The Way of Love, Author to the reader – Table of contents
The Author to to the Reader.
1 Tim. 3.12.IT is the saying of the Apostle, That all that will live godly in Christ Jesus, must in one kind or another suffer persecution: He that is borne after the flesh will be persecuting him that is borne after the spirit; the seed of the Serpent beares an old grudge against the seed of the woman, and therefore will be hissing and nibling. Hence it is that Cain killeth Abel; Ishmael scoffeth at Isaac; Esau threatens Jacob; Saul hunts after David; Scribes and Pharisees complot against Christ; Priests and Rulers persecute the Apostles; Papists study the ruin of Protestants; Prelates of Puritans; Sinners of Saints.
Thus it hath been, thus it will be, and such a tryall, as this though never so fiery is not to be counted strange.
But such is the deplorable and wofull misery of our times; That if no other wayes, yet) with tongue and pen, from Pulpit and Presse the Saints doe persecute one another. We find Hebrewes smiting Hebrews; Manasses against Ephraim, and Ephraim against Manasses; a strife between Abraham and Lot though the Canaanite and Perizzite dwell still in the Land. There is a spirit of bitternesse gone abroad, and too many of the godly are possessed with it. A fire is kindled among us, and most men in stead of quenching the flame ate blowing the bellowes; instead of powring on water are powring on Oyle, which makes it burn the more.
This with a fad heart have I observed, and therefore (though my bucket hold but little) have endeavoured according to my measure, both by preaching formerly, and by printing now, to cast on some water. There have been (I know) some (though not many) with their great Engines spouting out abundantly to quench this flame; but (which is very sad) with little successe.
Object. But then perhaps it will be said to me; To what purpose doe you undertake this taske? Can you expect better successe then they? Are you so highly conceited of your abilities.
Answ. I answer. 1. For mine abilities, I have little cause to be highly conceited of them, being conscious to my self (I speak the truth and lye not) that I am one of the meanest of all the Sons of the Prophets, in respect of Indowments, both naturall and acquired.
2. I do not plead for this my undertaking the importunity of friends (as the manner is) though I could speak something in that kind: But that which moves me, is
1. To shew my good will, to love and and peace; to shew my honest desire after the Saints reconciliation; to shew how I long to have the breach (that is among us) made up; Our Saviour saith Mat. 5.9. Blessed are the Peace-makers, I mould gladly share in that blessednesse, and therefore doe endeavour to make peace; If I do no good in it, I hope I shall do no harme; nor among moderate spirits be branded with the Character of an Incendiarie.
2. I am not altogether hopelesse of successe, for as in diseases, a simple man or woman with some poor plain Medicine,foreign. 1 Cor. 1.27. works a cure sometimes upon that; which the able, learned Physitian (notwithstanding all his skill) hath given over as incurable: so may this poor piece to some be of speciall use. A fooles bolt may bee well shot. For God often chuseth foolish things to confound the wise, and weak things to confound the mighty. The sound of Rams-hornes did more then the warlike Trumpet and military Engines to the downfall of Jericho: And David (though despised by his brethren) stood Israel in some stead, when Goliah out-braved them: Why then may not this plain Sermon contribute something towards brotherly union, albeit more elaborate works have done little good.
I know what to look for at the hands of some for my pains, ever since I preached upon such a subject at the Morning exercise at Buttolph-Bishopsgate. But that matters not: He that will presse out honey must be content sometimes to endure a sting.
What is now presented to publique view, (though plain) is such as (with some little enlargement, and perhaps some verball variations) was preached to an Auditory, that haply expected higher streins, but met with no other at that time then here you see.
Let not the marginall quotations offend any,Est benigni et ingenu pudotis p… fi…ri per quem profecetis pl… ep… ad besp… praf hist nat they are not set down for ostentation. But
1. That I might acknowledge to whom (under God) I am beholding for what I have, being unwilling to have that attributed to me, that more properly belongs to others.
2. To shhew that I am not singular in what I speak: no not in the point of Toleration in matters circumstantiall (other Toleration I plead not for) you may find the godly learned that have been famous in their generations, (such as Zanchius, Pareus, Perkins, Bayne and others) speak the same thing.
Touching the Sermon, I say as Jacob to his sonnes when he sent them a second time to Egypt: Gen. 43.14.God Almighty send it mercy in the sight of the men into whose hands it shall come: and grant that they may thereby be quickned up to the love of the brotherhood, whether Nationall or Congregationall, it makes no matter so they be a godly fraternity. And for a recompence to the Author, all that is desired is, that earnest prayer may be made to God for him, that he may be faithfull, and fruitfull in the work of the Lord, shewing all love to all the Saints, till he hath finished the work that is appointed him to doe; Thus he subscribes himself,
Yours, if you love Christ and his Saints in sincerity. Richard Kentish. Kath. Tower, February 27. 1648.
To the READER.
