A Sermon Preached at the Christening of a Jew, Title page 1 – Dedication
A Sermon preached at the Christening of a certaine Iew, at London, by Iohn Foxe. Conteining an exposition of the .xi. Chapter of S. Paul to the Romanes.
Translated out of Latin into English by Iames Bell.
Imprinted at London by Christopher Barker, Printer to the Queenes Maiestie, at the signe of the Tygres head in Pater Noster Rowe.
ANNO. 1578.
¶The Contentes of this present booke.
Wherein be discoursed and discussed the principall groundes and foundations of our Christian faith, of the true & syncere church, of Christ our Messias, of the infinite glori… and maiesty of his kingdome, vvith a refutation of the obstinate Ievves, and lastly touching the finall conuersion of the same.
Also to the later ende of this Sermon is ioyned the confession of Nathaniel this baptized Ievve, vvritten first by him selfe in the Spanish tongue, and novv translated into English for the more benefite of the godlie Reader.
¶To the Right honorable Sir Francis Walsingham Knight, principall Secretarie to her Maiestie, and one of her highnes most honorable prime councell, Io. Foxe wisheth all felicitie in our Sauiour Iesus Christ.
PResuming n…t so much vponupon mine owne head, as aduised, or rather enfo…ced by request, counsayle, and persu… sion of one la…e… most …unden seruāt to your honour (whose… name for diuers respectes I conceale) a… therefore bolde to …duenture the offer of this small work to your honourable goodnes: humbly beseeching the same, not only to accept it well in worth, but also, if any such thing occurre in this m… simple trauaile which may pleasure or profite…on, to …éelde all thankes to the Lord: if otherwise, to let the fault onelyonly rest vponupon me. Albeit notwithstanding other causes also were not wanting, to admonish me of my dutiful office in this behalfe. First your manifolde and gratefull benefites vponupon mée bestowed: which as of your part well may beséeme your honorable benignitie, so of my part very litle hauehave bene deserued.
Furthermore, remembring with my selfe, at what time this sermon was first preached, and you so earnestly required the sande matter agayne to bee repeated in your chamber being sicke: certes this zealous desi…e of your so Christian affection, requi…eth no lesse of duetie, then the whole tractation hereof, whatsoeuer it be, being now published in print, & with some more diligence reuised, to be wholy intituled to your name.
Ouer and besides, an other cause here also falleth in, of my part not to be vnremēbred. For if your bountiful and courteous beneficence neuer of me prouoked, lesse deserued, so liberally hath refreshed my poo…e weake health, with the wholsome fruit of your French grape, litle could I do, and vnkind were I, if I would not remember you againe with some part of recompence, in requiting the wholsome fruite of your plentifull vineyard, with some branche of this gladsome and Euangelicall Oliue tree: not as in equalitie of sufficient recompence to satis…e your de…ertes: but as testif… ing to you a minde not ingratefull, nor vnmindefull, what he would do, if greater abilitie would serue.
To your good honour, both yours, and to the right worship…l Lady your wi…e, to the yong litle plants of your domesticall Oliue sitting about your table, & to your good housholde I wishe the grace of Christ long to keepe y…u, his merciemercy to nou…ish you, his counsaile to direct you, his peace to comfort you, his gifts to e…cre…se you, to the profite both of the Church and common wealth. Lond. A…o. 1578.
Yours in Christ Iesu, Iohn Foxe.