The Mirror or Miracle of Gods Love Unto the World of His Elect, Title page – Dedication
THE MIRROVR OR MIRACLE OF GODS LOVE VNTOUNTO the world of his ELECT. PREACHED ON THE third of Iohn, verſe the ſixteenth: Wherein the ſaid Scripture is very learnedly expounded, and the rich treaſures of Gods grace in CHRIST are accurately opened. By that faithfull ſeruant of Chriſt, and preacher of his Goſpell, Mr. PAVL BAINE.
Rom. 5.8. But God commendeth his louelove towards vsus, in that while we were yet ſinners, Chriſt died for vsus.
Rom. 8.32. He that ſpared not his owne Sonne, but deliuered him vp for vsus all: How ſhall he not with him alſo freely giuegive vsus all things?
London, printed by H.L. for Nathanael Newbery: and are to be ſold at his ſhop vnderunder St. Peters Church in Cornhill, and in Popes head Alley, at the ſigne of the Starre. 1619.
TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL SIR THOMAS ROBERTS, KNIGHT, and the very worthy Gentleman, Mr Walter Roberts, his Sonne and heire; with all externall comforts, the eternall bleſſing of GODS louelove in CHRIST.
RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL:
WHat ſome rich men, who are themſelues childleſſe, with good proofe & comfort doe, in bringing vp the orphane child of ſome deceaſed friend; the ſame, or ſome ſuch like thing hauehave I aſſaied to do in the publiſhing of this Sermon. I my ſelfe goe childleſſe for any publike birth of mine owne braine: nor is that any griefe vntounto me. There is no need (I well perceiue) of my ſlender helpe in this kinde, either … this ſuperfluitie of vſeleſse pamphlets, (to ſay no worſe of them) wherewith our age ouerflowes; or in this ſtore (which to the glorie of Gods grace in our daies, and iust praiſe of their authours, I acknowledge) of well meant and well deſeruing labours. And what need ſoeuer there were, I am too weak an Atlas to vphold this firmament.Authores non oportet libros ſed theſauros componere. Domiti… P…ſo. Writings of Author… (ſaieth one well) ſhould bee, not ſo much bookes packt vp with paper, and blackt ouer with inke, as Treaſuries repleniſht with variety of choyſeſt learning: Nor (as I conceiue) empty coffers filled with the fome and fume of idle heads, nor dead mens coffins pestered with the rotten carrion of prophane, filthy, and corrupted hearts, nor olde chests ſtuffed with ruſty iron, thread bare rags, and refuſe geare; but rich cabinets, at whoſe opening the Reader might finde ſtore, new and old, of the beſt and rarest things which Canaan, Greece, or Rome doth yield. With which variety I do too well know, that it is beyond my ſcant ſtore to furniſh the table, and entertaine my gueſts. I am therefore well content to ſit ſtill, and chuſe rather to feed vponupon the ſweet and wholeſome hony which other industrious Bees gather and bring vntounto the hiue, applauding their well furniſht and well poliſht works; then to come vponupon the publique ſtage to do that which needs not, or attempt that which I cannot, either with iust ſhame for my Bayardlike boldnes, or euen from the moſt fauourable, with more pity for my well meaning, then prayſe for my well deſeruing. Notwithſtanding, lighting vponupon this Sermon of that both learned and godly Diuine, Mr Paul Baine (of whoſe gracious ability in preaching Gods word, ſomtime your owne eares, &, I perſwade my ſelfe, your harts alſo were witneſſes) as a poore orphane babe of a deceaſed friend, as for the memory of its Author, which will euer be deare vntounto mee, I did gladly embrace and entertaine it: ſo induced by the example of others, who with good acceptance and ſeruice to the Church, publiſh both larger Treatiſes and briefe Sermons of his making; I hauehave ventured to ſhew my ſelfe ſo farre on this Theater, as to ſet it forth to publike view, and make it common vntounto others with mee. Wherein good men, I preſume, will both accept my good meaning, to doe that for them by the labours of