The Spouses Hidden Glory, Title page – Dedication 1
THE SPOUSES Hidden Glory, AND Faithfull Leaning upon her Welbeloved. Wherein is laid down the Soules Glory in Chriſt, and the way by which the Soule comes to Chriſt. Delivered in two Lecture SERMONS in St Andrewes Church in Norwich. By IOHN COLLINGS Maſter of Arts, and Preacher of Gods word in Saviours pariſh in Norwich.
1 Iohn 3.1. The world knowes us not.
Iſaiah 43.1. Feare not, I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name, thou art mine.
2 When thou paſſeſt through the waters, I will be with thee, and through the rivers, they ſhall not overflow thee: when thou walkeſt through the fire, thou ſhalt not be burnt, neither ſhall the flame kindle upon thee.
LONDON, Printed for William Franckling, and are to bee ſold at his Shop near the ſigne of the George in Norwich. 1646.
TO The Right worſhipfull and truly honoured Patriot of his Countrey, Sir IOHN HOBART Knight and Baronet, one of the Members of the Honourable Houſe of COMMONS.
Honoured Sir,
GOodneſſe is the Honour of Greatneſſe, and Grace is the Beauty of Goodneſſe: Greatneſſe without Goodneſſe, is like a groſſy body with a ſluggards ſpirit, too heavy to beare its owne burthen: and Goodneſſe without ſome Authoritative Greatneſſe, is like a ſoule in ſeparation, happy in it ſelfe, but it wants an organ to move in terreſtrials. But he to whom God hath given gracious Greatneſſe, is one that hath ten Talents, one upon whom opportunities wait to do his God Honour. And it is the greateſt happineſſe can betide a creature, to have an opportunity to throw his two mites, his little all into the Treaſury of the Lords Glory. Our actuated habit of Love to Gods Church and Spouſe, is the greateſt way of honouring our God. The Bridegroom honours thoſe that he makes his Brides Vſhers: And it is the moſt endearing ſervice wee can doe our Maſter, to have a care of his Lambs. Simon Peter loveſt thou me? feed my Lambs: his Lambs in the Fold, which are his Church. Sir, God hath called you to this Honour; though not to feed, yet to provide their Shepheards a Crook. Alas! what ſhall wee doe? our Saviours Lambs ſtray and wander in dangerous paſtures, and wee have no Crook to reduce them: we can only feed them when they pleaſe to eat: we have no hedge of Government to keep them in their paſtures, nor Crook to reduce the wanderers: here is our miſery! God hath made us watchmen; wee may give good counſell to the unlawfull ſtraglers, but wee want our watch-bill to ſtay them if they will goe. Bleſſed be the God of heaven, that hath not only made you Honourable in the ſight of men, but more in his owne ſight, becauſe zealous for his Bride. Chriſts Spouſe in this Kingdome is in the wilderneſſe; and woe unto us that we can imagine the heart of any ſo hard as to contribute a vote to keep her there, much more to hedge up her way with thornes, that ſhe cannot get out. At whoſe hands will the blood of thoſe the wolves deſtroy be required? Bleſſed be the God of heaven, that hath given you an heart to waſh not only your hands but tongue alſo of the blood of thoſe that periſh in this Kingdome for want of Government. I have here preſented your Worſhip with a member of Chriſts Church; endeavouring to limn out the Spouſe in her Hidden Glory: if ſhe wants expected beauty, tis the Limners fault: ſhe is truly Glorious in her ſelfe, and her Bridegrooms eyes; but her glory is hidden to the world. Is it not pity ſo glorious a creature as this Spouſe is in the perfection of her members, ſhould want Order in her Houſe? and bee proſtituted to every one that hath wickedneſſe enough to defloure her? May the number of thoſe encreaſe thar are the friends of Sion, and the generation of thoſe periſh, that make it their deſigne to lay yet more waſte the City of God, already neare to bury her ſelfe in her owne ruines. It is alas! too true, Sir, and unhappy too, that God hath put weakneſſe into your hands, though your heart longs to bee at Temple-work. Your ſelfe are in a wilderneſſe of Affliction, whiles you ſhould and would gladly bee lending your hand and votes to help the Spouſe in England out: Gods will muſt bee done, though wee bee patients. The Lord proſper the Nehemiahs that are at the work, and leſſen the number of the Sanballats that hinder it; and in Elijahs abſence double his ſpirit upon his Eliſhaes: and the Lord grant that in your wilderneſſe of Affliction, you may lean upon you Beloved, and the Bridegroom grant ſuch an happineſſe to his Spouſe, as to ſpare her friends life, that you may come out of your wilderneſſe of Afflictions, leaning upon your Beloved, and do your God more ſervice by living to his glory, and contributing your dying Votes to the happineſſe of his Bride: which is Sir, the daily prayer of
Your Worſhips devoted ſervant, IOHN COLLINGS.