Works of Joseph Hall, Dedication 18
TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE, SIR JOHN SWINERTON Knight, Lord Maior of the Citie of LONDON, All Grace and Happineſſe.
RIght Honourable:
MY owne forwardneſſe (whereof it repenteth me not) hath ſent forth other of my labours vnbidden, but this your effectuall importunitie hath drawne forth into the common light. It is an holy deſire that the eye may ſecond the eare in any thing that may helpe the ſoule: and we, that are fiſhers of men, ſhould bee wanting to our ſelues, if wee had not baits for both thoſe ſenſes. J plead not the diſaduantage of a dead letter, in reſpect of that life which elocution puts into any diſcourſe. Such as it is, J make it both publike and yours. J hauehave cauſed my thoughts, ſo neere as J could, to goe backe to the verie tearmes wherein J expreſſed them, as thinking it better to fetch thoſe words I hauehave let fall, than to follow thoſe J muſt take vp. That therefore which it pleaſed your Lo. to heare with ſuch patient attention, and with ſo good affection to deſire, J not vnwillingly ſuffer abroad, that theſe papers may ſpeake that permanently to the eyes of all our Countrymen, which in the paſſage found ſuch fauour in the eares of your Citizens, and ſuch roome in ſo many hearts. Beſides your firſt and vehement motion for the Preſſe, your knowne louelove to learning deſerues a better acknowledgement, and no doubt findes it from more worthie hands. And if my gratulation would adde any thing, thoſe ſhould enuie you which will not imitate you. For the reſt, God giuegive your Lo. a wiſe, vnderſtanding, and couragious heart, that you may prudently and ſtrongly menage theſe wilde times, vponupon which you are fallen: and by your holy example and powerfull endeuours, helpe to ſhorten theſe reines of licentiouſneſſe: That ſo this Citie, which is better taught than any vnderunder heauen, may teach all other places how to liue; and may honour that profeſsion which hath made it renowmed, and all Gods Church ioyfull: The welfare and happineſſe whereof, and your Lo. in it, is vnfainedly wiſhed, by
Your Lordſhips humbly deuoted, IOS. HALL.