Farewell Sermons

of the close of his $ This sermon was preached by Mr. Watson on the ee of yjectment from the rectorship of St. Stephens, Walbrook, onconformity, after the restoration. Play eee aot ie rahi oe a 9. “ Those things which you have both learned, and received, and heard, ana seen in me, do, and the God of peace shall be with you.” PAGES Fi) MB epistle to the Philippians, are his puree diction or farewell to them: It is not un-— known to you, that I must now be part ted - rs from you; and I have pitched, on this! scr iptur e, to be the close of my twenty years ministry among you. God hath sent me among you to be a builder; and L have chosen this text, to be a hammer. to faster — tand drive home those nails, of iuswuetion — and consolation, which I have been so long endeavouring to enter into you. have chosen these words to be as the closing of the net. Behold! cnce more the net is spread, and I am now making my last draught; and O that it might have the same good speed as Peter’s last had, Luke v.6. It would then pay the charges, though the net brake.

hold! cnce more the net is spread, and I am now making my last draught; and O that it might have the same good speed as Peter’s last had, Luke v.6. It would then pay the charges, though the net brake. God hath sent me among you as an husbandman, to plough, and to sow; and I am now come to cover what hath been sown. What is my aim in preaching, let it he yours in hearing: O that both preacher and hearers might heartily join in this desire! This once more, God speed the plough. In this desire and hope I drive on, In the text observe, a precept,—a promise,—an entail of the promise on the precept. In the precept we have, Ist, An act, “do.” 2d, An object, “ The things that youhave learned, received, heard, and seen,” The promise is in these words, ‘ the God of peace shall be with you.” The entail of the promise on the precept you have in the connective particle “ and,” which knits them up together. Do the work, and have the reward; obey the precept, and enjoy the promise; ‘“ do what you have received and heard, and the God of peace shall be with you.” Be careful of the former, and be not careful about the latter ; if the precept be performed, the promise shall be made good. Doct. 1. Christians must be learners, before they can be doers. ‘ What you have learned, that do.” Doc. 2. He hath learned well, that hath learned to do well. Docr. 3. Christians’ eyes, as well as their ears, may help them on in religion ; or, the holy examples of ministers should be living sermons to people. “ What you have seen in me.” Therefore the apostle exhorts, Phil. iii.

yes, as well as their ears, may help them on in religion ; or, the holy examples of ministers should be living sermons to people. “ What you have seen in me.” Therefore the apostle exhorts, Phil. iii. 1'7., “ Mark them which so walk, as you have us for an example ;” and 1 Cor. xi. 1, Be ye followers of me, as I am of Christ ;” that is, either, I have been a follower of Chrisc, be ye therefore followers of me; or else, be ye followers of me as far forts as I have been a follower of Christ. Those ministers may go off the stage with honour and comfort, who have God hath | sent me among you as,a fisherman; and [| left behind them the good seed of sound doctrine, and the good savour of an holy example. For my own part, what my doctrine and manner of life hath been among you, you are witnesses, and God also.

[| left behind them the good seed of sound doctrine, and the good savour of an holy example. For my own part, what my doctrine and manner of life hath been among you, you are witnesses, and God also. And, however, I have great reason to judge and condemn myself before the Lord, and to bewail it, that my conversation hath been less examplary and useful, than, O that it had been! yet I go off from you, with this testimony upon my heart, that I have not been of those who bind heavy burdens, and lay them on other men’s shoulders, but will not touch them with one of their fingers, but my endeavour hath been, to press on my own soul, and hold out in my own practice, that word of life which I have preached to you; and therefore am bold, in this sense, to exhort you, in the words of the apostle, “ Be ye followers of me,” as far forth as you have seen me a follower of Christ. Doct. 4. Godly ministers, when they are parting from their people, would fain leave God behind them.

s of the apostle, “ Be ye followers of me,” as far forth as you have seen me a follower of Christ. Doct. 4. Godly ministers, when they are parting from their people, would fain leave God behind them. Though it be not unusual, when the Lord sends them away, he goes with them; God and his messengers, do not seldom take their farewell of people together ; yet their earnest desire is, that though they must away, yet the Lord would stay. Docr. 5. Faithful ministers would be messengers of peace, going, as well as coming. As the apostles’ first words were to be, *« Peace be unto you,” so some of this apostle’s last words were, “ the God of peace shall be with you.”

Docr. 6. Whenever ministers part wita their people, if they can but leave godliness in them, they shali certainly leave God with them. Or, those that obey the gospel, whatsoever, or whomsoever they want, shall ever be in a peaceful and blessed condition. ** These things do,” that is, hve in the practice and power of that doctrine ef godliness “ which you have received and heard,” and then fear not, “ the God of peace shall be with you.” This doctrine, I shall fully prove to you, © after I have premised, First, that the doctrin which I have preached to you is the doc trine of godliness ; the sum whereor take i these four particulars : 1. That Jesus Christ, who came into the world to save sinners, came also to sanctify and purge them from their sins. 2. That those that believe in Jesus, must be careful to maintain good works, or to live a godly life. 3. That this godliness is not such a slight, and easy, and empty thing, as the mistaken world imagine; but starilal in an exact conformity Ky the whole man, heart and life, to the whole will of God. 4.