Christs Love and Affection Towards Jerusalem, Title page – Dedication
CHRISTS LOVE AND AFFECTION towards JERƲSALEM.
Delivered in ſundry Sermons out of his words and carriage when he came unto her, as they are recorded, LUKE 19.41, 42.
Wherein are handled,
1 Chriſts teares which he ſhed for Ieruſalem, and the matter of ſingular obſervation in them.
2 The will of God touching mans ſalvation, as it is generally propounded and revealed in the Goſpell.
3 The ſin and miſery of Ieruſalem, becauſe ſhe would not know the time of her viſitation.
4 The Day of Grace, wherein ſalvation is offered to the ſons of men.
5 The worth of that peace, which Chriſt and the Goſpell bring with them.
6 The ſin and miſery of thoſe who live under the meanes, and have the things of Chriſt and the Goſpell hid from them.
By RICHARD MADEN B. D. Preacher of the Word of God at St. Helens LONDON, and late Fellow of Magdalen Colledge in CAMBRIDGE.
…DON, Printed by M. F. for JOHN CLARK, and are to be ſol… … Shop under S. Peters Church in Cornhill. 1637.
TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE, THOMAS, LORD COVENTRIE, BARON OF A…LSBOROVGH Lord Keeper of the great Seale of England, and one of his Majeſties moſt Honourable Privie-Councell All increaſe of felicitie and true Honour.
Right Honourable,
AS God, in the beſtowing of his gifts on men, doth not obſerve an Arithmeticall proportion, in giving to all alike, but according to his unſearchable wiſedome, uſeth a pleaſing kind of variety and a diſcreet inequality in the diſtribution of the ſame, committing much to ſome, little to others, as is plaine and evident by the parable of the TalentsaMat. 25.15. Luk. 19 12., whereof ſome received more, others but one; ſo neither doth hee meaſure the ſervice and obedience that is done unto him, by the matter and quantity of the thing that is done, but by the minde and affection, by the parts and abilities of him that doth it, taking in good part the leaſt and meaneſt performances, when they proceed from a ſincere intention, and an inlarged affection towards him, and are ſutable to the gift and ability that is received from him: for, as Chryſoſtome well obſervesbChryſoſt. to. 2. in V.T. Edit. graecolat. Homil. 42. in Gen. pag. 609., God reſpecteth not ſo much what is given unto him, as the affection out of which it doth proceed; whence it comes to paſſe, that the price of thoſe ſervices which are very ſmall in themſelves, are much raiſed, and advanced in Gods eſteeme and account, by the zeale and ſincerity that is ſtamped upon them; whereas on the contrary, for want of this, thoſe actions which are moſt glorious in the eye of the world, loſe much of their beauty and luſtre; and are little or nothing regarded with him. Conſonāt hereunto is that of venerable Bede cBeda. com. in Mar. ca. 12. Nō perpendit Deus quantum in ejus ſacrificio, ſed ex quanto proferatur., who ſaith, that God reſpecteth not ſo much the ſubſtance of the offering, as the conſcience of him that brings it; nor doth hee ſo greatly regard how much is laid upon his Altar, as hee doth how much hee that comes unto him, is able to give; And S. Ambroſe dAmbroſ. to. 1. li. de viduis pa. 142. Vberior eſt nummus è parvo, quàm theſaurus ex maximo, quia non quantum detur, ſed quantum reſideat, expenditur.gives the reaſon, becauſe a little portion out of a ſmall pittance, is more than a greater oblation out of a large heape, and rich Store-houſe, none can give more than hee that leaves himſelfe nothing behinde, though that which he gives bee never ſo little; and none doth much, that might doe much more, if he did ſet his whole ſtrength and ability upon it. To whom much is committed, of him much is juſtly expectedeLu. 12.48., and he that hath but little committed to his truſt, if there bee a willing minde to lay it out for his Maſters advantage, it ſhall finde acceptance, according to that a man hathf2 Cor. 8.12. In the old Law all did contribute and offer to the uſe and ſervice of the TemplegExod. 35.5, ſome brought gold and ſilver, blew ſilke and purple, Scarlet and fine linnen; others brought Goates haire, and Rammes skins, yet all were accepted of God, and taken in good worth; yea, perhaps the meaneſt oblations of thoſe, who out of their penury, were willing to contribute ſomething to the Lord, might finde better acceptance with him, than the offerings of thoſe, who out of their ſuperfluity and abundance, bring farre greater matters unto him. Our bleſſed Savior, when he beheld how people caſt money into the TreaſuryhMark. 