A Help to Better Hearts for Better Times, Title page – Errata
AN HELPE TO BETTER HEARTS, FOR BETTER TIMES: Indeavoured in ſeverall Sermons.
WHEREIN, The zeal and fervency required in Gods ſervice is declared, ſeverall hinderances diſcovered, and ſuitable helps provided: all out of Gods treaſury, brought forth at this time, with earneſt deſire, and in hope to revive the memory, and reinforce the p…actice of the people to whom they were preſented, and for more publique uſe, if the Lord pleaſe.
By John Angier, Paſtor at Denton-Chappel in Lancaſhire.
Imprimatur,
Edm. Calamy
PSAL. 11….2 Thy people ſhall be willing in the day of thy power.
Pſal. 40.8. I delight to doe thy will O my God.
Iſa. 64.5. Thou meeteſt him that rejoyceth, and worketh righteouſneſſe.
Ioh 4.34. My meat is to doe the will of him that ſent me, and to finiſh his work.
Act 20 24. Neither count I my life dear to my ſelf, ſo that I might finiſh my courſe with joy.
Ioh. 2.17. The zeal of thine houſe hath eaten me up.
LONDON, Printed by A. M. for Chriſtopher Meredith, at the Signe of the Crane in Pauls Church-yard, 1647.
TO MY BELOVED PEOPLE, THE Inhabitants of Denton, and Haughton, and the places adjacent.
Beloved,
THere wanted not ſtrength of diſcouragement to ſtifle this weak birth, but the thoughts of my heart, thorow divine aſſiſtance, gave ſtrength of incouragement to bring forth; My heart told me, how much the Saints have bleſsed God, for the pious, and plain books of the godly, which were more hearty, and leſse ſpecious, breathing Chriſt crucified, and hearts crucified, and what a power my ſoul hath found, in that plainneſse and ſimplicity, wherein they have ſent abroad their pious, practicall diſcourſes, as in their native dreſſe. An over-bearing flood of thoughts followed, ſpeaking out the cauſe I have to ſet up, ſome ſuch pillar of thankfulneſſe to my God, who carried the work of my Ministry, thorow inhibitions, ſuſpenſion, excommunications, in time of the height of the power, and perſecution of the Biſhops; Though I might not runne the race of one year at Ringly-Chappel, whether I was firſt called: and in that imperfect year was twice inhibited: though in nine or ten years at Denton Chappel, I preached not above two ſeparated years, (to my beſt remembrance) without interruption, and in that time was twice excommunicated; Though Sabbath-Aſsemblies were ſundry times diſtractedly, and ſorrowfully broken up, and my departure f…m habitation and people, often forced, no means left in ſight of returne, yet thorow the fervent praiers of the Church, (whereto theſe hard afflictions were apparently ſerviceable,) God was graciouſly and effectually moved, continually to renue liberty, as they continually interrupted it, they ſhut, and God opened, they ſhut, and God opened, till God would no more be troubled with them, but took the keys of power, out of the hands of upſtart proud Shebna, to give them to outed, deſpiſed, faithfull El…akim. And no leſſe cauſe have I to ſet a ſtarre of obſervation (to advantage Gods pra ſe,) upon divine providence, preſerving to admiration my*The like mercy God ſhevved me, when the Parle of Derbey lay about Mancheſter almoſt a vve…k, though the plundering Souldiers went as f…rre ſome other waies, yet God turned them from us, and gave us leave to keep the Nationall …aſt in …blique, t… very w…. houſe, ſtudy, and papers, when ſome of Prince Ruperts plundering forces paſsed nigh the door, in the year of our heavy viſitation, when his whole Army entred Stockport, within three miles of us, and no opportunity left for removing any thing, nor any durſt ſtay in the houſe; to him we committed all by praier, and at our returne we found nothing wanting, not a door opened, not a window broken; Though in times paſt, ſcarce a year paſsed but I was driven from home, yet in theſe troubles I have reſted at home, thorow the multitude of his mercies all the time, ſave one MonethMonth, when the Princes forces ranged and reigned in our Country; My ſoul ſhall make her boaſt in the Lord, the humble ſhall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together, Pſal. 34.2, 3. For your ſakes alſo, having found help from God, to labour ſo long and ſuffer ſo much, I was willing to combate with mine own diſcouragements unto victory. God hath kept you hitherto, bleſſed, bleſſed be his name, in truth, piety, love and peace, to my great comfort and incouragement, in all my troubles and