Part 1

EXPERIMENTS

OF

Spiritual Life & Health,

And their

PRESERVATIVES

In which the _weakest_ Child of _God_ may get _Assurance_ of his Spirituall _Life_ and _Blessednesse_

And the _Strongest_ may finde proportionable _Discoveries_ of his _Christian Growth_, and the _means_ of it.

By _Roger Williams_ of _Providence_ in _New-England_.

London, Printed, in the Second Month, 1652.

RE-PRINTED BY SIDNEY S. RIDER, PROVIDENCE. 1863.

INTRODUCTION.

As the existence of the following tract was, until quite recently, unknown,[A] a few words of introduction, exhibiting its character and the circumstances under which it was written, may not be inappropriate.

[A] Professor Knowles, in his Memoir of Roger Williams, makes the following statement: Mr. Williams is said to have published, in London, in 1652, a work entitled "Experiments in Spiritual Life and Health, and their Preservatives." Of this book, no copy has come to our knowledge.

The object of the work is, briefly to present to the christian the evidences of personal piety and guard these evidences from abuse and misapprehension. It is divided into three parts. The author first treats of the evidences of a piety, which, though real, is weak and imperfect; secondly, the evidences of a vigorous and maturer piety; and the third part contains directions for maintaining and increasing piety in the soul of the believer. It is written with clearness and discrimination, and much resembles the treatises of Baxter on the same subject. It is as well adapted to the condition of christians of the present day as to the condition of those for whom it was written, two hundred and ten years since. There cannot be found in it a word of sectarian bitterness; on the contrary, it everywhere breathes the spirit of catholic, christian charity.

The circumstances under which it was written are certainly peculiar. It seems that his wife, to whom he appears to have been tenderly attached, had been dangerously ill, but was now recovering. During her sickness he had been from home, laboring among the Indians; and while absent, he wrote this little treatise in the form of a letter to her, his object being simply to promote her spiritual improvement. At the request of his friends, it was published in London; and a dedication was prefixed to it, addressed to Lady Vane the Younger. In this dedication, occurs the following remarkable passage: "The form and stile I know will seem to this refined age too rude and barbarous, and the truth is, the most of it was penned and writ, (so as seldom or never such discourses were,) in the thickest of the naked Indians of America, in their very wild houses, and by their barbarous fires, when the Lord was pleased this last year (more than ordinarily) to dispose my abode and travel among them."

As a writer, Roger Williams has generally borne the reputation of a violent and bitter controversialist. I believe that in this respect he has suffered great injustice. It would seem from this tract, that, on the contrary, his spirit was eminently candid and catholic, and that controversy was to him a painful duty. In the same dedication he says: "It is true, I have been sometimes prest to engage in controversies, but I can really and uprightly say, my witness is on high, how harsh and dolefull the touch of these strings are, [is,] and especially against such worthies both in old and New England, in whom I joyfully, before the world, acknowledge (in many heavenly respects) a lively character and image of the love of God." Every thing in this tract is in harmony with such a declaration.

STEPHEN RANDALL, Esq., a descendant of Roger Williams, a gentleman who cherishes a proper respect for the memory of his great ancestor, has been at much pains to procure the use of one of the only two known copies of this work, and at his instance it is now re-published. It is nearly a _fac simile_ of the original copy, retaining, unchanged, all the obsolete words and phrases, with all the peculiarities of orthography. In this form it will be more interesting to the public, and especially to antiquarians, than it could be made by any change whatever. In the hope, that, after the lapse of more than two centuries, it will again be acceptable to christians of all denominations, and exhibit in a new light the character of a great and good man, it is now presented to the descendants of the Puritans.

F. W.

_Providence, December 1st, 1862._

To the truly Honorable the Lady _Vane_, the Younger.

Madam,

_Your favourable, and_ Christian respects _to me_ (_both of former and latter date_) _your_ Godly _and_ Christian Letters _to me, so many thousand miles distant in_ America: _And your many gracious_ Demonstrations _of an humble and_ Christian Spirit _breathing in you; are a three fold_ Cord _which have drawn these lines into your presence_.

