Choice Grounds and Principles of our Christian Religion, Preface
TO MY MVCH RESPECTED IN THE Lord, William White, Esquire; and to all other my louing friends and neighbours, men, and women, children, and seruants, of what estate and degree soeuer, inhabitants of the Parish of Northiham: a gracious supply of all spirituall blessings in heauenly things, for the ioy and comfort of their seuerall consciences, and for the sure sealing of Gods louelove and fauour in Iesus Christ, to the euerlasting peace, and saluation of their soules.
BEloued Brothren & Sisters in the LORD: If there should bee a question amongst vsus, who excels, and hath the preeminence, for birth, for riches, for credit, and countenance in the world; or for humane wisedome, learning, and knowledge: This would bee found no ouer-hard or vnpossible matter. But if it should bee questioned, what degrees there are of sinceritie and good affections to true Religion and godlinesse: this would not so easily be decided: The greatest part conceiting of themselues, that they are as neere to the Kingdome of Heauen, and walke as directly in the way that leadeth therunto, as the best.
But I (my Brethren) endeuouring my selfe, (according to my place and calling) to be acquainted as well with your dispositions, and inclinations, as with your persons, (that so I might know the better, how to giuegive eueryevery one his portion, and that in due season) perceiue plainely among you, a very great difference. And although it bee not my office to looke into any mans heart, but as the words of his mouth, and the actions of his life doe discouer the same, and make it apparant: Neither am able, (if it were fit) to take a particular view, of the priuate and particular demeanour of eueryevery one: Yet, if I be asked, how well I can call my Sheepe by their names;Ioh. 10.3. and what is the estate and condition of this little flocke: I speake it in the presence of God, (for I am so perswaded in my conscience, and finde by experience) that as there are some few amongst you truely fearing God, endeuouring to approue their hearts and liues vntounto God, and to manifest that grace that is wrought in them, by the fruits of grace, & who desire (in the vse of such ordinary meanes as the Lord hath appointed) to grow, and flourish, as greene Gardens, and as Trees planted by the Riuers of waters, in all the graces of sanctification, not only for their owne peculiar good, and for the sure sealing of their owne saluation; but also for the good & saluation of others, according to their places and callings, and that measure of spirituall gifts which they hauehave receiued:
(A second sort also, who although they bee not so well grounded and settled in Religion as the former; and therefore cannot possibly either hauehave such peace in themselues, or make such conscience of all their wayes: yet are tractable, willing to be instructed, admonished, and reformed: And thus giuing good hope of a comfortable proceeding in the way of godlinesse and saluation:)
So, are there many (on th'other side) whose mindes and affections are so wholly set vponupon the profits & pleasures of this world, as that they seem almost vtterly vncapable of the heauenly things. If they come to the Church (as sometimes they doe) when the holy exercises of Religion are in hand, either they are asleepe, or so giuegive place to idle, and carnall cogitations, that they nothing profit by any thing spoken: but returne to their houses as carelesse and secure, as ignorant and sencelesse in the mysteries of saluation, as they came from thence. Nay, some of them as vaine and common swearers; as wilful prophaners of the Lords day; as malicious, as proud and couetous, as filthy talkers, as very lyers, slanderers, tale-carryers, Alehouse-haunters, and the like, as euer before. The Word of God sounds in their eares, but can take no rooting in their hearts.
Now of this third sort there be many; (as I said before) yea, some such there are manifestly faulty in some of these, who in regard of their yeeres, education, and wealth, should be better instructed, and giuegive better examples.
They that are thus affected, as they cannot louelove the Minister whom God hath set ouer them, because hee is Christs Minister, nor yet any other that truely feare God, because they doe so; but are very ready vponupon all occasions to oppose against such, to disgrace, despight, and discourage them to the vttermost of their power. So very small delight can either the Minister or any of the rest take in them againe: And so much the lesse, because seldome, or neuer, shall you heare any of these either penitently acknowledge any thing in them to be amisse; or in humility desire to bee taught and instructed, but (puffed vp with high conceits) are ready rather to wrest and peruert wholesome doctrine; yea, peremptorily to censure and controll, whatsoeuer either discouereth their corruptions, or crosseth their peeuish and peruerse affections, how well grounded so euer it bee vponupon the Word of God.
This (my Brethren) is the generall state and condition wherein (so farre as I am able to discerne) you presently stand. And let no man bee offended for this manner of discouerie, seeing it is done in the presence of GOD, and of his Church, vponupon grounded experience, and without the touch of any mans person in particular: For conscience also of my duty, and that eueryevery one of you might be the better mooued, and stirred vp to try and examine your seuerall soules, and finde how the case stands betwixt God and them.
As I obserue this difference among the men of this Congregation; so hath late experience (much against my hope and expectation) discouered the like betwixt you that are the women. But not iudging it fit in this manner to stand longer vponupon it; I will onelyonly admonish and put you in mind of these two things, which hauehave been formerly taught and applyed vntounto you. The one, that the nature and sexe of women is no sufficient warrant, or excuse; wherefore you may lawfully, or safely continue in ignorance of heauenly things: or why the Word of God should not dwel in you plenteously,Col. 3.16 in all wisedome and spirituall vnderstanding.
