Zions Sweets, Title page – Dedication
SIONS SVVEETS: OR THE SPOVSES SPIKENARD; AND MYSTICALL MYRRHE. BY THOMAS BARNES.
Preacher of Gods VVord at St Margretts in New-Fiſh-ſtreete. LONDON.
LONDON Printed by I. D. for Nathaniell Newbery: and are to be ſold at his Shop at the ſigne of the Starre vnderunder St Peters Church in Corn-hi l, and in Popes head Alley. 1624.
TO THE RIGHT VVORSHIPFVLL, the Lady Barrington, Wife to Sir Francis Barrington; the Lady Eliott, Wife to Sir T. E. the Lady Barnardiſton, Wife to Sir Nathan. B. and Mris Ioanna Mildmay, of Tarling-hall in Eſſex; the ioy of the juſtified, in Chriſt the juſtifier, wiſhed.
WHen firſt I conſulted with my ſelfe, vnderunder whoſe protection I might ſend abroad theſe Sweets of Sion, [THE SPOUSES SPIKENARD, and MYSTICALL MYRRHE] my thoughts fell (Right Worſhipfull) vponupon you foure. And, after ſome conflicts with inward cauills, I did reſolue to make bold with all your names; and ſo much the rather, both becauſe, in another Treatiſe ſent forth with this, I hauehave made as bold with your Worſhipfull yoake-fellowes: as alſo in regard, the matter handled in theſe Sermons is ſuch, as be vſefull to your ſoules, as well as any of theirs, who are true members of that CHVRCH, and by faith made one with that SPOVSE, whom the whole Booke of Salomons Songs, (out of which I hauehave cull'd theſe Sweets) in a moſt ſweete, and heauenly ſtreine doth treat of. I dare ſay, that were it not for the Authors wants, here you ſhould finde, and meete with that, which would be both for direction, and conſolation; Direction in your carriage, in reſpect of what you owe to Chriſt; conſolation, for your conſcience, in regard of what you reape by Chriſt. For I am ſure, that parcell of Scripture, vponupon which theſe Meditations are, doth afford ſuch Rules, ſuch comforts pregnantly, plentifully. In it we hauehave Chriſt his louelove, the Church her loyaltie. Chriſt his louelove vntounto his Church, ſitting as a King at Table with her, communicating his grace, and fauour vntounto her, in the Ornaments, and Ordinances wherewith he hath endued her. The Church her loyaltie vntounto her Chriſt: first, preſenting him with her Box of Spikenard, her faith and good Workes: ſecondly, prayſing him for his Bundle of Myrrhe, the pardoning of her ſinnes, the refreſhing of her ſoule: thirdly, profeſsing ſhee would neuer forget the greatnes of his louelove, and would endeuour to keepe the ſence of his kindnes. This louelove of that great husband I wiſh you the ſweet of, with a daily encreaſe of it, more and more. This loyaltie of the Spouſeſſe I doubt not but hath beene yeelded by your Worſhips ere now, to Chriſt the head. The bleſsing vponupon theſe labours, I craue of God; the Patronage, the acceptance, of theſe endeuours I beg of you. Which (RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL) may I but obtaine: GOD, for that his bleſſing, ſhall hauehave my prayſes, YOV for your acceptance ſhall hauehave his prayers, who is
Your Worſhips to be commanded in any Chriſtian ſervice to his power; THOMAS BARNES.