Twenty-Five Lectures Upon the Lords Last Sermon and Conference, Title page – Letter
FIVE AND TWENTIE LECTVRES VPONUPON THE LAST SERMON AND CONFERENCE OF OVR LORD IESVS CHRIST, With his Diſciples immediately before his Paſsion: Contained in the fourteenth, fifteenth, and ſixteenth Chapters of the GOSPEL of Sainct IOHN ▪
As alſo vponupon that moſt excellent PRAYER, contained in the ſeuenteenth Chap. of the ſame Goſpel.
Preached by that Reuerend and faythfull Seruant of God, M. ROBERT ROLLOK, Miniſter of the Kirke (and Rector of the Colledge) of EDINBVRGH.
EDINBVRGH, Printed by ANDRO HART, Anno 1619▪
TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE, Their moſt louing Friende in the Lord, SYR WILLIAM SCOT OF ELIE, KNIGHT, &c. Grace in this life, and euerlasting Glorie in the Life to come.
ALBEIT, RIGHT HONOVRABLE, the whole Scripture, and euerie parte thereof, bee of Diuine inſpiration, and profitable to teach, to conuince, to correct, and to inſtruct in Righteouſneſſe; Yet it is no abſurditie to affi…me, that ſome partes thereof, for ſome reſpectes and cauſes, are to bee preferred, and more accounted of than others. The Apoſtle giueth vsus a ſufficient proofe of this▪ while he preferreth the Goſpel to the Law, 2. Cor verſ. 3. And the Euangelistes, in ſetting downe in w…t ſundrie thinges, (Iohn 20. verſ. 30.) declare the ſame to be true in the Goſpel, and conſequentlie amongst thoſe thinges which are written, the Spirite of God would hauehave vsus to eſteeme most of thoſe thinges which hee hath more particularlie, painfullie, carefullie, and at greatest length put in Register. Amongst the which, there are none to bee preferred vntounto his laſt Sermone, which hee made to his Apostles and his Prayer vntounto his Father immediatlie before his departure. The excellencie whereof, and howe highlie the LORD would hauehave vsus to regarde and account of them, (to ſpeake nothing of the Author, I…S CHRIST, becauſe, by his holie Spirit, not onelie this, but alſo the whole Scripture, is dited,) ſhall more euidentlie appeare, if we conſider a little, first the time of the vttering of them: next, the manner: and thirdlie, the matter therein contained. The time was immediatelie before his Paſsion: for after that by his owne example, in waſhing his Diſciples feete, he had recommended vntounto them Humilitie, as a vertue most ſingular and beſeeming a Christian; hee vttereth theſe wordes, partlie in the time of the Supper, and partlie after the Supper. And wee knowe, that the ſpeaches of men, which immediatelie preceede death, as they proceede of a moste holie and Heauenlie diſpoſition, (for then all affections are layde aſide, nature reuiueth, and reaſon getteth place, then moſte wiſelie the ſoule reſolueth concerning its owne eſtate and condition, then hee teſtifieth moſt plainlie his will towardes his Children, his Seruantes, his Familie, and other Friendes whatſoeuer,) ſo are they thought worthie to bee moſte attentiuelie heard, most carefullie receiued, and moſt deeplie kept in memorie. If wee conſider the manner, ſeeing the holie Spirit taketh more paines, and is more plentifull and copious in penning heereof, than of anie other Sermone whatſoeuer, hee would hauehave vsus to knowe howe precious a Iewell they are, and howe highlie wee ought to account of them: For if wee ſearch all the Records of the LORDES Sermons in the New Testament, wee ſhall finde none ſo particularlie and fullie ſet downe in regiſter, as this is. Laſtlie, if wee conſider the matter, it is full of manifolde Heauenlie conſolations. It is true indeede, ſundrie times before, the LORD in his Sermons hath comforted his Apoſtles, and all penitent ſinners: but in no place at ſo great length, and with ſuch varietie of Heauenlie conſolations: For heere at length hee meeteth and re-encountereth almoſt with euerie griefe, ſcandale, and particular temptation that exerciſed and aſſailed their ſoules. They were ſadde and ſorrowfull, when they heard that hee was to leaue the worlde, and to aſcende vntounto the Father. Hee meeteth this, by bidding them belieue in him, and fayth in him ſhould ſupplie his bodilie abſence: and hee telleth, that the ende wherefore hee aſcended, was to prepare a place for them, that where he was, there they might bee alſo. It was a griefe to them, that they ſhould want ſuch a comfortable Guide, who alwayes directed and conducted them. This hee meeteth, by telling them, that hee would not leaue them comfortleſſe, but hee would giuegive them his Holie Spirit. They feared, that they ſhould bee depriued of manifolde conſolations, which they found in his preſence. This hee meeteth, by aſſuring them that howbeit in the worlde they ſhould finde trouble, yet in the middeſt of trouble hee ſhould giuegive and leaue them that peace that the worlde ſhould not take from them: and if they belieue in him, as the Vine-tree furniſheth the Branches, ſo hee ſhould furniſhe vntounto them ſolide and manifolde conſolations, and make them to bring foorth fruite aboundantlie. And to the intent that they might hauehave the better warrand to looke and exſpect for thoſe graces in him, as hee chargeth them by fayth to hauehave vnion with him, ſo hee chargeth them by louelove to hauehave communion amongst themſelues. The troubles and croſſes that were to befall them in the worlde for CHRISTES ſake, after his