A Taste of the Truth, Title page – Dedication 1
ΕΠΙΤΟΜΉ ὙΓΙΑΙΝΌΝΤΩΝ ΛΌΓΟΝ OR A TASTE OF THE TRVTH As it is in Jesus, Consisting of ten Questions and Answers, and a brief Exposition upon the same; Whereunto are added Ten Generall DIRECTIONS How private Christians, and Christian Governours of Families are to serve God in all the parts of Gods Worship; Intended chiefly for the benefit of my Countreymen, Kindred, and Acquaintance in Lancashire.
Composed by JOHN JACKSON. M.A.
Rom. 9. vers. 3.
For I could wish that my self were accursed from Christ for my brethren my kinsmen according to the flesh.
Psal. 34. vers. 8. O taste and see that the Lord is good.
1 Pet. 2. vers. 2, 3. As new born babes, desire the sincere milk of the word that you may grow thereby, if so be that ye have tasted that the Lord i… gracious.
Speciall notice is to be taken of the quotations of Scripture in the Margent, which contain more in them in my intention in the citing of them, then the whole Treatise besides: As also of the marginall notes, which are as the particular index of the whole book.
London, Printed by A.M. for Christopher Meredith at the Signe of the Crane in Pauls-Church-yard. 1…48.
Imprimatur,
Charles Herle.
TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFULL Sr RICHARD EVERARD Baronet, Justice of Peace and Quorum, and one of the Deputy Lieutenants for the County of Essex: AND TO THE WORSHIPFULL his Honoured and Hopefull Children; J.J. Wisheth the knowledge of the Truth as it is in Jesus.
Right Worshipfull,
THe evidence you have of your calling, (a)Multi sunt vocati, pauci verò electi. Quae propter stud…o vocationem & electionem tuam firmam efficere.compared with those words of the Apostle, Not many wise after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called; And the difference that Gods goodnes hath made betwixt you and those that are called, should often move you (me thinks) unto a holy admiration and expostulation to this or the like effect; What, not many persons of quality that are called, and I one of them! What, not many that are called, that have either house or home, or convenient food and raiment, and I a pleasant seat, possessions of lands and of great and small cattell, rich apparell, a full spread table, men and maid-servants, and the delights of the sons of men, as musicall instruments, and that of many sorts! What shall I say to these things? Shall not I remember, to whom much is given, of them much will be required? Who and what am I that the Lord should deal so graciously and so bountifully with me? (b)Gratia deies id quod …, ut fiat sicut scriptum est, qui gloriatur in domino gloriator.Am not I lesse then the least of Gods mercies? Wherefore hath God trusted me with these things, and not others? Is it not that I might therewith honour him, and doe good in my life? Am not I ingaged for ever to magnifie the Lord who hath freely given all I am and have unto me: To rejoice in God my Saviour, who hath fully merited the same for me, and to study and endeavour in the strength of Christ to be a good steward of the manifold grace and goodnesse of God?
The ensuing Treatise being commended for successe unto the Lord who inclined me unto it wholly and onelyonly (if I be not a stranger unto my own heart) for his glory and the good of souls, I humbly dedicate unto your and your childrens patronage, not onelyonly as a testification of my thankfulnesse unto you for your free love and favour vouchsafed unto me in your family for these four years past: But also as a Memoriall for you, wherein you may be both put in remembrance of such like principles of truth (and so be kept from errour, (c)Intus existens prohibet alienum.) as I have delivered unto you at severall Exercises in your Family, and minded of the holy duties requisite unto the practice of piety, that I have often advised you unto, and directed you in; I confesse the whole book is composed after such a manner, and in such a method and phrase (and purposely that it might be sutable for those for whom it is chiefly intended) as is farre below your worth; But will not you more minde the matter then the form of it? I perswade my self you will: And I beseech you to accept of it, (such as it is) and to manifest your acceptance of it, by your carefull perusall and conscionable practice of it, so far forth as it is agreeable to Gods word.
I would also request two things more of you, First, that you would often pray that you may so partake of temporall blessings, as that you may not lose eternall; For what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (d)Omnia si perdas animam servare memento.What a melancholy piece of businesse will it prove, to have this life comfortable and eternity miserable? What a sad sight was it for Dives to behold the poor begger Lazarus in the Kingdom of God, and himself thrust out? It is not usuall with the Lord to bestow two heavens upon his people, one in this life, another in the life to come; (e)Impossibile est ut caelo & terrae appareas gloriosus. Hier.Secondly, I make it my request unto you that you would often ask your selves what will become of you after this life, and in what eternity you conceive you would be found in if you were to die the very day you make this inquisition, whether amongst the blessed or among the cursed? There is a vast difference betwixt the two eternities that immediately follow after death; The beleevers eternity is one perpetuall day of joy that shall never see night; (f)Si Christum habes aeternitatem per Christum in te habes. Alst.The unbeleevers eternity is one everlasting night of torments without day; I would not for any thing in the world that these should be the last words of any of You; I have suandered out my life in change of pleasures and recreations, and in doing ill, nothing, and what I ought not to have done: I have lived unresolvedly, I die doubtfully, and now unto which of the two eternities art thou going into O my soul? and alas for evermore!(g)Anxius vixi, dubius morior, heu quo vado!
Now the great God of heaven who is greater then the greatest of your souls enemies, grant that neither the temptations of Satan, the pleasures of this life, nor any other thing may ever prevail against that faith that some of you have begun to professe, nor choke that fruit of the word you have begun to bear: But grant that you may go from faith to faith, and that you may so abide in Christ, as that you may bring forth much fruit to Gods glory, your comfort, and the good example of others; And the good Lord give you and your family seriously to minde the immortality of your souls, and sincerely to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul: And provide for your family while the earth remaineth a godly Governour and Governesse who may endeavour to know, and to make known the truth as it is in Jesus, who may serve God without fear in holines and righteousnesse all their daies withall their heart and with all their house! It is his hearts desire and request unto God, who is,
Your Servant, to be commanded in Jesus Christ, JOHN JACKSON.