Edmund Calamy
CHRISTIAN READER,
THe love and care of God for his Church and people, is very much seen, not only in raising up variety of Ministers from time to time for their benefit, but also in the variety of gifts, which he giveth to those whom he raiseth up. To one is given by the Spirit, the word of wisdom; 1 Cor. 12.8, 9, 10. to another the word of knowledge, by the same Spirit; to another faith, by the same Spirit; to another, the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the works of Miracles; to another Prophesie; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kindes of tongues; To another Interpretation of tongues, &c. And all these diversities of gifts are given by the Spirit to every man, 1 Cor. 12.7 πρὸς τὸ συμφέρον, to profit withal. The Greek word is (as some think) a Metaphor taken from Bees, Mr. Trapp. who bring all the honey they can get to the common Hive. We are neither borne, nor borne again for our selves. If we be not fit to serve the body (as the same Authour saith) neither are we fit to be of the body. He is not a Saint that seeketh not communion of Saints. Pudeat illos qui ita in studiis se abdiderunt, ut ad vitam communem nullum fructum ferre possint, Paulúm sepultae distatinertiae caelata, virtus. Hor. saith Cicero. They may wel be ashamed that employ not their Talents for a publick good.
To our Reverend Brother (the Authour of the ensuing book) God hath given an excellent and a peculiar gift, whereby he is enabled in a very short, and yet substantial way, to give the sence and meaning of a Text, and to gather suitable, proper, and profitable Observations out of it for the help of weak Christians. This gift he hath already manifested in his Exposition of the Lesser Prophets, which hath been received and entertained by the Church of God, with much approbation and spiritual edification. This hath encouraged him to make a new attempt in the same kind, and to publish a brief Exposition of the whole Gospel of Saint John. This Apostle and Evangelist was one whom Christ loved eximiè & singulariter. He was the delights of Iesus Christ, his Benjamin, his Iedidiah; therefore he is called, The disciple whom Christ loved. And as Christ loved him above others, so he loved Christ more then others did, Joh. 19.26 for he stood by the Crosse when all the other disciples left him, and fled away for fear. This blessed Divine (as he is called) wrote the Gospel after the other three Evangelists, Rev. 1. in the Inscription, [ὁ θεολόγος]. In Christiani nominis solatium post se reliquit tanquam pretiosissimum thesaurum & [Greek word illegible] omnibus mundi gazis non aestimandum. and left it to the Church as a most precious treasure to be preferred (as Luther saith) above thousands of gold and silver. Upon this Gospel you have the accurate, elaborate and profitable paines of this religious and learned Author. The Lord blesse them, and grant they may finde acceptance with his people, and may cause many thanksgivings to God for the benefit reap’t by reading of them. So prayeth
Thy Servant in the work of the Ministry, EDM. CALAMY.
