The Fourth ( and Last ) VOLUME OF DISCOURSES OR SERMONS ON Several Scriptures .

By EZEKIEL HOPKINS , Late Lord Bishop of London-derry .

LONDON : Printed by H. Clark , for J. Robinson , A. and J. Churchill , J. Taylor , and J. Wyat , 1696.

AN old Friend and Acquaintance of the very Reverend Author of the following Sermons and Discourses , in honour of his Name and Memory , ( though he accepteth no Man's Person , neither can give flattering Titles ) saith , upon the occasion of their being Printed and Published , as followeth , viz. That there have been Three Volumes of Sermons and Discourses sent forth into the Publick before these have appeared , and not any one of them unprefaced to ; but in none of these Prefaces hath he met with any thing to convey down the just Character of this our great Man , and his Manner , and Ministry to Posterity ; He will make an Experiment therefore , if any thing may be said ( he saith not aded ) for , hitherto , nothing hath been said ) to render the account of this Amiable Person and his Vseful Labours amongst us to after Ages , besides the Testimony of his Gifts and Graces in his Books , so familiar amongst us ; for by these , though he be dead , he yet speaketh ; his Works praise him in the Gates , and his Remembrance shall be blessed . Many will bear Witness , the Name of our Author was not unknown , but celebrated in this our great City , in its Suburbs , in our Lines of Communication , and within our Bills of Mortality , when he for several Years lived and laboured with great acceptance and success in these places : Ask in the Town and Parish of Hackney , how much Good was done by Mr. Hopkins's Lectures , especially amongst the richer sort of Inhabitants , and the younger sort at the Schools there , and especially those that were descended from good Families . If you believe me not , ask from Jerusalem to Illyricum ; from Oxon to London , from London to Exon , if you please , from one London to another , even unto London-derry in Ireland , where was his Top-preferment , and I have been assured his last Works were more than the first : So that we have found him that faithful and wise Servant his Lord had made Ruler over his Houshold , to give them their Meat in due season . Indeed , by his exalted Name , I ever took him to be none of our smaller Prophets , nor of the Patres minorum Gentium : In his first education , and at his first appearance in the Grammar-School , he soon signalized himself , none of his Age and Stature being well able to keep pace with him ; at his coming unto the Vniversity , it was by times taken notice of his Stock of Grammar , and all good Learning , especially in the learned Languages , and his Studies and Manners were such that he rendred himself in the College both much a Scholar and much a Gentleman , and was chosen out from amongst others to Instruction and Government therein , and particularly the Instruction and Government of some of several Young Gentlemen , and some descended from some of our Noble and most Honourable Families in our Kingdom and Nation . In the Churches of Christ , unto the Service whereof he was never slack , when invited , and called , his very First-fruits were promising , and his First-fruits being holy , the Lump was also holy . The Crouds in Hackney-Church , in St. Mary Woolnoth Lombard-street , at Exon , at Dublin , at Raphoe , at London-derry , and last at St. Mary Aldermanbury in our own City , declare him a Master-workman , the Preacher that was wise , and that sought out acceptable words : And his Words were as profitable as they were acceptable . By the Subjects of the Four Volumes of Sermons , you will be able to do more than make a Conjecture , you will take some Measures of his Parts , and the disposition of his Mind , of his Studies and Ministerial Endeavours , with the blessed Seals which were put thereunto .