_While I have sometimes mused how to express a_ Christian gratitude, _I am at last perswaded to crave your_ Ladyships acceptance _of these poore_ Experiments _of each true_ Christians personall union, _and_ communion _with the_ Father _of_ Spirits.

_It is true, I have been sometimes prest to engage in_ controversies, _but I can really and uprightly say, my_ Witnes _is on_ high, _how harsh and doleful the_ touch _of those_ strings _are, especially, against such_ Worthies _both in_ old _and new_-England, _in whom I joyfully before the world acknowledge_ (_in many heavenly respects_) _a lively character and_ Image _of the_ Son _of God. This broken_ piece, _is a breath of a_ still _and_ gentle voice, _none but the_ God _of this_ world, _and the_ men _of this_ world, _can I lightly_ (_at this turne_) _expect my_ opposites.

_At other times I have been drawne to consider of the little_ flock _of_ Jesus, _his_ Army, _his_ body, _his_ building, _that for these many hundred years have been_ scattered, routed _and_ laid wast _and_ desolate: _At present, I onely examine who are the_ personall _and_ particular Sheep of Jesus Christ, _his_ Souldiers, _his living_ materials, _though_ scattered, divided, _and not_ compos'd _and ordred at their souls desire_.

_I confess_ (Madam) _it was but a_ private _and_ sudden discourse, _sent in private to my poor_ Companion _and_ Yoak-fellow, _occasioned by a sudden_ sickness _threatening_ death, _into which, and from which it pleased the_ Lord _most graciously to cast and raise her_.

_The_ forme _and_ stile _I know will seem to this refined_ age, _too rude and barbarous: And the_ truth _is, the most of it was penn'd and writ (so as seldom or never such discourses were) in the thickest of the naked_ Indians _of_ America, _in their very wild_ houses, _and by their barbarous_ fires; _when the Lord was pleased this last year (more then ordinarily) to dispose of my_ abode _and_ travell _amongst them. And yet, is the_ Language _plaine? it is the liker_ Christs: _Is the composure rude? such was his outward_ Beauty: _Are the tryals (seemingly) too close? such is the two edged_ Sword _of his most_ holy Spirit, _which pierceth between the very_ Soul _and_ Spirit, _and bringeth every_ thought _into the_ obedience _of_ Christ Jesus.

_Amongst the many_ Crowns _of_ mercy (Madam) _which it hath pleased the_ Father _of mercies to crowne your_ soul _with, as_ David _speaks of his_, Psal. 103. _there are two which justly challenge (and your Ladyship I know doth humbly acknowledge them) to be the fairest_.

[Sidenote: 1 Cor. 3.]

_The first, That he himselfe most_ high, _most_ holy, (_who makes his common_ choice, _the_ poor, _Jam. 2. and chooseth few_ Lords, _few_ Knights, _few_ Ladies, (_few_ wise, _few_ noble, _few_ mighty) _hath freely chosen you_ Madam, _in so gracious and blessed a_ measure, _to_ desire _to_ feare _his_ Name.

_A second, That for your dearest_ Companion _and_ Guide _in this vale of_ tears (_amongst the famous_ Worthies _of this_ age) _he hath graciously guided you to such a blessed_ choice, _of such an_ Husband _on_ earth, _who beares so bright an_ Image _of your_ Husband _in the_ Heavens, _and in whose most holy and gracious_ hand, _he hath been such a_ mercifull _and_ faithfull Instrument, _for both the_ freedoms _both of the_ outward _and_ inner _man_.

_I doe humbly acknowledge (that upon an absolute account) all is mercy, and yet I am also humbly confident, that in a_ respect (_as he graciously remembered his old friend_ Abraham, _and tels us of a speciall love he yet bears the_ Jewes _for_ Abrahams _sake, even so, he hath graciously vouchsafed at this present an_ honorable remembrance _to the NAMES of some of his more_ eminent _former_ friends _and_ witnesses.

