The Ministers Portion, Title page – Dedication
THE MINISTERS PORTION.
BY WILLIAM SCLATER. BATCHELAR OF DIVINITY and Miniſter of the word of God at PITMISTER in Somerſet.
AC: OX
AT OXFORD, Printed by Ioſeph Barnes. 1612:
TO THE WORSHIPFVLL Mr THOMAS SOVTHCOT ESQVIRE, at MOONES-OTERY in Devon, grace and peace.
SIR, when I firſt meditated what at your inſtance I reviſed, and now almoſt enforced, publiſh: I expected cō tradictions from Mammoniſtes, and ſcarſe hoped to perſwade men ſavouring of better things. Such a holdfaſt is covetouſnes; ſo incredulous is preiudice. Farther oppoſition from brethren, and Iudicious men, was as farre from my thought, as I am in this point from their opinion. But Auſtin ſaith wel;Aug. cont Adverſ. leg & prophet. li. 1. c. 2…. Deus donat prodeſſe nobis non ſolûm quod docet veritas, verùm etiā quod obſtrepit vanitas. And ſuch oppoſings againſt truth are thus farre for it, that they occaſion more intentiue ſearch, and clearer diſcovery of the truth. My purpoſe is not to preſcribe to any mans faith. Nam quis ego ſum? Even the leaſt of Gods little ones. Yet as one that hath obtained mercy of God to be faithfull, let me entreat this favour from men, to be heard on even termes, with mē, I freely confeſſe, of far greater gifts, yet, as I thinke, having no ſuch evidence in this point, to carry away ſo hādſmooth a concluſion of ſuch dependance. This, I hope, will appeare to any impartiall reader, that the reaſons here brought for tythes, are much nearer to demōſtratiue, thē thoſe againſt them are to probable arguments. My poore paines I hauehave inſcribed to your worſhip, as for many your well deſervings of me, and the Church of God; ſo for that you firſt vrged a review of the firſt rude draught, and hauehave given me ſo manie occaſions to thinke you will not be the laſt in practiſing this vnprofitable profitable concluſion, when once your Iudgement ſhalbee convinced. And though I louelove not to bee peremptory, (for I know mine owne blindnes) yet this I thinke I may ſay; the reaſons on both ſides being peized in even ballance, there will ſcarce be left place for an foreign or ſuſpenſe of Iudgment, except men be reſolute to hold their concluſion in deſpight of all contrary premiſes. Now the God of all truth direct our hearts to the knowledge and louelove, and obedience of the truth. And the ſame God that begun his good worke in you, confirme, and perfect it to the day of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt. Amen.
Your worſhips in the trueſt louelove, WILLIAM SCLATER.