The Tree of Good and Evil, Title page – Dedication
THE TREE OF GOOD AND EVILL: OR A Profitable and Familiar Expoſition of the Commandements, directing vsus in the whole courſe of our life, according to the Rule of Gods Word, whereby we muſt bee iudged at the laſt day.
By THOMSS GRANGER Preacher of Gods Word.
DEVT. 30. 19.
I call heauen and earth to record this day againſt you, that I hauehave ſet before you life and death, bleſſing and curſing: therefore chuſe life that both thou and thy ſeed may liue.
LONDON, Printed by N. O. for SAMVEL MAN, and are to bee ſold at his Shop in Pauls Church-yard at the Signe of the Ball. 1616.
TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL SIR IOHN LEVENTHORP, KNIGHT, and to the moſt wiſe and vertuous Lady IOANE his wife, Grace and Peace from God the Father, and our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, bee multiplied.
MANY cauſes there were (Right Worſhipfull) that moued mee to penne this Expoſition on the Commandements, but eſpecially theſe following.
The firſt cauſe was, the hindering at leaſt of Satans buſie working, euen in our reformed Church, who as in the times of darkneſſe hee murthered multitudes of ſoules through Idolatrous Deuotions, and the falſe imagination of meritorious workes: euen ſo doth hee now in the cleere light of the Goſpell, ſlay a great number through a liueleſſe faith, and outward empty profeſſion: Yet in both times hath there been a certaine number, whoſe workes were faithfull, and whoſe faith is fruitfull: Therefore to the end that they who through ſelfe-louelove, and ignorance of Gods lawes ſeeme to bee ſomewhat, may ſee what ſinnes they daily commit, and what vertues they continually omit, that they (I ſay) who ſeeme to themſelues beautifull and rich enough, may ſee themſelues to bee but wretched, miſerable, poore, blind, and naked, Reu. 3. 17. For their benefite and good, I firſt attempted this ſhort Treatiſe.
A ſecond reaſon was, becauſe I ſaw very many, yet ſo ignorant, as that they thinke they can keepe the whole Law, groſſely, and Phariſaically, examining themſelues by the outward letter of the tenne Words, or Commandements, euen which notwithſtanding they make ſmall conſcience continually to breake, becauſe God is mercifull: ſo that with them, as with carnall Goſpellers, the commandements are quite growne out of requeſt.
A third reaſon like to this was, becauſe that many euen on their deathbeds, doe comfort themſelues onelyonly in their owne righteouſneſſe, which ſtandeth in this, that they hauehave alwaies paid eueryevery man his owne; That they neuer hurt their neighbour by word or deed; That they hauehave euer carryed a good meaning whatſoeuer they ſaid, or did; That they hauehave giuen almes to the poore, whereupon ſome, being exhorted by their Miniſter to repent, and to call vponupon God for mercy in Ieſus Chriſt, hauehave anſwered, that they knew no ſinne they had. Others againe, being more then wontedly ſick, hauehave maruelled that God ſhould ſo vndeſeruedly puniſh them.
A fourth reaſon was, becauſe that many not willing to buy a larger Expoſition, partly for the coſt, partly for the length thereof (as they thinke, who are cumbred with Martha about many things) might bee induced, and allured to buy, and reade this ſhort Expoſition, both for the little price, for the plaineneſſe, and for the many proofes, and breuitie thereof.
A fifth reaſon was, that children and yong folkes, hauing learned by heart the Principles of Chriſtian Religion, might be inſtructed further in the Law, which is the end of vertuous and godly life, both that they may vnderſtand Sermons the better, when they heare that whereof they hauehave already a fundamentall knowledge (which muſt needes ſtirre vp in them, a deſire to heare and know further therein, whereof commeth dilligent attention) and alſo, that knowing when they do well, and when they do ill, not onelyonly in deed, but in word and thought, they may bee brought to make conſcience of eueryevery ſinne, which the ignorant cannot do; that their mindes and conſciences being poſſeſſed with the lawes of God in eueryevery particular, in their yong age, the head of ſinne may be ſuppreſſed, and kept vnderunder; that they may truely repent of their ſinnes, which they that know not ſinne, cannot do; and that they may know to what commandement eueryevery vertue and ſinne is referred.
And laſtly, the reaſons why I was bold to offer ſo ſmall a preſent to your Worſhip, of whom I hauehave receiued ſo many kindneſſes, and am indeed for ſundry reſpects for euer obliged vntounto you, are. Firſt becauſe I hauehave alwaies knowne you to be a ſincere louer of learning, ſimply for it ſelfe without by-reſpects, which plainely appeareth in this; that you hauehave not onelyonly beene alwaies a ſpeciall fauorer and Patron of the learned, but alſo ſeparating your ſelfe from the world, as much as your place and calling will permit, hauehave euer deuoted your ſelfe to all good learning. Moreouer the inward and ſincere louelove and affection in the Lord, that I hauehave alwaies heeretofore, at this preſent, and euer ſhall beare vntounto you, and your good Lady, for theſe excellent and moſt amiable vertues, wiſedome, truth, vprightneſſe, kindneſſe, compaſſion tender-heartedneſſe, hauehave enforced mee to ſhew forth my hid and ſmothered louelove, wherein I am able, and wherein it could finde paſſage: Therefore I deſire your Worſhips both in one, whom coniugall and Chriſtian louelove, and vnanimity, hauehave made one, to accept this little gift, which I am bold to caſt into the treaſury of Gods Church, vnderunder your Worſhips protection.
The Lord continue ſtill his fauourable kindneſſe, goodneſſe, and mercy towards you, in powring downe ſtill his manifold bleſſings vponupon your ancient and honoured Family, from generation to generation for euer:
Botterwike in Holland neere Boſten in Lincoln. 1616. Your Worſhips In all duties to command. THOMAS GRANGER.