The Gales of Grace, Title page – Dedication
THE GALES OF GRACE; OR, The Spirituall Winde: Wherein the Myſterie of Sanctification is opened and handled. By THOMAS BARNES, Preacher of Gods word at Much-Waltham in Eſſex.
Pſal. 147.18.
He cauſeth his winde to blowe, and the waters flowe.
LONDON Printed by H.L. for Nathanael Newbery, and are to be ſold at his ſhop in Cornehil, neere S. Peters church. 1622.
To the right Worſhipful, Sir IOHN ROVVSE, Knight; the Worſhipfull Mr. HVGH EVERARD, Eſquire; Mr. I. SORRELL, and the reſt of the Congregation of Much-Waltham in Eſſex, grace, merciemercy, and peace.
TWo mēbers hath the Lord giuen Man (Right Worſhipfull, and Beloued) which are very helpefull to the ſoule, the Eye, and the Eare. The Eare heareth the word preached: the Eye lookes vponupon the word written. Varietie of Obiects of both kindes hauehave both theſe Senſes in theſe times of knowledge in the multitude of Sermons, and number of Books. So that for a man now to write, may happely ſeem needleſſe & but like the adding of water to the Ocean: And for ſuch an one as I am to write (whoſe yeres are but few, whoſe learning is but ſmall, whoſe iudgement but weak, whoſe leaſure but little, and employmēts many) may ſeem ſtrange. But both Obiections (I hope without offence) may eaſily be anſwered. For the firſt: Of a good Subiect, as too much cannot be ſpoken, ſo too much cannot be written; and we are ſo backward in ſayling towards heauen, that wee hauehave neede of all helpes to further vsus thitherward. To the ſecond, that I ſhould thruſt in my farthing amongeſt the learned and godly Talents in theſe dayes, I muſt ingenuouſly confeſſe is ſtrange preſumption, if I had nothing to ſpeak for my enterpriſe But the weightineſſe of the matter treated of may bee mine Apologie for the publication: and the vndeſerued reſpect which I hauehave had amongest you ſince my firſt comming vntounto you, is the cauſe of the Dedication. For, whom-to may I dedicate it, but to them that hauehave most right vntounto it? And who hauehave more right vntounto it, and to the Author of it, then your ſelues, in whoſe hearing it was firſt preached, for whoſe profit it was first intended, for whoſe ſakes it is now enlarged, and by whom the Author is maintained? I deſire, it may lie by you as a testimoniall of my thankefull heart vntounto you, and of my vnfayned deſire of your good as of mine owne, though it be not ſo good as I wiſh it were. It is a Doctrine of wind that I offer; yet of ſuch winde as commeth from Heauen, which Gods treaſurie, the Store-houſe of the Scriptures doth affoord. And therefore,Aelian. var. hiſt. li. 1. cap. 32. as Artaxerxes the Perſian Monarch anſwered Sinaetas (when hee preſented vntounto him an handfull of water fetcht from the Riuer Cyrus) O man, foreign.I accept thy gift, and eſteeme it precious: Firſt, becauſe of all things, water is the beſt. Secondly, becauſe it cometh from that Riuer which beareth the name of Cyrus. So I hauehave confidence you will anſwer me, We accept this Preſent; firſt, becauſe of all exhalant vapors the Wind is the pureſt: ſecondly, becauſe it is called the Winde of the Spirit, wherewithall whoſoeuer are breathed vponupon, happy they that euer they were borne.
And Howſoeuer in my manner of handling the Subiect, I can-not ſo diuinely dreſſe it, and deepely diue into it, as the food and fountaine it ſelfe doth deſerue: yet I doubt not but you will find more leaſure (at your leaſure) to reade it, then Antipater King of Macedon did a Treatiſe of Happineſſe, which one Dedicated vntounto him. I confeſſe, it is a Preſent too ſmall for one of you, beeing ſo little as it is: yet inaſmuch as the GOD of LoueLove hath ſeated you together in the ſame Congregation, made you Copartners of the ſame profeſsion, and hath made ſome of you truely the ſame in ſpiritual communion, I cannot ſeparate you in the Dedication. I hauehave beene bold with ſome of your particular names in the Inſcription: vnderunder which as vnderunder a ſhade, this Manuall ſeeketh for ſhelter for it ſelfe, and for authoritie amongest them to whoſe hands it may come; and chiefly for entertainement amongst the rest of the Pariſh, whom nameleſſe I ſubordinately after you ſend it vntounto.
Thus crauing pardon for my boldneſſe, I beſeech the Father of Lights to bleſse my Labours among you, ſo long as (with your, and your Pastours louelove and leaue) I ſhall hauehave mine aboade with you, and to multiply his fauours vponupon you, both internall, externall, and eternall, and take my leaue, promiſing and purpoſing to reſt and remaine
An earneſt Petitioner to the God of heauen for your beſt welfare. THO. BARNES.