The other is, that seeing it is a principall end of your Creation, that you should bee helpers;Gen. 2.18. that therefore in the feare of God, according to the notable examples of Priscilla, Rom. 16.3, 12.and other godly women (whose praise is in the Scripture) you endeuour to answere the same end of your creation, in being helpers not onelyonly at all times,Phil. 4 3. and in all good things to your Husbands; but also to the Minister (as shee was to the Apostle Paul) and vntounto one another, in spending some part of the time, when you are together at one anothers house, and at womens labours, and when you feast and gossip together, for the edifying of one another in the holy Faith; by asking questions, and by calling that to mind which hath beene publikely taught, by exhorting, admonishing, and incouraging one another in the way of godlinesse, and by all other good meanes, as occasion is offered.
And that it may appeare to the glory of God, to the ioy and comfort of all such as feare God, and to the silencing of the contrary-minded, that the saluation of you all, hath beene carefully endeuoured, and sought after; I hauehave published this little Treatise, containing those speciall, and choise Principles of our Christian Religion, vvith their seuerall Expositions (as neere as I could both for matter and forme) which you hauehave in writing, and wherein not long since, you hauehave beene instructed.
These doe I desire to leaue behinde mee, for a perpetuall Testimonie and pledge of my true and vnfained louelove towards you all, and as my last Will and Testament; wherein I bequeath vntounto you the very best gifts and Legacies, which I hauehave to bestow. OnelyOnly, whereas in other Testaments vvhichwhich concerne goods, and Lands, the death of the Testator giues life and power to the Will that is made, and vvhichwhich before is of none effect: It is my will and hearty desire (if it may so also please God) that the Legacies thus giuen and bequeathed, may be possessed, and enioyed of you (to whom they are meant) euen whiles I liue. And that howsoeuer the time of my dissolution cannot now be farre of; and my desire is to benefit many (yea euen after my death) yet, that I may liue to see some fruit of them, before I goe hence, and be no more.
Herein (my beloued) shall you more comfort the feeble spirits, and bring greater ioy, and gladnesse of heart to the ancient yeeres, and last breath of your deceasing Pastor (when God cals for it) then hath been all sorrow, and griefe conceiued, for, and in regard of any former iniuries, and vnkindnesses: what, and how great soeuer.
And now, my last request is, that you, who hauehave religiously harkened vntounto these Principles, and doctrines of Religion when they were preached, would be as diligent in reading, and meditating vponupon them, beeing thus brought into the light; for the better establishing, and confirmation of your hearts & minds in the truth:Phil. 3.1. for it grieueth me not to write the same things vntounto you; and for you it is a sure thing. And that you (on the other side) who hauehave carelesly regarded them in times past, would take the opportunity which the Lord doth offer, in thus putting them into your hands, and in laying them againe before your eyes, to redeeme the time past with a more religious care and conscience of the glory of God, and of your owne saluation. For the opening of your eyes, & sanctifying of your hearts & affections whereunto: I heartily pray and beseech the Lord.
And whereas (good Mr White) I am thus bold to make choise of your name (amongst all rest of the neighbours) in this Dedication: I hauehave done it for two especiall Reasons, and respects. First, that by this publike testimony of speciall respect, I might the better expresse the great desire which I hauehave of such true and vnfained louelove in your selfe, and in yours, as whereof many yeeres together in the good neighbourhood, and godly conuersation of your deceased parents, I had good experience, and content: And that as a Successor in grace, as well as in nature, you shew and approue your selfe constant & resolute for the nourishing and preseruation of it; and not suffer the same by the suggestions and subtilties of the contrary-minded, of such as are ill-affected in this kind, to be remoued frō you, or stolne out of your heart. The which to your worthy praise and commendation in the Churh of God, will be so much the more, because such a succession and descent of true ancient louelove towards their Minister in the generation of almost all the rest, is much decayd, if it be not already euen vtterly extinguished, and come to nought.
The second reason is, that by this meanes, you might in a more speciall manner, be prouoked and stirred vp to true zeale, and seruency of Spirit, as well for the right vnderstanding, as for the profession and practise of these seuerall Doctrines, and Principles of our Faith: wherin (together with the rest) you hauehave formerly beene instructed: And that not onelyonly in regard of your own peculiar good, and saluation, and of those that are committed to your charge in your owne particular Family: but for the good example also, alluring, incouraging, and drawing on of o…hers. For being the chiefe (through the Lords bounty and goodnes) in this place of your aboad, and hauing therefore the eyes of all sorts vponupon you: it is well worthy your serious consideration, and godly regard; how much more, then many others, you may glorifie God; and what great good you may doe among your neighbours, in be ng a godly president, and patterne of Religion and vertue, in your life and conuersation, in shewing a good and cheerefull countenance, and in expressing a true and sincere louelove to the glorious Gospell of Iesus Christ, both in the Ministery, and in the profession of it; hauing no fellowship (in the meane season) with vnfruitfull works of darknesse, but eschewing and auoiding them from the bottome of your heart. And (good Sir) bee you well assured, that God doth require, and will looke for all this at your hands.
And now, Heb. …3.20, 21, 22.the God of peace that brought againe from the dead, our Lord Iesus Christ, the great Shepheard of the Sheepe, through the bloud of the euerlasting Couenant, make you perfect in all good workes, to doe his will, working in you that which is pleasant in his sight, through Iesus Christ. To whom bee praise for euer and euer, Amen. And so I rest,
Yours alwayes in Christ Iesus, to doe you good, IOHN FREVVEN.