The Christians Sacrifice Better than all the Legal Sacrifices of Jews, Title page – Dedication
THE CHRISTIANS SACRIFICE: Much better then all the Legall Sacrifices of the Iewes; and without the which, all the ſaid Legall Sacrifices of the Iewes, euen when they were in force, were not acceptable to God.
OR, A Logicall and Theologicall expoſition of the two firſt verſes of the twelfth to the ROMANES, with all the doctrine in the ſaid two verſes, plainly laid forth, and fitly applied according as theſe times do require the ſame.
Wherein alſo beſides the orthodoxall expoſition of the ſaid words, diuers other places of Scripture by the way occurring, before ſomewhat obſcure, are ſo naturally interpreted, as that the iudicious Reader ſhall thinke his paines well beſtowed in vouchſafing to reade this Treatiſe following.
With the Authors Poſtſcript to his children, as it were his laſt Will and Teſtament vntounto them.
LONDON, Printed by WILLIAM IONES. 1622.
TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE AND MOST TRVLY RELIGIOVS ROBERT EARLE OF WARWICKE, and Baron of Leez. AND TO HIS MOST HOPEFVLL YONG SONNE AND heire, ROBERT Lord Rich. All increaſe of true pietie and honour in this life, and euerlaſting glory and happines in the life to come.
Moſt Noble Earle, and Right Honorable Lord.
IF Dauid ſo well acc…pted of the kindnes of Barzillai the Gilaadit (though his ſubiect) performed1. Sam. 17. 27. vntounto him in his diſtreſſe by the treaſon of his ſonne Abſalon, that being deliuered and reſtored to his kingdome, he did not onelyonly offer Princely entertainment to the ſaid Barazillai himſelfe, but vponupon his refuſall thereof did alſo moſt graciouſly accept of his ſonne Chinham to be in his Court: yea,2. Sam. 19. 33. 36. if he were alſo ſo mindfull of the ſaid loyall kindnes of Barzillai, that vponupon his death bed he gaue charge to his ſonne Salomon to ſhew kindnes to the ſonnes of the ſaid Barzillai, and to let them be of thoſe that ſhould 1 Kin. 2. 7.cate meate at his table, becauſe they had come to him when he fled from his ſonne Abſolom: yea, if mercileſſe and1. Sam. 39. 44. & 20. 33. vnnaturall Saul that would hauehave killed his owne ſonne Ionathan, ſpared the Kenites for the kindnes of Iethro their father, 400 yeares before ſhewed to the1. Sam 15. 6. Exod. 18. 17. Iſraelites in giuing good counſell to Moſes for the better gouerment of the Iſraelites, and in directing of them in their iourneys in the wildernes, if (I ſay)Num. 10. 31. Dauid ſo reſpected the kindnes of one of his ſubiects that ought in duty and alleageance to hauehave performed much more vntounto him: and if that mercileſſe Saul ſhewed kindnes to the Kenites for the kindnes of Iethro ſo long before ſhewed to the Iſraelites, much more may I poore man and forlorne creature acknowledge my ſelfe bound to performe all duety and ſeruice vntounto your Honors, for the Honorable fauours of the Noble Earle of Warwicke now deceaſed vntounto me, a meere ſtranger vntounto him, and altogether vnknowue, but onelyonly by the commendatorie teſtimonie of that graue and religious gentleman Mr. Iohn Butler of Toby Eſquier, now alſo at reſt with the Lord. Hauing therefore nothing elſe whereby to expreſſe my duety to your Honours, I am bold to preſent ſuch as I hauehave, the rather, becauſe as I dedicated the firſt fruits of my like labour to my old moſt Honorable Lord before mentioned, about ſome 24. yeares paſt, euen before I was throughly knowne vntounto him, and that becauſe of his moſt Chriſtiā care for the churches of God in Eſſex wherof he was Patron, ſo I thought I might the more preſume of your Honorable acceptance of theſe my paines, the rather becauſe in reſpect of my manifold infirmities by age, they may be my laſt. The more alſo that God himſelfe hath now honored your Noble houſe, and made it renowned in the Church, both by the profeſſion of the Goſpell, and alſo by the protection of the profeſſors thereof, euen now to the third generation of your name, the more my