Sermons of Christ, Title page – To the reader
SERMONS OF CHRIST HIS Laſt Diſcovery of Himſelf, Of
The Spirit and Bride.
The Waters of Life. And,
His free Invitation of Sinners to come and drink of them.
From Revel. 22.16, 17.
By WILLIAM GREENHILL, an unworthy Servant of the Lords.
He that refuſeth inſtruction, deſpiſeth his own ſoul, Prov. 15.32.
The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge, and the ear of the wiſe ſeeketh knowledge, Prov. 18.…5.
LONDON Printed by R. I. for Livewell Chapman at the Crown in Popes-head-Alley. 1656.
TO ALL His Chriſtian Friends, More eſpecially To thoſe, the Author of theſe Sermons walks with, in the Fellowſhip of the Goſpel, doth he Dedicate the ſame.
TO THE READER.
THat theſe Sermons ſee the Light is more from the Auditours than the Author of them. Some being affected in hearing were importunate to have them publiſhed, urging they might bee of uſe, not only to doubting Saints, and deſponding Chriſtians, but alſo to thoſe were dead in Sins and Treſpaſſes. Hereupon after ſome ſtruglings in my ſpirit, I was willing to expoſe my ſelf to Cenſure, rather than to grieve my Friends by a denial, and with-hold thoſe Truths by which poſſibly ſome poor Soul or other might gain ſome little Spi…i…ual advantage.
Reader, although theſe Sermons were taken by the Pen of a ready Writer, and printed as they were taken, yet look not for that Spirit, Power, and Life, was in them when Preached. The Preſs is a dead thing to the Pulpit. A Sermon from thence is like Meat from the Fire, and Milk from the Breſt; but when it is in Ink and Paper, it's only cold Meat and Milk, it hath loſt its lively taſte, though it may nouriſh and become a ſtanding Diſh, to feed upon daily. There is this benefit in Printing, that when the Preacher is abſent, or dead, the thing printed may bee at hand and ſerviceable.
Reader, if thou lookeſt for high Notions, quaint Expreſsions, new Opinions, strong Lines, inticing words of mans Wiſdom, or any thing to pleaſe a fleſhly mind, I muſt ſay to thee, as Peter did to him in the Acts, Such ſilver and gold have I none, but what I have I give unto thee, viz. plain and naked Truths, according to the ſimplicity of Chriſt and the Goſpel. Wouldeſt thou know what is to be had here? If thou be ſhaken in theſe ſtaggering times, here thou maiſt ſee what a Root Chriſt is, bearing up all. If thou ſtumble at Chriſts meanneſs in the World, here thou ſhalt underſtand of what Royal Deſcent he was. If thou be in the dark, and know not the right way, here maiſt thou behold Chriſt a glorious Star to direct thee. If thou be dull and ſad, here mayeſt thou hear the ſweet Voyces of the Spirit and Bride to quicken and comfort thee. If thou bee thirſty, here is water, and Water of Life prepared for thee. If thou be ſinful, and ſo ſinful as thou feareſt Chriſt will not ſave thee, here ſhalt thou finde many clear demonſtrations, how willing Chriſt is to ſave ſinners. If thou finde not a willingneſs in thee to have Water of Life, here is diſcovered how that willingneſs may be wrought in thee. If thou bee ſecure and ſleepy, here are tidings of Chriſts coming, of what concernment that is, and what preparation thou art to make for it, which may help to awaken thee. In a word, here thou haſt the laſt diſcovery the Lord Chriſt gave forth of himſelf, and of his mi…d. He had oft before diſcovered himſelf what he was, as to be the Meſsiah, Joh. 4.25, 26. to be the Reſurrection and the Life, Joh. 11.25. to bee the Bread of Life, Joh. 6.35. to be the Light of the World, Joh. 8.12. to be the good Shepherd, Joh. 10.11. to be the true Vine, Joh. 15.1. to be the Way, Truth, and Life, Joh. 14.6. to be Alpha and Omega, and here he ſaith, I am the Root and Off-ſpring of David, &c. which being the laſt declaration of himſelf, doubtleſs hath ſomething conſiderable in it, as will appear in the Work it ſelf.
William Greenhil. Stepney the fifth of the ninth Month. 1655.