Self-Satisfaction, Title page – Dedication
SELFE-SATISFACTION Occaſionally taught the Citizens in the Lecture At St. Magnes neere London-bridge.
By FRANCIS TAYLER, M. of A. and Paſtour of Clapham.
LONDON. Printed by Iohn Norton, for Robert Bird, and are to be ſold at his ſhop at the ſigne of the Bible, in St. Laurence-Lane. 1633.
ERRATA.
p. 8. from the duty of piety, from the duties. p. 12. roote of Apoſtcy, Apoſtacy. p. 14. couered with a bate, a baite. p. 31. playes it the midſt, in the midſt. Nothing cannot ſecure, can ſecure. p. 37. marg. Shaddac, Shaddai, lo dac, ol dai. p. 43. marg. ta perton. peri tôn pragmat ôn. Is. Ib. p. 45. that giues a good, hee giues.
TO THE FRVITFVLL VINE, AND pleaſant Oliue plants the Lady Heſter Pye, Wife to the Right Worſhipfull, Sir Walter Pye, Atturny of the Court of Wards, and her Children, Captaine Criſpe, Mr. Samuel Criſpe, Mr. Tobias Criſpe, and their wiues, Mris. Elizabeth Charnocke, and her Husband.
IT is a moſt firme demonſtration of Gods excellency that although all creatures depend on him, yet is there ſuch a Sea of goodneſſe in God, that is neuer dryed vp. No one creature, not the greateſt is able to vphold it ſelfe. God is eueryevery way ſufficient of himſelfe and could giuegive himſelfe full ſatisfaction, if their neuer had beene a world. The happieſt of the creatures is hee that comes neereſt to God. He that can ſubſist (if he be put to it) without any creatures helpe, and depends ſoly on the Creator. This excellent condition can none attaine vntounto, but he that hath, and knowes he hath a speciall intereſt in God. So fleeting are all worldly contentments, that nothing can bee firme that is built vponupon them: the times in which wee liue are the laſt dayes: the Churches full of warres, blood and troubles: our ſinnes hauehave deſerued that the cloudes of affliction ſhould croſſe the Seas to follow vsus.Pſal. 61.2. Happy is he therefore that is ſet vponupon a rocke higher then himſelfe. Happy is hee that can ſay, and ſay feelingly,Pſal. 56.11. In God hauehave I put my truſt, I will not bee afrayd what man can doe vntounto mee. Happy is hee that finds an Arke at home that can hide him when the waters are farre aboue the highest mountaines.Gen. 7.19, 20. Happy can he neuer aſſuredly be that fals ſhort of this, and ſettles his rest on any thing vnderunder the Sunne. He must come to Salomons experimentall concluſion, Vanity of vanities, all is vanity. The ſubiect of theſe paines is ſo much the more worthy acceptation, becauſe it is a ladder that leads to the happieſt and ſurest condition. If in the handling I fall ſhort of other mens expectation, I ſhall be glad to ſee other men handle it more exactly. To my ſelfe it is ſome comfort, I hauehave written that which hath ſtayd me in many, & through Gods grace may stay me in any tryals. You and yours Madam hauehave I choſen for the Patrons of this worke, in regard of that ancient acquaintance that hath beene betweene vsus: Your Family hath left mee as many tokens of your louelove as I hauehave Children. That ſhort ſpace which I liued in the City how much I was indebted to you, I forbeare to ſpeake, and deſire rather to ſpeake to God to requite it. And ſince I hauehave receiued much comfort, and many kind encouragements and remembrance from your and their ourteſie. I hauehave not ſeene a Family in the City to my beſt remembrance which God hath ſo plentifully watred with ſpirituall and temporall ſhowers of bleſſings in the Roote and in all the Branches. Your houſe and poſterity are a remarkable example of Gods promiſe of benediction and multiplication to them that feare him.Pſal. 128. If this labour may be pleaſing and profitable to you, I ſhall hope it will be ſo to others. So I leaue it as a perpetuall token of my neuer-dying affection to your Family, wiſhing you, what the Title offers you, Selfe-ſatiſfaction. Leſſe I cannot wiſh you, more I need not. Let it ſuffice then that I reſt,
Yours in all Chriſtian obſeruance Francis Tayler. Clapham, Aug. 27. 1633.