Meditations on the Fall and Rising of Peter, Title page – Imprimatur
Meditations ON THE FALL AND RISING OF St PETER.
By Edward Reynolds, late Lord Bishop of Norwich.
LONDON, Printed for Thomas Parkhurst, at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside near Mercers-Chappel, and at the Bible on London-Bridg, 1677.
AN ADVERTISEMENT TO THE Reader.
Courteous Reader,
AS I cannot expect thy Thanks, so I need not fear thy Censure for the Publication of these Meditations. For by the forwardness of the Book-seller to promote thine (I hope) as well as his own profit, they passed the Press altogether without my knowledg; and before I received the least Intimation of any such Design, they were by him presented to me intirely Printed, desiring my attestation of their Legitimacy. To prevent therefore thy doubt and suspicion touching their true Author, I do from good and manifold Evidence assure thee, they are the genuine, though early off-spring of that Reverend Person whose name is prefixed to them. In his Lordships life-time I have often heard him mention, not only in general this Tractate, as one of his First Theological Essays; But likewise in particular, his Presenting thereof to a Pious and Charitable*Mrs. Nixon of Oxon. Gentlewoman, who by an holy emulation of her namesake Joanna in the Evangelist, did minister unto Christ of her Substance, by liberal Gifts to his Preachers and Poor. From this Copy fairly written with the Authors own hand, and prefaced with a short paper of Verses to that his Friend, were they Printed by the Stationer. And since the Decease of my Father, and his only Brother*Mr. John Reynolds Rector of Blaby. (both within the compass of two Months), two Copies of the same came into my Possession; amongst each of their Papers, one: Both the fruit as of the Heart and Head, so of the Hand too of the Author, exactly agreeing together, as I found upon perusal of them; and (as far as my Memory can assist me, absent from my Study in comparing them) fully according with this Third, now made publick.
The first Lisping salutes of young Children, and the last Gasping Farewells of dying friends, of all words, are wont to make most deep and lasting impressions upon us. That these short Meditations, some of the first Juvenile Breathings in Divinity of that devout Soul now with God, may obtain like effect, is the prayer of
Thy faithful Servant EDW. REYNOLDS. London, March 13, 1676/7.
TO THE READER.
THis Reverend Author, of great renown for Piety and Learning, needs no Letters of Commendation: For as it was said of righteous Abel, That he being dead, yet speaketh, Heb. 11. 5. so this profound and pious Divine yet lives, and speaks in his excellent Works; wherein he hath studied (as the Apostle gave in charge to Timothy) to approve himself a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth, 2 Tim. 2. 15. Yet because many eminent Writers not only after they were dead, but even whilst they were alive, have been much abus'd and injur'd by surreptitious, or supposititious, at least by imperfect Copies of their Works; therefore I thought my self obliged (as being an ancient and intimate acquaintance of the worthy Author) to give this Testimony to the Truth, viz. That these ensuing Meditations concerning Saint Peters Fall and Rising, are the genuine issue of the Head-labours, and Heart-labours of the Author, whose name they bear, and whose stile they resemble as face in water answers face,
—Sic oculos, sic ille manus, sic ora ferebat.
Neither do they only resemble his stile (which is much of an evidence to be his) but they are printed according to his own Original Manuscript. These Meditations were pen'd and sent (as a New-years Gift) to one of his ancient Friends in Oxford, much about that time, when he wrote those two Learned Treatises, One of the Passions and Faculties of the Soul of Man. The other, of Meditations of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper.
When he was Fellow of Merton-Colledg, Oxon, his pregnant Gifts and Graces shined forth even in his younger years. How well he hath improv'd his time not only in his elder years, but in his younger also, his Learned Labours declare, publisht for the great benefit of the Church of God. This consideration deserves such a special remark of Honour to be fixt upon him, as to perpetuate his blessed memory to posterity, and to remain for the living as a signal pattern worthy of imitation.
