Godly and Learned Treatises, Title page – Dedication
CERTAIN GODLY AND LEARned treatiſes
Written by that worthie Miniſter of Chriſte, M. DVDLEY FENNER; for the behoofe and edification of al thoſe, that deſire to grovv and increaſe in true Godlines.
THE TITLES WHEREof, are ſet downe in the Page following,
EDINBVRGH Printed by Robert Waldegraue, Printer to the Kings Maieſtie. 1592.
Cum Priuilegio Regali.
THE CONTENTS OF this Booke.
1 The Order of Houſhold gouernment, deſcribed out of the word of God. Fol. 1
2 An Interpretation vponupon the Lords praier. Fol. 63
3 A briefe Interpretatation vponupon the Epiſtle to Philemon. Fol. 71
4 A ſhort and plaine Table, orderlie diſpoſing the principles of Religion, out of the firſt Table of the Law. 81
5 A Treatiſe of the whole doctrine of the Sacraments, plainlie and fully ſet down, and declared out of the worde of God. Fol. 118
6 A ſhort and profitable Treatiſe; of Lawfull and vnlawfull Recreations, and the right vſe, and abuſe of thoſe that are lawfull. Fol. 122
TO THE RIGHT HONOrable, noble, and potent Lorde, IAMES, Lord LINDSAY of the Byres: Grace and Peace in Chriſt Ieſus.
IT were to bee wiſhed (Right Honourable) that as ſinne multiplieth it ſelfe, ſo the knowledge and true feare of God, ſhould euerie way be encreaſed among men. For, thereby it would come to paſſe, by the bleſsing of God, that fewer ſhould tread the path of deſtruction, than (alas) doe now. And although it lieth not in man, to ſtoppe the courſe, and to damme vppe the ſtreames of iniquitie (for this muſt be perfourmed by the Lords owne arme, or els all mens indeuours are but vaine) yet is it the part of all thoſe that feare God, to doe what they may, for the effecting of this work. Wherein, albeit the attempts of the men of God, hauehave not alwaies the effectes which they deſired, yet their labours, both in preaching and writing, hauehave not bene deſtitute of their fruite, in meaſure, greater or ſmaller, as the Lord thought it meet.
The Lord in this latter age, hath raiſed vp diuers, and excellent men for this purpoſe, and he hath greatlie magnified his mercies towards vsus in this Iland: and vsus, in the enioying of his goodnes, if we can make a right vſe thereof. But becauſe wee were not worthie of them, therefore he hath manie times, in the middeſt of their yeares, yea, and ſome in the very ſpring and beginning of their ſtrength, to warne vsus, what he is likely to doe with the the reſt, if wee be not more thankfull. Amongst the number of thoſe, whome in the Lords great mercies wee inioyed, and loſt for our vnthankfulneſſe, M. DVDLEY FENNER was one, whome the Church of God in this age could hauehave hardlieſt ſpared: he ended his teſtimonie in this life, being vnderunder thirtie yeares of age: but yet of that growth in the knowledge of God, that fewe (if euer anie of his yeares) hauehave left behind them the like monuments of great knowledge and learning, in the true and ſound feare of God, as hee hath done. His works both in Latine and Engliſh doe beare witneſſe hereof. And it is not meet that I ſhould enter into anie farther commendations of him: although, both in regard of the outward fauour of God towards him, as being born an heire of great poſſeſsions, & eſpeciallie, in conſideration of his ſpirituall vnderſtanding in the wayes of the Lord, his great learning, his conflicts with the aduerſaries of God, his conſtancie, and patient ſuffering for the trueth: there are manie thinges that make his name bleſſed among the Sainctes.
Some Treatiſes of his, being printed at ſundrie times, and now rare to be gotten, I hauehave gathered together, and preſumed to dedicate vntounto your Lordſhippe: not doubting, but in regard, both of the Authour, (who being a faithfull Miniſter of Ieſus Chriſt, I know you will eſteem, though vnknowne vntounto you) and eſpeciallie, in reſpecte of the notable handling of the trueth, which they containe, you will accept them, as being not vnbeſeeming your Lordſhip, that they were publiſhed vnderunder your name. And if I ſhuld ſay, both in regard of the worke it ſelfe, and alſo the Authour, that it were no ſmall honour vntounto a Chriſtian Noble-man, that they come foorth vnderunder his Patronage, I think I ſhould not ſpeak amiſſe.
That one treatiſe of houſhold gouernment, doth ſo commend the whole worke vntounto a Christian Maiſter of a Familie, as who ſo doth well reade and conſider it, muſt needs thinke, whatſoeuer hath proceeded out of the ſame fornace, doth deſerue to be highlie accounted of. And happie were it for all families, that they were gouerned according to the preſcription, ſet downe in this Treatiſe. Your Lordſhip, I truſt, will make that profite hereof, among the reſt hereunto adioyned: namelie, that it will be a confirmation vntounto you, in that, wherein your familie is alreadie reformed, and a direction for that perfecting of the gouernment thereof, whollie according vntounto the word. And to this purpoſe it is, that I hauehave dedicated this and the reſt vntounto your Honour. Touching my ſelfe, I will ſay no more, but as I deſire to ſhew my ſelfe profitable in my vocation, vntounto the whole Church of God in generall; ſo I would willingly gratifie your Honour in particular. And ſo accept this, as a teſtimony of my good wil towards your Lordſhip, whome I vnderſtand (and knowe in ſome meaſure) to beare no ſmall affection and good wil vntounto the trueth, and all thoſe that profeſſe the ſame. Thus I commend you to God, & to the worde of his grace, that is able to builde you vp further, and giuegive you an inheritance among them which are ſanctified. Edinburgh the 24. of December. 1591.
Your H. to commande in the Lord, R. W.