The First Dish at the Wilshire Feast, Title page – Dedication
THE FIRST DISH AT THE WIL-SHIRE FEAST, NOVEMB. 9. 1654. OR, A SERMON Preached at LAURENCE JURY to thoſe that there offered their Peace-offerings, and went thence to dine at MARCHANT-TAYLORS-HALL. By SAMUEL ANNESLEY L.L.D. Miniſter of the Goſpel, at John Evangeliſts London.
If by any means I may provoke to Emulation them which are my fleſh, and might ſave ſome of them, Rom. 11.14.
God is able to make all Grace abound towards you, that ye alwayes have all ſufficiencie in all things, may abound to every good Worke, 2 Cor. 9.8.
LONDON, Printed by E.T. for Nathanael Webb and William Grantham at the Black Beare in Pauls Church-yard, 1655.
To the Gentlemen, and Others of Wil-ſhire.
SIRS,
AS the extreame ſhortnes of time, for the compoſing of this Sermon, did not fright me from preaching it; ſo neither did the extreame importunity of friends, allure me to print it. Conſcience of duty makes me dare not to refuſe my Maſters worke: And hopes of provoking others to Emulation [while ſeveral Counties are in the humour of feaſting] doth enforce the expoſing it to publique view. I am not onelyonly aſhamed, but griev'd to heare of many County-feaſts, but—nothing more.
I muſt confeſſe, there's a Tang of indignation (in this crambe bis cocta) this muſhroome againe ſet upon the table: the trouble begun in that you did no more for your County, and it hath been ſince heightned, that others doe not ſo much for theirs. You have the honour to give the Nation a Precedent, pray ſcorn to be outſtript by any. Other Counties may ſee, how eaſily they may doe themſelves good; I hope they will ſcorne you ſhould be ſingular. Hath not this put many Counties upon feaſting? ſuch a County feaſts, and why ſhould not wee? will it not better follow? ſuch a County invited Chriſt to their feaſt, and why ſhould not we? O that I could put every County into a flame of contention! but tis onelyonly, who ſhould doe moſt for the ſuppreſſing of wickedneſſe; removing of ignorance: promoting of godlineſſe. And for your County, that I may warrantably invert my Text, The men of Wil-ſhire, which were men that had underſtanding of the Times, to know what England ought to do, about five hundred of them met at a Feaſt, and all their brethren are willing to further their pious Projects. This is the unfeigned deſire of
Your Servant for Jeſus ſake, SAMUEL ANNESLEY.