Last Three Sermons, Title page – Publishers advertisement
THE Three Laſt Sermons, PREACHED By the Late Reverend Mr. Timothy Cruſo.
Who Dyed, Novem. 26. 1697.
To which is added His SERMON On the 5th. Nov. 1697.
LONDON: Printed by S. Bridge, for Tho. Park-hurſt at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapſide near Mercers-Chapel, 1698.
TO THE READER.
THE Reverend Author of theſe Sermons, was well known for his Eminency in Miniſterial Abilities, and his great Faithfulneſs and Diligence in the Exerciſe of them, to his Honour from whom he had receiv'd them, and to whom they were wholy Due.
He had a good Ʋnderſtanding in the Viſions of God, and found out (as the Preacher did) acceptable Words to explain them, ſuch as did at once, both Pleaſe,Eccleſ. 12.10. and Profit. By his skilfulneſs in thoſe Viſions, he was as Eyes to the Blind, and by his Diligence in the Ʋſe of it, he conſum'd himſelf (like a Taper) by giving Light to others, which makes the Loſs the greater, and the Repair the more difficult.
The Argument he makes uſe of to perſwade backſliding Sinners to return to God, is grounded on the Divine Precept, and the Divine Promiſe; on the Precept, as the Ground of Conſcience, and on the Promiſe, as the Ground of Confidence; on that, as their Warrant, and on this, as their Encouragement to it.
Sin has indeed made a Separation between God and Sinners as to his Grace and Favour, though not as to his Eſſence and Power: But a New and Living Way by Chriſt (who united God to Man in Favour, by Uniting God to Man in Perſon) is opened, wherein, they who are at a great Diſtance from God, and deſerve to be ſet at an irrecoverable Diſtance from him, may have free Acceſs to him. The Command ſhows they muſt com, and the Promiſe, that with Hope they may, that makes it neceſſary to be done, and this Beneficial, if it is.
The ſwiftneſs of the Compaſſionate Fathers Motion towards the returning Prodigal Son, (who ran while he did but come) and the great Entertainment he made for him when come, ſhew, how willing the Father was, that he ſhould come, and how Welcome the Son was when he did come, ſtands upon Record to expreſs that great Compaſſion in God to Sinners (who more willingly calls them than they either are, or can) be to come at his call; and that delicate Proviſion, the beſt, and ſweetest (a Feast of Fat Things, the ſweetest Part of Meat, and of Marrow, the ſweetest Part of Fat) and thoſe ſtrong and pure Conſolations (Wine on the Lees well refin'd, one noting Strength, and the other Purity) that he Feeds them with in the Way in his Banqueting-houſe (the Houſe of Pleaſure and Feaſting) the foretasts of that better Chear reſerv'd for them in the Manſion-houſe, thoſe Everlaſting Conſolations, that are ever the ſame, always ſatiating without Loathing, and ever Renewing without Finiſhing.
This Good-Will of God to Sinners on his Part might allure them to come, but the Neceſſity on their Part to come, ſhould Compel them to it; for, their is no Medium betwixt Salvation and Damnation, nor any Way to obtain the one, or eſcape the other, but by Coming.
The Philoſopher tells us,Ar. Rh. l. 1. c. 9. that there is no Counſel about things of Neceſſity, they admit no Debate, Impoſſibility is a Hinderance to Reaſon, Difficulty is a Hinderance to Sloth, but Neceſſity Quickens to Action; and would they but ſet the Neceſſity against the Difficulty, they would either find no Difficulty, or make it none, by overcoming it, eſpecially in a Matter of that Moment, where a Delay makes the Caſe dangerous, and a total Neglect makes it deſperate.
You have Gods Call to come, let him have your Anſwer, that you will come; that you are coming (behold we come) with your Call to him to draw you that you may come, (for there is no Coming to him, but by Strength from him;) and with full purpoſe of Heart cleave to him when come; for, without it, you would not be receiv'd though you did come, for you come before you are call'd, and ſhall be ſent away as you come.
Now that what is here Publiſhed may be Read and Bleſs'd to an effectual prevailing with Sinners, to turn from Sin to God; ſo from Sin, as never more to turn to it, and ſo to God, as never willingly to turn away from him; is the ſincere Deſire
Of your Friend and Servant in our Lord. F. Fuller. April, 5th. 1698.
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Theſe Books lately Printed for Tho. Parkhurſt.
DIſcourſes upon the Rich Man and Lazarus. By Mr. Tim. Cruſo.
There is now Publiſhed, thoſe two ſcarce and excellent Books the Fountain of Life opened, in Forty Two Sermons. And a Treatiſe of the Soul of Man, in 4to. Both by the Late Reverend and Learned Mr. John Flavel Miniſter of the Goſpel at Dartmouth.
Mr. Howes Sermon on the Day of Thankſgiving.
— His Sermon for Reformation of Manners.
— His Sermon at the Funeral of Mr. Rich. Adams, M. A.
The great Duty and comfortable Evidence, keeping our ſelves from our Iniquity, open'd and applied. By John Whitlock Miniſter of the Goſpel in Nottingham.
A Perſwaſive to full Communion with the Churches of Chriſt in all Goſpel-Ordinances and Priviledges. By the Late Reverend Mr. George Day Miniſter of the Goſpel in London-ſtreet in Ratcliff.
A ſhort Hiſtory of the Late War between King William, the Confederates and the French King.