Choice Grounds and Principles of our Christian Religion, Dedication 2
TO THE YOVNG AND WORTHY KNIGHT, SIR IOHN HARE, SONNE AND heyre apparant to the Right Worshipfull Sir RALPH HARE of Stowe Hall in the County of Norfolke: And to the vertuous yong Lady, the Lady ELIZABETH his Wife; and to her brother, the hopefull yong Gentleman, Mr THOMAS COVENTRY, eldest Sonne to the Right Worshipfull his MAIESTIES Attorney Generall before mentioned. Long life, and good dayes, with increase of all spirituall blessings, in heauenly things.
WHen I had finished the precedent Epistles (welbeloued in the Lord) I considerd with my selfe, that, seeing they were Principles, and grounds of Christianity, which I had expounded, and was ready to publish: I might doe some further seruice pleasing God, acceptable and profitable vntounto you, (being as yet but nouices and younglings in Religion:) if in some speciall manner, I should commend them to your meditations.
And …owsoeuer to you, Sir Iohn, I am but a stranger, and in that respect, might hauehave been discouraged: yet such is, & alwaies hath been mine vnfained louelove & good affection t…wards her, who now (by Gods prouidence) is become yours: that this could n…t hinder. For I cannot otherwise rest perswaded, but that all good offices of true louelove now done to her, or vntounto you for her sake, will as kindely in …uery degree be entertained, as if they directly aimed at your selfe alone.
And, good Madame, doe you for your part, cherish by all good meanes, all good motions and affections in your kinde and louing Husband. And as it is a principall end of your Creation, to be an Helper: So in the feare of God, apply, and endeuour your selfe, to bee cheerefull, comfortable, and h…lpfull indeed. And as in all duties and respects which concerne this life: So especially in those things that concerne Gods glory, and your owne saluation, together with the good and saluation of such, as may any way belong vntounto you, or depend vponupon you.
And for you (welbeloued Mr Thomas) as you hauehave hitherto by your godly Parents, been carefully traded and trained vp in the feare and nurture of the Lord: and hauehave shewed your selfe docible, tractable, and towardly, (which I am able to report vponupon some good experience,) by yo…r behauiour, by your gestures, by your speech, and by the course of your practices, making your selfe knowne, to hauehave vprightnes and good meaning in you without dissimulation: According to that of Salomon, Pro. 20.11.Pro. 20. Euen a child will make knowne by his conuersation, whether he be pure, and whether his worke bee right: So settl… your s…lfe to grow forward in grace and goodnes, as in yeeres and dayes. And then, shall you be sure, as well as the an ient, to be rewarded with saluation in the life to come, and honoured among all good men with praise and estimation, whiles you are heere.
To you all I say with Salomon, Ecclesiastes 12. Eccles. 12.1.Remember your Creator in the dayes of your youth, whiles the euill dayes come not, that is, before old age commeth. For you must know, that God requires the seruice of youth, as well as the seruice of old age. Nay, this, before the other. And if you looke into the Scripture, or into experience, you shall hardly finde any who hauehave accustomed themselues to vanity, and prophanenesse in the time of their youth, that doe become truely and vnfainedly repentant when they are old. As Ier. 13. Ier. 13.23.Can the Blackamore change his skinne, or the Leopard his spots? then may yee also doe good, that are accustomed to doe euill. And therefore Prou. 22. Prou. 22.6.Teach a childe in the trade of his way, and when hee is old, hee shall not depart from it. And Psalme 119. Psal. 119 9.Wherewith shall a young man redresse his way? In taking heed thereto, according to thy Word. Thus you see, that the Word of God ought to bee the rule and direction of yong mens liues, as well as of those that are old. Let the Word of God therefore dwell in you plenteously in al wisdome, Col. 3.16.& spirituall vnderstanding. Search the Scriptures, Ioh. 5.39. Psal. 1.2.and take delight to meditate in them day and night: yea, make them the Lanterne for your feet, Psal. 119.105.and a light for your pathes.
And not onelyonly for my sake, and at my request; but for your owne good, and for the better settling and establishing of your hearts and minds in the truth, take a serious view of this little Treatise. Lay these Principles in your hearts, as a foundation for other higher points of Doctrine to bee builded vponupon. Imprint them in your memories, bee zealous in the profession of them, without being ashamed. Consider, 2. Tim. 2 7. 2. Thes. 2.17what I say, and the Lord blesse you, and giuegive you vnderstanding in all things, comfort your hearts, and establish you in eueryevery word and good worke. And so I take my leaue at Northiham in Sussex. September the 20. 1621. Resting
Yours in all Christian duties, IOHN FREVVEN.