Milk for Babes in Christ, Title page – Table of contents
Milk for Babes in Christ: OR MEDITATIONS, OBSERVATIONS, AND EXPERIENCES.
Divers Cases of Conscience Resolved.
The Glorious Priviledges of them that are Christs, with the way to know whether we are of that blessed number.
ALSO, Election before the Foundation of the World asserted, and the Faith of Gods Elect, wha… it is: Together with Christs Compassions to sinners.
By Martin Fynch, a weak Labourer in the Lords Harvest, in Lincolnshire.
Come all ye that fear God, and I will tell you what the Lord hath done for my soul, Psal. 66.16.
All are yours, and ye are Christs, and Christ is Gods, 1 Cor. 3.22, 23.
I will have mercy upon whom I will have mercy, and I have Compassion on whom I will have Compassion; so then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy, Rom. 9.15, 16.
LONDON, Printed for Tho. Brewster, and are to be sold at his Shop, at the Sign of the three Bibles, at the West-end of Pauls. 1653.
THE EPISTLE TO THE READER.
Reader,
IF thou art carnal, and a stranger to the paths of Sion, this ensuing Treatise will seem meer foolishness to thee: for the things therein contained, are spiritually discerned, but if thou art truly godly, I hope, what is here presented to thee, may be of some use through the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. I do not bring forth this as Meat for strong men, but as Milk for Babes in Christ; it was Christs word to Peter, Feed my Lambs. There is a great deal of head knowledge abroad in the world, but I see not that growth in Grace among Professors, that growing as Cedars in Lebanon; indeed many spend their time about opinions and Aiëry Notions, which will not feed Christs Lambs, which will not make their souls thrive and grow in Grace; and among other means of the growth of Babes in Christ, I have observed abundance of the blessing of God upon Christians meeting together to acquaint one another with their temptations, experiences, and the Fathers dealings with them. David tells us how he and other Saints, took sweet counsel together: how many Babes in Christ have found such meetings, (through the presence of Christ) Milk and Hony to their souls! but O alas, what sad occasion have we to complain and lament, that though Christians in former times would venture far to enjoy such opportunities, yet now we have liberty, and may speak often one to, and with another, yet now, O what deadness, backwardness, and neglect is there! surely professors, like the Virgins, slumber and sleep; and well were it, if with the Spouse we could say, I sleep, but my heart waketh. The Lord awaken and rouse up the spirits of Chr stians, that they may up and be doing; cert inly Saints are not so good as the wicked of the world thought they would have been, when the Lord took off the yoak of bondage that galled their necks, and had such liberty and such a price put into their hands; the world thought and said, How will these people now have their meetings to confirm one another, and to increase their party? but alas, we slumber, and the devil is sowing Tares, not onelyonly without us, but within us, transforming himself into an Angel of light, and perswades many to neglect communion of Saints and meetings, to build up one another in their most holy Faith; and O how have we forgot that exhortation of the Apostle, Heb. 10.24, 25. Let us consider one another, and provoke unto love, and to good works, not forsaking the assembling of our selves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another, and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching: the Apostle speaketh there of the Saints meeting together, and therefore he saith, Let us consider one another, and not forsaking the assembling of our selves together; now he presseth this, not to neglect these assemblings of themselves together, by how much the more we see the day approaching; what day is that? Why there is, 1. The day of death; and by how much the more we see that day approaching, Saints should lay hold upon all opportunities of consolation and growth in grace. 2. There is a day and time of Apostacy, when even those that have been Professors shall give heed to seducing spirits, and the Doctrine of devils; and this seemeth to be the day here meant; for the Apostle within two or three verses speaketh of trampling under foot the Son of God; and by how much the more we see that day approaching, we should not neglect such opportunities; and doth not that day approach, nay have not our eyes already seen that day? do not we live in those times which the Scripture calls perilous times, wherein men shall be blasphemers? &c. And yet this doth not bring Saints together. There is a third day, and that is called the day of the Lord, and is not that day approaching? is not he coming? do not we listen for that cry at midnight?
