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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A58958	The Second and last collection of the late London ministers farewel sermons preached by Dr. Seaman, Dr. Bates, Mr. Caryll, [brace] Mr. Brooks, Mr. Venning, and Mr. Mead ; to which is added a farewell sermon preached at Dedham in Essex by Mr. Matthew Newcomen ; as also Mr. Lyes sermon at the conclusion of the last morning-exercise at All-hallows in Lumbard-street, being a summary rehearsal of the whole monthly-lectures.	Seaman, Lazarus, d. 1675.; Bates, William, 1625-1699.; Caryl, Joseph, 1602-1673.; Brooks, Thomas, 1608-1680.; Venning, Ralph, 1621?-1674.; Mead, Matthew, 1630?-1699.; Newcomen, Matthew, 1610?-1669.; Lye, Thomas, 1621-1684.	1663 (1663)	Wing S2257; ESTC R41075	195,536	326

then to live in Heaven with guilt on his Conscience My Brethren let me a little enlarge because suffering may overtake us for Persecution is the genius of the Gospel therefore let me leave 4 short Rules with you concerning sufferings See that your Cause be good your Call be clear your Spirit meek and your End right Sufferings cannot bring out peace without either of them but with them all our sufferings shall be peace First Let your Cause be good it s not the bloud but the cause that makes a Martyr it s not for every cause a Christian should engage to suffer every cause will no more bear suffering then every little stream will bear a Ship nor will Christ let go swee ness to every suffering 1 Pet. 4.15 Let none of you suffer as a Murderer or as a Thief or as an Evil doer or as a busie-body in other mens matters To suffer thus is neither Christian-like nor comfortable Some suffer rather as Malefactors then as Christs Martyrs Secondly Let your Call be clear it s amiss to have a good cause without a call Some may suffer for the cause of God and yet sin in suffering for want of a call Christ calls not all to suffer to some it is given to others it is not If thy call be clear thy peace will be sweet though thy sufferings be never so great But you will say How shall I know when I am called to suffer I answer First when Truth suffers by our filence then are we called to suffer Secondly when our lives will be the denyal of Christ then are we called to deny our lives for Christ Thirdly When sin and suffering surrounds us that we cannot get out but we must either run through sin or sufferings then I may safely conclude that Christ called me to suffer and in this cause we may expect the peace and sweetness of his presence Thirdly The third Direction for suffering is this Our spirit must be meek so was Christ he went as a Lamb to the slaughter It s possible a man may be right in his cause and yet sinful in his carriage and if so no wonder if Christ be not sweet to us To be fierce and raging and reviling in suffering it s not becoming humanity and therefore much lesse like Christianity A Christian should be like Christ Acts 45. And they departed from the presence of the Councel rejoycing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his Name It becomes those that are found in the Spirit to give blessing for cursing the more of Christs spirit is in us in our sufferings the more comfort and joy we shall receive from our sufferings Fourthly See that your end in suffering be right if it be Self or singularity or schism then Christ cannot be sweet to thee Some have died that their name● might live Socrates died in the defence of the truth● and to prove that there is but one God but whether he died for honour applause or for Gods sake I think it is no hard thing to determine But 〈◊〉 thy cause be good thy call clear thy spirit meek and thy end right and then you shall have peace in all your sufferings that is the fifth thing Choose suffering rather then sinning Sixthly If you would have peace be much in studying the Scriptures for as God is the God of peace and Christ the Prince of peace so the Gospel is the Gospel of peace which God hath given thee to lead thee in the wayes of peace Great peace have they that love thy Lawes Seventhly Take heed of Apostacy either in Doctrine or Principles Though a Believer is freed from Apostacy in the state of grace yet he is not freed from Apostacy in the degrees of grace He may fall sinfully though he cannot fall finally Demas fell by one St. Peter by the other Pray with David Psal 17.5 Hold up my goings in thy path that my foot-steps slip not Eighthly Make the Word of God your Rule in all things be sure you have a Scripture-warrant for all your practises But especially keep close to Scripture in matters of Gods Worship There are endless Discourses about the Mode of Gods Worship I have no disputing-time It is good in difficult cases always to take the surest side For Instance If I follow the Traditions of man for the worship of God I may sin but if I keep close to the directions of God in the Scripture I am sure I cannot sin for this is the sure word of Prophecy to which you do well to take heed therefore in such a doubtful case Gods will is that we take the surest side go to the Law and to the Testament Labour to be fruitful and grounded Christians Ninthly Keep up the power of godliness do not let Religion down into a life-less formality The Righteous shall flourish like a Palm-tree He shall grow like a Cedar in Lebanon those that be planted in the House of the Lord shall flourish in the Courts of our God Psal 92.12 13. My Brethren it is as much a duty in them that have grace to improve it as for them that have no grace for to get it If you sit under the daily means the daily waterings of God and do not grow do you think this will be peace in the latter end surely no my Brethren your fruitfulness under the Gospel is of very great concernment It is unfruitfulness that makes God lay his Vineyard waste It s fruitfulness that procures the forwarding your account in the day of grace Tenthly Observe that excellent rule of the Apostle in Phil. 48. Finally Brethren whatsoever things are true whatsoever things are honest whatsoever things are ●ust whatsoever things are pure whatsoever things are lovely whatsoever things are of good report if there be any vertue and if there be an prayse think on these things And now my Brethren I commend you to God and to the Word of his grace that is infinitely able to make you wise to sa●va●ion with this Benediction which I shall mak● my Valediction Grace be unto you and Peace from God our Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ Master JOSEPH CARIL His Farewel SERMON UPON Revel 3. Ver. 4. the latter part of that Verse And they shall walk with me in white for they are worthy IN the former part of this Verse you heard the commendation of those few names in Sardis It was this They had not defiled their garments In this latter part you have their encouragement in their Reward They shall walk with me in white In which encouragement I told you we might consider two things or take it into two parts First That they should walk with Christ Secondly They should walk in White I have spoken to the former of these They shall walk with Christ and that the Scripture holds forth under a two-fold notion First As matter of duty It is a duty to walk with Christ Secondly It is a matter of Promise They that

