The Height of Israels Heathenish Idolatry, Dedication 2
TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL AND Reuerend Mr. Doctor Ward, Archdeacon of Taunton, and Vice-chancelor of the Vniuerſity of Cambridge, and Maſter of Sidney-Suſſex Colledge: R.I. wiſheth all attainable happineſſe in this life, and hereafter.
Right Worſhipfull Sir, and Euer-honored Tutor:
WHEN I looke backe and conſider (as duty bindes mee,) in what age of the world, in what ripeneſſe of the Goſpell, in what Climate and Region, I was brought forth, together with the means of my education and trayning; Then doe I finde my ſelfe for euer bound in ſoule and body to the mercy and goodneſſe of the Almighty Lord God, who thus gaue me my life, being, and motion, and all other my abilities, with the bleſſed opportunity of place, time, and meanes of the Goſpel, with a call to the preaching of it, for the eternall ſaluation of mine owne poore ſoule and others: Yet ſo, that my Parents, Friends, Kindred and Countrey, as alſo my Inſtructors and Tutors, may iuſtly vnderunder God, and according to his will claime a ſhare and intereſt in mee. My deſire is, in ſome acceptable meaſure to bee anſwerable to my duty in all the parts of it. Now my whole life and ſtrength is, and euer ſhall be conſecrated to the Honour and Seruice of my Lord and Maſter IESVS CHRIST: to whoſe glory, I hauehave, by his grace, ſpared time from mine ordinary miniſteriall paines, to publiſh this preſent Treatiſe, for the behoofe, information, and inciting of my Chriſtian Brethren to glorifie God by a zealous walking with him. And for my kindred and Countrey, among other parts of my dutie daily performed on their behalfe; I thought good to expreſſe my thankfulneſſe to the whole State of the Towne and County of Newcaſtle, by dedicating to them the two former Sections of this Treatiſe, in reſpect not onelyonly of my breeding among them, but chiefly of that encouragement which from their bounty my ſtudies and Miniſteriall labours doe finde.
Now, good Sir, I ſhould much forget my duty and reſpect to you, who vnderunder God, were the onelyonly Tutor and formor of my ſtudies in the Vniuerſity, if remembring my thankfulneſſe to others, I ſhould paſſe by your ſelfe. (Though I forget not my mother the Vniuerſity, nor the Colledges, Saint Iohns and Immanuel: the latter whereof gaue me entertainment and lodged me with you ſixe yeares, the other nouriſhed and helped to maintaine mee twelue yeares. Other requitall then this thankfull acknowledgement, for them I hauehave not at this preſent.) GiueGive me leaue then thus publiquely to expreſſe my dutifull reſpect and thankfulneſſe to you alſo, by dedicating to your name this third Section, contayning a Sermon preached in your hearing,March 5. 1614. at a ſolemne Aſſembly in Saint Maries in Cambridge. Your right to it, as to all other my abilities in this kinde, is the greateſt of any mans.
I ſpare to ſpeake what further right you hauehave in mee, and how much I am beholding (in my particular) to the example of your integrity and conſcionable courſe of life, of your great and continuall paines, humility, and modeſty eueryevery way, you being as eminent in and for humilitie, as humble in eminency of gifts. But I dare not preſume to preſſe theſe while I praiſe them: I know you had rather ſo bee, then be knowne to bee, further then Gods glory and the neceſſity of the Church requires; and ſo you neither are nor can be vnknowne. I will conclude, propounding the example of your wonderfull diligence and conſtant paines, as alſo modeſty, to ſuch as in the Miniſtery ſeeke their owne eaſe, and follow their pleaſures, and by the Miniſtery ſeeke dignities and preferments to themſelues. Doubtleſſe labouring with like ſingleneſſe of heart and modeſty of minde, they ſhould finde little cauſe to doubt ſo much of Gods Prouidence, as to deſpaire of Prouiſion proportionable to their gifts. You hauehave found it vnſought for, but ſhall finde the fruit and reward much more hereafter. foreign. I will not preſume to ſtirre vp you, but my ſelfe, and other ſluggards, in and with the words of Ignatius, Ignat. epiſt. 1.to one Mary, foreign. And thus I end.
Newcaſtle vponupon Tine, April 19. 1621. Yours euer in the Lord, ROBERT IENISON.