Two Sermons Preached at Several Visitations, Title page – To the reader
TVVO SERMONS: PREACHED AT TWO SEVERAL VISITATIONS, AT BOSTON, in the Diocesse and County of Lincolne.
BY ROBERT SANDERSON, Bachelour of Diuinitie, and late fellow of Lincolne Colledge in OXFORD.
PSAL. 122. 6. Pray for the peace of Ierusalem: they shall prosper that louelove it.
LONDON, Printed by G. P. for Iohn Budge: and are to be sold at his shop in Pauls Churchyard, at the Signe of the Greene Dragon. 1622.
TO THE RIGHT REVEREND FATHER in God, GEORGE, Lord Bishop of London, my very singular good Lord.
My good LORD:
I Had euer thought, the interest of but an ordinary friend, might hauehave drawne mee to that, whereto the despight of a right bitter foe should not hauehave driuen mee: till the Fate of these Sermons hath taught mee my selfe better, and now giuen me at once a sight both of my Errour and Infirmitie. The improbity of some good friends, I had out-stood, who with all their vexation could neuer preuaile vponupon me for the publishing of but the former of them: when loe, at length the restlesse importunity of hard censures, hath wrung both it, & the fellow of it out of my hands. So much hauehave wea stronger sense of our own wrongs, thē of our friends requests: and so much are wee forwarder to iustify our selues, then to gratifie them. How euer, if (by Gods good blessing vponupon them) these slender labours may lend any help to aduance the peace & quiet of the Church, in setling the iudgements of such, as are more either timorous then they need bee, or contentious then they should bee: I shall hauehave much cause to blesse his gracious prouidence in it, who, with as much ease, as sometimes hee brought light out of darknesse, can out of priuate wrongs worke publique good. In which hope, I am the rather cōtent to send them abroad: though hauing nothing to commend them, but Truth and Plainenesse. Yet such as they are, I humbly desire they may passe vnderunder your Lordships protection: whereunto I stand by so many deare names engaged. By the name of a Visitour; in respect of that Society, whereof I was of late a member: which founded by your Lordships godlyaRichard Flemming, and Thomas R…therham, Bishops of Lincolne. Predecessors, hath had plētiful experience of your Lordships singular both Care and Iustice i… preseruing their Statutes, and maintaining the rights of their foundation. By the name of a Diocesan; in respect of the Country, wherein it hath pleased God to seate mee: which hath found much comfort in your Lordships religious and moderate gouernment. By the name of a Master; in regard of that dependance I hauehave vponupon your Lordship by speciall seruice. Which, as it putteth a boldnesse into mee, to tender this small pledge of my thankefulnesse to your gracious acceptance: so it layeth a strong Obligation vponupon me to tender my best prayers vntounto Almighty God for the continuance and increase of his blessings vponupon your Lordship, to the good of his Church vponupon earth, and your eternall crowne in heauen.
Bootheby Paynell Linc. Nouem. 20. 1621.
Your Lordships Chapleine in all dutifull obseruance, ROBERT SANDERSON,
AN ADVERTISEMENT TO THE READER.
GOod Christian Reader, vnderstand, that in the deliuery of these Sermons (because it was fit I should proportion my speech as neere as I could, to the houre) I was forced to cut off here and there part of what I had penned: which yet now, together with that which was spoken, I here present to thy view, distinguished from the rest with this note (,,) against the lines. Thus much I thought needfull to aduertise thee (because I see men are captious more then enough,) lest I should bee blamed of vnfaithfulnesse, in either adding any thing vntounto, or altring any thing of, that which I deliuered: which I hauehave auoided, as neere as the imperfection both of my Copies, and memory would permit. Reade without gall, or preiudice: Let not truth fare the worse for the Plainenesse: Catch not aduantage at Syllables and Phrases: Study, and seeke the Churches Peace: Iudge not anothers seruant. Let vsus all rather pray one for another; and by our charitable support, helpe to beare the burdens one of another: and so fulfill the Law of Christ. Amen, Amen.