peace as with respect to the Bloud of Christ which is the purchase of peace so with respect to the Covenant which is made between God and us through the Bloud of the Everlasting Covenant There are three sorts of Covenants amongst men some are Covenants of Friendship and Amity some are Covenants of Trade and Commerce and some are Covenants of Assistance and Help Now all these qualifications meet in this Covenant which is made between God and Believers It is a Covenant of Peace and Friendship for now we stand upon termes of amity with God Those who were strangers and enemies are now reconciled And there is between God and us perfect peace there is a League as the Scripture speaks between God and the Creature It is a Covenant of Trade there is now a way opened to Heaven we may now ascend to God in duties of holinesse and God descend to us by the excitations of his grace and influences of joy And 't is a Covenant of Assistance for he promises not only to give us the reward of the Covenant but to secure unto us the Condition he promises to enable us to discharge the conditions of Faith and Repentance Now upon this account of that Covenant which is founded in the Bloud of Christ he is the God of peace to his people USE 1. Is by way of Conviction This may discover to us how distant their temper is from God who are enemies to peace We un-man our selves we unchristian our selves so far as we are opposi●e to this blessed temper of peace Certainly as disturbed Water cannot make any reflection unto us of that face that looks into it so when our Spirits are disturbed by Animosities Exasperations Heats and Divisions 't is impossible for us to see the Image of God as he is the God of Peace And certainly there is no more doleful consideration in the World than this That Man whom God made a sociable Creature who hath all the engagements and endearments laid upon him which may cause him to live in peace and gentleness towards those who are of the same nature with him yet that in fierceness our heats should exceed those of the most savage Creatures Man comes into the World naked and altogether unarmed as if he were designed for the Picture of Peace but could you look into the hearts of men you would find there such Tumults Divisions such Seeds of Enmity against their fellow-Creatures that Tigres and Lions are calm and peaceable in comparison of them Now how is this distant from the temper of the God of Peace 'T is very strange to consider that when Promises are made to bury all differences as Rubbish under the Foundation that nevertheless the great work of many persons should be onely to revive those former Animosities to make those exasperations fresh and keen upon their own spirits but is this to imitate the God of Peace These to promote Divisions and Disturbances amongst us cloath their enemies with the Livery of shame and reproach that so they may be baited by their fury that make it their Design to represent that party which they think is dissonant from them with the most odious appearances you know this is the old Art and those showers of Calumnies which are in the World they usually precede the Storm of Persecution The Devil was first a Lyar and then a Murtherer and those who are of his Seed they follow his Art In the Prsmitive Times all the Persecutions of the Heathens arose from the reproaches of Christians so it is now It is an easie thing to blast the name of those Persons who are design'd for ruine But if the contending Parties would consider if I may call one Party contending which is onely lyable to Penalties and is resolved to bear them patiently how unlike this is to that God of Peace methinks it should allay the rancour that is in mens spirits and make an attonement between all the differences that is amongst them 2 If onely Peace come from God you may from hence take a tryal of that Peace that is within you for hitherto I have been onely discoursing of Civil Peace whether it be the effect of this God of Peace I know nothing more common in the World than Presumption there is a false Peace which doth not arise from the knowledge of a man's happiness but from the ignorance of his misery Peace which is onely like a Torch to shine in the night or like Players that glitter onely by Torch-light so is the false Peace men cherish in their bosom meerly upon this account because they do not bring their souls to the light of the Word they never had it from this God of Peace Because 1 God never speaks Peace to a Soul but in the way of holiness and obedience And therefore you shall find 't is the counsel of the Scripture Acquaint thy self with God and be at peace Our Peace is found in the way of duty and there are none who are more blessed with the Peace of Conscience than those who with the greatest fervour frequency and delight maintain communion with God in holy Duties For as friendship among men is cherished and preserved by visits and conversations so our Peace with God is preserved by those visits we make to Heaven in prayer 2 That Peace that comes from God always causes in us a war with sin for God's Covenant with us is Offensive and Defensive and therefore it is impossible any person should have true and solid Peace that waking tranquility of Soul which is the reward of holiness and obedience who entertains sin for every sin thou dost wilfully commit 't is an act of hostility against God 't is that which makes him thy Enemy and makes thee an Enemy to him As Jehu said What Peace so long as the Whoredoms of thy Mother Jezebel and her Witchcrafts are so many So What Peace can there be so long as thou dost indulge thy self in sin and make it thy business to gratifie thy outward senses though it be to the displeasure of God 'T is the greatest mercy in the World to rob such persons of their Peace and to discover to them their danger they are onely capable of true peace by the knowledge of that which is false Therefore bring your selves to this Tryal Whether or no doth that peace which now you please your selves in cause in you an eternal hatred of sin Doth it set you at a distance from your most beloved Lusts Then it is that Peace that springs from God The greatest part of the World are in a state of War with God though they do not feel the effects of that War True indeed God doth not always draw the Sword either of Famine Pestilence or War against a Nation and yet they may be acting in a most hostile way against God So for a person God may not blast thy estate or send Diseases upon thy person or raise a Tumult in thy Conscience and make a

