Sermon Preached at Shadwell-Chapel, Title page – To the reader
A SERMON PREACHED AT Shadwell-Chappell IN YORKSHIRE.
By Thomas Hardcaſtle Miniſter of the Goſpell.
Publiſhed by ſome of the Hearers for their own Vindication and the Worlds Satisfaction.
Prov. 18.17.
He that is firſt in his own cauſe ſeemeth juſt, but his Neighbour cometh and ſearcheth him.
Mat. 5.11, 12.
Bleſſed are ye when men ſhall revile you and perſecute you, and ſhall ſay all manner of evill againſt falſly for my Sake.
Rejoyce and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in Heaven; for ſo perſecuted they the Prophets which were before you.
London Printed in the Year 1665.
To the Reader.
Reader,
THis Sermon was preached at Shadwel Chappel in the Weſt-riding of Yorkſhire, June 18. 1665. being the Lords day, where ſeveral times before at the requeſt of the Inhabitants (the place being vacant) the Author had beſtowed his pains; when the Sermon was finiſhed in the forenoon, ſeverall Bailiffs upon colour of … warrant from three of his Majeſties Juſtices of the peace within the ſaid Riding; requiring them from time to time to apprehend all perſons riotouſly, ſeditiouſly, and impudently aſſembled at any unlawful Conventicle or Meeting, did Apprehend five and twenty of the hearers, and brought us before the aforeſaid Juſtices, who upon the Act made by this Parliament to prevent and ſuppreſs ſeditious Conventicles, committed us to the Gaol for two Months and three weeks; we not being conſcious to our ſelves of any the leaſt ſeditious deſign or practice againſt the King or his government, and deſirous likewiſe to clear our innocency to the World, have printed the Sermon, as it was taken in ſhort-hand by ſome of us, without any addition, alteration or correction by the Authour, which we did purpoſely wave, that the matter might appear in greater ſimplicity and plainneſs; we not looking on it as any offence, to be at the publick worſhip of God, on a publick day in a publick place; if the Author had not a licenſe to preach as we hear ſince is pretended, we conceive that did not belong to us to examine. The main deſign thou ſeeſt then of making this Sermon publick is our own vindication from the imputation of Sedition and faction, which effect we doubt not but it will have among all ſober and peaceable-minded men; and if it afford thee any hints for the good of thy ſoul, that additional advantage muſt be ſet upon the account of free grace, to which head we muſt likewiſe refer the benefit we have received by ſuffering in ſo good a cauſe; Farewel.