THE Pastors Farevvell AND VVish of VVelfare TO HIS PEOPLE OR A Valedictory Sermon By GEORGE SWINNOCK M. A. Preacher of the Gospel late at Great-Kimbel in the County of Bucks Oportet ut praedicatores sint fortes in praeceptis compatientes infirmis in exhortationibus blandi Greg. in Job Mor. 30. Finally Brethren farewel Be perfect be of good comfort be of one minde live in peace and the God of love and peace shall be with you 2 Cor. 13.11 LONDON Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Three Crowns in the lower end of Cheap-side over against the great Conduit 1662. TO His Honoured and Courteous Friend Mistris Mary Beresford VVife of the VVorshipful Iohn Beresford Esq THere are two things which I have always judged chiefly requisite in a Pastor as he standeth related to his people viz. Labour and Love The former is a work of the Head the latter of the Heart faithful labour will speak his love and sincere love will sweeten his labour Labour without love is unacceptable to God as a sweet perfume without fire it cannot send forth its pleasant fragrant savour Love without labour is unprofitable to men like Rachel its beautiful but barren both together as soul and body are the essential parts of a man are the whole of a Minister Whether to my power I discharged my trust or no in these partitulars whilest the Divine providence continued me in your Parish I must leave to his judgement whose eyes behold and whose eye-lid try the Children of men nay whether I did not many times so labour as to prejudice my own body that I might serve and profit others souls but sure I am when I left you I could not better manifest my love to you then by commending you to him who will never leave nor forsake his people It s the saying of Euripides That a faithful friend in adversity is better then a calm Sea to a weather beaten Mariner Indeed the world is full of false lovers who use their friends as we do candles burn them to the snuff and when all their substance is wasted trample them under their feet and light others but God to his chosen is as the Ivy clasping about a wall which will as soon dye as desert it Extreamity doth but fasten a trusty friend whilst he as a well wrought Vault is the stronger by how much more weight he beareth Though many men are as ponds dry in the heat of Summer when there is most need of them yet the blessed God dealeth not so with his Saints but his help is nearest when their hardships are greatest When they walk in the valley of the shadow of death he is with them How great a happiness it is to be under the favour and influence of this God can never be fully known on this side Heaven The Prince of Orange had a mirror say some which perfectly represented the beauty of the naturat Sun But this Sun of Righteousness is ever in a great degree Eclipsed to us who dwell in this lower World Here we know but in part Pompey who presumed to enter the holiest of all when he came out was asked what he saw he answered that the house was fall of a cloud Indeed He maketh darkness his secret place and yet is pleased to let so much of his glory and goodness be seen in the glass of his word as may cause us to admire and affect him and also assure us that he is the chiefest good Somwhat of that felicity which floweth from his favour you will find in some measure discovered in the ensuing discourse which I present to you as a small acknowledgement of my great ingagements to you Lycurgus the Lacedemonian Law-giver made no Law against ingratitude as thinking it impossible for any man to degenerate so much as to be unthankful I esteem it my duty to retain the former favours in memory which I and mine have received from your self and my Honoured friend your Husband and I know not better how to testifie my gratitude then by endeavouring to my power your everlasting welfare and that you may come to your graves in a full age as a shock of corn in its season It s a mercy to be full of days a far greater mercy to be full of grace but to be full of days and full of grace is one of the most blessed beautiful sights in this World I hope you are passed from death to life because you love the brethren but your Age calleth upon you to ensure your effectual calling The truth is death borders upon our births and our Coffins hang over our Cradles but though according to the saying of Epaminondas we may salute young persons with Good-morrow or welcome into the World yet we must salute old persons with Good-night for they are leaving the world The nearer it is tonight the harder we should work when we know if our work be not done in this day of life we are undone for ever Natural motions are swiftest at last The stream of grace must run with greatest speed when its emptying it self into the Ocean of glory The good Lord enable you to be more and more upright and abundant