Diary of a Thankful Christian, To the reader – Errata
TO THE READER.
Christian Reader,
OUR bleſſed Saviours caveat about what, and how we hear ofMark 4. 24. the things written by God, asLuk. 8. 18. how to hear and read alſo Books written by men, is now moſt ſeaſonably needfull; when many ſoul-ſick ſtomachs are ſo1 Tim. 6. 4. foreign, vid. marg. Iſa. 7. 16. childiſhly weak, they know not how to rufuſe the evill, and chooſe the ſound and good food for ſouls.
To quicken then thy appetite to this ſavory meat, held forth in this Pious Tract (that thy ſoul may eat, walk in its ſtrength, bleſſe God, and the dreſſer of it) let me walk with thee a while in the withdrawing room of a Preface, about ſome few things concerning the Author and work it ſelf.
I preſume not my ſingle teſtimony to add to the credit or value of either (the Surety ſhould be of more note and worth then the Principall) yet my duty of honour and love to him, my zeal and deſire to advance ſuch a deſigne, emboldensProſp. de ingratis—…ongenitae in Chriſto gentis mihi caſtus ah alto. Inſinuatus amor proprias excedere vires Me jubct. me beyond my ability, with a learned pious Ancient, in a ſubject not unlike this, Of the ungratefull enemies of Grace, in his time, the Pelagians.
Concerning the Author of this Journall of a Thankfull Chriſtian, my knowledge▪ hath been above twenty years ſtanding; we were of an intimate ſociety and vicinity for many years, we took ſweet counſell together, and walked unto the houſe of God in company. He was my guide, and my acquaintance,Pſal. 55. 13, 14. as David hath it. We oft breathed and powred out our ſouls together in Prayer, Faſting, and conferences. When walking after the Lord in a wilderneſſe, we had leſſe allowed liberty but more inward enlargedneſſe of Spirit. At which time he had the happineſſe of a younger Eliſha (not to2 King. 3. 11. powre water on the hands, but) to be watered by the droppings of that great Elijah, that renowned man of God in his generation, Reverend Mr. Thomas Hooker, and hath had ever ſince the bleſſing and ſavour of much of his ſpirit reſting on him, as was ſaid of Eliſha. And havingChap. 2. 15. mentioned that Name of pretious memory, Worthy Mr. Hooker, now at reſt with the Lord (Saint Hooker, I may call him as Latimer, Saint Bilney) it is a reall practiſe of this Chriſtian Diurnall, to acknowledge with all hearty thankfulneſſe to God in Chriſt, before the world, that great mercy, and unſpeakable bleſſing, which Eſſex Chelmſford, this Author, my ſelf, and many others then enjoyed, in the labours of that Powerfull, Soul-ſaving, Heart-ſearching Miniſter of Jeſus Chriſt: for which rich grace and compaſſion towards us, we hope ſome of us ſhall bleſſe and praiſe his glorious Name, in a better world, to all eternity.
As for this Authors painfulneſſe, and faithfulneſſe, it's well known to all that know him, how greatly they ſhined forth in him, whilſt in a very ſmall place, and how ſince advanced (by the bounty of his truly Noble and Honorable Patron, to a higher, and but neceſſary ſubſiſtence) they have continued and increaſed; In Catechizing, Preaching on the Lords dayes, and working dayes, holding up the uſe of thoſe ſoul-feaſting Sacraments, even unto theſe our dayes; wherein theſe Wels have been either ſtopt up, or leſſe drawn at; theſe choice diſhes, either ſet off the table quite, or ſeldome fed on, to the leanneſſe of many ſouls.
Neither is he only a Practicall, but in life and practiſe a Preacher as in other particulars, ſo in the ſubject of this Treatiſe, Thankfulneſſe; which as he hath put forth a monument and memoriall of herein to God and Man; ſo I hope, his name ſhall live in it, and I heartily deſire, thy ſoul and mine might live more thankfully by it. As David towards the end of his Book of Pſalms, ſo this finger of Iſrael towards the end of his dayes, ſummons a conſort of all, to bleſſe the Lord; for which thankfulneſſe in ſo many gratulatory Pſalms, ſome have thought the former, and we may in charity hope the latter, a man after Gods own heart.
Which ſacrifice of Thanksgiving and Praiſe, exciting others alſo, and calling them to it, is now the more ſignally exemplary in him, as his outward eſtate is not overmuch, (he being rich eſpecially in Aſhers bleſſing, many children) andDeut. 33. 24. whileſt he with many other burning and ſhining lights, once rejoyced in, yet now are become Lamps deſpiſed, byJob 12. 5. many at eaſe, and troden out as ſnuffes, before God put on the extinguiſher of death.
