A Recantation, Title page – Dedication
A RECANTATION SERMON PREACHED IN THE GATEHOVSE AT VVEST-minſter the 30. day of Iuly 1620. In the preſence of many worſhipfull perſons, by Iohn Harding, late Prieſt and Dominican Fryar.
Wherein he hath declared his iuſt motiues which hauehave moued him to leaue the Church of Rome, and to vnite himſelfe with the reformed Church of England, whoſe faith and doctrine, the ancient fathers and holy Martyrs hane confirmed both by bloud and writing.
Shewing herein the groſe errors of Rome, in matters of faith, their corrupting the Fathers, and their preſent declining to ſome ſtrange and future Ruine.
LONDON, Printed by Barnard Alſop for Roger Iackſon, and are to be ſold at his ſhop againſt the Counduit in Fleeteſtreet.
1620.
TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE SIR ROBERT Nanton, Knight, chiefe Secretary to his Maieſties ſtate and one of his Maieſties moſt Honorable Priuie Councell.
HE that hath paſſed a dangerous ſickneſſe, and hath recouered his former health againe, is bound in a double Obligation: The one is to bee gratefull to the Perſon by whoſe meanes he recouered his health: The other is to vſe all meanes poſsible, that thoſe which be ſick of the like diſeaſe, may by his recouery be the better: According to that of our Sauior, Et tu cōuerſus confirma fratres tuos: And therefore right Honourable, although it be ſomewhat beſides cuſtome to make Dedications of printed Sermons; yet it is my duty to offer to your Honour the firſt fruits of my conuerſion: Your Honor being next and immediately vnderunder God the chiefe worker thereof. The which as it is a gretaer benefite then any worldly thing can afford me, ſo doth it require a fuller acknowledgement then as yet, I could at any time manifeſt: howſoeuer I hauehave moſt earneſtly deſiredit. In which reſpect being ouer intreated by ſome of my friends to publiſh this Sermon of my Recantation, and to ſet downe to the open view of all, the iuſt reaſons, and ſollid grounds that moued mee there unto. I hauehave made hold to paſſe it vnderunder your Honours name, hoping by your former encouragements, of your loning acceplance. And albeit they be but my firſt Aſſayes in this kind, and therefore may chance to ſeem: but harſh, yet becauſe my deſire is only to ſet forth God; mercy towards me: your Honors louing kindneſſe ſhewed to me, And to ſtop the mouthes of ſome malicious Papiſts that rayle againſt me, I truſt that your Honour will accept of this my weake endeauour as a token of my thankefull mind, which I in all duty recommend vntounto your Honours fauour, and your ſelfe and yours, in your affaires vntounto the mercy, and bliſſe of the bleſſed Trinity, who ever ſo aſsſiſt your Honour in all your proceedings, as that after theſe preſent toyles and troubles, your Honor may receine that happy Crowne of glory, Quam repromiſcit Deus diligentibus ſe.
Your Honors euer in Chriſt Ieſus Iohn Harding,