Farewell Sermon, Note – Dedication
Tueſday May the firſt, 1660. Ordered,
THat the thanks of this Houſe be given to Mr. Baxter for his great pains in carrying on the work of Preaching and Prayer, before the Houſe at Saint Margarets Weſtminſter yeſterday, being ſet apart by this Houſe for a day of Faſting and Humiliation. And that he be deſired to Print his Sermon, and is to have the ſame Priviledge in Printing the ſame, that others have had in the like kind.
And that Mr. Swinfin do give him notice thereof.
W. Jeſſop Cler. of the Commons Houſe of Parliament.
Richard Baxter's Farewel Sermon, Prepared to have been Preached to his Hearers AT Kidderminſter At his departure, but forbidden.
LONDON, Printed for B. Simmons, at the Three Golden Cocks on Ludgate-Hill, at the Weſt End of St. Pauls ▪ 1683.
To the Inhabitants of the Burrough and Forreign of Kidderminſter in the County of Worceſter,
Dear friends,
WHile I was lately turning up the rubbiſh of my old Papers, I found this Sermon in the bottom, which I had quite forgotten that I kept, but thought it had been caſt away with many hundred others. Much of the laſt ſheet was added to the Sermon after I came from you; and I remember that when I intended to ſend you this Sermon as my farewel, I durſt not then have ſo much converſe with you, for your own ſakes, leſt it ſhould raiſe more enmity againſt you, and your diſpleaſing circumſtances of religious practice, ſhould be ſaid to come from my continued Counſels to you.
I have lately taken my farwel of the World, in a Book which I called My Dying Thoughts: My pain of Body and debility increaſing, and my Fleſh being grown to me more grievous than all my enemies or outward troubles, I remembred the benefit I often received uppon your Prayers; and craving the continuance of them till you hear of my diſſolution, therewith I ſend this, as my ſpecial farewel to your ſelves, whom I am bound to remember with more than ordinary Love and Thankfulneſs, while I am
Richard Baxter.