ſelfe and all other that louelove the Goſpell hauehave cauſe to honor you: euen as the more any king aduanceth any ſubiect, the more all other ſubiects ought to reſpect ſuch a ſubiect for his kings ſake, yea we hauehave the more cauſe to pray alſo for your honors, ſo to continue ſtill your honoring of the Lord, and of the Goſpell moſt worthy of honor, as you hauehave begun, that your ſelues and your poſteritie may yet be the more honored: yea, and this as a Miniſter of the Goſpell I exhort you in the name of the Lord Ieſus, that ſhewed me merciemercy in making me a Miniſter, that you continue ſo much the more ſo to do, by how much the more enemies the Goſpell dayly hath, both of A theiſts and of carnall profeſſors thereof, and alſo and eſpecially of papiſts: not onelyonly in other countries but euen in our owne: and thoſe euen of your owne rancke: I meane of the nobilitie it ſelfe: beſides them of the gentry and other inferiours at the commaund of ſuch ſuperiours. Herein if ye ſhall ouercome (as I doubt not but that ye ſhall) oh how great ſhall your honor then be. One of you two now do ſometime weare a coronet with other the like princes, and do ſit in Parliament with one of the Lords Cheife Kings and Iudges of the earth. But the time ſhall come, when the Lord Ieſus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Pſal. 2. 10. Reu. 17. 14. and 19. 10. Mark. 8. 38.comming in the glorie of his Father, with his holy Angels: and ſitting in iudgement vponupon men and Angels ſhall crowne you both with crownes better then of the fineſt gold, euen of righteouſnes, life and glorie, which 2. Tim. 4. 8. Iam. 1. 12. 1. Pet 5. 4. Reu. 3. 4. &. 21.ſhall not fade: and ſhall alſo giuegive you both to walke with himſelf in white, yea to ſit likwiſe with him in his throne, as himſelfe hath already ouercome, & ſitteth with his Father in his throne. Are you not affected with theſe things, I doubt not but you are, & be ye ſo alwaies to the end. Yea as Paul hauing highly commended the1. Theſ. 4. 9. 10. Theſſalonians for ſuch brothe…ly louelove, that he needed not to write vntounto them thereof, becauſe they were taught (inwardly) of God, to louelove one another, and ſo indeed did, yet for all that exhorted them more and moreHeb. 6. 10. 11. to abound in ſo doing: and as the Apoſtle to the Hebrewes, hauing ſaid that God was not vnrighteous that he ſhould forget the worke and labour of their louelove, which they had ſhewed to his name in hauing miniſtered to the Saints, and yet miniſtring, doth for all that deſire eueryevery one of them to ſhew the ſame deligence to the full aſſurance of hope to the end, ſo do I (Right Honorable) exhort you to do the like for the aduancing of the Goſpell, and the countenancing and comforting of the profeſſors, eſpecially the ſincere and painefull Miniſters thereof euen to the end: that your preſent comfort from conſideration & hope of the former glorie promiſed, may be the more inlarged in you. And verily ye hauehave the more need ſo to doe, becauſe the enemies of the Goſpell doe not onelyonly increaſe and ſwarme, but alſo they thinke they doe God beſt ſeruice that doe moſt perſecute it, and theIoh. 6. 1. 2. profeſſors & Miniſters therof, even to death it ſelfe. But hereof the Lord Ieſus hath told vsus before, that when it ſhould come to paſſe we might not be offended neither meruaile at it. Heereby alſo all that louelove the Goſpell may be the better aſſured that theyIoh. 15▪ 19. Phil. 1. 28. are not of the world but of God. This to ſuch aduerſaries is a moſt ſure token of perdition, but to them that are ſo perſecuted of ſaluation, Finally, this plainely bewrayeth that religion that is ſo bloudy and mercileſſeIam. 3. 15. 