The Holy Life and Happy Death of John Bruen, To the reader
The Epiſtle to the Reader.
THe Booke I here preſent unto thy view is Opus poſthumum, an Orphane, Hoſea 14.3.long ſince left fatherleſſe, and kept under Hatches, but now by his aſsiſtance in whom the Fatherleſſe finde mercy, is brought to open view. It was the rule of Pythagoras, to have his Schollers five yeares in his Schoole before they ſhould bee ſuffered to ſpeake. But this worke hath lyen above twice five, ſuffering more then an Oſtraciſme, before it could be admitted to ſpeake in the Language of the Preſſe. In ſo much that if I ſhould have ſaid to thee as he in leremy, Read this I pray thee, I…r: 29.11thou mighteſt have anſwered (as he) in the ſame verſe, I cannot, for it is Sealed. Gen. 29.3.But the ſtone that made the ſtoppage at the Well of Haran, is now removed and the Flockes of Laban may drinke freely.
I dare not recommend it to thy view with that confidence that Antiphon did thoſe ſtatua's to Dionyſius, who demanding of him what was the beſt Braſſe he ever ſaw? Replyed, that whereof were made the Statua's of Armodius and Ariſtogiton. But this booke (aere perennior) as that Braſſe preſents to thy view, and repreſents to thy memory, though not the Effigie, yet the Lively and freſh memoriall of ſuch a one as makes even the Paper more pretious for ſuch imployment.
Now that both the Author and the Subject of this booke may like the Statua's of Demetrius remaine free from the ſullage of Envie, and detraction, I deſire thus to informe and ſatisfie thee concerning both; and firſt for the Subject, he was a man ſo famous for Piety, that even the mouths of the moſt Learned, Pious and Prudent men in their times have bleſſed him, and God for him. Famous Maſter Perkins *Heb. 11.4. vid. cap. 41.being dead yet ſpeaketh of him in the following tract, that ſurely his houſe was none other but the very houſe of God, and for Religion, he carried the Top ſayle of England.
To this I adde the Teſtimony of the now living and Learned, the Right Reverend Father in God the Lord Primate of all Ireland, his Grace, A man equally Eminent for Learning and Piety, from whoſe mouth ſpeaking of this Gentleman in my hearing, did fall this great and gracious Teſtimony, that there was in him the very Beauty of holineſſe, and that he was of ſo amiable and cheerefull a countenance, that when he lookt on him, he was put in mind of Moſes whoſe very face ſhined;Exo 34.29 Index animi vultus. As honouring ſome more then ordinary eminency of grace in his heart, which was diſcoverable in the ſweetneſſe and cheerefulneſſe of his Countenance. And to this I may adde, his often encouragements to mee in the publication of this Booke, were ſufficient, I thought, both to provoke my paines, and to prevent the Readers envy, unleſſe they be ſuch as are of the nature of the Baſiliske that would blaſt or kill all they breath on; and if any ſuch, I wiſh rather they would learne of the Scorpions of Meſopotamia, Plin, nat. Hist.not to bite, or harme Strangers, and when their owne reaches not, to ſubſcribe to better judgements. Now for the Author; the neereneſse of relation forbids me to ſay much: I ſhall leave his owne workes, and amongſt many this, to publiſh his abilities, as the Shield of*Idem quod Minerva. Pallas did the effigie of Phydias who was the Author and maker of it.
I have ſeene ſome workes of this nature, of which it might be ſaid, materiam ſuperabat opus, the worke exceeded the ſubject, but here it cannot: for as the ſubject is grave and gracious, ſo is the method, Stile, and Language of the Author. Expect not here, Verba Phalaris nitentia, a Pompe of words or Rhetoricke: that were with the Suitors of Penelope, to forſake the Mistris,Tiro. 30 23 and to court the handmaid, or as Salomon ſaies, to make the Handmaid heire to her miſtris.
I dare be bold to ſay (and produce many evidences) that it was neither that Inſanabile ſcribendi cacoethes, nor ad Oſtentationem eruditionis, Bucan in lo.as Bucan: obſerves of ſome, nor that effaſcination of popular applauſe,Baronius. as Baronius obſerves of others, that engaged the Author to undertake it. But onelyonly to perpetuate the memoriall of this worthy Gentleman, in ſuch a way as may make beſt for thy Example, and the Creators glory.Math. 5.16. Diſtemper and prejudice being then laid aſide, read it, and be pleaſed throughly to peruſe it before in part thou cenſure it; and if any with Praxiteles viewing their face and deformities in this glaſſe ſhall therefore breake or blemiſh it, let them know the diſadvantage is their owne, not the Authors, and (as he) for one fowle face they ſaw before, may ſee twenty then.
I would ſend ſuch to be diſciplined by Eraſmus, Eraſ. Epist. ad Dorp.who writes thus to Dorpius concerning the Readers of others writings. (Siquiſpiam offendatur et ſibi vindicet, non habet quod expoſtulet cum eo qui ſcripſit; ipſe ſi volet ſecum agat injuriam utpote ſui proditor, qui declaravit hoc ad ſe pertinere.) He that quarrels at others workes, betraies his owne folly, not their Authors: to prevent which, if you in this ſhall meete with any errours of Pen or Preſſe, doe not for thoſe, ſlight all the reſt, but remember the rule of the Naturalliſt,Hor. in loc. (Vbi multa nitent in carmine, non ego paucis offendor maculis.)
Where many things are good, ſhall I for but ſome triviall all let flie?If the Zeale either of the Author or Subject, outgoe thy expectation, or Practice, blame them not, ſince as there is no ayming at any mans perſon, ſo there is no favouring of any mans ſinne, according to the rule of the Poet.
It is but juſt and as hath bin, to ſpare the man and ſpeake his ſinne.(Licuit, ſemperque Licebit
Parcere Perſonis, dicere de vitiis)
If the Style prove not ſo plauſible as thy curioſity may expect, or if in the diſcountenancing or battering downe of any errour, in Life or judgement, thou thinkſt it mingled with too much bitter Hierapicra, Remember then the Phyſitians rule,
Sharpe ſauces beſt become the meat, and move the appetite to eate.(Acriora Orexim Excitant Embammata)
But if all this will not doe it, like Gallio you care for none of theſe things, yet at least, and at laſt remember the rule of our Saviour. Doe to others, as you would that others ſhould doe to you.Mat. 7.12. Deale not with their good names as Lycurgus did with his Country Coines, or as Rehoboam with his Fathers Shields, which they found of beaten gold, but left of Braſſe: rather as Auguſtus did with the walles of Rome,Juveni lateritiam, reliqui Marmoream. which he found of Bricke, but left of Marble. And whatſoever in them is vertuous, Honeſt, Iuſt, Lawfull, Laudible, and of Good report,Phil. 4.8. that follow, and the while thy Charity is thus to them, the bleſsing of God be with thee.
So prayes the Subjects Kinſman, the Authors Sonne, and thy Servant in CHRIST. Samuel Hinde. From Preſcot, this 20th of May. 1641.