The Christians Sacrifice Better than all the Legal Sacrifices of Jews, To the reader
TO THE CHRISTIAN Reader.
BEloued, I am not ignorant of two other treatiſes already publiſhed, in Title ſomewhat like to this of mine following: the one only tranſlated into Engliſh, and compiled by another, without a name expreſſed. The other being the worke of a godly brother amongſt vsus, Maſter Thomas Cooper. Notwithſtanding▪ becauſe neither the one nor the other, either in matter or in forme doe agree with this of mine, therefore as I feare no diſgrace to mine by theirs, ſo I wiſh no preiudice to theirs by mine. The godly minded reader may well make vſe both of theirs and of mine. Yet this without any diſgrace to either of theirs I may ſafely ſay, that hereinmine differeth from theirs, both in handling a ſpeciall place of Scripture, and alſo that in the interpretation of the ſaid Scripture, I diſcuſſe diuers points of doctrine, making ſuch particular application of them, as the times require. Now whereas in this treatiſe vponupon the ſecond verſe, I write ſomewhat largely, and it may be in ſome mens conceite, ſomewhat ſharpely againſt conformitie to this worlde I deſire ſuch as ſhall ſo thinke to conſider that the more generall the fault is, as well of them that would be accounted louers of the Goſpell, as of them that are open contemners and ſcorners thereof, therefore alſo it is the more dangerous, and for curing thereof requireth the more ſharpe reprehenſions. The bitterer any potion is, the more any ointment or plaiſter ſmarteth, the more effectually for the moſt part ſuch portions and ointments and plaiſters doe worke in or vponupon them to whom they are adminiſtred. Such alſo as ſhall ſo iudge of my writing I entreate further to conſider how ſharpely the Prophets hauehave enveyed, and how fearefull iudgements of the Lord they hauehave thundred out againſt offendersIſay. 3 13. Zeph. 1. 8. in this kind. The Prophets indeed were imediatly ſent and commanded of God to ſpeake that which they ſpake. But why? Becauſe the ordinarie Prieſts and Levites, either did not that which they ſhould hauehave done, or were not regarded in doing thereof. This therefore is no iuſt exception againſt the Miniſters declaming and exclaming againſt this ſin in theſe dayes: neither is it any excuſe at all for any ſo ſinning. The grace of God in the Goſpell doth not tolerate but agrauate ſuch things. Notwithſtanding I doe not alike condemne all perſons in like ſort offending: but the ſin it ſelfe I condemne alike in all. Some infected with this diſeaſe of the faſhions I grant do diligently heare the word: yea riſe earely (though of great place and ſtate) to go ſome miles to heare the word; and do often heare it againſt ſuch faſhions, and yet reforme not themſelues therein, what then? Shall I iudge them ſo to come rather to ſhew themſelues, then for louelove of the word? I dare not be ſo vncharitable. I know better things by ſome of them, and ſuch as accompanie ſaluation. God openeth not the eyes of allHeb. 6. 9. Mark. 8. 24. to ſee all at once. I do not therefore ſo much wonder thereat, as hope and pray they may ſtill come, that ſo at the laſt they may heare that, whereby they may be conuerted and reformed. The wordes of the wiſe are as goades and nailes &c. TheEccleſ. 12. 11. The more therefore any are pricked with ſuch goades, the more they will be quickened: the oftener ſuch nailes are ſmitten, the deeper they will peirce. A little coale from Gods altar mayIſay. 6. 6. grow, yea will grow to a great fire.
The women indeed that in theſe daies are ſo ſhameles as to poule their heads, (ſo likewiſe changing their ſex; and oppoſing themſelues to the expreſſe word of God, are alſo moſt hopeleſſe. Yet if any of them ſhall come to the word, though nothing leſſe minded then to profit by the word, they may for all that be either caught by the net of the word, and conuerted; or elſe be ſo peirced with the nailes of the word, as that the ſame may enter as deepely into their heartes for their confuſion, as the naile of …ael the wife of Heber peirced and was ſtricken into Iud. 4. 21. &. 5. 26.the temples of Siſera his head to his deſtruction.