when as they who stand fast do even force a good Testimony from their Enemies So it was the unhappy chance of Cranmer the Papists did perswade him to subscribe and did he get any honour by it No truly they did upbraid him and reproach him and so he had dyed in a raving condition had not the Lord been merciful to him I remember a speech of St. Austin about drinking of Healths Oh! say they 't is upon the King's Birth-day and we cannot avoid it If we deny it say they we shall be reproached and scorned of men He gives them many Answers to it but one as I remember was this God will so work that if you will not comply with them they in their hearts will honour you and whereas if you did comply with them they would dishonour you and say you are base spirited That is one thing of this Point that keeping close to Jesus Christ will get you this Reward you shall walk with him in the white of honour they shall walk in the white of honour with his People and it may be with the World too 2 They shall walk in white in the white of peace and joy and inward comfort I shewed you in the opening of the Text how the Scripture calls that walking in white Then the Point is this What ever becomes of the other white of honour in the World they shall be sure of this that abundance of peace and joy and comfort shall possess their souls that keep their garments white they shall walk in the inward white of joy and peace with Jesus Christ and this is a blessed Reward Indeed now this joy this white of joy arises in the Soul three ways 1. From the Testimony of their own Consciences Oh! they who have a good Testimony from their own Consciences walk in white 2 Cor. 1.12 We have this for our rejoycing the Testimony of our Consciences that in all simplicity and godly sincerity we have our conversation in Heaven that is walking in white this is our rejoycing our Conscience speaks well of us and kindly to us and who is able to express the sweetness of this thing None can know what this is but they that have it as it is said of the New Name written upon the white Stone Rev. 2 1● 'T is a thing beyond expression what the joy an● peace of a good Conscience is Now this I say that our white Garments and our walking in white ariseth from the Testimony of our Consciences 2. As from the Testimony of our Consciences so from that Testimony which is greater than out Consciences the Spirit the shedding abroad of Divine Love thus it is with those that do not defile their Garments but endure any thing rather then defile their Garments Rom. 5.3 4 5. And not onely so but we glory in Tribulations knowing Tribulation worketh Patience and Patience Experience and Experience Hope and Hope maketh not ashamed and whence was all this because of the Holy Ghost which was given to us this causeth joy unspeakable The Spirit it self beareth witness with our Spirits that we are the Children of God This Witness doth cause wonderful joy much more then the witnesses of our own Consciences 3. This ioy doth arise from that well-grounded hope which that Soul hath that keeps himself clean hope of enjoying Heaven at last hope of future glory is our present joy Rom. 5.2 By whom also we have access by Faith into this Grace wherein we stand and joyce in hope of the glory of God Now they who keep their Garments white have good ground of hope of the love of God therefore this must needs cause them to walk comfor ably as they who have this hope purifie themselves so they who purifie themselves have good ground of this hope and therein great cause to rejoyce Pet. 1.5 6. Who are kept by the power of God brough Faith unto Salvation ready to be revealed in ●e last times wherein ye greatly rejoyce though now for 〈◊〉 season if need be ye are in heaviness through many emptations We walk in white in the hope we have of that In●eritance Now lay these three things together ●f they who keep their Garments undefiled have ●he Testimony of their own Consciences and the ●estimony of the Spirit shedding the Love of God ●n their hearts and a well-grounded hope of fu●ure ●lory how can it be but these must walk in white ●ith Jesus Christ that is in comfort and joy of ●e Spirit and of their own spirits Thus David walked he had abundance of joy up●n the Conscience of his own integrity and keeping his heart and hands clean from those iniquities ●is enemies charged him with Ps 3. The Lord shall ●udge his people Judge me O Lord according to my ●ighteousness and according to mine integrity that is in ●●e He appeals to the Lord the Lord shall judge ●is people Judge me O Lord according to my ●ighteousness Thus he appeals to God himself he ●ad so much confidence and his heart gave him ●hat he kept himself from those iniquities So Job walkt in white though his Friends blackt him exceedingly yet he walked in white in his Conscience Job 16.19 Behold my Witness is in Heaven and my Record is on high I have not onely a Witness in my Conscience but my Witness is above He walked in white notwithstanding all his afflictions from God and his Friends Hezekiah walkt in this white when death 〈◊〉 him in the face Lord thou knowest I have we upright with thee I need not stay in the proof of the thing let 〈◊〉 make some Use and Improvement of it Vse Is this blessed reward to those who ke●● their garments white to walk in the white of peac● and joy then here we see the happiness of all tho●● who are true to Christ and his wayes Psal 119. ● Blessed are the undefiled in the way who walk in th● Law of the Lord. 'T is just in the Language of 〈◊〉 Text they indeed shall walk in white it is a grea● part of our blessedness to have peace of conscience and inward joy Oh how much better is it that the peace and joy of this world and the comforts of this world Prov. 15.13 A merry heart or as another Translation saith A good Conscience and indeed a merry heart and a good Conscience do but one explain the other a merry heart or a good Conscience is a continual Feast Here is no● surfeiting in this feast but a continual Musick co●tinual joy and comfort oh how blessed are the● who are undefiled in the way That which Christ said of the Lilly Solomon 〈◊〉 all his glory was not arrayed like one of these so may I say of the Lilly-white soul that keeps himself white in the world who keeps himself white i● matter of practice and worship Solomon in all 〈◊〉 glory was not arrayed like one of these Lilly-white ones Oh the Rivers of Consolations that flow to them that keep themselves out of

