Divine Characters in Two Parts, To the reader – Publishers advertisement
ΤΑ ΔΙΑΦΕΡΟΝΤΑ, OR Divine Characters IN TWO PARTS, Acutely Diſtinguiſhing the more Secret and Ʋndiſcerned Differences Between
1. The HYPOCRITE in his beſt Dreſſe of Seeming Virtues and formal Duties.
And the True Chriſtian in his Real Graces and Sincere Obedience.
As alſo between 2. The blackeſtweeds of dayly Infirmities of the truly Godly, eclipſing ſaving grace, And The Reigning Sinnes of the Unregenerate that pretend unto that Godlineſſe they never had.
By that late burning and ſhining Lamp, Maſter Samuel Crook, B. D. late Paſtor of Wrington in Somerſet.
Who being dead, yet ſpeaketh.
By C. B. and W. G.
LONDON, Printed for A. B. and are to be ſold by Joſeph Cranford at the ſigne of the Kings head in Saint Pauls Church-yard. 1658.
THE FIRST PART.
Differencing The HYPOCRITE in his beſt Dreſſe of Seeming Virtues and formal Duties.
From The True Chriſtian in his Real Graces and Sincere Obedience.
By that late burning and ſhining Lamp, Maſter Samuel Crook, B. D. late Paſtor of Wrington in Somerſet.
Who being dead, yet ſpeaketh.
MATTH. 10.17.
Beware of men.
By C. B. and W. G.
LONDON, Printed for Adoniram Byfeild at the three Bibles in Corn-hill, next dore to Popes-head-ally. 1658.
THE Publiſhers of the enſuing TREATISE To the Candid and Judicious Readers, Grace, Mercy, and Peace.
THis Excellent and moſt Uſeful Piece, ſo long deſired, and ſo much longed for by very many Eminent Pillars in the Church, as well as by multitudes of other diſcerning Chriſtians, is now made yours. But before you enter it, we hold it needful to pray you to take a few things in your way: not touching the ſuperlative worth of that bleſſed and glorious ſtarre (a), the Renowned Author of this Work,Dan. 12.3. which you already have, in a little Tract of his Life and Death, printed Anno 1651. Nor, concerning the Scope and Method of it, which is done by himſelf in his own Preface: but, ſomething by way of Premonition, and ſomething by way of Apology, for our juſt vindication, and your better ſatisfaction.
We are troubled at the many ſlips of the Preſſe, in theſe looſe dayes too common, We therefore firſt deſire you to correct with a Pen the Errors in printing, which you ſhall after finde noted, to make the ſence more facile, and your reading of it more delightful. The falſe pointings are moe, and more troubleſome than the noted faults, and cannot be particularly ranged inter Errata, but muſt be amended in the reading. The pages alſo are, divers of them, falſe numbred. Theſe, (together with the Contents in the front of each page of the Natural, and Moral Hypocrites, without our direction) gives us juſt cauſe to complaine that, what once by the like ſupine careleſneſſe and unfaithfulneſſe, befell the Holy Bible it ſelf, printed in 80 Anno 1612. wherein (among many other faults of that Edition) in ſteed of thoſe words in the 119 Pſal. Princes have perſecuted me, &c. the words, in many Books of that impreſſion, ran thus, Printers have perſecuted me without a cauſe, is now become the ſad fate of this Book, and might well be the cloſure of it, if the Printer would do it and us right.
Our next Premonition concernes the publication, which hath not beene thus long delayed out of envy, or negligence; but, upon the Authors own ground, as deeming it unſeaſonable. Not that we feared (as he) the circumciſion of it by any ſupercilious or time-ſerving Cenſor (the uſual Mormo of former times:) or, as thinking there is now no need of it; for, there was never more. But, obſerving the boundleſſe liberty taken up in theſe times of reigning hypocriſie, by every Rabſhekeh, and black-mouth'd blaſphemer, to reproach and revile not only the moſt eminent ſervants, but even the cleareſt and moſt fundamental Truths of Chriſt, through the ſordid obſtetrication of every baſely-mercenary Preſſe; we could not ſatisfie our own diſcretions in publiſhing ſuch an elaborate Tractate in ſuch unhallowed Saint-ſeeming Dog-dayes.
