The Unbelief of Tomas the Apostle, Title page – Dedication
The vnbeliefe of St. Thomas the Apoſtle, laid open for the comfort of all that deſire to beleeue.
Whereunto is added a comfortable Treatiſe for all that are afflicted in ſoule or body.
The firſt armeth vsus againſt deſpaire in the houre of death; the ſecond againſt impatience vnderunder the Croſſe.
By Nicholas Bound, Doctor in Diuinitie.
London, Printed for Robert Allott at the blacke Beare in Pauls Church-yard. 1628.
To the right Worſhipfull Sir ROBERT GARDENER Knight, and to the vertuous Ladie ANNE GARDENER his religious and louing wife, their owne hearts deſire in Chriſt.
RIght Worſhipfull Sir, though the kingdome of Ireland did bereaue his countrey of yours, of a great part of that good, which by a certain right it hoped for from you… by reaſon of your long ſeruice there vnderunder Queene Elizabeth of bleſſed memorie, in the chiefeſt and moſt honourable ſeate of Iuſtice, by the ſpace of 15. or 16. yeares together: yet the benefite vntounto both the Kingdomes was thought to be ſo great thereby, that the loſſe was ſo much the more eaſily borne.
And now at the laſt this countrey doth willingly acknowledge, that it hath great cauſe to thanke God, not onelyonly for your ſafe returne vntounto it ſome years paſt, furniſhed with greater experience for gouernment; but alſo with hope of neuer departing frō them any more: ſauing that in your last imployment, vnderunder his Highnes (whome God long preſerue) into his Ilands of Iarſie and Garneſie, they were ſuſpended frō that hope by the ſpace of certaine moneths.
Which beeing faithfully performed and ended, their hope is renued, that you beeing now at the laſt, merito tuo maximo donatus rude, may ſay of this countrey Here is my reſt. Which my ſelfe ha… more ſpeciall cauſe to deſire in regard my miniſterie, which by your preſen… you hauehave often and long giuen great countenance vntounto.
And you, good Madame, both ſince th… happie ioyning of you both together, a… long before, by your continuall comming to the publike aſſemblies, though a goo… way off; both winter and ſommer; neue… hindered by the heate of the one, or th… cold of the other, and that by the ſpace of 20. yeares, hauehave giuen ſo good an example, like vntounto thoſe, that traueled without weariſomnes through the vaile of Baca, Pſal. 84.6.…with hope to appeare before God in Syon; that you hauehave incouraged many vntounto the like paines, and hauehave left the ſlothfull without excuſe. By which, & ſome other good examples like this, the credit of Gods word among vsus hath in ſome tolerable ſort beene hetherto vpheld.
For which, and for many other great fauours from you both, I preſent theſe ſmall fruits of my poore labours vntounto you, as a perpetuall teſtimonie of my thankefulnes vntounto you; and to God for you. Deſiring him to multiplie his graces vponupon you, and long to preſerue you to your owne mutuall comfort, and the good of ſo many, as doe depend vponupon you.
And the like bleſsing of God be vponupon the good and forward hopes of the worſhipfull M. William Spring your onelyonly child; that his youth may be ſtill ſo ſeaſoned with religion and learning, that in time to come he may in the ſeate of Iuſtice for the good of his countrey, by his deſerts goe beyond all his progenitors: and ſo long vphold the credit of that right worſhipfull houſe. And ſo I moſt humbly take my leaue of you all. Norton in Suff. Iun. 24. 1608.
Your Worſhips in all reuerend and dutifull affection, Nicolas Bownde.