The Faithful Shepherd, Title page – To the reader
Dr. DANIEL FEATLEY revived.
OR THE FAITHFULL SHEPHEARD.
A Sermon Preached at the Consecration of three Bishops, the Lords Elect of Oxford, Bristoll, and Chester, in his Graces Chappell at Lambeth, May, 9. 1619.
By that most Learned Pillar of our Church Daniell Featley Dr. in Divinity, Rector of Lambeth and Acton, Provost of Chelsey-Colledge, and Chaplain in ordinary to his late Majesty. Unto whom is Dedicated his large Volume Clavis Mystica.
And now Reprinted at the sole charge of George Vineing, sometimes Servant to the right Honourable Henry Earl of Manchester, Lord Privy Seal, Deceased.
LONDON, Printed in the Yeer, 1661.
To the Courteous Reader.
Courteous Reader,
HErein is shewn the Originall and dignity of Bishops and the singular union between Regall, and Episcopall right and Authority: drawn from Constantine, after the Church begun to have a little vigor against the persecuting Arians. And because the works of this famous Author should be had in Endlesse remembrance by all Protestants, as he is and ever will be, to the terror of all Papists. And if any shall demand why I the Reprinter should take upon me to publish this famous Sermon: my answer is as ready as true, (because; for the sincere love that I bear unto the truth; and the Endlesse true love that I owe unto my Deceased spirituall Father, who begat me in 1624. out of blinde Popery from dumb'd and dead Idols; and brought me into the clear light, to serve the true and living God) that he may have glory by it, and every Reader the benefit of it: I have thought no time so seasonable, nor none of all the Authors works so sutable as this small volume is, that all those who never knew his person, much lesse were conversant with him, or never read him in his large field of his manifold unparallel'd works, may herein have a most sweet taste of his worth, which may make them desirous to know him more in his larger works: so this small piece is to inform the ignorant, to reforme the obstinate, to conform the moderate: and to confirm all to communicate in the Church of God. That all Christians may so do, is the hearty desires and daily prayers, of the meanest of the Sons of the Church.
G. V.