works of the late reverend and learned Dr Thomas Manton, whose great name is suffici-ent to recommend it to thy perusal, when thou art assured it is his own. These sermons and treatises were either written from his own notes, or carefully compared verbatim with them, and amended by them; and whosoever were acquainted with the spirit and preaching of the author will find he hath no cause to suspect being imposed on herein. His copious invention, clear and succinct opening of gospel mysteries, close application to the conscience, with that admirable variety of handling the same subject which sometimes occurs, are scarce imitable by any. It were needless to add anything to the testimonies that have been given him by those who have published his former works.
What the author's opinion about publishing posthumous works was may justify what of this kind hath been already done and is now ten-dered to thee, which I shall give you in his own words in his epistle before Dr Sibb's 'Comment on the 1st. Chapter of the 2d Epistle to the Corinthians: '- Let it not stumble thee that the work is posthume, and cometh out so long after the author's death; it were to be wished that those that excel in public gifts would during life publish their own labours, to prevent spurious obtrusions upon the world, and give them their last hand and polishment; as the apostle Peter was careful to write before his decease, 2 Peter i. 12-14; but usually the church's treasure is most increased by legacies. As Elijah let fall his mantle when he was taken up into heaven so God's eminent servants, when their persons could no longer remain in the world, have left behind them some worthy pieces as a monument of their graces and zeal for the public welfare, whether it be out of a modest sense of their own en-deavours, as being loath upon choice, or of their own accord, to venture abroad into the world, or whether it be that being occupied and taken up with other labours, or whether it be in a conformity to Christ, who would not leave his Spirit till his departure, or whether it be out of a hope that their works would find a more kindly reception after their death, the living being more liable to envy and reproach; but when the author is in heaven, the work is more esteemed upon earth. Whether for this or that cause, usually it is that not only the life, but the death, of God's servants hath been profitable to his church, by that means many useful treatises being freed from that privacy and obscure-ness to which by the modesty of the author they were formerly con-fined.'
To all this may be added that not many days before the author departed this life he declared his intentions of publishing something himself but his sudden death prevented him.
And let none wonder that in the author's so constant course of preaching the same matter may sometimes recur. In some places thou wilt find notes of reference; in others the same matter is handled with such variety as to prevent tediousness, in which the author had a sin-gular excellency. However, repetitions of the same truths have their use. 'To write the same things to you,' saith the apostle, 'to me is not grievous, for you it is safe,' Phil. iii. 1.
Our knowledge is imperfect, and needs a continual increase; our memories are slippery end frail, and need to be refreshed; our attention is dull, and many truths slip by us at the first hearing without regard; our hearts are back-ward to our duty, and we need frequently to be excited. We more blame a dull horse than the rider, who frequently quickens him with a spur.
It savours too much of pride of knowledge, and a curious itch of novelty, when we cannot endure to hear more than once of the same truths; and such a humour is not to be
gratified, but mortified.' But though some may quarrel, I doubt not but the serious christian will receive benefit by what is here offered, which, that it may be thy lot, is the earnest prayer of
Thy affectionate servant in the work of the gospel,
WILLIAM TAYLOR.
Hebrews
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