Christian Advertisements and Counsels of Peace, Title page – Dedication
CHRISTIAN ADVERTISEMENTS AND Counſels of Peace. Alſo diſſwaſions from the Separatiſts ſchiſme, commonly called Browniſme, which is ſet apart from ſuch truths as they take from vsus and other Reformed Churches, and is nakedly diſcouered, that ſo the falſitie thereof may better be diſcerned, and ſo iuſtly condemned and wiſely auoided. Publiſhed, for the benefit of the humble and godlie louer of the trueth. By RICHARD BERNARD, Preacher of Gods Word. Reade (my friend) conſideratly; expound charitably; and iudge, I pray thee, without partialitie: doe as thou wouldeſt bee done vntounto.
PHILIP. 3. 16. In that whereunto we are come, let vsus proceed by one rule, that we may minde one thing.
AT LONDON, Imprinted by Felix Kyngston. 1608.
TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL AND CHRISTIAN PROFESSORS, SIR GEORGE SAINTPOLL Knight, and to that vertuous Ladie, the LADIE SAINTPOLL, both his ſingular and euer good Benefactors, all comfortable bleſsings to the welfare of ſoule and bodie, is hartely wiſhed for euer.
RIght Worſhipfull, Satans ſubtilties are of old; it is no newes to relate them. CHRIST Ieſus is that Lambe, who loueth his dearely, and is beloued againe of his vnfeinedly; but the diuell is that Lion, roaring in his inueterate hatred, ſeeking to diſhonor the one, and to deuoure the other. The fearefull hee affrighteth with dread of torment: whence it is, that Peter forgetting his profeſsion which he made ſo boldly, for ſweareth his Sauiour, euen with curſing most vnfaithfully. Thus many miſcarrie in time of triall: they either preſuming, and God not aſsiſting, or they formerly ſeeming to be what they were not, are then manifest to be as they were in deede.
But where by feare hee cannot make afraid, he turneth his ſhape: of a Lion roaring, he would ſeeme a lambe lamenting: when by force hee cannot winne, he endeuoureth by deceit to beguile: thē Satan would be a Sauiour, and perſwadeth Eue that following his counſell, ſhe ſhall be more like God then before, whilest hee intendeth to make her as himſelfe, hopeleſſe of heauen. If hee cannot, as an Angell of hell, make men ouer wicked: yet in the ſhape of an Angell of light, by a preposterous zeale, hee will ſet them on to become ouer iust, as Salomon ſpeaketh. Sometime hee doth leade men into a ſuperstitious voluntarie worſhip without Scripture on the left hand. Sometime to runne with nothing but pretended allegations of Scripture, into by pathes of error and ſchiſme on the right hand. Thus Manaſſeth is againstEſay 9. 20. 21▪ Ephraim, and Ephraim against Manaſſeth, and both against Iudah, amongst vsus. The Schiſmaticall Brownist, hee ſnatcheth at the right hand, and is hungrie: the Antichriſtian Papiſt on left hand, and is not ſatisfied. What ſafetie to Sion? It is time to ſee and conſider.
We ſland (Right Worſhipfull) in the middeſt, behold wee may matters of feare, malice and iuſtice: the iuſtice of God for ſinne, the malice of man and Satan encreaſing tranſgreſsion, to force ſtill iuſtice to wrath: ſhould wee regard lightly theſe things? Is it enough for vsus, as many do no more, to condemne the one ſide, and to abhorre the other, as careleſſe Securitanes? Farre be it from vsus: except we repent, wee likewiſe ſhall periſh. Shall we leaue our ſtanding, and by ſtumbling at ſuch ſtones of offence, fall from our well doing? God forbid: walke we muſt, more warily; neither goProu. 4. 27. on this ſide, nor on that, but remoue our feete from euill. Aske we ſhould for the Word promiſed, on which if we humbly depend, wee ſhall heare it behind vsus, when we are going on either hand, ſayingEſay 30. 21. vntounto vsus; This is the way, walke in it.
It grieueth me much (Right Worſhipfull) to ſee this breach made amongſt vsus; loſſe it is to the Church, gaine to the enemie, and then what true good to themſelues? Many laugh at it, ſome account it a matter ſcarce worthie thinking vponupon, and ſo few or none lament it: to me hath it been iuſt cauſe of ſorrow, and therefore could I not lightly paſſe it by: but in louelove to ſuch as yet abide with vsus, and in deſire to doe my beſt to recouer againe mine owne, whom God once gaue me, I hauehave publiſhed theſe things.
My labour (Right Worſhipfull) I offer vntounto you as a teſtimonie of a neuer forgetfull remembrance, with a minde hartelie thankfull for your Worſhips cō tinued fauours, and bountifull liberalitie towards mee. By your worke of merciemercy, in the Vniuerſitie was I brought vp, whereby through the good grace of God, I am that I am. Accept therefore this I beſeech you, not as any recompence (for how can euer a child repay a due fullie equall to parents deſerts?) but as a continuall witneſſe of my bounden ſeruice. Our will is of God the Father accepted for the deede, where there can be nothing better: the like meaſure of merciemercy I am ſure his children will mete vntounto me. In perſwaſion whereof, with comfort already wel experienced, I ceaſe further herein to trouble you: beſeeching the mighty God of heauen to be with you, and to bleſſe you after his abundant louelove to the Saints in Chriſt elect, the verie Iſrael of God, I humblie take my leaue. From Worſop in Nottinghamſhire.
Iun. 18. Your Worſhips euer to be commanded in Chriſt Ieſus: RICHARD BERNARD.