The Christians Journal, Title page – Dedication
THE CHRISTIANS IOVRNALL: Shewing both the courſe to be held, and the way to be ſhund by all thoſe, who deſire (as they ought) to enter into life.
In three Sermons vponupon Matthew 7.13.14.
By SAMVEL HIERON.
Pſalm. 86.11.
Teach me thy way O Lord, and I will walk in thy truth: knit my heart vntounto thee, that I may feare thy name.
AT LONDON, Printed by FELIX KYNGSTON for Thomas Man. 1607.
TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL SIR FRANCIS BARRINGTON, of Barrington Hall in Eſſex, Knight.
SIR, the Wiſeman ſaith, that Al riuers go into the ſea aEccle. 1.7., ſhewing themſelues (as it were) homagers and tributaries to that place, from whence (ſo farre as wee may credit Philoſophie bPlato in Phaedone.) they hauehave receiued their firſt beginning. It hath bin often in my thoughts, and more than often in my deſires, that in testimonie of my remembring that, (which it were euen a ſin in me to forget) there might paſſe backe from me to your Worſhip, ſome little ſtreame, of thoſe larger brooks of your both countenance and beneuolence, with which my ſtudies in the Ʋniuerſitie being much refeſhed, and my firſt endeuours in the Ministerie (as it were) by a kinde watring, helped forward in their growth, I confeſſe my ſelfe to be become that Little, which by the grace of God I now am in his Church. Wherfore hauing a diſpoſition for the ſatiſfaction of ſome friends, to copie a draught of theſe Sermons, I thought I might with one labour doe a publique good, and giuegive thē their priuate contentment. And withall it came into my minde to tender them to you, not as the full paiment of ſo great a debt, but as an inſinuation of my deſire to bee thankefull, and of my meaning, hereafter to preſent you with ſome matter of more worth, according as God ſhall enable me, and any conuenient vacation from the duties of my publike function ſhall afford me opportunitie. Thus preſuming, out of your former louelove, that this poore offer ſhall at the least be kindly looked vponupon, with my many and vnfained prayers for the enlargement of Gods graces vponupon your ſelfe, your Lady, and all thoſe young plants, which by the great bleſſing of God hauehave branched from you both, I humbly take my leaue. From Modbury in Deuon.
Your Worſhips euer much bound SAM. HIERON.