A Farewell Sermon Preached at the TABERNACLE IN SPITTLE-FIELDS.  
By LUKE MILBOURN, Presbyter, and Curate there.  
Published at the Request of the Hearers.  
LONDON; Printed for Brabazon Aylmer, at the Sign of the Three Pigeons in Cornhill, 1699.   

A Farewell Sermon.  PHILIPPIANS iv 9 Those things which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do; and the God of Peace shall be with you. 
COULD my most earnest Prayers, or my Willingness to have struggled with the greatest Difficulties and Discouragements, or to spend myself in indefatigable Labours and Studies for you, have prevailed with Almighty God; or had His Alwise Providence seen it good to find out any thing about this City consistent with my Care for You, there had been no Occasion given for our present necessary Separation. I never was ambitious of any great Things in the Church; an opportunity of studying and promoting the Salvation of others, without disturbance, has ever been my utmost Aim; and the Devil, and wicked Men have, at all times, been very active to hinder me. The Ministry of God's holy Word was what I was originally devoted to, and the faithful Execution of that Ministry is the greatest Eyesore to the Prince of Darkness. But however, since there must be a Separation between us, it's my great Satisfaction that my Conscience cannot accuse me of any Unfaithfulness in my Employment among you. I have Preached no False Doctrines among you, nor have I robbed the Treasures of other men's Labours to Preach to you; I have set you no Ill Examples, nor fomented any Broils or Quarrels among you; but now, when I come to take my solemn Leave of you, I can, with a clear and quiet Conscience, speak to you in the Apostle's Language, Those things which you have both learned, and received, and seen, and heard in me do; and the God of Peace shall be with you.  
That the Apostle could close his Epistle to his dear Flock at Philippi with such Expressions, was to the Honour of the Gospel, and was the Completing of his own Happiness. That a dying Minister of Christ, when he speaks his last Words to his People, can say the same things to them, is an inconceivable Comfort; and, thanks be to God, that I, one of the meanest of his Ambassadors, have obtained mercy of the Lord to be Faithful, (1 Cor. 7.26.) that I, who am now dying a Civil Death to you, can give the same Charge to your, and not doubt of the same happy Consequence, if you observe and keep it.  
The Sum of all our Apostle's Writings was to endear Christianity by all suitable means, both to those who were without, and those who were within the Pale of the Church of Christ, and the same is the substance of this Chapter. As there always is a dearness of Affection between a faithful Teacher and a willing People, so it appears there was such a mutual Tenderness between St. Paul and the Philippians; Therefore, says he, my brethren, dearly beloved, my joy and my crown, even so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved: All the pretences between Men to a carnal worldly Love, are nothing when compared with the Bowels of a spiritual Father; for He who rightly weighs the Worth of an immortal Soul; he whom God accounts so far faithful, as to Honour him with a Capacity of assisting to the Salvation of any Man. He who considers how inevitable Damnation is to himself, in case of Infidelity to his Trust, and how inestimable a Crown shall be his Reward, in case he discharges his Duty sincerely, and pursues it earnestly; He who reflects on these things, must love those Souls for whom his Master shed his most precious Blood, far beyond any thing which the dearest Friends in the World, without such a Relation, can pretend to. After these Expressions of Love, he promotes Unity and Charity, and then, consecrating the Name of some eminent Saints to futurity, he gives several general Advices, or Exhortations.  
He advises them to spiritual Joy, the best support of a Christian, when encompassed with the greatest Difficulties, Rejoice in the Lord always, and again, I say rejoice, ver. 4.  
He advises them to convince the World of the Excellency of their Holy Religion, by the evident Amendment of their natural Tempers who profess it; Let your moderation be known unto all men; the reason of which stands still in full force, for the Lord is at hand, ver. 5  
He teaches them not to torment themselves with worldly Cares, i. e. not to be too solicitous about what they should eat, or drink, or wherewith they should be clothed; to be distrustfully careful for nothing, but in every thing by Prayer and Supplication with Thanksgiving, to let their Requests be made known to God. Honest Industry attended with a faithful dependence on the Goodness and Blessing of God, would be a sufficient Security for their subsistence in this World, ver. 5.  
To encourage his Philippians to these things, he tells them, that, in case of Obedience, the Peace of God, a Blessing more valuable than all the Friendships of the World, that Peace which passes all understanding, whose power and energy none have any agreeable Conceptions of but those who have it, that happy Peace shall keep your Hearts and Minds through Jesus Christ. That heavenly Peace can have no place where too much carefulness reigns; but where the World has no possession, there the Blessed Jesus takes up his Residence, and all is Heaven about the believing Soul, ver. 7.  
To Sum up all his Injunctions in one compendious Rule, he adds, what I would have you take as spoken by me to you, on the same Reason, and by the same Authority. Finally, my Brethren, whatsver things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, if there be any praise in the ways of Holiness, think on these things; and to enforce this Summary of Christian Duty, he subjoins, Those things which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do; 〈…〉 of Peace be with you, i. e.  
Whoever is an Ambassador or Minister commissioned by Christ, aught to be apt to teach, to show Men the way to Heaven; a just Credit ought to be given by good Men to such a Minister, and his Doctrine to be believed and embraced; he ought to have a good Report among good Men, and among such as are without, and he ought to be an Example to Believers in Word, in Conversation, in Charity, in Spirit, in Faith, in Purity, (1 Tim. 4.12.) such a Teacher have I been to you, and you have pretended to receive the Word which I preached. The Enemies of the Gospel have been able to prove nothing of ill against me, and your selves have seen my Conversation how blameless and innocent it has been among you; Be ye therefore followers of me, as I have been of Christ; let my Example make a just impression on your Minds, and my Doctrine be read in your Lives, and then the God of Peace, your Lord and your Saviour, will so influence your Minds by his Spirit, that you shall be partakers of inward Peace here, and of eternal Peace hereafter. The words than contain, 

I. The Character of a faithful Minister of Jesus Christ; He must be a good Teacher, a Man of a good Character, and a Man of an Exemplary Life and Conversation, or One of whom Men may learn, and hear, and see only what's good and tends to edification.  
