Gospel Courage, License – Letter
Die Mercurij ultimo Maii 1643.
IT is this day Ordered by the Commons aſſembled in Parliament, That Sir Chriſtopher Yelverton doe from this Houſe give thanks unto Mr. Andrew Perne for the great paines hee tooke in the Sermon he this day preached (at the intreaty of the Houſe of Commons) at St. Margarets, in the Citie of VVeſtminſter, being a day of publique Humiliation, and that he deſire him to Print his Sermon. And it is Ordered that no man preſume to Print his Sermon, but whom the ſaid Mr. Perne ſhall authorize under his hand writing.
H. Elſyng. Cler. Parl. D. Com.
I authoriſe Stephen Powtell to Print my Sermon above named, and no man elſe.
ANDREW PERNE.
GOSPELL COURAGE, Or Chriſtian Reſolution for GOD, and his Truth. In a SERMON Preached before the Honourable Houſe of COMMONS, at Margarets in Weſtminster, at a Publique FAST, the 31. of May, 1643.
By ANDREW PERNE Maſter of Arts, ſometimes fellow of Katherine Hall in CAMBRIDGE: Now Miniſter of Wilby in Northampton-Shire.
JER. 6.16.
Thus ſaith the Lord ſtand yee in the wayes, and ſee, and aske for the old pathes: where is the good way, and walke therein; and yee ſhall find rest for your ſoules.
Joſh. 24.15. As for me and my Houſe we will ſerve the Lord.
Dan. 3.18. Be it knowne unto thee O King, that we will not, ſerve thy Gods nor worſhip thy Golden Image which thou haſt ſet up.
LONDON, Printed by G. Dexter, for Stephen Bowtell, at the Signe of the Bible in Popes-head-Alley, 1643.
TO THE HONOURABLE THE KNIGHTS, CITIZENS, and Burgeſſes, of the COMMONS Houſe of PARLIAMENT.
Noble Gentlemen,
THis Sermon lately preached before your Honourable Aſſembly, I now preſent to your review, if in the midſt of ſo many important buſineſſes of State, which lie upon you; and in ſuch variety of farre more learned Diſcourſes which daily offer themſelves, you can find any leaſure to look on this: You are my witneſſes, and the world may ſee here is nothing but the words of truth and ſoberneſſe, though many charge us, unheard, with Schiſme, Hereſie, Faction, Sedition, and what not. I muſt ſeriouſly confeſſe, I am conſcious to my ſelfe of many wants and infirmities, and have alwayes avoyded to be publike, as judging them things too high for me, contenting my ſelfe to approve my doctrine to God, and the conſciences of my deare people committed to me; and if I might have pleaſed my ſelfe, I ſhould rather have bin found ſtill in mine own private Cure, and have devolved this taske to any other: But I durſt not refuſe an Authority ſo high and ſacred, to which all honeſt and Religious hearts cannot but ſtoop, in regard of that ſtamp, which the great God hath actually ſet upon it, even for the generations of after ages: your command will be a ſufficient Apollogie for me, though not for the worke; yet if the great God may have any glory, or the pooreſt in the Church (for, for them only I conceive it fit) any edification by my weake endeavours, I ſhall never repent either the preaching or Printing of this Sermon, however unwillingly I undertook both, being over ruled therto by your requeſt, which is to me inſtead of a command.
Gentlemen, I have but one ſuit to you, and tis the ſumme of the enſuing Sermon, be Reſolute ſtill for God, and for his true Religion; and you know who ſaid it, God is with you while you are with him;
Your Servant for Chriſt, ANDREW PERNE.