forth we know not how soon death may beat up our quarters and storm our castles the next messenger that knocks may be the messenger of Death let us therefore be serious and betake our selves to soul concernments Let us consider Sabbaths were not made for nought to please an itching ear or unruly fancy but to save our souls O Lord make us diligent and careful at this time to receive spiritual good from thee Put us into thy Covenant carry us safe through this world bring us out of a natural condition give sincerity to souls that groan under hypocrisie give us a heart to know thee the Lord our Righteousnesse do saving good to us this day our last dayes are not the least but of the greatest concernment the desires of our souls unto thy Majesty is that it may go well with us at those two last great dayes of Death and Judgement O that our dying dayes and dooms dayes may be delightful and pleasant dayes to us We are but seeming Actors in a play in this world we are but a shadow how soon are we gone and our Habitations shall see us no more O Eternity Eternity Eternity that our souls must shortly launch into a vast ocean where there is a great account to be given how we have behaved our selves in this life Oh grant that we may so provide for that day that we may render our account with joy and not with grief O Lord to whom shall we go thou hast the words of eternal life make us like thy self partakers of thy Divine Nature deliver us into the mould of thy word thou knowest the condition of us let thy Word reach us all Oh Lord run up thy Sword to the Hilt in the hearts of all impenitent Sinners make thy Word sharper then a two-edged Sword O Lord thou hast done good by thy servants in their departing from us do good at this time amongst us Oh let thy strength be put forth to the conviction humiliation enlightning and converting of many a Soul this day Our strength is but small we cannot be so importunate with thee as our hearts doth desire thou knowest our state and wants do exceedingly for us above and beyond what we are able to ask or think O Lord thou art willing to do us good thou professest thou takest no pleasure in the death of a Sinner what then should hinder in all the world but a secret unwillingness in our hearts to come over to the Lord Jesus Christ For his sake by this last throw of the Administration of thy Grace let some poor fouls that sticks and stayes long in the place of bringing forth be born to Jesus Christ at this time Although this be the last Sermon in an ordinary way that ever thy unworthy servant is like to preach in this Congregation let it be a quickning Sermon an effectual Ordinance sanctified by thy Spirit to convert many and many a Soul work like a God work like thy own self let the power of the Lord be seen in the weakness of thy Servant Lord shew mercy unto all carry on thy glorious Churches design let not the gates of Hell prevail Let not the rod of the wicked alwayes rest upon the back of the righteous stand by thine in this hour of temptation though they be but weak in grace yet they have a strong God O support them and let the name of the Lord be great in the midft of them In much mercy look on these sinful Nations Oh bless our Sovereign Lord the King in his person and in his Relations thou that knowest all things doth know that it is the desire of our souls that thou wouldest bless him with a competency of Spiritual Temporal and Eternal Glory Oh make him a King after thy own heart we are resolved to wait on thee who knoweth what a day may bring forth what a God can do to the terrour and astonishment of all his enemies Let them see that the Kings heart is in the hand of the Lord and he can turn it as pleaseth him and make him the choicest instrument of thy Glory and the good of thy Church that ever was Thou art a good God in great faithfulness dost thou afflict us let us learn our lesson quickly deliver us from dulness and security Lord we pray thee let instruction and correction go together thou doest appear in thy Providence as a God that art going about to sit upon the Tribe of Levi even that is most precious as a Fullers fire c. Oh take away the dross that they may offer to God acceptable service It hath been much upon the thoughts of some of thy People that God had a scourge for the Ministry because of their failings and defects send thy Spirit with thy Rod we look upon the dispensation as corrections for Sin humble Ministers for their Defects and People for their Sins We look upon it as matter of Thanksgiving and so have cause to bless thy Name that thou countest any of us worthy to bear a testimony of thy Name Lord whatsoever thou takest from us in this World make it up with the Emoluments of another World with the Incomes of thy Grace that shall make us more glad then when their Corn Wine and Oyl increaseth We have spiritual wants and it is nothing but spiritual remedies that will cure us Oh be thou nigh unto us in all that we shall call upon thee for Oh look upon all in affliction upon those that have begged our Prayers the Lord be merciful to them lay no more on them then thou shalt enable them to bear those that complain of unprofitablenefs under the means of Grace