ſtraightneſse, in outward, and earthly reſpects: but I am afraid, out of the abundance of my love to you, and care for you, in theſe dangerous times, (wherein many evil ſpirits are let looſe, for*I lo…k upon the diſtēpers of theſe times, as a ſharp correction to godly Miniſters, for their humiliation, and better preparation for ſome other work, as an effectuall tē ptation to the people, to diſcover thoſe corruptions: that being covered with the cloak of prof…ſſion, have lived and grown under powerfull O…di…nces, and as a ſigne and means of the removing of the Goſpel, at le…ſt by ſuch inſtruments to deſolate places, the work of his ſervants fa…g, God will provide new, and when wanton people are we…r ed with their own wayes, the wayes of God will be the more precious. affliction to godly painfull Preachers, and for temptation to their hearers) leſt you being led away by the errour of the wicked, ſhould fall from your own ſtedfaſtnes; and doe therefore pray, and indeavour, that you may grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Ieſus Christ. If the quickning ſpirit ſhall quicken your affections and graces, unto duties of communion with Chriſt, the fountain of life (the matter laboured in preaching and printing theſe Sermons,) he will quicken thoſe duties to be condu…-pip s of life: whereas, in ordinary experience, dead hearts are ſuited with dead and unfru…tfull Ordinances, the ſad and dangerous experience of the preſent times. I have ſadly obſerved, after the beginning of theſe unexpested, glorious, joyfull times of liberty, after ſome more lively ſpringings, and workings, both of hearts and Ordinances, when the light brake out of darkneſſe, and liberty out of bondage, great deadneſſe hath fallen, continu…d, and increaſed, upon both hearts and Ordinances; A main reaſon I take to be this, the ſharpning, and whetting afflictions of the Church, which forced their graces, unto frequent and fervent exerciſe, in holy duties, being removed, they have remitted their fervency, not improving their liberties, to that end, that God improved their afflictions, and God hath remitted his Spirit in Ordinances, they have not stirred up their h…arts to take hold of God, they have not rejoyced to work righteouſneſſe, as ſometimes: and God hath not offered himſelf in Ordinances, ſent his Spirit to meet them, nor given them his loves, as ſometimes. To paſſe by the evidence of this ſad r…p…rt, found in the unhumbledneſſe, and unaffectedneſse of the godly, in midst of ſo many preſſing cauſes, and under ſo great helps, and the generall ineffica y of the Ordinances for converſion, ſtay your ſelves, and wonder, fear and tremble, at the evidence given in, by the abounding of errours, deſertion of Gods publique w…rſhip, contempt of that Miniſtry God hath ſo highly honoured, and ſo richly bleſſed, even by thoſe that have been ingrafted into Chriſt, and nouriſhed up in h…m thereby, with much tenderneſse, pains, and patience, the exchange of duties of piety, expreſsing and increaſing the power of godlineſſe, for hot and wrangling d…ſputes about strange doctrines and governments, and the bitter fruits of theſe diſputes and differences, the ſeperation of hearts, and communion amongſt the truly godly: th… fearfull out-breakings of wrath, envy, evil ſpeakings, the uncharitable, unchriſtian provoking cenſures of eſtates and actions, the almoſt incredible propenſity to fall out with, and fall upon our loving and faithfull brethren of Scotland, together with deceitfull, dangerous, overweening, and bold confidences of excelling light, grace, ſpirit, inlargements, comforts, &c. Here is room enough for a large heart to powre out bitter ſoul-breaking expostulations. O where is the ſpirit of the Lord, that was wont to poſſeſſe the hearts of the godly, to ſtrengthen grace there, to keep good order in the ſoul, to keep in and under, theſe masters of miſ-rule? O where is that ſpirit that was wont to fill the Ordinances, and in them cleerly to diſcover to the godly, the diſtempers of their hearts, and diſorders of their waies, and powerfully to break their hearts for ſinne, and from it? Is it poſſible the ſpirit ſhould be in the hearts of Gods people, and in his own Ordinances, in as plentifull a meaſure as ſometimes, and ſo much of the fleſh, and ſo little of the ſpirit appear in theſe times of ſo many, and great, unlooked for, unthought of, amazing, aſtoniſhing, Nationall mercies, Goſpel-inlargement, wonders