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

Let your endeavour be, that this word of grace may come with power to your souls, that you may not only hear it, but savour it, and not only read it, but relish it. O my friends, the lack of this is the undoing of thousands. What is the reason that some who seemed very fair for Heaven, fall away foully, and (as some Mariners boast) can sail with all winds, to what Haven soever they blow? truly this; the Gospel though sometimes it conquered their outworks, never surprised the royal Fort of their hearts; though it darted in some light, yet it was never received in the love of it. O therefore let me beseech you that ye receive not the grace of God in vain, 2 Cor. 6.1. Ah how sad will it be for you if your hearts be like rocks, on which the dews of grace falling, make no impression, as the Apricock Tree leaneth on the wall, but is rooted in the earth, so many seem to lean on Christ, but are rooted in their lusts; the word of grace abused is the condemnation. If grace be your enemy, ye have no friend in Heaven or Earth. The fruits of no Trees ripen so fast, the sins of no ⟨p. 61⟩men grow so great, as of them that stand constantly in the sunshine of the Gospel. If the Gospel be not a morning star to you, a forerunner of an eternal day, by ushering in the Sun of righteousness upon you; it will be an evening star to you, bringing on you an everlasting night of death and darkness. As the Ocean landeth some vessels safely at their happy ports, when it sinketh others; so the word of Gods grace will either be a savour of life unto life, or a savour of death unto death.

Let your endeavour be, that this word of grace may come with power to your souls, that you may not onely hear it, but savour it, and not onely read it, but rellish it. O my friends, the lack of this is the undoing of thousands. What is the reason that some who seemed very fair for Heaven, fall away fouly, and (as some Marriners boast) can sail with all winds, to what Haven soever they blow? truely this; the Gospel though sometimes it conquered their outworks, never surprised the royal Fort of their hearts; though it darted in some light, yet it was never received in the love of it. O therefore let me beseech you that ye receive not the grace of God in vain, 2 Cor. 6.1. Ah how sad will it be for you if your hearts be like rocks, on which the dews of grace falling, make no impression, as the Apricock Tree leaneth on the wall, but is rooted in the earth, so many seem to lean on Christ, but are rooted in their lusts; the word of grace abused is the condemnation. If grace be your enemy, ye have no friend in Heaven or Earth. The fruits of no Trees ripen so fast, the sins of no