_How hath he crowned the_ memory _of those his 2 zealous_ Servants _in K._ Henry _the 8th. his days[B] with a most eminent and blessed_ succession _of such_ names _and_ spirits _at this day? and in a gracious_ remembrance _of his love to that blessed_ daughter _and_ witnesse _of his the_ Lady Vane _in Q._ Maries _dayes; how hath it pleased his_ wisedom _and_ goodnesse, _to remember and to honour that_ Name, _both in your Ladiship and so many otherways, with so many loving kindnesses at this day_?

[B] Cromwel and Lambert.

_My humble cry_ (Madam) _to the_ Lord _shall never cease, those all those your many_ obligations _of both_ temporall _and_ eternall mercies, _may_ (_like chaines of_ Adamant) _draw and bind your precious_ Soul _more and more to resolve (by his grace assisting) to make his name_ great, _who hath made your so and so to love his_ Name, _his_ Son, _his_ Spirit, _his_ Truth, _his_ Children, _that others at the_ Torch _of your_ exemplary meeknesse _and_ fear _of_ God, _may light and kindle theirs; That your_ Souls-eye _more and more brightly may see him who is_ invisible, _and may so experimentally resent those_ invisible _and_ internal Honors, pleasures _and_ profits _that are in him that in comparison_ _thereof the_ visible _and_ worldly, _may be accounted by you but_ dreams _of_ shadows, _&c. That your_ great desire _may be a_ likenesse _of so_ high _and_ holy, _and so dear a_ Saviour, _and_ (_as in other_ excellencies _so_) _in that especially of a desire_ of saving _others_, _your_ Children, Kindred, Servants, Friends, _yea_, Enemies: _that neither the pleasing_ calme _of_ prosperity, _nor the dreadfull_ storms _of_ changes, _may quench or dampe that holy_ fire _of your souls_ love (_in_ Life _and_ Death) _to_ Him _whom your_ Ladyship _hath so much infinite cause to love, but never yet saw, in whom, and for ever_

_I desire to be_

Your HONOURS unfeignedly faithfull.

=R. W.=

To every truly _Christian Reader_.

[Sidenote: Thy Maker is thy Husband. Isa. 52.]

As it is in the _Earthly_, so it is in the _Heavenly Marriage_ of a poor _Sinner_ to his _Maker_. There useth first to passe a _private_ kindling of Love, and a private _consent_ and _promise_ (which sometimes are long) before the _open solemnity_, and the _publike profession_ of a Married Life together. This is my present _designe_, (not to controvert the matters of publike _Order_ and _Worship_, but) to present some poor Experiments of those Personall _excellencies_ of each true beleeving _soule_ and _spirit_.

[Sidenote: Isa. 40.]

[Sidenote: Prov. 21.]

The Holy _Spirit_ (in _Isaiah_) tels us of _Ballances_ wherein the most _High_ weighs the _Hills_ and _Mountains_: As also in _Solomon_, of _Ballances_ wherein hee weighs the very _Spirits_, even of men whose way is right in their owne eyes. And in _John_ (14.) he commands us to try the _Spirits_, pretending to come from _Christ Jesus_, whether they be of _God_, or no.

[Sidenote: Great pretences to the holy Spirit of God.]

There is not the grossest _Protestant_ or _Papist_, but pretends to the _Spirit_ of _God_; yea that horrid _Monster Mahomet_, blusht not to avouch that in the _Forme_ of a _Dove_, the holy _Spirit_ of _God_ did whisper in his _eare_ from _Heaven_. Now blessed is that _Spirit_, _publike_ or _private_, who is truly willing and joyfull to lye downe in the _Ballances_ of the _Lords_ weighings.

Hitherto tend these _Experiments_ of personal Communion with _God_ in the _Spirit of Holinesse_, _Rom. 1. 3_.

[Sidenote: To counterfeit the holy Spirit dreadfull.]

