A34165:1063
A Complete collection of farewell sermons preached by Mr. Calamy, Dr. Manton, Mr. Caryl…A Compleat collection of farewel sermons preached by Mr. Calamy, Dr. Manton, Mr. Caryl…
A Complete collection of farewell sermons preached by Mr. Calamy, Dr. Manton, Mr. Caryl ... [et al.] ; together with Mr. Ash his funeral sermon, Mr. Nalton's funeral sermon, Mr. Lye's rehearsal ... with their several prayers.A Compleat collection of farewel sermons preached by Mr. Calamy, Dr. Manton, Mr. Caryl ... [et al.] ; together with Mr. Ash his funeral sermon, Mr. Nalton's funeral sermon, Mr. Lye's rehearsal ... with their several prayers.
London : s.n., 1663
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
2. In the deepest and saddest sense you have of this providence of God, watch over your own spirits, that you lay the blame of it no where so much as upon your selves. Some blame the times, and charge it on their iniquities; others are apt to blame us Ministers, and charge it on our niceness and singularity. Might my advice take place with this people, I would desire, that every one of us might lay the blame no where so much, as on our selves, for certainly, we have procured these things to our selves. I find our Predecessors the Martyrs, when by a Law Religion was changed in the Nation, and Idolatry set up, they lay the blame not on the Lawmakers, but on themselves, and their own hearts. One of them saith, All this is come upon us, because we did not love the Gospel; we were Gospellers in lip, but not in life: Much more doth it become us, whose sufferings are far less, to blame our selves more than we blame any others.
2. In the deepest and saddest sence you have of this providence of God, watch over your own spirits, that you lay the blame of it no where so much as upon your selves. Some blame the times, and charge it on their iniquities; others are apt to blame us Ministers, and charge it on our niceness and singularity. Might my advice take place with this people, I would desire, that every one of us might lay the blame no where so much, as on our selves, for certainly, we have procured these things to our selves. I find our Predecessors the Martyrs, when by a Law Religion was changed in the Nation, and Idolatry set up, they lay the blame not on the Lawmakers, but on themselves, and their own hearts. One of them saith, All this is come upon us, because we did not love the Gospel; we were Gospellers in lip, but not in life: Much more doth it become us, whose sufferings are far less, to blame our selves more than we blame any others.
3. My third Advice is this, and I beseech you take it in love, for it is out of love that it is given you; if you should perceive at this time a difference in opinion and practice among us, that are the Ministers of the Gospel in this Nation; standing, and sticking at things that others can digest, and do; and others doing things, that some of their Brethren cannot come up unto: Be not offended, thus it hath always been from the beginning; it is no new thing. Thus it was in King Edwards days. If there be any of God's servants that are Learned and Holy, and Faithful, that do now for the enjoyment of their Ministry, yield a conformity to all that is enjoined, I doubt not but many of them are grieved, that they cannot have the exercise of their Ministry without this: and we who cannot come up to this, are grieved that we cannot come up to it: the one, and the other have grief enough; add not your censures to this grief, that is already upon them. It hath been all along a merciful providence of God, that when some of his servants could not satisfy their consciences, and come up to the things that have been imposed upon them, without injuring their Consciences; yet others have had a greater freedom given them, that they could yield; and if not so, What would have become of the people of God? Therefore in those things, acknowledge there may be some providence of God, for good to you in it.