The Kingdom of God in Power, Title page – Dedication
The Kingdom of God in Power. A SERMON Preached before the RIGHT HONOURABLE Sir JOHN SHORTER, Knight, Lord Mayor OF THE CITY of LONDON; AT GROCERS-HALL, November the 20th, 1687.
By Daniel Williams Minister of the Gospel.
Published by his Lordships Command.
LONDON: Printed for J. Robinson at the Golden Lyon in St. Paul's Church-yard, and Tho. Cockerill, at the Three Legs in the Poultry. 1688.
To the Right Honourable Sir JOHN SHORTER, Knight, Lord Mayor OF THE CITY of LONDON.
My LORD,
WHen your Lordship desired me to Preach before you, the improvement of it to the greatest usefulness was my concern. To this end it was needful to fix on Subjects suitable to an Auditery so promiscuous; none occurred to me so conducive to my purpose as this, which led me to deal with all men in things most important to their Eternal Condition; and yet to mind your Lordship and Brethren of somewhat referring to your present Office.
The second Subject I Preached on, was pursuant to this, viz. The Dedication of our Lives to Christ and his Interests, from Phil. 1. 21.
After I had Preached the Second time, I was surprised with a Request of your Lordships and some of the Aldermen to Publish both these Discourses; but there wanted not many Reasons, which prevented any design of Compliance with that desire, tho enforced by your undeserved respects to one so much a Stranger.
But finding some few days past, that after all my care to obviate any such snrmises; some passages in that Second Sermon are misrepresented, as irritating of the Church of England: I am inclined to Publish very soon that Second Discourse, if I may prevent or remove any such offences, which are now at least more fatal than any Imprudent Propagators thereof do apprehend.
Being thus disposed to publish the last, I am obedient to your Lordships repeated intreaties in sending out the First Sermon in its order.
Tho two days being all the time I had to prepare either of these Discourses, and absence from my Library limiting me to the use of no Book besides the Bible, are my just Apology for some defects in them; yet I must say, that I have delivered nothing but what I believe to be the Will of God; and had my helps or abilities been more considerable, I would not debase matters of so great concernment, by vain Sallies of Wit; nor deaden their common use by laborious Periods, or a lighter Stile. The Institutions of God have their proper decency, and are best managed by a tendency to Spiritual Ends, and general Edification.
The substance of the Account of the nature of the Kingdom of God, I give in Scripture-words, tho chiefly for greater Conviction; yet also that none may arraign it as Cant, without ridiculing the Divine Oracles, which surely must command dread in all who esteem themselves by a Christian Name.
I believe, Your Lordship in calling us Nonconformists to preach before you, and we in undertaking that Labour, can have no Turn to serve, besides the enlargement of Christ's Kingdom; and the revival of the Power of Godliness, so much degenerated into Formality among all Parties. We value Capacious Places no otherwise, than as an opportunity for this: and now we enjoy such, we desire no attempts for more Splendid ones, to the offence of any.
Perhaps Your Lordship may share in our wonder at the silly Descants of some on our Persons and Performances in this Liberty: We must needs be Tradesmen, because we have preached so long without Publick Sallary. Our Sermons are Cant, because we use Scripture-Expressions, though in their proper sense: They are Enthusiastick, if we say any thing of Heart-work, or the Spirit's influence; We do nothing but whine, and make faces, if we appear in the least moved by what we say and believe, or seem concerned to prevail with our Hearers. We do ill to preach now, we do not suffer by it: though they know we thought it our Duty, when we paid so dear for it. Or at best, that Contingent Events should supersede our Labours, as a prudential Act: when we are under a solemn dedication to the Work of Christ, as Ministers; and our Labours to bring the Souls of men under the power of Truth, will prove the best security to the Professors of it; when great Offers, and awakening Fears will trample on the clearest Notions of an Vnregenerate Heart. But I enlarge too far.
Your Lordship's acting the part of a Christian Magistrate, is recompence for whatever Censures you undergo: the World is not yet of the temper, to speak well of all that do well: and Christ exempts not the Vsefullest from hardships, on this lower stage. Peace of Conscience in having performed our Duty, and the Testimony of Christ to our Faithfulness in the Great Judgment, is all the Comfort a Christian can now be sure of, and what he ought to be contented with.
There are many Prayers sent to the Throne of Grace for Your Lordship; That you may want neither Wisdom nor Steddiness in a Place so Eminent, and Circumstances so perplexing. That Promise (which hath somewhat of a Rule in it) is applicable to you,Prov. 11. 3. The Integrity of the Upright shall guide them.
That you may find this accomplished to Publick Conviction, and a Comfortable Event of your Present Employ, is the unfeigned Desire of
Your Lordship's most humble Servant, Daniel Williams.