A34165:553
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.
It follows, The great Shepherd [of the sheep] I shall not spend any time in making any resemblance between the People of God and the Sheep; Only,
1. They are Sheep in respect of their Innocency. You know, of all creatures the Sheep are unarmed: other creatures, either they are armed with strength, or skin, or swiftness to guard themselves, and offend others; but the Sheep hath neither the strength of the Lion, the craft of the Fox, nor the swiftness of the Deer, and of all creatures is most weak, inoffensive, and most liable to dangers and injuries. Of all persons, Gods people are most liable to danger, and when out of Christs protection, the weakest persons in the world. 2. In respect of their Meekness. A Sheep is an Emblem of Meekness, that's their temper, and therein they imitate Christ, who hath propounded himself to be their pattern, Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly; both these qualities are expressed by the Prophet, Isa. 11. where speaking concerning the times of the Gospel, he saith, The Lamb shall lie down with the Wolf; Now, where the Prophet expresses their safety, there he expresses their Innocency and Meekness. This is the reason why the Prophet saith, For thy sake we are killed all the day long, we are counted as sheep for the slaughter; because of all creatures most liable to injuries, that which doth least resent them: And where-ever the grace of Christ comes, it sweetens the most cruel nature, and polishes the most rough disposition, and makes them to be like Christ, meek and lowly. 3. In regard of their Profitableness; for of all creatures, they are most profitable, the food as to their flesh, the cloth as to their fleece. And the people of God, however they are exposed to the contempts and injuries of the world, they are the most profitable: for were it not for them, the whole frame of Nature would fall into pieces, the Stars would fall like leaves in Autumn, and all the Elements would fall into confusion; we see it by one Lot, who kept showers of fire and brimstone from falling on Sodom, till he was got out of it. And it is the people of God, for whom this frame of Nature is continued, and when they are brought into the fold of Christ, the Justice of God will have a solemn triumph over all the world. 4. As they are liable to wandering; sheep are wandering creatures, and when strayed, not able to reduce themselves. And in this respect the people of God are sheep, they have a thousand allurements to draw them from the ways of God: