Then & Now · 2 of 44
A Word to the Reader
A Word to the Reader
Deare Friend!
Dear friend!
SOLOMON bids us buy the28 Truth, but doth not tell us what it muſt coſt, becauſe we muſt get it, though it be never ſo deare; wee muſt love it both29 ſhining and ſcorching; every parcell of Truth is precious, as the filings of gold; wee muſt either live with it, or dye for it; As Ruth ſaid to Naomi, Whither thou goeſt, I will goe, and30 where thou lodgeſt, I will lodge, and nothing but death ſhall part thee and mee; So muſt gracious ſpirits ſay, where Truth goes, I will goe, and where Truth lodges, I will31 lodge, and nothing but death ſhall part me and Truth. A man may lawfully ſell his Houſe, Lands, and Jewells, but Truth is a Jewell that exceeds all price, and muſt not be ſould. ‘Tis our Heritage; Thy Teſtimonies have I taken32 as an Heritage for ever; ‘tis a Legacie that our fore-fathers have hought with their bloods, which ſhould make us willing to lay downe any thing, and to lay out any thing, that wee may with the wiſe Merchant in the Goſpel, purchaſe this precious Pearle,33 which is more worth then Heaven and Earth, and which will make a man live happily, die comfortably, and reign eternally.
Solomon bids us buy the22 Truth, but doth not tell us what it must cost, because we must get it, though it be never so dear; we must love it both23 shining and scorching; every parcel of Truth is precious, as the filings of gold; we must either live with it, or die for it; As Ruth said to Naomi, Whither thou goest, I will go, and24 where thou lodgest, I will lodge, and nothing but death shall part thee and me; So must gracious spirits say, where Truth goes, I will go, and where Truth lodges, I will25 lodge, and nothing but death shall part me and Truth. A man may lawfully sell his House, lands, and jewels, but Truth is a jewel that exceeds all price, and must not be sold. ’Tis our heritage; Thy Testimonies have I taken26 as an heritage for ever; ’tis a legacy that our fore-fathers have bought with their bloods, which should make us willing to lay down any thing, and to lay out any thing, that we may with the wise merchant in the gospel, purchase this precious pearl,27 which is more worth than heaven and earth, and which will make a man live happily, die comfortably, and reign eternally.
And now if thou pleaſeſt, reade the Worke, and receive this councell from mee.
And now if thou pleasest, read the work, and receive this counsel from me.
Firſt, Thou muſt know that every man cannot be excellent, that yet may be uſefull. An iron key may unlocke the doore of a golden treaſure, yea (ferrum poteſt quod aurum non poteſt) Iron can doe ſome things that gold cannot, &c.
First, Thou must know that every man cannot be excellent, that yet may be useful. An iron key may unlock the door of a golden treasure, yea (ferrum potest quod aurum non potest) iron can do some things that gold cannot, etc‸.
Secondly, Remember, ‘tis not haſty reading, but ſerious meditating upon34 holy, and heavenly truths, that makes them prove ſweet and profitable to the ſoule. ‘Tis not the Bees touching of the Flower that gathers Honey, but her abiding for a time upon the Flower, that drawes out the ſweet. ‘Tis not he that reads moſt, but he that meditates moſt, that will prove the choiceſt, ſweeteſt, wiſeſt, and ſtrongeſt Chriſtian, &c.
- 34. ‘Tis a Law among the Perſees in India, to uſe premeditation in what they are to doe, that if it be bad, to reject it, if good, to act it.
Secondly, Remember, ’tis not hasty reading, but serious meditating upon28 holy, and heavenly truths, that makes them prove sweet and profitable to the soul. ’Tis not the bee’s touching of the flower that gathers honey, but her abiding for a time upon the flower, that draws out the sweet. ’Tis not he that reads most, but he that meditates most, that will prove the choicest, sweetest, wisest, and strongest Christian, etc‸.
- 28. ’Tis a Law among the Parsees in India, to use premeditation in what they are to do, that if it be bad, to reject it, if good, to act it.
Thirdly, Know, that ‘tis not the knowing, nor the talking, nor the reading man, but the doing man, that at last will be found the happieſt man; If you know theſe things, bleſſed35 and happie are you, if you doe them. Not every one that ſaith Lord, Lord, ſhall enter into the36 Kingdome of Heaven, but he that doth the will of my Father that is in Heaven. Judas called Chriſt Lord, Lord, and yet betrayed him, and is gone to his place; ah! How many Judaſſes have we in theſe dayes, that kiſſe Chriſt, and yet betray Chriſt; That in their words profeſſe him, but in their workes deny him; that bow37 their knee to him, and yet in their hearts deſpiſe him; that call him Jeſus, and yet will not obey him for their Lord.
