The New World, Title page – Dedication
THE NEVV WORLD, OR THE NEVV REFORMED CHVRCH.
Diſcovered out of the ſecond Epiſtle of Peter the third chap verſe 13.
Nevertheleſſe we according to his prom…ſe looke for new Heavens, and a new Earth, wherein … righteouſneſſe.
Firſt opened briefly, and ſome points pourtrayed and propounded …fore ſom… of the Nobilitie and others in the Country.
Afterwards more fully delineated, and proſecuted before the Honorable Houſe of PARLIAMENT; May 30. An. Dom. 1641.
And upon the requeſt of ſome of them, deſiring Coppies, was limbed up for the preſſe according to the maine parts then, and there delivered.
By NATH. HOMES Dr. in D.
LONDON, Printed by T. P. and M. S. for William Adderton, and are to be ſold at his ſhop in Duck-lane. 1641.
TO THE HONORABLE THE KNIGHTS, AND BVRGESSES, OF THE HOVSE OF COMMONS ASSEMBDED IN PARLIAMENT.
Worthies of Iſrael,
IN this extreame age (for this laſt is moſtly upon extreames) if I ſhould write nothing but a Title of dedication (as they call it) J ſhould ſeeme Cynically to neglect.N…mios in foreign Heſiod. If J ſhould inlarge the Phylacterie, or Panegyrick of uſuall prefacing, J ſhould be thought Phariſaicall, or Paraſitiscall. If I ſhould relate what relations have been between ſome of you and this Embryon of thoughts, to quicken it to that it is now growne, J might be deemed here importune, & unſeaſonable if not impertinēt. Or if I ſhould take upon me now to implore your forward ſpirits to doe any thing for the Church or State, I ſhould but anticipate the booke it ſelfe. Therefore J ſhall onelyonly ſpend ſo much time, paper and words as to aſſure you, that in and from my best intentions, and affections this diſcourſe is yours, my prayers yours; and what by my utmoſt abilities, and endavours J may doe for you, in the Lord is alſo yours. Your acceptance is onelyonly to reade that, and to beleeve this. I know truth will maintaine it ſelfe. The Lord hath made it a God on earth. Magna eſt veritas, & praevalebit. But ſomtimes her ſpeaker is maligned,Gal. 4.16. for her ſake; though an Apoſtle. The ungrammar'd world will pinch on the moode and tenſe, when they cannot gaine ſay the ſence. Jf the ſermon was preached for your ſake, and the world prate againſt mee for the Sermons ſake, I hope you will looke upon mee innocent and candid in my intentions, for the ſame reaſon Solomon favored Abiathar that was really in fault.*foreign Hortis vir. Hee forbare to puniſh him as he deſerved, becauſe (ſaith heto him) thou beareſt the arke of the Lord God before David my father, and becauſe thou haſt beene afflicted in all wherein my father was afflicted. J minde my promiſe of brevitie. Therefore for cloſe.
The ſweet God of heaven bleſſe his Majeſtie, the true nobly Nobles and you worthies in this our Iſrael for that great good you have done; and the ſame God proſper you, that the wine of the Churches through reformation kept to the laſt, may prove the beſt, to the increaſe of the Churches joy of feaſting, bere with her Chriſt,Iohn 2. Prov. 9.1, 2, 3, 4.5. Iſa. 25.6. Mat. 22.4. in his pure ordinances; Is the earneſt prayer of him that is intirely yours in the Lord with all humbleneſſe,
NATH. HOMES. From his unworthy obſcure study. Aguſt 4. 1641.