The Doctrine of the Sabbath, Title page – Dedication
THE DOCTRINE OF THE SABBATH, Plainely layde forth, and ſoundly proued by teſtimonies both of holy Scripture, and alſo of olde and new eccleſiaſticall writers.
Declaring firſt from what things God would hauehave vsus ſtraightly to reſt vponupon the Lords day, and then by what meanes we ought publikely and priuatly to ſanctifie the ſame:
Together with the ſundry abuſes of our time in both theſe kindes, and how they ought to bee reformed.
Diuided into two Bookes, by Nicolas Bownde, Doctor of Diuinitie.
Hieron. Prolog. Galeat.
In the Church of God eueryevery one doth offer that which he is able: ſome gold, ſiluer, and pretious ſtones: others blew ſilke, and purple, and skarlet, and fine linen: tis well for our part, if we offer skinnes and goates haire.
AT LONDON Printed by the Widdow Orwin, for Iohn Porter, and Thomas Man. 1595.
HONI SOYT QVY MAL Y PENSE
TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE MY VERY GOOD LORD, ROBERT Deuoreux, Earle of Eſſex & Ewe, Vicount of Hereford, Lord Ferrers of Chartley, &c. Maſter of the Q. Maieſties horſe, Knight of the moſt noble order of the Garter, and one of her Maieſties moſt honorable priuie Counſel, the increaſe of all true honor and fauour with God and men.
RIght Honorable, if there were ſo many good reaſons to moue your Honour graciouſly to accept theſe my labours, as I hauehave iuſt cauſes to induce me to preferre them to your Honor; then I ſhould hauehave good hope, that as they hauehave moſt willingly come from mee, ſo they ſhould hauehave good countenaunce at your Honors hands. For beſides your late Honorable fauour extended vntounto me requireth this and al other duties of me, wherby I might ſhew my ſelfe thankefull to your Honour for the ſame; euen ſo the deſire alſo that I hauehave, that this truth of GOD might come forth with the beſt credite, hath moued me in the conſcience of mine ovvne tenuitie to become humble ſutor in the behalfe thereof for your honorable gracious protection. Wherein if I hauehave intruded my ſelfe further then I ought, and preſſed neerer to your Honor, then it becommeth mee, crauing your Honorable pardon for this my boldnes, I beſeech your Honor to accept either my feruent deſire to tender all duties vntounto you, or my great care to purchaſe beſt fauour for this worke, or both, vvhichwhich hauehave compelled me hereunto. And herein I am ſo much the more importunate vvith your Honor, not for my ſelfe, but for this part of Gods holie truth, that it might be countenanced as one of your Honors fauorites, becauſe as wee be fallen into theſe euil daies, wherin too many are readie vnaduiſedly to ſet themſelues againſt whatſoeuer they diſlike, and therfore the beſt cauſes are driuen to ſeeke patronage where it maie doe them moſt good. So the Lorde hauing inlarged your honorable name, aboue a great manie, which as a precious ointment flowing from your ſelfe, comfortablie refreſheth and perfumeth a great number, this part of Gods trueth alſo might enioie the common benefit of it with other, to be ouerſhadowed thereby, and by that meanes hauehave entertainment there, where otherwiſe happily it ſhould be finally regarded. And ſo it becomming for your Honors ſake a welcome gueſt vntounto them, it might deliuer vntounto them in the name of God as ſent by your Honor, that meſſage of his that it centaineth, to the honor of his name, to whom all honor is due, from whō all honour commeth, whome trulie to honour is the greateſt honor. Thus ceaſing anie further to interrupt your Honor from your weightie affaires, my praier vntounto God is long to preſerue your Honor, zealous of the glorie of God, faithful to her Maieſtie, profitable to the whole realme, and comfortable to your owne ſoule; moſt humblie with all dutifulneſſe taking my leaue.
Your Honors moſt humble at commandement alwaies in the Lord: Nicholas Bownd. Norton in Suff. Iune 1595.