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…

Phil. 4.1. Therefore my Brethren, dearly Beloved and longed for, my Joy and Crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly Beloved.

From this Scripture you have these three Doctrines, 1. That the highest Officers of the Church of Christ, though they are Rulers of them, yet they are but brethren to the meanest Saints. 2. That it becomes a true spiritual Minister of Christ, to have a most vehement, ardent, strong, melting, tender affection, to that flock or people which the providence of God hath committed to his charge. 3. That the fixed, standing, flourishing, and thriving of that flock in the profession and practice of Gospel-knowledge and obedience, is matter of transcendent joy and triumph to such a godly Pastor. The fourth, which is that I would now prosecute, is this, That it is the grand and indispensable duty of all sincere Saints, in the most black and shaking seasons, to stand fast, fixed, and steadfast in the Lord.

FRom this Scripture you have these three Doctrines, 1. That the highest Officers of the Church of Christ, though they are Rulers of them, yet they are but brethren to the meanest Saints. 2. That it becomes a true spiritual Minister of Christ, to have a most vehement, ardent, strong, melting, tender affection, to that flock or people which the providence of God hath committed to his charge. 3. That the fixed, standing, flourishing, and thriving of that flock in the profession and practice of Gospel-knowledge and obedience, is matter of transcendent joy and triumph to such a godly Pastor. The fourth, which is that I would now prosecute, is this, That it is the grand and indispensible duty of all sincere Saints, in the most black and shaking seasons, to stand fast, fixed, and stedfast in the Lord.

This is a grand thing St. Paul had to say to the Philippians, when he was ready to have his head cut off; for so it was, he was beheaded for the testimony of Jesus: this is all he had to say, when in Goal, and in Bonds, and that under Heathen Romans; you are now my Joy, you are now my Crown; Oh! do but stand, and my Joy, which is but two notes above Gamut, will get to Ela: Oh! do but stand, and my Crown is studded with Diamonds: we live if you stand, though we dye when you stand. It is the great and indispensable Duty, &c. Whether these are black and shaking seasons, I have nothing to say, but I am wholly now upon your Duty Beloved, and for Gods sake let the words of a seemingly dying Minister prevail with you. There is a kind of a Maxim among some, that in case a person dye seemingly and revive again, that the last words that was heard of that person, when in a rational temper, are the only things that that person will remember, when brought to life again. It is most probably Beloved, what ever others may think, but in my opinion (God may work wonders) neither you nor I shall ever see the faces of, or have a word to speak to one another till the day of Judgement. Therefore I beseech you hear me, as those that would, and may live with me to Eternity: mark your Duty, I have spoken something concerning the Pastors Duty in the morning; now for the peoples. It is the indispensable duty of all sincere Saints, to stand fast, &c. I confess, I have a love for the whole Auditory; I have a mess for them, but my Benjamins mess is for those I