The Absolute Necessity of Spiritual Husbandry, Title page – Dedication
THE ABSOLUTE NECESSITY OF Spiritual Husbandry, In breaking up our FALLOW GROUND.
Together with a DISCOURSE Of the Terrible Coming of CHRIST, To Execute Vengeance on all that remain Fallow Ground, and Obey not the Goſpel.
By SAMƲEL TOMLYNS, M.A. and Miniſter of the Goſpel in Marlborough.
LONDON: Printed for Tho. Parkhurſt, at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheap-ſide, near Mercers-Chapel. 1699.
TO Richard Wollaſton, Eſq Grace, Mercy, and Peace, be multiplied, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jeſus Chriſt.
A Spiritual Lethargy is the reigning Diſeaſe of this Age: The Deſign of theſe Diſcourſes is, to Alarm the Secure, to Awaken the Sleeping World. Tho' Chriſt hath been a great while Inviſible, yet he will Appear to the Confuſion and Terror of his Adverſaries. Tho' he hath long kept Silence, yet he will roar out of Zion. Tho' his Sword hath ſlept, yet it will awake; do Execution on, and be Bathed in the Blood of Impenitent Sinners. The Sins of Men, and the puniſhing Hand of Chriſt, will find out all his Enemies, Numb. 32.23. Pſal. 21.8. He that came at firſt to ſaſe Men from their Sins, yet being ſlighted, and rejected, will come a ſecond time to deſtroy Men for their Iniquities. They that have not prized a Day of Salvation, ſhall Experience, and feel a Day of Vengeance and Deſtruction. How woful will the Eſtate of Sinners be, when their own Accuſing Conſciences ſhall be as a fiery Oven, Pſal. 21.9. within, and the Vengeance of God be as a Furnace of Fire without; and Sinners ſhall be Supported (though but Tares and Chaff) to be Eternal Fuel to this Fire. It will be ſweet to have a Well of Spiritual Water ſpringing up within, John 4.14. but it will be dreadful to have a Well of Fire to be burning in his Soul. Alvarez de Semedo, in his Hiſtory of China, ſpeaks of ſuch Wells of Fire, kindled from Sulphurous Matter, that burn and flame continually. The corruption of the Soul allowed will breed that Worm that never dies. I ſhall Rejoyce if the ſaid Diſcourſes do ſtir up Sinners to eſcape the Corruption that is in the World through Luſt, and to flee from the Wrath to come. I have a due Reſpect to you, for appearing for Nonconformiſts in your Station, that they might not be over-preſſed with Burdens. I ſhall be glad, if what I have written, may contribute to the Advancement of your Salvation, and ſtir you up to prepare to meet the Lord of Glory, and to ſtand before the Judge of the whole World, whoſe Eye, Book, and Balance, will be dreadful to hardened Sinners at laſt. But that Chriſt may appear as a Redeemer, to perfect your Liberty, and as a Bridegroom to marry your Soul, is the earneſt deſire of,
Your Sincere, and Affectionate Friend, and Servant, Samuel Tomlyns.