I ſay now, to ſet himſelf over the Thankſgiving, and ſet out ſuch a Pſalm of praiſe, is thankfulneſſe in deed, andNeh. 11. 17. & 12. 8. worthy of an Higga…on Selah. Pſal. 9. 16.
For the work it ſelf, as Solomon of the virtuous woman, Let it praiſe it ſelf in the gates; its ſubject being Praiſe and Thankfulneſſe, it will carry its commendation in its Name and Title, foreignas ſome Emperours, Commodus, Pius, did; a work worthy of thanks and praiſe.
Beſides the ground (or plain ſong, as I may phraſe it) and matter of it, the forme and deſcanting about it, ſet off with many Hiſtoricall applications and Scripture alluſions, yea minding us of ſome duties obſolete and quite out of faſhion; all theſe as graces, may render this, a new ſong; and ſo not only profitable, but more pleaſurable and acceptable to the Reader.
In a word, the whole is a Pillar of1 Sam. 7. 12. Joſh 22. 34. Praiſe, an Eben-ezer ſet up to the name of the moſt high God; an Ed; a Stone of witneſſe, both of Gods goodneſſe to us, and of our evill and unthankfulneſſe againſt him.
Praiſe and thankſgiving is a ſervice becoming the upright, proper to the Saints, a work of pure grace when purely offered; Confeſſions, petitions, nature, outward wants may excite to; but as they ſay of vain ſwearing, curſing, it's all Devill, no profit, pleaſure tempts to it;Os Diaboli, Irenaeus. and as one of murmuring, called it the Devils mouth: ſo contrarily bleſſing, praiſing is all God, ſuch a mouth is the mouth of God; it's the ſervice of triumphing Saints, and ſpirits of men made perfect; Angelicall, Heavenly, moſt ſpirituall, and of higheſt divine extract. The fire muſt come from above that kindles this Sacrifice. Chriſt alone is the Maſter and teacher of this muſick, who only can teach it, and tune our hearts for it, Pſal. 51. 17. & 119. 7.
2. Yea tis a better bleſſing (a thankfull praiſing heart) then the bleſſings for which we commonly bleſſe God; theſe are earthly, temporall, moſtly; this is a gift of eſpeciall grace, an unſpeakable gift.
Praiſe compared with petitionary Prayer, that excellent piece of Divine worſhip, excels it as far, as it is better to give then to receive.
3. It is the moſt proper homage and ſervice to God; therefore by God ſtyled, Glorifying him, Pſal. 50. 23. Who though he be in his name exalted aboveNeh. 9. 5. all bleſſing and praiſe; yet it ſuits him beſt to receive, and is the higheſt we can give, and therefore is called, A blesſing of Goa on our part; ſo much as man a worme, ſo far the leſſe, can bleſſe him that is ſo infinitely the greater.
Ʋrſin. Catech.Some Divines make the third part of Divinity, Gratitude, Thankfulneſſe.
It's not only to continue in eternity, the only ſervice, when believing, confeſſing, and mourning for ſin ſhall be no more; but here in this world, it's ever needfull, as ſalt to every ſacrifice, for all things, at all times, Epheſ. 6.
I will praiſe the Lord at all times, whilest I have any being, ſaith David.
Thou art my praiſe, ſaid weeping Jeremy.
Paul in ſufferings above many, in Doxologies above all.
The Church conſuming, ſaw mercy to bleſſe God for.
Job bleſſed God taking away, as giving.
Jeſus Chriſt who lived under the Croſſe, and died under the Curſe, yet had oft, Father I thank thee, in his bleſſed lippes.
4 It's moſt profitable to our ſelves: as a ſinfull oath is fitly called a wordEcclus. 23. 11, 12. compaſſed about with death, ſo this bleſſing with life, and many bleſſings;Job 36. 27. the ſhowres of heavenly bleſſings deſcendAſcenſus gratiarum deſcenſus gratiae. upon the aſcending of theſe vapors; we give for our ſelves in thankſgiving, as the Italian forme of begging is, Do good for your ſelves; we are the greateſt receivers. We manifeſt Gods goodneſſe herein, but procure our own, yea bleſſe our ſelves, in bleſſing him.