THE Second and Last Collection OF THE Late London Ministers Farewel Sermons Preached by Dr. Seaman Dr. Bates Mr. Caryll Mr. Brooks Mr. Venning And Mr. Mead. To which is added a Farewell Sermon Preached at Dedham in Essex by Mr. Matthew Newcomen And also Mr. Lyes Sermon at the conclusion of the last Morning-Exercise at All-hallows in Lumbard-street Being a Summary Rehearsal of the whole Monthly-Lectures 2 Sam. 23.1 Now these are the last words of David the sweet singer of Israel LONDON Printed in the year 1663. Price 1 s. 6 d. bound THE PREFACE TO THE Christian Reader Reader THe good acceptance which the former Collection of farewell Sermons already Published have found among the people of God together with the importunate desires of many godly Persons that were hearers of these sermons have put us upon recommending them unto the world not doubting with the blessing of God of the same success Our design in Publishing these Sermons is not to make old fores bleed or foment any ones discontent concerning the laying aside of these Reverend and Godly Ministers nor shall we mention what great losse the Church of God hath suffered in their being made useless herein wee must be silent and acquiess under this sad Providence Much might be said as to the excellency of these following Sermons but wee forbear they are of age let them speak for themselves but thus much we are bold to say Here lurks no Snake under these Herbs no poysonous Serpent under these fragrant Flowers no root of errour no slip of Schisme no fruit of disobedience whatever some men may prejudge concerning them These Sermons do breathe forth the holiness and plainness of the Preachers spirits who were very laborious and prosperous in the work of the Ministry and although they be not so Notional and Rhetorical as many may desire yet they are substantially profitable and fitted to the capacities of their Auditors indeed they may well be stiled the Spiritual mans directory to the Caelestial Canaan the names and memories of the judicious and learned Authors of these Sermons are so precious to us for their great worths and eminent abilities that we cannot but rejoyce at the publication of these their labours that are so proper and genuine and that these are such we are confidently assured If thou question the truth of this come and see do but peruse them their features will shew who was their Father sic oculos sic ille manus sic ora ferebat If thou seriously peruse them thou shalt find much cause to encrease thy tears in the remembrance of those faithful Labourers that sin hath deprived England of We commend them therefore to thy perusal and the blessing of the Lords Grace in whom we are thine in all Christian Service Farewel Doctor SEAMAN's Farewel SERMON HEB. 13.20 21. Now the God of Peace that brought again from the Dead our Lord Jesus that great Shepherd of the Sheep through the Bloud of the Everlasting Covenant make you perfect in every good Work to do his Will working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ to whom be glory for ever and ever AMEN THE Apostle being now upon the conclusion of this Epistle after a very large discovery of Jesus Christ in all those things that belong to his Person concerning his Nature as God as Man and concerning his Offices especially concer-cerning his Priestly and concerning the blessings and benefits especially in the matter of his Sacrifice doth in this last Chapter insist on matters Hortatory and in the words draws near to a conclusion which contains a Prayer wish or desire which he puts up unto God in the behalf of them in order to their good and benefit Now the God of Peace that brought again c. In which words considered by themselves there are two things considerable 1 The matter of the Apostle's Prayer 2 The grounds which he doth insinuate for Audience In the things he desires the Matter of the Prayer is laid down in the 21 v. and is summarily and generally propounded in several expressions yet nevertheless so as they have their Specialities belonging to them In the beginning he shews what he aims at make you perfect c. In general it refers to their Sanctification that they might be throughly sanctified as to their inward man and outward Conversation as to those things that belong to them in the Habits of their Minds and external Carriage The grounds which the Apostle uses by way of insinuation for Audience are contained in the words of the 30th verse wherein we have a very large Description of the Person prayed unto The God of Peace that brought again from the Dead our Lord Jesus c. He describes him under such Notes and Marks as serve much for inlargement and inforcement in the matter of his Prayer But here a Question may arise Seeing Grace is the thing the Apostle principally desires and 't is usual with holy men both under the Old and New Testament 〈◊〉 ●hoose out such Attributes as sute most with their part●cular occasions and are most agreeable to those requests they have Why he doth not apply himself to God as the God of all Grace but rather the God of Peace Therein first the Apostle seems to make use of that same liberty which belongs to holy men As there is in the general a liberty left to God's People from God himself Paul in this place makes use of that liberty he had as to the manner of Prayer using such a description of God as seemed good to him at the present But secondly If he be the God of Peace it follows he is the God of Grace If God hath glorified himself so far among the Hebrews as to reconcile them to himself by the bloud of Christ then there is no question God will proceed further and having provided for those things which appertain to their Justification no question but he will for those things that are necessary to their Sanctification Therefore the Apostle argues plainly from Justification to Sanctification He that justifies his People through the bloud of Christ sanctifie you by the Spirit of Christ make you perfect to do his Will working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight c. so desires we should be sanctified on the consideration of our Justification having provided for Justification by the bloud of Christ follows Sanctification by the Spirit of Christ 1 Thes 5.23 And the very God of Peace sanctifie you wholly c. That God who is allay'd to you the God of Peace and hath provided for you Peace I desire he would further provide Sanctification for Sanctification is nothing else but the effect of that Grace which is procured for Believers through the bloud of Christ There is no access to God for sanctification of our Natures until we prevail with him for the Justification of our Persons and he first shews himself to be a God of Peace by