17. to be the wiſedome that is earthly, ſenſuall and deuiliſh; becauſe that that is from aboue is pure, peaceable, gentle, eaſie to be intreated, full of mercy. Laſtly heereby therefore all men may be the more encouraged to put forth their hands for the vpholding of the Goſpell heere profeſſed by vsus, and of the profeſſors and Miniſters thereof, as likewiſe to do what els they can and may for the oppoſing, oppugning, and ouerthrow of poperie, and of the champions thereof: as whoſe cheife weapons for vpholding their abominations, are ſlaundering of Gods ſeruants, crueltie, and treacherie, all which the ProphetPſal. 5. 6. ſaith the Lord abhorreth. If there were nothing elſe to condemne papiſts and to diſcouer them to be ofIoh. 8. 44. the deuill, who hath bin a murderer and a lyer from the beginning, theſe onelyonly were ſufficient. And there fore theſe ſhould the more prouoke all that louelove the Lord Ieſus to ſet themſelues againſt Rome the daughterPſal. 137. 8. of New Babilon, and to reward her as ſhe hath ſerued others. The rather becauſe ſhe ſhall as certainly fall, as old Babilon is long ſince fallen. Yea, I doubt notReu. 18. 3. alſo, but that ſome yet ſtriuing tooth and naile to ſupport her, ſhall at the laſt, and ere it be long, either in the ſight of the truth, or in the louelove of her riches be principall agents in her deſtruction. He that inquireth Pſal. 9. 12.for bloud, and that daily bringeth to light the moſt ſecret murthers that are, and cauſeth ſuch murtherers bloud to be ſhed, and in iuſtice to be ſpilt on the ground, will at the laſt much more be reuenged of that Roman Antichriſtian bloudy and trecherous brood, that hath betrayed and murthered, and dayly doth betray and murther ſo many thouſands and millions of his Saints, whoſe death is moſt deare and Pſal. 116. 15.precious in his ſight. The greater any are the forwarder ſhould they be in repreſſing this generation, Whoſe teeth are as ſwordes, and whoſe iaw teeth are as Pro. 30. 12.kniues to deuoure the poore of the earth, and yet are pure in their owne eyes. To behold one to murther another, and not to reſiſt the murtherer what may be, is (as I heare) by our law, and as I am ſure by the Law of God to be an acter in ſhedding of bloud.
How much more are they to be oppugned that liue by the bloud and death of other. Curſe ye Meroz (ſaid the Angel of the Lord) curſe ye bitterly the inhabitants Iudg. 5. 23.thereof, becauſe they came not to the helpe of the Lord, to the helpe of the Lord againſt the mightie. If they be curſed that came not to helpe the Lord (or that came not to helpe when the Lord helpeth) in ſuch a caſe, and that againſt the mightie, how ſhall they eſcape that come themſelues forth, againſt the Lord, and againſt his people, and yet for all that ſay they are for the Lord, and that themſelues onelyonly are his people? As they that are bleſſed of the Lord ſhall be Gen. 27. 33. Num. 23. 8. verſ. 19.bleſſed: ſo they that are curſed of the Lord ſhall be curſed. Hath the Lord ſaid and ſhall he not do it? or hath he ſpoken and ſhall he not make it good? In this reſpect therefore as all men ſhould be the more ready to oppugne that man of ſinne, and to helpe them whom he perſecuteth, ſo eſpecially they ought to feare the putting their hand or little finger, in the leaſt degree to ayd him, and to vphold and repaire his ſtate ſo long ſince decaied, and begun to fall. If Ioſhua curſed Ioſh. 6. 12.before the Lord the man that ſhould riſe vp, and build Iericho, which notwithſtanding we neuer reade to hauehave bin a bloudie Cittie, how much more may all they looke for a curſe that riſe vp to ſupport Rome, that alwayes not ſo much before as ſince it hath beene the ſeate of Antichriſt (I meane of the Pope) hath bin a moſt bloudy Cittie, and hath murdered more men, women and children, (of the Saints and of other) then euer had dwelt in Ierecho before the ſaid curſe of Ioſhua, from the firſt foundation thereof to the time of Ioſhua? The bloud of one Abel cryed to the Lord from the earth for ſuchGen. 4. 11. &c. vengeance that the Lord ſo curſed the earth, and Caine himſelfe for ſhedding the ſame, that he being made a fugitiue and vagabond vponupon the earth cryed out vntounto the Lord and ſaid, My puniſhment is greater then I can beare. Oh then how lowd is the cry of the bloud of ſo many thouſands as that man of ſinne hath ſhed and dayly doth ſhed? Verily, as he hath a long time ſhewed himſelfe to be the man of ſinne, ſo all2. Theſ. 2. 