Several Works, To the reader
The Epiſtle to the READER.
Curteous and Chriſtian Reader,
THou haſt here preſented to thy view ſome Sermons oſ Mr. John Murcot, whilſt he lived, a precious Inſtrument in the hand of Jeſus Chriſt, a Workman that needed not to be aſhamed: And now being dead, yet ſpeaketh by theſe and his other labours.
Concerning the Author, he was (according to his years) of an exact judgement; which appeared,
1. In the choice of apt Subjects, with reſpect to the perſons and times wherein he lived; as he aimed at the ſetting up of Chriſts intereſt and the welfare of his people, ſo he ſingled out arguments anſwerable, upon the improvement whereof he ſpent his beſt thoughts: as might be inſtanced in theſe and ſeveral other pieces of his.
2. In all his undertakings he laboured to diſcover to poor creatures the vileneſs of ſin, Gods free Grace, yet ne… … the prejudice of Goſpel-obedience: in the promoting whereof he laboured very much, knowing the great relactancy of fleſh and blood thereto.
3. His wiſdom appeared in his care and tenderneſs, in that with the diſcovery of ſin he always joyned the nearneſs of Mercy: as he caſt down with one hand, ſo he raiſed up with the other: a Bonerges, and yet a ſon of conſolation: and oh how tender and humble towards poor troubled doubting ſouls!
4. In the healing and preventing of breaches among Brethren, he was admirable: the Lord gave him wiſdom above his years.
(2) As he was exact in judgement, ſo was he full of affections: how warm were they, lying in the very boſom of his Maſter, which appeared in his melting frame of Spirit ordinarily, and in his thirſt to draw down notions, that floated in the brain, to the heart and feeling, wherein he was exceedingly ſucceſsful.
(3) As for converſation, he was not only ſpotleſs, but active in good, in his ſtudies a…dlabours, wherein as he was abundant and unwearied (which probably helped to ſhorten his life, that when his body came to conflict with the diſeaſe, he had not ſtrength to overcome) at all other times doing or receiving good; of whom it may be truly ſaid, that he did Epilcopum agere & vivere act and live a true Miniſter of Jeſus Chriſt: bleſſed Bradford connted that hour loſt wherein he did not ſome good with his tongue, pen or purſe. It was the commendation of bleſſed Hooper, that he was ſpare of Dyet, ſpare of Words, and ſpareſt of Time.
Theſe things being committed to another hand, we ſhall forbear; the ſcope of this Epiſtle being to acquaint thee with the grounds of publiſhing theſe Sermons, and to intreat thy candid interpretation and acceptance of our endeavours therein.
Firſt, The ſatisfying of the longing deſires of ſeveral, ſome of whom eminent not only in Place, but Piety, that their hearts may be refreſhed, & their memories ſtrengthened by reading what they formerly heard with much delight.
2. The general acceptation of the Author, even with all ſorts in thoſe places where he lived or was known.
Secondly, The ſeaſonableneſs of the Subject: it being an Antidote againſt the raigning of that moſt dangerous evil of the times, Formality: the moſt ſatisfying themſelves with the bare Lamp of Profeſsion, not regarding the want of oyl in their veſſels: and the beſt too apt to be nodding when the cry is made: and with the Apoſtles, moſt ſleep when it moſt concerned them to be watching; which renders this Subject, not only of preſent, but laſting uſe and benefit.
Thirdly, The manner of handling, which is ſolid and ſpiritual, ſo that the ingenuous Reader may find in this Lamp, not only light to direct him, but heat to warm him when he is a cold, and a Cry to awaken him, when he is aſleep.
Fourthly, The Authors exactneſs in penning them: as if Providence, contrary to his approved modeſty, had deſigned them for publick view, which thou haſt here, as they were left in his own private notes: and you know, Firſt, That writing and ſpeaking have their ſeveral Graces, they were publikely delivered with much advantage. Secondly, They are ſet forth after his death, and you know charity is due to Orphans: the Authors more then ordinary growth in a few years, aſſures us, that had he lived to have reviſed this Work, it would have been much more digeſted and refined.
Thirdly, Being left in Characters, in the tranſcribing whereof, by the moſt diligent and exact, ſome miſtakes are almoſt unavoidable, ſo that theſe may challenge allowance, being tranſcribed by the Authors deareſt relation, who acquired the knowledge of his Character after his death.
Wherefore we intreat thee good Reader to bear with what might have eſcaped upon that, or our own accompt, which we ſhall willingly own, judging it our duty to prefer the Publike, and eternal good of ſouls to our own names, for whoſe ſake as the Pretious Author beſtowed much of his oyl in the trimming of this Lamp, ſo we have ſet it up in view, beſeeching the Father of Lights, to bleſs and own it with like ſucceſs and entertainment in the hearts of thoſe that ſhall read it, as he did when it was at firſt preached: Remaining (Chriſtian Reader)
Thy friends in and for the Truths ſake,
Samuel Winter.
Robert Chambers.