Two Sermons on 1 Peter 5:8-9, Title page – Dedication
TVVO SERMONS vponupon 1. Peter 5. verſ. 8. and 9. Wherein is ſhewed that the diuell is to be reſisted only by a ſtedfast faith, how ſoeuer he commeth either againſt ſoule or body: and that whoſoeuer hath once attained the true and liuelie faith, it can neuer be vtterly loſt, but he is ſure to get the victorie.
By M. George Giffard, Preacher of the worde of God at Mauldon in Eſſex.
LONDON, Printed by Felix Kingſton, for Thomas Man. 1597.
TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL M. Ioſeph Bainham Eſquire, and to Miſtreſſe Ione Bainham his Wife.
SIR, when J call to minde the reuerent and holy memory of that godly Martyr both of your name, countrie, and houſe, M. Iames Bainham, who died moſt conſtantly for the truth of the Goſpell, as we hauehave his ſtory at large deſcribed in M. Fox, pag. 1030. and conſider withall the great merciemercy of God, in continuing ſtill vntounto that VVorſhipfull name and ſtocke, the ſame light of faith, and zeale of the truth, and holynes of profeſſion: J nothing doubt to ſay vntounto you, as ſometime the holy Apostle wrote vntounto Timothie, When I call to remembrance the vnfayned faith that is in thee, which dwelt firſt in thy Grandmother Lois, and in thy Mother Eunice, and am aſſured that it dwelleth in thee alſo, 2. Tim. 1.5. So it cannot be but a great ioy and comfort to thoſe that feare God, to ſee the posteritie of Martyrs, to retayne ſtill the holy faith and profeſſion of Martyrs: not only to be of their earthly linage, but of the ſpirituall kindred alſo: not to be next them only in generation, but to folow them in regeneration. And this example of your owne cloth, as it is vntounto vsus an occaſion of reioycing, ſo to you it must ſerue, not as a ſpur to pricke you, but as a ſtarre to direct you, and a line to leade & draw you forward to al holy encreaſe of faith and zeale. That holy man, as he was vertuous in his life, deuoute in prayer, ſound in faith, patient in his afflictions; ſo most of all was he constant and cheerefull in his death: who in the midst of his torments, and out of the raging flames of fire, thus ſpake with a comfortable and heauenly voyce: O yee Papiſts, behold, yee looke for miracles, & here now you may ſee a miracle, for in this fire I feele no more paine, then if I were in a bed of downe: but it is to me as ſweet as a bed of Roſes. How ought wee now to honor the memorie of this bleſſed man, and how much are you to praiſe God, that hath giuen you out of your worſhipfull houſe ſo worthie an example and encouragement to all Christian proceeding? J ſaye againe with the ſame Apostle. Wherefore I put you in remembrance that you ſtirre vp the gift of God in you, &c. 2. Timoth. 1.6. And J doubt not, but that as it is true generally in the Church: Sanguis Martyrum ſemen Eccleſiae: the blood of the Martyrs is the ſeede of the Church: ſo more especially in your familie, that it hath been bleſsed of God, and made fruitefull, being ſeaſoned as it were by the blood of ſo holy a man. Saint Ambroſe ſaith, Paſſio Chriſti ſufficit ad ſalutem, paſſio Martyrum contulit ad exemplum: Christs death ſufficient to ſaluation, the Martyrs death is effectuall for example and instruction. You hauehave both Christs holy paſſion to ſaue you, and this Martyrs worthy example and confeſſion to instruct you. The memorie of this excellent man gaue me occaſion to preſent this Sermon vntounto you, which came to my hands, which contayneth a profeſſion of the ſame faith for the which he dyed, in you reuerencing his remembrance, and honoring his faith: God graunt vsus all the like zeale and holynes in our liues, that wee may hauehave the like comfort and cheerefulnes in our end.
Your Worſhips welwiller in the Lord, Thomas Man.