Zions Birth-Register, Title page – Dedication
Zion's Birth-Regiſter UNFOLDED IN A SERMON TO THE NATIVE-CITIZENS OF LONDON.
In their Solemn Aſſembly at PAƲLS on Thurſday the VIII. of May, A.D. M.DC.LVI.
By THOMAS HORTON D.D.
PSAL. 22.9,10.
But Thou art He that took me out of the womb; thou madeſt me to hope, when I was upon my Mothers breaſts.
I was caſt upon Thee from the womb; Thou art my God from my Mothers belly.
ACT. 18.9,10.
Then ſpake the Lord to Paul; I have much people in this City.
LONDON, Printed for John Clark, and are to be ſold at the Entrance into Mercers-Chappel, at the lower end of Cheapſide, M.DC.LVI.
To all the SONS of ZION; eſpecially which were Born within the Liberties of the City of LONDON; and of late more ſolemnly Aſſembled for the acknowledgment of that Providence to them.
Much honoured and beloved in Chriſt,
I Know not to whom the inſcription of this Sermon could more juſtly belong, then indeed to your ſelves, who are the proper ſubjects of it, movers for it, and Auditors to whom it was delivered. To You therefore I tender it (not without your own invitation) yet not limited to any particulars, but rather in common and at large; that ſo whileſt that All have an equal interest in the occaſion, they might equally ſhare in the remembrances and publications of it.
The ſcope of this Diſcourſe before you is to improve the preſent opportunity to the best ſpiritual advantage; which is (or ſhould be) the end of all ſuch ſolemn Aſſemblies and performances as theſe are; Gods Ordinances being too good, and inſtituted to better purpoſe then meerly to ſerve mens Fancies, and Formalities, and Complemental devices, which yet the generality of the world for the moſt part makes them to do.
I know not how it comes to paſſe, but your late meeting hath not obtain'd that effect, which I know you deſired and deſign'd in the firſt appointment of it; from whence you will finde ſome paſſages in the cloſe of the Sermon to be a great deal truer in the event then I wiſt they would be when I utter'd them. And yet I cannot very well tell where to lay the blame. I am apt to perſwade my ſelf (and would have the World ſo perſwaded too) that it proceeded not from want of Affection, but rather of Contrivance. This is moſt certain and undeniable, That there were divers perſons at that time amongſt you which came together with large intentions, and ſome with great preparations to very noble and honorable atchievements; only they had not a channel ſo readily cut out unto them wherein their Charity might ſtream it ſelf. You wanted not liquor, but vent; not matter, but method; not conception, but obſtetrication. The children were come to the birth, but there was not ſtrength to bring forth.Iſa. 37.3.
It will therefore very neerly concern you, both in point of conſcience and honour, to reſume the work again, and to find out ſome way or other for the more ſucceſſefull accompliſhment of it; which you had better never undertaken, then not bring to ſome perfection. Think not to ſmoother it in ſilence, and that time will wear it out, for that it will not. God knowes your thoughts a far off. And your Reſolutions with him are Subſcriptions, as your Subſcriptions due Debts. Remember Ananias and Sapphira who kept back part of the price, Act. 5.2.what was ſaid, and what was done to them. And conſider what Solomon ſayes of thoſe that boaſt themſelves of a falſe gift; that they are like clouds and wind without rain. Prov. 25.14.But I will not ſo far ſuſpect you, as to preſſe too hard upon you in a buſineſſe whereunto I ſuppoſe you are of your ſelves ſo readily inclined. The Lord make us all faithfull and ſerious in our dealings with him. You will ſo much the more affectionately reſent this ſeaſonable ſuggeſtion, as it proceeds from the hearty deſires (ſeconded with prayers) of
Your Countryman and fellow-ſervant in the advancement of the common good. Thomas Horton. From my Study in Greſham-Colledge Jun. 3. 1656.