Sermon 26 April 1700, Title page – Dedication
Primitiae Synagogae.
A SERMON PREACHED At IPSWICH, April 26. 1700.
AT THE Opening of a New Erected MEETING-HOUSE.
By JOHN FAIRFAX, A. M. Minister of the Gospel to the Congregation there Assembling.
LONDON, Printed for Tho. Parkhurst in Cheapside, and Sold by Henry Truelove at Ipswich, 1700.
TO THE Right Worshipful Sir THOMAS CƲDDON, Chamberlain of the City of London.
SIR,
I Assure my self you cannot be surprized to read your Worthy Name prefixed to the few following impolite Pages. I dare not tell the World, especially without your leave, how much this mean offering is due to you. Tho' it were ten times more valuable than it is, I know no person can make a juster claim thereto. I never thought any thing of mine worthy of publick Cognisance, and have therefore constantly declined the Press, into which at this time I am tantum non pressed. Of two Evils I have chosen the less, judging it better that this should go abroad from my own Pen, rather than from anothers. Such as it is, I humbly offer it to your hand, which gave me no small occasion to preach it. I confess I had another Argument which somewhat inclined me to this Publication. I have so much satisfaction in what my Congregation hath done, tho at their great Charge, in Building such a convenient and decent Synagogue for the Solemn Worship of God, that (if I may speak it without vanity) I was willing to leave behind me, now that I am going out of the World, being in my Seventy Seventh Year, something that might be a Memorial of this Building to Posterity in the next Generations: For it may be said in this sense, Littera scripta manet. And I pray God to remember them for good, and all that assisted them in this Work, and not wipe out all the good Deeds which they have done for this House of God, and for the Offices thereof. Sir, I am far from pretending to add any Honour to, am only desirous to make this small Testimony of the greater Honour I have for Sir T. C. whose savourable Acceptation and Patronage thereof, shall always be esteemed, by me, a very great Honour to, and strong Obligation upon,
SIR, Your Worship's most Humble yet Ambitious Servant, J. F. Barking, June 3. 1700.