The World that Now is and the World to Come, Title page – To the reader
THE VVORLD that Now is; AND THE VVORLD that is to Come: Or the Firſt and Second Coming of Jeſus Chriſt. Wherein ſeveral Prophecies not yet fulfilled are Expounded.
By HAN. KNOLLYS, A Servant of Jeſus Chriſt. Rev. 1.19.
LONDON, Printed by Tho. Snowden, An. 1681.
TO THE READER.
Chriſtian Reader,
SO needful is the true Knowledge of God and Jeſus Chriſt; ſo abſolutely conducing unto Man's Eternal Well-being, John 17.3. as whereby alone true Happineſs is to be attained. To that End, in the former Part of this little Treatiſe is ſet forth,
Firſt, What the LORD Jeſus Chriſt hath done and ſuffered for the Salvation of Sinners.
Secondly, What HE doth work in them by his holy Spirit and Word, in Order unto their Everlaſting Salvation.
Thirdly, What kind of Worſhip, Churches, Miniſters and Ordinances the LORD Jeſus Chriſt hath inſtituted and appointed under the Goſpel. And in the latter Part of it is briefly and plainly declared, That there is a WORLD to Come; That the LORD Jeſus Chriſt will come perſonally, viſibly, and ſuddenly; That he will ſet up his Kingdom, & will Reign, Raiſe the Dead, and Judge both the Quick and the Dead, 2 Tim. 4.1. At his Appearing, & his Kingdom. It may be ſome of all ſorts of Readers will judge and Cenſure me for one thing or another, but with me it is a very ſmall thing, that I ſhould be judged by Man's Judgment. I only entreat the Judicious Reader to ſearch the Scriptures, and thereby to prove all things, and hold faſt that which is ſound. I pretend not to Infallibility; I know but in part; yet I am willing to impart that which I do know, unto others, that are ſearching after Knowledge and Underſtanding.
And I pray that God will fill you that Read what I have written, with the Knowledge of his Will Revealed in his written WORD, That you may prove what is the perfect Will of God. But if any man ſeem to be contentious, we have no ſuch Cuſtom, neither the Churches of God. Nor will I contend with any one otherwiſe than the Apostle Jude exhorts in the third verſe of his Epiſtle, That we ſhould earneſtly contend for the Faith that was once delivered unto the Saints; not by vain Diſputings and Janglings, but by ſober Aſſertions, and clear Proofs of Scripture, Iſa. 8.20. Shew me, friendly Reader, wherein I have erred from the Truth, and it will be as precious Balm, and I ſhall esteem thee my friend indeed, that will endeavour to convert me from the Errour of my Way, if i… be done in a Spirit of Love Nay, if any one ſhall do it in another frame of ſpirit, I ſhall thankfully acknowledge his kindneſs that will endeavour to Convince me, to Reprove me; (yea, although he ſhould Reproach me) and I would bear it patiently, and humbly acknowledge my miſtake. And I will not obſtinately hold faſt any Errour after Conviction, through the Grace of God; for I love the Truth as it is in Jeſus (if my heart doth not deceive me) more than my ſelf, or my eſteem in the World.
Thy Souls Friend, Han. Knollys. From my Study in Bartholomew-Lane, Auguſt. 3. 1681.