Seven Sermons, Title page – Errata
SEVEN SERMONS ON Several Select Subjects, PREACHED BY Mr. Tho. Watson, sometimes Minister of the Gospel, at St. Stephen Walbrook, London.
With Allowance.
LONDON, Printed, in the Year, 1689.
THE PUBLISHER TO THE READER.
Christian Reader,
HAving had these Sermons by me for a considerable time, and finding them of singular Advantage to all who mind the work of their Salvation in earnest, I thought I could not sufficiently discharge that Duty I owe to my fellow Christians, if I did not contribute what I could to the good of others; and therefore I have made them of Publick use.
'Twere a Presumption in me, to offer to launch out upon the Praises of the Worthy Preacher of them, as if he needed Encomiums from such as I am, to recommend his Works to the World; since his Name is so savoury among all those, that either heard him Preach, read his Writings, or were acquainted with his Exemplary Life and Conversation (he having with that great Apostle taken sufficent care, that while he Preached to others he might not be a cast away himself) that 'twill be sufficient to recommend them to the perusal of all serious Christians that they are his. Those that are only for a quaint polite Discourse, may sute themselves where they think best; but such as are for the plain Truths of the Gospel, and desire to drink in the sincere Milk of the Word of God may find great profit by this Book.
Those Ministers whose only delight it is to make Elegant Discourses, busking them up with a vain flourish of Words (as if the plain Truths of the Gospel were not palatable, but needed some correctives to render them more grateful to mens appetites) and those who perplex their Hearers with Intricate, Philosophical Notions, seem more to hunt after Popular applause than sincerely to endeavour the Conversion and Salvation of Souls: But those who design faithfully, to discharge that great Trust committed to them by their Lord and Master, will be sure to shun both these, and to deliver the Truths of the Gospel in as plain and homely a dress as may be, that the way of Salvation may be set forth to the meanest Capacities: Like the famous Gregory Nazianzen, who (tho he was Master of as much Learning as any in his day, yet) was very plain in his Preaching; and a Godly laborious Preacher here, sometimes since with the Lord, who when he had written his Sermon, used to read it over to his Servants; and if any thing in it transcended their Capacities, altered it, and made it so plain, that he was sure nothing in it could surmount the Understandings of the meanest of his Hearers. And all that ever heard the worthy Author or read any of his Sermons, can sufficiently testifie how well he acquitted himself in this point: And those that have not, may fully be convinced of it by reading these Sermons, which they will find as plain and obvious as can be desired, delivered in as few words as possible, so as to leave out nothing neeessary in order to explaining the true meaning of the Text. Were this golden Rule generally observed much more Fruit might be expected by the preaching of the Gospel than now is, and those who desire to be most serviceable in their Generation, would not be misrepresented as Canters by men that speak evil of things they understand not.
The Subject matter of these Sermons are Truths of very great use in Christians Practice, whatever their case or condition be: So that there are few Spiritual Diseases, but Remedies are here set down for them; viz. those who are groaning under the Cross, Comforts are prescribed to them, those who are secure are awakened, those that are worldly, Weaning Considerations are here proposed to them, and those who are under comfortable Influences of the Spirit, Directions are given them how to continue them.
It cannot be expected, since the Godly Preacher himself had not the perusal of them, but that those that are too Nice and Censorious may espy some expressions in them, that might have been better worded: And therefore I hope that they will be so far from laying it on the Worthy Author, that they will even excuse it in me; since through a desire I had for the publick good, I rather chose to incurr the censures of some men in publishing these Sermons, than out of a sullen Modesty suppress that which might tend so much to the Advancement of Holiness. Which that it may be the blessed fruit of this, and all other Works of this Nature is, and shall be the Hearty Prayers of, &c.
ERRATA.
Page 27. line 4. for Disabling ▪ read Disciplining, p. 30. l. 18. Disabling, for r. Disciplining.