The Real Christian, Imprimatur – Dedication
Imprimatur.
Jan. 13. 1669/70. Rob. Grove R.P. Domino Epiſc. Lond. a Sac. Dom.
THE Real Chriſtian, OR A TREATISE OF EFFECTUAL CALLING. WHEREIN The Work of God in drawing the Soul to Chriſt being opened according to the holy Scriptures, ſome things required by our late Divines as neceſſary to a right preparation for Chriſt and true cloſing with Chriſt, which have cauſed, and do ſtill cauſe much trouble to ſome ſerious Chriſtians, are with due reſpects to thoſe worthy Men, brought to the Ballance of the Sanctuary, there weighed, and accordingly judged. To which is added, in the Epiſtle to the Reader, a few words concerning Socinianiſme, upon occaſion of the Perſon of Chriſt, which is touched in the Diſcourſe. By GILES FIRMIN, ſometime Miniſter of the Goſpel in Shalford in Eſſex.
To the Law and to the Teſtimony: If they ſpeak not according to this Word, it is becauſe there is no light in them, Iſai. 8.20.
foreign., &c. Ignat. Epiſt. ad Philadelph.
London, Printed for Dorman Newman, and are to be ſold at his Shop at the Chirurgions-Arms in Little-Brittain. 1670.
TO THE WORSHIPFUL AND My much honoured Friend, Mr. JOHN BARRINGTON OF REDGEWELL
SIR,
THe Subject of this Treatiſe, is the beſt or worſt (a)Salvian de guberna. Dei, l 2, 3, 4, 5.of Men, a Chriſtian. A name, though once ſo odious, that it was crime enough to be a Chriſtian, (b)Athenag. Apol. p. 2, 5. Tertul. Apol, c. 2.yea, to ſay Chriſtianus ſum, was the ſame way to cruel, but glorious Martyrdom, (c)Hieron. de Apollon, in Cotalog. Scrip. Eccleſ.yet in our dayes many are content to own it; but whether according to the name, they be indeed Anointed, is the enquiry (I fear) but of a few. It was ſaid of old, Fiunt, non naſcuntur Chriſtiani, (d)Tertul. Apol. c. 17.Chriſtianus non generat Chriſtianum: quia non generatio, ſedregeneratio facit Chriſtianos, (e)Auguſtin. de peccat. mer. cont. Pelag. l. 3. c. 9. foreign, &c. Clem. Alex. Strom. l. 1.But now, men being born in a Nation where Chriſtianity is profeſſed, they profeſs they are born Chriſtians, many (if not moſt) knowing no other reaſon for their Chriſtianity. To undeceive theſe nominal Chriſtians, hath been the labour of the Pulpit and the Preſs. Our works being ſomething different from the ancient Fathers, they laboured to convert Heathens, we to convert Chriſtians. To this end ſerveth the enſuing Diſcourſe, though that was not my principal motive to write, that work being done ſo well before, by more able Pens, but becauſe I obſerved ſome eminent Divines, while they declared, what was required to make a ſound Believer, have made ſuch Requiſites, as trouble many, and cut off moſt of the ſound, with the unſound Chriſtians. Their Aſſertions have been ſometimes the ſubject of our diſcourſe in private; which after I had more ſeriouſly examined, for the ſake of ſome troubled Chriſtians, I reſolved to make my Meditations publick, which now (much honoured Sir) I have made bold to dedicate to your ſelf, being one whom (according to the title) I judge to be a Real Chriſtian: And though not born a Chriſtian, in the ſenſe before, yet what Paul ſaid of the unfeigned Faith in Timothy, that dwelt firſt in his Grandmother Lois, then in his Mother Eunice, then in him, 2 Tim. 1.5. the ſame may I ſay of that unfeigned Faith, which makes unfeigned Christians, that dwelt firſt in your renowned Grandfather, Sir Francis Barrington, then in your Father, Mr. Robert Barrington, the ſame I am perſwaded dwells in you alſo, and as Timothy, 2 Tim. 3.15. So you from a child have known the Scriptures; God ſo bleſſing the endeavour of your godly Mother, a Gentlewoman ſo wiſe in her government, ſo gracious in her converſation, ſo fervent in prayer, that before ſhe died, ſhe lived to ſee eight of her Children (if not all, the reſt dying little ones) new born, and having a title to a more ancient and better inheritance than Barrington-Hall, which (as I am informed by one who ſhould know beſt) hath now above twelve hundred years payed rent to that Family, which ſuffers no ſpot of diſhonour by your being a Member of it.
Be your thoughts of your ſelf now what they will; while I trace you in your Converſation, I muſt judge of you as before: when after our unhappy Wars, you were called, being young, to ſuch a place, as made your favour worth the courting by all ſorts of men, who can ſay you did not then ſhew yourſelf, both a Gentleman and a Chriſtian? As by your converſation in general, ſo in particular, by your courteous and civil deportment towards all, doing as much as might be offices of kindneſſes to thoſe who were then eſteemed Adverſaries: (from whom at this time you receive the return of as civil reſpects.) Alſo by avoiding thoſe evils which commonly attend ſuch places-
Firſt, Pride: It being the Character that wiſe Obſervers gave of you, (and you only) that your Spirit was not raiſed with your place.
Secondly, Covetouſneſs: Refuſing thouſands of pounds which were offered you, to effect buſineſſes for others, chuſing alwayes to do things freely, without taking one penny before or after the effecting of them.
Nor have changes proved the contrary, though fallen under variety of temptations, which by the diſcovery of variety of Graces have but confirmed the reality of the Grace of God in you.
For a publick Spirit, that moved once in a large ſphear, to be taken off from imployment, and ſhut up within the hedge of a Country Village, is no ſmall affliction, and I am ſure none of the leaſt you meet with; yet even here is your ſpirit ſo active for the good of others, that your abſence from us is ſoon felt: witneſs the ſpeech of one of your Neighbours, though but a plain man, Me thinks the Town is not at home, while Mr. Barrington is out of Town.
As for my particular, though faithful friends are ſo rare, that Ariſtole cried out, foreign, O amici, nemo amicus: yet if I have a friend, and a friend be as he ſaith, foreign, *Ethic. l. 9. c. 4. foreign. Clem. Alex. Strom. l. 2.Alter ipſe, then ſuch a one have I found in your ſelf, having as much reaſon to love you as Auſtin his Nebridius, of whom (as I remember) ſomewhere he ſaith, they had one Soul in two Bodies.
By this time I have given ſufficient reaſon for my Dedication, deſiring you, honoured Sir, to accept it as a teſtimony of the love and honour I owe you, beſeeching God it may be profitable both to your ſelf, and to thoſe into whoſe hands it ſhall come.
April 4th. 1670. SIR, I am your Servant, and daily Remembrancer, GILES FIRMIN.