Exposition of 1 Thessalonians, Title page – To the reader
AN EXPOSITION with Notes vponupon the firſt EPISTLE to the Theſſalonians.
By WILLIAM SCLATER D. D. and Miniſter of the Word of God at Pitmiſter in Sommerſet.
LONDON Printed by W. Stansby for Iohn Parker, and are to be ſold at his ſhop in Pauls Church yard at the ſigne of the Ball. 1619.
TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE THE LORD STANHOPE, BARON OF HARINGDON, ONE OF his Maiesties moſt Honorable Priuie Councell, &c. MercieMercy and Peace bee multiplyed.
RIght Honorable, and my very good Lord: Senſibly hee ſpake, and fittingly to his times, who wayling ſaid; Nuſquam inueni requiem, niſi in libro & clauſtro. Mentior, if my Soule accord him not. A window too ſoone I opened it, as Noah to his Doue, to ſee, if yet the billowes of the ancient Deluge were calmed: if in ſome eminent Mountayne ſhee might find a place to ſettle on. And behold, all ſwelling with the ſurges of Ambition, or ſoyled with the ſlime of Luxurie and baſeſt Auarice: no place ſafe where ſhee may pitch her foote. Bleſſed be that God, that giues the hand, to receiue her backe into the Arke. O munde immunde, ſaid Saint Auſtine in his holy indignation. How faſtens our pureſt ſubſtance on thy pollutions? why ſeekes it reſt in that, whoſe compoſition is of tumults? foreign, that hauehave begunne by Grace, to retire my minde, from the tumultuous hurly-burlies it is toſſed withall. And now with Agur I pray,*Pro. 30.8. Lord, feede me with foode conuenient for me: my Tuguriolum, my little Sheepe-cote, affoording retired priuacie, ſhall yeeld more tranquillitie, then the See of him, that would be ſtiled, Monarch of the Catholique Church.
Right Noble Lord, fallor? or doth your heart applaud vsus? that hauing more then ſuruiewed what euer contentment the Royalleſt Court could affoord; and ſpent the better dayes in ſeruice to the State, at length makes choice of priuacie, as ſafeſt harbour for old Age. Whether, trow I, doe you more pitie men launching into that Euripus, or praiſe God for your owne ſafe arriuall? Thanks be to God, that hath ſafe rendred you to your ſelfe; and taught you to make deuotion the taske of your Age.aEccl. 12.13. Hoc eſt omnis Homo, To feare God and keepe his Commandements. Continue herein, I dare promiſe your conſcience more tranquillitie, your perſon more honour, then all the Courts of the world can affoord you. Still let your ſoule be enamoured on the beautie of the Lords houſe: Still make your Cloſet a Temple, wherein the praiſes of God may ſound day and night. Haec via ad magni Regis Palatium. To vrge perſeuerance and progreſſe in ſanctitie, is the bent of this Scripture, thought probably the firſt of the New Teſtament, foreign, hold faſt what you hauehave receiued: Hee is faithfull that hath promiſed to giuegive you the Crowne of Life. Exiguum est quod reſtat. To faile in the laſt Act is not ſo ſhamefull, as diſcomfortable, ſith wee know who ſaid,*Pſal. 92.14. Old Age muſt be more fruitfull. If to theſe intentions my poore paynes may be vſefull to your Lordſhip, and the Church of God, I hauehave what I ſeeke; for other things, prouidebit Deus. To whoſe gracious guidance and bleſſing, I humbly betake your Lordſhip; and reſt
Your Lordſhips Chaplaine, readie to be commanded, WILLIAM SCLATER. From Pitmiſter in Sommerſet, SEPTEMB. 29. 1618.
To the Reader.
CHristian Reader, a Debter I acknowledge my ſelfe to the Church, by calling: moreouer, by promiſe: but conditionate; ſo be it I might know, what acceptance my firſt fruits found with the Church of God. Such, I now heare, not without my thankfulneſſe to God, as farre exceedes expectation, or deſert. The delay of the remainder hath had theſe cauſes. Firſt, that late intelligence. Secondly, other vnceaſing paynes. Thirdly, the Nauſea of ſome at home, whom no Sermon pleaſeth, longer then it is in hearing; nor otherwiſe, then it is extant in their owne broken, and ſometimes ſenſleſſe Notes. Fourthly, and now that flagellum ſtudioſorum, Calculus Renum, vexing ad maciem, ad ſtuporem: which hath made me welmoſt a meere Peripateticke in my ſtudies. For poore me only it is ſinfull, to hope, or accept abilities, ſo much as may afford an Amanuenſis to take my Dictates. Scilicet, God nayles vsus, where he firſt ſeates vsus. Howbeit, my ſucciſiue houres, if ſickneſſe, or preſenter paynes afford any, I promiſe to be wholly imployed that way. Meane while, if anyes thirſt be as that of him in his flight, he may perhaps, in theſe Homilies ad populum, finde, what to thirſt may afford, if not ſweetneſſe, yet ſauour.
Praying helpe of thy prayers, I reſt,
Thine in the LORD, WILLIAM SCLATER.