Priests and Levites were forced to flee their own places and possessions 2 Chron. 11.13 14. 4. Sometimes by Suspension Thus a time there was When it was said to the Seers see not and to the Pr●phets prophesie not Isai 30.9 10. Thus a time there was when People would have Pastors but would not endure faithful Jeremiah and a time there was that there was a Law made Look ye speak no more in the name of Jesus Acts 4.18 And a time there was when Paul and Timotheus and Silvanus were forbid to preach to the Gentiles as 1 Thes 2.15 16. Thus we see the Lord hath inflicted this dreadful Judgement on a people and the Lord hath divers wayes and methods and meanes to in●●●● it 3. Consider The Church and people of the Lord hath been very sensible of the Lords hand in this Judgement as we may see in Psal 74.1 and 〈◊〉 verses compared Why what is the matter as if they have said God was wont heretofore to give us signes and tokens he would even work miracles for us the Lord would send us some Prophets to converse with and instruct us we had those that could tell us how long our troubles should last but now we see no sign the Lord leaveth us as it were to the wide world and how sensible was the Lords Church in this judgement as ver 1. of that Psalm This is the first endeavour We are to he duely sensible and deeply apprehensive of the inflicting cause of such a Judgement and that is the Lord himself 2. Of the meritorious Cause and that is Sin Say not we it is long of such or such but it is long of our selves we may thank our selves for this and we appeal to your selves whether this judgement may not be charged 1. From the general unflexiblenesse untractablenesse of people under the Ministry of the Word For this very cause the Lord plagued and poured his vengeance upon the Ten Tribes as in 2 Kings 17 from ver 13 to 19. The Lord testified against Is●ael by all the prophets and by all the Seers saying Turn you from your evil wayes notwithstanding they would not hear And for this very cause did the Lord afterwards plague all Judah as Jer. 29.17 18 19. And for this very reason did the Lord Jesus Christ remove Paul from Jerusalem because the people ware a st●ff necked people and they would not receive Paul's estimony concerning Jesus as Acts 22.18 Paul had a great desire to stay at Jerusalem as appeared by his reasoning with the Lord ver 19 20. But what saith the Lord Christ ver 21. N●w can England can London plead not guilty of this hainous provocation a generval unflexiblenesse untractablenesse under a Conscience-ransacking a Conscience-searching Ministry 〈◊〉 shall the Lord do with such a people under 〈◊〉 Ministry Is it not just with God to let them al●● that are prophane and superstitious let there be●● people like Priests let the blind lead the blind 〈◊〉 let the wicked rebellious Minister lead a wicked lo●●● people that both may perish together everlastingly 2. The unfruitfulnesse formality luke-warmnesse declining of Gods own people and for this the Lord threatens the Church of Ephesus Rev. 2.4.5 I have saith Christ somewhat against thee thou hast left thy first love though not absolutely for nature yet eminently for measure And can England can London plead not guilty of this sad provocation Now indeed we cannot but observe and approve of your flocking to the Lords Ordinances as Doves to the holes of a window but did you do so some moneths agon Oh your voluntary and fearful distractions avocations diversions from the worship and service of God! And is it not just with the Lord to take away that bundance and choice of spiritual helps a people had when they approved not of them yea when th●● undervalued and despised and abused them 〈…〉 Lord God help us all to affect our souls and to ●ay our selves low before his all-seeing Majesty for our provoking him to do this and endeavour to be duly apprehensive and deeply sensible of the inflicting cause and meritorious cause thereof 2. Take heed of a prophane delight in loose lewd wicked dissolute Ministers And here we will premise two or three things 1. Too many people are too ready to cavil at many M●●sters without a cause The life of our blessed Lord and Saviour was it not traduced did not some say that he was a friend to Publicans and sinners We 〈◊〉 Christ was cavill that and 〈…〉 And thus the holy Apostles their 〈…〉 they went through evil report as well as good report 2 Cor. 10.2 And thus Ath●nasius who was traduced for an Adulterer by the Ariant and so Auther and Calvin are represented and reported by the Papists as if they had been the vildest creatures in the world The wicked man cavils at and finds spots a● least do w●at he can to find spots in the Sun some who are not so wicked do look for an Evangelical perfection in Ministers and all their● their wives and their children and their Servants and their company how ready are people grosly and uncharitably to censure a Minister for any yea the least they discern in him or his and is this their vertue nay is it not their vice and corruption 2. It is no breach of the Churches peace no argument of a contentious and unquiet spirit in a Minister to speak vilely of vile Ministers and enemies of the Churches peace Why who are they John-Baptist tells us he calls them vipers a generation of vipers why were they not Preachers Mat 3.7 and will you say that John Baptist was a man of a contentious spirit of an unquiet spirit And who were they whom our blessed Saviour calls a generation of vipers as Mat. 12.34.38.39 who were they that our Saviour calls a generation of vipers and an evil and adulterous generation were they not Preachers it is very observable both John Baptist our Saviour did call those Preachers th●● even in the hearing of them who were their ordinary hearers and do but observe what strange tearms of disgrace S. Peter gives them 2 Pet. 2.12 to certain Preachers in his time ver 14. what strange tearms doth the Apostle give those Teachers whose pernicious wayes many would follow as in ver 2. of that chap. but did not the Scribes Pharisets sit in Moses Chair and did they not preach some good Doctrine 〈◊〉 much that Jesus Christ bids the people hear them and observe what they said though not what they did as Mat. 23.1 2 3. Therefore may some say It seemeth strange that Christ should thus disgrace the Scribes and Pharisees was not this the way to make their Ministry contemptible First It is very clear and undeniable that there were a generation of pitiful sorry Teachers as in Mat. 9.36 Why did not the people enjoy the teaching of the Scribes and Pharisees yes they did but the Scribes and Pharisees were

