A Preparation to Suffer for the Gospel, Title page – Letter 2
A PREPARATION TO SVFFER FOR the GOSPELL of IESVS CHRIST.
OR, A moſt Chriſtian Exerciſe full of Comfort and conſolation for theſe preſent times.
Written in French by the Learned, and zealous, PETER DV MOVLIN, Profeſſor of Diuinitie, in the Vniuerſitie of Sedan.
LONDON, Printed by A. M. for Robert Mylbourne, and are to bee ſold at his Shop at the great South doore of Pauls. 1623.
TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE, TRVLY NOBLE, AND MOST EXCELLENT LORDS. …ODOWICK, Duke of RICHEMOND, and of LENOX, &c. …AMES, Lord Marquis of HAMLETON, &c. …ILLIAM, Earle of PEMBROOKE, &c. …ENRIE, Earle of SOVTHAMTON, &c. …OBERT, Earle of LEICESTER, &c. …OHN, Earle of HOLDERNESSE, &c. …AMES, Earle of CARLISLE, &c. …r OLIVER St. IOHN, Viſcount Grandiſon. …VDLEY Lord NORTH, Baron of Catelage. …RTHVR Lord CHICHESTER, Ba: Belfast. …eligious Peeres of ENGLAND Mirror of Honour and Vertue, Noble Patrons, and Paternes of good Endeauours, True Pillars, and vpholders of Chriſts true Doctrine, and the comfort of the Church of God. BRAHAM DARCIE heartily wiſheth to their Illuſtrious Perſons all Jnternall, Externall, and Eternall Happineſſe and Prosperitie in the holy TRINITIE.
ILLVSTRIOVS LORD…
IF in this vicious age it a rare thing to ſee an E… ample of Vertue, that your Noble Perſons m… needs be much more ra… ſeeing it comprehende… with great Excellencie and Perfection all t… Vertues in one, which the corruption of th… preſent age rendreth most remarkeable; b… the Eminencie of your High Callings, a… the Nobilitie of your Illuſtrious Diſcen… makes it more admirable. For if an inund… tion of vices, (the dangerous contagions Courts) where many ſeducing obiects of euils …re often preſented rather to Great, then In…eriour Perſons, hauehave not beene able to de…raue or viciate the vnspotted Sinceritie … your Noble and Conſtant hearts. This is … Example almoſt without Example: ap…auded of thoſe that know your Names, more …dmired of thoſe that know your Perſons; …a, Commended and Extolled euen by your …ery Enemies. Amongst your many Rare …ertues, PIETIE, (which is and ought to …ee the chiefest, as that which diſſwadeth vsus …om all worldly and tranſitory Pleaſures and …ffectations, makes vsus approach neere to …OD, to bee partakers of that incompre…enſible Ioy, Comfort, and euerlaſting Hap…neſſe, allotted only to Chriſts Elect) ſhines …ith an excellent ſplendor through your whole Noble Conuerſations. GOD, who is the onelyonly Giuer, and true Rewarder of Vertu… hath ſo adorned and enlightned you, with th… Cleare and Radiant Beames of his Goſpel that no waues of Idolatrous temptations ſha… bee able to ſhake the Foundation of your tru… grounded Faith; built, not vponupon the Sand o… humane Tradition, and Inuention, that th… leaſt winde remooues; but on the firme Rock of Diuine Perſeuerance, and Conſtancie which no ſuperſtitious ſtorme can ouerwhelme… That holy Prouidence which keepes you ſti… pure and immaculate, hath bleſt and preſerued you from time to time, from all perill… and dangers, and hath endued you with hi… heauenly Fauours and Graces, which are euident demonſtrations of greater Bleſsings to come heereafter, Making the people of GOD hope, you are thus preſerued, to be true friends of his Church, and the terrour of her Enemies: Ouer which you will bee tryumphant, CHRIST making your enterpriſes pro…perous, and your Noble deſignes victorious: …or which I am euer ready to ſend vp my zea…ous Prayers to GOD for all happie ſuc…eſſe. In teſtimony whereof, I humbly tender …nd proſtrate to your Honours this Excel…ent and healthfull Preparation, Dedicated …ikewiſe to the moſt Noble, Sincere, and Reli…ious Princes, and Lordes of FRANCE, True and Zealous Warriors for CHRISTS cauſe.
Your Graces and Honours moſt humbly Deuoted. ABRAHAM DARCIE.
To the moſt Illuſtrious, H. & B. of Roan, Princes of Leon. FRED. Prince of Sedan. H. of Trimouille, Prince of Talmont. N. Duke of Seuilly. AMORI. Marquis of La Mouſſay Mon. Le Vidame de Chartres. N. Marq. of La Force. ST. Marq. of Duras. CL. Earle of Montgomery. LE. E. of La Suze. GASP. E. of Chaſtillion.
Moſt Illuſtrious Lords,
IN theſe tottering and vncertaine times, when the louelove and respect of the world, and the terrour of perſecutions, and tribulations, makes many look back, that hauehave laid faſt hold on the Plough of true Religion. I thought it moſt expedient to ſalute you with this Treatiſe of a ſecure and ſafe Preparation againſt the aſſaults of malicious hearts, and attempting hands, that by the heroicall vertues of Chriſtian patience, and conſtancy, you may be able to reſiſt whatſoeuer impious force or violence, which would faine make a breach in your Noble, Religious, and Zealous hearts. This I hauehave done, not out of any doubt or feare of your firme and ſetled reſolutions; but onelyonly to giuegive you to vnderſtand how farre your Illuſtrious perſons are interreſſed in the daily and continual praiers of the whole Church, for your happy and victorious ſucceſſe; and that whenſoeuer you vouchſafe but to read this diuine Diſcourſe, your Lordſhips may be put in mind of the zealous and affectionate prayers of Gods people, who hauing made my vnworthy ſelfe their generall mouth, and voyce, I doe not a little reioyce of the fit opportunity I hauehave herein, to manifeſt vntounto your Lordſhips mine owne particular humble louelove and affection, which being grounded vponupon the many noble and apparant vertues of your Lordſhips, and innumerable fauours and benefits imparted to me without deſert, deſires yet in ſo ſmall and ſlender a teſtimony as this, to make known the large extent of my wiſhes and deſires, that God may accumulate vponupon your Lordſhips in ſo holy and iuſt a cauſe, all auſpicious and wiſhed ſucceſſe, as he, whom all your Lordſhips ioyntly, and each of you in particular, will euer reſt
Your Lordſhips moſt bounden and deuoted, P. DV MOVLIN.