A Plain Dealing and Plain Meaning Sermon, Title page – Letter
A Plain-dealing, and Plain-meaning SERMON, Preach't in the Pariſh Church of St. Nicholas, Briſtol, April 6. 1660. Being the day appointed by the Parliament for publique Faſting and Humiliation for the ſins of the NATION, &c. Together with a prefatory Epiſtle, and ſubſequent Vindication both of the Sermon, and Author. Wherein (beſides an Apology for home and plain-preaching) you have ſomething offered to allay the heat of their ſtomacks, and to temper the tongues of thoſe, who (being ignorant in Scripture) reproach and revile Presbytery and PRESBYTERS. With ſome hints at SATANS ſubtlety, and the miſchief of thoſe people, who brand Zeal for God and Truth (in free, home, and faithfull preaching) with the reproachful names of Anger, paſſion, and Railing.
Ezek 33.30.
Alſo thou ſon of Man, the children of thy people ſtill are talking againſt thee by the walls, and in the doors of their houſes, &c.
Pſal. 35 11.
Falſe witneſſes did riſe up: They laid to my charge things that I knew not.
Matth. 5.11.
Bleſſed are ye when men ſhall revile you, and perſecute you, and ſhall ſ…y all manner of evill againſt you falſely for my names ſake. Rejoyce and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven; for ſo perſecuted they the Prophets which were before you.
LONDON, Printed by S. Griffin, and are to be ſold by Thomas Wall by the Tolezey in Cornſtreet in Briſtol, 1660.
To the ſtrenuous Aſſertor of his Countreys Rights, Will: Pryn Eſquire, a choſen Member of the High Court of Parliament.
Sir,
I Am now upon an Appeal to the World, but not to all the world; for all are not competent Judges. But in my judgment I take you for the fitteſt man in the world to determine, whether I have ſpoken againſt the King, or his coming in, in this enſuing Sermon. You whom the late King honoured with the title of the Cato, (the impartial Cato) of this age: You whom neither fear nor flattery, nor perſecution can by as from the truth: You who have militated more, and conquer'd more in the Kings behalf by your pen, then many Regiments of ſouldiers by their pikes & muſquets; To you I appeal in this matter: were it matter of Doctrine, I durſt make you my Ʋmpire, for I know your ability that way; Witneſs that excellent Book of yours of the Perpetuity of a regenerate mans eſtate. But my appeal to you now is upon matter of fact & diſcretion, whether my diſcourſe were ſcandalous or unſeaſonable. Sir, you are acquainted with the Topicks and proper ſeats of argument in all kinds, deliberative, demonſtrative, perſwaſive. You can diſcern whether I have ſinn'd againſt the law of the Preacher. Had you been in the Country, this Sermon had waited upon you for your Deleatur, or Imprimatur, before it had gone unto the Preſs: But mine and the Book-ſellers apprehenſions that your greater & manifold occaſions (now that you are in London) would not offer us ſuch a time of leiſure wth you, as to peruſe it before-hand, hath with held me from that attempt. Yet I could not with-draw from my reſolutions to crave your juſt deciſion. If you find me guilty, ſtrike out your name, and diſown the dedication, which would be a ſorer blow to me, then all the oppoſings of my Calumniators: But if you find me innocent, then let my Sermon (with its Appendices) goe forth with your auſpicious tutelage. I have one thing to beg of you, and that is, That the good old Cauſe may not be forgotten. And I ſhall beg of God (whoſe cauſe it is) a bleſſing upon you, and upon the great Councel, whereof you are a choſen Member, that the Lord would make you repairers of our breaches, and reſtorers of our paths to dwell in. Theſe are the deſires and prayers of him who is
Sir, Yours moſt ready to ſerve you in all Chriſtian Offices R.A: FARMER. From my houſe in Briſtol. April 30. 1660.