Gods Three Arrows, Dedication 1 – Table of contents 2
TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL, AND moſt worthy of all honour, Mrs. MARY MOORE, Perpetuity of Grace here, and Eternity of Glory hereafter. Much eſteemed, Much honoured,
GRatefulneſſe makes inquiſitive. A greatefull mind, both in relation to God, and alſo in relation to man, is ſo affected with kindneſſes received from the one or the other, as it is ever plotting and enquiring what it may do, what it may render. In relation to God ſaith a gratefull Prophet, what ſhall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me? Pſal. 116. 12. In relation to man ſaith a gratefull King, Is there yet any left of the houſe of Saul, that I may ſhew him kindneſſe for Ionathans ſake? 2 Sam. 9. 1. Let me ſay it boldly, for I ſay it truly. My ſoule is inquiſitive: as in regard of God, what I may render unto him: ſo in regard of your ſelfe, Good Mrs. Moore, what I may render unto you. God knowes my minde and heart. For he is the Searcher of hearts, (Ier. 17. 10.) To you it muſt be made knowne. For what man knoweth the things of a man ſave the ſpirit of man which is in him? 1 Cor. 2. 11. My heart therefore being filled with gratefulneſſe towards you, I hauehave caſt this way and that way how to manifeſt the ſame: and that in the beſt manner that I could: which I know not better how to do, then by a publique acknowledgement of the gratefull reſpect I beare, and bounden duty which I owe to you: together with the true and juſt grounds thereof: which, among many other, are theſe in particular.
1. Your ancient and conſtant reſpect to me and my Miniſtry, even from the firſt beginning thereof. For thereby you firſt tooke notice of me.
2. The many reall demonſtrations, and evident teſtimonies of that entire reſpect, which from time to time you have given me.
3. Your vouchſafing to take my daughter into your houſe, under your good government, and to become a mother to the motherleſſe. Among many other, this is one thing which gives me occaſion to ſay in regard of my laſt dangerous ſickneſſe, It is good for me that I was afflicted. That ſickneſſe was an occaſion of your taking my daughter to your tuition. What is, what ought to be a fathers care, but (next to the ſalvation of his owne ſoule) the good education of his children? What can be more acceptable to him, then approved means tending to that end? May I then, can I then be unmindfull of her, or ungratefull to her that hath affoorded ſuch means? Have I not cauſe to be inquiſitive, and to thinke and ſay, What ſhall I render? Render a recompence I cannot. All that is or can be done, is and can be but a teſtimony of gratitude. Such teſtimonies as are ordinarily preſented for new-yeares-gifts, your bounty (I know) doth not expect, will not accept. Noble ſpirits do herein reſemble the Divine Spirit, which doth good for his owne ſake, for goodnes ſake. All the recompence which they expect is a gratefull acknowledgement of the kindneſſe they ſhew, of the goodnes they do. This from my heart I do here before all that ſhall caſt their eyes upon this Dedicatory Epiſtle.
There are, beſide theſe particular, other more generall motives, which induce me to prefixe your worthy name before this treatiſe: As, 1. the eminency of your endowments, which make this ſtile Mrs. Mary Moore (at leaſt in their judgement who well know you) more eminent, then ſuch titles of honour as are conferred upon many of your ſex. 2. The excellency of your parts, which enable you with judgement to read ſuch treatiſes as are publiſhed to the view of all. 3. The correſpondency of your diſpoſition to the moſt principall points of this treatiſe. This treatiſe is of famine, and of means to remove it, or reſtraine it, and keep it from exceſſe. Piety towards him that cauſeth plenty and ſcarcity: Prudence in well ordering preſent abundance: Providence for the future: Compaſsion in times of want: Liberality to ſuch as need: Contentment in that whereunto God calleth: Patience in all judgements: Diligence in ſearching after the cauſes thereof: Conſcience in uſing the meanes warranted and ſanctified for averting judgements: Confidence in greateſt neceſſities are principall points handled in this treatiſe. The naming of the particulars is enough to give evidence of the ſutableneſſe of your diſpoſition thereunto.
The preſent neceſſity of the times, wherein bread the ſtaffe of mans life is ſo ſcarce, have drawne my thoughts to meditate on the ſubject matter handled in this treatiſe (which is in one word, FAMINE) that I might ſtirre up my ſelfe and others to take notice of the beginning of Gods judgement: that wiſely we may ſeek the Lord betimes, and uſe all good means for moderating and removing this inſtant dearth, and for preventing the like, or any other heavier judgment for the future. So as I cannot think ſuch a ſubject at ſuch a time to be unſeaſonable: if at leaſt the Compoſer of the Treatiſe were able anſwerably to handle it. But as it is, I have made bold to dedicate it to your patronage; whom, for the reaſons before rendred, and many other like to them, I judge to be as fit thereto, as the treatiſe it ſelfe is fit for the preſent time. In all greatefulnes it is preſented unto you. With all kindnes let it be accepted of you. As for recompence, To him that is ready graciouſly to accept, and able plenteouſly to reward all goodneſſe done for his ſake to any of his, knees are humbly bowed at the Throne of his Grace, by
Black Friers, London. 1. Ian. 1630. Your Worſhips Remembrancer WILLIAM GOVGE.
A Table of the principall Points handled in DEARTHS DEATH, on II SAM. XXI. I.
§. 1. OF the meaning of the text. 129
§. 2. Of the reſolution and obſervations of the text. 133
§. 3. Of famine a judgement. 134
§. 4. Of the effects of famine. 135
§. 5. Of preventing famine by procuring plenty. 138
§. 6. Of the ſinnes which cauſe famine. 139
§. 7. Of moderating a famine. 141
§. 8. Of removing famine. 143
§. 9. Of promiſes for ſuccour in famine. 145
§. 10. Of instances of Gods preſerving in famine, and removing famine. 146
§. 11. Of famine in a pious polity. 147
§. 12. Of the cauſes of judgements under good Gouernors. 147
§. 13. Of puniſhing predeceſſours ſinnes in their ſucceſſours time. 148
§. 14. Of miſ-judging a profeſſion by outward judgments. 150
§. 15. Of duties which judgements under pious Princes require. 151
§. 16. Of long continued famine. 152
§. 17. Of duties by reaſon of long famine. 153
§. 18. Of ſearching out cauſes of judgements. 154
§. 19. Of Governours care in publique judgements. 155
§. 20. Of ſeeking to God for removing judgements. 157
§. 21. Of Gods cauſing famine. 157
§. 22. Of the meanes of famine ordered by God. 158
§. 23. Of enquiring of God in and by his Word. 161
§. 24. Of the extremity of famine in the laſt ſiege of Ieruſalem. 163
§. 25. Of extremity of famine, where were no invaſions of enemies, nor ſieges, but immediately from Gods hand. 168
§. 26. Of famines in England. 170
§. 27. Of uſes to be made of the terribleneſſe of famine. 171