in well doing and so bless your whole Family with his fear and favour that when Death shall break it up ye may be preferred from his lower house of prayer to his upper house of praise where is fulness of joy and where are pleasures for evermore Which is the desire of Your Servant in the blessed Saviour George Swinnock There is extant of this Reverend Authors these six other Treatises all sold by Thomas Parkhurst at the lower end of Cheapside The Christian-mans Calling or a Treatise of making Religion ones Business wherein the Nature and Necessity of it is discovered as also the Christian directed how he may perform it in Religious Duties Natural Actions his particular Vocation his Family Directions and his own Recreation to be read in Families for their Instruction and Edification The first Part. The Door of Salvation opened by the Key of Regeneration or a Treatise containing the Nature Necessity Marks and means of Regeneration as also the duty of the Regenerate Heaven and Hell Epitomized or the true Christian characterized The beauty of Magistracy in an Exposition of the 82 Psalm where is set forth the necessity Utility Dignity Duty and Morality of Magistrates The fading of the flesh and the flourishing of faith or one cast for eternity with the only way to throw it well There is in the press the Second Part of that practical Piece of Divinity entituled The Christian-mans Calling Containing Directions for our dealings with all men carriage in all conditions whether in prosperity or adversity in all companies good or bad in solitariness on the week day from morning to night in visiting the sick upon a dying bed ACTS 20.32 And now Brethren I commend you to God and to the word of his grace which is able to build you up and
shall be God be merciful to you and bless you and cause his face to shine upon you Psal 67.1 Secondly I commend you to his special eare and protection Angels are the Churches Guardians He shall give his Angels charge over thee but God himself is Captain of the Saints Life guard He is Lord of Hosts It was an honour to David and granted to him by Achish as a special favour to be keeper of his head for ever but it s an infinite condescention in the glorious God yet this Office he is pleased to take upon him To be Keeper of his Saints heads or their Head keeper for ever Nay he is known by this name He that keepeth Israel And if you would know how he keepeth them truly so diligently that he saith I keep it night and day they are every moment within the view of his favourable eye and under the guard of his Almighty arm Isa 27.4 and so tenderly that he is said to keep them as the apple of his eye Zach. 2.8 which is the tenderest peice the Chrystaline humour say Naturalists of the tenderest part of mans body of which Nature is so tender that she strongly guards it with tunicles A great blow is better born on the back then a small touch on the eye Oculus fama non patiuntur jocos Gods providence extendeth to all his creatures Deus fic curat universos quasi singulos sics sâ— gulos quasi solos Aug. it s like the Sun of universal influence but in a special manner its operative for the safety of his Saints He is the Saviour of all men that is in respect of preservation or temporary salvation but especially of them that beleeve 1 Tim. 4. Godly men are compared to wheat wicked men to chaff Good Husbands will not spoil their chaff but they are specially careful of their good corn When a fire breaketh out God may leave sinners as lumber to be consumed but he will be sure that his Saints which are his jewels shall be saved The Church is Gods house and therefore that shall be well guarded whatsoever be neglected The eyes of the Lord run too and fro through the whole earth to shew himself strong on the behalf of them whose heart is perfect towards him 2 Chron. 16.9 The words contain 1. The universality of Gods Providence his eyes walk the rounds as Satans feet go tound fro through the whole earth to devoure so Gods eyes run to and fro through the whole earth to defend Diana's Temple was burnt down when she was busie at Alexanders birth and could not be at two places together but God is present every where at the same time and therefore his Church which is his Temple can never suffer through his absence Though Heaven be Gods Palace yet it is not his Prison His eyes run lo and fro through the whole earth 2. The efficacy of his Providence to shew himself strong God fights with his eyes as well as his hands he doth not only see the peoples dangers but save them from it When the Philosopher in a starry night was in danger of shipwrack he cried out Surely I shall not perish there are so many eyes of providence over me King Philip said he could sleep safely because his friend Antipater watched for him God watcheth and wardeth for his people always