The Subject of this Treatise, is the best or worst (a)of Men, a Christian. A name, though once so odious, that it was crime enough to be a Christian, (b)yea, to say Christianus sum, ⟨image 3⟩was the same way to cruel, but glorious Martyrdom, (c)yet in our days many are content to own it; but whether according to the name, they be indeed Anointed, is the enquiry (I fear) but of a few. It was said of old, Fiunt, non nascuntur Christiani, (d)Christianus non generat Christianum: quia non generatio, sedregeneratio facit Christianos, (e)But now, men being born in a Nation where Christianity is professed, they profess they are born Christians, many (if not most) knowing no other reason for their Christianity. To undeceive these nominal Christians, hath been the labour of the Pulpit and the Press. Our works being something different from the ancient Fathers, they laboured to convert Heathens, we to convert Christians. To this end serveth the ensuing Discourse, ⟨image 3⟩though that was not my principal motive to write, that work being done so well before, by more able Pens, but because I observed some eminent Divines, while they declared, what was required to make a sound Believer, have made such Requisites, as trouble many, and cut off most of the sound, with the unsound Christians. Their Assertions have been sometimes the subject of our discourse in private; which after I had more seriously examined, for the sake of some troubled Christians, I resolved to make my Meditations public, which now (much honoured Sir) I have made bold to dedicate to your self, being one whom (according to the title) I judge to be a Real Christian: And though not born a Christian, in the sense before, yet what Paul said of the unfeigned ⟨image 4⟩Faith in Timothy, that dwelt first in his Grandmother Lois, then in his Mother Eunice, then in him, 2 Tim. 1.5. the same may I say of that unfeigned Faith, which makes unfeigned Christians, that dwelt first in your renowned Grandfather, Sir Francis Barrington, then in your Father, Mr. Robert Barrington, the same I am persuaded dwells in you also, and as Timothy, 2 Tim. 3.15. So you from a child have known the Scriptures;
THe Subject of this Treatise, is the best or worst (a)of Men, a Christian. A name, though once so odious, that it was crime enough to be a Christian, (b)yea, to say Christianus sum, ⟨image 3⟩was the same way to cruel, but glorious Martyrdom, (c)yet in our dayes many are content to own it; but whether according to the name, they be indeed Anointed, is the enquiry (I fear) but of a few. It was said of old, Fiunt, non nascuntur Christiani, (d)Christianus non generat Christianum: quia non generatio, sedregeneratio facit Christianos, (e)But now, men being born in a Nation where Christianity is professed, they profess they are born Christians, many (if not most) knowing no other reason for their Christianity. To undeceive these nominal Christians, hath been the labour of the Pulpit and the Press. Our works being something different from the ancient Fathers, they laboured to convert Heathens, we to convert Christians. To this end serveth the ensuing Discourse, ⟨image 3⟩though that was not my principal motive to write, that work being done so well before, by more able Pens, but because I observed some eminent Divines, while they declared, what was required to make a sound Believer, have made such Requisites, as trouble many, and cut off most of the sound, with the unsound Christians. Their Assertions have been sometimes the subject of our discourse in private; which after I had more seriously examined, for the sake of some troubled Christians, I resolved to make my Meditations publick, which now (much honoured Sir) I have made bold to dedicate to your self, being one whom (according to the title) I judge to be a Real Christian: And though not born a Christian, in the sense before, yet what Paul said of the unfeigned ⟨image 4⟩Faith in Timothy, that dwelt first in his Grandmother Lois, then in his Mother Eunice, then in him, 2 Tim. 1.5. the same may I say of that unfeigned Faith, which makes unfeigned Christians, that dwelt first in your renowned Grandfather, Sir Francis Barrington, then in your Father, Mr. Robert Barrington, the same I am perswaded dwells in you also, and as Timothy,
- (a)Salvian de guberna. Dei, l 2, 3, 4, 5.
- (b)Athenag. Apol. p. 2, 5. Tertul. Apol, c. 2.
- (c)Hieron. de Apollon, in Cotalog. Scrip. Eccles.
- (d)Tertul. Apol. c. 17.
- (e)Augustin. de peccat. mer. cont. Pelag. l. 3. c. 9. [Greek or Hebrew], &c. Clem. Alex. Strom. l. 1.Augustin. de peccat. mer. cont. Pelag. l. 3. c. 9. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, &c. Clem. Alex. Strom. l. 1.
