Christ Exalted and Wisdom Justified, Preface
THE PREFACE TO THE READERS.
Christian Readers,
I Have heere spoken two Words (and oh that they may be in season) on the behalf of Christ and Wisdom, Christ in the midst of his Excellencies, like apples of Gold, attended by Wisdome, like Pictures of Silver.
They are two good Words spoken for two good Words; The first on the behalf of the word Christ, the word Essentiall. The other on the behalfe of the word of Wisdom, The word written.
Though I have set these tvvo Jewels like 2. Diamonds in a ring, or a precious neck-jewell for a speciall Friend (as appeares by the Dedication) yet such is the excellency of all those good and perfect gifts that come from above, that they are improved by imparting, and increased by dividing, as the Suns light is not lessened by lending it to the World, nor the water of the Sea diminished by communicating to the Earth and Rivers.
You may not as you are men refuse a kindness from a friendly hand, and you may no… as you are Christians refuse such a kindnes… as this from the hand of God, and his providence: I need not say much; the subject… that are here spoken of (if the spirit giv… utterance and entrance) have a farre lowde… tongue than I to speak for themselves! O… that that free wind that blows, where it lists, might be sent out with an effectual Commission to blow, or break open a wide doo… and effectual, a double door to give entranc… to this double treasure, Christ and Wisdom!
Your precious souls have two noble faculties, the understanding and will, and the Gospel hath two suitable objects, Truth and Goodness, and in this Twin-Treatise they ar… well met! Oh that there might be but a… suitable a closure of your understandings an… wills with Christ and Wisdom! while I a… knocking at your outward doors; oh that Christ would knock effectually at the inward, and say to your souls, Lift up your heads oh yee gates, and be yee lift up yee everlasting doors, that the King of Glory (and his follower, or forerunner) may enter in.
Take heed, and again I say take heed, that yee refuse not him that speaketh from Earth, least in refusing him, you refuse him that speaketh from Heaven too: Christ and VVisdom are too much to be refused at once, because if once refused, the refusers know not whether ever they may be offered more.
If a cup of cold water given to a Disciple …e not to be refused from the hand of a Pro…het, then much more a cup of wine, and …he best too in the Bridegrooms VVine-…eller, yea, and the Bridegroom to boot, … and such are Christ and VVisdom) deserve … candid acceptance from the greatest Mo…arch, if it be not rendred the less accepta…le by the hand of such a Cup bearer.
My message is important, which makes …he Messenger thus importunate; I am an Embassador for, and from Christ, a Messenger sent of, and from God; My errand is most momentous, and of highest concernment. It is unto you all, high and low, rich and poor, and it is unto your souls, your poor, precious souls, to know whether you will entertain Christ and Wisdom into the power of them, to make them rich, and you happy: Speak out Sirs, and tell me whether yo… will hear or forbear, whether I am instant in season or out of season; let it not, oh let i… not; I beseech you, and again, and again … beseech you, let it not be an aggravation o… your condemnation, that a Prophet hath bee… amongst you, and made you these offers, an… you sent him away weeping, and with a sa… heart, to tell his Master that you would neither receive him, nor his report: Oh remember that sad saying, he that despiseth you, despiseth me, and he that despiseth me, despiset… him that sent me, Luke, 10.16. And tha… sadder (if sadder may be) joyn'd with … protestation, and both out of Christs ow… mouth,) Mark, 6.11. VVhosoever shall no… receive you, nor hear you when yee depar… thence, shake off the dust under your feet fo… a testimony against them: Verily I say unt… you, it shall be more tolerable for Sodom an… Gomorrah in the day of Judgement, than fo… that City. Consider, and deliber…te, and the… return your selves instead of an answer; … would not receive a denyal upon any tearms … It's for Gods sake, and Christ's sake, and Wisdom's sake that I beg it; If you will not accept of Christ and Wisdom for their own sakes, do it for your own; if you will not do it for my sake, do it for your souls sake; you cannot be happy without them, nay, you must be eternally miserable without them. Will not, (oh monstrous!) Will not your stubborn souls entertain a precious Saviour, when you may have him for the taking? Shall your reasonable souls be so unreasona…le as to shut and barre their doors against Wisdom's entrance! Oh yee fools, deal not so madly; How long yee simple ones will yee …ove simplicity, and fools hate knowledge? Turn ye, turn ye, why will ye die?
The cares of the World, and deceitfulness of riches are choaking things unto the seed of the Word, and its too common a thing …o see the World and Flesh preferred before Christ and Wisdom.
But remember that the time draws nigh when Christ will be confessed to be precious by his refusers, and Wisdom will be justified by its Enemies, and they will be readier to call themselves fools and madmen for so doing, than the servants of God are now to call them so.
Christ is no less precious to Believers now, than he hath been from the beginning … If there be any difference, they will prize him more at his second coming, than at the first, he himself being like that water that his first miracle in Cana turn'd into VVine, best at last. And VVisdom will be justified of her Children, as long as the VVorld indureth; yea, the last born will vie with the first (if we misinterpret not Prophesies) which shall bring most honour to her and Christ. Christ's Exaltation, and VVisdoms Justification will be perfected in that great day, when Christ shall be made glorious in them that believe, and when the Elect shall receive their sentential Justification, and their graces and God's praises shall be perfected together.
Christ and VVisdom do compose the whole Treasury of a Believers riches, and though this heavenly Treasure be served to the Church in earthen vessels, and these invaluable jewels be offered unto you in course Cabinets, by men of the same mould, and of the like passions and infirmities with your selves, yet Christ is never the less precious, nor VVisdom the less acceptable for all that. Though the dish cost you little, and the Cabinet be but little worth, yet the meat and …e jewel will cost you dear, even all that you …re, or have, all that you are worth: Labour …ot, oh labour not for the meat which perish…th, but give diligence, all diligence, utter…ost diligence for that meat which indureth …nto life Eternal. If you can but purchase …hese Pearls by selling all, by cutting off right …ands and feet, and pulling out right eyes; … I mean by abandoning sins of profit and …leasure, and company) you have a lovely …enny-worth. Come off roundly Sirs, such …hapmen as stand tinking when a bargain is …ffered, are not like to buy: I have offered …ou the Riches of Gods right hand, a full …andfull, and much more than all your hands …nd hearts can hold, and I hope I have offer…d them with a right hand and heart, all that …s further desired is, that you may receive …hem so, which is the hearty prayer of the Author, and let him that is able to work in you, both to will and do say, Amen,
Your Faiths-helper, and Souls-Servant, RICHARD EEDES.