Contemplations and Devotions, Title page – Dedication
CONTEMPLATIONS AND DEVOTIONS ON The severall passages of our blessed Saviours Death and Passion.
Written by CHARLES HERLE, Master in Arts, and sometimes of Excester Colledge in Oxford.
Pauls ambition of
1 Knowledge.
1 Cor. 2.2.
I esteemed not to know any thing among you saue Iesus Christ, and him crucified.
2 Wealth.
Phil. 3.8.
Yea, I count all things but losse, for the excellent knowledge sake of Christ Iesus my Lord.
3 Ioy.
Gal. 6.14.
God forbid that I should reioyce but in the Crosse of our Lord Iesus Christ.
LONDON: Printed by Aug. Mat. for Humphrey Robinson, dwelling in Pauls Churchyard at the signe of the three Pidgeons. 1631.
To the Right Honorable IAMES Lord STRANGE, Baron of Knocking, Lord Lieutenant of the Counties Palatine of Lancaster, and Chester, and of the Citie of Chester, and C…unty of the same, …nd Chamberlaine of Chester afore-said. Lord of the Isle of Man, Knight …f the Honourable Order of the Bath, Heire apparent to the Rig…t Honorable William Earle of Derby, his very good Lord and Master.
MY LORD,
IF I durst print a Booke, no question I durst not thinke of any other Patron then your Lordship, to whom, by all the ingagements of preferment, favour, gratitude, duty, and domestick service, I stand so strictly oblig'd; to whom should the Booke belong, but to him to whom the Author?1 Cor. 9. Doth any man plant a tree, and not eat of the fruit? Your Lordship hath both planted, and watred; the fruite therefore (such as it is sower Grapes) I heere humbly present your Lordship with, to whom by yet further, and more speciall interests it owes it selfe; These Meditations (my Lord) they were the expence of those weary houres of that slowe recovery, which (I must confesse) next to Gods, I had by your Lordships special care, and furtherance, out of that my late, long, and hopelesse sicknesse, so that it were a kinde of theft to make tender to any other of the imployment of those houres, which I then but borrowed from your Lordsh ps more publique service: your Lordship must here therefore expect rather sickly thoughts, then serious studies, and so, if neither margent-throng'd with Authors, nor Method-bound with Art, the proverbe will plead pardon, Thoughts are free; nor indeede is it but of the nature of this kinde of writing, rather to touch, then presse; to display, then discusse the subiect.
Why I make not my Epistle Dedicatory (to the custome) laudatory, your Lordships resolu'd declination of such kind of cheape, hackny fly-blowne fame, may be cause enough; such as are so happy as to know you, know well enough how little you neede it, how lesse you love it: besides, 'twould be thought (being a servant) I durst doe no other, and necessitas nec habet legem, nec laudem, nor law, nor laud.
Why I make this my vnlabour'd pastime of thinking, thus venturously publique, as (I must conf…sse) it was not that commonly pretended m…dwife of the p…esse, importunity of friends; so, much lesse was it any overweening opinion of the worth, but next to Gods glory, and your Lordships service, the causes are these two; in the first place the vindication (as much as in me lyes) of our Religion from that common brand which her Romish adversaries so frequently vpbrayd her with, that she spends all her devotion on the Pulpit, and keepes n…ne for the Closet; in the next place, a prebable anticipation (by these) of the worlds entertainment of any my possible endeavours hereafter; which when ever, they shall (as these) together with their Author, in all humility be layd at your Lordships feete: by
The most obliged of your Lordships Servants, HERLE.