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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A70791	A sermon preach'd before the honourable society of the natives of the county of Kent, Novemb. the 17th. 1698, at St. Mary le Bow, London by John Peter, D.D. ...	Petter, John, 1661 or 2-1700.	1698 (1698)	Wing P1891; ESTC R8020	18,071	34

Mind and Inclinations at least bespeak the good Behaviour of those they Converse with and obviate the Affronts that are usually done to God and Religion in common Conversation and what is this but to let our light shine before men that they may see our good works and glorify our Father which is in Heaven And this is to devise Liberal Things for the Souls of Men to reclaim which and to minister to their most distressed Condition at such a time is the truest Compassion and highest degree of Charity we can do them by which means we shall strike in with His Majesties late Proclamation against Atheism Irreligion and Prophaness and let the World to the eternal Honour of our County see we make it our study to execute aright his Royal Will and Gracious Directions and to lend him in this as we have in every thing else our utmost Assistance in promoting the Glory of God and the publick Welfare of this Nation Then can that Complaint never be justly made of us that the Prophet Isaiah makes of those that met to Feast together in his time That the harp and the viol the tabret and pipe and wind are in their feasts but they regard not the work of the Lord neither consider the operation of his hands cap. 5. verse 12. But there remains one principal Advantage of entring into Societies not yet spoken to the blessing of mutual Friendship 't is true we are enjoyn'd to bear an universal love and kindness to all Men and the propension of our very Nature leans that way but though this holy Fire is never to be extinguish'd yet may it burn more fervently and warm some more kindly than others it ought indeed to have its degrees it ought to be more intense or remiss with respect to some than others Nature and Alliance Virtue and Merit claim the greatest share of our Affections Prudence and the dictates of right Reason enforce and recommend this more powerfully Wisdom and Counsel command us to look about and to examine whom we admit into our Bosom and Affections into our Secrets and Favour But when we have once determin'd our Choice when Nature and Kindred Country and Neighbourhood but above all Virtue and Descent fix our election then our Love and Friendship are laid on a sure Foundation we contract much of the expanded and dilated Fire and it burns more ardently and affectionately within the compass of our Friendship Love indeed is the primitive Foundation and true Cement of all Societies and when this Fire grew feeble and weak cool and indifferent in the World there was a necessity to recruit it and minister Fuel to the dying Cynders 't is therefore that Laws were made to draw Men into Corporations and Societies where they might live in dependance and expect Succours of one another but these are but subsidiary helps to repair that Love and Frienship so much decay'd in the World and these are miserable shifts which lay a constraint upon Men and do secure only the overt-act But when Friendships and Societies are cemented together by Love and Nature by Virtue and true Election there Affection becomes regular and steady because the Reason on which they are founded affords constant Charms and Attractions And because even this Celestial Fire has gone and may go out again 't is not the least important Concern of our present Meeting to stir up the old Sparks and Cynders of it to commence and enter into new Friendships and to cherish and inflame the Hearts and Affections of one another and though our Friendship is so disinteress'd and free that it has little in view beside the prospect of doing good and enjoying the sweets and delights of true Amity yet it is accompanied with other Blessings and Advantages and tho' we feel nothing but pleasure spread over our Hearts in the company and conversation of our Country-Men and Friends yet there is somewhat else of Moment that we lightly pass over without observing it For besides this Feast of the Mind there is another mighty Advantage arising from Friendship 't is a Guard and a mighty Defence to us too The Son of Syrach tells us Eccles 6. 14. 