A62052:30
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
The pastors farewell, and wish of welfare to his people, or, A valedictory sermon by George Swinnock ...The pastors farevvell, and vvish of vvelfare to his people, or, A valedictory sermon by George Swinnock ...
London: printed for Tho. Parkhurst, 1662
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.
2. From the price paid for them. To feed the Church of God, which he hath purchased with his blood. verse 28. Things of the greatest cost call for our greatest care; souls are infinitely precious, ⟨p. 4⟩and therefore deserve our utmost pains; If God thought them worth his blood, we may well esteem them worth our tears and sweat.
3. From the Peril their flock was in verse. 29, 30, 31. For I know that after my departing, shall grievous Wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock; also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw Disciples after them, therefore watch, &c. If Wolves will watch to devour, shepherds must watch to defend the sheep. Those Commanders who are entrusted with a Garrison, when they are sure to have their quarters beaten up, had need to be ever upon their guard.
3. From the Peril their flock was in verse. 29, 30, 31. For I know that after my departing, shall greivous Wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock; also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw Disciples after them, therefore watch, &c. If Wolves will watch to devour, shepheards must watch to defend the sheep. Those Commanders who are intrusted with a Garrison, when they are sure to have their quarters beaten up, had need to be ever upon their guard.
Thirdly, His Prediction of his future sufferings, 1. Propounded. And now behold I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing what shall befall me there, saving that the holy Ghost witnesseth that in every City, bonds and afflictions abide me, verse. 22, 23. Christians of all men must bear their Crosses, Ministers of all Christians must look to undergo misery. And the more good a Minister hath, the more evil he must expect. The fuller the Tree is laden, the more cudgels will be thrown at it; the most fruitful meadows hear oftenest in the year of the Sith; Pious and laborious Paul was the chief Butt against which men and Devils shot. 2. Amplified, From the liberty it thereby denied them of ever seeing Paul again And now behold, I know that ye all amongst whom I have gone Preaching the Kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. verse 25. Sad news to honest hearts upon a double ground, partly their lack of him; he had told them of Wolves