The Whole Faith of Man, Title page – To the reader
THE WHOLE FAITH OF MAN: Being the Goſpel declared in plainneſs, as it is in JESUS, and the way thereof of old confirmed by divers Signs, Wonders, Miracles, and Gifts of the holy Ghoſt.
In thirty ſix Heads, ſetting out Mans way & work, from the day of his Converſion to the day of his Diſſolution, and what therein is both to be believed and practiſed.
The Second Edition much Enlarged.
By WILL. JEFFERY, who hath for years been a poor Labourer in Chriſts Vineyard.
So likewiſe ye, when ye ſhall have done all thoſe things which are commanded you, ſay, We are unprofitable ſervants; we have done that which was our duty to do, Luke 17.10.
London, Printed by G. Dawſon, for Francis Smith in Flying-Horſe Court in Fleet-ſtreet, near Chancery lane end; and Stephen Dagnal of Alisbury, 1659.
TO The Chriſtian READER.
Loving Reader,
THis work preſented to thy view, read I pray with diligence and care, imploying thy whole underſtanding to obſerve what … written herein, whether it be according to the Scriptures of truth, and finding it ſo, lay it up in thy heart, and bring it forth in Converſation and in Worſhip; and that thou mayeſt ſo do, mark well the Scriptures that are brought for the proof of that which is ſaid; and for the right underſtanding of the Scriptures, note theſe five things.
Firſt, who it is that ſpeaketh.
Secondly, the ground or cauſe of the Word ſpoken.
Thirdly, what is ſpoken.
Fourthly, the time when.
Fifthly, to whom it ſpeaketh.
And labour to underſtand Prophecies, whether they be fulfilled or no, and miſtake not ſo as to think that Parables, or Compariſons in Scripture prove nothing, for they do excellently prove things, if rightly underſtood; for the Parable of the unjuſt Iudge, and the Widdow, Luk. 18. v. 1. proveth, that men ought alwayes to pray, and not to faint; and that in Rev. 16.15. which ſaith, that Chriſt will come as a thiefe; proveth, that Chriſt will come ſuddenly, and that day of the Lord ſhall come upon ungodly men unawares, yea as a ſnare ſhall it take them, 2 Theſ. 5.23. but it doth not prove that Chriſt will come unrighteouſly as a thief, for that connot be: So Parables and Compariſons in the Scriptures, prove excellently the things for which they are brought, but beware of uſing them beyond their line; and alſo note, that a Commandment or Precept, only gives ground to duty, for where no Law is, there is no tranſgreſſion; miſtake not, for the manner of the performance of the duty, is not alwayes in all things laid down in the Commandment; ſo the primitive examples of the People of God, for the manner of the performance of duty, is very ſafe, and where there is no example of the People of God in the Scriptures, for the manner as aforeſaid, take heed that the duty be done decently, and in order, 1 Cor. 14.40. James 5.14. But ſtand in awe in the fear of God, and beware that you add not to the Commandment, nor diminiſh therefrom in the performance of duty, for he that ſhall preſume to ſpeak a word in the name of the Lord, which he hath not commanded him, ſhall die, Deut. 18.20. Pro. 30.6. Revel. 22.18, 19. Mind alſo, that according to the Law and the Prophets, and New Teſtament, are to hear Chriſt in all things, yea to give more heed to Chriſt then Iſrael was to Moſes, Heb. 2.1, 2. Chap. 12.25. and to labour to underſtand what the firſt Teſtament is, and who were the children hereof; and what is the new Teſtament, and who are the children thereof; and let no man that believeth and is added to the Church according to the Scripture, content himſelf in a child like ſtate, but labour with all diligence, to come to mans ſtature, being ſtrong in Chriſt, 1 Epiſtle of John. 2.13, 14. For in theſe laſt dayes, will come in all deceiveableneſs of unrighteouſneſs, and ſo many will fall away; the age groweth ripe, many run to and fro, and knowledge is increaſed; therefore labour to underſtand the Myſteries of the Scripture, walk up purely in all that thou knoweſt; for they ſhall be revealed and fulfilled in theſe latter dayes; yea whoſoever thou art, obſerve more what is declared, it being truth, then the manner of the declaring it; & be not offended at the plainneſs or poverty of the man that ſpeaketh, he ſpeaking as the Oracles of God; For God hath choſen the fooliſh things of the world, to confound the wiſe.
I have ſtudied brevity for many reaſons, therefore heed well what is ſpoken, and ſo have thy heart open for truth, but cloſed up againſt all errour, and try all ſpirits by the Scriptures of the Old and New Teſtament, For if they ſpeak not, According to the Law and Teſtamony, it is becauſe there is no light in them, Iſai. 8.20. And ſo read this Book with a ſingle eye, for it very highly concerns thy eternal life, for, for this end was it written, that men might know the good old way of the Goſpel, and walk therein, and ſo find reſt for their ſouls; and that God might have all the Glory; and this is the ſincere deſire of him, that is ready to ſerve thee with all his might in he ſtrength of the Lord, in the work of his Generation.
William Ieffery.