Gods Thoughts and Ways Above Ours, Title page – Preface
GOD's Thoughts and Ways Above Ours, eſpecially in the Forgiveneſs of Sins IN SEVERAL SERMONS UPON ISAIAH LV. 7, 8, 9.
By John Shower.
LONDON: Printed, by the Widow Aſtwood, Iohn Lawrence, at the Angel in Poultry. MDCXCIX.
THE PREFACE.
I Am Encouraged to think that the following Sermons did Good in the Preaching; and with the Hope they may be of ſome further Uſe, they are now Publiſhed. It hath been deſir'd that I would Tranſcribe them in the Words wherein they were deliver'd, which with very little Variation, I have conſented to, as to the Firſt Four. It may be, the peculiar Turn of Expreſſion, tho' popular and leſs exact in the Pulpit, which renders the plain Truths of Chriſtianity Acceptable to moſt Hearers, may be more Uſeful and more Affecting to ſeveral Readers, than what is more Conciſe, and in more ſtudied Words.
I can never reckon it a Fault, in a Sermon to a Numerous Auditory, that the Stile is different from what is expected, in a cloſe and juſt Diſcourſe: Or that what might be ſaid in two Words or Sentences, is expreſt in three or four. Perhaps the greateſt Part of the Hearers, need ſuch Enlargement and Repetition, and their Capacity could not otherwiſe be reached, ſo as to Profit them, any more then that Game may be taken by a Net Unſpread.
Very Wiſe Men have Thought, that it is a Miſtake in a Conſciencious Preacher, to endeavour to pleaſe only a few of the more Knowing and Judicious Hearers. But that which is ſuited to do Good to the Generality of thoſe we Preach to, will ordinarily be beſt Thought of by Wiſe Men, whoſe Capacity and Judgment could reach what was more Accurate: For they muſt needs know, that it would not be Proper here. They themſelves have Sins to be forgiven, and Corruptions to be mortify'd, and Immortal Souls to be ſav'd, and ſo have their Inferiours: And there is but one Way, for the Learned and Unlearned, to get to Heaven, that I know of.
'Tis True, the Things treated of will be deſpis'd by Many, who do not Reliſh what's contained in ſuch Diſcourſes. The Matter is out of their Way. They are not Senſible of Sin, nor Solicitous about Forgiveneſs: And ſo think not themſelves concerned. And it is to be fear'd there are Many Others, who hear and read Sermons, only to Judge of them, without any Deſire of Advantage to their Souls. They are not better'd for the Sermons they Commend, any more than by thoſe they Condemn. They may ſay perhaps it was an Excellent Diſcouſe, He's a Good Orator, or a Judicious Preacher, and This Sermon exceeded, even his Laſt: But their Conſciences are not touch'd, they feel nothing that doth them any real Good.
However, there are Many I hope, in this City and Nation, who will be thankfull for any ſuch Aſſiſtance, to prevent their Deſpair, when convinced of Sin; as the Doctrine of God's Free Grace in Forgiveneſs, that is diſplay'd in the Firſt Four Sermons. And Others, who meet with Objections, in Converſation, and in Pamphlets, againſt the Chriſtian Doctrine, of the Sacred Trinity, the Incarnation of Chriſt, and God's Wiſe Government of the World, from the Unaccountable Paſſages of Providence, (which are apt to ſtumble them,) may be willing to conſider, and improve this Argument of God's Thoughts not being as Ours, but far above our Reach, which is the Subject of the Fifth Sermon.
Let me only add, that many Younger Miniſters, as well as Elder, have Dyed of Late: And tho' Few of us will be miſs'd, when we Dye, (there being ſuch Numbers to Supply our Places,) yet Every One ſhould endeavour, to be as Uſeful, as he can while he lives, for the Night is haſtening, wherein no Work can be done. If Any Reader get Good, let him give God the Glory; I moſt earneſtly beg His Bleſſing, to that End.
J. S.