The Throne of David, Title page – To the reader 2
THE THRONE OF DAVID, OR AN EXPOSITION OF THE Second of Samuell WHEREIN IS SET DOWNE THE Pattern of a Pious and Prudent Prince, and a clear Type of of the Prince of Princes CHRIST IESVS the Sonne of DAVID and his Spirituall Kingdome
By WILLIAM GUILD D. D. and Miniſter of Gods word at King Edward in Scotland.
OXFORD, Printed by W. HALL for ROB. BLAGRAVE, Anno Salutis 1659.
A Letter written in order to the now mentioned Society or little Common-wealth; By ſome well affected perſons, whoſe hearts and hands have already joyned therein: to ſtir up all ſuch who are truely ſenſible of the poor and needy, to carry on this ſo neceſſary and charitable a work.
HAving not only conſidered the poverty, afflictions and ſtreights of many well minded people; Together with the evil conſequences that ariſe from the corrupt cuſtoms and waies of moſt employments, and the general diſorder proceeding from riches and poverty: But alſo the way propounded by the endeavours of our friend Peter Cornelius; to rectifie all ſuch and many other inconveniences, by bringing together a fit, ſuitable and well qualified people into one Houſhold government or little Common-wealth, wherein every one may keep his propriety, and be employed in ſome work or other as he ſhall be fit, without being oppreſſed, as is more at large expreſſed in a Platform to that purpoſe.
Whereupon we are reſolved, judgeing it to be neceſſary, and our duty to promote ſo good and pious a work, with the aſſiſtance of other mercifull and rational men, to lay ſuch a foundation, as may tend to the relief of the oppreſſed, the preſerving of ſuch as are in danger of falling into ſnares, and the increaſe of underſtanding and mutuall love, as alſo the exemplary ordering of ſuch acts as may be accompliſhed by prudential charity.
And hereunto we do earneſtly invite all Perſons that have a willing mind to do good according to their abilities; ſome by their Wiſdom and Councell, others by money and credit, or by both, as they ſhall be able and free, that ſo a ſtock may be raiſed for the carrying on of this good and beneficial work.
To which end we have ſubſcribed our names, and the ſumms of money which we are willing to give. Hoping that all ſuch as are for ſo general a work, will upon due conſideration likewiſe ſubſcribe for ſuch a ſumme of money as they are willing to give towards the accompliſhment of the Premiſſes, and meet together to confer and order the ſaid ſummes of moneys into the hands of ſome truſty Perſons for the uſe and benefit of the Society only, and what elſe ſhall be found conducing to the perfecting of this work, till the Society can ſubſiſt of it ſelf in order, which we believe may ſoon be from the credible information of divers perſons, relating that many hundreds in Tranſilvania, Hungaria, and the Paltsgraves Countrey, from a ſmall beginning have attained, not only to a very comfortable life among themſelves, but alſo ability of doing much good to others, not of their Society.
ſubſcribed towards the rayſing of a Stock.
I. S. 100l.
W. R. 100l.
To the Reader.
Chriſtian Reader,
THe enſuing Commentary, was about a year ſince ſent unto me out of Scotland, it was intended by the Authour to have been publiſhed with a Preface, or Dedication to my ſelf. Being a ſtranger unto me, ſome miſtaken apprehenſions of me, which may eaſily happen at ſuch a diſtance; it ſeems put him on that reſolution after the finiſhing of the whole work, and prefixing the Epiſtle mentioned unto it with his own hand, the Authour himſelf dying, his Relict ſent the Book and Epiſtle with a Letter of her own, fignifying the commands of her dying Huſband to that purpoſe unto me; both his Epiſtle and her Letter, as expreſſing many things concerning me, which I dare not own, or arrogate to my ſelfe, much leſſe be a means of publiſhing them to the world, I thought meet to ſuppreſſe. But for the Treatiſe it ſelf, finding it written with perſpicuity and clearneſſe, handling a ſubject of great and delightful variety, with a choice mixture of ſpirituall, morall and politicall obſervations, tempered by a good and ſound judgment unto common capacities, and not knowing but that the onelyonly copy of it was in my hand, that publick good might not by the learned Author's reſpect to me be hindred, I thought meet to further the publication of it; which being offered, I make bold to recommend it to the Chriſtian Reader, as I do him alſo in the peruſall of it, to the grace of him who is able to make it uſefull.
John Owen.