Two Treatises 3, Title page 1 – Dedication 1
TWO TREATISES.
I. Three Sacred Emblems The Mystical
Starres
Sword
Sunne
in the
Hand
Mouth
Face
of the SON OF MAN.
II. TEARS for JERUSALEM. OR, The Compassionate Lamentation of a tender-hearted SAVIOUR over a rebellious and obdurate people.
Both lately delivered to the Church of God at Great YARMOUTH, and now published as useful and seasonable.
By JOHN BRINSLEY Minister of the Gospel there.
London, Printed by I. L. for Tho. Newberry, over-against the Conduit in Cornhill, by the Exchange. 1656.
THREE Sacred Emblems. The Mystical
Starres
Sword
Sunne
in the
Hand
Mouth
Face
of the SON OF MAN. Wherein is held forth the Authority, Dignity, Duty, and Security of the Gospel Ministery, with the efficacious and powerful opperations of the Word, and Spirit of Iesus Cirist. With divers other particulars useful at all times, and some of them very seasonable for the present.
As they were lately delivered to the Church of God at Great Yarmouth, by JOHN BRINSLEY Minister of the Gospel there.
TEXT.
Revel. 1. 16.
And he had in his right hand seven stars: And out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: And his countenance was as the Sun shining in his strength.
London, Printed by I. L. for Tho. Newberry, 1656.
To my honoured and worthy Brethren the faithful dispensers of the Mysteries of Christ in the County of NORFOLKE.
And especially those who were Assistant, or present at the late publick Ordination of Ministers in the City of Norwich, November, 14. 1655.
(Much esteemed in the Lord.)
HAving made choice of the three first Chapters of the Revelation to be the subject of a weekly Exercise in the place where God hath set me, (if he shall please so long to continue my life and liberty till I have finished this taske,) and having through his assistance passed through the first fifteene verses, it pleased his providence so to dispose, as that the sixteenth came to hand upon that verie day, on which some, and (as I since understood many, of you were assembled together for the Ordaining of certaine Candidates for the Ministery. Being in number parallel to the Starres in my Text, (however one of them, as it happeneth sometimes to the Starres,) appeared not.) With this providential Syncronisme I was then somewhat affected, looking upon the Subject I had in hand, as far more sutable to that audience where you then were, (and my self should have been, had not bodily imfirmity, not daring to conflict with the difficulty of the season, hindred,) then that to which I was then preaching. And hereupon it is, that I have beene since induced to communicate unto you these my Meditations, which here I put into your hands; wishing that they may be as useful to you, and others of my Brethren elsewhere, as they are seasonable and needful for the present times. I shall not neede to minde you of what I presume you cannot but be sensible, what designes there are at this day on foote against your sacred function, either to render it null, or else contemptible; either of which will serve the Devils and the Iesuites turne well enough for the exterpating of Gods true Religion. Against these you shall finde that in this Treatise, which serveth to animate and beare up your spirits. OnelyOnly let it be your care to answer the first of these Emblems here held forth; that you be Starres. First, such as are placed by God in the firmament of his Churh, (whereunto that Ordinance of a solemn Ordination is so necessary a requisite, as that I suppose no moderate and well advised spirit will blame what you in this juncture of time have done, though happily therein all things have not beene so regular as might have beene wished.) And being thus placed, then let it be your care and indeavour to approve your selves in measure worthy of that honour, shining as Starres, giving light to this darksome world by your doctrine and example, being (like the Pleiades) sweetly influentiall, unto those over whom God hath set you. And then with confidence put your selves into the hands of this Son of man committing your lives, livelyhood, Libertie, labours to the care and custodie of this your Archbishop, who being foreign the Chiefe Shepherd, will have an eye, as to the Sheepe, so to the Shepherds. In whose hand, as I find you in my Text, so I leave you, resting
Yarmouth Decem. 11. 1655. Your unworthy fellow labourer, yet desirous to be found faithful John Brinsley▪