SAint Paul having in his earlier years prov'd a most severe and cruel Adver­sary to Christianity, of a bloody Persecutor, afterwards becomes a blessed Promoter of its opposed Interest and Reputation in the World.

He had not been, of old, so zealous in his alarms and re­peated animations of the Jews against Christ and his Cross, but afterwards he is as indefatigably sollicitous to calm and allay all those Storms and Tempests, all those Popular Furies and Estuations he had formerly rais'd a­gainst them.

Hence (over and above all his own publick, personal, and most painful preaching) he dispatches, so many pious Epistles, and endeavours the Disciplining of so many se­lected Persons (as we finde he hath done) that so what [Page 2] service he could not do, immediately in his own person, for Christ, and the Christian profession, that might be done by such Proxies and Epistolary preparations, as he thought most expedient and conducing to so excellent an end and purpose.

The Epistle and Person wherein my Text is concern'd, are both the designed Instruments of this great Christian Convert, St. Paul, for the more effectual carrying on and accomplishing of this so great and important an En­terprize.

Now that he may not lose his Labour, nor have his Ex­pectations fail him in an Affair of so great a Value and Consideration; like a wise Agent, he first solidly con­sults the true and timely Adaptation of his Medium, for the more sure and successful accomplishment of this his propounded End: And therefore in this Epistle, (as well as in that other to Timothy, at that time Bishop of Ephe­sus) he gives him many solid and sound Instructions, rela­ting both to the Doctrine and Discipline of this his grea­ter Charge and Diocess. But now, because neither the one, nor the other; neither the choicest Doctrine, nor yet the strictest Discipline, were like to benefit or advan­tage others,Effice pro­bis moribus & incu [...]p [...] ­ta vita, ut ne quis Te, contempla­tionem tuae adolescen­tiae contem­nat, saith Clarius. Fac ut mo­rum gra­vitate, tan tum reve­rentia tibi concilies, ne quid at as tua jnvenilis, qua alioqui contemptui obnoxia ess [...] solet, tua au­thoritate minuat. Calv. unless Timothy (who was to actuate and en­force them) were a good Example himself; St. Paul in the first place, sees himself concern'd to counsel and ad­vise Timothy, to such an exemplary Carriage and Com­portment, in this his Place and more sacred Employment, as that, the World's Reflection upon him, in that, other­wise, undervalued circumstance of youth, may give the greater cause to look upon him as worthy of double Ho­nour, and to esteem him too, very highly for his Works sake, 1 Tim. 5.17. 1 Thess. 5.13.

Some Vegetables, the younger and tenderer they are, the greater sweetness and fragrancy they commonly breathe forth and transmit into all the respective parts of [Page 3] that place, where they are [...] which then smells sweetest, when [...] And thus it seems St. Paul, would have his young [...] (like a Rose of Sharon by him planted in the Ephesian soil) to have so great a flavor in the bud, at that he may, even then appear and approve himself to be unto God [...] savour of Christ, 2 Cor. 2.15. and unto men of Christia­nity in its greatest Power and Purity. Let no man [...]spise thy Youth.— ‘But be thou an Example of the Believers:’

That is, It's not enough for thee to content thy self with being a bare Example of meerly moral civiliz'd men, (though this be very valuable in it self) but rather raise thy Soul to some higher pitch of Piety and Profession, and look upon thy self (especially in the place where thou art) as highly concern'd to be, no less than a lively Pattern too, of the nobler and more excellent Persons, even of the Believers, those Heav'n-born Souls, those bright and sparkling Jewels of Heavens Bosom [...] of whom the World is not worthy, Heb. 11.38. and who keep themselves un­spotted from the World, Jam. 1.29. These these are the Darlings of Heaven whom thou art carefully to teach, and to build up more and more in their most holy faith, by thy own more holy and exemplary Lift: Thou art to [...] them all such an exact Copy and Transcript of an heaven­ly Nature and Disposition, as that thou mayst not [...]em to lack any part or particular appertaining to it, but rather whatsoever it really is, in Word, whatsoever in Charity, in Spirit, in Faith, and in Purity, than especially thou ar [...] bound to shew, and to confirm Believers in by way of Eminency.

It seems, by all this, St. Paul would have his Timothy (and so all others too in his Place and Heavenly Employ­ment) not to be like the dry and sapless stumps of the grove, always at a stand; but like the more juicy, thriving Plants of the Garden; keeping not onely their a [...]ore spriteful verdure, but shooting forth too into some high­er measures of exemplary improvement and perfection: [Page 4] He would have all such as are called to serve at the Altar, not only barely to keep their sacred fire from going out, but to be exemplary too, in blowing it up into some higher, and hotter flames, than ever yet it had before; In­deed, like his most excellent self, when he tells the Philip­pians, 3. Philip 13.1. I count not my self to have apprehend­ed, but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.

The Text then, you see (My Reverend Brethren) seems to be nothing more than our Lure, or rather Alarm, cal­ling us all to a greater measure and degree of Sacerdo­tal exemplariness and perfection; awakening us too, out of all that scandalous torpor and oscitancy, out of all those empty professions and formalities, we are too too apt to allow our selves in, and to put our people off withal, in all our respective Duties and Services; for, you plainly see, St. Paul thinks it not enough for Timo­thy to be a meerly speculative, notional Divine, a great Casuist, and Critick, 2 Tim. 3.15. an excellent Tex­tuary (or one mighty in the Scriptures, for so Timothy was) unless he prove a good Expositor too upon them, in his life: All these accomplishments, indeed, he looks upon as very laudable and illustrious in their kind and place; but, unless this Gold be well grac't with the Ena­mel, the Rubies, and precious Pearles of an excellent Spirit, a visible Charity, Faith and Purity, 'twill never have that countenance, or acceptance that becomes an Ambassador of the most high God, nor yet that spark­ling taking beauty that becomes a Jewel fixed in the sa­cred bosom of the Church: Wherefore St. Paul ad­viseth Timothy (and in him all of us) above all, to ap­prove and present our selves upon the open stage of the world, as Examples of Believers in word, in conversa­tion in charity, in spirit, in faith, and in purity.

The Text then; seems to exact and call for our stricter thoughts and reflections upon these four following Parti­culars, it presents us withal.

The first is, the very great (but greatly neglected) Du­ty of Sacerdotal Exemplariness, indispensably incum­bent upon all such of us, especially, who are prime Ru­lers, or yet, but inferior Officers of the Church, in these words,—But be; thou an example —Thou, especial­ly, O Timothy, who art in a place of special trust, and Ecclesiastical Authority.

