Dr. PRAT's SERMON Preached before the Honourable SOCIETY OF THE County of KENT Novemb. 23. 1697. Martis xxx die Novemb. 1697. IT is Ordered at a General Meeting of the Stewards for the Society of the County of Kent That their hearty Thanks be given to Dr. Prat for his Sermon Preached on the 23d instant at St. Mary le Bow and that He be desired to Print the same John Cooke Treasurer Peace and Gratitude A SERMON Preached before the Honourable SOCIETY Of the NATIVES of the County of KENT Novemb. 23. 1697. At St. Mary le Bow London By Samuel Prat D. D. Chaplain to His Highness William Duke of Glocester LONDON Printed by J. Dawks for John Back Bookseller to the said Honourable Society at the Black-Boy on London-Bridge 1697. To my Worthy Friends Capt. William Wright Mr. William Rolph Mr. Henry Hene Mr. Thomas Staples Mr. Edward Simmons Mr. Sarles Goatly Mr. John Cooke Mr. Tho. Gibbs Mr. Tho. Bishop Mr. Ja. Almond Capt. Geo. Weller Mr. Henry Shers STEWARDS For the Honourable Society of the Natives of the County of KENT GENTLEMEN IT was not want of Love or Respect to your Honourable Society that made me so unwilling to Preach before you but having very little time at my own disposal and knowing how many Learn'd and Eloquent Divines now residing in the County had better opportunities of performing that Duty I was loth you should be involv'd in a discredit which my incapacity at so short a warning must needs bring upon my self And the same reason made me resolv'd against Publishing this Incorrect Discourse It will easily be granted that the other great and Sacred Charge in which I have the Honour to serve will answer for me to all the World if I don't shine very bright in the Gift of Preaching I should I hope give a tollerable account of my self if at present I should hide a great part of that Talent which at the same time I have a secret desire as all Lawfully Ordain'd Ministers ought to have of improving I must confess withal 't is my Opinion that the Advancement of Reputation with the best Judges gotten by this way of Printing Sermons has of late Years scarce compensated for the trouble while the greatest number of Readers seek rather to exercise their own parts than to add to ' em They are not so severe upon the Preacher as they are upon the Publisher and therefore seeing Men are willing to Forgive what they are too ready to Forget I think that the Ministers of the Church of England should content themselves with being generally reputed the best Preachers in the World without giving any body the trouble of Revising their Performances At lest till any other Church can equal the smallest part of what in this kind has hitherto been extant So that I had much rather you would have been prevail'd upon to excuse the omitting this of which I fear I shall never forgive my self the doing All that I can say for my self is that I ought not to decline any opportunity of shewing my Respect to the County for had I no other Obligations to it than the generous Friendship I have met with in the Noble Family at Eastwell I should think all my spare Hours very well employ'd in expressing my Gratitude Therefore it is no wonder Gentlemen if the warmth of your importunities contrary to my own Judgment and Resolutions has made me to expose my self at this time to Censure and particularly of those Men who have a low esteem for every thing that is not elaborate and polite And I have still some hopes that I shall buoy my self up when I put into the Scale of my Apologie the great Civilities that I have received from you in your Representative Capacity which have for ever oblig'd me to be GENTLEMEN Your most Humble and most Respectful Servant Samuel Prat. A SERMON Preached at the Kentish-Feast Coloss III. 15. Let the Peace of God rule in your Hearts to the which also ye are called together in one Body and be ye thankful THE Apostle in the foregoing Verses exhorteth us to Bowels of Mercies Kindness Humbleness of Mind Meekness and long Suffering that we should forbear one another and forgive one another If any Man hath a quarrel against any even as Christ forgave you so also do ye But above all these saith he and it is indeed the Root and Foundation of all these put on Charity Now here in the following Verse he recommends two other Virtues which are inseparable from such a Christian Temper of Mind to wit Peace one with another and Gratitude towards God Let the Peace of God rule in your Hearts and be ye thankful As to the First of these Peace we have here Three Particulars to be observed The Original of it it is of God the Peace of God The Property and Office of it which is to rule and govern Mens Hearts Let the Peace of God rule in your Hearts The Motives or