IT is given in charge by the blessed Apostle Paul, Rom. 16.17.That we Marke them that cause divisions, contrary to the Doctrin which we have learned, and avoid them; Sure then, we should observe them that have it in Designe, to promote Union, according to the Doctrine we have received, and acknowledge and embrace them, and esteem them very highly in love for their workes sake. Such is the worthy Author of this ensuing Sermon, who (with others of his brethren) looks with a sad heart upon the heart-divisions of our present times; and laments to see such as are happily divided from the world, unhappily divided among themselves. The worke and labour of Love, which he hath here performed, is a labour for Love, that's the subject matter of his discourse; a lovely argument worthy the handling, a precious grace most worthy the possessing; so much as we have of it, so much we have of God: so much as we expresse of it, so much we expresse of God, for God is Love. High and honourable are the Elegies and Encomiums given of it in Scripture, such as set forth the Excellency, and usefulness of it; to account them then here, would be to anticipate what the following Sermon will more fully and fruitfully perform; This only would I say, It is the Spirituall Cement, by which beleivers, as Materialls in a building, are compaginated: that Spirituall Ligament, by which, as Members in a body, they are united: And this is the happy agreement between Faith and Love, as touching union that Love should yeeld it up to Faith, to be the blessed instrument of o…; union with Christ our Head in a mysticall way; and that Faith should yeeld it up to Love, to be the Grace, that unites us one to another in a morrall way.
The Author holds out Love in the ensuing discourse, according to the guidance of the text he handles, under the notion of a way wherein we are to walk; a good way it is, the good old way, or if you must have a new way, the Gospel new way. The old Commandement is for it, the new Commandement is for it also. It is a right way, a safe way, a plain way, a pleasant way, and in a good sence, a broad way, large enough: were we in it, we should not need to justle & shoulder one another as we do. Pitty it is, that such a way is not better known, more travelled. But so it is, we may justly complaine, as of old, many walke, but so as they wander from the right way. I say, as the Prophet of old, This is the way, walk in it. Every step we take in this way, is a part of payment of a debt we owe, which though we are required to be still owing, yet we need not so to take the Apostles meaning, as if we should be alwaies owing, and never in paying, we are too farre in arrears one to another already; let us take heed least our non-payment bring us under an arrest, and cast us into prison.
A word more, and the Sermon shall speak, We all professe to be for heaven, Love must be our way to bring us thither, Love must be our busines when we come there, the worke in heaven to all eternity shall be, to be reciprocally acting and expressing love. Let us do that now which we hope to do for ever. But I forbear to enlarge in this kind, referring you to the following discourse, which I heartily commend to the perusall and practise of the godly: Apply to it, it will be found of pretious use, to set us into the way wherein we are to walke, to hand us up into that Charriot which is paved with Love.
Sammuel Slater.
The CONTENTS.
Doct. THat our life is like a walke.
proved by 4 Reasons.
Reasons.
1. Because of the terms a quo, and ad quem.
2. Because as in walking, so in living there is motion.
3. Because as in walking, so in Living there is wearines.
4. Because as walks, so our lives are not long.
Use, To Exhort us to walke, or live circumspectly.
Doct. That Christians must walke, or live in love.
Here are two things enquired after.
Quest. 1 1. Whom must they love, viz.
1. God.
2. Christ.
3. The Word.
4. Their enemies.
5. One another
Quest. 2. What are the Reasons why they must love one another.
Reasons 4.
1. Because it is a thing commanded here, are opened,
Col. 3.14.
Rom. 13.8,
Joh 13.34.
2. Because they are brethren having,
One Father, God.
One mother, the Church
3. Because they have many enemies.
4. Because by this, Disciples are knowne,
1. To themselves.
2. To the others.
1. To themselves, and therein, 4 differences betweene the love that godly men, and that wicked men bear to the godly.
2. To others discovered in 3 particulars.
Use. 1, Of Reproof to Christians for want of brotherly love.
1. Which want is discovered by the consideration of 7 properties of love.
Love,
1. Doth Ʋnite.
2. Doth Sympathize.
3. Doth cover faults.
4. Doth make the best of things.
5. Is not suspicious.
6. Doth not envy.
7. Doth not Study designes.
2. The woe of this want of love discovered in 4 particulars.
It
1 Argues little love to God.
2 Provokes God.
3 Makes Religion suffer.
4 Endangereth our undoing.
1 By other men,
2 By our selves,
3 By Sathan.
Use. 2
Of exortation to brotherly love and therrein,
1 Requesites,
2 Expedients.
3 A Motive.
1 Requesites, and they are three, love must be
1 Sincere.
2 Fervent
3 Constant.
2 Expedients, and they are 6.
1 Take heed of make-bates.
2 Take heed of bitternes.
3. Take heed of names.
4 Keepe your places.
5 Study self-deniall.
6 Love God, and godlines.
3 A Motive from Christs example in the text, prosecuted in a doctrinall way.
Doct. That Christ hath dearly loved us.
Where consider,
1 The person loving.
2 The persons loved.
3 The manner of his love.
Expressed in his suffrrings
1 Externall
1 A shamefull death.
2 An accursed death.
3 A painfull death.
2 Internall
1 Temptations,
2 Sence of Wrath.
3 Disertions.
Use. Of Exhortation,
1 To Love Christ,
2 To Love one another.