Three Decades of Sermons, Title page 1 – To the reader 1
Three Decads OF SERMONS Lately Preached to the VNIVERSITY at St MARY'S Church in OXFORD:
BY HENRY WILKINSON D. D. Principall of Magdalen Hall.
Eccleſ. 9. 10. Whatſoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might: for there is no worke, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wiſedome in the grave whither thou goeſt.
2 Cor. 5. 14. For the Love of Chriſt conſtraineth us.
ACADEMIA OXON IF. SIS.
OXFORD, Printed by H. H. for Thomas Robinſon. 1660.
Almae & Venerabili Matri ACADEMIAE OXONIENSI TRES CONCIONVM DECADES in Templo S. MARIae haud ita pridem habitarum, In perennis Obſequii & Gratitudinis Teſtimonium, D. D. D. Q. L. M. Q.
HENRICUS WILKINSONUS.
The AUTHOR'S Preface to the unprejudiced Reader.
BE pleaſed (Reader) with patience to take notice of, and give Credence to this true (though brief) enſuing Information. As for my part, being conſcious to my ſelf of manifold Failings, (perhaps more then others can, or will acquaint me withall) I ſhould have ſtood in more awe of a Preſs, then (in ſuch a Critical Age to have expoſed even the beſt of my Labors to publick view: Had not ſome both eminently Godly and Judicious incouraged me much by their Approbation: Amongſt whom the *Dr. J. Conant.Vice-Chancellor, and *Dr. Edw: Reynolds.Dean of Chriſt-Church, (whoſe Judgements I highly value) approved what now comes forth. Likewiſe thoſe ſeveral Sermons which I formerly Printed in another Language, for the moſt part were communicated to a * Reverend and Dr. Harris, Preſident of Trinity Coll: Oxon.Judicious Divine, lately gone to Heaven (with whom I had intimate acquaintance, and always found a faithful Friend) by whoſe Advice they were committed to the Preſs. For Apologies, and ſuch like preliminary Diſcourſes, I purpoſely wave as ſuperfluous altogether.
I have often thought (not without great deteſtation) of a proud vain-glorious ſpeech of one (not worth the naming) Trajectum plantavit, Lovanium rigavit, Caeſar dedit Incrementum: Whereupon another made Anſwer, Hic Deus nihil fecit. I ſhall acknowledge Adwickium in Agro Eboracenſi plantavit, There I was born: Oxonium rigavit, There I had the greateſt part of my Education: Chriſtus autem dedit Incrementum, The increaſe and bleſſing of all I aſcribe unto Chriſt alone: Paul may plant, and Apollo may water, but God alone 1 Cor. 3. 6.giveth the encreaſe. I have read, that a Philoſopher accounted it as his honor, That he was a Man, a Citizen, and lived in the time of Socrates: Much more do I account it my honor to be a Chriſtian, and born in a Land where Chriſt is known: And (through riches of Grace and Mercy) to be born again: And to be accounted worthy (even ſuch a worthleſs Inſtrument as I am) to be a Miniſter of the Goſpel of Jeſus Chriſt, for whoſe ſake to ſpend and be ſpent, I account it a far greater honor then to be the Emperor of the World: And if the Lord be pleaſed to make me more Inſtrumental to gain ſouls to Chriſt (through Mercy I have already heard of ſome brought in, to my comfort) This Mercy I ſhall value at a higher rate then all the Kingdoms of the World, and the glory of them. Neither may I paſs by in ſilence (for which I cannot be thankful enough) Gods gracious dealings with me in my younger years at Gloc…ſter, where Mr. John Workman. Mr. John Langly.the Lord bleſt to my ſoul the Miniſtry of a * Holy man of God, and likewiſe the Labors of a * Worthy School-maſter. Further, The Lord in mercy afforded unto me great advantages, after I was placed in Magdalen-Hall, under the Government of *Dr. John wil…inſon, Principal of Magdalen Hall 43 years.my Honored Uncle, the vigilant Principal; one (as I conceive) endowed with the ſpirit of Government, where likewiſe I was well accommodated with a *Dr. Henry wilkinſon, now Cannon of Ch: Ch:Religious, Learned, and Diligent Tutor, now an eminent Profeſſor of Divinity in this Univerſity. Theſe I mention with thankfulneſs unto God: And with Pliny I conceive it, Ingenuum confiteri per quos profec…rim.
