A Rebuke to Backsliders and a Spur for Loiterers, Title page – Author to the reader
A REBUKE TO BACKSLIDERS, AND A Spurr for Loyterers.
In ſeveral Sermons, lately preached to a Private Congregation, and now publiſhed for The Awakening a Sleepy Age.
By R.A. Author of Vinditiae Pietatis.
Rom. 13.11.
It is high time to awaken out of ſleep.
Heb. 10.38.
If any man draw back, my ſoul ſhall have no pleaſure in him.
LONDON: Printed for John Hancock at the three Bibles in Popes Head Alley over againſt the Royal Exchange in Cornhill. 1677.
To the Reader.
Reader,
THE Caſe of the Churches of Chriſt among us is ſo deplorable, our spiritual diſtempers ſo many and ſo dangerous, and our decays and languiſhings under them ſo viſible, that he hath a blind eye that ſees it not, and an hard heart who bleeds not under it. Surely in ſuch a time, the Servants of the Lord ſhould not keep ſilence; but Oh how inſufficient am I, to speak as I ought to speak, in ſo great a caſe? Some thoughts I had in mine heart to make an attempt, but being diſcouraged by the ſenſe of my many infirmities, which have of late exceedingly grown upon me, I laid aſide all ſuch thoughts, and onelyonly prepared the enſuing Meditations for a Private Congregation, reſolving againſt all further publication of them then from the Pulpit. But when I had gone through what I intended, I was ſet upon by many of my hearers, from whoſe importunities (ſeconded by a worthy Miniſter) I could have no reſt, for divers moneths together, till I had yielded to publiſh what now comes to thy hands.
Perhaps thou wilt blame me for making this adventure, and ſo ſhould I my ſelf, were I not perſwaded that there was a ſpecial hand of God in it, leading me on beyond and againſt my firſt intentions.
Thou wilt find this Diſcourſe indigeſted, but yet 'tis ſerious; and though it hath not in it to pleaſe thy Fancy, yet mayſt thou find that which may prick thee to the heart, which will be far better. Let not the compoſure of it offend thee, I am in ſo great earneſt, the matter in hand ſo important, our peoples neceſſity ſo urgent, that thou muſt abate me conciſeneſs or curioſity. If thou ſhouldeſt be nauſeated at my frequent inculcations of the ſame duties, my frequent inſtancing the ſame ſins and corruptions, my frequent putting the ſame or the like Interrogatories in divers parts of it, and ſhouldeſt cenſure me for uſing more words then needs, let me tell thee;
1. That I know what narrow mouth'd bottles many of thoſe were I had to deal withall, which would receive but drop by drop, now a little and then a little, and ſo had need the oftener pouring in, though of the ſame liquor. I know what hard and knotty pieces ſome of them were, into whom I was faſtening my nails, and muſt therefore the oftener uſe the hammer to drive them home; many knocks at the ſame nail may do, when one or two will not. I know what forgetful hearers too many of them were, and therefore thought it requiſite to ſet the ſame Glaſs again and again before them, leſt they ſhould ſoon forget what form they were of. I was deſirous that my hearers ſhould carry upon their hearts an expreſs ſenſe of my deſigns, all along from firſt to laſt, and therefore have put them the oftner in remembrance of it.
2. I am perſwaded that ſome of my Readers may have the ſame need that my hearers had, and am therefore willing to let it go as it is.
Some imperfections there are, which (I freely confeſs) I would have helped if I could, but I cannot do as I would, nor perhaps now as once I could. Whatever this little work be, I do in all humility of ſoul offer it up to the Lord, in hope that he will graciouſly accept it, and make uſe of it for ſome ſervice to his Name and People, warning thee in his Name (especially if thou be one who art more particularly concerned in it, either as a Backſlider or as a Loyterer) ſo to read, as firſt to take knowledge of thy ſelf, and the caſe thou art in, and then to take heed to thy ſelf, that thou make not light of thy diſeaſe nor thy remedy, but carefully apply and improve the counſels and reproofs which are brought unto thee, even to thee, from the Lord, by the hand of his unworthy Servant, and
Thy Servant for Jeſus ſake, R. A.