'Tis true, all publike and private _Christian Spirits_, pretend the _Spirit of Holinesse_: yea, how great a part of the _World_ pretend to be _Christendome_, the _Christian world_, that is, anointed with the _Spirit_ of _Christ Jesus_? But was it _Death_ in _Moses Rites_ to counterfeit that ceremoniall and figurative _Ointment_, _Exod. 30_. what shall it be to counterfeit the _Spirit_ of _Life_ and _Holiness_ it self? What I beleeve therefore (as _David_ and _Paul_ once spake) I freely speak: Yea, who can but speak (saith _Peter_ and _John_) the Things they have seene and heard? I confesse I spake these first but in a private _Letter_ in _America_, and thought not that the _light_ in _Europe_ should have seen them: But a two-fold _desire_ hath prevailed with me to expose these _Tryalls_ to the _Trying_ of all men.

1. The earnest _desire_ of some _Godly Friends_.

2. Mine owne _desire_ of sowing a little handfull of _spirituall seed_ while the short _Minute_ of my _seed-time_ (the _opportunity_ of life) lasteth.

[Sidenote: The least of the little ones of Christ Jesus ought to rejoyce.]

My scope is to fill each truly _Christian soule_ with _triumphing_ and _rejoycing_: I speak _peace_ and _joy_ to the Weakest _Lamb_ and _Child_ (in _Christianity_) that is so _low_, so _weake_, so _litle_, so _poor_ in its owne eyes, that it sometimes saith, it hath no _Christ_, no _Spirit_, no _Faith_, no _Love_, no nor true _Desire_ in it selfe. To this poore weake one I speak _peace_ and _joy_, and say, this _spirituall poverty_ is blessed, and is the first _step_ or _round_ of that spirituall _Ladder_, _Mat. 5_. Blessed are the poor in _spirit_, for theirs is the _Kingdome_ of _Heaven_.

Secondly, I found joyfull _Alarums_ of _Encouragement_ to the _strong_ to grow (as _Peter_ exhorteth) in the _Grace_ and _Knowledge_ of the _Lord Jesus_.

[Sidenote: Communion of Saints most sweet, and to be lamented after.]

Tis true, the _communion_ of _Saints_ is _sweet_ and joyfull, _strong_ and powerfull, eternally _gainfull_ and profitable; and holy and blessed is that _Spirit_ that makes the _Saints_ (who are the _Excellent_ of the Earth) its _Delight_, and after that blessed hour of the _Saints uniting_ in _one Heart_, _one Spirit_, _one Worship_, let all that love _Christ Jesus_ mourne and lament, and breath and pant: And yet the weakest and the faintest _Lamb_ that comes but stealing in the Crowd to touch the hemb of the _Lord Jesus_ his garment, that is content to be esteemed a _Dog_, and to wait for _crums_ of _mercy_ under the _Table_ of the Son of _God_: let them I say rejoyce also, for he that hath begun that blessed work by his owne free and eternall _Spirit_, will by the same his owne holy _Arme_, gloriously finish it.

I end (_Deare Christian_) with the _proposall_ of two _Christian knots_, or _Riddles_, not unsuitable to these present _Times_ and _Spirits_?

[Sidenote: Two Christian Riddles, suiting these times and spirits.]

_First_, Why is the _Heart_ of a _David_ himself (_Psa. 30._) more apt to decline from _God_, upon the Mountaine of _Joy_, _Deliverance_, _Victory_, _Prosperity_, then in the dark _Vale_ of the shadow of _Death_, _Persecution_, _Sicknesse_, _Adversity_, &c.

_Secondly_, Why is it, since _God_ worketh freely in us to _doe_ and to _will_ of his owne good pleasure, that yet he is pleased to command us to _work_ out our owne _Salvation_ with _Feare_ and _Trembling_? Let us all humbly beg the _Finger_ (the Spirit) of the Lord to untie these _Knots_ for us.

_I desire to be thine unfeighned in_ Christ Jesus,

_R. W._

The _Contents_ of this _Discourse_.

_The_ Heads _are three_.

