Characters of a Godly Man, To the reader
A PRAEMONITION TO THE READER.
IT is not without better Advice than my own, that this Piece goes abroad. Nor without an humble Confidence that no Wood, Hay or Stubble will be found in it; though it's Gold and Silver be altogether unpoliſhed.
Nevertheleſs, I think my ſelf ſafe from the wo of being well ſpoken of by all Men. Being that Light and Darkneſs will not lay aſide their old enmity; nor Fire and Water kiſs, and be Friends, in haſte. Thoſe that cannot bear the Name of ſupernatural GRACE; and can bear no more than the Name of Moral VIRTUE; may not be expected to ceaſe from their Hoſtility againſt Books and Authors, that treat them no more ſmoothly. Natural Hiſtorians ſay, that the ſound of Timbrels killeth Tygers; and the ſcent of Roſes is deadly unto Vultures. Theological ones do know, that Aaron's golden Bells make as mortal a noiſe, and the Roſes of Sharon ſend forth as deadly an Odour, unto ſome Men. foreign. But,
I am, with more concernment, aware, that there are of the Excellent of the Earth, who will be apt to have hard thoughts of the Characters here preſented. Imagining them to wound themſelves, and to take away their Veil, though they do in truth nothing leſs. Theſe, are weaker Chriſtians; and of them, the moſt bruiſed Reeds. The prevention of whoſe Self-injurious Miſtake, I have endeavoured at the latter end of my Book. And, leſt what is there ſaid, ſhould be read when it is too late, it likes me here to ſay thus much for the ſame end.
My Characters are ſuch Evidences as are ſuited, only, unto the well-grown in Chriſtianity. They do ſpeak, what, all that are Regenerate of RIGHT, ought to be. And what they do NECESSARILY Deſire and Endeavour to be. They do not ſpeak what they, all, ACTUALLY Appear to be. Or what they all Are, any otherwiſe than in Deſire and Endeavour. Nor are they intended, at all, for tryal of the Truth of Grace in weak Chriſtians. But for tryal of Growth of Grace in Elder ones, and ſtronger. And for teaching Chriſtians of all Ranks, unto what it is that they muſt Aſpire. And indeed unto Weaklings, they are like to be MEAT or POYSON, as they ſhall uſe them, reaſonably, or madly. Poyſon, if they ſhall wildly conclude from them their Unſoundneſs. Arguing, that they have no Spiritual Life; becauſe, they have it not as yet advanced unto ſuch and ſuch Strength and Beauty. But Meat, if they ſhall juſtly conclude from them their great Imperfection. Arguing, that ſurely they have reaſon to be profoundly Humble and perpetually Diligent; becauſe ſome Chriſtians are, and all of them ought to be, ſuch as are here Characteriſed, though they are ſo far ſhort.
This warning I give; wiſhing it may be taken by every one, that hath the marks which I give of the leaſt and loweſt Grace that is true. Their Saviour and mine, is touched with the ſenſe of their Infirmities; and can have Compaſſion on them that are moſt Ignorant among them, and moſt out of the way! God forbid, that, I ſhould Preach his Goſpel without his Bowels! Unto each Soul I take up St. Paul's words unto the Jailer; Do thy ſelf no harm! Yea, the words of a greater Apoſtle than St. Paul, utter'd unto trembling Daniel; O man greatly Beloved, Fear not! Peace be unto thee! Be ſtrong, yea, be ſtrong!
Be it added alſo; that concerning the beſt Readers that I expect, I am not without ſome Jealouſies. And a Preſumption that it may not be Superfluous, to put them in mind of ſome plain Truths well known to them.
Solid Meat, when beſt prepared, requires the Labour of Nature, and the Bleſſing of God for its Digeſtion. All Writings are fruitleſs, unto thoſe whoſe Reading is careleſs. And to ſuch, whoſe Eyes are as Swines; that do look all ways, but upwards. And do every thing for benefit, more than Pray for it. Nor is it to be doubted, but the beſt that dare to reſtrain Prayer, and with-hold their Pains, do as oft ſit down by the loſs.
In our Travels toward Heaven we may not loiter at Noon, if we have ſet out before others in the Morning; and have really got before them any good way. Alas! the more has been done BY us, the more hath the Grace of God done FOR us. And where moſt hath been received, there will moſt be required. The moſt Holy Readers and Hearers ſhould be the moſt Induſtrious. The ſtrongeſt ſhould work hardeſt. Jointly do Conſcience and Intereſt ſo bind.
A Sin and Grief, and Shame it is, to ſo much as SEEM to come ſhort of Salvation. They do ſo SEEM who intermit foully, or abate their purſuit of Evangelical Perfection. And what do they leſs, all of them, than ſay in the language of Practice this hideous thing? To wit, That they are not willing to go to Heaven, but by the very Gates of Hell. As near by them as may be without deſcent within them, and everlaſting abode.
It is reported that a Myrtle Rod in a Traveller's hand, keeps him from wearineſs. It may be hoped, theſe Conſiderations in a Reader's Mind, may have ſome like Effect. As for the Flock, unto whom this Writing is a Paſtoral Letter; unto them I have other Opportunities of Communicating what ſhall be thought farther neceſſary. And I will not here add more unto them, or any others, than that word of our Saviour: which, if Phylacteries were in uſe under the New Teſtament, I would wear about my Neck; Bleſſed are they that Do his Commandments, that they may have right to the Tree of Life, and may enter in through the Gates into the City, Regeneration makes us Sons and Heirs. But makes us not perfectly ſo, as it makes us not perfectly Holy. We muſt be Bred and Qualified, as well as be Begot and Born, before we can Inherit the Kingdom. Holineſs and Obedience are the way unto all right Conſolation on Earth, and full Glorification in Heaven. Though it be the Lord Jeſus Chriſt alone that MERITS all, and Faith alone (in the ſenſe of St. Paul, nothing contradicted by St. James,) that INTERESSETH us in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt.See Dr. Manton on James.
Now, the Lord who delighteth to magnifie his Power in Inſtruments weakneſs, magnifie the ſame in this Eſſay. Cauſing it to promote that HOLINESS without which no man ſhall ſee the Lord. Amen.