A Saint indeed
I A
SAINT INDEED.
OR, The great Work of a CHRISTIAN, openedandpressed, From Proverbs iv. 23.
THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY.
Tomydearlybelovedandlongedfor,the FlockofJesusChrift inDartmouth, over whom the Holy Ghost hath made me an Overseer: Sound Judgment, true Zeal, and unftained
Purity, are heartily wished.
MydearFriends, HERE are th T threefad fights with which our eyes should continually affect our hearts : The ( 1.) Is to behold in everyplace, so manyprofaneand dissolute ones, who hear the very image of Satan; the face of whose conversation plainly discovers what they are, and whither they are going, Philip. iii. 18, 19.
These look like themselves, the children of wrath.
The(2.) Is to fee so many cursed hypocrites artificially disguising themselves, and with marvellous dexterity acting the partsoffaints, so that even a judicious eye may sometimes mistake the similar workings of the Spirit on them, for hisfaving workings on others : To hear such a person conferring, pray ing,be wailing his corruptions, and talking of his experiences ; wouldeasilyperfuade a man to believe that he hath the heart, as well as the face, ofa sincere Christian : For,
Sic oculos,sic ille man us, fit ora ferebat.
So the people of God do speak, so they pray, and even fo they open their conditions : These look like faints, but are none. The (3.) Is to see so many real saints, in whom the Spiritoftruth is,who yet,through the impetuous workings of theircorruptions, and neglecting of the watch over their hearts,
VOL. VII.
The Epistle Dedicatory.
( dooftenfall intofuch scandalous practices, that they look like hypocrites, though they are not fo.
These are three fad fights indeed,an dO that my head were waters, and mine eyes fountains of tears, that I might weep abundantly over them all !
For the first, I would mourn heartily, confideringthat they (so continuing) must be damned eternally, 2 Theff. i. 8, 9.
1 Cor. vi . 9.
For the second, I would both weep and tremble, considering that they (fo abiding) must be damned doubly, Matth . xxiv. 51 .
And for the third, no less than any of the rest, because, though they themselves may, and shall be saved, yet their examples make fast the bonds of death upon both the former,
Matth . xviii. 7. 2 Sam. xii. 13, 14.
Alas! that ever they should shed the blood of others fouls, for whom Christ shed his own blood ! That ever they should be cruel to others, who have found Christ so kind to them ! I know they dare not do it directly and intentionally, but so it proves occasionally and eventually.
Suffer me here to digress a little, and expoftulate with these prejudiced and hardened fouls, I will presently return to you again. O why do you mischieve your own souls by other mens examples ? Because they stumble and break their shins, will you fall and break your necks ? I desire all such as harden themselves by these things,and take up a good opinion oftheirowndeplorable condition, would foberly confider, andanswerthesethree queries.
Query 1. Doth religion any way countenance or patronize the sinful practices of its profesiors ? Or doth it not rather impartially and severely condemn them ? It is the glory of the
Christian religion, that it is pure and undefiled, Jam. i. 27.
No doctrine so holy, Psalm xix. 8.
Nor doth any make more provision for an holy life, Tit. ii. 11, 12. Indeed there isa case wherein we may charge the evil practices of men upon their principles, but that is when their practices naturally flow from, and necessarily follow their principles : As for example, if I fee a Papist sin boldly, I may charge it upon his principles, for they set pardons to sale, and so make way for looseness.
If I fee an Arminian flight the grace of God, and proudly advance himself, Imaycry shame upon his principles, which directly lead to it : But can Ido so where such practices
Lare condemned, and provided against by their own avowed principles who commit them ?
Query 2. Is it not a most irrationalthing to let fly at religion
The Epistle Dedicatory... because of the scandalous ways of some, whilst, in the mean, time, you wholly flight and over-look the holy and heavenly conversation of many others ? Are all that profess godliness loose and careless in their lives ? No, some are an ornament to their profession, and the glory of Christ: And why must the innocentbecondemnedwiththe guilty ? Why the eleven, for one Judas ?
Query 3. If you condemn religion because of the scandalous lives of some that profess it, must you not then cast off all religion in the world, and turndown-right atheists ? Surely this is the consequent of it : For what religion is there,but some that profess it walk contrary to their profession ? And then, as Constantine told the Novation,you must set up a ladder, and go to heaven by yourself.
But, alas ! it is not our printed apologies for religion, but the visible reformations of its professors, that must both salve its honour, and remove those fatal stumbling-blocks at which the, blind world strikes, and falls into eternal perdition .
Now there are two ways by which this may be effected :
First,By convincing the consciences of professors of their miscarriages, and the evil aggravations of them.
Secondly, By medicating the heart, and cleanfingthe fountain whence they
proceed.
