The Valley of Vision, Title page – To the reader
THE VALLEY OF VISION, OR A clear ſight of ſundry ſacred Truths.
Delivered in Twenty-one Sermons; by that Learned and Reverend Divine, RICHARD HOLSVVORTH, Dr. in Divinity, ſometimes Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge, Maſter of Emanuel Colledge, and late Preacher at Peters Poore in LONDON.
The particular Titles and Texts are ſet downe in the next leaſe.
1 Sam. 3.1.
And the word of the Lord was precious in thoſe dayes, there was no open Viſion.
Habakkuk 2.2.
Write the Viſion, and make it plaine upon Tables, that he may run that readeth it.
LONDON, Printed by M. S. and are to be ſold by R. Tomlins at the Sun and Bible in Pye-Corner; and Rob. Littlebury at the Ʋnicorne in Little-Britaine. 1651.
The particular Titles and Texts in the enſuing worke.
The Peoples happineſſe. One Sermon on Pſal. 144.15. Happie is that people, that is in ſuch a Caſe, yea happie is that people whoſe God is the Lord.
The Penitents Patterne. Six Sermons on Hoſea 14.2. Take with you words, and turne to the Lord, ſay unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciouſly: ſo will we render the calves of our lips.
The Sufferers Crowne. Foure Sermons on Jam. 1.12. Bleſſed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tryed he ſhall receive the Crowne of life, which the Lord hath promiſed to them that love him.
The Saints Heritage. One Sermon on Pſal. 119.111. Thy teſtimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever, for they are the rejoycing of my heart.
Davids Devotion. One Sermon on Pſal. 119.48. My hands alſo will I lift up unto thy Commandements, which I have loved, and will meditate on thy Statutes.
The Vigilant Servant. Two Sermons on Pſal. 123.2. Behold, as the eyes of ſervants look unto the hand of their Maſters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her Miſtreſſe: ſo our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, untill that he have mercy upon us.
The Saints Progreſſe. Two Sermons on Pſal. 84.7. They goe from ſtrength to ſtrength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.
The Gueſt-Chamber. Two Sermons on Luk. 23.11.12.
And ye ſhall ſay unto the good man of the houſe, the Maſter ſaith unto thee, Where is the Gueſt-Chamber, where I ſhall eat the Paſſeover with my Diſciples.
And he ſhall ſhew you a large upper roome furniſhed, there make ready.
Angels Inſpection. Two Sermons on 1 Pet. 1.1 2. Which things the Angels deſire to looke into.
TO THE READER.
HOw eminent an inſtrument the Author of this Treatiſe was, of Gods glory, and the Churches good, is unknown to none, who in the leaſt degree were acquainted with his perſon, and profitable paines. They knew him to be compoſed of a learned Head, a gracious heart, a bountifull hand, and (what muſt not be omitted) a patient back, comfortably, and cheerfully to endure ſuch heavy afflictions as were laid upon him.
The more pitty therefore it was that ſo worthy a man ſhould dye iſsuleſſe, without leaving any Books behind him, for the benefit of Learning and Religion. Conſidering what might be the cauſe thereof, it cannot be imputed to any envy in him as grudging us the profit of his paines (one ſo open handed of his Almes, could not be cloſe fiſted of his labours, for a generall good) Rather it proceeded, partly from his modeſty, having the higheſt parts in himſelfe, and the lowest opinion of himſelf; Partly from his judicious obſervation, that the world now a dayes ſurfets with Printed Sermons, 1 Kin. 10.21.which like Silver in the reigne of Solomon, are not reſpected by ſome they are ſo plentifull, whilſt they are abuſed by others, who lazily imp their wings with other …ens plum… wherewith they ſoar high in common eſteeme; yet have not the ingenuity with that ſon of the Prophet to confeſſe; 2 Kin. 6.5.Alaſſe! it was borrowed.
As for the private notes which he left behind him, as Ariſtotle told Alexander of his phyſicks, that he had written them as if he had not written them; meaning that the language was ſo darke and obſcure, that few could underſtand it: ſo, his hand was onelyonly legible to himſelfe, and almoſt uſeleſſe for a… her.