As for many of my Brethren who have more Talents entruſted to them, then my ſelf, I envy not any of them, but heartily wiſh a diligent improvement of them, as remembring where much is given, much is required: For what (through Grace is given me) I am obliged to be thankful, and not hide in a napkin. Thoſe Scriptures are as Frontlets before mine eyes, and frequent Monitors unto me, viz. Eccleſ. 9. 10. Whatſoever thy hand findeth to doe, doe it with thy might, for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wiſdom in the grave whither thou goeſt. Joh. 9. 4. I muſt work the works of him that ſent me, while it is day: The night cometh when no man can work. And 2 Cor. 5. 14. The love of Chriſt conſtraineth us. Upon theſe Principles I deſire to manage all my undertakings, and act accordingly.
Now in an eſpecial manner I preſent theſe Sermons (as Duty and Gratitude bindes me) to the Univerſity, before whom I Preach'd them. I cannot conceal (what my heart is ſo much affected with) but muſt acknowledge with all thankfulneſs thoſe ſignal Mercies from Heaven of late extended even to a Miracle, that the Miniſtry, and maintenance due thereunto, the Univerſities and their Priviledges are yet ſecured and reſcued from the malitious projects and attempts of unreaſonable men, who cry with a Stentorean voice againſt an Univerſitie, as the children of Edom did in the day of Jeruſalem, Pſal. 137. 7.Raſe, raſe it even to the Foundation thereof: Theſe are of John of Leydens and Wigelius his Faction, lately conſuted by a * Learned Dr. Arrowſmith in Orat. Aqtiweig…l.Profeſſor. It's ſufficiently known that men of this Leaven have an evil eye againſt all Schools of Learning, and therefore beſpatter and calumniate them, that they may more eaſily make a prey of their Revenues. This was the Diveliſh deſign of Julian the Apoſtate to overthrow Schools of Learning, and rob them of their maintenance; and this was a ſubtle Stratagem uſed by him to hinder the ſucceſſion of Miniſters: But all ſober minded perſons (who have their eyes in their heads) ſee, and cannot but acknowledge the ſingular and daily uſe of Publick Nurſeries of Learning, Maugre all the Aſperſions and out-crys of thoſe falſe tongues ſet on Fire of Hell. From theſe places of Learning have come forth a Noble Army of Martyrs, viz. Cranmer, Ridley, Latimer, Hooper, Bradford, Tindall, Philpot, &c. who have reſiſted Popery unto Blood, and ſealed unto the truth of the Proteſtant Religion with their own Blood.
Our Ʋniverſity of Oxford can produce a large Catalogue of eminent Champions for the Truth, ſome whereof were Bradwardin, Wickliffe, Jewell, Fox, Jo: Reynolds, Hooker, Ayry, Crackenthorp, Field, Lake, Hackwell, Benefield, Bolton, Pemble, &c. Our publick Profeſſors have been an Ornament unto that Chair, and have oppoſed Rome, Racovia, Munſter, &c. Their Names are like precious Oyntment poured forth, leaving a ſweet ſavour behinde them, viz. Peter Martyr, Humfred, Abbot, Holland, Prideaux, Sanderſon, Hoyle: And the preſent Profeſſor, (though I conceal his name) deſerves an Honorable mention, whoſe Parts and Graces adorned with ſo great Humility, render him an uſeful Inſtrument for Publick Good.