In the first of these, a worthy and emiSeeGospelglass. nent servant of Christ hath lately laboured,holding acleargospel-glass before the faces of professors, which truly represents their spots and blemishes : if he that reads it will confider, apply, and practise, it shall doubtless turn to his salvation ; but, if it turn to no good account, to him that reads it, I know it shall turn to a testimony for him that wrote it.
The second is a principal design of this small treatise, the subject whereof is exceeding weighty, and of daily use to the people of God,thought he manner of handling it be attended with many defects and weaknesses : every one cannot be excellent,who yet may be useful.
I will exerciseyourpatience nolongerthan whilst I tell you, :
1. Why I publish it to the view of the world.
2. Why I direct it particularly to you.
First, For the publication of it, take this sincere and brief account, That as I was led to this subject by a special providence, so to the publication of it by a kind of necessity: the providence at first leading me to it, was this, A dear and choice friend of my intimate acquaintance being under much inward trouble, upon the accountofsomespecial heart-disorder,
A2 i
The Epistle Dedicatory. opened the case tome, and earnestlyrequestedsome rules and helps in that particular ; whilst I was bending my thoughts to that special case, divers other cases of like importance(some of whichweredependant uponthatconfideration) occurred to my thoughts, and this scripture, which I have insisted upon,presented itself, as a fit foundation for the whole discourse; which being lengthenedout towhatyousee,divers friends requested me to transcribe for their use, divers of the cases here handled, and fomeothers begged me to publish the whole, to which I was inamannerneceffitated, to save the pains of transcribing, which tome is averytedious,and tiresome work: and just as I had almost finished the copy, an opportunity presented (and that somewhat strangely) to make it public. So that from first to last, I have been carriedbeyondmy first intentions in this thing.
Objection. If any say, The world is even cloyedwith books, and therefore though the discourse be necessary, yet the publication is needless .
Solution 1. I answer, There are multitudes of books indeed, and of them many concern not themselves about root truths, and practical godliness, but spend their strength upon impractical notions, and frivolous controverfies ; many also strike at root-truths, and endeavour to undermine the power of godliness ; and some there are that nourish the root, and tend to clear and confirm, to prepare and apply the great truths of the gospel, thattheymaybebreadforfouls to liveandfeed on :
Now, though I could wish that those who have handledthepen of the scribe, had better employed their time and pains, than toobtrude such useless discoursesuponthe world ; yet for books of the latter rank, I say, that whenhusbandmencomplain of too much corn, letChristianscomplainoftoo manysuchbooks.
2.And if you be sohighlyconceitedofyour own furniture and ability, that such books are needless to you ; if you let them alone, they will do you no hurt, and other poor hungry fouls willbegladofthem,and bless God for what you despise and leave.
Objection. Ifitbesaidthat several of the cases here handled touch not your condition, I answer, Solution 1. That which is not your condition maybe ano ther's condition. If you be placed in an easy, full and prosperous state, and so have no need of the helps here offered to support your hearts under pinching wants, others are forced to live by faith for every day's provision : If you bedandleduponthe knee of providence, some of your brethren are under.
The Epistle Dedicatory. its feet: If you have inward peace and tranquillity of spirit, andfoneednotthe counsels here given, to ward offthosede sperate conclusions that poor afflicted souls are ready to draw upon themselves at such a time ; yet it may be a word in season to them, and they may say as David to Abigail, " Blessed
" be thou of the Lord, and blessed be thy advice."
2. That may be your condition shortly, which is not your conditionatpresent say not,thy mountain stands strong, thou shalt never be moved: there are changes in the right-hand of the Most High ; and then those truths which are little more esteemed than hedge-fruits, will be as apples of gold in picturesoffilver. InJer. xxxiii. 10, 11. the prophetthereteaches the Jews(whothendwelt in their own houses) how to defend their religion in Babylon, and what they should say to the Chaldeans there, and therefore that verse is writteninChaldee.
So much for the reasonsofits publication.
Next, for thededicationofit to you, I was induced thereto by the consideration, > 1. OftherelationI have to you above all the people in the world: I look upon my gifts as yours, my time as yours, and all the talents I am intrusted with, as yours : it is not with you as with awomanwhose husband is dead, and so is freed from the law of her husband, the relation still continues, and fodo all the mutual duties of it.
2.By the consideration of my neceffitated absence from you, I would not that personal absence should by in sensible degrees untwift (as usually it doth) the cord of friendship; and therefore I have endeavoured (as absent friends use to do) to preserve and strengthen it by this small remembrance, It was Vefpafian's answer toApollonius,whenhedefired access for two philosophers, My doors (said Vefpafian) are always open to philosophers, but my very breast is open to thee.'
I cannot faywithhim, my doors are open for the free access of friends, beingbyafadprovidence shut against myself; but this I can fay, myverybreast is stillopento you ; you are as dear to me as ever.
