Christianity the Great Mystery, Title page – To the reader
CHRISTIANITY The Great Myſtery.
IN ANSWER to a late Treatiſe, Chriſtianity not Myſterious: THAT IS Not Above, Not Contrary to Reaſon.
In oppoſition to which is Aſſerted, Chriſtianity is above Created Reaſon, in its pure Eſtate.
And contrary to Humane Reaſon, as Fallen and corrupted: and therefore in proper ſenſe, Myſtery.
Together with a Poſtcript Letter to the Author, on his Second Edition Enlarg'd.
By T. B.
DONDON: Printed for W. Marſhal at the Bible in Newgate-Street: And John Marſhall at the Bible in Grace-Church-ſtreet. 1696.
TO THE Truly Chriſtian Readers.
I Have (I hope through the Grace of God) with a ſincere Chriſtian Zeal, deſired to Argue for the Glory of the Truths of the Goſpel, under the Honourable Title of Myſteries, (as they were, once for All, delivered to the Saints,) according to the beſt Methods of Diſcuſſion, and Ratiocinative Debate from Scripture Reaſon: But behold, I firſt ſhew to my ſelf, and to you, a more Excellent, or Tranſcendent way: That is, Receiving the love of Truth, or Truth in the Love of it; and with thoſe mighty Energies, and Efficacies of it upon the Heart and Life. David obſerving Men making void the Law, that is, the whole Doctrine of God in his word, was Holily Enflam'd upon it; Therefore I love thy Commandments above Gold, yea, above Fine Gold; Therefore I eſteem All thy Precepts concerning All Things to be Right; and I hate every falſe way. The beſt Antidote againſt the Poyſon of an Infectious Air, or Age is the inward Experimental Senſe, that God hath choſen us to Salvation, through Sanctification of the Spirit, and Belief of the Truth. The moſt diſtinguiſhing Teſt of Truth, that it is of God, is ſelf-Reſignation and Obedience in doing the Will of God; The Witneſs of the Father, the Word, the Spirit, when we have it in our Selves, can alone enable us to ſet our Seal to that Truth; The Conſcience purged from dead Works to ſerve the Living God, by the Blood Offer'd by the Eternal Spirit; and the Blood of the Everlaſting covenant, making perfect in every Good Work to do his Will, and working in us, what is well pleaſing in his Sight, are the moſt Aſſuring Seals of the Eternal Godhead of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt in ſuch an Antichriſtian Time; The Gates of Hell, All the Reaſon, Policy, Wit, Authority of it, cannot prevail againſt a Chriſtian ſo founded on that Rock: The Work of Faith with Power, according to that Hiſtory of Believers, Heb. 11. does above All, diſplay the Myſterious Efficacy of it, which none know, but they who have it. That it gives a preſence of its Objects above all, that Sence can do, of its proper Objects; and a Demonſtration of its Idea's, above all that Reaſon is Able for; For it can prevail Above both, when they would carry contrary to its Scope and End, and Impowers to Action far above them, by vertue of that Hypostaſis, and thoſe its Demonſtrations: Let us therefore Bow our Knees mutually, that the Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt would grant us, according to the Riches of his Glory, to be ſtrengthen'd by his Spirit in the Inner Man, that Chriſt may dwell in our Hearts by Faith; that we may comprehend with All Saints, the Heighths and Depths, the Breadths and Lengths of what paſſes Knowledg; That we may be filled with All the Fulneſs of Him, who can, to perfect Myſtery, do above All we can ask or think; and yet to ſhew it no Blind Chimerick, or Imaginary thing; By a Power that Worketh IN us; To Him be Glory in his Church by Jeſus Chriſt throughout All Ages, Amen.
And in Regard of ſo many Antichriſts, Enemies to the Glory of Chriſt and of his Goſpel in this Age, and in the midſt of us; Let us Hereby know to our Conſolation, It is the very Laſt of the Laſt Time, the Time for God to Work for the Conſuming the Grand Antichriſt, and all the Leſſer Antichriſts, that come out of his Smoke with Him.
The Lord Haſten it in this his very Time; So Joyn, I beſeech you in Supplication with your moſt
Humble Affectionate Servant In our Lord Jeſus T. B.