The Glory of Christ Set Forth in Sermons on John 3:34-36, Title page – To the reader
THE GLORY OF CHRIST Set forth in ſeveral SERMONS, FROM JOHN III. 34, 35, 36. and V. 25. AND The neceſſity of Faith in order to pleaſing GOD. FROM HEBREWS XI. 6.
By that able and faithful Servant of Jeſus Chriſt, Mr. Thomas Allen, late Paſtor of a Church in the City of Norwich.
LONDON: Printed by A. M. and R. R. for Edward Giles, Bookſeller in Norwich, near the Market-place, 1683
TO THE READER.
IT being deſired that more might be publiſhed of the Works of this Reverend Author, Mr. Thomas Allen; you have here ſome more Sermons taken from him in ſhort-hand, which have been tranſcribed with care and diligence.
The main points of the Goſpel are handled in theſe Sermons; ſo that thoſe that Read them, may underſtand the Authors knowledg in the myſtery of Chriſt. And they are delivered with plainneſs of ſpeech, with words eaſie to be underſtood; ſo that it will eaſily appear, that his aim was to ſet …orth Chriſt, and not to ſet forth himſelf in …is Preaching. His ſpeech and his preach…ng was plain, grave, ſolid, weighty and …owerful, like an Ambaſſador of Chriſt.
Theſe Sermons ariſe naturally from the Texts of Scripture they are upon: for it was not the manner of this Author, to name a Text only for faſhion ſake.
One great cauſe of ignorance in the people, is, becauſe there is no more direct opening and applying the Scripture. The more Scripture is ſolidly opened, and practically applied in a Sermon, the better the Sermon is, whatſoever the injudicious and ignorant do think to the contrary. Indeed as I never heard any man Pray too long at a time, ſo I never heard any man Preach too long upon a Text. But as many, that ſeem to pray long, do oftentimes rather Diſcourſe than Pray, and keep ſo little to the buſineſs of Prayer, that while they ſeem to Pray long, they Pray very little: So it is with ſome in Preaching, that though they name the ſame Text a great while, as if they Preached many Sermons from it, yet, it may be, Preach not one, according to the direct ſcope and tendency of the words they are upon. I take notice of this, to commend the Author of theſe Sermons, as a pattern to young Preachers, not to think it any part of the excellency of their Sermons to take but a few words for their Text, or to be long upon the ſame words; but to open and apply as much Scripture as they can at … time, which will not only prevent many impertinences in Preaching: But when what is ſaid ariſeth immediately and naturally from the portion of Scripture handled, the people may take notice, that it is not ſo much the Miniſter, as God himſelf that ſpeaks theſe things to them in his word.
Theſe Sermons alſo are Orthodox, ſound, according to the truth which is after godlineſs. We have lived in a time of an inundation of errors and hereſies, and yet the Lord hath continued the truth of the Goſpel in the Churches of the Saints. And although the Churches of the Congregational way have been looked upon by ſome as Seminaries of error; yet through the preſence of Chriſt in the midſt of them, the truth of the Goſpel hath continued in them, as well as in other Churches of Chriſt, that differ from them in ſome points of order and diſcipline. Bleſſed be the Father of lights, that hath kept the guides and members both of Congregational Churches, and other reforming Churches, ſtable and ſteady in the main truths of the Goſpel, which have been publickly owned and profeſſed in the Land ſince the reformation: whereas many others have been carried away with diverſe and strange Doctrines.
There ſeems to be a great conſpiracy in theſe days, againſt the Lord Jeſus as the Mediator between God and ſinners. Men are ſtudying how they may aſcribe as little to Chriſt as may be, to whom we are to aſcribe all, concerning the making atonement for our ſins, and the bringing in an everlaſting righteouſneſs to juſtifie us before God. Indeed Chriſt hath been ſo abundantly Preached amongſt us, and many have ſuch outward advantage by a profeſſion of his name, that they cannot well openly renounce him; yet they are ſecretly undermining the very fundamental points of our Religion. Many amongst us ſlight what hath been generally taught concerning our fall in Adam, original ſin, Chriſts ſatisfaction for ſin, and the imputation of his righteouſneſs to them that believe on his name, and make a mock of being weary and heavy laden with the ſenſe of the wrath of God due to us for ſin, and looking to Jeſus as the Mediator, and reſting our weary Souls and perplexed Conſciences upon him as our only Saviour. Now if theſe foundations be deſtroyed, if theſe main Doctrines be denied, we are really putting away the Lord Jeſus from us, though we uſe never ſo many external Rites to make ſhew of honour to his name. Yea, it is conſiderable, That this oppoſition to the main points of our Religion, is fiercey maintained by perſons greatly differing in other things: yet in this they agree, and are very earneſt upon the matter to deny the Goſpel. I ſpeak of theſe things, to this end, to ſhew what great need there is of Preaching much of our fall in Adam, of the corruption of our nature, of the ſentence of death, and condemnation that we are under for ſin, of the perſon and offices of Chriſt the Mediator, of the neceſſity of knowing him, and fleeing for refuge unto him, as this Author hath excellently ſhewed in theſe Sermons, and ſo he did in all his Preaching. Indeed this Author was a ſon of thunder, and a ſon of conſolation; he took all occaſions from the Texts he Preached upon, to thunder out the wrath of God againſt ſinners, to ſet them before Mount Sinai, and ſhew them the fiery Law, that they might be convinced of their loſt and undone condition in themſelves: and then endeavoured to bring them unto Mount Sion, and ſhew them Jeſus the Mediator, and the blood of ſprinkling, that taketh away ſin. In his Preaching he ſhewed the people the flaming Sword, the curſe of the Law; ſhewed them that the avenger of blood was coming; and then told them of Chriſt as the City of refuge, and cryed to them to flee unto him: And indeed he is a right Preacher of the Goſpel, that can thus change his voice, and readily turn his diſcourſe upon all occaſions. The bleſſing of Heaven go along with theſe Sermons, that they may be for the profit of many, that they may be ſaved.
Martin Finch.