If God forsake a people every enemy and evil will quickly finde them They are bread for us for their defence is departed from them Numb 14.9 The out-lying Deer are shot while they within the pale are safe The Romans in their wars used to call out their Tutelar gods of those Cities they besieged as judging them invinsible while they remained there but easily won if they departed When God left the Israelites though but for a little while the Holy Ghost said they were naked Ex. 32.25 how naked not for want of rayment or weapons of war Non veste sed gratia praesidio Dei. Jun. in loc but for want of Gods presence and protection saith Junius Whilst God continueth with you ye are safe if trials and troubles come run under the shelter of this shield if he doth not prevent the evil of affliction he will protect you from the evil in affliction When the City of Sechem was taken the inhabitants fled to the Tower God is a strong Tower Pro. 10. that no Cannon can pierce and he is an high Tower which no Ladder can scale no Arrow can reach Psa 18. As it was said of the Tribunal of Cassius Valer. Maxim that it was piorum rupes reorum scopulus a rock of refuge to the good a rock of revenge to the bad So it may be said of God He is a refuge for the oppressed Saint a present help in time of trouble though he wound the heads of sinners Now to this God whose power is an alsufficient shelter and whose special providence is sure protection at whose beck and bidding are all creatures in heaven and earth who hath infinite wisdom to direct you and infinite strength to support you I commend you and my prayer shall be The Lord preserve you from all evil Psal 121.7 8. the Lord preserve your soul the Lord preserve you in your goings out and in your comings in from this time forth and for ever Thirdly In a word I commmend you to his universal benediction to his blessings in all your undertakings and concernments as to his grace to affect you in the midst of the Worlds hatred and to his power to protect you in the middest of all hardships so to his presence to prosper you in all the works of your hands The fruitfulness of the earth depends wholly upon the influence of Heaven If the Sun with-hold its heat and the clouds their moysture all things decay and wither The success of all your actions depend on Gods benediction If he deny his concurrence nothing prospers Except the Lord build the house they labour but in vain that build it Psa 127.1 It s lost labour to undertake the keeping up that house which God will have pulled down T is to no purpose to Plow that field which God will have lye Fallow Neither men can help you in civil things nor the means of grace in spirituals unless God afford his assistance Some Philosophers tell us that God is the soul of the World as the soul is in every part of the body so God in every part of the World Sure I am as the body moveth not nor any part of it but as it s animated and acted by the soul so neither can the World or any thing in it but as it s enlivened and acted by God He is the primum mobile which sets all the other Orbs in motion It s said of David that he prospered whither soever Saul sent him 1 Cron. 11.9 but what was the spring of the watch which caused all the wheels to move so regularly For God was with him It is
allurements It s rich Wine is apt to intoxicate our brains and make us stumble We are apt to fall on the left hand by its affrightments as the silver of its comforts fouls our fingers so the fire of its cross is apt to black and defile us Those that travail in rugged ways and on stony lanes often fall but God is able to keep you from falling If God keep his hold of you there is no fear but ye will keep your feet and your ground too We are kept by his power through faith unto salvation His power and his love are the Eagles Wings upon which the Saints are carried out of Egypt through the Wilderness and safely conveyed to Canaan He can keep you from falling two ways 1. He can deny temptations to you if he see they will be too hard for you All have not the same faith therefore all are not tryed in the same fire He may give a strong purge or vomit to a strong man but wil not to a babe in grace He knoweth whether the Armour will bow and if it will he can prevent the bullet He is acquainted with the hardiest Souldiers in his Army and them he will call to the hardest service Rev. 3.10 When the weather is very bad he will not venture his sickly child abroad 2. He can enable you to foyl the tempter Little David in his strength can conquer great Goliah he kept Josephs soul from being so much as sienged miraculously as the three Childrens bodies by that great fire which his Mistris made to have burnt him Though the Saint like Daniel be cast for his conscience into a Den there to fight with and in danger to be devoured by Lyon-like