Three Treatises, Dedication 1
Three Treatises: THE PEARLE OF the GOSPELL, THE PILGRIMS PROFESSION: AND A Glasse for Gentlewomen to dresse themselues by. To which is added A short Introduction to the worthy receiuing of the Lords Supper.
By Thomas Taylor, Doctor in Diuinity, and late Preacher of Aldermanbury Church in London.
LONDON: Printed by I. B. for Iohn Bartlet, at the gilt Cup in Cheap-side. 1633.
THE PEARLE of the Gospell: OR, Jewell Euangelicall.
1 Diligently sought
2 Ioyfully found
3 Dearely bought
by the wise Merchant.
Infolded in Christs Parable AND Unfolded by the Application of Thomas Taylor, Doctor in Diuinity, and late Preacher of Aldermanbury Church in London.
LONDON: Printed by I. B. for Iohn Bartlet, at the signe of the gilt Cup in Cheap-side. 1633.
TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL, Mistris Elizabeth Backus, Wife to Master Samuel Backus Esquire, and Justice of Peace: And to her three vertuous and religious daughters, Mris. Mary Standen, wife to Mr. Standen, Esquire, and Iustice of the Peace; Mris. Flower Backus, wife of Mr. Iohn Backus, Esquire; and Mris. Elizabeth Bellingham, wife to Mr. Richard Bellingham, Esquire; Grace and Peace from the Fountaine.
Right Worshipfull,
PEarles are small in quantitie, but great in their quality, and smaller often in the weight than in their worth▪ such an one is this which I hauehave presented vntounto you as a token of my due respect and vnfained louelove to your selfe, and the Church in your familie. Pearles from earth fit not common persons; but this from heauen belongeth to al who meane to partake in the common saluation. As this Pearle is yours in the common right of Saints, so this offer of it is yours by a second and more peculiar right, as who first helped it out of the darke into this light. Your earnest and often desires of some of the written notes of this Treatise, drew from me a promise the thought of the paiment whereof, was my first thought of this publication. And now this Pearle being yours, weare it as your chiefe ornament, the price of which ra…seth your owne price and recko…ing in the eyes of God and good men, aboue the Carbuncles and Rubies. Pro. 30. 10Other ornaments seuered from this, are but beautifull vanities. The largest reuenues, the richest estates, the most ample treasures, the costliest cabinets, filled with pearles and precious stones, sets the person wanting this pearle, in no higher reckoning than common flints, or other contemptible stones, with him to whom the Nations are but as the drop of a bucket, Isa. 40▪ 15,or as the dust of a ballance. So of all naturall endowments, we may compare them (as Salomon doth beantie) to a ring of Gold, which outwardly commendeth the wearer; But the iewell of this ring is this pearle of the Gospell, or the life of the Gospell, in the life of the Gospoller. Let this Iewell be lost once, or missing, the ring may be gilded and glistering without, but the touchstone and triall will finde that it was neuer gold. And because I know that you hauehave no greater ioy than to see your children walke in the truth, 3 Ihh. 4.I am assured, you will gladly afford them an equall share with you in this so precious a commodity, and therefore hauehave I taken them into this dedication. Blessed are you that hauehave your quiuer full of such louely arrowes. Psa. 127. 5.Of the vertuous woman is said, Pro. 31. 21.Her children praise her. Were this a verbal praise of the mouth, children might seeme testes e sinu, and the spreaders of the partiall praises of their mother; but this is an astuall and solid commendation, and vnsuspected, when the shining vertues of the feare of God, sobrietie, and modest conuersation of children, proclaime the grace, pietie, and care of the mothers education. Among that rich store of earthly comforts, with which God hath beset you, you hauehave none co…parablie gracefull to this, if you except your sweet societie with your graue and religious husband.
And now to you three daughters, worthy of such a Mother: When I call to remembrance the vnfained faith, which dwelt, & yet dwelleth in your Grand-mother (whose reuerend old age is crowned with an ancient and honorable profession and practice of holy Religion aboue any I know in these parts) and in your deare mother; and am assured it dwelleth in you also, I could not but put you in remembrance, to stirre vp the gift of God that is in you: And exhort you, as you hauehave happily begun, to hold on in the way of grace, and see that your workes be more at last than at first. God hath aduanced you into the fellowship of religious and compleat Gentlemen your husbands, to faire estates and portions in this world, but especially to a sure expectation hereafter, by meanes of your inseparable coniunction to your Head and Husband Iesus Christ. You must now aduance him who hath thus aduanced you, and love him for himselfe, who hath loued you in his Sonne: and hold eueryevery new sense of mercy, a new spurre and prouocation vntounto dutie. In the way and pace in which you goe, I must acknowledge I passe and slip an opportunitie, by passing oner in silence so many commendable parts in you all, which make you worthy to be praised among women fearing God.Pro. 31. 30 But my praises can. lift you no higher than your owne vertues doe, whose diligent paines in gaining knowledge of holy things, conscionable practice of sound religion, charitable refreshing of the poore members of Christ, and whose humble, sober, wise, modest, and louely carriage, (especially in these loose dayes) are as so many tongues, and mouthes, and pens (without mine) to publish your due praises: and knowing that you will be better pleased, that I turne my praises into praiers, for your progresse and prosperitie in the good way, I shall endeuour to supplie that want this way, heartily commending you to the power of his grace, who onelyonly can further inrich you with the Pearle of the Gospell: who also giuegive you with the new yeare, new supplies of all holy graces, till the new man bee compleat in Iesus Christ, in whom I rest
Your Worships to be vsed for your furtherance in the faith, THO. TAYLOR.