Secondly, We have a just Enumeration of all those more choice and singular instances and particulars, wherein Timothy (and so, all others too, in his Sacerdo­tal sacred circumstances) ought, especially, thus to ap­pear and present themselves, as eminent patterns and examples, and they are no more or less than six, but such, as are ready to make us all bright, and victorious in the eyes of all our severest Adversaries, viz. We must be examples of Believers in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, and in purity.

Thirdly, We have the specification of those particu­lar persons, to whom Timothy is thus oblig'd to be an ex­ample, and lively pattern, in all these heavenly perfecti­ons, and they are Believers; such, it seems, as walk so stedfastly by faith, 1 Cor. 4.8. that they look not at the things which are seen, 11 Heb. 13. but confess rather that they are Pilgrims and Strangers on earth, 2 Cor. 8.5. Such, as have so given themselves to the Lord, as that, 1 Phil. 21. to them, to live is Christ: These are the persons, before whom, St. Paul would have his Ti­mothy, to walk, as such a burning and shining light, in all places, and in all his practises, as that they may, from thence, derive fresh strength and encouragement to sight the good fight, and to run the race that is set before them with joy, and faithfulness.

Fourthly, We have a special motive impli'd, en­forcing this so great a Duty of Sacerdotal Exemplariness, impos'd in these words—Let no man despise thy youth; —importing nothing more than this, That, if Timo­thy made not himself thus an example of Believers [...]n word, in conversation and charity, in spirit, in faith, and [Page 6] in purity, he went the ready way [especially, being but a young man] to be made, himself, by others, an example of publick scorn, reproach, and infamy. And now, ha­ving presumed to give you this plain account of the words, and as plainly paraphrased them too, for the better advantage of the more narrow vulgar capacities under me, I doubt not, but you all see your graver selves, not a little concerned in them; and my self too unavoid­ably oblig'd, to stir up all your purer minds, by way of remembrance, of the

First, Remarkable in in the Text; and that is, The great Duty of Sacerdotal Exemplariness; Indeed a Duty never more needful from the creation, than in this our present age and generation; an age, that flyes at all Learning; an age, matchless and incomparable for know­ledge; an age, that seems to be even surfeited with our Sermons, and now inquires and looks into nothing more, than the lives, the faults and defects of the Clergie.

In my prosecution then, of this so important a point, I hope 'twill not appear either unseasonable or unpro­fitable if I endeavour an humble suggestion of what (I know) your more acute and piercing judgmnets, and better experience, hath already taught and told you all, concerning,

First, The great Influence and Efficacy, and then,

Secondly, The great Obligation and Necessity of Ex­emplariness (on our parts, espicially) who are, 2 Cor. 5. the pro [...]st Ambassadors of the most high God.

Suffer me then, a little, first to give you my present medi­tations (such, possibly, as may, at least awaken your own exacter conceptions) touching the too too much unobser­ved influence and efficacy of Example; for, I am apt to fear, it's a great truth, many of us oftner mind others of, from our Pulpits, than mind seriously our selves, as we should, when we are out of them, viz. That Exampl's more prevailing than Precept: But, he that will be at the pains seriously to consider, how really lifeless the most [Page 7] perswasive language is, unless back't with a behaviour corresponding with it:

He that will find but so much leasure, as attentively to observe, how commonly succesless, the most unwearied, importunities, [Si vis me slere, &c.] for tears from others eyes are, unless our own be first Examples, themselvs, in such like dolorous effusions, will soon conclude the victorious, and triumphant power of Example over that of the most flourisht and Rhetoricated Precept: And, indeed, there is a natural inclination and propensness in all men, to learn the Theory best, of such, as they know, are best at the Practick; and the reason may be that of Seneca, in his sixth Epistle to Ludilius, where he tells him, Homines plus oculis, quam auribus credant, That men give greater credit to their eyes, than their ears, to what they see in us, than what they hear from us.

Valerius Corvinus therefore, set out with advantage, when, marching against his prepared enemy, he thus bespeaks his own Army; Facta mea, non dicta vos Mill­tes, sequi volo, &c. Noble Sirs, let my Deeds be your conduct: words may prove but wind. Let then, Tertullus his tongue be ne're so well tipt with his silver perswasions, yet, if his practise give not life to his splendid expressions, and strength to his [...]ea­ter stile, he goes the ready way, to make himself, not only derided, but ridiculous too, to all his more wary and watchful observers. Indeed, like them, Quis de virtute locuti, &c. the Poet points at, so approbri­ously, for being scarce men, for manners and conversa­tion, whilst they are vertues greatest Patrons, in pre­tence and expression; in St. Pauls language, 1 Titus, 16. Such who profess they know God, but in their works deny him. Weak therefore, in comparison, very feeble and in­effectual must needs be the perswasions of a flourishing Pharisee, who sayes, but does not; who makes others loaded Porters, whilst himself's but a lazy Preacher, and imposer of the burden: This seem'd so great an absur­dity in the eyes of that Holy Father St. Bernard, that [Page 8] we read him, in one of his Epistles, checking it for a most praeposterous practise; Pulcherrimus hic or do est, & saluberrimus, ut onus, quod portandum imponis, tu por­tes prior: Sermo quidem vivus & efficax, Exemplar est operis; facile faciens suadibile quod dicitur, dum monstras factibile quod suadetur. This is (sayes he) the soundest, and most seemly Order and Method for men (especially for the Ministers of Christ) that they first bear Christs yoak themselves, which they call upon others to bear; and then he adds, That, that Sermon is most like­ly to prove most quick and lively, that's fairly copied out, and transcrib'd in the Teachers life: And the truth is, there's nothing in the world makes our nume­rous hearers so much to shrink, as commonly they do, under all our preceptive Doctrines, as our own giving them too much reason to conclude them all impracti­cable, and impossible too (as it were) by the looseness, and grand delinquencies, they often observe, in some of our lives.

So great an Empire hath Example!

Indeed, it must be a barren brain; a very cold and frozen invention, that's incapable of being thaw'd into a flow of affectionate expressions against sin and Sinners (especially, when the warm beams of some pleasure, in­terest and reputation, beat upon it) I say, it must be an unpardonably dull soul; a very flegmatick Levite, that cannot make a shift (as the manner of some, is) some­times, pathetically and vehemently to harangue, to speech the common people, and amuse them with an heap of Greek and Latine sentences, and notions out of the Fathers and Schoolmen: A very Thief may dis­course excellently against that very rapine and robbery, he makes the constant trade and task of his life; But now, that which renders a Paul, a Peter, a Timothy, and the like Ambassadors of the most high God, to be enter­tain'd with Trophy and Triumph, with the sincerest love and complacency in the hearts of their more wise and wary hearers, is, their making their lives fairly parallel [Page 9] with their language, and their own Exemplary diligence, in doing themselves, what; with diligence, they incite and call upon others to do.

