Redemption from the Curse, Dedication 2
To the Inhabitants of PUDSEY, LEEDS, and BRADFORD.
Beloved Brethren,
I Need not ſay much to you concerning the Reverend Authour of the enſuing Treatiſe. You fully know his doctrine, manner of life, purpoſe,2 Tim. 3.10. Faith, Long-ſuffering, Charitie, Patience. That he hath laboured long in his maſters Vineyard, as with great diligence, ſo not without ſome ſucceſs. It is the high commendation of bleſſed Paul, that from Jeruſalem, and round about, even to Illyricum, Rom. 15.19.he fully preached the Goſpel of Chriſt: So our Reverend brother, not onelyonly in the populous places near unto us, but in leſſer Villages, hath frequently ſounded the Goſpel of Salvation, not confining his labours to that obſcure Congregation wherein he hath officiated as a painful overſeer for many yeares, but communicating the ſweet ſavour of Chriſt to many others: and let us adde this; He hath been ſo farre from heeding the preferments of this world, (though tendered him at ſeveral times) as he hath contented himſelf with a mean allowance, not worthy to be named, conſidering his worth, and induſtry. but I ſhall ſay no more of him, though I might ſay exceeding much, as knowing his modeſtie to be ſuch, as he would rather blame than thank me for it. Give me leave to ſay a little unto you who have ſo often been partakers of his Miniſterial labours: and
1. To you of Pudſey, whoſe Paſtor he hath been, and ſtill is, much precious ſeed he hath ſown among you; and therefore from you is expected much precious fruit: If you after ſo much Preaching, Catechiſing, and expounding, be found, either ignorant, or ſecure, prophane, or diſſolute, as you are left without excuſe, ſo the many yeares pains of ſo faithfull a Teacher will riſe up in Judgement againſt you.Luke 12.45. To whom much is given, of him much is required. God hath given in to you much inſtruction, He exſpects from you much knowledge of the beſt things, endeared affections thereunto, and abundance of thoſe fruits,Matth. 3.8. which John the Baptist calls Fruits meet for Repentance, worthy of amendment of life. Which, I deſire, may be conſidered, that ſo you may not be found barren, and unfruitfull in the knowledge of our Lord Jeſus Christ at his coming. 2 Pet. 1.18.The goodneſs of the ſoil ſhould be ſeen in the plentifulneſs of the Crop; and the pains of the Paſtor, in the peoples knowledge of God, and Chriſt, in their Faith, hope, love, meekneſs, humilitie, patience, holineſs, and obedience.
2. For you of Leeds, and Bradford, as you have all, and often participated of his godly labours, ſo I heartily wiſh and deſire, it may appear, you have not done ſo in vain, and therefore exhort you, to remember how you have heard, Revel. 3.3.and received, and hold fast, and repent. Yea, to hold faſt theſe good and ancient truths, you have ſo often heard from his mouth: And foraſmuch, as to the weak endeavours of your own Teacher, the Lord, as it were by the way of largeſs, hath ſuperadded the pains of this Reverend brother, I am ſure, yee ought to be gracious, yea, to grow in grace, and to abound in every good word, and work.
But alack, it is to be feared, that according to the old Proverb, We are better Fed then Taught, much preaching little reforming of mens hearts, and wayes. It ſhould be otherwiſe, elſe it will one day be known, and little to the comfort of many, that there have been painful and faithful Teachers among them.
Call to minde the dayes of old, when the harveſt was great, the labourers few, many converts, though ſcarcity of able, and faithfull Teachers. Now the Labourers are many, ſhall the Harveſt be ſmall? Shall few or none be found, who look Zion-ward, and with their faces to that Jeruſalem which is above. My brethren, I ſpeak a little to awake the drowſie: Who can tell, what a little may do? It will do much, if he, who doth all, afford his bleſſing.
Awake thou that ſleepeſt, and ſtand up from the dead, and you that are awake, take heed of ſlumbering in theſe declining times. There is much in the following Treatiſe, to awaken the ſecure, becauſe they may finde therein, a plain and full diſcoverie, what their condition is by nature, as they ſpring out from the loynes of fallen Adam, and there is much alſo, both to direct, and inſtruct, and comfort ſuch as flie for help to the Refuge ſet before them. But I ſhall ſpare to mention what every one may read. Pray, that the life of the aged Authour may yet be prolonged, and his Labours bleſſed, and pray for him alſo, who deſires you may profit by this work of his, and other the holy Labours of his ſervants, which are according to godlineſs.
I reſt, Yours to ſerve you in the Goſpel of Salvation, Rob. Todd. From my Studie, in Leeds. April 26. 1658.