AS there is nothing that a Christian can more desire than a personal union with his mystical Head ; so there is nothing that a Christian ought more to value than the pretious meanes of its atchievement : For , as the highest degree of perfect Happinesse , is to be actually present with Christ in Heaven ; so the highest degree of imperfect happinesse ( such of which wee are capable in this valley of Teares ) is our assurance of a a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , Heb. 6. 11. hope that we shall be happy in perfection . Now amongst the severall Requisites and meanes of Blisse , our invoking of God Almighty is not the least : for whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be b b Rom. 10. 13 saved ; But as we cannot call upon him in whom we have not beleeved , nor beleeve on him of whom we have not yet heard ; so neither can wee heare without c c verse 14. a Preacher . Upon which it followes ; That because Faith d d verse 17. commeth by Hearing , and Invocation by Faith , therefore ( in order of Nature , though not of Dignity ) Invocation is the third step ; Faith the second ; and lawfull e e verse 15. Preaching the very first .

But here it ought to bee considered , That Preaching is not only That , which in these innovating times hath swallowed up the word Preaching . Nor are Sermons only those which spend themselves and expire with the fugitive breath of him that speaks them ; and being publiquely uttered no more then once , doe either vanish , as meere words , into the soft Aire ; or else are , as water commonly split upon the Ground . Wee know that Preaching is a generall word , which properly signifies to divulge or f f Luk. 8. 39. publish ; And though we usually restraine it to the manifestation of God's owne word , yet That may also be Preached more wayes than one . The Catechizing of Neophytes in the purest Ages of the Church , may bee worthily called one kinde of Preaching , although they were not admitted to any higher degree of Teaching than to the very first Rudiments and Grounds of Faith . It was said by Justin Martyr , in his Paraenesis to the Graecians , that even in some of their owne writings the very Judgement to come was Preached to them ; and particularly in Plato's , the g g 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Just. Mart. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 10. 21. 22 &c. Plato in Rep. l. 10. Resurrection of the Body . The same Father tells us that Orpheus h h 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Justin. Mart. ibid. p. 13. preached to his sonne Musaeus , concerning the unity of the only true God . The publique Homilies of the Church are an exact kinde of Preaching , and that in the judgement of Master Hooker , as well as of King James , and the Councell of k k Hooker Eccl. Polit. l. 5. § 9. Vaux . The holy-Ghost's Amanuenses did even Preach to the Eyes and Understandings of all the World , by transmitting what they had written from hand to hand , as well as when they conveyed it by word of mouth . The Word of God doth Preach it selfe to every man living who will but reade it . The publique Reading of the Scriptures is the best kinde of Preaching to all that heare it ; And so the Councell of Toledo was pleased to call it . The Reading of the Law was laid by Moses as the foundation , whereon to build in mens spirits the l l Deut 31. 11.12.13 . feare of God : Vpon the bare Reading of which Law King Josiah was so moved , and wrought upon , that he m m 2 Chron. 34 18.19.27.31 . humbled himselfe , and wept , and rent his cloathes , and made a Covenant before the Lord , to keepe his Commandements and his Statutes , and perform the words of the Covenant which were written in that booke ; Nor is it unworthy to be ruminated upon ; That though Moses was Theopneust , the Friend and Favorite of God ( as well as Abraham ) and sure as able to speake , without booke , the mind and Tenour of the Law , as any man that ever lived before or after , yet he thought it as effectual to the saving of Soules , to take the booke of the Covenant , which he had first transcribed from God's owne Preaching upon the Mountaine , and publiquely to n n Exod. 24. 1.2.4.7 . reade it in the audience of the People .

