God a Christians Choice, Title page 1 – Dedication
GOD A Chriſtian's Choice, Compleated by particular Covenanting with GOD.
Together with an APPENDIX, containing Propoſitions, tending to clear up the Lawfulneſs, and Expediency of tranſacting with God in that way.
In purſuit of a Deſign propoſed by Mr. R. A. in his Book entituled, The Vindication of Godlineſs. And by Mr. Tho. Vincent, in his Book, called Words whereby we may be ſaved.
To which is added, A brief Diſcovery of the nearneſs of ſuch a People unto God, on Pſal. 148.14.
By SAMUEL VVINNEY, ſometimes Miniſter of the Goſpel at Glaſton in Somerſetſhire.
London, Printed for Thomas Cockeril at the Atlas in Cornhil, near the Royal Exchange, 1675.
To the Worſhipful John Lane Eſquire, Citizen of London; together with his Vertuous Yoke fellow, Mris. Elizabeth Lane, S. W. wiſheth happineſs here and hereafter.
Honoured Sir, Madam;
GOD's making, and entring into Covenant with Man, I look upon as the moſt Condeſcending act of Grace, that ever was paſſed towards the Sons of Men. That the Almighty God ſhould form a Man out of the Clay, or Duſt, and then take him into Covenant with himſelf; It was ſo high a Dignity vouchſafed, and Conferred, that can hardly enter into our thoughts with ſufficient admiration: but that when the firſt Covenant was broken, God ſhould make a new Covenant, and not take the forſeiture of the firſt, to his utter undoing, how much more great is his kindneſs! It ſhews the matchleſs and unconceiveable love and reſpect that God had to the Sons of men. Methinks the hearts of men ſhould not (I bleſs God I hope I can ſay in the ſimplicity of my heart, that I cannot) but, not onelyonly with joy, but exultation humbly adore this his diſpenſation towards us. What, that we ſhould be in ſuch a Covenant? which is eſtabliſhed upon better Promiſes, laid on a better Foundation, yea the beſt Promiſes, and the beſt Foundation: not only with man, but with him upon the account of the Mediator, a Covenant that ſhall never be broken; For God will never break it on his part, and he hath undertaken that we ſhall never fin ally fall from it, yea that hee'l pardon all the falls that are out of infirmity from it, that do thereby violate it. Certainly theſe expreſſions of taking hold of God's Covenant, and joyning our ſelves to the Lord in Covenant, are to my Soul, ſuch things as are better than a thouſand Cordials, to any ſinking, fainting heart, and through grace do, and ſhall Experimentally find more ſolid Satisfactory Comfort in, than in all things in the World; That ſuch as we are, ſhould be ſo highly favoured, and befriended by the Great and Glorious God. Sir, the vindication of the lawfulneſs, and expediency of every Chriſtians particular Tranſacting with God in this way, is the ſum of all the middle part, which occaſioned the prefixing this foregoing, and the addition of the laſt part of this ſhort Treatiſe. To your ſelf and your good Lady do I dedicate this ſmall piece, as knowing that you have a through experience of the Truth which is contained in the following ſheets: And therefore not only upon the account of the honour, I ow you for the Multitude of kindneſſes, and tokens of faithful love which ſince I knew you, I and my whole family have received from your ſelf, your gracious Lady, yea your whole family; which I ſhall forbear here to mention further, as knowing, that you deſire not any one ſhould (as you your ſelf do not) blow a Trumpet before you; But for Religion's ſake, and that Covenant-relation, in which you and yours ſtand allyed to God. I know not how to teſtifie and render dues of thanks to you, in any other or better way than this; if you ſhall continue to favour me, in accepting this ſmall teſtimony of love, and reſpects to your ſelf, and family, as I know you do not only approve of, but alſo are perſwaded of, and have embraced the Truth, and Priviledges herein preſented to the World, I have attained the end in this Dedication. Sir, though they are devoid of the Embelliſhments of large and many Marginal quotations, and the Embroidery of curious and enticing words; yet here are the plain Truths of God which I do the rather preſent to you, knowing that true of you which is upon record of Jacob, as his high Commendation, by the Holy Ghoſt, who though he was a great man, yet he was a plain Man; which phraſe is no mean Commendation, if we Conſider the Lord himſelf giving it to Job. chap. 1.1. with Gen. 25.27.*foreign Which I cannot better expreſs than in the Paraphraſe of a Reverend Divine. It is of larger ſignification than that phraſe of ours [a plain man] for that in Common ſpeech noteth one that is ſimple, and dealeth ſquarely and evenly, without fraud, deceit, guile, or any tricks in his actions, ſo may one be and have no great goodneſs in him; but this word is uſed to denote an upright-hearted man, a truely and intirely Godly man, a perfect man that is good within as well as without, and good in all things, at all times, and in all places, one as well as another; one that carefully follows all the Commandments of God, not giving himſelf leave to ſwerve from any of Gods ways at any time. Mr. Wheatlys Prototype Examp. of Jacob. Cap. 26. P. 42. who was a non-ſuch in his Generation; he was a perfect and upright man, &c. yea to the accuſers face, Job 2.3. in the ſame words. Sir, deſiring God to reward all your labour of love to my ſelf, and all my brethren, which hath not been ſmall, for quantity or duration, even ever ſince I knew you, to my ſelf. In Teſtimony of my thankfulneſs to you, being well-aſſured of this, that your ſelf, and all yours will very well reliſh and accept, and do partake of the things herein treated of and humbly preſented to your view, not doubting, but they will be all your portion, I crave leave to Commend them to you, and your ſelf and yours to the protection of Almighty God, and ſhall Continue to be,
Your unfeigned thankful Friend, and Servant in the Goſpel. S. W.