A Model of True Spiritual Thankfulness, Dedication 3
To the Maior, Aldermen, and the reſt of the Citizens and Inhabitants of the City of Chester, Grace with Peace be multiplied.
Right Worſhipful and Beloved,
I Deſire to rejoyce with you and for you; in this great mercy of God, in reſtoring you to your Habitations, from which ſome of you have been ſo long divorced; or to your Liberties, in the ſurpriſe whereof you have been no better then priſoners in your own Houſes: Which that it may be a mercy indeed, give me leave, as one that loves you, to commend unto you a few Cautions.
1. Take heed, I beſeech you, now that you are returned to your old Houſes, you do not return to your old ſins; now you are reſtored to your Civil Liberties, you do not backſlide to your former ſinful Liberties: What they were, you beſt know: give me leave to minde you what your Chriſtian friends in the Kingdom have taken notice of and bewailed in you: Pride in your apparel, ſumptuouſneſſe in your houſes, exceſſive delicacie on your Tables; (whoſe ſins theſe were, Ezek. 16.49 will tell you) profanation of Sabbaths, contempt of the faithful Miniſtery of the Word, compliance with Epiſcopal Superſtition formality in Religion, almoſt ſcorn of the godly, and of the power of Godlineſſe, and the like.Gal. 4.16. I ſpeak not theſe things to ſhame you, but as a Miniſter of Chriſt and a friend to admoniſh you; and I hope I ſhall not become your enemy becauſe I tell you the truth. Ile aſſure you, Friends, you have as much cauſe to keep days of Humiliation in Cheſter for your old ſins, as days of Thanksgiving for your new Mercies. A voice was heard upon the high places, Jer. 3.21.weeping and ſupplication of the children of Iſrael; for they have perverted their way, and have forgotten the Lord their God. This was the poſture of Iſrael returning out of Captivity, and I wiſh from my ſoul it may be Yours.
2. Enquire the way to Sion with your faces thitherward; and to that end, purchaſe to you…ſelves an inward, ſpiritual, Jer. 50.5.powerful Miniſtery, whatever it coſt you. Say not you are poor; or if you do, know that this is the next way to recruit your eſtates: the Goſpel never comes empty-handed to a people; it bears its own charges with advantage:Prov. 23.23. O then, buy the truth and ſell it not; buy it at any price, ſell it at no price. Prove God herewith, I beſeech you, and ſee if he do not open the windows of heaven and pour out a bleſſing upon you, and make your later end (with Job) more proſperous then your beginning.Mal. 3.10. Job. 42.12. 2 Tim. 3 5.
3. Labour to be Chriſtians in good earneſt: A form of godlineſſe will not ſerve the turn (it is a moth that will inſenſibly eat out the beauty & ſtrength of a Church or people) Studie the power of it. You have now made an Experiment, whoſe ſervice is better,Deut. 28.47, 48. Gods or your Enemies. If God be God (with you now) ſerve him, and ſerve him like Himſelf; Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect: Matth. 5. ult.if after all this you dally with God, and ſettle upon your lees again, I muſt propheſie to you in the Name of the Lord; The troubles you have ſuffered have been but the beginnings of your ſorrow.
4. From henceforth know your friends from your foes; learn to diſtinguiſh between Complements and Realities: The Bramble ſaid to the trees, Come and put your truſt under my ſhadow. Truſt Brambles no more.
5. Studie Thankfulneſſe for this bleſſed turn of Providence in returning your Captivity. They ſay abroad in the Kingdom, The Lord hath done great things for you: Judg. 9.15.Will not you eccho back again, Yea, the Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we rejoyce? The Lord teach you to pr…ze your naked walls more then you have done formerly your ſumptuous ſurniſht houſes; to improve your Freedoms to better purpoſe then ever heretofore. How you may be thankful, this enſuing Sermon, preached for the Celebration of your Deliverance, will direct. You bear the greateſt ſhare in the mercy, I wiſh you may bear the greateſt ſhare in the duty.
6. Finally, Brethren, farewel: Be perfect, be of good omfort, be of one minde, live in peace, and the God of Love and Peace ſhall be with you. So prays
Your real friend and ſervant in the Lord, Tho. Caſe.