The Marrow of the Oracles of God, Preface 1
THE PREFACE TO THE READER, containing the Scope of all the Sixe Treatises, and certaine generall things, which by way of Introduction belong vntounto them all.
FOrthy sake (Christian Reader) I hauehave beene willing to prepare for the Presse, Sixe little Treatises: Which may informe thee of six things, of the greatest consequence, that I know can concerne thee in this life. And though I hauehave reason to abase my selfe in the acknowledgement of mine owne frailtie and insufficiency for these things, ye… thou hast cause to awaken to th… consideration of the matter which so neerly concerneth thee vsing the helpe of this labour, ti… God affoord thee better helpe from more able instruments. The matter in all of them is so necessary, that I know not which of them thou mayest safely neglect
The first thing which any man The Contents of this Treatise.disposing himselfe for the Kingdome of God, will and ought to inquire after, is, What he should doe to be rid of those so many sinne… he hath beene and is guilty of? Rid (I say) from th… guilt and danger of them, and from the power and dominion of them. For the satisfaction of thy conscience in this most needfull question, I hauehave in this first Treatise gathered for thee, out of the whole Bible, a Catalogue of those sinnes, which in our repentance God will hauehave with speciall notice to be confessed and auoided. And these sinnes I hauehave set downe, as neere as I could, in the expresse words of the text, that thou mightest see the Lord himselfe describing thy offences: and so mightest hauehave no excuse or doubt, to imagine that it was but the iudgement of some men, that made such things to bee thought to bee sinnes. By this course of surueying the whole Scriptures, I hauehave both found out diuers particular offences plainely proued to be so, which I could not obserue to be mentioned in any exposition of the commandements which I had, and also diuers things proued clearely to be sinnes, which were onelyonly barely …ffirmed to bee so in other writers. I hauehave likewise plainely shewed thee by expresse Scripture, what course thou maiest distinctly take to be rid of thy sinnes: a course that cannot faile thee, being grounded on the most euident directions, which God himselfe hath prescribed vntounto thee, if thy owne slothfulnesse & proc…astination, or wilfull peruersenesse binder thee not: And I doubt not but by experience thou wilt confesse, the course is comfortable & easie, considering the great benefit and rest thou mayest bring to thy conscience thereby.
The second thing a man would 2. The contents of the second booke.desire to bee satisfied in, (that hath beene entred into the practise of Repentance) is, How hee might come to bee infallibly assured, concerning Gods fauour, and his owne saluation; and for answer hereunto, I hauehave in the second. Treatise gathered out of the Scriptures, signes of Gods owne making, by which men may try their estate, & these such, as both describe wicked men, not yet in Christ, and such, as describe godly men that shall certainly bee saued. And withall, I hauehave now added directions, how by the helpe of those signes men may settle their assurance, and how such as yet want those signes, may attaine them.
The third thing eueryevery Christian ought to seeke satisfaction in, 3. The Contents of the third booke.is this, How a man that hath attained vntounto the assurance of saluation when hee dies, may comfort and establish his heart against all the miseries and distresses, which may, and will befall him in this life before his death. And to this end I hauehave gathered out of the whole Scriptures those admirable consolations which may bee abundantly sufficient to vphold him with much ioy in the worst estate that can befall him. And this is done in the Treatise which I call the Promises.
The fourth question, a carefull Christian, that hath thus found 4. The Contents of the fourth booke.out the gaine of godlines, would aske, is this, what he should doe in the whole course of his life to glorifie God, who hath thus loued him, and giuen his Sonne to dye for him, and purchased such a glorious inheritance for him. And for answer hereunto, I hauehave likewise out of the Scripture gathered the rule of Life, which will shew him distinctly, how he should carrie himselfe towards God, and towards men in all parts of his life; how hee should behaue himselfe at home and abroad, in company, and out of company, &c. and all this shewed him by the expresse words of the Scriptures.
In the fifth place, if a man aske himselfe what yet he wants that 5 The contents of the fift booke.is necessarie for his state, he may and ought to bethinke himselfe of this question; What are those necessarie truths, which God hath absolutely tied him to know and beleeue, without which he cannot bee saued, and which are fundamentally needfull for him? To this end I hauehave collected a fift Treatise, called the *Touching t… Treatise of the Principles, reade the Aduertisement, printed at the end of the Rules of Life, pag 640.Principles: which are an extract out of all the Doctrine of religion: of such truths in eueryevery part of religion, as a man is bound of necessitie to know. And this I hauehave not onelyonly proued by Scripture, but shewed what vses hee may put such knowledge to, all the dayes of his life.
The sixt and last thing which 6 The contents of the last booke.ought to bee enquired after, is, how a man thus fitted to liue the life of God, may also bee cured of the feare of death; and to this end I hauehave published that Treatise of the Cure of the feare of Death, which shewes plaine and comfortable wayes, how any Christian may deliuer his heart from Whom these Treatises concerne.those feares.
