Transcribed from the 1794 edition by David Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org
Many thanks to Kensington and Chelsea local studies for finding this in
their archive and permitting it to be transcribed.

                      [Picture: Public domain cover]





                                    A
                                  SERMON


                               PREACHED AT

                            KENSINGTON CHURCH,

                                    ON

                           JUNE the 29th, 1794;

                                AFTER THE

                   VICTORY gained at SEA, June the 1st.

                                * * * * *

                                  BY THE
                         Rev. JOSEPH PHILLIMORE,

            Late Gentleman Commoner of _Christ Church_, OXON.




A SERMON.


                               MATH. viii. 25.

    _And his Disciples came unto him_; _and awoke him_, _saying_, _Lord_,
    _save us_, _we perish_.

IN a chapter previous to that from whence my text is taken, our blessed
Saviour, had been preaching his most excellent sermon on the mount to his
disciples, wherein he had diffused comfort and consolation, adding
thereunto satisfaction to the whole human race, and after having pointed
out his doctrine in a very specific manner, the many and various duties,
of a good christian; exhorting all to follow minutely the good advice
contained in his discourse, charging them not only to be hearers of the
gospel, but doers also, intimating therein, that it availeth little, to
listen and hearken, to whatever religion, and virtue, instruct, direct,
and authorize mankind to do, provided the greater and more important
part, is omitted, which our blessed Redeemer, during the whole time while
he was on earth, was unweary in well doing, and particularly exhorting
all those who wished to follow him, to imitate continually, and that was
the practical part of religion; let us not be faint hearted, nor profess
with our lips, and utter with our tongue, what our heart knows we are not
able to perform; let us shew forth God’s praises and thanksgivings, that
by being attentive hearers, and having received the fruits of good works
go forth with joy and publish the glad tidings of Salvation, for unto us
is born a son the Saviour of the world.  For every one of you shall be
known by your fruits, for every good tree bringeth forth good fruit, but
an evil tree bringeth forth evil and corrupted fruit, and is hewn down
and cast into the fire, and as the tree is more valuable that bringeth
forth good fruit to its earthly possessor, so much greater value, shall
those men be of to their heavenly father, who from their first entrance
into life have delighted in good works and actions, how much more shall
they be rewarded in a future state of bliss, than those, whose evil deeds
have multiplied their sorrows and sins here, and worn out their
constitution.

This chapter hath been reckoned by some worthy and good christians, as
the miraculous scripture, having contained in it, the most wonderful acts
of clemency and mercy, the greatest display of divine love and tenderness
that could possibly be possessed, and as such I have chosen my text, as
our blessed Lord and Master, found it necessary to exhibit wonders and
perform miracles as you may all observe in this place, rather than so
many souls should be lost, let me compare the present situation of sinful
men, in these our more improved and enlightened days, that although, the
greatest: rewards and punishments, are held out to mankind, the former as
an incitement and encouragement and exhortation to every good work, and
the latter as a terror to every evil and wicked one; yet the wicked must
cry out and say, Lord, save us, we perish, remembering the blessed Jesus,
hath born all our infirmities, yet we have a resting place, a rock of
defence, in time of trouble to flee unto, we are not as our blessed
Saviour described he was, when he said unto his disciples, the foxes have
holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but the son of man hath not
where to lay his head.  I will add a few observations on our blessed
Saviour’s manner of teaching, before I shew the great necessity of all
sinners, becoming truly penitent, lest they perish, and that is first,
his manner was grave and serious, pious and ardent, plain and profitable;
brevity without obscureness, gravity without affectation, eloquence
without meretricious ornament, such was the great power and influence of
Christ’s doctrine, that it made all that heard him admirers and
believers, and caused great astonishment in their minds and reformation
in their manners and had every reason to confirm these words of
scripture, we verily believe him to be the son of God, for never knew we
any spake, and act, as he hath done; and it came to pass, when Jesus had
ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine, for he
taught them as one having authority; his authority was the best, his
religion was the purest, it breathed forth charity and love, his love,
was visibly displayed to the whole human race, that their souls might be
saved, his charity was exhibited in covering a multitude of sins, and
healing all the infirmities human nature endures; even the leper was
cleansed of his spots, the paralytic received strength, who had been
grievously tormented, and Peter’s mother in law had been cured of a fever
on a sudden, which miracles are particularly described in a preceding
chapter.