We are then, as truly, as commonly told, That Su­periours are the reputed Looking-glasses, by which the vulgar dress themselves; and what they see in them, for the most part they'l quickly have as visible in them­selves, not caring much, if they perish, so it be on such credit, and with such company.

It was once thought a Question, able to silence our Saviours greatest Votaries, John, 7.48. Have any of the Rulers, and of the Pharisees believed in him? Imply­ing nothing more, than the great command of Exem­plary greatness: for had these Rulers, and assuming Pharisees (on whom the Jewish Nation, did then, so fondly dote) but really done more, and talked less; had these blazing stars but had a more friendly aspect upon the Bethlehem-Babe, he had been, undoubtedly, imbrac't in those very armes, we afterwards, find so deeply dy'd in his most sacred blood.

So great a power hath exemplary greatness!

It's not for nothing then, that our Histories inform us, how Augustus, being a learned Prince, himself, fil'd Rome with Schollars; hollow Tiberius with Dissem­blers; pious Constantine, with Christians, and ungod­ly Julian, with Atheists, and Apostates. Such great lights, it seems, as these, like the glorious Sun, shed their influence irresistably, either to the impairing, or better improving all their respective bodies, lying un­der them; if they be fixed Stars, Saints eminent and conspicuous for strength and stedfastness in the faith, and the other heavenly perfections of the Text, such glorious examples will have the like glorious issues and effects following them; they being like the pillar of cloud, Moses speaks of, when that went, Israel went too.

Thus, whilst pious Joshua lives, all this people look like so many lesser lights, kindl'd at that more [...]lashing Lamp of Israel: Such a burning and shining light was [Page 10] John Baptist, that, it even sunk the towring pride of He­rod into a confessed Reverence, both for his person and Doctrine; and whilst Theodosius (the Emperour) will be exemplary in serving his God, his whole Court be­comes the more Religious for it: whilst they beheld their own sullied faces in so true and clear a glass; their faults must needs be reflected with the greater shame and regret upon them themselves: Others brighter vertues, shining forcibly upon our own faces, naturally colours our cheeks with the sanguinary tincture of shame, or else they quicken our souls to an emulation of the same: It was therefore a commendable practice of that great Duke, who alwaies, before he went to his diet, had a bason of water brought him, with the live­ly picture of Cato Major, stampt in gold, at the bottom of it; it seems, the better to awaken his duller soul to the imitation of all those illustrious vertues, that great example of the age he liv'd in was owner of: But now, on the contrary; if these Superiours prove but blazing Comets, we may then observe they do not so much pre­sage, as actually procure most dismal and disasterous effects, upon most of those inferiour bodies they directly face and influence: Witness, that great instance of the Comick, when he brings in a timorous Vitioso, encou­raging himself to an unusual villainy, ‘Haec ego non faciam, quae Jupiter facit,’ sayes he,

Shall I flinch to act that, that I see even Jupiter, act before my face: It seems, that very sin he sweats, (as 'twere) to think on, at first, now, grows more kindly and familiar, by the countenance he saw it had from his Su­periour: Great men's sins, prove contagious to more than themselves. And indeed, my little reading tells me, that the unstable vulgar, in all the Regions of the world, have been ever carried away with the Religion of Authority: Thus, let Aaron, the Priest, make a mol­ten Calf, in the sight of the people, and he shall have them Calfs, themselves, or very children, in their ready compliance with Idolatry: Let but Corah first kindle the [Page 11] fire (though a strange one) and two hundred and fifty Captains will quickly bring sticks to it, and all Israel too, will warm themselves at it. If Peter once play the dissembler, he shall quickly have a whole troop, as good at paint and palliation as himself, with a Barna­bas to boot: We read, Gala. 2.14. St. Paul taxing this Peter, for being thus a bad pattern.—Why com­pellest thou the Gentiles, to live as do the Jews; but, how, did Peter compell the Gentiles to Judaize: [...] Non docentis imperi [...] sed con­versantis Exempl [...] Hier. Ep. 11. Not by any thing he preach't to them (saith a Father) but by his Example; It seems, Peter's Example, proves the peoples compul­sion; for, indeed, there is a kind of Compulsion in Example, though not violent, yet alluring, and at­tractive: Thus, let Eli's Sons appear smutty in the view of the people, and they shall not stay long for as black a train, as themselves, to follow them; Indeed, like Jacob's sheep; whilst they fondly pore upon the speck­led Rods of Poplar, they soon multiply into a numerous issue, as strangely speckled, as their patterns.

And now, my Brethren! must we all grant Example to be indu'd, (as we we have heard at large) with such an attractive assimulating vertue? Must we ascribe such a boundless Empire and command to example, as that it makes the mightiest Monarch, as well as the meanest Subject, to stoop to it's Scepter? And shall not we, even we, who are God's profest Ambassadors, see our selves highly concern'd to imbrace it? especially our Example being so sure a subordinate means to make effectual that Embassie, which, otherwise, I fear, will seem (at least, to some) but little more, than fabulous and nugatory? Suffer me then, to pass from the great influence and efficacy, and humbly present you all with an account of the second concern of the Text, being the great obligation and necessity of a Religious Exemplari­ness, on our parts especially, who are all made so much a spectacle to Men and Angels, as indeed, we are, du­ring all our continuance upon the open stage of this world.

In the general then; may not we, I say, especially, of the Clergy, all confess, in this case of exemplary pra­ctising (as St. Paul did, of preaching the Gospel, 1 Cor. 9.16. A necessity is laid upon us, and woe be to us, if we preach not the Gospel in a laudable life, as well, as in an in­telligible language; Woe be to us (above all others) 2 Tit. 20. if we adorn not the Gospel of God, our Sa­viour, in all things! especially, since I fear, that many of our lives are, and have been such, as, were Luther now alive, he might well repeat his old complaint, viz. Pro­fecto aut hoc non est Evangelium, aut nos non fumus Evan­gelici: That, truly, either it's not the Gospel, which we preach, or else that we disclaim the same Gospel from being the copy, or conduct of our practise. But this Necessity, of our being thus exemplary, above others, will the more convincingly appear to us all, if we shall but go aside, and sometimes consider with our selves, That there is, 1. The voice of Christ, our Master. 2. The voice of the Gospel our Rule. 3. The voice of the Church, our Mother. 4. The voice of Consci­ence, our Controller, and then, Vox populi too, the voice of the People (our most censurious observers) all very pressing and importunate with us all, that we, even we, above all, would (especially in the present age we live in) be more punctual and impartial Conformists to this great Canon, confirm'd by heaven's authority, viz. Be thou an Example of the Believers, &c. Let us here, then attend a while to all these calls, and consider all the re­spective urgencies imported in them all.

