Christianity in Short, Title page – Dedication
CHRISTIANITY in Short OR The way to be a good CHRISTIAN.
Recommended To the uſe of ſuch as want either time or capacity for reading longer and Learneder diſcourſes.
Mat. VII. 13.14. Enter ye in at the ſtrait Gate, for wide is the Gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to deſtruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Becauſe strait is the Gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth unto Life, and few there be that find it.
Ver. 21. Not every one that ſaith unto me; Lord, Lord, ſhall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven: but he that doth the will of my Father which is in Heaven.
By C. Ellis Author of the Gentile-ſinner.
LONDON, Printed for Tho. Guy, at the Oxford Armes, on the Weſt ſide of the Royal Exchange 1682.
To my Beloved Neighbours, for whoſe Uſe this little Book is written.
My Dear Friends,
I Hope ſome of you need not much the help this little Book can afford; and indeed it is a ſhame either for you or me, that any of you ſhould need it, except Children. Yet I fear it is too needful, I pray God it may prove as uſeful to many of you. I have often told you, that neither an Ignorant, nor a Carnal, nor a Worldly, nor a Formally Religious courſe of Life, can ever bring you to Heaven. I now …ell it you again; and at you love your Souls, let me intreat you to believe me; except you become other men than ſome of you, yea than the moſt of you yet are, you cannot be ſaved. You have God's Word to read, you may hear Sermons when you will, you may be inſtructed privately when you will, you have many good Books to inſtruct you, you have ſo much ſenſe as to know you are a dying, you have underſtandings to conſider what's like to become of you, you have ſure, the wit to know that all things here will have an end, and that nothing can concern you ſo much as the Salvation of your Souls, to all Eternity. I am confident were you dying, you would ſay ſo. Can it be any thing then, but a brutiſh inconſideration that keeps you in the ſtate you are in? Awake, awake, and ſee here in ſhort what you have to do. 'Tis ſhort, that you may not plead you want time to read and learn it; 'Tis plain, that you may not plead 'tis above your capacity, 'tis cheap, it ſhall coſt you nothing but the pains of reading it for your inſtruction in the way of Life. You will in a little room ſee what it is to be a Chriſtian. Practice then what here you read, and then dye in Peace. But if you ſlight theſe eaſie helps, and will go on your old way, I muſt leave you to God, and comfort my ſelf in this, that I have not dealt deceitfully with you. The good God make us all wiſe unto Salvation; Amen.
Conſider ſeriouſly.
Learn induſtriouſly.
Pray devoutly.
Believe firmly.
Repent ſincerely.
Love unfeignedly.
Reſolve deliberately.
Practice conſtantly.
Hope Patiently.
Receive Thankfully,
And
Enjoy Eternally.