The Righteous Mans Weal and the Wicked Mans Woe, Title page – To the reader
THE Righteous Mans VVeal AND THE VVicked Mans VVoe: By THOMAS WATSON. Being the last Sermon he preached at Clements-Danes, London, the 19th August, 1662. the Tuesday after his Farewell Sermon to his people at Stephens-Walbrook.
LONDON, Printed in the Year, 1662.
To the Christian Reader.
Good Reader,
THe Title of this Sermon tells the Preacher of it: this short Epistle is, to apologize for its publication: 'tis more then suspected there is another impression of this Sermon (taken by another hand) intended to be published.
Now least the Reverend Author should receive that prejudice that others of late have (by printing of very imperfect notes) making him speak what he did not, and not to speak what he did, is this pains taken in transcription, from the accurate Pen of a ready Writer, and cost laid out in printing.
'Tis hoped, though this Sermon be remo…ed from the Pulpit to the Press, and from thence into the World, without its Parents knowledge (and therefore wants that beautifying it would have had if exposed to this publick and crittical view by himself) yet when met with by him, will be looked upon as litigitimate, excepting Errata's in printing and pointing.
Reader, though, as one saith, there i… … much difference between Sermons preached and printed, as between milk in the warm breast and in a sucking bottle: yet when the first is wanting, the other may very often be had: the Book may be had at hand, when the▪ Preacher cannot. Audible words are transient, visible works are more permanent, therefore here is one in the want of the other.
Woe and Weal, are the subjects of the Reverend Author in this his last Sermon. The last words of dying persons take deep impression, much more should the words of a dying Minister, who is now, as to the main of his ministerial work, dead; hoping that none will be offended that it is printed, and all will be advantaged by its reading; then hath he his end, who subscribes himself,
Your Friend and Servant S. T.