II. Here's the Character and Duty of a pious People; They ought to hear, and to believe, and to put in practice what such a Minister delivers to them; what they learn, receive, hear, and see, they ought to do.  
III. Here's the Happiness attending such a People; The God of Peace shall be with them. They shall be blest with the extraordinary Influences of his Spirit, and find Peace in their own Bosoms, whatsoever Storms they meet with from the Devil or the World.    

1. The Character of a faithful Minister of Jesus Christ  
A faithful Minister I instance in, because every One who takes upon himself the work of Preaching to others, is not such a Minister: There were those of old who could run forth in the Name of God, and yet were not sent by him; who would prophesy, though God had not spoken to them, Jerem. 23.21. Nor were the Jews only liable to this Mischief, for our Saviour tells his Disciples, that, under the Times of the Gospel, there should arise false Christ's, and false Prophets, and should show great signs and wonders, insomuch that, if it were possible, they should deceive the very Elect, Mat. 24.44. And St. Peter lays both these Ages together, and tells the Christians, that there were false Prophets among the Jews, even as there shall be false Teachers among us, who, privily, shall bring in damnable Heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction: And, what's more unhappy yet, many shall follow their pernicious ways, by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of, 2 Pet. 2.1, 2.  
And I may, with respect to these Passages, say, as our Saviour did in another case, This day is this Scripture fulfilled in our ears: We have many Pretenders to the Pastoral Office, who, having no Authority for that Office they assume, make Merchandise of Souls with feigned Words, through their unreasonable Covetousness, and under this Calamity the Church of England smarts severely at this time.  
The Salvation of Souls is a noble, as well as divine Employ, but it's extremely hazardous, as well as laborious. God has appointed an Order of Men particularly to engage themselves in the Work, but I fear the generality of professed Christians have a very false Notion of their Business; as if their Work were no more than that of Men following their ordinary Trades, in which, if they thrive and get Money apace, they are supposed to acquit themselves very well. I confess, it would render the Task much easier, could but all those who are called to the Service of the Altar, sit down quietly with that Opinion; but though that Lunacy prevails too far, all of us, thanks be to God, are not yet touched with it; our Business is of the greatest weight, and, who is sufficient for these things? is a reasonable Question. Where Men come in at the door, according to Christ's appointment, spiritual Assistances and a Blessing are promised to their Labours. But where Men come over the Wall, or irregularly, though their Parts are never so great, their Industry never so commendable, their Sobriety and Sanctity never so plausible, they never are, nor can be, faithful Ministers, because they are no Ministers at all of Jesus Christ. But, supposing an Ambassador of Heaven lawfully sent, he must, according to the Text, have these Qualities to recommend him.  
1. He must be a good Teacher; he must be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, fit to teach, or apt for that Work, as the Apostle phrases it, 1 Tim. 3.2. i e. He who is a good Teacher, must understand the Work of Instruction throughly; his Reading, his Study, his own Experience, and the Grace of God, humbly implored, must fit him to his Work. He must have the Pathetic Eloquence of a good Pleader, that he may use acceptable Words, and enforce them in their proper places; he must have the tenderness of a Father, to compassionate the Infirmities of the Weak, and the general dangerous Condition of careless Sinners; he must have the Skill of an expert Chirurgeon, to handle the Wounds of the Mind gently, to search and cleanse them throughly, to apply his Caustics or his Lenitives seasonably, and to heal them at last with prudence and discretion: He must have the Temper of a Philosopher, to exercise Patience when assaulted by the Ignorance of some, the slowness and impertinence of others, when Line upon Line, and Precept upon Precept are altogether ineffectual: He must have the Learning of a Rabbin, be throughly versed in Scripture, and knowing in Humane Writings, that he may assert Truth with a sacred Authority, and baffle Error with undeniable Reason: He must have the steadiness and solidity of an inspired Person, that he may restrain others from waving, be always like himself sound in his Principles, and charitable and exemplary in his Practices: He must have the sincerity of a Friend, that he may be impartial in his Reflections and Advices; the Meekness and Humility of a Moses or a Saviour, that he may, without Haughtiness, condescend to the poorest; and the Zeal of a Martyr, that nothing may affright him from his heavenly Work.  
These Qualifications must all of them concur, in some measure, in a good Teacher; and, though he must be no Wrangler, nor Disputatious, yet he must be able and ready to defend the Truths of God, against all Heretical and Atheistical Gainsayers; he must keep a careful Watch over his Flock, that neither the Boars, the Wolves, the Foxes, nor the little Foxes may be able to break in upon them. And he must not confine his Labours to the Days of Public Service only, but he must Preach every day by his Life and by his Example: He must be ready to discourse in private with those who come to him for Resolution of Difficulties, for quieting the Conscience, for rectifying the Judgement, and informing of the Understanding: He ought to be an Oracle to his People, whom they may consult upon all occasions; who may present his Prayers to God for them with an indefatigable Ardour; who may draw out of his Treasures things both new and old for their good; who may bind up the , preach deliverance to the Captives, recovering of sight to the Blind, and set at liberty such as are bruised: He must follow them, find them out, and reduce them in their Wander. And all these things he must do with such earnestness, take such delight in his Work, and be so far pleased with his Success, if any at all, that all may see it's his Meat and his Drink to do the will of him who sent him.  
