Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n
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A39739
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A sermon preached at Christ-Church, before the governors of that hospital, on St. Stephen's day by William Fleetwood ...
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Fleetwood, William, 1656-1723.
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1691
(1691)
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Wing F1250; ESTC R21005
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20,165
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36
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IMPRIMATUR Z. Isham R. P. D. Henrico Episc Lond. Ã Sacris Jan. 7. 1690 1. A SERMON Preached at Christ-Church BEFORE THE GOVERNORS OF THAT HOSPITAL ON St. STEPHEN's Day By WILLIAM FLEETWOOD Rector of St. Austin's LONDON Printed for Edw. Brewster and Ric. Chiswell at the Crane and at the Rose and Crown in St. Paul's Church-Yard MDCXCI To the Right Worshipful Sir JOHN MOOR Kt. and Alderman President of CHRIST'S HOSPITAL London To the Worshipful MATTHEW HAWES Esq the Treasurer And to the Rest of the Worshipful Governors of the said Hospital Gentlemen IT was with great readiness that I undertook the Preaching of this Annual Sermon and it is not with any great reluctance that I submit to the Printing it I propose the same end and entertain the same hopes of doing good by it now as I did then and somewhat the more I promise my self by how much farther it may chance to spread I am loath to say that the Absence of a great many Persons whom I looked for whom Custome and the obligation of their Trust should call together on these Solemn good Occasions might furnish me with an excuse for making publick this Discourse if otherwise I wanted one For if it be necessary men should hear these things we must pursue Them when they fly from Us and give them Opportunities out of course when they will not take them in the appointed Seasons But I hope there is no need of any Excuse for doing this It is an excellent Subject I have taken in hand and greatly concerns us all but those especially whom God hath bless'd with great Estates Whether I have treated it well or no will best be seen by its effects for if that be the best Sermon which brings forth the best Fruits it will depend entirely upon You whether This shall be a Good one or no. Make it I intreat you in the name of God as good as possibly you can and let the Poor and Needy in their several kinds both see and feel that you like and love to practice as well as read a Sermon upon Charity The God of mercy and compassion keep and bless you for your Care and Faithfulness in the discharging that good Trust reposed in you and raise you up continually Benefactors to support the constant great Expence that you are at To the Glory of his Great Name the Honour of our Holy Church and Nation and this great City in especial manner and to the comfort of his poor and needy Servants I am Gentlemen Your most Affectionate and most Humble Servant W. FLEET WOOD. GALAT. vi 10. As we have therefore opportunity let us do good unto all men especially unto them who are of the household of Faith SAINT Paul being about to conclude his Letter to the Galatians and having heard 't is very likely that the Pastors of that Church were much neglected exhorts them to the exercise of due and decent liberalitytowards the Ministry in the 6th Verse Let him that is taught in the word communicate to him that teacheth in all good things Agreeable to what he saith 1 Cor. 9. 11. If we have sown unto you spiritual things is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things Do ye not know That they which minister about holy things live of the things of the Temple and they which wait at the Altar are partakers of the things of the Altar And lest any one should object that this refers to the Jewish practice and concerneth not the Christians He adds in the 14th Verse Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel And foreseeing what Excuses and Pretences men would make some That their Families were to be maintain'd others that they had not wherewithal and all of them shifting it off as well as they could he proceeds in the 7th Be not deceived God is not mocked Don't think it such a light and trifling matter this that I have mentioned God will not suffer himself to be despised and mocked in the Persons of his Ministers He that despiseth you despiseth me and he that despiseth Luke 10. 6. me despiseth him that sent me i. e. God saith our Saviour And tho he may for a while defer his Judgments yet he will one day in its proper season punish the Contempts and Injuries that are pour'd upon his Servants And lest they should think that all that goes besides their own hands were lost and so should be withheld from contributing as they should and ought to do He tells them That whilst they were doing good they were in a manner sowing what in time would rise up to a plenteous Harvest that it was not thrown away that they advanc'd to this or any other other good purpose that they serv'd a very Righteous and a Faithful Master one that would not forget their labour of love in ministring to good Ends and good People One that was able and engag'd by frequent Promises to make them good amends and fair Returns for all the expence they should be at on his account and One that on the other hand would take a strict account how 't was they spent the Stock he made them Stewards of in this life how they employed the Talents he committed to their trust For what a man soweth that shall he also reap for He that soweth to the flesh He that considers nothing but the necessities conveniencies and pleasures of this life without regard to or provision for the next he that seeketh his own only and looks after nothing but himself and mindeth neither God nor God's Servants shall of the flesh reap corruption the Harvest shall be answerable to the Seed sown he shall heap together what shall come at last to nothing Whereas he that soweth to the spirit he that liveth a spiritual life whose heart is with God whose thoughts are above and who mindeth heavenly things and whose Actions consequently are guided by God's Rule and accordingly does all the good he can this Man shall from this Spiritual Seed reap life everlasting And then by way of encouragement adds And let us not be weary of well-doing whilst we are here on Earth let us be doing all the good we can let us with chearfulness and readiness of mind be exercising our Charity to good people and sowing to the Spirit all we can for in due time we shall reap The Apostle persists in his Metaphor still and distinguishes the Seasons of sowing and of reaping Now is the time of sowing whilst we live now is the season of doing good whilst Christ in his Gospel shines upon us in this life and the time of reaping is that to come Solomon says that he who observeth Eccl. 11. 4. the winds shall never sow and he that will in like manner wait till the world goes well with good men and all things succeed to the desires of the charitable and bounteous person before he will do good