Last Sermon, Title page – To the reader
GOSPEL-LOVE, HEART-PURITY▪ And the FLOURISHIN… Of the Righteous.
BEING The laſt SERMON… of the late Reverend Mr. Joſeph Caryl.
London, Printed and are to be ſold by … Hancock, Senior and Junior, at the ſign of the three Bibles in Popes-head Ally, over-againſt the Royal Exchange in Cornhil. 1675.
THE EPISTLE TO THE READER.
Chriſtian Reader,
THeſe Sermons were preached by the Reverend Author of them a little while before his Entrance into …ſt. I cannot learn that the oc…ions of them were extraordinary, or that he had any deſign in them beyond that which accompanied the ordinary courſe of his Miniſtry; much leſs a purpoſe to publiſh them, a… conceiving them either more uſeful, or more needful, or more laboured than the reſt of his conſtant and frequent Exerciſes in the ſame kind. Neither did he leave any ſuch Copy of them as might be helpful towards ſuch an end. But they were taken from his mouth by the diligence of a Dexterous Hand, who at firſt deſigned nothing bu… his own uſe and edification by them; untill obſerving how ſoon after th… preaching of them, God was pleaſe… to call him off from his Painfu… Labour in his Vineyard, and ſo t… cut ſhort all expectations of farthe… adminiſtrations of Truth and Grace by the Truſt and Diſpenſation committed unto him; he reſolved t… make them publick, for the good an… benefits of others. And as herei… he followed his own Inclination and Judgement; So if any thing be found in theſe Diſcourſes as to Phraſe of Speech, or manner of Expreſſion, not anſwering that Accuracy, which this Author was known to have uſed in all his Writings publiſhed by himſelf; he alone muſt bear the blame of it, from them who think ſuch defects blame worthy. Theſe things I could not but acquaint the Reader withal, that he may look for no more in theſe Sermons, but what he might have found in the Conſtant Miniſtry of the Reverend Author. But yet I muſt ſay, upon their peruſal, that take them under the Circumſtances mentioned, they give no ill or diſadvantageous Account of the Ordinary Labours and Endeavours of this Eminent Miniſter of the Goſpel. Thus did Mr. Caryl uſe to preach, ſometimes twice, ſometimes thrice in the Week, alwayes ſhewing himſelf a Workman that needed not to be aſhamed. And if I miſtake not, whoever ſhall conſider theſe Sermons with Sobriety, Candour and Judgement, as part of his Conſtant Labours, will readily acknowledge, what rich and excellent Talents he was entruſted with, and how the great Reputation which his Miniſtry had for ſo many years in the Church of God, was no way undeſerved. For my Acceſſion to this Work in a Prefatory Diſcourſe, it aroſe meerly from the importunity of the Publiſher and Bookſeller, as they both well know, and will acknowledge; wherein I ſee nothing my ſelf of uſe or advantage, but only that I may tender ſatisfaction to the Reader, that he is not Impoſed upon by any Spurious Offspring fathered on ſo great and worthy a Name. Somewhat alſo I was inclined unto a Compliance with their deſires, that I might make uſe of this Advantage dirty Rode, wherein there is not any thing of Chriſtian Sobriety, or common Ingenuity from firſt to laſt to be found. Yet what Violences have been offered unto the Sacred Truths of the Goſpel in Important Articles of Faith, and other things ſcandalous to Chriſtian Religion, will in another way be called to an Account, as ſome of them have been already; whereunto a Return may be expected of raging and beſtial Calumnies, and no other. Here I ſhall not farther Indiſpoſe the Reader unto the ſerious peruſal and Improvement of the enſuing Spiritual Diſcourſes, wherein there is more Worth and Uſe, more that will turn unto a Refreſhing Account at the laſt day, than in a thouſand Clamorous Conteſts managed with Pride and Paſſion, what ever pretences they may be gilded withal.
That he who miniſtred this ſeed to the Sower, would multiply the ſeed ſown, and give it an Encreaſe in the fruits of Righteouſneſs among them that through his Providence ſhall be made partakers of it, is the Prayer of
Thy Servant in the Work of the Goſpel, John Owen.