Works of Joseph Hall, Dedication 30
TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE, THE LORD STANHOPE, ONE OF HIS MAIESTIES MOST HONORABLE PRIVIE COVNCELL. All Grace and Happineſſe.
RIght Honourable:
I Durſt appeale to the iudgement of a carnall Reader (let him not bee preiudicate) that there is no Hiſtorie ſo pleaſant as the Sacred. Set aſide the Maieſtie of the Jnditer; none can compare with it, for the Magnificence and Antiquitie of the matter, the ſweetneſſe of compyling, the ſtrange varietie of memorable occurrences: And if the delight be ſuch, what ſhall the profit be eſteemed of that which was written by GOD for the ſaluation of Men? J confeſſe, no thoughts did euermore ſweetly ſteale Me and Time away, then thoſe which I hauehave imployed in this ſubiect, and I hope, none can equally benefit others: for if the meere Relation of theſe holy things bee profitable, how much more when it is reduced to vſe? This ſecond part of the World repayred, I dedicate to your Lordſhip, wherein you ſhall ſee Noah as weake in his Tent, as strong in the Arke; an vngratious Sonne reſerued from the Deluge to his Fathers curſe: modeſt pietie rewarded with bleſsings: the building of Babel, begunne in pride, ending in confuſion, Abrahams Faith, Feare, Obedience; Iſaac bound vponupon the Altar vnderunder the hand of a Father that hath forgotten both nature and all his hopes; Sodom burning with a double fire, from Hell, and from Heauen: Lot reſcued from that impure Citie, yet after finding Sodom in his Caue: EueryEvery one of theſe paſſages is not more full of wonder, then of edification. That Spirit which hath penned all theſe things for our learning, teach vsus their right vſe: and ſanctifie theſe my vnworthy Meditations to the good of his Church. To whoſe abundant grace J humbly commend your Lordſhip.
Your Lordſhips vnfainedly deuoted in all due obſeruance, IOS. HALL.