2. The Faithful Minister of Jesus Christ, must be one of a good Character, one of whom we may hear well. Every lawful Preacher or Pastor is not Faithful in his Office; a Judas may get in among the Disciples of the blessed Jesus himself; and the Devil, as he appears sometimes as an Angel of Light, so he often teaches ill Men cunning enough to insinuate themselves into the good Opinion of Church-governors, who are but Men and fallible, and by that means to get hands laid upon them. St. Paul had his Demas, false to his Commission; and Simon Magus might have passed upon the Apostles themselves, had they not been immediately illuminated by the Holy Ghost. Such Men may appear as Angels in the Pulpit, but be no better than Devils when they are out of it: Such were the Pharisees of old, and Scribes and Lawyers, lawful Teachers, and therefore to be heard, where there was no choice; but wicked Wretches, therefore not to be imitated, because every day afforded better Examples. Now weak Heads, who would rather have their Ears tickled, than their Soul's saved, may be very fond of sounding Brass, and of tinkling Cymbals; wise Men and good Christians look upon such as the Plague of the Church, the Scandals of Religion, and the Harbingers of Destruction. Men of small Understanding in Divine Matters may run after them. Those who have their Senses better Exercised, pray earnestly to be delivered from them. Men of ill Morals, wicked and debauched Wretches, without Reason and without Conscience, may love such, as most resembling, and therefore in some measure excusing themselves: Men of Holy and Christian Lives fear them as they would Monsters, and fly from them as they would from Wolves and Tigers; yet such Men as these have found means to creep into all Churches from the beginnings of Christianity till the present time; and our own unhappy Church feels every day, the cruel Wounds she receives from such an unnatural Offspring.  
But a Faithful Minister will have a good Character from all those who love Goodness; Thy Name is as Ointment poured forth, i. e. It sounds so well, it is so pure, so holy, and consequently so charming and delightful, that therefore the Virgins, all the true Professors of true Religion, love thee; so says the Church to her Spouse in the Canticles 1.3. where Learning, Sobriety and Innocence appear in one of Heaven's Ambassadors. Those who endeavour after the same Perfections will find them out. Holy Souls will sympathise with one another, and like strings in a Viol tuned to the same Note, rest, and move, and sound together. A good Man will endeavour to hid the Faults of God's Priests, unless they be too notorious and undeniable; and therefore he'll certainly give his Testimony to their Virtues, and recommend their Piety to the World, since nothing tends more to the Honour of our common Master than the Holiness of his more immediate Servants. This will make even such as are envious and angry Enemies to the Person, yet celebrate his Merits, and do right to his Reputation.  
Now to be Praised and Applauded by an unthinking Multitude, to be cried up and almost deified by such as can have no Notion of real Worth, is no more pleasing to a Man of a truly Apostolical Spirit, than the Applauses of the Lystrians were to Paul and Barnabas, when they brought Oxen and Garlands, and would have offered sacrifice to them, and fancied the Gods were come down to them in the likeness of Men, Acts 14.11, 13. The good Opinions of such are easily bought and sold, and no wise Man, unless he has some by-design to carry on, can value himself upon them. But when Men of Vnstanding, who have themselves a good Reputation among those of the best Judgements, give their Attestations to the Merits of a Gospel Minister; when Men of other Persuasions and Interests acknowledge the Justice of such Attestations; when those who are without the Pale of the Church, who look upon the Profession of Christianity itself to be no better than an impertinent Shame, or a mere Politic Invention, to keep Men of mean Parts in awe; when such Men shall, notwithstanding all these slight Thoughts of Religion, assert the Innocence and excellent Endowments of one of the Teachers of Christianity; when he shall call him a very good Man, abating only his Name and Profession, such a Man ought to be valued, he comes up to the Character of a Primitive Pastor, or Bishop; he has a good Report of such as are without, as well as such as are within, and therefore is in the less danger of falling into Reproach, and the snare of the Devil, 1 Tim. 3.7. This good Character than is what is justly required as the Test of a Faithful Minister of Christ. Good and wise Men will not be drawn to prostitute their Names to the Interests of ill Men; and where I see a Testimonial given by any to a careless, unlettered or immoral Man, I'm so far from thinking the better of him, that I think the worse of them, and conclude, That the Honour of Religion and of the Church is very little esteemed by them.  
3. The Faithful Minister of Jesus Christ ought to be a Man of an Exemplary Life and Conversation. He cannot be Faithful in his Station, be it never so high in the Church of Christ, who has not this to Crown all his other Attainments. Examples are of a far greater Influence than Rules or Doctrines. I may talk a great deal and very Learnedly on the Reasons of such or such a Mechanic Operation, and few may understand me; let them see me practise upon my Rule, they'll apprehend me presently, and be soon able to do the like. Hence the Apostle requires, that a Bishop should be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre, but patiented, not a brawler, not covetous, one that ruleth his own house well, 1 Tim. 3.2, 3, 4. To which he adds, He must be no self-willed man, but a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate, Tit. 1.7, 8. Now, howsoever the Law of a Nation may give opportunity to wicked and ill-minded Patrons to present Preachers, like themselves, to Ecclesiastical Benefices, under whose Ministry Men well affected to Religion may groan, but not be able to help themselves, yet none but Madmen, when they have their Choice, will give their Votes to such; and God has certainly a Controversy with any people whom he gives over to such Delusions.  
