Self Employment in Secret, Title page – Preface
Self-Imployment IN SECRET; CONTAINING
I. Evidences upon Self-Examination.
II. Thoughts upon Painful Afflictions.
III. Memorials for Practice.
Left under the Hand-Writing of that Learned & Reverend Divine, Mr. Iohn Corbet, Late of CHICHESTER. With a Prefatory Epistle of Mr. Iohn Howe.
LONDON, Printed for Thomas Parkhurst, at the Bible & Three Crowns, in Cheapside, near Mercers-Chappel, 1681
THE PREFACE.
THE Character of this Holy Servant of Christ, is already given by an every-way sutable *In his Funeral-Sermon.Hand, in what Part it lay open to the Observation of others. His more Interiour Portrai…ture, which is contained in these Papers, was (as it could only be) drawn by Himself.
Why it is now exposed to publick view, there is no need to be scrupulously careful in giving an Account. It must be acknowledg'd there is usually with the Holiest Men, a modest shyness of Communicating these privacies of their own Souls. Their Inner Man doth shew its own Face with the more difficulty, by how much it is more beautiful, and worthy to be beheld. And so it was with this excellent Person as his Inscriptions upon these Papers shew, [The State of my Own Soul] and [Qotes for my Self] signifying their intended Use, was that of a Mirrour to represent himself to his own Eye, not to other Mens.
Yet this Aversion (though great) hath not been always Invincible, or such as no Reasons to the contrary could oversway. What are the Psalms of David, and sundry Memoires of Holy Men in Scripture, that were remotest from Ostentation and vain Glory, but records of the most secret Dispositions and Motions of the hidden man of the Heart, made publick for the instruction of their own, and succeeding Ages. As also the other published Meditations, and Soliloquies, of some of the greatest Worthies in the Christian Church, must be understood to have had the same Pious Design. Nor, hath a generous Benignity, in some Heathens, permitted them to Ingross to themselves, or envy to the World those pleasant Sensations of their own Minds, which they thought might be some way Instructive and Useful to other Men. As that *Marcus Antoni…Renowned Philosopher and Emperour is instance, that scrupled not to Write and leave behind him for this purpose, Twelve Books concerning his own Life.
The thing cannot be Culpable if the Design be Innocent, which will in great part be discernable in the manner of doing it, when it is with unaffected simplicity, and without studied Disguise: As we commend a Picture, not so much for its being Specious, as that it is like the Face. So have good Men in giving Accounts of themselves not spared to put in the Distempers, and Disaffections of their Spirits, that are as great Blemishes and Deformities, as a Wart or Mole on the Face; which the faithful Pencil must as curiously Express, as the greatest Decencies.
However, if this Publication be Praise-worthy, nothing is to be Arrogated to the Author, as, if it be thought Blameable; nothing is to be Derogated. For though the Work it self (which carries its sufficient Praise with it) be owing entirely to him (or rather to the Grace of God in him) the making it publick, is from the advice, and desire of some Friends, willing to impart what was once most private, for a publick Good.
It is but the Dissection of his Soul; less to be regretted by Friends, when he is now cut of Sight, and much more Useful, than that of his lately Pained Body.
And as Anatomy discovers all the curious Contexture of our Bodily Fabrick: Here are …ived Representations of Faith, Love, an Heavenly Mind, of Humility, Meekness, Self-denyal, Entire Resignedness to the will of God, in their First and Continued Motions: with whatever Parts, and Principles besides, Compose the whole Frame of the New Creature, as if we could perceive with our Eyes, how the Blood in an Humane Body, Circulates through all the Vains and Arteries, how the Heart Beats, the Spirits Fly to and fro, and how each Nerve, Tendon, Fibre, and Muscle, perform their several Operations. Here it may be seen how an Heart toucht from above, Works, and Tends thitherward, how it depresses it self in Humiliation, Dilates it self in Love, Exalts it self in Praise, Submits it self under Chastenings, how it Draws in its Refreshings, and Succours as there is need.
To many who have seen so Steady, Uniform, and Amiable a Course and Tenour of of Life; How grateful is it to behold the secret Motions of those inward latent Principles, from whence all proceeded? Though Some others, would look no further than the Advantages in external Respects that accrue by it. As though Some content themselves to know by a Clock, the Hour of the Day, or partake the beneficial use of some rarer Engine; The more curious, especially, any that design Imitation, and to Compose Some like thing, would be much more Gratify'd, if through some pellucid Inclosure, they could behold all the inward Work, and observe how every Wheel, Spring, or Movement, perform their several Parts, and Offices towards that Common Use.
What is here Presented, as it may be of great Usefulness to all that seriously design the Christian Life: so it hath a special Use for such as design it not, and who think there is no such thing.
It may peculiarly serve to Convince such, as are willing to think as Ill as they can of the Calling, and Office of the Ministry, that there are Some that serve the Lord in that Work, who do not Study such Subjects as are here Exemplify'd, only to frame Discourses of them, wherewith to entertain the People for an Hour; but for their own Use and Practice too. That do Live the things they Teach. And Eat of the Food they prepare for others. That are in good earnest, and most intent to Save themselves, and them that hear them: And do really venture their own Souls upon the same Bottom, upon which they would perswade their Hearers to venture theirs, taking all possible Care, Left when they Preach to others, they should themselves be Cast-awayes.
The very Opinion that we Preach, only for Forms sake, and to keep up the Custom, and believe, or regard not what we our selves say (as well as the thing it self) is no small (nor perhaps uncommon) hinderance to the success of Preaching at this Day. It is hard to be serious in Hearing, what I think, he is not serious in himself who Preaches it. If I Apprehend he Trifles, 'tis a great Temptation to me, to do so too! You may see this Worthy Man considered the Gospel, as a Gospel of Salvation, and not only Taught, but Used it accordingly. How Sollicitous was he to ground Substantially, and Strongly, his Hope of Eternal Life! How warily did he feel his Way; and Labour to Understand, and Know Practically, upon what Terms he might safely appear before his Judge!
To them who do not so, this ought to be taken for a Reprehensive Example, and may be very Directive to them that do.
That it may attain its proper Ends, is the serious Prayer of
One desirous to promote the Common Salvation, Iohn Howe.