3. Another inducement (and indeedthemain) was the perpetual usefulness and neceffityofthesetruths for you, which you will have continual need of: And I know few of you have fuchhappymemories to retain, and I cannot be always with you toinculcatethese things, but literafcripta manet.
I was willing to leave this with you as a legacy, as a teftimonyof sincere love for, and care over you : this may counsel anddijectyouwhen I cannot: I may be rendered useless to you by
The Epistle Dedicatory. a civil or natural death; but this will out-live me, and oh that itmayferveyourfoulswhen I am silent in the dust.
Tohaftennow to a conclusion, I have only these three requests to you, which I earnestly beseech you not to deny me; yea, I charge you, as ever you hope to appear with comfort before the great Shepherd,do not dare to flight these requests.
1. Above all other studies in the world, study your own hearts : waste not a minute more of your precious time about frivolous andfaplefs controverfies. ItItisis reported even ofBellarmine (how truly I examine not) * Quod aftudiisscholasticae theologiae avertereturfere nauseabundus, quoniamfucco carebant liquidae pietatis, (i. e.) he turned with loathing from the study of school-divinity, because it wanted the sweet juice ofpiety; I had rather it shouldbefaid of you, as one said of‡
Swinkfeldius, (" He wanted a regular head, but not an honest " heart") than that youshouldhave regular heads, and irregular hearts. Mydearflock,I have according to the grace given me, laboured in the course of my ministry among you, to feed you with the heart-strengthening bread of practical doctrine ; and Ido assure you, it is far better you should have the sweet and saving impressions of gospel-truths feelingly and powerfullyconveyedto your hearts, than only to understand them by a bare ratiocination, or dry fyllogiftical inference.
Leave trifling studies to such as have time lying on their hands, and know not how to employ it : remember you are at the door of eternity, and have other work to do; those hours you spend upon heart-work in your closets, are the golden spots of all your time, and will have the sweetest influence up to your last hour.
Never forget these sermons I preached to you upon that subject,
from 2 Kings xx. 2, 3.
Heart-work is weighty, and difficult work ; an error there, may cost you your souls : I may say of it, as Augustine speaks of the doctrine of the Trinity, Nihilo facilius aut periculofius erratur ; Am an can err in nothing moreeasilyor more dangerously. Othen studyyourhearts.
2. My next request is, That you will carefully look to your conversations, and be accurate in all your ways, hold forth the word of life : be sure by the strictness and holiness of your lives, to settle yourselves in the very consciences of your ene. mies.
Remember that your lives must be produced in the great day, to judge the world, 1 Cor. vi. 2. O then,whatmannerofperfons ought you to be! youhavemanyeyes over you ;
1* Fuligattus in vitaBellarm.
† Caput regulatum ill i defuit, cor bonum non defuit.
The Epistle Dedicatory.
the omniscient eye of God, that searches heart and reins, Rev. ii. 23. the vigilant eye of Sat an, Job i. 7, 8. the envious eyes of enemies, that curiously observe you, Psal. v. 8. the quick and observant eye of conscience, which none of your actions escape, Rom. ix. 1.
Othen be precise, and accurate, in all manner of conversation; keep up the power ofgodliness in your closets and families, and then you will not let it fall in your more public employments and converses in the world : I have often told you, that it is the honour of the gospel, that it makes the best parents and children, the best masters and servants, the best husbands and wives in the world.
My third and last request is, that you pray for me : I hope Icanfay, and I am sure some of you have acknowledged, that I came at first among you, as the return and answer of your prayers: and indeed so it should be, fee Luke x. 2. I am perfuadedalso, I have been carried on in my work by your prayers; it is sweet when it is so ; seeEph. vi. 18, 19. And I hope by your prayers to receive yet a farther benefit, even that which is mentioned, Heb. xiii. 18, 19. Philem. ver. 22. And truly it is but equal you shouldprayfor me, I have oftenprayedfor you: letthepulpit, family, and closet witness for me; and God forbid I should fin against the Lord inceasingtopray for you.
Yea, friends, your own interest may persuade to it : what mercies you obtain for me, redound to your own advantage; if God preserve me, it is for your use and. service : the more gifts and graces a minister hath, the better for them that shall wait on his ministry ; the more God gives in tome, the more
I shall be able to give out to you. Iwilldetainyouno longer, but to entreat you to accept this small teftification of my great love, and have recourse to it, according as the exigencies of your condition shall require : read it confideringly, and obediently; judge it not by the dress and style, but by the weight andfavourof what you read.
It is a good rule of Bernard, In legend is libris, nonquaeramus fcientiamfedfaporem,
(i. e.) In reading books, regard not fo much the science, as the favour.
That it may prove the favour of life unto life to you, and all those into whose hands it shall come, is the heartydefireof
Your loving, and faithful pastor From my studyatLey in Slap ton, 08. 7. 1667.
JOHNFLAVEL.