The Christians Garment, Title page – To the reader
THE CHRISTIANS GARMENT.
A Sermon Preached in London, by the late faithfull Miniſter of Gods Word, Maſter Paul Bayne.
GAL. 3.27.
All that are baptized into Chriſt, hauehave put on Chriſt.
COL. 3.4.
When Chriſt which is our Life ſhall appeare, then ſhall yee alſo appeare with him in Glory.
LONDON, Printed by G. P. for Ralph Rounthwaite, and are to be ſold at his Shop in Pauls Church-yard, at the Signe of the Flower-de-luce and Crowne. 1618.
To the Chriſtian Reader.
CHriſtian Reader, I doe the rather commend this following Sermon vntounto thee: Firſt, becauſe I doe obſerue, that all the other workes of this holy man of GOD, vvhichwhich hauehave beene committed to the Preſſe, ſince his death, are generally approued, and embraced of all the Godly; And ſecondly, becauſe I hauing had other copies of his works in my hands, (as his firſt largeſt Letter of all, exciting to Repentance, and New obedience; and another Sermon of his, vvhichwhich intreateth ſoundly, and in briefe manner, concerning the Apoſtaſie from true grace, which may be in Gods children, and from thoſe ſeeming temporary graces vvhichwhich may be in the wicked) both vvhichwhich are now printed; I thought good not to bury this other Sermon of his, which followeth, in darkneſse and obliuion. Thirdly and laſtly, I was the rather willing to commit the ſame to the publike view of all, in regard of the Author thereof, who was, and is ſtill reuerenced, and beloued of all the children of God, which euer knew him: eſpecially of all thoſe, which had any familiar acquaintance & communion with him; who while he liued, was a bright Starre in the right hand of Chriſt;Reu. 1.20. who, as a cleere candle, ſhined ſo long vntounto others, vponupon the candleſticke where Chriſt had placed him, vntill by giuing light vntounto others, hee had almoſt conſumed and ſpent himſelfe;1. Theſ. 2.11. who liued as a gentle Father, and a tender Nurſe among thoſe of the children of God vvhichwhich hee had committed vntounto his teaching; who was of the ſame minde with that holy Apoſtle, that hee would very gladly hauehave ſpent,2. Cor. 12.15. and been ſpent himſelfe for their ſoules, ouer which hee was appointed to watch; though the more abundantly he had loued them, the leſſe he ſhould hauehave been beloued of them: ſo affectionately deſirous was he of them, that hee was willing to hauehave imparted vntounto them, not the Goſpell of God onelyonly, but alſo his owne ſoule, becauſe they were deare vntounto him,1. Theſ. 2.8. Act. 20.24. who counted not his owne life deare vntounto himſelfe, ſo that he might hauehave finiſhed his courſe with ioy, & the miniſterie which he had receiued of the Lord Ieſus, to teſtifie the Goſpell of the grace of God: which hee laboured to performe in a good and acceptable manner vntounto him: For as hee was allowed of God to be put in truſt with the Goſpell, euen ſo he ſpake, not as pleaſing men, but GOD, which tryed his heart;1. Theſ. 2.4. & 6. neither at any time ſought hee the praiſe and glory of men, but of God alone. He was like vntounto Iohn the Baptiſt, for hee was both a burning and ſhining light,Ioh. 5.35. burning in himſelfe, with the fire both of an holy and ardent zeale for Gods glory, and of a pure and feruent louelove of the ſaluation of his brethren; and ſhining forth vntounto others, by the light, both of his vncorrupt and ſound doctrine, and alſo of his vnblameable, and good conuerſation. But behold, this bright Starre, this burning Lampe, this ſhining Light, was at length eclipſed, darkned, and by death quite extinguiſhed; but his memoriall ſhall continue ſtill amongſt vsus, and ſhall be bleſſed; his good name,Prou. 22 1. which is to be choſen aboue great riches, and to be valued aboue all precious treaſures, ſhall neuer die, but ſhall freſhly ſhine forth for euermore. Seeing hee was ſo good a man, his loſſe is the more to be lamented of Gods Church, and children: being taken away, as for the vnthankefulneſſe of this wretched and wicked world,Eſay 5….1. which was not worthy of him; ſo alſo from the euill to come.
Reade this, and all other of his workes with reuerence; remember the things contained in them with diligence; and practiſe all the good duties therein vrged vponupon thy ſoule with conſtancy: and if thou receiue any benefite, and comfort thereby, forget not to giuegive God the praiſe and glory which is due vntounto him for the ſame.
Thine in the Lord Ieſus Chriſt, G. W.