Now this Treatiſe is a help to this heavenly exerciſe. A ſacred Ephemerides, The Annales, Chronicles of the glorious Acts of the King of glory, The Court Rolles and Regiſterbook for Conſcience to keep Courts by.
Which Records well kept, and diligently read, would not only procure reſt (as his Chronicles did to him in Eſther) to our ſouls, in this reſtleſſe night of our life; and as by paſt bounty did cauſe David to return to reſts in the plurall, Pſal. 116. 7. But mightPſal. 116. 7. reſts. Hebr. alſo ſtir us up to honour our deliverer, the God of our mercies and ſalvations, as Ahaſuerus advanced Mordecai.
This Book affords wood, call thou to God for the Lamb and fire; for this ſacrifice, the matter and heads in it are fuell for our Faith and Thankfulneſſe.
We have our State Diurnals, relating the Nationall affaires. Tradeſmen keep their ſhop books. Merchants their Accompt books. Lawyers have their books of preſidents. Phyſitians their Experiments. Some wary husbands have kept a Diary of dayly disburſements. Travellers a Journall of all they have ſeen, and hath befallen them in their way. A Chriſtian that would be exact hath more need, and may reap much more good by ſuch a Journall as this. We are all but Stewards, Factors here, and muſt give a ſtrict account in that great day to the high Lord of all our wayes, and of all his wayes towards us.
This Journall is now (in our generation ſo ungratefull, and unmindfull ofProv. 25. 11. Heb. Gods judgements and mercies) a wordPſ. 119. 126, 127. in ſeaſon running on its wheels. We muſt be holy Antipodes to ſinfull times. We like froward children, either caſt away what we have, if not all we deſire; or dote on what we have received, and neglect to return acknowledgement and obſervance; our owne glory we ſeek, not the glory of God that gives all.
Many earthly Lords in theſe dayes of overturning, loſing their Rentals, have loſt their Quit-rents. The moſt high heavenly Lord Jeſus Chriſt, is the greateſt ſufferer and loſer in our dayes, he hath loſt his quit-rents of Praiſe and Thankſgiving from men; yea he hath loſt and ſuffered in his name, glory, day, worſhip, law, government, offices, officers; well and timely then ought his Stewards and Bailiffs to demand,Alluſion to the Authors name Bedle, an officer of a Court, a Bailiffe errant foreign. v. Minſhewes Dictionary. Dr. Cowels Interpreter. and call for by new rentals, thoſe old Quit-rents and arrears long agoe due; which if denyed, we may well fear his …raining for his right, and taking forfeit of all.
Satan that cunning wraſtler hath …witched us, or rather bewitched us in …ur preſent age, from one ſide and ex…eam to another; the whole fabrick of …eligion (which we expected to be repaired and reformed) is almoſt quite caſt down; many are fallen from Formality to Prophaneneſſe, from Superſtition to Atheiſme: which was the PropheſieMr. Greenhams works folio p. 3. of Worthy Mr. Greenham of theſe dayes, long ſince expreſſed in his works, when he inſtanceth of a Papiſt that fell to Familiſme, and thence to Atheiſme in his dayes.
Many by idolizing ſome preſcribed formes, now caſt off all formes of prayer; and too many from Cathedrall chanting, are come to reject that ſweet heavenly Goſpel ſervice of ſinging of Pſalms: yea ſo far from keeping a Diary of bypaſt mercies, that they ſlight and omit dayly bleſſing of God in their families, and at their meals, for their dayly bread and preſent mercies, though contrary to Scripture precepts and preſidents; as if their food ſuited not their ſtomachs unleſſe it were profane, (like themſelves) that is, not ſanctified by the Word and Prayer.
The ſacrifice of Thankſgiving was toB. Andrews Ca…ech. fol. referring to L…v. 7. 15. be eaten on the ſame day, as one well notes; and in well ordered families ſinging Pſalms, as Prayers, hath been a day…ly exerciſe.
Twas a grave and juſt reproof of a right Reverend Father in this City,Dr. Gouge. preſent with his Brethren on their days of Humiliation and Prayer, he commended their large Confeſſions and Petitions, but diſcommended their failing in Thankſgiving.
And 'twas well anſwered by another, to one complaining of many wants and weakneſſes, Be thankfull, be thankfull.
We look more after our priviledges by Chriſt, then our duty we are to practiſe towards him; like Tenants, not ſo ready with their Rents, as to ſee their Covenants from the Landlord be made good to them.