It's worth our Obſervation, That in former times ſtill God raiſed up Men of Heroick Courage and Invincible Reſolution, to lop off and fear the Hydra of Hereſies, and defend the truth againſt all Gain-ſayers. I ſhall onelyonly make mention of ſome remarkable paſſages within my own remembrance: When that novel upſtart Doctrine of Arminius, (novel I call it) (unleſs Arminius be Pelagius redivivus, and upon that account may plead more Antiquity) was broach'd when ſome (not all) Prelates countenanced thoſe Tenets, and preferred thoſe of that Perſwaſion to places of Preferment: How many then of the younger Students bent their Studies that way? Inſomuch as I have ſeen a Remonſtrance of Parliament above thirty years ago, declaring, That the ſtudy of Arminianiſm was the ready way to preferment, and the Arminians were compared to the Jeſuits. For my own obſervation, I have for the moſt part apprehended an Arminian to be compounded of a Jeſuit and a formal Proteſtant, That ſo by the one he may ingratiate himſelf thus, by broaching pleaſing Doctrines of General Redemption, Free Will, &c. And by the help of the other, he may carry on his Deſigns with more ſubtlety: It cannot be deny'd, but twenty years ago Arminians had a great Harveſt in both Univerſities, yet in both God raiſed up worthy Champions, to oppoſe and confute all thoſe rotten Opinions: To inſtance onelyonly according to my own Perſonal knowledge. In this Univerſity the * Learned Profeſſor of the Chair, ſtood up with Dr. Prideaux.Courage in his Lectures and Diſputations againſt Arminianiſm: Dr. Twiſſe put forth that Learned accurate Book, called Vindiciae Gratiae, &c. Since him Dr. Kendall wrote after the ſame Copy: Maugre Inhibitions, Affrightments, and other dangers of thoſe times; yet ſome there were, who not afraid of the face of men, cry'd aloud againſt the Errors of the Time: Two or three more I ſhall mention. * One Preach'd upon this Text, Numb. 14. 4. And they ſaid one unto Mr. Hodges of Excter Coll.another, Let us make a Captain and return into Egypt: In which Sermon Gravenchovius was quite beat out of the Field.
Another Preach'd on this Text, 2 Theſſ. 2. 10. Becauſe they received Mr. Ford of Magdalen Hall.not the love of the truth, that they might be ſav…d: He gave Arminius a deadly blow, and cry'd down Superſtitious Innovations in theſe words, Altar, High Altars, the uncouth Language of a ſtrange Land. Theſe ſuffered Baniſhment, and their ſuffering was their Crown.
A third (whom I heard Preach in Latine about 27 years agoe) Mr. Croke of Br…ſen-noſe Colledge.charged Arminius through and through; and in concluſion, was not afraid to call a Spade a Spade. Theſe were (as I well remember) his ipſiſſima verba-Poſtremo agendum eſt mihi cum Jacobo Arminio qui etiamſi non eſſ…t Orthodoxus, utinam non eſſet perjurus. And in the Publick Act the ſame year, a worthy Doctor anſwered: And at another Dr. Staunton now Preſident of C. C. C.time a Batchelour of Divinity, who both couragiouſly and faithfully defended this Truth againſt their Antagoniſts-Deus non eſt Author mali ſecundum Reformatorum Placita.
A fourth I ſhall mention is (about 22 years agoe) an ancient Bachelour Mr. … of … …ll.of Divinity, who defended the Orthodox Doc…ne againſt the Arminian Faction: His Text was, P…il. 2. 12. Work out y…ur own ſalvation with fear and trembling: Being call…d in queſtion for that Sermon, he ingeniouſly confeſt, That the ſelf-ſame Sermon he had Preach'd in St. Mary's Pulpit ſixteen years before, and then it wa… well approved of, and accounted t…ue Doctrine.
