WORKS OF THOMAS CHALKLEY; CONTAINING, HIS EPISTLES, AND OTHER WRITINGS. Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful: but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law doth, he meditate both day and night. PSALM i. 1,3 New-York: PRINTED BY SAMUEL WOOD, NO. 362, PEARL-STREET. 1808. GOD'S GREAT LOVE UNTO MANKIND, THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, OUR LORD. And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, this (i. e. Christ) is my beloved son, hear ye him. If ye love me, keep my commandments. LUKE ix. 35. JOHN xiv. 16. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believed in him, might not perish, but have everlasting life. JOHN iii. 16. ૧૧ PREFACE TO THE READER. IN sincerity and unfeigned love, both to God and man, were these lines penned. I desire thee to peruse them in the same love, and then, peradventure, thou mayest find some sweetness in them. Expect not learned phrases, or florid expressions; for many times heavenly matter is hid in mean sentences, or wrapped up in plain expressions. It sometimes pleases God to reveal the mysteries of his kingdom (through the grace of his Son our Lord Jesus Christ) to babes and sucklings; and he oftentimes ordains praise out of their mouths; one of which, reader, I desire thou mayest be. My intent in writing these sheets, is, that they, through the help of God's grace, and the good spirit of Christ, may stir up true love in thee; first to God and Christ, and then to man: so thou wilt be fit to be espoused to him, who is altogether lovely, (that is Christ), which is the desire of him, who is thy friend, more in heart than word. T. CHALKLEY. |