Sermons, Dedication 6
To the HONOURABLE HOVSE of COMMONS Aſſembled in Parliament.
SVch Auditours who will ſuffer the word of exhortation, Heb. 13. 22.as they encourage the Miniſter to doe his, ſo they ſhall be ſure to know their duty; which is not ordinarily the happineſſe of great perſonages. This Sermon was preacht upon one of the dayes of your ſolemn approach and drawing nigh to God. It was no ſeaſon to preſent you with fancies dreſſed in cobweb lawn, or thin notions cloathed with ayr. The Popiſh faſts did but change ſolid meat into ſweet meats. The ſubject of the Sermon is cleanſing and purifying; which as it was neceſſary by the law, before the unclean perſon might draw nigh to God, ſo it is required of you; If thou prepare thine heart, and ſtretch out thy hands towards him; If iniquity be in thy hand, put it farre away: for then ſhalt thou lift up thy face without ſpot, Iob. 11. 13, 14, 15. It is a liberty which Miniſters claim by vertue of their commiſsion, to ſpeake, exhort, and rebuke with all authority, Tit. 2. 15. You that are the tutelar Patrons and aſſertours of juſt liberties, doe like your ſelves, in countenancing and encouraging this alſo: ſo ſhall you have the miniſtery of the Word always ready to help you, to beat your corruptions black and blew, which to doe, is both the1 Cor. 9. 27. foreign. duty and beauty of your ſackcloth-dayes. The Lord who hath ſaid, That the pure in heart ſhall ſee God, Mat. 5. …. And that he that hath clean hands, ſhall be ſtronger and ſtronger, Job 17. 9. ſo draw nigh to you in the light of his countenance, and ſtrength of his arm, that you who have defended Religion from being trampled upon, may preſerve it from being torne in pieces, and ſee the good of Jeruſalem all the dayes of your lives. Lo prayes,
Your ſervant in Chriſt Jeſus; Richard Vines.