A third reason why I dedicate this Treatise to all §3sorts and ranks of persons, is, because God intends to save some of all sorts, ranks and degrees; though greatness and goodness do not always meet, yet greatness and goodness do sometimes meet; and though riches and religion do not always meet, yet riches and religion do sometimes meet; though not many wise, yet some wise;1 though not many mighty, yet some mighty; though not many noble, yet some noble, shall be called, sanctified and saved. Look as the Sun in the Firmament doth cast his light and warmth upon all sorts, ranks and degrees of men:2 So doth the Sun of righteousness shine upon the understandings and consciences of all sorts, ranks and degrees of men, and by his secret and spiritual influences, he warms and cheers the hearts of high and low, rich and poor, noble and ignoble. Abraham was very great and very gracious: ⟨image 5⟩Joseph was very high, and very holy: Job was very rich, and very righteous.3 Though most of those Kings and Princes that we read of in Scripture were bad, very bad, yet some of them were good, yea very good. Some of them were as famous for grace, righteousness, and holiness, witness David, Asa, Josiah, Hezekiah, Jehoshaphat, &c. as Saul, Jehoram, Jehu, Ahab, and others of them were infamous for all unrighteousness and wickedness. God for the glory of his own grace, and the honour of his Sons blood, will have some of all sorts, ranks and degrees sanctified and saved: and upon this very ground he engages his servants to pray for all sorts, ranks and degrees of men, in 1 Tim. 2.1, 2, 3, 4. Now where God is resolved to save, there he is resolved to sanctify: where he is resolved to make happy, there he is resolved to make holy. And therefore I look upon my self as many ways obliged to have so large a heart for God, as to do all I can to help on the salvation of all sorts, ranks, and degrees of men in the world. My hearts desire and prayer for England is,4 that her Princes and Nobles may be sanctified and saved, and that her Gentry may be sanctified and saved, and that all the people of the Nation may be sanctified and saved. I look upon my self as engaged to do all I can by my pen and prayers to help make England holy, that so England may be truly happy:
A third reason why I dedicate this Treatise to all §3sorts and ranks of persons, is, because God intends to save some of all sorts, ranks and degrees; though greatness and goodness do not alwayes meet, yet greatness and goodness do sometimes meet; and though riches and religion do not alwayes meet, yet riches and religion do sometimes meet; though not many wise, yet some wise;1 though not many mighty, yet some mighty; though not many noble, yet some noble, shall be called, sanctified and saved. Look as the Sun in the Firmament doth cast his light and warmth upon all sorts, ranks and degrees of men:2 So doth the Sun of righteousness shine upon the understandings and consciences of all sorts, ranks and degrees of men, and by his secret and spiritual influences, he warms and cheers the hearts of high and low, rich and poor, noble and ignoble. Abraham was very great and very gracious: ⟨image 5⟩Joseph was very high, and very holy: Job was very rich, and very righteous.3 Though most of those Kings and Princes that we read of in Scripture were bad, very bad, yet some of them were good, yea very good. Some of them were as famous for grace, righteousness, and holiness, witness David, Asa, Josiah, Hezekiah, Jehosaphat, &c. as Saul, Jehoram, Jehu, Ahab, and others of them were infamous for all unrighteousness and wickedness. God for the glory of his own grace, and the honour of his Sons blood, will have some of all sorts, ranks and degrees sanctified and saved: and upon this very ground he engages his servants to pray for all sorts, ranks and degrees of men, in 1 Tim. 2.1, 2, 3, 4. Now where God is resolved to save, there he is resolved to sanctifie: where he is resolved to make happy, there he is resolved to make holy. And therefore I look upon my self as many wayes obliged to have so large a heart for God, as to do all I can to help on the salvation of all sorts, ranks, and degrees of men in the world. My hearts desire and prayer for England is,4 that her Princes and Nobles may be sanctified and saved, and that her Gentry may be sanctified and saved, and that all the people of the Nation may be sanctified and saved. I look upon my self as engaged to do all I can by my pen and prayers to help make England holy, that so England may be truly happy:
- 11 Cor. 1.26.
- 2Matth. 5.45.
- 3It is a strange s•ying in L•psius, The names of all good Princes (saith he) may easily be engraven or written in a small Ring. Lips. de co• stantia, lib. 2. cap. 25.
- 4Rom. 10.1. Pauls Copy is not to be despised, but imitated.