Yet that the world might not totally be deprived of his worthy endeavours, I truſt, his pains will meet with commendations in moſt, with juſt cenſure in none, who being exquiſite in the Art of Short-Writing (the onelyonly way to retre…ve winged words, and fix them to ſtay amongſt us) hath with all poſſible accurateneſſe firſt taken, and now ſet them forth (by the permiſſion (as I am credibly informed) of the Authors beſt friends) to publike view. I ſay poſſible accurateneſſe, ſeeing a candid Reader knowes how to make his charitable allowances, in things of this nature.
It is ſaid of Demoſthenes, that the beſt part of his Orations were wanting when they were read; becauſe the Orator when uttering them, enlivened each ſentence, word, and ſyllable with a true tone, and proper accent in his pronunciation. Two beſt parts then may be ſaid to be wanting in Dr. Holſworths Sermons. One, becauſe read, and not ſpoken by him; the other, becauſe not tranſcribed from his owne copy, but taken from his mouth when he preached them, as well as Art and induſtry can performe.
Indeed, when the Mother looked upon the Babe which was laid by her, 1 Kin. 3.21.Behold it was not the Son which ſhe did beare. But ſhould this glorious Saint take a review of theſe Sermons as now ſet forth; as he would probably wonder at the alteration of the clothes, and dreſſing thereof not ſo fine and faſhionable: yea, perchance m…t wonder at the complexion, and colour thereof, not ſo lively, ſprightfull and vigorous as he left it: yet notwithſtanding he would acknowledge an identity of feature and favour, and his naturall ſympathy would challenge a true relation in the ſame, and owne it for a true off-ſpring of his owne, a weake child, but no changling.
How ever, it is a happineſſe, when ſ…rviving Authors, ſee their owne workes ſet forth to their … contentment. Various were the proceedings in Divine providence to two honorable Families, the one in Ireland, the other in Wales, The Family of St. Laurence of Hoath by Dublin, Camdens Brit. in the County of Dublin.hath for ſome hundreds of yeares been obſerved, never to have an Orphan, or Minor, the Son alwayes being of full age before the Fathers death; Whereas amongſt the ancient Earles of Pembrook for five deſcents together, the Son never ſaw the Father. The felicity of the former, Idem in Pembrook-Shire.is applyable to thoſe who behold their owne Books perfected, and finiſhed in their life times: Whilſt I read the ſad ſucceſſe of the latter, in ſuch whoſe poſthume bookes appeare in this world after their Authors are gone into a better. To ſuch books that want Fathers, I wiſh good guardians, as I hope this hath not light on the worſt of them.
What remaines, but that we wiſh the Reader all profit by the enſuing Treatiſe of ſo worthy an Author, equalled by few, exceeded by none in our age. It is ſadly recorded of Paul and Barnabas, the contention was ſo ſharpe betwixt them, that they departed one from another. Whoſe difference is thus moralized by ſome, who obſerved Saint Paul a great Doctor, a Controverſall divine, Saint Barnabas, a good man, and comfortable Preacher (therefore called the Son of conſolation) that skill in Schoole-Divinity, and practicall profitable preaching, ſeldome agree in the ſame perſon. But if ever they were reconciled to the height in any of our Nation, it was in the worthy Author of theſe workes; by which that thou mayeſt reap benefit is the hearty deſire and prayer of
Thy ſervant in Chriſt Jeſus, THO. FULLER.
The Peoples Happineſſe. A SERMON PREACHED IN St. MARIES IN CAMBRIDGE, Upon Sunday the 27 of March, being the day of His MAJESTIES happy Inauguration: By RI. HOLDSVVORTH D. D. Maſter of Emanuel Colledge in Cambridge, Vicechancellour of the Univerſitie, and one of His MAJESTIES Chaplains.
Printed by Roger Daniel, Printer to the Ʋniverſity of Cambridge, Anno Dom. 1642.