The Zealous Christian Taking Heaven by Holy Violence, Title page – To the reader
THE ZEALOVS CHRISTIAN, Taking Heaven BY HOLY VIOLENCE: In ſeverall SERMONS Tending to direct men How
To hear with Zeal,
To pray with importunity.
Preached by that faithfull ſervant of JESUS CHRIST, Mr. CHRISTOPHER LOVE, Late Miniſter of Laurence Jury LONDON.
—The violent take it by force,
Mat. 11. 12.
London, Printed by R. and W. Leybourn, for John Rothwell, at the Sun and Fountain in Pauls-Church-yard. 1653.
TO THE CHRISTIAN READER.
Reader,
THE good acceptance which this Authors Treatiſes, (already publiſhed by us) have found, and the good ſucceſſe they have had among the people of God, together with the importunate deſires of many godly perſons that were … of … SERMONS, have put us upon recommending them to the World. The ſubject of thoſe Sermons is not only Pipus but Seaſonable, EueryEvery thing (ſaith Solomon) i… beautifull in its ſeaſon, Eccleſ. 3. 11. The times wherein we live are famous for a Ferm of godlineſſe, and, no leſſe infamous for the want of the Power of it. Nothing is more common then for men to hear and pray, and perform the outſide-duties of Religion. Nothing more rare then for man to do theſe things as becomes the Goſpel. Men have ſo inured themſelves to diſputes about the Circumſtantials of Worſhip, that Subſtantials are loſt in the ſcuffle. And therefore it is commendable in a Miniſter to reduce the thoughts and hearts of people from needleſſe controverſies to the practicals of Chriſtianity. As Socrates was commended for bringing down Philoſophie from high and ſublime ſpeculation, to uſe and practice.
It was the caſe of this Reverend Author, not ſo much to gratifie the fancies of men, as to work upon their affections, and to direct them in the ordering of their converſation: and that the father, becauſe he obſerved moſt men had more heat in their Brains, then in their Hearts. That zeal that once appeared in the Profeſſours of this Nation, is evaporated. That violence that ſometimes was in the people of this Nation after Sermons and all Ordinances, is now abated, and grown remiſſe; nay, in ſome, the hatred wherewith they hate the Ordinances and people of God, is greater then ever was the love wherewith they loved them. That praying Spirit, that not long ago was ſhed abroad in the hearts of Gods people, is now as it were departed.
It is therefore high time to be ſpeak this careleſſe Nation, or rahter the Profeſſors of this Nation, with that meſſage which GOD ſent to the Church of Epheſus, Remember from Rev. 2. 5.whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do thy firſt works, or elſe I will come againſt thee quickly, and remove thy Candleſtick out of his place.
And oh! may theſe enſuing Sermons be uſefull to revive thoſe ſparks of zeal and importunity, that lie as it were under the aſhes. That was the end which the Author aimed at when he preached them to his Congregation, and that is a main end that we look to and hope for in the publication of them. The times wherein we live are times of much hypocriſie. There are many among us that ſay they are Jews, and are not, that have a name to live, and are dead: Rev. 2. 9. 3. 1.yea, there are many that ſeeme to be religious, and yet not only deceive others, but alſo deceive, their own ſelves. And therefore it is time for every man to ſearch and trie if there be any way of wickedneſſe in him. All is not gold that gliſters, nor are all Saints that ſo call themſelves, or are ſo called by others.
Here then is a Touch-ſtone by which you may examine your ſelves: Here is a Balance of the Sanctuary, wherein you may weigh your graces, and ſee whether they be light or no. It is one of the vaineſt and moſt fooliſh things in the world for men to cheat themſelves of eternall happineſſe. We count it folly for a man to ſuffer himſelf to be cheated in a bargain, and yet what is loſt in one bargain may be regained in another. But here he that is cheated, is cheated irrecoverably. The loſſe of the ſoul is irreparable. Precious is the redemption of ſouls, and it ceaſeth for ever. And yet there is a ſtrange ſtupidity among the ſons of men, whereby they are willing to be deceived, and jugled out of their ſoul-happineſſe. They are willing to reſt themſelves upon any groundleſſe preſumption, though it be ſo weak that they dare not put it to triall in their own hearts, themſelves being Judges. O all you poor deluded ſouls! How long will you love vanity, and follow Pſal. 4.after lies? When you may go a ſure way, why will you run a hazard? Awake therefore O thou that ſleepeſt, and ſeriouſly betake thy ſelf to this weighty, neceſſary and profitable duty of examination; and in this work we hope this Treatiſe will be uſefull and acceptable; which if it be done, and the other branch not left undone, the Authors deſire in preaching is ſatisfied, and our expectation in publiſhing anſwered; and that both thoſe ends may be obtained, is the earneſt deſire of
Thoſe that ſeek not yours, but you.
EDMUND CALAMY.
SIMEON ASHE.
JER. WHITAKER.
WIL. TAYLOR.
MATTHEW POOL.