True Remedy Against Famine and Wars, Title page – Letter
The true remedie against Famine and warres.
Fiue Sermons vponupon the firste chapter of the prophesie of Ioel, wherein the Councell that the holy Ghoste gaue the Israelites to redresse the famine which they felt and preuent the warres that were threatened to come vponupon them; is applied in particular vntounto our present time: Preached in the time of the dearth. 1586.
By Iohn Vdall, preacher of the worde of God at Kingston vponupon Thames.
IEREM. 2.29.
VVherefore vvil ye plead vvith me, ye al hauehave rebelled against me, saith the lord, I hauehave smiten your children in vaine, they receiued no correction.
AT LONDON. Printed by Robert Walde-graue, for T. Man, and T. Gubbins.
TO THE RIGHT HONOrable, Lord AMBROSE DVDLEY, Earle of Warwicke, Baron Lisle, Master of hir Maiesties Ordinance, Knight of the most noble order of the Garter, and one of hir Highnes priuie Councell: And to the right Honorable, and godly Lady his wife; Iohn Vdall, wisheth increase of all true Honor, and comfort in this life, & euerlasting happines, in that which is to come
IT hath euer bene the naturall disposition of man, (right Honourable) in all those miseries that fall vponupon him, to turne his minde a contrary way, and thinke amisse of the cause of his estate and condition, & therevpon to vse such means for the redres thereof, as shal neuer amend, but rather make worse that whiche they would helpe; or if they take in hand any of the wayes that be lawfull, yet it is that which shoulde bee the laste, as their owne pollicie and wisdome, and neuer thinke of their sinnes that hauehave procured Gods displeasure against them, that they might begin by repentance to seeke reconciliation with him: which prepostrous dealing doth not only possesse the hart of perticular men, but also beareth the swaye (for the most parte) euen in common-wealthes and gouernements. For we see, that when any thing is amis in the same, there is great consultation, and prouident aduising, how things may be redressed: but the wayes that be taken, are (for the most part) framed in the shop of humane pollicy only, & therefore the effect thereof, is but as the loppinge of some boughes or twigges from the toppe of a tree, after which, it doth rather flowrish the more, then wither away: wheras it shoulde bee considered, that all ennormities and disorder doe proceed from sinne, and euerie breach in a state, from the displeasure of the Lorde for the contempte or neglect of his holy commaundements: and therefore (if euer wee looke to hauehave our policies prosper) to search more narowly into the wil of God, to the end it may be established with more authority, and practized with more holy obedience; and then shoulde those wise plots, that the guiftes of nature or experience doe teach vsus, (when once they com in their place attendinge vppon that Souereigne scepter of Gods most blessed word) receiue a blessinge from the Lorde and hauehave a good issue, whiche else shall bee as the winde, that beeinge long trauelled of, whē it is brought forth doeth vanishe, as the smoake in the sight of the sunne. This lesson doth the holy Ghoste, (by this his Prophet IOEL) teache vntounto vsus in his firste chapter, more at large, the doctrine wherof (as neere as I could remember) according as the Lorde did inable me to vtter it, I hauehave penned, being drawne thereunto, both by the importunitie of some, whom I might not well denie in so honest a request, as also by the conueniencye of the doctrine, for the instruction of moe then heard it.
Nowe among many other notable instrumentes, that the Lorde (in his merciemercy) hath stirred vp, not onelyonly to wishe well vntounto, but also to trauayle for the good of that poore people his faythfull seruauntes, among whom it hath pleased him to place me, not onelyonly I, but they also doe stand bound in dutie (and shall so remaine still) vntounto your HH. for that carefull diligence, that it pleased you both to vse, then, to intreat for vsus, when (if God had not beene on our side) the floodes of malicious mens practises had runne ouer our heades, to the vtter vndoing of all good beginninges among vsus, so that whatsoeuer good it shall please the LORDE to dooe in his Churche by my weake laboures, (wherevnto I thought an ende had beene added) your Honours may iustly bee reputed the instrumentes of the same: In regarde whereof, I (desiringe too hauehave some opportunitye, to shewe the thankfulnesse of our hearts) hauehave especially made choyce of youre Honours, vntounto whome I might dedicate these my poore laboures, most humblye intreatinge the same, to accept heereof, not accordinge to the valewe that it caryeth, (whiche is verye small) but accordinge to the affection of the giuer, whoe acknoweledging him-selfe (together with that people whiche hauehave the benefit of my ministery) to be bound to pray vnfeignedly vntounto the Lord for your Hh. that it would please him to increase al the graces of his sanctifying spirite vppon the same, to the further aduauncement of his glorie, the greater benefite of hys poore Church, and fuller consolation of your owne soules. Sobeit.
Your Hh. most humble to commaund in the Lorde. Iohn Vdall.