Works of Hooker, To the reader 2 – Table of contents 2
TO THE READER.
THe pleasures of thy spacious Walks in Mr. Hooker's Temple-Garden (not unfitly so called, both for the Temple whereof he was Master, and the Subject, Ecclesiastical Polity) do promise acceptance to these Flowers, planted and watered by the same hand, and, for thy sake composed into this Posie. Sufficiently are they commended by their fragrant smell, in the dogmatical Truth; by their beautiful colours, in the accurate stile; by their medicinable vertue, against some diseases in our neighbour Churches, now proving epidemical, and threatning farther infection; by their strait feature and spreading nature, growing from the root of Faith (which, as here is proved, can never be rooted up) and extending the branches of Charity to the covering of Noah's nakedness; opening the windows of Hope to men's misty conceits of their bemisted Fore-fathers. Thus, and more than thus, do the Works commend themselves; The Workman needs a better Work-man to commend him; (Alexander's Picture requires Apelles his Pencil) nay, he needs it not, His own Works commend him in the Gates; and, being dead, he yet speaketh; the Syllables of that memorable name Mr. Richard Hooker, proclaiming more, than if I should here stile him, a painful Student, a profound Scholar, a judicious Writer, with other due Titles of his Honor. Receive then this posthume Orphan for his own, yea, for thine own sake; and if the Printer bath with overmuch haste, like Mephibosheth's Nurse, lamed the Childe with slips and falls, yet be thou of David's minde, shew kindness to him for his Father Ionathan's sake. God grant, that the rest of his Brethren be not more than lamed, and that at Saul's three Sons died the same day with him, so those three promised to perfect his Polity, with other Issues of that learned Brain, be not duried in the Grave with their renowned Father. Farewel.
W. S.
The CONTENTS of the TREATISES following.
I. A Supplication made to the Councel by Master WALTER TRAVERS.
II. Master HOOKERS Answer to the Supplication that Master TRAVERS made to the Councel.
III. A learned Discourse of Iustification, Works, and how the foundation of Faith is overthrown.
IV. A learned Sermon of the nature of Pride.
V. A Remedy against Sorrow and Fear, delivered in a Funeral Sermon.
VI. Of the certainty and perpetuity of Faith in the Elect: especially of the Prophet Habbakkuk's Faith.
VII. Two Sermons upon part of Saint Jude's Epistle.