A discourse of divine providence: I. In general: that there is a providence exercised by God in the world. II. In particular: how all Gods providences in the world, are in order to the good of his people. By the late learned divine Stephen Charnock, B.D. sometime fellow of New-Colledg in Oxon.

TO THE READER.

Reader,

THOU art here presented with a little piece, of a Great Man; Great indeed, if great Piety, great Parts, great Learning, and great Wisdom, may be admitted to claim that Title: And we verily believe that none well acquainted with him, will deny him his right; however malevolent Persons may grudge him the honour. It hath been expected, and de∣sired by many, that some ac∣count of his Life might be gi∣ven

to the world; But we are not willing to offer violence to his ashes, by making him so publick now he is Dead, who so much affected privacy while he lived. Thou art therefore de∣sired to rest satisfied with this brief account of him, That being very young he went to Cambridge, where in Immanuel Colledge he was brought up under the Tuition of the pre∣sent Arch-Bishop of Canterbury. What Gracious workings and Evidences of the New-Birth ap∣peared in him while there, hath already been spoken of by one, who was at that time his Fellow Collegiate and Intimate. Some time he after∣ward spent in a private Family,

and a little more in the exercise of his Ministry in Southwark; then removed to New-Colledge in Oxon, where he was Fellow, and spent several years; being then taken notice of for his singular Gifts, and had in Repu∣tation by the most Learned and Godly in that University, and up∣on that account the more fre∣quently put upon Publick work. Being thence (the year after he had been Proctor) called over into Ireland to a constant pub∣lick Employment, he exercised his Ministry for about four or five years, not with the approba∣tion only, but to the admiration of the most Wise and Judicious Christians, and with the concur∣rent applause of such as were of very different sentiments from

him in the things of Religion; Nay, even those that never lov∣ed his Piety, yet would com∣mend his Learning and Gifts, as being beyond exception, if not abve compare. About the year 1660. being discharged from the publick exercise of his Mini∣stry, he returned back into England, and in and about London spent the greatest part of fifteen years, without any call to his old work in a setled way; but for about these five years last past hath been more known by his constant Preach∣ing, of which we need not speak, but let them that heard him, speak for him; or, if they should be silent, his Works will do it. He was a Person of excellent Parts, strong Reason great Judg∣ment,

and (which do not often go together) curious Phansie, of high Improvements, and ge∣neral Learning, as having been all his days a most diligent and methodical Student, and a great Redeemer of time, rescu∣ing not only his restless hours in the Night, but his very walk∣ing time in the Streets from those impertinencies and fruitless vani∣ties, which do so customarily fill up mens minds, and steal away their hearts from those bet∣ter and more Noble objects, which do so justly challenge their greatest regards: This he did by not only carefully watching (as every good Christian should do) but constantly writing down his Thoughts, whereby he both go∣vern'd them better, and furnish∣ed

himself with many materials for his most elaborate Discour∣ses. His chief Talent was his Preaching Gift, in which, to speak modestly, he had few equals. To this therefore, as that for which his Lord and Master had best fitted him (neglecting the practice of Physick, in which he had arrived at a considera∣ble measure of knowledge) he did especially addict himself; and direct his Studies, and even when Providence denyed him opportunities, yet he was still lay∣ing in more stock, and prepa∣ring for work against he might be called to it. When he was in Employment, none that heard him, could justly blame his re∣tiredness, he being even when most private, continually at

work for the Publick; and had he been less in his Study, he would have been less liked in the Pulpit. His Library, furnish∣ed (tho not with a numerous, yet) a curious Collection of Books, was his Workhouse, in which he laboured hard all the Week, and on the Lords Day made it appear he had not been idle; and that tho he consulted his privacy, yet he did not in∣dulge his Sloth. He was some∣what reserved where he was not well acquainted; otherwise very free, affable and communicative where he understood and liked his company. He affected not much Acquaintance, because be would escape Visitants, well knowing how much the ordina∣ry sort of Friends were apt to

take up of his time, which he could ill spare from his belov∣ed Studies, meeting with fevv that could give him better en∣tertainment vvith their compa∣ny, than he could give himself alone. They had need be very good, and very learned, by whose converse he could gain more than by his own Thoughts and Books. He was a true Son of the Church of England, in that sound Doctrine laid down in the Articles of Religion, and Taught by our most famous ancient Divines and Reformers; and a real follower of their Pie∣ty, as well as a strenuous main∣tainer of the Truth they profess∣ed. His Preaching was mostly practical, yet rational and argu∣mentative, to his hearers under∣standings,

as well as affections; and where controversies came in his way, he shewed great A∣cuteness and Judgment in dis∣cussing and determining them, and no less skill in applying them to practice: So that he was in∣deed a workman that needed not to be ashamed, being able by sound Doctrine, both to exhort and con∣vince gain-sayers. Some have thought his Preaching too high for vulgar Hearers, and it can∣not be denyed but his gifts were suited to the more intelligent sort of Christians; yet it must withal be said, that if he were sometimes deep, he was never abstruse; he handled the great Mysteries of the Gospel with much clearness and perspicuity; so that if in his Preaching he

were above most, it was only because most were below him. Several considerable Treatises on some of the most impor∣tant points of Religion, he fin∣ished in his ordinary course, which he hath left behind him, in the same form he usually writ them for the Pulpit. This comes out first as a Prodromus to several others designed to be made publick, as soon as they can be with conveniency trans∣cribed, which (if the Lord will, and spare life) shall be attested with our hands; and whatever any else shall publish, can be but imperfect Notes (his own Co∣pies being under our revisal at the request of his Friends) taken from him in the Pulpit, in which what mistakes do often happen,

every one knows, and we have found by experience in the case of this very Author, more than once. This was thought fit to be said, to secure the reputation of the Dead, and prevent the a∣buse of the Living. These Ser∣mons might have come out with the solemn ceremony of large recommendations, the Authors worth being so well known to, his Preaching so highly esteem∣ed by the most eminent Mini∣sters about the City; but it was judged needless, his own works being sufficient to praise him.

One thing more is to be ad∣ded, That such as he is here, such he is in his other Pieces; so that thou hast here, Reader, a spe∣cimen of the strain and Spirit of this holy Man, this being his

familiar and ordinary way of Preaching, and these Sermons coming out first, not as if they were the non-such of what he left behind him, but because they could soonest be dispatch∣ed, and to obviate the injuries might else be done by spurious Treatises, both to him, and thee; and likewise by this little tast to gratifie the Appetites of such who having been his Auditors, did long even with greediness to feast themselves again upon those excellent truths, which in the delivery were so sweet to them. Perhaps too it may quicken their appetites who never heard him, it may be never yet heard of him. If thou like this Cluster, Fear not but the Vintage will be an∣svverable: If this little earnest

be good Metal, the vvhole sum vvill be no less currant. That a Blessing from Heaven may be upon this vvork, and upon thee in Reading, and Studying the Nature, and Beauty, and Ends of Divine Providence, and that the Lord of the Harvest (espe∣cially vvhen so many are dayly called home) vvould send forth more and more such labourers into the Harvest, is the hearty prayer of.

Thine in the Lord. Richard Adams. Edward Veal.

Notes

• Mr. Johnson in his Sermon on oc∣casion of Mr. Charnocks death.