3. men ſhall ſhortly ſee him to be alſo the child of perdition. The longer the Lord hath ſuffered him to rage and reigne, and to exalt himſelfe aboue all that is called God &c, and to ſit in the Temple of God, and to ſhew himſelfe as God, preſumptuouſly forgiuing ſinnes, diſpenſing with ſinnes, caſting downe to hell thoſe whom God hath prepared for heauen, aduancing them to heauen, and canonizing them for Saints, that were traitores and rebells heere in earth againſt Princes, and ſo ſpeaking great thinges, and blaſphemies, Reu. 13. 5. 6. & 17. 3.yea being full of blaſphemies, the longer (I ſay) the Lord ſuffereth him thus to do, the greater certainly, and that ſpeedily will be his condemnation. This is ſo much the more manifeſt, by how much the more now he rageth and ſtormeth as a man hauing the panges of death vponupon him. The deuill himſelfe rageth the more, and did the more rent and teareMark. 9. 20. the child poſſeſſed with him, by how much the nearer he ſaw his eiection to be; yea when Chriſt charged him to come out of him, and to enter no more into him, euen then did he rent him ſore, and verſ. 25. verſ. 26.laid him for dead, ſo that many ſaid he was dead. Pharao and the reſt of the Aegiptians, notwithſtanding all the great ſignes & wonders the Lord had wrought amongſt them, did then moſt cruelly oppreſſe the Iſraelites when the Lord was neereſt to deliuer them, and to ouerthrow the ſaid Pharao and all his hoaſt in the red ſea. As therefore Moſes ſaid to the Iſraelites greatly fearing and murmuring, whenExod. 14. 13. they ſaw Pharaoh following them behind, hard at the heeles, and the red ſea before them, Feare ye not, ſtand ſtill, and ſee the ſaluation of the Lord; for the Aegiptians whom ye hauehave ſeene ye ſhall neuer ſee againe, ſo may I and all other the Lords Miniſters ſay to all the Lordes people now fearing becauſe of the Romaniſts preſent raging, and preuailed againſt the Churches, Feare not, ſtand ſtill, and ſee the Saluation of the Lord. For the time cannot be far off when thisReu. 17. 16. and 18. 18. great Whore of Rome ſhalbe iudged and burnt with fire, and her Cittie laid waſt and deſolate. Then ſhall all her friends howle and cry as bitterly, as euer they merrily reioyced and tryumphed and much more then euer they made the Lords people to weepe and mourne. As therefore Right Honorable, you are wiſe, iudiciouſly to conſider of theſe things: as you are godly to helpe the Lords people againſt the mightie by your daily praiers, for performance of his promiſes in confounding his ſaid mightie aduerſaries, and doing to them as ſometimes he did to Midian, and Siſera, and Iabin, and to other hisPſal. 83. 9. old enemies, ſo be you alſo ſtrong in the Lord, and in Epheſ. 6. 10.the power of his might, to do whatſoeuer you now may or ſhall hereafter be able to do, by your ſelues, or by your acquaintance of like place and honor with your ſelues: yea alſo, with all ſuch as ouer whom you ſhall hauehave any authoritie from his moſt excellent Maieſtie. Too much is knowne to be done for the ſaid enemies of the Lord, euen by the papiſts heere at home, and much more is done then is knowne. Shall therefore ſuch friends of the Lord as your Honors are, doe little for him, and for his people▪ God forbid. As therefore the Apoſtle exhortethHeb. 10. 24. the Hebrewes to conſider one another & to prouoke vntounto louelove and to good workes in generall, ſo I beſeech you to ſuffer the wordes of exhortation to do the like in this ſpeciall againſt that Belzebub of Rome, and all his deuouted and ſworne friends: that by your noble examples, all other may be the more prouoked to doe the like alſo. Do the new Edomites cry one to another againſt the Church. Raſe it, Raſe it, euen to Pſal. 137. 