I will only further ( as to my part here ) in his Honour , commend to your perusal , in special , this Fourth Volume of his Sermons and Discourses : The Contents will give you the Account of what Materials they consist , and to what Vses and Improvements they were directed and applied . But I further take liberty to say , Here are , in these Discourses now handled by him , both the Commoda and the Accommoda , things profitable in themselves , and seasonable to our present Times and Debates , Verba super Rotas , some of the Author 's Golden Apples in Pictures of Silver : They never knew our Author , that knew him not to be as acute and solid in his Polemick Discourses , as he was accurate and fervent in his Practical and Ordinary Sermons . And let but the Christian Reader take the first Discourse in this Book , on Phil. 2.12 , 13. and read but with due Caution and Observation , and he will soon think there will not need more be said to stay and quiet the Minds of Men on the controverted Points of Liberty , or the Power of Nature , and the Interests of the Grace of God in our Salvation . He hath also happily herein taken up the Question , and proved Repentance and Faith are neither prejudicial to the free Grace of God and the Father , nor in any-wise derogatory unto the Merits of Jesus his Son : As also fully proved we are far from being justified as soon as elected or redeemed . In the Second Part , he hath happily added and proved , that a temperament of the fear of a Just and Sin-revenging God , is consistent with , and necessary to be joined unto our highest Attainments in the joyful Sense of the Love and Favour of God , and the fullest Assurances of Heaven and Salvation we have in this Life , and hath herein cut the Sinews of the Antinomian Errour , on the contrary part , and without any Noise or Clamour . In the Third Part , you will find and be much pleased with , and , I hope , equally benefited by his very Pious and Plain Treatise of the Nature and Offices of Conscience , the rather because the Corruptions and Defilements of it being so distinctly opened , and what it is , and of what Importance to get and to keep a clear Conscience , with many necessary Directions and Helps in order thereunto , very proper to the Times wherein so many have made Shipwrack of Faith , and of a Good Conscience . The next Discourse is of Instancy and Constancy in Holy Prayer , not only as a Negotium cum Deo , but Heaven in ordinary and perfect Hearts-ease , whil'st we are here upon Earth . And the last is an elaborate , though short Exercitation and Treatise of the Divine Omnipresence , a Meditation prepared to render all the foregoing Parts of the Book more beneficial to us , no Argument being in its own Nature more awakening and awful to an intelligent and diligent Reader . The rest you are beholden to Providence , and the Pen of a ready Writer for ; but what is written , was unquestionably spoken , and with a great 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , by a very Reverend Prelate , now in that Kingdom , ( a great Admirer , Follower , and dear Brother of ours , deceased ) in the Close of his excellent Sermon , Preached in St. Mary Aldermanbury-Church , upon Coloss. 3.1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , Verses , June 24. 1690. in the Close whereof , having Christ's and our Resurrection he proceeds , saying ,

This was the Doctrin of the Apostles , and the Faith of the Primitive Christians : And that this Faith did animate them against the Fears of Death , and enable them to meet that King of Terrors with Undaunted Resolutions ; and it is this which still Buoys up the sinking Spirits of Believers ; it was this which comforted this Reverend and Learned Prelate , whose Funerals was then solemnized . This supported him in his late Troubles and Afflictions , in his greatest Pains and sharpest Agonies . He often discoursed with me on this Subject . He fixed his Thoughts upon the Glorious Resurrection , and set his Affections on the things above ; and with the Joyful Hope and Expectation of them he was enabled to bear the Torments of his Body with great Patience , and wonderful Magnanimity ; and was not in the least terrified with the Thoughts of Death . It was not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to him ; he spoke of it without Concern , and triumphed over all its Terrors , and welcomed it as a Joyful Messenger , calling him to his Dormitory till the Resurrection . And he died full of this Faith , and did , with Job , say , Though his Body were destroyed with Worms , it should rise again to a Blessed Immortality , and in the same Flesh he should see God ; and through the Merits and Intercession of Christ , he doubted not to Partake of the Things above .

But you expect I should say more of him ; and , indeed , he highly deserves it , and much , very much , is due to the Memory of such an excellent Prelate ; who , for Learning and Piety , for Wisdom and Courage , for Humility and Meekness , for Charity and Hospitality , was one of the greatest Ornaments of the Church and Nation wherein he lived : But unless I had his own Eloquence , I should not attempt it . A sorrowful Heart , a thick Pencil , and a trembling Hand , will but overshade and darken the Lines of so fair a Piece ; and therefore I must beg of you , who knew him in Oxford , in Hackney , in Exeter , and in this City , where he was so much followed , applauded , and admired , to set him in his true Light to the World , and give him that great Character which he so justly deserved , while I only mention the great Honour and Veneration we had for him in Ireland , in which Kingdom he soon made himself famous , and , for a Learned and Elegant Sermon , which I heard him Preach at his first coming , ( and which was afterward Printed ) I saw him Embraced by the greatest Prelates , and courted to stay in that Country , and was soon after made Dean , and then Bishop of Raphoe , and afterward , most deservedly , translated to Derry . In the first of which Bishopricks ( as I am informed ) he spent about a Thousand Pounds in Buildings and other Improvements : And , in the last , he was at a very great Expence to Beautifie and Adorn his Cathedral , and in furnishing it with Organs and Massy Plate ; and , in both , he was a great Precedent of Piety and Holiness . He was a burning and a shining Light . He knew that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and did therefore preach loudly by example . His Actions were Instructive Sermons , and his Strict Life and Unblameable Consation had great Influence on all about him .

At his Table he was piously pleasant and religiously ingenious , and doubly feasted all who did eat with him ; for he had a clear Head and solid Judgment , a quick Fancy and a flowing Wit , and was every-way accomplished for Address and for Discourse , and was so Courteous and Affable , so Gentile , and so Obliging , so Instructive , and Communicative , that all who conversed with him , loved and admired him ; and though he kept a very Noble and Hospitable House , yet was it famous for Regularity and Order . And in the midst of the greatest Plenty , Gravity and Sobriety were most strictly observed . It was indeed a Temple and an Oratory , for in it Prayers and Praises , Catechising and Reading the Scripture , were never omitted . He constantly expounded it to his Family , explained some part of the Lessons , and made short , but rare Observations upon them , and , beside the Publick Prayers , he was very often at his Private Devotions , and spent much time in Divine Meditations .