First, Then, there is the voice of Christ, our Ma­ster, very urgent in this matter: For, if Christs com­mon sheep must hear his voice, how much more, ought his Shepheards then, when he calls upon them, Math. 5. To do more then others do? telling them too, Their righte­ousness must exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pha­risees: Again, if Christ's common sheep must hear his voice, how much more his Shepheards then, when he pro­claims them (in the same breath) the lights of the world, [Page 13] and therefore looks, that their light should so shine be­fore men, that they may see their good works t [...] their Charity, by way of eminency: It seems by all this, and much more, that might be suggested out of that fifth of Matthew, Christ expects the lights of the Sanctuary, should be, above all others, conspicuous and exempla­ry: They must so shine, though others do not so: The light of the Star will not please, where the light of the Sun's expected: A rush candle's but a Toy, a very trifle and affront, where a flaming torch is to be tender'd: Far be it then from us ever to forget the no less just, than tart reflection of our Saviour upon the Priest and Levito. Luke, 10.31, 32. where, they are both taxt for being very shrubs for Charity, whilst a meaner Samaritane seems a towring Cedar in the same.

Christ, no doubr, look't for more Love from the Le­vite, 3 for more Pity from the Priest towards that distressed Traveller, than from any other Passenger▪ If a Samaritane can bestow but a single sigh upon a poor bleeding Brother, he expects the Tribute of Tears from the other: But suppose the Priests case be really that of St Peter, 3 Acts 6. That silver and gold he hath none, yet he is bound to give an example of giving such as he hath: If he cannot shew he hath bags, yet he is bound to shew he hath bowels; yea, what he wants in the one, he's oblig'd to double in the other: If Moses stoop so low, as to sit at the table with the Father less and the Widow, methinks it will not ill become Aaron to lie at their Feet, for their Good; We read, John 13. that our Lord Jesus Christ, having first wash't his Disciples feet, presently prescribes a law for them to do the like, ver. 15. I have given you an example (sayes he) that you should do as I have done to you. But,

Secondly, There is the voice of the Gospel, (our Rule) very pressing too, in this particular: You know in the general, it calls upon all, (but especially upon us, that preach it) 2 Titus 12. That we we live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world: Indeed, i [...] [Page 14] layes a necessity upon all, (but upon us, the dispensers of it) above all, 1 Peter 2.12. to have our conversation ho­nest, among the Gentiles, that whereas they speak against us, as evil-doers, they may, by our good works, which they be­hold, glorifie Gid in the day of visitation.

The truth is, if we, who preach the Gospel, do not adorn and make it bright and glorious in the eyes of the prophaner part of the world; by such an holy conver­sation, as it especially calls for from us, and it, as really deserves from all, this must needs be the black sequel of it, That we shall (to our own greater infamy and confusion) be found such, who basely strangled that, we pretended to strengthen; and appear very murde­rers of that friend, we once made the world believe in our Pulpits, we all valued above our lives and dearest possessions.

Thirdly, There is the voice of the Church (our Re­verend Mother) very importunate too, in this matter; Concluding it, indeed, as well she may, the actual pro­stitution of her just honour and reputation, by so many of her professed sons, as are not thus examples of Be­lievers, in life and conversation: It were to disparage so Learned an Assembly, as is here, for so mean an Orator, as my self, to display before you the incom­parable Excellencies of this our aged Mother, the Church of England. This is done already, especially of late, by so many and matchless Pens, that it makes it unquestionably superfluous form, were I as able, as willing, to attempt it from the Pulpit: But this, I may, and must say,—

That She remains to this day (not withstanding all the malitious imputations and aspersions of the black mouth'd Jesuit, and all his disguised agents) a Mother, transcendent for an exemplary purity, and many other graceful perfections: Her respective Laws and pre­scriptions (though it hath pleas'd some certain selfish, prejudicate, and vain Opiniators of the age, we live in, to vilifie and undervalue her and them) are yet, known [Page 15] to persons; if not more, yet altogether as pious and learned as themselves, to be such, as drive at nothing more, than to dispose all her sons (but especially, those that serve at the altar) to a superlative degree of holi­ness towards God, and, 2 Tit. [...]. in all things to shew them­selves patterns of good works to men.

It must be confest, indeed, her sons are not all alike: It's possible, some there are, to be found of St Bernard's black brood, whom he brands, for beingDe honesta­menta Cleri, & atatis a­tramen­tum. blots of their profession, the very scorn, and scars of the age, they live in; And it may be too, St. Augu [...]tin his complaint may not be altogether unjust, viz. ThatAdhuc Arca Corvum & co­lumba [...] Continet Ang. 145. E­pist. the clean and unclean birds, the Dove and the Raven, are, to this day, in the Ark, and Church of God: Like the holy Families of the Patriarchs, so it is with many Churches, they have their impurer mixtures; Thus, in Adams Family, there was holy Abel, and wicked Cain, Noah's, Family, there was blessed Shem and cursed Ham, In Abraham's Family, there was devout Isaac, and ungodly Ishmael; in Isaac's Family, there was reli­gious Jacob and prophane Esau; yea, in Christ's own Family there was a Judas, a son of perdition: And thus, if the Church of England (our Mother) may com­plain of her mixtures; of some Reubens, for being as unstable as water, of some Simeon's and Levi's too, for having the instruments of cruelty in their habitations; yet, all these, and all such, she carefully consignes to pu­nishment, never approves of; These, I say, (with Ja­cob there) she pathetically disclaims, Gen. 49.6. O my soul! come not thou into their secret, unto their assembly, mine honour! be not thou united.

And is it not pity? yea, is it not a great shame for any of us (the professed sons of such a Mother) by our inexemplary and unsuitable, lives, to scandalize her pu­rer Doctrine, and by a loose add licentious carriage, to bring an ill report upon her discipline?

I would it were better considered by us all, how much it gratifies the many Papal Spies crept into our [Page 16] Canaan, when they hear of the high animosities and heart-burnings, the censorious language, and the bitter in­vectives of Brother against Brother, even in the bosom of this their Mother!

I could heartily wish, I say, it were taken into all our most retired thoughts, how much it hardens and con­firms the factious and schismatical, when they observe the soft and pacifique voice of this our Mother, so little minded by her own Sons.

