Comfort for Believers About their Sins and Troubles, Title page – To the reader
COMFORT FOR BELEEVERS ABOUT THEIR SINNES & TROƲBLES.
IN A TREATISE SHEVVING.
That true Beleevers, how weake ſoever in Faith, ſhould not be oppreſt, or perplext in heart; By any thing whatever befalls them; Either in Sinne, or Afflictions.
Together with divers other comfortable Obſervavations; Gathered out of that Counſell, given by Chriſt to his Apoſtles: And in them, to all Beleevers.
In JOHN Chap. 14. Verſes 1, 2, 3, 4.
By JOHN ARCHER, Maſter of Art, ſometime Preacher of All-hallowes Lumbard-ſtreet. London.
ISA. 57. 19.
I create the Fruit of the Lips, Peace.
LONDON; Printed for Banjamin Allen, and are to be ſold at his Shop, at the Crown in Popes-head-Alley.
1645.
❧ TO THE READER.
COURTEOUS READER;
THis Authour having ſome yeares before his death, writte, and given to ſome of his friends, for their helpe, and comfort, ſome MEDITATIONS grounded upon Iohn 14. 1, 2, 3, 4. Many deſiring they were printed, conceiving them profitable for the Saints and people of God; There comming to hand one of the Copies, and that of ſome things more inlarged then the firſt Copie was, (yet by the ſame Authour to other friends) they are here preſented to publique view, for a more generall good of the Saints and people of God. This Diſcourſe is ſeaſonable in this age, which is full of troubles, ſomewhat ſpecially, (though alwayes uſefull to Saints) the ſcope and drift of it being to ſhew [how that beleevers ſhould not be oppreſt, or perplexed in heart, by any thing what ever befall them, either in ſinne, or affliction] which ſubject is profitably and comfortably opened; directing to the uſe of Faith for ones advantage in theſe caſes greatly; and ſeverall there pointed, ſome opened, ſome but named, which are worthy thy Meditations: Doe the worke this right; as to conceive, had it been intended for the Preſſe, it might have been much otherwayes writ, but it was onelyonly for ſpeciall friends, and it is not purpoſely altered, though miſtakes may be, and ſome are, which be pleaſed to mend (haply ſome may hereafter.) And if in this Diſcourſe ſome thing at firſt view ſeeme ſtrange to thee, (it being expreſt perhaps in too plaine termes to paſſe with many,) yet neglect it not, nor judge raſhly, but ſeriouſly conſider the truth, and take the diſtinctions and directions given, that ſo thy ſaith (in all points) may be directed, to fetch in, by acting of it, ſuch comfort as is intended to thee: ſurely for all thoſe who are beleevers, (or ſhall be by another Diſcourſe of this Authours upon Ioh. 6. 35. helped and incouraged to beleeve) it is and will be (as their dutie, ſo) their wiſdome to take in this counſell given to them by Chriſt, and here ſweetly explained to them, with deſire of which I leave thee, and it, to the bleſſing of God.
COMFORT FOR BELEEVERS ABOUT THEIR SINNE & TROƲBLES.
John. 14. 1, 2. 3. 4.
1. Let not your heart be troubled: yee beleeue in God, beleeue alſo in me.
2. In my Fathers houſe are many manſions; If it were not ſo, I would have told you: I goe to prepare a place for you.
3. And if I goe & prepare a place for you, I will come againe, & receive you vntounto my ſelfe, that where I am, there yee may be alſo.
4. And whither I goe, yee know, and the way yee know.