It's observable, that in his preaching and writing (as the Wiseman chargeth) Whatsoever his hands found to do, he did it with all his might, Eccles. 9. 10. He was such a Preacher as the same Wiseman mentions, The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written was upright, even words of truth, Verba desiderii, Verba rectitudinis, Verba veritatis.Eccles. 12. 10. David said to Araunah, when he would have given him freely Oxen for Burnt-Sacrifice, I will surely buy it of thee at a price, neither will I offer Burnt-offerings unto the Lord my God which doth cost me nothing, 2 Sam. 24. 24. It's abundantly evident, that this eminent Preacher and Writer bestowed much pains and studies in whatever he Preacht or Printed. His Works smell of the Lamp, and of indefatigable industry. I shall add no more concerning the Author, because I cannot say enough of his deserts: And the sayings are vulgar, Nemo vituperat Herculem. Expede Herculem.
The Subject of these Meditations is Peter's Fall and Rising. One thing is added in Saint Mark, which is not mention'd in the other three Evangelists: For it's said, And when he thought thereon, he wept. If we peruse the Original word, we shall find that he cast something over his head (as Mourners and Delinquents us'd to do when they were asham'd to be seen),Mark 14. 72. foreign. Theouph. and so Theophylact interprets the place. Peter denied shamefully, and therefore he wept bitterly. Great Sins will cost even God's dearest Children great and bitter sorrows. We might add more Instances of David, Mary Magdalen, Paul, &c. But this instance of Peter is a sufficient evidence.
It's a saying of Justin Martyr, That it's best of all not to sin: and next, to amend upon the punishment. But who of any understanding would therefore break his head, because he hopes to have a good Medicine to cure it? The Uses which we ought to make of this Instance of Peter, are mention'd by Saint Paul, Thou standest by Faith, be not high minded, but fear, Rom 10. 20. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall, 1 Cor. 10. 12. What St. Austine said of David, may be well applied particularly unto our selves, Let such (saith he) who have not fallen,Audiant qui non ceciderunt ne cadant, qui ceciderunt ut surgant. Non cadendi exemplum proponitur, sed si cecideris, resurgendi, August. in Psalm 51. hear, and take heed of falling: such as have fallen, let them hear and rise again. Here is not propounded an example of falling, but an example of rising again after falling.
This Treatise (though short) is pithy and solid, and contains the quintessence of good invention, and sound judgment, (which are the two parts of Logick.) It may be compar'd to an Illiad in a Nutshell, or to a Map describing in a little compass of paper, a large Country, which is contain'd in a few significant words; and the Motto may be—
Pondere non numero.
The same Renowned Author hath preacht many Excellent and Elaborate Sermons upon that Mysterious Prophecy of Zachariah. And likewise he hath preacht many profound Sermons upon several Cases of Conscience: Both which he hath unfolded with great dexterity of judgment; many whereof I my self (with others far better able to judg) have heard him preach (about twenty and six years since) in Oxford, both to admiration and satisfaction.
It's much to be desir'd and hoped that it may be obtain'd for the publick good, that the Reverend and Learned Doctor his only surviving Son, who doth Patrissare, (to whom may be applied that of the Poet,—
Vno avulso, non deficit alter Aureus, & simili frondescit Virga metallo.
Virg.)
Would be prevail'd withal to print those Elaborate Sermons, which (questionless) will much conduce to the publick good of the Church of God.
In the mean time let us be thankful unto God who hath given such Gifts and Graces unto men, and let us make the best improvement of them whilst we have them; and let us (according to our Saviours example) Work the works of him that sent us, while it is day: the night cometh when no man can work, Joh. 9. 4.
I shall not detain thee (Reader) any longer in a preliminary discourse from reading these choice Meditations. Thy profiting by them is as well desired for thee, as for him, who desires thy Prayers, and remains thy servant for Christs sake,
H. W. March 20. 1676/7
TO My Good Friend Mrs. NIXSON.
THe Season is of Joy, the Gift of Tears:
This seems a discord unto common ears.
But he that makes the ficrcest wolf to sleep,
And feed in friendship with the weakest sheep,
Vnites remotest passions, and can bring
Waters of comfort from griefs bitter spring:
The Jolliest Baltaser on earth may borrow
True Joy of him who seems o'rewhelm'd in sorrow.
Begin the Year, and pass it in these Tears,
They'l yield you joy against your greatest fears.
And kindly entertain your poor friends thrift.
A Renew'd Peter, for a New-years-gift.
Your true Friend, E. R.
IMPRIMATUR Hic liber, cui titulus (Meditations on the Fall, &c.)
G. Jane R. P. D. Hen. Epis. Lond, a Sacris Domest.