Now the Reason of this is very evident , and deserves to be considered by that sort of Hearers , who are wont to preferre the words of men , when gracefully spoken out of the Pulpit , before the plaine word of God , when meerely read out of the Pew , not at all considering , That the o o Mal. 4. 2. Sun of Righteousnesse in the Scripture , like the Sun of Nature in the Firmament , shines much the brighter for being Naked . It is not the Language , Fancy , Wit and Learning ( which are eminently seene in one sort of Preachers ) much lesse the Memory , the Lungs and the Gesticulations ( which are daily observable in another sort of Preachers ) I say it is not any of these things , nor all together , that is effectually powerfull to the conversion of Soules ; Nay it is not the Spirits going along with the Preacher , that doth alone doe the work ( for the Spirit of God did goe along with the Apostles when they were cast out of the Cities , and along with our Saviour , in the fulnesse of his God-head , when yet he could * * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 &c. Mar. 6. 5. Ad divina enim opera requiritur accipientis Fides : Ergo hine sequitur , homines in credulos & ingratos quaesi Deo manus vincîre , ne ipsis opem ferat . Theod. Beza in locum not . doe many Miracles in his own Countrey meerly because of their unbeliefe ) but 't is his working a docility in the heads and hearts of such as hear , that they receive with meeknesse the ingrafted p p Jam. 1. 21. word , which is alone able to save their Souls .

This doth open to us a reason why the very same Sermon hath such variety of effects in them that hear it , and why a Jonah may preach to the melting of some , whilest a Jeremy may doe it to the hardning of others . If woegoe to Christs Schole as * * Mar. 10. 15. little-Children ( that is ) with humble , attentive , and teachable Dispositions , wee shall be great proficients and wise enough unto salvation , by hearing those Sermons distinctly read , which our * * 1 Cor. 7. 23 only Master & his Messengers are incessantly preaching throughout the Scriptures ; whereas without that temper and preparednesse of minde , we shall ( in utramque aurem dormire ) only sleepe with our Eyes open ; and where Gods owne word , through our wretchlesnesse , is not sufficient to awake us from that Lethargie of sin wherein our Soules lye steept , and swallowed up , Certainly nothing that is humane will raise us out of our senselesnesse and carnall security ; All the vehemence and Invention , all the noyses and Declamations , all the Grimaces and gestures of all the Lectures in the world will but amuse our Eares , and lull our Fancies , and benum our Apprehensions , and ( like so much Ladanum ) make us snore in our sins so much the lowder . T was by the q q 1 Cor. 1. 25 & 21. which compare with vers. 18. foolishnesse of God ( to use the Apostles Catachresis ) and by the foolishnesse of preaching ( as the worldly-wise then thought it ) by which it pleased God to save them that beleeve , that is to say , by the plainnesse and simplicity of the Gospell , without the artifice and colours of skilfull men , the world was turned upside downe , as the envious r r Act. 17. 5 6 Jewes were pleased to phrase it . By that word , and that spirit which the learned Greeks so much despised , Saint Peter preached to the conversion of s s Act. 2. 41 three thousand Souls at one short Sermon , and of t t Act. 4. 4 five thousand at another .

Far be this which I have spoken from being spoken to the disparagement of those judicious and pious Sermons , which have beene usefully preached by able men . Had I not beene a true lover of all good preaching , and even of all such Lectures , as were regularly founded and authorised , not to factious but pious ends , I should not now have gratified the importunity of friends ( however many and urgent on this occasion ) by helping to usher into the world , ( and by commending to the perusall of every Reader , who can bee glad to grow wiser then now he is ) The very learned , wise and sacred Reliques of this Great Author who lies before us . I am not now to be taught , That though the best way to knowledge , is to u u Job . 5. 39. search the Scriptures , as those that testifie of him who hath the words of w w Job 6. 68. eternal life , and that as faith cometh by hearing , so hearing commeth by the word of x x Rom. 10. 17 God ( not by the glosies , or conjectures , or dexterities of men ) yet there are many 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pretious and hidden treasures of knowledge which God was pleased to lock up in Tropes and Figures , of which the unstable y y 2 Pet. 3. 16 and the unlearned are not entrusted with the z z Luk. 11. 52 Key . The Priests a a Mal. 2. 