I suppose that no man that readeth this, will conceiue, that any of these is needlesse. And as I would aduise such Christians as abound with abilitie and l…isure, to furnish themselues with the labours of such worthy Di…ines, as hauehave written of any of those subiects: so vntounto such Christians as hauehave not that abilitie or leysure I commend these Treatises, both for their breuity, and the distinct digesting of the things he would seek after; there being nothing of mine in these, but the labour of disposing them, the maine substance of them being Gods owne Word, and things deuised and inuented by God himselfe. I may lawfully commend the care and study of these things vntounto thee, and that with so much authority from the Lord, as to tell thee, that thou maiest not safely bee negligent in any of these, if thou consider the worth of them, or thy owne n…ed.
If thou say, that here is prescribed a hard tas…e, and so many … to the s…y of t…se ….things are to bee done, as may make any man afraid to m…ddle with directions of such variety, and number;
I answer; that in many of these Treatises the way is not made harder then is required; or in the doctrine of the Church manifested: but rather things are made more plaine, and so more easie. Besides, thou knowest already, that the way to heauen is a narrow and straight way, and f…w find it. But especially thou shouldest weigh with thy selfe the great encouragements and motines to abide the hardship and difficulties of any godly and necessary course. Though the way to Canaan (with the Israelites) were through a solitary wildernesse, yet it should comfort thee, that it is but a way of three dayes, as they say, being about to get out of Egypt, God will keepe thee at worke but a little time, and therefore thou shouldst not thinke much of thy paines. And further thinke of it, that this is a course of wonderful comfort and safety: when a Christian followes the euident directions of Gods Word in these most weighty things, he walks safely: He is in the good way, the way of life, the way of peace; he is sure to see the saluation of God. To follow those directions soundly, is to keepe our soules. All Gods waies will be mercy and truth to vsus. God will cause vsus to heare his louing kindnesse in the morning. Our way will be full of refreshing: Gods waies are wayes of pleasure, and if any man set himselfe exactly to take notice of Gods will in these things, and will be at paines to store his heart distinctly in such solid truths: it is certaine, the Lord will recompence his way vponupon him, God will not cast away the exact man, till he fill his mouth with laughter, as it is said, Iob 8. 20, 21. Sure it is, that in the study of these things lyeth the way of eternity, and though thou thinke the way to be hard and narrow, yet this may somewhat case thee; it is a plaine way: For the simple may profit by it, as is auouched to bee true of all the courses which God by his Word so expresly required, Psal. 119. Isaiah 26. 7. & 52. 16. Prou. 8. And besides thou hast many helpes; the word of God will not only shew thee what to d…e, but it will beget in thee a secret power to doe it; God will teach thee to profit, and the Spirit of God will helpe thy infirmitie: and God will send his Angels to guide thee in thy way: Christ will be the Way and the Life to thee. And thou hast good company; for this is the old way, the way of all Gods seruants in the substance of the course.
OnelyOnly before thou set vponupon any Generall directions by way of preparation.of these directions, let mee giuegive this generall aduice, to looke to these few things.
First, thou must giuegive ouer, and forsake vngodly company; for else it is in vaine to meddle with any religious course, as these places will shew thee, Psal. 1. 1, 2. Prou. 4. 14, 15. & 9. 6. & 23. 19, 20, & 29 27. Psal. 26. 2 Cor. 6.
Secondly, thou must get thee into the way of good men, prouide 2for thy self… (if it be possible) the fellowship and societie of godly persons, Prou. 2. 20. Isai. 19. 23, 24, 25. For this fellowship will take away the tediousnesse of the way, and much preserue thee against giuing ouer; and their examples will bee as patternes for thee, and by acquaintance with them, thou wilt be brought into acquaintance with God himselfe, Isaiah 16. 23, 24. 2 Cor. 6. 16, 17, 18. Prou. 2. 20.
Thirdly, thou must remember to pray vntounto God by all meanes to 3direct thee, and shew thee the way in all these things, thou must beg a way of God, and beseech him to remoue from thee all lying and deceitfull wayes, Ezra 8. 21. Psal, 119. 26. Ier. 2. 33. Fourthly, thou must, when thou comest to Gods directions, lift 4.vp thy soule, and giuegive not way to thine owne carnall reason, and the sluggishnesse of thy owne nature, and the deceitfulnesse of thy owne heart: but let the Lord see thou art willing to doe any thing thou canst, Psal. 143. 8. Bring a Note.mind desirous to obey in all things. By any meanes take heed, thou be not like those complained of, Isaiah 58. 2. that hauehave a great mind to know Gods wayes, and to read all sorts of directions, as if they sought righteousnesse in a speciall manner of care, and yet do not follow any of the courses they so much desire to kn…w, & seeme to commend and like. If euer thou wouldest hauehave thy soule to dwell at ease, choose out for thy selfe those wayes which God doth teach thee, Psalme 25. 12, 1…. Let the Lord know, that if hee will be pleased to teach thee a sure way, thou wilt walke in his paths; and to that end, beforehand beseech him to vnite thy heart to his feare, Psal. 86. 11. Thou shouldest bee of Dauids mind, to say, O that my way…s were directed to keepe Gods statutes, and then thou wouldst resolue to keepe them, Psal. 119. 5, 8.