The Amendment of Life, Title page – Dedication
THE AMENDMENT OF LIFE, COMPRISED IN fower Bookes: Faithfully Tranſlated according to the French Coppie.
Written by Maſter Iohn. Taſſin, Miniſter of the word of God at Amſterdam.
MATH. 3. v. …. & 4. v. 7.
Amend your liues for the kingdome of heauen is at hand.
LONDINI Impenſis Georg. Biſhop. 1595.
To the chiefe Magiſtrates and Gouernours of the Towne of Amſterdam: Grace and peace from God the Father, and from his Sonne Ieſus Chriſt, our onelyonly Sauiour.
MY verie good Lordes, as Sainct Iohn propoundeth vntounto vsus two ſorts of children, of whome he calleth the one the children of God, and the other the children of the deuill: ſo doeth the holie Scripture plainly teſtifie, that in the day of iudgement there ſhall bee a maruellous difference betweene the one and the other. For the one ſhal incomprehenſibly and eternally be bleſſed, and the other extreamely and infinitly accurſed and wretched. This difference which ſhall then appeare betweene the children of God and the children of the deuill, doth aduertiſe and admoniſh vsus, that there ought alſo to be a great difference betweene them, euen in this life. And in deed eueryevery one may well vnderſtand that the waie to heauen is one, and to hell another, and conſequently that the workes and affections of Gods children are of one ſorte, and the workes of the children of the deuill of another. Neuertheles, ſo brutiſh are many become, that they neuer think vponupon this difference betweene the one and the other, neither in regard of this life, nor of the life to come. Others thinking ſlightly thereupon, do neuer take information of this difference, to vnderſtand it: Others ſomewhat vnderſtanding it, are ſo dazeled with the gliſtering ſhew of the world, & ſo carried awaie with the luſts of the fleſh, that they hauehave no care therof: Yea euen among the children of God, liuing in this peruerſe world abandoned to all wickednes, we ſee verie few that doo make ſhew of that difference, that in this life ſhould be betweene them and the children of the deuill. Now Saint Mathew in this ſentence, Amend your liues, for the kingdome of heauen is at hand: hauing comprehended the ſummarie of the firſt Sermons of Ieſus Chriſt and S. Iohn the Baptiſt, doth to this purpoſe teach vsus. Firſt, that all the duties of the children of God are contained in this word Amend: alſo that the ſame is it that repreſenteth the difference betweene them and the children of the Deuill, in this life. Secondly, that the apprehenſion of the kingdome of heauen to be ſo neare vsus, ought mightily to induce vsus to Amendement. VponUpon this conſideration, to the end to correct the negligence, or rather the brutiſhnes of men in this point, I hauehave vponupon this argument framed theſe fower books: In the firſt, ſhewing how many dangerous follies there are that hinder man from Amendment. In the ſecond, Wherein we are to Amend. In the third, who ought to Amend: And in the laſt, hauehave I laid down the cauſes that ſhould induce vsus to Amend our liues, gathered out of the names and attributes of Ieſus Chriſt, & out of this reaſon by him ſelfe ſet downe, For the kingdome of heauen is at hand: The whole tending to make vsus to vnderſtand and indeed to practiſe the difference which euen in this life ought to bee betweene vsus and the children of the Deuill: to the ende to hope with incomprehenſible ioye to beholde for our ſelues the moſt bleſſed ſeparation that ſhall bee betweene them and vsus, when wee ſhall bee lifted vp into the fruition of the eternal glory that is prepared for vsus in the kingdom of heauen. And vponupon three principall reaſons hauehave I reſolued and emboldned my ſelfe to preſent & ded…cate them to your Lordſhips. The firſt is generall, compriſed in three points. Firſt, in conſideration of the ſeruent zeale & holy affection that you doe teſtifie to the preſeruation and maintenance of the true and pure religion: Secondly in regard of your iuſtice and politicke gouernment, adminiſtred with ſuch diſcretion, wiſedome and equitie, that al your louing Subiects are in dutie to acknowledge and confeſſe themſelues to be bleſſed therein: Thirdly in reſpect of your wonderfull courteſie, which you vouchſafe to extend to the faithfull, fled into this towne: who liue vnderunder your authoritie and gouernment in as great caſe, libertie and freedome, as poſsibly they might in their owne natiue countries: Which example of your clemency is alſo ſeconded by the marueilous humanitie of your ſubiects towards thoſe that are harboured among them. The ſecond reaſon is in reſpect of the French Church, to the ſeruice whereof it hath pleaſed God to call me. In that your Lo. hauehave permitted & authoriſed the holy publick miniſterie with all things neceſſarie to the ſame: That you hauehave prouided thē of a larg & cōuenient Church. That you giuegive maintenance to thē for three miniſters: Laſtly that you exerciſe and performe a verierare and true Chriſtian charitie to the poore of the ſame Church. And this your wonderfull charitie, with other the vertues before noted, do I here ſet downe, firſt to the end that all and eueryevery the members of the ſaid French Church, may more and more perceiue how deepely they are bound to bee your faithfull and obedient ſubiects: Secondly that they may vnderſtand and the more diligently put in practiſe their dutie, in feruent praier vntounto God for your health and proſperitie: Laſtly, that all other Magiſtrates may in heart bee moued to imitate the example of thoſe vertues that ſhine in your Lordſhips. The laſt reaſon is particuler to my ſelfe: in regard of the deſire, that you had to retaine me to the ſeruice of this Church, which your ſelues vouchſafed to teſtifie, in that beſides your liberalitie extended to the two other miniſters, you offered to prouide me alſo both of a houſe & maintenance: As in effect it pleaſed you at my cōming to make demonſtration of your fauor, liberality & affection towards me in that behalf. Whereupon all ſuch graces as God hath vouchſafed to beſtow vponupon me, being in reſon & vponupon iuſt cauſe vntounto you due & vowed: I hauehave formed and doe acknowledge my ſelfe bound to dedicate and preſent theſe my fower bookes of Amendment of life vntounto you: to the end that being publiſhed vnderunder your name, they may witneſſe as wel my bounden dutie vntounto you: as alſo my deſire (according to my ſmal habilitie) to employ my ſelfe in the ſeruice both of the Church and your Lordſhips. Beſeeching God, moſt magnificent and vertuous Lords to maintaine you in his holy protection, and with his holy ſpirite to guide you in all your affaires, with increaſe of all proſperitie both ſpirituall and corporall. And particulerly ſo farre to fauour me with his grace, as ſo to bleſſe this ſmall worke, together with the affection wherewith it is vntounto you preſented, that being acceptable to your Lo. It may eſpecially redound to the aduauncement of the kingdome of Ieſus Chriſt. From your town of Amſterdam. This laſt of Iune. 1594.
Your moſt humble and obedient ſeruant. Iohn Taffin.