The Root of Apostasy and Fountain of True Fortitude, Title page – Dedication
The Root of Apoſtacy, AND Fountain of true Fortitude. Delivered in a SERMON Before the Honourable Houſe of Commons, On their late Day of Thanks-giving for the Great victory given to Sir William Waller and the Forces with him, againſt the Army of Sir Ralph Hopton. By Thomas Caſe, Preacher, at Milk-ſtreet, London, And one of the Aſſembly of Divines.
Pſal. 9.10. They that know thy Name will put their truſt in thee, for thou Lord never faileſt them that ſeek thee.
London, Printed by J. R. for Luke Fawne, and are to be ſold at his Shop in Pauls Churchyard, at the ſigne of the Parrot. 1644.
Die Martis, 9. April, 1644.
IT is this day Ordered, by the Commons Aſſembled in Parliament, that Sir William Brereton, do give thanks from the Houſe, to Mr. Thomas Caſe, for the great pains hee took in the Sermon he preached this day, at St. Margarets Weſtminſter, at the intreaty of the Houſe; It being a day of publique Thankſgiving, for the great Victory the Forces under the Command of Sir William Waller, and Sir William Balfore had, againſt the Forces under the Command of Sir Ralph Hopton; And hee is to deſire him from this Houſe, to Print his Sermon. And it is Ordered, that no man ſhall preſume to Print his Sermon, without being authorized under his hand-writing.
H. Elſynge, Cler. Parl. D. Com.
I. Authorize Luke Fawne, to Print my Sermon.
Tho: Caſe.
TO THE HONORABLE and his highly Honour'd Friend, Sir William Waller Knight, Commander in Chief, of the Parliaments Forces in the Weſt.
Noble Sir,
TO whom more properly (under that Grand Councell of the Kingdome, whereof you are a Member) doth the Dedication of theſe ſudden thoughts belong, then to your Worthy ſelf, who wrought with God on that day, the Salvation whereof, theſe poor labours, together with a more skilfull hand, were called in to celebrate in the great Congregation?
Sir, I may truly ſay, you made a great part of my Sermon, and the better part too; for while thouſands there are of all ſizes, whoſe treacherous dealing in the Covenant of God, comes in to bear ſad witneſſe to the former part of my Text and Sermon; Free-grace hath ſo lookt upon you, that you ſtand in the firſt diviſion of thoſe Worthies, to whoſe fidelity GOD hath given ample teſtimony, what exploits a people can do, that know their God: for certainly, either you know God, or elſe we know not you.
Darius once opening a pomgranate, and being askt by a ſtanderby, of what he would deſire to have ſo many, as there were kernels in the pomgranate, anſwered, So many Zopyruſſes. Zopyrus was that valiant Knight and Commander, who to get the City of Babylon, poſſeſt by the Aſſyrians, and beſieged by his Mr. Darius, cauſed his own noſe, ears, and lips, to bee cut off, and his whole face and body ſo wounded, and mangled all over, that running to the enemies, and making them beleeve hee was ſo uſed by Darius, for perſwading him to raiſe his Siege, and remove his Army. They eaſily giving credit to a relation, that ſeemed to ſpeak truth with ſo many mouthes, as they ſaw wounds, admitted him into the City, and made him their Governour, by means whereof, hee got opportunity to deliver it and them, up to his Maſter.
Sir, If in the behalf of this poor bleeding Kingdom, I might have my wiſh, I would turn Darius his choice, into ſo many Wallers: You having run many, as deſperate, though more innocent hazzards, for the reſcue of the Safety and Liberties thereof, now captived by vile perſons: And this hath been your Honor, God hath been with you, and with thoſe gallant *Noble Sir William Balfore, worthy Collonell Brown, &c.Commanders, and Souldiers that have accompanied you in this Service; to whoſe Fidelity and Reſolutions, Parliament and Kingdome ſtand much indebted. The Lord be with you ſtill, & make you proſperous whitherſoever you turn; and cauſe his dread to fall upon his and your enemies, that they may not be able to ſtand before you: And when you have done your ſhare in this great Service of God, and the Kingdom, He bring you back into the embraces of your Friends, crown'd with Honour and Victory. Interim, if your grand employments allow you not time, to read a period or two of this poor Sermon, ſometime, do but caſt your eyes, I beſeech you, upon the Text, and when you go forth, to encounter the enemy, lay it next your heart, I dare ſay, (through the power of that Lord of Hoaſts, in whoſe Army you ſerve) it will, beyond all the witchcrafts, and enchantments which ſome of your enemies, are ſaid to uſe, render you invulnerable, invincible, in the day of battell; which therefore, as the richeſt preſent I can ſend you, I humbly deſire you would pleaſe to accept, from him, Sir, whom your merits, and love, have made Yours,
Obliged to honour, and ſerve you in all Goſpell Offices, THO: CASE.