Lord convince them convert them turn their hearts take away the stony heart and give them a. heart of flesh take away the old rotten disposition and give them a soft and flexible Be in the midst of all Congregations this day met together in the faith and fear of the Lord we beg that thy servants who have had the seal of their Ministry may now at their departure prove powerful Instruments in thy hands of saving good to their people Oh let them destroy more lusts more temptations beget quicken and raise up in the hand of thy Spirit more Sons and Daughters unto the Lord this last time then in all their lives before Be with us in this Congregation prepare our hearts to handle thy Word which is able to save our souls give us suitable affections proportionable abilities both in Soul and Body Do thou the work thou shalt have the glory Let Satans Kingdom at this time lose a little ground that those who are yet in a Christless condition may now make up the match between Christ and their poor souls And for those who have given up themselves to Jesus Christ and yet have back-slidden from him let them this evening be recovered and give up themselves to Jesus Christ in an everlasting Covenant and and in a day of Confession take a part with God and side with a power of Godliness against all things that hinder Carry thy servant through his work at this time remove corruptions give in grace let not thy word come as a slight thing but with a deep and serious impression upon every one of our hearts and all for Jesus Christ his sake but dear Redeemer To whom with thee and thy Blessed Spirit be ascribed as is most due Kingdom Glory Power and Praise now and to all Eternity Amen FINIS
THE Pastors last Legacy AND COUNSEL Delivered in a Farewel SERMON Preached at St. PHILIPS in Bristol August 24 th 1662. By Mr. Edward Hancock late Minister there London Printed in the Year 1663. Mr. Edward Hancock's Farewel being his last Sermon Preached at St. Philips in Bristol August 24. 1662. SEt your hearts to hear the words of the Lord for it is not a vain thing because it is your Life as it is continued in the 13 th Chapter of the second Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians and the 11 th Verse Finally my Brethren farewel be perfect be of good comfort be of one minde live in peace and the God of love and peace shall be with you YOu know at this time I am called to do a work which possibly may be unpleasing unto many of you even as to my self which work is indeed a strange work that is to dye a civil death whilst I am naturally alive When the Sun for this day is set I shall then cease from having any charge over you and you will then cease from having me to be your Minister I may say as one did that was going to dye a violent death I am this day to do a work that I never yet did I desire of God to give me strength that I never yet had And having been long upon this Text shewing to every one of you your several duties and my time allotted draws nigh to an end The Lord grant that it may be spent for your eternal good that so I may dye well in this respect amongst you Those that dye well do usually these five things 1. First They must endeavour to make their peace with God 2. Secondly To be in perfect charity with all men 3. Thirdly To set their House in order 4. Fourthly To give good counsel to their surviving Friends 5. Lastly To commend them all to God by Prayer First As to my peace with God in reference to my civil life although yet naturally alive I think I may in some measure say with Saint Paul in the 20th of the Acts and the 27. verse I can give up my account with joy in reference to the discharge of my duty I having kept back nothing from you of the Councel of God having taught you publickly both in season and out of season the Oracles of God Secondly Those that dye well ought to dye in perfect charity with all men I hope I do so truly having not the least thing against any man this day I was not born a man of strife actually whatever I have been passively I have been severe against your Sins though not against your Persons I am in charity this day with every mans Person though not with their Sins I have not striven against your Persons but against your Sins and the Devil I now dye amongst you in perfect charity with all men desiring the Lord to forgive all mine enemies as I do from my soul forgive them Thirdly Those that dye well must set their house in order that is a work that should not be put off until the last gasp the house that I have to set in order is not my own but the Lords it is good to do it timely you know I have made it my work for these two Moneths past to speak to the several sorts of people in my Congregation and to shew unto every one his duty and how each particular Man and Woman ought to behave themselves both towards God and Man Fourthly Those that dye well must give good counsel to their Friends the Lord grant that the words that I have spoken and am this day to speak may be remembred and practised by you The words of dying men are usually remembred Oh! that the counsels I am now to leave with you may take such deep impression in your hearts that they may never be forgotten I shall take up