Choice Grounds and Principles of our Christian Religion, Title page – Dedication 1
CERTAINE CHOISE GROVNDS, and principles of our Christian Religion, with their seuerall Expositions, set forth in way of Questions, and Answers.
Wherein the people of the Parish of NORTHIHAM, in the County of SVSSEX, hauehave beene Catechized, and instructed, for the settling of their hearts and mindes, in the mysteries of saluation, and for their better preparation to the Lords Supper.
Now published for their sakes, and for the further vse of the Church of God.
By IOHN FREWEN, Minister of the Word of God, in that particular Congregation.
ROM. 10.14. How shall they call on him, in whom they hauehave not beleeued? and how shall they beleeue in him, of whom they hauehave not heard? and how shall they heare without a Preacher?
Printed at London by G. P. for ROGER POTT, dwelling at the signe of the Flower-de luce in Pauls Churchyard. 1621.
VI ET VIRTVTE
Sr. William Baird of London
TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL SIR THOMAS COVENTREY Knight, his Maiesties Attourney Generall: And to the vertuous and true Christian Lady, the Lady ELIZABETH his wife; Grace, mercy, and peace be multiplyed from God the Father, through our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ.
RIght Worshipfull, and right deare in the Lord, I being desirous to leaue behind me (for after my dayes) some small portion of my former labours in the Ministerie of the Gospell, as an assured and infallible testimony of my vnfayned louelove towards the good & saluation of that people, whose resident Pastor I hauehave beene almost the full space of forty yeeres, and resoluing that it should be the ensuing principles, with their seuerall Expositions: I now make bold to present them to your Worships, and vponupon these two motiues to dedicate them to your worthy names.
The one, that by this meanes they might remaine, as a perpetuall pledge, and euerliuing witnesse of my thankfulnes for your many great and vndeserued fauours, most willingly and cheerefully vouchsafed vntounto myselfe, and vntounto mine, from time to time.
These could I expresse in their particulars, but I forbeare to doe it. And yet not so much to escape the reproach of flattery (wherewith vniustly by some I might be branded) as because you take no such delight, (as some others doe) in hearing praises, and commendations, though iustly deserued.
The second reason is, that they might be a like euidence, and seale of my hearty, and vnfayned longing after your growth, and going on in grace and goodnes, according to the glorious Gospell of Iesus Christ: whereof though I hauehave no cause to doubt, yet can I not but desire it: & desiring it (as I do) no other way better thē this, am I able to expresse it.
Famous, & of great esteeme, and that right worthily, Sir, are you growne to be (the Lord be praised for it:) And that not only in regard of such eminent places, wherein it hath pleased God (by degrees, and in his appointed times) to set you: but for your learning, wisedome, and sufficiency, to the well discharge of all, and eueryevery of them. But yet, if I may be bold, to speake what I conceiue, and rest perswaded of (with the ioynt opinion of many others) this is nothing so precious for your good name, as your religious, vpright, and conscionable proceedings, appearing and shining to the view of all men, in the middest of thick and foggie mists of corruption, and when conscience among many is so little regarded. Heereby hauehave you gayned the louelove, and commendation of all estates and degrees: yea many there are, that know not your person, who will not make mention of your name, without great respect.
The like may I say of you also, Madame, that although you bee aboundantly qualified, (as God bee praised you are) with all good gifts of body and minde, that be fit ornaments, and which adde a grace to your sex, and degree of calling, (as it is respected, and had in account among the men of this world) yet the honour and crowne of your good name, is the good report your Ladiship hath gotten in the Church of God, among such as truly feare God, for your good and vertuous disposition in matters of religion and godlinesse, for your modesty, meekenes, humility, and such like graces, as they appeare to be graces of sanctification.
And indeed, what reckoning is to be made of humane wisedome, learning and knowledge, of riches, beautie, of worldly honour and preferment, (yea euen in the highest degree of them) if they be not found in the way of righteousnes? if they be not sanctified by the Spirit of God? Without this special blessing they do but puffe vp, and make onelyonly a slender shew, and a bare profession, without all care and conscience of an agreeable practice.
Oh, let your Worships labour then (in a zealous vse of the ordinary meanes which God hath appointed) for this so great and excellent a grace (as is the grace of sanctification) that your high places and callings, your wisedome, learning, riches, and all other good gifts which God hath bestowed vponupon you, being seasoned and sweetned therewith, they may all ioyne together in a sweet harmony and sound consent, for the aduancement of Gods glory in your mortall bodies, and for the sure sealing and assurance of your owne saluation. And the Lord giuegive you not onelyonly spirituall vnderstanding, for a generall conceiuing out of his Word, what is to be done, and what not, but spirituall wisedome also for a right vnderstanding, and a right applying of it in particular.
And thus not doubting of your fauourable acceptance of these my weake endeuours, for the reasons before remembred, commended vntounto you, and according to that of the Apostle Peter, 1. Epist. 1.12. and of S. Iohn, 1. Epist. 2.21. I now take my leaue, as the Apostle Paul doth, Acts 20.32. resting at Northiham, August 24. 1621.
Your Worships at commandement in the Lord, IOHN FREWEN.