Christs Tears for Jerusalems Unbelief, Title page – Preface
Chriſt's Tears FOR JERUSALEMS UNBELIEF AND RUINE.
NOW Humbly recommended to England's Conſideration in this her day of Tryal and Danger.
By … Reverend and Learned Divine Mr. THEOPHILUS GALE.
LONDON, Printed for M. Widdowes at the Green Dragon in St. Pauls Church-Yard. 1679.
Preface.
IT is the Supreme Wiſdome, Intereſt, and Perfection of Man, who is an intelligent Being, to underſtand, & adhere unto his laſt End, and whatever means conduce thereto: This is ſtiled, Luke 19. 42. To know the things that belong unto our peace. And the ſupreme end of our Great Lord, in eſpouſing Human Nature, was, to acquaint Sinners with the things that belong to their peace, and bring them into an immediate Capacitie for the Fruition of them. Is it not then the higheſt piece of Folie, and Madneſſe, for rational Creatures, to ſhut their Eyes, and Hearts againſt that, which is their ſupreme Happineſſe? Is there ſo much Beautie in the Deformitie of Sin? So much Pleaſure in the Chains and Fetters of Satan? So much Libertie in the Vaſſalage, and Bondage of Luſts? So much Content in the embraces of an heart-diſtracting World? So much peace and eaſe in the ſtings, and troubles of a tormented Conſcience? So much life in the death of Sin, and Hel torments, as to make a rational ſoul amorous of, and in love with them? If not, how comes it to paſſe, that men mind not more the things that belong unto their peace? Was it ever known that any, but mad men, would take delight to ſee their own heart-bloud guſh out? Would any but blind fools ſpurne at food, the moſt delicious, ſatisfying food, when offered to their famiſhed ſouls? May we not count ſuch bewitched Sots, who plot, and contrive, by al means poſſible, to ruine themſelves? And yet, Lo! is not this the Caſe of al ſuch, who wil not know, and embrace the things that belong unto their peace, when offered to them? Alas! What a world of ſuch mad, and blind fools are there? Yea, how many great Profeſſors, yea how many Churches, fal under this black brand of Folie and Madneſſe? Was not this Jeruſalem's ſin and folie, for which ſhe has paid ſo dear, for 1600 years? And has Jeruſalem been alone in this ſin? Has not England alſo dranke very deep of this venimous, intoxicating Cup? And what may we expect but Jeruſalem's prodigious Ruines, unleſſe we al make haſte, to know and embrace the things that belong unto our peace, before they are hid from our eyes?
The deſigne therefore of this enſuing Diſcourſe, is to awaken, and provoke ſecure Unbelievers, and ſlumbering Profeſſors, deeply to conſider, and chearfully to embrace Evangelic offers of Life, and Grace, before it be too late. And our Firſt Book is wholly ſpent in the explication of our Lords doleful Lamentation, Luke 19, 41. over Jeruſalems Sins and Ruines. Wherein we have endeavored to explicate, What were Jeruſalem's Church-waſting Sins, and Ruines, which our Lord here laments; in order to a Conviction of, and Lamentation over our own Sins, and approching Ruines, if not prevented by a timous Repentance, and cloſing with the things of our peace.
And becauſe Jeruſalem's main Sin was Infidelitie, this therefore is the chief ſubject of what follows Book 2. Wherein we have endeavored to explicate the black and prodigious Nature of Ʋnbelief, in the ſeveral parts thereof; and that in oppoſition to Faith, whereof it is a Privation. Wherein we have alſo opened the Nature, and main eſſential Ingredients of Faith: which indeed comprehends the chief vitals of Chriſtianitie; and therefore requires our moſt diligent Attention, and curious Inquiſition.
The next great and commun Head to be explicated is the Cauſes of Infidelitie: which wil open to us, what a great Myſterie of Iniquitie lies at the Root of Unbelief. Hence we are to procede to its Aggravations, which wil diſcover to us the monſtrous Magnitude of this ſin. And thence follows the ſevere Puniſhment, and Vengeance, which the righteous God inflicteth for this Sin of Infidelitie. Theſe things wil, if Providence favor, and aſſiſt our deſires, be the ſubject of ſeveral Diſcourſes. Only, that I might not at preſent wholly fruſtrate the Readers expectations, I have in the Corollaries, and Uſes of the Second Book given ſome Hints and Intimations of the chief Particulars, which I intend to diſcourſe of under the following Heads. As for the Forme of the Diſcourſe, I thinke I may with Sinceritie ſay, I have endeavored to ſuit it to my Mater. I would hate ſinful Affectation of Words, or Things, merely to pleaſe itching curious ſpirits, as much as Hel. Yet if any words occur that may give luſtre and efficace to the Truths diſcourſed of, I cannot thinke myſelf obliged to reject them, becauſe not ſo vulgar, as other words leſſe proper are. Only, if thou meet with any word beyond thy capacitie to apprehend, remember that the following word uſually explains the ſame.