For what can a good Christian learn from such a Man, whose Life is a contradiction to his Doctrine? I tell a wicked lewd Wretch from the Pulpit, That Whoremongers and Adulterers God will judge; it affects him at present, but soon after he takes me in the very Act, or in the lewd Preliminaries to it; his Thoughts are quiet presently, he's sure I don't believe my Doctrine myself, and why should he? I declare against Swearing and Profaneness, and denounce God's Vengeance against the Guilty; but will it work at all upon that Man who finds me passionate and mad, and as ready to take God's Name in vain as other Men? I preach against Drunkenness and Intemperance; but will a Sot reform himself a whit the sooner, when he finds me strong to Wine, and mighty to pour in strong Drink, and ready to indulge myself in that sin at least on every private Opportunity? I recommend Hospitality and Almsgiving by many and weighty and Arguments, but can they melt down the hard hearted Churl, when he sees me expensive and wasteful in other things, but administering no Comfort nor Relief to the craving Poor? Will a Sermon of mine against Covetousness or Injustice do any good upon the Guilty, when I can Gripe and use Extortion myself, injure others both by Word and Deed, and never think of doing by them as they would they should do to me? All which, and a thousand more Instances which might be given, show us how reasonably the Apostle expostulates with such, Behold thou knowest the Will of God, and approvest the things that are more excellent, and art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light to such as are in darkness, an Instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge, and of the truth in the law: Thou therefore who teachest, teachest thou not thyself? thou, who preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? thou, who sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou, who abhorrest Idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? thou, who makest thy boast of the Law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? Rom. 2.18,— 23.  
But what a Scandal does the ill Practice of a Clergyman bring upon the Gospel? How ready are Lewd and Atheistical Wretches to take advantages against Religion, when the pretendedly zealous Ministers expose themselves and their Offices by their Follies and Inadvertencies? The several Clans of Sectaries endeavour indeed, as far as possible, to conceal the Crimes of their Leaders from vulgar Eyes; but it's their Interest to find out or make faults in those who have a lawful Commission from Heaven, and to publish the most improbable Hearsay on the Housetops, for it is by this craft that many of them get their Livelihoods. Therefore such Men as give them just Occasion of Reflection ought to receive no Encouragement till the Evidence of their Reformation is as notorious as that of their Miscarriages. It is through such that the Name of God is Blasphemed among the Enemies of Religion. It was the Cry even of such Enemies in Ancient Times, How good must that God needs be, whose Servants are so good! and it's too easy a thing to a prejudiced Mind to reverse the Expression, and to infer how little regard must be due to that God, whose servants can manage themselves no better! A Faithful Minister of Christ will lay no such Burdens upon Others, as to the bearing of which he'll not be ready to put a Hand; but thinks himself very happy indeed when he can say to his People, without blushing, Brethren, be ye followers together of me, and mark them who walk so as ye have us for an example, Phil. 3.17. Thus far then we have the Character of a Good Pastor; He's one of and in whom men may learn, and hear, and see only what's good and tends to Edification. But,   

2. The Character and Duty of a truly Pious People  
They ought to hear, to believe, and to put in practice what they learn, hear and see in and of such a Minister; that do, saith the Text; but Faith comes by hearing, and shows its self in Conversation: The People's Duty then is,  
1. To hear what the lawful Messenger of Heaven delivers in prosecution of his Duty. A Preacher without Hearers, an Instructor without Scholars, a Shepherd without a Flock, are Absurdities; but, as we are willing to hear a Statute read, on the Observation of which our Lives and Fortunes depend, so much more should we be ready to hear the Laws of God, the Obedience or Disobedience to which infers our Salvation or Damnation. God so loved the world, that he sent his only begotten Son into it, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life: It's a faithful saying indeed, and worthy of all acceptation; but the Question comes in presently, How shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall hear without a Preacher? and how shall they preach unless they be sent? Rom. 10.14, 15. From whence we learn, That none can Preach indeed, or to any purpose, but such as are lawfully Ordained to that World; and that those who are so sent, and none else, aught to be attended to. But as there's a We entailed upon those in holy Orders if they do not Preach the Gospel, so the Woe's as heavy upon the People, who will not give ear when the Lord hath spoken by them.  
While Men run eagerly after it, and long to be satisfied with the Bread of Life, the enjoyment of it is an inestimable Blessing: When they neglect and slight it, it brings Curses upon them with the most insupportable Aggravations. It looks dismally in such a City as this, when the Streets are overgrown with Grass, because the raging Pestilence has laid heaps upon heaps in the midst of it; and is it not as astonishing a sight, when the Ways of Zion mourn? and the Paths leading to God's House are unoccupied, and the Travellers pass through Byways? There is indeed in some a Spirit of Laziness, in others a Spirit of Giddiness, which teaches them to make a thousand frivolous Pretences for the neglect of their Duty; and yet, if we'll believe them, they'd fain be saved for all this: But how? Is it reasonable for Rebels to claim an Interest in their Soverein? For lazy Creatures to expect Wages? for Wether Cocks and Changelings to claim the Rewards of Loyalty? Or can any Man dream of Happiness hereafter, who casts God's Testimonies behind his back, and won't attend the offers of a Crown? God has appointed one day in seven particularly for his own Service; It was his Right to do so, and his Goodness that he would condescend to do so; every Day we ought to acquaint ourselves with his Will, and to approach and humble ourselves on our Knees before him; but on that Day, above all, our attendance should be in earnest. We should be eager and early to watch the go of our God and King in his Sanctuaries; His House indeed is the House of Prayer, that's the Character its more particularly known by. Yet there too we have the opportunity of hearing his Word read, of hearing it explained, and applied to our particular Uses, and is not this a Privilege for which we ought to adore the Mercy and Compassion of our God? Should such a Prize be put into men's hands, and shall they not make use of it? Does not the Book of Life concern us? Were we indicted for Capital Crimes before a Judge, and condemned, would not a Reprieve or a Pardon be very welcome? Would we not hear it read with the greatest attention? We are those Wretched Criminals who, from the Hand of God, have deserved no less than Eternal Vengeance; The Word of God, that God who is and must be our Judge; that very Word, by which we must be tried, contains the offer of a Pardon; from that we learn how dearly that Pardon has been purchased for us: God's Ambassadors are appointed to proclaim it in our Ears; to interpret it to us faithfully: And shall we not listen earnestly to that, which teaches us how we may escape everlasting Burn? We talk of knowing much, but I'm sure he who knows not his Duty in this respect, knows nothing yet as he ought to know. However, whether unhappy Sinners will hear, or whether they will forbear, our Business lies before Us: We shall be accountable for our Neglect of that; if we do it diligently and impartially, the People may perish, but we have discharged our own Souls.  
