Sermon 13 August 1610, Title page – Dedication
A SERMON PREACHED IN AVGVST THE 13. 1610. In Canterbury to the Corporation of Black-ſmiths.
Declaring the goodneſſe, neceſſity, antiquity and vſe of that Trade which workes in Iron. With directions to men of this, and of all other trades and callings, how to carry themſelues religiouſly and iuſtly therein.
Whereunto are annexed a ſhort Catechiſme, with two ſhort Tables. The firſt opening the parts of wiſedome, to be learned from mans mortality, out of Pſa. 90.12.
The latter laying forth the order of Gods Counſell, touching the ſaluation of the elect, out of Rom. 8.29.30.
By THOMAS WILSON Preacher.
LONDON, Printed for Simon Waterſon, dwelling in Pauls Church-yard at the ſigne of the Crowne. 1610.
TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVL, MAI…TER DOCTOR SMITH, Maiſter of Clare Hall in Cambridge, health in our Lord and Sauiour Ieſus Chriſt.
LEt it not offend you that I your ſonne ſo farre inferior to you in grauity, & ſufficiency of knowledge, hauehave thus preſumed to followe you in be ſame ſteppes, I meane, preaching vponupon be ſame Text, and publiſhing this my …ude worke. I hauehave done nothing (neither …ould I if I would) vntounto your diſparagement I do but liſpe, where you ſpeake; I …reepe where you did go, and runne: I instructed the low ſhrubs, you the high and mightie Cedars. I the ſubiect, you the King, Prince, Councell, and Nobles of the Land. You in a loftie, I in a low ſtyle. I ſpake to a fewe Mechanichans, you to a mightie Monarche, and many worthy Peeres. Your labours preferred to publick view by motion of a moſt reuerent Father. Dedicated primarily to a moſt learned and excellent King; and ſecondarily, to a great and noble Counſellor. I alas do looke no higher then to your worſhipfull ſelfe (and hauehave need of pardon for this preſumption to) being moued to ſhew my ſelfe by ſome priuate perſons, who deſired this birth ſhould not die in the birth: But happily you will be offended that I call you father, hauing no reſemblance and likeneſſe to you, not ſo much as in countenance, gate, ſpeech or Iesture. True it is, I reſemble you in nothing at all; neither in wit, nor clocution, learning, experience, reading, iudgement: I hauehave no agreement nor concurrence with you in method, inſtruction, diſpoſition, application, phraſe, example or ſentence, ſcarce a word from you (for I had ſeene you foure yeares ago, and had not ſince lookt on you.) Howbeit I am bold, and I trust (without blame) to entitle you Father; becauſe of your precedency in years, grauitie, graces, experience, degree and place, as alſo for that you not onelyonly went before me in time, I being an after birth: but were the occaſion of this birth, in ſo much as when I was to chuſe a Text wherupon to preach before a Corporation of Smiths; your entreating on this Scripture before me moued, and brought me the ſooner to thinke, and reſolue of it as meete, and fit for my purpoſe. If it ſhall pleaſe you not to diſdaine me, I will bind my ſelfe not to enuie you. Your labours may obſcure mine, but my light cannot dimme yours, it ſhines too bright: yet Badgers skinnes helped the building of the Tabernacle, as well as ſilke and purple. So as Gods children profit, and his glory be promoted by the varietie of our gifts, and endeauors, that ſhall ſuffice me plentifully and I doubt not, but it will content you▪
Fare you well. October. 25. 1610. THOMAS WILSON, One of the ſixe Preachers in Canterbury Church.