Golden Sands, To the reader – Table of contents
To the Reader.
Chriſtian Reader,
IF thou expecteſt an Apologie for my appearing thus in Print, as well thou mayst; I ſhall only tell thee, That after much haeſitation about it, yea and many reſolutions against it, in my own thoughts; I have not at last been drawn to it, but by the inſtigation and adviſe of thoſe, whom I dare ſay, thou thy ſelf wouldſt judge worthy of an honourable esteem for their fitneſſe to give counſel therein.
That which I here offer thee, hath no controverſie or ſowreneſſe in it, being altogether practical, and of moſt inward uſefulnes to thy precious Soule. I ſhall tell thee the occaſion of my Meditations upon the following ſubject, and my deſigne therein. For the occaſion of it, 'twas thus:
Meeting with ſeverall ſorts of ſpirits among thoſe that profeſſe Godlineſſe, ſome pretending zeal for the Law, and the rights thereof, others as much pretending for the Goſpel; ſome pleading for Moſes, and ſome for Chriſt: the firſt ſort paſsing under the name of Legaliſts, the ſecond under the name of Antinomians; Neither of them cleer and diſtinct in their Apprehenſions. For the ſatisfaction of my ſelf, and ſome others with me, I reſolved in my courſe of Preaching to handle the Doctrine of Free-Grace, which accordingly I did: Therein conſidering the riſe and ſpring, the nature and properties, together with the peculiar object of it. And alſo enquired into the high and excellent Priviledges, as well in point of Juſtification, Sanctification, and preſent Conſolation, as of future Glorification; which all thoſe Beleevers muſt neceſſarily enjoy, who live upon the right uſe and improvement of this Grace. After all which, in the Application, one part of my meſſage was, a ſharp reproof to all men whatſoever, that in any kinde offer wrong and injury to this Grace of God; either by neglecting, abuſing, or prophaning it, while they turne it into wantonneſſe, or take any occaſion from it to allow themſelves in Evil, or caſt off Duty. The very beſt of Gods own people were not ſpared, who were any way found guilty in the leaſt; and were told, That even thoſe of the ſons and Daughters of. Freegrace, that happily might think themſelves the only darlings of God's boſom, yet can never be able to bring a ſatisfying proof thereof, unleſs they honour the glory of his Soveraignty as much by yeelding obedience to his righteous Law, as they imbrace the ſweetneſſe of his Love, by beleeving his bleſsed Goſpel. When this work was done, the ſame good Hand of Heaven, that led me thus far into the ſtudy & view of Grace it ſelf, carried me much farther, to behold the Riches & Glory of it, as 'tis in part already, and ſhall hereafter be much more revealed unto the world: And ſo now thou haſt my deſigne alſo, which (out of the Apoſtles words,*Viz. That in the Ages to come hee might ſhew the exceeding Riches of his grace, in his kindneſſe towards us, through Chriſt Ieſus. Epheſ. 2.7.) is to do theſe three things.
First, to enter into Free-Grace her treaſuries, to open her Cabinets of Jewels, there to take notice of the exceeding Riches of it.
Secondly, To make it appear, that it is, and ever hath been the great buſineſſe and delight of Gods heart, to ſhew forth and diſcover the exceeding Riches of this his Grace unto the ſonnes of men.
Thirdly, That though theſe exceeding Riches of Grace have in all times paſt been more or leſſe revealed; yet, that the fulleſt and cleereſt manifeſtations thereof are reſerved for the laſt Ages: And that though for the preſent, the very foundations of the world are in a manner ſhaken, Kingdoms and Nations almoſt daſh'd in peeces with miſerable concuſsions among themſelves; though all things ſeem now dark & ſtormy, with a diſmall kind of Blackneſſe round about: Yet when theſe bluſtering Menaces ſhall be huſh'd into a Calm, and theſe uncomfortable Clouds be diſſipated, (which may not be very long firſt) Then ſhall the Light ariſe, I mean the light of glorious Grace, with the ſplendors and brightneſſe of it, in a far greater heighth than in all former Generations.
All this I thought to have brought within the compaſſe of one ſmall Volume; but I find my ſelf very much diſappointed of my Project, And therefore ſhall prepare that by peece-meal, which I thought to have preſented in one entire Diſcourſe. And perhaps, all things conſidered, it will be the beſt way: For, the Commodity which I ſet to ſale being very rich, and yet abſolutely neceſſary for the uſe of All; when it is made up in ſmall parcels, ſuch as may neither burden the Pocket, nor the Purſe, neither prove too big for many to buy, nor for any to carry about them; they will be the more able, and willing to furniſh themſelves Therewith.
In this firſt Parcel, I bring but a minute quantity of the Riches mentioned; very little, in compariſon of what thou mayeſt expect hereafter: Therefore the Title is, Golden Sands. If thou accept of theſe, I ſhall ſhew thee afterwards (Christ aſsiſting me) whole Mines and Mountains of this Grace-Gold; Mountains that reach up unto, yea, and above the Heavens. And therefore, that thine Heart (mean while) may be as a pure Chrystal glaſſe, to hold theſe precious Sands of Grace (till more comes) is the earneſt deſire of
An affectionate Seeker of thy Soveraign welfare, JOHN BACHILER. From my Study at Windſor caſtle, Decemb. 21. 1646.
The TABLE.
CHAP. 1.
THE various acceptions of the word Grace; and in what ſenſe it is underſtood in this Diſcourſe.
CHAP. 2.
That there is a Richneſſe in Grace, proved by 4 Demonſtrations.
CHAP. 3.
Wherein the Richneſſe of it lies, chiefly that it is ſo preciouſly ſoveraigne to ſave.
CHAP. 4.
How many wayes the Riches of this Grace are divided among, and participated by the Saints. Where, of the loſſes that Grace ſuſteins from the Saints; and of the Debts which it forgives to them.
CHAP. 5.
The Ranſom that Grace layes down to redeem the Saints.
CHAP. 6.
The Expences which it is at, in maintaining of them.
GOLDEN SANDS.
EPH. 2.7.
That in the Ages to come he might ſhew the exceeding Riches of his Grace, in his kindneſſe towards us, through Chriſt Jeſus.
HAving in the Epiſtle to the Reader, already glanced at the ſcope of theſe words, and the chiefe parts of them; I ſhall preſently apply my ſelfe to that which lyes firſt in order to be opened, viz. The Riches of Grace, dividing the moſt diſtinct pieces of the whole Diſcourſe into ſo many Chapters.