A Divine Cordial for a Devout Soul, Title page – Dedication
A DIVINE CORDIALL FOR A Devout Soule.
Compoſed out of a ſerious Diſcourſe upon the Sinne againſt the HOLY GHOST: As it was laid open in the full Nature and Appendices thereof.
In a SERMON Preached at Taunton in the County of Somerſet, upon Monday, April 4. 1653. In the Aſſize Week.
By WILLIAM SCLATER, Doctor in Divinity, Now Preacher of the Word of God in Broadſtreet, LONDON.
Matth. 12.31, 32.
Wherefore I ſay unto you, all manner of Sin and Blaſphemy ſhall be forgiven unto men: But the Blaſphemy againſt the Holy Ghoſt ſhall not be forgiven unto men. And whoſoever ſpeaketh a word againſt the Son of man, it ſhall be forgiven him: But whoſoever ſpeaketh againſt the Holy Ghoſt, it ſhall not be forgiven him, neither in this World, nor in the World to come.
LONDON: Printed by M. Simmons, and are to be ſould by William Hope at the Blew Anchor behind the Exchange. 1653.
TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFULL George Luttrell of Dunſter-Caſtle, Eſq; High Sheriffe of the County of Somerſet: All true felicity.
SIR;
THis Sermon (ſolid, I hope, though not polite, or trim enough, perhaps, for this age) as it was by an unexpected providence, in a ſolemne, and Honourable Aſſembly, preached at your inſtance; now alſo, upon your motion, together with the entreaties of the primeſt Auditors, drawne forth into a more generall view: It cannot but claime a double intereſt in you, both as an eminent Hearer (ſuch as your ſtation rendred you) and as a Patron, ſuch as its owne tenuity cannot but want: It comes to you, not that you (chiefly under ſo great a ſurfet of the Preſſe) need it, but that it needs you: The honour of whoſe worthy family and Progenitors, it hath ſtill been to be Mecaenates Scholarium, and your Caſtle (like the old Parnaſſus) as it were an Academy for learning, and learned men: It's written of Abel (righteous by Gods owne teſtimony of him) that being dead, he yet ſpeaketh, foreign, or,Heb. 11.4. is yet ſpoken of; his exemplary piety carrying with it a kinde of Vocall Oratory to perſwade even the ages to come unto imitation, that whileſt the luſtre of his graces ſparkle in the lives of ſucceſſors, his memory cannot but be perpetuated: And long may whatſoever was eximious in our Anceſtors, find ſtill a continuation in your ſelfe.
But indeed, that being properly a mans*Sed genus, & proavos, & quae nen fecimus ipſi vix ea [noſtra] voco—Ovid. owne in vertue, which is perſonall; your owne merit being (as I queſtion not) copious, may claime a Panegyricke, as ample; to the ſound of things commendable your name and actions (like Ʋniſons in Muſick) anſwere, and (out of no long acquaintance) I obſerve your modeſty to adorne your endowments; it reſembles ſhadowing in the Art of Limning, which turnes extreamly to the advantage of the Limner, by ſetting off the excellency of his Penſill: Yet however you delight not to be praiſed to your ſelf, notwithſtanding your pious ingenuity will conſtantly have eye unto things praiſe-worthy. It was a goodly ſight to behold Gods Tabernacle, and Davids Palace ſituate together on the ſame Sion; ſo is it to ſee Goodneſſe and Greatneſſe like thoſe living Creatures, and thoſe wheels (in*Ezek. 1.19. Ezekiel) to move, and to be lift up together: When all is done, godlineſſe is the greateſt‖1 Tim. 6.6. gaine, and religious practice the higheſt*1 Sam. 2.30. honour: Whileſt this is your aime, your Name ſhall become as ſome precious Ointment poured out, your ſelfe, your vertuous Conſort, and all your relations, ſhall be bleſſed out of heaven with the exuberancies of Gods both hands, you ſhall augment the reputation of your houſe, and the already purchaſed eſtimation of your Countrey: If my weake endeavours in this preſent Sermon may prove any furtherance this way, I have my deſire, as, who am,
SIR, Yours, To be Commanded in the Lord. WILLIAM SCLATER.