the greatest part of my time with counsel unto you all and then shall conclude all with the Blessing in my Text The God of love and peace be with you all I shall begin with counsel unto you all in general and what I say to one I say to all therefore attend to the last words of a dying man First See and consider that the dayes of Grace have their last the day long threatned is now come when my preaching and your hearing can be continued no longer so will it be with all your comforts and joyes they will have an end Oh! that you had seriously considered it and prized those opportunities of Grace you have had Secondly Let us heartily bless God for so many years freedom that we have had especially these last three years in sacred Ordinances however those opportunities that we have enjoyed be flighted by man yet they must be reckoned for in the day of the Lord Jesus There have been many of late have staved off Spiritual opportunities and turned their backs upon Ordinances the Lord be merciful to them if they obtain not a pardon woe be to their poor souls I am as sure and as certain to hear these opportunities mentioned in eternity with joy and sorrow as that ever the Sun did shine in the Firmament acknowledge them thankfully and especially remember these last three years about which time I have been with you and have laboured in the publick service of the Church of God amongst you Thirdly Depart not from the truths of God you have already received I may say as St. Paul doth in the first of the Galatians and ver 9. If any preach any other doctrine let him be accursed You must excuse me for want of abilities as others may have yet hath it been my work by the help of the holy Spirit according to my power to teach you out of holy Scripture those things that concerns your everlasting peace Take heed of Antinomianisme and Arminianisme never cease a total dependance on the Grace of Christ and a strict reliance on him alone for life and salvation This hath been my Doctrine from my first beginning even until now 1 John 2.24 Fourthly Oh! let Professours study to honour God Phillippians 4. I have walked amongst you with a sense upon my spirit The Professours in this City have much dishonoured God Oh! let there be zeal sincerity love humility and peace shining in the Professours of this City This is my counsel now I am ready to depart from you that your conversations may be such as becometh the Gospel Fifthly Own God in your Families breed not up Heathens in your Families to be lodged in Hell if no Family Prayer expect no Family Blessing live as those that knows there is a God and would have God to be theirs let not thy family be under a curse which it will be if thou callest not on the name of God Hast thou no care of Childrens and Servants souls it is a sign God hath no care of thine Sixthly Remember to sanctifie the Lords Sabbath breed not up thy
sorry for the affliction of Joseph should go into captivity with the first that went into captivity The Church hath a flood of persecution and mouths full of the venom of the old Serpent is spit out after them yet the Church is kept safe In the 25. of Matthew you have three famous parables of the ten Virgins of the Talents of the Sheep and Goats there you may see that the trial of the last day is according to the simpathizing with the Church Do but consider it seriously it is according as thou hast sympathized with the Church that thy tryal will then be You saw me in my Members in my poor afflicted Members you never looked after them and inasmuch as you did it not to one of the least of these you did it not to me Then shall they go into everlasting pains but the righteous into life eternal Pray remember this there will be a day of judgement and the Scripture is the rule by which all must be tryed that lives under it The love of the Brethren is the mark by which we shall be judged at the last day 1 John 3.14 We know that we are passed from death to life because we love the Brethren Those that are spiritual Brethren that have God for their Father Jesus Christ for their elder Brother new Jerusalem that is above for their Mother ought so to love one another as the Apostle saith in that 1 John 3.16 That they ought to lay down their lives for each other If God doth call for thy Estate thy Life thy Hearts Blood to be sacrificed for him thou oughtest to do it Brethren amongst other Arguments to sway with a true Son of the Church this should be one what shall I turn upon the Church of God now in affliction what a stumbling-block and cause of offence will it be to my weak Brother Brethren when God seems to call upon you saying Who is on the Lords side and who is not you are to love the Church so as if your lives did lie at stake to part with it every member should endeavour the preservation of the whole Fourthly wouldst thou behave thy self well in the day of Jacobs troubles give God no rest day nor night till he have mercy on his people until he take his rod from the back of the righteous until he make his Church a triumph and rejoycing over the whole earth Prayers and tears are the Churches weapons use no other for those are the weapons that will fell tall and stately Cedars those be