- 35. John 15. 14. Mat. 7. 21.
- 36. ‘Twas a good ſaying of Juſtin Martyr, Non in verbis ſed in factis res noſtrae religionis conſiſtunt.
- 37. The Heathen Philoſopher (Seneca) liked not ſuch that are (ſemper victuri) alwayes about to live better, but never begin. God loves (ſaith Luther) curriſtas, not quariſtas, the runner not the queſtioner Pacunius hath an elegant ſaying, I hate (ſaith he) the men that are idle in deed and philoſophicall in word, &c.
Thirdly, Know, that ’tis not the knowing, nor the talking, nor the reading man, but the doing man, that at last will be found the happiest man; If you know these things, blessed29 and happy are you, if you do them. Not every one that saith Lord, Lord, shall enter into the30 Kingdom of heaven, but he that doth the will of my Father that is in heaven. Judas called Christ Lord, Lord, and yet betrayed him, and is gone to his place; ah! how many Judasses have we in these days, that kiss Christ, and yet betray Christ; That in their words profess him, but in their works deny him; that bow31 their knee to him, and yet in their hearts despise him; that call him Jesus, and yet will not obey him for their Lord.
- 29. John 13:17. Matt 7:‸21.
- 30. ’Twas a good saying of Justin Martyr, Non in verbis sed in factis res nostrae religionis consistunt.
- 31. The Heathen Philosopher (Seneca) liked not such that are (semper victuri) always about to live better, but never begin. God loves (saith Luther) curristas, not quaeristas, the runner not the questioner‸. Pacuvius hath an elegant saying, I hate (saith he) the men that are idle in deed and philosophical in word, etc‸.
Reader, If it be not strong upon thy heart, to practiſe what thou readeſt, to what end doeſt thou read, to encreaſe thy owne condemnation? If thy light and knowledge be not turn’d into practiſe, the more knowing man thou art, the more miſerable man thou wilt be in the day of recompence; thy light and knowledge will more torment thee, then all the Devills in hell. Thy knowledge will be that rod that will eternally laſh thee, and that Scorpion that will for ever bite thee, and that worme that will everlaſtingly gnaw thee; therefore reade, and labour to know, that thou mayeſt doe, or elſe thou art undone for ever. When Demoſthenes was asked what was the firſt part of an Orator, what the ſecond, what the third; he anſwered, action; the ſame may I ſay, if any ſhould aske me, what is the firſt, the ſecond, the third part of a Chriſtian? I muſt anſwer, action; as that man that reades that he may know; and that labours to know, that he may doe, will have two Heavens; a Heaven of Joy, Peace, and Comfort on earth, and a Heaven of glory, and happineſſe after death.
Reader, If it be not strong upon thy heart, to practise what thou readest, to what end dost thou read, to increase thy own condemnation? If thy light and knowledge be not turned into practice, the more knowing man thou art, the more miserable man thou wilt be in the day of recompense; thy light and knowledge will more torment thee, than all the devils in hell. Thy knowledge will be that rod that will eternally lash thee, and that scorpion that will for ever bite thee, and that worm that will everlastingly gnaw thee; therefore read, and labour to know, that thou mayest do, or else thou art undone for ever. When Demosthenes was asked what was the first part of an orator, what the second, what the third; he answered, action; the same may I say, if any should ask me, what is the first, the second, the third part of a Christian? I must answer, action; as that man that reads that he may know; and that labours to know, that he may do, will have two heavens; a heaven of joy, peace, and comfort on earth, and a heaven of glory, and happiness after death.
Fourthly, and laſtly, if in thy reading thou wilt caſt a ſerious eye upon the Margent, thou wilt finde many ſweet and precious Notes, that will oftentimes give light to the things thou readeſt, and pay thee for thy paines, with much comfort, and profit; So deſiring that thou mayeſt finde as much ſweetneſſe, and advantage in reading this Treatiſe, as I have found (by the overſhadowings of Heaven) in the ſtudying and writing of it, I commend thee to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to38 build thee up, and to give thee an inheritance among them which are ſanctified. And reſt
- 38. Acts 20. 32.
Fourthly, and lastly, if in thy reading thou wilt cast a serious eye upon the margent, thou wilt find many sweet and precious notes, that will oftentimes give light to the things thou readest, and pay thee for thy pains, with much comfort, and profit; So desiring that thou mayest find as much sweetness, and advantage in reading this treatise, as I have found (by the overshadowings of heaven) in the studying and writing of it, I commend thee to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to32 build thee up, and to give thee an inheritance among them which are sanctified. And rest
- 32. Acts 20:‸32.
Thy ſoules Servant in every office of the Goſpel,
Thy soul’s servant in every office of the gospel,