The Preaching of Christ and the Prison of God, Title page – Dedication
THE Preaching of Chriſt, AND THE Priſon of God, As the Certain Portion of them that reject Chriſt's Word.
Opened in Several SERMONS On 1 Peter III. 19.
By SAMUEL TOMLYNS, M.A. And Miniſter of the Goſpel of Chriſt in Marleborough.
LONDON: Printed for Tho. Parkhurſt, at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapſide, near Mercers-Chappel. 1694.
TO My Honoured Friends, Robert Grove, of Dunnet, in the County of Wilts, Eſq And to his Worthy Conſort, Madam Tryphena Grove, Grace, Mercy, and Peace be multiplyed from God our Father, and the Lord Jeſus Chriſt.
THE True God is ſtyled, The Excellency of Jacob, Amos 8.7. The Glory and Praiſe of his People, Iſa. 60.19. Deut. 10.21. Though Pharaoh King of Egypt boaſted thus, I am the Son of the Wiſe, the Son of Ancient Kings, Iſaiah 19.11. Yet David Glories in this, Lord, I am thy Servant, I am thy Servant, the Son of thy Handmaid, Pſal. 116.16. This is your Honour, That you are deſcended of Parents that owned Chriſt's Goſpel, eſpouſed his Interest, and countenanced God's pure Worſhip in Dark, Difficult, and Dangerous Times: I Rejoyce that you tread in their ſteps, and endeavour to promote God's Kingdom in your Family, and among your Neighbours. As this hath been the Glory of your Predeceſſors, ſo I deſire it may deſcend to, and be inherited by your Children, that the Entail of God's Covenant may never be cut off from your Poſterity. The World counts it Honourable when Eſtates continue, and Lands deſcend from one Generation to another. But this is most valuable, when Piety, and God's pure Worſhip deſcends from Father to Son. It is ſaid, Deut. 33.4. Moſes commanded us a Law, even the Inheritance of the Congregation of Jacob. As God hath commanded, and Commended his Law as an Inheritance to the whole Church, ſo every Particular Member of it ſhould by his Choice accept the Word of God as his Inheritance, as the Pſalmiſt ſaith he did, Pſal. 119.111. Thy Teſtimonies have I taken as my Heritage for ever, for they are the rejoycing of my Heart. Children will be ſure to claim their Father's Lands, but it is much more deſirable to claim their Father's God, as Moſes did; Exod. 15.2. He is my Father's God, and I will exalt him. How Excellent is it, when they Inherit their Parents Graces? Ʋnfeigned Faith dwelt in his Grandmother Lois, then in his Mother Eunice, and then in Timothy himſelf. This is to be an Ancient Family, and truly Noble. As in the Temple of Old there were Treaſurers over the Dedicated Things, 1 Chron. 20.26. So in the Spiritual Temple, the Church of Chriſt, God hath conſtituted Chriſtian Parents as the Treaſurers over the Dedicated Things. Children of Believers are Dedicated to God in Baptiſm, and Parents ſhould Carefully, and Faithfully watch over theſe Holy Dedicated Things, that they may not be alienated from God by cold Neutrality, or open Profaneneſs and Degeneracy.
The enſuing Diſcourſe Treats on two Noble Subjects, The Preaching of the Son of God, and The Priſon of God, which will be the certain Portion and Puniſhment of thoſe that reject the Word of the Son of God. I am ſenſible of manifold Weakneſſes, Defects, and Imperfections in my ſelf, that might deter me from expoſing my ſelf to the Cenſures of a Cavilling Contentious Age; but becauſe my Life declines apace, my Days do poſt away, my Sun will quickly ſet, I am willing to publiſh ſomething that may contribute to the Informing the Ignorant, and awaken the Secure. Chriſt's Preaching may be a Load-ſtone to draw periſhing Sinners to him; and the Priſon of God may Alarm, and Rouze up drouſie Souls, and be a Spur to Quicken them to fly for Refuge, to lay hold of the Hope ſet before them. I bow my Knee to the God and Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, the Father of Lights, and the God of all Grace, that he would Grant unto you the Spirit of Wiſdom and Revelation, and thereby Seal Inſtruction to your Souls; that being built upon your most Holy Faith, you may grow up into Chriſt in all things, and at laſt obtain an Inheritance among all them that are ſanctified by Faith in Chriſt. Theſe are the unfeigned Deſires of
Your Affectionate and Humble Servant, Samuel Tomlyns. Milcot, May 11. 1694.