The Saints Hope and Infallibleness Thereof, Title page – Dedication
THE SAINTS HOPE, AND INFALLIBLENES THEREOF. or Two Sermons preached before the Engliſh Companie at Middelb. about the monethmonth of October, 1608.
Written by Mr. Iohne Forbes, at the earnest requeſt of the hearers, and now publiſhed by them for the generall inſtruction and comfort of all Gods children.
Printed at Middelborough, by Richard Schilders, 1610.
To his deare and welbeloved in the Lord, the faithfull Engliſh Companie at Middelburrough, increaſe of wiſdome and grace from God the Father of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt be multiplied.
YOur earneſt requeſt in the Lord (moſt heartely beloued in him) was, that I would put in writte to you thoſe firſt Sermons, which, at the will of God, I preached amongſt you. J confeſſe that I am obliged to you all, in all duties of love, becauſe of the abundance of your love to me, or rather to the Lord Ieſus. Therfore, although the cōſciēce of my weaknes & infirmitie did ever, till this houre, hold me back frō writing or presēting in writte any of my weake labours to the vſe of any yet, I could not reſiſt your lawful & earneſt deſire in this particular; praying God to direct it to his glorie & your comfort. Receive thē the firſt two conceaved in ſubſtance as I deliuered them, but in larged according to the ſpeciall conſolatiōs, which it pleaſed the Lord to miniſter vntounto my owne heart out of this Scripture, in time of my moſt heavie ſickenes, when J was dayly in hope to goe out of this body to dwell with the Lord. If yee finde any comfort in them, give all the glory to him who is able by the mouth of Babes and Sucklings, to make perfect his prayſe. And not ſtaying as Babes vponupon the vſe of this milke, goe on in ſtrength by the ſolide comfort of that ſtrong meate, which yee have abundantly in the Lords great merciemercy dayly miniſtred vntounto you, by the painfull labours and faithfull watchfulnes of your louing and learned Paſtour, whom the Lord hath taught to be a Scribe in his kingdome, a faithfull and wiſe ſteward to give his children their portion of meate in ſeaſon, at whoſe mouth receiving that ſincere milke of the word, ye ſhall doubtles grow vp to be a ſpirituall houſe & an holy Prieſthood to God by Ieſus Christ our Lord, whoſe ſpecial bleſſing J pray for to his worke amongſt you, that you to your Pastour, and he to you, may be a ioy, a glorie, and a crowne of reioyſing in the preſence of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt at his comming, whoſe grace, merciemercy and peace be with you all. Amen.
Yours in the Lord M. I. F.