Sermon 24 December 1682, License – Dedication
Prichard Mayor.
Cur. Special. tent. die Dominico viio die Januarii, 1682. Anno que Regis Caroli ſecundi Angliae, &c. xxxiiiio.
THis Court doth deſire Mr. James to print his Sermon lately preached at the Guildhall-Chappel before the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of this City.
Wagstaffe.
A SERMON Preached at Guildhall-Chappel, Decemb. 24. 1682. BEFORE The Right Honourable THE Lord Mayor, &c.
By JOHN JAMES, M. A. Rector of Latimers in the County of Bucks.
LONDON: Printed for Richard Chiſwell, at the Roſe and Crown in St. Paul's Church-yard. 1683.
To the Right Honourable Sir Will. Prichard Knight, LORD MAYOR of the City of LONDON.
Right Honourable,
AMong the many that juſtly admire your Lordſhips Worth, and ſeriouſly bleſs God for the Happineſs of London, in that the management of the Affairs of ſo great a Body, next under our Soveraign Lord the King, is committed into the hands of a Perſon of ſuch known Integrity and eminent Loyalty, the Author of this Diſcourſe doth cheerfully and heartily profeſs himſelf to be one.
That this Diſcourſe was acceptable to your Lordſhip when delivered in the Pulpit, I muſt needs impute to that Candour and Goodneſs which ſeems innate and connatural to your Lordſhips diſpoſition, as is readily acknowledged by all that have but the leaſt knowledge of your Lordſhips Wiſdom and Prudence, ſo conſpicuous in the good conduct and auſpicious government of that great City: for though the Matter of it be incomparably great, yet the Manner of handling it falls infinitely ſhort of the worth and excellency of ſo divine a Subject, which ought to be highly eſteemed by all Chriſtians, and had in everlaſting remembrance by the Sons of Men.
For 'twas a deſigne highly becoming the Son of God, to oppoſe the Devil, that grand Enemy of all Goodneſs, and to confront the powers of Darkneſs; to deliver Men from the dominion of Sin, and to ſecure them from the Vengeance of Almighty God. Indeed, a deſigne of this nature required a Perſon of ſuch excellent and extraordinary Worth, ſuch divine Wiſdom, and infinite Power, ſuch exact Holineſs, and Almighty Goodneſs, to deſtroy the Works of the Devil, and to bring everlaſting Righteouſneſs into the World.
And if the World had not been ſtrangely infatuated when the Son of God became Man, neither the Jews would have required a Signe, nor the Greeks ſought after Wiſdom, when he did ſo miraculouſly manifeſt his power to the ruine and deſtruction of the Devil, the moſt malicious and implacable Enemy of Mankind; whoſe inſulting Tyranny was far more ſevere and arbitrary over the Jews, than the cruelleſt oppoſition of the Roman Empire; and his Policy infinitely above the Philoſophical Wits and Reaſonings of the Gentiles: that if the one had not truſted too much to their humane Wiſdom, and the other longed too affectionately for a temporal deliverance, and a ſecular happineſs, they muſt needs have celebrated the Nativity of the Son of God with the moſt ſolemn Hallelujahs and Hoſanna's, have admired him as the great Power of God, and the Wiſdom of God, who was made Man, that he might become unto men Wiſdom, and Righteouſneſs, and Sanctification, and Redemption.
But the Men of this Generation are moſt of all without excuſe, that believe him to be the Son of God, and his coming into the World on purpoſe to deſtroy the Works of the Devil, and to take away the Sins of the World, and ſhall yet remain in ſlavery and ſubjection to the God of this World; and ſo do deſpite to the Holy One of God, and deny the Lord that bought them.
I hope therefore no eye will look with envy upon this Diſcourſe, wherein no Diſpute is commenced, no Controverſie promoted, but with the great Impoſtor and deceiver of Souls; againſt whom every Chriſtian ought to employ his utmoſt knowledge and skill, and exert his greateſt vigour and zeal, being by the ſolemnity of an Oath, the Sacrament of Baptiſm, engaged thereto.
And ſince this was the grand deſigne of Chriſt's coming into the World, I conceived an Argument of this nature very proper and ſeaſonable at this time, wherein we were to celebrate the Nativity of Chriſt, the Incarnation of the Son of God.
And becauſe your Lordſhip hath commanded that this Diſcourſe, whatever it be, ſhould become publick (which elſe had remained as private as the Author) as I have ever eſteemed Obedience the beſt Sacrifice, and a ready ſubmiſſion to the pleaſure of our Governours in all things lawful, a moſt excellent Duty, and extreamly becoming all Chriſtian Profeſſors; ſo in compliance with your Lordſhips Command, it is now ſent forth into the World: and I hope, under the Patronage of ſo honourable a Perſon, may be received with the like kindneſs and good affection, as it was by your Lordſhip.
And God grant that by the influence of his Grace it may be ſome way uſeful to thoſe that read it, to carry on that great end and deſigne for which it is intended; I mean, to encourage men againſt the Wiles and Temptations of the Devil; and to perſwade them to the works of Righteouſneſs and Goodneſs, of Piety and Devotion, of Juſtice and Charity, of Humility and Obedience, of Sobriety and Temperance.
God Almighty direct and aſſist your Lordſhip in the management of thoſe great Affairs committed to your charge, and continue you long in that famous City, to the Glory of his Name, the Credit of true Religion, the Honour of our Soveraign, and the happineſs of the People at preſent under your Government; that you may reap in this World ſatisfaction of Mind in the diſcharge of a good Conſcience; and in the World to come, everlaſting Life: Which is the hearty Prayer of him who is,
MY LORD, Jan. 1. 1682/1. Your Lordſhip's Very humble and moſt Obedient Servant, John James.