Heavenly Treasure, Notice – To the reader 2
IT is abundantly known to the generality of the Godly throughout the Nation, though more eſpecially about theſe Cities of London and Weſtminſter, with what ſingular ability, full affection, and good ſucceſs, the Author of the following Sermons (now at Reſt from, and enjoying the crown of all his Labours) did ſpend himſelf, and was ſpent in the Service of the Goſpel. He did the work of him that ſent him, while it was day. The night (he would often ſay) was a coming, in which he ſhould have no ſeaſon; and while 'twas day therefore (he would add) that neither ſhould the frowns, nor the flatteries of men divert him from his Work. His preaching was with very much freedom of ſpeech, delivering the word without fear, in much boldneſs, and without partiality: He was not of the number of them who corrupt the word of God; but Chief among them that preacht it, as 2 Cor. 2. 17.of ſincerity, and as of God: He hath often told me, one main part of his ſtudy and prayer to God was, that in all his preaching he might not only be Led into the truth, but teach the preſent truth, that, that of any other, might be to them, to whom he preached, the moſt inſtantly uſefull, and moſt ſeaſonable truth: God in his wiſdom appointed him to one place after another, where all his abilities might be tryed and ſhine forth in their luſtre. *He was Lecturer at Dunſtans and Weſtminſter, and one of the Reverend Aſſembly of Divines.His Preaching (ye that ſate under the ſhadow of his Miniſtry with great delight are the witneſſes of it: His preaching) though it was very frequent (thrice or four times a week, for ſome years together when ſeldomeſt) did not yet conſiſt of any ſuch thin notions, as being cloathed with ayr only would melt upon the tongue, and quickly vaniſh in ſome little ſweetneſs. No, but in all his Sermons, the intelligent Hearer (for he took himſelf to be a Debtor to as well the wiſe as the fooliſh) might obſerve, that as the materials of them were full of Spirit and vigour, ſo the Compilement of them was cloſe, elaborate and pithy: and though he minded more what might profit, then what might pleaſe, yet did he pleaſe as well as profit them that heard him; Becauſe he uſed to back what he did deliver with a very great ſtrength of both harmonious and argumentative heads of Reaſoning: His manner always being to compare (or ſuit) ſpiritual things with ſpiritual, and to teach, though not in the enticing words of mans wiſdom, yet in the fulleſt demonſtration of the Spirit. He was not worn away with ruſt, but did wear away himſelf with uſe; the emanation of the Spirit filling his Ciſtern ſo, as made him free to do much work in a little time. *Ampliſſimum vitae ſpatium uſque ad ſapientiam vivere.He underſtood well that the acceptance of our works follows upon the acceptance of our perſons firſt; and he therefore did (to the admiration of them that heard him) open the whole Doctrine of the Covenant, through which our perſons finde acceptance with God: that Covenant of Grace, which comprehends what ever we are either by way of bleſsing to expect from God, or whatever we are by way of duty to return back to God again: that Covenant, I ſay, did he for years together labour in the opening of: had he lived to perfect, and to publiſh it, the Churches of Jeſus Chriſt had received a much more ſpecial advantage, then now I fear they can have by it: but we muſt be content to have Elijah firſt taken from us, before his mantle will be given us.
He vexed his righteous ſoul to ſee how among many profeſſors of Religion, practical Godlineſs did ſeem to wither much: what truths therefore might ſerve beſt to revive, encourage and put on to holineſs of life, or circumſpect walking, thoſe to chooſe would he moſt frequently acquaint his Hearers with: He judged the power of godlineſs to conſiſt not ſo much in mens ability to Maſter this or the other high-towring, ſpeculative doctrine (though himſelf was of excellent high-raiſed parts) as in mens affectionate hearty cloſing with, and living up to thoſe more obvious common truths (for in facili & abſoluto ſtat aeternitas. Auſt. Enchir.) that are the great neceſſary things on which mans everlaſting happineſs, or miſery does moſt depend: And he would therefore (therein following the direction Paul gave to Titus, *foreign.chap. 3. 8.) earneſtly exhort profeſſors to be known most by their maintaining of good works: and that however they might ſomewhat differ in matters of outward order, or Church Diſcipline, yet that they would all agree in what was more intimately conſequtive to the Spiritual man: A being rich in holy works *Sancta & rectae vitae antiſtites eſſe. The Greek word which is a military word, taken from ſuch as ſet themſelves in the foreward o… front of the Battel, and march before for the encouragement of the reſt of the army; ſome tranſlate it to go before others in good works.: Our works being the beſt (at leaſt moſt ſenſible) evidence of our faith: He laboured much that parties diſagreeing a little what in that part of the circumference which concerns Eccleſiaſticks, might yet be one i'th center of an holy life: for indeed he knew well, that though Profeſſors in matters poſsibly of leſs conſequence, may ſhew what party of Chriſtians we ſide with, yet holineſs of life only it was that ſhould beſt evince our being ſet apart for God. He laid it much to heart to ſee how ſlightly and ungroundedly, not a few of latter years, (ſince the goodneſs of ſome