7.the foundation thereof, and ſhall not all that louelove the Lords Ieruſalem cry the like againſt the new Babilonians the enimies of the Lords ſaid Ieruſalem, for whoſe downefall and vtter ruine we hauehave ſo many promiſes deliuered in the preſentence, as certainly to aſſure vsus of their performance, as if they were already performed? Farre be this from all ſuch noble ſpirits as yours is. Hate you therefore that ſhameleſſe and graceleſſe Whore of Rome. Hate her (I ſay) and all her bauds the Ieſuites and other Seminarie Prieſts. Hate them, hate them with perfect hatred. The more you ſhall hate them, the more aſſurance you ſhall hauehave of the louelove of God towards your ſelues: eſpecially if with the hatred of them you ſhall louelove all them that do hate her and hers. You hauehave moſt worthily begun. Since alſo yourCal. 5. 7. beginning, you and your noble anceſtors hauehave run well. Let nothing hinder your obedience to the truth vntounto the end. Let none take your crowne from you. That crowne (I ſay) that much more excelleth all the Crownes and Diadems of all Emperors Kings and other Princes in the world, then all the ſaid Crownes and Diadems doe excell the baſeſt pebble-ſtone that is. It may be alſo that ſometimes you may with other your like Peeres of this Kingdome ſpeake a word in ſuch a ſeaſon to his moſt excellent Maieſtie, for the helpeing of other Churches abroad, againſt the furie of their Antichriſtian Roman aduerſaries, and for the repreſſing of Ieſuites, Seminarie Prieſts and other obſtinate & traiterous harted Papiſts at home, It may be (I ſay) that you with other may ſpeake a word in ſuch ſeaſon that ſhalbe as apples of gold in pictures of ſiluer: Pro. 25. 11.both for the greater glory of God and alſo for the better comfort of the Churches, and the like ſafetie of his Maieſtie himſelfe, of his Royall poſteritie, and of all his kingdomes. As the Lord ſometime in the very like caſe curſed him that did the worke of Ier. 48. 10.the Lord negligently, and kept backe his ſword from bloud: ſo ſhall all Princes and other moſt certainly be bleſſed, that in theſe diſtreſſes of the churches ſhalbe mercifull (according to the merciemercy of God, whereby themſelues hauehave bin aduanced) for they ſhall obtaine Mat. 5. 7. Iam. 2. 23.merciemercy, and their ſaid merciemercy ſhall reioyce againſt iudgement.
As hitherto Right Honorable I hauehave directed my ſpeech to both your Honors ioyntly, ſo giuegive me leaue now to conuert my ſelfe to you my yong Lord more eſpecially; whom before in the inſcription of this myepiſtle dedicatorie I hauehave mentioned. And ſo much the more do I preſume thus to do becauſe you are not nobly deſended onelyonly according to the fleſh, but alſo becauſe you come of a ſtocke as noble for religion and the profeſſion of the Goſpell. For of my knowledge you are now the fourth of that Honorable houſe in a right line that hauehave bin renowned in the Churches for profeſſion of the Goſſpell, and fauour vntounto the profeſſiors and Miniſters thereof. Your Honorable great Grand-father maintained in his houſe learned Mr. Wright, afterward called from thence to be Preacher at Iſpwich in Suffolke: & then from thence remoued to Dinnington, where yet (I hope) he remaineth, a graue reuerend and vigilant paſtour. My ſelfe alſo once being at Hampton-Court about ſome 43 yeares paſt, when Doct. Some was to preach before moſt renowned Queene Elizabeth of moſt bleſſed memorie, did there ſee your ſaid Noble great Grand-father, in his humilitie to be as carefull (yea alſo painefull) to ſee all things in pulpit to be fit for him, as if he had beene ſome inferour officer in the chappell to hauehave looked vntounto ſuch things. Of your late Noble Grand-father the memoriall was and is moſt ſweet and precious, and will neuer die. Of your moſt Noble Father I hauehave ſaid ynough before in this my epiſtle dedicatorie to him and your ſelfe. Heere alſo may not be forgotten the moſt virtuous and gracious Counteſſe and Ladie your Mother, of pietie and modeſtie a moſt worthy patterne to all other Noble women of like ſort.
