The Sacrifice of the Faithful, To the reader – Table of contents
To the Chriſtian Reader.
HAving been informed upon very good grounds, that the former Sermons of Mr William Fenner, have found good acceptance, both in regard of the worthineſſe of the Author, and alſo in regard of the uſefulneſſe of the Sermons; I could not but give my approbation to theſe enſuing Sermons of the ſame Authour, and deſire that they may find the like acceptance with all Godly wiſe Chriſtians, and that they may become profitable to the Church of God.
Imprimatur, EDM▪ CALAMY.
THE SACRIFICE OF THE FAITHFULL. OR, A TREATISE ſhewing the nature, property, and efficacy of Zealous Prayer; together with ſome Motives to Prayer, and Helps againſt diſcouragements in Prayer.
To which is added ſeven profitable Sermons.
1. The miſery of the Creature by the ſinne of man, on Rom. 8. 22.
2. The Chriſtians imitation of Chriſt, on 1 Ioh. 2. 6
3. The enmity of the wicked to the light of the Goſpel, on John 3. 20
4. Gods impartiality, on Eſay 42. 24.
5. The great Dignity of the Saints, on Heb. 11. 28.
6. The time of Gods grace is limited, on Gen. 6. 3.
7. A Sermon for ſpirituall Mortification, on Col. 3. 5.
By William Fenner, Miniſter of the Goſpel▪ Fellow of Pembrok Hall in Cambridge, and Lecturer of Rochford in Eſſex.
LONDON, Printed for John Stafford, and are to be ſold at his Houſe over againſt Brides Church in Fleet-Street, 1648.
The CONTENTS of the firſt Treatiſe on Lament. 3. 5. 7.
THE opening of the words in which are three properties of effectuall Prayer. pag. 1.
1. The unſatiableneſſe of it till it be heard.
2. The ſenſibleneſſe of it whether it be heard or no.
3. The ſupply it hath againſt danger, and diſcouragement. p. 2.
1. Doct: An effectuall prayer is an unſatiable prayer. p. 3.
Queſt. Muſt a man alwayes pray?
Anſ. A man muſt give over the act of prayer for other duties, but he muſt never give over the ſuit of Prayer. p. 5.
Rules to know whether our Prayers be unſatiable or no.
1. It is an earneſt begging Prayer. p. 6.
2. It is conſtant Prayer. p. 8.
A godly mans Prayer is not out of his heart, till the grace he prayed for be in. p. 9.
3. It is a Prayer that is ever a beginning. ib.
4. It is a proceeding Prayer, it windes up the heart higher, and higher. ibid.
5. It is a Prayer that purifieth the heart. p. 10.
It is more and more fervent. p. 11.
And more and more frequent. p. 12.
It will take time from lawfull recreations, and from the lawfull duties of our calling. p. 13.
And it will adde humiliation and faſting to Prayer. p. 14.
Uſe. To condemne thoſe who pray for grace, and yet ſit downe before grace is obtained. p. 15.
Such Prayers are.
1. Endleſſe. p. 16.
2. Fruitleſſe. p. 17.
2. Doct: A godly ſoule is ſenſible of Gods hearing or not hearing his Prayer. p. 19.
Queſt: How can the ſoule know whether it ſpeed in Prayer or no?
Anſw. 1. When God gives a ſoule further and further ability to pray, it is a ſigne that God heares it. p. 20.
But if the ſoule have no heart to continue its ſuit, it is a ſigne that God never meanes to heare that mans Prayer. p. 21.
2. The preparedneſſe of the heart to Prayer, is a ſigne that God means to heare. p. 21.
3. Gods gracious looke is a ſigne that he will heare; for ſometimes God anſwers his people by a caſt of his countenance. p. 22.
4. The conſcience of a man will anſwer him, whether God heares his Prayer or no. p. 26.
But a mans conſcience may be miſinformed. p. 27.
A wicked man may have a truce, though no true peace in his conſcience. p. 28.
5. The getting of the grace that a man prayes for, is a ſigne that God heares his Prayer. p. 29.
But God may give many temporall blesſings, and common graces, yet not in love, but in wrath. ibid.