7 lipps should keep knowledge , and they should seek the Law at his mouth , as being the * * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , apud LXX . Angell or Messenger of the Lord of Hosts , and the Steward of those Mysteries which God hath committed to his keeping . The famous Eunuch of c c Acts 8. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31 Ethiopia was able to read the Prophet Esay , and had so good an understanding as to discern how little he understood it ; and therefore St Philip was joyned to him for his Guide . There were some d d 2 Pet. 3. 16 hard things in St Pauls Epistles , which many did wrest to their own destruction , of which St Peter doth give us no other reason , then their want of learning , as well as of stability . Those waters e e Isa. 55. 1. of life are not every where fordable , no not to this tall Elephant who waded in them so very deeply , much lesse to the low-statur'd silly Lambs , who are apt , in shallow places , to sink or swimme . And therefore , though it is evident , that our very best drinking is immediatly out of the crystall Spring , whilest the f f 1 Pet. 2. 2. milk of the word is yet f f 1 Pet. 2. 2. sincere , not mixt and troubled with the skilfull deceipts of knavish g g Eph. 4. 14. Phil. 1. 15. 16 Teachers , or with the zealous ignorance of honest h h Rom. 10 2. Heb. 5 12. fools ; yet in the Body of the Church , we know that every Member is not an k k 1 Cor. 12. 14. 17. 19. 27. 28. Eye , and every one that hath Eyes is not a l l Isa. 30. 10. Mich. 3. 7. Seer , and yet there must be Seers , that there may be Vision ; for where there is no m m Prov. 29. 18. Vision , the People perish . The Church of God , which is the n n 1 Tim. 3. 15. Pillar and ground of the Truth , is universally acknowledged . The common Mother of us all . And though some of her Children can feed themselves by her direction , and are able to digest the strongest o o Heb. 5. 14. Meat , and can carve besides to their weaker Brethren , yet such as are Infants in understanding , or new born Babes p p 1 Pet. 2. 2. in Christianity , must suck the * * 1 Cor. 3. 2. Heb. 5. 12. 13. milk of the word from their Mother's Brest , or else receive it from their q q Mal. 2. 7. lippes , whom she hath appointed to give them food in due season . For want of able Pilots to steer their course , by the knowledge which they have to use their Card and their Compasse in Application to their polar r r Hebr. 12. 2. Num. 24. 17 Starre , how many s s 2 Pet. 3. 16. little ones have been s s 2 Pet. 3. 16. drowned in the t t Rev. 22. 1. River of life , and as it were swallow'd up by that sincere * * 1 Pet. 2. 2. milk of the word , which able Pastors would have taught them to swallow down ?

But as on the one side it must be granted , that where the Scriptures are dark there must be Guides to the blinde ; and where the places are steep or slippery , there must be Leaders of the Infirm : so again on the other side it is too plain to be denyed , that there are many u u Mat. 23. 16 blinde Guides and feeble Leaders of the blinde , who carry those that follow them into the same w w Mat. 15. 14. Ditch of error , wherein themselves are delighted to lye and welter . There are not wanting in our Israel some blear-eyed Seers , who love x x Job . 3. 19. darknesse rather than light . Their inward eyes are so fore , and so farre from being patient of seeing the Sun in his Meridian , that nothing seemeth to hurt and offend them more than the brightnesse and glory of any opposite Truth , when it endeavours to break in , and dispel the darknesse of their Designes ; which is in effect the very reason that St. John hath rendred why men love darknesse and hate the light , because ( saith he ) Their y y Ibid. deeds are evil . There is another kinde of Seers , who are not blear-eyed , but rather purblind ; they are extremely short-sighted , and cannot see a far z z 2 Pet. 1. 9. off . They look no farther than the outside and face of things : And not discerning the very marrow and kernel of what is written , they conclude that there is nothing beyond the bone and the shell . So when Hercules had travelled as farre as the Streights of Gibralter , he presently set up his Pillars , and wrote upon them his ( Ne plus ultra , ) supposing he had gone unto the end of all the Earth , because he was able to goe no farther : Whereas Americus Vesputius and Christopher Columbus had their eyes of understanding farre better sighted , and were able to finde out another World . There is a third sort of Seers , who are not purblind , but double sighted and squint-eyed , at least appearing to look two a a Ecclus. 2. 12 Jam. 1. 8. wayes at once , having one aspect upon God and another upon Mammon ; obliquely glancing with the left eye upon Godlinesse , and attentively gazing with the right eye upon Gain ; as if they endeavour'd by their practise to confute the Aphorism of Christ , That No man ( at once ) can serve two b b Luk 16. 13 Masters .

