The Militant Christian, Letter
THE EPISTLE To all the Militant Saints, and true Followers of Christ the Captain of our Salvation.
DEar hearts, you are the proper Patrons of this poor Piece: Now it is Marched forth into the wide World, it can expect Shelter and Sanctuary from none but you. Should it happen to fall into its Enemies Quarters, the Papists, &c. they will give it no Quarter, but will use it worse than an Enemy. It makes bold for to Travel abroad without any Certificate, but its own Word. Do not make it a Let-pass, and send it Home for want of a Better. Though the Treatise be like the Author, a Stranger and Pilgrim in his own Countrey; yet entreat it well, entertain it, though but for a Night. Let Brotherly love continue to unbolt the Door; and than be not forgetful to entertain Strangers, for thereby some have entertained Angels unawares. Let Truth be as welcom as any man on Earth, or as any, or all the Angels in Heaven. Its Errand is to save your Souls from the Fire of Hell, and that is better than to be preserved from the Flames of Sodom. The Treatise, like many a Soldier, rides out a Scouting, on a low Horse, and with mean Apparrel, but with good Armour and Weapons; for it wears the Armour of God; And like a Master-Fencer, teacheth the use of the Spiritual Weapons of our Warfare, which ate the best in the World. And encourageth, and directeth to the faithful performance of the most Critical, Difficult Cross-bearing, and Self-denying Service for Christ. If you ask me, why I sent it forth into the Field, and Mount it on the Stage, seeing so many valiant Worthes are there already, and entered the List? I must tell you, That the Field is free for every Soldier, and I look upon it as my duty, to do Service for my Captain at his Call, so well as another. And Christs Service will be never the worse done, because performed by many hands.Dr. Goudge. Mr. Gurnal, c. Divers Reverend Rich men have cast Millions into the Lords Treasury already, out of their abundance of Coin of the same Stamp, and yet there is room enough for my poor Mite to come after, and Rome doth call for it at this time. The best Preachers and Printers, are but Starrs of the first Magnitude, in the Right hand of the Son of Righteousness, and shine in a borrowed Light from Him. And why should not lesser Starrs in the lowest Orb, shine in their Spheres, to give light to this dark World, when enlightned with the same Sun? And why should not a despicable Glow-worm on the Earth, shine to shew the glory of his Creator, so well as great Saturn the highest Coelestial Planet? I am willing my Light should be put out, like the Starrs in the Morning, so as the Sun might take place, and shine all day: And willing to shine in my borrowed Light, though at never so dark a Mid-night of the Militant Church. So that Christ may Encrease, I am content to Decrease: Though some are for Monopolizing of the Service, and the Pay in this World, yet I shall endeavour to perform my Duty to God, as my Father; and to Christ, as my Captain; and through Grace, intends to put in for the Portion of a Child, for the Pay of a Soldier, and for the receiving of a Soul-converting Minister, to shine a little among the rest of the Starrs above the Christaline, in the Kingdom and Glory of Heaven.
Again, I know not how near my Glass is run, and how soon the shadows of the Evening will overtake me: And I have spent a great deal of time about a Little, little Work, I would now put on a Holy, and Coveteous, and Ambitious frame, to double diligence, and do much in a little time, for my great Master; To spread Truth a great way, many wayes, and to many men at one time.
This Book may Travel where the Author cannot, yea, where the Author knows not; It may have its Liberty, when he is in Bonds; it may speak when his mouth is stopt; it may dwell in England, when he is Banished; and remain as a Trophy of Truth, and Pillar to Posterity, when he is Dead; and, as another Abel, who being dead, yet speaketh: And as a Statue of Brass, holding his dead hand with a living voice, pointing to every Traveller the right Rode, saying, This is the good old way, walk in it. It was the saying of a Naturalist, Ars longam, Hippocr…tis.tempus breve, That Artis long, and time is short. The Christian may say so here. The Art of well-learning the Lesson of the Cross, is a long Art, and the time of Preaching or bearing of the Cross is but short. He desires now to be making his Tomb, whilst others are building of Tabernacles; and to Perfume his Name and his Grave with Truth, before he lies down in the Dust.
The Captain of our Salvation, although his Name was as Odoriferous Oyntment poured out, yet he had need of Precious Oyntments of Spikenard very costly, to anoint him whilst alive, to prepare him for his Death, and Myrrhe, Aloes, and much Spices, to Embalm him, and keep him sweet in the Grave.
And some of his followers have need of Salve for the same Sore, that they be not buried alive, nor stink when dead. Again, the great Apostasie of many Professors, yea, and great Preachers too.Rev. 12.3.4. The long tail of the Beast full of Apostate wandring Starrs, that are fallen from Heaven, and swept away already, and the shaking of many more. The Timerousness, the Temporising, the Cowardise, the Fearfulness and Falseness, the Morosity and Bitterness, the Mutining and Malice, &c. that is among the Saints. The little Preaching, Pressing, and Practising of the pure Worship of God. The voice of the Serpent Satan speaking in so many precious Peters, saying, Master spare thy self. The hearkning so much to Carnal Prudence, and so little to Precious Christ. The Danger that Christs Interest is in, and the little Valiantness for the Truth upon the Earth. The doubts and fears that many labour under about the right manner of Worshipping God, and the backwardness of many to lend their great Torches to light the little Candles. These, and the like, have wet my Pen with Ink, my eyes with Tears, and extorted these lines from me.
Fellow-Soldiers, and Christians, may it do you any Service, take it amongst you, such as it is. Silver and Gold I have none to give, but Truth is better, and such as I have, give I unto you. I have, through Grace, freely received, and I freely give. The Captain of your Salvation hath given you himself, his Body, his Blood, his Soul, his Spirit, his Raiment, his Armour, his Truth, his Light, his Life, his Love, his Peace, his Prayers, his Grace, his Glory, his All. So all that I have, and am, in him, from him, and through him, do I tender to you, to live, and to dye with you, and for you, in, and for the Truth. I shall not anticipate any part of the Treatise here, nor bring forth any of the Furniture of the House, to adorn the Porch. An Engineer will not make a great Sconce to a little Fort, nor many Flankers to a short Line; but will keep to Geometrical and Military Proportion. And now fellow-Soldiers, and Saints, having commended this Treatise to you, I commend you to the great Shepherd of the Sheep, and the Captain of our Salvation, before whom we shall all appear at the General Muster, and Randezvous at the great Pay-day, when Saints Militant and Triumphant, God, Angels and Men, shall all meet together at once. Let us so fight the good fight of Faith, and be Faithful in the Warfare of the Lamb, that we may see one another with comfort then; and to most of you I say, Farwel, Farwel, until that day.