The True Settlement of a Christians Faith, Title page – To the reader
The true Settlement Of a CHRISTIANS FAITH, After ſhaking Aſſaults, by its own evidence; and by the internal ſealing Work of the Spirit;
Pointed at, in ſome ſpecial Inquiries thereon, in a LETTER to a Friend.
WITH Some ſerious Reflections on the preſent times we are in, and thoſe great Viciſſitudes of Providence, which have been in the publick State of BRITAIN in this laſt Age, in a II. Letter.
By a MINISTER of the GHOSPEL.
Printed in the Year 1692.
READER,
THe publiſhing theſe few ſheets, hath had no riſe or call from the deſires of any, or the leaſt motives of ſuch a nature, but it was with a ſerious deſire that they might have ſome intereſt in the Service of the Truth in ſo ſad and trying a time, and for him to whom I ſtand under the higheſt engadgements of Duty, in improvement of a little Seaſon, which muſt ere long be ſhut up. It is true, the writing of the firſt Letter had a very providential and unexpected riſe, with reſpect to a Friend who I knew had as great aſſiſtances in the way of means as any, ſuitable to his caſe, yet finding the weight & exerciſe of his mind, have ſuch ſtrong influence to obſtruct that injoyment of ane intire reſt and fixedneſs of his Faith, which is the Chriſtians Allowance, I was preſt to offer ſome thoughts, in a directive manner for being a Helper to his Joy, and now if by ſuch a Providence through the good Hand of the Lord, this might be ſerviceable to any in ſuch a caſe. The Subject of the II. Letter is of a much different nature from the first, where ſomethings may poſſibly ſeem a litle ſtrange, and the ſpirit and temper of moſt in this day not ſo eaſily bear, but they are ſpoke in the Words of Truth and Soberneſs; & in writing of both I have humble confidence to ſay it was with the furtheſt of light and perſuaſion, yea that the moſt ſerious part therein, was with my own ſpirit, to have that evidence in things of ſo high concern, as I might have peace and aſſurance herein before God, yet if I knew, there were any thing in the leaſt to prejudge that great Intereſt of Truth and Edification as the utmoſt aim I hope is propoſed herein, I ſhould count it my honor to retreat the ſame; but under ſome ſerious proſpect of an eternal State, and of appearing before the great Judge, I have deſired to know his Counſel, and reſt my ſoull on his approving Teſtimony alone.
An exceſſive deſire in ſuch an Epiſtolary way to ſpeak things in as few Words I could poſſibly, I fear may at the first view render ſomethings more dark. The Reader alſo will tenderly notice and conſtruct Miſtakes in the Printing.