Christ All and in All, Title page – Table of contents

Christ All and in All · Title page – Table of contents

CHRIST ALL and in ALL.

OR, Several ſignificant ſimilitudes by which the Lord Jeſus Chriſt is deſcribed in the holy SCRIPTURES.

Being the ſubſtance of many Sermons Preached by that faithful and uſeful ſervant of Chriſt Mr. RALPH ROBINSON, late Paſtor at Mary Wolnoth London.

Which were appointed by the Reverend Author on his Death-bed (if his Brethren ſhould think fit) to be publiſhed.

foreign, Col. 3. 11.

Sufficit omnibus unus Chriſtus. Chriſtus omnia factus eſt omnibus.

Ambroſ.

Aridus eſt omnis animae cibus, ſi non oleo iſto infunditur, infipidus eſt ſi non hoc ſale conditur. Si ſcribas non ſapit mihi, niſi legero ibi Jeſum, ſi diſputes aut conferas, non ſapit mihi, niſi ſon…erit ibi Jeſus. Jeſus mei in ore, melos in aure in corde jubilus.

Bernard. Serm. 15. in Cant.

LONDON, Printed for John Rothwel, and are to be ſold by Thomas Johnſon, at the golden Key in Saint Pauls Church-yard. 1656.

TO THE Reader.

Chriſtian Reader,

THis profitable Treatiſe may occaſion both ſorrow and joy unto our ſelves and many others, who were well acquainted with the Reverend Author.

1. Grief, by minding us of our great loſſe in his death. As the widows were found weeping, while they ſhewed the coats Acts 9. 39.Acts 9:39and garments which Dorcas made while ſhe was with them.

2. Gladneſſe, in that though he be dead, he Heb. 11, 4.Heb 11:4yet ſpeaketh, not onelyonly by his holy life, but alſo by his uſeful labours, for both which Pſa. 112. 6.Ps 112:6he ſhall be had in everlaſting remembrance.

This good man had high natural abilities, which were heightned by induſtry, and brightened by his graces, but he always had a low eſteem of himſelf and his ſervices. When he was on his death-bed, he ſaid, that he judged not any of his papers worthy publiſhing, but yet he looked upon theſe as moſt probably profitable. In theſe Sermons we have the lively picture of the man in his Miniſterial capacity drawn up by his own pen, repreſented to the Readers view: whereby is fully diſcovered his laborious longings after the excellency of the Phil. 3. 8.Phil 3:8knowledge of Jeſus Chriſt his Lord, to be improved for his own perſonal benefit, & communicated for the edification of his Auditours. By his opening the Scripture Metaphors, which familiarly reveile Chriſt, beſides the many notions which ſhall be beamed into the underſtanding, the ſerious-muſing-Chriſtian will be much advantaged in occaſional meditations.

If when theſe Sermons have been diligently peruſed, there could be a clear diſcovery annexed of the Authors gifts for prayer (which were more then ordinary) to gether with his pious winning converſation, cheerful readineſſe to be aſſiſtant in all religious exerciſes (wherein he was lovely and exemplary) Then the judicious Reader would lamentingly ſay, Oh how great was Londons loſſe by the death of worthy Maſter Robinſon taken away in his youth, when growing towards greater maturity for the further ſervice of the Church of Chriſt. In Gods counſels for the managing of Iſraels warres with their adverſaries, this charge was given, that fruit-bearing trees ſhould not be cut down, and that Deu. 20. 19Deut 20:19upon this account, for the tree of the …d is mans life. The application here of may be (as we humbly conceive) ſeaſonable for the awakening of ſecure Chriſtians who be not affected with the removal of their fruitful Miniſters out of the land of the living. For thus we argue; Might not man extirpate a vegitative plant, growing in the field of foes, becauſe it was a means of life, how great divine diſpleaſure then do thoſe providences expreſſe againſt this City and Nation, whereby moſt generous plants in Gods own Orchard are cut down, and caſt into the duſt! How ſtartling are ſuch diſpenſations, whereby the Lord himſelf by the ſtroaks of his own hand, taketh away ſo many Miniſters, Paſtours according to his own Jer. 3. 15.Jer 3:15heart who were wont to feed the ſouls of his friends with knowledge and underſtanding? But yet his Majeſty hath not left us without manifold means of ſtrong ſupport and conſolation, for ever bleſſed be his Name. We have juſt occaſion to break forth into praiſes, in the language of the Pſalmiſt, The Lord liveth, and bleſſed be our rock, Pſ. l. 18. 39Ps 50:18Ps 50:39and let the God of our ſalvation be exalted.

For. 1. We have not onelyonly this uſeful Treatiſe with very many more excellent books, the fruits of the heads & hearts of Gods worthies (with the expectation of more, to be made publick) for our confirmation and edification in grace, but we enjoy the labours of many famous, orthodox, learned, rightly conſtituted Miniſters, both in this City and other parts of this Nation, whoſe lives and liberties, with hearts to do ſervice, are ſtill continued through Gods mercy, notwithſtanding our all-forfeiting ſins; together with the malice of Satan, and the inveterate rage of his inſtruments, who act againſt the Goſpel under different diſguiſes and apprehenſions, of whom we may ſay; They compaſſed us about, yea, Pſ. 118. 11 12, 13, 14.Ps 118:11they compaſſed us about; They compaſſed us about like Bees. They thruſt ſore at us that we might fall, but the Lord helped us. The Lord is our ſtrength and ſong, and is become our ſalvation.

