Things Worth Thinking on, Title page 1 – To the reader
THINGS Worth thinking on; OR, HELPS to PIETY.
BEING Remains of ſome Meditations, Experiences, and Sentences, &c. never publiſhed till now; and now are as an addition to them which were formerly made publick.
Together with a Sermon Entituled The BEAUTY of HOLINES.
By RALPH VENNING, M. A. Heretofore Lecturer in Southwark.
Prov. 25.11. A word fitly ſpoken is like Apples of Gold in Pictures of Silver; i. e. both inviting and taking, being lovely and deſireable, becauſe pleaſant and profitable.
LONDON, Printed for Robert Duncombe, at the Golden Falcon in Cateaten ſtreet, over againſt St. Lawrence Church; and for John Hancock, at the end of Popeſ-head Alley next Cornhil. 1664.
AN EPISTLE To the READER.
Good Reader.
IT is grown ſo much a Faſhion, and judged ſo much a Civility, to ſalute thee with an Epiſtle, that to avoyd the imputation of either ſullenneſs or ſingularity; that the Book may not be altogether unmodiſh, and out of faſhion; that I may prevent thy wondering at my appearing in Print; I am willing to keep up the Cuſtome and to make an addreſs to thee.
If thou ſtrange what I mean to publiſh more things of this nature, having Printed ſo many already, & tantum non almoſt promiſed to add no more, but rather things of another nature; I will intreat thee …o excuſe me, if I give thee not all the Reaſons I have for this my being ſeemingly to blame. I will not repeat what I have ſaid for my ſelf in the former Epiſtles to the Firſt and Second Part of my Milk & Honey; nor will I only ſay, 'Tis better to do a little, than juſt nothing; or that He who cannot do what he would, muſt do what he can or may: But this I will confeſs, That having been many times told and perſwaded to believe, that the former pieces have been welcome, and done ſome good, as may in part be evinced from the ſeveral Impreſſions of them, I was willing to hope the like ſucceſs for theſe; and the more, for that to moſt of the Sentences I have added Scriptures to make them the more clear and forcible, which is an advantage the others had not. I could ſay more, and other things, but I think it needleſs.
I muſt acknowledg that I do not make an Entertainment for, nor do I intend to treat the Profeſſors of Gallantry and Wit; and therefore I do not preſent either a Romance or a Play-Book, but ſome little plain hints and helps for them that have a mind to be ſeriouſly good, that they may learn (which is difficult, though not impoſſible) to imploy their thoughts and to do well, and ſo acquit themſelves, not only as Profeſſors, but as them that are poſſeſt of, and live in the practice of piety. 'Tis but a little Book, which will not require much time or money to be ſpent about it, and may ſerve for more and better uſes, than a meer diverſion when thou haſt a little leaſure and a mind to be alone, whether at home or abroad, if thou do peruſe it. If to be ſhort will pleaſe thee, here's brevity; if change will pleaſe, here's variety; if profit (omne tulit punctum qui miſcuit utile dulci) will pleaſe, I dare ſay it ſhall be thy fault, if thou be not the better for't: For it hath ſo direct a tendency, and is ſo applicable to promote Religion, that thou canſt not chuſe but gain and profit by it, if thou be but conſcientious (as I ſuppoſe thee to be); and the rather, it being ſo adapted to take the Memory, that it cannot but be almoſt as grateful and pleaſing as a piece of Poetry.
As to the other part of mine half-Promiſe of publiſhing ſome Sermons or Treatiſes; this alſo I ſhall endeavour to do: For the preſent I ſend thee a Token herewith, viz. one Sermon of the Beauty of Holineſs, as a Pledge and Earneſt of my intention to make good my Promiſe, if God pleaſe. I ſhall ſay no more, but only beſeech thee to exerciſe thy ſelf unto, yea in Godlineſs, and not to trifle away thy precious Time, and ſin away thy precious Soul. If this contribute any thing to thy Times Redemption, or Souls Salvation (as I pray and hope that it may and will) Give God the Glory, and pray for me. That while I live, I may to the utmoſt ſerve the Will of God in my Generation: Which is the great deſire of him, who is a lover of all men, and would be glad, as he hath opportunity, to do good to all, but eſpecially to the Houſhold of Faith, as the Exhortation is, Gal. 6.10.
R. V.