Helps to Humiliation, Title page – To the reader
HELPES TO HVMILIATION.
IAMES 4. 10.
Humble your selues in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you vp.
Printed at London, by T. Cotes, for Peter Whaly, dwelling in North-Hampton. 1630.
To the Reader.
I Here commend vntounto thee Christian Reader a table of Repentance, now put into a little Tract, collected from that graue, learned, and godly Diuine, Mr. Robert Bolton. I could hauehave beene content to hauehave stayed the publishing thereof, vntill such time, in which the Author might hauehave beene preuailed with to print it; for there cannot but want much beauty and lustre which it might hauehave had, if it had beene set forth or perused to be fitted for the Presse by him that first gaue life vntounto it; but being inforced to it by the importunity of many well affected, both farre and neere; and I vnwilling to hauehave such a pretious fountaine sealed vp, considering the good that might redownd to many in the meane time by it. I resolued by the Authors leaue no longer to ingrosse the same to a priuate vse, but to impart it to a publike good, especially considering, first, how few are acquainted with the right nature of Humiliation, no more than Nicodemus was with regeneration: that though many boast of it, few hauehave it, when alasse it's plaine, without true RepentanceLuke 13. 3. 5. there is no saluation. Now this table hauing so perspicuously vnfolded the nature of this grace: those that hauehave a beginning of it, may from hence adde an increase to their store; and they that want it, may here see the way and meanes of obtaining it. Secondly, the extraordinary exercise of fasting and prayer, a duty of pretious account amongst Gods Children, which hath alwayes beene wonderfully blest with a happy successe, in so much as albeit their ordinary prayers returne not empty without a blessing, yet respectiuely to those prayers which are ioyned with fasting, they seeme barren and blasted, which otherwise are fruitfull and full eared. How then could I withhold this which by experience and the iudgement of iudicious Christians, cannot but bee of speciall vse and helpe vntounto such a blessed and successefull ordinance? Thirdly, these times call for it, to fast and pray and cry mightily vntounto God by our prayers, that wee may stand in the gapp, and make vp the breach: and from this table wee may receiue much helpe in this particular. Wherefore I hope I shall neede no further perswasion for thy gracious acceptance, than that hereby if the fault bee not thine owne, thou maiest receiue much good and comfort to thy soule: which if thou findest, giuegive God the glory, the Author thy thankes, and me thy prayers.
I. S.