Warning to Backsliders, Title page – Dedication
A WARNING TO BACK-SLIDERS; OR, A DISCOVERY FOR THE RECOVERY OF FALLEN ONES.
Delivered in a SERMON at Pauls, before the Right Honourable, the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of the CITY of LONDON.
By RALPH VENNING.
Hoſea 2.7. Then ſhall ſhe ſay, I will go and returne to my firſt husband, for then was it better with me then now.
LONDON, Printed by T. R. & E. M. for John Rothwel, at the Fountaine and Bear in Gold-ſmiths Row, in Cheap-ſide. 1654.
To the Right Honourable THO. VINER, LORD MAJOR: AND THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL, THE ALDERMEN of the City of LONDON.
Honourable and honoured,
I Hope it will not be imputed to me as a crime, that I did all I could to keep this Sermon from the Preſſe, not fearing that it would do any hurt; but rather that it might do little, if any good, in this hard, very hard-hearted age. But ſeeing it hath pleaſed (I think I may without offence ſay) God and you, to call it to remembrance, ſome moneths after it was preacht I could not but obey your Order, in giving you that which you called for, viZ. the Sermon, and not another thing. For indeed, having obſerved ſome books frontiſpic'd with a Sermon Preacht at PAULS, which (as 'tis ſaid of Sir Francis Drake's Ship) had nothing left (not a plank nor rib) but the very name thereof; I durſt not (and I hope none will think it a too nice and a needleſſe ſcruple of conſcience, that I ſay) I durſt not give you that to read which you did not heare. You have the ſame things and words, with no more variation then; nor inded ſo much as, the neceſſary, very neceſſary difference, that is to be put between pen and tongue, required.
If it be eſtimated by the ſeaſonableneſſe of it, it will (as it ſeems you judge) be beautifull; and I hope that it will not be the leſſe acceptable, nor the more ſucceſleſs, for being plaine: for I profeſſe (to prevent all exceptions to be made againſt it on that account) that it hath more of heart, then Art, and of affection, then affectation. The time would not give me leave to uſher it in with any Preface, nor to cloſe it with any Oratorious inſinuations; nor is it (I think) fit to do it now, on the grounds forementioned.
Homely, yet I hope wholſome, as it is, let it go; and the bleſſing of God go along with it. The leſſe man appears in it, the more God may appeare by it. If it may bring ſome glory to his Name, by engaging any to remember either from whence they ſhould not fall, and ſo to ſtand faſt; or any to remember from whence they have fallen, and ſo to returne, I ſhall be glad, though my Name ſuffer by it, as I believe in ſome mens eſteemes it will. But not to trouble you any longer with ſuch things, nor to enlarge this Porch beyond the proportion allowable; I ſhall inſtead of ſpeaking to you ſpeak to God for you.
I do heartily beſeech Almighty God, that that City (over which God hath made you overſeers) may never become an harlot, that it may never be ſaid of it, It hath loſt its firſt love, and left its firſt works. It was full of judgement, righteouſneſſe did lodge in it, but now murderers. That its Silver may never become droſſe, nor its wine be mixt with water; that its Princes may never be rebellious, noir companions of thieves; that none of them may love gifts, nor follow after rewards; that, Oh that, it may never be ſaid, they judge not the fatherleſſe, nor doth the cauſe of the widow come before them; Leſt the Lord of Hoſts, the Mighty One of Iſrael ſhould ſay, Ah, I will eaſe me of mine adverſaries, and avenge me of mine enemies. The good Lord rather turne his hand, and purely purge away the droſſe, and take away the tin, and make Judges as at the firſt, and Counſellours as at the begining; that ſhe may be called, the City of righteouſneſſe, the faithfull City; and for theſe things, the beauty and the glory of the whole Earth. Thus, honourable and honoured, is the hearty prayer of
March 1654. Your humble Servant, RALPH VENNING.