The Voice of the Spirit, Author to the reader
The Epiſtle to the Reader.
Chriſtian Reader,
AS Chriſt the ſpirituall Aaron, doth beare the Names of ſpirituall Iſraelites on his heart: ſo, they alſo doe bear his name on theirs.
They are the Epiſtle of Chriſt, and have his will written by the finger of the Spirit on their inward man.
There is much entercourſe and communion between Christ and them, and many ſweet puſſages, which carnall hearts know not of. There are many outgoings of their Joules towards Chriſt, and incomings of Chriſt into their ſoules, which others are unacquainted with. Theſe are called Experiences.
It ſeemeth to be one work of this Generation to declare Gods works.
Many opportunities and advantages are afforded, for the drawing out Experiences, which for many years have been denyed.
When I firſt ſet about this worke, I aimed to have the greateſt part of this Treatiſe made up of Experiences; and only to uſher them in with a ſhort preparatory of my owne: but contrary to my intendments, and ſomething to my affliction, my owne diſcourſe hath ſo ſwelled in my hands, that it doth crowd theſe Experiences into a little corner. And Reader, take notice, that they are the Experiences of other Chriſtian friends, not mine owne, that are here offered to thy view. Their ſincerity, and uprightnes (whoſe they are) is declared to thoſe that are round about them, by their holy, humble, and Goſpel converſation: ſo that, I durſt not but think, that thou haſt here, what God hath ſealed and delivered to them.
If any ſhould ſtumble at the publiſhing Experiences, and judge it unmeet, eſpecially becauſe carnall men may make an ill uſe of them: I ſhall deſire ſuch to conſider a few Scriptures, Pſal. 66.16. Come and hear all ye that fear the Lord, and I will declare what he hath done for my ſoule. Pſal. 51. He beggeth for cleanſing or purging, and the reſtoring the joy of his Salvation, and promiſeth v. 13. Then will I teach tranſgreſſours [thy wayes] i. e. not onelyonly as revealed in the word, but [thy ways] by thy word in my heart, in purging me, &c. and what ſhall be the iſſue of it? [And Sinners ſhall be converted to thee.] So that the declaring of Experiences, is one means which we may expect the Lord will make ſucces full unto the converſion of ſinners. And indeed the Book of the Pſalmes is preſented to the eyes of men, both good and bad, and doth conſiſt for the moſt part of Experiences.
And Paul declareth the manner of his Converſion to thoſe that perſecuted him. Acts 22. from 1. to 24.
And 1 Pet. 3.15. he ready alwayes to give an anſwer to every man that asketh you, a reaſon of [the hope that is in you] with meekneſſe and feare.
To all which I may adde, the many uſes and advantages that Experiences ſerve to. They are uſefull
1 For conviction unto unrenewed men, who never found it ſo with their ſoules.
2 For direction and encouragement to ſuch as are in like conditions: it may tend much to ſupport, when they be even a ſinking, to ſee others on the other ſide of the bank: eſpecially when they take notice, how and by what means they were ſuccoured in ſuch temptations, and ſuſtained in ſuch conditions; and when they have the ſame board ſent to fetch them over, that others have ſwum and were ſufely ſet aſhore by.
3 For provocation: when they ſee what progreſſe others have made in the wayes of God, and what communion with Chriſt they have injoyed herein; it giveth occaſion unto their reflecting upon themſelves, and may create ſhame for former negligence, and become a ſpur unto future diligence.
4 For confirmation and conſolation to ſuch as at a great diſtance may be able to ſay, that as face anſwereth to face in a glaſſe, ſo doe their Experiences to theſe. Read without prejudice, and it may be it will not be without profit. Try all things by the word, and hold faſt that which is good.
If thy attainments be higher, yet deſpiſe not others of a lower forme, in the School of Chriſt.
If theſe be beyond thee, judge thy ſelfe, rather then thoſe thou falleſt ſhort of.
Be as ready to impute thy non-acquaintance with ſuch works, unto thy defect, as unto their miſtake. If thou gain ſt in thy Graces by reading, give the glory of all to God, who (for the ſake of Chriſt) hath given thee grace, and called thee by the Goſpel to the obtaining of the glory of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt.2 Theſ. 2.14. So committing thee to the ſame Lord, I remaine
Thine to ſerve thee in the Work of Chriſt. SAMUEL PETTO.