The Progress of Saints to Full Holiness, Title page – Dedication
THE PROGRESSE OF SAINTS TO FVLL HOLINESSE: Described In sundry Apostolicall Aphorismes, or short precepts tending to sanctification. With a sweete and divine prayer to attaine the practise of those holy precepts.
By THOMAS TAYLOR, Doctor in Divinity, and Pastor of St. Mary Aldermanbury. LONDON.
ISAY 35.8.
And there shall be a path, and a way, and the way shall be called holy, and the polluted shall not passe by it.
LONDON, Printed by W. I. for Iohn Bartlet, at the signe of the Guilded Cuppe in Cheapeside, in Goldsmiths Rowe. 1630.
TO THE RIGHT VVORSHIPFVLL AND WORTHY KNIGHTS, SIR RICHARD YOVNG, Knight Barronet, and Sir ROBERT HARLY, Knight of the Bath; and to my worthy friends the Merchants, and the rest of my loving people of St. Mary Aldermanbury, increase of grace and blessing from the rich fountaine.
SInce it pleased the almighty providence, by your free choyse, to give me charge over you, I have not spared my paines to acquaint you with the counsell of God, according to the measure of grace bestowed on mee. My aime hath beene to speake to the meanest capacity, for the informing of every mans judgement, and the awakening of every mans conscience: and my prayers have beene frequent unto him who hath commended unto me this peece of service; that he would please to make me an able instrument of your good: neither hath my successe discouraged mee, who have for the greatest, and best part of you; found you a willing and loving people. If any be as yet otherwise minded, and have not given up themselves to God, and to his Ministers; by instructing them still with meeknesse, and waiting when God will give repentance, 2 Tim. 2.25.wee will not distrust that grace of God, by which the worst one day may be wonne to consider; 1. That it is a most dangerous thing long to enjoy the good meanes of grace, and not to get grace by them. 2. That the more powerfull and profitable the Ministery is which an unreformed man liveth under, the more unhappy and damnable his estate his. 3. That the long and often refusall of Gods call, giveth the Lord just occasion to call no more. 4. That it is not the having or hearing of a Teacher that will availe an unconverted man, but a discerning of the Lords voice, and an opening the doore of the heart to the Lord, who hath a long time stood knocking and seeking entrance.
And now because love is a loadstone of love,Magnes amoris amor. I could not but thinke of some returne, and thankfull acknowledgement of your loving respect of my selfe and weake labours among you, for whose sake I have recollected the heads of many Lectures preached among you, and presented in a shorter view or modell; the marrow and substance of sundry discourses more largely handled in the delivery. For as unto you, under God, my time, my strength, my labours in publlke and private are most due, so herein I render to you but your own▪ and that perhaps not uncalled for by you· These lines will call upon you for 3 duties especially. First, every day to strive in subduing in your selves your personall corruptions, till you have brought downe every high thing, and thought into holy subiection. Secondly, most inwardly to affect holinesse in your selves, and most entirely to love such as walke most holily, as being the likest, nearest, and dearest unto God. Thirdly, to see that every part of your lives aime at progresse to full holinesse. My desire of the Lord is that there may be added to your perusall, a second addition of blessing and successe. My request to you all is, kinde acceptance of this my labour, as a pledge of my care over you, and of my heartie desire every way to helpe you forward towards your desired end. My encouragement and recompence shall bee your profiting and progresse in an holie reformation of heart and life. This is the right praise of a Preacher. And though I can promise, or presume nothing of my owne strength, which is well nigh drawne out by the painfull labours of my Ministerie above thirtie yeares; yet (the Lord assisting mee) my purpose and endeavour shall be to frame this latter age, and act of my life, sutable in paines to the former; so as it may be most fruitfull unto you, and usefull unto the Church, into whose treasurie I have cast another mite. I shall better attaine my purpose by the assistance of your prayers: which I desire may dailie meete with mine, for you all, before the throne of grace for mutuall blessing. And so I rest:From my study Novemb. 17. the happy day of that admired Queene Elizabeth, the worlds wonder, the famous Mother of our Country, and nurse of our religion. 1630.
Your loving Pastour, THOMAS TAYLOR.