A Seasonable Apology for Religion, Title page – Dedication
A SEASONABLE APOLOGY FOR RELIGION, Being the subject of two SERMONS Lately delivered in an Auditory in LONDON.
By Matthew Pool, Minister of the Gospel in London.
LONDON, Printed by I. M. for Tho. Parkhurst, at the Bible and three Crowns in Cheapside, near Mercers Chappel; and at the Bible on London-Bridge, under the Gate. MDCLXXIII.
To the Right Honourable and truly Religious Lady Laetitia Countess of Donegal, &c.
Madam,
WHen I resolved to comply with the desires of some worthy persons in the publication of this discourse, I was not long in suspence about the Dedication, but was speedily determined therein, by calling to remembrance a former obligation to your Honour, under whic… I had justly put my self; only I feared, lest, instead of discharging an obligation, I should deserve an imputation of presumption and w…akness, in thinking to dissolve it by such a trifle. But, Madam, if I should take the measure of my return, from your merit and my duty, peradventure I could not have satisfied justice, without a Volume as large as that, which your Honour and many others know, I am engaged in: Besides, I considered the nature of true goodness and generosity, which looks not so much to the nature of the Present, as the sinc…erity of him that tenders it. And, Madam, though the bulk of the discourse is but small, and my managery of it can add no greatness to it, which I confess is such as needs the pardon of a critical Reader, yet I must aver, that the subject of it is truly great, Religion, which hath the great God, and the great Saviour the Lord Iesus for its object, great promises for its encouragement, great salvation for its reward. And what Galen said of Physick is more true of Religion, non datur exiguum, there is nothing small and trivial in it. And as Religion is great in it self, so I dare say it is in your Honours eyes, and therefore I am perswaded you will not despise this small Apologie for it: which the miscarriages of former times makes necessary, and the degeneration and malignity of the present makes seasonable But I must remember I am writing an Epistle to a small Discourse, and I must have a care of making my Gate too wide, lest (as he said) the City should run out of it. Your Honours time is too pretious for me to rob you of more of it, and my occasions are so urgent that they will scarce allow me to perform civilities. I only add my own, and beg yours, and other truly religious persons Prayers, that God would bless my poor endeavours. If your Honours name and interest engage others to read it to their good, it will abundantly answer the desires and compensate the pains of,
Madam, Your Honours most obliged, and humble, and faithful Servant, especially in the concerns of your soul M. P.