Idol Shepherds they knew not how to feed their flock and therefore Christ lookt on the people as sheep scattered abroad for all the Scribes and Pharisees They did not understand that there was heart-murder or heart-adultery untill our blessed Saviour instructed them The Scribes and Pharisees they did but strike at the bough only but our Saviour preached with authority and not at the Scribes did And withall I answer Secondly That beyond all peradventure our blessed Saviour saw that although the Scribes and Pharisees did teach some truths yet by their life and doctrine they did more mischief then good and therefore the more credit they had among the people the more mischief they were like to do and therefore from hence our blessed Lord and Saviour calls them a generation of vipers But I hope you will not count it an argument of the breach of the Churches peace to speak vilely of a vile Ministry It was no more than John Baptist did and then our Saviour did Thirdly No mans sin deserves so sharply to be reproved as the sins of Ministers because their sins of all others are the chief sins committed in a land at the Sanctuary prophanesse too too often begins Therefore when Gods people met in their publick fa●●● made 〈◊〉 confession of those 〈◊〉 of the first magnitude by which they had most provoked the Lord they do 〈◊〉 confession chiefly of the sins of these Magistrates and their Ministers Neh. 9.33 34. The Jews there bewailed the sins of their Magistrates and Ministers as the particular cause of their plagues On the sins of the Teachers are the Teachers of sin and therefore no mans sin deserves to be so sharply reproved as the scandalous sins of Ministers Now if you love your souls take heed and beware of a prophane delight in lewd loose dissolute Ministers We find the Lord complaining of the wickednesse of the Prophets and of the Priest and People Jer. 5. ult the People did take a prophane delight in false Prophets and in polluted Priests and so likewise in the Prophet Micah chap 2. ver 11. the people although they did oppose the Prophet Micah and other true Prophets yet they did approve of and delight in false Prophets such ●s were of their own leven their own way and mould such as would flatter them and promise them wine and strong drink and are there not many such people in the world that had rather hear such a Minister than such as preach close-walking with God and of getting to Heaven under pain of damnation Will you cry up and will you prophanely delight in a Ministry that shall preach Peace Peace to all prophane rebellious people in short such a one as will poyson you in his Doctrine or in his example Thirdly take heed and beware of sinful idolizing of godly faithful Ministers the Apostle decries this with much zeal ardency and fervency of spirit what is Pauls planting and what is Apollo's watering 1 Cor. 3.5 6. as excellent gifts parts and graces as these men had ye● they look higher so it is your duty to look ab●●● 〈◊〉 parts and above 〈…〉 and graces Paul and Apollo cannot give 〈◊〉 Paul indeed may plant but there is no rooting 〈◊〉 of these plants but by Christ And read ver 7. it is God and he only that can give increase as Elisha's Servant could carry his Masters staffe and lay it on the dead child but the Child could not be raised to life untill Elisha came himself thus g●dly faithful Ministers can but lay Gods Message before you but unless the Lord set it to the heart never a dead soul can be raised from the death of sin to the life of grace and holinesse Remember godly and faithful Ministers although they have the Lords Sword yet they have not the Lord Christs Arm and alas what can the Lord Christs Sword do without his Arm Fourthly take heed of being leavened with prejudice against the Ministry of the word because of the misdemeanour or miscarriage of the Minister Surely the efficacy of the Word and Sacraments doth not depend on the quality of the Minister It is the word of the Lord that converts not the person of the Dispencer or Speaker A seed that is sown in a good soyl may yea will grow and thrive although perhaps the Sower had a very dirty hand as 2 Cor. 2.3 the Apostle tells the Corinthians that they are saith he the Epistle of Christs Ministry by us the Hand is Christs Ministers are but the Pen. Hence it was that the Ministry of the Scribes and Pharisee● was not to be rejected but to be esteemed so long as they failed not in the substance thereof and hence the Apostle rejoyceth that Christ was preached of the false Apostles Phil. 1.15 16 17 18. though out of envy take heed therefore and beware of a total separation from disserting of and forsaking Church assemblies and yet I conceive it is a very rare thing for unconverted Ministers to convert some For what saith the Lord by the Prophet Zephania Zeph. 3.1 2 3 4. Oh saith the Lord to Jerusalem that bath such Prophets and such Priests woe to such a City to such a Country to such a Parish and what saith Christ himself in Matth. 15.14 Let them alone oft times it falls out so that it made Archbishop Abbot speak in a Lecture of his and professe that his heart did even bleed within him to think of the precious souls of many people who had such Ministers that if they had not been in the Ministry they would not have been fit Hogherds f●r Swine And yet we must remember not to tie the efficacy of the word and Sacraments to the goodnesse or badnesse of a Ministers person Fifthly take heed and beware of being leavened with prejudice against all Ministers because of the vilenesse and monster-like unbeseeming carriage of some Ministers It hath been granted over and over that some Ministers evil licentious carriage and conversations are notorious the Lord knows too many Ministers have Esau's hands with Jacobs voice what then must this redound to the general disgrace of all Ministers Because some professors of the Law live lawlesse must therefore all be censured and condemned for lawlesse livers Because Judas was a Devil and a Son of perdition will you therefore say that all the Disciples of Christ were naught Perhaps you do know some Sir Johns some blind Seers some blind Watchmen who know not Heavens way some blind Droans Or secondly some that carry themselves insolently as Jer. 20.1 2. as Pasher did Or thirdly some that are too too like that evil servant in the Gospel as Luke 12.45 Or perhaps you know fourthly some apostatizing Demusses who embrace this present world and revolt from their principles and profession as 2 Tim. 4.10 Or perhaps yo● know fifthly some aspiring and climbing Deatrephes 〈◊〉 3 John 9. Perhaps you know some such as these as I have instanced what then is there any profession as

