Sermon 30 June 1647, Title page – Letter
A SERMON PREACHED Before the Honourable Houſe OF COMMONS At their late Monethly Faſt, being on Wedneſday, June 30. 1647.
By NATHANIEL WARD Miniſter of Gods Word.
LONDON, Printed by R. I. for Stephen Bowtell at the ſigne of the Bible in Popes-head Alley 1647.
The Bookſeller to the Reader.
Courteous READER:
THis Sermon by a ſpeciall Providence came into my hands. The enſuing Letter was written by the Author to ſome friends, for whom this Copy was prepared: That the printing of falſe Copies might bee prevented which I heard were abroad, and intended for the Preſſe: I have adventred at the earneſt requeſt of many, both godly and judicious, to publiſh this without the knowledg or conſent of the Author, not doubting but that it will be both uſefull and acceptable to moſt, and juſtly diſpleaſing unto none.
Thine S.B.
A LETTER To ſome Friends.
Loving Friends,
TO ſatisfie your expectations I am willing to ſend you a true coppy of my Sermon as I wrote it, but I confeſſe in ſome things a little differing from my preaching it: wanting time and reſt, having travelled much a little before the day, and ſtriving to ſpeake loud in ſo great a Church; I ſoon diſcerned, that I could not bee Maſter of my thoughts and memory: but forgat ſomethings materiall, and expreſſed two or three paſſages inconveniently, which ſounded ill in mine owne eares. I was very loth to read my notes more then ſome ſcriptures: had I done it, I preſume I had not offended any: but my judgement is altogether againſt it.
It hath not beene my manner to grieve any mans ſpirit in the Pulpit, But in a diſtempered time, when occurrences of State are ſo violent and various that a man ſpeaks for life, it is hard to ſpeak pertinently to the caſe, and acceptably to all hearers, eſpecially when there are ſo many counterparties, tuning their eares to the key of their owne Intereſts, inſomuch that I ſcarſe know any man who lyes not now under ſome preſſing prejudice, moſt men ſeeme to Exercere hanc artem induſtriouſly: and God ſeemes to pinion up every mans armes, whoſe hearts is ſet to doe him or this State any true ſervice; but I am farre from excuſing my ſelfe any farther then I may and ought.
Two or three things I heare pleaſed not, 1 My perſwading ſo much to lament the King, wherein I acknowledge I let fall one redundant expreſſion; I am very ignorant of Gods minde, if it be not a very Chriſtian, and at this time a very neceſſary duty; I thinke I had ſpoke nothing to the Text, if I had not ſpoke to that which is the maine poynt in it. I earneſtly wiſh that time doth not drive us to a more bitter lamentation for his carriage and miſ-carriage, then now we are able or willing to foreſee, I deſire to bewaile my ſelfe that I can bewails him no more. Yet if I may beleeve my ſelfe, hot or cold, I am as farre from being a Malignant as any man that heard mee.
Another was ſome paſſages concerning the Army, which I have ſent you verbatim, I acknowledge I can but pitty and pray for them, and ſo far as God who is able to worke good out of evill, makes them his inſtruments to awaken the Parliament to expedite what is neceſſary. I looke on them in hope they will doe no great harme, but when I conſider, how they have begun ſo vaſt and ſtrange an enterprize without Warrant, I cannot but feare they will proceed beſides and beyond rule, if God lead not their leaders, with his onelyonly wiſe hand, little doe good men know what ſpirits themſelves, much leſſe rude men, are of, if once they be imbroyled, in heate of action and oppoſition.
The other was, the word carting, which you ſhall meete withal in its place, it grieved me to ſee divers ſmile at it with ſleight Spirits in ſo ſolemne a time. I weighed it before and adviſed with a godly prudent Divine about it, who ſaid it was no unfit expreſsion, but might be well uſed. Chriſt calls himſelfe a Husbandman, into which calling it falls; carting is as honeſt and honourable a worke and word as Carpentering: I thinke I ſhall ere long ſhew you a good Commentator on Ezek. who ſaith, Chriſtus, or, ſpiritus Chriſti eſt optimus & peritiſsimus Auriga, &c.
Some of you know how truely unwilling I was to come upon any publique Stage, knowing how perillous and jealous the times are, and how ſeriouſly I declined this text ſuſpecting the very words of it would bee ungratefull to ſome. I conſulted with ſeven intimate friends about it, and another much cooler and peaceable, whereto my owne minde moſt led mee, as they can beare mee witneſſe, ſix of them urged mee to this, yet my heart did conſtantly diſcourage me from it, though upon many thoughts I could not conceive any ſubject ſo neceſſary as to perſwade the reſtauration and conſervation of our loſt authority, in a time when Government is fallen ſo low, and mens Spirits riſen ſo high: that if it be not ſuddenly looked into, no humane eye can ſee any helpe or hope how it can be ſcrued up againe to its due altitude, unleſſe it be by him who can doe what he pleaſe.
I truſt I ſhal not be grieved that I was not thanked or ordered to print, I am not only above but a verſe to both. I have had more thankes then I can tell what to do with, and many juſtifie me I feare too much, and more importunity to print it then I have or ſhall liſten unto, for I ſee the nakedneſſe of it well enough, this I acknowledge grieves me ſadly, that comming a hard Winter voyage over the vaſt raging Seas to doe what ſervice I could to my Country, in preſerving Truth, and promoting Peace; I am obſtructed ſo far as I am. I am not ignorant that there are ſome troubled at my being here, and watching an opportunity to weaken me and my worke, which I have attended faithfully, meekly, and not without ſome ſucceſſe, but I am not altogether diſcouraged. I hope I ſhall make and keep my peace with the Lord, as for men I hope not for it, till hee ſhall vouchſafe to give us more humility and feare then I can yet ſee in this Land, which two graces ſeeme to me to bee much more wanting then they ever were in my dayes.
I pray let none take any copy of this Sermon, but ſuch as are wiſe, and friends to me, and have no itch to publiſh it, I would not adde offence to offence, it hath beene often told mee with ſome confidence, that it is already in the Preſſe, but where and by whom, I cannot learne: I have uſed means and friends to prevent it, if it ſhould by any other Copy. I ſhall then adviſe with you what to doe.
I intreat you, if in peruſing it you find any evill in the matter or manner, you would charge me faithfully with it; I ſhall find a time and way to unſay and undoe it, in the meane while pray for him, that ſhall be
Yours if ever a time come againe when men may be their owne. Nath. Ward.