The Discovery of the Man of Sin, Title page – To the reader
THE DISCOVERY OF THE MAN OF SINNE: WHEREIN IS SET FORTH THE CHANGES OF GODS CHVRCH,
In her Afflictions by his Raigne.
In her Consolations by his Ruine.
First preached in divers Sermons to the Vniversitie and Cittie of Oxon, by a Reverend & Iudicious Divine HR. D. of Divinity and sometimes of Queenes College.
And now published for the farther vse of both, and comfort of all that hate Antichrist and louelove the Lord Iesus Christ wheresoever: By W. H.
1. COR. 16.22.
If any man louelove not the Lord Iesus Christ let him be Anathema Maranatha.
AT OXFORD, Printed by Ioseph Barnes. 1614.
TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL my Reverend and right worthy friend Mr D. AIRAY, Provost of the Queenes College in Oxford, Grace & Peace.
I hauehave adventured once againe Right Worshipfull, reverenced, and beloved in Christ Iesus, to put into your hands, and present vntounto your view, what hath fallen into my lap, and lot from the Lord. This worthy, and excellent Treatise so behoofefull for al persons, so needfull for these times, being formerly commended to my vse, with some other things of like nature, by my beloved, and gracious friend: I did accordingly as I had occasion, vse, and pervse. Now the more I did read, ponder, and consider what I read, the more I did admire the Impressions of wisdome, learning, religion, sanctification, and many other rare parts, which in faire characters of Grace, I found stampt almost in every page of it. Certainely this Preacher sought to find out both profitable, and pleasant things, words of delight, and words of truth: not to humor, and tickle the itching eare by plausible, & vaine sounds, as of tinckling Cymbals: but to refresh the thirsty heart with waters of life, and satisfie the hungry soule with good things, I know, Sir, you are no stranger, neither to the Tree, nor fruit, having formerly dwelt together vnderunder one roofe, dranke togither of one Cisterne, and mutually reioiced togither in all offices of d…ty & louelove: yet may you now renew the tendernesse of your affection by renuing your acquaintance with the Fruit of his labours. For, seeing here your eie may with more serious observation behold, what with good attention heretofore your eare hath heard: both eie, and eare, head, and heart, may be refreshed anew with the renued presence (as it were) of an absent, & ancient friend. David for his louelove to Ionathan the Father, shewed great kindnesse to Mephibosheth his Sonne, and I doubt not but this Infant for his Fathers sake, this worke for the Authours, shall finde accesse, and acceptance in like manner at your hands. And so commending this and my selfe to your favour and louelove, I pray for continuance of Gods mercies & increase of his graces, and that both for your person, & place, to the farther building vp of the Body of Christ both in your selfe, and in all that depend vponupon you. Bunbury in Cheshire, Iuly, 8. 1614.
Yours ever in all Christian affection▪ W. HINDE
AN ADVERTISEMENT to the Reader.
CHristian Reader, I take not vponupon me to speake so much …ither of the Author, or his labour, as may match their deserts, or raise mens thoughts to any higher straine of opinion, or admiration of the same. Yet if my wordes were of so great weight, and my testimony of that worth, that I might in discharge of this dutie, procure them their due: It were a labour neither misplaced nor mispent: seeing that is no lesse due to the Gratious man, then to the vertuous woman, GiueGive him of the fruits of his hands and let his owne workes praise him in the Gates. Howsoever, for my own part, I cannot but speake what I hauehave found and felt. Wisdome herselfe (it seemeth) had a purpose to broach some of her best wines when she made a vent in …is Vessell, and called so earnestly vponupon all that thirst, to come, and buy wine without mony, and drinke freely. It is now about 12 yeares ago since first I tasted of this wine, aboue 30 since first it was mingled, & reached out to cheere the hearts of Gods children: and yet, old as it is, it is so pleasant, and wholsome at this houre, that hee that drinkes of this old, will not streight desire new, but will doubtlesse acknowledge, the old is better. It was then a cup of salvation and consolation, first tempred for, and ministred vntounto the Spouse of Christ, as a Preservatiue against the cup of abhominatiō in the whores fist; and as a Confortatiue against the cup of Affliction in her Fathers hand, whereof she must needs tast and pledg her Lord, that had himselfe begunne so deepe vntounto her. And I nothing doubt but as the tast yet remaineth, so the vigor and vertue will bee now no lesse effectuall then before. Is any weake and feeble, wanting a spirituall appetite vntounto heavenly Manna and wholsome food? let him drinke a little of this wine for his stomacke sake, and for his often infirmities. It shall refresh his spirits, warme his heart, & quicken his desires vntounto good things. Hath any drunk so deep of the whores Chalice, that being giddy therewithall, hee reeles and staggers in opinion, & religion, as a drunken man? and is ready to sinke downe and perish in his sinne? O then giuegive him of this soveraigne & sweet wine; and stay him with these flagons, comfort him with these apples; and if once he thirst, and drinke of this fountaine, if once he hunger and eat of this fruit, he shall be sicke of louelove, & his soul shall liue. I adde no more.
Only be advertised, Christian Reader, that albeit the copy which I had, was for the Bulke and body of it, reasonable intire, yet was it not without some blemishes, & breaches as it came to my hands, which by some other helpe that I had, I laboured to repair. For Allegations, & Proofes, I found it very naked & bare, & hauehave therefore made such supply in the marg…nt out of mine own observation, & provisiō, as might giuegive some better cōtentment …o such as should desire to see, and search farther into such things. Which I the rather mention, that if any thing in the margent …ee not so well and fitly suited, & matched with the tenour of the Text: the Printer, and my selfe might divide the fault betwixt vsus, but the Author might be free Wahtsoever my paines hauehave beene in searching out, and setting downe testimonies of Scripture and Controversie recordes of Story and Antiquitie (as the great varietie of matter herein contained did evidently require) The comfort I hauehave taken in the booke it selfe, the louelove I hauehave ever borne vntounto the Author, and the hope I hauehave conceaued of the benefit that may grow vntounto many thousands by putting it forth vntounto publike view, hauehave lightned and lessened▪ yea swallowed vp, and devoured all. Wherefore Christian Reader, commending this to thy vse, and thy selfe to Gods Grace, I intreat a favorable acceptance of my poore labours, and a portion in thy hearty prayers, and so ever rest,
Bunbury in Cheshire, Iuly 8. 1614. Thine in the Lord Iesus WILLIAM HINDE.