Sincerity and Delight in the Service of God, Title page – To the reader
A Seasonable Discourse Wherein SINCERITY & DELIGHT in the Service of GOD is earnestly pressed upon PROFESSORS of RELIGION. Delivered on a Publick FAST, at Cambridge in NEW-ENGLAND,
By the Reverend, and Learned URIAN OAKES, Late Pastor of the Church there and Praesident of HARVARD COLLEDGE.
Zech. 1. 5, 6.
Your Fathers, where are they? and the Prophets, do they live for ever?
But my Word and my Statutes, which I Commanded my Servants the Prophets, did they not take hold of your Fathers?
Rev. 14. 13.
Blessed are the Dead, which dy in the Lord; from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their Labours, and their works do follow them.
CAMBRIDGE, Printed by Samuel Green 1682.
To the READER.
THere are, especially, two things whereby discourses are commended unto the acceptance of their Readers. One is the Weight, Excellency, and seasonablenesse of the Subject: The other's, the known Worth, Ability, and Fame of the Author: Upon both which accounts the ensuing Sermon may (and I doubt not; will) find a ready reception amongst all that are godly and judicious, into whose hands it shall come.
As for the subject matter of this Discourse, it is that which highly concerns a Professing People (and the Lords New-England People are eminently so) most intensely to consider of. The heartsearching God requireth that those that enter into Covenant with Him, should be sincere in all their Callings upon His Name: Josh 24. 14. Fear the Lord, and serve Him in Sincerity, and Truth. He knows who have only a forme of godliness, but are strangers unto the power of it; whose services can never please Bernard.Him. Sapiens Nummularius est Deus, Nummum fictum non recipiet. Nor is there a more sure discovery of secret, and deep hypocrisy in the hearts of Men, then that of being weary of Gods service, or thinking a little service too much for the great God. When the Iew brought a lean sacrifice, and then said, What a wearinesse is it? as, if he were tyred with so great a burden; he did serve the Lord, and yet not serve Him at the same Time. Mal. 1. 13. Nor is there any thing more offensive to the Lord See Mr Smith survey of the 7. Churc. in Asia.Iesus then luke-warmnesse in prof…ssion, or having a Name to live, and being dead: as we see by the Epistle sent from Heaven unto the Churches of Asia, and consequently unto all other Churches to the end of the World, cautioning them to be watchfull against evils of that kind, as they would not have the Lord deal by them as He hath done to Jerusalem, or as He hath done to the Churches in, Asia: who because of hypocrisy, and formality in Profession, are rejected, and their Raines become such, as that Travellers cannot look upon them without horrour and amazement. That there is still a blessed number of lively Christians in these Churches is (through the grace of Christ) very true; the Lord increase them, and make them a thousand times more then they are. Neverthelesse, that there is also a prevailing spirit of Apostacy among multitudes is no lesse certain. Where is the love of our Espousals? When our Fathers followed the Lord into this vast, and then, wast Wildernesse, having no other interest but Religion, and no other designe, but Reformation, before them. Have not many of this generation left, and lost, that love to the pure, and holy institutions of Christ, which those of the former generation desired, and delighted in? Are not some weary of that Theocracy, or Government which God hath established amongst in, as to sacred, and civill respects willing for a change in both? This Wise Master-builder hath then accommodated the word by Him spoken, upon a very publick occasion, to the state of these Times, and of this People. And he hath thereby manifested himself to be of the same spirit with that faithfull, and worthy Shephard, who went before him in the work of the Ministry, in that precious flock of Christ which is at Cambridge: This Sermon seconding and confirming those of his eminent predecessors, foreign Chron. 12. 8. long ago both preached, and Printed. How happy has Cambridge been? Indeed the Church at Ephesus enjoyed the Ministry of Paul, and Timothy, and Tychicus [Blessed men of God] but such a succession and eminent lights is seldom known in the same Church, the un▪ thankfulnesse, and unprofitablenesse of men, provoking the Lord to eclipse their Glory.
Concerning the Author; His worth is well known [and I wish it were more known) in both Englands. Doctor Preston chose to be a preacher in Cambridge in England, Rather than in another place, because he had then a special opportunity, d… lare non tantum Lapides, sed Architectes. The Lord was mercisul to all these Churches in ordering the labours of this able Work-man to be in a place so sutable for his more then ordinary Capacity. There have been several of the same Name heretofore renowned for their rare accomplishments in some particular faculty wherein they have excelled. Iosephus Quercetanus was a learned and famous Physitian. Joh. Drusius. [the Greek word for Oaks, was a great Divine, and eminent for his Critical Genius. But an Age doth seldome produce one so many wayes excelling as this Author did. If we consider him as a Divine, as a Scholar, as a Christian, it is hard to say in which he did most excell. I have often, in my own thoughts, compared him to Samuel among the Prophets of old; inasmuch as he did truly fear God from his youth, and was betimes improved in holy. Ministrations, and was at last called to be the head of the Sons of the Prophets in this New-English Israel, as Samuel was President of the Colledge at Najoth: And in many other particulars I might enlarge upon the parallel, but that it is inconvenient to extend such instances beyond their proportion. What shall I now say? New-Englands Samuel is dead! How doth Cambridge? How doth the Colledge? How doth New-England shake? since this Oak whom Christ had made a Pillar in the Temple of his God, is removed.
Heu tua Nobis.
Morte simul tecum solatia rapta!
It may without reflection, upon any, be truly said, that He was one of the greatest Lights that ever shone in this part of the World, or that is ever like to arise in this Horizon. He is now become a Royal Diadem in the hand of the Lord being (as one speaks Mr. …reek's lif p. 210.concerning a great Worthy) An ornament to Heaven it self.
This Sermon was not by the Reverend Author designed for publication. Had himself Emitted it, there would have been some Ornamental additions. Quicquid tam docta condidit manus, caelum est. But it is here presented as sound written with his own hand among his Sermon notes. And inasmuch as Mr. Oakes preached it, there needs no more to raise in the Reader a expectation that he shal meet with something worthy his perusal, and beyond what others do ordinarily attain unto. It is to be lamented that he did not live to finish his meditations on this subject, and I hope that this will but make way for the publication of some other of his judicious and elaborate Sermons. And I do earnestly wish the like with respect to the labours of his immediate predecessour, blessed Mr. Mitchel, who was a man of such vast abilities, and exemplary piety, and close walking with God as is rarely known. There are some of his Sermons very suitable for the present Time, and juncture of affairs amongst us; and in a peculiar manner, those which concern the interest of Christs Kingdom in this wildernesse, which if they were published, would [by the blessing of Christ] tend to strengthen the hearts and hands of those that are willing to venture themselves in the cause of God, and of his People. It would be for the honour of N. E. and of Cambridge in special, that the world, and posterity should know what Excellent and able men the Lord hath sent and raise up amongst us; and that we Remember [not only those that do, but) them that have taught us the word of God. Whose Faith the Lord grant that we may follow, considering the End of their conversation.
BOSTON, 2. 19: 1682. Increase Mather.