in power had altered the face of times ſo much as that godlineſs was no longer now a reproach or hindrance in the way of, but the eaſieſt ſtep to preferment) for one or other loaves ſake only took up Religion; (as from the manner of their walking might be ſuſpected) He did therefore inſiſt upon, and in the courſe of his Miniſtry preſs thoſe doctrines of ſelf examination, and ſelf denial (both which ſubjects thou mayſt hereafter, God willing, have put into thy hands) with much earneſtneſs, ſearching power, and ſpiritual exactneſs; that if there were any who profeſt Chriſtianity out of Faction, carrying a Pagan heart under a Chriſtian name, they might be made manifeſt to themſelves: His inſight into the Goſpel was wonderfully quick and ſingular: his delight was to lead his Hearers within the vail, and to ſhew them the glory of that one Mediator, whom the Father ſet forth for the propitiation of our ſins: great was his pains in opening thoſe Relations (together with their reſpective vertue and influence) that he ſtood in to his Father, to Angels, to all Mankinde, and to the Elect in ſpecial: ſundry ſubjects and ſingle Sermons the Author has left behinde him, which will (God willing) be haſtened into the Preſs; what he did laſt, does (herewith) come out firſt; becauſe indeed an imperfect Copy hereof ſtole forth as a ſpurious obtruſion upon the world: Which the Authors Friends judged a great wrong unto the Publique as well as to the Author himſelf; and for that reaſon, therefore have put the ſame ſubject firſt into thine hand, leaving thee to judge, how much more this Edition (thus publiſht) hath of the ſignature and mark of his ſpirit in it, above what the former carried. Thus much premiſed, I ſhall only add by way of prayer, that the Spirit of life and power (who alone is able) may make the price here put into thy hand very uſefull for thy ſouls good. We are accomptable, not only for what we hear, but for what we read; and tis equally dangerous to be found among the number of them that are unprofitable Readers, as to be one of thoſe that are unprofitable Hearers.
Geo. Griffith.
Good Reader,
IT is uſually obſerved that Gods children do beſt in their cloſe and laſt farewel; as natural motion is ſlower in the beginning, and ſwifter in the end, ſo are their motions more vehement and ſtirring towards heaven and heavenly things, when their ſouls are ready to diſlodge from the body, and to be at home with the Lord.
Certain I am, the Scripture puts a ſpecial mark and conſideration upon the laſt words of the Saints, 2 Sam. 23. 1. Now theſe be the laſt words of David; ſo the ſpeeches of dying men have more weight in them; for as we draw neer to eternity we grow wiſer, and being about to return to the *foreign. &c. Plotin. apud Veſ.Original Divinity (as Plotinus ſpeaketh) we are more Divine.
And this not only when the Lord giveth his people fair warning of their approaching end, but many times when death ſtealeth upon them unawares, by a ſtrange kinde of preſage their ſouls have been marvellouſly heightned in the contemplation of eternity, and wholly taken up with that bleſſedneſs into which God was about (though unknown to themſelves) to tranſlate them: tis one of the obſervations of this Treatiſe, That when the heart is in heaven the body will not be long out of it; our tranſlation is but delayed till the moneths of our purification be ended, and we by growing dead to ſin, & weary of the world, are made meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light.
All this is ſpoken, to put thee in mind that theſe diſcourſes, which are now put into thy hand, were the laſt works of that eminent and faithful Servant of God, Mr. Will. Strong, of whom without any unſavory alluſion to his name, I may truly ſay that he was, foreign, Act. 18. 24. A man eloquent and ſtrong, or mighty in the Scriptures; this diſcourſe (I ſay) was the dying blaze of that burning and ſhining light, or his *Cantator cygnus Funeris ipſe ſui; quapropter, Plato in …aedone eum foreign, appellat.laſt Swan-like ſong, and preparation to his own death and Funerals, which unexpectedly, and alas too ſuddenly, as to our profit, followed the preaching of theſe Sermons: it was the ſecret inſtinct of the Spirit of God (no doubt) that engaged his thoughts to ſuch an argument, not only for his own comfort in the agonies of death, but for our benefit who do ſurvive him.
Theſe Sermons were formerly ſurreptitiouſly printed by an unknown and an unskilful hand; but as they now come forth thou maiſt plainly diſcern the own ſpirit of the Author in them, which in thoſe rude & broken notes was more hidden and obſcure.
I have heard of ſome that out of a ſond ſuperſtition have been afraid in health to provide their laſt Will and Teſtament, taking it for a certain token of approaching death, the thoughts of which the carnal world cannot endure; and therefore ſeek to put off that which they cannot put away. To prepare for death, doth neither haſten nor hinder it; there's folly in the ſurmiſe; however this truth lyeth hid under it, that when men are ripe and ready to die, uſually they are not long-lived, but are gathered in like a ſhock of corn in its ſeaſon: I hope none are afraid to be too ſoon in heaven; let us mend our pace thitherward, and get up as faſt as we can, that every day our ſalvation may be nearer then when we firſt believed; this, as it is the deſign of theſe precious Sermons, ſo the unfeigned deſire of him, who is,
Thine in the Lords work, Tho. Manton.