An Assize Sermon, Title page – Dedication 2
AN ASSIZE SERMON, Preached before the Right Honourable the Lord Chief Justice GLYN, and Mr Serjeant EARLE Judges of Assize at Bridgnorth in Shropshire, July the 2d 1657.
By Thomas Gilbert Minister of the Gospel at Edgmond in that County.
LONDON, Printed by A. M. for Francis Tyton at the Three Daggers in Fleet-street, 1657.
TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE Lord Chief Justice GLYN.
Right Honourable;
THis pains which another call'd to the Pulpit, your Honour hath commanded to the Press: I would hope but to a second Impression of it, the first being in your own and others hearts. Your attention spake your affection to it in the preaching: your judgment of it (so much above mine own) will be Apologie sufficient for the Printing (in this almost as much Printing as Scribling age:) and your Authority commanding it the Pr…ss, hath even therein engag'd for the Patronage of it printed. I promise my self also the third Impression in the whole course of Judicature, at the stern whereof your Honour sits Lord Chief Justice, hearing (and I am perswaded deservedly) The best Book-man of the Nation, and knownly no less exquisitely able in the disquisition of a Cause, then in the knowledg of the Rule: Now if your Honour either already did not, or did not still resolve with this, either Ability to answer your Trust, and make good your Style, you would not have desir'd the light of this Sermon also to stare you in the face.
Nor may this Sermon have its use onelyonly with your Lordship in this your so Honourable Publick station, but more especially in your private Christian cap…city, as your Remembran…er, in all, often to lay your self to the line of that Law of Liberty, by which Publick Judges, as well as private Christians must be judg'd. That the Lord would follow it with his Blessing, both Preach'd and Printed, to some measure of usefullness, both to your Honour and others, is the prayer of
Right Honourable, Your Honours most humble Remembrancer at the Throne of Grace, THOMAS GILBERT.
TO THE WORSHIPFULL EDMVND WARING Esq High Sheriff of the County of SALOP, and Captain of the County-Troop.
Truly Honour'd Sir;
THis Sermon is not bec…me less Yours for becoming so much Anothers: Nor will that Honourable Person grudg You a part in the Dedication from whom the whole had its Rise. Its appearance in another Dress, doth no more vary the Case, than a Servants changing his cloathes changeth his Relation to his Master.
You have in your single Hand a two-fold POSSE both Civil and Military of this County; an Interest in it above both; and I think for your time above any Gentlemans of your Rank in any County of England. You have received all from the Supreme Lord, and must render an account of all to the Supreme Judg held forth in this Sermon. Which that you may doe with Joy, and not with Grief, when judg'd by the Law of Liberty, is the Prayer of
Truly Honour'd Sir; Your Friend and Chaplain THOMAS GILBERT.