It is now too late to be dissembled , That since so many have preached without a Mission , and since so many have made Preachers without a Commission , since the Sanctuary of God , which was appointed by Him to be a House of c c Mat. 21. 13. Prayer , hath been turn'd by d d Those in Hooker's Eccles. Polit. l. 5. § 32. some into a House ofmeer Preaching , the very plenty and redundance of such as preach before they are e e Jer. 23. 21. sent , and of such as preach against those that sent them , may be said , in some sense , to have bred a Famine of the Word . This puts me in minde of what was said by the * * Florus . Historian ( in ipso Samnio Samnium requiratur . ) In such a case as this is , we are hardly able to see wood for Trees . There are so many vast numbers of either untaught or ill-taught Teachers , that amongst them all nothing of good is to be learn'd . Nor was there ever more need to presse that Caveat upon the People which our Saviour gave to his Disciples ( though 〈◊〉 by Him in a different sense ) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , Take heed f f Mar. 4 24. what yee heare , and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , Take heed g g Luk 8. 18. how yee hear , and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , Take heed h h Mat. 24 4. whom yee hear . For where there is one good k k Joh. 10. 11. Shepherd who entreth by the dore l l verse 1. into the Fold , there is a m m vers. 1. & 10. Thief and a n n vers. 12. Hireling , a o o vers. 12 . Mat. 7. 15. Wolf , and a p p Mat. 24. 5. Deceiver , who doe all climb up some q q Job . 10. 1. other way . For one good Shepherd , who will lay down his r r vers. 11. life ( if need require ) in defence of his Sheep against the Wolfe , how many Hirelings are there who leave s s vers. 12. the Sheep and flee away , as soon as they see the Wolfe comming ? How many Thieves are there , who t t vers. 10. come not into the Fold , but for to steale , and to kill , and to destroy ? How many Wolfe-like Shepherds doe walk about in u u Mat. 7. 15 Sheeps cloathing , but carry nothing into the Fold by which they are qualified for Shepherds , besides an iron Hook and a paire of Sheers ?

We know the Word in it self hath not only a heating w w Jer. 23. 29. , but withall a x x Joh. 15. 3. cleansing Faculty . But as the God of all Grace , and Grace it self , so the means of Grace ( next to God and his Grace , are most of all capable of being injur'd . And because the abuse of the best things doth ever prove the greatest and worst abuse ; therefore the liberty of the Pulpit hath been of much sadder consequence than that of the Stage . Infidelity commeth by hearing as well as Faith ; and that by hearing the word of God too ; I mean , by hearing it perverted , not rightly open'd , nor well applyed . And I wish it were not easie to prove so lamentable a Truth by much deplorable experience , as well in former as later Times . Since the Jesuites Apes have taught the People to rely upon the opus operatum of hearing Sermons ( as if Religion consisted in the outward Sacrifice of the Eare ) it is well known that in France , as well as in many other places , the greatest pretenders to Reformation have by their preaching and practise ( their practise suitable to their preaching ) help't to make Reformation an odious word . Whilest they whose Office should have oblig'd them to have been Messengers of Peace ( shedding abroad among the People words of Reconciliation , Humility , and strict obedience ) have been the Boutefeux and Bellows of nothing but warres and tumults and irreconcilable Dissensions . The chiefest Protestants in France ( such as the Dukes of Roan and Boullion , the famous Mornay du Plessis , and learned Cameron ) could not hold from complaining against their own Preachers : It seeming horrible to Them , that the first Banners should be display'd by such as professed to be Ministers of the Gospel of Peace . But so it is ( and can never enough be insisted on , untill a perfect Amendment and Renovation . ) That since the a a Mat. 24. 15. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , I mean , the Doctrins of Buchanan and Junius , Brutus , Boucherius , Hottoman and Paraeus , have been made to stand in the holy a a Mat. 24. 15. Places , Christian Magistrates have trembled at the very opening of Church dores , as at the opening the dores of Janus : and the first day of the week hath rather been a day of Sabbaoth , for the mustering up of Hosts and Armies , than a Christian Sabbath or Day of Rest. Pulpits have been the places where men have beaten up their Drummes and lifted up their voices like so many Trumpets , not ( as the b b Isa. 58. 