Christian Reconcilement, Title page – Dedication
Chriſtian Reconcilement, OR GOD AT PEACE with MAN IN CHRIST, Delivered in a Sermon at St Mary's in Oxford.
By JOHN WALL Dr in Divinity, and PRAEBENDARY Of CHRISTCHURCH in OXFORD.
Pſalm. 37. 4. Delight thou in the Lord, and he ſhall give thee thy hearts deſire.
OXFORD, Printed by H. Hall, for R. Davis. 1658.
To the Honourable, and truly noble Lady, the Lady SARAH HOGHTON, Wife to Sr RICHARD HOGHTON Knight, and Daughter of PHILIP, Lord STANHOPE, late Earle of CHESTER-FIELD; Grace and Peace be daily multiplied.
Noble MADAM,
PArdon my Confidence that I make uſe of your Name, and place ſo rare a Frontiſpice before ſo meane a Piece. My deſire hath been to honour your Lady-ſhip ſome kind of way for thoſe many favours derived to me, not only from the Root and Stemm, but alſo from the ſeverall branches of that your noble Generation and Parentage. Yet in this, I muſt needs Confeſſe I honour my ſelfe, while the eminency of your graces caſts a luſtre upon my Services; and the high eſteem of thoſe magnetique virtues draws greater acceptance to theſe endeavours. However, be pleaſed to receive this manuall, & give it ſome place in your Cloſet among the Saints of God departed this life, with whom you have beene uſed to Converſe frequently in their writings. It will not take up much roome, and though it Containe little that you may learne, yet doth it ſomewhat that you may remēber, the incōparable bleſſing of Chriſtian atonement, which is the very foundation of all our Comfort. This I Commend to your pious thoughts, and the religious exerciſe of your diviner Meditations: that you may joy in God, and be ſtrengthened daily in the Spirituall Ʋnion which you have with him in Chriſt Jeſus. For I well know when the Scriptur's were a delight unto you, and you had (as Saint Ierome writeth) of Marcella, a Roman Lady (ardorem incredibilem &c:) an incredible deſire to read & underſtand, the pretious Myſteries of thoſe ſaving Oracles; foreign (in the words of the Apoſtle) from a Child: wherein I have late evidence, that you perſevere Conſtantly, to the honour of God, and the rejoycing of your Spirit, with the Continuall feaſt of a Good Conſcience. Sure I am, it was the practiſe of that Honorable Lady your dear Mother, now with God bleſſed for ever: whoſe Goodneſſe like an Oyntment poured out, left a Sweet Savour in the parts where ſhe lived round about: whoſe paths you tread, and ſeeme to enlarge, or make plaine, in a Pious aemulation, and zealous Imitation of Her choiceſt Graces. But I will not make an Elogie of an Epiſtle, or a Panegyrick of a preſentment: (though you well deſerve it) leaſt I ſeeme to dipp my Pen in Oyle, and mingle Hony with my Oblation: Contrary to the direction given to Moſes by God himſelfe in thoſe Leviticall inſtructions. The Lord poure a bleſſing upon you all, from the top, and head, to the ſeverall branches of your Noble Family. Ireſt,
MADAM, Your moſt Humble Servant in him that took upon him the forme of a Servant, our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, JOHN WALL.