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…

2. I might tell you that 'tis a time, wherein many let go the faith, and methinks the Lord Jesus does by his poor and unworthy messenger speak to this great Congregation, as sometimes he did to his Apostles, Will ye also go away? There are many that have been forward and eminent Professors of the Faith delivered to the Saints, that have made Ship-wrack of Faith and a good Conscience; will you split upon the same rock? God hath kept the truth for you, and kept you in the truth hitherto, and is coming to see whether you will cleave to it, and keep it or no. We have been sucking at the breasts of the Ordinances, and dandled upon the knees of Providences, and gone on in a smooth way of Profession: but what will you do now, when you must come possibly to suffer persecution for it? to keep the faith, you may lose your Liberty, Life, Estate. And there's a great deal of hazard upon this account, because it hath pleased God so to dispose it, as that those that should be your guides into truth, the Lord is removing them into corners. Possibly while they have been with you, you have kept the faith; but what will you do when they are gone? While Moses was with the people they cleaved to the Lord; when once he was gone into the Mount, they fell into their Idolatry, and worshipped a Calf. While Paul was at Ephesus the flock kept pure, but (saith he) I know after my departure grievous Wolves shall break in, not sparing the flock, &c. So while you have heard of God, who sends voices and warnings to scare away the Wolves and Foxes from you, possibly you may keep the Faith; but what will you do when God removes them?

3. God hath ever had in all ages of his Church, a word of his Patience to be kept, to try his Saints; and therefore it does concern you for to be valiant for the truth. In all the series of Gods dispensations with his Church, there hath been something or other of the faith of Christ, that hath cost them resisting to blood, to sacrifice their lives, to lay down all that they have for it by suffering. Now even as they, so we; if not in the same thing, yet in the same faith: we have still some word or other of Gods patience to keep, therefore we need to have on the Armour of Light; you must wrestle with the fiery Trial, for there is some Jewel that Jesus Christ puts upon you to wear, that Persecutors and Persecutions, Heresies and Heretics will scratch at, which you must hold out with loss of life to keep; and this must be till the latter part of the rage and reign of Antichrist is out; and even as you keep that, so will God keep you,