heads of our Tribes, throng'd to hear the found of his filver Bells; How much they were taken with the voice of this wife Charmer! Hor their cars feemed as it were fastened to his lips, that were like Lillies dropping sweet fmelling Myrrh How did many, very ma ny at that time, Galatians-like, receive this Aged Paul, as an Angel of God, jea even As Christ. Surely if ever, twas then, that the Gofpelran and was glorified in Oxon. Then, then it was that the Lord feem'd to lay the foundations of his fpiritual Temple there with faphires, and the Corner-ftones thereof with Agats. Here might you have Jeen a Sturdy Saul changed into a fubmiffive Paul, a perfecutor transformed into A preacher. There A tender hearted Jofiah lamenting after the Lord, and with Ephraim fiting on his thigh, faying what have I done. Others with the penitent Jews so stabd at the Heart,as that they are forced to cry out in the Bitterneffe of their fouls, Men, Brethren. Fathers, ob what Shall we do. These were some of the blessings from on high, which attended Thefe Sermons when preached to the ear, oh that a like or a greater might follow them, now they are printed to the eye.. 3 Thefe Thefe Notes, tis true, were taken by such, who All had the pens of ready writers, and after that compleated by A ftri& comparing of several diftinct papers. This is the Body,the Bulk of these Heavenly sermons. The glofs, the Spirit, The Energy of them, was and must be wholly from Above. We Trust, the publishing of thefe Notes will not be interpreted by any in the leaft to reflect on the unparalleld worth of the Preacher, to whofe very Dust we owe A facred Reverence.If any thing feems not to speak him let Male dum re- it be charged not on him,but the Publishers, eitas, &c. who have only this to add, viz. Their fervent prayers, That thefe fermons may find the like influence on the hearts of others, in the read'ng, that they had on their own in the hearing, then will Both have Abundant Cause to blefs the Lord. Thy Servants for Jesus fake, Fof. Crabb. Tho. Lye. Imprimator Edm. Calamy Will. Ball. A PREFACE Concerning the Author, and these Hough I might be filent, concerning eit her the most famous Preacher of these sermons, or these notes now published which were taken after him, yet fuch is the high efteem I have of him, and the due refpect I bear to them for his fake cheifly, that I could not withstand the requeft of divers who Importuned fome Lines from me upon this occafion, both concerning the one and the other. First I commend unto the Reader a diligent pern fal of the life and death of the most Reverend and Learned Father of our Church Dr. Jam. Uher late Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of all A . Ireland. * Lord in fpecial forgive my fins of omiflion,fee Dr.Ber. Life and death of the Arch-Bp. of Armagh p. 110 Ireland, put forth by Reverend and Learned Dr. Bernard where he shall meet with many delightfull paffages concerning, His ! Stock and pedigree. Great parts, Gifts, and Graces. Indefatigable Industry. Strict and holy Conversation. Amicable correfpondence with Forreign Chur ches. Prophetick Spirit. Learned writings. Comfortable Vifitation. * Dying words,never to be buryed. Ever to be lamented Loffe. Fit Parallel to Samuel among the Prophets, to Auguftine amongst the Fathers. with many other things worthy Obfervation: and when he bath pondered thefe well, he will the leffe wonder that his name hath filled the Chriftian world as much as ever did Auguftine or Athanafius of old, or Whitakers and Reynolds of later times. Secondly I tender thefe fpices gathered to the Em balming of this Rare Phœaix out of his owu ashes,bol ding my felf engaged as much as any to caft my mite into the treasury of his blessed memory, as having bad my Bene effe most from him. First, by him I was examined and admitted into the University near Dublin in Ireland, his native City and Countrey above fourty years ago. Secondly whilst I continued there (which was the Space ofeight years) he took special care of me and account of my studies there. Thirdly by him I was ordained (or to use the Apofiles word) put into the miniftry, and ibe fame day admitted his Chaplain in ordinary, now two and thirty years ago: though then able to do him little service,being called to a Congregation in another nation: which call his Grace did then approve of. * Having given this account to the Reader Ifhall only mention three things Concerning him, and forbear many more that might be added, Firft,to the teftimonies concerning him from Span hemius,Ger. Voffius, Buchartus, Simplitius, Lud. de dieu. Paulus Teftardus, Bleffenfis, Arnoldus Bootius, Mr. Selden, Dr. Prideaux, Bp. Davenant, Bertius, Mr. Cambden, Sir Reg. Twilden, and the whole University of Oxford, befide the forced teftimony of his adverfaries, Moranez. Beaumont, (Alias) Rookwood, Challoner, Hen. Fitz. Symonds, for all which I refer to the book aforesaid, give me leave to add the teftimony of Dr. William Chappel, fometimes fellow of Chrifts Colledge in Cambridge, and afterwards Provolt of Trinity Colledge near Dublin: which from fuch an acute man as he was,may amount to the like equivalent teftiA 2 Sheffeill in York Shire. mony. I |