How good alſo is the Lord vntounto you in your chriſtian education and inſtruction vnderunder Mr Collens the godly and painefull paſtour of Braintree, as it were at the feete of Gamaliel? In which reſpect itAct. 22. 3. may be ſaid of you as Paul writeth of Timothie, that 2. Tim. 3. 14. 15you from your childhood hauehave learned and knowne the holy Scripture. Therefore alſo all that know theſe things may the better hope the like of you, that Paul teſtifieth of Timothie touching the faith of his Grand-mother and Mother, yea in a degree higher viz that the faith which dwelt firſt in your Honorable2. Tim. 1. 5. great Grand-father: ſecondly in your Grand-father, thirdly both in your Noble Father and Mother dwelleth alſo in you. All theſe things conſidered I may well ſay, that you are not onelyonly Nobly diſcended, but alſo Royally euen of the bloud Royall of heauen, of God himſelfe. So alſo you are a greater heire then of an earthly Earledome, euen of theRom. 8. 17. Kingdome of heauen: and heire together with Chriſt Ieſus of an heauenly inheritance, immortall &c. 1. Pet. 1. 4.And for your preſeruation vntounto this inheritance, the Angels not onelyonly pitch their tents round about Pſal. 34 7. Ioh. 10. 28. 1. Pet. 1. 5. Pſal. 5. 13.you, but God himſelfe alſo guardeth you with his power, and compaſſeth you about with his fauour. God therefore being greater then all, you may no more doubt of your preſeruation to the foreſaid heauenly inheritance and Kingdome, then you may doubt of the power of God. As you are heire apparant to an Earle, and may hereafter be an Earle, you hauehave men to attend vponupon you: but as you are ſuch as before I ſaid, you hauehave the glorious Angels of heauen to waite on you, and to beare you in their hands &c. In thePſal. 91. 11. 12. reſurrection you ſhall not onelyonly be as the Angels of Mat. 22. 30.God in heauen, but you ſhall be alſo like vntounto Chriſt Ieſus himſelfe: being where Chriſt Ieſus is, and beholding the glorie of God &c. O Right Honorable, were Peter Iames and Iohn ſo rauiſhed with the ſight of ChriſtMat. 17. 4. Ieſus his tranſfiguration onelyonly for a time, that they prayed him they might neuer depart from that mountaine wher they ſaw him ſo trāſfigured: How therefore ought your Noble heart to be rauiſhed with the certaintie of the euerlaſting promiſes? Therefore alſo reioyce more in theſe things, then in all your earthly honors whatſoeuer. And as the Lord hath thus highly honored you, ſo labour you (I beſeech you) to honor him accordingly: not ſo much conſidering what benefits you hauehave receiued from him for this life, and for the life to come, as deliberating with your ſelfe what to render vntounto him Pſal. 116. 12. Luk. 12. 40.in behalfe of them. VntoUnto whom much is giuen, of him much is required. So ſhall you indeed preſent your ſelfe ſuch a ſacrifice as in the treatiſe following you ſhall ſee the ſaid mercies of God to bind you vntounto. The ſame that Dauid ſaid to Salomon, know the God 1. Chron. 28. 9.of thy Fathers, and ſerue him with a perfect heart &c. Euen the ſame I beſeech you to conſider to belong vntounto you. So ſhall you be ſure of that that Azariah 2. Chron. 15. 2.ſaid to Aſa, namely that the Lord will be with you, while you be with him &c. As you are one of the ſonnes Pſal. 29. 2.of the mightie, ſo giuegive vntounto the Lord glorie and ſtrength: yea the glorie that is due vntounto his name. He that onelyonly1. Sam. 2. 7. 8. aduanceth whom it pleaſeth him, can alſo bring low them whom before he hath aduanced. As young as youPſal. 113. 7. are, you hauehave ſeene meane perſons aduanced to great honor: and Noble Houſes brought to deſolation. Let not your tender yeares preiudice your conſideration of theſe things. For in this treatiſe you ſhall afterward ſee, that men may too long deferre the ſacrificing of themſelues vntounto God, but they cannot begin to ſoone. And indeed what ſubiect can begin too ſoone to ſerue ſuch a ſoueraigne as will entertaine him into any ſpeciall ſeruice? That you may ſo do, beware (I beſeech you) of flatterers: beware of euill councell to the contrarie: both of ſuperiours and alſo of equals. Let the teſtimonies Pſal. 119. 24.of the Lord be your delight, let them be your counſellors. yea perſons alſo of ſuch emminencie hauehave neede likewiſe to beware of ſeruants. For euen ſuch ſometimes doe more preuaile by euill ſuggestions, then the graueſt learnedſt and godlieſt diuines can do by their beſt inſtructions. Notwithſtanding as the Apoſtle ſaith, I am perſwaded better things of your Honor:Heb. 6. 9. and ſuch as beſeeme all Chriſtian wiſedome: viz that you will continue according to your beginning: growing like a Cedar in Lebanon, flouriſhing like Pſal. 92. 12. 13.a palme tree in the Courtes of God; bringing forth fruit in your old age: and being then (in your inward man) fat andin good liking. Therefore to conclude with the wordes of Peter, as your Lordſhip ſhall grow in age, ſtrength, ſtature and outward comelineſſe of perſon, ſo I beſeech you all ſo to endeauour to grow 2. Pet. 3. 18.in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt.
