A Pattern of True Prayer, Title page – Dedication
A PATERNE OF TRVE PRAYER.
A LEARNED AND COMFORtable Expoſition or Commentarie vponupon the Lords Prayer: wherein the Doctrine of the ſubſtance and circumſtances of true inuocation is euidently and fully declared out of the holie Scriptures.
By IOHN SMITH, Miniſter and Preacher of the Word of God.
AT LONDON Imprinted by Felix Kyngston for Thomas Man, and are to be ſold at his ſhop in Pater-noſter row at the ſigne of the Talbot. 1605.
TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE EDMVND LORD SHEFFIELD, LORD LIEVTENANT, AND Preſident of his Maieſties Councell eſtabliſhed in the North: Knight of the moſt noble Order of the Garter, &c.
IT is neither ambition nor couetouſnes (Right Honourable) that moueth me to publiſh this Treatiſe to the view of all, which not long ſince I deliuered to the eares of a few, being then Lecturer in the Citie of Lincolne: but partly the motion of ſome friends, partly and chiefly the ſatisfying of ſome ſiniſter ſpirits hauehave in a manner wreſted from me that, whereto otherwiſe I had little affection. Credit through writing bookes, is a thing of ſuch dangerous hazard, by reaſon of the varietie of cenſurers, that it is doubtfull whether a man ſhall winne or loſe thereby: Gaine alſo is ſo ſlender, as that, for a booke of a yeeres paines and ſtudie, it will be a verie hard matter to attaine, if it were ſet to ſale in Pauls Church-yard, ſo much money as inck, paper, and light coſt him that penned it: ſo as except a man ſhould doate, hee muſt hauehave better grounds of publiſhing his writings, than either credit or gaine: eſpeciallie conſidering the plentifull harueſt of bookes of all ſorts, amongſt which there appeareth variable contention. In ſome it is queſtionable, whether wit or learning getteth the victorie: in others the ſtrife is betwixt wit and the truth: ſome bewray diſſentions betwixt conſcience and policie: others contend after other faſhions: All declare thus much, that except a man can adde ſomething new of his owne, it is vanitie to write bookes: for otherwiſe a man ſhal ſooner get mocks than thanks for his paines. Wherefore I doe profeſſedlie renounce all ambitious affection of credit, and couetous deſire of gaine: and betake my ſelf to a better refuge, which is the cleering of my ſelfe from vniuſt imputations and accuſations. I hauehave beene ſtrangely traduced for the doctrine I taught out of the Lords Prayer: I hauehave been vrged to anſwere in defence of the doctrine I deliuered touching that ſubiect, before the Magiſtrate eccleſiaſtical: as if ſo be I called in queſtion the truth thereof. For the cleering of the truth I am bold to publiſh this preſent Treatiſe: wherein (I proteſt before the God of heauen, and before your Lordſhip) I hauehave truly ſet downe the ſubſtance of all that which I deliuered in handling the Lords Prayer. I muſt needes confeſſe that it is not word for word the ſame (for that were impoſſible to me) yet to my knowledge it differeth not in any materiall circumſtance: nay I doe verily thinke that if I miſſe the truth, it is rather in the writing than in the preaching. Howſoeuer it be, I moſt humbly beſeech your Honour to vouchſafe the patronage of this traduced Pamphlet: I muſt acknowledge it is preſumption in me to impoſe vponupon your Honour the ſcandall of countenancing ſo ſuſpitious a writing (for who knoweth whether it ſhal gaine the approbation of the godly learned, when it commeth to their cenſure?) but for that your Lordſhip had the managing of the cauſe of difference betwixt my accuſers and me concerning this occaſion, and for that your Honour ſo wiſely and charitably compounded the controuerſie on both parts to the contentment of either of vsus; your Lordſhip might iuſtly challenge a greater title herein, than any other whatſoeuer: wherefore although it proue a troubleſome burthen, I beſeech your Honour not to refuſe it: the rather for that the honourable intereſt which your Lordſhip hath in the affections and iudgements of men honeſtly diſpoſed, will ſo farre preuaile, as to cleere your Honour from the leaſt ſpot of diſhonour, which perhaps might accrew through the patronage of ſo dangerous a tractate: yet thus much I may be bold to aſſure your Lordſhip, that this Treatiſe paſſeth with approbation to the preſſe; and doth not ſhroud it ſelfe in tenebris, as if it either ſhamed or feared the light: which may be ſome reaſon to induce your Honour the rather to receiue it into your Honourable protection: for my ſelfe I freelie confeſſe, there is in me no abilitie to declare my thankfulnes to your Lordſhip, otherwiſe than by betaking my ſelfe by ſome ſuch pamphlet to your Honours ſafe conduct: which if it ſhall pleaſe your Honour to affoord, I ſhall at all times acknowledge my thankfulnes; and inſtantly pray for your Lordſhips continuance and increaſe in al true honor and happineſſe.
Your Honours humblie at commandement, IOHN SMITH.