Reformation of the Church to be Endeavored After, Title page – Errata
THE REFORMATION OF THE CHURCH To be endeavoured more then that of the COMMON-VVEALTH,
Declared, In a Sermon preached before the Right Honourable Houſe of LORDS at the publike Faſt, Auguſt 27. 1645.
By ANTHONY BURGES, Paſtour of Sutton Coldfield, and now Preacher at Laurence-Jury, London.
LONDON, Printed by G.M. for T. Ʋnderhill at the Bible in Woodſtreet, 1645.
Die Iovis 28. Auguſt. 1645.
IT is this day ordered by the Lords in Parliament aſſembled, That M. Anthony Burgeſse, who preached yeſterday before their Lordſhips in the Abbey Church, Weſtminſter, it being the day of the publike Faſt, is hereby thanked for his great pains he took in his ſaid Sermon, and deſired to print and publiſh the ſame, which is only to be done by authority under his hand.
Iohn Brown, Cleric. Parliamentorum.
I Appoint Thomas Vnderhill to print this Sermon.
Anthony Burgeſs.
TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE Houſe of PEERS Aſſembled in PARLIAMENT.
RIGHT HONOURABLE,
THe Scripture taketh notice of thoſe, Act. 17.11.as more noble then others, that enquire and ſearch diligently into the Scripture, concerning the truth of things tendered to be believed. And well doth it honour ſuch, becauſe men are apt in matters of Religion (as Seneca ſpeaketh about the opinions of an happy life) Credere magis quàm judicare, believe implicitely rather then judge exactly, whereby they walk, Non quâ eundum eſt, ſed quâ itur, not whither we ſhould goe, but whither the tract of the path leadeth us. It was my endeavour in this Sermon to excite your Lordſhips to a ſpeedy and exact Reformation of the Church from all the corruptions that have defiled her, and herein to attend unto Gods Word, as the only ſtarre that will conduct unto Chriſt. None are too great to undertake ſo good a work. Gregory ſaid of David dancing before the Ark, Magis miror Davidem ſaltantem, quàm pugnantem, David is more to be admired in his religious worſhip of God, then in his couragious conqueſts and ſlaughters of the Philiſtims, or other enemies. Hence, Jer. 9.23, 24. where glory in wiſdome, riches and might is forbidden, there is a kinde of an holy pride allowed in the knowledge of the Lord. Let Heathens glory that they are ſaluted by the Common-wealth, patres patriae; but let thoſe Chriſtians, whom God honoureth with dignity and place, delight to be nurſing Fathers unto the Church, by ſpeaking comfortably unto thoſe who teach the good knowledge of God; and by commanding the Levites to carry all the filthineſse out of the Temple. Which that your Lordſhips may faithfully and zealouſly doe, is the prayer of
Your Lordſhips humble Servant Anthony Burgeſse.
Errata.
PAge 4. line 21. for counſelled read compelled. againſt l. 29. adde Calv. in Amos, ch. 7 v. 13. p. 15. l 9. for ſubtitis r. ſubditis. p. 26. l. 8. for foreign r. foreign p. ult. l. 28. reade, but left the ſaithfull Miniſters and godly people of the land, under as many groanes and troubles as before.