A Touch-Stone of Grace, Title page – To the reader
A TOVCH-STONE OF GRACE.
Diſcouering the differences betweene true and counterfeit Grace: Laying downe infallible Euidences and markes of true Grace: Seruing for the triall of a mans ſpirituall estate.
By A. H. Bachelor in Diuinitie, and Miniſter of Gods Word at Cranham in Eſſex.
2 Pet. 1. 10.
Wherefore, the rather, brethren, giuegive diligence to make your calling and election ſure: for if yee doe theſe things yee ſhall neuer fall.
LONDON, Printed by R. B. for Philemon Stephens and Chriſtopher Meredith. 1630.
TO THE PEOple of my Cure and Charge, Grace and Peace be multiplied.
DEarely beloued: my hearts deſire, and prayer to God for you, is, that yee may be ſaued: And that ye may be the better perſwaded of my heartie affection to you-wards, I hauehave heere preſented to your eyes, that which heretofore hath been offred vntounto your eares; nothing doubting but that, as then it found attentiue audience, ſo now it ſhall receiue kinde acceptance. Yee hauehave runne well, endure vntounto the end, that yee may bee ſaued. To helpe you and others forward in the Chriſtian race, I hauehave vndertaken this taske, hoping that yee vvill hauehave remembrance of theſe things after my departing from you, that ſo yee may follow the truth in louelove, & in all things grow vp vntounto him which is the head, that is, Chriſt. In the meane time, I ſhall thinke my trauaile and pains happily beſtowed; my miniſtry and ſeruice highly bleſſed, and my poore labours richly honoured and rewarded, if I may bring any one to a more ſerious examination and triall of himſelfe, to a godly ſorrow for the vvant of grace, and to a holy hungring and thirſting after more grace. And thus, my brethren, I commend you to God, and to the Word of his Grace, which is able to build further, and to giuegive you an inheritance among all that are ſanctified. Pray for mee
The Watch-man of your ſoules, A. HARSNET.
To the godly and wel-affected Reader.
GEntle Reader, I hauehave here preſented vntounto thy view, the ſumme and ſubſtance of diuers Sermons, which I preached vntounto mine owne Charge, and ſome adioyning neighbours: who receiuing (as they profeſſed) much good by my Labours, were earneſt with me either to beſtow vponupon them ſome of my notes, or elſe to publiſh in Print, that which I had deliuered in word. Whoſe requeſts I could not well with-ſtand, being vrged by ſome, that my calling makes me a common ſeruant for any good I may in publike, as well as in priuate. And I was rather induced vntounto this taske in a double reſpect. Firſt, becauſe amōgst the heape of bookes that are printed, too few ſtrike downe-right at ſin, or lend a hand to helpe forward the worke of Grace. Secondly, becauſe the iniquity of the time is ſuch, that with too many (who follow the faſhions of the world) grace is out of faſhion, and of all other things the leaſt regarded, or looked after; although (as I ſhall make it plaine) it be the only thing to be deſired, as that which ſanctifies and well-ſeaſons eueryevery condition heere, and makes way for happineſſe hereafter: for the want of Grace cuts off all hope of future glory, and precipitates people into endleſſe woe and miſery. Nature by its ſtrength may in time worke out, or weare out many bodily maladies, without the aduice of the Phyſician, or any helpe of phyſick: but the ſoule, ſo deadly ſin-ſick as it is, can neuer be helped and healed, without the Balſam of grace; which alone is able in time to worke out thoſe malignant humors, which the ſoule hath contracted vntounto it ſelfe. A rare thing it is to finde that man or woman which wil not eaſily be perſwaded, for the preuenting or curing ſome deadly diſeaſe, to take (though otherwiſe loathing phyſicke) ſuch things as ſhall be preſcribed them for their good: for Nature ſeekes to preſerue it ſelfe. Hence it is that the Toad (vponupon diſtemper) runs to the Plantin, the Hart to the Dittany, and the Dog to the Graſſe. Therefore, vnleſſe we will ſhew our ſelues to hauehave leſſe vnderſtanding than the vnreaſonable creatures, wee muſt looke out for Grace, the only cure of our diſtempered and diſeaſed ſoules.
Reade then, I beſeech thee, this ſmall Treatiſe with the ſame affection, and heart, in which it was compiled for thee; and that is (God knows) an earneſt deſire of bettering thy ſpirituall eſtate, and helping forward thy ſaluation: that the worldly wiſe-man may grow more wiſe for his ſoule; that the vngodly may labour for grace; that the hypocrite may be more ſincere and vpright; and that the gracious heart may grow in grace, and with more comfort hold it out vntounto the end. If vponupon the firſt taſte thou findeſt but little, or no ſweetneſſe herein, let me intreat thee to aſſay the ſecond time; one bit may draw down another. It is a rare feaſt where eueryevery gueſt likes, and loues all the prouiſion that is made; yet he is an vnworthy gueſt which will feed of no diſh, or bee offended with his friend which inuited him, becauſe ſome one or two diſhes bee prepared which hee likes not. Reade, taste, and conſider. If thou receiue any good by theſe my Labours, giuegive God the praiſe, and pray for mee
Thy ſeruant in the Lords worke, A. H.