1. Prophet ) to shew the People their Transgressions , but to exhort and incite them to their Commissions . They who compell'd so many thousands to perish at Rochell for want of victuals , rather than suffer them to partake of the Royal clemency that was offer'd they who made a conflagration of the whole Province of Languedoc and parts adjoyning ; they who eminently murderd the learned Cameron , for refusing to run into the same excesse of Riot , were none others then the pretended and professed Ministers of the Gospel . And if the Name of the Gospel was thus abused even in France ( where the Beast was more subject to bit and Bridle , ) How much more was it in Scotland , where it was frequent for the Beast to hold fast the bit betwixt his Teeth , or to spit it out of its mouth , or to shift the Rains from off its Neck , and thereupon either to cast or run away with its Rider . The pretended Heralds of Peace and Charity , national Unity and Concord , have been the Tragical Boanerges , whose Thunders have been seconded with Thunder-bolts . They have turn'd their Flocks and Congregations into Bands and Regiments , and have made their Churches their several places of Rendez-vous . When any Malecontents , whether Lay or Clergy , have meditated Disturbance to Church and State , the common custome hath been to dispatch their Emissaries and Tickets to all the Praecones of the Pulpit , to make them pray up and preach up the thing Design'd : whose tongues have been touch't with such Coles of fury ( rather than zeal ) as have kindled a fire throughout the Body of the Church ; such a flagrant and spreading , devouring fire as hath not been able to be quenched with lesse effusions than of many whole Rivers of Christian - blood . King James complain'd at c c A.D. 1620 Newmarket ; ( upon occasion of Mr. Haddock , who was wont to preach in his sleep , as he pretended , that he might vent his own Inventions as the Oracles of God ) of his Troubles which in his Kingdome of Scotland he had received from that Sect ; professing his inability to suppresse those Ministers from open slandering in their Sermons : In so much that many times he was constrained to interrupt them in the mid'st of their Declamations , whereby they did not only presume to raile by name at his Servants , but against his own Royal person before his face , and all this out of the Pulpit , and in perfect digression from their Text. For twelve intire years together , during his Residence in Scotland ( for his Reign we can hardly call it ) he prayed to God upon his knees before every Sermon he was to heare , that he might hear nothing from the Preacher which might afterwards grieve him ; but after his comming into England ( he said ) his case was so well altered , that his Prayer was to 〈◊〉 by what he heard . Indeed whoever hath but dip't into the Scotish Story , and remembers what he hath read concerning Mr. d d 〈◊〉 Hist. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . p. 367. 368. James Gibson , or David e e Idem ibid. p. 419. 420. 421 as far as p. 426. Blacke , Mr. Robert f f Ibid. p. 416. 417. 451. Bruce , Mr. Walter g g Ibid. p. 427. Balcanquall , Mr. Andrew h h Ibid. p. 419. 455. Melvill , Mr. John k k Ibid. p. 430. Welch , Mr. Robert l l Ibid. p 446. 447. Wallis , and Mr. l l Ibid. p 446. 447. Dalgleish , Mr. John m m Ibid. p. 450. 451. Davidson , and Mr. John n n Ibid. p. 456. Dikes , besides the 〈◊〉 and Knoxes , and many others of the same P●…st , ( some declaring * * Loc. citat . out of the Pulpit , " That all King 's were the Devils Barns ; That the Devil was in the Court , and in the guiders of it ; That King James in particular , was possesst with seven Devils ; That his Queen was only to be prayed for for fashions sake ; That Queen Elizabeth was an Atheist ; That the King ( then over them ) had discovered the treachery of his heart ; That the Subjects might lawfully rise and take the sword out of his hands ; That the Judges , Nobility , and Lords of the Councel were Miscreants and Bribers , godlesse Dissemblers , enemies to the Church , holy Glasses , Cormorants , and of no Religion : ) " I say , whoever hath read such things as these , will not wonder at that hatred which the learned and orthodox King James conceived of them ; nor at that advice which he gave his sonne , " To take heed of such o o 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . lib. 2. p. 41. 