The Gallants Burden, Title page – Dedication
THE Gallants Burden.
A Sermon preached at PAVLES CROSSE, THE twentie nine of March, being the fift Sunday in Lent. 1612.
By THO. ADAMS, Preacher of Gods Word at Willington in Bedford-shire.
Published by authority.
LONDON Printed by W. W. for Clement Knight, and are to be sold at his Shoppe in Paules Church-yard at the Signe of the Holy Lambe. 1612.
TO THE HONORABLE SIR WILLIAM GOSTWICKE Baronet, and his worthy Lady, the Lady IANE GOSTWICKE.
HOnorable Sir, I acknowledge freely that the World is oppressed with the Presse, a…d the confluence of Bookes hath bred a confusion of errours, of Vices; so hard is it to distinguish betwixt profitable and vaine Writinges; and hauing culled out the best, so easie is it with much good Meate to surfet; yet is not therefore Meate vnnecessarie: It is no sober inference, because both Text and readers hauehave been corrupted with false Glosses, to reiect all Expositions, all Applications: both are fitte, this latter most necessary; for our Vnderstanding is better then our Conscience: there is some light in our Minds, litle warmth in our Affections: So against Nature is it true in this, that the essentiall qualities of Fire, Light, and Heat, are deuided; and to say, whether our light of Knowledge be more, or our heate of Deuotion lesse, is beyond me: Let this (considered) plead for me, that I (doe but) rubbe this sowning Knowledge in vsus, to bring it backe to some life of Obedience: If any feele their thicke eyes hence to receiue any clearenesse, or their nummed Affections to gather (the least) Spirit, let th…m at once, giuegive God the glory, and take to themselues the comfort. Sinne hath got strength with age, and against all naturall order, is more powerfull, subtile, and fuller of actiue dexteritie now in the dotage of it, then it was in the nonage: Both Pulpit & Presse are weake enough to resist it. It therfore this small Arrow of Reproofe can wound (but euen) one of his Limbes, it shall a litle eneruate his tyranny. Whatsoeuer this Sermon is, it is wholly yours, and he that made it: whose Patronage, I could not be ambitious of, if I should onelyonly fixe my eyes on my owne deseruinges: but in the affiance of your good natures, mature iudgementes, and kind constructions of my weake endeauours, I hauehave presumed to make you the Patron of my Labours, who was freely the Patron of my selfe. I know, that Gods word can countenaunce it selfe, and needes not the shelter of an humaine arme, not, though it had as many Edomites to deride it, as it hath Patrons to defende it: But I find not onelyonly the best Writinges of the best Men, but euen some of those Holy Bookes, inspired from Heauen, bearing in their foreheads (as from the pen-men) a dedication. I confesse, it is not all for your Protection, somewhat for your vse; and you are blessed in fauouring that, which shalbe best able to fauour you: May I therefore intreate your Honors, to giuegive it happy entertainement to your owne heartes, fauourable protection to the worldes eyes; so shall that, and my selfe be (yet more) yours. The God of all power and merciemercy, be as f…ythfull a shadow of refreshing to your soules, as your kindnesse hath been free to my wantes, who must euer remaine.
Your Honors in all faythfull obseruance, Tho. Adams.