Sermon on the Parable of the Sower, Title page – Dedication
A Sermon on the Parable of the Sower, taken out of the 13. of Mathew. Preached at London by M. G. Gifford, & publiſhed at the requeſt of ſundrie godly and well diſpoſed perſons.
¶ Imprinted at London for Tobie Cooke, dwelling at the Tigres head in Paules Churchyard. 1582.
TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVL M. Iohn Hutton Eſquier, George Gifford wiſheth health and increaſe of worſhip.
IT is more then halfe a yere (right worſhipfull) ſince I handled this parable of the Sower, in a Sermon at London, Being inſtantly vrged by a friend which heard mee, to put it in writing, althogh I was very vnw…ng, for ſundrie conſiderations, yet I made ſome promiſe if leſure ſhuld ſerue. Afterward when I wold very gladly hauehave ben releaſed at her hands whom I promiſed, I could by no meanes obteine it. I hauehave therfore at the laſt ſo nigh as I could, ſet down in writing, that which I then vttered in ſpeking, I know that I hauehave omitted ſome things in the particular applications, and exhortations which I made: & alſo I hauehave added ſōewhat which either then came not to mind, or els time did not ſerue to handle. I am bolde to preſent & dedicate this my poore trauell vntounto your worſhip, moued therto with diuers reſpects as thinking my ſelfe in duetie bound, not onelyonly with this common & generall bond that ye are one which long time hauehave profeſſed the glorious goſpel of Ieſus Chriſt: but with diuers more ſpeciall, which are ſo wel knowne vntounto you, that it wer needleſſe for me to recite them: only thus much, ſeeing I was born & brought vp vnderunder you, my parents receiuing benefits daily frō you, I think I ought, when as I am not able to make any recompence, at leaſt to ſhew ſome token of a grateful mind. But eſpecially I am moued heerevnto, with conſideration of the greateſt bleſsing which all my kindred hauehave enioyed by you now ſo long, in prouiding & procuring their ſpiritual inſtruction. I pray you accept of my good will, & account of mee as one which praieth to the Lord for you, that he will multiplie & increaſe his good giftes ſtill in you, to the glorie of his holy name, the benefit of his Church, & your endleſſe comfort in Ieſus Chriſt. Amen.
Yours for euer to commaund in the Lord, George Gifford.