A Trial of Faith, Title page – To the reader
Tryall of Faith, OR THE WOMAN OF CANAAN▪ On Math. 15. 21, 22, 23, 24.
Together with the Souls Sure Anchor-hold, On Heb. 6. 19.
With the Wiſdome of timely remembring our Creator, On Eccleſ. 12. 1.
…n Severall SERMONS, By Timothy Armitage, Late Miniſter of the Goſpel in Norwitch.
…ONDON, Printed by M. S. for Henry Cripps, at the firſt Shop in Popeſ-head-Alley, next Lumbard-ſtreet. 1661.
To the Chriſtian Reader.
ALthough we have not fully peruſed theſe Sermons, yet being well acquainted with the worth of the Author, we doe (not without the deſire of many) preſent theſe Notes to thy view. He was a man of a choice, humble, meek, and moderate ſpirit, of good natural endowments, heightned with no ſmal meaſure of Divine grace; of a ſound judgement, yet could bear with thoſe that erred not in the main; of a large affection, yet without affectation; of good Learning;Artis eſt … lare artem. but his Art was in Preaching to conceal his Art. His Teaching was after the manner of Gods drawing a ſoul to Himſelf, viz. Fortiter & ſuaviter, ſtrongly and ſweetly. His ſtile was even, plain, & full, and (as Anianus ſpake of Chryſoſtome) his ſpeech was never elevated to the pomp of ſpeaking,Chryſoſtomus illud quaſi peculiare cuſtodit ac proprium, quod cum ſemper ſollicitus ſit, ſemper vigilans, & noxii ſtuporis inimicus, nuſquam tamen ejus oratio in pompam elevatur dicentis; ſed tota aptatur ad utilitatem audientis: eſt enim ſtilus ipſe Eccleſiae auribus accomodandus. Sixt. Senenſ. Biblio. lib. 4. de Jo. Chryſoſt. but alwayes accommodated to the profit of hearing. In brief, He was a faithful, experimental, powerful, and ſucceſful Labourer in the Goſpel; for the Spirit of God breathed much on his heart and Miniſtry: His life alſo held pace with his Doctrine; for as his Doctrine was lively, ſo his life was doctrinal: He was beloved both of God and man. Our only grief is, we had ſuch a Preacher whom now we have not: But in the midſt of our ſorrows for the loſs of him we have refreſhment, by enjoying the iſſues of his labour; and this book being his Benjamin, which he did not live to finiſh, we humbly preſent unto you, in its native innocency, as it was midwived from his mouth by the finger of a ready Pen-man: Neither could we be ſo injurious to our departed Brother, or unjuſt unto you, as to diminiſh or add any thing thereunto; leſt, inſtead of his endeavours, we ſhould give forth our own conceptions. His intention was not to print them in paper, but to imprint them in the hearts of his Auditory. This Writing is like Milk in a Bottle, which though it wanteth the natural warmth of the Breaſt, yet being well digeſted, will afford wholſome nouriſhment and ſpiritual ſtrength. Thoſe that did hear theſe Sermons delivered by a lively voice, cannot but rejoyce in hearing them eccho'd over by the rebound of the Preſs; in which if there be any faults, you are deſired, by the ſenſe of the neighbouring words, to correct them. Thus committing the ſucceſs of theſe following pages (wherein the Author being dead yet ſpeaketh) to the bleſſing of the Almighty, We rest
Your Servants in the Lord Chriſt,
W. B.
T. A.
J. R.
Several Sermons preached by Mr. Timothy Armitage upon Matth. 15. 21, 22, 23, 24, Verſes, &c.
Verſe 21. Then Jeſus went thence, and departed into the Coaſts of Tyre and Sidon:
22. And behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the ſame coaſts, and cryed unto him, ſaying, have mercy on me, O Lord, thou ſon of David, my daughter is greivouſly vexed with a Devil.
23. But he anſwered her not a word: And his Diſciples came and beſought him, ſaying, ſend her away, for ſhe cryeth after us.
24. But he anſwered, and ſaid, I am not ſent but to the loſt ſheep of the houſe of Iſrael, &c.