Sermon of Ecclesiastical Benediction, Title page – To the reader
A SERMON OF ECCLESIASTICAL BENEDICTION: Preached at Oundle at a Viſitation, Apr. 14. 1619. by Maſter SAMVEL GIBSON, Miniſter at Burleigh in Rutland.
DEVT. 10. 8.
The Lord ſeparated the Tribe of Leui, to beare the Arke of the Couenant of the Lord, to ſtand before the Lord, to miniſter vntounto him, and to bleſſe in his name.
BY WISDOME PEACE BY PEACE PLENTY.
AT LONDON Imprinted by F. K. for William Barringer, at the great North-doore of Pauls. 1620.
To the Reader.
CHristian Reader: This Sermon enſuing, being by command of publike Authority preached at a Viſitation, or publique meeting of Ministers, gaue ſuch content and comfort generally to all the Auditory, both for the ſoundneſſe of the matter, and fitneſſe of the argument, and ſpecially becauſe it is a point ſo ſeldome ſo fully handled: that many of vsus fellow-labourers in the Miniſterie, hauehave beene earneſt ſuiters to the Author (and hauehave preuailed) to commit it to Preſſe, both to renew the memory of many good things then we heard, and through our weakeneſſe loſt them againe; but chiefely that others might be made partakers of the ſame ſpirituall good things with our ſelues. Wherein wee hauehave done much like thoſe good natur'd Lepers, 2. Kings 7. 9. who hauing once tasted, and plentiouſly refreſhed themſelues with good things in the Aramites Tents, were preſently deſirous to communicate the ſame with others alſo. We do not well, ſaid they, this day is a day of good tydings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry til day-light, ſome miſchiefe will meet vsus. Now therfore, come, let vsus go, and tel it to others. Kneweſt thou but the ſufficiencie of the man of God that penned and ſpake it, his ſound knowledge in the Truth, his good order of teaching, his honeſt life & cōuerſation, his good report with all men, his wiſe, peaceable, & diſcreet cariage of himſelf amidſt our infinite diſtracting controuerſies: ſurely all theſe could not but ſweetly allure thee, or rather violently draw thee on to the peruſing of this ſhort Treatiſe. The Author of it ſtands vp as a worthy Minister of God, in the midſt of foure other Brethren, all the Sonnes of one Father, all learned, religious, godly Preachers, a happie Off-ſpring of Bleſſed Parents, a liuely mirrour of Gods bleſsing vponupon ſuch as conſecrate their posterity to the holy Miniſtery. They are right Samuels, firſt, by their Parents giuen to God, & againe, giuen of God to the ſeruice of the Tabernacle. Let vsus reioyce in the good of Sion, and bleſſe God for the abundant foreign of his Spirit in our dayes, if euer, plenteouſly powred forth vponupon our olde men, and vponupon our young men, the Prophets and ſonnes of the Prophets, for the worke of the Miniſtery, for the gathering together of the Saints, for the building vp of the body of Chriſt.
Thus aſſured of much comfort and profit vntounto thee, if thou wilt vouchſafe the paines to reade it ouer, heartily crauing thy prayers and praiſes to the Lord of all Spirits, both for the Author himſelfe, and alſo for vsus all his louing Brethren, we doe humbly commend thee to God, and to the Word of his grace, which is able to build thee further, and to giuegive thee an inheritance among all them that are ſanctified. Farewell in the Lord.
Thine in the Lord Ieſus, The Miniſters of Okeham Lecture in Rutland.
WILLIAM PEACHYE.
H. HARGRAVE.
Z. I.