when death affliction comes Jonas lay quietly asleep till the storm came O my Friends we must shortly lie a dying the Lord knows how soon O what wil you do for comfort in a dying hour all other comforts may forsake you before that time you may meet with sorrow heavy afflictions so that all your friends in the world wil not do you good your friends may fail your hearts may fail then no comfort but the comfort of the Holy Ghost will do you good the time may come that all your friends may pr●●●● miserable comforters when God comes to 〈◊〉 with the so●● to set sin home upon the conscience to lay sin before us then what will you do We are all guilty of sins of omission and sins of commission when these come to be changed upon the soul what will you then do Then no plaister of comfort wil stick but those of the Spirits laying on unless the Spirit seal up the pardon of sin the love of God to the soul nothing will be quiet and comfort the soul however men may be merry for a time yet there is a time of sorrow that will come when they shall reflect upon their ways when they shall see nothing but sin behind them and terrors before them Oh! what amazement will seize upon their souls they have no interest in God in Christ they have no interest in the Promises there is nothing that will comfort you unless you have an interest in the Spirit But then what shall I do that I may get this comforting Spirit into my Soul First Thirst earnestly after it The promise is made to those that thirst after it Isa 44.3 Thirst after him in his convincings in his humblings in his sanctifying mercy Oh let the desire and longing of thy soul run out this way no matter for an Estate no matter for friends and outward comforts if thou hast the Spirit of God thou hast that is paramount to all outward comforts Secondly Pray earnestly for the Spirit You are not so willing to give your children what they want as God is to give his Spirit to them that ask it Cry mightily Lord give me thy Spirit and cry to the Spirit and say as Laban to Jacob Come in so pray the Spirit so come into thy Soul Thirdly If you would have this Comforter to come and abide with you You must resolve to become Christs Disciples It is only for such that Christ prays that God would send the Comforter you must hearken and obey him and follow him wheresoever he goeth You know the terms upon which you must be Christs Disciple Matth. 16 24. He must deny himself and take up his Cross and daily follow Christ He 〈◊〉 deny him-self There is two selfs in a man nay three selfs and they must be denied but however 〈…〉 two must be denied if you intend to be Christs Disciple 1 A mans righteous self If any thing that we are that we have or can do from our works or duties any thing of our own all must be denied in point of Justification 2 Sinful self A mans corruptions must be denied pride passion and love to the world 3 Natural self Friends Estates Relations Credit and Honor and outward comforts these may be denied you may be called to part with them but if they come in competition with Christ they must be denied 2 You must take up the Cross of Christ rather then forsake his honour or disobey his commands You must resolve to follow Christ wheresoever he shall lead you either in a way of active or passive obedience you must take up Christs load you must undergo his burden Now Christians are you resolved upon this now sit down and consider what it will cost you to be Christians and if you would have the best you must be contented with the worst and if you are resolved upon this then you are the true Disciples of Christ and you are under the promise of his comfort and Christ is praying the Father to send you another Comforter who shall abide with you for ever The second use of Exhortation 2 Use Is of Exhortation wherein I shall apply my self to the true Disciples of Christ those that have had communion with Christ in his sanctifying presence labour after communion with him in his comforting presence To all others that are without the Spirit of God I may say as Jehu to Jehoram What hast thou to do with these things Labour to be convinced of the need and want of Christ but such as have been partakers of the Spirit of Christ as a sanctifying spirit labour after communion with him as a comforting spirit and to this end I shall stir you up to this 1 By way of Motive 2 By way of Comfort First By way of Motive Though you have some comsort it is but little in comparison of what you may have and in comparison of what you may stand in need of though a Saint would not change the saddest hour of his life for the sweetest hour in his former condition If the Saints of God did enjoy the comforts that they might oh what blessed lives might they live but they are so full of trouble as if there were no holy Ghost the Comforter The people of God are oftentimes troubled without a cause as that holy man Why art thou cast down oh my soul He could not render a true account of his trouble he was sad but he could not tell why or wherefore 2 When there is cause they are apt to be troubled without measure In those cases where it is a sin not to be troubled at all the people of God are apt to be troubled overmuch as the Israelites in their bondage in Egypt It were a sin for them not to be troubled but they were so full of troubles that they could not hearken to Moses and Aaron and so the Disciples in the Text it were a sin for them not to be troubled for the absence of Christs body but so to be troubled as if God could not comfort them without him this was their weakness And to come to our case it were a sin to slight this Dispensation of God that is coming upon us if we should not be troubled for the loss of the Ministers of Jesus Christ but to mourn before God under the sense of this Dispensation to mourn so much as to think that when these are gone all is gone to be so much troubled as not to hearken to the words of the Text That we have a Comforter I remember an admirable expression of a child to his mother when his father was dead to shew That out of the mouths of Babes and Sucklings God can manifest his praise Why Mother says the child though my Father be dead yet God is alive May I not say so to you Though your Ministers be as it were naturally dead yet is not God alive is not the Spirit of God alive Though you have some

