The More Excellent Way to Edify the Church, Title page – To the reader
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THE More Excellent Way TO Edifie the Church of CHRIST OR A DISCOURSE CONCERNING LOVE: The Deſign of which is to Revive that Grace (now under ſuch decays) among Proteſtants of ALL perſwaſions.
By NATHANAEL VINCENT, M. A. Miniſter of the Goſpel.
1 Pet. 4. 8. And above all things have fervent Charity among your ſelves.
Phil. 4. 5. Let your Moderation be known unto all men, the Lord is at hand.
Gal. 5. 15. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed ye be not conſumed one of another.
foreign. Chryſoſt. in 1 Cor.
London, Printed by J. A. for Tho. Parkhurſt, at the Bible and three Crowns in Cheapſide, near Mercers Chappel and at the Bible on London-Bridge, near the Gate. 1684.
TO THE READER.
READER,
ALthough my Name be in the mouths of many, and Tongues have ſcourg'd it moſt ſeverely, and moſt falſe Reports have been ſpread concerning me both in City and Countrey; yet I could more patiently have born the killing of my Reputation, if the Honour of God had not been at all concerned. A regard to his Name, and his Goſpel's Credit, prevails with me to break ſilence; and Love to others, makes me fear their being ſcandalized to their prejudice. There is a deſign driven on by Hell and Rome, to introduce Atheiſm in order unto Propery; to make men really of no Religion, that they may not ſtick to profeſs themſelves of the Romiſh, when they ſhall apprehend 'tis for their Secular Intereſt. Now becauſe ſome mens lives by the Grace of God have been unblameable, and tended to convince the World, that there is a reality and power in Godlineſs; theſe upon this account are ſingled out, and loaded with Calumnies and Reproaches; that being repreſented as Hypocrites, all Religion may the more eaſily be ſuſpected, as a foreign. 2 Pet. 1. 16.cunningly deviſed. Fable.
Let not thoſe who have ſtupified their own Conſciences, think that I have acted of late againſt Mine. Though I think I ought not to keep at ſuch a diſtance from the Church of England, as I did; yet I have no preferment in it, neither can I ſubmit to the terms of ſuch preferment. Nay, I have exceedingly hindred my own ſecular advantage, by my Moderation, which is not the way to thrive in ſuch a Violent Age as this. A moderate man is like one that parts two which are fighting; instead of being thank'd, he is lik'd by neither; he has blowes from both, for wiſhing them no worſe a thing than Peace.
From prophane tongues I expect lies and ſlanders: That Maſter whom I ſerve, met with no better uſage. He was called a Wine-bibber, a Friend to Publicans and Sinners; nay, ſaid to have a Devil. But though the Slander be never ſo groſs, it ſhall not hinder me from praying for the Slanderer; and I hope I ſhall be enabled to live ſo ſtill, as that no body ſhall believe him. If Profeſſors who are Non-conformiſts, ſpeak againſt me, and cenſure me as a Temporizer; My Anſwer is, That with me 'tis a ſmall thing to be judged of them, or of mans judgment. My own Conſcience ſpeaks other kind of language; and in that one, I have Mille teſtes, a thouſand Witneſſes of my Integrity. God is convincing me of the vanity of popular Applauſe; and how ſoon that kind of wind may turn and change. And if a Conviction of this makes me more humble and low in my own eyes, Diſhonour will do me a far greater kindneſs than Praiſe. I will ſay to Humility, O & praeſidium, & dulce decus meum, my ſafety, and ſweet Ornament; and next unto Heaven, expect the greateſt reſt to my Soul, in the exerciſe of this lovely Vertue.
The fury of thoſe who have been most, enraged againſt me, has but heightned my love to them: I have poured out more prayers and tears for them than they are aware of; and they will know what a true Friend I have been to them, when they come into another World. Thoſe whoſe Heads are hotter than their Love, ſhall not move my anger, but my pity and ſorrow: And let them call me what they pleaſe, I ſhall own what is good in them; and requite their Cenſures with Supplications, that their Light and Faith, their Humility and Love may be encreaſed; and that they may do nothing unbecoming the Children of the God of love and peace; nothing prejudicial to the Church, or to themſelves!
I have preached heretofore to multitudes, while I was permitted: For all the Churches in London not being able to hold the tenth part of all the Inhabitants, I thought they had better hear a Doctrine agreeable to the Articles of the Church of England, from my mouth, than not hear at all. But it never was my practice to preach up a party; and it troubles me to ſee how much of Religion is placed in ſmaller things, as appears by mens eagerneſs about them: As if ſome thought a Church, others thought a Conventicle like the Ark of Noah, out of which 'tis impoſſible to eſcape drowning in Perdition. My deſign all along was to bring men to God by Faith in Jeſus; and that their hearts might be purified, and to perſwade them to be holy in all manner of Converſation. I confeſs I am ſomewhat altered from what I was; but 'tis in the extenſiveneſs of my love: But I am perſwaded that this is an alteration for the better, and makes me more to reſemble Chriſt. Who can juſtly blame me for imitating the bleſſed Jeſus! who loves all ſincere Proteſtants, of all perſwaſions, and has Communion with them all. I add no more but that of the Apoſtle, Rom. 15. 7. Wherefore receive ye one another, as Chriſt alſo received us to the glory of God.