The Safest Convoy, Title page – Dedication
THE SAFEST CONVOY, Or, the Strongest HELPER.
Declared in a Valedictory SERMON, Before the Right Honourable Sr THOMAS BENDISH Baronet, His Majesties Ambassadour, now resident with the Grand Seigneur at Constantinople.
Delivered in Dionis Back-Church, By NATHANAELL HARDY, Preacher to that Parish.
They shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee, for I am with with thee, saith the Lord, to deliver thee,
Jer. 1.19.
And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest,
Exo. 33.15.
Non plus valet ad deijciendum terrena poena, quàm ad erigendum divina tutela,
Cyp.
Ad omnem tribulationem, ad omnem cujuscun que modi necessitatem aperta nobis urbs confugii, sinus matris expansus est, parata sunt foramina petrae, patent viscera misericordiae Dei nostri,
Bern.
LONDON, Printed for Nathanael Web, and William Grantham, at the Sign of the Black Bear in Pauls Church-yard, near the Little North-door, 1653.
TO The Right Honorable Sir Thomas Bendish Baronet, His Majesties Ambassadour, resident with the Grand Seigneur at Constantinople. & TO The right Vertuous and most worthy Lady, the Lady Anne Bendish, his affectionate Consort.
Encrease of Grace, Length of daies, and Eternity of Glory.
My Lord,
THat abundant experience you have had of Divine protection, is no small cause both to you of gratulation, and your friends of congratulation.
Had it not been the Lord who was on my side (may your Honour now say) Had it not been the Lord who was on my side, the waters had overwhelmed me, and the proud waves had gone over my soul. There needed no more, and it could be no lesse then a powerfull providence which hath made your passage prosperous, and settlement glorious.
How truly then may you take up that expression of holy Job, I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ears, but now mine eyes seeth thee, Since that amiable promise of Gods favourable presence with his people, which you heard with comfort imperfectly explained in this Sermon, you have seen with joy fully accomplished in your own experience: and I doubt not but you say to God with adoration in words, not much unlike those the Queen of Sheba spake to Solomon with admiration, The one half of the goodnesse of thy presence, O Lord, was not told me, so far doe all verball Discoveries come short of Gods reall manifestations.
And surely what should move your Lordship to desire a representation of this weak Discourse I know not, unless that you might see how that Doctrine which is here darkly illustrated, hath been to you superabundantly verified.
I little thought such an unpolished piece should ever have been exposed to publike view; but Gratitude hath taught me rather to undergoe the Worlds harsh censure, then incur your Lordships just displeasure.
And indeed, though it greatly troubleth me that in publishing these rude notes I must set forth my ignorance, yet withall it much rejoyceth me that I have an opportunity by these lines to acknowledge your Muneficence. What a bountifull Mecaenas your Honour hath ever been to the Tribe of Levi, those who have had the happinesse of your acquaintnnce, and my self the meanest among them, cannot but testifie with gratefullnesse: But I well know you love not that either your vertues or favours should be openly proclaimed, and like the fixed stars, the higher God hath set you, the lesse you desire to seem. I shall therefore turn Praises into Praiers, and endeavour to pay my manifold obligations to you, in devout supplications for you.
May that gracious presence of the Almighty, which hath hitherto gone before you, still accompany you, to make your troubles few, comforts many, abode quiet, return safe, life long, death happy, election sure, and salvation certain. For all which he shall still implore the Throne of Grace, who is,
Madam,
YOur goodnesse accepted this Sermon from the Pulpit, and your pleasure hath now commanded it to the Presse; as being desirous often to view, with a Religious eye, what once you heard with a reverend ear; such as it is I here humbly tender to your Ladiships acceptance.
The box indeed is mean, but the Jewell precious; the fashion homely, but the stuffe rich; the chest iron, but the treasure gold: The manner of handling plain and despicable, but the matter therein contained Divine and comfortable.
The truth is, the most reviving Cordiall to a fainting spirit, and effectual Antidote against the deadliest afflictions, is the operative presence of a propitious God. It is onelyonly the assurance of Divine favour towards us, can sweeten every condition to us; and as the observing eye of an Omni-present God is a just Ground if awfull reverence, so the preserving aspect of an Omnipotent Father, is a sure foundation of a joyfull confidence.
A familiar Demonstration of this Doctrine is the subject of this ensuing Discourse, the sight whereof I am confident was so much the more desired by and will be welcome to you, by how much your own observation can plentifully attest its undoubted veritie.
Indeed though faith must beleeve above, nay, against sense: yet sense is a singular support of faith. Divine Promises are then most plainly understood, stedfastly beleeved, and joyfully perused, when we have beheld them graciously fullfilled.
May your joyous experiments of the Almighties presence with and for you, be still multiplied: your pious Assurances of his Favour be more enlarged, and by the casting in of this mite into your Spirituall Treasury, a further addition to your comforts be vouchsafed.
What a sweet odour your Honours vertues have left behinde you, I must passe over in silence, as knowing, your discreet Zeal, sincere piety, courteous affability, and benign charity, are all crowned with that modest humility, which will not endure a Publication.
How much I am your Ladyships debtor by those liberall respects your favor hath cast upon me, my slender Quill cannot expresse. All the return I shall or can render is, first to make mention of you and yours in my Praiers to God, next to engrave your beneficence in the Table of a thankful memory; and withall in real complement to subscribe my self,
Your Honours greatly obliged, and humbly devoted Servant, NATHANAELL HARDY.