16. That a faithful friend is a strong defence or medicine of life and he that findeth him findeth a great treasure And this brings me to shew Fourthly and lastly The Liberal Man's Reward by Liberal things he shall stand or be establisht or in the Gospel sense the merciful shall receive mercy The best and surest way of establishing or securing of any Man or Society is by engaging the Affections of those in whose power it may be to offer Violence to either this is the method of Nature this the Primitive Charm whereby it drew Men together and captivated and united their Hearts this is it that in in the Primitive state superseded the use of all Laws and Constraints which as they were compulsive of doing good Offices as they forc'd and blew up the languid decaying fire of our Love and Affections took off so much from the freedom of the Will and excellency of the Virtue on which alone the happiness of Men and Societies is founded and establish'd and what more effectual course of restoring this Law and Virtue to its primitive Excellence and Freedom than by Liberality and Benificence the Charms and Attractions of this Virtue are so powerful that the Affections are not only invited and sweetned but irresistibly drawn and captivated by them we lay some Debt or Incumbrance on the person oblig'd which Nature is inclin'd to acquit it self of 't is a Burthen and Weight and it seems to be in some pain till it eases it self of the pressure Liberty is so natural that we are impell'd by the Springs of our very Constitution to Ransom and Enfranchise our selves by making at least an exchange or return of the Obligation we are but too sensible of anothers right to us of our own slavery and dependance when he loads us with Obligations and Favours and we are naturally inclin'd to regain the property of our Selves and to rise again to the common Level and even our very Enemies by the warmth of our love and kindness by our heaping Coals of fire on their Heads may have their hard Tempers sweetly dispos'd and softned and melted down And tho' I could insist longer on this and evince clearly and exemplify plainly That the very animal Nature is disposed and carried on to Acts of Gratitude yet do I chuse rather not to transgress too much on your Patience but to proceed And since by Liberality and Benificence the love and affections of Men which is the principal Foundation and best Security of Societies are sweetly engag'd and that Society and true Friendship united in Charity is as a strong Fort and Cittadel against our Enemies I think it plainly appears That devising liberal things is the best means and surest method to stand or be establish'd in this World and since I have in the former part of this Discourse laid before you the Spiritual Promises made to the Liberal or Charitable Man I hope it will no more be doubted but that he will stand or be establish'd in the next World too or that the merciful shall receive mercy To sum up all You have heard what Liberality is and what it is to devise Liberal Things you have heard what Obligations Instinct and meer Animal motion Reason Revelation and the Example of our Saviour do lay upon us to be Liberal and Charitable you have heard how advantagious and necessary it is That persons of Rank and Quality of Fashion and Fortune should distinguish themselves in this respect and in a particular manner what strong Tyes and Obligations the Nobility Gentry and Men of Fortune of our County have to out-shine others in Religious Duties in Pious and Charitable Actions you have heard what a great Improvement of the Grace of Charity it is to enter into Societies for the devising of Liberal Things not only as it respects the Bodies but also the Souls of Men you have heard lastly the Liberal Mans Reward how that by Liberal Things he shall stand or be establish't in this World and that which is to come And this I doubt not will be sufficient to make you stedfast and unmoveable always abounding in these Works of the Lord To conclude therefore May the honour of God and benefit of Mankind be the Spring of all your Actions and Devices May your SOCIETY long continue an Ornament to our Own and a shining Example to other Counties May the Indigent the Fatherless and Widows find occasion of Rejoycing from your Christian Entertainment May no Excess or Intemperance no Discord or Divisions give a just cause of Offence or occasion of Interrupting your Agapae or Feasts of Love May your Entertainment serve to Warm your Affections and to Cherish and Raise your Friendship And as the Wise Man hath it May you eat your bread with joy and drink your wine with a merry heart Eccles 9. verse 7. And whether you eat or drink or whatever you do may all be done to the praise and glory of God And May you all after a long and innocent Enjoyment of each others Society in this World be Translated to the Blessed Company of Just Men made Perfect in that which is to come Amen FINIS ERRATA PAge 3. line 23. read Law and Gospel p. 18. l. 18. r. vengeance ib. l. 23. r. peculiarly p. 19. l. 3. r. sense p. 21. l. 32. r. wine p. 22. l. 17. r. desert ADVERTISEMENTS A Sermon Preach'd before their Majesties K. William and Q. Mary's Forces at Gant in Flanders the Sunday before they march'd into the Camp 1694. By the same Author PEace and Gratitude A Sermon Preached before the Honourable Society of the Natives of the County of Kent Novemb. 23d 1697. at St. Mary le Bow London By Samuel Prat D. D. Chaplain to his Highness William Duke of Gloucester Printed for John Back Bookseller to the said Honourable Society at the Black-Boy on London-Bridge