Sermon at Westminster, Title page – Dedication
A SERMON LATELY PREACHED AT WESTMINSTER, BEFORE SUNDRY OF THE Honourable HOUSE of COMMONS.
By Joſeph Symonds ſometimes Miniſter in Ironmonger-lane, London, Now Paſtor of a Church in Roterdam.
—Rejoycing, and beholding your order, Col. 2.5.
foreign. Naz.
Nullibi gravius peccatur quam in politicis. Dan. pol. pr…aem.
LONDON, Printed for Luke Fawn, and are to be ſold at his Shop, at the ſigne of the Parrot in Pauls Church-yard. 1641.
To the Honourable, the Knights, Citizens and Burgeſſes of the Commons Houſe of Parliament, now Aſſembled.
IT was a quick anſwer of him to a Painter, who ſhewing his Picture, ſaid he made it in a few houres, That he wondred he made not many ſuch in that time. But its not a vain covert of my weakneſſe, or idle hunting after credit, but a juſt expreſſion of truth, if I ſay the time of my preparation of this Sermon for you, was a time of no ſmall diſtraction to me. Indeed as I judged my ſelfe unworthy to ſpeak in ſuch an audience, ſo I wonder that any in it ſhould ſo approve what was ſpoken, as to think it worthy of a longer life, then it had in the Pulpit. But ſince it muſt live longer then I intended, having nothing in this matter to ſatisfie me, but my reſpects duplicate page duplicate page to thoſe to whom I owe ſo much, I humbly preſent it to your honourable acceptance. And ſhall ſtill pray him, who is wiſedome and Counſell, to lead you into all truth, that as great and ſtupendious works (wherein by the Vote of God and man, a large ſhare of of honour is allotted to you) have been done by you his Inſtruments; ſo you may happily proceed, till your wiſedome and zeal have crowned our hopes, and perfected your glory, that we and the generations yet unborne, may rejoyce in you, and bleſſe God for you, whom he hath raiſed to be the terror of his adverſaries, and Saviour of his people. Go on and proſper unparalleld Worthies, you have a a noble cauſe, and a confluence of incouragements from God, and man. See what you have done already, and mingle your ſtreams of joy with the flouds of all your Saints ere while drowned in tears and ſorrows, but now floating in joy and triumph. Behold the Faces of the Saints, whoſe tears you have wiped away, and ſee in the light and cheerfulneſſe of their viſſages the bleſſed fruits of your goodneſſe, wiſedome, juſtice and courage. Let their reviving adde ſtill to your living Spirits? What can be more ſolatious to a Chriſtian Spirit, then to ſee the dying Saints reviving, and inſolent oppreſſors dyi…g? What better then at once, to ſee our Kingdom enhappied, and Chriſt advanced? Let your hearts feed themſelves to fulneſſe in theſe things, to you belongs a double portion. Its better to do good then to receive: we are but the Ceſterns, you have the honor to be our living Springs, yet we moſt honor the Sea of goodneſſe, who iſſues through you upon us.
I am ready for the things which I have already ſeen to ſay, as Jacob, when he received his ſonne, as from the dead, I have enough. And doubtleſſe, if our eyes ſhall be ſo bleſſed, as to ſee the Churches of Chriſt in their right order, and ſhining in their proper beau…y and power, we ſhall be as thoſe that dream. Oh that our want of love to Chriſt, and to each other may not deprive us of this Crown of our rejoycing. And oh that in much love and ſingleneſſe of Spirit, all that are the reall friends of Chriſt, would with mutuall embraces, and conjunct hearts, heads and hands help to give birth to this glorious work. He were better be in his grave, who in ſuch a ſeaſon as this, is either an impediment or a ſhaddow.
Different opinions are no juſt excuſe of diſſenting affections, opinions ſhould not be quench-coales of love, which are not deſtructive to life. And its ill ſervice to augment differences beyond neceſſity, or to aggravate them beyond equity. The Wiſedome which is from above, is peaceable; and ſurely love, and meekneſſe, would do much to one-nes. He that will exclude all that meet not punctually in his judgement, muſt diſcard himſelf. Let us rather deviſe how farre we do, or may concenter, then ſtudiouſly to ſtand at a diſtance: We ſhall never be wholly, one with all in all; Yea, we are very diverſe from our ſelves. And true peace ariſeth not ſo much from inforced uniformity, as from a Candid unanimity. He that diſturbeth order, and corrupteth trueth, is unfit for a Chriſtian fellowſhip. But all that embrace godlineſſe and truth, and ſerve the peace of the Churches, may happily be copartners in each others priviledges. If this be the time of our deliverance (which I pray and hope) he that is Truth and Love, will teach and meeken us; and he that is Almighty, will proſper you, that this morning of hope, may riſe to a clear day of joy, which is the prayer of him, who is your Honours to ſerve you.
Joſeph Symonds.