The Royal Present, Title page – Dedication
ΒΑΣΙΛΙΔΙ ΔΩΡΟΝ: OR, The Royal Preſent.
As it was Delivered in a SERMON, In the Pariſh-Church of BOSTON, Octob. 9. 1663. at the Archi-Diaconal Viſitation of the Reverend and right Worſhipfull RAPHAEL THROCKMORTON, D. D. and Arch-Deacon of LINCOLN.
By OBADIAH HOWE, A. M. ſometimes Student of Magd. Hall Oxon. now Vicar of BOSTON in Lincoln-ſhire.
Becauſe of thy Temple at Jeruſalem, therefore they ſhall bring preſents unto thee,
Pſal. 68.29.
The Daughter of Tyre ſhall be there with a gift, the rich among the people ſhall entreat thy favour,
Pſ. 45.
LONDON, Printed by E. Cotes, for A. Seile over againſt St. Dunſtans Church in Fleetſtreet, 1664.
To the Right Reverend Father in God BENJAMIN, Lord Biſhop of the Dioceſs of Lincoln.
My LORD,
I Sometimes finde an Apologue which the Jewes have in their Talmud, of the Grapes in Babel ſending to the Vine-leaves in Judea, to cover them with their ſhadow. I muſt make my way to your Lordſhips hands by this humble Petition, that your Goodneſs may act the Mythologiſt here, and caſt your ſhadow over this immature and indigeſted fruit: I know I may juſtly fall under a ſevere cenſure, that ſuch an empty preſent from ſo an unknown and worthleſs hand; ſhould covet ſo high, as to thruſt it ſelf into your Lordſhips hands: But (my Lord) it is your ennobled Candor which makes me thus preſume and preſſe, which I hope will find cauſe from it ſelf to accept, what I ſhould from my ſelf finde no confidence to offer, and make the pardon eaſie, where the error is out of Reverence; and the end not to give any thing to your worth, but to gain ſomething to the work. Abigail her modeſt Apology for her ſlender Preſent of Figgs and Raiſins to David, 1 Sam. 25.27. muſt be mine to your Lordſhip. This ſlender and worthleſs piece, as being much below your higher Speculations, Let it be for the young men which walk at your Lordſhips feet Yet I know not to whom upon better accompt either of Reaſon or Duty, I ſhould apply my ſelf upon ſuch an occaſion, and ſuch a ſubject, than to your ſelf; whom Providence hath raiſed to ſtand as a tall Cedar in our Lebanon: Theſe Conceptions, ſuch as they are, were by command delivered at a Viſitation, where your Lordſhip is preſent; though not in Perſon, yet in Power: And thus they yet purſue their main end, in lying at your feet, with this earneſt and humble Prayer, that you as a Cedar, and we all as the Firre, Pine, and Box, may make the place of his feet glorious. I conclude with this craving Impreſs or Motto of him, who ſetting down only Ciphers in his Roll, wrote this, adde vel unum.
Theſe following pages I have Impreſs'd as ſo many Ciphers: if your Lordſhip will pleaſe to adde this one thing, your acceptance and patrociny, they will thence gain both number and weight; and Crown the opportunity, which (as one that is under your Epiſcopal care and government) I gladly lay hold of, to let your Lordſhip know, that I am, and do in all humility ſubſcribe my ſelf
My LORD, Your moſt humble and obliged Servant, in all Duty and Service, Obadiah Howe.