A Pisgah-Sight of Palestine, Book 4 · Dedication – Body of book
To the Right Honourable FRANCIS LORD RVSSELL, Son to the Right Honourable WILLIAM EARL OF BEDFORD.
MY LORD,
PErusing this passage in the beginning of Saint Lukes Gospell,—ToaLuke 1. 3. 4. write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, that thou mightest know the certainty of those things, foreign, wherein thou hast been catechised, or, instructed: it furnished me with some observables, very conducible to my present purpose;
1 Though GodbLuk. 18. 19. alone be good, yet man in some sense may be most excellent.
2 Even in that age, wherein they hadcAct. 4. 32. all things common, Nobility remained severall, as appropriated to some principall persons.
3 No diminution to the dignity of a Noble man, to be cat…chised, …, in the Principles of Religion.
4 Dedicating of Books of Noble persons is an ancient practise, … Scripture precedents.
5 … not patronage for his book (the Word of God being thedEphes. 6. …7. sword of the … to defend it) but intended the instruction of Theophilus therein.
The … the tex…, encourg…d me, …ing to put forth a Treatise to publick view, to make choice of an honourable Patron, and hope I have found a Theophilus in your Lordship, whom I see to be young, know to be Noble, and beleeve to …e relig…ous. The composure therefore of this ensuing bo… (the issue by Gods …blessing of … own industry) this alone I humbly … to … Honour to protect the same. As for the matter thereof, being wholly Scripture, I heartily dedicate your Honour thereto, to be instructed therewith.
And now, my Lord, may I request you to t…ke a serious survey of your own extraction, to be unto you a forcible motive unto vertue. To instance onelyonly in your deceased Ancestors (as cut of the reach of flattery) John your Atavus by his wisedome, and valour (the fortunate Generall against the Rebels in the West) founded under God the Nobility of your family. Francis your Abavus (whose Hall seemed a Court, Closet, a Chappell, and Gate-house, an Hospitall) shined as a light with his piety in those darker days. William your Proavus, to whom agreed the character of Sergius Paulus, eAct. 13. 7.A prudent man, and Deputy of the Countrey, and that an Island too (though not Cyprus, yet) Ireland; of whose abilities Queen Elizabeth was well assured, when choosing him Pilot of that leaking Land; then toffed with the violent tempest of Rebellion. Francis your …, whose death I would epithete Untimely (not onelyonly for the behoof of his own family, but benefit of the whole nation) did not the same authority, which reproved Saint Peter for calling that common fAct. 10.15., which he had cleansed, forbid me to term any thing untimely which his Providence hath appointed.
Now, my Lord, upon a review of this your pedegree, I will not be so Pedantick to minde you of a Grammar-instance, to make it true construction in your Honours practise, Magnorum haudquaquam indignus avorum; but in Scripture-phrase I request you togIsa. 51. 1. Look to the rock whence you are hewn, and the hole of the pit whence you are digged; and doe nothing unworthy of that honourable parentage, whence you are derived.
Far be it from your Honour to be listed among those noble men, of whom it may be said in a sad sense, that they are very highly descended, as being come down many degrees from the worth, and virtues of their noble Progenitors.
To conclude then with Theophilus, with whom I began. It is observable of him, that though styled most excellent by Saint Luke in his Gospell, yet in the Book of the Acts (which was written many years after) he calls him onelyonlyhActs 1. 1. Theophilus, without any honourable addition. What? Had Saint Luke in process of time less civility, or Theophilus (with more age) less Nobility? Surely neither, but Saint Luke may be presumed, purposely to wave his titles, out of compliance to the temper of Theophilus, who in his reduced age grew weary of worldly pompe, more pleased to have the truth of honour fixed within him, then hear the titles thereof fastned upon him: according to the Analogie of the Apostles pre…ept, Let him that hath honour, be as if he had it not. Thus, the longer your Lordship shall live, the less you will delight in outward state, and daily discover the vanity thereof; especially in your old age, your soul will grow sensible, that nothing can satisfie it, which is less then Grace, or Glory, or God himself. To whose protection you are committed, by the daily prayer of him, who is
Your Honours most humble servant THO. FULLER. Waltham Abbey, Iuly 16. 1650.
Here followeth the Map of Mount Libanus.