Three treatises, being the substance of sundry discourses

To all that desire to live godly in CHRIST JESUS.

IT is not unknown to very many of Gods people in this Nation, with what entire affection, and happy success, the pious Authour of these Meditations, now asleep in Jesus, laid out himself in the service of the Gospel. Di∣vers of you sate somtimes under the shadow of his Ministry with great delight. And of those who had not the enjoyment of him, but in more removed distances, what serious eye ever read, as it ought, that truly incomparable piece, The Deserted Souls Case and Cure, and was not thereby enlightned, startled, humbled, lifted up nearer to God? Or what good heart, for that end that it might be better, duly perused his later piece Of Faith and Sight, but it was by in∣creased faith, and its just appendages, more fitted for sight? The Holy Spirit was his spring, and plentiful emanations from thence filled his Cistern, and made him free to com∣munication. He dwelt in the presence of Christ, d so was at home in Heavenly Negotiations▪

and the content that he had there made him de∣light to stand still between Christ and his peo∣ple, to receive and give, though he gave away his own life withall. And when he perceived the shadow of the evening to be stretched forth upon him, they did nothing to him, but only provoke him to make more haste in the finishing of his work. Those holy Tapers, which receive their light from the golden Lamp of the Sanctuary, shine and burn down to the socket, and are burn∣ing and shining lights thereto.

In his wearinesses, and weaknesses, grown constant in his later time, when the effects of his pains made strong sollicitations to desist, it was an expression, which he often used with pleasance to his friends, Yet praying and preaching is too good work to be weary of. In the continuance of it, he poured forth himself as a drink-offering to Christ upon the service of his Saints, and so passed to eternal life, through the best forms of death. And in∣deed that way (as is roported of Moses) God doth kiss away the souls of his Servants.

But that he might prevent death, he took much pains with his own pen, besides constant expence of mony for the assistance of another, that his love in permanent testimo∣nies might out-live his life, and the first neg∣lects of his hearers. He knew well how precious discourses are lost to the inconsiderate part of

men and women, who either do not give due heed while a Sermon is preached, and so take it not into their understandings and hearts, or else cannot remember it, having heard it but once. Of his good will to such, he hath left ma∣ny evidences which will be produced, if God pleases, as soon as time, health, and other work will give leave to make up the Chasin's, and mend other errours of the writer, in those co∣pies which were taken from the Pulpit, and were not corrected by himselfe: For the present it was judged meet, to print these three small Tracts.

The first touching Spiritual remembrance of God, as a most seasonable praelibation; This being a time, when a careless Devil hath after too eminent a manner possessed a multitude of Professours, and many Christians have reck∣lesly lost Jesus Christ in the crowd of worldly affections, designes, diversions. The aim of this is to quicken all that have the root of eter∣nal life in them to more frequent Addresses of Soul to God, and to rivet them in contentful abode, and holy reposes in him.

The Second is an excellent discovery of the Saints interest in God, in which all holy souls may see how happy they are, or may be in God, their God.

The Third holds forth Gods interest in us, by which, as by a true glass, we may learn to

reflect upon God all his goodness, and love, contained in the former Treatise, if it be also revealed in our hearts, and so God will be to us, as he is to all true Christians, the beginning and end of our life.

All which Discourses the Godly Reader will find enrich'd with many clear descriptions of heavenly truths, many rational considerations, which in way of Exhortation do strike fitly and weightily upon those capable principles which God hath put into the soul, as Ears for him to take hold of, both with very lovely re∣presentations, and right dreadful terrours: and as he goes up and down, he will meet me∣thodicall and sure directions, like benigne Guides, telling the way of happy life to all the children of wisdom and truth. So you have a short account of what you may find in these papers.

Be their Patronage the living influence of the all-quickning Spirit, who only is able to make these, and all other well-ordered tenden∣cies, effectual to their desirable ends, and who can protect them from unprofitable reading and forgetful neglects, which are the wrong∣ful abuses and unjust imprisonment of the most useful truths. I, who in this matter do only carry the staff of Elisha which he hath left be∣hind, do and shall pray, that it may not only be laid upon the child, which is ready to dye,

but that this Spirit would joyn himself to it, and make it the ministration of life, even the beauty and bands of God upon the spirits of his own. That the misplaced eye of some Rea∣der may be set right, and then fixed; that some heart may be undeceived. And Oh that the time were come, when no Child of God would write his name in the earth, which to do is to be cursed, and to make the Divels sport. Alas! whil'st we through their false representations, and cozening impulses sell our comfort, our life, our soul for cheap things, at easie rates, do they not laugh? do they not insult? Though it is a poor sport, and proper only to Divels to rejoyce in the follies and sorrows of humanity. The Lord Jesus, who came to break the power of spiritual wickednesses, drive them out of the souls of men and wo∣men, and if they must have leave to enter any where, let it be onely into swine. The Lord appear more to the Inhabitants of this world, that they may see the glory of truth, and be transformed into its Image, delivered into the spirit and life of truth, and out of the power of detaining falshoods, and seducing vanities, the chains of evil spirits. Then the capacity of the children of men so empty, hungry, and sore distressed, (though some are sensless, and there∣fore perceive it not) will be filled with God. Then a Strand will be set to that deplorable forgetfulness of God, which hath swell'd to

such unreasonable heights, that it hath left the tops of very few mountains discernable above it. Then those which have pure minds will be stirred up to run after their Lord: The Chil∣dren of the Kingdom will enjoy more of the promises, and by them partake of a Divine na∣ture in greater measures, inherit more of the holy Land, trade in true life, be tyed in Hea∣venly Galleries, having their eyes set continu∣ally upon Christ, who with his, will take away their hearts, and keep them with himself, and be a Covering of the eyes to them from all false ones for ever. I have no more to adde, but the continuance of these wishes, and prayers, humbly begging a remembrance also in yours, for,

From my Study, in Eton Colledg, June 1. 1653.

Your weak Fellow-servant in the hopes of the Gospel, Nathanael Ingelo.