Concerning the English Liturgy, Title page – Dedication
A DEBATE CONCERNING THE English Liturgy, BOTH As Eſtabliſhed in & As Aboliſhed out of the Worſhip of GOD. DRAWN OUT IN Two Engliſh & two Latine Epiſtles, Written betwixt Edward Hyde Doctor in Divinity, AND John Ley Rector of the Church of Solyhull in Warwickſhire.
Aug. Epiſt. 174. Paſcentio, p. 910.
Veritas vincat nec eſſe eſt ſive negantem, ſive confutantem.
LONDON, Printed by A. M. for Edward Brewſter, at the Sign of the the Crane in Pauls Church-yard. 1656.
To the Highly Honoured HENRY SCOBEL Eſq Clerk to the Right Honourable THE COUNCIL of STATE.
SIR,
THe good offices you have often done, for many godly Miniſters, and (by them) to the Church of God in this Nation, Done, not by the importunity of Petitioners (ſpurred on by neceſsity) but with the alacrity of your ingenious and generous ſpirit, nor with any, either expectation or deſire of a Fee before-hand, or a gratuity afterwards, have deeply ingaged them, highly to honour you, and heartily to pray for you, ſo much the more, as they have the leſs manifeſted their thankfulneſs by any reall returns: and that by your Antipathy to them, not by their oblivion of them, or unwillingneſs to tender them to your acceptance; for (on my Knowledge) divers of them had a conſultation to preſent you with a joynt teſtimony of their gratitude, though not anſwerable, either to your merit, or their own mindes, but I diverted them from that intention, by telling them, (which I had in effect though not in terminis, from your own mouth) that the ſucceſs and ſatisfaction of your endeavours was ſufficient content to you, and that you were reſolute not to receive any thing, which looked like a Reward for what you had done; and by that little acquaintance and conference I had with your Colleague Mr I, I had cauſe to account him your Brother Benevolence towards objects of charity in the like kinde. I will adde one obſervation more, of a ſubordinate Officer to you both, who notwithſtanding his great pains, and quick diſpatch of a buſineſs of much concernment to the peace and comfort of the Miniſtry, when a just ſalary of his ſervice was offered, ſhut his hands as cloſe against it, and more ſeriouſly then any Capochin Frier would do, againſt an oblation of white or yellow Mammon, tendred unto him. This eſpecially, as compared with the contrary diſpoſition in others, gave me occaſion, for a time, to pauſe upon the compariſon of the precedent and preſent times. 2. To praiſe God for our happy change for the better, in that particular; and …. To give this publique Teſtimony to your Charity and Integrity, in the name of my ſelf and of many of my Brethren, whoſe Benefactor you have been, as the Right Honourable Senators of the Court our Patrons, and his Highneſs our Protector, of whoſe favour, ſome of us happly would not be found altogether unworthy, if what we have done and ſuffered for the Service and Safety of the Publique, were as well known, as the benefit and countenance we have received from our Superiours, either while the long Parliament ſate, or ſince (as too long) it was put to a Nonplus. But the relation of this will neither ſort with our modesty to write, nor with your many and p…nderous …mployments to reade, who have fewer ſpare minutes, then moſt others have ſpare hours or daies; therefore (leaving theſe Polemicall Papers to your beſt leaſure for peruſal) I will only take leave of you, with the application of the praier of Nehemiah for himſelf, to your condition and ours, The Lord your God and ours remember you, and wipe not out your good deeds which you have done for the Houſe of your God, and the Offices thereof: This is the ſincere and hearty Prayer of,
Solyhull, June 18, 1656. Sir, Your moſt faithfull, affectionate and humble ſervant, JOHN LEY.