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Preface Guard of the Tree of Life
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Genre
Preface Treatise Doctrinal
Date
1644
Full Title
"No title" In: Bolton, Samuel. The Guard of the Tree of Life [...]
Source
Wing B3520
Sampling
Sample 1
The original format is octavo.
The original contains new paragraphas are introduced by indentation,first paragraphas are introduced by decorated initial,contains elements such as change of font,
TO MY BELOVED FRIENDS, The Godly and Well-affected of Saviours-Southwark; Grace and Peace.
Beloved,IT is now well-nigh four
yeeres since I was removed
from a loving, a
very loving people in
the City, and fixed among you; the
expresses of love which in this time
I have received from you, have put
me on to think, what way I might
again manifest my ingagements to
you: And considering with my self
the relation wherein I stand, I could
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think of no better way of acknowledgementthen to impart something
spirituall to you; and no better subject
then this which is now presented
to your view, nor could I think of a
better time then this for the doing of
it, when God in our blood shewes us
what a fearfull thing it is to be guilty
of the blood of his Sonne; It is not
unknown unto you, how greatly this
place above many others, hath been
guilty of the prophanation of this Ordinance
of the Lords Supper; God
hath discovered it to us, humbled us
for it, shewed us the necessity, and
graciously inclined your spirits to the
desire of the reformation of it. In reference
to which through the countenance
and assistance of you my brother
Minister and my self, have adventured
to set upon the work, being
willing to put our selves to no
little trouble, if by that wee might
prevent a great deal of sin. In this
work the searcher of hearts knowes
we have had no other design, then to
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express our Pastorall duties, and declareour Pastorall affections towards
your souls: In short, to serve you in
love: Probably we may meet with many
obstacles in the carrying on this
work; Indeed, it is that which is
expected; nay, and that which wee
reckoned on before we entred on it.
But if the work be God's, hee will
either facilitate and make it easie for
us, or give us spirits proportionable
to the greatness of it, I say hee will
either lessen the difficulties, or heighten
our spirits to conflict and incounter
with them.
There are two sort of adversaries
which we expect to meet withall: some
that will say, we go too far, and others
who will blame us that we go no further.
To them that think we have gone
too far, I shall only say, that we hope
we have not gone beyond God's bounds;
sure as God hath a purpose this Ordinance
should be continued, so hee
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hath a care also, that it should be fencedfrom prophanation in the continuance
of it; and when a better way
shall be discovered to us, wherein we
may hold up the use of this Ordinance,
and yet fence it in the use of
it from evident prophanation, wee
are ready to listen to it, and be thankfull
for it; in the mean, wee do not
see it our duty to hold up the use of
this Ordinance, except there be some
fence set up all former fences being
insufficient, and now broken down
to keep this Ordinance from manifest
prophanation, unless you will say
our Pastorall office doth, in the exercise
of it, necessitate us to sin. Much
more might be said, if wee saw it either
requisite or convenient for an
Epistle.
To those who blame us we go no further,
I must say our design hath bin rather
to tempt on, by going their pace,
then to discourage by over-driving
our little ones, I say it hath been our
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aim to cherish, not to quench, to drawout, not to suppress the graces of our
people; and therefore have we desired
to improve those graces which wee
found, though weak, rather then to
expect that which was not to be
found. Our present reformation, it
is not the measure of our will, but of
our power; it is not the utmost wee
desire, but the utmost wee are able:
And though it may seem small to you,
yet despise not the day of small things;
though the house is not built, yet wee
rejoyce the first stone is laid, and wee
could not choose but bring it forth
with shouting, Grace, Grace, unto it,
and Glory, Glory to the Lord. Babylon
was not built in a day, neither
is Sion; God carries on his works
without us, as he doth his works within
us, by degrees; the greatest fire
was at first a spark, the tallest Oak
at the first an Achorne, the strongest
Christian had his infancie, and the
greatest work of God its mean beginnings;
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Would the corruption of formertimes have suffered our godly
predecessours, to have left the work
in that forwardness to us, in which
through God's blessing, it may be left
to them who shall succeed, possibly,
nay probably, the work might have
been carryed on to a greater height
then now it can; That which is done
wee desire to bless God for it, and
think it our duty to cherish with our
utmost prayers and indeavours; In
relation to which, these ensuing Sermons
formerly preached, are now
printed, to which work, if they shall
be any thing serviceable, they have
obtained the end of him,
Who is not unwilling to
spend, and be spent
for you:
S. BOLTON.