Inducements by which the Apostle would persuade us to it are these Two In the First place the Ordinance and Appointment of God expressed in these Words unto which ye are called And Secondly The Mutual Relation which we have one to another being all of us Members in one Body First then the Peace of God called so because it is the Effects of God's Love in our Hearts hath atwofold meaning in Holy Scripture For it signifies either That that inward Peace which is the Peace of a good Conscience or that peaceable Inclination of Good-will to one another which by all the Offices of Love and Charity exerts its self outwardly The first of these is compacted between God Almighty and the Conscience of every particular Person upon a firm lively and active Faith in the Son of God and the Promises made thro' him to Mankind with hearty Repentance for Offences past and firm Resolutions of Amendment for the time to come hath a lively hope that his Sins are forgiven him thro' the Merits of Christ and that his Peace and Reconciliation is made with God as Rom. 5.1 Being justified by Faith we have Peace with God thro' our Lord Jesus Christ so that it is the Peace of God because it is the Peace which his Son procured for us there having not been that Love and Agreement between God and Man under the Law we were then Strangers and Aliens unto the Covenant of Grace Ept. 3.13 But now saith the Apostle ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the Blood of Christ for he is our Peace But that Peace which the Apostle seems chiefly to aim at in this Text is external in its Operations when a Habit of Love and Good-will one towards another disposes us to all the Offices of Charity and Kindness and particularly to a Sociable and Friendly Conversation in which it is so much the more our Parts and Duties to be engaged by how much we are assured that God is the Author of it
for this reason he is called the God of Peace as in 2 Cor. 13.11 Brethren be perfect be of good comfort be of one Mind Rom. 15.33 16 20. Heb. 13.20 live in Peace and the God of Love and Peace shall be with you And from hence we may infer that all those who disorder the Communion of Saints who break the Bonds and Obligations of Peace and Unity who disturb that Christian Fellowship and Harmony which we ought all to conserve how strictly Religious soever they pretend to be how oft soever they take the Name of God in their Mouths yet acting directly against the Dictates of God's Holy Spirit they are professedly the Opposers of his Divine Will for God is not the Author of Confusion but of Peace as in all Churches of the Saints Secondly 1 Cor. 14.33 Let us consider the Property and Office of this Peace of God that it is to rule in our Hearts This Word Rule in the Text is Metaphorical relating to the Publick Exercises of the Antients over which there were chief Officers or Judges constituted to decide any Controversy which might arise among the Candidates striving for Victory so that the Word signifies to superintend and judge Now there being a continual Conflict in the Heart of Man the virtuous Affections striving against evil and carnal Passions and the unruly Desires usurping upon and insulting over the calm and lovely Graces Hatred and Envyings against Love and Joy Strife and Emulations against Goodness and Meekness Here 's the Peace of God must moderate among 'em and give the Palm of Victory to the most Peaceable every thing that proceeds from God having a Soveraign Authority which is to be executed with all the Force and Vigour imaginable for the punishment of the wicked Doer and for the praise of them that do well But farther This Phrase Let it rule in your Hearts hath another very great and peculiar Emphasis For the better understanding of which let us reduce all Mankind to four several Tempers and Dispositions First There are those to whom this Peace of God is altogether unknown who neither possess it in their Hearts nor so much as pretend to an outward show of it Satyrs without a Metaphor that insult all Mankind like the Giants of Old and storm Heaven too with the reakings of that Hell which is always within 'em These have no Rule and Government for their Thoughts Words or Actions no Governours can please no Administration of Government oblige these Men kindness and indulgence has but little influence upon their Reason their own true Intrest less and Religion least of all These are such as Holy David had to encounter with Wo is me saith the Psalmist Psal 120.5 That I am constrained to dwell in Mesech and to have my Habitation in the Tents of Kedar my Soul hath long wish'd for Peace but when I speak of Peace they are for War These Men tho' in Times of profound Peace Live according to