of providence, Humiliations, Thankeſgivings, Covenants, and indeavours for thorow Reformation? Sure it cannot be. O where is the wiſdome, love, humility, meekneſſe, tenderneſſe of conſcience, compaſsion, patience, forbearance, long ſuffering, that was wont to triumph in the godly, and to be the glory of Religion, even in the eies of the irreligious? My dearly beloved ſadly think of theſe things, and let ſuch ſad conſiderations work unto ſerious ſearch, whether ſome of you alſo, have not loſt your firſt love, that you may remember from whence you are fall…n, repent, and doe your firſt work: or, unto an wholſome preſerving fear, leaſt you ſhould depart by degrees from God, in the lively expreſſions of love, and he ſhould by the ſame degrees, depart from you in the life of Ordinances: you were never in ſo much danger ſince your profeſſion began as now: That of our Saviour is abundantly verified: Matthew 12.43. The unclean ſpirits that were gone out of men, finding the rooms empty, ſwept and garniſhed, are returned with ſeven ſpirits more wicked then themſelves, and they dwelt there: And that of Paul, Acts 20.30. In many parts of the Kingdome is acted over again: Of your own ſelves ſhall men ariſe, ſpeaking perverſe things, to draw away Diſciples after them. Therefore watch and remember … have formerly preac… …, not without tempta… … d tears, and what I … now written to you, that ye loſe not thoſe things that ye have wrought, but that ye may receive a full reward. It is in the deſire of my heart, that I may not be negligent to put you alwaies in remembrance of theſe things: yea, I thinke it meet, as long as I am in this Tabernacle, to ſtirre you up, by putting you in remembrance, knowing that ſhortly I muſt put off this my Tabernacle: And in this work I have indeavoured, that you may be able after my deceaſe, to have theſe things alwaies in remembrance, 2 Pet. 1.12, 13, 14, 15. If the Lord ſhall keep you from deſpiſing … Ordinances, which I ta… … very beginning of … …pers of the times, and … …eep up in you an honourable esteem of Gods Ordinances, (and particularly of thoſe Orthodox, godly, painfull Miniſters, that have brought home your own ſouls, or the ſouls of others, and led on the people of God towards perfection for many years, bearing the burden and heat of the day, and not be bewitched, as the fooliſh Galathians and Corinthians, with flouriſhing high-flown, flaſhing men, whoſe piety lies in parts, whoſe power lies in novelties, and whoſe baits lie in gilded words, and diſſembled carriages, who vapour for a little while, and then extinguiſh for want of ſubſtance) that will keep you in a prepared, attentive, profitable attendance upon them, in which way God will converſe familiarly with you, make you perfect, ſtabliſh, ſtrengthen, ſettle you. All that I now deſire in recompence of my renewed pains for your good, in a time when my body was not very fit for it, is your purpoſed fervent praiers, to him that hath the ſeven ſpirits of God, that he would pour out his ſpirit upon his people, that they may diſcover how wofully their own hearts, and Satan have deceived them, clearly diſcern Gods bitter anger in their ſtrange affections, expreſſions, and carriages one to another, that with Ioſeph and his brethren, they may meet and weep one in anothers boſome, humble their ſouls before God together, ſeek of God together the wayes of communion, being troubled at, and weary of the wayes of ſeparation, from their approved beloved brethren, and not reſt till they have recovered their love to God, and reunited their affections and ſocieties, that their humiliations and ſupplications, recovering their former vigour, they may prevail mightily with God, to poure out his ſpirit upon his Ordinances in greater meaſure then ever, to the inlightning of the ignorant, converting of the prophane, cleering of doubts, reconciling of differences, increaſing of the power of godlineſſe, perfecting of Reformation, and edification of the body of Chriſt. In joyfull expectation of your ready, and unanimous concurrence in this deſire: I doe heartily take leave and remaine, whilſt the chief ſhepard ſhall continue my commiſſion, and work amongſt you,
Your loving Paſtor, covetous to preſerve the heat, and ſtrength of your love to the Lord Jeſus, that I may preſent you a chaſte Virgin, and may rejoice in that day, that I have not runne in vain. JOHN ANGIER.
TO THE Christian Reader.