6. If a man have Faith giuen him to beleive, it is a ſigne that God heares him. p. 30.
Good works are good ſignes of Faith, but they are but rotten grounds of Faith. p. 31.
Object: Every Promiſe runs with a condition. ibid.
Anſ. 1. The Promiſe is the ground of Faith, and the way to get the Condition. p. 32.
2. Faith is the enabling cauſe to keep the Condition. p. 33.
Two things doe much hurt in Prayer.
1. Groundleſſe incouragement.
2. Needleſſe diſcouragement. p. 36.
3. Doct. God would not have any Chriſtian ſoule to be diſcouraged in Prayer. p. 39.
A definition of diſcouragement. ibid.
4. Reaſons. 1. Becauſe diſcouragement hinders the ſoule in prayer. p. 42.
2. Diſcouragement takes away the ſtrength of the ſoule in Prayer. p. 43.
3. If we have fearfull apprehenſions of our ſins, ſo as to thinke they will never be forgiven, we can never pray aright. p. 45.
4. If we have any ſecret deſpaire, we can never pray to purpoſe. p. 46.
There is a double deſperation.
1. Of infirmity, which draws the ſoul from God.
2. Of extremity, which puts life into a mans Prayers and endeavours p. 47.
A man never prayes well till he feeles himſelfe undone. p. 49.
We ſhould take heed of diſcouragements; for
1. Diſcouragements breed melancholineſſe in the ſoule. p. 53.
2. They breed hard thoughts of God. p. 54.
3. They will cauſe a man to thinke that God hates him. p. 56.
4. They will bring a man to deſpaire. p. 57.
Miniſters ſhould not preach the pure Law without the Goſpel. p. 58.
Secret diſcouragements in the heart
1. They take away the Spirit in the uſe of the meanes. p. 62.
2. They drive us from the uſe of means. p. 63.
3 They make a man continually to pore on his ſins, ſo as he ſhall never be able to get out of them. p. 64.
4. They breed nothing but ſorrow. p. 66.
5. They leave the ſoule in a maze, that it knows not whether to turne it ſelfe. p. 67.
6. They whiſper into a man a ſentence of Death, and an impoſsibility of eſcaping. p. 68.
The concluſion of the whole. p. 69.
The Contents of that Sermon ROM. 8. 22.
EVery creature hath a three-fold goodneſſe in it
1. A goodneſſe of end. p. 70.
2. A goodneſſe of nature. p. 71.
3. A goodneſſe of uſe. ibid.
There be foure evils under which every Creature groaneth. p. 73.
1. The continuall labour that the creature is put unto. ibid.
2. The creature ſometimes partakes of the plagues of the ungodly. ib.
3. The Creature hath an inſtinctive fellow-feeleing of mans wretchedneſſe. p. 74.
4. Becauſe they are rent and torne from their proper Maſters. ibid.
Doct. Every Creature groaneth under the ſlavery of ſinne. p. 75.
Not only under the ſlavery of ſinfull men, but ſo far as they miniſter to the fleſh of the Saints, they groane under them. ibid.
Object. Did ever any man heare any unreaſonable creature groane under ſin?
Anſw. It is ſpoken Hyperbolically, to declare the great miſery the creatures are into ſerve ſinfull man. p. 76.
2. Analogically in regard of a naturall inſtinct of blind reaſon, that is in all the creatures. ibid.
3. It is ſpoken by way of ſuppoſition, if they had reaſon they would groane. p. 77.
4. Intelligently, becauſe a man cannot wreng the creature, but he wrongs God in the creature. p. 78.
5. Specifically, becauſe the Godly come before God in the behalfe of all the creatures, and mourne for the abuſe of the creatures. p. 79.
Foure Reaſons why the creatures groane.
1. Becauſe they are diſtracted in their ſervice. p. 80.
2. Becauſe of the unprofitableneſſe of their ſervice. p. 82.
3. Becauſe of the unceſſantneſſe of their ſervice. p. 83.
4. Becauſe of that miſery and woe the creatures lye under. p. 84.
Every creature hath,
1. A ſpecificall end. p. 85.
2. An ultimate end. ibid.
A wicked man hath no true right unto the creature. p. 86.