2. What we hear from Faithful lawful Ministers, we are to receive or to embrace, we are to believe it hearty. Not but that the best of Pastors may be mistaken, especially if they depend too much upon their own Learning and Understandings. But a Minister so qualified, will be very careful not to give People Stones for Bread; and, that he may not, he'll ever beg his Master's Divine Assistance to enable him to be such a Workman as needs not to be ashamed; and God is not wont to deny that to those who faithfully ask it. But, after all, our Saviour gives a necessary Rule, Take heed how you hear, Luke 8.18. What you hear, says St. Matthew; i. e. examine well what's delivered to you in the Name of God, let no humane Authority sway you to believe any thing contrary to what you find there. The force of which Direction is fully cleared by what our Saviour says elsewhere to the Pharisees, Search the Scriptures, John 5.39. and what the Bereans are commended for, Acts 17.11. These were more noble than those of Thessalonica, in that they received the Word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so; Therefore many of them believed. A Man, who will take pains, will easily find out whether the Doctrine preached be agreeable to the general import of Scripture, for, whatsoever that is, every particular Text of Scripture is agreeable to it, and must be explained by it; and, if any Man affix another Sense on any single Text, or preach any Doctrine, which is not agreeable to that general Tenor of Scripture, that Doctrine is to be rejected.  
But it is only such Doctrine which may be rejected; that which is sound and good aught to be embraced and to be believed readily, at our utmost peril. To what purpose do I Preach, or you hear, if you don't believe? If I speak not the Mind of God, if I deliver not what tends to the Honour of God and your Salvation, it's time lost to hear me. If I preach the Truth as it is in Christ Jesus, why do you not believe me? Has the Word of God any thing really incredible in it? I renounce it then, I'm sure it's none of his. Is there any thing in it which seems incredible to my Reason? It argues that my Reason's vitiated, not that the Word of God's defective: other Men have Reason as well as I, and it's as freely exercised, and it's as well improved as mine; they are fully satisfied of the Truth of many very difficult things; why should they not be as credible to me? The true Reason of this is, They acknowledge their own Weakness, they value and beg the assistance of God's Spirit, which leads them effectually into all Truth; I admire my own Wit and Reason, and build mightily upon them, and so fall into every Error. Faith is the Gift of God, the meek and lowly have it, the proud and opiniative know nothing of the Matter. But, if the Messengers of Christ really deliver his Will to Men, it will be no excuse to say, We don't believe them; they'll be dreadful Witnesses against us at the last day; and our Case will be as bad as that of the Israelites of old, they could not enter into the Earthly, nor shall we get admission into the Heavenly Canaan, because of unbelief. But few are willing to own, that they don't believe the Word of God; the Test of their Faith follows immediately, i. e.  
3. Their Practice, or acting according to their Belief. That which ye have learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, that do. Practice is the only Evidence of Faith, and without the first all the Pretences to the last are vain; True Faith and Holy Works are relatives, and suppose and take away one another. Faith without Works is dead, Works without Faith are insignificant; hence the Apostle St. James, when he had advised us before, that, laying apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, we would receive with meekness the engrafted Word, which is able to save our souls, James 1.21. He immediately adds, ver. 22. But be ye doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own souls: No Deceit is more dangerous than what our Souls suffer by; no Deceit is more certain than when we imagine God will accept of our readiness to hear, without any regard to our exactness in Practice. Peace, and Quietness, and common Good are what every one, not only as a Christian, but as a Man, aught to aim at. But wherein do all the soundest Doctrines tend to advance these things, if those Doctrines are not reduced to Practice in men's Lives and Conversations? If I am a Brawler, if Quarrelsome and Litigious, and continue so, though I every day hear Sermons and Discourses tending to Peace and Unity, what am I the better for them? they'll bear Witness against me indeed, in case of an irreclaimable Temper, but can do me no service either in this, or in a future World. It's a great Privilege to have opportunities of Hearing, and unhappy are those People whose Faithful Pastors are driven into Corners. Great was the Character for a Man to be related to our Saviour according to the Flesh, yet neither of 'em comparable to Practice and Obedience, if we may give any Credit to our Master; yea, rather happy are they who hear the Word of God, and keep it, Luke 11.28. The other Privileges may be enjoyed, and those who enjoy them may perish for ever. Holy Practice proves and demonstrates a sincere Faith, and Faith justifies us in the sight of God. If ye know good things, therefore happy are ye if ye do them; and if ye know never so much, without such Practice ye are altogether unhappy.  
