The Saints Only Way to True Blessedness, Title page – To the reader
VIA LACTEA, or THE SAINTS OnelyOnly VVay to True Bleſſedneſs. Opened in a SERMON from MATTH. 5.8. ALSO, The Danger of neglecting Goſpel-Salvation, from Heb 2.3.
By Thomas Cheeſman, Maſter of Arts, and formerly a Member of Pembrook-Colledge in Oxford.
With his Epiſtle to Vindicate Himſelf from thoſe Abſurdities of Method and Language, and little leſs then Blaſphemies, with which he was abuſed by a Mercenary Pen, in the former Impreſſion.
London, Printed for the Vindication of the Author, and Satisfaction of the Reader. 1663.
TO THE READER.
Courteous Reader,
MY poor Labours in the Goſpel have been of late ſo wretchedly abuſed, and falſely repreſented to the World, as that I have been in a manner conſtrained to Print theſe following Sermons, for a neceſsary vindication of my Miniſtry, from the contempt of thoſe prophane adverſaries, who would gladly lay hold upon any occaſion to vilifie it, and load it with diſgraceful imputations. In partieular, that Sermon upon Mat. 5.8. Has been moſt barbarouſly handled, and contumeliouſly dealt with, for I dare appeal to any judicious auditor, which was preſent at the delivery of it, whither the counterfeit Copy can ſhew almoſt any thing true and genuine, ſave onelyonly the Text; that abſurd Pamphlet, in which theſe unparalled forgeries are comprized, carries a fair and plauſible Title, flattering the Reader into expectations of ſome rich ſpiritual treaſure, but he which would take the paines to ſearch, ſhall find his deluded hopes entertained with nothing but droſs and dung, the very excrements of a ſottiſh diſtempered brain; in a word, the diſcourſe is altogether wild, brutiſh, and extravagant, as if it were ambitious to derive its pedigree from a pure frenſie, and were calculated for Bedlam, rather then any ſerious Chriſtian auditory, or were penned by an author who had publiquely renonnced all congruity of language, and had profeſſed himſelf a ſworn Enemy both to reaſon and conſcience, before he could be qualified for the work; and therefore Chriſtian Reader, for the future, I deſire thee neither to receive or give credit to any thing that ſhall come abroad in the like nature as mine But I ſhall dwell no longer upon this unpleaſing ſubject, be it known for thy further ſatisfaction, that what is here Printed, is the ſame for the main ſubſtance of it, with that which was formerly Preached, without any conſiderable addition; concerning the whole, I ſhall venture to, ſay thus much, that there is the clear water of life drawn from the wells of ſalvation, though not preſented to thee in a golden cup; wholeſome food, though the diſh be not artificially garniſhed; yet if thou be in the number of hungering and thirſting ſouls, ſuch as reliſh the ſimplicity of the Goſpel, thou wilt not ſtand upon niceneſs or delicacy. I Intreat that thou do not onelyonly read, but weigh and conſider; never reſt ſatisfied until the truths here contained have made ſome lively impreſſion upon thy heart, ſo this and all other diſcourſes of the like nature may build thee up in thy moſt holy faith, and bring thee nearer to God, which ſhall be the Prayer of him who would gladly approve himſelf a faithful Witneſs to the truth,
Tho. Cheeſman.