To the Reader. ***** Thought good to give thee no- TheTitles of the feveral The firft Volumn.' 2. Satans power to tempt, Pieces that are lately I tice, That thefe Sermons were publifhed of Mr. Willitaken from the Authors mouth am Bridge. when he preached them, and so were thofe alfo that wer lately published; the feveral titles wherof you may fee in the Margin of this Epiftle: A word spoken is foon forgotten, but what is written remains, and may do you, your children and childrens children good; and this is the intent and defire of the Author. When you view this mite of his, you may fee fomthing of Chrift in it, let it be your care to fee what you can find of Chrift in your felves: Know ye not that Jefus Chrift is in you, except ye be Reprobates? This Work advifeth you,not to rest uponNo tions, for then you do no other then feed A 2 your 3. 1.The great Gospel-My- 1. 2 ral Impoffibilities. your precious fouls with fancies, which is as unfitting, and more dangerous food for your fouls,then the husks were for the Prodigals body, 'Tis a Real Chrift, not a Notional Chrift, muft fatis fie your fouls: We all know there is ftore of Gold in the Indies, but we are never the richer for it un less we have it in poffeßion; neither is it our bearing of Chrift,nor our knowing there is a Christ, but our having of Chrift in poffeßion that bene fits our fouls: Haft thou a proud heart? read this Book, and it will teach thee Humility; Haft then " defpairing heart? read this Book, and it will teach thee to believe; Haft thou a legal heart? read this Book, it will teach thee to be Evange lical; Haft thou a fecure heart? read this Book, it will teach thee to be Watchful; Haft thou froward heart? read this Book, it will teach thee to be meek: If thou wouldst come to Chrift with Budget of duties upon thy fhoulders (old Adams proud principle) then thou must not look here, for he labors to empty thee of thy own righteousness, and fend thee naked to Jefus Chrift, who came not to call the righteous, but finners to repentance: If thou lookeft for quaint fpeculations, and eloquent expressions of humane wisdom, which adminifter as little comfort to the Paftor, as edifi the cation to the People; in truth here's nothing to pleafe fantastical ears with whimfeys, it was neither spoken nor written for any Juch intent ;. words were spoken for edification, and were (by the define of friends) written for the fame intent: If then thou lovest plain dealing, and to benefit thy foul, read, and this Book will teach thee to leave the fucceß to God; when Paul hath planted, and Apollo bath watred, 'tis God must give the increase: Art thou a finner? here is mercy for thee, here is Chrift for thee; Art thou a drunkard? here's water of life for thee, which if thou drinkeft, thou shalt never thirst again: Art thou covetous? her's riches for thee, spiritual riches, durable riches that will not fade: Art thou prophane ? read this, and it will teach thee to be holy: Art thou a Saint? here is comfort for thee, even the holy Spirit the Comforter: Art thou in darkne here is light for thee, Jefus Christ the true light, that lightens every one that comes into the world, He fhall be ten times more conftant to thy foul, than the Sun in the Firmament: Art thou weak in parts? weak in Faith? weak in grace? read this Book, and (if the Lord be pleafed to speak to thy foul) here's strength for thee, even the nighty God: Art thou poor? here's Chrift, Chrift, and the Earth is his, and the fulness thereof, it is laid up in his hand for thee, it is the purchase of his blood, he hath bought it for thee, 'tis thy own and he doth but keep it for thee, thou maieft go boldly to him for it; though thou art lotb to borrow, and afhamed to begg, yet thou maieft go boldly for thy own. This Book (cours teous Reader) will teach thee to depend on God, to wait on Chrift for all: He feeds the yong Ravens, he tends the Sparrows, he cloaths the Lillies, there fore be fure he will not let his children want, what foever ftorms be without: Keep Christ, and thou shalt have Peace, yea, the Prince of Peace within; then thou shalt have Peace when all the world is in trouble, then thou shalt be kept fafe in the hour of temptation, which shall come to try all thofe that live upon the face of the earth: Preparea place for the Lord Jefus Chrift in thy heart, and he will provide a Manfion for thee in his Fathers houfe, where thou shalt fin no more, nor forrow na more, but God fhall wipe away all tears from thy. eyes: Always remember, thou haft here no abiding place, but feekeft one to come: This (courteous Reader) is the courfe and aim of the Authorin this Treatife for thy benefit, he spends his spirits, that thou mayeft be happy, that thou mayeft grow up is up from strength to strength, till thou comeft to be a perfect man in Jefus Chrift; and this alfo i the earnest defire and prayers of him to Almighty God, for thee, who is, and fhall alwaies remain, Thine to love and ferve in the Gospel, William Greenhil READER, Thought yet you will please to mend them with your own pen, and confider the Authors absence from the Prefs. Errata. PAge 6. line 14. for them read it. P. 9. 1. 13 dele not. p. 1onade alive. proxi.proxim eni'. p.22.1.33 for & made alive,. and not made alive. p. 31.1. 25. for into the world, 7. into the other world. p. 37. 1. 29. dele me. P. 44. dele Queft. Anfw. in the Margin. 1. 30 dele but. p. 51 1.25 for prey .praile. p.75 1.5 dele fo is Chrift. p. 76 1. 15 for but if, r. for it is. 1. 161 for dwell,. that dwelleth. p. 771. 26 for fmiles r. fmiled and for in l. 29 33. r-into. p. 81. 1. 29. for their r. there. p. 83 1. 20. after the words of Chrift, add barely. p. 101.1.8. for Mofes r. Jofhua. p. 103. 34. for Legi •Lege. p. 105.1. 12. for firftr. laft. p. 108 1. 12. for Dominus & reginæ 7. Domina & regina. p. 109 1. 13 dele two. p. 199.1. 13 for rigorous r. vi gorous |