But Ingratitude is a ſin condemned by the light of nature; the Heathen had their Hymns to their Gods. Lycurgus made no law againſt it: man in requiting kindneſſes being a law to himſelfe.
Valer. Maxim. l. 2. c. 1.In Athens a ſervant ungratefull after manumiſſion, his Maſter had an action againſt him, and might reduce him to bondage.
2 Tim. 3.The unthankfull and unholy goe together in the Word, and are parallel with the evill.
Unthankfulneſſe is the grave, the hell of benefits, the curſe of bleſſings,Luk. 6. 35. Ingrato quod denatur deperd…ur. Sen…. Ingratitudo …eneficiorum perditio. V…ntusureus & ſiccans, &c. Bernard …n Cantic. Serm. 5…. a wind that dries up mercies. Let nothing be loſt, ſaith our Saviour; Bernard applies it to favour from God.
Nor only mercies and ſignall works of gracious providence, but judgements, great changes, overturnings, and the ſins of the age are to be regiſtred in this Chriſtian Journall, as this Author well mixes the ingredients of this Diary.
As we have two ears, to hear the rod threatning, as the Word promiſing; ſo two eyes, to ſee ſins and ſufferings, bleſſings and mercies. Some would have us note the works and operations of God, wherein God hath exceeded to them; but we muſt alſo conſider, wherein they and others have exceeded againſtJob 36. 9. God in their tranſgreſſions, as Job hath it; and the judgements both ſpirituallPſal. 28. 5. and temporall of our times, elſe we may be equally deſtroyed, and ſure ſhall not keep a faithfull Journall.
There is a book of three leaves thou ſhouldeſt read dayly to make up this Diary; the black leaf of thy own and others ſins with ſhame and ſorrow; the white leaf of Gods goodneſſe, mercies with joy and thankfulneſſe; the red leaf of Gods judgments felt, feared, threatned, with fear and trembling.
But what needs this waste, may ſome ſay, of time and paines? it's too ſtrict and preciſe a practice, a hard ſaying, at leaſt a duty too legall for Gopel liberty.
Anſw. 1. Gods law is a law of liberty to a gracious heart. None of hisAmbulandum eſt praeceptis per viam Regiam. B. Andrews Catech. f…l. p. 91. commands grievous; yea and each command requires not only the duty it ſelf, but the help and means to that duty to be obſerved, as Divines generally hold. Now this Diary is a Directory and help to praiſe and thankfulneſſe; yea indeed to the whole practicall part of Religion. The Phariſee was thankfull for ſpirituall mercy, and our righteouſneſſe by Chriſt muſt exceed Scribes and Phariſees, upon the penalty of the loſſe of heaven, Luk. 18. Mat. 5. 20.
2. Nor is this impoſed on all upon pain of damnation, or ſo exacted as the totall of all mercies, providences muſtPſal. 40. 5. & 71. 15. 94. be regiſtred. Who can number the ſtars, or ſands; Gods bleſſings, or our ſins? the moſt eminent of the firſt magnitude are to be noted down; as all our ſins are to be laid to heart, but eſpecially the moſt hainous.
Qui timet eſſe bonus non timet eſſe malus.3. If thou feareſt to be overſtrict in practicall godlineſſe, ſure without fear thou wilt be ſoon over looſe and careleſſe: thou feareſt not to be ſtrict for thy eſtate and outward concernments, why art thou leſſe carefull for thy ſoul? many not exact in caſting up their books, they have caſt them up; thy Audit will be ſtrict, ſo ſhould thy accounts be.
4. Laſtly, the ingenuity of grace in the ſoul, cals for thus much, not only to endevour what may ſafely carry thee to heaven, but that which may moſt advance Gods glory, and thy ſouls proſperity and happineſſe.
God kept a Diary in the Creation of the world, Gen. 1. to preſident this practiſe to us.
Mal. 3. 16.Yea he keeps a Book of Remembrance for us that think upon his name, he numbers our hairs, bottles our tears, writes us upon the palms of his hands, forgets not any of our works of love to his name; Regiſters our names in heaven, and ſhall we write down his name, works, love, in water, in the duſt on earth? Shall he lay up our droſſe, and not we his gold? Shall he remembringNeh. 13. 2. us, bleſſe curſes to us; and ſhall we by ingratitude and forgetfulneſſe of him, curſe his bleſſings to us? He hath called us to inherit a bleſſing, and to bleſſe them that curſe us; and ſhall not we bleſſe our bleſſed God, that bleſſes us? So much the more now as we expect and deſire ſome ſettlement of truth and peace.
