Holy Confidence Well Improved, Title page – To the reader
Holy Confidence Well Improved, BY NEHEMIAH and the JEWS: Whoſe Faith and Spirit were conſidered and applied to the SOCIETIES for Reformation of Manners; in a SERMON at Salters-hall in London, on Monday Auguſt 16, 1697. And now at their Requeſt made publick.
By Matthew Sylveſter.
Cui ſapit ipſe Deus, ſolus ſapit ille. Quid haeres?
Ad res difficiles dum vocat, ipſe praeit.
London, Printed by J. Darby, for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and three Crowns in Cheapſide. 1697.
TO THE READER.
Candid Reader;
AS Divine Providence hath exceeded all our Expectations and Deſerts by the Vouchſafement of a moſt Grateful Peace in theſe Parts of Chriſtendom: and as the ſame Providence hath greatly us'd and proſper'd the Agency and Conduct of our moſt Gracious and Illuſtrious Soveraign King WILLIAM III. in this great Acqueſt, to his Immortal Honour and Renown; in all which God ſeems to be upon his way to bring great Things to paſs: ſo what can more concern us, and become us, than to meet this Providence, and his Majeſty, in that Spirit and Courſe which may beſt correſpond with thoſe great Obligations and Deſigns which are hereby laid upon us, and ſet before us? Sad and portentous would it be, and a Preſage of dreadful Judgments in reverſion, if a deliver'd Generation from all the Calamities of deſolating and expenſive Wars, ſhould yet continue to wage War with Heaven, by uncontrouled Immoralities, Debaucheries, Profaneneſs, &c. God knows yet how to diſtreſs us more and more, either by Wars, or by other Judgments of equally diſmal Conſequence thereto, to us. What ſignifies our Peace with Men, if we have none with Heaven? The Lord of Hoſts can neither need nor want fit Inſtruments and Engines of Diſtreſs to plague us with, when he once finds that neither Peace nor War will bring us to that dutiful and needful Reformation, which he ſo evidently doth attempt to fright and court us to. Fain would I hope that this Deſign of Reformation is on foot; and that ſuch a Spirit is kindled amongst us as will invigorate all fit Endeavours to bring this thing to paſs, and that too, under Divine Countenance and Patronage. And my Hopes are the more ſtrong and free, in that I find ſo many of different Communions, as to external Diſcipline and Worſhip, to be ſo evidently one in this important matter. I think I have ſeen all the Sermons preach'd before the Societies for Reformation of Manners hitherto: and I have read them with great Pleaſure, and to my no ſmall Satiſfaction. I find them all breathing the ſame true Chriſtian Spirit; and I muſt tell my Brethren, whether Conformiſts or Diſſenters, that I cannot but eſteem and reverence that Judgment and Savour which I have diſcern'd in their ſo excellent and pertinent Sermons. I ſtrongly hope that the nearer we all come to God and Chriſt by Faith and Holineſs, the more of Peace and Love we ſhall experience amongst our ſelves. And the more evident we ſhall render it to all Men, that we can differ in our Sentiments about the Modes of Diſcipline and Worſhip, and yet most dearly love each other. I do not hate nor cenſure thoſe of my Brethren whom I differ from, ſo many of whom I find ſo very much beyond my ſelf in Parts and Learning, and Practical Chriſtianity. I reverence all proportionably to their diſcerned Excellencies. Chriſt hath his valuable and uſeful Inſtruments in each Communion. O that we could but love and treat each other as Chriſt himſelf doth and will love and treat us all! Why ſhould I hate or ſlight any below on Earth, whom I expect and am well ſatiſfied that I ſhall love and live withal in Heaven above? I neither do, nor can expect much Good from any inordinate Heats or Bigotry, where-ever fixed and practiſed; as knowing well who hath declared, that the Wrath of Man works not the Righteouſneſs of God. Sound Faith, orderly Lives, peaceable Principles and Behaviour, cordial Affections, with all fit Ci…ilities of Converſation, and a perfect Abhorrence of all Countenance to the Works of Darkneſs; may theſe, Candid Reader, be ever dear to thee, and to thine, in and for the ſake and Ʋniverſal Intereſt of tke Great Lord of Holineſs, Peace, and Glory.
London, Sept. 27. 1697. Matthew Sylveſter.