Saints Like Christ, Title page – Dedication
SAINTS LIKE CHRIST: OR, Somewhat of truth delivered to the Congregation at Headly in Hampſhire.
By Jo. Symmonds, M. A.
1 COR. 15.48.
As is the heavenly, ſuch are they alſo that are heavenly.
LONDON, Printed for Giles Calvert, and are to be ſold at the Black Spread-Eagle at the Weſt end of Pauls. M.DC.L.
…o the Nobly Deſcended, gratious Chriſtian and vertuous Virgin, … rs SƲSANNA MILDMAY.
May it pleaſe you,
I Have made bold in venturing into the world to make uſe of your Worſhips name, that ſo I may paſſe …ith the leſſe moleſtation in theſe …oubleſome times. It is an age of …ouble, and that not alone in the world, and amongſt men of the world, but ſuch that profeſſe to Chriſt, and I hope are in Chriſt. Theſe latter own themſelves, and what is theirs as men and fleſhly, too much; and what is Chriſts and ſpirituall not enough; The contention in the church of Corinth partly aroſe from mens overmuch affecting ſingularity, one was of Paul, another of Appollo, another of Cephas, another of Chriſt. It may be ſome boaſted of their circumciſion, ſome of their Baptiſme, ſome of both Baptiſme and circumciſion, ſome it may be gloried that they had medled neither with Baptiſme nor circumciſion; if not ſo, yet it is more then conjecturall that ſome boaſted that they were hearers of ſuch a one, and of ſuch a ones Congregation: and from this outſide-worke highly extolling their choice and way, ſlighting and abaſing others, caus'd ſtrife. The Apoſtle blames for this contention, and ſhews that the way of Chriſt is to take from men, as men, all glorying. It is unbeſeeming the eye to hate the foot, becauſe the foot ſees not, 'tis enough that it is of the body: ſo ſhould not Chriſtians that have more excellent gifts, villifie them that have not attained to their perfection, or trouble to ſee others differing in judgement in ſome low things from them; for in the body of Chriſt unity may ſtand with diverſity: there may be diverſity in reſpect of forms and yet unity in ſpirit; for men may enjoy God in different formes, God may dwell in them that regard a day, and in them that regard it not; God may communicate himſelf to them, and ſo make them alike within glorious; by enjoying his glorious preſence. Formes are to be reverenc'd (knowing of ſome there is uſe) as they wherein Chriſtians may walke and be uſefull one to another; yet meer being in forms makes not Saints, nor doth uniformity in formes breed true unity. True unity of members is from thoſe members union with the head. And as ſouls are in unity with the head; ſo will they grow into a unity one with another. 'Tis the new and ſpirituall birth whereby ſouls are one with Chriſt, and like Chriſt that makes them at on with Chriſtians, and true Chriſtians look upon all that profeſſe to Chriſt not as in formes, but as poſſeſſing Chriſt; and as they find Chriſt living in them do they eſteeme them, and account them precious, knowing that a precious Chriſt makes precious Chriſtians, and that they will keep their excellency let the times and places be never ſo bad they are caſt into. Right Worſhipfull, you are young, and yet ſome bad dayes you have ſeen, people of all Ages, Sexes, qualities very bad, ſome ill ſavour in every place by reaſon of corruption have you to your annoyance met withall; And God knowes what more you may, whileſt here in the body. You know what hath kept you right in theſe croſſe-walkings, and alſo what hath preſerv'd you and enabled you to keep your ſweetnes, hath not a Chriſt guided you? hath not a Chriſt communicated himſelfe to you? I have high thoughts of your Noble ſelf, and I am perſwaded never a whit above you, but that you are as high as I take you to be, and that is in Chriſt; whom you have found all in all unto you, and on whom you rely to carry you through what remaines of ſufferings as your part and portion, that at laſt you may ſit down with Chriſt in his Throne even as he is ſet down with his Father, in his Fathers Throne: and as you are ſuch as he is in this world, ſo you may be like him in the world to come, participating with your ſweet Saviour, and bleſſed redeemer in his glory to your perfect happines. You have an inſide like Chriſt now, a ſoul glorious; you ſhall have an outſide like him alſo, body glorious, body and ſoul glorious, all glorious. Towards the enjoying of which ſo farre as my dayly prayers may help, you ſhall be ſure of them, praying to God on your behalfe. And upon this account I tender my ſelfe.
Your Worſhips devoted Servant, to ſerve you, in what I may, JO. SYMMONDS.