The Olive-Branch Presented to the Citizens of London, Title page – Dedication
THE OLIVE-BRANCH Presented to the Native Citizens of LONDON, In a SERMON preached at S. Paul's Church, May 27. being the day of their Yearly Feast.
By NATH. HARDY Preacher to the Parish of S. Dyonis Back-Church.
Psal. 122. 6. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; they shall prosper that love thee.
Aug. de Civit. Dei l. 2. c. 21. Quae harmonia à musicis dicitur in cantu, ea est in Civitate concordia, arctissimum atque optimum omni in Republica vinculum incolumitatis.
LONDON, Printed by J. G. for John Clark, and are to be sold at his Shop under S. Peters Church in Cornhil, 1658. duplicate page duplicate page
To all the Native Citizens of London; PARTICULARLY, Those who lately met together; MORE ESPECIALLY, The worthy Stewards of the FEAST.
HOw good and how pleasant it is for Brethren to dwell together in unity,Psal. 133. 1. the Psalmist telleth us, or rather cannot tell us, and therefore proposeth it by way of Question, and ushereth it in with a Behold of Admiration. Surely then, for Brethren who dwell together in unity, sometimes to meet and feast together in amity, cannot be either had in it self, or justly displeasing to any. At all solemn Feasts Piety ought to be the first, and Charity the last dish; upon which account it is that they usually begin with a Sermon, and end with a Contribution.
It was your pleasure (my honoured Friends) to whom the care of the late Solemnity was committed, to put the sacred part of that burden on my shoulders. A Service which as I did not ambitiously seek, so neither could I ingratefully refuse; and therefore (according to my slender abilities) have endevoured to perform; of which weak performance your candid acceptance hath laid upon me a further obligation of gratitude. At your desire the following Discourse (whatever it is) was conceived in the Study born in the Pulpit, and now appeareth to the World in the Printers sheets, not doubting but that where ever you meet, you will vouchsafe to own it, since it (together with the Author) is so much yours.
As for you (my Brethren) who were pleased to honor the Stewards with your presence, I heartily wish your liberality had been so large, that it might have come abroad into all the land as a pattern for others to follow; that as the close of the Sermon is hortatory, so the Preface might have been laudatory. But since I cannot praise, I will pray, The Lord make you to increase and abound in love towards the poor and needy.2 Thess. 3. 12.
To all my fellow-Citizens, whether then present or absent, I shall make bold to commend a double word;
1. As the two Cherubims looked with their faces one to another, Exod. 25. 20.and both to the Mercy-seat; so let us mind each others welfare, and all of us the Cities good. Let there be no strife between us Brethren, Gen. 13. 8.except it be who shall most honour this place wherein we were born, by an exemplary conversation.
2. As our Saviour said in another Case to his Disciples,Luk. 10. 19, 20. Rejoice not that the Spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in Heaven: So say I in this, let us not rejoice that we are London-natives, but rather rejoice if we are Citizens of the Heavenly Jerusalem. Heb. 12. 22.Let us not please our selves with the priviledge of our natural birth in this City, unlesse we are born again from above, so as we may truly say (according to Beza's Translation of those words of S. Paul) our City is in Heaven; Phil. 3. 20. Civitas nostra in coelis, Beza.where that we may all meet together, celebrating an Eternal Festival of Peace and Joy, is the unfeigned prayer of
Your affectionate Brother and Servant NATH: HARDY.