A Still Voice, Title page 1 – Dedication
VOX clamantis. MARK. 1. 3.
A STIL VOICE, TO THE THREE Thrice-honourable Estates OF PARLIAMENT: And in them, to all the Soules of this our Nation, of what state or condition soeuer they be.
By William Loe, Doctor of Diuinitie, and Chaplaine to the Kings most excellent Maiestie.
Printed by T. S. for Iohn Teage, and are to be sold at the Signe of the Golden-Ball in Pauls Church-yard, 1621.
TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE GEORGE, Marquesse of Buckingham, Lord high Admirall, Viscount Villiers, Baron of Whaddon, Maister of his MAIESTIES Horse, Knight of the most noble Order of the Garter, Gentleman of his Highnesse Bed-Chamber, one of his most honourable Priuy-Councell, a Patron of good Letters, and a Patterne of true Nobility. Grace and fauour be from Heauen by CHRIST.
MOST Noble, and most worthily honoured LORD. The true, and hearty Zeale, which I owe vntounto my God, King, Church, and Country, hath moued, and made me to prostrate before the Three thrice honourable Estates of PARLIAMENT, assembled, And in them to all the Cleriques, Courtiers, and Commons within our Nation, euen from Sea to Sea, and from the Riuer to the Lands end, (being ledde hereunto by the words of the Prophet prefixed) the still passages of this small Voyce, which hath laine suppressed some yeares, by meanes of a certaine Great-one, (who not long sithence was great, but now is not, so mutable and nutable is the state of things on earth) taking offence at some passages herein. Whose ouer-weening greatnesse, and wilfulnesse, had then at the least shut me vp, if not sent me (as there was great cause to suspect and feare) not the way of all flesh in respect of the manner, but of mortalitie) if some reuerend Fathers of the Church, the blessed Beaue-Peeres of Diuinitie, had not stayed that enraged fury against mee: But not long after, the hand of Almightie God surprized that greatnes, clipped it, restrained it, that it might doe no more harme, & so it remaines to this day. Happy had it beene for that man, that hee had then hearkened to that Voyce from God, deliuered by the weake ministry of him, who neuer saw his face to this day, that if it had pleased the Almightie, his soule might thereby hauehave beene awakened out of that fearefull slumber, wherein hee then lay, bewitched with the Circean Cups of Ambition, Wantonnesse, and sensuall securitie. Then had not his fingers, nor the hands of others, his Agents in euill, dropped with the cruell bloud-guiltinesse, neyther had their consciences beene tortured, and tormented with the Hellish horrour of heart-bleeding wickednesse. What I then spake in the accent, and action of a liuing man, to the greatest Auditorie of this Land, I now present to publique view, in the lesse effectual elements of a dead Letter: To no other purpose (God is my record) but intending and endeuouring hereby the aduancement of Gods glory, some good of his Church, and in all Estates a remembrance vntounto these present times, a manifestation of our happinesse vnderunder so Christian a King, whose heart detesteth all vniustice, the maintenance of the truth then deliuered, and that these palpable and pisculent imputations and aspersions of Faction, and Sedition, might in some sort be spunged out, which it pleased that Great-one mentioned to cast vponupon me at that time in an honourable Assembly, and since that time some others (strangely alienated both from our Church and State) who hauehave endeuoured to be-sprinkle me with the like, for that I vndertooke, and did reconcile, and compose, by directions from his Maiesties owne mouth, some differences in Ecclesiasticall discipline, happened into a famous Fellowship, (to which I am much obliged) resident in part beyond the Seas, whither I was not long sithence sent by authority, allowance, and Recommendation of his sacred Maiesty, and the most Reuerend Archbishop of Canterbury. Which imployment and seruice, albeit it hath in some part impayred, yea almost impouerished mee in my poore personall eflate, and lost me some friends, whom I thought had beene better minded, and may (in Gods good time) bethinke themselues better: Yet, were either the one abroad, or this seruice at home to be done againe; for the vnfained louelove I beare vntounto the free passage of Gods glorious Gospel, and to the present setled subsistants of the discipline of our Church, I would not onelyonly (as a Merchant Aduenturer) hazard my weake body, poore estate, and liuelihood; but also would willingly (as a free Minister of the Gospell) expose my selfe to all the Snibbes, Quippes, Taunts, Reproaches, Disgraces, and Punishments, that any wicked, and vngodly Great-one (little, or not at all affected to God) should preuaile against mee in, that (at the least) I might herein manifest to the World, my Willingnesse and Indeauour to maintaine and make good (quantum in me) the sacred freedome of the one, and the Christian Discipline of the other; both which, our Nation most comfortably enioyeth vnderunder God, by the blessing of so Christian a King as is our most gracious Soueraigne, vnderunder Christ Iesus, the breath of all our nosthrils, my most dread Liege-Lord and Master. Desiring all true honest English hearts, which are not poysoned with preiudicate opinion of, exotique niceties, and imitation of strangers, to iudge, if there be any passage herein, that deserueth either manicles, or menaces, or ought; but what becommeth a sober and a true English-hearted Diuine. But be this little Hin of mine either accepted or reiected (by such as care not how the World goes, so they may atchieue their owne ends) I passe not, so it may please your most noble Worth, that it may shelter it selfe vnderunder your honourable protecting fauour. When I went ouer to that seruice mentioned beyond the Seas, I made bold to present his Highnesse with a Tract entit…led, The Mystery of Mankind; and vponupon my returne, I vowed This, to your Honour. It is the poore Mite of him, that will euer remaine a Votary to God for you; That the magnificence of Gods fauors, and the munificence of his mercies may euer be multiplied vponupon you, and vponupon all your godly endeuors; That so both you, and all you take in hand, in discharge of your eminent places, may be sanctified, to the good of Gods Church, his Mai…stie, and the State, to your owne soules safetie, and that you may be great in the Kingdome of your heauenly Master, through the sauing mercies and fauour of Iesus Christ.
Your Lordships to be commanded in the seruice of IESVS CHRIST, William Loe.