Thus did he behave himself in his House ; thus did he Instruct his Family , and bring his Children up in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord : And , if you follow him to the Pulpit , you 'll find him there constantly , once a Sunday , while his Health permitted it , and surely all who heard him will say , his Sermons were Learned and Eloquent , Pious and Methodical , and , as his Motto was , Aut suavitate aut vi , he , either by sweet Discourses and charming Exhortations , or by strength of Reason and powerful Arguments , drew many to Christ . He never omitted that Duty , but preached in his Throne when he was not able to ascend the Pulpit : And , for his Excellency in that Noble Faculty , he was celebrated by all Men. He was followed and admired in all Places where he lived , and was justly esteemed one of the best Preachers of our Age. And his Discourses always smelt of the Lamp ; they were very elaborate and well digested . He had a Noble Library , and delighted in it , and was , as Tertullian says of Irenaeus , Omnium Doctrinarum curiosissimus explorator . He was a good Linguist , and excelled in Polemick and Casuistical Divinity . Many flocked to him to have their Doubts resolved ; and he gave Light and Comfort to clouded and afflicted Consciences ; and was admirably accomplished with many other Parts of useful Learning .

And , if you consider him as a Bishop , you will own , that God had blessed him with Wisdom and Sagacity , with Zeal and Courage , with Temper and Moderation , and all other necessary Virtues for a Governour and Ruler in the Church , and surely none was more careful of his Diocess , being constantly resident , and bringing in learned and ingenious Men into all Livings in his Gift and Patronage : And was a most tender and indulgent , yet strict and vigilant Ruler of his Clergy . He always treated them as Brethren and Friends , with all kindness and respect , and would spare no pains to protect them in their Rights ; and used all his interest to promote them as they deserved . In a word , he was every way qualified and adorned for that great Charge ; and by constant Preaching , a wise Government , and an even and steady Hand ; by a winning Temper , an humble Courage and prudent Moderation , he gained upon Dissenters , and brought many into the Communion of our Church , having fully convinced them , that her Doctrin was Pure and Primitive , Orthodox and Apostolical : And did , upon all occasions , shew himself a wise , a learned , and a pious Bishop . He every way filled his Chair , and was an Honour to his See , and may deservedly be enrolled in the Catalogue of his learned Predecessors ; for with such has that See been blessed ever since the Reformation . And undoubtedly his Death will be extreamly lamented in that Country ; and sure I am the Poor will have great reason to bewail it ; for to them he was exceeding generous and charitable , and gave great Sums , every Year , amongst them , besides the Tenth of his Revenues , which he constantly laid by for such uses ; and did also allow good Yearly Pensions to Students in the University , to Ministers Widows and other distressed Persons , and did put Children to Trades , and largely contribute to the Building and Repairing of some Churches , and designed greater things , if God had spared him to return . But , alas ! he is gone , and our poor unsetled Church has an extraordinary loss in him : 'T is a sharp Stroke , an additional Judgment to lose him now . But to God's Holy Will we must submit , as he willingly and chearfully did when Death approached : He resigned all with great Christian Courage , and discoursed Philosophically and Divinely of the Vanity and Uncertainty of all Sublunary Things , and setled all his Desires upon the Things above ; and , not long before his death , he discoursed of the Necessity and Sincerity of Repentance and Uniform Obedience in such a manner , and inveighed with such any Holy Zeal , against the Sins of these Nations , as might make the greatest Debauchees of our Age quake and tremble to have heard him . And then , with reflecting on himself , he did , with great Grief and Sorrow , with Sighs and Tears , bewail the least Failures of his Life , and spent his Last Days in Self-examination , in Repentance and Prayer , and with great Devotion received the Holy Sacrament , in which he found much Joy and Comfort , and had such Inward Peace and Antepasts of Bliss , that he longed to be dissolved and to be with Christ , and did very often beg of God to take him : And , on Thursday last , his Prayer was heard , and God , in his Mercy , took him out of the Troubles of this Life , and called him up amongst the Blessed , and changed his Fading Mitre into a Crown of Eternal Glory .

What then remains , but that we imitate his Virtue , honour his Memory , and commit his Body to his Dormitory , there to sleep till the Resurrection , when he and all who have been diligent and industrious , painful and laborious in the Ministry , and have been Precedents of Piety and Holiness , of Justice and Integrity , will meet their Flocks with Joy and Comfort , and for turning them to Righteousness , shall shine as Stars for ever and ever . Which God grant we may all do , &c.