Orders from the Lord of Hosts for Regulating the Hosts of the Lord, Title page – Dedication 1
ORDERS FROM THE LORD OF HOSTES, FOR Regulating the Hoſtes of the LORD.
Set down in a SERMON Preached at the LEAGUER before NEWARK, on Friday the 27th of March, 1646.
By order from, and at the deſire of the Committee of Lords and Commons, Commiſſioners from the Parliament of England.
Upon occaſion of a publick Faſt and ſolemn Humiliation, appointed to be kept that day throughout the Engliſh and Scotiſh Armies before Newark, to ſeek a bleſſing from Heaven upon the proceedings of the ſaid Forces in the preſent Siege of that Garriſon.
By Edward Reyner Preacher of the Goſpel in the City of Lincoln.
LONDON, Printed by R. W. for Giles Calvert, at the black Spread Eagle at the Weſt end of Pauls, 1646.
I have peruſed this Sermon tending much to the advancement of Military Holineſſe, and Order, and (with theſe) the ſucceſſe of this preſent Warre; and do therefore conceive it very uſefull for the publick, eſpeciall the Armies.
IOSEPH CARYL. April 16th 1646.
To the Right Honourable, IOHN Earl of Rutland, EDWARD Lord Montague, M. WIL. PIERREPONT Eſq Sir WILL. ARMYNE Baronet, Sir EDWARD AYSCOUGH Knight, and THOMAS HATCHER Eſq Commiſſioners from the Parliament of England, reſiding with the Forces before Newarke.
Right Honourable,
THis Sermon, for the ſubſtance of it, was preached by your appointment, and is drawn forth to publick view by your importunity. I have been oft aſſayled by friends to publiſh ſome pieces, which coſt me more pains, but could never be overcome till now. I am ſenſible of the curioſity and criticalneſſe of the Times, and of my own tenuity and inſufficiency. I am able to bring nothing out of my poor Treaſury which may ſeem new. Thoſe ſmall abilities God hath given me to profit others, lye another way, rather through the Pulpit then the Preſſe; therefore durſt I never yet appear in the one, though often in the other.
Concerning this Copy I may ſay, here is not all, and yet more then was there delivered.
Not all, becauſe my time for preparation was very ſmall, and my Notes ſo ſhort, that they cannot poſſibly give an account of my Sermon; and my memory not ſo good as to recollect all that God was graciouſly pleaſed then to ſuggeſt.
Yet is here more, becauſe I have now added ſome things for amplification of particulars, which God brought to my hand while I was writing, as he did many things before to my minde, while I was ſpeaking.
Such were my ſtraits of time for preparation to that exerciſe, as one part of this Sermon was, ſubitane thoughts in the morning of that day they were preached: which I did not intend ſhould have ſeen more light, then came in at the chamber window, where I quartered that night.
The Notes are not ſo warm to me now in writing, as they were then in ſpeaking; nor will they, I fear, be to any in reading, as they were, I hope, to ſome in hearing. Speaking and Writing have their ſeverall graces and gloſſes; and take, as God is pleaſed to ſet them on by his preſence and influence, which he uſually ſheds abroad more abundantly in the publick Ordinance. The ſame things (experience ſhews) which while ſpoken, ſeemed ſtirring paſſages, afterwards when read, move little.
Beſides, the ſubject of this diſcourſe is now become very trite, and worn I ſuppoſe almoſt out of requeſt; of which ſo much hath been already ſaid, as nothing can be added.
But your Honours acceptance of my poor pains then, and earneſt deſire ſince, to have a Copy thereof, have forced me to put this into your hands; do with it whatſoever God ſhall put into your hearts: either to bury it in ſilence (which would pleaſe me beſt) or to give breath and life to it by the birth of the Preſſe, if your wiſdome judge it worthy, and that it may be for publike uſe.
The Lord guide you with his councell, that the publike affairs may ſtill proſper in your hands, and bring you to his glory when you have ſerved your generation, according to the will of God. So prayes
Your Honours humble ſervant in the Goſpell of Chriſt, EDW. REYNER.