The Right Understanding of the Times, License – Dedication
Die Mercurii 30. Decemb. 1646.
ORdered by the Commons Assembled in Parliament, That Sir William Massam doe from this House give thankes to Mr. Marshall and Mr. Newcomen for the great paines they tooke in their Sermons they preached this day before the Commons at St. Margaret Westminster (being a day of their publique Humiliation) and desire them to Print their Sermons.
H. Elsynge Cler. Parl. D. Com.
I appoint Stephen Bowtell to print my Sermon.
Stephen Marshall.
THE RIGHT VNDERSTANDING OF THE TIMES: OPENED In a Sermon preached to the Honorable House of Commons, December 30. 1646. at Margaret Westminster, Being the day of their solemne Monethly Fast. By Stephen Marshall, B. D. Minister of Gods Word at Finchingfield in Essex.
Jer. 8. Vers. 7, 8.
The Storke in the heavens knoweth her appointed times, and the Turtle, and the Crane, and the Swallow observe the time of their comming, but my people know not the judgement of the Lord: How do yee say, wee are wise?
If thou hadst knowne, even thou at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace, but now they are hid from thine eyes.
Luk. 19.42.
So teach us to number our dayes, that wee may apply our hearts unto wisedome,
Psal. 90.12.
LONDON, Printed by Richard Cotes, for Stephen Bowtell, and are to bee sold at the signe of the Bible in Popes-head Alley, 1647.
TO THE HONORABLE The House of COMMONS Now Assembled in PARLIAMENT.
IT hath been much lamented by learned men, that the times wherein things have been done in the world, are no more truly computed, and that thereby all Histories of times are very imperfect, Apud quos ratio temporis non cohaeret, apud illos neque veritatis neque fidei historicae ratio ulla constare potest; How much more is it to bee lamented, that so few have any understanding of the times in reference to the things which concerne their everlasting peace? because no lesse mischiefe then ruine of soules, of Nations and Churches unavoidably breake in upon them, who know not the time of their visitation; If this plaine Sermon may help this way to mend the times, and promote the right and best study of them, especially if God vouchsafe to blesse it to bee in any degree usefull to you in your great worke, for whose Meridian it was calculated, for whose use it was composed, to whom it was preached, and by whose order it is now made publique, it will bee a great comfort to the spirit, and a blessed answer from heaven to the Prayers of
Your unworthy and most devoted Servant, STEPHEN MARSHALL.