“It is not the design of this preface to examine at large the various opinions and judgments which hitherto have been passed on this affair, much less to determine how far they might be well-grounded, or how far, perhaps, they might be biassed by mistaken and prejudices. However, thus much may be said in answer to those, who, on the one hand, are so easily terrified by the common calamities of the times, and, on the other, by the expensiveness of the design, that they seem to be little acquainted with the ways and dispensations of Providence. For if we take a survey of the most considerable transactions, both under the law and the gospel, it will plainly appear, that, generally, the _best of works have been carried on in the worst of times_, and that they have triumphed at last (though after much toil and labour) over all the clamours and oppositions that wicked men and devils could raise against them.
“The prophet assures us, that Jerusalem was rebuilt in strait and troublous times. And another of the inspired writers tells us, that they were fain to work with one hand, and to hold their weapons in the other. And yet did the work gain ground in the midst of all those adversities; and the attempts made against it, were so far from disheartening the builders, that they did but more encourage them to go on with their labour, till they saw the design brought to a happy conclusion. However, it cannot be denied, that the opposition is then most destructive and fatal, when it comes from those that are WITHIN THE PALE OF THE CHURCH, AND WHO, UNDER AN EXTERNAL SHEW OF THE SAME CONFESSION, DESTROY THE VITALS OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH.
“How backward the Jews were in building the Lord’s temple, and under what frivolous pretences they put off so unwelcome a work, doth plainly appear from the reproof given them by the prophet. The time is not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built, was the common plea for their sloth and drowsiness; but then the effect was, that whilst governors, priests, and people, were wholly bent on advancing their worldly interest, and shamefully neglected the Lord’s house, their vines and olives did not yield their increase, and the earth denied her fruits. All which may possibly convince us, that even _outward prosperity doth in a great measure depend upon the care employed in the worship of God_, _and its enlargement among_ JEWS AND HEATHENS.