Could my excuse have satisfied you, this Sermon had been confined to the Auditory it was prepared for: I cannot expect that is should find that Candour and favour with every Reader, as it did with the Hearers. When it must speak to All, the guilty will hear, and then it will gall. Innocency is patient in hearing a reproof, and charitable in the interpretation; but Guilt ⟨image 6⟩will smart and quarrel, and usually make a fault in him that findeth one in them. Yet I confessed this is but a poor justification of his silence, that hath a Call to speak. Both my Calling and this Sermon would condemn me, if on such grounds I should draw back: But my Backwardness was caused by the reason which I then tendered your Lord-ship as my excuse, viz. Because here is nothing but what is common, and that it is in as common and homely a dress. And I hope we need not fear that our labours are dead, unless the Press shall give them life. We bring not Sermons to Church, as we do a Corps for a burial: If there be life in them, and life in the Hearers, the connaturality will cause such an amicable closure, that through the Reception, Retention, and operation of the soul, they will be the immortal seed of a life everlasting. But yet seeing the press hath a louder voice then mine, and the matter in hand is of such exceeding necessity, I shall not refuse upon such an ⟨image 6⟩invitation, to be a remembrancer to the the world, of a Doctrine and duty of such high concernment: though they have heard it never so oft before. Seeing therefore I must present that now to your eyes, which I lately presented to your ears, I shall take the boldness to add one word of Application in this Epistle, which I thought not seasonable to mention in the first delivery; and that shall be to your Lordship and all others in your present case, that are elected members of this expected Parliament. Be sure to remember the interest of your sovereign, the great Lord Protector of Heaven and Earth: And as ever you will make him a comfortable account of your Power, Abilities, and Opportunities of serving him, see that you prefer his interest before your own, or any mans on earth. If you go not thither as sent by Him, with a firm resolution to serve him first, you were better sit at home:
COuld my excuse have satisfyed you, this Sermon had been confined to the Auditory it was prepared for: I cannot expect that is should find that Candor and favour with every Reader, as it did with the Hearers. When it must speak to All, the guilty will hear, and then it will gall. Innocency is patient in hearing a reproof, and charitable in the interpretation; but Guilt ⟨image 6⟩will smart and quarrel, and usually make a fault in him that findeth one in them. Yet I confest this is but a poor justification of his silence, that hath a Call to speak. Both my Calling and this Sermon would condemn me, if on such grounds I should draw back: But my Backwardness was caused by the reason which I then tendred your Lord-ship as my excuse, viz. Because here is nothing but what is common, and that it is in as common and homely a dress. And I hope we need not fear that our labours are dead, unless the Press shall give them life. We bring not Sermons to Church, as we do a Corps for a burial: If there be life in them, and life in the Hearers, the connaturality will cause such an amicable closure, that through the Reception, Retention, and operation of the soul, they will be the immortal seed of a life everlasting. But yet seeing the press hath a louder voice then mine, and the matter in hand is of such exceeding necessity, I shall not refuse upon such an ⟨image 6⟩invitation, to be a rememberancer to the the world, of a Doctrine and duty of such high concernment: thongh they have heard it never so oft before. Seeing therefore I must present that now to your eyes, which I lately presented to your ears, I shall take the boldness to add one word of Application in this Epistle, which I thought not seasonable to mention in the first delivery; and that shall be to your Lordship and all others in your present case, that are elected members of this expected Parliament. Be sure to remember the interest of your soveraign, the great Lord Protector of Heaven and Earth: And as ever you will make him a comfortable accompt of your Power, Abilities, and Opportunities of serving him, see that you prefer his interest before your own, or any mans on earth. If you go not thither as sent by Him, with a firm resolution to serve him first, you were better sit at home:
