The Devils Banket Described, Dedication 3
TO THE RIGHT VERTVOVS AND VVORthy Sisters, the Lady Anne Gostwyke, and Mris. DIANA BOVVLES: sauing Health.
THat I hauehave clothed this SERMON in the Liuery of your Patronages, I might giuegive many reasons to satisfie others. But this one, to mee, is in stead of all, that you affect the Gospell: Not with the suddaine flashes of some ouerhote dispositions, but with mature Discretion, and sound Obedience. I could not therefore suffer any thought of mine owne vnworthinesse, to disswade mee from presenting this poore labour to your hands; who hauehave so duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page fauourably accepted my weaker seruices. I owe you both a treble debt, of LoueLove, of Seruice, of Thankefulnesse. The former, the more I pay, the more still I owe. The second, I will be ready to pay, to the vttermost of my power; though short both of your deserts, and my owne desires. Of the last, I will striue to giuegive full paiment, and in that (if it be possible) to come out of your debts. Of all these, in this small Volumne, I hauehave giuen you the earnest. As you would therefore, doe with an ill debtor, take it till more comes. It shall be the more currant, if you will set thereon the seales of your acceptance. It is the latter end of a Feast: yet it may, perhaps, afford you some Christian delicate, to content your well affected spirits. It shall let you see the last seruice of Sinnes Banket; the harsh and vnpleasant closure of vanitie; the madnesse of this doating Age; the formall dislike and reall louelove of many to this World, the euill works of some criticall, others hypocriticall dispositions, the ending, conclusion, and beginning confusion of the Deuils Guests. The more perfectly you shall hate sinne; the more constantly you shall hold your erst embraced vertues. And so in happy time worke out your owne saluations. God giuegive a succesfull blessing to your Christian Indeuours: which shall euer bee faithfully prayed for, by
Your VVorships affectionately deuoted THOMAS ADAMS.