Christs Victory Over the Dragon, Title page – Dedication
CHRISTS VICTORIE OVER THE DRAGON: OR Satans Downfall: SHEWING The glorious Conquests of our SAVIOVR for his poore CHVRCH, against the greatest Persecutors.
In a plaine and pithy Exposition of the twelfth Chapter of S. IOHNS REVELATION.
Delivered in sundry Lectures BY That late faithfull Servant of God, THOMAS TAYLOR Doctor in Divinitie, and Pastor of Aldermanbury LONDON.
Perfected and finished a little before his death.
Melior causa est corum, qui Diabolum persequentem fugiunt, quim qui praeeuntem sequuntur: quia utilius est, eum bostem habere quàm principem. August.
LONDON, Printed by M. F. for R. DAWLMAN, at the signe of the Brazen Serpent in Pauls Churchyard. 1633.
TO THE RIGHT WORSHIP FVLL, and others the worthy Inhabitants of Aldermanbury Parish LONDON: All happinesse both in Earth and Heaven.
CHRISTIAN FRIENDS:
I Am (I suppose) a stranger to most of you, unlesse peradventure you tooke notice of me in preaching the Sermon at the Funerall of your worthy Doctor the Author of this Booke: and so I hope you will conceive, that I present not this Worke unto you in mine own name, but onelyonly in behalfe of the Widow, whose modestie permits her not to come in Print. To you, her worthy Friends & Neighbours, shee desires to have these Labors dedicated, as to whom shee judgeth them most properly due: and wisheth you the same profit and comfort in reading, as did her deare Husband in preaching. By faith, Abel being dead, yet Hebr. 11. 4.speaketh, faith the Apostle to the Hebrewes: By faith also, and these works of Faith, doth your late worthy Pastor yet speake unto you: and here while you reade, you may imagine, hee still calleth to Faith, Obedience, Repentance, Growth in the Knowledge and Feare of GOD, with all courage, wisedome, humilitie, heavenly-mindednes, and unblameableness of living. His reward is now with the Lord, whose hee was, and whom he served. His Name in the Church sweet and precious, and ever will be while a Church remaines on earth, to worship GOD aright, and to distinguish Beleevers from unbeleevers, or misbeleevers. The Instruction is yours, to follow his holy Doctrine and Example. And happy shall every Soule be, which heedfully followeth The Clowd of Witnesses.Hebr. 12. 1.
For the Worke it selfe, I have not much to preface, onelyonly our hope is, that for supply of defects, or connivence at them, the untimely decease of the Author, and your owne ingenuity, will yeeld abundant Apologie. The substance is the same with his owne Notes: the Tables mine: other things the Printers. Let the benefit be yours, and wee have our desire. And certainly, hee that falls to the matter with love and hearty affection, shall reape some benefit: For while hee reades, hee will easily understand, that in this life the Church, and faithfull members of it, must ever be encountring with spirituall wickednesses, (which calls to watchfulnesse:) and yet is sure of victory, hath help enough, well led by an able Captaine, and furnished with armour of proofe (which calls to chearfulnesse in 1 Tim. 9. 12fighting the good fight of faith.) And when hee that understands it, shall carefully addresse himselfe to the practise of it, he shall well redeeme his time in reading, honour his Captaine who hath chosen him to bee a Souldier, performe his vow made against the devill in his Baptisme, prepare by smaller skirmishes for great and fiery tryals when they shall come; and so having striven lawfully, 2 Tim. 2. 5. 4 8.shall receive the Crowne which the Lord the righteous Iudge shall give him at that day, with all that love his appearing. Plentifull Encouragements wee have, both to enter these lists, and hold out to the end. Deale couragiously, and 2 Chr. 19. 11the Lord shall be with the good. Feare not, nor be dismayed: goe out against these your spirituall enemies, and the Lord will be with 20. 17you. And all hands here may be brought together to the fight: even every one that is an Angell of Michael: wee must strive together for the faith of the Gospel: Phil. 1. 27.and our united forces shall be much the more puissant and unresistable: Especially while wee help one another by our prayers; which is my request for my selfe, from you all, and I rest
Isleworth. Feb. 25. 1632. Yours in the service of your Faith, and for the help of your Ioy, WILLIAM IEMMAT.