An Apology for Laymens Writing in Divinity, Title page – Dedication
AN APOLOGIE For LAY-MENS WRITING in Divinity. With a short Meditation upon the Fall of Lucifer.
Written by Sr. Richard Baker Knight.
LONDON Printed by E. Griffin for F. Eglesfield, and are to be sold at the Marigold in Pauls 1641.
To My Worthily much Honored Cosen Sr. IOHN BAKER of Sissingherst in the County of Kent Baronet.
SIR,
I Cannot but very much honor you, as being a flourishing branch of that tree, of which I am but a withered bough; and yet more, for the many excellent parts of piety and morality that are in you; which as they are an ornament to your own person, so they make your person an ornament to all your Family; whereof as a member I have resentment in a very great degree; and therefore have dedicated this small tract to the Memory of your Name; not so much to be a monument of your Vertues, which will alwayes be a monument to themselves, as of the great Respect and Love I beare you, no lesse then owe you. I may justly cal it a tract, seeing I have beene drawn to write it, as it were by violence; least I should yeeld my selfe guilty of prophane presumption, for writing in arguments of Divinity, being but a Lay man; For there are some have censured it no lesse, and me no better; but the best is, I need not their voyces; It is sufficient for me, that there is warrant enough in the Scriptures, for it; allowance enough in the best writers, for it; and testimony enough in the practise of all ages for it; but most honoured Cosen, if notwithstanding all this, the cause shall happen to bee a looser by my defending it; I shall then intreate you, to accept it, withreflecting upon your own worth; and if you finde in it, nothing that is worth your reading; at least you shall finde by it, his love and affection, who will ever bee
Your truly loving Cosen to ser…e and Honor you Richard Baker.