Englands Remembrancer, Dedication 2
TO THE READER.
Christian Reader,
LEt the remembrance of so signal a mercy and deliverance vouchsafed by God both to Church and State should be buried in Oblivion, I have (at the request of the Book seller) presented thee here with a true and faithful Narrative of that grand work of darkness, forged in Hell, and by Satan suggested to some Popish Instruments, who envying the peace and prosperity of our Church, and progress of the Gospel, had designed at one blow to overthrow both: and that nothing might be wanting to complete that horried wickedness, their purpose was to have charged it upon the Puritans, thereby hoping to free themselves and their Religion from the imputation of so hainous a Crime. Now that the memorial of a mercy of such publick and general concernment should not be forgotten, we have the word of the eternal God to be our guide therein. When the Lord had by his Angel destroyed the first-born of Egypt, and spared Israel, he instituted the feast of the Passover to continue the memorial thereof through their Generations, Ex. 12. 11, 12, 14. and ver. 26, 27. saith Moses to them, when your Children shall say unto you, What mean you by this service? ye shall say, It is the Sacrifice of the Lords Passover, who passed over the Houses of the Children of Israel when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our Houses. And how careful good Mordecai was to continue the remembrance of that great deliverance of the people of God from destruction plotted and contrived by that wicked Haman, appears Esth. 9. 20, &c. where they did not only celebrate those present dayes of their deliverance with feasting, and gladness: but he, together with the rest of the Jewes, or dained, and took upon them, and their seed, and upon all such as joined themselves unto them, so as it should not fail, that they would keep those daies in their appointed time every year, and that those daies should be remembred, and kept through their Generations, every Family, every Province, and every City, and that those daies of Purim should not fail from amongst the Jews, nor the memorial of them perish from their seed, &c. And truly the remembrance of this great mercy hath the more need to be revived at this time, when some noted persons amongst us begin to decry it, and wholly to lay aside the observation of that day, though enjoined by Act of Parliament, and made conscience of by most of the godly people of the Nation. I have also been induced the rather to make this brief Collection of the Story, because, though it be published by others, yet it is in larger Volumes, which are not every ones money; whereas, for a small matter every family may get and keep this by them for the benefit, and satisfaction both of themselves and Children, that so the Lord may not lose of his glory, nor they (for want of information) fail of their duty. I shall conclude with that of the Psalmist, Psal. 107. 8. O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness: and for his wonderful works to the Children of men! which is the hearty desire of
Thine for thy spiritual good, SAM. CLARK.