The Sacred Mystery of the Government of the Thoughts, Title page – Errata
THE SACRED MYSTERIE OF THE GOVERNMENT OF the Thoughts:
DISCOVERING Their Nature and Differences, and together, Reſoluing ſuch ſpeciall Doubts, which are incident hereunto. Very neceſſary for the Tryall and ſafe keping of the Heart. AND ALSO, For the well ordering and comfort of a Chriſtian Life.
LONDON, Printed by Ber: Alſop, and are to be ſold by Thomas Iones at his ſhop in Chancery Lane, ouer againſt the Rowles. 1619.
TO THE RIGHT Worſhipfull, and my very much reſpected Friend, M. D. White, all health and happineſſe.
REuerend, and Beloued in our Lorde Ieſus, It hauing pleaſed the Almighty to vouchſafe mee to bee a member of theſe his churches: both by a generall bond of my ingraffing therto, as alſo by a more ſpeciall calling to engraft others therein: I hauehave therefore endeauoured ſince the Lord hath vouchſafed light thereto, to improue my beſt meanes and occaſions, thogh in great weakenes, for the ſupply thereof, in what is moſt neceſſarie. And therfore finding our Times to be ranke, & ſo indeed rankle with vnneceſſarie contentions; and yet to bee too much barren of that fruite, which is moſt neceſſarie: namely, the powerfull practiſe of godlineſſe. I hauehave laboured by Gods mercy, as occaſion and ability hath ſerued, to caſt in my mite in…o that Treaſurie, in diſcouering the by-pathes of hypocriſie and Apoſtaſie, & ſtrengthning the weake, with ſuch holy directions, as may happily build them forward to perfectiō. Wherin though I muſt needes acknowledge to Gods glorie, and mine owne abaſing, that I hauehave been for a time much interrupted, by reaſon of the Differences in our Church; as beeing a long time carried with the contrary wind of ſuch, who hauehave bin dazeled with the beauty therof, & ſo hauehave ſtūbled at her ſeeming blacknes, & pretended deformities; & ſo therby hauehave bin much diſtracted in iudgement, and ſo different in practiſe, and ſo thereby expoſed to manifold afflictions; yet ſeeing our gracious God turnes all things about to the beſt vntounto his poore children, as I hauehave had experience in my oppoſition of much deceitfulneſſe and vanitie in men; ſo hath this ſent mee gratiouſly for ſatisfaction to him alone, who hath mercifully reſolued my vnſetled mind, & fitted mee thereby to a more free, and comfortable renuing and purſuite of my mayne endeauour, euen to ſtrengthen the thinges that remain, and to keepe my ſelfe and others in the way of Life: Wherein becauſe I hauehave had comfortable experience of your Worſhips louelove and piety, both in refreſhing me formerly in that long and tedious diſtreſſe of my body, as alſo in furthering lately my liberty in the Goſpell, and ſo thereby reuiuing, as it were, both of Soule and Body: I hauehave thought it fitte to conſecrate vntounto you theſe firſt fruites of my renued calling, as to whom vnderunder God I acknowledge my ſelfe eſpecially bounden for the ſame. What the ſubiect hereof is, and intent of the ſame: I deſire you heartily to take notice of in the Treatice enſuing, and to weigh the worth of the Argument equally with my weakenes in the handling therof. And if herein you ſhall perceyue any power of God in the weakeneſſe of man, any hiddē pearles vnderunder the rubbiſh of humane infirmitie, as this ſhall bee an occaſion to giuegive God the onelyonly glorie: ſo may it alſo prouoke you by Gods mercy to lend your helping hand, that ſuch defects may be holpen, and ſuch weakeneſſe ſtrengthned, Bleſſed bee GOD, that hath giuen you an hart and place in the Church of God, whereby as you are able, ſo are you willing to ſupply any good means, for the furtherance of the trueth, and peace of our Churches. Whereunto ſeing by the grace of God, I am now returned from many daungerous outgoings of Schiſme, and ſeparation. My humble requeſt vntounto your Worſhippe is, that ſeeing I hauehave long trauelled of many ſuch other burthens, which are euen ready for the birth, but there wants ſt…ength to bring the forth, and otherwiſe am deſirous, and in ſome poore meaſure, by the grace of God able to bee ſeruiceable in Gods Church. It would pleaſe you ſtill to enlarge your accuſtomed louelove for my furtherance herein, in performing ſome Widwife-like office hereunto, that the ſoules of Gods people may bleſſe you, and the bleſſing of the Almighty may be multiplyed vponupon you, and all your holy endeauours to the perfecting of his gracious worke, for your eternall ſaluation. And ſo commending my ſelfe and labour vntounto your gratious acceptance, and protection, and your Worſhippe vntounto the euerlaſting mercy and protection of the Lord, I humbly take my leaue.
Reſting in Chriſt Ieſus. Your Worſhippes and the Churches ſeruant, Th. Cooper. From my houſe in Whitecroſſe ſtreete, Feb. 5.
Erata.
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