Hold Fast, Title page – Dedication
HOLD FAST, A Sermon Preached at PAVLS Croſſe vponupon Sunday being the XXXI. of October, Anno Domini 1624. By IOHN GEE, Master of Arts, late of EXON Colledge in OXFORD.
LONDON, Printed by A. M. and I. N. for ROBERT MYLBOVRNE, and are to be ſold at his Shop at the great South doore of Pauls. 1624.
TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE, SIR ROBERT NANTON, Knight, Maſter of his Maieſties Court of Wards and Liueries, and one of his Maieſties moſt Honourable Priuie Councell.
RIGHT HONOVRABLE,
SOme in their Dedicatories employ their Pen, not ſo much to craue Patronage, as to buy and purchaſe it by large (and happily deſerued) commendation of thoſe whoſe names and fauour they implore. How plentifull matter in this kind I might be furniſhed withall, they well know that are able to ballance your pietie, learning, and othervertues. But as Cato reſolued to hauehave a mean Tombe, or none at al, that it might rather be asked, why he had no Monument, then why a ſumptuous: ſo in my ſpeaking to & of your worthy ſelfe, rather would I be asked of many, why I ſaid ſo little, thē of any one, why ſo much. I therefore here addreſſe my ſelfe to your Honour, by approach to that ſide onelyonly which lyeth moſt conſpicuous & opportune for my harbour, and that is the contemplation of you as you are by his Maieſtie appointed the worthy Head, and Maſter of that honourable Court, erected for the protection of thoſe, who by reaſon of Nonage, are vnable to ſupport themſelues againſt iniury. In which imployment, out of your religious & vertuous reſolutions, the world knows you moſt ready to do Iuſtice, and yeeld Protection, as by way of Iudicature vntounto Orphanes, ſo alſo in a larger extent by way of fauor & countenance to others that need the ſame, eſpecially in cauſe of Religion.
My poore ſelfe, though not pleading either Wardable Tenure, or Infancie of years, yet in the generall as a Churchman, and in particular, as deuoted to doe all the ſeruice I may for the maintenance of Religion eſtabliſhed, preſume to caſt my ſelfe as a Ward into your tuition. Firſt, Eccleſia ſemper est pupilla.the Church by the Ciuil & Canon Lawes, is ſaid to remaine in perpetuall pupillage, and iuſtly claimeth ſuccour and defence from men in high place, as vnable to relieue it ſelfe againſt either thoſe Corrupters that wil thruſt in with ſtrange fire, to pollute the Altar; or thoſe Spoilers, that would cut ſhort the skirts of Aarons cloathing. Then alſo for my perſonall caſe in regard of my diſabilities to vndertake ſo high a taske, I muſt needs acknowledge my ſelfe to bee a weake Infant, Puer ſum, non poſſum loqui; Ierem. 1.4.and the more liable to wrong, becauſe incompaſſed with aduerſaries exaſperated againſt the Truth, and mee for ſpeaking Truth. Ezck. 2.6.Bryers and thornes are with mee, and I dwell amongst Scorpions, whoſe ſtings are the ſharper bent againſt my breaſt, becauſe I hauehave indeauored to giuegive Antidotes vntounto the Kings liege people, for their defence againſt ſuch balefull poyſon, whereof my ſelfe hauehave formerly had a taſte. Nor am I more by mine owne danger driuen, then by your goodneſſe drawne to caſt mine vnworthy ſelfe, and theſe my poore Labors into the boſome of your Protection. Though it bee perhaps none of my leaſt faults, that without your Honours leaue I hauehave intruded vponupon your Patronage, yet I cannot bee ſo miſtruſtfull in ſo good a cauſe, as to feare your either repulſe, or offence.
In this good hope I craue your honourable Pardon and Fauour, alwayes praying God, whoſe cauſe I defend, whoſe truth you aduance, to proſper your Honour in all your laudable and religious indeauours.
London, Nouemb. the 11, 1624. Your Honours bounden at ſeruice to be commanded, IOHN GEE.