12.42., and tooke notice of many rich men that caſt in much, yet hee preferres the poore widows two Mites, before the large contribution of many others: and ſurely there is not any one thing, wherin greatneſſe on earth doth more reſemble the great God of heaven, than this, that it is willing to accept of the meaneſt preſents, that are tendred by inferiours, when they proceed out of a hearty affection towards the ſame; the conſideration whereof hath emboldened me (Right Honourable) at this time, to preſent your Lordſhip with this poore tender; preſuming it ſhall finde acceptance with your Honour, becauſe it is willingly offered to the uſe and ſervice of the Temple, though it bee but as Goates haire in compariſon of the gold of Ophir, which others bring, or as the poore widowes Mite, in reſpect of thoſe larger ſummes, which others caſt into this treaſury of the Church, in this learned age. And indeed I cannot ſo over-love this ſlender peece which now comes forth into the world, as to think it of more worth than many of his fellowes, which are willingly content to die in the eare, rather than to ſtand in white ſheetes, that they might ſpeake to the eye; much leſſe can I ſet ſuch a high price upon it, as to ſend it abroad with letters of credit and commendation, that might beſpeake and procure friends where it is unknowne. It was firſt ſpoken to a popular Auditory, without any thoughts or intentions of further publication; and therfore it ſtudied nothing more thā plainneſſe, and ſuch a familiar expreſſion, as might beſt ſuite with vulgar capacities: and now that it comes into the open light, and publike view, it cannot well leave that native language which it learned in the Pulpit, to frame it ſelfe to a ſtile and phraſe of ſpeech, conciſe and pithie, more befitting the Preſſe: Such as it is I make bold to ſend it abroad into the world, under your name and honourable protection, that it may remaine, as a pledge and teſtimony of that humble reſpect and ſervice that I owe unto your Lordſhip. It comes therefore unto you, not as a Tutor with inſtructions to teach you what you know not, but as a Pupill for protection, that being ſheltred under the ſhadow of your honourable Patronage, it may finde the ſafer paſſage in thoſe unknowne wayes, and places whither it ſhall travell. There is none that I know, in our Engliſh tongue, that hath gone before me in handling that portion of Scripture, which this enſuing Treatiſe, that now comes to your Lordſhips hands, is ſpent upon; and, if I miſtake not, there are few paſſages in holy Scripture more neceſſary and uſefull for all ſorts and conditions of men, than this is, for it is a diſcovery of thoſe thoughts of peace, which GOD carries towards the ſonnes of men, in the primary intention of that courſe of providence that hee hath taken for their good; and withall, a declaration of that care and diligence, that ſhould bee in every one to ſerve this providence of GOD in the day of grace, by applying himſelfe unto him in the uſe of thoſe meanes, wherein mercy may be had, if it be ſought for. And theſe meditations, as they are fit for every one to think upon, ſo more eſpecially for men of high place and condition, becauſe, like high trees, they are more ſubject to thoſe windes of temptation, which may breed in them a forgetfulneſſe of both; whereas by this meanes they might eaſily prevent thoſe two dangerous rocks of preſumption and deſpaire, upon which many daſh and ſplit the precious veſſels of their ſoules, and ſuffer eternall ſhipwracke: for hee that firmely beleeves, and perſwades himſelfe that there is ſuch thoughts of peace in GOD towards him, as that mercy may bee had if it bee ſought for, hee cannot eaſily deſparie of finding mercy, if with care and diligence hee apply himſelfe to the ſeeking of it; and hee that layes this foundation, that GOD will bee ſought unto for the obtaining of thoſe bleſſings which hee hath promiſed, hee cannot eaſily preſume of finding mercy, while hee lives in the neglect of thoſe meanes that lead unto it. And this is the principall end and ſcope (Right Honourable) which theſe weake and unworthy labours of mine doe eſpecially drive at: If they ſhall finde that acceptance with your Lordſhip, which they promiſe unto themſelves; and bee availeable (if but) to adde one little ſparke more to that flame of devotion, which already ſhineth forth ſo brightly in your honourable deportment; I ſhall thinke my ſelfe happy in the ſucceſſe of this enterpriſe, and make it my daily ſuite and requeſt at the throne of grace, that when you have finiſhed your courſe with honour here on earth, you may bee gloriouſly crowned with ſalvation in heaven: in the deſire whereof I ſhall ever reſt,
Your Honours Chaplaine in all duty and ſervice, RICHARD MADEN.