Lucan.—rapidus queis Sirius ignes
Exerit,
it being a kind of diſparagement to an Orthodox and grave Divine to appear in print among the wild rabble of fancy-drunken ſcriblers; unleſſe ſome extraordinary emergency compel him to it.
Howbeit, meeting the laſt year with a miſ-ſhapen Pamphlet, intituled Hypocriſie unmasked, containing Characters of ſeveral Hypocrites, (fathered upon Mr. Samuel Crook (that pretious name) and publiſhed, (craſſâ minervâ) by John Dolling, we could not but kindle at ſuch a mangl'd Piece, patcht up out of ſome imperfect notes, firſt ſurreptitiouſly purloyned, and then as injuriouſly diſmembred, and thruſt upon the World as the perfect iſſue of the Author. Wherein, that Publiſher hath dealt not unlike to Joſephs Brethren, who firſt made money of him; and then, in ſteed of their Brother, returned onelyonly his coat, (dyed in blood, as they pleaſed) unto their Father. Or, as the Sorcereſſe Medea, that being (for her wickedneſſe) forc't to flie, ſnatcht up, and cut her Brother in pieces, ſtrowing them in her fathers way, to retard his purſuit of Jaſon, who had, by her meanes, rob'd him of his Golden Fleece. So that now we held our ſelves bound to publiſh the whole as it was digeſted by the Reverend Author; whoſe Characters, by that imperfect Piece, were almoſt reduced to as much diſhonour, as Jezabels carcaſſe, of which no more was left but the skull, the feet, and the palmes of her handsb2 Kings 9.35, to know her by.
If any think this to be gratis dictum, let him compare thoſe Characters of the Natural, Moral and Civil Hypocrites of Dollings Edition, with theſe here publiſhed, ad verbum, according to the perfect Copy, and he ſhall ſoon finde, in many places, many lines together left out in that Pamphlet.
In the Praying Hypocrite, and the Fained Lover, he hath wronged our Author yet more, by obtruding thoſe as perfect draughts, which are more imperfect than the other. For, he never fingered, or ſo much as ſaw the laſt and more perfect Copies of thoſe two Chapters. Therin, the induſtrious Author, upon a review, altered ſome things, and added more, either in the Title-leaf before each Chapt. or in the adverſe pages of each leaf (left blank for that purpoſe;) or elſe, referd to other notes formerly preached on thoſe ſubjects. All which are now orderly put together.
We leave therefore every one to conſider what regard is to be given to that Publiſher either in what He hath ſet forth already, or further intimateth to his Reader, touching this, & certain ſelect Sermons of the ſame Authour, licenſed by the Vice-chancellor of Oxford, to be printed there: the rather, becauſe he acknowledgeth the full notes to be in one of our hands, and not in his.
Nor needeth any wiſe man to ſtumble at this; it being uſual with Depeculators haſtily to catch up what lies in the way, although but an imperfect part, whereby they marre all by rending in pieces what ſhould not be divided. Hence, that they ſo get, doeth them little good; and, what they leave, is of as little uſe, untill the torn parts be again conjoyned, and the whole preſented together, which here is done.
And now we buckle on our Armour to obviate thoſe reflections which Envy, Incogitancy or Ignorance may ſeek to caſt upon this Work: Againſt which Ingratitude, we ſend out this little Apology, and Defence.
There is in it, ſay ſome, too great an affectation of Scripture-phraſe, inſomuch as, oft-times, the ſame Texts are again and again uſed, and urged.
So ſay they who care not for the Scriptures, nor heed the applying of them. Our Authour is indeed much in Scripture-language, being an eloquent man, and mighty in the Scriptures cActs 18.24: not out of affectation, but as apprehending thoſe expreſſions to tranſcend all other; and, to let all men ſee wherein he moſt delighted, and how exquiſitely he could diſcern between the Waters of Jordan and the Rivers of Damaſcus d2 Kings 5, 12. Therefore he drew ſo much out of the pureſt fountain, and ſo little out of the pudly rivulets of Plutarch, Seneca and other the moſt applauded Moraliſts. Somtimes he makes uſe of their ſayings, yet (no more than Paul, before him) ſeldome vouchſafeth them the honour to quote the particular places out of which he had them to ſhew how little weight he placed in them, and how far he was from oſtentation for being verſt in them, as Moſes, in all the learning of the Egyptians eActs 7.22.; and the Apoſtle, in Heathen Poetsf1 Cor. 15.33 Ex Menandro. Titus 1.12 Ex Epimenide.