Behold the Bridegroom cometh, and yet this day approaching doth not make us watchful and diligent in the ways of Christ; but what keepeth us off from such seekings after God, as formerly Christians were wont to have? why we are full, like the Laodiceans. O Christians! have we drawn our God dry? Hath not the Lord further of himself to communicate to us? O may not Christ say to us as he did to the Laodiceans, thou art poor and miserable! Want of love also among Christians is a great hinderance of their communion one with another; men are so rigid in their own principles, that if others be not of the same opinion with them in every thing, they will not meet to pray together, nor confer together; O where is that Gospel Spirit of love! But I shall exceed the bounds of an Epistle; You have in this Treatise something concerning Election. I know some will distaste it; that is, a Doctrine that all the Devils in Hell, and all carnal men have a spirit of antipathy, and spirit of opposition to; and I know those who in any measure bear witness to that Truth of God, shall be sure of opposition from the world; but through the Grace of Christ I have learnt not to fear the reproaches of men, nor to be afraid of their revilings: much opposition hath been made against that Truth by Papists, Arminians, and of late by some that profess more of Christ; Yet none of them have or can shake that Truth; for it is the foundation of God that standeth sure; the Lord lead us into all Truth, and let thy kingdom O Lord Jesus come quickly, and own thy despised truths and ways. Amen, even so come Lord Jesus.
Bellew the 17 of the month commonly called March 1652. So prays he who is waiting and longing for his appearing, MARTIN FYNCH.
The CONTENTS.
MEditations, sighs, and groans. chap. 1. page 1
Observations, c. 2. p. 12
Experiences, c. 3. p. 19
What conformity to the life of Christ is, c. 4. p. 27
What our conformity to the death of Christ is, c. 5. p. 30
What considerations may keep Saints from spiritual pride, c. 6. p. 33
How a Christian should mannage the affairs of this life, c. 7. p. 35
If the Lord bring some special sin to minde when we are going to Prayer, what a soul may gather from it, c. 8. p. 37
How a Christian should carry himself under outward losses and crosses, c. 9. p. 39
What a poor Christian should do that is followed with temptations from day to day, and Satan often casteth in vain and lustful thoughts, c. 10. p. 42
How Christians should carry themselves when the Providence of God casteth them among carnal and prophane people, c. 11. p. 45
How a Christian should carry himself under the reproaches of the world, c. 12. p. 48
What a Christian should do that is unequally yoaked, as if a believing Husband have an unbelieving Wife, or a believing Wife have an unbelieving Husband, c. 13. p. 50
How a Christians thoughts should be exercised about death, c. 14. p. 53
How Christians should carry it towards their Brethren, when their Brethren are overtaken with a fault, c. 15. p. 55
Whether a Believer ought to keep the first day of the week holy and wholly unto the Lord, as a Gospel Sabboth, c. 16. p. 58
What Christians should do in time of National troubles, wars, and uproars, c. 17. p. 60
How Believers should mourn for sin, c. 18. p. 63
How a soul may know whether his assurance be right or not, c. 19. p. 65
The cause and cure of doubtings, c. 20. p. 70
What Christians should do when they finde not that inlargement in prayer as formerly, c. 21. p. 75
Advice to poor Christians that complain of ignorance, that they know no more of Christ, c. 22. p. 77
PART. II.
Text 1. Gal. 3.29.
Doct. That all divine Priviledges, Heaven and Happiness, belong to them that are Christs, and to them onelyonly: for the opening of which point is shewn, 1. What it is to be Christs, in seven particulars, p. 84
2 Why all divine Priviledges belong to them that are Christs, and to them onelyonly, p. 88
3 What those glorious Priviledges are that belong to them that are Christs, in eleven particulars, p. 92
4 How we may know whether we are Christs, or no, in ten particulars, p. 106
Lastly, the Application, p. 116
Text 2. Act. 13.48.
Doct. 1. That the God of all Grace hath appointed and ordained a certain number of poor sinners to eternal life and glory; for the opening of which is shewn, 1. That this ordaining was from all eternity, p. 122
2 Not of Faith and Works foreseen, but of meer Grace, p. 124
3 That Jesus Christ is ordained to be the Saviour of the Elect, p. 125
4 That nothing can be laid to the charge of Gods Elect, p. 126
5 That its impossible they should be deceived, ibid.
6 That those who were ordained to eternal life, were ordained also to believe on Christ, p, 128
7 All things work for their good, ibid.
8 They cannot fall from Grace, p. 129
Objections answered, and six Ʋses made of the point, p. 131
Doct. 2. That though many despise and reject Christ, yet those whom the Lord hath ordained to eternal life, shall certainly believe on Christ; where is shown, 1. What the Faith of Gods Elect is, p. 138
2 The degrees of Faith given to the Elect, p. 142
With several other things concerning Faith in Christ, and Ʋses of the point, p. 144
Christs Compassions to sinners, on Luke 10.33, 34… p. 154