Solid Comfort for Sound Christians, Title page – To the reader
Soled comfort for Sound Christians.
OR A TREATISE OF Gods abſolute (and moſt certaine) performance of his Conditionall Promiſes, in regard of the Elect.
Being a parcell of a larger Diſcourſe on John. 13.17.
By ROBERT JENISON, Dr. of Divinity.
IER. 10.23.
O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himſelfe: it is not in man that walketh, to direct his ſteps.
Printed in the Yeare 1641.
To every one that ſeeketh after the truth in ſincerity, SALUTATIONS.
READER (if ſo thou pleaſeſt to make thy ſelfe) underſtand, that this enſuing Treatiſe is but a parcell of a larger diſcourſe (long ſince begun, and as yet not finiſhed) on theſe words Joh. 13.17. If ye know theſe things, happy are ye if ye doe them. Wherein is intended the tryall of our bleſſed estate, by true knowledge, and the tryall of our knowledge and profeſſion, by practiſe and obedience, which is not to paſſe without its Tryall too.
Now this ſhort Diſcourſe (being the ſumme of two Sermons) is thus apart preſented to thy view, Preached on Thurſdayes, Sept. 10, and 17. 1629.by reaſon of ſome ſpeciall oppoſition it found. For it no ſoones …ad ſounded in the Pulpit, but immediately in the ſame Church it was loudly incounte…ed; and I welcom'd out of the Pulpit with moſt impetuous oppoſition rage, and paſſion, with deepe chardges, as that my doctrine did overthrow the Foundations of Religion, &c. with threatnings alſo, as that I muſt be countable to authoritie, and ſhew my ….
This the next day they got our Chancelour (who ſent for me) to wiſh me to have ready againſt a convenient time. Now, as then I ſignified I was not afraid who ſee my notes, (but rather wiſh they might paſſe the Cenſure of our Ʋniverſities, and there be diſputed) to which end I have ſpared time, (from my weekly tripled paines) to bring them out of the rude Lump into this (not polliſhed, yet) more digeſted forme, and to preſent them, if not to the Cenſure of the whole World, (which I ſhould much deſire,) yet to the view of ſuch judicious freinds & lovers of the truth, and of our Churches Doctrine, as are able to judge whether they deſerve ſuch incounter or not. Yet herein I would alſo ſatisfy ſuch eſpecially, as are the hearers of my weekly Lecture, (if poſſibly I can) who may thus by the eye more deliberatly take a view off, and conſider, that which by the eare had ſcarce time to enter into their braines and hearts, and ſo at leaſt endeavour to remove that preiudice, which the truth receives by many of them, who gives it, its meaſure, from mens perſons, on whoſe ſleeves (after an implicit and popiſh manner) they begin to pinne their Faith and judgements, contrary to the auncient rule: Non ex perſonis aeſtimandam f…ē, ſed ex fide perſonas; Tertull: de preſcriptThat our Faith is not to be judged off by mens perſons, but mens perſons by the Faith. My hope was that my former Lecture on Epheſ. 1.3.4. would have ſetled our peoples judgements in that truth of God, which by ſome new Maſters (partly comming but cheefly corrupted amongſt us) began with us to be queſtioned, whileſt (what by preaching, what by Chatechiſing, yea and printing) they began to Enterſperſe th… Leaven of outlandiſh Lutheran, or rather Arminian Doctrine, but in a minced, ſublimated, and refined manner, and as they would ſeeme by way of Moderation & Reconcilement; Yea whileſt (after a …eſſation & Forbearance was enjoyned) they begin anew (and contrary almoſt ever ſince) to diſpute.
But I plainely ſee that the opinion many have of their great learning and deepe judgement (unto which they are willing rather to captivate their owne, then to conteſt or yet endure ſo many encounters, as through the others continuall aſſaults in private and in publick, they find) makes the authoritie of Gods plaine word (which in this argument here handled is moſt evident leſſe reſpected) though to ſuch … deſire to have God for their Teacher, and not to underſtand above that which is written, the authority of divine Scripture, Divinar… Scripturarum authoritas maior eſt, quam omnis humani ingenij capacitas Auguſt. de Gen. ad lit. lib. 2. c. 5.is much greater then the whole capacity of humane understanding.
Though then I here in this place may be thought ſingular in my judgement (as being now left alone and forſaken of all my Brethren in the miniſtery, and of many others beſides) yet I hope it ſhall appear to ſuch as read adviſedly this Tract enſuing, that I have both Chriſt himſelfe, and his Apoſtles, and our owne (and other Reformed Churches) Doctrine, to take my part, and beare me out. Howſoever, I will chuſe much rather thus to be accounted ſingular, then cleave to his judgement (who being cheefe here, was my cheefe oppoſer) whoſe words (ſo neare as I can remember them, and I am confident I miſſe not in the ſubſtance of them) were theſe (in the hearing of our Chancellour and another) I am aſſured (ſaith hee) that there are not three (or not above three) that know what I hold concerning praedeſtination; neither have I ſeene past two that ſo conceive of it as I doe.
Whence I muſt needs conclude, ſeeing all other points controverted, are framed and maintained according to mens conceits of Praedeſtination: (as even our Adverſaries confeſſe,) Firſt, Collat. Hagienſ. L 1. pag. 488. edit. Brandij.that the ſaid partie holds not the Doctrine of our Church of England, ſeeing more then three or foure, know what the Doctrine of the Articles thereof (eſpecially the 17. Article) is.
Secondly, that the ſingularity of this his opinion ought to be a ſufficient Condemnation of it (be it what it wilbe) ſeeing none can probably thinke that God ſhould keepe ſecret from his Churches this miſtery for ſo many ages, and now reveale it only to two or three.
In caſe of ſuch upſtart, ſingular, and private opinions, Vincent. Lirinenſis, contra Hereſ. cap. 38.let the rule of Vincentius Lirinenſis be ſet before us. Let the Children of the Church follow the Ʋniverſality, Antiquity, and Conſent of the Catholick and Apoſtolick Church: Et ſi quando pars contra Ʋniverſitatem, novitas contra vetuſtatem, unius vel paucorum, & errant diſſentio contra omnium vel certo multo plurium conſenſionem rebellarent, praeſerant … corruptioni univerſitatis integritatem novitatis pre…nitati antiquitat… religionem unius ſive pauciſsimorum temeritati, univerſ…is conſili …, …uno ſi … minus est, ſequantur multorum atque magnorum conſentientes … Sententias magiſtrorum.
Now Chriſtian Reader, I leave thee to the Treatiſ… it ſelfen which when thou haſt read, thou wilt perceive what Doctrine …he…y pleaſeth ſome here, when this ſo much diſpleaſeth them.
From my houſe in New…: upon Tyne, 10. Novemb. 1629. Thine and the Churches Servant. ROBERT JENISON.