A25478:6
A supplement to The Morning-exercise at Cripple-Gate, or, Several more cases of conscience practically…
A supplement to The Morning-exercise at Cripple-Gate, or, Several more cases of conscience practically resolved by sundry ministers
London: printed for Thomas Cockerill, 1676
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
To that part of Christ's Flock to which I am more specially related, Grace, Mercy and Peace from God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Beloved Christians,
AS I called in a Contribution of Help for the composing of a Legacy for others, before my Civil Death; so I now tender you A Supplement to that Exercise, for your better liveliness of Spiritual Life. I shall say nothing to commend these Sermons to you; my Brethren are all herein unanimous, to seek the Church's Profit, not their own Applause; only this I must say, to prevent mistake, viz. If any curious Reader shall find matter of Exception (besides the Errors of Printing, which I confess are too many) the blame must be Personal, because this joint-work is no otherwise Social, than as single Pearls strung together make one Neck-lace. I easily grant here's not yet a stating of all important Cases, yet be this known to you, whoever shall follow these Directions, shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the work of the Lord, nor miss of an abundant entrance into his Everlasting Kingdom. Live up to what you have attained, and you may be confident that what is further wanting, God will, as you want it, supply it. Be assured of this, that you will get more skill and strength for all necessary Graces and Duties by an humble, serious, constant Course of Godliness, than you possibly can do by captious Criticisms, and wrangling Contentions about lesser things, in which too many spend their Lives. I herein appeal to your Consciences, should not these Sermons answer expectation, but according to your judgment, either the Cases are ill chose, or not well stated; in that the Matter is either defective or redundant, the Language too curious or too careless, the Directions too common or too singular: I appeal from your Passions to your Consciences, and down-right charge you in the Name of my Master, who must be your Judg, that you read with other Spectacles. These are not calculated to humour you, but to better you. These are not Duties to be cavilled at, but to be practised. O that you may be effectually persuaded, 1. That your Love to God Sermon 1 must be predominant, and growing, or you degrade your selves below the Beasts. 2. That your Love to Man must be universal, and spiritual, Sermon 2