2. We enjoy the ſweet influential preſence of his al ſufficient Majeſty in our Church-aſſemblies though they be deſpiſed and deſerted by many ignorant, paſſionate, raſh, ſelf-conceited perſons) in the vertue whereof we do walk and hope to walk from ſtrength to ſtrength, in the wayes of his truth and feare, notwithſtanding all our preſent and further expected difficulties in our journey towards heaven. Somewhat through Gods grace we do experimentally know; of that river, the ſtreames whereof Pſ. 46. 4.Ps 46:4will make glad the City of God; And we remember that brave ſpeech of magnanimous Luther, when dangers from oppoſers did threaten him and his aſſociates, Come let us ſing the fourty ſixth Pſalme, and then let them do their worſt.

3. And this eſpecially doth relieve our ſpirits, that the Almighty (upon whom we do and will depend) is independant and Iſa. 26. 4.Isa 26:4unchangeable. For, howſoever we do need Ordinances as the meanes appointed to build us up yet further, till God ſhall be pleaſed Acts 20. 32Acts 20:32to give us the promiſed inheritance in glory, Acts 17. 25Acts 17:25yet his Highneſſe neither needeth Miniſtery, nor Ordinances, nor any ſuch things, but can eaſily, and will infallibly accompliſh all the pretious promiſes of his rich grace, though more of our beſt gifted Miniſters with the moſt taking means of our ſpiritual advantage ſhould be quite removed from our reach and uſe. Thoſe breathings of faith recorded by the Prophet Habakkuk, are warming, in ſuch caſes, to beleeving ſouls. Although the fig-tree ſhall not bloſſome, Hab 3. 17, 18Hab 3:17Hab 3:18neither ſhall fruit be in the vines, &c. yet I will rejoyce in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my ſalvation.

4. But hereto we may annex the encouragement of our hopes, that our eyes ſhall ſtill (according to Gods promiſe) ſee Iſa. 30. 20Isa 30:20our Teachers, and that we ſhall not be left 2 Chr. 15. 32 Chr 15:3without God through the want of a true Goſpel Miniſtery. 1. Both becauſe of his abiding compaſſions (notwithſtanding our ill deſervings) from whence in former ages his Church hath been ſupplyed with a ſucceſſion of faithful, painful Embaſſadors, 2 Chr. 36. 152 Chr 36:15though there have been therein many people of very high provocations. 2. And alſo, becauſe there is a conſiderable acceſſion of young men, rich in gifts and graces, who from time to time ſeek entrance into the Miniſtery through the right dore of Ordination, though it be an Ordinance wofully ſleighted by multitudes, yea, by ſome who pretend much love unto the Goſpel. And therefore ſeeing Chriſt who holdeth the ſtars in his right hand, is obliged Rev. 1. 16. Eph. 4. 11, 12, 13.Rev 1:16Eph 4:11Eph 4:12Eph 4:13to maintain his own Officers in the Church, till his Saints arrive at perfection; we his Miniſters in reference to our calling, may boldly ſay, We ſhall not die, but live and declare the works of the Lord. Reader, Pſ. 118 15Ps 118:15believe it, Nothing more endangereth the loſs of the Goſpel, then contempt and none proficiency. Therefore once and againe we moſt heartily entreat thee to prize and to improve a Goſpel Miniſtery, and all other means of grace which the God of thy mercies doth yet vouchſafe. To him that hath, (and fruitfully tradeth what he is truſted with) ſhall be given, and he ſhall have abundance. Mat. 23. 29Matt 23:29Let not this book be received in vain, which the good hand of providence doth now tender unto thee. This field is full of Goſpel treaſures digged out of Scripture mines, for thine enriching in the knowledge of Chriſt: and what knowledge is ſo neceſſary, excellent, or profitable? For from hence do iſſue all things which pertaine unto life and godlineſſe. Hereby our love to Chriſt is 2 Pet. 1. 3.2 Pet 1:3enflamed, our longings after him enlarged, our faith in him confirmed, our joyes in him raiſed, yea, by the knowledge of him he is poſſeſſed and improved, both for growth in all graces, augmenting of all ſpiritual comforts, and preparation for everlaſting glory. Therefore commending this book, which hath by one of us been diligently and carefully compared with the Authors own notes;) together with all thy other helps for heaven, unto thy faithful improvement; we commend thee to the fulneſſe of the bleſſing of the Goſpel Rom. 15. 29Rom 15:29through Jeſus Chriſt, in whom we deſire alwayes to approve our ſelves.

May 28. 1656. The real friends and ſervants of thy ſoul Simeon Aſhe. Edm. Calamy. William Tayler.

A TABLE Of the ſeveral DOCTRINES handled in this TREATISE.

Second Part of the Table.