Eight Sermons at the University of Oxford, Title page – Dedication
EIGHT SERMONS PVBLIKELY PREACHED IN THE VNIVERSITY OF OXFORD, the ſecond at St Peters in the Eaſt, the reſt at St Maries Church. Begunne in the yeare 1595. Decemb. XIIII.
NOW FIRST PVBLISHED BY SEBASTIAN BENEFIELD Doctor, and Profeſſour of Divinity for the Lady MARGARET.
ROM. 1.16.
I am not aſhamed of the Goſpell of Chriſt: for it is the power of God vntounto ſalvation, to every one that beleeveth.
AT OXFORD, Printed by Ioſeph Barnes. 1614.
TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE THOMAS LORD ELLESMERE, LORD HIGH CHANCELLOR OF ENGLAND, AND THE MVCH HONOVRED CHANCELLOR OF THE VNIVERSITIE OF OXFORD.
RIGHT HONOVRABLE
THeſe Sermons, the firſt fruits of my labours in the Miniſtery, preached many yeares ſince in the publique aſsemblies of this famous Vniuerſity, do now at length adventure to go into the Country, to ſee what entertainement they can finde there. There they doubt not of reſpect, if they may be graced with the countenance of ſome worthy patronage. It is my part to ſeeke it for them. And of whom ſhall I rather ſeeke it, then of your HONOVR? They were ſtudyed, penned, and delivered in that renowned Academie, whereof now, when they are publiſhed, your HONOVR is the chiefe ruler. To your HONOVR therfore do they of right belong. Receiue them much-Honoured Lord into your protection, & ſhield them againſt the tongues of railers. They will ſay: Is this the myrrh, the incenſe, the gold? are theſe the pearles, we looked he ſhould bring to the building of the Tabernacle? I reply, that Goats haire, Ex. 35.23and the skins of Rammes, and Badgers, are welcome to that worke: and doe wiſh, that ſome willing offering of theirs may further it. If it be demaunded, why at this time I offer ſo ſimple a preſent to your Honourable view? My anſwere is; I do it to teſtifie that dutifull obſervance, & thankfulneſſe, which I owe vntounto your HONOVR. We Schollers, of all others muſt acknowledge our ſelues obliged to your HONOVR. Many, as well in this, as in that other Vniverſity, might bury their bones in their cloyſters, did not your HONOVR daily ſend them forth to labour (God graunt they all proue labourers) in the vineyard of the Lord. Mat. 9.38.For mine owne particular; your Honourable countenance was of late moſt ready to ſettle me in the Divinity Lecture for the Lady MARGARET, and was within theſe few weekes as forward to advance me to a higher preferment; but it pleaſed God otherwiſe to diſpoſe of that. This your Honours more then credible benignity towards one, whom your HONOVR never ſaw, can I forget? Its impoſſible. My right hand ſhould deſerue to looſe her cunning, Pſa. 137.5would ſhee not take her firſt opportunity to write of ſo great bounty. For this cauſe, at this time, is this poore talent of mine preſented to your HONOVR. Accept it Honourable Lord, as the ſincere teſtimony of my thankefull heart; and vouchſafe me ſtill your Honourable favour. God Almighty ſhowre downe plentifully of his beſt bleſſings vponupon your HONOVR, and make you happy, and bleſſed in all your waies: and after fulneſse of age and felicity in this world, crowne he you with everlasting glorie in the Higheſt Heavens. From my Study in Corpus Christi College in Oxford, Iuly 2. 1614.
YOVR HONOVRS moſt bounden in all duty, and ſervice, SEBASTIAN BENEFIELD.