New England Freemen Warned and Warmed, Title page – To the reader
New-England Freemen Warned and Warmed, To be Free indeed, having an Eye to God in their ELECTIONS: … a Sermon Preached before the Court of ELECTION At Boſton, on the …aſt Day of May, 1671.
J. O. Paſtour of the firſt Church in Boſton.
Publiſhed by Order of the General Court.
Printed in the Year. 1673.
Chriſtian Reader,
I Was invited by the Houſe of Deputies to Preach at the time and … the occaſion mentioned in the Title page, and that work (though very mean) ſound that acceptance, that Captain Savage the Speaker with Captain Clark came in the name of that Houſe to give me thanks: Since which the Deputies, with the concurrence of the Magiſtrates ordered the Printing of this poor piece; It was once in my thoughts here to have prefaced an Explication of ſome particulars, which it ſeems did not ſound well in the ears of two or three perſons whom I honour; but my ſecond thoughts did contradict, telling me my Order was only for the Printing of the Sermon, and that the explication and defence thereof (if a tincture of prejudice (did remain) might as well be miſtaken as the Sermon, and ſo occaſion inconvenient alteration; wherefore I forbear being conſcious to my ſelf of no other ſcope nor meaning then what will be agreeable to all faithful Pa… and true lovers of this Country, with whe… before I am willing to leave this Teſtimony before I dye; and that it may appear that I aim at what was in the heart of ſome long before me in time and worth; take ſome paſſages which have had unqueſtioned allowance in this Land:
Mr. Shepard in his firſt part of the Parable of the Virgins, page 166. Who ſeeth not (that obſerves the Lords dealing) that ſome ſorrows are toward, unleſs the Lord awaken, ſome ſuddain blaſting blow. If any wind be ſtirring, men on the tops of the mountains will feel it, and its folly to think to flee from the croſſe unleſs we flee from Chriſt. 'Tis part of the portion he doth owe us here, if he love us.
I do fear there is at this day as deep miſchief plotting againſt New-England as e…er the Sun ſaw: Enemies will firſt deal ſubtilly before cruelly, but ſubtilly that they may deal cruelly; When Pharaoh deals wiſely, he means to kill:
Being come hither for publick helpe and means and all ordinances, Oh do not betray your liberties, but loſe your blood before you loſe them, and the Lord in them; bear the Ark ſtill on your ſhoulders that the Lord may, dwell with you.
Idem 2d. part, page 16. If ever this Country receive a blovv it vvill be by appearances, if ever any ſhall come under an appearance of piety and promiſe of protection, ſafety, liberty, only your Government muſt be a little altered, ſlumber here and you ſhall ſleep in your enemies arms.
Idem page 198. An Objection is made, What power have Churches to keep out them that be Baptized?
The Anſwer: The Apoſtle is punctual to it, 2 Tim 3. 5. ſpeaking of the laſt dayes, having a form of godlineſs, turn away from ſuch, he ſaith not, let them in and turn to them, and if they prove evil members cut them off and turn them from you, but turn avvay from them; he ſaith not if they be prophane or not baptiz'd and cannot ſay I vvas humbled & novv I believe, but vvhichwhich is more if they have a form Ezek. 44.8, 9. you have ſet keepers of my charge in my Sanctuary for your ſelves: thus ſaith the Lord God, no ſtranger uncircumcized in heart, nor uncircumciſed in fleſh ſhall enter into my Sanctuary, Heb. 12.15. looking diligently leaſt any root of bitterneſs ſpringing up trouble you, he doth not ſay it is no matter vvhat roots you ſet in Chriſts Garden, only vvhen they ſpring up and begin to feed and infect others, then have a care of them The Lord that forbids me to ſuffer Weeds to grow forbids my careleſsneſs in ſowing what ſeed, I pleaſe.
Idem page 199. Paul may fear with a godly jealcuſie ſome of the Corinthian Church, 2 Cor. 12. yet he calls them all Saints, and dares not mince his ſpeeches with ſuch notions of probabillity; a morral certainty, a man may and ſhould have of all Church-members, a certainty of faith conditional, but not abſolute.
Idem page 200. Let all Gods people, Watchmen on Gods Walls, ſtill be watchful and careful, there be temptations enough to make men fill and peſter Gods Houſe with Swine; one hath his Friend, and his affection leed him; another, he is a man of eſtate and his Money is in the mouth of his Sack; another thinks there is one bad enough, but we ſhall do well enough with them.