Sermon 13 April 1642, Title page – To the reader
A SERMON Preached at St. MARIES SPITTLE, On Wedneſday in EASTER Weeke, Aprill 13th 1642. Before the RIGHT HONOVRABLE The Lord MAIOR, the ALDERMEN, And SHERIFS, of this Famous City of LONDON.
BY William Price, Batchelor of Divinity, and Preacher at Covent-Garden.
LONDON: Printed for Nicholas Bourne, and are to bee ſold at his Shop, at the South Entrance of the Royall Exchange. 1642.
To the Right HONOURABLE Sir RICHARD GVRNEY, Knight and Baronet; And to the Right WORSHIPFVLL The ALDERMEN, and SHERIFFES of this Famous City of LONDON, Together with the Right Worſhipfull Company of DRAPERS.
WILLIAM PRICE Dedicates and Devotes this plaine and unpoliſh't Sermon, as a Teſtimony of his peculiar reſpect and Chriſtian Love to this City, where he drew his firſt breath.
To the READER.
Chriſtian Reader,
THe Preſſe is oppreſt; almoſt preſt to death in this ſcribling Age: And it is thought that it deſerves to bee ſo, for being ſo fruitfull in venting ſuch ſwarmes of fopperies, and falſhoods. That Fryar was very ſtupid, that ſoberly affirmd that he thought in his Conſcience, whatſoever was Printed is true. Wee are now tempted to ſuſpect the truth of whatſoever is Printed, becauſe Printed. I had not now given my hand againſt my ſelfe, to teſtifie, to deliberate views thoſe infirmities, which in the delivery might have paſſed by unobſerved, had not the deſire of my ſuperiours, and the importunity of my Friends laid a law upon me. Beſides I would endeavour to reduce the proſtitute Preſſe to her firſt Chaſtity, by imploying it about Divinity: If any critick except that this is but a homely, popular Sermon, clad with the habiliments of meane Language, and ſtuft with familiar obvious matter; I yeeld it, nor can yet find in my heart to repent me of it. Hee whom theſe extraordinary, occaſionall, emergent labours cannot excuſe from his weekely double paines at home, may well be borne with, though he come not up fully to the expectation, and anſwer not the prepoſſeſt, prejudicate humour of every fancifull auditour. I can promiſe you here nothing but truth, repreſented in apt expresſions, pertinent to the text, to a promiſcuous Auditory, to the time, and to the times: I neither merit, nor court applauſe. I contemne contempt. But if my well meaning thoughts purchaſe acceptance, it is more then home-ſpoken truth uſeth to meet with: whatever befal, my Record is on high, and if GOD pleaſe to caſt a ray of Favour on my ſlender performance, and make it ſuccesfull to the gaining or building up but of one Soul, it is the utmoſt height of my ambition, and I ſhall think my ſelfe more then well rewarded, and apaid. To the benevolent influence of which indulgent GOD, I commend thee, who am
Thine in the Lord, WILLIAM PRICE.