READER,
WE will not, we need not, ſay much of this book: only this we dare promiſe thee, that if the title like thee, the Treatiſe is, like the man that made it, no whit leſſe then it speaks. And truly it is ſuch a theam that we have need to ſtudy; For in vain doe we expect better times, unleſſe we get better hearts: alas what ſhould impure hearts doe with pure Ordinances? we tremble to hear ſo many cry Reformation, Reformation: and yet ſee ſo few reforming themſelves or their families. We are bold to ſay, that unleſſe our hearts and lives were b…tter, Epiſcopacy were too good for us. The truth is, God is mockt to his very face: and one of theſe two evils we may expect, either that we ſhall die in the wildernes, and never go over Jordane to ſee the good land of Reformation, or (which is worſe) that Reformation it ſelf ſhould undoe us. For of Chriſts coming in a way of Reformation, it is askt.Mal. 3.2. But who may abide the day of his coming, and who ſhall ſtand when he appeareth?
A ſad effect it had ſurely on the Scribes and Phariſees in the daies of his fleſh, whileſt his doctrine and miracles ripened their ſins, and blaſted their Souls in ſtead of their Luſts. For the preventing of ſuch an incomparable miſchief, in this great expectation of his coming amongſt us, as a Refiners fire, and fullers ſope; Let us commend the reading of this book to thee, and doe thou ſeriouſly commend it to God for his bleſſing, wherein thou ſhalt have the beſt wiſhes of
Thine in Chriſt, to ſerve thee.
Tho. Caſe.
Edm. Calamy.
Errata.
PAge 1. l. 10. for guide, read gird, p. 6. l. 9 for words, r. word. l. 15. for theſe, r. they. p. 13. l. 23. for where, r. vvhen. p 14. l. 11. for nor, r. not p. 36. for Iſa. 36. r. 56. p. 42. l. 22. for fear, r. care. p 43. l. 6. for weal, r. wealth. p. 45. l. 9. for raiſing, r. raging. p. 51. l. 12. for Lord, r. head. p. 53. l. 3. for Prophets, r. vvorſhip. p. 54. for their, r. Gods. p. 55. l 23. for your, r. their. p. 58. l. 23. dele A p. 59. l. 1. for lawfull, r. carefull, p. 64. l. 5. r. Eccleſ. 5. p. 69. l. 4. r. Pſal. 84. p. 70. l 22. for regarded, r. vvorſhipped. p. 85. l. 9. for our, r or. p. 89. l. 10. r. Iſa. 58. p. 101. l. 2. r. 1 Theſ. 5. p 103. l. … r. Pſ. 5. l. 9. r. Iſa. 66. p. 110. l. 15. for uſe, r. thee. p. 123. l. 24. for ſtirred, r. stirring. p. 1…8. l. 17. r. Mat. 25. p. 150. l. 19. for immediatly, r. in mediately, p. 151. l. 9. for ſnared, r. ſnares. p. 154. l. 9. adde in. p. 163. l. …0. r. Mat. 5. p. 166. l. 19. r. Pſal. 139.1, 2, 23. p. 1…0. l. 4. for furthest, r. further. p. 211. l 11. for fastned, r. ſoftned. p. 212. l. 1…. r. 1 Cor. 11. p. 220 l. 8. dele more. p. 208. l. 15. adde day, after marriage. p. 229 l 13. r. Iob 42 5, 6. p. 235. l. 20. r. Exod. 12. p. 239. l. 1. for one, r no. p. 240. l. 4. for orb, r. oil. p. 245. l. 86. for perfect, r. preſent p. 289. l. 1. for unpreparednes, r. preparednes. p. 290. l. 5 for his, r. her. p. 304. r. Luk 5. p. 317. l. 8. for him, r. thine. p. 327. l. 5. r. Amos 8. p. 329. l. 21. for the latter and, r. as. p. 357. l. 9. for hand, r. handle. p. 363. l. 14 for faulſe, r. falſe p. 364. l. 10. for know, r. knowledge p. 372. l. 4. for man, r. men. p 380. l. 19 God can command but, r. God can command nothing but. p. 451 l. 16. for when, r. where. p. 455. l 6. for ſeemeth, r. ſerveth. p. 47…. l. 7. for our, r. one. l. 8. for ſoul, r. ſoil. p. 489. l. 7. for chear, r. clear. p. 499. for prevent. r. pervert. l. 24. for ſullen, r. fallen. p. 532. l. 2…. for ſleep, r. aſleep. p. 53…. l. 24. for warring. r routing. p. 534 l. 19. for curſe, r. courſe. p. 541. l 2…. for reſt, r. …eſt. p. 545. l. 15. dele If p. 593. l. 22. for free, r. feel. p. 598. l. 19. for one, r. our. p. 603. l. 2. for heart, r. heat. p. 612. for ſin, r. him.