Legacy to His Friends, Title page – List of books
Mr. Iames Ianeway's LEGACY TO HIS FRIENDS, Containing Twenty Seven Famous Instances of Gods Providences in and about Sea Dangers and Deliverances, with the Names of Several that were Eye-witnesses to many of them.
Whereunto is Added a Sermon on the same Subject.
Go up now, look towards the Sea; and he went up and looked, and said, there is nothing; and he said, Go up seven times: And at the seventh time he said, behold, there ariseth a little Cloud, &c.
1 King. 18. 44.
Come and Hear all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul,
Psal. 66. 16.
London, Printed for Dorman Newman, at the Kings Armes in the Poultry, 1674.
THE EPISTLE TO THE READER.
THe Author of this Treatise, now put into thine Hands, needs none of my Praises; he being lately gone, to make one in Consort with that Heavenly Chore above, his Works praise him in the Gate; only I could not but lend my hand a little, being desired to give it a lift into the World; and tell thee the Author was a man of Designes for God, and more of them he had in his Heart and Head, then his Lord and Master (whose he was, and whom he served) did give him time to Finish; that his Master might be Honoured, and souls Edified, he tryed several Ways, and that with several sorts of persons; leaving no stone unturn'd, no means unattempted, that the Work of the Lord might Prosper in his hand. One while he designes sinners might be helped in getting Acquaintance with God,Witness that Excellent Treatise of his. and that Saints might improve their Best Friend in the Worst of Times; and to that end he appears in the world, to drive on a good Acquaintance betwixt Christ and Souls. And another while, feeling warm Compassions and Affections bubbling up in his Soul to poor Young Converts, Death Unstung, T. Mousley T. Savagehe carries on a design of strengthning their weak hands, by appearing once again upon the Stage, in printing the Comfortable Death of a Young Convert. And another while he had a design of preventing the ripening sinnes of youth; witness his bowelly and tender-hearted Sermon upon the occasion of the Penitent Murderer, in which he Cautions poor enticed Young men to take heed of the Baits, that the great Angler for Souls, layes before them. But lest this man of Designes for God, should miss his great aime, he shoots lower, that he might hit his Mark, he stoops, and sweetly condescends, to send Tokens to Children, to bespeak their Hearts betimes for Christ, his Master; he labours to Teach the Children to cry Hosanna to his Lord: And now in the last place, he casts about to meet with Sea-faring Men, whose Souls he alwayes had bleeding and melting bowels for. Oh how would he Weep, Pray, Mourn, Sigh over them; entreat them Affectionately, beseech them importunately, that they would not forget the God of their Mercies and Deliverances; nor the Mercies and Deliverances of their God. Upon this Occasion of Sea-mens receiving the greatest Deliverances of any men in the World from God, and so soon playing the Old Israelites with Gods Wonders (viz.) soon forgetting his Works.
Some Friends speaking to him upon this subject, and Acquainting him with a Taste of some Memorable Passages of Providences, he readily upon desire, sets his hand to this work of Collecting several Famous Deliverances from Friends; and took pains to get their Papers into his hands, but had not time to pollish and adorn them in his sweet and taking Style, as he did other things. These lay upon his hand above a Year and a half, still waiting for more Observable Providences to come to his Cognizance: But here thou hast them as they are, if thou hast an Heart to improve them, to thy further strengthening of thy Faith in future Straits: Whether at Sea or Land, here thou mayst see the Lord setting his Right Foot upon the Sea. Here thou mayst see the Lords Royalty and Soveraignty extending it self to the great Deeps. Here thou mayst see the Winds & Seas obeying of him. Here thou mayst see the Lord giving a literal Com̄ent on that Text, When thou goest through the Waters, I will be with thee. Here thou mayst see Hopeless, and Helpless men, in their greatest Distress at their wits end, sav'd and deliver'd by the great God: which is enough, one would think, to make any Reader cry out with the Psalmist, O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the Children of Men.
Here thou mayst see the prevailing Power of Prayer, the Wonder-working Power of God, the unspeakable Bowels and tender Mercies of God, to poor Perishing, Sinking, Drowning, Starving, dying Men; that thou mayst Pray to this God more, Love this God better, and dread to sinne against him, who is the God of such Miraculous Salvations and Deliverances. And that this Treatise may promote that work in thy Soul, is the Desire of
Thy Cordial Soul-Friend, Iohn Ryther. Wapping 14 Apr. 1674.
There are these Books of Mr. Iames Ianeway'es, printed for Dorman Newman at the Kings Armes in the Poultry.
HEaven upon Earth, or the best Friend in the worst of times; The 3d Edition enlarged.
2. Death Unstung: A Sermon Preacht at the Funeral of Thomas Mousley an Apothecary: With a brief Narrative of his Life and Death; also the manner of God's dealings with him, after his Conversion.
3. A Sermon preached at the Funeral of Tho. Savage.
4. Tokens for Children: the first and second Part.
5. Mr. James Janeway's Legacy, &c.