God and to the Word of his grace which is able to build them up and to give them an inheritance among them that are sanctified And truly my dearly beloved in the Lord this is my great work now when I am a dying to you as to my publick preaching My Beloved I am very sensible that it is a very sad and solemn thing for a Minister to be rent from a people that he loves as his own soul that he hath laboured among for to bid adieu to these solemn meetings wherein I have preached to you wherein we have mingled our sighs and our tears before the Lord wherein we have rejoyced and sat down together before the Lord at his Table now to think that I must minister with you and for you no more in these Ordinances methinks it is a beart-breaking consideration to think that I am now dying in this Congregation to think that I am now dying whilst I am preaching but this is my comfort under these sad thoughts that I can commit you to God and to the Word of his grace to one that is able to keep you and to build you up and to give you an inheritance among them that are sanctified Like a dying Father I can commend you to the care of such a Friend infinitely able to supply all that I could not do for you It is the comfort of a dying Father when he sees his children weeping round about him that he can commend them to a faithful friend willing to do that for them that he desired to do and a thousand times more I would hope that I have some children that I have begotten to Christ by my Ministry towards whom my bowels yearn but this is my comfort that I can put them into the arms of their and my heavenly Father of their and my blessed Redeemer to be kept by the power of God There are many poor souls that are yet in the gaul of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity and if the Lord hath seen good I would fain have seen of the travel of my soul in their salvation but I can commend them to God who knows them who belong to his Election he can either restore me or can do it by another hand and you that are in any measure grown in grace I would be willing to be helpful to your joy and instrumental to your comfort but I commend you to God who is able to give all grace to you and to keep you steadfast It will be some alleviation of sorrow that though● must leave you and die to you as to your Ministry 〈◊〉 I hope I may a while go up and down and converse with you to be among you The Lord grant this favour that he may behold your steadfastness 2. This may be your comfort as well as mine the may be the comfort of all those your Congregations that are like to be made Widows by the Metaphorical death of their Guides and Pastors but I leave you in the hands of all grace and of all comfort This is a black day upon Israel when so many faithful Ministers are slain at one blow this is a day of gloominess and darkness in many Congregations for so many Ministers to be beheaded in one day What hath England commanded is it not some high Treason If we look to the cause of it why so many Ministers are as dead in one day as so many children without a Father And if we look upon the cause what hath caused God thus to deal with us we must complain Oh! our unfruitfulness our fearful unthankfulness under the mercies of God! This will be the Emphasis and fling of our grief and this should be the matter of our grief And then if we consider the sad Prognostick what it doth seem to foretell It is a sign that when God layes aside so many faithful Ministers of some scourge and calamity that is coming upon us But you that can lament this judgement you that can lament the sad deprivation of these powerful Ordinances Remember that though your Minister be dead God can raise you up others in their stead and where the way of instruments are wanting he can do it without them and those that are begot in Christ shall be preserved and those that are yet unbrought in who belong to the Election of Grace shall in Gods due time have the effectual work of the Spirit wrought upon their Souls For he is able to build you up and to give you an Inheritance among them that are sanctified And though I take this solemn leave of you as to this publick Exercise yet if the Lord shall open the door and take off those bands of Death that the Law hath laid upon my Ministry in regard of Conscience who cannot conform for which our publick Ministry is suspended I shall chearfully and willingly return to you in this place But now though your dying Minister in respect to the Exercise of his publick Ministry is leaving of you yet I commit you into a safe hand I commend you to God and to his Grace Amen Mr Pledger 's Farewell Sermon Rev. 2.9 10. I know thy works and tribulation and poverty but thou art rich and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews and are not but are the synagogue of Satan Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer behold the devil shall cast some of you into prison that ye may be tried and ye shall have tribulation ten days be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life IN the former verse you have the superscription and description of this Epistle the superscription by the mouth and hand of John to the Angel of the Church of Sinyrna that is the Ministry of the Gospel or 〈◊〉 Colledge of Presbyters As the whole Tribe of Levi in Malachy is called the Angel of the Lord so here the whole Tribe and office of the Ministry is called the Angel Angel is not a term that signifies a single person but a name of Office Then for the Description These things saith the first and the last which was dead and is alive He is described by his eternity by his suffering and by his reviving I shall not speak of this nor of the verses following the Text. I shall speak of the Inscription or Narration of the Epistle in these two verses wherein you have 1. A Commendation 2. An Admonition a piece of heavenly Counsel 1. You have a Commendation I know thy works c. I like it well the pains thou takest in my service for my servants sake I know how thou hast suffered I take 〈◊〉 well I consider all the reproaches that are vomited out against thee 2. Then you have the Counsel 1. Fear none of these things 2. The Arguments to set it on 1. 'T is the Devil that shall trouble you he is the prime Agent he that never took a good cause Thou hast certainly God for thee if