departure, might hauehave wonderfullie diſcouraged them, and brangled their fayth. This hee meeteth, partlie by fore-warning them before they came to paſſe, and partlie by exhorting them to patience, and partlie by ſetting downe manie argumentes to eſtabliſh them, Hee telleth them, that the worlde ſhould hate them, perſecute them, excommunicate them, and put them to death. Hee comforteth them, partlie becauſe hee hath fore-warned them, and partlie becauſe they had done ſo to him who was their Lord and Maſter, and partlie for the goodneſſe of the cauſe, becauſe it was for his Names ſake. Againe, hee knew it would bee no ſmall temptation vntounto them, to ſee his ſhamefull and ignominious handling, to ſee him, who was their Lord, to bee ſo wonderfullie humbled, to ſee him taken, and bound by wicked and profane men, to ſee him made a ſpectacle of deriſion, firſt in the Hall of Annas, and thereafter of Cajaphas, to ſee all ſortes and rankes of people crie out againſt him, to ſee him at laſt to bee condemned and ignominiouſlie crucified: hee knewe that this temptation would bee ſo ſtrong, and ſo vehement to brangle their fayth, that at the laſt all ſhould bee offended in him, and ſhould flee away from him, and leaue him. Of this hee fore-warneth them, and furniſheth conſolation vntounto them, notwithſtanding of their foule fall.
Now againe, if yee looke to the Prayer, it is wonderous Heauenlie and comfortable: For after that as a Prophet hee hath inſtructed the people, and the Apoſtles, nowe before (as an high Prieſt) hee offer vp his owne bodie vponupon the Croſſe, for the ſinnes of the worlde, hee prayeth moſt earneſtlie for himſelfe, for his Apoſtles, and for them who ſhould belieue through their Miniſterie. For himſelfe, That the Father would nowe glorifie the Sonne, when hee is going out of the worlde. For his Apoſtles, That the Father would alwayes hauehave a car… of them whome hee left in the worlde behinde him. And thirdlie, for all them that through the Miniſterie of the Apoſtles ſhould bee liuing to the ende of the worlde, That the Lord would bleſſe them, and by his prouidence guarde them. And ſo both the matter of the Sermone and Prayer is wonderous excellent, and in them both wee may ſee, not onelie Diuine knowledge, foreseeing and fore-telling thoſe thinges that were to come to paſſe, which, if hee had beene onelie man, hee could neuer hauehave done; but alſo a louelove vnſpeakable, and more than wonderfull, in that when the wrath of God was perſuing him for the ſinnes of the Elect, when the bitter Cuppe of the Paſſion was to be propined vntounto him, when the terroures of Death were nowe before his eyes, when Sathan, and all the power of darkneſſe, was nowe to aſſaile him, when all rankes of men were to raile vponupon him, and all his owne were to bee offended at him, when Peter ſhould denie him, Herode ſhould mocke him, Pontius Pilate ſhould condemne him, in a manner, hee was forgetfull of all thoſe thinges that ſhould come to himſelfe, and mindfull alwayes to offer joye and conſolation vntounto his owne.
Nowe this matter ſo excellent, hauehave manie learned and godlie men comfortablie and fruitfullie handeled, and amongst the rest, that famous and worthie Minister of Ieſus Christ, in the Kirke of EDINBVRGH, M. ROBERT ROLLOK, of happie memorie, for his painfull and comfortable trauels therein, and for his manifolde other graces, deſerueth to bee prayſed with the first: For hee was a man whom God beautified with manie rare gifts and graces, and whome the Lord made manie wayes to bee ſteadable to his Kirke: his vntimelie death, when the Lord first called him, did manie lament, and when their teares were ſpent, they entertained dolour and griefe in their heartes: Yea, euen nowe the faythfull, ſeriouſlie conſidering theſe dayes of decaye, (wherein that Antichriſtian rabble ſet themſelues to ſmoare the Trueth, and to bring in darkneſſe againe: and wherein by ſome, Religion is mocked, and diſdained, and ſome are content with a bare ſhowe and outward profeſſion, without power and vigour thereof, and a life anſwering therevnto) are compelled to ſigh for the great wound and loſſe that the Kirke ſuffered, as in the death of manie others, ſo namelie in the death of that most faythfull man of GOD. Through his death this Citie lost a good Citizen, the Flocke a good Pastor, the Colledge a good Rector, his Brethren a faythfull Fellow-labourer, wandering ſinners a wiſe guide, and in a worde, what ſorte of people found not ſome loſſe, and had not their intereſſe in his death? Who was more carefull than hee to hauehave GOD glorified? Who walked more carefullie with GOD? Who was more crucified to the worlde? Who was more ſeuered from all entangling worldlie pleaſures, and commodities? Who more had their conuerſation in Heauen? Who more carefull to gaine ſoules to the Kingdome of GOD, publicklie and priuatelie, by voyce and by penne, by worde and by writ, at home and abroade, aliue and dead? And his conuerſation was ſo anſw…rable to his profeſſion and calling, that the verie malicious Aduerſaries, and enemies themſelues, could not, nor durst not, charge him with anie imputation. But wee neede not, Syr, to prayſe him vntounto you, who knew him ſo well, and who was ſo familiarlie conuerſant with him; and his wordes doe ſpeake ſufficientlie to others who knew him not.