Neither can I bury in ſilence (to Gods glory be it mentioned) that Oxford hath afforded many faithful and conſtant Preachers this la… Century: What excellent Preaching was there (as I have received from good hands) at Alhollows, by the Tueſday Lecturers (for which Dr. White, a worthy Benefactor to the Univerſity, and …ounder of the 5 Exhibitions in Magdalen Hall, left an allowance) Then Dr. J…h: Reynolds, Dr. Ayry, and others, ſupplyed that courſe: And Dr. Ayry for many years together Preached at St. Peters in the Eaſt each Lords Day; and his excellent Pains are made publick in thoſe Lectures on the Philippians. Within the compaſs of my own remembrance (for thirty years at leaſt I can ſpeak) there were many able and Iudicious Preachers in particular Pariſhes, who conſtantly labored in the Word and Doctrine: Of ſuch were choice Miniſters of the Goſpel at * Alhollows, at St. * Micha…ls, * St. Peters in the Eaſt, by Mr. Pope. Mr. Black burn. Mr. …ight. Mr. E…ſto….whoſe Miniſtry (bleſſed be God) I received much edification. Other able and faithful Preachers are yet alive, who have, and do at preſent take abundance of pains in the Work of the Goſpel amongſt us, whoſe Names, though I paſs by, yet are no whit the leſs to be eſteemed of. I would not willingly give offence neither to J…w n…r Gentile, nor Church of God: Yet I muſt ſpeak my conſcience, without reſpect of perſons, that for theſe thirteen years laſt paſt there hath been more conſtant and more practical edifying Preaching amongſt us, then the eldeſt alive can remember was ever before in this Univerſity.
Every Lords Day, at ſeveral hours, three or four Sermons are Preached: Likewiſe every Tueſday, Thurſday, Friday and Saturday, conſtant Lectures are Preached; beſides many other Lectures in private Chappels. Upon theſe conſiderations it plainly appears, what care and induſtry is taken to propagate Religion in the Univerſity and City. And many there are amongſt us of that excellent temper of Amaziah the Son of Zichri, who willingly offer up themſelves unto 2 Chro. 17. 16.the ſervice of the Lord: Who give their Labors as a free-willoffering gratis, (I may truly ſay) I wiſh not Ingratis.
It's not in my intention to make up a Nom…nclature and compleat Catalogue of the Worthies of our Univerſities: Many▪ not named perhaps may be no whit inferior to thoſe that are already named. My deſign is to ſtop the mouthes of Clamorous, Envious, and Malicious Perſons, who aſperſe and traduce Vniverſities as uſeleſs, and little better then Hives of Waſps and Drones (although I know no reaſon why becauſe of ſome Waſps and Drones the whole Hive ſhould be deſtroyed:) But thoſe Machiavilian Counſels take place (too too much) now adays-Audacter criminare aliquid haerebit.
Neither do I in the leaſt queſtion but that the Venerable Vniverſity of Cambridge can produce a parallel number of choice Divines and Scholars, ſuch as were Whitaker, Cartwright, Ward, Davenant, Greenham, Perkins, Baynes, Sibbs, Preſton, Dod, Hilderſham, Hill, Arrowſmith, &c.