To ſpeake againe ioynctly to both your Honors, although my labours following be not worthy to be preſented to ſuch Honorable perſons, yet as God himſelfe towards the building of his Tabernacle, as well accepted the ſmall gifts of the poore ſort, viz goates haire, red skinnes of Rames, and badgers skinnes Exod. 35. 22. 23&c, as he did of the braccletts and earerings, and tabletts, and other Ieweles of gold, offred by the Princes, and other the richeſt ſort of the Iſraelites, ſo I do humbly craue the like acceptance of this my poore treatiſe in my old and poore ſtate preſented vntounto your Honors in teſtimonie of my thankefull minde for thoſe fauours I receiued long ſince of that moſt Noble Earle late deceaſed, and now in heauen reſting from all his labours, and enioying the fruite of all his Reu. 14. 13.workes. Indeede Right Honorable, my thankefull minde for the ſaid favours required, the later I preſent theſe my labours unto you, the more exact in all reaſon they ſhould hauehave bin, becauſe as every Grammer ſcholler hath learned, that Gratia ab officio qu…d mora tardat abeſt, So Seneca hath alſo we…l ſayd,Seneca. epiſ. 82. Beneficia creſcunt mora, tantò que plus ſolvendum quantò tardiús. Ingratus eſt qui beneficium reddit ſine uſura. Whereunto agree the wordes of Tullie, Terra nunquam ſine uſura reddit quod accepit, ſed alias minore, Cicero. de ſenectute.plerun que maiore cum faenore: and elſewhere, Beneficio provocati imitari debemus agros fertiles, qui maltò plus De offic. lib. 1.afferunt quam acceperint. And as in the beginning of this my Epiſtle, by ſome divine examples, I ſhewed that the kindnes of Anceſtors is to be remembred to their poſteritie, ſo Dionyſius Halicarnaſsaeus by the light of nature ſpeaking of a worthy Romane, ſaith, Quamdiu ipſe vixit, illinos decuit pro beneficijs habere graciam Nunc verò poſtquam fato functus eſt, poſteris Dioniſi Halicar. lib. 4.cius referenda eſt: ne videaminicum corporibus ſimul defodere beneficiorum memoriam. Theſe things I acknowledge ſo much the more to oblige me vntounto both your Honors in reſpect of the honorable fauors of the late moſt Noble Earle vntounto me; Notwithſtanding as Tullie againe ſaith, Malui me tibi debere Philipie. 2.conſiteri, quam cuiquam minus prudenti non ſatis gratus videri, ſo ſay I to your Honors, I had rather acknowledge my ſelfe to owe to you more dutie (being as I am) then to any that cannot well iudge ſeeme not at all to be thankefull. For although according to the former wordes of Seneca benefits doe require ſo much the greater thankes by how much the late: they are performed, yet according alſo to other words of the ſame Seneca, in the ſame epiſtle Beneficium non quantum ſit, ſed a quali profectam animo perpenditur, I doe likewiſe hope that your Honors will not ſo much regard this my gift it ſelfe, as eſteeme of the mind where with I preſent the ſame. In hope whereof, as likewiſe of your pardon both of my boldnes in dedicating the ſame vntounto you, and alſo of my tediouſnes in this my epiſtle, I now being going the way of all the earth, as Ioſhua ſaid to the Iſraelites, Ioſh. 23. 14.and Dauid to Salomon, and being ready to be1. Kin. 22. Philtpi 1. 23. 2. Tim. 4. 6. diſſolued, and to lay downe my earthly Tabernacle, and the time of my departing being at hand, and ſo being ſhortly to take my leaue of all the world, doe alſo in the meane time moſt humbly take my leaue of your Honors, not ceaſing whiles I liue to pray for your long continuance heere, with a daily encreaſe of grace and honor, and for your euerlaſting happines and glorie in the world to come.
Your Honors in all dutie moſt humble to be commanded. THOMAS STOVGHTON. From my poore lodging in the poore Hoſpitall called S. Bartholomewes by Sandwich in Kent. Auguſt 20. 1622.