The Troublers Troubled, Title page – Dedication
THE TROVBLERS TROVBLED, OR ACHAN CONDEMNED, AND EXECVTED.
A SERMON, Preached before ſundry of the Honourable Houſe of Commons. at Weſtminſter, April, 4. 1641.
By Samuel Fairecloth, Paſtor of the Congregation of Ketton in Suffolke.
GAL. 5. 12.
I would to God they were even cut off which trouble you.
LONDON. Printed by R. Cotes, for Henry Overton, and are to be ſold at his Shop at the entrance into Popes-head-Alley, out of Lumbard ſtreet. 1641.
TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL AND His much honoured PATRON, Sr. Nathaniel Barnardiſton, one of the Knights of the Shire for the Countie of Suffolke.
SIR,
SO remarkeable, and conſpicuous, in the view of all the neighbouring parts of our Country, are the expreſsions of your noble patronage, and ſupport, both of my ſelfe, and ministry, that each eye (almoſt) obſerves it; and more tongues ſpeake of it; yet every pious heart, that ever reaped any profit from my poore, and unworthy labours (next under the free grace of God) acknowledge your ſelfe the chiefe and grand inſtrument of the ſame; They are all alſo aſſured, as well as my ſelfe, that it was by your worſhips favour alone, that a perſon ſo obſcure, and undeſerving as I know my ſelfe to be, had the honour to be called to this ſo honourable a ſervice; I meane to deliver any part of Gods truth, to any part of your ſo honourable an aſſemblie; but by whoſe meanes theſe rude notes I then delivered, here come to the Preſſe, neither they nor my ſelfe as yet doe truely underſtand; onelyonly by a Letter the laſt weeke, from a friend that I am ſure had no hand in it, I was informed of it; with intimation, that (if I pleaſed I might preſent it to what perſon I would; and that (though I refuſed yet) that the Preſſe had proceeded ſo farre, as it could not be reverſed: in all which proceedings, nothing at all pleaſed me, but this onelyonly, that (what inſufficiencies and failings ſoever were by the publiſhing of theſe notes, diſcovered in my ſelfe yet) I ſhould have an opportunitie hereby offered, to make publique confeſſion how much both my ſelfe, and all the Angle where you live, are obliged to your ſelfe, and Familie, for planting and ſupporting the miniſterie of the word and power of the Goſpell amongſt us; and to ſtirre them up ſtill to joyne with mee, in making your worſhips life, ſafety, proſperitie and honour of your familie, the ſubject of our prayers and prayſes: which opportunitie had I let ſlip, your worſhip had not more voyces for you (in your ſo honourable election by your Countrey) to that ſervice wherein you are intruſted, then I ſhould have had againſt me for neglecting upon this occaſion of publiſhing Joſhua his practice againſt Achan, to declare to the world that by your countenancing and incouraging the vertuous and oppoſing the profane and vitious, you have approved your ſelfe to the whole Corner in generall, and my ſelfe above all in particular, againſt all the Achans and troublers of our peace and libertie, a true Joſhua; which ſhall ever be acknowledged by
Your Worſhips moſt obliged SA: FAIRECLOTH.