to be that whereby heaven and earth were created, but also to be the power
of God to salvation to all that believe, the bright lantern to the feet of
those who by nature walk in darkness, the life to those that by sin are
dead, a comfort to such as are in tribulation, the tower of defence to
such as are most feeble, the wisdom and great felicity of such as delight
in the same. And, to be short, you know God’s word to be of such efficacy
and strength, that thereby sin is purged, death vanquished, tyrants
suppressed; and, finally, the devil, the author of all mischief,
overthrown and confounded. This, I say, I write, that you, knowing this of
the holy word, and most blessed gospel and voice of God, which once you
have heard, I trust to your comfort, may now, in this hour of darkness,
and most raging tempest, thirst and pray, that you may hear yet once again
this amiable voice of our Saviour Christ, “Be of good comfort, it is I,
fear not.” And also, that you may receive some consolation from that
blessed gospel which before you have professed, assuredly knowing, that
God shall be no less merciful unto you, than he has been to others
afflicted for his name’s sake before you; and albeit God speedily removes
not this horrible darkness, neither suddenly pacifies this tempest, yet
shall he not suffer his tossed ship to be drowned.
FOOTNOTES
1 The Editor may here state, what cannot be unknown to many of his
readers, that there are some of the sermons of our early Divines,
which, from various circumstances, are not, as entire discourses,
available for a publication like the present. From such, however, as
also from works which do not come under the appellation of Pulpit
discourses, striking and useful passages will be given from time to
time, when they can be inserted without interfering with those
complete discourses which will form the body of this work.
2 The Sermon is founded on the whole Chapter, which was the lesson for
the day, in the Church of England service.
3 Universal faith.
4 It should be observed that other commentators have taken other views
of the meaning of this parable.
5 Greatest or entire hinderance.
6 Opposing.
7 Combined.
8 Covered over, weighed down.
9 Manage.
10 Alluding to the political troubles of that day.
11 Cried out against it.
12 The cattle of Edinburgh was shooting against the exiled for Christ
Jesus’ sake.
13 Forbidden.