Gods Own Law of Determining Controversies, Imprimatur – Dedication
Imprimatur.
Ex aed. Lond. Oct. 3. 1664. Tho. Grigg, R.P.D. Epiſc. Lond. à ſacris domeſticis.
Lex Pacifica: OR GODS OWN LAW OF Determining Controverſies Explain'd and aſſerted, in A SERMON Preached at Dorchester, at the Aſsizes holden there for the County of Dorſet, Auguſt 5. 1664.
By JOHN MARTIN, Rector of Horſey's Melcombe.
James 3.18.
— The fruit of righteouſneſs is ſown in peace of them that make peace.
LONDON, Printed by J. G. for Richard Royston, and are to be ſold by John Courtney Bookſeller in Salisbury. 1664.
To the Honourable, Sir Matthew Hale Knight, Lord Chief Juſtice of His Majeſty's Court of Exchequer; and Sir John Archer Knight, one of His Majeſty's Juſtices of the Court of Common Pleas; Judges for the Weſtern Circuit: And To the Right Worſhipful, Thomas Freke Eſquire, High Sheriff of the County of Dorſet; together with the Right Worſhipful, His Majeſty's Juſtices of the Peace in that County.
My Lords and Honourable Gentlemen,
TIs not any fond Conceit (bred and encouraged from your acceptance of this Diſcourſe) that hath made me entitle the Reſpect of it to ſo Honourable and numerous a Partage. The publick Addreſs of it (had I eſteemed my ſelf wholly free) muſt have directed it ſelf (the duty of a Chaplain obliging me) onelyonly to Maſter Sheriff; whoſe noble and prudent Deportment in the face of his Countrey, cannot but juſtifie as well as challenge a property of Homage from others, beſides his known Dependents. But as by Maſter Sheriffs command (the onelyonly Perſon, I think, that could have ſet me that task) I became (at firſt) engaged to the Pulpit; ſo can I not think my ſelf acquitted from that obligation, by preaching a maim'd Sermon to ſo Reverend and Judicious an Auditory.
We read of Mephiboſheth, that When tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, that his Nurſe took him up,2 Sam. 4.4. and making haſte to flee, he fell, and became lame. The like misfortune (a truth which every one then obſerved not) happened unto this Diſcourſe, by the haſte I made upon ſtrict commands to ſhorten your trouble, (though the tongues of Gainſayers may (ſometimes) as haſtily be fled from, as the ſwords of Philiſtines) this Diſcourſe became lame; and I knew no better remedy for its halting, (at leaſt no other ſatisfaction of Maſter Sheriffs laſt Injunction) than to preſent it to my Honourable and Learned Auditors upon its legs: which, if not ſo clean and becoming as Orators may expect, nor ſo firm and ſinewed as Divines may require; yet may they be fit enough to go of an errand of Charity to my Chriſtian Brethren, and to bring home your pardon for this (but) neceſſary piece of boldneſs in,
My Lords and Honourable Gentlemen, Your meaneſt and humbleſt Servant, JOHN MARTIN.