42. Puritans , very Pests in the Church and Commonweale ( they are the Kings own words ) whom no deserts can oblige , nor oaths or promises binde ; breathing nothing but Sedition and calumnies , aspiring without meusure , rayling without reason , and making their own imaginations the square of their Conscience . " Nor will any man wonder , that so much p p K. J. his letter from Windsor , to the Archbishop of Canterbury , Aug. 4. A.D. 1622. care was taken by him for the giving of Laws to the Pulpit , and more especially for the regulating of Lectures , that there might not be " broached ( by the reading of late Writers and ungrounded Divines ) any unsound , 〈◊〉 and dangerous Doctrins , to the scandall of the Church , the disquieting of the State and present Government . " I will conclude what I have spoken of the corruptions of the Pulpit with the complaint and Prophecy of our incomparable q q Bpp. Andrews Opusc. p. 31. 32. 33. Author , which he delivered to all the Bishops of a Provincial Synod . First of all he complained , Ex quo nuper hîc apud Nos vapulárunt Canes muti , animos sibi sumpsit indoctissimus quisque , involavit in locum hunc , hic ad clepsydram 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , cohaerentia non cohaerentia , scabra , putida , insulsa , nec co●…a nec condita praecipitavit usque , & boc salicet Concionari dicitur . Ex quo p●…iginoso cuique aditus patesactios hlc quicquid libet effutiendi , Ecclesiam Tonstrinam versa est , non plus ibi ineptiarum quàm hic . Theologia in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Canes non la trantes mulati in Catulos oblatrantes . Siquis quid enucleatae aut reconditae eruditionis prose●… , Statim Corruprorem clamant , & quasi adulterantem verbum Dei : ita reun peragunt ipsi omnium corruptores & caupones nequissimi , qui non eruditionem immiscent , sed pro ed nugas & naenias , & cerebig cruditates , quibus non sallua , non albumen ovi magis aut ●ejunum aut ●…sulsum est . " That since the dumb Dogs were lately beaten , every Dunce took upon him to usurp the Pulpit , where talking by the hour glasse , and throwing forth headlong their incoherent , mishapen , and stinking crudities , to the very glut and surfeit of all wise hearers , they have the luck forsooth to have it call'd by the name of Preaching . He further added , That since unlearned and itching tongues had invaded the liberty of speaking their pleasures from the Pulpit , the very Church was infested with as many fooleries of aiscourse as are commonly vented in the places where men sheare sheep . By which means ( saith our Author ) Theologie was turn'd into meer Battologic , and the dumb Doggs into barking Whelps ; crying out against them who improve their Sermons with any unvulgar and choyce parts of learning , as those that corrupt and adulterate the word of God . " Whil'st they themselves ( who thus rail against the things they understand not ) " are the most dishonest Hucksters and corrupters of it ; the crude and raw trifles of their own sick brains are as unsavory as spittle , as tastlesse and insipid as the white of an Egge . " This is the upshot of this greatmans complaint : And his Prophecy upon it was briefly this , That unlesse the Synod then assembled would take heed unto themselves , and to all the Flock , to the Church of God , to the Doctrin of the Church , and to the Dispensers of the Doctrin , " There would * * Nisi Doctrinae Voci , idque maturè attendatis , brevi aulla futiarae est omnino , cui ( si maxime velitis ) possitis attendere . In Conc. ad C●…vum in Synod . provinc . Cantuar. prov . 1593. shortly come a time when nothing of these should be left to be taken heed of ; And a r r p. 40. Babel should be erected instead of Sion . " Now that this most learned and pious Prelate was most impartially severe in every part of that Sermon , and sincerely aimed ( in his severity ) at the peace and welfare of Church and State , ( to which he was carried by s s Scias me 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pacis semper studiosum fuisse . Idem in Kesp . ad Epist. 1. Petr. Molinae● p. 172. nature as well as by designe ) and that he meant the same Faction or Sect of Preachers to whom his beloved King James was so deservedly severe ( as being alwaies infested by them ) will undeniably appear to every intelligent and honest Reader , who will t t Conser . opusc . p. 39. 40. ut & p. 31. 33. cum p. 165. 166. & seq. compare that Latin Sermon with his three Epistles to learned Moulin .