It was a tart reprehension therefore (but how true, and deservedly given, I know not) which a Romanist, I am told, gave to one of us, as of old was said of the Monk,

I am loath to English it, for I come not hither to fling dirt, or play the Satyrist; but I fear, too too many of us much more mind the formality of our habits, than the real honesty of our hearts; thinking it enough to wear our Mother the (Churches Livery) not concern­ing our selves whether we do her either service or cre­dit by our lives.

But let not, oh! let not this our Mother complain of us, as Zion once, Lament. 4.13, 14. How is the gold become dim! how is the most fine gold changed! For the sins of my Prophets, and the iniquity of my Priests, the people have wandred as blind men in the streets. But,

Fourthly, Methinks, I now hear St. Peter's Cock crowing; I mean the voice of conscience (our imparti­al controller) calling on us too, in this concern, and telling, even the best of us, were we all well weighed in the ballance of the sanctuary, we should be found too light in this great Duty of being thus Exemplary,—ma­ny of us, seeming to be very Angels in the Doctrine, whilst I fear, scarce men, in the use and Application, we make our selves, of our Sermons.

I have heard, some where, That Philip of Macedon displac't a Judge because he colour'd his beard; he was jealous, it seems, he might colour a Cause too: I know not how true that was, but I think it an unquesti­onable assertion, that, many, of our Coat, have their Consciences telling them, they deserve the same censure and severity, not more for colouring their own Sermons, than others sins, making thereby their sacred Calling more to serve themselves, than endeavouring themselves, really to serve their Calling: I come not hither to accuse or discourage any!

But tell me, My Brethren! think you not, that there are some amongst us (though I hope none here) whose Consciences may be their doleful accusers, for being their people's dangerous deluders? Tell me, I say, are there not those to be found in the Nation, whose own Consciences ring them many a sad peal, out of the hear­ing of the world, for making Aaron's bells to go so ill, insomuch, that they have now liv'd to hear their own knells gone, for being (as I may say) quite dead and gone in the hearts of the people.

Others, there are too, I doubt not, but you have heard of, who have made so ill use of the keys of the Church, that it had been much better for both, had they quietly laid them under the door, and then, withdrawn out of sight and hearing: For, the open discovery, and detection of some of their ill and unwarrantable practi­ses hath not only made the guilty to be almost irreco­verably despis'd, but the innocent too, to be the more suspected.

Pardon, great God! these sins of thy servants!

But, My Brethren! since thus it is; and, it may be, much worse too, with many of our weaker Brethren; since, I say, even the best of us, have not been so good examples, as we might have been; and with Austin, have reason to bespeak the Majesty of heaven, as he, Libera me Domine a peccatis meis alienis; From my other men's sins; or, those, I have, by my ill example tempt­ed [Page 18] others too, Good Lord! deliver me! is not then, the voice of our Conscience within, the more pressing and importunate, for our being the more lively examples of Believers to those, that are without?

Oh then! Let us not turn the deaf ear to this Char­mer, least the voice of it, which would be our friendly Monitor, in time prove our fatal, fearful Tormentor, when we are lanch't forth into the boundless ocean of Eternity!

Fifthly, I am come now to the voice or Monitor, be­ing vox Populi, the voice of the people; a voice, in­deed, in many cases, not valuable, in this; I think, very considerable.

Now, if we shall but sit down and listen a while to the declamatory language of some (and those too, it may be, not so contemptible as we are apt to conclude them) I cannot but think all those nails, drove in alrea­dy, will be the better clinch't in your spirits, e're we part.

Indeed, time was, when the world had a better opi­nion of us, than, I fear, now, it hath. Time hath been, when the world hath counted us worthy of double Trea­sure, as well as double Honour.

Nay, we all read, that the very Heathen had an high esteem for their Idol-priests: Plato tells us, [...]; There was still a Reverence shew'd the Priest, and that, not in this, or that particu­lar Nation, but, in Gentibus omnibus, &c. (saith Figu­rius) There is no Nation under heaven (sayes he) where their Priests are not had in honour: He tells us too, that neglect and disrespect to the Priest, was a sin, Viti­um Judaeis peculiare, peculiar to the Jews only. I have been told the people of England once said of us, as I have read the old Caldees did of their Priests, viz. Homo quidam ex Judaeis venit Sacerdos, neutiquam decipiet nos. There's a Priest come to Town, he, we are sure, will not de­ceive us. But, alas! my Brethren! how many of us may complain that this our honesty is turned into Gall: [Page 19] That this softer voice of our people, is turned into dreadful claps of thunder, in many of our Parishes. For indeed, he must needs be very thick of hearing, that cannot hear Rabshekah railing against the Episcopal Robe; He must, I say, wink very hard, tha [...] cannot see Hymeneus and Philetus, Alexander and Demetrius, contri­ving mischief: You cannot be ignorant, how these Iron-moles, daily deface our Lawns and Surpli­ces; you cannot but know, how these Mothes have fretted our Cassocks and Girdles, with all the other de­cent garments of our Mothers appointing.

I need not tell you too, how, for the better impair­ing our interest in the hearts of the people, many of our daring Adversaries have maliciously branded us; sometimes, calling us, the Black Guard, The Leaches of the Land, Priests of Belial, The useless Tribe, Lazy Le­vites, and the like; confirming us (who hear and con­sider all this) in nothing more, than that they would quickly make us objects of their merciless rage and ven­geance, were it not for the life-guard of Royal pru­dence acted by a gracious and over-ruling Provi­dence.

Now, My Brethren! if these sharp Razors shave Aaron's beard so close, what may we (the meaner servants of the Altar) look for, but, that they would soon slip into our Throats? Making us, as it were, miserable sacrifices at those very Altars, where, we are devoted servants: And can we see all these acts of En­mity and Hostility, and not conclude it high time for us all to put on the whole armour of God, and resolve to live more piously and exemplarily in the eye and obser­vation of men.

Certainly, Sirs! 'tis high time for Sampson then, to look about him, when the Philistines are upon him!

And thus; 'tis high time for Timothy too, to become an example of Believers in word, in conversation and charity, when he is ready to be voted down by the people for an example of their displeasure, scorn and fury.

And now, for the timely prevention of this so sore an evil, which I have seen under the Sun, I shall humbly crave your further attention to one voice (more importunate, if possible; than all the rest) with us all, and that is, in the,

Sixth, and Ult. place, The loud voice of our own most sacred calling and profession, which, I fear, meets not with the half of that Reverence and regard from us, we owe it, as men; but infinitely less more, as such, who have, with so much seriousness and solemnity taken up­on us, to discharge all the respective duties of it.

