1643 WILLIAM SEDGWICK. Radical Millenarian Puritan - Seeker on the Spiritual Revival of God's Jerusalem.

A very scarce sermon by one of the most interesting of the Westminster Assembly of Divine. William Sedgwick [1610-1669] was much-loved, but also looked on with curiosity by many of his puritan and Presbyterian associates. Known as the "Apostle of Ely," he was deeply spiritual and spent much of his ministry on themes of eschatology and deep, experiential godliness . . . both evident here. He has every bit the feel of a revivalist. The section on prayer in this little sermon is worth its weight in gold.

He served as a Chaplain during the Civil War and it was through his earnest evangelism in this role that he gained the title of "apostle." Some have classified him as a Puritan Seeker, [the radical apocalyptic group] and claimed it was a fault in him that he was all too ready to listen to anyone claiming a prophetic gift, even publicly adopting a date for the return of Christ after hearing one of the female Seeker prophets. He was maligned by other afterward, being called, as a jest, Domesday Sedgwick. 

A unique person having connective tissue between mainstream Westminster Assembly thought and the circle of associated relationships, and also open to more charismatic and apocalyptic movements. One academic biography said he was known variously as a godly clergyman, millenarian prophet, and a ranting radical. 

Some interpret Jerusalem literally. And of those, some looke upon the promise fulfilled, viz. by Christs comming in the flesh; Jerusalem was then a praise in the earth, when our Saiour, the Lord of all, was in it. An it cannot be denyed but it was in some part fulfiled then: for Christ applying part of this Prophesie to himself in his owne times, says Luke 4.21. This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your eares. And so in part it was. But the chiefe and maine of this, and the rest is yet to come, as we shall see anon. Others understood it according to the letter, but as to come, and so expect the calling of the Jewes to a happy estate in their owne Country, that they shall againe inhabit Jerusalem: but this is subject to controversie, and therefore we will wave it; and take it in a second sense, mystically, Jerusalem for the Church; and this is most generall, and warranted by Scripture; in which it is very common to cal the Church of the Gentiles Jerusalem and Zion. 

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Prayer is the worke of Gods Spirit in us, and therefore cannot be in vaine. Faithfull prayer was never lost, nor never shal while God is true. We have had experience of the power of it. It hath strangely produced meanes, qualifyed, and fitted meanes, wonderfully protected meanes, united meanes, prospered meanes, wrought through difficulties, discovered and defeated designes. If we cease not begging, God will not cease giving. While Moses hands are held up Israel must prevaile. Therefore you that make mention of Gods name, every soule that professes the Lord Jesus, pray; you that have any interest in a God, improve it now; you that ever found the sweetnesse of prayer, pray now; if ever you seriously tooke the name of God into your mouthes, set to the worke now; prya for life, for liberties, for Religion, ordinances, for pretious peace, for establishing of perfecting mercies.

Difficulties are in the way, if we continue begging, God must yield; if we be not weary of praying, he must be weary of denying. We hope there are many of Jacobs generation in this kingdome. Let us resolve to lay hold of God, to wrastle with him, and not let him goe, till he hath given us the blessing. If we have Jacobs spirit, we shall have his successe . . . 

Sedgwick[e], William. Zions Deliverance and Her Friends Duty: Or the Grounds of Expecting, and Means of Procuring Jerusalem's Restauration. In a Sermon Preached at a Publicke Fast, Before the Honourable House of Commons. London. Printed for John Bellamy, & Ralph Smith, at the three Golden Lyons in Corne-hill. 1643. 36pp.

Textually good and clean with light toning and handling, a light tide mark at foredge. Essentially disbound. We are happy to have this bound in an attractive simple wraps with titling at our cost [$40] if the purchaser would like.