And albeit he alledgeth the ſame Texts often; yet, very rarely, if at all, to the ſame purpoſe, and upon the ſame occaſion; but, for ſeveral and diſtinct uſes. Nor is it a blot, but an excellency, to be able to make moſt uſe of what is Excellent. The ſame Scriptures often afford variety of inſtructions; and therefore a greater multiplicity of apt applications; where a wiſe man hath the handling of them. All Scripture (ſaith Scripture it ſelf) is profitable for Doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for inſtruction in righteouſneſſe g2 Tim. 3.16. If then, our Authour who was wiſe, (ſtill teaching the people knowledge, and giving good heed to ſeek out, and to ſet in order many Proverbs hEccleſ. 12.9 10, or excellent ſayings) ſought to find out acceptable words, even words of truth, the words of God himſelf, He is not to be blamed, if he often produce the ſame words, ſometimes by way of doctrine, ſometimes for reproof, or redargution of erroriforeign. Graec. Schol. apud Occumen.; ſometimes for correction of vice, and ſomtimes for inſtruction in righteouſneſſe; that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furniſhed unto all good works. Nor is he to be taxed of tautologies, and vain repetitions, if he uſe the ſame Scripture by way of aſſertion in one place, and by way of alluſion in another.
But, ſay others, not only the ſame words, but the ſame things (for which many of thoſe Scriptures are brought) are often repeated, which makes the Book to ſwell in bulk beyond neceſſity or profit.
This exception is ſoon wip't off by this one conſideration, that even thoſe ſame things are ever produced to ſeveral purpoſes, and in a different manner. Or, it happeneth by reaſon of the affinity of the Subjects, whereof he treateth. There is ſo much likeneſſe and correſpondency between ſome ſeveral ſorts of hypocrites, that what is ſpoken of one, agreeth well enough to the other. Upon this account the ſame things may be again alledged; yet with variety of application. If then to write to you the ſame things, to him was not grievous, why ſhould it be irkeſome to you, for whom it is ſafe kPhil. 3.1.?
Therefore he doth this ex induſtria, of ſet-purpoſe, ſo often, as the cauſe required, that every part might be intire, without forcing the Reader to laquy up and down to find out the meaning of one place by recourſe to another. Every ſeveral Chapter and Character here is like Solomons Proverbs, independent, although not inconſiſtent. Some of them are ſo large alſo, that every Reader will not, and ſome cannot go over the whole. And, to refer ſuch to another place, is but to vex them by putting them to a double labour, firſt to ſearch, then to compare the places ſought out, to pick out the ſenſe of what they were reading. It was therefore the wiſdome of our conſiderate Authour to make every piece compleat in it ſelf, that he who will not, or cannot read all, might not loſe his labour in reading but a part.
If any ſhould except againſt the whole, as ſavouring more of morality than of Chriſt: ſuch muſt be intreated to conſider that it is ſuch morality as the Spirit of God in Scripture teacheth; and ſuch as is within the verge of the two great Commandments of the Law, tending mainly to turne the inſide of Hypocrites outward, who, as the ſelf-juſtifying Ruler, ſuppoſe they have kept the whole Law, and call for more work; and look upon humble Chriſtians as deſpiſed Publicanes: that hereby they may ſee how groſſely they deceive themſelves and others. It is that Teſt of the life of Religion, wherein Chriſt himſelf ſpent the greateſt part of his preaching Miniſtry, for unm…sking of hypocrites, and to give warning of them. In a word, it is (next to the making ſure of Chriſt) the moſt needful work of a Chriſtian to put himſelf upon the moſt diſcriminating way of Trial of his ſincerity, and upon the laying open of whatever hypocriſie is in him, that he may with more care and ſpeed bewayle and caſheire it.
