Gospel Marrow, Title page 1 – Dedication 1
GOSPEL-MARROW, THE Great God giving himſelf for the ſons of Men: OR, The Sacred Myſtery of Redemption by Jeſus Chriſt, with two of the Ends thereof, Juſtification & Sanctification.
Doctrinally Opened, AND Practically Applied.
Wherein (among many other uſeful and profitable Truths) the unhappy Controverſie of the Times about the Extent of Chriſts Death is modeſtly and plainly diſcuſſed and determined for the ſatisfaction of thoſe who are willing to receive it.
To which is added Three Links of a Golden Chain.
As it was lately held forth to the Church of God at Great Yarmouth.
By JOHN BRINSLEY, Miniſter of the Goſpel there.
London, Printed by S. Griffin for Richard Tomlins, and are to be ſold at the Sign of the Suu and Bible near Pye-Corner. 1659.
To the Redeemed of the Lord in the Town of Great Yarmouth, Grace and Peace.
(Dearly Beloved)
WHat the great Doctor of the Gentiles declared to his Corinthians, 1 Cor. 2.2. that he determined not to know any thing among them, ſave Jeſus Chriſt, and him crucified, let me in like manner freely profeſs unto you, that in the courſe of my Miniſtery it hath been my chief deſign to hold forth the Lord Jeſus, deſiring and endeavouring according to my weak abilities, that he might be in my Preaching evidently ſet forth before your eyes, and even crucified among you (as that Apoſtle ſpeakes to his Galathians, Gal. 3.1.) looking upon no Doctrine ſo proper and profitable for me to Preach, and you to hear, as the Doctrine of that Goſpel whereof (as he alſo ſaith of himſelf) I am *Eph. 3.7. Col. 1.23.made a Miniſter, And upon this ground it is that I have purpoſely ſingled out divers choiſe portions of Scripture (of ſome whereof I have given an account to the world) to inſiſt upon among you, which have preſented you with this ſubject. Among which I know none that have done it more fully than this which is here now ſet before you. A Text wherin (as the Title prefixed maketh promiſe of) you ſhall meet with Marrow, even that Marrow wherewith the Lord promiſeth to Feaſt his people, Iſa. 25.6. Goſpel-Marrow, there being here much in a little, divers precious truths of great ſoul concernment held forth unto you, as viz. Your Redemption, Juſtification, Sanctification, with your peculiar Relation to Jeſus Chriſt, and requiſite Qualification, viz. Zeal for good works. All which having lately handled in the audience of ſome of you, I do now here preſent unto you all, wiſhing unto you (what David upon another account promiſed to himſelf, Pſal 63.5.) that your ſoules may be herewith ſatisfied as with marrow and fatneſs. And hereof I ſhall not doubt, if ſo be there be no prejudice upon your ſpirits to hinder the ſwallowing and digeſting of ſome of them; As in particular that touching the Extent of Chriſts death, which is here aſſerted, and contended for not to be ſo large as Arminius and his followers have of late repreſented it. Concerning which, what is here ſaid, let me deſire you ſeriouſly to weigh & conſider. This if you ſhal do, I ſhal not doubt but you ſhal find that which will ſerve ſo to ballaſt your ſpirits, as that they ſhall not be over-ſet with that Wind of Doctrine, which hath already prevailed too much againſt ſome unſtable ſoules among you. So I am bold to call that ſo much, by too many, applauded Doctrine of Univerſal Redemption, a Wind, which however at the firſt breathing it may ſeem like the Weſt-wind, foreign, q. foreign: Favonius â favendo, quod ejus favore terra germinat.a foreign, a Favonius, pleaſing and profitable, and at preſent may make a great noiſe, yet upon a due trial it will be found to be no wayes advantagious in carrying you on to your deſired Port, no wayes conducing to your comfort here, or happineſs hereafter. For the proof whereof I ſhall refer you to what the Treatiſe will acquaint you with. Which leaving in your hands, I commit it and you to the bleſſing of the Great God and our Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, in whom I am
Yarmouth M. 6. D. 1. Your ſervant, JOHN BRINSLEY.