The Name Altar, Title page – Imprimatur
THE NAME ALTAR, OR ΘΥΣΙΑΣΤΗ'ΡΙΟΝ, anciently given to the HOLY TABLE. A Common-place, or Theologicall Diſcourſe, in a Colledge Chappell more than two yeares ſince. BY JOSEPH MEDE B. D. and Fellow of Chriſts Colledge in Cambridge.
LONDON, Printed by M. F. for JOHN CLARK, and are to be ſold at his Shop under S. Peters Church in Cornhill. MDCXXXVII.
GENTLE READER,
ALong Preface would not become a Treatiſe of ſo ſmall a bulk. OnelyOnly therefore, in a word or two, thou art deſired to take notice, that this Diſcourſe was a private Exerciſe, delivered in a Colledge Chappel, above two full years ſince, and ſo before the preſent controverſie about that ſubject, whereof it treats, was commenced by any publick writing: and therefore not to be ſuſpected to ayme at, or to have relation to any mans opinion or perſon ſince intereſſed therein.
That it was never intended for the publick view, but, as thou mayſt eaſily perceive by the forme it ſtill carries unaltered, fitted properly to that private Auditory and time, wherein it was uttered. But when, by occaſion of the late polemicks, it was copied out, to cōmunicate to ſome friends, for their better reſolution in the controverted point: it chanced to fall into the hands of ſome, who ſo wel liked it, as that they thought, the time of its compoſure eſpecially conſidered, (which by way of caution was then prefixed in the front) it would, being made publick, conduce to peace, and ſetling of mens minds and judgements in this queſtion.
The hope of ſo deſireable a good prevailed with the Author (otherwiſe the moſt unwilling of any man to come abroad) to permit it to the Preſſe. For whom would it not grieve to ſee, that the very NAME of That, the approach whereunto, was wont, and ſtill ſhould, diſſolve all differences,Matth. 5. ſhould now become the occaſion of ſo much quarrell?
Thus much I thought good to admoniſh thee: and ſo hoping thou wilt make a favourable and candide conſtruction of what is preſented unto thee, with no ill meaning (I dare aſſure thee) I bid thee Farewell.
PErlegi eruditum hunc Tractatum, cui Titulus eſt [The Name ALTAR, or ΘΥΣΙΑΣΤΗ'ΡΙΟΝ, anciently given to the HOLY TABLE] in quo nihil reperio ſanae doctrinae, aut bonis moribus contrarium, quo minùs cum utilitate publica imprimatur, ita tamen, ut ſi non intra tres menſes proximè ſequentes typis mandetur, haec licentia ſit omnino irrita.
Ex aedibus Lambethanis 17. Calen. Junii, 1637. Rmo in Chro Patri, & Dno D. Arch. Cant. Sacellanus Domeſt. GUIL. BRAY.