What the admired Bishop Andrews , and the judicious Mr. Hooker , and many other wise men of the age last past , did only feare and foresee , we , the first of their Posterity , have liv'd to feel : I mean the lamentable effects which are wont to follow ( I say not the liberty , but ) the licentiousnesse of the Pulpit . What comes too late to be prevented , may yet , in time , be capable of some redresse . Be our condition never so ill , we cannot hope to make it better by meerly despairing of our Amendment . What I have hitherto premised concerning the nature of our Disease , is not intended to deject or afflict any Reader , but only to make him the more attentive to what is offer'd in this Volume ( at least ) as one means of Cure and Restauration . Where there are too many Sermons , I apprehend there are too few . And the more numerous they are who preach up Heresie and Schisme and Disobedience , the greater number is needfull to preach them down . The more unruly and vain * * T●t 1. 10. Talkers , especially they of the Circumcision ( the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doe † † Vers. 11. subvert whole Houses , and teach things which they ought not for filthy lucres fake ; the more need have we of such as hold * * Vers. 9. & 11. fast the faithfull word ; and are able by sound Doctrin , both to exhort , and to convince , and to stop the mouths of Gainsayers . The greater plenty there is of them * * 1 Tim. 4. 1.2 . who depart from the Faith , giving heed to seducing spirits , and Doctrins of Devils , speaking lyes in Hypocrisie , & having their Conscience seared with an hot iron ; The more must They be needs wanted who are † † Vers 6.7.13.15.16 . good Ministers of Christ , nourished up in the words of Faith and good Doctrin ; refusing prophane and old Wives Fables , giving attendance unto Reading and Meditation , and continuing in both , that they may save themselves and them that hear them . By how much the more we doe abound with such as * * 2 Tim. 3. 6 7.8 . creep into Houses , leading captive silly Women , ever learning , but never learned , such as like Jannes and Jambres resist the Truth ; The greater abundance there ought to be of such as † † Vers. 14. & 17. continue in the things which they have learned and been assured of , knowing of whom they have learned them , and are throughly furnished unto all good works . The more there are of those * * 2 Tim. 4. 3.4 . itching and prurient Eares who cannot endure sound Doctrine , but heap to themselves Teachers who have as prurient and itching Tongues , and turn away their attentions from aged Truth unto newly devised Fables and Conceipts after the Mode ; By so much the greater is the necessity of such as are knowing and stable men , holding † † 2 Tim. 1. 13 fast the form of sound words , and preaching according to the * * Rom. 12 6. Analogie of Faith , teaching the People to walk in the † † Jer. 6. 16. old and the good way , that walking therein they may finde rest unto their Souls . In a word , The more Interpreters there are who have a a Luk. 11. 52 taken away the Key of knowledge , neither entring in themselves , nor suffering others to enter in ; by so much the more we stand in need of all those faithfull * * 1 Cor. 4. 1.2 . and able * * 1 Cor. 4. 1.2 . Stewards , who may b b Prov. 2. 12. deliver us from the way of the evil Man , from the man that speaketh froward things .

Now if ever any Bishop , since the Apostles own Times , was both a faithfull and able Steward , rightly using the Key of knowledge , religiously opening the Mysteries of God , bringing c c Mat. 13. 52 forth out of his Treasures things new and old ; If ever any Pastor took d d Act. 20. 28 1 Tim 4. 16. carefull heed unto himself , and to his Flock , over which the holy-Ghost had made him Overseer , e e 2 Tim. 4. 5. watching in all things , enduring afflictions , doing the work of an Evangelist , and making full proof of his Ministerie ; If ever any f f 2 Tim. 2. 15 Workman needed not to be ashamed , as rightly dividing the word of Truth , and venting nothing out of the Pulpit but what is g g 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ( 1 Tim. 5. 17. ) est , Ser monem elaborare . Authore nostro Judice , in Conc. ad Cl. p. 32 elaborate and exact ; If ever any Preacher had both Urim and Thummim , the former in his words , and the later in his example , h h Tit. 2. 8. unreprovable in his Doctrin , and k k 1 Tim. 3. 2. Tit. 1. 7. unblamable in his life ; The most admired Bishop Andrews may passe for one of those l l Tit. 2. 7. Patterns , in whom these Lines of perfection were all concenter'd .

