The True Christians T est, Title page 1 – Dedication 2
The True Chriſtians Teſt, OR, A DISCOVERY Of the LOVE and LOVERS OF THE WORLD.
In Two Parts.
I. Of MAN Conſidered in his Moral Capacity, in an Hundred Meditations, Derived from 1 John 2. 15.
II. Of MAN Conſidered in his Political Capacity, in Forty nine Meditations, Derived from 1 John 2. 15.
Non dubium eſt quam illud magis amemus quod anteponimus. Salv.
In ſo ſaying thou reproveſt us alſo.
By Samuel Shaw, Miniſter of the Goſpel.
LONDON, Printed by Thomas James for Samuel Tidmarſh at the Kings-head in Corn-hill. MDCLXXXII.
To the Right Honourable THEOPHILUS Earl of Huntingdon, Lord Haſtings, Hungerford, Botreaux, Molyns, and Moyls.
RIGHT HONOURABLE,
WHen Men are once firmly perſwaded of the certainty of another World, and do verily believe the Doctrine of Eternal Life revealed in the Holy Scriptures of God; there is all reaſon in the World (methinks) to conclude, that the firſt Enquiry ſhould be, How they themſelves ſhall become partakers of it? For who can be imagin'd to be ſincere in his belief of ſo Glorious and Bliſsful a State, that takes no thoughts how he ſhall obtain it, or not ſo many thoughts as what he ſhall eat and drink and put on; that ſits down contented, having given himſelf that cold anſwer which was once given to the Mother of Zebedees Children, It ſhall be given to them for whom it is prepared? Therefore to juſtifie the ſincerity of their belief, moſt Men do fancy to themſelves ſomething or other that will entitle them to this happineſs; though not ſo much perhaps becauſe they account it ſo bleſſed a thing to obtain, as dangerous and ſhameful to miſs of it.
Amongſt the many particulars that men do imagine will give them a claim to Everlaſting Life, The Love of God is one of the greateſt, and as much pretended to as any. It is ſo Univerſal a Plea, that I ſcarce think there is any Man who calls himſelf a Chriſtian, but he will make it. Not to love God ſounds ſo ill, that it makes the Ears of the moſt Profligate Chriſtian to Tingle, when it is charg'd upon him. But notwithſtanding all theſe pretences to the Love of God, it is moſt Evident that a great part of the pretenders are indeed ſtrangers to it; inaſmuch as they may be convicted of the Love of the World, which is inconſiſtant with it. To find out and caſt out therefore the Love of the World muſt needs be the moſt important Enquiry and Endeavour of Man, of every man in the World.
Your Lordſhip will eaſily believe me, if I tell you that although Men be never ſo great and high in the World, if the World be great and high in their Hearts, the Love of God is not in them▪ Although Men have never ſo much of this worlds Good, if at the ſame time they be unmerciful and uncharitable, the Love of God dwells not in them. This is expreſly the Apoſtle James his Doctrine.
But to ſpeak a little the cloſer, though a man be inſtructed in all Wiſdome, and furniſht with all Variety of Arts and Sciences, that he can name all things as properly as Adam, or diſcourſe of their Natures as learnedly as Solomon; if yet the Love of the World be Predominant in him, he is but a vain pretender to the Kingdom of Heaven, a great ſtranger to the Life of Angels. Though a Man know and believe all the wonderful Doctrines deliver'd in the Holy Book, if this Faith do not operate to the purifying of the Heart from the Love of the World, he is at preſent as far from having a true title to the Kingdom of Heaven, as they of whom the Apoſtle gives this Character, That they Believe and Tremble. In a word, though a Man be a Member of the Pureſt and moſt Reformed Church, be never ſo Orthodox in his Judgment, never ſo conſtant and ſpecious in External Acts of Worſhip, never ſo even and blameleſs in his Converſation, never ſo exact in Works of Righteouſneſs, and abundant in Works of Charity and Mercy, if yet in his heart he prefer the World before God, he will be interpreted a Lover of the World, and conſequently an Enemy of the Father.
I do verily believe, my Lord, that I do here preſent you with a Treatiſe written about the moſt Important Enquiry in the World. They are Morning Meditations, ſtollen from the ordinary Employment of my Life; which I do preſent to the World, meerly to advance the Love and Honour of God amongſt Men, and do Dedicate to your Lordſhip, in a grateful acknowledgment of your kind Reſpects to me; and in Teſtimony of the Honour that I bear to your Lordſhips good Deſign of promoting Piety, and eſtabliſhing Peace in this Nation. I beſeech your Lordſhip favourably to accept the Oblation, and I heartily pray God, that as his Providence hath made you foreign (very Illuſtrious amongſt the Engliſh Families) ſo by his Grace you may ever approve your ſelf Tam re quam nomine foreign Oh how Bleſſed and Honourable a thing will it be found to be, ſooner or later, to be a S…ncere and Ardent Lover of God! To his good Grace and Guidance I heartily recommend your Lordſhip, and reſt,
(My Lord) Your Honours moſt humble Servant, SAM. SHAW.
The True Chriſtians Teſt, OR, A DISCOVERY Of the LOVE and LOVERS OF THE WORLD: In Forty nine Meditations Derived From 1 John 2. 15.
The Second Part.
Of MAN Conſidered in his Political Capacity.
By Sam. Shaw Miniſter of the Goſpel.
LONDON, Printed by Tho. James for Samuel Tidmarſh at the Kings-head in Cornhill. MDCLXXXII.
To the Right Honourable THOMAS Earl of Stamford, Lord Gray of Grooby.
MY LORD,
I Have little more to recommend me to your Lordſhip, than that I am your Countreyman and Neighbour; which yet is a Relation that your ſingular Humility and Affability is not wont to deſpiſe, though in a perſon otherwiſe deſpicable ethough: But your Lordſhips Love of, and great deſ…re to ſerve the Intereſt of your Countrey, does recommend you abundantly to the World, and does tempt me to ſpeak of it in this Dedication.
My Lord, I intend not a Panigyrick of your Lordſhip, which they that are acted by a Worldly Spirit, and deſign Worldly Advantages, might think worth their while to contrive. May your praiſe be of God, and not of Men! And of God I am ſure your praiſe will be, if you be a Predominant Lover of him. I beſeech your Lordſhip to ſtrip your ſelf of all your Worldly Quality b…t an hour or two, whilſt you peruſe the black Characters of a Lover of the World, and the juſt Motives to the Love of God; and then (whatever exceptions Learned or Witty, or Worldly men may make againſt theſe Meditations (which I believe will be many) if you do not judiciouſly account the Love of God to be the higheſt Honour and pureſt Happineſs of Man, I will be content how loath ſoever) to be accounted not to be (what really I am)
Your Honours Moſt humble Servant SAM. SHAW.