The Humbled Sinner, Title page – To the reader 2
THE Humbled ſinner RESOLVED What he ſhould do to be Saved. OR Faith in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt the only way of ſalvation for ſenſible ſinners.
DISCOVERING The quality, object, acts, ſeat, ſubject, inſeparable concomitants and degrees of juſtifying faith.
The agreement and difference of a ſtrong and weak faith; the difficulty of beleeving, the facility of miſtake about it, and the miſery of unbelief. The nature of living by faith, and the improvement of it to a full Aſſurance.
Wherein ſeveral Caſes are Reſolved, and Objections Anſwered.
By Obadiah Sedgwick, Batchelour in Divinity and late Miniſter of the Goſpel in Covent Garden.
Matth. 11. 28.
Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you reſt.
LONDON, Printed by T. R. & E. M. for Adoniram Byfield at the Bible in Popes-head Alley, neere Lumbardſtreet. 1656.
To The RIGHT HONOURABLE William EARLE of BEDFORD Barron of Thornaugh.
OBadiah Sedgwick, in Teſtimony of his real thankfulneſſe for all his ſingular Reſpect unto him, and great incouragement in the work of the Miniſtery in Covent-Garden, and of his Pious care in ſettling ſo able and faithful a ſucceſſour to carry on the work of the Goſpel in the ſaid place. Preſenteth this enſuing Treatiſe.
TO THE Reader.
Chriſtian Reader,
IT is ſufficient commendation to the enſuing Treatiſe to let thee know, that it was Written and compleated by Mr. Obadiah Sedgwick in the time of his health. It hath now pleaſed God by ſickneſſe to diſenable him for publick ſervice in the way of preaching, and if by Printing that he hath formerly preached, he may become further uſeful to the Church of Chriſt, as it will be much comfort to him, ſo I doubt not but it will be matter of much rejoycing, and great benefit unto many others. Theſe Sermons handle the doctrine of juſtifying faith, and if they ſhall prove inſtrumental, either to work or increaſe faith in thee, Let God have the glory, and the Authour thy fervent prayers for his recovery.
Thy Servant in the work of Chriſt, EDM. CALAMY.
To the READER.
Good Reader,
THis Treatiſe commendeth it ſelf to thy acceptance upon a double account, the one is the known worth of the Author, the other is the great uſefulneſſe of the ſubject matter: The Authour is Mr. Obadiah Sedgwick, no novice in the things of God, but one that for a long time, both beyond the ſeas, and at home, in City and in Countrey, hath kept up the vigour of a convincing Miniſtery, which the Lord hath abundantly proſpered to the converting of ſome, and building up of others, and no doubt to the conviction of many more, who ſhall one day know that a Prophet of the Lord hath been amongſt them: Beſides, one of an exemplary godlineſſe, and long experience in the wayes of God; of whoſe excellent ſpirit the world hath had a ſufficient taſte in thoſe choiſe Treatiſes that are already publiſhed under his name; certainly from ſuch an able head, and holy heart, nothing can be expected that is cheap and mean.
'Tis a loſſe, a loſſe that cannot enough be bewailed, that ſo eminent and uſeful an inſtrument, is now by bodily weakneſſe, and prevailing indiſpoſitions, taken off from his publick Miniſterial labours: there is no murmuring againſt the hand of God, but the waſting of the old ſtock of our able Miniſters ſhould be more laid to heart; alas we that are to ſucceed in the Lords work (I am ſure I can accuſe one) with what a weak and unequal pace do we follow their great examples? and being too too early by the removal of ſuch choiſe inſtruments, put upon publick ſervices, no wonder if we faint under the burden.
'Tis ſome recompenſe for this loſſe, that this worthy ſervant of God is yet alive, not only to honour his own Miniſtery (which was moſt conſolatory) by his private diſcourſes, full of faith and ſpirit, and patient, yea, cheerful ſubmiſſion to the Will of God concerning him; but alſo to ſingle out ſuch Treatiſes of his own, as may be of moſt uſe to publick benefit and edification. The other reaſon is the uſefulneſſe of the ſubject matter. Of all graces faith is the chiefeſt, of the moſt univerſal and conſtant influence on the ſpiritual life; we work by love, but we live by faith; in the chaine of graces deſcribed, 2 Pet. 1. 5, 6, 7. the firſt link is faith, as giving ſtrength and efficacy to all the reſt; what is the grace that yieldeth the Lord the glory of his mercy, veracity and power, but faith? it honoureth God more then an uniforme entire obedience to the whole moral Law in innocency could poſſibly have done, and pleaſeth him more then he was diſpleaſed with the ſin of Adam; All graces keep time and pace with faith, if faith be weak, love cannot be ſtrong, nor obedience carried on in an even tenour, the back of patience will ſoon be broken, and temperance exerciſe but a weak and feeble reſtraint on our luſts and paſſions, till we learn to counter-ballance preſent delights with future enjoyments. Faith is the eye of the ſoul to ſee things to come, and the hand of the ſoul, to receive Jeſus Chriſt, and all benefits in him: Faith,—But I will not digreſſe into the common place, certainly no Treatiſe of Faith can be unwelcome to a gracious heart, eſpecially ſuch an one as this is; where matters are carried on with ſuch evidence and demonſtration of the ſpirit, and as to the ſtile, with a ſweet eligancy, and yet tempered with gravity and judgement.
I could ſpeak more, but to avoid ſuſpicion of partiality, and private affection to my worthy Predeceſſour and Father: I ſhall only adde this, 'twere pity that ſo excellent a Treatiſe ſhould come forth in an age peſtred with ſuch a throng of needleſſe Writers, but that it is likely to be found out by its own lustre and brightneſſe, like a ſparkling diamond among an heap of pibbles and common ſtones; The Lord continue the life of, and (if it be his gracious will) reſtore ſo much of ſtrength to the Authour, that he may increaſe the Churches treaſure by publiſhing thoſe excellent Diſcourſes concerning the Covenant of grace, and other ſuch like ſpiritual arguments, which he hath in ſtore by him. Reader, I am
Thine in all Chriſtian offices, THO. MANTON.
The humble ſinner reſolved what he ſhould do to be ſaved.
Acts 16. 30, 31.
Sirs! What muſt I do to be ſaved.
And they ſaid, believe on the Lord Ieſus Chriſt, and thou ſhalt be ſaved, and thy houſe.