Sermon 28 October 1622, Title page – Dedication
A SERMON DEDICATORY.
Preached AT THE CONSECRATION OF THE CHAPpell of Epping in Essex October, 28. 1622.
By IER. DYKE, Minister there.
ESAY 30. 8.
Now, goe write it before them in a table, and note it in a booke, that it may be for the time to come, for ever and ever.
LONDON, Printed by I. D. for Nathanael Newbery, and are to be sold at his Shop vnderunder Saint Peters Church in Cornehill, and in Popes-head Alley, at the signe of the Stare. 1623.
To his loving, and beloved people, the Parishoners and Inhabitants of Epping in Essex.
I HaueHave now, welbeloved in Christ our Sauiour, served well-neare a double apprentiship amongst you, in the service of the Gospell: in which, though the surest, and best evidences of my louelove, and affectionate care of your good hauehave not beene wanting, yet together with others my desire is to leaue vntounto you, when my testimony shall be finished, this one more publike testimony of mine vnfained affection towards you. To this purpose hauehave I dedicated this present Dedicatory Sermon to your selues, for whose sakes it was first occasioned. And indeed to whom was it fitter it should bee dedicated then vntounto you, to the service of whose faith, both my selfe, and all mine endeavours are to be wholy dedicated in the worke of the Ministery. I desire this action of mine may bee interposed as a demonstration of that speciall honour, and high esteeme wherein I hold you. And if your Ministers esteeme can be construed any matter of honor vntounto you, I would it might engage you to a regard of this one suite, namely, that you would bee wise to know this the day of your peace, and of Gods gracious visitation, and to returne vntounto the Lord some in come answerable to his cost, and laying out vponupon you. Where much is given, much will be required: God hath given you much, and hath beene a long time good vntounto you. He brought the preaching of the Gospell earely amongst you, after the darke night of Popery, and hath ever since continued that mercy vntounto you, with the benefit and blessing of a weeke-dayes Lecture, over and besides the Sabbath service. But amongst other favours bestowed vponupon you, I may not omit the specifying of his late goodnesse, in raysing you vp so many good friends, and benefactors, for the enlargement and repaire of your Chappell, the ancient place of your Lecture. In such dead, and hard times to finde so many, were strange to vsus, to be not onelyonly voluntaries, and liberall benefactors; but also, cheerfull factors, not onelyonly givers to, but gatherers for the worke, (whilest other some, though due and dayly hearers, yet earnest disputers against, and discouragers from the worke.) Whose worke was this, but his who hath the hearts of all men in his hand? As therefore you hauehave cause to begge for a seven-fold recompence into the bosomes of your benefactors, so hauehave yee much more cause to acknowledge the goodnesse of God, your great benefactor, that opened so many mens hearts, and gaue them hearts to open their hands to so good a worke. All good workes, to take them in the narrow latitude, were not done in the dayes of Popery. Survay the mother Citie, and divers other places in the Kingdome, end let any one twenty yeares in the time of Popery, in fiue hundred yeares past, shew but so many Churches, Chappels, and Schooles built, as hauehave beene reard, and reedified these last twenty yeares: the yeares of our present Soveraignes raigne. I am not sory that it hath prooved our lot to hauehave a share in this glory, and that our Towne should be in the number of those that can affront the Papists in their boastings.
Now therefore since God hath given you much, he also lookes for much at your hands. Hee lookes for a returne proportionable to his stocke, he will not be a loser by you, much he lookes for, and much will he hauehave. Better you returne him the much he expects in an answerable obedience, and walking worthy of his mercy, then that he exact much in the rigorus reckoning of his iustice.
But I spare a further pressing of you, and change my pressing into prayer. The God of heaven, and the Father of our Lord Iesus, that hath given you so many helps, giuegive you also all hearts to improue them, fill you with all knowledge and wisedome, make you rich in the worke of the Lord, and in all good workes, make you shine as lights here, that you may shine as the Sunne in the Kingdome of God. This is the desire, and shall ever bee the prayer of
Your loving Pastor, that desires nothing more then the saving of your soules. IER. DYKE.