THE PROTESTANT HERO The King of Prussia THE INFALLIBLE WORD OF TRUTH. safns XXXIII. Chapter. Verse 12. Blessed is the Nation whose God is the Lord; and the People whom he hath chosen for his own Inheritance.. v.13. The Lord looketh from Heaven: he beholdeth all the Sons of Men 2 v. 16. There is no hing saved by the Multitude of an bost. Proverbs XX. Chap v.26. A wise King Scattereth the Wicked, and bringeth the Wheel over them v.28. Mercy and truth preserve the King: and his Throne is upholden by Mercy. THE AUTHORS GENERAL PREFACE. MY To All His Readers: following Works are compos'd from a hearty fincere Principle of real Love and Affection for the Spiritual Benefit and Advantage of all Mankind, particularly to rouse Deils and Jews out of their ftupid dreadful Incredulity, that the Deills may confcientiously act agreeably to all the Moral Obligations of Natural Réligion, and the Jews as Ifraelites indeed, so that they may become proper Objects of the Divine Complacency i That each of them might mend their Ways, the Evil of their Doinge, that Almighty God might cause the Cloud and Mist that is before the Eye of their Understanding to vanish, “ that they might believe on the Lord Jefus Christ, and be faved, Acts xvi. 31! That they may know that the Son of God is come, that He might give them an Understanding, that they might know Him that is True, even Jefus Chrift, who is the true God, and Eternal Life, 1 John v. 20. Likewife that meer nominal Profeffors of Chrifti anity, (both of the Clergy and Laity,) might not deceive themselves by relying on a Speculative, or Head Belief, and complying with Modes and Forms of RELIGION, while they are deftitute of the Power of it, its Holy Influences, the Soul and Life of Christianity, its very Quinteffence, RELIGION IT SEL F, as was the Cafe of the Hypocritical Pharifees and Scribes, " who "honoured God with Their Lips, while their Heart "was far from Him," Mark vii. 2. to 7. I have exemplify'd both from Reason and Revelation, that if Profeffors of Christianity, would be Disciples indeed of the Bleffed Jefus, their very Thoughts, Words and Actions, the whole Course and Tenor of their Lives and Conversations must be moved or influenced by the Gospel of Chrift, as Watches and Clocks are by their Main Spring, which fets a going all its mechanical Powers in due Order and Regulation. I have not chofen a florid Language, or a formal concife Method of writing, not endeavouring to tickle the Ear, but to mend the Heart, and have proved from many Paffages of Holy Writ, that thofe Happy Souls, who experience that their corrupted polluted Natures are in a Degree fanctified, that have a Tafte and Relifh for Righteoufnefs, will earnestly defire and endeavour to grow in Grace, that they will hunger and thirst after it. For the greater Proficiencies Mankind make in the Spiritual and Divine Life, they will continu ally PREFA C E.' ally apply to Almighty God for further Degrees of His Rich Grace, in order to make greater Progrefs, that they may increase in the Fruits of Righteousness, that they may be inriched with every Thing to all Bountifulness, 2 Cor. ix. 11. To be filled with the Knowledge of God's Will in all • Wisdom and spiritual Understanding, that they might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleafing, being fruitful in every good Work, and increafing in the Knowledge of God; ftrength'ned with all Might, according to his glorious Power, to all Patience and long-fuffering with Joyfulness; Giving Thanks unto the Father which hath made them meet to be Partakers. "of the Inheritance of the Saints inLight; who hath ⚫ delivered them from the Power of Darkness, and hath translated them into the Kingdom of His Dear Son, in whom They have Redemption through his Blood, even the Forgiveness of Sins," Coloff. i. 9 to 15, If any of my fellow Mortals fhall receive the leaft· Degree of Spiritual Benefit or Advantage from any of these Works, I most humbly and earnestly befeech them to give Almighty God all the Honour and Praife. "Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but "unto thy Name give Glory. Pf. cxv. 1. for it is the Work of Omnipotence only, that causeth real real Good to proceed forth from any Human Endeavours whatfoever, yea even from a Paul or an Apollo. 1 Cor. iii. 6, 7. "By Grace Mankind are "faved through Faith, and that not of themfelves, "it is the Gift of God". Eph. ii. 8. By the Grace of God I am what I am (fays humble holy Heroick St Paul)" and his Grace "which was bestowed on me, was not in vain; but "I laboured more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the Grace of God, which was with me," I Car. XV. FO. The Principal Human Affiftance, I have had to compofe my following Works, was a Concordance to the Holy Scriptures, By Alexander Cruden, M. A. which very useful valuable Book, (without the leaft worldly: Advantage) I moft fincerely and earnestly recommend to the perufal of all those who would willingly take: Pleasure and Delight, by being Honoured with a very intimate Correfpondence, a beneficial Acquaintance with the Word of God, which is able to make them Wife unto Salvation, through Faith, which is in Chrift Jefus, 2 Tim. iii. 15. Almighty God grant that this may be the happy Cafe of us all, is the hearty fincere Prayer of your moft Humble Servant at Command, in Chrift. London, the Joyous Edward Goldney, Sen" |