Of Sincerity and Constancy in Faith, Title page – Table of contents
OF Sincerity and Constancy IN THE Faith and Profession OF THE TRUE RELIGION, In Several SERMONS.
By the Most Reverend Dr. JOHN TILLOTSON. Late Lord Arch-Bishop of Canterbury.
Published from the Originals, By Ralph Barker, D. D. Chaplain to his Grace.
LONDON, Printed for Ri. Chiswell, at the Rose and Crown in St. Paul's Church-yard, MDCXCV.
IMPRIMATUR,
Febr. 16. 169…. Tho. Cantuar.
TO HIS SACRED MAJESTY, King William, THESE SERMONS ARE Most humbly Dedicated, By the Author's Relict, Elizabeth Tillotson.
THE PUBLISHER TO THE READER.
THE AUTHOR of these Sermons was so well known, particularly for his most Excellent and Useful Discourses from the Pulpit, that I shall not attempt, by any thing I can say, to recommend them to the Publick. I know very well, they have already that Credit in the World, which will render any Apologie needless; especially when by this Publication of them, they shall speak for themselves.
I think it requisite, only to assure the Reader, That they are what they pretend to be, the genuine Works of that great Man.
Whilst I had the Happiness of Conversing with him, he was pleas'd (at my Request) to instruct me in the Character in which he wrote all his Sermons; and some of these now Published, having been Transcrib'd by me some Years since, were found amongst his Papers, Corrected with his own Hand.
By what he had been pleas'd to say, that I was Master of his Character, and by the few Errata he observ'd in my first Performance, I was encouraged to set about this Work; in which I can Solemnly Profess, that I have observ'd a Religious care and strictness, neither to omit nor add any thing, but an of, a the, or the like, when the Sense plainly requir'd it; and of that too I have given notice, by affixing this Mark [``] upon the Word which I did not find in the Original; so that the Reader is left to judge of the fitness of such Additions; which, after all, are so very few and inconsiderable, as scarcely to deserve this notice; only that he might be satisfied (in case the Printer do his part) that he hath here, what he expects, a perfect Transcript of these Sermons; and in them a true and lively strain of Christian Piety and Eloquence, so fitted to all Capacities, that I cannot but hope, all that shall read them will be the better for them, even those not excepted (if there be any such) who may have entertain'd any unreasonable Prejudices against them, or their most Reverend Author.
I have alwaies thought, and often said it, that if any were Leaven'd with Prejudice against Him, they were, to be sure, such as did not know him; and the farther I go in his Writings, the more I am assur'd, that it must be so. But because the Sermons themselves, to which I refer, are not yet all of them Published, I must leave this to the Judgment of the Impartial Reader, when the whole shall be finish'd, which is design'd with all convenient speed.
Lambeth, April 2. 1695. Ra. Barker.
THE TEXTS OF EACH SERMON IN THIS VOLUME.
SERMON I. JOHN I. 47. JEsus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile. Pag. 1
SERM. II. HEB. XI. 17, 18, 19. By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac; and he that had received the promises, offered up his only begotten son; Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. p. 39
SERM. III. HEB. XI. 24, 25. By faith Moses when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the People of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. p. 77
SERM. IV. V. VI. VII. VIII. X. HEB. X. 23. Let us hold fast the Profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that hath promised. p. 109 136, 171, 209, 239, 277.
There is a mistake in Numbering of these Sermons: The Tenth should be called the Ninth, and so on to the end. For there are but Fifteen Sermons in this Volume, and should be no more.
SERM. XI. 2 COR. V. 7. For we walk by Faith, not by Sight. p. 309
SERM. XII. HEB. X. 38. But if any Man draw back, my Soul shall have no pleasure in him. p. 337
SERM. XIII. XIV. MATTH. XVI. 24. Then said Jesus unto his Disciples; If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his Cross and follow me. p. 367, 395
SERM. XV. XVI. HEB. XI. 13. And confessed that they were Strangers and Pilgrims on the Earth. p. 421, 449