lusts he can bring him out as safe and as whole as he was cast in The Gold-smith would not venture his gold in the fire if he knew it would be consumed by it Man is no match for Devils but God over matcheth them Preservation from sin these two ways Austin acknowledgeth with much affection Lord saith he when I had an heart to sin thou didest keep off the temptation and when I had a temptation to sin thou didst keep off my heart If your hearts be as dry as tinder he can hinder Satan from striking fire if he suffer the tempter to strike fire he can make the tinder wet and hinder it from taking As he is able to defend you from what is hurtful so to releive you with what is needful Si Esuris panis tibi est si sitis â—qua tibi est â—i intenibris â—umen est c Aug. Tract â—n Johan As the fire both purifieth the air and warmeth them that sit about it he knoweth that ye are indigent and have nothing of your own to live upon but he can send you in such dayly supplies as may afford you an honourable subsistence I have read of one that feasted the vast Army of Xerxes Gods estate is infinite and therefore will bear a liberal provision for all his Children I know you desire proficiency of grace and perfection in glory above all the World He can build you up in grace he can cause all grace to abound If this Sun draw nigh to you the fruits of the spirit will ripen apace This well of Salvation can fill every vessel of your hearts be they never so wide he can make the babe of grace to grow till he become a young man a strong man and a Father If the Nurse be taken from the Child and the breasts be denyed it of which it used to suck w th so much delight he can make it thrive as well with the spoon in the want of pure publique ordinances he can be a little sanctuary to his Saints He often sendeth them a warm bit up to their Chambers when they cannot come down and feed with the rest of the family He can give you an inheritance that fades not away he can conduct you through all your hardships and crown you at last with heaven where ye shall be kept both from sin and suffering and freed not only from foyls but also from fighting where the love of God shall never be questioned nor his providence quarrelled where ye shall never offend others with your purity nor have cause to defend your selves from their injuries where all tears shall be wiped from your eyes and sorrow and sighing shall flee away Where persecutors cease from troubling and the weary are at rest Where your names shall be fully vindicated your infirmities be wholly banished your graces be perfected and your souls infinitely blessed being locked up in the bosom of Christ and lodged in the imbraces of God for ever and ever 2. He is the most Loving Friend Some have power to do their neighbours a courtesie but tell us they owe them not so much good will God as he hath power enough to enable him so he hath love enough to move him to do his people good Jonathan ventured far for Davids safety and the reason was for he loved him as his own soul They who have Gods heart are sure of his helping hand He chuseth his love and then loves his choyce he had precious thoughts of them before they had any thoughts of themselves God loves his people as they are his Eternal choice the Mother loves the childe whom she carried nine moneths in her womb O how then doth God love his people whom he carried in the womb of his purpose from all eternity He loves them as they are his own picture as they are like him in grace and holiness Men have loved others the more for resembling them in sin so did Heliogabalus his children God loves his children the more for resembling him in sanctity Grace is lovely God cannot but love his Saints because he loves himself he loves them as they are his Sons purchase They which were so dearly bought are not easily loathed Jacob was exceeding tender of Benjamin though he could as occasion required expose the ten Patriarchs to all weathers yet by his good will the wind must not blow upon Benjamin if Benjamin miscarry he dieth with him And what is the reason of this extaordiry affection possibly this Benjamin was the childe of his beloved Rachel Benjamin was dearly bought he cost the life of his dear wife So God loves his Saints with a singular love because they are the children of his dear Son the travel of his soul His beloved Son had many a sharp throw and many a bitter pang before he could bring them forth nay they cost him his very life He loves them above all the world besides All others are dross they are his gold This whole World was set up as a tent for them to lodge in for the time of their pilgrimage and when they shall be removed to their fathers house this tent will presently be taken down If all the wheat were but gathered into the heavenly Garner the chaff would not be an hour out of