The Leaven of Pharisaical Will-Worship, Title page – Dedication
FERMENTƲM PHARISAEORƲM, OR, The Leaven of Phariſaicall WIL-WORSHIP: Declared in A SERMON On Matth. 15. 9. Novemb. 24. 1641. at Lemſter in Herefordſhire.
By IOHN TOMBES, B. D.
It is this nineteenth day of Aprill Anno Dom. 1643. Ordered by the Committee of the Houſe of Commons in Parliament, concerning Printing, that this Book intituled (The Leaven of Phariſaicall Wil-Worſhip) be Printed.
John White.
LONDON, Printed by Richard Cotes, for Andrew Crooke, and are to be ſold at his ſhop at the ſigne of the Greene Dragon in Pauls Church-yard. 1643.
TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL Richard Aldworth Eſquire, Mayor, the Aldermen, Sheriffes, and the reſt of the Inhabitants of the City of BRISTOLL.
HOw tenacious the heart of man is of ſuperſtition, as former ages, ſo the preſent generation doe abundantly declare. No age can yeeld a more horrid instance of a people taught ſo much as this Nation hath beene concerning the true Worſhip of God, admoniſhed ſo often▪ that God is not pleaſed by humane rites, and yet ſtill place their Religion in them, oppugne the repreſentative Body of the Commonwealth, for ſeeking to remove them, fight for them tanquam pro aris & focis, ſpoyle their owne Countrey, with ſuch cruell despight drive away their faithfull teachers, and unspotted neighbours from their dwellings, wives and children, and thinke it a good worke to deſtroy them for not yeelding to practiſe things never appointed by God and notoriouſly tending to ſuperſtition, and for their faithfull dealing with their ſoules in labouring to draw them from their vaine confidence in the fleſh to worſhip God in the ſpirit, and to rejoyce in Chriſt Jeſus. Hope ſomewhat to abate this fire of rage, moved me at firſt to caſt this bucket of water to quench it. But as it happens often, that when water quencheth not a fire, it flames out the more by casting water on it: ſo it be fell me: the barbarous rage and impetuous violence of people ſo increaſed, that I could have no ſafety in my proper ſtation, but was enforced to remove my ſelfe, Wife and Children, and ſince have ſuffered the ſpoyling of my goods, of my dwelling houſe, with many other injuries. After much toſsing up and downe, J have in Your City caſt anchor, till either a greater ſtorme enforce me to commit my ſelfe to the Maine againe, or a favourable gale bring me into a Harbour. And that J may teſtifie my love to this City, and gratitude for my preſent entertainment, and withall aiming at your edification, J have preſumed in publiſhing this Sermon, to prefixe your Names, to whom J humbly preſent it for your uſe and acceptance, and doe profeſſe my ſelfe
Yours, in the ſervice of Chriſt Ieſus, JOHN TOMBES.