The Buddings and Blossomings of Old Truths, Title page – To the reader
THE BUDDINGS AND BLOSSOMINGS OF OLD TRUTHS: Or, Severall practicall Points of Divinity, gathered out of that ſacred Evangeliſt St. JOHN, Chap. the third, from Verſe 22. ad finem.
By that worthy Light and Lamp of Heaven, Alexander Groſs, Bach. of Divinity, and late Preacher of Aſhberton, in Com. Devon.
LONDON, Printed by W. Bentley for Andrew Crook, at the ſigne of the green Dragon in Pauls Church-yard, 1656.
THE EPISTLE TO THE READER.
Chriſtian Reader;
I Am conſtrained in a double reſpect to ſalute thee with a brief Epiſtle. Firſt, by cuſtome, whoſe bare word is holden and imbraced as a law. Secondly, by neceſſity, the Author of the Book being dead, leaving the notes with me: Death interrupting him could not preface it; ſo that either the Book muſt come to thee without an Epistle, or I muſt write one.
Two things briefly I ſhall acquaint the Reader withall: First, with the Authour. Secondly, with the Work.
For the Author, his name was Mr. Alexander Groſs, Batchelor of Divinity, and Miniſter of Aſhberton in the County of Devon; he was a painful, a faithful Miniſter of Chriſt; a skilful, a powerful diſpenſer of the Word, the proofs of which were his conſtant and inceſſant imployments in preaching twice every Sabbath for many years; yea, and that in the Biſhops times, as alſo that he might keep men from drunkenneſſe and other deboiſt practices, he was wont to preach every Holyday in the year.
Which Miniſtery of his was very effectual, many being converted by him. Thoſe two things which make a compleat man had an happy conjunction in him, (viz.) integrity and judgement: yea, he had that which made him a compleat Miniſter, namely, that he would ſpeak his minde fitly, and that he durſt ſpeak it freely; a proof of the former you have cleared in his writings that are already in print, and are printed as he preached, where you may find clear method, ſound proofs, pregnant ſimilitudes, plentiful illustrations, pithy perſwaſions, ſweet inſinuations, powerful inforcements. For his freedome of ſpeech in reproving of ſin, even to the faces of the greateſt, many are able to teſtifie, and particular inſtances I could give.
I have heard him very much commended for theſe things:
1 That he was an excellent Scripturiſt; and it is reported that he had them (ad unguem) he was in all his preachings very full of Scripture.
2 That he was bleſſed with an excellent memory, ſeldome uſed any note in his Pulpit, though he alwayes wrote Notes of what he preached.
3 That he was a man furniſhed with that heavenly gift of prayer, in which he excelled moſt men; ſome Miniſters have told me, that they have much admired his ability in that holy Exercize.
4 That he was a man hating novelties, and yet abhorring ſuperstition; he ſtuck cloſe to the antient truths of God, and contended earneſtly for the faith.
5 That his life was an excellent Paraphraſe on his Doctrine; his Doctrine & Life diſagreed not: As he was a Preacher of holineſſe; ſo he was a practiſer of holineſſe. What is ſpoken of Saint John, may be ſpoken of him; That he was a burning and ſhining light: and I know that many wicked men that hated him for his goodneſſe, ſhall in the day of their viſitation bleſs God for his good words and good actions.
In a word, he ſpent his time, his ſtrength, his all for God; and at laſt, he died in a good old age. A little before his death he preached on that paſſage of the Pſalmiſt, Whom have I in heaven but thee? and (as I was informed by a godly man, his hearer) that he was ſo wonderfully carried forth in his preaching, that he much feared he ſhould not long enjoy him; and ſo it happened, for a ſhort ſpace after he died, and now injoyes the glorious preſence of the God whom he ſo faithfully ſerved.
As concerning this work left in my hands, I have little more to ſay, beſides what the parents of the blinde man ſaid of their ſonne, (though in ſome reſpects it is newly come forth, yet in regard of the truth and ſubſtance of it) it is old enough, let it ſpeak for it ſelf.
This I ſhall ſay concerning the Book, that there is nothing in it but what is ſound and orthodox, which cannot be ſaid of many Books that come abroad: the matters contained in the Book are plain and eaſie to be underſtood, food it is for babes, and nouriſhment it may give to strong men.
A few hints I have here given you of what you may read more largely in the Book:
1 That the Ministers duty, it lies mainly in the endeavouring the converſion of ſinners, the drawing home of ſouls to God.
2 That the peoples duty lies in attending upon their Miniſters and Miniſtry.
3 That the redemption of Chriſt it is effectual to ſome of all Nations, but not to all in all Nations, Matth. 8.11. Rev. 5.9.
4 That men may not at their own pleaſure leave their callings, but follow them while God doth give ability to perform them.
5 That the Sacrament of Baptiſme muſt be carefully adminiſtred to ſuch as are capable of it; and that it muſt be adminiſtred in pure water without any mixture, &c.
6 That the clear and open ſhining of the Goſpel hath been attended with much contention.
7 That contentions have been in Gods family.
8 That ſelf-love and ambition are many times an occaſion of contention.
9 That men have of themſelves no ability to do good.
10 Gods ſervants muſt not ſeek their own, but the honour of Jeſus Chriſt.
11 That all the faithful are joyned in ſpiritual wedlock with Chriſt Jeſus.
12 That the Lord Jeſus beareth a ſingular love to his Ministers.
13 That Gods faithful Miniſters are after a ſpecial manner acquainted with his counſels.
14 That the calling of the Miniſtry requires ſome good preparations and large abilities.
15 The voice of the Lord Jeſus heard in the Goſpel is the joy and rejoycing of a ſound Chriſtian.
16 That the converſion of ſinners by the Ministry of the Word is the great joy of the Miniſters thereof.
17 Thoſe are leaſt conceited of their own goodneſs, that are beſt and moſt ſanctified.
18 The revelation of the Lord Jeſus unto men is by degrees.
19 Chriſt the Redeemer, the Son of God, by eternal generation
20 The Lord Jeſus hath preheminence above, and dominion over all creatures.
Theſe with many more excellent points ſhalt thou find in this little Book worthy your view, God grant that your hearts may be as Cabinets to retain and keep theſe jewels: it is true, that the matters are common, and the ordinary ſubject both of many Sermons and printed Books in theſe dayes; yet we know, that the commoneſt meats do yield the moſt wholeſome nouriſhment, whereas new found diſhes do but clog the ſtomach, and fill the body with unwholſome humours.
And for the preventing or removing of all prejudicate opinions which may ariſe concerning this Book (as though ſtrumpet like, any baſtardly brood unlawfully begotten ſhould be fathered and faſtened upon ſo divine a penman) this I can more than promiſe (verbo Miniſtri) that there is nothing in it for matter or manner, either ſpurious, or ſurreptitious; nothing but what is genuine, and the Authors own, the immediate iſſue of his working brain, and flowing from his own pen.
This I ſhall promiſe the Reader, if he ſhall like of what is in this Book, I ſhall preſent him ſhortly with another of this Author: In the mean time I refer this to thy ſerious reading and gracious benefiting, who am
From my Study at Stratcley, in Armington, Com. Devon. Thy Servant in the Goſpel JOHN WELDEN.