Two Books, Table – Title page

Two Books · Table – Title page

TO THE READER.

IT will be needleſs for me to write any thing in the Commendation of the Author of the enſuing Treatiſe, both becauſe in London and Cambridge and elſwhere (where he was converſant) he was for his Godlineſs, Learning, and Abilities as wel approved of as known: As alſo becauſe (though by Reaſon of above twenty years knowledg of him, and twelve years conſtant ſitting under his Miniſtry, and private intimacy with him, I could ſay much, yet) whatever I ſhould ſay of him would avail but little to ſuch as were both ſtrangers to him, and are alſo to my ſelf. I aſſure you, that in theſe Sermons, you have nothing but what I took from his own Mouth, when he Preached them: which I did tranſcribe in the Authors life time, with a deſire that he might perfect and fit them for the Preſs: which I found him willing to, but hindred from, by his conſtant Miniſterial work, and great weakneſs of Body. I confeſs that my love of the Matter in the following Treatiſe, and the Blesſing which the Lord of his goodneſs vouchſafed me by the ſame, Together with the leave which the Author (in his life time) oft gave me to Print any of his works that I had taken from him in writing, have ſtrongly inclined me (ſince his death) to publiſh ſome of them to the World: But did forbear, becauſe I knew that Sermons Preached by the moſt able Miniſter, may yet need and deſerve his peruſall, and ſome amendments before they be Printed: Yet at laſt am overcome to make them (as they are) publick, by the importunities of many that heard them preached, having this Confidence that you will remember that they are but Sermons Preached, and not prepared by the Author for the Preſs: And notwithſtanding that, I do beleeve, that if you read them ſeriouſly, ponderouſly, and with a ſpiritual heart, (whether you are Miniſters, or private Chriſtians) you wil find no cauſe of repenting of your pains, but rather wil be conſtrained to read them again & again; for I ever found his Sermons wel ſtudied and digeſted, that the oftner I read them, the more I perceived in them. Give me leave only to inform you that the Author did preach above fourſcore Sermons upon that Text Eph. 13. To the Praiſe and Glory of his Grace, and upon Texts relating to and purſuing that matter of Arminianiſm, which he hath elaborately handled both Doctrinally and practically, many of the which I have wrote out, and am reſolved (as God gives ſtrength and time) to finiſh the reſt; yet I ſhal altogether omit the publiſhing of any of them, unleſs I underſtand that theſe find good acceptance. In the mean time, A Blesſing of thoſe upon your hearts, is, and ſhal be the earneſt Prayers of,

MARK CO…

TWO BOOKS OF M^R SYDRACH SIMPSON, Late Maſter of Pembroke-Hall in Cambridg; And Preacher of the Goſpel in London. VIZ.

I Of Faith, Or, That beleeving is receiving Chriſt; And receiving Chriſt is Believing.

II. Of Covetouſneſs.

In the Firſt Book is ſhewed (beſides many other things)

1 That Perſons that are beleevers are Receivers.

2 That to Receive is the Principal uſe of Faith.

3 That nothing ſhould hinder our Receiving. 1 Not our Sins. 2 Nor Gods delaies. 3 Nor the ſmalneſs of our receipts. 4 Nor the greatneſs of our Wants.

4 How Faith Receives.

5 That Faith Receives Chriſt. 1 In the underſtanding. 2 In the Will.

6 The temper of a man that hath faith.

7 The neceſſity of Faith.

8 Though Faith be ſmal yet it makes us the Sons of God.

9 The Nature of True Faith.

10 There are but few that Receive Chriſt.

11 Three ſorts that come not to Chriſt. 1 Such as Receive him not as he is. 2 Such as delay their coming to him. 3 Such as give not that place to Chriſt in their hearts that is fitting for him.

In the Treatiſe of Covetouſneſs is ſhewed,

1 It is the Duty of all as they would obtaine eternal Life to be ware of covetouſneſs.

2 The Reaſons of the Doctrine, 1 Its a ſpiritual Sin. 2 It over ſpreads the whole man. 3 Its oppoſite to the Nature of Godlineſs and Religion. 4 Its the Womb and ſeed of all Sin. 5 Its a baſe Sin.

3 The Dangerouſneſs of covetouſneſs. 1 It is hardly avoided. 2 Its difficultly cured.

4 You ſhal have all things needful for this life if you wil look after Grace.

5 Your Life lies in Grace, not in Riches.

6 There is more to be feared than to be deſired in Riches.

7 We ſhould Mortifie our deſires after Riches.

London: Printed by Peter Cole, Printer and Book-Seller, at the ſign of the Printing-preſs, in Corn-hill, neer the Royall Exchange. 1658.

p. 1A TREATISE OF FAITH.

JOHN, 1.12.

To them that received him, to them he gave power to become the Sons of God, even to them that be leeve on his Name.