_Under the_ first _are contained the_ Arguments _of_ Spirituall Life, _wherein the_ Weakest _and the_ Sickest _Child of_ God _may finde its_ Spirituall Life _apparent, though over-cast and_ eclipsed _with spirituall_ Weaknesse _and_ Distempers.

_Under the second_ Head, Arguments _of the strength and_ vigour _of the Spirit of_ Life _and_ Holinesse: _In which the_ strongest _and the_ eldest _in_ Christ, _may find_ Experiments _of Spirituall_ Health, _and Christian_ Activity _and chearfullnesse_.

_These_ Experiments _respect_,

1. _The Souls private_ correspondency _with the Lord himselfe_.

2. _Converse and_ correspondency _with_ Men.

3. _Private_ Retirednesses _with it selfe_.

_Under the third_ Head _are proposed some_ Means _wherein the_ Spirit _of_ God _usually breatheth for the preserving and maintaining of a truly Spirituall and_ Christian _Health and Chearfullnesse_.

The Letter which the Author sent with this Discourse to his Wife _=M. W.=_ upon her recovery from a dangerous sicknesse.

My _Dearest Love_ and _Companion_ in this _Vale of Tears_.

[Sidenote: The true use of sicknesse.]

Thy late _sudden_ and _dangerous Sicknesse_, and the _Lords_ most _gracious_ and _speedy raising_ thee up from the _gates_ and _jawes_ of _Death_: as they were wonderfull in thine _own_, and others _eyes_, so I hope, and earnestly desire, they may be ever in our _thoughts_, as a _warning_ from _Heaven_ to make ready for a sudden _call_ to be gone from hence: to live the rest of our _short uncertaine span_, more as _strangers_, longing and breathing after another _Home_ and _Country_; To cast off our _great cares_ and _fears_ and _desires_ and _joyes_ about this _Candle_ of this _vaine life_, that is so soon _blowne_ out, and to trust in the living _God_, of whose wonderfull power and mercy thou hast had so much and so late _experience_, which must make thee sing with _David_ (_Psal. 103_.) _Blesse the Lord O my Soul, and all that is within me blesse his holy Name: Blesse the Lord, O my Soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgiveth all thy sins, and healeth thine infirmities: who redeemeth thy life from destruction, and crowneth thee with mercy and loving kindnesse_.

My _dear Love_, since it pleaseth the _Lord_ so to dispose of me, and of my affairs at present, that I cannot often see thee, I desire often to send to thee. I now send thee that which I know will be sweeter to thee then the _Honey_ and the _Honey-combe_, and stronger refreshment then the strongest _wines_ or _waters_, and of more value then if every line and letter were thousands of _gold_ and _silver_. _Hezekiah_ upon his _recovery_ from his _sicknesse_, made a _writing_ (_Isai. 38_.) as an _everlasting monument_ of his _praise_ unto _God_, and as a _Goad_ or _spur_ to _himselfe_ and _others_ in the _wayes of godlinesse_ for the future.

Thy _holy_ and _humble_ desires are _strong_, but I know thy _writing_ is slow, and that thou wilt gladly accept of this my _poore helpe_, which with _humble thankefulnesse_ and _praise_ to the _Lord_, I humbly tender to his _holy service_, and thine in him.

[Sidenote: The outward and inner man.]

I send thee (though in _Winter_) an handfull of _flowers_ made up in a little _Posey_, for thy dear selfe, and our dear children, to look and smell on, when _I as the grasse of the field shall be gone, and withered_.

Wee know how it pleaseth the _spirit_ of _God_ to distinguish between the _outward_ and the _inner_ man, _2 Cor. 4_. [Though our _outward_ man perish; yet our _inner_ is renewed day by day:] It hath pleased the most _high_ to cast downe thy _outward_ man, and againe graciously to lift him up, and thereby to teach us both, to examine and try the _health_, and _strength_, and _welfare_ of the _inner_.

