The Almost Christian, Title page – Publishers advertisement
THE Almoſt Chriſtian DISCOVERED, In ſome SERMONS on Acts 26.28. With a Blow at Profaneneſs.
By the R. R. Ezekiel Hopkins, late Lord Biſhop of London-Derry.
To which is added, The Upright CHRISTIAN DISCOVERED: Gathered out of the judicious Treatiſes of William Bates, D. D.
LONDON, Printed for Dorman Newman at the King's Arms in the Poultrey, Jonathan Robinſon at the Golden Lion in St. Paul's Church Yard, and Tho. Cockeril at the Three Legs in the Poultrey, 1693.
TO THE READER.
THE Excellent Preacher of theſe Sermons, was one that ſought out acceptable Words; not to tickle the Fancy, but to affect the Conſciences, in order to better the Hearts and Lives of his Auditors. He was a Perſon truly great and good; well known, not only in the Kingdom of Ireland (where he ſhined in a higher Orb) but in this of England alſo, eſpecially in the two Renowned Cities (not only for Trade, but Religion) of London and Exeter, where Multitudes ſate under his Miniſtry with great Delight and Profit. I need not trouble my ſelf or the Reader to make ſolemn Proteſtations, or to inſert Certificates under the Hands of ſeveral Perſons concerning the Authentickneſs of theſe Sermons: All thoſe that have heard him, or have read his other excellent and uſeful Treatiſes (a large Account of which, is here annexed) will eaſily be convinced by the Spirituality of the Matter, and Beauty of the Stile, that theſe are the genuine Offspring of Biſhop Hopkins.
That theſe Diſcourſes may be ſo bleſs'd to all that ſhall read them, that they may be not only Almoſt, but Altogether Chriſtians, is the hearty Prayer of the Publiſher.
A CATALOGUE OF THE Works of Biſhop Hopkins already Publiſhed.
THE Vanity of the World; in ſeveral Sermons, from Eccleſ. 1.2. Vanity of Vanities, ſaith the Preacher; Vanity of Vanities, all is Vanity. To which is added Two other Sermons; one at the Funeral of the Honourable Algernoon Grevil Eſq from Eccleſ. 9.5. For the Living know that they ſhall die. The other, on the 30th. of January, from St. Peter, 1 Pet. 2.13.14. Submit your ſelves to every Ordinance of Man for the Lord's ſake whether it be to the King as ſupream, or unto Governours, as unto them who are ſent by him, for the puniſhment o… evil doers, and the praiſe of them that do wel… In Octavo.
Diſcourſes, or Sermons on ſeveral Scriptures, Vol. I. Containing theſe following Subjects;
The Folly of Sinners in making a mock of Sin; from Prov. 14.19. Fools make a mock at Sin.
The Reſurrection of Jeſus Chriſt; Demonſtrated from Acts 2.24. Whom God hath raiſed up, having looſed the pains of Death, becauſe it was not poſſible that he ſhould be holden of it.
True Happineſs; from Rev. 22.14. Bleſſed are they that do his Commandments, that they may have right to the Tree of Life, and may enter in through the Gates into the City.
Brotherly Admonition; from Lev. 19.17. Thou ſhalt not hate thy Brother in thy heart; thou ſhalt in any wiſe rebuke thy Neighbour, and not ſuffer Sin upon him.
The Dreadfulneſs of God's Wrath againſt Sinners; Demonſtrated from Heb. 10.30, 31. For we know him that hath ſaid, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompence, ſaith the Lord: And again the Lord ſhall judge his People. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. In Octavo.
An Expoſition on the Ten Commandments; To which is added two Sermons; one on St. John 7.19. Did not Moſes give you the Law, and yet none of you keepeth the Law. The other, on Gal. 3.3 10. For as many as are of the works of the Law, are under the Curſe of the Law; for it is written, Curſed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the Book of the Law to do them. In Quarto.
An Expoſition on the Lord's Prayer, with a Catechiſtical Explication thereof, by way of Queſtion and Anſwer for the inſtructing of Youth: To which is added, A Diſcourſe upon Providence; from St. Mat. 10.29, 30. Are not two Sparrows ſold for a farthing, and one of them ſhall not fall to the ground without your Father? But the very hairs of your head are all numbred. As alſo, A Diſcourſe demonſtrating the excellent Advantages of reading and ſtudying the Holy Scriptures; from Col. 3.16. Le… the Word of Chriſt dwell in you richly in all Wiſdom. In Quarto.
A Second Volume of Diſcourſes or Sermons on ſeveral Scriptures; containing theſe following Subjects, viz. A Diſcourſe on Man's Mortality; from Heb. 9.27. It is appointed unto Men once to die, and after this the Judgment. The great Evil and Danger of little Sins; from St. Matth. 5.19. Whoſoever therefore ſhall break any one of theſe leaſt Commandments, and ſhall teach men ſo, ſhall be called the leaſt in the Kingdom of Heaven. Of Abſtaining from the Appearance of Evil, from 1 Theſ. 5.22. Abſtain from all appearance of evil.
The Nature, Danger, Aggravations and Cure of preſumptuous Sinning, with the difference between Reſtraining and ſanctifying Grace; from Preſumptuous Sins; from Pſal. 19.13. Keep back thy Servant from preſumptuous Sins, let them not have dominion over me.
Of Pardon and Forgiveneſs of Sin; from Iſaiah 43.25. I, even I am he that blotteth out thy Tranſgreſſions for my own ſake, and will not remember thy Sins. In Octavo.
Several other Diſcourſes of this Reverend Biſhop's are deſigned ſhortly to be Printed.