The Second and last collection of the late London ministers farewel sermons preached by Dr. Seaman, Dr. Bates, Mr. Caryll, [brace] Mr. Brooks, Mr. Venning, and Mr. Mead ; to which is added a farewell sermon preached at Dedham in Essex by Mr. Matthew Newcomen ; as also Mr. Lyes sermon at the conclusion of the last morning-exercise at All-hallows in Lumbard-street, being a summary rehearsal of the whole monthly-lectures.
Seaman, Lazarus, d. 1675., Bates, William, 1625-1699., Caryl, Joseph, 1602-1673., Brooks, Thomas, 1608-1680., Venning, Ralph, 1621?-1674., Mead, Matthew, 1630?-1699., Newcomen, Matthew, 1610?-1699., Lye, Thomas, 1621-1684.

The Twentieth Sermon.


Acts 24.25. And as he reasoned of Righteousness, Temperance, and Judgement to come, Faelix trembled.

IN these words you have the manner, matter, and effect of Paul's Preaching; The manner, why Paul was reasoning; The matter 'tis of Righteous∣ness, Temperance and Judgement to come; the Ef∣fect, Faelix trembled. First, for the manner of Pauls Preaching, as he reasoned, i. e. as he argued the mat∣ter, he did propound it in a rational way, and pur∣sued it before Faelix, and this he doth in a double capacity, as he is a Convert, and as he is an Apostle, as a Christian, and as a Preacher.

1. As a Convert and Christian, and so he had rea∣son to do, and make use of that reason he had to shew, though he became Righteous, yet Paul had not lost his reason. Hence learn, true Religion will con∣sist with right Reason. Blessed be God for this Truth; We are apt to look upon men as mad men, if they will be Righteous: 'Tis true, before Paul was con∣verted, he had Reason but he used it madly, but af∣ter Conversion he begins to be sober, and make the best use of his Reason.

2. Look upon Paul as a Preacher, so he makes use Page  48of his Reason. And True Reason may and must bee used in Preaching the Gospel, yet with these two Cautions.

1. Do not over-value Reason; do not lift up the Servant above the Master: Prize Grace more then Reason; Piety is better then Parts, though Parts are the Ring of Gold, Piety is the Diamond in that Ring. As if, a man in a Pulpit should come to shew what a brave Scholler he is, this is to over-value Rea∣son.

2. Do not under-value Reason. We have had a strange fancy, that if a man that could not read English would but come and talke and preach to us, he was far more desirable then a Black-Coat that hath been at University and learnt his root there (as they say) you will be glad of such as these. This Learning hath spoiled all the world, do you not know how many Schollers are Atheists; and their learning made them the worse, &c. This is not the fault of their Reason; had they more Reason they would improve it better. It is want of Reason that makes them not Crucifie their Lusts: Because cor∣rupt men many times reprove that which is good, will you therefore cast it off.

2. For the Matter of Pauls Preaching, and here observe.

1. 'Tis suitable to his hearers, Faelix was a Judge though a corrupt one, and so he reasons of Righte∣ousnesse: He and his Whore lived in Adultery, and so he preaches of Temperance, of Judgement to come, know, God will call thee to judgement. Hence ob∣serve. The Gospel is then preached aright, when suted to hearers hearts, conditions, constitutions: A man in the Pulpit ought not to shoot at random, Paul speaks ad rem to his hearers, suitably tells them of Righ∣teousnesse, Page  49Temperance, Judgement to come.

2. Consider it with Relation to his Scope, which was, to bring them unto Christ, and what doth hee do? He Preaches Grace, Mercy, and Peace, no, not a word of that, but Righteousness, Temperance, Judg∣ment to come. Paul was a convincing Preacher, hee knows his way to bring home Faelix and Drusilla, to Christ, was first to convince them of their sin, and the wrath of God due to sin. The whole summe of Pauls preaching is, a preaching by way of conviction: Sin and misery must be preached for this end, that it may bring men unto Christ; wee must not make men half dead and there leave them, but bring them to the Chirurgion, all our conviction is only for this end, that you might be brought to Christ, by Grace, to Glory.

3. For the Effects of Pauls preaching: Paul preached, and Faelix trembled: doth not Drusylla tremble? 'Tis more then probable, shee brought Paul to preach there, that Drusylla had a months mind to hear what he had to say, but Faelix trem∣bled; Hence observe, Those that are first in enjoying, may be last in receiving the Gospel. Drusylla was a —yet turns a wicked Apostate, yet when come to hear a Sermon, her Heathenish Husband Faelix that ser∣ved the Devil instead of God trembled, but not she; Back-sliding Professors from the Truth, are infinite∣ly farther from melting under the Gospel, then pro∣fane sinners, that never heard of it. A man had far better go and preach to Heathens, then Apostates. Then for the words, Faelix Trembled. Why? There was Righteousness prosecuted and convinced, Judge∣ment to come, threatned against him; Now his knees begin to smite together, now the Writing on the Wall, now Faelix trembles; Oh! poor soul, wouldst Page  50thou not tremble at the hearing of the Preaching of Judgement to come? submit to the Judge before he come: wouldst thou not have thy Judge to condemn thee then? Let him be now thy King to Rule, thy Prophet to instruct, thy Priest to reconcile: Would you avoid the terrour of a Judgement to come? Ac∣cept of the offer of a Christ coming; coming did I say? Nay, he is come already; Do but lay your ear close, to that third of the Revelations, and the twentieth, you shall hear your Judge knocking, which brings mee to