A sermon of judgement preached at Pauls before the Honourable Lord Major and aldermen…A sermon of iudgement preached at Pauls before the Honourable Lord Maior and aldermen…

IT is not unlikely, that some of those wits that are taken more with things New then with things Necessary, will marvel that ⟨p. 2⟩I choose so common a subject, and tell me that they all know this already▪ But I do it purposely upon these following Considerations. 1. Because I well know, that it is these common Truths that are the great and necessary things which mens everlasting happiness or misery doth most Depend upon. You may be ignorant of many Controversies and Inferior points, without the danger of your souls, but so you cannot of these Fundamentals. 2. Because its apparent by the lives of men, that few know these Common Truths savingly, that think they know them. 3. Because there are several degrees of knowing the same Truths, and the best are imperfect in degree. The principal growth in knowledge that we should look after, is not to know more matters then we kne• before, but to know that better, and with a clearer light ⟨p. 3⟩and firmer apprehension, which we darkly and slightly knew before. You may more safely be without any knowledge at all of many lower Truths, then without some further degree of the knowledge of those which you already know. 4. Besides it is known by sad experience, that many perish who know the Truth, for want of the Consideration of it, and making use of what they know, and so their knowledge doth but condemn them. We have as much need therefore, to teach and help you to get these Truths which you know into your hearts and lives, as to tell you more. 5. And indeed, it is the impression of these great and master-Truths, wherein the vitals and essentials of Gods Image upon the soul of man doth consist: And it is these Truths that are the very Instruments of the great works that are ⟨p. 4⟩to be done upon the heart, by the spirit and our selves. In the right use of these it is, that the Principal part of the skill and holy wisdom of a Christian doth consist: and in the diligent and constant use of these lieth the life and trade of Christianity. There is nothing amiss in mens hearts or lives, but it is for want of sound knowing and believing, or well using these fundamentals. 6. And moreover, me thinks, in this choice of my subject, I may expect this advantage with the hearers, that I may spare that labour that else would be necessary for the proof of my doctrine: