Eight Sermons on Ecclesiastes, Dedication
TO THE RIGHT Honourable, and vertuous Lady, the Lady Anne, Counteſſe of Warwike.
OVr Lord & maſter (Right Honourable) foretelling the ſtate of the worlde in the latter dayes, …ith, it ſhall bee as it was in the …ime of Noe. They eat, they drāke,Luke. 17. …ey maried wiues, & gaue in ma…iage, vntounto the day that Noe wēt into the Arke: and the flood came and destroyed them. Likewiſe alſo as it was in the daies of Lot: they eat, they drancke, they bought, they ſold, they planted, they builte. But in the day that Lot went out of Sodome, it rained fire and brimſtone from Heauen, and destroyed them all. This prophecie muſt needs be fulfilled, and in the one part it is already in our eies. For mens harts were neuer more generally, and of all ſortes, ſet vponupon riches and pleaſures, then now towarde the comming of Christ to make the diſſolution. I holde it therefore the dutie of all Gods faithfull meſſengers, moſt inſtantly to warne their Chriſtian people, to beware, least they alſo bee carried awaye with the ſtreame of this common infection. Hereby was I moued to make speciall choyſe of the Booke called Eccleſiaſtes, for to expound the ſame vntounto that people which I teach, being wholly framed for the purpoſe, to drawe men from the vanities of this world. It was ſet forth by that noble king Solomon, who was the wiſeſt, the richest, and highest in royaltie & honour vnderunder the Heauens. He made the greatest triall, and had the deepeſt experience in all the chiefe and moste precious things of this world. He was ledde alſo by a higher spirite then his owne, being a worthy Prophete of God.
After I had finiſhed this booke, and my Sermons noted by one that did write, I was requeſted to pervſe & to perfect them, in ſome better ſort for the Printe: Which as leaſure ſerued I hauehave performed in one part. If that weake meaſure of giftes, which the Lord hath beſtowed vponupon me, bring any good by this trauaile vntounto the Churche, I ſhall be glad: and ready to beſtow ſome paines, (if it pleaſe God) about the reſt.
I am bold to offer this vntounto your Ladyſhip, as a token of a dutifull and thankefull minde, for ſo honorable fauours as I hauehave receyued frō the right Honourable my Lord the Earle of Warwike, and from your Honour. I am alſo encouraged herevnto, with this, that your Ladyſhip hath long time continued an earnest louer, and zealous profeſſor of the glorious Goſpell of Ieſus Chriſt. My earnest prayer is, that God will continue and increaſe the ſame, with all heauenly giftes, and vertues of his holy ſpirite, to the glory of his moſt holy name, the good of his Church, and your owne eternall ioye. Amen.
Your H. moſt dutifull to commaund, George Gyffard.