I am not so vain as to think I can, nor dare I pretend to offer any thing exactly answerable and commensurate, either to the heights of our callings dignity, and deserts, or the parts and expectations of so judicious an Audi­ence, as is here, this day.

But, since your very great Charity hath been already experienc't by me, upon a like occasion; and since the meanest Priest too, may bring without offence a Cole to that very Altar, where, the Greater Aaron serves, himself; and since, but a silly Cock, may be serviceable for the awakening of no less a Saint than an inspired Peter, I shall presume the more, upon the suggestion of some few, of the most important ond weighty conside­rations, respecting this great Duty, of an exemplary con­versation, from the voice of that high and holy Cal­ling of our own, (you are all, I doubt not, so well skil'd in, and so very great Masters of, already.)

Suffer me then, to put you in remembrance, That, 'tis a Calling, of whose very Essence and vital Consti­tution it is, to bind the Owners of it, not only to their good behaviour, but, to be eminent examples too, of Believers, in all godliness and honesty: It obligeth us, above all, that being Lights and Leaders to others, we should all so walk in the world, that others may see our good works, as well as hear our good words: Like St. Basil, of whom it was said, That he look't up­on himself as eminently bound by his Calling not [Page 21] more to [...] speak what was to be done, than to do what he spake; professing (it seems) his bounden duty, not only to order his preaching aright in the ears, but his conversation too, in the eyes of the people.

It's a Notion of the Naturalist, Quanto purius & Coelo vicinius elementum, tanto magis obsequitur motui Coeli. That the purer and nearer, any Element is to the heavens above, the greater yieldableness, and com­pliance it alwaies manifests to all their respective mo­tions. How heavenly then, should we be, who are all the profest Ambassadors of heaven! whose proper sphere, whose special office and imployment, stands in so near a dependance and vicinity to this place, of so pure and spotless a nature and society!

It's an excellent pen, therefore, which tells us, That want of leisure and breeding; want of knowledge and study; blind zeal; course company, secular worldly affairs, and less obligation, may a tanto, and in part, ex­cuse many persons; but 'tis impossible (sayes my Au­thor) for a Minister of the Gospel, to be tolerably dishonest.

The case is our own; so much being given to us, the more's expected from us; and hence (no doubt) it was, That the sin of the Priest, cost as much sacrifice, as the sin of the whole people: 'Twas a meditation worthy the person that first suggested it, when he tells us, That our calling, as 'tis most Eminent, so 'tis most ey'd, and worst censur'd: If an Apostle rub an ear of Corn upon the Sabbath day, 'tis breaking the day: The people's motes, are accounted the Priest's beams; and anothers indifferency, is my Evil; some things being expedient, in respect of the man, which are really scandalous and inexcusable, in respect of the Coat.

I am not ignorant, that many of us (impatient of the Sacerdotal Yoke) line it with a silken invention, smooth­ing over the ma [...]ter, and excusing their own inexcusable vanities; With the Rhetorical varnish, of telling their people, That they are flesh and blood▪ men of like [Page 22] failings and infirmities with others; whom they teach, when (God knows) many of them need not tell their people so, since they know it but too well already: But then, others, there are, who, that their poor scandaliz'd prejudic't patients may swallow down all their ill prepared prescriptions, the better; they smi­lingly tell them, sometimes, That the Gold's never the worse for coming from a sullied hand: The good Pro­phet Elijah refused not his breakfast, because brought to him by a black Raven; What? (say they) if the Sa­crificer be unclean, is the offering so too? Was the Ark (the glory of Israel) e're the worse, for coming from the foul fingers of the Philistines? Sampson made much of his honey, although it came from a stenchy putri­fi'd Lion: But alas! My Brethren! these Sirengers are too foul themselves, to cleanse the mouths of the people, being furr'd and foul'd so much, as they are, through all those gross conceptions and intemperate ex­pressions, they often breath forth against such sulli'd, and disobedient Sons of the Church.

The people knew well enough, that all these preten­ces and excuses, (with many more, they have sometimes put upon them) though they'l pass for colourable Rhe­torick, yet never for solid reason; especially, since our Hearers are, most of them, sensible already, that they can as well tell such loose and scandalous Teachers, from as good Scripture and Reason too, Exod. 37.23. That the very snuffers of the Sanctuary (made to top others) were to be of pure Gold; And they read, Levit. 21.17, 18. That no person, having any blemish, was to offer the oblation of the Lord; and our Savi­our, himself, tells those, that are to pull the mote out of their Brothers eye, they had need first to cast out the beam that is in their own. I find it therefore, obser­ved by a learned person, out of Hippocrates, very aptly for this purpose, when he tells us [...]. That a Physitian had need to be a person alwaies in good plight, of a good colour and complexion him­self; [Page 23] otherwise the Patient will be ready to bid the Physitian heal himself first; and having, through his ill looks, a prejudice against his physick, his fancy will greatly hinder its efficacy: the applications easie. We read, Math. 7. that Christ taught his Disciples, as one, ha­ving authority, and not as the Scribes: And thus (no doubt) if ever we would preach to purpose, we must be followers of him; Labouring after the same mind, and the same manners too, which were so visible and conspicuous in his own most excellent person; that we may, with a like ingenuous confidence, appeal to our conversation, as did he, for his better reception, John 10.28. ( [...]) the works which I do, they testifie of me.

This is that, which (above all our Comminations, Excommunications, and other severer methods) will make us to exhort, and rebuke with authority, and suc­cess;

This is that, which will convey such a might, and swaying Majesty into all our Prayers and Sermons, as must needs conquer our discomposed, and unruly people into a better, and more kindly compliances; yea, this is that, which will give life and spirits to our Liturgy; and make our Common Prayer, to come with an extra­ordinary power upon the hearts of the people; making that truly amiable and venerable, which (through the manifest impiety of some persons) appears to some people, the more despicable: And, indeed, to hear a Priest upon the Lords Day, reading the holy prayers of the Church punctually, and without partiality, with a taking tone, with his eyes and hands lifted up with re­verence to heaven, and with all other postures and ex­pressions of a devout Soul, in the eyes of the people, and yet, for those very eyes to be undenyable weekly witnesses of the Petitioners repeated Impieties, it must needs something lessen, if not altogether stiffle and ex­tinguish, as the devotion of the people; so too, the power and efficacy of the prayers, themselves, upon them.

I leave it for all such vain Votaries to consider 'twixt God and their own Consciences, whether they appear not (if I may so say) rather devoutly impudent, than really pious and devout in the eyes of their more judi­cious and considering Hearers: I shall leave it (I say) with such persons to consider too, whether they are not a very great, (if not the only cause) why our Liturgy (they pretend so much to love, and reverence) having now served England (as Jacob did Laban) one seven years more, and upward, yet, at last, it's put off but with blear-ey'd Leah, few looking so right upon it, as otherwise, probably they would do.

