A Plain and Pithy Exposition of 2 Thessalonians, Title page – Dedication
A PLAINE AND PITHY EXPOSITION OF THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS. By that learned & judicious Diuine Mr WILLIAM BRADSHAW, sometime Fellow of SIDNEY COLLEDGE in CAMBRIDGE. Published since his Deceasse BY THOMAS GATAKER B. of D. and Pastor of Rotherhith.
LONDON Printed by Edward Griffin for William Bladen, and are to be sold at his shop at the signe of the Bible, at the great North dore of Paules. 1620.
TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVL AND TRVLY RELIGIOVS Mrs Katharine Redich of Newhall in Darbyshire, increase of all graces spirituall, with assurance of life eternall.
RIGHT WORSHIPFVL, Hauing prepared and fitted for the Presse, some part of the labors of that worthy seruant of GOD, that spent much of his time with you, and vnderunder your roofe both drew in and let out his last breath; the doubt was easily decided, to whom they should be addressed. None seemed to lay more due and rightfull claime to them then your selfe. The maine meanes of his maintenance were from your Familie while he liued: and the principall stay of his, vnderunder God, hath bin from You and Yours since his deceasse. Neither may any more iustly challenge the benefit of the light, then those that hauehave ministred oyle to the lamp. The Author, I doubt not, had he liued to publish them himselfe, would so hauehave disposed of them. And which way could I, his deputy, more fitly direct them, then whither he himselfe did in all likelyhood intend them? Much benefit by them, I assure my selfe, may redound to all sorts. But your selfe may more specially reap fruit by them more then ordinarie; in that you were formerly a partaker of that by word of mouth then deliuered, which is now here by help of pen and Presse further represented to your eye, and so reduced to your minde and remembrance againe. The most that shall light on them, they will salute but as strangers at first sight; with whom yet their worth once knowne and duely weighed, will soone gaine them fauour and good acceptance. To your selfe and some few more they shall repaire as ancien …cquaintance, renewing that familia…e, which they hauehave formerly had with …ou. But the better you are acquainted with them already, the lesse need is there that I should commend them vntounto you. A strangers commendation is superfluous betweene those that are inwardly acquainted already. Let these few lines rather serue to acknowledge mine owne engagement vntounto You & Yours, (which I vnfeinedly acknowledg, & wish I were any way able really to testifie) for that louelove & kindnes that you hauehave from time to time shewen, & do yet shew to the Author of this worke: wherein I may well say of you (and I speake it without flattery) as Naomi of Boaz, that you cease not to doe good both to the liuing and the dead. Ruth 2.20.The Lord increase daily the number of those, that do feelingly and effectually commiserate the forlorne estate that the poore children of his Prophets, after their Parents deceasse, are ordinarily exposed vntounto; and aboundantly recompence whatsoeuer kindnes you hauehave shewen or shall shew, in that kind, into the bosome of You and Yours. That which h… …lso doubtles will not faile to do, who as is not vnrighteous to forget the paines and lo… labor of those that minister vntounto his Saints;Hebr. 6.10. so much lesse will he forget or be slacke to reward the labor and charge, that is bestowed vponupon those that are (through his blessing) a meanes to make Saints. To his mercy and bounty I heartily recommend you,foreign Dan. 12.3. and so rest
Your Worships to be commanded in the Lord, Tho: Gataker.