That which afterward I hauehave written for the reuerence and maintainance of the Miniſters of the Goſpell, I hauehave not without griefe written, to ſee the great contempt and ſtrange neglect of ſuch Miniſters, as are both in their miniſtrie moſt faithfull and laborious, and for their life and conuerſation moſt vnblameable. For doth not many a man of any great abilitie, and kind diſpoſition, better reſpect a ſeruant that hath beene with him ſome yeeres, and faithfully alſo ſerued him during the ſaid time, then many that would be taken great profeſſors, doe reſpect their Miniſters, though neuer ſo long and painefully preaching vntounto them? Do not alſo ſuch perſons by ſome preferment more bountifully reward ſuch ſeruants at their departure from them, then ſuch people do reward ſuch Miniſters, euen whilſt they are with them? And may not ſuch iudgements of God be feared againſt the whole land for this ſinne as heeretofore hauehave bin executed vponupon other people for the like? The ſame I ſay for that which I hauehave written of the itching eares of ſome to heare other preachers farther off dwelling, with neglect of their owne, and neerer dwellers, though they cannot iuſtly except any thing againſt them: yea I hauehave written the more in this behalfe, not onelyonly becauſe of the great diſcouragement of ſuch their owne and other neere dwelling Miniſters, but alſo becauſe ſomtime ſuch itching ears vponupon a light report of ſome ſtranger preaching 3 or 4 miles off on the Lordes day going to heare him, & hauehave loſt their labour, heard no Sermon at all.
That notwithſtanding which I hauehave written of hearing the next dwelling Preachers after their owne, rather then further dwellers, I doe not meane of Preachers in the ſame Cittie or Towne that hath diuers Churches, becauſe in ſuch places farther dwellers may be heard after their owne Preachers without any great labour of the hearer, and without any preiudice to neerer dwellers. In ſuch places more libertie may be vſed, then where further dwellers cannot be heard without more labour, then is fit to be taken on the Lords day.
Neither alſo do I ſo condemne all hearing of further dwellers (mens owne or neere dwelling Preachers not being neglected) but that in ſome extraordinarie cauſes, and at ſometimes, for comfort of afflicted conſciences, or for reſolution of ſome doubtfull mindes in ſome things, men may heare ſome furthers dwellers, whom they ſhall vnderſtand either to preach of ſuch a text as may miniſter moſt comfort to ſuch troubles of conſcience, or to handle ſuch points as are eſpecially doubted of: Prouided notwithſtanding that it be no ordinarie matter, neither often but ſeldome.
Theſe things I hauehave heere promiſed to preuent all miſconſtruction of any thing in this treatiſe by me written: and conſequently to auoid all offence by ſuch miſconſtruction. If any other thing ſhall ſeeme ſtrange, I hope that louelove and iudgement ſhall qualifie the ſtrangneſſe thereof.
Loth I am, and very loath to offend any of Gods children. But touching ſuch as are ſo curious that nothing will pleaſe them: and that rather read mens workes to carpe at them then to profit by them: ſeeming alwaies to learne and yet 2. Tim. 3. 7.neuer attaining ſound knowledge, I care not to pleaſe their humors.
Thus crauing thy praiers for my owne comfort in my old & weake age, and for the bleſſing of God vponupon this my Treatiſe, that many may preſent themſelues ſuch ſacrifices to God as in this Scripture he requireth, and may alſo according thereunto take the m…re heed of all conformitie to this world, and be the more carefull to be reformed in their minds &c, I commit Act. 20. 32.thee to God, and to the word of his grace, whereby we may all be built vp, and at the laſt hauehave that inheritance which he will giuegive to all them which are ſanctified.
Thine vnfaignedly in the Lord Ieſus. THOMAS STOVGHTON. From my poore lodging, in the poore Hoſpitall called S. Bartholomewes by Sandwich in Kent. Auguſt 21. 1622.
THE CHRISTIANS SACRIFICE.
ROM. 12. 1.
I beſeech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that you preſent your bodies a ſacrifice, liuing, holy and acceptable to God, your reaſonable ſeruice. 2 And be not conformed to this world, but be yee transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may proue what is that good, that acceptable and perfect will of God.