The Christian Life, Title page – Dedication
THE Christian Life, From its BEGINNING, TO ITS CONSUMMATION In GLORY; TOGETHER WITH The several Means and Instruments of Christianity conducing thereunto; WITH Directions for private Devotion AND Forms of PRAYER Fitted to the several States of Christians.
By JOHN SCOTT, Rector of Saint Peter Poor, London.
LONDON: Printed by M. Clark, for Walter Kettilby at the Bishops-Head in S. Pauls Church-yard, 1681.
To the Right Honourable AND Right Reverend Father in God, HENRY Lord Bishop of LONDON, And one of His Majesties most Honourable Privy-Council, &c.
My Lord,
THAT I presume to lay these Papers at your Lordships feet, is not because I imagin they deserve, but because I am Conscious they need so great a Patronage. Not but that were the Discourses they contain as great and meritorious as their Argument, they might safely shelter themselves under their own Deserts, and challenge Homage instead of begging Protection; but though I have done my best Endeavour to treat this great Theme suitably to its own native Majesty, yet I am very sensible it hath not escap'd the too common Fate of all such sublime and excellent Subjects, which is, to be foul'd and sullyed by coarse handling. But my lot falling in this unhappy Age, wherein the best Church and Religion in the World are in such apparent Danger of being Crucified, like their blessed Author, between those two Thieves (and both, alas, impenitent ones) Superstition and Enthusiasm, I thought my self obliged not to sit still as an unconcerned Spectator of the Tragedy, but in my little Sphere, and according to my poor Ability, to indeavour its Prevention: And considering that the most effectual Means the Romanists have used to subvert this Church, which they so much envy, and all the Reformations do so much admire and depend on, hath been to divide her own Children from her, and arm them against her, by starting new Opinions among them, and ingaging their Zeal (which was wont to be imploy'd to better Purposes) in hot Disputes about the Modes and Circumstances of her Worship; I thought a Discourse of the Christian Life, which is the proper Sphere of Christian Zeal, might be a good Expedient to take men off from those dangerous Contentions which were kindled and are fed and blown by such as design our common Ruin. For sure did our People throughly understand what 'tis to be Christians indeed, and how much Duty that implies, they could never find so much Leisure as they do to quarrel and wrangle about Trifles.
This, my Lord, is the sincere Design of what I here present to your Lordship; and however it may succeed, I have this Satisfaction that I meant well, and have exprest my Good Will to this poor envied Church, whose truly Primitive Constitution, pure and undefiled Religion, I shall always admire and reverence; and whatsoever her Fate may be, I am chain'd to her Fortunes by my Reason and Conscience, and shall ever esteem it more eligible to be crusht in pieces by her Fall, which God avert, than to flourish and Triumph on her Ruines.
But among the many ill Omens that threaten our Church, there is one which seems to presage its Prosperity; and that is, that such Eminent Stations in it as your Lordships, are so excellently supplied. For although whether the Part you are design'd for, be to Grace her Triumphs or her Funeral, is known only to the soveraign Disposer of Events, yet this, my Lord, all that wish well to our Church conclude, that God bestow'd You upon her as a Token of Love. For which they have sufficient Warrant even from the daily Experience they have of the Prudence and Vigilance of your Government, the Piety, Integrity and Generosity of your Temper, of your invincible Loyalty to your Prince, your undaunted Zeal for the Reformed Religion, and grave and Obliging Deportment towards all you converse with. I shall trouble your Lordship no farther, but conclude this Address with that which I am sure is the hearty Prayer of all your honest Clergy, that the God of Heaven would long continue your Lordship a Blessing to the Church and to this Diocess, an Honour to your Sacred Order and the Noble Stock you descend from; and if what I here present prove but so prosperous as to do some good in the World, and obtain your Lordships Acceptance, it will be a noble Compensation of this well-meant Endeavour. I am,
My Lord, Your Lordships most Humble and most Obedient Servant, IOHN SCOTT.