The Anatomy of Conscience, Title page – Dedication
THE ANATOMIE OF CONSCIENCE. OR A THREEFOLD REVELAtion of thoſe three moſt ſecret Bookes:
1. The Booke of Gods Preſcience.
2. The Booke of Mans Conſcience.
3. The Booke of Life.
In a Sermon preached at the generall Aſsiſes holden at Derby, in Lent laſt. 1623.
By Immanuel Bourne Maſter of Arts and Parſon of Aſhouer in the County of Derby.
Acts 24.16.
And herein doe I exerciſe my ſelfe, to hauehave alwayes a Conſcience voyd of offence towards God and towards men.
LONDON, Printed by G. E. and M. F. for Nathaniel Butter, and are to be ſold at his ſhop neere S. Auſtins Gate, at the Signe of the Pyde Bull. 1623.
TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE, AND RIGHT REVEREND Father in God, Iohn Lord Biſhop of Lincolne, Lord Keeper of the great Seale; And one of his Maieſties moſt Honorable Priuie COVNCELL: The true Honour of a good Conſcience in the Church Militant, and the reward of true Honour in the Church Triumphant.
SO many are the Bills of Complaint (Right Honorable) of thoſe who are dayly petitioners vntounto your Lordſhip, for your graue and Conſcionable Iudgment in matters of Equity, that there needeth no further teſtimonie to perſwade the Conſciences of all thoſe, who mourne for the iniquities of the Times: That eyther Conſcience is fled already from Earth to Heauen, (as it was long ſince complained of Iuſtice) or elſe the moſt of men are euen now plotting to baniſh her out of the world; exerciſing themſelues (contrary to the practice of S. Paul) to hauehave alwayes their Conſciences not voyd, but full of offences both towards God and towards men. But praiſed be the Lord of mercy, who hath ſhewed kindneſſe towards his Seruants; and placed your Honor as the Lord-protector of Conſcience, in theſe perillous times of her perſecution. Amongst diuers others whoſe hearts-deſire is bent, to manifeſt their thankefulneſſe to God for his Grace already ſhewed; and to pray for a dayly encreaſe of happineſſe vntounto your Lordſhip: I am emboldened to ſend this Anatomie of Conſcience, to be reuiued with the warmth of your Honorable fauour in this cold and frozen Age of the world. It was at firſt preached before the Honorable and worthy Iuſtices of Aſſiſe for the County of Derby; Sir Henry Hobart, Sir Edward Bromely.the memory of whoſe free Approbation (with the reſt of that worthy Auditory,) hath ſince emboldened mee to caſt an eie ouer it once againe; and that I might ſatisfie the deſire of ſome few, to publiſh it for the benefit of many. And now if it pleaſe your Lordſhip to vouchſafe vntounto it a ſhadow of Protection; I ſhall not ceaſe to pray (in priuate, as I doe in publike,) That the Lord will ſo guard you with his glorious Angels; & guide you by the direction of his gracious Spirit; That all your Counſels, and Actions, may tend to the Glory of his holy Name, the Reliefe and Comfort of the oppreſſed, the good and benefit of this Church and Common-wealth. And thus commending you to the ſafe Tuition of the great Lord-Keeper of Iſrael, I reſt,
London, Iuly 14. 1623. Your Honors moſt humble and dutifull Chaplaine IMMANVEL BOVRNE.