The more we search the scriptures the better able we shall be to judge of
the frailty and weakness of human nature, and to make such observations,
as will convince all mankind, at least the most religious and virtuous
part, that during our short and transitory passage in these earthly
regions, where there is a great mixture of good and evil, that very often
unexpected storms, and tempests arise and we are surrounded with
turbulent and violent appearances of approaching misfortunes, and
insurmountable troubles, and may compare the present situation to the
mariner, who for a series of years must go through the threatening and
dangerous scenes of chance, either of good, or bad fortune, and be
subjected to be tossed in the troubled ocean, now and then beholding it
serene and calm, and very frequently becomes a witness of many distressed
objects, shipwrecked, forlorn and apparently cast away, neglected and
deserted, yet as he knows very well, long ere he sets out on his
prosperous and advantageous voyage, he must place all his dependance on
divine providence that he may escape and avoid all the dangers, the
restless and disturbed deep may expose him unto during his passage, yet
at the last, through the mercy of God, he may arrive at the wished for
haven, where plenty and security will protect him for his trouble, and
the service he has been of to his country by returning with those
necessary supplies, for his fellow creatures, he left behind, and without
which the mercantile part of this creation would neither be rich or
opulent in the latter part of their lives; such, is the great desire of
gain, and power, and authority, that we behold many risque and venture
their lives, some after a few years absence ruin their constitutions,
returning with opulence, spend it in extravagance, indulging themselves
in idleness and passing their days in inactivity and lasciviousness.
Others who have been led to search unknown countries, and visit foreign
regions for the sake of information and improvement, and have quitted
their native place for the sake of the propagation of the gospel, and
encouraging virtue and religion, God grant, they may receive the honour
due unto them, and when they return, receive a sufficient recompence for
their rewards; all such examples as these, those who have not had
inclination, nor have been forced to leave their domestic happiness, and
wonted societies of their youth and innocence, owe many great and
valuable comforts unto, such is the mixture, such is the composition of
frail man, unbounded are his desires, various are his expectations, some
are promoted to honour, some born to dishonour; yet in every birth, in
every climate, and situation of life, more or less man is exposed to
different trials, some accidental, some troubles, are to be expected long
ere they happen, but then we have this consolation, as we see the fatal
and evil day approaching, we have every opportunity, to prepare for the
attack, and place our reliance and dependance alone on the Almighty, and
as the storm was sudden, and unexpected, and terrified the disciples of
the blessed Jesus, that even, the sea began to roar, and the whole ocean
looked black, and the wind to sound terribly, and the foaming billows,
and boisterous waves rolled in upon them, so that they verily thought
they should perish, instantly as their faith urged them to call on their
all-powerful master, he listened unto their cry of justice, and stilled
and rebuked the troubled waves, and all was calm and quiet.

Let me now rouse all mankind, and particularly sinners to have a lively
faith in God, that they may have a due sense of his great mercies, that
as they have been carried along for a series of years, and length of
days, in the deceitful and fallacious path of pleasure and dissipation,
they are still supported and borne up by a very feeble and slippery, and
tender prop, and if not seriously and instantly consider their dreadful
situation, may die in their sins, and cry out too late in the greatest
misery and the bitter pangs and agonies of severe and conquering death,
Lord, save us, we perish.  Sinners delight in laying snares for the
innocent and virtuous, and encourage and invite many a thoughtless and
giddy youth, by the wages of sin, that all the ways of Satan are
pleasing, amiable, and enviable, and prosperous, but they are deceitful
on the weights; they are lighter than vanity itself, they are full of
ungodliness and wrong, and will haunt the wicked person even in his
latter days, to overthrow him.  Prosperity in worldly affairs, often
makes a man think that he shall never know adversity, and while he is
supported by art and flattery, believes it; but this is not a life
consisting entirely in prosperity.  Man is a composition of good and
evil, and in order to escape adversity and enjoy prosperity, he must
suffer the one with patience and resignation in the early part of his
life, and as he advance forward, he shall bear it patiently, and
supported by hope, on his future expectation, shall be rewarded with
prosperity, clothed and adorned with that simple and never fading dress
and attire of virtue and chastity, subduing and conquering the gaudy and
presumptuous attacks of vice, arrogance and pride.

