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

Our blessed Saviour, who is an unparalleled pattern and president, being to depart out of the world, and go to the Father, would not leave his Disciples fatherless. He knew the hearts of his servants were heavy, that their Master was to be taken from their head, alas! what can the Chicken do, when the Hen under whose wings they used to be clucked, and cherished was killed; therefore he commends them to God as the greatest good which his boundless love could do for them, And now I am no more in the the World, but these are in the World, and I come to thee, Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me. I pray not that thou shouldst take them out of the World, but that thou shouldst keep them from the evil, &c. Joh. 17.11, to 16. How affectionately, how pathetically doth he entreat his Father to take the care and charge of them. Father keep them, Holy Father keep them, as if he could never speak it enough. How many Arguments doth he use to persuade and prevail with his Father to be the guide and guardian of his Children. Father, I must leave them, O do thou love and keep them, that they may not be left alone. Father I beg not their immediate translation to glory, but only their preservation in an estate of grace; I desire not that they should be kept from the evil of affliction, but only from the evil in affliction, and shall I be denied. The World hates them for thy sake, and what will become of them if thou wilt not help them.

Our blessed Saviour, who is an unparralled pattern and president, being to depart out of the world, and go to the Father, would not leave his Disciples fatherless. He knew the hearts of his servants were heavy, that their Master was to be taken from their head, alas! what can the Chicken do, when the Hen under whose wings they used to be cluckt, and cherished was kild; therefore he commends them to God as the greatest good which his boundless love could do for them, And now I am no more in the the World, but these are in the World, and I come to thee, Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me. I pray not that thou shouldst take them out of the World, but that thou shouldst keep them from the evil, &c. Joh. 17.11, to 16. How affectionately, how pathetically doth he intreat his Father to take the care and charge of them. Father keep them, Holy Father keep them, as if he could never speak it enough. How many Arguments doth he use to perswade and prevail with his Father to be the guide and guardian of his Children. Father, I must leave them, O do thou love and keep them, that they may not be left alone. Father I beg not their immediate translation to glory, but onely their preservation in an estate of grace; I desire not that they should be kept from the evil of affliction, but only from the evil in affliction, and shall I be denyed. The World hates them for thy sake, and what will become of them if thou wilt not help them.