Not every one who saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who doth the Will of my Father which is in Heaven; is our Saviour's unchangeable determination, Matth. 7.21. Here than we may take some notice of the Discourse of Christians concerning Edification: Edifying, primarily, signifies raising up a Building on a Foundation already laid: Edifying, in a spiritual sense, signifies making a complete Christian upon Principles of sound Faith laid in before, so that the Person truly Edified is one upon whom the Word of God preached makes such impressions, that he grows larger every day, and wiser by it in his Understanding, and better in his Practice; his Faith, as it's sound and good at first, by the help of what he hears, so the Fruits of that Faith are Holiness and Righteousness; which, if true, than no Man can be said to edify by a Sermon, who does not grow wiser and better by it; nor can any one be said to be a more edifying Pastor or Teacher than others, whose Flock are not clearer in their Faith, and sounder and more innocent in their Practices than other Men. But if Men should hear an Angel from Heaven preach, according to his Nature, nothing but what's Holy and Divine, and should not be able to give a better account of their Faith, nor farther correct their Manners after they had heard him, it must be owned, that even such a Sermon from such a Preacher, is not edifying to the Hearer. If he does not Preach what's sound and good, I am apt to think no Man in his Senses, will believe he edifies those he preaches to. Edification, in the subject of it, is in plain Scripture terms, Growing in Grace and in the Knowledge of Jesus Christ; where that's wanting, all the rest is but idle talk. An edifying Preacher will preach to himself first, convince himself, and prove himself a Christian by his Christian Life and Behaviour. The Physician is of no value who can't heal himself; nor the Preacher, who has not affected his own Reformation. St. Paul was but weak in speech, and despicable in person, 2 Cor. 10.10. yet he built up more Christians by the Purity and Exemplariness of his Life, than all the popular Orators in the World. It's possible a Man may hit his way who has a wicked Guide, but he's a great deal more likely to do so, who has one Honest and Skilful too. Empty Harangues can save none, but sound Faith and good Practice may. This attentive hearing then, this Faith and this Practice will be crowned.   

3. The Happiness attending such a People  
The God of Peace will be with them, their Bosoms shall be quiet and easy, and the Spirit of Peace shall rest upon them. A quiet Conscience is a Jewel of an inestimable Value; it's what thousands, when they come on their Deathbeds, would purchase with a thousand Worlds if they could. A wounded Spirit or Conscience none can bear; a quiet Spirit makes a cheerful Countenance, and he, who has nothing to accuse himself within, may laugh at the Malice and Impudence of all Mankind. We live in a World that's troublesome enough, and the more a Man studies to do well in it, the more he exposes himself to the Hatred and Revenge of those who are set on fire of Hell. Our Saviour did no Sin, nor could any of his Adversaries convince him of it, but our Saviour, because his Innocence condemned a wicked World, was hated, persecuted, murdered. The Apostles preached and practised, the Primitive Christians believed and practised the best, the most heavenly Things. The generality of the World lived in Sin, and loved those Sins they lived in, therefore they prosecuted those admirable Persons with indefatigable Rage and Envy, and it will be so to the end of the World; and he, who dares to be good, will be sure to have all the Sons of Darkness near him about his Ears; The wicked watcheth the Righteous, and seeketh to slay him, Psal. 37.32. that Work is agreeable to his Nature, and the Righteous must be patiented under it. A Son of Belial will belly and slander, he'll quarrel with and prosecute, he'll endeavour to raise Enemies, and encourage them in their Wickedness, against those who endeavour to live soberly, righteously, and godly in an evil World. Just Men are always doing good, endeavouring the Peace, and Assistance, and Support of others, the requital they have is commonly Baseness, Ingratitude, Treachery, and downright Villainy: Yea, his own familiar Friends, in whom he trusted, which did eat of his Bread, will presume to lift up their heels against him, as David complains, Psal. 41.9. and David's Lord, John 13.18. It's true, such Judas' commonly hang themselves, and die unpitied, unlamented, yet these Vermin are as troublesome to good Men, as the Plagues of Flies and Lice to the Egyptians. But how happy, in the midst of all such Vexations from abroad, are those who have peace with God, and who, being conscious of no guilt, no dishonesty, no injury done to any, can Sleep without disturbance, can Smile without dissembling, can Converse without sullenness, can debate Matters without passion, and address themselves to God in Prayer without any Fears of a denial. Nay, though the Devil himself, and all his Emissaries assault a Man of a clear Conscience, let them endeavour to terrify him with the inexorable Justice of God, with the uselessness and impertinence of Repentance, with the boasts of his own mighty Power, and the unpardonableness of his past Crimes, all these Suggestions vanish into Air, when a Man can, with Hezekiah, plead, I beseech thee remember, O Lord, how I have walked before thee in truth, and with a perfect heart, and have done that which was good in thy sight, 2 Kings 20.3. All the Balm in Gilead has not so healing a Virtue as such Words in a sincere Christians Mouth.  
Nor are the influences of the Spirit of Peace of less Efficacy or less desirable; they are agreeable to the Nature of that Spirit who imparts them, they are Love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, Faith, meekness, temperance, Gal. 5.22, 23. Love, that heavenly Grace by which we keep the Commandments; for Love is the fulfilling of the Law, it's that by which we love God with all our souls, and our Neighbours as ourselves. Joy, that Grace which bears us up in the midst of all worldly Troubles, so as though the Figtree should not blossom, neither should fruit be in the Vines; though the labour of the Olive should fail, and the Fields should yield no increase; though the Flock should be cut off from the Fold, and there should be no Herd in the Stall; yet we may rejoice in the Lord, and joy in the God of our Salvation, Habak. 3.17, 18. Peace, that whereby we are reconciled to our heavenly Father in Christ Jesus, whereby we are freed from inward Gripes and Pangs, and from the danger of outward Temptations, and can live quietly and charitably one among another. Long-suffering, whereby we are enabled to imitate God's dealing with us in Transactions among ourselves; not to be passionate, fiery, revengeful, but to bear with one another, and to forgive one another, as God, for Jesus Christ's sake, has forgiven us. Gentleness, whereby we put off our fierce and brutal Natures, and show true Humanity improved and perfected by Grace. Goodness, by which we distribute God's Blessings freely to the Indigent, Knowledge and Instruction to the Ignorant, and Meat, and Drink, and Clothing to the poor and naked. Faith, by which our dependence upon God is entire and undoubting; and our Fidelity and Justice toward Men is unfailing and impartial. Meekness, whereby we can manage ourselves decently with our Brethren, not being captious, not peevish, not easily provoked, not overweening of ourselves, but ready and desirous to be persuaded in temporal, and instructed in spiritual Matters. And Temperance, by which we can use all God's Creatures with Sobriety and Moderation, not ruffle our Minds, nor distemper our Bodies, but maintain and improve our Constitutions so, as we may at all times be fit for the Service of God, and the Performance of our Duties towards Men. These are the Graces which we want, you, and I, and every one; and, if you do those things which you have learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, you too shall be partakers of these Blessings.  