the Doctrine of the Leviathan in a perpetual State of War and their greatest Quarrel of all is against the very Articles of Peace as in that great one relating to our Superiours Duty and Allegiance is reproach'd as time-serving so Love and Kindness to our Neighbours as Compliance and Officiousness Temperance and Industry as mean and servile such sowr Thoughts and bitter Sarcasms is a mixture doubtless of Gall and Vinegar no less offensive to the Blessed Jesus than the cruel Sponge which was proferr'd him upon the Cross But then Secondly There are some Men who have all the external Marks of this Christian Grace we are speaking of but have not the least Impression of it upon their Hearts there is an outward appearance of Peace and Friendship in their address they are willing to enter into Societies to engage in Friendships to renew old Amities and promote new ones But these are such whited Sepulchres as the Pharises of Old were amongst the Jews there is a Root of Bitterness still alive tho' as it were deep buried Of either of these two sorts of Men I have now mention'd there are none I hope among us here present altho' some of 'em crept into the primitive Agapae or Feasts of Love of whom St. Peter takes notice as of Spots and Blemishes in their publick Meetings rity Sporting themselves saith he 2 Ep. 2.13 with their own deceivings while they Feast with you Now if we have no such among us all is well for there can be none of this Honourable Society like those Men whose Character I am now entering upon Altho' The Third Rank of Men are of somewhat better alloy than the former two for they have this Peace of God in their Hearts notwithstanding they take very little care of manifesting it by their outward Conversation I don 't only speak of such Men who neglect Opportunities of promoting Love and Charity amongst their Neighbours And who absent themselves from such Laudable Conventions as this is whereby Publick-spiritedness and Charity are as much amplyfied as Vnity But of those Persons likewise who love to manage that little good Nature they are Masters of by way of Paradox People that think and mean well and yet love to talk amiss unless it could be supposed that they speak without thinking and when the wantonness of their Wit or Genius would be loth to lye under that Censure Now both these sorts of Men tho' in some respects they may be said to have the Peace of God in their Hearts their own Consciences not accusing 'em of any mischievous Designs or so much as uncharitable Thoughts yet the Peace of God doth not Rule within 'em they receive the Spirit of God into their Hearts as a Guest but not as a Governour And this in other respects is the case of many Men who have not only Inclinations to Virtuous and Moral Duties but who are likewise well disposed to Exercises of Religion yet for want of fixing their Resolutions and giving themselves up wholely to a Spiritual Conduct they are overcome by the Treachery of some unmortify'd Adversary such as Penuriousness Peevishness Sloth Pride or the like or else by the boisterousness of that unbridled Lust which under the denomination of Wit is subservient to all the designs of Ill-nature But now The Fourth sort of Men are those which I would recommend to your Example Those which you appear to be as a Society I would have you approve your selves in your single and particular Capacities In whose Hearts the Peace of God hath not only possession but Government and Exercises a Soveraign and Uncontroul'd Authority over all the Faculties of the Soul and Actions of the Body Well then that we may the better understand the Allegory and the force of this word Rule we are to suppose in the Heart of Man two contending Parties The Spirit of Love and the Spirit of Enmity the one lays claim by a Lawful and Eternal right of Praeeminence and the other
Power and placing us in a Society whose reciprocal Obligations are Love and Peace In our Duty to our Neighbours by all the Holy Offices of Love Joy Peace Long-suffering Goodness Meekness Patience and the like considering one another as the Image of God as the purchase of our Blessed Saviour's Blood and as Coheirs of the Heavenly promises In our Duty towards our selves by Living in Temperance Soberness and Chastity as those that have possess'd their Souls with an hope of Eternal things that exceeding weight of Glory which is laid up for us in Heaven And then with a Prudent concern for publick good let our own Interest prompt us to Peace and Vnity Let us remember that it was Faction and Rebellion which threw some Angels out of Heaven and that 't is Concord and Obedience which must bring us into their forfeited Places that 't is impossible we should ever be establish'd