Evangelical Repentance Unto Salvation, To the reader
TO THE READER, BY A Friend of the Authors.
WE live in an Age, wherein Names and Profeſſions are many Thouſands; and ten Thouſands are diſtinguiſhed thereby, every one ſaying, Lo, here is Chriſt, and Lo, there; that thou haſt a Name, that thou liveſt, may be ſaid to the National Church, and to all the Diſſenting Churches among us; the Temple, the Temple, ſaith the one, and ſaith the other; yet may it not be ſaid to the moſt of theſe Churches; But thou art dead, be watchful and ſtrengthen the things, that remain, that are ready to Dye, Rev. 3.2, 3, 4. God hath (I am perſwaded) a few Names in all, and every the ſaid Churches, who have not defiled their Garments, but do indeed repent, and turn to the Lord; who are born not of Fleſh, nor of Blood, nor of the will of man, but of God; ſuch to whom the kindneſs and love of God our Saviour hath appeared, not by works of Righteouſneſs, which they have done, but according to his mercy he hath ſaved them by the waſhing of Regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghoſt; and for others, let them be of the loweſt, or of the higheſt form, ſuch that have made the firſt ſtep to Reformation, or higher and greater ſteps thereto; they are but the leaves of the Fig Treee that is curſed of Chriſt, and ſhall ſoon wither away: It is no matter what name you have (I would there were not any Name among us but Chriſtian); It is the Nature and Power of Chriſtianity: What is the Chaff to the Wheat? It is ſaid in the Phropheſies of Iſaiah and Micah, that the Mountain of the Lord's Houſe ſhall be exalted to the top of the Mountains, and all Nations ſhall flow unto it; I do not think by Mountain in theſe places is meant any one particular Church, by what Name ſoever they be dignified or diſtinguiſhed: But the true Living, Miſtick and Catholick Church; ſuch, who having been in the Apoſtacy, with others, do Repent, and turn to the Lord; and that you may the better know them, you have theſe following Diſcourſes to help you in ſo great a work; ſome Deſpiſe this great Grace, and ſtumble at this mighty work of God upon the Heart, as too high, too hard, and too difficult a work; but God hath his Fire in Zion, and his Furnace in Jeruſalem and he will throwly purge his Floor: There muſt be a cutting off a right Hand, a plucking out a right Eye; and it is better going to Heaven with one Eye, and with one Hand, maimed and Halt, than to go to Hell with both. Others ſay, Repentance is a legal work, fit only for old Teſtament Saints; There is indeed a ſorrow, a rapentance that worketh Death; but the Repentance here called for, and exhorted to, is ſuch, that is never to be Repented of; That which brings the Soul poor and naked, trembling, and melting to Chriſt, the Prince and Saviour, that gives Repentance to Iſrael, and Forgiveneſs of Sins; And bleſſed you: For ever Bleſſed are they, whoſe ſins are forgiven, and whoſe Iniquities are pardoned; here are the Rivers of the Waters of Life, the Tree in the midſt of the Paradice of God; Jeſus Chriſt thus Revealed, and thus received, and heartily embraced, will put an end to all differencies, debates and controverſies; He that hath this Anointing from above; this well of Life ſpringing up in him unto Everlaſting Life; will not Bleſs himſelf in an Idol, nor be pleaſed with any pompous Worſhip, knowing the King's Daughter is all glorious within, and Circumciſion is that of the Heart; he knows not, nor acknowledges any, as Lords, over God's Heritage; but is aſſured, That the Son of Man came not to be Miniſter'd to, but to Miniſter. The things contained herein are the true ſayings of God, according to the Holy Scriptures, making the man of God perfect, throughly furniſhed to every good work; Did all men that have the worthy Name of Chriſtian, profeſs, and practiſe, what is herein preſſed to, and called for, we ſhould ſee Jeruſalem a quiet Habitation, a ſure Dwelling Place; for none ſhall then indeed harm us, if we are followers of that which is good: Here are plain Goſpel Truths, that whoſoever ſtumbles thereat, it is, becauſe Chriſt is to him a ſtumbling ſtone, and rock of offence; and yet miſterious and deep, that one can never find the bottom; a River that men may ſwim in: O Chriſtian! whenever thou art ſo converſant in theſe things, let thy profiting appear to all men; let the Dead bury the Dead; but go thou and follow Chriſt, as ſoon as ever he calls thee; Never go to thy Father's Houſe, and bid them there farewel; go to Chriſt, whenſoever in the Goſpel he calls thee, or ſpeaks to thee by any private whiſpering; Go in all thy rags; ſay with the Prodigal, Tho I have ſpent all upon Harlots, and am Starving, having fed upon Husks; I know in my Father's Houſe, there is Bread enough, and to ſpare, and here I periſh with hunger; I will ariſe, and go to my Father, and will ſay unto him, Father I have ſinned againſt Heaven, and before thee; yet Take me into thy Family, tho I be but as one of thy Hired Servants: To whom the Father will ſay; Don't ſtand Doubting, come in, come in to my Houſe, bring forth the beſt Robe and put it on him, &c. I think nothing too good for thee (my Son) now thou art returned, not a word what thou haſt been, now thou art returned, I will receive thee; tho thou hast not a penny in thy Purſe, nor any good quality in thee, but this thy coming back to me; Thou muſt ſtarve if thou keep wandring from thy Father's Houſe; If I don't feed thee, thou periſheſt; thou haſt be-thought thy ſelf at laſt, and art come home; ſtand not at the door any longer ſtarving in the cold, and for hunger; Away, Away, with thy provious Diſpoſitions, and good qualifications before coming Welcome, Welcome, come in, come in, do not ſtand at the door, I am glad thou art come; Who ever thought to have ſeen thee returning again? Bring hither the Fatted Calf, kill it, and eat, and be merry; How merry (ſinner) canſt thou be? And they now begin to be merry, yea, and all the Angels ſtand by, and rejoyce: O! here is a Feaſt indeed. But this makes the Elder Brother, the proud Phariſee, to ſtand off powting and grumbling; And he will never more come into his Father's Houſe; For he was never ſo kindly dealt with, yet never Traſgreſſed at any time, he was qualified, and deſerved Entertainment, he had done many a good Work, he had bore the Burthen and Heat of the Day, and therefore expected to have received more than they that came at the Eleventh Houre; to whom God will ſay, Is thine Eye evil becauſe mine is good? Let us then all be deligent to lay up for our ſelves a Treaſure in Heaven; we ſee, or may ſee, All things here Periſh with the uſing. This is a ſhaking time, God is now ſhaking all Nations, and it is, that the deſire of all Nations may come. He that Epiſtolizes this, is a Friend to the Author, and well acquainted with his endeavours to preſs after, (and Witneſſing for him, as well skilled in) the truth and the inſide of Religion; That he is a man taught of God, and wiſhing well to all that are gone beyond him; and hoping the Lord will not deſpiſe the day of ſmall things; knowing, the humble he will teach his way, and the meek he will guide in Judgment. I have preſſed the Author to permit theſe things to come to light, which at laſt is condeſcended to: If God bleſs it to they Edification, Converſion, Reformation, ſay, It is not in him that willeth, nor in him that runneth, but in God that ſhews mercy; for neither is he that planteth any thing, nor he that watereth Any thing; but God that giveth the Increaſe; to him be glory, and praiſe for ever, and ever, Amen.