The Blessedest Birth that Ever Was, Title page – Dedication
THE BLESSED'ST BIRTH THAT euer was: OR, The Bleſſed Birth of our Lord and Sauiour IESVS CHRIST. Preached at the Fleet, the 25. of Decem: A. Dom. 1627. By HENRY GREENVVOOD Preacher of the Word of GOD.
ESAY 9. 6.
To vsus a Child is borne, to vsus a Sonne is giuen.
LONDON, Printed by Elizabeth …urſlow for H. Bell and M. Bell. 1634.
TO THE RIGHT Worſhipfull, Sir Henry Lello Knight, and Mr. Iames Ingram Eſquire, Wardens of his Maieſties Priſon of the Fleet, be this fleet and ſhallow Tractate commended.
RIGHT VVorthy, and Worſhipfull, I (hauing receiued from you in my preſent afflictions ſo great fauors, ſuch tender compaſſions, and knowing how baſe an euill ingratitude is, that it is, inimica animae, diſperſio virtutum &c.) cannot but ſhew my gratefull heart, in preſenting that to your worſhips eyes, that lately hath beene ſounded in your eares: a ſubiect moſt comfortable, and ſo neceſſary to bee knowne, delighted in, and reſted on, as without it no ſaluation: for this is life eternall, to know God, and him whom God hath ſent, the Lord Ieſus.
The Lord (of his infinite mercy) giuegive you the ſauing knowledge of Chriſt Ieſus, to embrace him as your chiefeſt Lord and King: for to ſo many as receiue him, giues he power, priuiledge, prerogatiue, to be called and be the ſons of God.
The Lord giuegive you to know him in his
Perſon.
Office.
Power.
Merit.
Spirit.
In his Perſon
God.
Man.
In his Office
King.
Prieſt.
Prophet.
In his Power
Mortifying corruptions.
Sanctifying affections.
In his Merit
Redeeming to God by his bloud the elect of God.
Intitling by his righteouſneſſe the elect to bliſſe.
In his Spirit
Diſcouering errour.
Conducting into all truth.
Perſwading by faith, confirming by holines ſaluation of your ſoules.
Bleſſed are you both, being ſo, ten thouſand times happie are you, if you hauehave thus the Lord for your God.
All theſe (the very ground of all true comfort and happines) are liuely ſet forth in this ſmall preſent: therefore let me intreat you to peruſe the ſame at your beſt leaſures.
Now the Lord make this and all other holy helps profitable and comfortable to your owne ſoules: that ſanctitie may bee your portions in this life, and ſaluation in the life to come, for Ieſus Chriſts ſake,
Amen.
Your Worſhips for euer to be commanded in the LORD, HENRY GREENVVOOD. From my houſe in Finsbury fields Ian…. 20. 1627.