in Peace unless we are Link'd and United together in the Bonds of Love and Charity De Civitat Dei For as the Humane Spirit saith St. Austin can never animate the Members of the Body unless they are join'd or united together so the Holy Spirit of God doth never animate the Members of the Church unless they are likewise united in Peace and Good-will But above all let a Sense of Gratitude towards God oblige us to this Duty of publick Peace and Concord since he has been so graciously pleased to disperse the dangers of a Foreign Enemy when he might have given us over as a Prey unto 'em Let us take heed that we fall into no Enmities at home and so become a Prey one to another Let the tenderness that God hath shewed to us not only teach but by all the Obligations of Love and Gratitude operate so upon us as to be much more tender of the publick than of our private concerns Let us take heed that we sleight not the late instances of his Mercy but unite our Hearts and Affections to one another by that among other Considerations of our late dangers of falling into Misery or Captivity and let us be speedy in such returns of Gratitude lest mischiefs worse than those we fear put it out of our Capacity or a greater security out of our Thoughts You sure to whom I address my self have the greatest reason of any Tribe or County of this Nation because you lye most expos'd to Foreign Invasions or to any other Insults of an enrag'd Enemy You were within hearing of the Alarm of War and the nearest to Outrage had we been overthrown You would never more have boasted that you are the only People of England that never were Conquer'd for then you would in all probability have been the first you would have found something more formidable than the Arms of Julius Caesar or even of the Norman Conqueror tho' they carried such a terror along with 'em as made the Heart and Spirits as it were of the whole Nation to retire into your invincible Corner of it You would no more have retain'd your ancient Liberties those I mean which your Ancestors had Rescued by unexampled Courage and Conduct out of a general Deflagration All the Riches and Honours and Beauties in which you excel other Counties had made your Captivity or Banishment but the more insupportable Then in such a Case Nos Patriae fines dulcia linquimus Arva Virg. Ecl. 1. had been the sad Palinode to your pretty Motto Sub tegmine Fagi Invicti But instead of that you were the first People that were now lately Blessed with the return of our Triumphant Mouarch The first that strow'd your Ave's under the Beautiful Feet of him that brought Peace And what returns of Gratitude can you make to God and the King but by possessing your Souls with the Peace of God with such a Peaceable disposition as becomes good Christians and good Subjects letting it rule in your Hearts to the which also ye are call'd together this day as it were in one Body You are call'd together not only to the Festivity but to the Duties of the Day And it is my Duty to put you in mind that seeing you now meet together with greater causes of Joy and greater marks of Prosperity than ever that you now make greater returns than ever of Gratitude to God How many Illustrious how many Prudent how many Wealthy how many Active Men will meet this day together with what Mercies received with what Abilities attain'd with what Opportunities of doing good will they come laden and will some little usual or ordinary offering of Praise serve turn will the doing that be an acceptable Sacrifice from so potent a Society which is not above the Ability of one Man Your County indeed can vie in publick Works of Charity with any in the Nation not only of the Deceased but of Living Benefactors too But these publick Works which are the Gifts of private Men should much more excite you methinks now in a publick Capacity to the doing more works of Charity than ever any Body of Men hath yet done for the Relief of private Necessities I am afraid lest you should degenerate from the Character of your Ancestors Caes they almost 2000 Years ago were reputed to have had the greatest Humanity of any People in the World and if the Humanity of Gentiles exceed the Charity of Christians then as to your parts it is as if Christ had Dy'd in vain and tho' you were probably the first Christians of this Isle yet your faith hath been in vain No Let every Man do indeed according as he is disposed in his Heart but he that doth most to the Glory of God will feel the Peace of God in a good Conscience here and everlasting Peace Tranquillity Joy and Pleasure hereafter Wherefore Brethren 2 Cor. 13.11 be perfect be of one Mind live in peace and the God of Love and Peace shall be with you Amen FINIS