I will not now enter upon the _Disputes_ about that _question_, what is the _Inner-man_, whether _Christ himselfe_, as some say, or an _Image_ or _likenesse_ of _Christ Jesus_, as others say. That is a _Candle_ or _Torch_ to me, which is written _Ephes. 3_. That _Christ_ may dwell in your _Hearts_ by _faith_: unto which agrees that of the first of _John_: As many as received him, that is received _Christ Jesus_ into the _house_ of their _hearts_ to dwell there by _believing_ and _obeying_ of him, they are borne of the _Spirit_, and are the _Sons_ of _God_.

[Sidenote: What the _inner-man_ is.]

[Sidenote: Subject to many distempers.]

This _Inner_ man, this _new-man_ (which after _God_ is created in _holinesse_ and _righteousnesse_) I say, this _Inner-man_ hath his _tempers_ and _distempers_, his _health_ and _sicknesse_, as well as this _outward-man_ this _body_ of _Clay_.

Hence we hear so often mentioned, the _renewing_ of the _inward-man_, the _growing_ and _increasing_ of _Faith_ and _Love_, and other _breathings_ of _Gods Spirit_: the _losse_ (that is in a measure,) of the _Ephesians first love_. Hence the many _falls_ of the _Lords_ best _Servants_, recorded in _Scripture_, and the _sleep_ of the _Spouse_ of _Christ Jesus_, although her _heart_ wake in the truth of _marriage-love_, which can never wholly dye in her and be extinguished.

[Sidenote: A threefold person in _Gods_ children]

The holy _Scripture_ mentioneth a _three-fold person_ in all that are borne againe, First, the body of _Flesh_ and _clay_, this _outward naturall being_, which must be dissolved and dye, then rise againe to _Glory_.

The second is the body of _corruption_, or _old man_, which being deadly wounded by the _Son_ of _God_ alreadie in all that are his, shall shortly give up the _ghost_, and rot, and never rise again.

The third is this holy, heavenly _inner_ man, of whose _health_ and daily _renewing_ I now discourse, who is born of an immortall seed, and therefore can no more die then _Christ_ himself: _Rom. 6_.

[Sidenote: A spirituall cheerfull temper.]

Now as this _outward man_ desires not onely _life_, and _being_, but also _health_ and _cheerfulness_ in all the living _motions_ and _actions_ thereof: So, (and much more ten thousand fold) requires the _inward_ and _spirituall_ man, an _healthfull_ and _cheerfull temper_. For as the Lord loveth a _cheerfull giver_: So loves he also a cheerfull _Preacher_, a chearfull _hearer_, a chearfull _prayer_, and a chearfull _sufferer_ for his Name sake: He loves that the shoes of _preparation_ be on our _feet_ ready to run (all _wayes_ and _weathers_) the _paths_ of his _Commandments_: That like a _vessel_ our _leaks_ be stopt, and our whole _soul_ be ready in an holy _trim_, and _tightness_, for all his holy employments of us in the greatest _tempests_: that like heavenly _souldiers_, our _Arms_ be fixt, or like an _Instrument_, the _strings_ of our _affections_ and _parts_ be all in tune, to make heavenly _musick_ in the holy _ears_ of our heavenly _Lord_ and _King_.

Tis true, as it is between a loving _couple_, (and as it was in the Church at _Ephesus_) it is not easie to keep in the first _flame_ of _Love_, _fresh_ and _equall_, although the _fire_ of the _truth_ and _sinceritie_ of _marriage love_ never die, or be extinguished.

[Sidenote: Spirituall distempers.]

It is true that _Paul_ cries out (how much more may we) _O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from this body of death?_

Tis true, that sometimes _corruption_ and _Satan surprize_ and carry away the strongest _champions_ of _Christ Jesus_, as _slaves_ and _captives_ for a time, untill _Christ Jesus_ rescue, redeem and ransome, by giving _repentance_ unto his _Israel_, as he did to _David_, _Peter_, _&c._ as _Abraham_ rescued _Lot_, and as _David_ recovered all his precious _captives_, led _slaves_ away from _Ziklag_.