Marks and No Marks, Title page – Dedication
MARKES AND NO MARKES, OF THE KINGDOME OF HEAVEN: OR, A Treatiſe of things
Neceſſary,
Vnneceſſary,
To the Kingdome of God.
By HENRY GREENEWOOD Maſter of Art, and Preacher of the Word of GOD.
Rom. 14. 3.
Let not him that eateth, deſpiſe him that eateth not, &c.
LONDON, Printed by Eliz. All…de, and are to bee ſold by Michael Sparke dwelling at the blue Bible in Greene-Arbour. 1634.
TO THE RIGHT worthy and VVorſhipfull Maſter ROBERT LEVYSTONE, Gentleman of his Majeſties Bedchamber, all honour in this life, and Eternall glory in the life to come.
IT was (worthy Sir) a chiefe care in Saint Paul the holy and gracious Apoſtle (who was Gentium tuba, and Gods Organum electum, ſet apart to preach and tranſveigh the liquor of life to the Gentiles, after hee had layd downe the Foundation Chriſt Jeſus, and the body of the truth, to keepe the Corinthian and other Churches from ſciſme, faction, ſtrife and contention: as in the Corinthians,1 Cor. 1.10, 11. Hee beſeecheth them by the Name of the Lord Ieſus Chriſt, that they would all ſpeake one thing, and that there might bee no diſsentions among them, but to bee knit together in one minde, and in one judgement, and all this counſell for unanimity was but neceſſary, ſeeing the fruits of contention are ſo bitter.
I deſire to be an imitator of this bleſſed Apoſtle in this Chriſtian endevour, conſidering what great quarrels and hot contentions are found in our Brittiſh Church about matters of nothing, meere circumſtances and bare ceremonies, & what a Rent it made among us by the ſame, to the great advantage of Satans Kingdome, and much damage of the Kingdome of Chriſt. Now to quiet theſe unneceſſary jarres and make peace about the ſame (peacemaking being a bleſſed thing, Beati pacifi…i, Mat. 5.9.Mat. 5.9) I have adventured to ſet forth in this portion of Scripture ſomething about things indifferent, That we being of one minde, may live in peace, and living in peace, 2 Cor. 3.11.the God of love and peace may bee with us.
I know in your Country they are more ſtiffe in contention about them, than with us here in England: I have therefore made bold to preſent this ſubject of things of a middle nature to your well-affected worſhip, not that I thinke you any way troubled or irreſolved about them, but that through your good approbation of this plaine dealing Tractate, many of your Country-men may bee drawne to the like: that ſo England and Scotland giving over theſe frivolous contentions about things of no moment, may joyne ſtrongly together,…ude 3. and zealouſly contend for the faith and verity of the Goſpell of Chriſt Jeſus againſt all the adverſaries of the ſame: I would to God that we could all learne that grave counſell of wiſe Salomon: …rov. 20.3It is a mans honour to ceaſe from ſtrife, but every foole will bee medling. Accept then (I beſeech you) of this (more than poore) preſent, being the lively expreſſion of mine unfained love and true thankefulneſſe, for your kinde reſpect of mee in Court and Country, and at your beſt leiſure peruſe gladly the ſame.
Having paſſed things indifferent in the forepart of my Text, in the ſecond I proceed to matters of neceſſity for glory of our God, and the ſalvation of our ſoules, a trinity of graces for number; righteouſneſſe, Peace, Joy: and whoſoever is not powerfully acquainted with the ſame, ſhall never bee bleſſed of the thrice bleſſed Trinity in the Kingdome of Heaven: Seeke then (good ſir) righteouſneſſe not riches, peace not pleaſure, joy not mundane pompe and honour: that as you are honoured to attend the preſence of an unmatch-able earthly King, ſo you may in Chriſt Jeſus be exalted at the Day of Judgement to ſtand with Gabriel and al the heavenly Hoaſt b…fore the Throne and face of the King of Kings, in glory everlaſting.
Thus praying your good Worſhip to pardon my boldneſſe in this Dedication, and praying Gods beſt mercies to be multiplied upon you, I take my leave but never leave to love and honour you, alwayes reſting,
Your Worſhips to be commanded in the Lord, H. GREENEWOOD.