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But they that will ftill go on in their fins, and be fo partial to them as to use all endeavours to ftrengthen themselves in their evil courfe, even by these very things which the providence of God sets before them for the cafting down of these strong holds of fin; what is to be faid to fuch? It is to be feared, that, if they obftinately perfift, they will by degrees come within that curfe, He that is unjuft, let him be unjust ftill: and he that is filthy, let him be filthy ftill. But, if our Gofpel is hid, it is hid to them that are loft, in whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, left the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, fhould fbine unto them.

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PREACHED AT THE

FUNERAL

Of the Right Honourable

JOHN Earl of Rochefter,

Who died at Woodstock-Park, the 26th of July, 1680, and was buried at Spilsbury, in Oxfordfhire, the 9th Day of August.

By ROBERT PARSONS, M. A. Chaplain to the Right Honourable Anne Countess of Rochester.

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ADVERTISEMENT.

ALL the lewd and profane poems and libels of the late Lord Rochefter having been (contrary to his dying request, and in defiance of religion, government, and common decency) published to the world; and (for the eafier and furer propagation of vice) printed in penny-books, and cried about the ftreets of this honourable city, without any offence or diflike taken at them: it is humbly hoped that this fhort difcourfe, which gives a true account of the death and repentance of that noble lord, may likewife (for the fake of his name) find a favourable reception among fuch perfons; though the influence of it cannot be supposed to reach as far as the poifon of the other books is spread; which, by the strength of their own virulent corruption, are capable of doing more mifchief than all the plays, and fairs, and stews, in and about this town can do together.

LUKE xv. 7.

I say unto you, that likewife joy shall be in heaven over one finner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine juft perfons that need no repentance.

I

F ever there were a fubject that might deferve and exhaust all the treasures of religious eloquence in the description of fo great a man, and fo great a finner, as now lies before us; together with the wonders of the Divine Goodness, in making him as great a penitent; I think the prefent occafion affords one as remarkable as any place or age can produce.

Indeed, so great and full a matter it is, that it is too big to come out of my mouth, and perhaps not all of it fit or needful fo to do. The greatness of his parts are well enough known, and of his fins too well in the world; and neither my capacity, nor experience, nor my profeffion, will allow me to be fo proper a judge either of the one or the other. Only as God has been pleased to make me a long while a fad fpectator and a fecret mourner for his fins, fo has he at laft graciously heard the prayers of his nearest relations and true friends for his converfion and repentance: and it is the good tidings of that efpecially, which God has done for his foul, that I am now to publish and tell abroad to the world, not

only

only by the obligations of mine office, in which I had the honour to be a weak minister to it, but by his own exprefs and dying commands.

Now, although to defcribe this worthily would require a wit equal to that with which he lived, and a devotion too equal to that with which he died, and to match either would be a very hard task; yet, befides that I am not fufficient for these things, (for who is?) and that my thoughts have been rather privately busied to secure a real repentance to him. felf whilft living than to publifh it abroad to others in an artificial drefs after he is dead: I fay, befides all this, I think I fhall have lefs need to call in the aids of fecular eloquence. The proper habit of repentance is not fine linen, or any delicate array, fuch as are used in the court, or king's houses, but fackcloth and afhes: and the way, which God Almighty takes to convey it, is not by the words of man's wifdom, but by the plainnefs of his written word, affifted by the inward power and demonftration of the Spirit: and the effects it works, and by which it discovers itself, are not any raptures of wit and fancy, but the most humble proftrations both of foul and fpirit, and the captivating all human imaginations to the obedience of a despised religion and a crucified Saviour.

And it is in this array I intend to bring out this penitent to you; an array which I am sure he more

valued,

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