The Admirable Convert, Title page – Dedication
THE ADMIRABLE CONVERT: OR THE MIRACVLOVS Conuerſion of the Thiefe on the Croſſe.
With the finall Impenitency of the other.
By SAMVEL SMITH, Miniſter of the Word of God.
LONDON, Printed by Thomas Harper, for Thomas Alchorne, and are to be ſold at his Shop in Pauls Churchyard, at the ſigne of the Greene Dragon, 1632.
TO The Right Worſhip…ull, Sir Richard Greeues Knight, one of his Maieſties …uſtices of the Peace, & Quorum, for the Countie of Worceſter, and to the vertuous and religious Lady, the Lady Anne Greeues his wife, increaſe of grace in this life, and eternall glory in the life to come.
Right Worſhipfull:
IT may bee wondred at of many, eſpecially in theſe daies wherin there is ſuch a ſatietie, if not a ſurfet of bookes, and that vponupon this ſubiect of Repentance, that I ſhould thus carry timber to the Wood, or water to the Sea. And the rather for that my late publication of my exerciſes of the ſame ſubiect, The Eunuchs Conuerſion; my reaſons are theſe. Firſt, the good content my hearers had at the publike preaching of the ſame, was no ſmall motiue vntounto mee to preſent the ſame things to their eares, which were ſo acceptable to their hearts: And oh that the Lord would be pleaſed to co-operate to make them partakers of that ſauing grace. Secondly, for that there hath bin none in our Church (for ought I know) that hath fully handled the Hiſtory. And laſtly, for that no one place of Scripture, or example of Gods mercy, is more abuſed then this of the Penitent; for alas, how many deſperate ſinners hauehave beene imboldened to ſinne by his example? for what, ſay they, Did not the Thiefe on the Croſſe, at laſt repent, and was hee not ſaued? Not conſidering, that repentance is Gods gift, and that, as an Antient doth well obſerue, Though God giuegive forgiueneſſe of ſins to al that repent, Qui promiſit poenitenti veniam, non promiſit peccanti poenitentiam, Aug.he giues not repentance to all that ſinne, Neither conſider they that the conuerſion of this man was not ordinary, beſides, it was particular, and that particular examples are not to be vrged for a generall practice, eſpecially in ſo weighty a matter, as the ſaluation of the ſoule is: nor how Chriſt now vponupon a ſpeciall occaſion to ſhew the effect of his bloud, the power of his ſufferings, and to manifeſt to the ſinfull world, the truth of his God-head, euen at the loweſt ebbe of his humiliation, would conuert a ſinner. Theſe things they remaine willingly ignorant of, whereas indeed it is a thouſand fold more probable that ſuch ſhall dye as they hauehave liued, impenitently, wickedly, and deſperately, with the Impenitent, and ſo be damned, rather then to hauehave ſuch a ſingular grace giuen them, and mercy ſhewed at laſt hour to repent with the Penitent, and ſo be ſaued. This being the condition of ſo many in the world, oh how do… it concerne eueryevery faithfull Miniſter of Chriſt, to ſtrike oft vponupon this ſtring, to preſſe hard vponupon this duty, and to bring them to ſee (if it be poſsible) the miſerable condition of an impenitent life. Theſe are the motiues that hauehave ſo preuailed, to bring theſe collections to light. And now Right Worſhipfull, I beſeech you that the world may receiue them at your hands, and vnderunder your name, which why ſhould I doubt of, ſince your zeale for Gods houſe, louelove of the truth, with that incouragement you daily giuegive to ſuch as bring the tidings of peace, may aſſure mee that a Preſent of this nature, cannot but bee acceptable vntounto you. Now if this poore worke may adde to the benefit and good of Gods Church, and further the worke of Repentance, which theſe times call for, as my hope is through Gods mercy it may. And that you and yours, who deſerue ſo large a meaſure of honor & reſpect frō Gods Church, may hereby bee further incouraged in your godly courſe, who I confeſſe deſerue a greater gift, and better Preſent then I am able to giuegive; it is all I deſire, and therein ſhall much reioyce, and glorifie God in that behalfe. And thus I commend you both to God, and to the word of his grace, who is able to build you vp further, and to giuegive you at laſt an Inheritance amongſt all thoſe that are truely ſanctified.
So prayeth hee who deſireth to bee and remaine,
Your Worſhips Petitioner to the Throne of grace, SAMVEL SMITH.