The Sinners Hope, Imprimatur – Dedication 2
I Have taken a Survey of this Tractate, and find it very Spiritual, and Practical, and doubt not but it will be very acceptable, and profitable, to all thoſe who have their ſences exerciſed to diſcerne between things that differ. And therefore I cheerfully concur with theſe three Reverend, Learned, and Godly Miniſters who have written their Epiſtles in commendation of it; And think it worthy to be Printed.
Imprimatur, Edm. Calamy.Place this before the Title.
THE Sinners Hope: AS HIS PRIVILEDGE, and DUTY, In his worſt Condition, Stated, Cleared, and Improved.
TENDING As well to the Startling and Inviting of the Wicked from his Sinfull and Wretched Courſe, upon the Conditionall Hopes that are layd out for him; As the Confirming and Directing of the truly humble and weak Chriſtian in his Duty and Comfort, in the ſeverall Caſes of Darkneſs, Sin, and Affliction.
Being the Subſtance of ſeverall SERMONS, PREACHED BY Henry Newcome, M. A. and one of the Miniſters of the Goſpell, at Mancheſter, in the County Palatine of LANCASTER.
Lam. 3.29.
He putteth his Mouth in the Duſt, if ſo be there may be Hope.
Jer. 2.25.
But thou ſaidſt there is no Hope, no, for I have loved ſtrangers, and after them will I go.
Heb. 6.18.
That—we might have a ſtrong conſolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold on the Hope ſet before us.
LONDON, Printed by E. C. for George Everſden, at the Sign of the Maiden-head in Pauls Church-yard, 1660.
To my Reverend Friend, Henry Newcome,
Sir,
I Have been earneſtly entreated, to importune you to the printing of thoſe Sermons, which in your preaching of them, were ſo greatly approved of, and ſo ſignally ſucceſſefull. The Text was, Ezra. 10.2. You have ſince your coming amongſt us, preached upon ſeverall neceſsary and ſeaſonable Subjects amongst them, though many of the others might have coſt you as much paines, and have been very profitable and uſefull, yet theſe by ſome of your beſt and moſt judicious Auditors, are deſired to be the firſt fruits to a future harveſt: I ſhould not ingage you to this work (knowing the burthens that lye upon you, not only in your publick miniſtry, which is very great, but the multitude of private concernments, wherein you are preſſed above ſtrength, & if not wiſely moderated will ſhorten your daies) but that my own judgment concurs with others for the publiſhing of them;Prov 13.1…. Hope deferred maketh the heart ſick. Alexander the great he had all; when he had nothing, becauſe he had Hope. The Poets feign that in Pandora's box, which was ſtuffed with all the woes and miſeries that might be, the Gods placed Hope in the bottome, the Prophet calls the people of God Priſoners of Hope. zach. 9.12It was this that made the Rebell come in, when a thouſand pound was proclaim'd to be given to whomeſoever could bring his Head: the Hue and crie will make the Traitor run, when Hopes of pardon will bring him back. I ſhall adde no more but that my Hopes are, you will anſwer our Hopes, and my prayers ſhall be for Gods bleſſing on them.
Your fellow Labourer in the work of the Miniſtry, and your reall Friend and Brother. Richard Heyrick
To the Reverend his much eſteemed Friend Mr. Henry Newcome Miniſter of the Goſpell, at Mancheſter.
Worthy Sir,
I Have by a providence (God ſo ordering it) ſeen and peruſed your painfull, profitable, powerfull work; Enough (through Gods grace) to ſtartle and awaken the wicked, and to encourage Saints: well it is for the former that they have any remote hopes of heaven: but ſure it is in reſpect of a poſſible change, for otherwiſe, they are at preſent,Eph. 2.12. without Chriſt, without Hope, and without God in the World. The hope they uſually harbour in themſelves is indeed no hope, at leaſt no true hope, for ſuch an hope, as an handmaid,Job 8.13.14. Job. 11.20. follows faith. The Hypocrites hope ſhall periſh, it ſhall be cut off and his truſt ſhall be as a ſpiders web, or as a puffe of breath, or as the giving up of the ghoſt; The hope therefore you give them is not in reſpect of their preſent ſtate: Chriſts rule is infallible; verily, verily I ſay unto thee, Jo. 3.3.except a man be born again he cannot ſee the kingdome of God. 1 Cor. 6.9.10.Know ye not (ſaith the Apoſtle) that the unrighteous ſhall not inherit the Kingdome of God? be not deceived, neither Fornicators, nor Idolaters, nor Adulterers, &c. ſhall inherit the Kingdome of God. The Souls of men, as ſuch, do wave up and downe without any anchor at all, only if they will come in, lay hold on the covenant, embrace the offers and tenders of grace, there is then Hope in Iſrael concerning this Thing. And as for the Saints, that are often beſet with darkneſs, ſin, affliction, you have opened ſuch a doore of Hope to them, that if they will but enter, they may take a view of that building,Iſa. 54.11.12. whoſe ſtones are layd with fair colours, and the foundation with Saphires, whoſe Windows are of Agats, and the Gates of Carbuncles, and all the borders of pleaſant deſirable ſtones. Pro 10.28.The Hope of the righteous ſhall be gladneſs, Saith Solomon; it may be for a time the Lord may rear out of Zion, Joel. 3.16.and utter his voice to Jeruſalem, and the Heavens and the Earth may ſhake, yet for all this, the Lord will be the Hope of his people, and the ſtrength of the Children of Iſrael: there is no reaſon that Gods people at the loweſt ſhould let go their hold; are not the promiſes of victory & defence to the Priſoners of hope? yea ſurely. The Lord their God ſhall ſave them in that day, Zach. 9.12 16.as the flocks of his people; for they ſhall be as the ſtones of a Crown lifted up. Now that the unregenerate may be wonne, and that the Saints may know their priviledges whilſt they are yet in the valley of Achor, my advice and deſire is that theſe things may be publiſhed, not only to a great congregation, but to the Church throughout theſe Nations. I hope much good will be in the publiſhing of theſe Hopes, that although we have all treſpaſſed againſt our God, even from Dan to Berſheba, Yet now there is Hope in Iſrael concerning this thing. If a Bluſh of modeſty ſhould ſtand as a temptation to keep back the publication of this piece, I cannot but ſay to you as Schecaniah to Ezra, Ariſe, Ezra. 10.4.for this matter belongeth unto thee, we alſo be with thee, be of good courage and do it. The Lord bleſs theſe papers, and the labours of all the learned to the good of his church and the Glory of his grace. So prayes
Garſtang Jan: 2. 1658. Your unworthy Brother and fellow Labourer in the Lords Vineyard Iſaack Ambroſe.