The Saints Zeal Against Sinful Altars, Title page – Dedication
Fraterna Correptio: OR, THE SAINTS ZEALE AGAINST SINFUL ALTARS: Delivered in a SERMON Preached on a day of Humiliation for the Errors, Hereſies, & Schiſms of our times and Nations.
By Z.C. Miniſter of the Word.
Utinam talis z…lus in nobis eſſ…t, & quidem non unum Altare erectum videmus, ſed innumera. Ferus in decl…m. in Ioſh. 22
Becauſe Ephraim hath made many Altars to ſin, Altars ſhall be unto him to ſin, Hoſea 8.11.
And they aroſe and took away the Altars that were in Ieruſalem. 2 Chron. 30.14.
We have an Altar, whereof they have no right to eate, who ſerve the Tabernacle, Heb. 13.10.
Imprimatur;
Edm. Calamy.
London, Printed by T. R. and E. M. for Robert Gibbs in Chancery lane, near Serjeants-Inne. 1655.
TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL, Mr. Daniel Andrewes, Eſquire: ALDERMAN of the Honourable City of LONDON.
Right Worſhipful,
DEdications of Books being a cuſtome no leſſe commendable then common, did engage my prefixing of your worthy name to this ſmall Treatiſe, and ſimple (I dare not ſo call it, for the matter declared in it, but the management of it by the Author) Sermon: preached (in obedience to the commands of Church-Officers) ſome moneths ſince, and now publiſhed to the provoking of more general zeale againſt ſinful Altars then our times afford. Worthy Sir, the aimes propounded to my ſelf in this preſent Dedication, are ſuch as are common to all Dedications: Firſt, to expreſſe my thankful acceptance and acknowledgement of your undeſerved reſpect to me, a meere ſtranger in your frequent attendance on my Miniſtery; and fervent expoſtulations with ſome in my behalf, in matters wherein I have been concerned, and many other wayes expreſſed. Secondly, and chiefly to excite your zeal for, and engage your attendance on Gods one only Altar diſtinct from, nay, in oppoſition to all falſe Altars of human erection. Sir, I do not in the leaſt tax you of lukewarmneſſe, or ſuſpect your receſſion from Gods Altar: no, my ſelf, and many others that miniſter to the Lord, having obſerved your conſtant attendance on the Ordinances of the Goſpel, your countenance to the Miniſters of the Goſpel, your complaints againſt the Errors, Hereſies, and Schiſmes of the times, with your careful turning away from ſuch as innovate new and falſe principles, and practices of Divine worſhip, muſt needs bear witneſſe that you are very fit to be one of the ten Princes of our Engliſh Iſrael, to be delegated to expoſtulate with ſeparate brethren concerning their ſeeming (at leaſt) building of an Altar againſt the Altar of the Lord. Sir, though I ſpeak this without flattery, yet I cannot but obſerve you obnoxious unto danger, and a fit object of the Apoſtles Caution, Let him that thinks he ſtands, take heed lest he fall: …or. 10.12.and that not only as you are a man ſubject to infirmity, as are your brethren: but alſo as you are eminent by your place, a Ruler in our Iſrael, capable of being more ſerviceable to God whileſt you ſtand, and to Satan if you fall. We ſee Corahs rebellion and formall Altar-building-ſin drew in two hundred and fifty Rulers famous in the Congregation, and men of renowne. Satan well knowes he is a meane man that drawes not after him ſome Clients: and that the multitude (like Bees) follow their maſter. Hence his policie is to make the Leaders of the people, leaders of them into ſin. May I therefore be bold to commend to your reading this ſmall Treatiſe, as an antidote to temptation, and guard againſt all the aſſaults of Satan, by which he may labour to batter in pieces your preſent zeale to the Lords Altar. And now, Sir, I cannot paſſe over the third common aime of Dedications, wherein you may be ſerviceable to the Author; nay, to God and the ſoules of men: that is, that your eminent Name may commend this poore Sermon to publick acceptance, and your report of the words of the Lord therein ſpoke, may provoke a deſire in others the Rulers of this ſinful Citie to read and hear it: Sir, it is worth obſervation that Baruchs roll written againſt Altar-building Jeruſalem, Jer. 36.13, 114, 15, 16.from the mouth of the Prophet Jeremiah; by the favour of Michaiah the ſon of Gemariah the ſon of Shaphan, obtained an audience from all the Princes; nay, an acceſſe into the preſence of the King of Iſrael. If in this reſpect this ſmall Tract may become a Baruchs roll; It may be they will preſent their ſupplications before the Lord, and returne every one from his evil way: for great is the anger and the furie that the Lord hath pronounced againſt this people. Sir, I will no longer trouble you, but leave it under the ſhadow of your Worſhips favour, not doubting your readineſſe to cover the infirmities of it, and its Author with your ſcarlet robe; and beg of God that it may be uſeful to your counſel and comfort in conſtant attendance on, and contentions for Gods one only Altar. This, Sir, ſhall be the daily prayer of him who is,
SIR, Yours to ſerve you in all Goſpel-Altar-miniſtrations, Z. C.