Repentance Sounding Alarm, Title page – To the reader
Andrewes REPENTANCE, Sounding Alarum, To Returne from his ſins vntounto Almightie God.
Perfectly guiding all thoſe that hope to bee ſaued, in the direct way of Repentance, whereby they may attaine eternall life: newly made in the Autumne or declining of his age.
Serò ſed ſeriò.
Wherein is contained, not only what Repentance is, and the neceſſity thereof; but alſo (for the better ſatisfying of the doubtfull,) here is ſo plaine a reſolution, concerning the aſſurance of the penitent mans ſaluation, and that ſo directly penned, with proofes of holy Scripture, according vntounto the Word of God; that I hope there is not the leaſt doubt to be made of it by any man, (if there be neuer ſo little of Gods grace in him,) but vponupon his true repentance, he may be aſſured of his ſaluation, and certainly know whether hee ſhall bee ſaued or damned.
LONDON, Printed for Iohn Wright, and are to be ſold at his ſhop, at the ſigne of the Bible in Gilt-ſpur ſtreet, without Newgate. 1631.
Chriſtian Readers, I doe here dedicate and direct this my Booke vntounto all you that are the elect children of God, deſiring through Ieſus Chriſt, your health in the Lord.
GOod Chriſtian Readers, Treatiſes or Bookes of this kinde we hauehave too few; but of laſciuious too many: and whereas I hauehave formerly publiſhed vntounto the view of the world, many ſmall books, for the ſetting forth of Gods glorie, the diſcharge of my conſcience, and the benefit of you the children of God, in the which I deſired not the praiſe of men, ſeeing it is but vanity, neither did I looke for preferment, the world is ſo corrup…ed: for I here openly proteſt, I feare none but God, whoſe truth I teach, and hate nothing but ſinne, which is the deſtruction of the ſoule; neither doe I care for my life, ſo it were loſt in the defence of the Goſpell.
And now ſeeing that my former bookes are ſo vendible, and ſo well liking vntounto the children of God, that in ſhort time there hauehave beene diuers impreſſions printed, I hauehave therefore now ſet forth another booke, entituled Andrewes Repentance: which I made and compoſed for mine owne priuate vſe, intending to engroſſe it to my ſelfe.
And although it came forth laſt, which ſhould hauehave beene firſt, yet notwithſtanding, whereas it is ſerò, yet it is ſerio.
And being made in the autumne, or declining of mine age, yet I doubt not by the helpe of God, but it will continue the whole time of my life: hoping you will grace me with your fauourable ſuſpence, vntill my deeds proue my doctrine. And withall, I moſt entirely deſire you, and eueryevery one of you, (euen for my Sauiour Ieſus Chriſt his ſake) that ſhall gather any ſpirituall comfort to cure your ſoules out of theſe my labours, to pray vntounto our Lord Ieſus Chriſt for me, to giuegive me his grace to returne vntounto him by ſpeedy repentance, and therein to guide me with his Word, and direct me by his holy Spirit, that what I either preach or write, I may both in life and doctrine expreſſe, and performe the ſame vntounto my liues end, that whileſt I endeuour to raiſe others, I may raiſe my ſelfe, from all my ſinnes, vntounto the glorie of Gods holy name and the ſaluation of my owne ſoule. And ſo doe for mee an earneſt repentant ſinner, euen as you your ſelues, towards your ſelues, expect from Ieſus Chriſt. Valete in Chriſto.
Yours towards you, as I would you ſhould be for me, Iohn Andrewes Preacher of Gods Word.