The Anatomy of the Mass, Title page – Dedication
THE ANATOMIE OF THE MASSE.
Wherein is ſhewed by the Holy Scriptures, and by the teſtimony of the Ancient Church, that the MASSE is contrary unto the Word of God, and farre from the way of Salvation.
By PETER du MOVLIN, Doctor and Profeſſor in Divinity.
And Tranſlated into Engliſh, By JAM: MOUNTAINE.
LONDON Printed by J. B. for Humphrey Robinſon, and are to be ſold at his Shop, at the Signe of the three Pigeons in Pauls Church-Yard. 1641.
Imprimatur, Tho: Wykes R. P. Epiſc.
Lond. Capell. Domeſt.
TO The Right Honourable and moſt Illuſtrious Lords:
The Earle of Bedford.
The Earle of Hartford.
The Earle of Eſſex.
The Earle of Warwick.
The Viſcount Say and Seale.
The Viſcount Savile.
Lord Wharton.
Lord Brooke.
RIGHT HONOVRABLE,
GOD having been pleaſed not to ſuffer my heart to be much enamoured with worldly preferments & imployes of that nature, whereby I have poſſeſſed my ſoule in quietneſſe and enjoyed more liberty: In acknowledgement of that favour and being perſwaded withall that God hath not weaned me from theſe pleaſures for to ſit ſtill & to be idle: my chiefe ſtudie hath been, according to my poore ability, to buſie my mind and to apply my heart to ſpirituall things, which might both better my ſelfe and others, and make me (if not ſo rich and ſo conſiderable in this life, yet (I am ſure) through God his free mercy) rich and eminent enough in the life to come. Wherefore, in the proſecution of that holy reſolution, after ſeverall Works of this nature which by Gods providence I have given to the publick in the French tongue, and which (I may ſay it truly & without vanity) have not been without fruit: It hath pleaſed the ſame divine Wiſdome to put into my heart to give unto this Pious Nation, this little Work in their owne language. And foraſmuch as your Honours are of the eminenteſt of the kingdome, and of the maineſt and principal Pillars, which, under your moſt Pious and moſt Gratious Soveraigne, uphold both this Church and Common wealth: & furthermore, ſeeing alſo that all the eyes of this floriſhing Nation (grounded upon that aſſured knowledge it hath of your fervent Love to GOD, Loyalty to your PRINCE, and tender affection to your Countrey) are now fixed upon you as upon ſo many Moſes ſtanding in the gap between them and Gods threatning judgements: I have thought my ſelfe bound in duty (having ſo faire an opportunity as this is) to crowd among the reſt into your preſence, and to ſhew as wel as others, this publick and true teſtimony of my moſt humble reſpects, in preſenting firſt with all humility this poore labour of mine unto your Honors, joyntly: being unwilling (ſo long as I finde divers preſidents of the like dedications) to divide and ſeparate thoſe whom GOD and the KING have joyned together: beſeeching you to accept of it; to vouchſafe it your Patronage, and to beare in its forefront your Honourable Names. I preſume that for the Author his ſake, your Honors will not deny me that favour. And the rather, becauſe it tends to the ſame end that yee aime at, to wit Gods Glory, and the furtherance of True Religion. For, Moſt Illuſtrious Lords, I have beene an eyewitneſſe above this eighteen years, of that Conſtant Zeale and Exemplary Pietie which is ſo reſplendent in your Honors. And oftentimes being raviſhed in admiration to ſee ſuch extraordinary gifts & graces in ſuch great Perſons, notwithſtanding the corruption of the times: I have bleſſed God heartily for it, and prayed his Divine Majeſtie to powre more and more upon your Lordſhips, the dew of his heavenly graces unto the end. And indeed, Right Honourable, to conclude this in a word, I can atteſt upon mine owne knowledge of that eighteen yeares ſtanding: that although your Honours doe live here among men, your converſation hath been for the moſt part with God; neglecting no meanes (for all your great and weighty occaſions) to waite and attend upon his ſervice, in his holy Courts and Sanctuaries. But alas, all that I can ſay in that behalfe, is but as a drop of water throwne into the vaſt Ocean. And therefore, Right Honorable, I muſt crave leave to ſay no more: and aske pardon that I have ſaid ſo little, and ſo far ſhort of what your Honors deſerve.
As for the Author and Worke, I ſhould ſay ſomething too, if he and his Workes were not better knowne than I can expreſſe, Yet I will ſay this by the way; that he hath been, is, (and long may hee be) one of the Worthieſt and moſt powerfull Inſtruments in Gods hand for the converſion of Soules, deſtruction of Babel, and rearing up of Bethel; as this Age hath afforded. And for this particular Worke of his, it ſhall ſuffice me to ſay (to give it the higheſt commendation I can) that it is Peter du Moulins.
Finally, Right Honourable, I ſhould ſay ſomething alſo touching my ſelfe: which ſhall bee onelyonly to beſeech againe your Lordſhips to be pleaſed to Pardon the boldneſſe of a poore ſtranger, in dedicating this ſmall book, and firſt fruits of his (that have ſeene the light in the Engliſh tongue) unto your Honours: excuſe the defects that may be found in the ſame, (though I hope you ſhall finde it faithfully tranſlated, and free from any groſſe barbariſmes in the Language:) and to attribute that exceſſe of temeritie, to the exceſſe of the honour I beare unto your Lordſhips: for whom I ſhall never ceaſe to call upon God for an encreaſe of Honor and long Proſperity here on Earth, untill that being full of dayes, and having finiſhed your courſe in his feare, yee receive that Crowne of glory which is laid up for you in Heaven.
And ſo, fearing to be too tedious and troubleſome unto your Honours: I humbly take my leave and reſt,
Moſt Renowned Lords Your moſt humble and moſt devoted ſervant. JAM: MOVNTAINE