A Cluster of Grapes Taken out of the Canaanite Womans Basket, To the reader
To the Reader.
TO ſerve the counſell of God in a mans particular Generation, is a duty incumbent on all that profeſs themſelves the ſervants of Chriſt: and to bee ſincere and diligent therein, is to bee in the exerciſe, and partake of the ſure mercies of David. But to bee willing to do any thing which may bee ſervice to Chriſt in another Generation, and to bee indeed ſucceſſefull therein, is a bleſſing which few attain unto. And yet though ſuch a bleſſing be obtained but by a few, I perſwade my ſelf, it may at leaſt bee deſired and purſued by all. For as wee are to covet earneſtly the beſt gifts: ſo are we to aim at, and endeavour the beſt ſervice; and ſuch is that which laſts and lives, when wee are gone, and fallen aſleep in our Graves.
I hope I ſhall be freed from the crime and cenſure of pride, if I ſay, that my aim in theſe ſmall pieces, which I have been preſſed formerly to print, was to ſerve, not onelyonly my preſent, but the next Generation. And I muſt acknowledge to the praiſe of the glory of Chriſts grace, that my experience of the good liking and acceptance of my Labours this way, gives mee grounds to hope, that my ſervice may extend it ſelf beyond my own age. Certainly books laſt longer than men; and they ſpeak when wee are dead and gone. Hereupon I am encouraged once again to appear in the Preſs for the ſame ſervice, which is only to ſubſerve the counſell of God for the good of thy ſoul, (Chriſtian Reader) by the following Sermons; concerning which, I will onelyonly preface a few words, about their Occaſion, Scope, and Mode.
1 For the Occaſion, take that thus; there is extant among thoſe choice labours of that Man of God, Mr. William Bridge (now of Yarmouth) one Sermon (pitty it is there, were no more) upon the ſtory of the Woman of Canaan. This Sermon, I had a Childe (who is now with him who gave it) that was much taken with it. I perceived ſhee read it often with ſavour and delight; whereupon it was in my heart, to inlarge a little more upon that ſubject, which certainly is ſweet to all thoſe who have ſpiritual ſenſes exerciſed to diſcern the glory and relliſh of Goſpel diſcourſes. This was indeed (Reader) the occaſion of theſe Sermons.
2 The Scope of them is, to do good to many, who are the ſons and daughters of Myſtical Canaan. In the Hiſtory of the example here opened, wee may obſerve, what ought to bee the carriage, and what may bee the comfort of any ſoul, that hath or ſhall come to Jeſus Chriſt. Indeed the way of coming to Chriſt, I have not inlarged in, (having formerly done that in my Miniſterial courſe) the ſpecial thing attended and aimed at, is, to direct and help poor ſouls, who know and are in the way to Chriſt, but lie under temptations and troubles, by reaſon of ſome ſeeming harſh, delatory, and denying entertainment, which they meet withall. And therein I hope this work will be unto thee (Reader) of advantage.
3 Concerning its Mode, or the manner of handling theſe Sermons; truly it is without affectation or curioſity, either as to phraſes or fancies; and in the ſame plainneſs wherein they were preached (and taken) are they now without any further poliſh printed. And truly the bread of life is beſt, when it is plain. Experience hath put it beyond controverſie, that the truths of God take and work moſt ſweetly and ſoveraignly, where they are delivered moſt plainly and ſimply; Not in the wiſdome of man, but in the ſimplicity of the Spirit, and in that ordinary language wherein the Lord gives to each man utterance. The way of ſuch mens preaching is exceeding bad, (albeit the matter may bee truth and good) who rather tickle the ear, than touch the hearts of their hearers. This laſt I ſtudied, and therefore that other I neglected. And (Reader) if thou affect words, thou maieſt ſpare thy pains, for upon that ſcore the enſuing Sermons will yeeld thee no pleaſure. But in caſe thy heart bee ſet on things, which may concern thy ſoul, read humbly and ſeriouſly, and I dare (under Chriſt) promiſe thee profit for thy pains. My deſire was, and is, to ſerve poor, humble, hungry ſouls, that will be glad of any of the crumbs which Chriſt gives: and if thou bee ſuch, fall to, and the Lord be with thee in thy peruſal of theſe Sermons, which (with thy ſoul) I commend to the bleſſing of Chriſt, deſiring thee (Reader) in thy prayers to remember him, who is
Thine in ſoul-ſervice for Chriſts ſake, John Durant.