Of the Rich Man and Lazarus, Title page – Dedication
OF THE RICH MAN AND LAZARVS. Certaine Sermons, By ROBERT HORNE.
LVKE 12.21.
So is he that gathereth riches to himſelfe, and is not rich in God.
GALAT. 6.10.
While we hauehave (therefore) time, let vsus doe good vntounto all men, but ſpecially to them which are of the houſhold of faith,
LONDON, Printed by Ber: Alſop for IOHN HODGETS. 1619.
TO THE VVORTHY IVSTICE OF CHESTER Sir Thomas Chamberlaine, Chiefe Iuſtice of his Maieſties Councell in the Marches of WALES.
Right Worſhipfull,
I HaueHave preſumed vnderunder your worthy Name, to ſend forth a few Obſeruations (ſuch as they are) on the Parable of the Rich man and Lazarus: A Scripture that may well beſet by the Preacher to an age of ſuch fulneſſe of ſinne as ours is: An age and time, wherein vngodlineſſe, Preface to the truneſſe of Religion.which (as the (a) L. of Pleſſis once ſayde) was wont but to whiſper men in the eare, and lispingly to ſpeake between the teeth, doth now moſt boldly, and without all bluſh of ſhame, with open mouth, call vponupon both Bench and Pulpit for protection. Diues hath many ſonnes at this day, ſprung from his loines of cruelty, and the contempt of the poore: and for his brethren among vsus, they be not(b)Luc. 16 28. fiue onelyonly▪ but more then fiue hundred; all which, liuing in no feare of God or death, and impudently in all the deedes of ſinne, require the ſharpeſt edge of Diſcipline, Gods and mans. Therefore and toward the reformation of ſo many as God ſhall incline to reade with ſome conſcience the enſuing Diſcourſe, I hauehave (to my poore skill) done ſomewhat in this fearefull Parable of Diues. That little which is done, is according to the Scriptures, and humbly commended to your Worſhip by One that doth louelove and reuerence You for the good parts of Iuſtice and Piety, which are noted to be in you by thoſe that know you; and appeareth by this, that you ſpare no trauell, and accept no faces of men, or letters in matters of publike hearing, whether in Terme or out.
And who can but commend this mind of yours in ſo ſcarce a world of iuſt and painefull Magiſtrates? Your piety in Gods matters is testified ſufficiently and plainely by your exemplary obedience to Gods Sabbothes: where your good affection to the Word, in a louing affabilitie to the Preachers thereof, is obſerued and reuerenced by as many as truly know you. And for the integrity of your mind in Court cauſes, you hauehave as many witneſſes as the Court hath eares. And indeed how can Iuſtice badly follow that hath ſo good fore-leaders? I write not this to giuegive titles: onelyonly in your perſon (Sir) I deſire to ſtirre vp others of like place to beare you company in ſo good a way of piety, integritie, and in corrupt iuſtice, if they be behind. Alſo my deſire is, by ſo true a relation of ſo many good offices and effects of your chiefe Stewardſhip in the Marches performed among vsus by you (matters which hauehave a good report of al men, & of the truth it ſelfe) humbly to prouoke you to goe forward in this narrow path, wherein ſofew now walke, of ſincere and conſcionable Magiſtracy. So ſhal you one day heare this comfortable ſaying: Mat. 25.21. (c) It is well done good ſeruant & faithfull. But I may not ſay much in the Preface, where ſo little is ſayd in the Booke it ſelfe: and therefore to conclude, I ſay, good Sir, g…t ground of the common enemy dayly, as I trust you doe, and keepe what you get. Let no man, let nothing pull this hope from you, …nto which you are entred, till you hauehave finiſhed the dayes of your faith here, and the Ancient of dayes take you to thoſe dayes of endleſſe life, which He hath prepared in His Kingdome of glory for all that louelove and waite for his comming, as I doubt not you doe, and pray you may doe ſo ſtill, and with increaſe, that is, more and more to the true good of your ſeuerall charges, and the ſure good of your own ſoule; for which hee prayeth, and will pray: Who is
Your Worſhips humbly to be commmaunded, for his beſt in the Goſpell, ROBERT HORNE. From Mrs. Danets houſe neere Ludlow. the 19. of May. 1619.