Three sermons preached by the Reverend and learned Dr. Richard Stuart ... to which is added, a fourth sermon, preached by the Right Reverend Father in God, Samuel Harsnett ...

TO THE READERS.

WHat the Great Viscount S. Alban said of Time, we have but too just cause to apply to ours: Like a River th••y con∣veigh unto us that which is Light and blown up; but ••ink and drown that which is weighty and solid. Our Press••s (crowded with pittifull Scriblers of all Sects and sizes) have their Diurnall and Nocturnall sweates: yet after much travell and hard labour, they bring for•••• little else, but buzzing swarm••s of

busie flies: and (as the best of Saty∣rists complains)

Tot pariter Pelues, & Tintinnabula di••as Pulsari, — Iuvenal. Sat. 6.

Amidst this confused noise of tinkling Cymbals, may it please your distempered eares to entertaine 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, one well-tuned, in whom is no jarring: nothing but what in∣vites to Harmony, Peace, and Con∣cord? One, who being Dead, yet preacheth▪ and if men will not still be Adders, refusing to heare the voyce of the wise Charmer, he may, like Davids Harp, contribute, in some measure at least, to the al∣laying this Nations, (once Delight, but now) tormentor▪ the Restlesse spirit of Contradiction. For let us but stand still a while (if we yet 〈◊〉〈◊〉) and consider, what strange ••essons this Tempestuous Age

hath infus'd into us. S▪ Paul bids us lift up holy hands without wrath: But we have turned Proselyte•• to Peter••s ••word: an•• there have not beene wanting Masters of Offen••e, to Teach our hands to war, and our fin∣gers to fight. As for our Harps, we hanged them up (as now uselesse) upon the▪ Trees (and so not curs∣lesse neither) because they sounded no Discord, and so would not ad∣vance on towards our great End, Confusion.

Thus have imprudent men either quite robbed themselves of those holy men and means which God in mercy gave them; or else (which is but little better) exchanged 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Gold for Counters: the Cherubins of the Temple, for the Calves in Bethel: and Aaron's gol∣den Bells, for Alexanders sounding Brasse▪

That these Electors may (at length) see 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the Absurdnesse

of their choice: and how, contrary to all shadow of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, they have sentenced those men, as unwo••thy of this World, of whom this World is not worthy▪ I here pre∣s••nt unto them three Drops from that pious Head, which the cloven ••oote of our pampered Iesurun had kick'd into an Helicon of Tears. If I tell you our grave Authors name, (and it will not be convenient (yet) to tell you his descent) I hope the Truths he here delivers▪ will not suffer, because of his Invisum No∣men. Truth, as it doth not feare, so neither begs, an Auditor. And therefore, whether ye will heare, or whether ye will forbeare (Ezek, 2.7.) the three Sermons next fol∣lowing were preached by Richard Stuart, Dr. of Civill Law, Chap∣lain in Ordinary, and Clerke of the Closet to his sacred Ma∣jesty, King Charls (now with God) Dean of S. Pauls in London: and

now (after much experince of both fortunes) advanced to an higher attendance in the Court of Heaven.

The latter part of his life was spun out in a kind of banishment: for what cause let his first Sermon tell you. He had now learnt to be at home abroad; and was able to say with patient (and there¦fore valiant Paul) 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Phili. 4.11. And If we who still sit on the black lips of Euphrates▪ Psal 137. do but seri∣ously contemplate our own faces in that troubled Glasse, we may (though not sing, yet) say:

— Poteras jam, Cadme, videri Exilio faelix▪ — Ovid. Met▪ 3▪

As he lived so he died in Exile: and lies buried at Paris in France. And though wee could not afford him a place to rest his head on here,

yet we may bestow an Epitaph: and let it be without flattery: (ne∣que enim verendum est▪ ne sit nimium, quod esse maximum debet▪ Plin. Lib. 8. Epist. ult.)

• Hic Magna est veritas:
• Hic Invicta jacet Pietas:
• Hic Illaesa manet Patientia.

The Funer••ll being o••er, let us now see what the party decea••ed hath left behind him. These Orphan-Sermons were not (for ought I know) trusted to the care of either Executor or Over∣seer. Now, 'twere pity three such elegant children should either (by falling into the fierce hands of som•• hot-headed professor) be cast into a fiery Furnace; or that (at long ru••ning) some more wary person should (by an odd way of prescrip∣tion) force them to ••all him Abba, and he publish them as 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,

his own Legitimate issue. For the preventing of such either mischeife, or mistake, I have now published these three, hoping that others may thereby also be incited, to make publick such other pieces of this rare work-man, which yet remaine secret in their private hands▪

The first of these three, is con∣cerning Scandal: I have now pla∣ced it first (not for it's subject, or birth-right only, but) because it is the best: and it is the best, be∣cause it is the longest. In this Sermon, our hasty bre••hren (Sons of the same Fathers with us) may (as in a plain-dealing Glasse) see, how causelessly and contrary to all that is either just, or sober, they have cast those out of the holy pla∣ces, as persons grossely supersti∣tióus, and whom much washing had made unclean.

These 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 (〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) may from this Sermon learn, that obedience to their holy Mother is far better then sacrificing and grinding their brethren. Let such men read the conclusion of Plutarchs Booke, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and take he••d, least while there is such gaping against Gnats, Camels doe not slip downe their th••oats. Excellent is that saying of Mr. George Herbert, (the devout Bernard of our Church) concerning the In∣junction for kneeling at the holy Communion: Contentiousness in a Feast of Charity, is more scandall then any posture: 'tis in his Country-Parson pag. 92.

They o•• Rome too may here see what a great blocke their Imag••-Worship is to the Jewes conver∣sion. Let then St. Chrysostome's Fa∣therly advice be done by us all, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Let us shun offensive word••, and

scandalous Works; let neither our mouths preach 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, scanda∣lous Homilies or Sermons; nor our lives exhort others to sinne. Let us Give no offence neither to the Iews nor to the Gentiles, nor to the Church of God.

The second is an Easter Sermon Chrysologu•• (Serm. 69▪) bestowes an Epitap•• upon our Saviour.

Cunctorum Resurrectio sepelitur: Here lies the Resurrection buried.

Our Doctor shewes the place where the Lord did lye; but with all tels you with forcible Arguments, that the Resurrection is now Risen. In this Discourse, you'le find those strange opinions of Worshipping of Reliques, and Christs corporall ubiquity, briefly, solidly, and cha∣ritably confuted.

The third is a Funerall Sermon: which you will not repent to have

read: it being upon a Text, which admits much variety of Interpreta∣tions.

To these three is added a fourth Sermon preached, long since, at S. Pauls Crosse, by Samuel Harsnett, Fellow of Pembroke Hall in Cam∣bridge: afterwards advanced to the Archiepiscopall Chaire of Yorke▪ It is concerning Gods Free-Grace▪ and mans Free-will: I will not pass any Sentance upon this worke; I only say with S. Aug▪ (Epist▪ 46▪) Si non sit Gratia Dei, quomodo mundum salvabit Deus? Si non sit Liberum Ar∣bitrium, quomodo Iudicabit mundum Deus? Take away Gods Free-Grace, and farewell Heaven: Take away Mans Free-will, what can the day of Judgment say to us?

But I will not any longer keep you at the Doore: passe on, and be ye followers of these great Do∣ctors, as they are of Christ▪ Forget

not the Resolution of that grave Roman: Nihil opinionis causa, om∣nia conscientiae faciam▪ Senec▪ de Ira▪ 3▪41▪

T.H.