Bring in your tallies of old, if you look for new mercies to be put upon your account.
But why do I detain thee ſo long without in the portall of a Preface? go in, ſet thee cloſe to this divine Arithmemetick; ſums are beſt caſt up in ſolitarineſſe; retire into thy ſelf, ſet thy heart on Gods wayes to thee, and on thine own wayes to him. I heartily deſire thy thriving in this ſpirituall ſoul-trade.
Study, not only the notionall Numeration, Addition and Multiplication of particulars recited and ſet down in this Chriſtian Journall; but above all look to the rule of Practiſe, which in this is the true Golden rule indeed.
I may ſay (to conclude) of this BookVerba vivenda, non legenda. Aug. as one of the Scripture, They are words to be lived and practiſed, not read only. And as another of the 119 Pſalm, Fgidius Abbot of Norimberg, Boni Catholici ſunt qui & fidem integram ſequn…ur & bones mores.They are good and true Catholicks indeed who follow both ſound faith and good manners. This muſicall leſſon of Praiſe and Thankfulneſſe muſt be well practiſed.
Which that thou mayeſt do, both make thy Journall, and thy life and journey to heaven, anſwerable to ſuch a Journall, go to him and ſet out in hisDan. 8. 13. marg. ſtrength, Who is the wonderfull numberer, as Daniel ſtyles him; who can teach thee to number thy dayes, ſins, Gods diſpenſations to thee and others; yea and how to profit by all, even the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who is the Way, Truth and Life, without whom we can do nothing, and by whom we can do all things; In whom craving thy prayers and praiſes for him that is leſſe then then the leaſt of all his ſervants and mercies; yet is, and reſts
Ironmonger-lane London, Octob. 12. 1655. thy ſoul-friend and ſervant in him our common Saviour. John Fuller.
In Reverendi viri Mr. Johannis Bedle Tractatum pium, & eruditum, viz. Grati erga Deum animi.
Diarium.AStronomi populo colllecta Diaria vulgant:
Theiologi haec reliquas vincit Ephemeridas.
Dat chartis loca viſa ſuis ſpontaneus exul,
Alter ut incertos dirigat inde pedes:
I…inerariu….Ad ſuperas Coeli (nam que hîc via lactea) ſedes
Hinc pia mens foelix carpere diſcat iter.
Scribitur heu nimiùm, vitiatur caſta papyrus,
Nugarum levium pondere praela gemunt,
Quas bis tinctorum, vel quas lymphata Trementûm
Secta parit, libros jurgia dura replent.
At pietas, candor que nitent h…c Codice, pectus
Exhibet authoris pagina quae que ſui.
Quicun que inſpicies, è nato noſce parentem,
Ore refert patrem. Quod docet, ipſe facit.
C. G.
Books lately Printed for Tho. Parkhurſt, at the ſigne of the Three Crowns, over againſt the great Conduit at the lower end of Cheapſide.
DR. Richard Sibbs his Commentary upon the Second Epiſtle to the Corinthians, publiſhed for publick good by Tho. Manton. in Folio.
Mr. John Cotton his Expoſition on the Firſt Epiſtle of John, with Doctrines, Reaſons and Uſes. in Folio.
There will be ſhortly extant, a Book Entituled, Cathechizing Gods Ordinance, or A ſhort Treatiſe concerning that Ancient, approved and ſoul-edifying Ordinance of Catechiſme, by Mr. Zach. Crofton Miniſter of the word at Buttolphs without Algate, London; in Octavo.
Curteous Reader.
THou mayeſt expect within a ſhort time to ſee publiſhed ſome new Pieces of Mr. William Fenners, who was ſo famous when living, and his works (though he is dead) hath ſuch a ſweet (though ſilent) voice.
T. P.
ERRATA.
PAge 3. l. 27. though, r. thought. p. 5. l. 22. favour, r. favours. p. 9. l. 6. put out all after the word Journies. l. 7. r. in the ſecond verſe. p. 16. l. 4. for huge, r. whoſe. l. 6. for are, r. if. p. 18. l. 10. and a reall. p. 26. l. 1. for praiſe, r. paines. p. 44. l. 17. for lanes, r. caves. p. 45. l. 3. r. from strength to ſtrength.
THE JOURNALL OR DIARY Of a Thankfull Chriſtian.
NUMB. 33. 2.
And Moſes wrote their goings out according to their journeys, by the commandement of the Lord.