New Englands Tears for Old Englands Fears, Title page – To the reader
NEVV ENGLANDS TEARES, FOR OLD ENGLANDS FEARES.
Preached in a Sermon on July 23. 1640. being a day of Publike Humiliation, appointed by the Churches in behalfe of our Native Countrey in time of feared dangers.
By WILLIAM HOOKE, Miniſter of GODS Word; Sometime of Axmouth in Devonſhire, now of Taunton in New England.
Sent over to a worthy Member of the honourable Houſe of Commons, who deſires it may be for publick good.
LONDON, Printed by T. P. for Iohn Rothwell and Henry Overton, and are to be ſould at the Sunne in Pauls Churchyard, and in Popes-head Alley. 1641.
TO THE READER.
COURTEOUS READER;
THou haſt here preſented to thy view, a Sermon preached to ſome in New-England for Old Englands ſake: wherein is expreſſed much love, to a Countrey left. It was once imputed to Anaxagoras, that he cared not for his Countrey, becauſe he ſeemed to be little moved with the ruines thereof. This cannot be imputed to our brethren of New-England; for they, not ſeeing, nor hearing of, onelyonly fearing the ruines of this our Countrey, were deeply affected with it; a ſigne they love us. Some have applyed that of the Apoſtle to them, 1 John 2.19. (They went out from us, becauſe they were not of us, for if they had beene of us, they would no doubt have continued with us,) but how falſely it is applyed, this Sermon doth diſcover: for certainly they are of us, though they be gone from us, for if they were not of us, their affections would not have ſo continued to us, as to faſt and pray for us. Amor poſcit amorem Let our affections be endeared to them.
As for this Sermon, expect not care-pleaſing, but heart-affecting phraſes in it: the Author ſought not ſo much to pleaſe as to profit; nor to informe the iudgement, as to worke upon the affections; If thou bring thy heart with thee to the Reading of it, thou mayſt find thy heart melting by Reading of it, and then thou ſhalt have cauſe to bleſſe GOD for it. Vale.