The Only Refuge of a Troubled Soul, Preface
THE PREFACE TO THE Chriſtian Reader.
Courteous Reader,
WHen firſt I Preacht on this ſweet and delightful Subject, (the Appletree) I little thought or expected to have been ſeen in Print. So far was I (and ſtill am) from judging my ſelf capable of handling ſo Myſterious and Profound a Subject, as it really deſerves to be handled.
That which induc'd me to a Willingneſs to Publiſh my Thoughts and Conceptions about it; I lay down in two Particulars.
Firſt, The real Sweetneſs and Soul-raviſhing Delight which (with the Spouſe) I found under the Shadow of the Sweet and Precious Jeſus, who is (Allegorically) ſet forth in this Metaphor, whoſe Fruit hath often reviv'd and exhilerated my fainting Soul, while I continu'd ſitting under his Divine Shadow; to keep and ſecure me from being ſcorched to death by the violent Heat of the tempeſtuous Storms which have been rais'd againſt me by the powers of Darkneſs; and which have (inceſſantly) followed me, ſince I was (effectually) called out of a State of Nature; eſpecially, ſince I was call'd to the Work of the Miniſtry. The only Wiſe God ſaw it good to permit Satan and his Inſtruments, not only to commence, but even to maintain and keep up a ſharp War againſt me; that I might know (experimentally) what a ſhadow this Appletree affords to poor Bewildred Soule, and how that there is no other ſhadow than can ſecure a poor …
Secondly, The delightful Sweetneſs which ſeveral Savory-ſpirited Chriſtians declared they met with (to the Joy and rejoycing of their Spirits) in the handling this Subject. Since when, I have been often and more than ordinarily importun'd by ſeveral, both in City and Country to Publiſh (in Print) what they heard me deliver on the Appletree Subject. They not doubting, but that the Spirit of Chriſt which made it ſo delightful and raviſhing to themſelves, would make it the ſame to other Believers, if once Printed. At their earneſt Requeſt, I did make a Promiſe of Publiſhing the ſame, when I found my ſelf (thereunto) Encouraged by Providence.
All the Harm I wiſh thee (kind and charitable Reader) is; that the Spirit of Truth (who Inſpir'd Solomon the Penman of that Glorious Myſtery handled in this ſhort Treatiſe) may gra…iouſly vouchſafe unto thee ſuch a meaſure of the Anointing from above, as may Render thee capable of underſtanding; and applying thy ſelf (by Faith) the things held forth, and contain'd in it, that ſo thou may'ſt (Experimentally) come to taſte and feel the ſweet Joy and Delight wherewith the unworthy Author met, in Studying and Preaching the ſame: And wherewith thoſe godly Believers (who heard it Preacht) did meet, at whoſe Importunity I have now Publiſht the ſame for the publick Good: If thou findeſt any Comfort, and Soul Advantage by reading it; let it be a Motive to ſtir thee up to joyn with me in (heartily) requeſting, the more Learned and Experienced of the Bridegrooms Friends and faithful Ambaſſadors, to ſupply my great Deficiency and ſhortneſs, in ſetting forth the Commendation of this (Incomparably) Excellent Appletree; in whoſe Shadow and Fruit conſiſts the very Life (and the Ail) of all true Believers, both here, and hereafter. If it happens thou think me too ſharp and too b…ld in handling the Papiſt, the Quaker, and Arminians, &c. In this Treatiſe I heartily deſire thee to conſider but two things for preventing Prejudice in thy Spirit; either againſt the Truth (herein) diſcover'd, or againſt the Inſtrument by whom the Providence of God ſees fit to make the Diſcovery to thee.
Firſt, The apparent Diſparagement which the Principles and Practiſes of the above mention'd Hereticks put upon the …hurches Appletree, in that they hold and teach; that Chriſts Righteouſneſs (alone) is not ſufficient to juſtifie a Sinner at the Bar of God, without the Sinners Qualifications) as concauſes with Chriſts Righteouſneſs) in Juſtification. This is a diſparagment to Chriſt (the Churches Appletree) which the God of Love and Patience (himſelf) cannot bear. Deut. 18.18. Jo. 5.23. And ſhould not I (herein) Patrizare, that is, Imitate my Father in decrying and condemning ſuch a Chriſt debaſing and Soul damning Principle; I ſhould not (by being ſilent herein) evidence my ſelf to be the Adopted Son of God.
Secondly, Boldneſs for God, and Zeal for the Honour of his Son, are ſome of thoſe bleſſed Effects which the Shadow and Fruits of the Appletree produce in all true Believers, who ſit under the ſhadow, and feed on the Fruit of the Churches Appletree. Acts 4.13. Gal. 4.18. To convince any (hereof) who queſtion the Truth of what I now aſſert; Let ſuch but once get ſaving Acquaintance with this Appletree, by ſitting under its comfortable and delightful ſhadow in time of the moſt raging Storms they meet with, and by feeding (believingly) on its Fruit: And in caſe they become not bold and zealous for God and Chriſt, I ſhall be willing to bear the ignominious Brand or Character of a falſe Prophet.
Acquaint now thy ſelf with him, and be at Peace, thereby God ſhall come unto thee, Job. 22.21.
O taſte and ſee that the Lord is good… bleſſed is the Man that truſteth in him, Pſal. 34.8.