The Seven Golden Candlesticks, Title page – Dedication
THE SEAVEN GOLDEN CANDLESTICKES. Englands Honour. THE GREAT MYSTERIE OF GODS MERCIEMERCY YET TO COME. WITH Peace to the pure in heart aduiſing to VNITIE among our ſelues. By RICHARD BERNARD, Miniſter at Batcombe in Somerſetſhire.
LONDON, Printed for Iohn Budge, dwelling in Pauls Church-yard at the ſigne of the Greene Dragon. 1621.
TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE, WILLIAM Lord CAVENDISH Earle of Deuonſhire; IOHN Lord DARCY, Baron of Meinell; IOHN Lord HOLLEYS Baron of Houghton, his very honourable good Lords, heere increaſe of all true honour, and hereafter the fruition of that happines which is in Heauen. AND TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL
Sir Robert Philips, AND Sir Iohn Horner, KNIGHTS.
Iohn Powlet, AND Robert Hopton. ESQVIRES.
Iuſtices of the Peace in the Countie of Somerſet, louers of their Countrie, my worthily honoured good Friends, louelove and peace be multiplyed, internally within themſelues, externally to one an other, with hope of eternall comfort in the end.
RIGHT HO:) (RIGHT WOR:
YOur ready condeſcending at my requeſt to grace my Perſon with your ioynt teſtimonie together, maketh me now thus bold to craue your fauour and acceptance together to countenance this my labour.
That which here I offer to your view is firſt the face of the ſeuenfold eſtate of Chriſts Church, typed out in the ſeuen Churches of Aſia, vnderunder the title of the ſeuen golden Candleſtickes. In this you may behold what is alreadie paſt, what things are now in preſent being (in which the Papiſts make themſelues merrie; but it is their Cygnea cantio, before their day of mourning) and what the eſtate hereafter ſhall be, which wee are to exſpect and looke for in the appointed time. In the ſecond place, is added Englands Honour, wherein is ſhewed how highly, and that many wayes God hath aduanced this noble Nation, to incourage vsus ſtill in his ſeruice againſt that Antichriſtion power, and Heatheniſh Superstition. In the third place, is prooued that great Myſterie of the ſaluation of that ancient people of God, much hindered by that Romiſh Religion. In concluſion, is an aduice to Peace and Vnitie at home, that wee may bend our ſtrength againſt our Enemies abroad.
I humbly craue pardon, if herein I hauehave bin ouer-bold to preſent your Honours, and other ſo worthy Perſonages, with ſuch ſmall Treatiſes. I know them little in ſhew, but not ſo in ſubſtance. The Church is the Spouſe of Chriſt, the verie Queene of Heauen, heere ſhee is liuely painted out. The glory of our Kingdome is our Crowne, and peace with louelove the bond of perfection; the taſte of theſe things, I hope, ſhall not bee vnacceptable, neyther the good will of him that offereth the ſame, for no other end verily, but to leaue a teſtimonie to the World of his humble ſeruice, and of his duty in all thankfulneſſe, who doth and euer will acknowledge himſelfe,
Batcombe, March. 10. Your Honours and Worſhips much bounden and to be commanded, RICHARD BERNARD.