A Little Stone out of the Mountain, To the reader
To the Reader.
TIs remarkable, good Reader, how much GOD looks after the purity of his Worship, which most men think is but some mens stiffnesse, minding singularity, and punctilo's, more then the main. Tis ill to go to build without a foundation, and tis but ruinous to rest in a bottom without a top; a man shall dwell but coldly, in a house without a roof. If Gods house want but its glory, it may want its defence, as much as if it wanted its being, as to felicity in this world. When Samuel did something about cleansing GODS worship, GOD did something against the Philistims: What he would have done he could not, because of the perversenesse of the people. In Davids time a full Reformation was made and then GOD fully brought down all their Enemies,See the last English Annot in 1 Sam. 7.3 They did reform but in part, and so were delivered but in part by Samuel and Saul. Philistims, and all else round about. Upon this subject, thou wilt finde this little piece spend it self.
I have, Reader, endeavoured to be thy spye, in reference to that good Land of Ordinance, which flowes with milk and hony: As to depth of discerning and judging in the Mysteries of Gospel-Worship, I confesse my self very weak, and can onelyonly say as Caleb when he came back, from espying the Land, that I have brought thee word as it was in my heart, Indeed I have, indeed I have beloved Reader: As I have learned and believed, I have spoken; It may be with more plain-dealing, then some other of my Brethren who have wrote of this Subject, but take that ingenuously as the complection of my Spirit, as one deeply pressed with the weight of these things, and the dangerous aversenesse of this poor people, among whom I have more been and more seen, then some others of my Brethren have done. I write, Reader, against things, not persons: All the LORDS People in Scotland are very dear unto me, with one little one of whom I cannot compare my self, because truly their little Ones are as David in some things, for affection and sobriety, though in other things, yet dark. In Persons of higher growth, I have observed eminent and excellent parts and graces, such as in the sweetness… of which, I have found in my heart to live and die.
All that I have heavy upon my heart, respecting both the one and the other, is, that as to Church order, they are in an ill vessell, which cannot possible live, in such stormes as now beat upon it, from Heaven, and from the Saints, and therefore I could wish that all the godly were out on't. The love of this hath constrained me to labour and travell, even beyond my strength, that great thoughts of heart, against what the great GOD is now adoing, may fall, and GOD▪ People no more fal with that whic… is to fall, and is to be destroyed They had their Masculine, an… Feminine gods, Baal, and Ashteroth. I hope Baal is become Ashteroth, that that masculine spirit which was for Presbyterie, growes Feminine; that some good people, more of love then of light, and others more of fear then of love, yet ly among the pots. Reader, think it thy duty to abate in affection, to things from which GOD is gone, and to abate in fury to them, who are going to Sion with their faces thitherward, who are seeking him whom their souls love: Let no Watch-man beat these, for GOD hath gloriously ingaged to rebuke this spirit.
Caleb takes much notice that he was kept alive, when so many of his brethren were slain, And now behold, the Lord hath kept me alive, as he said these fourty five years, whilst the children of Israel wandred in the wildernesse, Josh. 14.7. Surely, Reader, 'tis not for nought, that the Lord hath kept thee and I alive, in all this time wherein our brethren have been slain on every hand of us; much lesse for worse then nought, are we left; to live up that, for which they are dead. What is here offered to thee with the right hand, Reader, do not thou take with the left. Anon I leave this Nation, and this world: these are my last words, to a People which I love as mine own soul; if in love they may be received, GOD wil appear again in Shiloh.
Thine in the hard travels, of these latter times, NICHOLAS LOCKYER. From my quarters in Edinburgh, April …0. 1652.