But he hath
1. A civill right. ibid.
2. A providentiall right. ibid.
3. A vindicative right. p. 87.
4. A Creatures right, as he is a creature. ib.
But he hath no filiall right, no ſon-like right in Chriſt. p. 89.
Uſe. To ſhew that wicked men have little cauſe to be merry at any time, becauſe there is nothing neare them, but groaneth under them. p. 90.
All creatures groane to God for vengeance to be powred upon the wicked. p. 92.
And theſe groanes are
1. Upbraiding groanes. p. 95.
2. Witneſsing groanes. p. 96.
3. Accuſing groanes. p. 100.
4. Iudging and condemning groanes. ibid.
Uſe. For exhortation.
1. To take heed how we doe abuſe the Creatures of God. p. 101.
2. Take heed of ſinning againſt God by the Creatures. ibid.
3 Take heed of ſetting thy heart upon the Creature. p. 102.
4. Uſe all the Creatures in humility and thankfulneſſe. p. 102.
5. Uſe the Creatures as ſo many Ladders to help thee to climb up towards Heaven. p. 103.
The Contents of that Sermon 1 JOHN. 2. 6.
THE opening of the words in foure particulars. p. 108.
Doct. A true Chriſtian walks as Chriſt walked. p. 109.
A man muſt firſt be in Chriſt, before he can walk as Chriſt walked. p. 110.
Object. Can any man walk as Chriſt walked? p. 111.
Anſw. None can walk as Chriſt walked in regard of equality; but in regard of ſimilitude they may. p. 111.
The life of Chriſt ſhould be the Example of our life. p. 112.
Chriſt came into the World to redeeme us for our juſtification, and to be an example of life unto us for our ſanctification. p. 114.
This Queſtion anſwered. viz.
What it is to walke as Chriſt walked. p. 116.
Foure Reaſons of the point.
1. Becauſe as Chriſt came into the World to juſtifie the ungodly, ſo he came to conforme them to his image. p. 117.
2. Becauſe in vaine we are called Chriſtians, if we be not imitators of Chriſt, and live as he lived. p. 119.
3. Becauſe all that are in Chriſt, are Members of his body, therefore they muſt have the ſame life, and be quickned by the ſame Spirit. p. 121.
4. Becauſe of that neere relation that is betwixt Chriſt and every one of his Members. p. 123.
1. Uſe. To ſhew that all men that live not the life of Chriſt, doe blaſpheme the name of Chriſt. p. 127.
Of all ſinnes under Heaven, God cannot endure the ſins of them that take the name of Chriſt upon them. p. 198.
Doct: Every Miniſter is bound to preach home to men in particulars. p. 132.
3. Reaſ. 1. Particulars are moſt operative. p. 133.
2. Particulars are moſt diſtinct, and moſt powerfull. p. 135.
3. Particulars are moſt ſenſible. p. 137.
Doct: Every Miniſter is bound to preach ſo, as to make a difference betwixt the pretious and the vile. p. 138.
Reaſ. 1. Becauſe, otherwiſe a Miniſter prophanes the holy things of God. p. 139.
2. Otherwiſe he cannot be the Miniſter of Chriſt. p. 141.
3. Otherwiſe he is like to doe no good by his Miniſtery. ibid.
The Contents of that Sermon on JOHN 3. 20.
THE Context opened in foure particulars.
1. What mans naturall eſtate, and condition is without Chriſt. p. 145.
2. Gods gracious proviſion for mans ſalvation. p. 146.
3. The condition required, viz. Faith. ibid.
4. The reprobation of the World if they doe not believe. ibid.
But Chriſt is neither the efficient, nor deficient cauſe thereof. ibid.
But the cauſe of their damnation is from themſelves proved
1 By their owne conſcience. p. 147.
2 By experience. p. 148.
3. By Reaſon. p. 149.
In the words are two parts.
