A Treatise of Love, Title page – Dedication
A TREATISE OF LOVE.
Written by IOHN ROGERS, Minister of Gods Word in Dedham in Essex.
God is LoueLove, and he that dwelleth in LoueLove dwelleth in God, and God in him,
1 Iohn 4. 16.
This is the message that yee heard from the beginning, that ye louelove one another,
1 Iohn 3. 11.
And this Commandement hauehave we of him, that he that loueth God, should louelove his Brother also,
1 Iohn 4 21.
LONDON, Printed by H. Lownes and R. Young, for N. Newbery, at the signe of the Starre in Popes head Alley. 1629.
TO MY LOVING Neighbours of Dedham.
LOuing and good Neighbours, the doctrine of Faith being gone forth into the World, I thought it not amisse that the Daughter should attend vponupon her Mother: and therefore to put forth a Treatise of LoueLove, to follow after Faith, as they were both handled in your hearing not very many yeares since. Now I desire that these things may liue and speake vntounto you, when I shall be taken from you: In which two if you shall profit, you cannot but doe well, God shalbe much honoured, and I shall hauehave my great desire. Now this of LoueLove, I dedicate vntounto you, that as you hauehave learned in some measure to louelove one another. so that you doe it still, and encrease more and more. I found you, by the care & diligence of my worthy Predecessor, in a peaceable state. Thus, through Gods mercy, hauehave you continued without rents or diuisions, sidings or part taking, in peace and vnitie these three and twenty yeares of my abode with you: wherein both the head and bodie of the Congregation looking one way, much ill hath bin hindred, and much good done and mainetained. And I hope so to leaue you: yea, my hearts desire is, that you may liue in peace, and godly louelove when I am gone, that as you hauehave done, so you may draw altogether as one man. So shall nothing be too hard for you, nor no force of wickednesse bee able to preuaile against you; As a bound Fagot cannot be broken, though the band loosed and sticks shattred asunder, becomes weake. As few or no suits of Law hauehave bin found amongst you, but differences either betweene your selues agreed, or by indifferent Neighbours compounded; so doe still in the name of God. And as I hauehave euer found you forward in good sort to any deed of Charity, wherin you hauehave bin moued, besides the good prouision made for your own poor: so I beseech you to continue, that you may shew forth the fruit of the Ministry of the Word so long, so long continued among you; and other townes seeing your well-doing and good order, may be prouoked by your example▪ and so God may hauehave much honour by you, and hee take pleasure to dwell among you, and be the God of your Posteritie after you, from one generation to another. Which I beseech him to grant for his mercies and his Christ his sake.
And you that be young now (which God be thanked giuegive good hope) if God let you liue to stand vp in your Predecessours roomes, see that you labour to quit your selues as well as they hauehave done; and better will be required, as hauing more light eueryevery day, & their example to make vse of. In which hope I take my leaue, and commend you all heartily to the grace of God, remaining till death
Yours in what seruice of LoueLove I can, IOHN ROGERS.