I have once met with an old anonymous Greek Au­thor, who tells his Reader, That if any one were to be chosen to pray for the people, he had need to be a very pious vertuous person himself; because (sayes he) [...] the God's would take more heed to such a man's prayers. But; it's the known assertion of a far better man, than he (and I heartily wish it were more seriously thought on) Psal. 66.18. That if I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: And I think, this was the worm that lay at the root of the Pharisees long pray­ers. Oh! (let it never lie at ours!) that they secretly de­voured widows houses; Though they had the prayers of Saints, yet, it seems, they had the drifts and designs of devouring Devils. No wonder then, if such suppli­cants have so little regard from God, and so much re­proach and controll from men. Guilt, you know, is that which quells the courage of the bold, that tyes the tongue of the eloquent, and that makes greatness it self to sneak, like Judas, and behave it self but poorly in the eyes of the people.

The sense therefore, and apprehension, which St Paul had of the ill consequence to the people, of an ill con­science in the Preacher, seems to put him into a holy passion against the guilty, 2 Rom. 21. Thou that teachest another, teachest thou not thy self? Thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? You know too, [Page 25] 'twas the sense of the of a meer Ethnick,—Turpe est doctors, &c, And, indeed, who can (as a most [...]xcel­lent Modern, pen, hath exprest it, ready to my hand) with patience hear an incestuous Herod, preaching up Chastity? a Judas, zealously condemning covetous­ness; an hollow-hearted Pharisee reproving hypocrisie; or a greedy-stuft Glutton (who can make his belly his God) perswading his people affectionatly to fasting even with the Quails in his mouth; Every word must needs recoil upon the Preacher with disgrace and infamy, giving new Teeth, to that old taunt and sarcasme, [...], Physitian, heal thy self. That plain, but pithy passage therefore, of the Father, seems to suit my purpose here. Non est speciosa laus, in ore peccatoris; It ill becomes Leapers (sayes he) to hand the purer bread of life to others: And this, possibly might be one reason, why Christ himself, Mark, 1.25. rebuked the unclean spirit, and commanded him to hold his peace, even then, when he proclaim'd him to be [...], the holy one of God: And I am told one reason why St Paul (with his holy Companions) being vexed with the praise of the Pythonist (Acts 16,) crying out, [...] These men are the Servants of the most high God, even then, commanded the spirit to come forth of her,—Quasi nolens sanctus ab immundo ore com­mendari: As though (as Tertullian tells us) he abhor'd praise coming from so impure a person: And the truth is (as Epictetus hath it [...] Good things lose much of their grace, good­ness, and flavour, when they are not done by good men, as well as after a good manner: Hence, Tacitus informs us of Tiberius and Galba, as being men, though well spoken; persons, of excellent pretences and expressions, yet, distasted by the people; Non enim ad hanc for [...]am catera erant: Because their works, kept not touch with their words.

It seems, they trod too much inward; looking secretly upon themselves, what e're they pretended for the [Page 26] peoples profit, to others: You have all read (I doubt not) as well as my meaner self; That it was Pythagoras his confirming his excellent precepts with his own personal practice of them himself; it was, I say, that [...] the agreement of his life, with his lan­guage, that made all Italy become [...]; all the Country his School, and all, that ever heard him, his resolved Disciples.

Lactantius therefore, taught to purpose the preachers of his dayes, when he tells them, Oportet Concionatorem non solum virtutis doctorem se praebere sed & ducem: That, it's the high concern of all Preachers, not only to shew themselves good Teachers in the Pulpit, but they are as well to shew themselves as good Leaders too, out of it: Like the Star, which led the Wise men unto Christ; and the Pillar of Fire, which led the Israelites unto Canaan; they did not only shine, but go before them too.

It's not enough then, for us, to fall in with the truth, (as the manner of many is to do) and barely to hold the mystery of faith, but we must do it in a pure Consci­ence:

The learned Aretius, therefore (glossing upon that, aptly suggests; Non solum peritus in religione, sed & Gastus in moribus: That a Minister should not only be skilful in his Profession, but very careful too, of his Con­versation: He is oblig'd (above all others) to grace his Calling and Profession, with a gracious Life and Con­versation; For, that, will never have the credit of being pure and undefiled, till we, who dispense i [...], keep our selves more pure and unspotted from the world. If then, we do not this, We, above all, affront our God, and dishonour our King, We, above all, stain our Cal­ling▪ and strangle our Consciences: and then too, We, above all, do crucifie (as much as in us lies) the Bishop of our Souls, as well as the Bishop of the Diocess; and after all, whilst we preach to others, may well suspect to prove but cast awaies our selves: Oh then! let not this [Page 27] be the [...], or infamous Character [...] our sacred Order, That we are famous Preachers, but in famous Livers. That we are in holy Orders, but still in the gall of bitterness, and in the bends of iniquity: But, let us all rather often seriously consider with our selves, to what circumspection; to what strictness and innocency of Conversation; to what Sanctity, and [...] then worldly industry, our sacred Office and Profession calls us all unto; bearing alwaies steadily upon our hearts, what St. Paul has set so punctually before our eyes, 1 Tim 4.16. Take heed into thy self, and unto thy Doctrine, continue in it, for in doing this, thou shalt both save thy self, and them that hear thee. But here, now, I would not all this while be mistaken, by such as are not of my own Calling and Profession; as if my Masters Com­mission were so confin'd to those of my own Coat, as that it reacht not others too, of another calling.

No, I am to charge your all, by all that's dear unto you, even as you are Christians; that you also be ex­amples of Believers, in Word, in Conversation, in Charity, in Spirit, in Faith, in Purity.

If we, who are your poor devoted Servants, preach up Charity and Purity to you, in our Pulpits, and then, sincerely endeavour a more lively expression and repre­sentation of them in our Practises, and you, in the mean time, let all get no further then the eyes and ears, what, I pray, is this, but to make your own Condem­nation the greater? What our Saviour then, said to some others, we may say to you, John 17.22. If we had not come and spoken unto you, you had not had sin; but now, you have no cloak for your sin. Think not then, that God fends you such shining lights, for to sport and play withal, but rather to improve them.

Think not, that God sends you such burning lights too, only to make you a little luke warm; but rather, that your little spark of grace, that your smoaking Flax, may, by them; become an enlarged Flame. Think not, that the high and holy God sends his Ambassadors [Page 28] for you to laugh at, but to make your mourn penitently, for those very sins, which, otherwise, will send you mour­ning perplexedly into infernal flames.