the weapons that will scatter Kingdoms It is said of a Queen of the Scots that she was more afraid of John Knox then of an Army of twenty thousand men such was his prevalency in Prayer Are you living men or not do you breath or not if you are spiritually alive and living Members of the Church of Christ you cannot but lay close siege at the Throne of Grace in its behalf Dost thou pray to God and canst thou pray and forget the Israel of God Hast thou a mercenary care that thy own soul shall be saved and forgets the Church of God in misery never putting up a serious petition for Gods Israel nor mindest the afflictions of Joseph Oh! give God no rest day nor night until he hath mercy on Sion This is a successful war that you are commanded and encouraged unto in Isa 62. ver 6 7. I have set watch-men upon thy walls O Jerusalem that shall never hold their peace day nor night until he establish Jerusalem and make it the praise of the whole earth Ye that make mention of the Lord keep not silence Oh the Lord increase the number of such persons Oh! that you that are real Members of the Church would stand upon the walls and give God no rest day nor night until he hath established Sion and made Jerusalem the praise of the earth Oh! bless God for the success of Prayer when poor weak impotent crasie prayers engageth All-sufficiency and Omnipotency to do this Read Psalm 137. and the 6. first verses By the Rivers of Babylon we sate down yea we wept when we remembred thee O Zion we hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof it was no time to hear the sound of them we were not so merry They that wasted us required of us mirth saying Sing us one of the Songs of Zion Come let us have some of your zealous mirth Come let us hear you now pray in the Spirit and preach ex tempore then it becomes us to hang our harps on the willows and say How shall we sing the Lords Song in a strange Land Now we have lost our Ordinances and are given up to the hands of Heathens that reigns over us If I forget thee O Jerusalem let my right hand forget her cunning If I do not remember thee let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy Oh pathetical expression he did not shrink from the Church of God but see with what affection he speaks If I forget thee c. I must forget that which I am used to do If I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy Oh Brethren get this spirit of affection towards the Church Really Brethren I am afraid few of you are real Members of the Church were you you would be more importunate at the Throne of Grace for the Churches establishment see what you may do by importunity in that 18. Chapter of Luke from the first verse to the 8. Brethren you must pardon me because it is my last and although I am so long a taking leave of you yet will it be no obstruction unto you in your journey but a furtherance See what an encouragement there is in that 18. of Luke And he spake a parable unto them to this end that men ought alwayes to pray and not to faint Oh! faint not in your prayers for if the unjust judge that feared not God nor regarded man yet was wrought upon to avenge the poor widow because of her importunity and shall not God avenge his own Elect that cries day and night to him although he bear long I tell you he will avenge them speedily The cloud over the Church may be so thick and the estate of the Church so desperate that when the Son of Man comes he shall hardly finde faith on the earth Do you think that God will not hear his own Elect but suffer their enemies to make such deep furrows over them although he do seem long to thy carnal sense yet when his time is come he will come and not tarry therefore bear a sense upon thy spirit of the Churches misery for he that can be quiet in the Churches misery hath removed himself from the Churches light and society he hath cashier'd himself out of the mystical Body however he may seem to be in outward society Oh! therefore feel and simpathize with the Church in her misery I
you and bring you to his right hand where are joyes unspeakable and pleasures for evermore May you fare well in your Shops and in your Fields at Sea and ashore in your going out and in your coming in shall be the hearty prayers of your dying friend May you be blessed in your basket and in your store and in all things you put your hands unto and the God of love and peace be with you May you be blessed in your Yoak-fellows in your Children and Servants in your Ministers and all your relations and the God of love and peace be with you May you be blessed in the exercises of your graces and duties and Ordinances and the God of love and peace be with you and make them easie fruitful and delightful May you fare well in the hour of death the God of love and peace then speak peace unto you and shew his reconciled face unto you in Jesus Christ May you fare well at the great day of Judgement and the God of love and peace then set you at his right hand smile upon you acquit and dissolve you May you fare well in the day of eternity and the God of love and peace then lead you to the fountain of living waters to the enjoyment of himself that sorrow and sighing may then flie away that you may