Sermons Upon John 1, Title page – To the reader
SERMONS VPONUPON A PART OF THE FIRST CHAP. OF THE GOSPELL OF S. IOHN.
PREACHED BY ANTONY WOTTON, in the Pariſh Church of Alhallowes Barking in London, and now by him publiſhed.
2. COR. 5. 20. Now then are wee Embaſſadours for Chriſt: as though God did beſeech you through vsus, we pray you in Christs ſtead, that ye be reconciled to God.
AT LONDON, Printed by H. L. for SAMVELL MACHAM, and are to be ſould at his ſhop in Pauls Church-yard, at the ſigne of the Bull-head. An. 1609.
TO THE CHRISTIAN READER, INCREASE OF KNOWLEDGE AND OBEDIENCE.
I HaueHave at the laſt yeelded to the requeſt of ſome friends, for the publiſhing of thoſe Sermons, which I preached ſome yeeres ſince. Of what vſe they will proue to the Church of God, his bleſſing vponupon the carefull reading thereof, will in time diſcouer. For my part, I hauehave laboured, by the penning and ſetting of them foorth, to bring ſome helpe to the better vnderſtanding of the Goſpell, to cleere ſuch matters, as offer themſelues to be conſidered; and to furder all men, that will vouchſafe the reading of them, in the knowledge of the myſtery of our redemption, and in the fruits of true ſanctification. If any man, that heard them deliuered by worde of mouth, finde ſome difference betwixt that, which then I ſpake, and this, which now I write; it may pleaſe him to vnderſtand, that I had but ſome very ſhort notes of my former Sermons; and happely my ſecond thoughts hauehave afforded me by the bleſſing of God ſome better knowledge of the Euangelists purpoſe and meaning. Their extraordinary length muſt bee imputed to the ſwiftneſſe of my ſpeech. If I go forward in the expounding of this Goſpell, it is my purpoſe to doe it rather by way of Commentary for inſtruction, then by diſcourſe for exhortation: vnleſſe it doe appeare that this manner of writing, which I hauehave now vſed, bee of greater profite to the Church of God; to the ſeruice wherof, I hauehave vowed my poore labours. The ſame God, of his infinite mercy, vouchſafe his gratious bleſſing vponupon them, to the glory of his owne name, the furdering of the ſaluation of his children, and the increaſe of my comfort in the faithfull diſcharge of that duty, which I am deſirous to performe, to the vttermoſt of my ſmall power. Aprill. 11. 1609.
Thine aſſured in the Lord Ieſus, ANTONY WOTTON.