Soul-Prosperity in Several Sermons, Title page – Notice
Soul-Proſperity, In Several SERMONS.
BY That Eminent Servant of Chriſt Mr. WILLIAM BENN, late of Dorcheſter in Dorſet-ſhire.
LONDON, Printed for Awnſham Churchil at the Black Swan near Amen-Corner. And William Churchil Bookſeller in Dorcheſter, 1683.
To the Worſhipful THOMAS GROVE Eſq; Of Fern in the County of Wilts.
THe Authour of this Treatiſe was a perſon that greatly honoured you, and one whom you highly eſteemed, and loved. I therefore preſume (as being one intruſted by the Author to publiſh what was prepared for the Preſs) to tender it to your Patronage. The Subject ſpeaks its own worth, the preſent Seaſon its uſefulneſs. As for your Self, you are a Gentleman ſo univerſally known, that you are above my Character. That the God of all grace would give you a great increaſe of grace, and peace in your Old Age, and bleſs your Houſe, is the hearty Prayer of
SIR, Your much Obliged Servant, Joſhua Churchil.
TO THE READER.
NEither the Author of the enſuing diſcourſe doth ſtand in need of any teſtimony from me, among thoſe to whom he was known, nor will the diſcourſe it ſelf need any recommendation unto them that ſhall peruſe it, provided they be any ways ſerious in Religion. It is therefore rather for compliance with the requeſt of others, then from any inclination in my ſelf, that I prefix theſe few lines unto what doth enſue. But yet I muſt ſay alſo, that the high eſteem which I had of the Author whilſt he lived, for the gifts and graces of God that were Eminent in him, and the Seaſonableneſs of the ſubject matter treated of in this diſcourſe, made me more willing to this compliance then otherwiſe I ſhould have been. I ſhall therefore offer a few things to the Reader, which he may eſteem or reject as he ſhall ſee cauſe. The Author of this diſcourſe (as is well known) is ſome while ſince entred into his reſt, and he is ſo, after his painful, faithful, and ſucceſsful labour in the Vineyard of Chriſt for above fifty years. And I ſhall ſay no more concerning him, but that as he was eminently furniſhed with all miniſterial abilities, ſo it is but a joint teſtimony of all that knew him, that his ſingular and almoſt unparllel'd perſeverance in Prayer, as for all other concerns for the Church of Chriſt, ſo for the ſucceſs of his own Miniſtry, was that which both ſtrengthened him to his work, and gave him ſucceſs in it amongst whom he laboured. And I mention this only as an incouragement to a juſt expectation of uſe, and fruit from this part of his labours, in that it had an eminent ſhare in thoſe fervent Prayers, wherewith all his endeavours in this kind were accompanyed. The ſubject-matter here inſiſted on by him, is of the higheſt importance unto all, whoſe deſign and buſineſs it is to live unto God. For it is not any one ſingle grace whoſe exerciſe is directed, nor any one ſingle duty which is preſſed and exhorted unto, but the entire management and acting of the principle of Spiritual Life in our whole walk before God, is declared and expreſſed in this diſcourſe. For in theſe things do our Souls live, in them doth their proſperity conſiſt. No Soul can proſper but in the due exerciſes of all graces, whereby the habit of them are ſtrengthened, and the due performance of all thoſe duties wherein they are exerciſed. To have a guide in theſe things, ſuch a guide as evidenced himſelf went before every ſtep in the way, directing and encouraging others to accompany and follow him in the ſame courſe and way, is of great concernment unto ſuch humble, teachable Souls, as deſign a proſperous condition in the profeſſion of Religion, wherein we are ingaged. And the deſign of this diſcourſe, with the management of it, to direct unto a Soul's proſperity, have weight added to them from the ſeaſon, wherein by the guidance of Divine Providence they are now publiſhed. For we are fallen into a time, wherein the Spiritual diſeaſes, decays and thriftleſneſs of many profeſſors of Religion do evidence themſelves to the World, and complaints of the want of Soul-proſperity, is heard from the moſt who ſincerely inſpect the inward ſtate of Religion this day, in themſelves and others. It can't therefore want that beauty which ſeaſon gives unto a word of truth. The manner of handling both Doctrine and Application in this diſcourſe is ſuch as becomes both the Author of it, and the Subject treated on, for it is done with that gravity and ſoundneſs of ſpeech as cannot be reproved; with that plainneſs and perſpicuity, which as it excludes all countenance from ornament of Speech, ſo there is nothing in it that may be expoſed to contempt amongst them that underſtand Spiritual things, or know in any meaſure, how they ought to be taught. And that which gives life to the whole, is an open evidence that the Author did both expreſs his own experience, and gives the Character of his own mind, in the endeavour after Soul-proſperity, wherein his attainments and ſucceſs were eminent above the moſt. And if the Reader be one who is ingaged in the ſame deſign, he will find, that as face anſwereth unto face in water, ſo his heart will anſwer the heart of the Author in his expreſſions of his own experience and practice, and it is nothing but the Edification of Believers in faith and holineſs that is aimed at, without the leaſt alliance unto any of thoſe controverſies in Religion, wherewith the profeſſion of it are perplexed in the World. For though theſe and ſuch things as theſe here treated of, are deſpiſed and reproached by Men of corrupt minds and prophane Spirits, unto whom the whole practice and power of godlineſs, with the manner of its Declaration according to the Scripture, is folly and matter of contempt; yet none have yet ſuppoſed, that it will admit of a queſtion in Chriſtian Religion, whether Believers ought ſeriouſly endeavour the ſpiritual proſperity of their own Souls. But with ſuch as by whom theſe things are either deſpiſed or neglected, we are not now concerned; as for thoſe who would endeavour to be found of Chriſt in peace, in what way ſoever he ſhall pleaſe to viſit his Church, or the World, the Seaſon wherein we live, the whole power of temptation, which we are exerciſed withal, the ſtate preſent of most Profeſſors, all circumſtances & calls of Providence, do make the ſubject-matter of the duty propoſed in this diſcourſe, more then ordinary neceſſary for their more ſerious conſideration.
JOHN OWEN.
Advertiſement.
IF this Treatiſe find acceptance, Mr. G. H. and J. C. friends of the Reverend Author, intruſted with his Papers, and who atteſt theſe to be his own, will be ready to publiſh other of his Tracts.