Think not then, That God sends his silver Trumpets (sounding daily in your ears) only to lull and lay you asleep, but rather to rouse and awaken your duller Souls from the sleep of sin, unto some higher measures and degrees of of activeness for God, and the saving of your immortal Souls. Oh, Sirs! beware of barren­ness and sterility, after so much labour bestowed upon you. You know the fate of the fruitless Figtree. Be­ware then, I say, after all our weeping over you, like some Cloth, you shrink not in the wetting: Believe me, this will send many of us away with Tears in our Eyes to our Graves, but your selves, I fear, with stings in your Consciences: Oh then! let us all (but Officers especially belonging to the Church) drive at that emi­nency of Holiness and Purity, that becomes persons in such places of Ecclesiastical Authority: Let not your Courts be called Spiritual, whilst their Officers appear but Carnal: Let not your Consciences tell you at death, you had once an opportunity to make those more exemplary by your power, whom, we, of the Clergy, could not make so, by our preaching; yet, you either cowardly or corruptly conniv'd at all their obstinacies, and wilful affronts offer'd to the Church: The Jews, I have read, had their Terriculamenta Corvorum; Cer­tain gastly formidable Pictures, or Images, set by their Altars to fright away offensive birds; but the learned Selden tells us of a complaint of a later Rabbin, That when the birds saw these Images or Pictures did them no harm, they would commonly steal flesh away from the Altars, and sit upon their heads to eat, and dung on them, when they had done, The moral is easie and familiar: How happy then were it for the Church, and the whole Nation too, were all their respective Officers better Examples of Believers themselves, in Word, Con­versation and Charity; and in a discreet execution of [Page 29] the Laws; without cowardice, or corrupt partiality▪ Then, I am apt to think we should not have some of our Church-wardens so unmindful of their Oaths, and others, so unfaithful to their promises, as, I fear, we have ma­ny, in our Parishes: You are all, by your places and offices obliged to serve the Church, either by the Oath, you have taken, or the promise, you have made; Me­thinks then, you should see your selves the more obli­ged to execute your authority, without the least wilsul connivance or partiality: But, alass! how frequent, and familiar is it amongst many of you, to present only some poor impotent cleeted Delver, but pass by the more responsible luxurious Dives! how common, I say, is it, with many of you to present your poorer Neighbors, whilst you suffer your brutish Betters to make their Chambers, their only Churches upon the Lords day, and rhe Alehouse or Tavern, the chiefest pla­ces of resort all the week after. Have not many of you a scandalous sort of Superiours (such as they be) about you, who propagate Atheism, Irreligion, and open pro­phaness in your Parishes, by their daring Oaths, Cur­sings and new coyn'd execrations, with many other un­christian practises?

Oh! then, wrong not the Church, the Nation, and your own Consciences, by being such timerous respecters, of persons: Disgrace not your papers of Presentments, with wrapping up in them only the shreds and rags of your Parish, since you may so easily find Silks and Sat­tins enough to supply them; and indeed, were the spots and stains better rub'd out of these, I cannot but think, there would be more of the beauty of holiness amongst the rest of your meaner Inhabitants; Would you be so piously couragious, as to top the luxuriant branches of these taller Cedars, you would quickly find the courser Shrubs, growing under them to thrive the better. Would you weed these scarlet poppies out of your Pa­rishes, without partiality, you would hardly find so many scarlet sins reigning amongst us: would you, I say [Page 28] but pull off this green and flourishing Ivy, which clings and hangs about the body of the Church, as if it lov'd and supported it, when indeed nothing less; I am sure, the Church would flourish the better for it: I am far from the design of exasperation; but this one thing more I must venture amongst you, Let scandalous Great ones know, you stand as much upon your Consciences, as they upon their supposed Honour; and indeed, its a shame to see them draw their Swords to justifie their Credit (such as it is) and your selves, such heartless Cowards in defence of your Consciences, to keep them such as they should be: Remember, it's the notion of one greater than the greatest of them all (no less a per­son then our late Royal Master, in his Icon. Basil. where he tells us, 'Tis dangerous, very dangerous, gratifying any faction (much less such a one as this) in a kingdom, to the violation of a known law:

I have one errand more, and that's from the Dead, to you, the Church-wardens of our Parishes; and in­deed, could the Dead be as effectually summon'd from their silent graves, as you have been from your houses to attend this Visitation, I doubt not, but that, many of them, would have met some of you here this day, with their juster Presentments and Complaints against you, not, for that they envy you the priviledges of the living, but, because, Ah lass! you'l scarce allow them, that of the Dead, I mean, of resting from all their labours.

Such are the scandalous ruins of some Churches and Chancels, and such are the intolerable neglects of the consecrated ground belonging to them; That the Dead can scarce lie dry, or safe from either: Oh Sirs! give the Dead their due, your Churches their just repairs, and your Church-yards, their decent Fences; Such as may be a better guard to the Dead, a better credit to the Living, and a greater comfort to your selves when dying: Remember, you all expect e're long, the Church, or it's Ground, must hide your nakedness, when you are dead; be then so just and good to them, as to hide their's, whilst you are living.

I shall now conclude with a short and humble ad­dress to all my Reverend Brethren of the Clergie: and, oh that my words might live, when I am laid in my grave! You have all now given me the honour, and un­deserved patience of hearing me plead, and display be­fore your more knowing selves, the great influence and efficacy; together, with the great obligation, and ne­cessity of a religious exemplariness, on our parts espe­cially; And now, methinks, I see it in all your faces, a thing resolv'd upon, viz. That this Auditory, and those, you are going to; shall all see an happy and more particular enlargement upon the rest of the Text, in the rest of your lives: Methinks, I say, I now see you all, going out of this sanctuary, as so many flaming Lamps, to your own, a fresh blown up and kindled by my weaker breath; Such, as may, by heavens bene­diction and assistance, fire and inflame your peoples hearts, with a greater zeal for God, and Religion in the life and efficacy of it;

Such, as may make your people say, after your preach­ing, as they, after Christ speaking▪ Did not our hearts burn within us, whilst he spake to us? Such, I say, as may convince all your unreasonable and bitter adversaries, That God is in and with you of a truth; and then, such too, as may make the world (otherwise, prone enough to despise you) now really to love, and honour you all, for your being not only learned Preachers, but living Pa­terns too, and examples of Believers, in Word, in Con­versation, in Charity, in Spirit, in Faith, and in Purity; which God, in his mercy, grant, that you may all be, from this day of your Visitation, to the day of your approaching death and Dissolution.

Amen.