1. The wickeds rejection of the word of grace. ibid.
2. The cauſe of that rejection. ib.
viz. 1. Firſt, from the qualification of their perſons.
2. From the diſpoſition of their nature. ib.
Doct: A wicked man hates the word of Gods grace, yea grace it ſelfe. p. 150.
This hatred is
1. An actuall hatred. ibid.
2. It is a paſsion of the heart. p. 151.
3. It cauſeth the heart to riſe up againſt an union with the word. p. 153.
This union of the word is ſet in oppoſition
1. To generall preaching. p. 154.
2. To mercifull preaching. p. 155.
3. To now and then preaching. p. 156. to p. 160.
If the World doe not hate a righteous man, it is either
1. Becauſe he is a great man. p. 160.
2. Becauſe he is a man of admirable wit, end knowledge. ibid.
3. Or becauſe God gives him favour in the eyes of the World. ib.
4. This hatred cauſeth the heart to riſe againſt that which is repugnant to its luſts. p. 162.
A wicked man may love 3 kinds of preaching.
1. Eloquent preaching, that ſavours more of humanity then of Divinity. ib.
2. Impertinent preaching. p. 163.
3. Now and then ſome preaching, to ſatisfie the cravings of his Conſcience. p. 164.
Reaſ: 1. A wicked man hates the word▪ becauſe he hates all truth, even the very being of the word. p. 165.
2. Becauſe he hates the very nature of the word. p. 167.
3. Becauſe he cannot endure the knowledge of the word. p. 169.
All naturall men hate the word.
1. Becauſe no entreaties, no beſeeches can poſſibly reconcile them. p. 171.
2. Becauſe neither mony, nor price can make them friends. p. 175.
3. Becauſe all the love in the World cannot unite them together. p. 176.
4. Becauſe neither the love of God, nor the bloud of Chriſt will ſoder them together. p. 177.
Every naturall man had rather be damned then leave his ſinnes, rather goe to Hell then be a new creature. p. 178.
The contents of that Sermon on ESAY. 42. 24.
THE words contain five things.
1. The Author of the deſtruction. p. 185.
2. The cauſes of it. ibid.
3. The judgement it ſelfe: p. 186.
4. The people on whom it was inflicted. ibid.
5. The effects of it. p. 187.
1. Doct. God is the Author of all judgement that befalls a Nation. ibid.
1. Uſe For comfort to Gods children, ſeeing God is the Orderer of all events. p. 119.
2. Uſe For terrour to the wicked that God whom they hate ſhall be their judge. p. 190.
3. Uſe. To learne in all calamities to looke up unto God. p. 191.
2. Doct. Sinne and diſobedience againſt the Law of God, is that which brings downe puniſhments, and judgements, upon a Nation, Church, or People. ibid.
Uſe. 1. To diſcover the weakneſſe of our Land, in what a poore condition it is by reaſon of ſinne. p. 193.
2. To ſhew who be the greateſt Traytors to a Kingdome. p. 194.
3. To teach all of us to ſet hand and heart, Prayers and tears a worke againſt ſinne. p. 195.
Eſpecially it concernes thoſe that are in places of Authority. p. 197.
3. Doct. The Lord often times brings fearfull, and unavoydable judgements, and puniſhments, upon his owne profeſsing people. p. 200.
Foure ſignes of Judgement a comming.
1. When the Miniſters of God with one voyce, foretell judgements to come. p. 202.
2. When ſinnes of all ſorts doe abound. ib.
3. When the Divell and wicked men caſt in bones of diſſention. p. 203.
4. When all mens hearts begin to faile. p. 204
Three Directions, what is to be done in ſuch times.
1. Let us ſhake off the love of all things here below. p. 206.
2. Let us lay our heads upon the block, and be willing that God ſhould doe what he will with us. p. 208.
3. Let us pray and cry mightily to God, before we dye, even all the time we have to live, for mercy, peace, and truth. ibid.
The Church of England like the ſhip of Jonah. p. 209.
The Authors Admonition to the People. ib. & p. 210. &c.
More then ordinary Faith requiſite for theſe times of danger. p. 211. 212. &c.