The Danger of Vows Neglected and the Necessity of Reformation, License 1 – Dedication
Die Jovis, 28. Maii. 1646.
IT is this day ordered by the Lords in Parliament aſſembled, That Mr. Taylor is hereby thanked for his great pains taken in the Sermon he preached yeſterday before their Lordſhips in the Abby Church Weſtminſter. And he is deſired to print and publiſh the ſame, which is not to bee printed but by authority under his own hand.
John Brown Cleric. Partiamentorum.
I do appoint George Whittington and Nathaniell Brookes to print my Sermon.
Francis Taylor.
THE DANGER OF Vowes neglected, AND The neceſsitie of REFORMATION: OR, A Sermon preached before the Right Honorable Houſe of Lords, at a late ſolemne Faſt in the Abbey Church at Weſtminſter, May 27. 1646.
By FRANCIS TAYLOR B. in D. Paſtor of Yalding in Kent, and a Member of the Aſſembly of Divines.
PSAL. 50.14.
foreign Pay thy Vowes unto the moſt High.
Publiſhed according to Order.
LONDON, Printed by M. S. for Geo. Whittington, and Nath Brookes, at the Angel in Corn-hill, below the Exchange. 1646.
TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE HOUSE OF PEERES Aſſembled in PARLIAMENT.
RIght Honourable, theſe pains were undertaken by your command, and your Order was the Midwife to bring them into the light. I hope my imperfections ſhall finde a cover under the vaile of your authority. God knowes my hearts deſire was to mind you of your ſolemne Covenant, (which Lords be ſubject to a neglect of as well as meaner men) and to ſtirre you up to a private Reformation, without which yee can look for no bleſsing upon your publick endeavours. Endeavour I beſeech you to caſt every little moat out of your own eyes, before you goe about to caſt the great beames out of the eyes of the Church and State. aforeign Vajikra Rab. c. 5.It is an afflicted Citie, ſay the Jewes, whoſe Phyſitian hath the Gout. The common vote of the people will be, bLuke 4.23.Medice, cura teipſum. Thoſe great things yee expect in Gods, doe them in your own houſes, that yee may be able to ſay with Joſhuah cJoſh 24.15., I and my Houſe doe ſerve the Lord. dNon ſolum obſunt vi…ſi principes, quòd illi pſi corrum untur, ſed etiam quòd corrumpunt; pluſque exemplo, quàm pecca…o no…c…t. Cicero de Leg. l 3.Your vices and your peoples will be exemplary: ſo will your graces. Be valiant to put to your helping hand to purge and ſettle Church and State. eforeign Sab fol. 32.1.If the Shepheard be lame, ſayth the Talmud, the go its will eaſily make an eſcape. So will all ſorts of Delinquents and Malefactors, if your Lordſhips goe ſlowly to work. I beſeech you ſtirre up your ſpirits, and be forward to ſettle a religious Diſcipline in Gods Church, according to your covenant. Give not the people occaſion to ſay, The let of Diſcipline is, becauſe great men cannot endure a through-reformation. The Lord that called you to ſuch a pitch of honour, and height of employment, make your Lordſhips worthy inſtruments of his glory here, and fill you with glory in his own preſence in heaven. So prayeth
Your Lordſhips humble ſervant in the Lord Francis Taylor.