Nor hath any man that knew our Chriſtian Gamaliel, and envyeth not his high eſteeme in the Church, any cauſe to complain that he hath not ſaid enough of, and for Chriſt. For even ſuch as never had the happineſſe to partake of his preaching (wherein none ſought more to ſet forth and to extol Chriſt) cannot be ſuch ſtrangers in our Iſrael (if men of parts and induſtry) as not to take notice of that orthodox and exquiſite work of his, ſo often printed, and reprinted, entituled, A Guide to true bleſſedneſſe, in which every man (of ſalt, and forehead) muſt needs acknowledge to the honour of God, his accurate pains, and more than ordinary dexterity in ſetting forth Chriſt in his natures, perſon, offices and works, as fully (though not in ſo many lines) as any man taking liberty thus to object, hath done, or can do.
It is not requiſite, but would be very incongruous to go over the doctrine of faith in a treatiſe of manners. But it is very neceſſary, and moſt profitable, that he who hath done the one, ſhould, if he can, adde the other, that ſo the rule of faith, and the power of godlineſſe may be advanced together. This laſt (which we here offer to you) is his preſent ſubject, which the good Lord ſet on effectually upon you and us, that this famous and moſt deſervedly-honoured Lamp, as well as we, may the more rejoyce in that great day of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, in whom we cordially ſigne our ſelves
December 12. 1657. Yours, in the ſervice of your faith,
C. B.
W. G.
Books printed, and are to be ſold by Adoniram Byfield, at the three Bibles in Cornhill, next door to Popes-Head-Alley.
A Commentary upon the three firſt Chapters of Geneſis, by that Reverend Divine Mr. John White, late Preacher of Gods Word, at Dorchaster in fol.
An Expoſition upon the 6.7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13. Chapters of Ezekiel by Mr. William Greenhill, being the ſecond volume in 4.
An Expoſition upon the 15.16, 17, 18, 19th Chapters of Ezekiel by the ſame Author the third volume in 4.
The humbled ſinner reſolved what he ſhould do to be ſaved, or faith in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, the only way of ſalvation, by Mr. Obadiah Sedgwick in 4.
The riches of grace diſplayed, in the offer and tender of ſalvation to poor ſinners, upon Rev. 3.10. by the ſame Author in 12.
The Fountain opened and the water of life flowing forth, for the refreſhing of thirſty ſinners; in ſeveral Sermons Preached at Covent-Garden on Iſa. 55.1, 2, 3. by the ſame Author in 4.
A ſhort Catechiſme by the ſame Author.
The Aſſemblies larger and leſſer Chatechiſme in 4.
The Reaſons of the Aſſembly of Divines concerning Presbyterial Government, in 4.
The tenth Muſe, ſeveral Poems, by Mrs. Anne Bradſtreet in 4.
Hidden Manna, or the myſtery of ſaving grace, by Mr. William Fenner in 12.
Safe conduct, or the Saints guidance to glory, at the Funeral of Mr. Thomaſin Barnardiston, by Mr. Ralph Robinſon in 4.
The Saints longing after their heavenly Country. A Sermon by the ſame Author in 4.
A Sermon at a Faſt by Mr. Nathaniel Ward.
A full diſcovery and confutation of the wicked and damnable Doctrines of the Quakers, by Mr. Jonathan Clapham in 4.
Moſes his death, opened and applied in a Sermon at Chriſt-Church, London, at the Funeral of Mr. Edward Bright Miniſter there, by Mr. Samuel Jacomb, M. A. Paſtor of Mary Woolnoth, London in 4.
A ſhort and plain Catechiſme, inſtructing a Learner of Chriſtian Religion, what he is to beleeve, and what he is to practiſe, with the proofs thereof out of the Scriptures in words at length.
The hypocritical Nation deſcribed in a Sermon preached at St. Maries in Cambridge, upon a day of publick faſting, with an Epiſtle prefixed by Mr. Samuel Jacomb.
A Sermon of the baptizing of infants preached in the Abby Church at Weſtminſter by Mr. Stephen Marſhal in 4.
The unity of the Saints with Chriſt the Head, and eſpecially with the Church, the body, with the duties thence ariſing, are endeavoured to be cleared, tending to heale our rents and diviſions, in a Sermon at the Spittle, by the ſame Author in 4.