Nowe, Syr, th…ſe his LECTVRES wee graunt are not ſo abſolute as manie would require, and wee our ſelues would wiſh: for neither deliuered hee them of purpoſe that they ſhould ſee the light, neither ſawe hee them euer after hee had deliuered them▪ neither did his Schollers receiue them from his mouth on the purpoſe, but onelie for the helping of their owne memories: And yet wee trust, that ſuch as regarde more matter in edification, than delicate language, and plau…ible wordes, ſhall finde no ſmall comfort in peruſing of them: For, not onelie for the duetie wee ought to the Author, our louing Master, but alſo for your cauſe and earneſt requeſt, to whome wee are ſo much obliged, hauehave wee taken ſome, yea, no ſmall paines, heerein, (as they who are accustomed with ſuch caſes, may eaſilie conſider,) that his owne matter might bee ſette downe in his owne phraſe and ſtile ſo neare as poſſiblie wee could, that with the greater liking and approbation they might bee peruſed by ſuch as ſeeke …o bee edified.
And ſo much the more carefull were wee heerein, becauſe wee found that his other LECTVRES, publiſhed by vsus before, as on the COLOSSIANS, THESSELONIANS, and other ſeuerall Textes of Scripture, and nar…lie the Lectures laſt publiſhed, vponupon the Paſsion and Reſurrection, euer receiued with great liking and contentment of manie, who acknowledge themeſelues to bee greatlie edified thereby.
Nowe, Syr, theſe last LECTVRES, and our laboures therein, wee preſent vntounto you, to bee publiſhed abroade vnderunder your protection, becauſe moste justlie in all reſpectes they belong vntounto you: For firſt, fewe are ignorant howe louing and alwayes beneficiall you were to the Author himſelfe, from the first time yee knewe him, euen to the houre of his death, and thereafter to his Wife, and nowe you continue the ſame kindneſſe to his posthume Daughter. Next, as while hee liued hee acknowledged and profeſſed himſelfe to bee m…re oblieged to you than to anie, ſo at the houre of his death, in his latter Will, hee ordained, that whatſouer of his workes thereafter ſhould ſee the light, ſhould come out in your Name, that where his workes were read, your deſeruinges might bee knowne, and that they who gotte fruite of them, might alſo esteeme of you, and giuegive you thankes therefore. Thirdlie, for the great Paines, Exſpences, and Trauelles that yee hauehave bestowed in making them to come to the light. For by you they were gathered in from the handes of SCHOLLERS, that wrote them: and by your exſpenſes they were written ouer and ouer againe: without you they had neuer beene reuiſed and corrected: without you they had not beene made meet for the PRESSE. Fourthly, becauſe as the Lord hath bleſſed you with many worldly comforts, with an honorable eſta…e, & good account in the worlde, ſo hath hee indued you with graces of his Spirit inwardlie, with true Pietie and Religion in the ſoule, and outwardlie with an anſwerable profession and practiſe thereof vttered in the true louelove which yee carrie to all Gods Children, and namelie to thoſe who carrie the Meſſage of reconciliation, in helping and furthering them both priuatelie and publikelie, according to your power. And finallie, wee dedicate our laboures heerein to you, as a teſtimonie, that wee acknowledge our ſelues to bee manie wayes debtbound to you, for your vndeſerued kindneſſe vttered ſo manie wayes towardes vsus, and continuing ſo long without alteration.
Nowe, the Lord, who is infinite in merciemercy, whoſe louelove is conſtant, without alteration, and endleſſe, who hath hitherto giuen you plentifullie and aboundantlie manifolde tokens of his louelove, both for the vſe of the bodie and this tranſitorie life, and alſo for the weale and comfort of your ſoule in this your pilgrimage, and who hath honoured you with manie good turnes, and namelie, with louelove and kindneſſe towardes Gods Children for his cauſe, make you more and more finde the louelove of God ſhed abroad in your ſoule, ſo that you neuer wearie in well-doing, but that yee may daylie goe on forward in the courſe of ſanctification: that yee ſeeking, fearing, louing, and alwayes ſeruing him, and being comfortable to his Sainctes on Earth, yee may bee aſſured, when this ſhort life is ended, the Lord ſhall crowne you with, eternall Glorie in Heauen, with all his Saincts in JESƲS.
AMEN.
Yours in the Lord, H. C. W. A.