But I proceed no further in this Argument: By what I have obſerv'd from others (to whom I ſubſcribe) that ſince Chriſtian Religion was profeſt, there was never a Collection of more Godly, Orthodox, and Learned Divines, then in this preſent Century. Yet I am far from excuſing or extenuating the Animoſities, Heart-diviſions, uncouth, unſeemly Habits, ſelf intereſts, carnal Policies, unwarrantable ſeparations, and that Latitude which many take unto themſelves now adays: The good old Puritan would not take an Inch formerly, where many now venture to take an Ell. I heartily wiſh a Reformation thorow & impartial, that what we condemn in others, we may avoid each one in himſelf. O that it might be the main deſign we drive at to advance the power of godlineſs, and to go before each other in a real example of Reformation. Let's all labor as one man to be found in the Faith, and holy in life, ſo that Hereſies, Blaſphemies, and all forts of profaneneſs, may be abominated and extirpated. And let it be our endeavor to keep the unity of the ſpirit in the bond of peace: So Eph. 4. 3.that according to thoſe Propheſies (the accompliſhment whereof we daily expect) We may all worſhip the Lord with one conſent, that the Zeph. 3. 9. Zech. 13. 9.Lord may be one, and his name one: And let us never forget that the vows God are upon us, (which we ought to our power to endeavor to keep inviolably) in that Solemn National Covenant (which was made in a day of diſtreſs) with our hands lifted up to the moſt high God. Let not that Solemn Oath be accounted as an Almanack out of date, leſt the Lord ſend a Sword to avenge the quarrel of a broken Covenant: Let's expoſtulate with Ezra, Should we again break the Commandment, Ezra. 9. 14.and joyn in affinity with the people of theſe abominations? After Oathes, Covenants, Days of Humiliation; and after ſo many ſignal Deliverances, ſhall we again hancker after ſuperſtitious Ceremonies, a formal Service Book, a Lordly Prelacy, unwarrantable Separations, Schiſms, Machiavilian Policies, ſelf-ſeeking Intereſts? The Lord forbid that we ſhould be ſo unthankful for the mercies received, and ſo unmindeful of thoſe particular Duties which God expects from us in our ſeveral Places and Callings.
But I ſhall not exceed the bounds of a Preface: Although this may be accounted a Digreſſion, yet (I hope) may be of ſome uſe to the Reader.
Thus much I was willing to premiſe (as far as I apprehend) having a ſingle eye at Gods Glory and the Publick Benefit, Wherefore be pleaſed (Reader) to peruſe deliberately and candidly theſe three Decads of Sermons Preach'd with much plainneſs to the Auditors, accompanied with a vehement deſire to do good, and afford the Author thy Prayers, who deſires a ſhare in the Prayers of all the Iſrael of God, and remains,
Magdalen-Hall Oxon, April 9. 1660. Thy ſouls ſervant, HENRY WILKINSON.
To the Reader.
WHen it was told David after the defeat of Abſolom, that Ahimaaz the ſonne of Zadok came running, the King ſaid, He is a good man, and cometh with good tideings. I may truly ſay ſo of theſe Sermons, and the reverend Author of them, He is a good man, and therefore we may be ſure that he bringeth good tydings with him. He is a right Nathanael, a true Iſraelite, without guile, an able Preacher, a vigilant Governour, a faithfull friend, a bountifull diſtributer, to whom much of the Character of Ariſtotles magnanimous man doth exactly agree, foreign, who dares openly to love a friend, when others reject him, and openly to diſprove the faults of thoſe whom others feare and flatter. As is the man and his Communication, ſuch is his doctrine, ſound, wholſome, ſavory, edifying, not meerly notionall and ſuited onelyonly to the fancy, but properly calculated for the Conſcience and converſation, unto which the more any doctrine is fitted, the more it is according to the mind of the ſpirit of Chriſt ſpeaking in the Word, and to the direction of his Apoſtles, who uſed great plainneſſe of ſpeech, and ſuch demonſtration of the Spirit and power, as might manifeſt the truth to every mans conſcience in the ſight of God, who gave inſtruction unto others whom they had ſeparated to the work of the Goſpell, to hold faſt the wholſome forme of ſound words, by ſound doctrine to Exhort and Convince gainſaiers, to ſhew in doctrine incorruptneſſe, gravity, ſincerity, ſound ſpeech which cannot be condemned, to ſpeak, to rebuke, to exhort with all Authority, to teach men to maintaine good workes for neceſſary uſes, to preach ſuch things as are good and profitable unto men. Though I have not had opportunity to peruſe all theſe Sermons, yet having been an hearer of many of theſe, and finding in thoſe which I have read the ſame even and ſerious ſpirit, and withall great variety of profitable matter, I may ſafely commend them to the Chriſtian Reader as Sermons drawn according to theſe preſcripts of the Apoſtle, and conſequently very uſefull unto publick edification, unto which all our ſtudies, labours, and writings ſhould be ſubſervient.
Apr. 4. 1660. Thine in our Common Lord EDWARD REYNOLDS.