Twenty-Nine Lectures, Title page – Dedication
TWENTY NINE LECTVRES OF THE CHVRCH; Very neceſſary for the conſolation and ſupport of Gods Church, eſpecially in theſe times:
Wherein is handled, firſt, in generall concerning firſt, the Name; ſecondly, the Titles; thirdly, the Nature, fourthly, the diuiſion of the true Church:
Secondly, of the viſible Church; firſt, the Definition ſecondly, the Cauſes; thirdly, the Members; fourthly, the Markes and Notes; fifthly, the Gouernment; ſixthly, the Priuiledges; ſeuenthly, the Aduerſaries; eighthly, the Authority:
And laſtly, the application of it to all Churches in the World ſo farre as they are knowne to vsus.
By that Learned and Faithfull Preacher, Maſter IOHN RANDALL, Batchelor of Diuinity, Paſtor of Saint Andrewes Hubbart in little Eaſtcheape, London, and ſometimes Fellow of Lincolne Colledge in Oxford.
Publiſhed by the Coppie perfected and giuen by the Author in his life time; carefully preſerued and adorned with Notes in the Margent, by the late faithfull Miniſter of Chriſt, Maſter William Holbrooke.
Glorious things are ſpoken of Thee, O City of God.
Pſal. 87.3.
London, Imprinted by Felix Kyngston for Nathanael Newbery, at the Starre in Popes-head Alley. 1631.
TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL, TRVLY RELIGIOVS, AND MY much honoured Friend, Mr. Richard Knightly, of Preſton-Capes, in the County of Northampton, Eſquire, and one of his Maieſties Iuſtices of Peace in the ſame County, Grace and peace be mulplied, &c.
Worthy Sir,
IT is a Prouerbe no more common than true, that True LoueLove will creepe where it cannot goe; as appeares in that fact of Mary Magdalen, who wiſhing well to the perſon of Chriſt, ſhee waſheth his feet; yea, it will begin below at the ground, to aſcend vp to the top; as Zacheus when hee climbed the figtree to get the ſight of Christ. LoueLove to Chriſt will ſhew it ſelfe by a louelove of his Church, and aſcend to him in heauen, by ſpeaking a good word for it, and ſeeking and procuring her welfare here on earth.Matth. 28. Jt is that ſpirituall Temple to which Christ hath promiſed his perpetuall preſence during the time of this world. And it is the duty of eueryevery Chriſtian, ſo farre as in him lyeth, to further the building thereof, according to that of Chryſoſtome Hom. in Act. 8. foreign, that eueryevery one of the faithfull ought to edifie the Church. Jf they can doe nought elſe, yet let them imitate Dauids patterne, Pſal. 51.18. And hearken to his precept, Pſal. 122.6 Sutable to the practice of the Jewes in the building of the Temple; ſome did giuegive one gift, ſome another, ſome did labour in hewing, ſquaring, others in bringing, and bearing them to the raiſing vp of the ſtructure. But eſpecially is the burden of this work layed vponupon the ſhoulders of Miniſters, which like Bezaleel and Aholiab, are fitted and furniſhed of God for this worke, and hauehave the cure and care thereof committed to them. Now the Lord hath not giuen to all alike, but to ſome more, ſome leſſe; yet all for the good of his Church. To the Author of this Treatiſe he had giuen more than ordinary gifts, as his works already publiſhed do ſhew. He had the honor to be a wiſe Maſter-builder, to be like thoſe builders in Nehem. 4.17. with one hand he wrought in the worke, with the other he held a weapon, as you ſhall ſee apparently in this Treatiſe, wherin hee doth confirme profeſſed truths, and confute oppoſite errors. Jt pleaſed God, whileſt he was liuing, to make him an happy inſtrument of ſtaying many in the Church, who were ready to fall from it, and to gaine many in, which by ſeducements had been drawne away. And as God gaue ſuch ſucceſſe to his Labours when he was aliue; So, J truſt, they ſhall find the ſame, though he be dead, if read with a ſingle eye. I dare aſſure you it is not the Treatiſe of any other, but of him, whoſe labours need not feare the Light. Jt was perfected by his owne hand in his life, and giuen to a neare, and deare friend of mine, who reſts in the Lord, who had hoped to hauehave publiſhed it in his life, but being called away ere he could effect it, J hauehave endeauoured to helpe to bring it forth to light, and J doe here dedicate it to your Worſhip, whoſe worthy care and earneſt deſire I know is, ſo farre as in you lieth, to further the good of the Church. J might ſay much of your worth to the world, but thoſe that doe not know you, will thinke I flatter; thoſe that doe, will thinke J ſay too little. But what Salomon ſaith of the vertuous woman, Prou. 31. vlt. ſo I of you, your owne workes praiſe you in the gates. And as Boaz ſaid to Ruth, Ruth 3.11.ſo may J of you, changing the words a little; All the people, not onelyonly of that place where you liue, and I was borne, but all the people of that country know you to be a vertuous Gentleman. Go on, good Sir, ſtand for God, and he will ſtand for you, honor him, and as he hath, ſo he will honour; and what ſeruice J may doe you by my prayers, or otherwiſe, you ſhall be aſſured of. The Lord bleſſe you and yours, and all your ample and religious kindred.
Your Worſhips in any thing J may, to be commanded Ithiel Smart.