God All in All, Title page – To the reader
GOD ALL IN ALL: OR THE HIGHEST HAPPINES OF THE SAINTS.
Jn two Parts.
The
I. Aſſerting this Happineſs to conſiſt in the Enjoyment of GOD.
II. Enquiring into the Quality of that Enjoyment.
Together with a ſhort APPENDIX, wherein is very briefly conſidered, The claim of Natural Reaſon, and private Inſpirations to a guidance of us in the things of GOD. Alſo what courſes diſhonour the Goſpel, and what Duties we owe it.
By EDWARD BUCKLER, Preacher of the Goſpel.
Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I deſire beſides thee. Pſal. 73.25.
London, Printed for Luke Fawn, at the ſign of the Parrot in Paul's Church-yard. 1655.
To the truly, and heartily Religious LADY, Grace Sydenham, Wife to the Right Honourable Colonel Willam Sydenham, Governour of the Iſle of Wight, and one of his Highneſs's moſt honorable Council.
MADAM,
YOu have been pleaſed to make me an object of your exceeding many and great favours, which you could not have done, had it not been your principle to be good, gratis; that I might not miſs an occaſion (which I may never be able to offer my ſelf again) of putting this into a publique acknowledgement, is much of what I have to plead for ſending you theſe Papers. I had never any thing to return you but my thanks, and how much I am hitherto in arrear for due expreſſions of it, the leſs you do account, the more I yet owe you.
The further errand of this diſcourſe is not to tell you where your happineſſe is: you know GOD too well to be able to miſtake in a concernment of that conſequence, nor to tax you for ſeeking it where you know 'tis not; You love God too well, to ſuffer any thing in your heart to ſit above him. Have not I obſerv'd the delicacie of your ſpirit, how tenderly you meddle with the Earth, from a holy jealouſie leſt your converſation ſhould not be enough in Heaven? But it is (Madam) to offer it ſelf as a poor inſtrument in the hand of a great GOD, of ſome addition to the heaven you are already in, the comforts of this here (though not the joyes of that hereafter) are capable of an augmentation. Who can tell, but that even by this means, your Communion with your God may be further'd? And if but one glimpſe the more of divine beauty ſhine in upon your ſoul, and raiſe but a rapture the more upon your ſpirit, I ſhall not be totally diſappointed in what J aim at: And if you ſaw my heart, you would finde it very full of wiſhes, that J were able to doe you, not better ſervice, but more of this.
Many do already very well know, and J do hereby publiquely declare, That there is not that man alive, to whom J am ſo much in debt as to your Honourable Husband; and very much am I below any poſsible evidence of gratitude to him, unleſſe it be of this kinde.
If you ſhall ask, Why then doe I not direct this (if this be all) unto himſelf? Why! Madam, what do I elſe in directing it to you? But if this ſatisfie not, I muſt diſcover my deſign in doing it by you. It is (to confeſſe all ingenuouſly) that this naked acknowledgement, unable otherwiſe to ſignifie half enough, might be rendered (by a medium of conveighance ſo extreamly well-pleaſing) ſufficiently acceptable. If I miſſe not here, though I may beg of you ſome other favours, you ſhall never be ſolicited to doe me a greater; and J ſhall conſtantly pray, That the Lord (your exceeding great reward) would wrap up your ſoul in the boſome of his love, give you ſo much of Himſelf, as may be had by any means, at any time, and in it a comfortable fore-taſte of what cannot be all had, till you come to enjoy him immediately for ever. Doubtleſſe I may be guilty of many failings as to other things, but this retribution for your many favours ſhall be daily pay'd, by,
Madam, Your moſt humble, and very much obliged Servant, EDVVARD BUCKLER.
To the pious Reader.
I Have no intent to make an Apologie for appearing in Print; for who conſtrained me? Or to talk of any influence the importunitie of Friends hath had upon theſe Papers to thruſt them out into the world: This were to publiſh a ſuppoſition of no very great abundance either of friendſhip or judgement, in thoſe I ſtand to in this relation. I have no mind to crave pardon for medling with ſo high and glorious a ſubject: we are doubtleſſe allowed the contemplation of what we are promiſed the fruition. Nor do I go about to excuſe my very weak and unanſwerable management of it; is any man bound to impoſsibilities? J doe not know what you will do, but God accepteth according to what a man hath. You have indeed this upon no other account than the ſence of my duty, to pay contribution toward the well-fare of the Saints, though out of my own Pariſh. J have taxed my ſelf to what I ought, becauſe to what J was able: If it offer any of your ſouls an occaſion of meeting your God but once the oftner, you will be no looſers; becauſe the diſcourſe is not qualified unto any probabilitie of giving you ſatisfaction, J have purpoſely choſen a ſubject that can doe it abundantly. GOD can fill up, and content all the ſoul; whom J know you will be glad to converſe with by any means, though (if that were poſsible) it ſhould be leſse conſiderable than this, tendered by
Your unworthy Servant in the things of CHRIST, E.B.