THE SHARPNESS OF THE SWORD: OR, ABNERS PLEA FOR ACCOMMODATION.  
A SERMON Lately Preached BY JOHN PIGOT, Curate of St Sepulchers, LONDON.  〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ESAY 9.5. 
Every battle of the Warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood.  2 SAM. 24.14. 
Let us fall now into the hand of the Lord (for his mercy's art great) and let me not fall into the hand of man.  
Jan: 2d LONDON, Printed for JOHN CLARK, and are to be sold at his shop under S. Peter's Church in Cornhill. 1643.   

TO THE Christian Reader, And all those that pray for the peace of JERUSALEM, Grace and Peace be multiplied.  
Christian Reader,  
I Am not ignorant what uncharitable censures are cast upon these innocent Meditations and the Penner of them, by some turbulent spirits: I am forced to complain, as the Psalmist did in his time, Woe is me, my soul hath long dwelled among those that are enemies unto peace; I labour for peace, but when I speak unto them thereof, they make them ready to battle.  
Some have scoffed at the whole Sermon, as a discourse unseasonable, borne out of due time, 
1 Cor 15.8.  as the Apostle speaks; as if a Sermon of Peace in these times of wilful distraction, were like snow in summer, 
Pro. 26.1.  or rain in harvest.  
Others have wrested and set their own glosses and interpretations upon some passages of the Sermon, as if they tended to the discouragement of those that have showed themselves willing to the work, to the enfeebling their hearts & hands. 
Psal. 56.5.  They daily mistake my words, all that they imagine is to do me evil.  
But blessed be God who comforteth us in all our tribulations: 
2 Cor. 1.4.  I have delivered my message, and so discharged my conscience. And though I have not every where met with the son of peace, 
Luk. 10.5, 6.  yet my peace is returned to me again, I have it in my bosom.  
As for their unjust censures, I weigh them no more than I deserve them: Malè de me lucutus es, 
Seneca.  quia benè loqui nescis, Some men speak evil of their neighbours, because they know not how to speak well of any man. Hoc facis, non quod merear, sed quod soleas, This they do, not because their neighbour deserves it at their hands, but because it is their custom so to do; The poison of asps is under their lips, 
Rom. 3.13.  and their mouth full of cursing and bitterness. 
Virg.  Et si non aliqua nocuisses, mortuus esses, And if they should not spit out some of this venom, 
Psal. 52.5.  and speak some words that may do hurt, they were not able to live. 
2 Tim. 3.8.  Jannes and Jambres are so full of the spirit of contradiction, that they cannot contain themselves. Ambitious Diotrephes (that looks for the pre-eminence) will be prating, 
3 Ep. John ver. 9, 10.  and darting out malicious words against those Disciples that preach love and peace. That nickname which the Philosophers gave Saint Paul at Athens, 
Act. 17.18.  must be his livery that preacheth any thing dissonant from these men's fancies, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, What will this babbler say?  
Well, 
Psal. 12.3  let them go on, their tongues are their own: Let Shimei curse (saith David) who can tell if the Lord will look upon my affliction, 
1 Sam. 16.12.  and do me good for his cursing this day? However we in these days are not the first that have tasted of this cup, we may take the Prophets and Apostles for patterns of patience, 
Ja. 5.10.  examples of suffering in the same kind, & the Lord of the Prophets too, for in the days of his flesh, 
Luc. 16.14.  when he was upon earth, some derided and carped at his Preaching, as many do at his Prayer now adays.  
Beloved Christian, into whose hands these thoughts of Peace shall come, read them over without prejudice, 
Act. 21.24.  & thou shalt see that the things whereof thou hast been informed concerning them and me, are nothing. My desire in publishing these Meditations, is to give thee satisfaction, and withal direction also to lead thy life in peace, 
Psal. 34.13.  that thou mayst see good days, and at the end of thy days, when thy pilgrimage shall be expired, thou mayst with old Simeon departed in peace: 
Luk. 2.29.  And so the God of peace, 
Phil. 4.7.  and the peace of God which passeth all understanding, keep our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  
Thine in the Prince of Peace, Jo: Pigot.