Three Sermons, Dedication 2 – To the reader 2
To the Worſhipfull Mr. EDVVARD WARRE, Eſquire: And to the truly religious and right vertuous ELIZABETH his Wife, At Chipley in Sommerſet, my much honoured friends: Mercy and peace be multiplied.
Worſhipfull:
TWO things more eſpeciall, hauehave occaſioned the preſent tendring of my ſeruice to you: The one is, the greatneeſſ of that louelove and plenty of curteſie, which from you the fountaines, hath euer beene deriued, and willingly conueyed to our familie, ſweetly to refreſh, as once the liuing, but languiſhing ſtocke, ſo now alſo all the tender branches ſprouting out from it: The other is, your vndeſerued fauours towards my ſelfe in more particular. As for the firſt, we are all heires to that ſeruice, which our deare Father in all obſeruancy towards you was euer ready to performe: for the ſecond, as I more neerely ſhall acknowledge my ſelfe to ſtand for euer obliged to you, ſo for the preſent doe deſire that my thankefull ſeruice may hauehave acceptance at your fauourable hands, wherein if (through want of skill to expreſſe it) I ſeeme any way defectiue, he pleaſed to ſuppoſe out of the kindneſſe of thoſe louing hearts of yours, that, that which you ſee not heere fully tendered by my vnlearned quill, is inwardly in wiſhing thoughts ſupplied: In confidence whereof, here I dedicate my ſelfe, and theſe few leaues, penned by the Author my deceaſed Father to your worthineſſe, hoping your Worſhips will vaile my boldneſſe in your good acceptance, and truſting (for the Authors ſake) that your ſtrong hands will ſupport this poſthume worke (wreſted from me by importunity of ſome my reuerend, and iudicious friends) which can liue now by no other heat, then what your beames giues it. It flies to you as a bereaued Orphan for ſhelter, confident of ſafety from the worlds vpbraiding, if you vouchſafe to yeeld it patronage. Now the God of all mercy, that hath ſo richly furniſhed you with his ſauing grace, preſerue and keepe you blameleſſe vntounto the comming of the Lord Ieſus, Amen.
Your Worſhips in all thankfull reſpectfulneſſe WILLIAM SCLATER. From my Chamber in Kings Colledge in Cambridge. Nou. 18. 1628.
To the Reader.
COurteous Reader; Bee pleaſed to weigh firſt in the ballance of thy more mature deliberation the ſubſtance of theſe enſuing leaues, before thou paſſe any cenſure on me, who, through the graue aduice of thoſe, to whoſe iudgement J ſhall euer ſubſcribe, am now the publiſher of them: accept them fauourably, as they are well intended, and if thou reapeſt from them any comfort to thy conſcience, or encreaſe of thy faith, giuegive God the glory, and vſe it to thy greater benefit: Farewell.
Thine in the Lord W. S.