A Covert from the Storm, Title page – To the reader
A COVERT FROM THE STORM.
OR, The Fearful encouraged in Times of SUFFERING: FROM
Rev. 2. 10. Fear none of thoſe things which thou ſhalt ſuffer; behold the Devil ſhall caſt ſome of you into priſon, that ye may be tryed, & ye ſhall have tribulation ten dayes; be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a Crown of life.
By Nathanael Vincent, a Preacher and Priſoner of Jeſus Chriſt, and written during his cloſe confinement, when few could come at him but his God, who yet abundantly made up the want of other company.
London, Printed in the Year 1671.
To Him that is Higher than the Higheſt, and will ſhortly come to judge the world in righteouſneſs.
Moſt Mighty Lord!
A Priſoner approaches to thy footſtool, and not without ſome confidence, becauſe he is confi…ed not for evil doing but for well doing. That which men account his crime, thou haſt made his duty, and by doing this he hath incurred their diſpleaſure; but he hopes he hath avoyded thine. He was willing to caſt the Net over a great many, that the more might be taken, and by being taken, ſet indeed at liberty. He was deſirous that the Subjects of thy Kingdome might be multiplyed therefore he ſpake to ſuch great multitudes, and he verily thinks however men may cenſure it, thou doſt not call it Raſhneſs, or Zeal not according to knowledge.
Since thou haſt commanded thy Meſſengers to go into the High-wayes, and as many as they find to bid to the Marriage: Since thou layeſt an injunction upon them, to preach the Goſpel to every creature, ſurely thou …r didſt intend their compaſſion and care ſhould be confined to a very few: Oh therefore that every Five of them that hear thy voyce and follow thee might be increaſed unto ſo many thouſands! Thin Congregations are a lamentable ſight: Let them therefore fly as a Cloud, and as Doves to their windows.
Incline the hearts of Magiſtrates to pity and moderation; let their Sword be drawn only againſt thoſe that are Malefactors truly ſo called, not againſt ſuch as would fain be at work for thee, and turning many unto righteouſneſs: Convince them that 'twill be the deſign and deſire of a godly Miniſtry, to make their Hearers better Subjects to their earthly Rulers, as well as to the King of Saints.
Thy Priſoner who is in this Gate-houſe during thy will and pleaſure, earneſtly Petitions for his liberty. He deſerves to be laid aſide, but deſires to be uſed: he would fain have the Priſon Dore open to let him out, but is a great deal more earneſt to have the Pulpit dore open to let him in, that he might again be preaching of thy Goſpel. He longs to be warning the ſecure, who ſee not the Sword drawn out againſt them; to be ſtopping the madmen who are making ſuch haſt to eternal deſtruction; to be inviting the miſerable to mercy, & the loſt unto a Saviour. Where is thy zeal & thy ſtrength, O Lord, and the ſounding of thy Bowels, and thy mercies! are they reſtrained? Oh pity immortal Souls that are going to Hell by Droves; and in ſome places, the Paſtours are ſo far from hindring, that being exemplary for looſneſs and impiety, they go before them to perdition.
Thy Priſoner bleſſes thee that ever he had the honour to be in bonds for thee. The worſe of thee, even thy Croſs is not at all to be diſliked. The enlargments of his heart have been greater, then when he was at liberty; his peace hath been more perfect: Thy preſence is ſo ſweet, that he would go to any place to have more of it. Thou haſt given in that grace which is glory begun: he confidently believes this Gaol will make him more meet for the glorious liberty of thy Children; and that he ſhall praiſe thee for ever for what he hath endured.
Thy Servant can ſay it with boldneſs before thee, that he honours the Authority thou haſt ſet over him; he hath put others in mind to be ſubject to Principalities and Powers, to be ready to every good work; and remembers it is his own duty to be thus ſubject. Only he hath preached contrary to the Magiſtrates Command, becauſe thy Command is ſo expreſs for preaching; and thou preſſeſt it upon Paſtours, as they love thee to feed thy Lambs, to feed thy Sheep.
Oh thou dreadful and heart-ſearching Judge! cauſe the integrity of thy Noneonforming Servants to ſhine ſo bright, as to break through all unreaſonable prejudices! Let their righteouſneſs be brought forth as the Light, and their judgment as the Noon day; that that ſeverity may be at length aſhamed of it ſelf that's uſed towards them. Oh haſten haſten thy ſecond appearing, that the ſecrets of hearts may be diſcovered, and that it may be made manifeſt before men and Angels, who have worſhiped thee the righteſt way; who moſt have ſought thee, and leaſt themſelves.
Thy Servant being taken off from preaching, was willing to be ſome way beneficial to thy Church; therefore his Pen hath been going when his tongue could not. And if ſouls are edified and encouraged, if thy Kingdome and Name and Glory be any way by this Writing advanced, then the higheſt end will be attained, which is aimed at by him, who is not, who would not be his own, but by millions of Obligations is engaged to be
Thine Eternally, Nathanael Vincent.
TO THE READERS, Eſpecially thoſe that were wont to be his Hearers.
Readers:
NEed Arguments be uſed with the toſs't in a tempeſt to put into an Haven? or with the purſued by the avenger to fly to a Sanctuary? Their danger is the beſt Rhetorick to perſwade them to that which is for their own ſecurity. And if your danger were more deeply and rightly apprehended, you would haſten to the Lord, whoſe Name is a ſtrong Tower, and who hath promiſed to be an hiding place from the wind, a covert from the Tempeſt, as Rivers of water in a dry place, and as the ſhadow of a great Rock in a weary Land, Iſa. 32. 2.
The Devil hath great wrath becauſe he knows he hath but a ſhort time: We in this latter age of the World muſt expect more furious aſſaults from him, becauſe the day of Judgment, unto which he is reſerved, is haſtning. His inſtruments are enraged, and drive on furiouſly. But what is all their force and power, to the ſtrength of that Almighty Lord, who if you leave to him, and truſt in him, hath covenanted to uphold you? How inconſiderable is their anger, when your believing thoughts have dwelt a little upon his kindneſs and compaſſion?
Be not affrighted at the Croſs of Chriſt, 'twill, when felt and ſweetned, be found no more a burthen to you, than wings are to the Bird flying in the air, or Sails to the Ship cutting through the Sea; 'twill be a means to mend your pace, and make you run ſwifter in your Race, towards the Prize of the high Calling of God. If your Lord had not known the eaſineſs and uſefulneſs of his yoak, he would never have required you to have taken it upon you.
I have Preached much to your incouragement: Now I am taken off, a ſad ſilence is impoſed on me: Only my mouth is ſtill open to the Lord for you, that you may ſtand perfect and compleat in all the will of God. I could not have ſatisfied either you or my ſelf, unleſs in this my reſtraint and retirement, I had written ſomthing that might be a furtherance to your faith & joy in this hour of temptation. The bleſſing of the Father of Spirits go along with this Book! Oh that believers may be ſtrengthened and refreſhed by it! And if enemies read it with an ill mind, the Author wiſheth that by reading it their minds may be changed, and for their own ſakes as well as his made better.
Nathanael Vincent.