This is the state of mortal man here below, yet within him dwelleth an
immortal soul, that points out an hereafter unto him and if not very
attentively modelled and particular care paid to him, when reason first
enters his tender mind, in all probability his irregular and unruly
passions being numerous will get the better of him, and the inconsiderate
actions of his younger days will bring his grey hairs with grief and
sorrow to the grave, the end of that journey from whence no traveller
ever returns.  Many there are at this present time perhaps among us, who
are living in the deceitful scenes of sin and wickedness, and running
where they would be very sorry to be told, a very swift, and sure race of
destruction and ruin, despising what the aged aged parent or faithful and
experienced friend and companion, hath often admonished, never as yet
having felt the timely correction of God, by sickness or adversity, but
day after day rolling on, and continually seeking the societies of the
profligate, the abandoned, and the wicked.  Man it is allowed, and its
true, is formed for societies, for intercourse, but for such as either
improve, or inform, the mind and understanding; he was made and brought
into the world of such noble and glorious materials, having the image of
his maker in an inferior degree, to pass his whole time in feasting and
idle talking, spending the beginning of the day in ludicrous and
unprofitable company and the latter in crimes of excessive intemperance,
excessive indelicacies and irregularities: such my younger part of this
congregation, is too much the fashion and the custom, and the practice of
the present time, yet it is to be hoped the young will stop their career
and race, and have a due sense of God’s love and affection, and call upon
him in the time of trouble and need, and at a time when he may be heard,
and that is right instantly, for he has declared he is ever ready to
listen and even willing to pardon and receive the returning and penitent
sinner.  May you all escape divine wrath and vengeance and punishment,
beholding with your eyes, and being fully convinced in your hearts, of
the numbers that are likely to perish, yet may be spared, if they will
but imitate the blessed example of our Saviour’s faithful disciples in my
text, who being warned of their danger, cried out in time, Lord save us,
we perish: may sincere repentance work out your own salvation, may you
all have that timely notice, that not one of you may perish: may the
prodigal if there is any one among you be convinced of his error of life,
and with firm resolution of amendment return to his afflicted and
forgiving father: may the adulterer miss no opportunity of bewailing his
past sins, which are of the highest degree, implore for pardon and
forgiveness: may you all individually receive that impression in your
hearts and minds, that early repentance will get the dominion and conquer
sin: and that you may all be serene and calm when the awful and
melancholy hour of dissolution waiteth on you, and when the secrets of
all hearts shall be opened and disclosed, which to the young on the
pursuit of diversion and pleasure, may seem at a great distance; yet man
that is born of a woman hath but a short time to live, and so fast, so
fleet is the wing of time, that we are all soon brought to the same dust
from whence we are sprung, and as the fond father in the fulness of his
inexpressible joy, received his long absent son into his melting arms,
may we be received by that tender and merciful father, who wishes, not
even one of his children to be lost, but all to be saved.  May we be
worthy of his embraces who knows no bounds to pardon and forgiveness: may
God of his infinite mercy and wisdom inspire you all, with such
reflections on the great danger and perils of a sinful life, that you may
all arise and awake from the soporific and dark regions of sin and woe,
to a godly and virtuous life, that by the assistance of the divine will,
all mankind may shun and escape sleeping in eternal and everlasting
death, where sorrow and misery continually inhabit.

To conclude.  Let me exhort all this congregation to consider the great
value, and the inestimable blessings planted in our hearts of gratitude,
praise, and thanksgivings, and as God is entitled to it from every
christian heart, for every benefit man receives in private as well as in
public, let no one be deficient in this important duty, and according to
the advantage received, so great, as far as frail man is able to perform,
return it with gratitude in the best manner he is able.

Let me prevail on you to consider devoutly, for I am fully convinced you
cannot help continually thinking on the great, and signal mercies, so
recently poured down upon us, in such a miraculous manner, for let us be
ever so powerful, ever so skilful in any art or science, vain is the help
of man, if the Lord will not fight for us, and with us; and as it hath
pleased the Almighty to give us victory in the day of battle, shall we be
silent, or wanting as a nation, in every church, or house of prayer,
where public praise and thanksgiving are to be paid, not to express our
gratitude, and shew forth our praises not only with our lips but in our
hearts; shall we not say, Lord thou hast spared us from ruin and
destruction, thou hast given victory to our fleet, and saved us from
falling a captive prey: prepare our hearts and minds with a due sense of
thy power, and inspire us with such a great degree of humility, not to
presume we have gained the most compleat and naval victory ever obtained
by any nation? but on the contrary, that it was thy will, that we should
by thy aid and assistance, conquer an insulting and wicked enemy, and
make him fearful of continuing in the practice of what is hateful to
thee, and destructive to mankind.  Out of the deep, O Lord, have we cried
unto thee, and thou hast heard us, many hast thou spared, and many hast
thou taken unto thee; yet scripture comforts every christian in the
greatest sorrow and affliction; blessed are they that die in the Lord,
they shall be eased from their labour, therefore we may conclude, those
glorious and courageous heroes who have fallen into the deep in so
memorable and virtuous a cause, they will receive a crown of glory, and
their former sins thou wilt forgive, and receive them unto thee, for thou
hast succoured us.

This and every day is the day, in which we ought to give thanks, this is
the place, and in every place we ought particularly to commemorate God’s
mercies, but this most particularly, for here we ought not to have come,
without intending to perform acts of religious worship, and as we are
assembled in God’s holy sanctuary, let us offer our most solemn prayers
individually, in heart and voice, confessing without him, nothing is
strong, nothing is holy; unto Almighty God, therefore let us, and the
whole nation, give as our bounden duty, praise and thanksgivings; that it
hath pleased our gracious father to stretch forth his arm and protect our
fleet, and scattered our proud and insulting enemies, in the imagination
of their hearts.  This is becoming every good christian, every disciple
of the Lord, every virtuous nation, every regular society, every
christian parish, where virtue and religion are particularly professed,
and as I hope we are such, and have been as fortunate as the disciples
mentioned in my text: have cried out in good time, Lord, save us, we
perish; now therefore depart with these words of the Royal Psalmist, not
unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give the praise, for thy
loving mercy and salvation’s sake.  Happy are the people that are in such
a case, yea blessed are the people who have the Lord for their God.  Now
to God, &c. &c.

                                * * * * *

                                  FINIS.