Rejoicing in the Lord Jesus in All Cases and Conditions, Title page – Dedication
A TREATISE OF Rejoycing in the Lord Jeſus in all Caſes and Conditions.
Wherein is manifeſted,
1. What the Lord Jeſus Chriſt is to, and doth for Believing Souls; which may be a conſtant ground of their Joy and Rejoycing.
2. What are the grounds of that Darkneſs which is upon Believers about their Intereſt in Chriſt, hindering this Rejoycing.
3. What Believers ſhould do in the interim, until they can have the evidence of their Intereſt clear.
4. How Souls may know their Intereſt in Jeſus Chriſt.
Together with A Chriſtians Hope in Heaven, in one Sermon, and Freedom from Condemnation in Chriſt, in two Sermons, being the laſt Preached.
By Robert Aſty, late Miniſter of Jeſus Chriſt in Norwich.
Phil. 4.4 Rejoyce in the Lord always, and again I ſay, rejoyce.
LONDON, Printed by Tho. Snowden, for Edward Giles Bookſeller in Norwich, near the Market-place. 1683.
TO THE Congregational Church of Chriſt In the City of Norwich.
Dearly Beloved,
IT is much to be lamented in any day, if many of the righteous are taken away by death (Iſa. 57.1.) as being ſignal of evil to come; & more, when many Eminent Miniſters of the Goſpel are ſo removed, whereby Viſion faileth; and moſt of all, when the Sin of a People, and impending Judgment threaten their being benighted, and no proſpect is given of others to fill up the places of thoſe who are tranſplanted to Eternity.
I know you cannot but have many ſearchings of heart, for your deep ſhare in this matter of Lamentation; the Lord having (in ſo ſhort a meaſure of time) called home to himſelf from among you, ſo many faithful Teachers; as that Spiritual man Mr. Armitage, Judicious Mr. Allen, and now this Laborious Mr. Aſty, who ſerved you in the Goſpel: But it is ſome matter of refreſhment, that they being dead, yet (by their Printed Labours) they ſtill ſpeak to you.
It was the earneſt deſire of ſome amongſt you, that the enſuing Sermons of Mr. Robert Aſty might be Publiſhed; they were taken from his mouth by the Pen of a Ready Writer, and not poliſhed by his own hand, yet may be exceedingly uſeful to all, for the promoting of Faith, Obedience and Comfort.
Indeed, the chief purport of this Treatiſe is, to raiſe the Joy of thoſe who are intereſted in Chriſt, and that in every ſtate and condition: It directeth unto the right Object of Joy, the Lord, and ſo to an everlaſting ground of Rejoycing.
I ſhall add a few words of Counſel to you, for whom I have a great reſpect.
1. Improve the remembrance of thoſe Goſpel Truths which you heard from the mouths of your Miniſters now at reſt: Their Labours were not intended by the Lord only for a preſent relief to your Souls during their ſpeaking, but for afterward, Rev. 3.3.
Remember how thou haſt Received and Heard, and hold faſt. Beware of loſing or growing indifferent as to the practical owning thoſe Goſpel Principles which you have been grounded in; be tenacious there; hold them faſt; for Chriſt addeth, If thou ſhalt not watch, I will come on thee as a Thief, and thou ſhalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
2. Keep up lively Affections towards God, when your Goſpel-Miniſters are withdrawn from you. When David was exiled from the Ordinances of God, yet then had he the moſt earneſt pantings of Soul after Enjoyments of God, Pſal. 42.1, 2. & 63.1, 2. O God, thou art my God, early will I ſeek thee — Beware of coolings in Affection to the Inſtitutions of Jeſus Chriſt when you want them, and let nothing ſhort of God ſatisfie when you enjoy them. Beware of leaving your firſt love, Rev. 2.4, 5.
3. Maintain frequent Spiritual Communion each with other when ſome Goſpel Adminiſtrations are wanted. This is preſcribed as a means for the prevention of Declinings or Departures from God, Heb. 3.13. Exhort one another daily while it is called to day. Daily Converſes each with other duly managed, may not only preſerve from Spiritual Decaies, but quicken Affections, and blow up the ſpark of your graces into a mighty flame.
4. Wait unceſſantly in Prayer for the Return of God's Ark to you. The leſs you have of Preaching, the more ſhould you be in Praying, and others for you, that Goſpel-Light may ſhine among you as in former daies; and the Anſwer will rejoyce many, and ſhould grieve none; for, what hurt can it be to any real Chriſtian, that Chriſt is Preached to others?
I ſhall only add 2 Cor. 13.11. Finally Brethren, farewel, be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in Peace, and the God of Love and Peace ſhall be with you. So prayeth he who is
Yours in the Lord Jeſus, Sam. Petto. Octob. 23. 1681.