An Exact collection of farewell sermons preached by the late London-ministers viz. Mr. Calamy,…An Exact collection of farewel sermons preached by the late London-ministers viz. Mr. Calamy,…

The ministerial excellencies of many ministers were collected and concentered in one Simeon Ash; he was a Bezaleel in Gods tabernacle, a master-builder, an old disciple, a Polycarp, a Christian of long standing in the school of Christ, a burning and a shining light, one whom many ministers and other good Christians called father, insomuch that it was a common proverb in this City, father Ash; and I believe, many experimentally lament over him, as the King did over the Prophet Elisha; My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof! For he lived desired, and died lamented; not only in the City, but I believe in very many places in the Country where he was known. But more particularly, there were twelve excellencies that I observed in this Reverend Minister, and my dear brother, that were as twelve Jewels or precious pearls in that crown with which God had crowned him: I shall name them for your imitation and benefit, he needs them not, for he is above our Eulogy.

The ministerial excellencies of many ministers were collected and concentred in one Simeon Ash; he was a Bezaleel in Gods tabernacle, a master-builder, an old disciple, a Polycarp, a Christian of long standing in the school of Christ, a burning and a shining light, one whom many ministers and other good Christians called father, insomuch that it was a common proverb in this City, father Ash; and I believe, many experimentally lament over him, as the King did over the Prophet Elisha; My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof! For he lived desired, and died lamented; not only in the City, but I believe in very many places in the Countrey where he was known. But more particularly, there were twelve excellencies that I observed in this Reverend Minister, and my dear brother, that were as twelve Jewels or precious pearls in that crown with which God had crowned him: I shall name them for your imitation and benefit, he needs them not, for he is above our Eulogy.

The first and chief Jewel that did beautify and adorn this our brother, was his sincerity and uprightness of heart, which indeed is not a single grace, but the soul of all grace, and the interlineary that must run through all grace: for what is faith if it be not unfeigned? what will love to God profit you if it be not without dissimulation? what is repentance worth if it be not in truth? as the body without the soul is a rotten carcass, so is all grace without sincerity; this is the soul of all grace, this is the girdle of truth. Sincerity is that which girts all our spiritual armour together, and makes them useful; what advantage is it to have the breast-plate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the helmet of hope, if they be but painted things? it is the girdle of sincerity that makes all the other parts of our armour useful. Now this excellent grace of sincerity was eminent in this our dear brother; he was a true Nathanael, in whom there was no guile; I mean, no allowed hypocrisy; and this was that which carried him through the pangs of death with a great deal of comfort; for he was able to say with Hezekiah, Remember, O Lord, how I have walked before thee in truth, and with a perfect heart. He could say with Paul, This is my rejoicing, the testimony of my conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, I have had my conversation in the world.