And this I say so much the rather , because I finde him to have the honour of being hated and * * Correp . Corr. p. 190. & 206. 208. snarl'd at by a late profane and sawcy Scribler ; who , as if he were willing to kill the dead , and pluck a glorified Saint out of the Land of the m m Psal. 27. 13 Living , hath not only attempted to sullie the Name and the Writings of this Great Author , but hath publickly malign'd his very imparadised Soul too . He hath not only defam'd his Doctrin , as Atheological , irrational , and worse than that of Arminius ( which , in the judgement of the Accuser , is no small crime ) nor hath he only reproach't him by a most odious comparison with one exceedingly below him ( whom yet he presumeth to prefer as far before him , for sooth , in sanctity ) but by an unchristian insinuation would make his Reader to believe , That Bishop Andrews was the worse for being Bishop Andrews , that Dr. Andrews was more a Saint than the Lord Bishop of Winchester , and by consequence , that his last dayes were very unhappily his worst too , But since the Author of such profanenesse is very sufficiently stigmatiz'd by avowing himself , in print , the Author of it , I shall not in a preface say more than this , That the great n n 1 Pet. 2. 25 Bishop of our Souls was far worse dealt with ; and , in the later part of his life , was called a Wine-bibber , a Glutton , a p p Mat. 26. 65 Mar. 2. 7. Blasphemer , a Demoniack .

How consummate a Divine , how exact a Preacher , how acute a Disputant , how judicious a Moderator , and how eminent a Christian our Author was , there is nothing more easie than to conclude , both from the admiration of the best men , from the malignity of the worst , and from so many of his Writings as have been heretofore publish't : And ( after all , I may add ) from these imperfect , but pretious Reliques , which are here presented to the learned and to the unlearned Reader . They being so pithie , and yet so plain ; so very short and concise , but yet so full and perspicuous ; so close and home to the Text , but yet so usefull in Applications ; that 't is hard to say , for which sort of Readers they are most proper ; whether for the learned , by being so wise ; or for the unlearned , by being so easie . They who are the most ignorant , may here get knowledge ; and they who have the most knowledge , may here get more . They that are Leaders of the People , may learn what things they ought to preach ; and they that are followers of the Pulpit , may learn what Preachers they ought to hear .

'T is true , it cannot be denyed , and it ought in justice to be proclaim'd , that this Volumne of Notes was only taken by the Eare from the voluble Tongue of the Dictator , as he deliver'd them out of the Pulpit ; and so are infinitely short of their original perfection . We must not judge by these Lectures , what kinde of Preacher their Author was ; but we must guesse by the Author , how exactly accomplish't these Lectures were . There have been many great Monarchs , who having began to erect their stately Fabricks , have left them imperfect upon Design , that late Posterity might wonder at the excessive greatnesse of their Intentions . And it is thus farre applicable to the case in hand , That every Reader may imagine by the beauty of these Ruines , what kinde of Buildings he should have seen if he had seen them standing in their integrity . But having said thus much in veneration of the Author , to whom the Printer hath offer'd this well-meant injury , I have something to alledge by way of Apologie for the Printer , by whose devotion of care and cost , these sacred Fragments were thus collected . He knew the same of the Author was so transcendently high , and placed so far out of the reach of spight or envy , defamation or disgrace , that he supposed it a lesser Crime thus to communicate these Lessons as now they are , than to deprive Posterity of their Advantage . He look'e not so steadily upon the Name and Credit of the Author , as upon the interest and good of Souls . He thought the Reader would esteem it , not only as an excusable , but as a commendable trangression , which being no way injurious to more than One , will redound to the benefit of many thousands .