other men, which I cannot by mine owne (that is to ſet forward their knowledge in the great myſterie of godlineſſe) and conne mee thanke, who hauehave ſet vp for them ſuch a faire and cleere light, to diſcouer that abſtruſe myſtery, and to light them onward in that way. For, there is ſcarce in the Book of God, a Mine that is more rich and aboundant in diuine metall and myſtery, then the Text handled in this Sermon. In which at one viewe, as in a cleere mirrour, there is preſented to vsus the fountaine (Gods eternall louelove) from which all good bleſsings iſſue and flowe forth vntounto vsus; the common ciſterne (Ieſus Chriſt, the onelyonly begotten of God, beſtowed on vsus) in whō al theſe bleſsings (as al waters in the Sea) are gathered together, and incloſed; the bucket (Faith) whereby wee may draw out of this Well whatſoeuer grace wee doe neede; Laſtly, the moſt precious and ſweet waters, which are heere in plentifull manner for vsus to draw and drinke of: that is, euerlaſting bliſſe and ſaluation of ſoule and body. It is much then to bee wiſhed, that as this Scripture is familiar in the mouthes of many; ſo the myſteries thereof were well vnderſtood and cloſe applied to their hearts. Whereunto this Treatiſe, I dare promiſe, will affoord ſome good helpe to thoſe that will deigne diligently to peruſe it▪ For, herein the foreſaid points are diſcuſſed and diſcourſed, with that equall mixture of learning and pietie, that both the learned ſhall meete with ſome things not very common perhaps not to increaſe, yet to renew his more ſecret knowledge, and whe… his iudgement; and alſo the godly Chriſtian ſhall not vvant wherewith to feede his deuouteſt meditations, and enkindle his beſt affections toward God.Landat ven…les qui vult extrud…remer…es. Horat. But leaſt I doe ſeeme like ſome deceitfull Broker, to ſet worth on worthleſſe wares, by goodly words; I will leaue the proofe hereof to your owne, and the iudgement of other Chriſtian, and not faſtidious Readers. OnelyOnly (good Sir) giuegive mee leaue to ſend it abroad vnderunder the ſhield and ſhadow of your Worſhips name; and in the patronage thereof, to aſſociate with you your very worthy ſonne. I could not well ſeparate you in this ſmall office of kindneſſe, whom nature hath ioined ſo neerely by the ſecond of her ſtraiteſt bonds; and much goodwill in ſundry fauours, hauehave made ioint partners and patrons vntounto mee.Fulmen Lauri frut. cem non icit. P…in. l. 2. c 55. Your two names, as a Laurell Garland wreathed on the fore-front heereof, this Sermon, will (I truſt) helpe to guarde it from the blaſting of euill tongues; or like the fortunate Starres of Caſtor and Pollux, Plin. l. 2. c. 37.when they appeare double, giuegive hope of the more ſecure paſſage, vntounto it. It is a Worke, I am ſure, that will well beſeeme your gentleneſſe, To patronize this Posthume Orphane; nor can it bee any blemiſh to your reputations, To lend your countenance to the child of ſo good a man. Accept therefore (much reſpected Sirs) this ſlender preſent which I offer you, as the best acknowledgement which I can make of your conſtant louelove and kindneſſe, whereby I hauehave had ſpeciall comfort in the place where I liue. It were happely more credit for mee to make this whatſoeuer ſatisfaction out of mine owne ſtocke: but it will bee your greater gaine, that I doe it out of anothers purſe: Mine owne would proue but ſhort pay, and copper coine; whereas what heere I hauehave borrowed to tender vntounto you, is currant and pure gold of Gods ſanctuary: which, if it pleaſe you to put it vp, will adde ſome good increaſe to your ſpirituall treaſure of ſauing knowledge. What on my part is wanting in performance, I will make vp with my harty deſires and prayers for your proſperous ſtate in the world, and ſpirituall welfare in the Lord.
At the Free-ſchoole in Cranebrooke in Kent, December the 14. 1618. Your Worſhips, in all Chriſtian ſeruices, J. E.