The Race Celestial — Henry Greenwood

The Race Celestial · Henry Greenwood

THE RACE CELESTIALL, OR a direct path to heauen. By HENRY GREENVVOOD maiſter of Arts, and Preacher of the word of God.

1. COR. 9.24.

So runne, that yee may obtaine.

Printed at London by N. O. for Henry Pell, dwelling in holborne neere to the Croſſe Keyes. 1609.

HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE

TO THE MOST high and mightie, moſt gratious and religious Prince, Iames, by the grace of God, of great Brittaine, France and Ireland king, defender of the faith Apoſtolicall, &c. All bleſſed hap in this life, and eternall bliſſe in life to come.

THE picture of Puritie, and patterne of Piety (moſt gratious and dread ſoueraigne Lord) holy Bernard by name, deciphereth out at large, the groſſe enormity of that vgly vice Ingratitude, ſaying: that it is Inimica animae, exinanitio meritorum, diſperſio virtutum &c. An enimie to the Chriſtians ſoule, an exile of merits, a ruine of vertues, and a conſuming fire, that ſcorcheth vp the fountaine of all godlines. Leſt therefore I ſhould cōdemne my ſelf of this ſenſual ſin, and challenged be of groſſe ingratitude: I hauehave preſumed (crauing pardon for my arrogant audacitie herein) in token of my loyall dutie, to your ſacred maieſtie, to tranſport theſe lines Laconicall, and letters impolite, to the happy hauen of your Princely heart, wiſhing to your royall grace, the ſiluer of all earthly proſperity, & the gold of all celeſtiall felicitie. If your highneſſe reſpect the matter, it is celeſtiall, if your ſupremacie the manner, it is too too terreſtiall: Yet pardon (moſt religious Prince) this my bold attempt, partly weighing the compulſion of entire affection, and partly conſidering the neceſſity of your ſimpleſt ſubiects erudition. Thus ceaſſing further troubling your maieſties ſacred eares, proſterning my ſelfe vponupon the knees of ſubmiſſion, at your highneſſe footſtool, for pardon for my preſumption herein; I beg without intermiſſion before the throne of grace, that it would pleaſe the almightie to bleſſe, protect and defend your royall maieſtie, your bleſſed bedfellow, and all your royal iſſue, in this life preſent, and in the life to come, crowne you all with the Crowne of immortall glory: and that for Ieſus Chriſts ſake our onelyonly Lord, and euerliuing Sauiour, Amen.

From Sampford Magna in Eſſex, this 16. of October. 1608. Your maieſties moſt humble ſeruant, and most loyall ſubiect. H. Greenewood.

The Race Celestial, Title page – Dedication

TO THE MOST high and mightie, moſt gratious and religious Prince, Iames, by the grace of God, of great Brittaine, France and Ireland king, defender of the faith Apoſtolicall, &c. All bleſſed hap in this life, and eternall bliſſe in life to come.