The Throne of Grace, Title page – Publishers advertisement
THE THRONE OF GRACE Diſcourſed of, from HEB. IV. 16.
By Robert Trail M. A. Miniſter of the Goſpel.
LONDON: Printed by J. Orme, for Nathanael Hiller, at the Prince's Arms in Leaden-hall-Street, over againſt St. Mary Ax Church, 1696.
PREFACE.
WHat is in this Book offered to your Reading, was, ſome years ſince, preached in the ordinary Couſe of my Ministry, on a Week day, with no more thought (that is none at all) of Printing it, than I had of Publiſhing this way, anything I have preached theſe Seven and twenty years, wherein I have been exerciſed in the Ministry of the Word, (ſave one ſingle Sermon, extorted from me about fourteen years ago.)
The Publiſhing of ſuch plain Diſcourſes, is ſingly owing to the Importunity of ſome of the Hearers, and to the Aſſiſtance they gave me, by getting what I ſpake, tranſcribed from two Short-hand Writers; without which I could not have Publiſhed it: My own Notes being only little Scraps of Heads of Doctrine, and Scriptures confirming them.
In the ſame way I had brought to me, what I ſpoke from Heb. 10.23,24. and have it lying by me; which may alſo ſee the Light, if the Lord will that I live, and if this be accepted of ſuch, whoſe Teſtimony I only value; I mean ſuch as are ſound in the Faith, and exerciſed in the life of Faith.
I know no true Religion, but Chriſtianity: No true Chriſtianity, but the Doctrine of Chriſt; of his Divine Perſon (the Image of the inviſible God, Col. 1.15. of his Divine Office (the Mediator betwixt God and Men, 1 Tim. 2.5.) of his Divine Righteouſneſs (He is the Lord our Righteouſneſs, Jer. 23.6. Which Name is alſo called upon his Church, Jer. 33.16) and of his Divine Spirit (which all that are his, receave, Rom. 8 9.) I know no true Miniſters of Chriſt, but ſuch as make it their Buſineſs in their Calling, to commend Jeſus Chriſt in his Saving fulneſs of Grace and Glory, to the faith and love of Men. No true Chriſtian, but one united to Chriſt by Faith, and abiding in him by Faith and Love, unto the glorifying of the Name of Jeſus Chriſt, in the Beauties of Goſpel-Holineſs. Miniſters and Chriſtians of this Spirit, have for many years been my Brethren and Companions, and, I hope, ſhall ever be, whitherſoever the Hand of God ſhall lead me.
Through the Lord's Mercy to me, (as to many in London) I have often heard what is far more worthy of the Preſs, than any thing I can publiſh. I have not been negligent in deſiring ſuch able Miniſters of the New Teſtament, to let their Light ſhine this way; but have little prevailed. It may be this mean Eſſay, may provoke them more to that good Work.
Whatever you may think of my way of managing this Subject (and indeed there is nothing in that, either as deſigned or expected by me, or that in it ſelf deſerveth any great Regard.) Yet the Theme it ſelf, all muſt judge, who have ſpiritual Senſes, is of great Importance, and always ſeaſonable. It is concerning the Throne of God's Saving Grace, reared up in Jeſus Chriſt, and revealed unto Men in the Goſpel; with the Application all ſhould make to that Throne; The great Bleſſings to be reaped by that Application, and Men's great need of thoſe Bleſſings.
This greateſt of Subjects, is meanly, but honeſtly, handled in the ſame Order in which it was Preached, and moſtly in the ſame Words. Some few Paſſages out of Hiſtory, are inſerted, which were not ſpoken.
May the Lord of the Harveſt, who miniſtred this Seed to the Sower, make it Bread to the Eater, and accompany it with his Bleſſing on ſome, that are called to inherit a Bleſſing, and I have my End and Deſire; the Reader ſhall have the Benefit; and the Lord the Glory: For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things; to whom be Glory for ever. Amen.
London. March 25. 1696. Ro. Trail.
ERRATA.
PAge 2. line 3. read Acts 9.22, and 17.2,3. and l. 18. for held r. hold. p. 3. l. 3. for exhortation r. expreſſion. p. 20. l. 24. r. receaving. p. 26. l. ult. r. Righteouſneſs. p. 47. l. 5. for 4. r. 3. p. 78. l. 10. for conſidering r. conſider. and l. 16. r. I will. p. 97. l. 23. r. God. p. 127. l. 4. a. f. for better r. bitter. p. 128. l. 5. for a r. as. p. 135. l. 3. for Lord r. God. p. 138. l. 25. for never r. ever. p. 141. l. 9. a f. dele is p. 162 for Creations r. Creation. p. 177. l. 6. for 73. r. 78. p. 189. l. 7. for it is r. is it. p. 213. l. 15. r. able to take, and l. 20. r. Rom. 8. p. 222. l. 11. r. for sa r. as. p. 239. l. 9. r. inverting. p. 249. l. 13. for Man, r. Men, or Many. p. 250. l. 4. for in r. as. p. 253. for on r. one.
ADVERTISEMENTS.
THE Righteouſneſs of God through Faith upon all without difference who believe: in two Sermons on Rom. 3.22. By Nathanael Mather, Preacher of the Goſpel. 1694.
The Conqueſts and Triumphs of Grace: Being a Brief Narrative of the Succeſs which the Goſpel hath had among the Indians in New England. By Matthew Mayheu, 1695.
Batteries upon the Kingdom of the Devil. By Mr. Cotton Mather, Author of the late memorable Providences, relating to Witchcrafts and Poſſeſſions; and of early Piety exemplified. 1695.
A Learned and accurate Diſcourſe concerning the Guilt of Sin, Pardon of that Guilt, and Prayer for that Pardon: Written many Years ago. By the Reverend Mr. Thomas Gilbert, Miniſter of the Goſpel, lately deceaſed at Oxford. 1695.
A Letter to Dr. Bates, concerning a Vindication of the Doctor and my ſelf, neceſſitated by Mr. W's his Anſwer to Mr. Humfrey. By S. L. 1695.
All Printed for Nath. Hiller, at the Prince's-Arms in Leaden-hall-ſtreet, over-againſt St. Mary-axe, 1695.