And, if there be any such thing as Truth in Mankind, this is what, above my own Life, or if there's any thing dearer than Life to me, I aim at, and beg of Heaven for you. It may perhaps seem bold in me to use the Apostle's Words; but knowing that I have exercised myself herein, to keep a Conscience always void of offence toward you, and having in all things endeavoured to discharge my Duty to you, so as becomes a Minister of Christ Jesus, I have a right to speak so. The Words I now speak are the last, in all probability, which I shall speak to you from hence: Look on me here as your dying Teacher, who had sent for you to attend his Deathbed, and expiring Words; the very Circumstance might perhaps make you consider what I say with greater tenderness; but they'd be the same as now, and could not be uttered with more Sincerity or Affection. And as ever you expect to meet me with Comfort at the great Tribunal, let my words now sink into your Ears. I will not talk of having the Rule over you; it's plain enough that I have not; but I'd have you, if possible, always remember him who has spoken to you the word of God, and follow his Faith, remembering the end of his Conversation, Jesus Christ the same yesterday, to day and for ever, Hebr. 13.7, 8. That is my End, and that I hope will always be yours, and, that it may be so, think a little seriously on these things.  
1. Consider what Doctrines I have preached; I won't imagine you should remember all I have said for almost six Years together, but reflect a little on the general Design of what you have heard, and, I hope, have received. I have followed not cunningly devised Fables; I have meddled with no nice or impertinent Questions; I have brought in no new fangled Doctrines, which might confound or misled unwary Souls; nor have you ever heard one Word from me, tending to promote my own Interests. Your Salvation was what I aimed at, what might conduce to that I preached, and, as I have told you more than once, so now again, if I have any knowledge of my own Heart, I had rather be an Instrument to save one Soul, than be advanced to the greatest Dignities in the World. My Resolution among you ever was to teach you the true and the right Way; and I never brought any thing to be delivered here, but what I had implored the Blessing of my God upon before I came hither: I always knew that Paul might plant, and Apollo might water, but it was God only who could give the increase, and to him only I looked for it. I have studied among you, not to prove myself of mighty Learning, but to explain and clear up necessary and important Truths; and on whatsoever Point I have discoursed to you, I have endeavoured to declare to you the whole Counsel of God in that particular. I have not studied Words so much as Things, and yet I have sought for acceptable Words too, as concluding that good Language might consist well enough with the simplicity of Instruction. I need not mention how great and how constant my Pains have been, all, who have attended here, can witness that, which I mention, not to boast of, but to celebrate God's goodness, who has blest me with Health and Strength to perform it. I have endeavoured to inculcate Truth in the best Methods I could, that its Impressions might be the deeper. I have Catechised as many of your Children as, with your leave, I might, that I should have had more of that Employment, would have been my Delight, and was your Duty: May Almighty God never lay that great Sin to your Charge, nor avenge it on you or your Posterity. I have explained the Catechism at large, and have almost gone through it four times, that those of elder Years might recover the Principles of their Religion, and remember what's too easily forgotten. I have explained that admirable Lyturgy, which our Holy Mother has appointed for Public Worship, that, understanding it throughly, you might value it justly, and praise God for so excellent Assistances in Devotion. I have explained all the Articles of our Faith, not according to the new ways of unitarians and Atheists, but according to the genuine Tenor of Scripture, and the current Sense of unwrested Antiquity. I have laid before you the meaning of every Commandment, not in that narrow way which some would confine them to, but in that full sense of which the best of Preachers has given us a Pattern in his Sermon on the Mount. I have explained that heavenly Form of Prayer, which the Son of God taught his own Apostles, a Form perfect in every respect, which he who uses not with Reverence, can never be a Christian. I have instructed you in the Nature of both Sacraments, more especially that of the Lord's-Supper; and, though I can't boast of any extraordinary Success, I have endeavoured from time to time, by Preparatory Sermons, to fit You for that Holy Communion. I have taken every accidental Opportunity to inculcate seasonable Truths, to which the Circumstances of Time might best prepare you. And as I have generally done my Work myself, so if Illness or Necessity has at any time required help of others, I have provided such as at least were never the Scandal either of the Gown or Pulpit. Thus have I preached among you, and thus have you received, and have seemed to receive the Word with gladness; I have kept back nothing that was profitable to you, but have showed you, and have taught you publicly, and, as any have desired it, from House to House, I have sown good Seed, God grant the Ground may be but fruitful!  
