A Caveat for Cold Christians, Title page – Dedication
A CAVEAT FOR COLD CHRISTIANS.
IN A SERMON PREACHED BY Mr. PAVL BAYNE, SOMTIMES Miniſter of Gods Word at St. Andrewes, in Cambridge.
WHEREIN THE COMMON DISeaſe of Chriſtians, with the remedie, is plainly and excellently ſet downe for all that will vſe it.
Iohn 15.9.10.
Continue ye in my louelove. If ye keepe my Commandements, ye ſhall abide in my louelove.
AT LONDON Imprinted by Felix Kyngston, for Nathanael Newbery, and are to be ſold at his ſhop vnderunder St. Peters Church in Cornhill, and in Popes-head Alley, right againſt the ſigne of the white horſe. 1618.
TO THE WORSHIPFVLL, HIS SINGVLAR GOOD FRIEND, Mr. ROBERT CLAVERING, Towne-Clarke of Newcaſtle, all happineſſe of a better life, and this preſent.
SIr, conſidering the good acceptance that ſome former few Sermons of that religiouſly-learned, and learnedly-religious Diuine, Maſter Paul Bayne hauehave had with the Church of God, the enſuing Sermon lying hitherto by me, I was (without difficulty) induced to make it publike. For if I ſhould longer conceale it, what know I whether ſome body elſe, who had not the like interest to it that my ſelfe hauehave, might not preuent me in printing this, as well as they hauehave done in publiſhing ſome other things of the like nature? Moreouer, looking into the carriage and frame of this draught, I did not ſee how it could diſparage any of the rest, which are flowne abroad before it. Laſtly, if we will ponder the ſubiect matter diſcourſed of in the following leaues, I will permit it to any indifferent wiſe-hearted Christian Reader, who vieweth the estate of the times, and waigheth aduiſedly what ſingular vice raigneth; what eſpeciall graces are ordinarily defectiue among Profeſſors, whether this Sermon vttereth not*Commoda accommoda. profitable things, and profitable things in their ſeaſon. For when (reſpected Sir) did the like wofull declining from the ancient feruor of our first louelove, ſo generally ſpread it ſelfe through all the quarters of our Iland? He hath but halfe an eye, who looking vp and downe, beholdeth not, that eueryevery little nothing in zealous forwardneſſe of profeſsion, ſeemeth (for the most part) very ſufficient. We will neither diligently prouoke our ſelues to liuely proceedings in the way of powerfull walking with God; neither will we patiently endure others to outſtrip vsus, and to aſpire vnweariedly after the highest pitch of well doing. This leauing our firſt louelove, this abatement of former light and heate in our Christian courſe, is proued in the enſuing Sermon, and reproued. When was there ſo little minding and remembring whence we are (generally) not ſlidden, but (as it were) fallen headlong? When were there ſo few ſincere and ſetled reſolutions, to repent of the euill of relinquiſhing our firſt louelove, a ſinne wherein our land hath ſinned, beſides all its other ſinnes? Alas, the ſanctified employment of our memories, to conſider whence we are fallen; ſhame and confuſion of face working true repentance, that we are ſo fowlie fallen; are ſtrange things vntounto vsus! although onelyonly the exerciſe of theſe graces can raiſe vsus vp to true happineſſe in this life, and in the next. That we may ſet vponupon theſe ſauing practiſes, wee are effectually called vponupon in the fore-named Sermon. So that (as I formerly ſaid) it will (I perſwade my ſelfe) proue both profitable and ſeaſonable to the Chriſtian Reader; who hath a diſcerning ſpirit, both what his owne wants are, and how, by this little booke, ſome pretty ſupply may be affoorded him for his recouering.
Thus much why the Sermon is publiſhed: a word or two (Worthy Sir) why, by a more eſpeciall inſcription, I hauehave dedicated it to your name. Firſt (therefore) I was moued hereto with an earnest deſire, to manifeſt further then euer yet I hauehave done, the entireneſſe of my deareſt affections toward you; who after our many yeeres comfortable louing and liuing together, of late hauehave been remoued from me into thoſe Northerne parts. Not being therefore now able face to face to enioy the wonted ſweet intercourſe of ſpeech, and other friendlike offices, I longed (notwithſtanding) to tell you, you were not ſo much out of mind, as out of ſight. Secondly, I deſired that the dedication might befit the perſon, remembring Senecaes counſell:*Vtique cauebimus, ne munera ſuperuacua mittamus: vt foeminae aut ſeni arma venatoria, aut ruſtico libros, aut ſtudijs ac literis dedito retia. Sen. de ben. l. 1. cap. 11. we muſt take heede wee ſend not ſuperfluous gifts, as to a woman or old man hunting weapons; or to a clowne, bookes; or nets to one following his ſtudies, and learning. On the contrary, to ſend a booke to a ſcholer; or a Sermon, to an experienced profeſſor, I cannot ſee but it will hold good proportion.
Thus not doubting, but you will louingly receiue what was louingly intended, I take my leaue; deſiring that hee who hath begun the good worke ſome yeeres agoe in you, and hath made you graciouſly proceed hitherto; euen hee (the mercifull and true God) would perfectly accompliſh it, vntounto the day of Ieſus Chriſt.
Yours in the ſureſt bond, EZ. Ch. London. 1618.