Lectures Upon John 4, Title page – Dedication
CVIII LECTVRES UPON THE FOVRTH OF IOHN. PREACHED, At ASHEY-DELAZOVCH in Leicester-shire. By that Late Faithfull and Worthy Minister of Iesus Christ. ARTHVR HILDERSAM.
The second Edition corrected and much enlarged by the Author.
2. Tim. 3. ver. 16, 17.
All Scripture is giuen by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproofe, for correction, for instruction in righteousnesse.
That the man of God may be perfect, thorowly furnished vntounto eueryevery good worke.
LONDON, Printed by George Miller. for Edward Brewster, and are to be sold in Pauls Church-yard at the signe of the Bible. MDCXXXII.
TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE, HENRIE EARLE OF HVNTINGDON, LORD HASTINGS, HVNGERFORD, BOTTREAVX, MOLINS and MOYLES, Lord Lieutenant of the Counties of LEICESTER, and RVFLAND, my very singular good LORD.
RIGHT HONOVRABLE:
THese Lectures which I hauehave for so many yeares kept by me, and refused to let them see the light (as iudging them both vnworthy in themselues to be brought into publike view, and altogether needlesse also, though they had beene much better, in an age that doth so abound with all variety of excellent gifts, both for preaching and writing) I am now at length (though the importunity of sundry, that thinke better of them then my selfe could euer doe;) enforced to giuegive way that they may be published. And this I hauehave done the more willingly, that I might hauehave opportunity by this Dedication of them, to giuegive publike testimony vntounto the world, of my duty and thankefulnesse vntounto your Honour, and vntounto your Noble House; vntounto whom (next vnderunder God) I doe owe whatsoeuer poore abilities he hath beene pleased to giuegive vntounto me, for the seruice of his Church. For as that noble Vncle of yours (whom his wisedome and seruiceablenesse to his Prince and Country, euen with the great neglect of his owne estate and family, and specially his zealous care to promote the Gospell of Christ, did make much more honourable, then the noblenesse of this great birth could possibly doe) did first maintaine me in the Vniuersity, and after brought me to the exercise of my ministry in this place; so hauehave I beene by the fauour and bounty of your noble Grandfather, and of your Honour continued here, now more then forty yeares. And vntounto your honour especially aboue all other men, is thankes due, for whatsoeuer benefit may redound to the Church by these Lectures: because of that incouragement I did receiue from your Lordship in the preaching of them, not only by your honourable beneficence in maintaining of me, and confirming that vntounto me, which by the bounty of your noble Ancestors I did enioy, but by that worthy example also you gaue vntounto all my Auditory in your constant and diligent frequenting of them. Which as you would neuer hauehave done if you had not liked them well, or if you had heard any thing taught in them that did disagree with the Doctrine of our Church, or that had any way tended vntounto schisme or faction: so hauehave you made me the more bold euen in this respect, humbly to commend the patronage of them vntounto your Honour. Now the Lord of Lords (who hath already made you truly honourable, not by your Progenitors onelyonly, but by many noble endowments bestowed vponupon your selfe, and hath promised also to honour them that honour him:) continue and multiply all his graces and blessings vponupon your Lordship, and vponupon your family, to the increase of your present and euerlasting comfort, through IESVS CHRIST. So prayeth still:
Ashby-Delazouch, Iune the first, 16…8. Your Honours to all duty and seruice euer most obliged: ARTHVR HILDERSAM.