Great and Precious Promises, Title page – To the reader
GREAT AND PRECIOUS PROMISES; OR, Some Sermons concerning the Promiſes, and the right application thereof: Whereunto are added ſome other concerning the uſefulneſs of Faith in advancing Sanctification.
As alſo, three more concerning the Faith of Aſſurance.
By Mr. ANDREW GRAY, late Miniſter of the Goſpel in Glaſgow.
All being reviſed ſince his death by ſome friends.
The third Impreſſion carefully corrected and amended.
2 Cor. 7.1. Having therefore theſe promiſes (dearly beloved) let us cleanſe our ſelves from all filthineſſe of the fleſh and ſpirit, perfecting holineſſe in the fear of God.
Edinburgh, Printed by a … Stationers, Anno Dom. …
To the Reader.
Chriſtian Reader,
ALthough (upon ſome conſiderations) theſe following Sermons have been keeped back till now, and have waited the vacan…y of the Preſſe from other things: yet was it at firſt intended the connexion of the purpoſes ſo requiring) …at they ſhould have come forth aſsoon as ſome …her of this precious Author, which we did …merly publiſh: And therefore, in the Pre…ce which we then prefixed, we did relate to …th, and gave the Reader ſuch advertiſe…nts as we conceived neceſſary, concerning …e one as well as the other: So that we have …hing to do at preſent, but to put this little …ece into thy hands, commending it to thy ſe…us thoughts, and the Lords bleſſing upon …n. Neither ſhall we uſe many words … purpoſe; Only, we find ſome help … …o thee, in three moſt weighty and … …ts of Chriſtian Religion. 1. … lively exerciſe of faith, thou may apply t… great and precious Promiſes. 2. How by fai… thou may advance the work of Sanctification And, 3. How thy faith may grow up unto aſſ… rance: Of all which we may truely ſay, that … thing can more ſeaſonably take up the thought nor bring more advantage to the ſouls of t… Lords people in theſe times.
O how neceſ…ary is it in ſuch troublſome day… to learn, how through Faith and Patience, w… may inherit the P…omiſes: and now wh… our ſtrong corruption hath (in a manner nece… tate the wiſe Phyſician to mix unto us ſo bit… a cup, and give ſo ſtrong a potion, in what fainting and ſwouning condition muſt we be, by the two immutable things, in which i… impoſſible for God to lie, we receive not a… the ſtrong conſolation.
Again, when profanity and ungodlin… hath ſo abounded in theſe Nations, t… from the top of the head, to the ſole of … foot, there is no ſoundneſſe, but wound and bruiſes, and putrifying ſores: A… when the corruptions of the Time like the ſ… of Zerviah, are grown too ſtrong, even the Davids who are amongſt us; What ſho… we ſtudy with more earneſtneſse, then to … … rifie our hearts by faith, and by hav… theſe promiſes, to cleanſe our ſelves … all filthineſſe of the fleſh and ſpirit, … fecting holineſſe in the fear of the Lo… 3. When the Lord hath remo…ed us ſo far f… peace, that the ſouls of many have even fo… proſperity, and the multiplied changes revolutions in our dayes, hath ſo clearly demonſtrate the inſtability of all ſublunary glory, and ſo convincingly taught us, that this is not our reſt; Ʋndoubtedly, it is time to look for … city that hath foundations, and to give all diligence to make our calling and election …ure. The ſubject then is uſefull.
As to the manner of handling it: It is true, much accuracy and neatneſse, is not to be expected in any work of this nature, being only the haſty gleanings of a Church Writer; And as to livelineſſe and power, though it be as eaſie to draw a picture with the heat and motion of a living man, as to Write or Print, …heſe lively motions of the Spirit which do often accompany the Lords Meſſengers in Preaching, and in an eminent meaſure were alſo let out upon this bleſsed Author, yet we ſuppoſe thou will find, the matter moſt ſeriouſly and feellingly spoken unto, as from a heart which believed, and therefore ſpake: Yea, both conceptions and expreſſions ſavouring much of an exerciſed ſpirit, not only much taken up in communion with God within it ſelf, but even thirſting alſo, and panting for the ſalvation of others; nay (in ſome meaſure) travelling in birth, till Chriſt might be formed in them. Oh, that more of this holy zeal and fervency, might accompany this great meaſure of light and knowledge in the myſteries of the Gospe… that the Lord hath graciouſly beſtowed both … Paſtors and People in this generation, th… once again we might ſee, (as in the dayes of John Biptiſt) the Kingdome of Heave… ſuffering violence, and the violent taking by force. And that the bleſſed Spirit by ſame gracious operations, may ſo warm … inlarge thy ſoul in the uſe of this and all ot… means for thy eternal Salvation, is, and ſh… he the ſincere deſires of
Thy ſervants fo… Chriſts ſake,
Robert Traill.
John Stirling.