2. Consider what my Life and Practice has been among you. I don't pretend to Sinlesness, I know myself and my own Frailties too well: Forgive them all, O blessed Father, for thy dear Son's sake! Wash them all out for ever, O holy Jesus, in thy most precious blood! Change me in the renewal of my mind, O Divine Almighty Spirit! Cleanse me, O my God, from my secret sins, and grant that presumptuous sins may have no dominion over me! I know my Sins are great and many, but I have not made you the Witnesses of them; nor can I accuse myself of having lead you into any by my Example. I'm sure I have defended no Heretical, no dangerous Opinions among you, to subvert your Faith; but I have endeavoured to keep out all such Notions from among you, and to watch over you, as one who must give an account of your Souls. If I have served any other God in my Heart, that's beyond your discovery; but whom have I ever taught to take God's Name in vain, to Swear, to Curse, to Blaspheme, or to speak any thing unbecoming their Profession? Whom have I lead into Perjury, or instructed to break their solemn Vows, or common humane Obligations? If I have taught any to spend the Lord's Day lazily, wickedly, in Fields, in Taverns, in lewd Company, or to despise or undervalue that sacred Time: If I have taught them to Dishonour their Parents, Natural, Civil or Temporal; to entertain rebellious or murmuring Thoughts, or to speak scandalously or ignorantly of our Superiors: If I have Prosecuted any with Revenge or Malice upon the most notorious Provocations; have belied, defamed or injured any Man knowingly; either in their Life, Body or Estate: If have knowingly conversed, unless on their sick and death Beds, with any of ill Fame, or have connived at, or feared to reprove the Guilty, of what Rank or Quality soever: If I have cheated, overreached, defrauded any, whatever usage I have met with from Ingrateful Brutes, or senseless Villains: If I have oppressed or wronged the Poor, or acted unjustly by the Rich: If I have born false Witness against any, or traduced or slandered the Innocent, or have shown any griping or covetous Humour: If I set any pattern of Drunkenness or Intemperance of any sort: If I have knowingly been Guilty of Breach of Promise, Lying, Falsehood or Treachery: If I have been Contentious or Quarrelsome with any Man, or have not rather suffered Wrong in abundance, of which I carry the terrible Scars about me to this day, rather than Sue or Prosecute the Injurious: If I have been guilty of any of these things, let all, who know it, witness against me. I stand here before God and you this day, and challenge the best metalled Brow, and the most impudent Tongue to prove any of these things against me. And if they cannot, look you to it, if you be Guilty of any of these Sins which I have always preached against from, hence, and in my Life and Conversation.  
3. Consider what my Love has been, and how expressed to you. I may have preached the Truth, and have practised agreeably, and both for my own sake; but it could not be for my own sake, that I quitted my Pretences to a Certainty, to come among you, from whom, upon my Acquaintance or Provision made to that purpose, I could promise myself nothing. The Success was wonderful and encouraging, till Hell and wicked Men enraged at it, sowed Divisions among us, and ruin'd one of the most promising Designs that this Age had known. I could not but be a loser by it, yet you always found me the same Man, and, however my Livelihood fell short, you never heard any Murmuring or Repining from me. I was not quite deprived yet of opportunity to Instruct you; and, that I might do good to you, I took upon me a task above common strength, I served others that I might more comfortably serve you, and not be a burden to you. If in any thing I have failed of my Duty, I hearty beg Pardon both of God and you. I might have served you farther, but was forbidden, and I hope have not any thing on that account to answer for. But my Heart's desire, since I first knew you, has been, and still is for you all, Brethren, that you might be saved. I have loved my private Friends, I have loved my Family, I have loved my Life, but, I call God to witness, I have loved the House of God, and you the Inhabitants of it more than all, and for your good, can as freely lay down all my worldly Comforts, as I could ever take them up, I have coveted no Man's Silver, nor Gold, nor Apparel, but have by indefatigable Toils in some measures, administered to the Necessities of myself, and those about me. I cannot indeed complain, that all my Affections have been sown on barren Ground; you have been kind to me according to your Abilities, and, had Trading and Business flourished more, I make no doubt but that I, among the rest, should have been sensible of it: May that God, whose Servant I am, requite all your Kindnesses to me in your own Bosoms: May he Prosper the Works of your hands to you, and may he pour upon your Heads Blessings, Temporal, Spiritual and Eternal! And now I am suddenly going into another Country, not knowing the things which may befall me there, you have my Prayers, let me have yours; I hope our God will hear us both. I doubt not but on my departure ravening Wolves will endeavour to make a Prey of you; I see too unhappy presages of it already; may God in mercy divert my Fear, and may he, of his Goodness, if you maintain this, send a sober, pious, and exemplary Preacher to take care of you, and to live among you: I know of no Interests I can serve by these Wishes but yours; and I must be the most treacherous Enemy of your Souls, if I should not so pray and so endeavour. When you have one whose Doctrine you may learn and receive, whose Life you may hear of, and see, and imitate, and yet be holy and underfiled before God, He, the God of Peace will be with you; but if, unhappily, you should go otherwise to work, God cannot bless you, nor can Love, or Peace, or Charity have any long residence among you. For my Family, which, for a few days, I must leave among you, I recommend them to your Love; Some I'm sure will have a just respect to them and me in them. I know their Tempers and their I●●●inations, so that I can entertain no Jealousies of them, and God, I'm sure, is not unrighteous that he should forget their Works and Labours that proceed of Love, which Love they have showed to me and mine for his Name's sake. I would not have any think I ask your Alms, but I desire your Justice, and I'm sure neither I nor mine have given any just reason for any to deny it. But enough of this, enough of every thing, tenderness may be apt to overflow its bounds, but it must be confined. If I have offended any, really I seriously beg their Pardons: If any have offended me, they have mine, and may the God of Heaven forgive us all. And now, Brethren, I commend you to God and the Word of his Grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an Inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I beseech you, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that in those things which are truly good, you would all speak the same thing, and that their be no Divisions among you, but that ye be perfectly joined together, in the same Mind, and in the same Judgement. I pray God that ye do no Evil, not that I should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is excellent, though I should be as a Reprobate. Finally, Brethren, farewel; be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace, and the God of Love and Peace shall be with you.   
Amen! Amen!