Salvation from Sin by Jesus Christ, Title page – Dedication
SALVATION FROM SINNE BY JESƲS CHRIST: OR, The Doctrine of SANCTIFICATION [which is the greater part of our SALVATION] founded upon CHRIST, who is both the Meritorious, and Efficient cauſe of Sanctifying Grace, purchaſing it for, working & perfecting it in his people.
Applied (as it was ſpecially intended) for the better information of our Judgements, and quickning of our Affections in holineſs, wherein our everlaſting happineſs chiefly conſiſteth.
Preached in the weekly Lecture at Eveſham in the County of Worceſter,
By GEORGE HOPKINS, M. A. Miniſter of the Goſpel there.
JOHN 1.29.
Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the ſins of the world.
LONDON, Printed by J. G. for Nathanael Web, and William Gran…ham, at the black Beare in Paul's Church-yard, neere the little North doore, 1655.
To the people of my ſpecial charge in the Burrough of Eveſham, Both Magiſtrates and others.
Dearly Beloved,
I Know not to whom I may better dedicate this little Treatiſe, than to your ſelves, to whom I have dedicated my ſelf, under Chriſt, in the work of the Goſpel, from my first beginning to be a conſtant Preacher of the Goſpel. And I have accounted it my priviledge to ſucceed ſuch faithfull Ministers, who, for many yeares, continually inſtructed you in the wayes of holineſſe. The firſt of them was Doctor Baily, who preached unto ſome of you, yet living, the Practice of Piety, which he after publiſhed. And, during the time of my continuance among you, I have not ceaſed to preach (according to my talents) the Doctrine which is according to godlineſſe. As Paul required Timothy to charge ſome, that they preach no other Doctrine; So I charge you (as having received the charge of you) that ye receive none other Doctrine, than what is according to godlineſſe. Be not haſty to heare ſuch, as bring contrary Doctrine: run not with men of itching eares, after ſuch as are admired for teaching meer Novelty: Wandring ſtarres (to which ſuch teachers are compared in Scripture) ſparkle more than the fixed starres of greateſt magnitude. And one Comet, or Blazing ſtarre (though it portend miſchief) is more wondred at, than all the Starres of Heaven, yea, than the Sun in the firmament. But be you carefull, with the wiſe men, to follow ſuch ſtarres, whoſe motion tends to the place where your Saviour is. And although you finde him here, not clad in ſoft rayment, nor deckt with tapeſtry, but, as in his infancy, laid in ſtraw; yet think not much to bow down and worſhip him, and offer your gifts, your whole ſelves, ſpirit, ſoule and body, (of far greater value than gold, frankincenſe, and myrrhe) as due to him, who offered his ſoule a ſacrifice for you.
Beware of being intangled with the profits and pleaſures of the world, which (as I have lately ſhewed you) are the two great barres that hinder ſoules from coming to Chriſt. Think it not much to attend once in a week upon a Lecture ſermon. Thoſe that will not leave their ordinary worldly buſineſſe to attend upon the Word of Chriſt for one hour, when they may return to it again, will be loath to forſake all to follow Chriſt, if they ſhould be called to it: and without this you cannot be his true Diſciples. Oh be not like the murmuring Iſraelites, that deſpiſed the heavenly Manna, becauſe it fell daily at their tent doores, and luſted after fleſh. Be not like the multitude of unthankfull poore, that wax wanton in this time of plenty: Leſt the Lord, by ſending among you a famine of hearing the Word, cauſe it to become precious. But while you have the Ordinances of grace, wait diligently upon Chriſt who is the fountain of grace) in them: Pray, and labour for ſanctified hearts, and lives, conſidering that Holineſſe is your reall Happineſſe (as I have more largely taught you in theſe following Sermons.)
Never feare that my preſsing you, or your preſsing on to holineſs, or good works, will in the leaſt derogate from the freeneſſe of Gods grace: for they are not your own work but Gods work in you, and by you: neither by them do you adde any thing to God, but God to you: you doe not increaſe his glory, but he augments your happineſſe; ſo that what good you doe (being done in the ſtrength of his grace, and tending to the perfection of your own ſoules, makes no Recompence to God, but makes you the greater Debtors to him. The more holy, and abundant you are in good works, the more you have received from God, and the more you owe to God. And you have no more cauſe to glory in your ſelves, for what good you do, than to glory in your ſelves for the free pardon and remiſſion of your ſinnes.
Theſe Sermons were not preached, neither are they now publiſhed without my unfeigned prayers to God for a bleſsing upon them to your ſoules. As I have been at the paines to compoſe, prea…h, and publiſh them, (in which I have found Gods aſsiſtance and direction) for your ſakes; ſo be you at the paines to read them carefully, and practiſe them diligently: which, that you may be enabled to doe, pray earneſtly, that ſo glory may redound to God, advantage to your own ſoules, and comfort to
Your unworthy, but faithfull Miniſter of Chriſt, Geo: Hopkins.