Three Decades of Sermons, To the reader 2
To the Chriſtian Reader.
I Conceive it altogether impertinent and forreign from my Work in hand, either to prefix an Epiſtle by way of Apology, or detain thee any longer with a praeliminary diſcourſe. OnelyOnly be entreated (Courteous Reader) to take notice that this Second Decad of Sermons agrees in the ſame ſtile with the other two. I know not wherein I vary from my ſelf, but purſue one and the ſame Method, both for Matter and Form, endeavouring (to my beſt apprehenſion) to declare all the Act. 20. 27.counſell of God. Inſomuch as comparing Sermon with Sermon (notwithſtanding the revolutions of times, and various diſpenſations) one and the ſelf ſame Author may be eaſily diſcerned—
Sic oculos, ſic ille manus, ſic ora ferebat.
I purpoſely wave all along, and abhorre all uncouth, 2 Cor. 3. 12. foreign. 2 Tim. 1. 13. foreignunſcripturall Phraſes, and affectation of words coyn'd at the Mint of counterfeit Teachers. My endeavour is to uſe plaineſſe of ſpeech, and (as the Apoſtle exhorts) to hold faſt the form of ſound words. What cenſures I may incurre from ſuch as have (as was ſaid of Bolſecus) Religionem Ephemeram, I value not; nor of others, who kick and winch becauſe they are rub'd on the gall'd ſore: I heartily wiſh their amendment, and then they will be of another mind, and like that afterwards which they miſlikt formerly.
Although I Preach'd theſe Sermons to a Learned Ʋniverſity, yet what at firſt I had in deſign (through Chriſt that ſtrengtheneth me) I endeavour to carry on to this day (and ſo hope to doe alwaies) (i. e.) to make it my buſineſs to affect the hearts, and ſpeak home to the conſciences of my Auditors, by reproving and exhorting, without partiality, & not in the leaſt to gratifie, & tickle the phanſie of any wanton wit of Athens, or any itching Auditor, whoſe phanſie outruns his judgement.
How plain ſoever theſe Sermons may ſeem, I am no whit diſcouraged, hoping the plainer they are, the better may be the ſucceſſe; becauſe where leaſt appears of Man, God uſually doth great things, That no fleſh may 1 Cor. 1. 29.glory in his preſence; but that the praiſe and glory of all may redound unto God alone. Neither may I conceal ſuch a mercy (for which I can never be enough thankfull) that I have been informed by ſeverall perſons, who profeſt to me, that they had received much good by ſeverall of theſe Sermons. Wherefore (though when I have done the beſt I am but an unprofitable ſervant) I am the rather encouraged to make theſe Sermons of Publick Uſe, hoping that (through the bleſſing of God) they may doe much more good for the future, and help people forward in the narrow way to life, and give them a lift to Heaven. As for my own failings (for which I deſire more and more to bee humbled) I ſhall thanke him heartily, who ſhall in a brotherly way diſcover them unto me. It was Davids deſire (and may mine ever run parallel with his) Let the righteous ſmite me, it ſhall be Pſa. 141. 5.a kindneſſe, and let him reprove me, it ſhall be an excellent oyle, which ſhall not break my head. If theſe labours (ſuch as they are) be any way inſtrumental for the advancing of the Kingdome of Jeſus Chriſt; or if but one poor ſoul be by them (as inſtrumental means) begotten unto Jeſus Chriſt, I ſhall conceive that Eternity it ſelf will he little enough to praiſe God for ſo great a mercy. I often conſider, how God brings great things to paſſe by weak means, as by empty Pitchers the Midianites were diſcomfited, and at the ſounding of Rams Judg. 7. 20. Joſh. 6. 20. 1 Cor. 1. 21. 2 Cor. 8. 12.horns the walls of Jericho fell down; And by the fooliſhneſſe of Preaching to ſave them that beleeve. And I likewiſe conſider, that a willing mind is accepted; Badgers skins, Goats hair were accepted, when with a willing mind dedicated to the Tabernacle; the Widdows two Mites were accepted, and Abrahams reall intention of Heb. 11. 17.offering Iſaack, was accepted for the deed. What I ſhall adde further is this, that I have offered theſe Labours according to my ability (and ſhould rejoyce if I could bring better;) and ſhall entreate thee (Reader) to help me with thy prayers and counſel, that theſe may not loſe their deſired ſucceſſe, nor (if God give life) what I intend hereafter for publick view in a Decad of Practicall ireatiſes. In a word, be perſwaded (whilſt 'its day) to ſet a high eſtimate upon all the means Joh. 9. 12.of Grace put into thy hand, as ſo many prices to get Wiſdome withall. Neglect not the great ſalvation tendred in the Goſpel: Lye at the Poſts of Wiſdoms gate, and labour to digeſt what thou heareſt, and make thy own by Prayer, Meditation, and particular Application. Dr. John Reynolds Preſ…dent of C. C. C.By every Sermon thou mayſt reap ſome good, if thou beeſt not wanting unto thy ſelf. * One of the moſt eminently Godly, and Learned Divines that ever I read of (ſince this was an Univerſity) often profeſt, that hee could get good by every Sermon he heard. As he was a conſtant hearer of Sermons, ſo he made charitable conſtructions of what he heard, and was a ready counſellor and encourager unto Preachers. I ſhall adde no more, but entreat thee (Reader) to lay aſide all prejudices and expectation of Novel Opinions and Phraſes; and as for the failings either of Author or Printer, be pleaſed to cover them with the Mantle of a charitable Interpretation. I beg thy Prayers, and commend theſe Labours to thy acceptance, and commit thee unto Gods gracious providence: I remain,
Thy Servant for Chriſts ſake, Henry Wilkinſon.