The Saints Fullness of Joy in their Fellowship with God, Title page – Dedication
THE SAINTS FULNESSE OF JOY in their fellowſhip with God: PRESENTED In a Sermon preached July 21. 1646.
Before the Honorable Houſe of Commons in Margarets Weſtminſter, Being the day appointed for Thankeſgiving for the ſurrender of OXFORD.
By the leaſt of Saints, and the meaneſt of the Miniſters of the Goſpel, W. Cradock.
LONDON, Printed by Matthew Simmons, and are to be ſold by George VVhittington, at the blew Anchor neere the Royall Exchange. 1646.
THere was an Order from the Honorable Houſe of Parliament to print this Diſcourſe, ſuch as it is, allowing me the uſuall priviledges vouchſafed in this kind; in obedience to which Order, I appoint Matthew Simmons and Hannah Allen to print the ſame.
W. C.
TO THE HONORABLE Houſe of Commons, ASSEMBLED IN PARLIAMENT.
PEACE among Brethren is the Pearle that is loſt in theſe dayes; which many pretend to ſeek, and all juſtly complaine is wanting; many out-cryes there are for it, in the mouth's of ſome, whoſe hearts and principles are full of warre and contention; Their words are Pſ. 55. 21.ſofter then oyle, and yet they be drawne ſwords; Yea ſuch is the hypocriſie of this age, that it is become almoſt the Character of a Malignant, or Atheiſt, in all companies, with much ſeeming zeale and devotion, to pray and deſire Peace, Union, Reconciliation, neglecting the while all meanes that may conduce to the ſame.
Others there are (and thoſe not a few) who long for Peace, and that ſincerely, but not hitting the right way to attaine to it, doe often caſt more Oyle into the flame, and make the breach wider. This following Diſcourſe (though it be the meaneſt of any that ever hath been preſented unto you) points out the ſureſt and readieſt way to finde this Jewel, (i.) Fellowſhip with the Father, and his Sonne Jeſus Chriſt. Fellowſhip with God neceſſarily begets fellowſhip between men. He onelyonly is an enemy to Man, that is not upon tearmes of friendſhip with God. God is love, and when we are in him, and walke with him, wee cannot but be like him. Could wee fully apprehend God as our Father, Chriſt as our Head, all the Saints his members, choſen and beloved, wee ſhould no longer bite, teare, and devoure one another: a ſpirit of Love, Goodneſſe, Meekneſſe, Long-ſuffering, that is in God, and dwells in Chriſt, would run through all our veines; tempering our hearts, and framing our carriages Euk. 6. Epheſ. 5.towards men, as God's in Chriſt hath been towards us. Yea, it would mollifie our ſpirits towards all, even the worſt of men, and make us live peaceably as much as in us lieth with all men. To give no offence to any man. Rom. 12. 1 Cor. 10. Titus 3. 1 Cor. 4. Mat. 5.To ſpeake evill of no man. To bleſſe when wee are blaſphemed. To give up our cloakes to him that takes away our coat, &c. And becauſe there is a generall diſtance growne between men and God, an intermiſsion of ſpirituall fellowſhip, therefore theſe Scriptures are become now Apocryphall, which were precious Truths formerly to the Saints, (and it may be ſtill are to a few) who ſtudied rather to conforme themſelves to the ſtricteſt Rules, then wreſt the Rule to their owne carnall ſenſes and corrupt luſts; a practice too common in theſe times.
Oh that wee could then doe as the wiſe Traveller, who being wilderd in a Forreſt, deſpairing to finde the way forward, returnes thither where he firſt loſt his way: We have loſt our way, our ſelves, our God, and all almoſt, by an Over-violent contention about Things externall: Wee have caſt durt upon each other, that will not be wiped off our names in many Ages, opened the mouth's of the wicked, rejoyced the hearts of Papiſts, grieved the Spirit of God. Oh how happy ſhould wee yet be, if wee would returne to our GOD, renewing our fellowſhip with him in the Spirit!
Surely it was better with us then when wee made our Hoſ. 2Fellowſhip with God, Holineſſe, Righteouſneſſe, our chiefe ſtudie, when Chriſtianitie, and the power of Godlineſſe, was the Cement that united us together; When wee were diſtinguiſhed from the world, and knowne to one another by the ſtyle of Saints, Profeſſors of Godlineſſe, Honeſt-men.
It is one of my firmeſt Principles, and by Gods Grace ſhall ever be my practice, to make union and communion with God my maine worke, to ſtudie peace with all men; To Love, Honour, Receive SAINTS quà SAINTS; To receive, I ſay, thoſe whom Chriſt hath received. The God and Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, binde up every one of your ſoules in that bundle, and ſo preſerve your whole ſpirit, ſoule and body blameleſſe unto his comming, which ſhall ever be the moſt unfeigned prayer of
Your moſt humble ſervant, W. CRADOCK.