The Christians Two Chief Lessons, Title page – Dedication
THE CHRISTIANS Tvvo Chiefe LESSONS, Viz. Selfe-Deniall, And Selfe-Tryall.
AS ALSO THE PRIVILEDGE OF ADOPTION And TRIAL… …n three TREATISES …EXTS following: Viz.
MATT. 16.24.
2 COR. 13.5.
IOHN 1.12, 13.
By T. H.
LONDON, P… …y T. B. for P. Stephens and C. Merc… at the …olden Lion in S. Pauls Churchyard. 1640.
To The HONOVRABLE and truly Religious LADY, the Lady ANNE VVAKE, Grace and Peace through Ieſus Chriſt be multiplied.
Moſt honoured Madam,
HAving had ſome yeares experience of Your zeale for God, love to the Truth, and members of Chriſt, continuall exerciſing your ſelfe in religious duties, and carefull endeavour ſo to adorne your profesſion in forraine parts, that the name of God and his doctrine might not bee prophaned by any of your family among ſuch as are ſtrangers to it, and having obſerved how your ſpirit hath been ſtirred, when you have ſeene the ſuperſtitious and idolatrous practiſes of other nations; and …et with much affability, and ſweetnes of carriage, applying your ſelfe to thoſe people by all offices of courteſie & charity, ſeeking to gaine their affections, and credit to the Goſpel; having alſo had ſpeciall helpes & incouragements of your Ladiſhips example and counſell to further my ſelf in the wayes of Chriſt: I have emboldned my ſelf to take this occaſion to testifie to the world, that I have great cauſe to bleſſe God, that ever I had the happineſſe to live under your roofe. And wel knowing how welcome Books of piety and devotion are to you, as a ſmall acknowledgement of my dutiful reſpect, and thankefulneſſe for many favours; I here dedicate unto your Ladiſhip theſe enſuing Treatiſes of a grave and godly Author.
If the Copie had beene ſent to the Preſſe immediately from the Author, it would have come forth more exact and perfect; but ſure I am, if I or ſome other, had not taken ſome paines in the peruſall and tranſcribing thereof, after it came into the Printers hands, it would have paſsed the Preſse more imperfectly then now it doth.
The Printer, tendering the Authours reputation, and the Readers benefit, hath beene a ſome coſt to have it reviewed, and corrected; and one that was inwardly acquainted with the Authour hath laboured with me in this taske; yet we durſt not make ſo bold, as to alter his phraſe, or adde any thing …f our owne; onelyonly we amended ſuch errours as would have beene imputed to the Authour through the overſight of the Scribe▪
The matter handled therein, is of ſuch importance, that I doubt not but the publiſhing thereof will be very acceptable and uſefull to ſuch as deſire to be more throughly inſtructed in the way of the Lord, and in matters of their owne ſalvation.
The two great and difficult leſſons of Chriſtianity concerning Selfe-deniall & Selfe-tryall, are here largly diſcourſed of, and ſuch as would not willingly through Selfe-love, and Selfe-deceit, hazard the irrepairable loſſe of their immortall ſoules, may learne in the firſt Tract, upon Mat. 16.24. how to make their calling and ellection ſure, upon what termes they may have intereſt in Chriſt, and benefit by him; what it will coſt a ma… …o be a Chriſtian, and what he muſt reſolve & lot upon to doe, to ſuffer, what good to forgoe, and what e…lls to undergoe, if he will be Chriſts Diſciple.
In the ſecond, on 2 Cor. 13.5. The duty of Selfe-examination, ſundry ſelfe-deceits, rules of diſcovery, and helpes to diſcerne betwixt true and counterfeit grace are laid open.
And in the third on Iohn 1.12.13. The priviledge of Adoption, and tryall thereof by Regeneration, is briefely and pithily diſcuſſed.
Though I may perhaps be blamed by ſome for medling in another mans labours, yet if any poore ſoule ſhall reape benefit hereby (as J doubt not, but through Gods blesſing many will) J ſhall more comfortably undergoe the cenſure of ſuch as miſtake my aime herein. Such as cannot keepe pace with the reapers in the Lords harveſt, may yet doe ſome good in the field by gleaning what others ſcatterd; & they that are not able to adorne the Spouſe of Chriſt with curious needle-works of their owne making, or preſent her with rich robes, in bracelets upon their owne coſt, may yet be ſomeway ſerviceable to her, in helping to dreſſe her, and pin on thoſe ornaments, that others have beene at the paines and coſt to provide for her. In the building of Solomons Temple, there was roome and uſe for porters to carry burdens, as well as for curious Artificers, and Maſter builders.
Thus hoping, your Ladiſhip will pardon my boldneſſe, in publiſhing this Booke under your protection, and countenance it with your gracious acceptance, I humbly commend it to your Patronage and peruſall; and your Ladiſhip to the gracious protection of Almighty God.
Your Ladiſhips humbly devoted in all Chriſtian ſervice. Z. S.