The Tempestuous Soul Calmed by Jesus Christ, Title page – Imprimatur
THE TEMPESTUOUS SOUL CALMED BY Jeſus Chriſt; BEING An Extract of ſeverall SERMONS, PREACHED By ANTHONY PALMER, Paſtor of the Church at Bourton on the Water in Glouceſter-ſhire.
LONDON, Printed by A. M. for E. Brewſter and G. Sawbridge, and are to be ſold at the Signe of the Bible on Ludgate-hill. MDCLIIII
To my dear Father, Brothers, and Siſters, and others of my Beloved Kindred and Friends, &c.
IF I know my own heart, there were two Reaſons prevailed with me for ſending forth this Treatiſe into the light; Firſt, to witneſſe what the Lord (to the praiſe of his abundant grace) hath done for my own poor ſoul. Secondly, As drawn forth by tender affections and yerning bowels, I deſire more and more to put on for your immortall ſouls, which my hearts deſire is ſhould be as dear and pretious to me as my own, yea, that my heart might be enflamed with that zeal of holy Paul, Rom. 11.14. If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are of my fleſh, and might ſave ſome of them. In this brief Treatiſe (though chiefly pointing at the comforting a diſquieted ſpirit) yet there is laid down in the former part of it what may ſuit with your ſeverall conditions, and ſo to ſet up a reſt leſſe enquiry in your ſpirits after the Lord Jeſus, till he ſhall fill your ſouls with this bleſſed calm of his own preſence here ſhadowed forth unto you: If it ſhould be objected by any other, that I might have directed you to other Books before extant (of which bleſſed be God there's abundant choice;) I anſwer, and I verily beleeve will you with me, that the room I have in your affections will render ſomething from my ſelf (though far ſhort of the excellencies of other Pieces) more gratefull to you, and that you will be the more inclined to reade it; Ʋpon which account I ſend it to you, with my breathings to heaven for the bleſſing of the Spirit of grace to be with it; and all others to whoſe hands it ſhall come, craving a candid interpretation with them: I Reſt,
Yours, moſt affectionately in Chriſt Jeſus, A. P. Bourton on the Water, Sept. 21. 1652.
July 12. 1653.
Imprimatur,
Joſeph Caryl.
The Tempeſtuous Soul Calmed by Jeſus Chriſt.
MAT. 8.23,24,25,26,27.
And when he was entred into a Ship, his Diſciples followed him.
And behold, there aroſe a great tempeſt in the Sea, inſomuch that the Ship was covered with the waves: but he was aſleep.
And his Diſciples came to him, and awoke him, ſaying, Lord ſave us, we periſh.
And he ſaith unto them, Why are ye fearfull, O ye of little faith? Then he aroſe and rebuked the windes and the Sea, and there was a great calm.
But the men marvelled, ſaying, What manner of man is this that even the windes and the Sea obey him?
THe Words contain an entire work and miracle of the Lord Chriſt, ſo that we need not look for coherence; They are uſually held forth by Divines to ſet forth the preſence of the Lord Jeſus with his Church in all the tempeſts that come upon it; which, if I conceive, may without wreſting be alſo uſed to diſcover the preſence of Chriſt calming a particular ſoul in all the tempeſts that befall it; At leaſt, by way of Allegory it will hold; as Auſtin ſaith there is ſuch a ſpirituall uſe to be made of every miracle of the Lord Chriſts.
And in this ſenſe I ſhall make uſe of them, and ſo unfold them into theſe ſix Ohſervations.
1. When Jeſus Chriſt draws in a Soul to himſelf, he uſually raiſeth a tempeſt in that ſoul. There aroſe a tempeſt, &c.
2. The Soul when thus in a tempeſt, it comes in a periſhing condition to Jeſus Chriſt. Lord ſave us, we periſh. &c.
3. Jeſus Christ ſeems for a time to take no notice of a ſoul in ſuch a tempeſt and periſhing condition. He was aſleep, &c.
4. True faith may be mixt with much weakneſſe and fear, and yet may engage the heart of Chriſt to ſuccour; Why are ye fearfull, O ye of little faith.
5. A word from Chriſt can rebuke that tempeſt upon a Soul. He rebuked the windes, &c.
6. The Soul that is thus calmed is filled with the wonders of Chriſts power and love; They marvelled, ſaying, What manner of man is this that the windes and Sea obey him?
Theſe I ſhall open in their order.