The pastors farewell, and wish of welfare to his people, or, A valedictory sermonThe pastors farevvell, and vvish of vvelfare to his people, or, A valedictory sermon

When men are said in Scripture to be obnoxious to all evil, they are only said to be forsaken by the chiefest good. I have forsaken my house, I have left my heritage, Jer. 12.7. But what is the fruit of Gods forsaking his house? Cannot the building stand, though the Workman be gone? No, tis tumbling down apace, I have given the dearly beloved of my soul into the hands of her enemies. Many Pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have made my pleasant portion, a desolate Wilderness, v. 10. When this fence is removed, the vineyard is quickly destroyed. When David would pray his worst against the Churches enemies, what doth he beg? Let them be confounded, Psal. 12.5. or disappointed in all their designs; this is much, to conceive with sorrow, and to have hard labour, and then to bring forth nothing. Let them be as the grass upon the house top, which withereth before it be grown up, vers. 6. Let them perish speedily, suddenly, and irrecoverably; this is more. The former was bad, that they should take much pains to no purpose; but this is worse, that their pieces that they discharge against others, should not only miss their mark, but recoil upon themselves. But all this, and much more, vers. ult. (which the Psalmist addeth as ⟨p. 35⟩an amplification of the latter) Neither let them that go by, say, The blessing of the Lord be upon you; this is worst of all. David knew that if they were out of Gods care, they should be under his curse, and then they should be miserable indeed. As an eclipse of the Sun darkens the Creation, though the other lights of Heaven shine never so brightly; so whatsoever comforts any man enjoyeth if God be wanting, he is miserably woeful. Its Seneca's observation of Alexander, He overcame the Persians, but he slew Calistines; he conquered to the Ocean, but he slew Calistines, &c. That the slaughter of his friend drew a black line over all his honourable enterprises, and as too much shadow to a picture, sullied the glory of them. It may be said of some men, they have large estates, but no God; they have high preferments, but no God; they have excellent parts, and natural accomplishments, but no God: This want of a God gives a dash to all the other, and like Copris turns all their wine (be it never so rich) into ink and blackness.

When men are said in Scripture to be obnoxious to all evil, they are onely said to be forsaken by the chiefest good. I have forsaken my house, I have left my heritage,