live in praising and singing Hallelujah in the Quire of Angels to all eternity May none of you here present know what Hell means so as to feel the Torments thereof but that you may enjoy the Kingdom of Heaven where the God of love and peace shall be with you May mine enemies do well though I know but of few except those who were once my friends those that are the God of love and peace be with them and bless them for ever Those that have spoken ill of me the good will of him that dwelt in the Bush be with them and pardon all their sins enrich them with Grace and bring them to his heavenly Kingdom I do from my soul forgive them and earnestly desire of God that I may know what it is to live in their company to all eternity whose favour here I could not gain This I can say there is none I have more heartily loved then my enemies to do good for evil to pass by provocations hath been my endeavour let them enjoy the love of God whose company here I could not enjoy May my friends be rewarded let them be reaping in the day of eternity for every good thought word and work towards me however so unworthy seeing it was done in the name of a Prophet let them receive a Prophets reward the upper and the nether springs be their portion all the graces and priviledges of the Gospel be bestowed on them and the God of Grace and Glory be with them I cannot say more the Sun is even down my civil life is near an end my strength is almost spent but the remainder shall be spent for your good Let all the treasures of Divine Love be the reward of all those who have shewed love unto me May every particular Family in this place be blessed Let every House wherein I have been and every person therein be blessed especially those Families wherein I have been particularly engaged Let every one of them be the heir of Temporal Spiritual and Eternal Glory the Lord binde up their souls in the bundle of Life Now as to my Administrations Farewel Sermons and farewel Sabbaths farewel Fasting and farewel Exhortations farewel this House and farewel this Seat for ever farewel my Preaching farewel your Hearing and farewel your Faces in this place and farewel this world when we shall arrive at eternity both old and young My Brethren and Sisters all farewel and God give us himself which is all in all And now to conclude with the farewel in my Text and so to commend you all to God by Prayer which is my last work Finally my Brethren farewel Be perfect be ye of one minde be of good comfort live in peace and the God of love and peace be with you all Amen Mr. Edward Hancock's Prayer before his Farewel Sermon at St. PHILIPS in Bristol August 24. 1662. Holy Lord God Thou who art the Spring of Being the Root of the World the Foundation of all the Centre of Immortal Souls unto thee shall all Flesh come Souls must have vent they have not a competent happiness at home to live upon they must look out and seek abroad and it is vanity to give vent to the Soul any way except upwards Prayer is the greatest vent and hearts ease in all the world unto immortal Souls Lord at this time lift up our Hearts by Prayer unto thee in and through the Lord Jesus Christ O Lord we are unworthy to come into thy presence at this time truly we do confess it being considered in our state of Nature Oh how were we by the transgression of our first Parents born Children of Wrath and Heirs of eternal Damnation and our whole Life ever since hath been a life of Sin and actual Rebellion against thy Majesty Alas we are unworthy to pour out our desires before thee we are Dogs yet truth Lord the Dogs may eat of the crumbs that fall from thy Table O Lord are there so many now about thy House and shall none of them be filled with good things that they be not sent empty away O Lord thou art a bountiful House-keeper that deals out a large deal of spiritual gifts for every poor soul that is poor and hungry and empty in his own apprehension Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven Thou hast bid us open our mouths wide and thou wilt fill them Oh open our mouths abroad our hearts do thou open at this time that they may be filled O Lord time would fail us strength would fail us and memory would fail us to make a particular recapitulation of all our Sins and Transgressions committed against thee We carry bad hearts about us hearts that are never weary of offending a good God that waits that he may be gracious O Lord we would fain lay open the desires of our souls before thee it is pardoning mercy and healing mercy we would beg of thee for Jesus Christ his sake pardon all our Sins original and actual and wash our souls in that fountain opened for the house of Judah and Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness Change our natures chain up our corruptions Oh subdue our iniquities and give us thy Holy Spirit For by nature we are prone to all wickedness we have not a rag to cover our nakedness Lord cover us with the Robes of Christs Righteousnesse O Lord we pray thee bring us into the bond of the Covenant sanctifie our hearts and lives for ever to the honour of thy great Name Take this opportunity of working upon us deal with us mightily by thy Spirit who knows what a day may bring