The Spiritual Fishing, Title page – Dedication 2
THE Spirituall Fishing. A SERMON Preached in Cambridge by that Reuerend and Iudicious Diuine, Mr SAMVEL HIERON. Printed by the true Copie written with his owne hands a little before his deceaſe.
LVKE 5. Verſ. 10. The laſt words of the Verſe.
Henceforth thou ſhalt catch Men.
AT LONDON Printed by IOHN BEALE, for widow Helme, and are to bee ſold at her ſhop vnderunder St Dunſtans Church in Fleet-ſtreet. 1618.
¶To the VVorthy, Religious, and Vertuous Lady, the Lady MARGARET YELVERTON, Wife to the much honoured, Sir HENRY YELVERTON Knight, the Kings Atturney Generall, continuance of all happineſſe.
Madam,
NO ſooner came this Sermon vntounto my hands, (the Author whereof for his approued zeale, worthily deſerued the title of an eminent Light and Ornament of our Church) then I vowed the dedication thereof vntounto your Ladiſhip; Nor may it ſeeme vnworthy your fauourable acceptance (the principall aime of my expectance) in regard of that ſingular testimony which all men that hauehave been conuerſant in his Works, doe giuegive of the Author, being ſuch a one as neither affection could corrupt, nor affectation tranſport; but of that ſpirit, as he was zealous with a good conſcience, making humility his path to glory. Jn a word, (Madam) his former Labours (now reduced into one Ʋolume) hauehave been euer countenanced by ſome choice Patrons: Nor may this (being equall with most of the reſt) claime leſſe prerogatiue then the reſt. Thus wiſhing you that benefit for which it was intended, to the glory of God, whereto it is directed, J rest,
Your Ladiſhips reſpectiuely, J. B.
To the Chriſtian Reader▪
CHriſtian & curteous Reader, being moued by ſuch who had intereſt in bringing to light this Sermon, that I would prefix ſome ſmall Epiſtle, I would not hang backe from performing ſo ſmall a kindneſſe. And two conſiderations eſpecially ſwaied mee to write a fewe lines in this kinde. The firſt whereof is the Authors great deſerts towards the Church of God; great in teaching, great in writing. Many a man there is, who hauing learnedly, iudiciouſly, and plainly taught the truth of God, hauing taken heed to the Miniſterie which hee receiued in the Lord, to fulfill it, and that in preaching alone; not withſtanding he hath left his memoriall bleſſed upon earth, euen in that regard and naked reſpect. But if there bee one man of a great companie, who as he taught religiouſly and powerfully in his life, ſo beſides in his life he did write to the comfortable edification of the Church, and yea alſo left after his death other things to be publiſhed for the behoofe of Gods Saints, without queſtion ſuch a worthy may well hauehave double honour put vponupon him. Many ſuch deſeruing inſtruments, hath God raiſed vp in our Church exceeding both for mouth, and penne: among the laſt of which, the Author of this Sermon need not to be ranked.Pro. 31. 31. His workes praiſe him in the gates as Salomon ſpeaketh of the vertuous Womans deeds. The ſecond and third, nay the fift and ſixt editions of certaine Treatiſes written by him, though in a dumb, neuertheleſſe with a mouing rhetorick, ſpeake effectually to his commandation. In the ſecond place, that did not a little encourage me, that this Sermon (if much affection hauehave not dazled ſome eies) may well bee eſteemed amongſt one of the cheife he did deliuer. It was preached in a famous Vniuerſitie, in a moſt learned, & ful auditory, it was heard with attention (his godly voice, & ſanctified geſture enliuening the hearers:) afterwards it was ſpoken of with reuerence and affection; as both hearing it, and hearing of it, I can truely auouch, it was his farewell Sermon to his Mother Vniuerſitie, although not (I ſupoſe) in the Authors intent, yet in the euent: the Lord often directing matters▪ otherwiſe then for the preſent wee dreame of. Receiue therefore Chriſtian Reader this Sermon, ſound for edification, ſweete for application, ſhewing Miniſters thier duty, ſhewing people theirs, and therefore not vnwelcome to ad good either teachers, or learners. Thus wiſhing thee all bleſſing from God in this and all other like furtherances of thy deuotion, I recommend thee to the Lords merciemercy, beſeeching him for Chriſt his ſake, to fulfil eueryevery honeſt deſire of thy heart.
Thine in our common Sauiour, E. C.