Joshuas Godly Resolution, Title page – Dedication
IOSVAHS GODLY Reſolution in conference with Caleb, touching houſhold gouernement for well ordering a familie.
WITH A twofold Catechiſme for inſtruction of youth; the firſt ſhort, for the weaker ſort, ſet forth in ſixe principall points; the latter large for other of greater growth, and followeth the order of the common Authorized Catechiſme, and is an explanation thereof: both ſet forth for the benefit of his Chriſtian friends and wel-willers.
By RICHARD BERNARD preacher of Gods word, at Woorksoppe in Nottingam-ſhire.
1. Pet. 2. 2. As new-borne babes deſire that ſincere milke of the word, that ye may grow thereby.
Printed at London by IOHN LEGATT, Printer to the Vniuerſitie of Cambridge, and are to be ſold in Pauls Church-yard at the ſigne of the Crowne by Simon Waterſon. 1612.
To the right Worſhipfull Sir Henrie Pakenham Knight, and to his religiouſly affected Ladie, all good and ſound comforts tending to the beſt and moſt aſſured ioyes in glorie are heartily wiſhed.
RIGHT Worſhipfull: man was made for his Creators glorie; the way is to know him, to obſerue his good pleaſure, and with alacrity of ſpirit to doe his will; Though all receiue Being of him, yet moſt, as the Heathen, know him not at all. Some ſort in the world profeſſe him: but are little obſeruatiue of his will: theſe onelyonly ſay, Lord, Lord; and therewith reſt ſo content: other doe aske, what he would hauehave done; and when they know his pleaſure, they hauehave it onelyonly vponupon their tongue, but far from practiſe. Very few know with faith, and doe what they beleeue and know, with conſcience. Turks for their liues, are as good as many Chriſtians: and theſe no better then other, but for an idle profeſſion. Meanes ſure hauehave we many to amend this; as his holy word, his multitude of mercies and manifold chaſtiſements: But the firſt is deſpiſed, therefore it preuaileth not: the ſecond is vnthankefully abuſed, and mercies mooue vsus not: and the laſt is contemned, we grow hard, and therefore o Lord ſaue vsus, for iudgements reclaime vsus not. But the godly wiſe, will I hope, lay theſe things to heart, though moſt be careleſſe: leſt correction turne to deſtruction, mercies be remooued, and of the Goſpel we be vtterly depriued. The Lord may thus doe, it is our deſeruing; that by iuſtice he reuenge not himſelfe of vsus, it is mercy ſtill without any mans merit God make vsus thankefull, that our knowledge may cauſe an acknowledgment heartily, with amendment ſeriouſly, ſo ſhall we enioy what we hauehave, and hauehave what yet we poſſeſſe not, for our greater good.
My words of complaint and my heartie wiſh tend to ſtirre vp ſome to well doing, that, if ſo. God pleaſe, in a world of wickedneſſe, there may be found Noahs preparing the Arke, and godly Lots dwelling in Sodome, that when deſtruction commeth, ſuch may find in that day fauour in Gods ſight for themſelues and their families. For this end I hauehave ſent forth, with the principles of religion, and the points of Catechiſme, certaine inſtructions deliuered Dialogue wiſe, teaching and perſwading all Chriſtians, to a mutuall care of one an others ſaluation, & eueryevery houſhold gouernour, with the members thereof, to an orderly diſpoſing of themſelues, that Ieſus Chriſt may dwell amongſt them, and that the houſes of Chriſtians may be lodgings for the Lord, and not dennes of infidells, or habitations of diuells.
What hath bin deliuered after an other maner, the ſame changed for a more eaſie information, I now offer (right Worſhipfull) thankefully vntounto you: let it pleaſe you to accept my litle labour for your Worſhips ſo large kindneſſe alreadie ſhewed. I do acknowledge my ſelfe beholden: I profeſſe readineſſe, to expreſſe ſtill more thankfulneſſe, as time ſhall afforde fit occaſion. In the meane ſpace I ſhall not ceaſe to pray for you, that Ioſuahs reſolution may be euer in you, that you may follow the ſteppes of Father Abraham, and your good Ladie imitate the holy graces of Sarah, to your houſholds happineſſe, and both your endleſſe comforts here and in heauen,
Amen.
Workſoppe, Auguſt. 1. Your Worſhips to be commanded, Richard Bernard.